Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-23

| J@v Hal was WOuueIlui Eluc
ITI Emily sat in the captains laI
Hi he positively refused to LEI
| her sit beside him. on the seat
although Peabody urged 1t, fearing tht
child might tire him-and her tongue
| ratified like a sewing machine. Shs
had a thousand things to tell-abou'
her school. about Georgianna. about
her dolls, about Lonesome, the cat.
and how many mice he had caught.
and about the big snowstorm.
"Georgianna wanted me to stay at
home and wait for you. Uncle Cy,"
she said. "but / teased and teased. and
finally they said l could come over.
came yesterday on the train. Mr..
Tidditt went with me to the depot
Mrs. Peabody let me peek into your
room last night, and saw you eating
supper. You didn't know was there.
fid your
"You bet I didn't! Thered have
been a mutiny right then If I'd caught
sight Of you. You little sculpin! Play
in 1t on your Uncle Cy, was you? I
didn't know you could keep secret 30
WELL"
"Oh. yes, ! can: Why, know an
ever so much bigger secret too. 1t
is Why. l most forgot! You just
welt"
The captain laughingly begged her
to divulge the big secret. but she shook
her small head and refused. The
horses trotted on at lively pace, and
the miles separating Ostab!e and Bay
port were subtracted one by one. It
was magnificent winter weather. The
snow had disappeared from the road.
except In widely separated spots, but
the big drifts still heaped the fields
and shone and sparkled in the sun
shine. Against their whiteness the
pitch pines and cedars stood darkly
green and the skeleton scrub oaks and
bushes cast delicate blue penciled
shadows The bay, seen over the
flooded. frozen salt meadows and dis
tant dunes, was in Its winter dress Of
the deepest sapphire, trimmed with
whitecaps and fringed with stranded
ice cakes. There were snap and tang
In the breeze which braced one like a
tonic. The party in the carriage was
gay one.
Getting tired. captainT asked Pea
body.
"whoY Me! Well, guess not.
Most home Bos'n. There's the salt
works ahead there"
They passed the abandoned salt
works. the crumbiing ruins Of dead
industry. and the boundary stone. now
half hidden In a drift, marking the BE-
ginning. Of Bayport township. Then.
from the pine grove at the curve far.
ther on. appeared two capped and
coated figures. performing crazy fan
dango.
-who's them two iunatics," inquired
Captain Cy, "whoopin' and .carryin' on
In the middle Of the roadi Has any
body up this way had a Jug come by
express or Heyi Whatf Why, you
old idiots youl Come here and let me
get bold Of your
The board Of strategy swooped down
upon the carriage like Trumet mos
quitoes on a summer boardeS. They
swarmed into the vehicle, Bailey on
the front seat and Asaph In the rear.
where, somehow OF other, they made
room for him. There were handshak-
ings and thumps on the back.
"What you dom way up here in the
west end Of nowhere" demanded Cap
tain Cy. by the big dipper. I'm glad
to see you! How'd you get herer
walked" cackled Bailey, "frogged
1t all the way. soon'ssAirs. Peabody
wired you was goin' to ride, me and
Ase started to meet you. Want you
surprisedr'
1--WE wanted TO be the fust % say
howdy, old man." explained Asaph.
Wanted to welcome you back. you
know"
The captain was Immensely pleased.
"WeIl. I'm glad I've got 30 much
popularity. anyhow" he said. "Guees
twill be different when get down
street, hey? Don't cal1ate Tad and
Angie II shed the joyous tear over me-.
Never mind; longs my friends are glad
l.don't care about the rest"
The board looked at each other.
"Tad? repeated Bailey. "And An
gie1 What you talkin' aboutf Why.
they Ughr'
The last exclamation was the result
of a tremendous dig in the ribs from
the Tldditt fist Asaph, who had lean
Cd forward to administer 1t, was
frowning and shaking his head. Mr..
Bangs relapsed into a grinning silence.
West Bayport seemed to be deserted.
At one or two houses, however. fem-
mime heads appeared at the windows
One old lady shook calico apron at
the carriage. A child beside her cried
"Hurrahr'
.Aunt Hepsy h'istin' colors by mis-
taker' laughed the captain. "She amt
got her specs, guess, and thinks I'm
Heman. That comes Of ridin' astern
Of q span. Peabody"
But as they drew near the center
f,ags were flying from front yard poles.
Some of the houses were decorated.
"What In the world began Captain
CT. Land sakes! Look at the school
house, and Simmons. and-and Simp-
son'sw
The schoolhouse flag was tapping IN
the wind. The SCARED wooden pillars
of its portico were hidden with bunt-
Ing. Simmons front displayed row
Of little banners. each bearing letter.
The letters spelled welcome Homer
Tad's barber shop was more or less
artistlcally. wreathed In colored tissue
paper. There, too, flag was draped
over the front door. Yet not a single
person was In sight
"For goodness sake" cried the be-
wildered captain, whats all this
mean? And where il everybody7
Have all hands,
he stopped In the middle Of the sem
sence. They were at the foot OF
Whittakers hill. Its top, between the
Atkins gate and the Whitaker fence.
was black with people. Children
pranced about the outskirts Of the
crowd. A shout came down the wind.