Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-23
WHlTTAKER'S
PLACE
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Copyright. 1908. by D. Appleton 8 Co

BY JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Copyright. 1908. by D. Appleton 8 Co
"what-what in timer" gasped CAP
tain Cy. whats upi r.
And then the town clerk seized bin
by the arm. Peabody shook his othe
hand. Bos'n threw her arms about hi
neck. Bailey stood up and waved hi
hat.
Its you, you old critterr' whoope,
Asaph. "It's you, d'you understand !?
'The appropriation has at last gon
through" explained the lawyer, "ant
this is the celebration in consequence
And you are the star attraction. be
cause, you see. every one knows yO'
ere responsible for it."
That's whatv howled the excitet
Bangs. "And we're going to show 20,
what we think Of you for doin II
We've been plannin' this for ovsr
fortni't"
"And knew 1t all the time.
squealed Bos'n. land I didn't tell
word. did IT'~
"Three cheers for Captain Whit
taker!' beloved person in the crowd
This person-wOnder Of wonders!-waI
Tad Simpson.
The Cheering was, considering tn
size Of the crowd, tremendous. Be
wildered and amazed, Captain Cy wa
assisted from the carriage and escort
ed to his front door. Amid the hand
kerchief waving, applauding people b
saw Keturah Bangs and Alpheu'
Smalley and Angeline Phinney ant
Captain Salters-even AlonzO Snow
his recent opponent in town meeting
Josiah Dimick was there, too. appar
entity having At.
On the doorstep stood Georgianna
and-and-yes. 1t was true-beside her
grandly extending q welcoming hand
the majestic form Of the Hon. HemaI
Atkins. Some one else was there also
some one who hurriedly slipped bacl
into the crowd as the owner Of the O.
Whitaker place came up the path be
tween the hedges.
Mr.. Atkins shook the captains hant
and then, turning toward the people
held up his own for silence. To al
outward appearance he was still th'
great Heman, our district idol. philan
thropist and leader. His silk ha
glistened as Of old; his chest swellet
in the old manner; his whiskers wert
just as dignified and awe inspiring
For an instant, as he met the captain'l
eye, his own faltered and fell, and
there was a pleading expression in hil
face, the lines Of which had deepenet
just a little, but only for an instant
then he began to speak.
Cyrus" he said. 1T is my pleasan
duty. on behalf Of your neighbors ant
friends here assembled. to welcome
you to your-er-ancestral home aftel
your trying illness. I do 1t heartily
sincerely, gladly. And It Is the more
pleasing to me to perform this duty
| because, as have explained publicly
! to my fellow townspeople, all disagree
ment between us is ended. wal
wrong-again publicly admit 1t. A
scheming blackleg, posing in the guist
of a loving father, imposed upon me
/ am sorry for the trouble have
caused you. OF you and Of the little
girl with you ask pardon-I entrea'
forgiveness"
He paused. Captain Cy. the shadow
Of q smile Mt the corner Of his mouth
nodded and said briefly;
"All right, Heman. I forgive you
Few heard him. The majority were ap
plauding the congressman. Sylvanu!
/ Cahoon, whispering in the ear Of Un
! Gle Bedny, expressed az his opinion
that that was about as magnaminioui
a thing as ever heard said-yes. sir
mag-na-min-ious-that's what I call 1t.
But" continued the great Atkins
'1 have said all this to you before
What have to say now-what / LEFT
my duties In Washington expressly tc
come here and SAYS that Baypor'
thanks you, / thank you. for your tre
mendous assistance In obtaining the
appropriation which Is to make ou'
harbor a busy port, where our gallant
fishing feet may ride at anchor and
unload its catch. instead Of transfer
ing 1t In dories, as heretofore. Friends
I have already told you how this man.
laying a hand on the captains shoul
der, "came to the capital and used his
influence among his acquaintances II
high places. with the result that the
$4,000 which l had despaired of get
ting was added to the bill I had the
pleasure Of voting for that bill. I,
passed. am proud Of that vote"
Tremendous applause. Then some
one called for three cheers for Mr.. At
kins. They were given. But the re-
cipient merely bowed.
mo. no." he said deprecatingly-
no, no. not for me. my friends, much
as l appreciate your gratitude. My
days Of public service are nearly at an
end. AS l have intimated to some OF
you already, I am seriously consider.
ing retiring from political life In the
near future. But that is irrelevant; II
Is not material at present Today we
meet not to say farewell to the set.
ting but to greet the rising sun.
call for three cheers for our commit
tee Of one-Captain Cyrus Whitaker"
When the upYoar had at last sub
sided there were demands for a speech
from Captain Cy. But the captain
facing them. his arms about the de-
| lighted Bos'n. positively declined tc
crate.
Tim ever 80 much obliged to you,
folks" he stammered. IT am 80. But
you'll have to excuse me from speech.
maxim. They-they didn't teach II
afore the mast, where went to col
lege. Thank you just the same. And
do come and see me, everybody. Me
and this little GIRL" drawing Emily
nearer to him. "will be real glad to
have YOU"
After the handshaking and congratu-
lating were over the crowd dispersed.
| It was a great occasion; all agreed to
that. But the majority considered 1t
divided triumph. The captain had
done lot for the town, Of course. but
<ho uonorehI Afkina had made an