Graham guardian., 1911-02-24

Her braided "pigtail" Of yellow hair
stuck out over the collar and hung
down her back In funny way. The
coat sleeves reached almost to her
knees, and the coat itself enveioped
her like bedquilt.
"There." said Captain Cy approving
ly-"now you look more as II you was
under a storm rig. Set down and
toast your toes. Where's that letter
you said you hads"
'It's inside here. don't knows
can get ut 1t. these sleeves are 50
long" ,t.&
"Reef 'em--turn 'em up. Let me
show you That's better. Hum! So
you come from the depot. hey2 Live
up that way?" 't.N
"No. sir! used to live in Concord,
but y
Concord? Concord? Concord where?'
Concord, N. H. came on the cars.
Auntie knew man who was going to
Boston, and he said he'd take care of
me as far as that and then put me on
ped ut his folks house In Charlestown
last night, and this morning we got
up early. and he bought me ticket
and started me for here had box
with my things In it. but 1t was SO
heavy couldn't carry it. so left 1t
up at the depot. The man there said
1t would be all right and you could
send for 1t when
II could send for It? could? What
In the world Say. child, you've made
a mistake In your bearin's. 'Tain't me
you want to see; It's some Of your
folks relations most likely. Tell me
who they are; maybe know 'em."
The girl sat upright in the big chair
Her dark eyes opened wide. and her
chin quivered. ...
"Ain't you Captain Cyrus Whit
taker?" she demanded "You said you
was"
ayes. yes. am. I'm Cy Whitaker.
but what '- -.
"Well, auntie told me-
"Auntie! Auntie whoT ,. d..
"Auntie Oliver She isn't really ruv
auntie. but mamma and me lived In
her house for ever so long, and so"-
"Wait. wait, wait! I'm hull down In
the fog This Is gettin' too thick for
me- Your auntie's names Oliver and
you lived in Concord. N. II. For-for
thunder sakes. what's your nameT
emily Richards Thomas"
Observation-Disclosures"
"Yes. SIR q.
Emily Richards Thomas! What was
your mas nameT
Mamma was Mrs. Thomas Her
front name was Mary. She's dead.
Don't you want to see your letterf
I've got II now"
She lifted one of the tapping coat
sleeves and extended a crumpled.
damp envelope. Captain Cy took 1t In
n dazed fashion and drew long
breath. Then he tore open the envel-
ope aud read the following:
Dear Captain Whittaker-The bearer OF
this Is Emily Richards Thomas. She is
seven, going on eight. but old for her
years, Her mother was Mary Thomas
that used TO be Mary Thayer II was her
you wrote to about keeping house for
you but she had been dead a fortnight
before your letter come. She had bron-
chial pneumonia. and II carried her off,
having always been delicate and with
more troubles to bear than she could
cfan nd h,tch chon nd
who | say was scamp even II he 10
dead. left her and the baby she has took
rooms with me and done sewing and
such. When she passed away ] wrote to
Seth Howes. a relation of hers out west
and. SO far as | know. the only one she
had. told the Howes man that Mary
had gone and Emmie was left. Would
they take her7 wrote. And Seth's wife
wrote they couldn't. being poorer than
poverty themselves. ] was afraid she
would have to go to a home. but when
your letter came wrote the Howeses
again. And Mrs. Howes wrote back that
you was rich and sort of faroff rela-
ton of Marys and probably you would
DO glad to take the child to bring up.
Sc Id that she had some correspondence
with you about Mary before. So | send
Eminie to you. Somebody's got to take
care of her. and | can't afford It. though
!
child and some like her. mother do
hope she can stay with you. II seems q
shame to send her to the orphan asylum.
send along what clothes she's got.
which amt many. Respectfully yours.
SARAH OLIVER
Captain Cy read the letter through,
Then he wiped his forehead.
"Well!' he mnttered well! new
er in my life! IL never did! or ALL
Emily richards Thomas looked ur
from the depths of the coat collar,
Don't you think" she said. that
you had better send to the depot for
my box: | can get dry some this way.
but mamma always made me change
my clothes as soon as | could. She
used to be afraid I'd get cold"