Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11
although Peabody urged 1t. fearing the

CnllU UllENt TIRE ulm-anu DpT tongue
ratified like a sewing machine. She
hed t50EsHnd things to tell--about
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 walt for you. Uncle Cy,"
she said, but leased and leased. and
finally they said ] 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 I was there.
did your
You bet didn't! Therc'd have
been Il mutiny right then if ia caught
sight Of you. You little sculpin! Play
In it on your Uncle Cy, was you? I
didn't know you could keep secret SO
we'll"
"Oh. yes. ! can Why, I know an
ever so much bigger secret too It
is why. most forgot! You Just
wait"
The captain 'aughingly begged her
10 dlvrlge the big secret, but she shook
hcr small head ana refused. The
horses tr0tteG OF at lively pace, and
the miles separating Ostable and Bay
port were sUbtracted one by one. It
was magnificent winter weather. The
Saov hai disappeared from the road,
except In widely separated spots, but
the tig drifts still heaped the fields
and shonc and sparkled in the sun
shine. Against their Wilderness the
pitch pines md cedars stood darkly
green and the skeleton scrub oans snd
bushes cast delicate blue penciled
shadows. The bay, seen over the
flooded. frozen salt meadows and dis
tant dunes, was in it's winter dress Of
The deepest sapphire. trimmed with
whitecars and fringed with stranded
Ice cakes. There were Il snap and n tang
In the breeze which braced one like n
tonic. The party In the carriage was
q gay ono.
Getting tired. captain" asked Pea
body.
who? Ne? Well, l guess not.
Most home. Bosn. There's the salt
works ahead there"
They passed the abandoned salt
works. the crumbling ruins OF a 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
thor on. appeared two capped and
coated figures, performing a crazy fan
danso.
"Who's them two lunatics," inquired
Captain Cy, "whoopin and carryin on
in the middle OF the road Has any
body up this way had a jug come by
express or Hey! What? Why, you
old idiots you. Como here and let me
got hold Of you
The board Of strategy swooped down
| upon the carriage like Trumet mos
Quitoes on summer boarder. They
swarmed into the vehicle, Bailey on
the front seat and Asaph in the rear,
where, somehow or other. they made
! L
ings and thumps on the back.
what you dom way up here in the
west end Of nowhere?" demanded Cap
tain " "Ey the big dlpper, Pm glad
to see YOU How'd you get here?"
walked" cackled Bailey. ''frogged
it all the way. Soon's Mrs. Peabody
wired you was goin' to ride. me and
Ase started to meet you. Want you
surprisedF'
we wanted to be the fust to say
| howdy, old man" explained Asaph.
Wanted to welcome you back, you
know"
The captain was immensely pleased.
"Well, I'm glad I've got 80 much
popularity, anyhow" he said. Guess
twill be different when l get down
street. hpyt Don't cal'late Tad and
Angie II shed the joyous tear over me.
Never mind. longs my friends are glad
] don't care about the rest"
The board looked nj ench other.
Tad repeated Bailey. And An
gle? What you talkln' about? Why.
they-- Ugh
The last exclamation was the result
OF tremendous dig IL the ribs from,
the Tidditt fist. Asaph. who had lean
ed forward to administer IT, was
frowning and shaking his head. Mr..
Bangs relapsed into a grlnning 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
"Hurrahs
+. Aunt Hepsy h'istin' colors by mis-
takcw laughed the captain. she amt
got her specs, l guess. and thinks I'm
Hemnn That comes Of ridin' astern
OF a span. Peabody"
nut as they drew near the center
Tags were flying from front yard poles
Some of the houses were decorated.
What in the world began Captain
Cy. Land sakes, Look at the school
house, and simmons. and-snd Stmp
SON.
The seh0oshouse flag was Tapping IN
the wtid. The SCARED wooden pillars
Of its portico were hidden with bunt-
Ing. Simmons front displayed n row
" little banners, each bearing letter.
The letters spelled "Welcoms Homer
Tad's bafber shop was more or less
artisticaIly wrenthed In colored tissue
paper. There. too, flag was draped
over the front door. Yet not single
person was IN sight.
For goodness sake" cried the be-