Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-03-21

i
with Grape"
did, hey? Humw The captain
scratched his chin and gazed at the
small figure before him. 1t was a self
poised. matter Of fact figure for such
a little one. and out there in the rain
under the tent roof Of the umbrella 1t
was rather pitiful.
please. sir" said the child, "are
you Captain Cyrus Whitaker
"Yup! That's me. You've guessed
it the first time"
"Yes. sir. I've got letter for you. It's
pinned inside my dress. II you could
hold this umbrella maybe ! could get
1t out"
She extended the big umbrella at
arms length. holding it with both
hands. Captain Cy woke up.
Good landw he exclaimed. What
am | thinkin' Of? You're soakin' wet
through. amt you"
II guess I'm pretty wet. It's long
ways from the depot, and tried to
come across the fields, because boy
said It was nearer. and the bushes
were so''-
ACROSS the fields? Have you walk
ed all the way from the depot%
"Yes. sir. The man said 1t was q
quarter to ride. and auntie said must
be careful of my money because
by the big dipper! Come in! Come
in out Of that this minute!'
He sprang down the steps, furled
the umbrella. seized her by the arm
and led her into the house, through the
parlor and into the sitting room, where
the fire cracked invitingly. He could
feel that the dress sleeve under his
hand was wet through, and the worn
boots and darned stockings he could
see were soaked likewise.
There he cried. "Set down in
that chair. Put your feet up OF that
hath. Sakes alive! Your folks ought
to know better than to let you stir out
this weather let alone walkin' mile
and no rubbers. Them shoes ought to
come off this minute. s'pose. Take
'em of. You can dry your stockin's
better that way. on with 'em"
"Yes, SIR" said the child, STOPPING to
unbutton the shoes. Her wet fingers
were blue. 1t can be cold in our VII
lage even in early September when
there Is an easterly storm. Unbutton-
Ing the shoes was slow work.
Here, let me help you," commanded
the captain, getting down on one knee
and taking foot in his lap. "Tut, tut,
tut. You're wet Been some time
sence fused with button boots. Lace
or long legged cowhldes come handler.
Never wore cowhldes, did YOU"
"No, sir"
II s'pose not. I used to when was
| little. Remember the first pair had.
Copper toes on 'em-whew! The cop
per was blacked over when they come
out Of the store, and that wouldn't do.
so we used to kick stone wall till
they frightened up. There, there she
comes. Humph! Stockins soaked too
Wish I had some dry ones to lend you.
Might give you pair Of mine, but
they'd be too scant fore and aft and
too broad in the beam, callate.
Humph! And your top riggin's as
wet as your hull. Been on your beam
ends, have you?"
II don't know, sir. fell down In
the bushes coming across. There
were vines, and they tripped me up.
and the umbrella was so heavy that
"Yes, 1 could see right of you was
carryin' too much canvas Now take
off your bunnit. and I'll git coat Of
mine to wrap you up in"
He went into his bedroom and re-
turned with n heavy "reefer" jacket
Ordering his caller to stand up. he
slipped her arms into the sleeves and
turned the collar up about her neck.
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 enveloped
her like bedquilt.
There" said Captain Cy approving
ly-"now you look more as If you was
under n storm rig. Set down and
toast your toes. Where's that letter
you said you had"
ITS inside here. I don't knows l
can get ut 1t. these sleeves are so
long"
REEF 'em-turn 'em up. Let me
show you. That's better. Hum! So
you come from the depot. hey? Live
up that way?"
mo, sir! used to live in Concord.
butt
Concord? Concord Concord where?"
Concord, N. II. came on the cars.
Auntie knew a man who was going to
Boston, and he said he'd take care Of
me as far as that and then put me on
the train to come down here. stop
ped at 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 a box
with my things in 1t. but it was SO
\ heavy I couldn't carry 1t, so left 1t
up at the depot. The man there said
it would be all right and you could
send for 1t when"-
"I 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 EN-"
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"
"Yes. yes, I am. I'm Cy Whitaker.
but what
"Well, auntie told me-
"Auntie! Auntie whor
"Auntie Oliver. She isn't really nv
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. q. For-for