Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-04-06

high and dry with no tug in sight"
Mary Thomas was dead aud her
daughter-her daughter, Of whose very
existence he had been igaerant-had
suddenly appeared from nowhere and
been dropped at his door like an out
Of season May basket. accompanied by
the modest suggestion that he assume
responsibility for her thereafter. No
wonder the captain wiped his forehead
In utter bewiiderment.
Don't you think you'd better send
for the box?" repeated the child, shiv-
erlng little under the big coat
Hey? What say? Never mind,
though Just keep quiet for a spell,
won't you? l want to let this soak In.
By the big dipper. OF all the solid
brass cheek that ever run across this
beats the whole cargo. And Betsy
Howes never limited. Probably you
would be glad to take Be glad!
Why, blast their miserable, stingy-
What do theu take me for? I'll show
'em. Indiana amt so fur that can't
Hey! Did you say anything, sis?'
The girl had shivered again. mo,
sir she replied. 1T was my teeth.
guess. They kind of ratified
What, You amt cold, are you,
with all that round you and in front
Of that frc2'
mo, sir, l guess not, only my back
feels sort Of funny. as II somebody
kept dropping icicles down 1t. Those
bushes and vines were so wet that
when tumbled down twas most like
being In pond"
"Sho, sho That won't do Can't
have you laid up on my hands. That
would be worse than Humph! Tut,
tut. Sonethin' ought to be done, and
I'm blessed if know what. And not
woman round the place, not even
that Debby. Say, look here, What's
your name-er-Enmie? Hadn't I bet
ter get the doctor?"
The child looked frightened
WHY" she cried. her big eyes open
ing. Pm not sick. am r.
"Sick? No, no! Course not, course
not. What would YOU want to be sick
for? But you ought to get warm and
dry right off, l s'pose. and your buds
are all up to the depot. Say, what does
what did your ma used to do when you
felt--er-them icicles and things?'
"she changed my clothes and rubbed
me, and If was very wet she put me
to bed sometimes"
Bed? Sure Why, yes, indeed.
Beds a good place to keep of icicles
There's my bedroom right in there
You could turn in Just as well as not
Bunk amt made yet, but | can shake
it up in no time. Say-er-er-you can
undress yourself, can't you?'
"Oh, yes, sir Course l can! I'm
most eight"
byish. All right; you set still till l
shake up that bunk"
He entered the chamber, his own,
opening from the sitting room, and pro
ceeded literally to shake up" the bed.
1t was not lengthy process, and when
1t was completed he returned to End
his visitor already Invested Of the coat
and standing before the stove
81 guess perhaps you'll have to help
undo me behind" observed the young
lady This is my best dress, and l
cant reach the buttons in the mid
die of the back
Captain Cy scratched his head. Then
he clumsily unbuttoned the wet waist,
glancing rather sheepishly at the win
dow to see II any one was coming.
$50 this is your best dress hey?" no
asked, TO cover his confusion. 1t was
obviously not very new, for 1t was
neatly mended in one or two places.
Yes, sir"
$50. Wherc'd you buy it-up to Con-
cord?"
No. sir. Mamma made it a year ago"
There was a little choke in the child's
voice. The captain was nightly taken
tack.
Hum. Yes, yes" he muttcred hur-
riedly. "Well, there you are. Now
you can get along, can't you:"
Yes, SIR, Shall go in that room p
"Trot right in. You might-er-
maybe you might sing out when you're
tucked up. I'm want to know If
you've got bedclothes enough"
Emily disappeared in the bedroom
The door closed. Captain Cy, his
hands in his pockets, walked up and
down the length of the sitting room
The expression on HE face was eu~sc
bne.
Il haven't got any nightgown," called
voice from the other room. The cap
tain gasped.
Good land, 50 you amt" he ex-
claimed. Whr. in the world
Humph! / wonder
He went to the lower drawer Of q
tall "highboy' and from the tumbed
mass OF apparel therein took one Of
his own night garments.
Heres one" he said coming back
with 1t in his hand. II guess you'll
have to make this one do for now.
tn fit you enough for three times to
once, but it's all I've got"
A SNAIL hand reached round the edge
of tho door, and the nightshirt disap.
peared. Captain Cy chuckled and re.
summed his pacing
"I'm tucked up" called Miss Thomas.
The captain entered and found her in
bed, the patchwork points and dia.
monds Of the Rising Sun quilt covering
her to the chin and her head denting
the uppermost OF the two big pillows.
Captain Cy liked TO "sleep high"
"Got enough over your he asked.