Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-03-07

ueuTu tuc uOCtoI uuu toiu CiNhy ASP
per she must stop singin' In the choir
or lose her voice altogether. Which:
ever happens II be an improvement,
says Cap'n Joe. and whatever Heman
does II help the Whitaker place
What did you decide at the meetin'T'
"Nothin.' We can't decide yet. We
amt sure about the law. and we want
to wait spell, anyhow. But l know
how twill end. Atkins II get the place
He always gets what he wants, He.
man does"
well" sighed Mr.. Bangs, $50 that'll
be the end Of the old Whitaker place,
hey? Sho. things change in feller's
lifetime. don't they? You and me can
remember. Ase. when Cap'n Cy Whit.
taker was one Of the biggest men we
had in this town. So was his dad
afore him. the Cap'n Cy that built the
house. wonder the looks Of things
here now don't bring them two up
out of their graves. Do you remem-
ber young Cy-'Whit' we used to call
him. or 'Reddy Whit count of his
red hair?"
Remember Whit2 Well. should
say l did. he was holy terror
yes. sir! Want no monkey shines
or didos cut up In this town that
young Cy want into. Fur's that goes.
you and me was In 'em, too. Bailey.
We was all holy terrors then. Young
ones nowadays amt got the spunk we
used to have"
His friend chuckled.
That's so." he declared. that's
So Whit was good hearted boy. too
but full Of the Old Scratch and as sot
III his ways as his dad. and If Cap'n
Cy want sot then there amt no sot'
ness. You'll go to college and be q
parson.' says the cap'n. I'll go to seq
and be sailor. same as you done.
says Whit. And he did. too. run away
one night. took the packet to Boston
and shipped aboard an Australian clip
per. Cap'n Cy didn't go after him to
fetch him home. No sir-ee-not q
fetch. Sent him letter plumb to
Melbourne, and says he: You've
made your bed; now lay in 1t. Don't
you never dast to come back to me OF
your ma he says. And Whit didn't
he want that kind"
pretty nigh killed the old lady
Whit's ma-that did," mused Asaph
"She died little spell afterward And
the old man pined away. too. but he
never give In or asked the boy to come
back. Stubborn as all get out to the
end he was and willed the place, al
he had left. to them Howes folks
And nice mess they made Of It
Young Cy he"-
young Cy" interrupted Bailey
We're always calm him young Cy,
and yet when you come to think Of II
he must be pretty nigh fifty-6ve now
most as old as you and be. Wondel
If he'll ever come back hereY'
"You bet he won't" was the oraculal
reply. Hes made all kinds Of money
they say, out Of hides and such. What
he ever bought his dads old place fol
can't see. He'll never come back
to these common. one horse ATTITUDES
now you mark my word on that!
Bailey chuckled again.
I'VE was spunky. daredevil lot II
the old days. want we. Ase?" he said
"Spunk was kind Of born in US, as you
might say And even now we're"-
The Atkins tower clock doomed once
a solemn. dignified stroke. Mr.. It'd
dit and his companion started ant
looked at each other
Godfrey scissors!' gasped Asaph
rs that half past l2y'
Mr.. Bangs pulled big worn silver
watch from his pocket and glanced al
the dial.
"It isw be moaned. "As sure's you're
born It Is: We've kept Ketury's din
ner waitin' twenty minutes You and
me are In for It now. Ase Tidditt
Twenty minutes late. She'll skin u
alivev'
Mr.. Tiddltt did not pause to answer
but plunged headlong down the bill a
q race horse gait Bailey pounding a
his heels. F)r born daredevils," sell
| confessed. they were nervous ant
apprehcnsive pair.
The perfect boarding house" Is sit
uated quarter Of a mile beyon'
Whlttakcrs hill. nearly opposite th'
Salters homestead The sign. hung or
the pole by the front gate. reads
"Buyport Hotel. Bailey Bangs Pro
| prietor." but no one except the stran
ger IN Bayport accepts that sign seri
ously. When. owing to an unexpected
| change IN the administration at Wash
ington. Mr.. Bangs was obliged to re
| linauish his position as our villag
| postmaster his wife came to the res
cue with the proposal that they opel
a boarding house Whatsoever yo'
find to do. quoted Keturah ut sewing
circle meeting, do It, then, with al
your might! IL "heh hi '"'o w
they can put on to my gravestone 'Sh
run the perfect boarding house II
be satisfied"
This remark and subsequent simila
declarations were widely quoted. and
therefore. though casual visitors ma,
refer to the "Bayport hotel" to us ma
tives the Bangs residence Is Away
"Keturah's perfect boarding house.
As for the signs affirmation OF MI
Bangs proprietorship. that Is consid
cred the cream of the joke. The ide
of meek. baldheaded little Bailey pos
ing as proprietor Of anything Will
his wife is on deck tickles Bayport'
sense Of humor.
CHAPTER II.