Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-03-21
WHlTTAkER'S
PLACE
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Copyright. 1908. by D. Appleton & Co

Copyright. 1908. by D. Appleton 6 Co.
and the very next year she married
John Thayer. the sailor In the blue
suit. And two years after that young
Cy ran away to be sailor himself.
In spite of his age and his lifetime
Of battering about the world. Captain
Cy had a sentimental streak in his
makeup. His rejuvenation Of the old
home proved that. Betsy's letter in
terested him. He had made guarded
inquiries concerning Mary Thayer.
now Mary Thomas. Of others besides
Asaph. and the answers had been sat
isfactory so far as they went. Those
who remembered her had liked her
very much. The captain had even
begun a letter to Mrs. Thomas. but
laid 1t aside unfinished, having since
Bailey's unfortunate experience with
the widow Beasley a prejudice against
experiments.
He meditated and smoked for an.
other hour. Then. bis mind being
made up. he pulled down the desk lid
of the old fashioned secretary, resur
rected from pile Of papers the note
lie had begun to Mrs. Thomas. dipped
a sputtering pen into the ink bottle
and proceeded to write.
His letter was short one and rather
noncommittal. As Mrs. Thomas no
doubt knew. he had come back to live
in his fathers house at Bayport. he
might possibly need some one to keep
house for him. He understood that she.
Mary Thayer that was. was good
hoISekeeper and that she was open
to an engagement If everything was
mutually satisfactory He had known
her mother slightly when the latter
lived in Orham. He thought an inter
view might be pleasant, for they could
talk over old times If nothing more.
Perhaps. on the whole, she might care
to risk trip to Bayport; therefore he
inclosed money for her railroad fare.
You understand. Of course" 80 he
wrote in conclusion. that nothing may
come Of our meeting at all. So please
don't say word to anybody when you
strike town. You've lived here your
self, and you know that three words
hove overheard in Bayport will dredge
up CAB enough to sink q dictionary.
So just keep mum till the business Is
settled one way or the other"
A week passed, and he heard moth
ing; then three more days and still
no word from the New Hampshire
widow. Meanwhile fresh layers of
dust spread themselves over the Whit
taker furniture. and the gaudy pat
terms Of the carpets blushed dimly be-
meath grimy fog.
The eleventh day began with pour
ing rain that changed later on to
dismal drizzle. The silver leaf tree in
the front yard dripped. and the over
flowing cutters gurgled and splashed.
The bay was gray and lonely. and the
fish weirs along the outer bar were
lost in the mist. The flowers In the
Atkins urns were draggled and beaten
down. Only the iron dogs glistened
undaunted Us the wet ran of their
newly painted backs. The air was
heavy, and the salty flavor of the fats
might almost be tasted In it.
Captain Cy was in the sitting room,
as usual. His spirits were as gray as
the weather. He was actually lone
some for the first time since his return
home. He had kindled wood fire in
the stove just for the sociability Of 1t,
and the crackle and glow behind the
isinglass panes only served to remind
him of other days and other fires. The
sitting room had not been lonesome
then.
He heard the depot wagon rattle BY
and, peering from the window, saw
that except for Mr.. Lumley 1t was
empty. Not even q summer boarder
had come to brighten our ways and
lawns with reckless raiment and the
newest slang. Summer boarding sea-
son was almost over now. Bayport
would soon be as dull as dishwater.