The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-11-20
WHITTAKER,S
PLACE
BY JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
copyrishs. 1905. by D. Appleton 9 Co.

w OHt Up II
the chances?" asked Asaph eagerly.
"well. sometimes he thinks Yes and
then again he thinks NO, ~ replied
Bailey. "He says. Of course. II Heman
is able to get It he will. but II he amt
able to he-he"-
"He won't, s'pose. Well. can
think that myself. and | don't set up
to be no inspired know.it-all. like Joe
Dimiok. lie amt heard from Heman
lately. has hep
else. so fur as can find out"
"Oh. yes, they have. have. for
one"
Mr.. Bangs stopped short in his dou-
BILE quick march for home and din.
ner and looked his companion in the
face.
"Ase Tidditt." he cried, do you
mean to tell me you've had letter
from Heman Atkins from Washin'.
tony'
Asaph nodded portentouslv.
Eyes. sir" he declared. "a letter
from the Hon. Heman @. Atkins Of
Washin'ton. ID. c.. come TO me last
night. ! read II afore l turned in"
"You did! And never said nothin'
about itT'
"why should I say anything about
It? Twas addressed to me as town
clerk and was concernin' a matter to
be took up with the hoard Of s'lect-
men. | amt in the habit of hollerin'
town affairs through speakin' trum-
pet Folks that vote for me town
meetin' day know that I guess. Angie
Phinney says to me only yesterday.
Mr.. Tidditt,' says she. there's one
thing I'll say for you-you don't talk"
"Humph!' Bailey snorted indignant
ly. "She thought twas a good thing
not to talk. hey? She didf Well. by
MIGHTY! You never get no chance to
talk when she's around Angie Phin-
ney! Why. when that poll parrot of
hers died Alph'us Smalley declared up
and down that what killed II was jeal-
ousy and disappointed ambition: he
said II broke its heart tryin' to keep
up with Angie. Her ma was the same
breed of cats What did Heman say
about the appropriation Is he goin'
to get itT'
Mr.. Tidditt paused before replying
Then. bending over. he whispered In
his chum's ear:
"He never said one word about the
appropriation. Bailey. not one word.
He wanted to know II we'd got this
years taxes on the Whitaker place
and II we hadn't what was we goin'
to do about it Bailey, between you
and me and the mizzenmast. Heman
Atkins wants to get a.hold of that
place the worst way"
HE does! He does! For the land
sakes. amt he got property enough al
ready2 Amt "a palace like that
enough for one man without wantin'
to buy a rattletrap like thatf"
The first that" was emphasized by
q brandished but reverent left hand,
the second by a derisively pointing
right The two friends had reached
the crest Of the long slope leading up
from the town hall. On one side Of
the road stretched the imposing front
age Of the Atkins estate" with its
iron fence and stone posts; on the 9th
er slouched the weed grown. tumble
down desolation of the "Cy Whitaker
place" The contrast was that of opx
lent prosperity and poverty stricken
neglect.
Heman was our leading citizen, our
representative in Washington and the
towns philanthropist He gave the
Atkins memorial window and the At
church. The Atkins town pump. also
his gift, stood before the town hall
The Atkins portrait In the Bayport
Ladies' library was much admired. and
the size of the Atkins fortune was the
principal subject of conversation at
feet boarding house." around the stove
In Simmons store or wherever Bay
porters were used to gather.
The ICY Whitaker place" faced the
Atkins estate from the opposite side
Of the main road. but II was the gen
eral opinion that It ought 10 be asham-
ed TO face It. Originally II had enjoyed
the dignified seclusion afforded by a
white picket fence with square gate
posts. and the path TO its seldom used
front door had been guarded by rigid
lines of box hedge. This, however,
was years ago. before the second Cap
tain Cy Whitaker died and before the
Howes family turned 1t into the Sea
Sight House. a hotel for summer
boarders
The Howeses improved" the house
and grounds. They tore down the
picket fence. uprooted the box hedges,
hung a sign over the sacred front door
and built a wide veranda under the
parlOr windows. They took boarders
for five consecutive summers. Then
they gave up the Improbable under
taking. returned 10 Concord. n. H..
their native city. and left the Cy Whit
taker place to bear the rayages Of
Bayport winters and BaypOrt small
boys as best II might
For years II stood empty. The Sc
lectmen would have liked TO tear II
down. but they could not because II
was private property. having been pur-
-. n A..a. A. ~,