The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-12-04

I|0AYS passed. Cyrus saw the
HIN house becoming woefully un-
IHU tidy. Something must be done.
~ The captain drew his chair
near the center table took from his
pocket a sheet of note paper and pro
ceeded to read what was written on
its pages II was a letter which he
had received nearly a month before
and had not yet answered. During the
past week he had read 1t many times.
The writing was cramped and blotted
and the paper cheap and dingy. The
envelope bore the postmark Of a small
town in Indiana. and the Enclosure
was worded as follows:
Captain Cyrus Whitaker:
| Dear Sir-l suppose you will be good
deal surprised TO hear from me, especially
from way out west here. When you
bought the old house Of Seth he and i
was living in Concord. NJ H He couldn't
make a go Of his business there. SO We
came west. and he has been sick most Of
the time since. We amt well on like you.
and times are hard with ua What I
wanted to write you about was this: Ny
cousin Mary Thomas-Mary Thayer that
was-is still living In Concord. and she u
poor and needs help. though ! don't sup
pose she would ask for II, being too
proud--faise pride l call IT, Ne and
Seth would like TO do something for her.
| but We have q hard enough Job to keep
going ourselves. Mary married . man By
the name Of Henry Thomas. and he turn
cd out to be q miserable good for moth
ing, as | always said he would She
wouldn't listen to me. though He run
on and left her seven year ago last April
| and I understand, was killed or drowned
| somewheres up In Montana Mary and
Iseveral words scratched out hersl got
along somehow since. but ! don't know
how. While we lived In Concord Seth
| sort of Kept an eye on her. but now he
| can't, of course. Shes . good girl. OF
woman. rather. being most forty. and
would make . good housekeeper II you
should need one. a. l suppose likely you
will II you could help her Il would b an
act Of charity and you will be rewarded
| above. Seth says why not write to her
and tell her to come and see you He
feels bad about her. because he II 30 sick.
l suppose. And he knows you are rich
and could do good II you felt like It. Her
fathers name was John Thayer. l wouldn't
wonder II you used to know her mother.
She was Emily Richards afore she mar
ried and they used to live In Orham.
Yours truly. ELIZABETH HOWES.
p S.AMary's address IL Mrs Mary
Thomas care Mrs. Oliver. LIS Blank
street. Concord. N. H
N. B-seth won't say 20. but l wiz:
We are very hard up ourselves. and II
you could help him and me with the loan
| Of q little money II would be thankfully
received.
Captain Cy read the letter, folded It
and replaced 1t In his pocket He
knew the Howes family by reputation,
and the reputation was that of general
sharpness In trade and stinginsss In
money matters. Betsy's personal appeal
did not. therefore. touch bis heart to
any great extent he surmised also
that for Seth Howes and his wife to
ask help for some person other than
themselves promised a darby In the
wood pile somewhere. But for the
daughter of Emily Richards to be sug
gested as possible housekeeper at the
Cy Whitaker place-that was interest
ing. certainly.
When the captain was not q captain
when be was merely young Cy,"
boy. living with his parents-a dancing
school was organized In Bayport. 1t
was an innovation for our village and
frowned upon by many OF the older
and stricter Inhabitants. However.
most of the captains boy friends were
permitted to attend Young Cy was
not. His father considered dancing a
waste Of time and, II not wicked. GER
tainly frivolous and nonsensical, so
| ha n hama m
spite Of the parental order, he prac-
iced some of the figures of the qua
drilles and the contradances IN his
comrades barns, learning them at sec
ond hand, so to speak.
One winter there was TO be a party
in Orham given by the Nickersons
wealthy people with a ffteen-year-old
daughter. II was to be a grand af-
fair, and most Of the boys and girls In
the neighboring towns were invited.
Cy received an invitation and, for a
wonder, was permitted to attend. The
Bayport contingent went over In big
hayrick on runners. and the moonlight
ride was jolly enough. The Nickerson
mansion was crowded. and there were
music and dancing.
Young Cy was miserable during the
dancing. He didn't dare attempt It
In spite OF his lessons in the barn. So.
while the rest Of his boy friends sought
partners for the Portland Fancy" and
"Hulrs Victory" he sat forlorn in a
corner.
As he sat there he was approached
by a young lady radiant in muslin and
ribbons. She was three or four years
older than he was, and he had wor-
SHIPPED her from afar as she whiried
up and down the line in the Virginia
reel. She never lacked partners and
seemed TO be great favorite with the
young men. especially one good looking
chap with a sunburned face, who look
ed like sailor.
They were forming sets for Money
Musk" II was ladies choice" and
there was a demand for more couples
The young lady came over TO Cy's cor