The citizen., 1914-02-12

yon down ~ hIS heartfelt be has nup
Doesn't your housekeepcf. who ace
you every day. respect and like you
And little Emily-doesn't she love yor
more than she does all the rest Of u
togetherr
"weli. I guess Bos'n docs care 70
the old man some. that's a fact. sh
says she likes you next best. though
Did you know thatT"
But Miss Dawes was Indignant.
captain whitaker" she declared
zone would think you were hundre,
years old to hear you You are Away
calling yourself an old man. Does Nj
Atkins call himself old2 And he :
older than you"
well. I'm over fifty. Phoebe" Ii
spite Of the habit for which he IN,
just been rcproachcd. the capita
found this n difficult statement q
make
II know. Hut you're younger thar
most Of us at thirty.6ve. You see. IN
confessing. too" she added with
laugh and little blush.
Captain Cy made a mental calcula
tion
Twenty years" he said musiDsly
Twenty years is u long time. 40
I'm old And. worse than that. Tn
an old fool. ! guess II ! hadn't beer
Id have stayed In South America In
stead Of comm here to be hooted oui
of the town was born in"
The teacher stamped her foot.
"Oh. what shall ! do with you.' sh,
exclaimed 1T Is wicked for you Z,
say such things 10 you suppose thai
Mr. Atkins would lind II necessary {,
work as he Is doing to beat fool
And. besides. you're not compliment
tary TO me. Should |. do you think
take such an interest in one who wa.
an imbccileT'
"Well. tits mighty good Of you. You,
comm here So to help Bos'n's light
along is
How do you know II is Ros'u alto
gether? r. She stopped suddenly
and the color rushed to her face She
rose from the rocker. "l-really !
don't see how we came TO be dis
cusslng such nonsense" she said
'our ages and that sort Of thing
Captain Cyrus. | wish you would 20
to Washington think you ought e.
60"
But the captains thoughts we're far
from Washington M that moment His
own face was aIight. and bis eyes
shone.
phoebe" be faltcrcd unbelievingly.
what was you goin' TO sayl DO you
mean that-that'-
The side door Of the house opened
The next instant Mr.. Tidditt. a drip
ping umbrella in his hand. entered the
sitting room
Hello. Whit be hailed. Just run
in for a minu . TO say howdy." Then
he noticed the schoolmistress. and his
expression changed oh. How bc
YOU. Miss Dawes;" be said. Il didn't
see you fust of Don't run away on
my account"
81 was Just going" said Phoebe. but
toning hcr Jacket Captain Cy accom-
panied her TO the door
"Goodby." she snid There wns
something else ! meant 10 say but |
.hink II is best to wait hope 10
have some good news for you soon.
something that will send you TO Wash
ington with a light heart. Perhaps ]
shall hear tomorrow. II so l will call
after school and tell you"
"Yes, do" urged the captain eager
ly. You'll find me here waitin'. Good
news or not. do come. IL amt said
all I wanted to myself"
He returned to the sitting room
The town clerk was standing by the
stove. He looked troubled.
whats the row. Asey' asked Cy
cheerily lie was ovcrfowing with
good nature
"Oh. nothin' special" replied Mr..
Tidditt. You look joyful enough for
two Of us. Had good company. amt
your"
"Why. yes: bout as good as there Is.
What makes you look so glumi"
Asaph hesitated
"Phoebe was here yesterday. too.
want sheT' he asked.
"Yup What of itT'
"And the day afore thatr
"No. not for three days afore that
But what OF 1t. ! ask your
"Well. now. Cy. you mustn't get mad.
I'm a friend Of yours. and friends
ought TO be able to say most anything
to each other. lf-lf ! was you ]
wouldn't let Phoebe come so often
not here. you know, at your house
Course | know she comes with Bos'n
and all. but
"Out with itv' The captains tone
was ominous. what are you drivin'
atf"
The caller fidgeted.
"Well Whit" he stammered. "there's
talkin' goin' on, that's all"
"Talkin'2 What kind Of talkin'r
swell, you know the kind. This
town does a good deal Of II. specially
after church and prayer meetin'.
Seems II they thought twas a sort OF
proper place. don't myself | kind
Of like to keep my charity and brother
ly love spread out through the week.