lly in and then stoop and kiss her. He returned to the sitting
room and closed the door behind him.

"We see she was asleep afore we come in," explained Asaph. "We see you
and her through the window."

The captain looked hurriedly at the window indicated. Then he stepped
over and pulled the shade down to the sill, doing the same with the
curtains of the other two windows.

"What's the matter?" inquired Bailey, trying to be facetious. "'Fraid of
'Lonzo's crowd spyin' on us?"

Captain Cy did not reply. He did not even sit down, but remained
standing, his back to the stove.

"Well?" he asked shortly. "Did you fellers want to see me for anything
'special?"

"Wanted to see what had struck you all to once," replied Mr. Tidditt.
"Bailey says you scared him half to death this forenoon. And you look
now as if somebody's ghost had riz and hollered 'Boo!' at you. For the
land sakes, Whit, what IS it?"

The captain drew his hand across his forehead.

"Ghost?" he repeated absently. "No, I haven't SEEN a ghost. There!
there! don't mind me. I ain't real well to-day, I guess." He smiled
crookedly.

"Don't you want to hear about my vote-grabbin' cruise?" asked Tidditt.
"I was flatterin' myself you'd be tickled to hear I'd done so well. Why,
even Marcellus Parker says he may vote for you--if he makes up his mind
that way."

Marcellus was a next-door neighbor of Alonzo Snow's. But Captain Cy
didn't seem to care.

"Hey?" he murmured. "Yes. Well?"

"WELL! Is that all you've got to say? Are you really sick, Cy? Or is
Bos'n sick?"

"No!" was the answer, almost fierce in its utterance. "She isn't sick.
Don't be a fool."

"What's foolish about that? I didn't know but she might be. There's
mumps in town and--"

"She's all right; so shut up, will you! There, Ase!" he added. "I'm the
fool myself. Don't mind my barkin'; I don't mean it. I am about sick, I
cal'late. Be better to-morrer, maybe."

"What's got into you? Was that letter of Bailey's--"

"Hush!" The captain held up his hand. "I thought I heard a team."

"Depot wagon, most likely," said Bailey. "About time for it! Humph!
seems to be stoppin', don't it? Was you expectin' anybody? Shall I go
and--"

"No! Set still."

The pair on the sofa sat still. Captain Cy stood like a statue in the
middle of the floor. He squared his shoulders and jammed his clenched
fists into his pockets. Steps crunched the gravel of the walk. There
came a knock at the door of the dining ro