Mary-Gusta | Page 4

eh?"
"Humph! I don't know who with. Everybody's talkin' about it, anyway.
Up to the boardin' house they've been talking about mighty little else
ever since he died."

"I know, but talk's one thing and print's another. I'm goin' to leave it
out.
"When the firm went out of business in 1879, Captain Hall followed
the sea again, commanding the ships Faraway, Fair Wind, and Treasure
Seeker, and the bark Apollo. Later he retired from the sea and has not
been active in the same or otherwise since. In 1894 he married Augusta
Bangs Lathrop, widow of the late Reverend Charles Lathrop, formerly
pastor of the Congregational Church in this town. Captain Hall had
been residing in his native town, South Harniss, but after his marriage
he took up his residence in Ostable, purchasing the residence formerly
owned by Elnathan Phinney on Phinney's Hill, where he lived until his
lamented demise. Mrs. Hall passed away in 1896. The sudden removal
of Captain Hall from our midst leaves a stepdaughter, Mary Augusta
Lathrop, aged seven. The--"
Here Mr. Sparrow's train of thought collided with the obstruction which
was derailing many similar trains in Ostable and South Harniss.
"I say, Perce," he observed "what's goin' to become of that kid of
Marcellus's--his wife's, I mean? Marcellus didn't have any relations, as
far as anybody knows, and neither did his wife. Who's goin' to take care
of Mary-'Gusta?"
Percy shook his head. "Don't know," he answered. "That's what all
hands are askin'. I presume likely she'll be looked after. Marcellus left
plenty of money, didn't he? And kids with money can generally find
guardians."
"Yup, I guess that's so. Still, whoever gets her will have their hands full.
She's the most old-fashioned, queerest young-one ever I saw."
So much for Mr. Sparrow and his fellow laborer for the Enterprise.
Now to listen for a moment to Judge Baxter, who led the legal
profession of Ostable; and to Mrs. Baxter who, so common report
affirmed, led the Judge. The pair were upstairs in the Baxter house,
dressing for the funeral.

"Daniel," declared Mrs. Baxter, "it's the queerest thing I ever heard of.
You say they don't know--either of them--and the child herself doesn't
know, either."
"That's it, Ophelia. No one knows except myself. Captain Hall read the
letter to me and put it in my charge a year ago."
"Well, I must say!"
"Yes, I know, I said it at the time, and I've been saying it to myself ever
since. It doesn't mean anything; that is, it is not binding legally, of
course. It's absolutely unbusinesslike and unpractical. Simply a letter,
asking them, as old friends, to do this thing. Whether they will or not
the Almighty only knows."
"Well, Daniel, I must say I shouldn't have thought you, as his lawyer,
would have let him do such a thing. Of course, I don't know either of
them very well, but, from what little I've heard, I should say they know
as much about what they would be supposed to do as--as you do about
tying a necktie. For mercy sakes let me fix it! The knot is supposed to
be under your chin, not under your ear as if you were going to be
hung."
The Judge meekly elevated the chin and his wife pulled the tie into
place.
"And so," she said, "they can say yes or no just as they like."
"Yes, it rests entirely with them."
"And suppose they say no, what will become of the child then?"
"I can't tell you. Captain Hall seemed pretty certain they wouldn't say
no."
"Humph! There! Now you look a little more presentable. Have you got
a clean handkerchief? Well, that's an unexpected miracle; I don't know
how you happened to think of it. When are you going to speak with

them about it?"
"Today, if they come to the funeral, as I suppose they will."
"I shall be in a fidget until I know whether they say yes or no. And
whichever they say I shall keep on fidgeting until I see what happens
after that. Poor little Mary-'Gusta! I wonder what WILL become of
her."
The Judge shook his head.
Over the road between South Harniss and Ostable a buggy drawn by an
aged white horse was moving slowly. On the buggy's seat were two
men, Captain Shadrach Gould and Zoeth Hamilton. Captain Gould, big,
stout, and bearded, was driving. Mr. Hamilton, small, thin, smooth-
faced and white-haired, was beside him. Both were obviously dressed
in their Sunday clothes, Captain Shadrach's blue, Mr. Hamilton's black.
Each wore an uncomfortably high collar and the shoes of each had been
laboriously polished. Their faces, utterly unlike in most respects, were
very solemn.
"Ah hum!" sighed Mr. Hamilton.
Captain Shadrach snorted impatiently.
"For the land sakes