Cap'n Abe, Storekeeper: A Story of Cape CodCooper, James A.
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Cap'n Abe, Storekeeper: A Story of Cape Cod
Cooper, James A.
Cape Cod (Mass.) -- Fiction
"Ye see," said Cap'n Abe, smiling again, "Narrer P'int is re'lly an
island, even at low water. But _then_ a hoss an' buggy can splatter
across't the breach. But it makes Marm Coffin seasick even to ride
through water in a buggy. Marked, she is, as you might say.
"Well, now, Louise, child," the storekeeper added, "I'm a-gassin' 'bout
things that don't much int'rest you, I cal'late. I'll light a lamp an'
show you up to your room. When Perry Baker comes by and by, I'll help
him in with your trunks. You needn't worry about 'em."
It had been foggy on the Sound the night before and Louise had not
slept until the boat had rounded Point Judith. So she was not averse
to retiring at this comparatively early hour.
Cap'n Abe led her upstairs to a cool, clean, and comfortable chamber.
The old four-posted, corded bedstead stood in the middle of the room,
covered with a blue-and-white coverlet, with sheets and pillow cases as
white as foam. It could not be doubted that Cap'n Abe had carried out
his idea of hospitality. The spare room was always ready for the
possible guest.
"Good-night, uncle," she said, smiling at him as he handed her the
lamp. "I believe I am going to have a delightful time here."
"Of course you be! Of course!" he exclaimed. "An' if I ain't here,
Cap'n Am'zon will show you a better time than I could. Good-night.
Sleep well, Louise."
He kissed her on the forehead. But she, impulsively, pressed her fresh
lips to the storekeeper's weather-beaten cheek. Before she closed the
door of the bedroom she heard him clumping downstairs in his heavy
boots.
After that he must have removed his footgear for, although she heard
doors open and close, she could not distinguish his steps.
"I'm glad I came!" she told herself with enthusiasm as she prepared to
retire. "What a delightful old place it is! And Uncle Abram--why,
he's a _dear_! Daddy-prof was not half enthusiastic enough about the
Cape Cod folk. It has been a distinct loss to me that I was never here
before."
She laid out her toilet requisites upon the painted pine bureau and
hung her negligee over the back of a chair. As she retied the ribbon
in one of the sleeves of her nightgown she thought:
"And that Tapp boy came back a second time! Some fisherman's son, I
suppose. But exceedingly nice looking!"
A little later the feather bed had taken her into its arms and she
almost instantly fell asleep. Occasionally through the night she was
roused by unfamiliar sounds. There was a fog coming in from the sea
and the siren at the lighthouse on the Neck began to bellow like a
bereft cow.
There were movements downstairs. Once she heard a wagon stop, and
voices. Then the bumping of heavy boxes on the side porch. Her
trunks. Voices below in the living-room--gruff, yet subdued. Creaking
footsteps on the stair; then Louise realized that they were carrying
something heavy down and out to the waiting wagon. She was just
dropping to sleep when the wagon was driven away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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