The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-05
Written for the Vermont watchman.l
Harris MOntague...A Story for Boys.
BY NED GWEN.
BY NED GWEN,
" What's the fun?'

What's the fun?'
go Hal, you're just in time. Tom
has brought us the richest thing" and
Frank Halliday threw himself back on
the green grass by the side of Jimmie
Harmon, who greeted the newcomer
with only halloo!" Frank Halliday
tumbled and rolled about, tickling jim
mics ear with straw-sometimes Civ
ing him punch in the side, then a
friendly pat, for they were sworn
friends. Though Frank seldom or
never kept still, Jimmie, at times, was
quietness personified.
Tom Meredith was too much excited
and delighted with the tale he had to
tell for more than nod to Harry
James, as he gracefully dropped down
with the others, saying: " Go ahead"
He must 60 back instead of ahead, if
we let you in,'' said Jimmie. "You
need not begin at the beginning. Hal
has been there and must know Montague
and the rest of them"
you're right, Frank. l know the
snob; but what is it this time?"
60, it's too good. You remember
when we were there last year. The
Montagues gave party and invited
every boy at Professor Reid's except
John Carroll, and Johnnie was the
best scholar in school,"
81 know all of the ms and outs of that
mean performance. Tell me what has
happened since. hope he has got his
pay"
" Well, you see, wrote to my cousin,
Fred Allen, that we were going to a
party at Judge Montague's that last
week of school, and he remembered
more particularly about it because
uncle had met the judge several times
in Washington andhad entertained him
at his own home for a day or two, though
Fred never happened to see him. About
that same time their doctor said
grandma, who lives at uncle's and was
quite feeble, must go South for the win
ter, and auntie, of course, went with
her, and uncle had so many g cases !"
on his hands (he's lawyer, you know
and would have to be away from home
so often they concluded to send Fred
here, to go to school with me. But you
know how sick / was and couldn't 90
back, and haven't gone yet; but Fred
came, and uncle with him. He stayed
here a week before school commenced,
and one day happened to speak of the
Mentagues, and said he should prob
ably find one friend when he got there,
Harris Montague l think | whistled,
for l knew he would think him the
meanest specimen out. / didn't tell
him all | knew, but did tell him about
that party. When he found out that he
and his sister Florence were what they
were, he made up his mind to play a lit
tie joke on them. Professor Reid hap
pened here the day before school COM
menced and Fred went up on the even
ing train with him; and, without telling
him the reason why, he asked him if he
would be kind enough to say nothing of
his relatives, as he did not wish the
boys to know anything about them. !
expect the professor suspected what
was up, for he knew how mad was and
how / gave it to that great idiot of a
Harris; and besides, told him would
never recognize his red-headed sister
for | did not wish to know girl who
wasn't lady"
The red-headed part must have
hurt, | tell you, for she thinks her au
burn hair beautiful, and used to think
Tom Meredith awfully lovely too
exclaimed Frank.
Sc don't believe she ever said it,"
go, but she did, and can tell you"-
" Don't, don't, please; want to heal
what Fred did,"
"Pm squelched by your highness %
with considerable emphasis on the las
word, for Hal was so tall and slende
the boys sometimes made good-naturet
fun of him.
"Go ahead, Tom ! Pitch in! Let
have it!''
CAT first the boys were very friendly
for Fred, you know, is fascinating
youth, if he is my cousin," said Tom.
/" My mother says he is the most gen
tlemanly boy she ever saw" said the il
repressible Frank.
g GOOD for your mother-she think
he resembles me, l suppose"
80 go ahead, conceitl'
Well, i will, if can get chance
One day the boys were discussing pc
itics and men, and uncle John wa
mentioned The people in his stat
were quite determined to have him fc
United States senator; but he decline
the nomination, and the boys had bee
readingsome very complimentary thing
of him, when one suddenly said: VIII,
Fred, you are from the same state an
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