News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-07-31

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his garden, while an Indian stood
guard at his front door.
Rebecca received her guests as Lady
Washington Randolph was the gen
eral. Amy, representing Pocahontas,
stood beneath bower of flowers,
holding bows and arrows for the
archers Sallie was to superintend
the croquet. But where was the in
ventor of all this? The minuet could
not go on without him. Where was
Mr.. Dobbs?
cts his coat" explained George.
cit fitted clear over his head"
George" said Rebecca, sternly,
"take off your mustache and go and
find Mr.. Dobbs."
George was unwilling to go. He
ran as fast as he could, but it was
growing very warm and his high
boots did not make running easy.
At one crossing he was obliged to
stop for hack to pass. A familiar
face looked out of the hack, which
came to a sudden standstill.
George" said uncle 'Zekel, "what
have you got on your head?'
"It's yours, said George. ""Twas
in your garret."
"You are very conspicuous" said
uncle Ezekiel. ''Get in"
George soon found himself riding
toward home.
"Oh, crackityp' thought George.
''Only three blocks more.''
e,,1 - ,, ca.1 Gaono-a
aloud. "Want some soda, uncle ?''
George knew his uncle's weakness
for soda-water.
Driver, Rand's drug store" said
uncle 'Zekel. eff your clothing were
less peculiar, George, you might have
some. But not now, sir; not now. "
81 couldn't swaller," said George.
"Why not?''
Il couldn't. Did you get Rebecca' s
letter?''
"No, sir; | got no letter. In what
way is letter connected with your
sore throat?"
cit tells"
''Upon my word y
"Children are u care, SIR" said
uncle Ezekiel, addressing the drug
gist over his glass of soda.
He, he! They have been a-goin' ,
sir Yes, they \ l1fss.e so, burst
out the druggist Its nature Mr..
Wood"
Here the druggists whole attention
became absorbed out of the window.
Uncle 'Zekel, turning, saw a short
young man in light blue stockings
and linen duster standing at the
door of his hack. It was Mr..
Dobbs.) Uncle 'Zekel stepped out.
"Thunder and lightningP' he heard
the young man say, and the heavens
Immediately answered with a re-
sounding peal of thunder. Now if
there was one thing that made uncle
'Zekel nervous it was thunder
storm.
"What do you mean," he said to
his nephew, talking to a rascally,
swearing actor You, sir, stand out
of my way" and uncle 'Zekel slam
med the carriage door in Mr.. Dobbs'
face and drove off.
George settled back in the corner
and fixed his eyes resignedly on the
curtain-tassel.
Crash bang went the thunder, and
little dashes OF wind, and little dashes
of rain, and tongues of lightning
came and went, until with rush the
torrents descended and blotted out
the world.
II hope the poodle is in,' unused
uncle 'Zekel, 81 shall speak to your
father, George, about your peculiar
conduct and the company in which |
found you
As he spoke he produced a plaided
neck-scarf from his valise, Put this
around your neck.
Il sha mt" blurted out George.
"There's some people at your
house"
Just then the carriage drew up at
uncle 'Zekel's door. 1t stood hospi-
tally open and the hall was filled with
a gayer assembly than had ever
graced it's precincts before. Violins
were playing, there was laughing, ex-
claiming, a perfect hubbub in the
quiet old place.
"I've saved the lemonade, George, y
shouted the Indian "Oht' He drop
ped the lemonade, punch-bowl and
all, upon the ground.
There was "a sudden hush.
Uncle 'Zekef looked about him
Pray, continue to enjoy yourselves,
he said, huskily, and selecting an UNI
brella from the rack he stepped out
into the rain.
Wed better CO." said one and
another.
"Wait till after the STORM" said
Rebecca, calmly. "How can we get
the carriages
"Send George" "
"Never! Haven't we sent him
once?" Rebecca burst into tears.
Darling Rebecca!'' said the girls
George, how can you make her cry p
"Itwas detestable trick, George ,
"To bring him in a hackP'
"You are smart, George" sale
Randolph, sternly, "but "a college
man would scorn a thing like that.
You may say it if you like" hum
med George, as he turned to the back
door. There were tears IN his eyes
Even Amy blamed him, and come tc
think of it he was always blamed
He looked blindly at the ruined deco
rations of the garden, at the dripping
flags, the salad left out in the rain
the plates, the forlorn lanterns. HI
heard Mr.. Dobbs' voice in the hall
"a rascally, swearing actor" Mr.
Dobbs was saying. A three-cornereC
smile squeezed itself into Georges
face. Mr.. Dobbs was so funny in hi
dripping blue satin, so courageous
so gay, that had George turned tt
look at him his anger must have van
ished. But he would not turn. HI
sneaked off down the cellar stairs ant
sat down on a barrel facing th
poodle.
81 wish was a poodle" " soliloquiz
ed George. "No brothers. No sis
ters. It's easy, easy, easy all th
time,n