Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-02-06
BY GRACE SALINCER.


has been sick, Mrs. Simpson"
Amy looked fondly at the remains
of tin-headed doll she carried.
"Yes," she said. she been sick"
"Whooping-cough?" asked Aunt
Lucy, with interest.
mo, fever"
Dear me. how awful" condolce
Aunt Lucy. what kind?"
High fever" announced Mrs.
Simpson, gravely.
Mercy! how high?"
Mrs. Simpsons head went thought
fully to one side. Hundred an sew
enty-fve," she announced, after de
liberation.
Aunt Lucy started. What was her
pulse?"
Five hundevd an seventeen" said
Amy, glibly.
A smile began to play about Aunt
Lucy's lips. What was her resPira-
tion?" she inquired. politely.
For a moment Amy stumbled-but
only for a moment. She was not the
one 10 confess ignorance. "She
amt got none" she announced,
finally.
Now" said Amy, with the air Of
a ringmaster, pretend didn't have
no nurse"
Aunt Lucy docilely pretended. She
was used to Amy's high-hsnded way
Of conducting affairs, and Amy-an
only child in household Of grown
ups-knew the rules of the game Of
lady to nicely.
"You know, Mis- JONES'" began
Amy, cheerfully, 81 amt got no
nurse"
"You don't say So" said Aunt
Lucy. How do you expect TO get
one?"
Well" said Amy, 81 yust avatise
an avatise, but"-with a sigh-"ail
the drunken ones is mostly taken"
"You like the drunken ones,
them"
Amy sighed. "Oh, Aunt Lucy" she
said, "how you s'pect knows wheth-
er like drunken ones or not. Tend
! liked them"
Just then the door opened and a
young man entered He was . tall
young man with black hair and eye
glasses. He looked rather excited.
He greeted Amy boiSterously, but
looked at Aunt Lucy. Hello, kid"
he called; "come here and dss mel"
Amy frowned. Aunt Lucy sudden
" dropped her book and looked out
Of the window.
Were playin'," said Amy, sternly.
THE deuce you are." said the
young man. What are you play
ing?"
ME an Aunt Lucy's playin' lady "
announced Amy.
"May play, too" asked the
young man, meekly.
Amy thought about IT, Men can't
play lady" at length she decided.
The young man looked crushed.
Then he frightened visibly. "Sup-
pose we play something else" he
said.
But me an Aunt Lucy was hsvin'
such good time said Amy, regre l.
fully.
you can have a better time" said
the young man, confidently, III YOU
let me join"
"All right" said Amy; you be the
butcher"
The young man was disappointed.
"1ll tell you what" he said, play
was thief"
Amy's face glowed TEND you
stole the chair!" she said, excitedly.
NO" said the young man; lets
play / stole a-kiss." His eyes
sought Aunt Lucy's face again, but
she was still looking out of the win
dow. He wondered, though If that
was a shadow or dark red streak
behind her ear. She stood calm and
cold. He decided il was a shadow.
He sighed sadly. So did Amy. but
impatiently.
"Oh. Uncle Harry" she said, "who
ever heard Of stealth kisses. That
amt muffin TO steal People yust
give EN-"
Everybody doesn't" he said
Nv ybody does when you asks Tor
EN-" said Amy, who was well brought
up.
Ladies don't-slways, said the
young man, still looking al the back Of
Aunt Lucy's head.
Amy laughed. Ladies Is too big to
kiss" she announced triumphantly.
'cepting other ladies' an their nus
bands an their Ill girls"
suppose they haven't any husbands
or little girls?" said the Young man,
gloomily. They have TO kiss some
one. don't they7"
Amy looked puzzled. "Oh. Uncle
Harry" she said az last, how ! know ?
This amt playin'."
Well" besaid. you won't play what
! want. It's an awfully nice game" he