The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-05-04

J. my beet blw, "sill you acocp, cup Of cot
1, fee to drink with your bresdr
. Her dim black eyes we're falssd 10 mine,
! ard her tall forehead contracted ~ she gss
? I'd hxsdly into my face. She made neither
D motion not reply for long momen, while
, felt the afummer's smile piercing me
G from the rear. She deliberately took pair
. Of gold-bowed glasses from her pocket and
soiasted them calmly. Then she took my
! measure from my shock OF red hair 10 my
stout fishing shoes.
, Before she finished her scrutiny, my face
} was red as my hair, and the aroma Of the
} coff had grown dlstasteful. still stood
! my ground while she removed her glasses
and cleared oh the end OF her seat.
J sit down here, she said brIeny, much to
. my surprise. How do you thiok can hold
tray ard beg eat and dtink all at the
same timer
} I'm into the scat while the drummer's
grin extended from tar to cor.
!. Don't sit there holding that tray so help
, lessly, she next ordered. Rest II on your
knees and cat these sandwiches, whereupon
J he hespei one aide OF the tray. Aud drink
that CT fse yourself. You are probably
hollow clear to yonr toes. | never raw a
boy who was not.
i III II myself slowly shrivelling. was
no longer the vlr!ucusly indignant youpg
msn who had occupied the seat across the
ai.le, nor did my companion sc, m the same
old neglected lady.
| 60, the cefiee for you, stammered.
What did you do that for5 she asked
bluntly and for an instant could DOT think
why, especially with that drummer taking
n tvary word.
You thought, conf iausd the old lady that
looked as III, ugh needed II and couldn't
afford to buy it.
squlrmed aud I'll. foolish and very
youthful.
Well, now that you've b ugbt II, young
msn,d ick 1t ard may you never touch any
thing stronger. ntver took to beverages
OF any kind myself. regard cofrse as
brain destroyer, here she looked severely
at my head, Al tea is demorallzing.
Iassured Ter never drank tea, where
upon she laid large piece OF chocolate
cake and two fat doushnuts on the tray.
ate meekly and drank the coffee, exper-
ienciug that mellow feeling used to have
after my mother had spanked me.
Where do you come from, young man
asked the old lady, adding the leg Of
chicken to III rapidly diminishing heap on
the tray.
New York
vile city which you should avoid as
you would p'sgGt. "Lat do you do
theres
I'm newspaper reporter, | replied In
subdued voice.
A perniclous employment, Young mar,
and ere leading to much harm. ! hope you
ntver report murders.
The drummer turned toward the window
but his shoulders shook. could have In
creased their motion with pleasure and
eaae. Instead, / answered my catechist,
I'm obliged to occasionally.
IL will certainly ruin your morale, pro
viding you have any left, she returned
frankly. Where have you started for now
To North Woods on vacation, | an.
swered ard then plucked up courage to
make an independent remark. These dough-
nuts taste Of the farm, said. ] used to
live ON farm myself and don't believe !
can be mistaken. For the first time | look.
ed 50 uarely into the old lady's face. Her
deep set eyes twinkled.
Isuppose, youpg man, you want to know
II live on farm. Why done you come
right out and ask me? It's best to be
straight and honest in this world, even II
you are connected with them worldly news.
psptrs. live az Cattkettle Bend, twenty
miles Forth Of here ard my name Is Mrs.
Jones. Ever heard tell OF that name be.
fores
choked over the last crumb Of cake and
l,ughed outright, 1t does seem bit fami.
liar. Mine is Philip Dent.
Lever favored the name Of Philip and
the only Dentses | know are the mernest
folks on earth. hope you amt related to
the Catskettle Bend Dentses.
assured her fervently was rot and she
turned her attention to my empty tray.
judge you like douRhnuts, young msns
Yes, admitted.
And pumpkin pies, and baked pudiings
and sweet corn ard tomatoes and squash
and boiled cabbage
laughed and smacked my lipa. Well,
rather. You're hitting ofl all the things
do like.
thought SO by your looks, said Mrs.
Jones innocentIy ard Ifet my color rising
at the doubtful compliment.
She adjusted her glasses ard carefully
surveyed me sgain. Then che peered up
at my thin valise In the rack and at my
dining rod in the corner, adding, and fsh-
log
Il eht sgain, answered heartily, | Ike
to fish.
Young man. two weeks board 10 North
Woods will cost you more than q cup OF
c, flee.
The drummer grinned again. He hsd
been watching Us with open inierest.tqrar-
Ing hlmteif around 10 hls seat that he
nigh. he better command the scene Of my
downfall. That cad and The girls bad re-
iurrtd. They were also staring.
I'm afraid 90, | answered me- kly sDd
sI,bed she would call me suything except
"youna mar, . IL tote which made me
feel my old time curl, h4rsIng about my
,louders.
have an Idea, she went on medltstively.
IfJtu can put up with the sort Of ylctuals