Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-19
CHAPTER XXI,

~fHE next morning Aunt Fanny
had hard time of it. Her
mistress was petuant there
. was no sunshine in the bright
August day as it appeared to her. To-
ward dawn, after she had counted
many millions of black sheep jumping
backward over fence, she had fallen
asleep. Aunt Fanny obeyed her usual
instructions on this luclSless morning.
1t was Beverly's rule to be called ev-
cry morning at o'clock. But how
was her attendant to know that the
graceful young creature. who had kick
ed the Counterpart to the foot Of tho
bed and had mauled the pillow out OF
all shape. had slept for less than thirty
minutes? How was she to know that
the flushed face and frown were born
In the course Of night of distressing
perplexities? She knew only that the
sleeping beauty who lay before her
was the falrest creature In all the uni
verse. For some minutes Aunt Fanny
stood off and admired the rich youthful
glory of the sleeper, prophetcally re-
luctant to disturb her happiness. Then
she obeyed the impulse Of duty and
spoke the summoning words.
"Wha-what time Is it, demanded
the newcomer from the land of Nod,
stretching her fine young body with Il
splendid but disconnected yawn.
"Seben. Miss Bev'ly. Wha' time do
O. co'se. Did yo' all have nice sleep.
honey?" and Aunt Fanny went bliss
fully about the business of the hour.
Il didn't sleep wink. confound It,"
grumbled Beverly rubbing her eyes
and turning on her back to glare up at
the tapestry above the couch.
''Yo' WASH winkin' any when All
fust come into de room, femme tell
yo'." cackled Aunt Fanny. with caus-
tic freedom.
See here, now, Aunt Fanny, I'm not
going to stand any lecture from you
this morning. When fellow hasn't
slept a.
"Who's a-lecturin' anybody, Aid lax
to know? Ah'm jes' tellin yo' what
yo' was a-doin' when All came into de
room. Yo' was a-sleepin' petty dog
gone tight, lemme tell yo'. Is yo' goin'
out TO- yo' walk befo' b'eakfus'. honey7
Cause II yo' is, yo' all II be obleeged
to climb out'n dat bald maghty quick
like. Yo BAT is ready, Miss Bev'ly."
Beverly splashed the water with I'm.
reasonable fcrocity for few minutes,
trying to enjoy n diversion that had
not failed her until this morning.
! c1,n
looking darkly through her window
into the mountains above, III you
can't brush my hair--ouch!-any easier
than this III have some one else do
1t, that's all. You're a regular old
bear"
no nr honey" was ali the COM
placeut bear said in reply, without al
tering her methods in the least.
We'll" said Beverly threateningly,
with shake of her head, "be careful,
that's all. Have you heard the news"
"Wha' news, Miss Bev'ly?"
Were going back to Washin'ton."
THANK de Lawd. When?"
Il don't know. I've just this instant
made up my mind. l think We'll start
|
isn't It? Well. look and see If you
don't know. stupid. The 10th? My
goodness. Where has the time gone,
anyway? Well, We'll start some time
between the 18th and the 18th"
"Of dis mont, Miss Bevlyl"
mo. September. l want you TO
look up time table for me today. We
must see about the trains"
"Dey's on'y one leayin' heah daily, an
hit goes at in de mo'nin' One train
a day. Ain dat scanlous?"
I'm sure. Aunt Fanny, It is their
business, not ours" said Beverly Sc
verely.
"P'raps dey mought be runnin' a
exclusion roun' bout September, Miss
Bev'ly." specialized Aunt Fanny con-