Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-02-22

sound of Mrs Sands's voice.
My precious Harold what in the world
is this all over your head?"
Mud replied the young hopeful. with
truthful nonchalance. His mother held
up her hands in horror. How did it
come there?" she demanded.
Il threw sand all over the little girl
who lives across the street, and then
she threw mud at me-"
She must be very ill-bred child!"
exclaimed Mrs. Sands. Some of the other
boarders exchanged glances. Il cannot
have you associate with her. l shall COM
plain to Miss Quimby at once"
Betty giggled aloud and peeked through
the blinds
She's headed this way. Some Of the
folks are trying not to laugh, and some
look mad Oh, crackyl That boys
thrown a whole handful Of dirt and hit
Mr. Morton right in the mouth and COW
cred his white bosom shirt all over.
There! He's covered Mrs. Joness white,
linen suit now-my, amt she mad"
quiet little Mrs. Jones for once spoke up
sharply.
"One moment, Mrs Sands. Before you
go to complain Of other children, will you
kindly remove your own menagerie?"
For "A moment there was silence. then
Mrs Sands apologized profusely. Harold
was so playful; always joking; he meant
no harm; she was sorry, and of course il
he did it again she would speak to his
father about II when they returned in the
fall.
As time went on. Mr.. Morton eluded his
pursuers more and more. and their tenn
pers went from bad to worse. Mrs Sands
wanted Mrs. Jones sent away because she
called Harold names
Il cannot have my boy spoken OF in
that manner" she said. She wanted
many other unreasonable things-which
10 M IN
cottage should be refurnished.
Il have twenty-eight rooms in my house
at home she kept remarking. land I re-
I furnish them throughout every fall. This
( house looks as If the things had been in
/ II for years"
/ Of some kind from either Of the two wom-
en-, Betty marked 1t on the calendar that
/ hung under the kitchen clock. Miss Dru-
/ silla sat on the back piazza shelling peas
! one morning, feeling almost discouraged.
! The indications pointed 70 a trying day.
I Betty came in with letter,
do read it quick, Miss Drusilla." she
/ begged. 1T says: After five days return
| TO w. W. Sands. New York"
Drusilla broke the seal. Perhaps he
! wants them to come home" she cried,
! hope in her eyes. As she read. her first
! expression was surprise, then she laughed
| and finally burst into tears just as Mr..
! Morton came around the corner. There
/ was look in his face that made Betty
/ slip quietly away.
Bad news?" he inquired.
Il don't know" gasped Miss Drusilla,
half-laughing. half-crying. putting the let
ter into his hand.
Dear Madam" he read-"I regret ex-
ceedingly the necessity for this letter; but
my family are not satisfied with the
amount and quality of the food on your
table, and wish me to say that you must
do better. l have suggested that plain liv-
ing for awhile will do them all good and
told them to eat all they could of the
/ stun that was coming l also advised
them to buy crackers and cheese, dough-
nuts, etc al the village store for lunches
! between meals. Canned meats, especially
corned beef and canned lobster, are very
strengthening and they have lived in this
way for sometime; but now they feel the
need of a radical change. Therefore, they
request me to say that unless this can be
effected at once they will be obliged to
leave. Very truly w. w. Sands"
Mr.. Morton burst into a roar OF laugh
ter. This is too ridiculous for tears, Miss
Quimby!" he said. when he could speak
But let's give them a radical change II
they want it!'
An hour later. Miss Drusila Quimby
went to Mrs. Sandss room, and handed hei
the letter Her cheeks were pink, and heI
usually neat hair was slightly ruffied.
Mr.. Morton wishes me to say that the
sooner you leave the better we shall bt
pleased" she said calmly.
Mrs. Sands stared in angry astonish.
ment; for once at loss for words.
Mr.. Morton! What do you mean, wo
MANI" demanded Miss Hathaway angrily
"Only that I've promised to marry him,
replied Drusilla.-[By Doris Redfern II
the Sunday Magazine.