The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-24

been over-burdened ants. working day and night for the formic community.
 More than that, as yet Phil Calmont had done but little work himself. To dream had been his avocation, and there was quite an easy chair marked out green. elastic. adjustable as an air eush- ion (due care being taken to eliminate the pricks)-in the privet ledge of the summer house at Nunsby's cottage.
 Incubus holds us all within a barbed wire fence" continued Phil, and James Kahn does the driving. It Is not very hard in our time, but when we have all married one another"
 "Oh!" cried little Miss Nunsby with twinge of helpless bitterness, we are going to do that. are we? I should be glad to know my fate"
 Well" said Philip quietly, "I am only exposing tho situation. Of course, every body can't marry Vida Bryan, can they?"
 No, of course not" said Miss Nunsby, and her hand trembled as she tossed the thread. There was a knot on the heel Of that sock. It was for Phil to wear, and he had well earned the blister which re- suited.
 50 the rest of us must marry or bide single, according to our fates," Philip continued,s tipping his chair dangerously on Its hind legs.
 
 tie Miss Nunsby''; q great many people will need to be great deal more serious before they can earn bread and butter for themselves, let alone for-for a family" Sharp, clipped and dry feN the reproof, but Phil Calmont never blenched.
 'I know-I know what you think of me-" said Phil with his usual philoso- phy, but I will do something one day. You shall not always call me only long and lazy lout.' '' .l5 -.4.
 At this Miss Nunsby blushed quite u pretty pink.
 You have not forgotten that" she said. 'Ah, l only meant to stir you up q little. You are the cleverest of them all, Phil. Why will you persist in doing nothing?'
 My father is not rich" Phil answered quite calmly; "all his money he makes from year to year. He has laid nothing by, and with two boys-Aaron and Hur- at the University, and the youngsters with a tutor, he has nothing to spend me. Besides, the others all run in pairs. while I am a by-product, and must de- pend on anything that may turn up. The batter actually wanted me to become d chemist, so as to be handy when. Aaron and Hur took over the buslness-keep it all In the family, you know ha, hal
 And he initiated his fathers hearty manner, for which he was again reproved by little Miss Nunusby.
 Tt is horrible of you to do that" she said your father is indeed blameable for letting you run about like this with nothing to do but scribble sonnets to Vida Bryan, or come down here to chatter about her while I knit. But just the same Dr. Calmont is ready to do all that he can for you.'
 Granted" said Phil cheerfully, "only that does not happen to be anything which I can accept
 Tn my time" said little Miss Nunsby primly. "boys were expected to do as their parents told them. There is, I be- leve, d commandment in your Bible to that effect"
 "Yes,'' said Phil interrogatively, but not to be 8 chemist and druggist. Even Solomon. who is pretty hard on us. draws the line at that. Why, I should poison the whole parish in no time, and you and my father would be hanged for mur- der. Besides, you need not preach to me after all, you are only year or two older"
 Tn years, yes," sighed Rose Nunsby, but ages and centuries and aeons can- not express the difference in outlook
 At this Philip Calmont moved uneasily His great chair of privet, unused to such treatment. promptly interjected thorn which prieked him sharply into conscious
 
 anced chair stood on four feet.
 What would you have me do, then?'' he asked.
 Little Miss Nunsby kept her eyes on her knitting. There was a great green peace in the redged guadrilated of the garden. Only overhead a hawk planed with slow balaneings and swift, short beats of the wing. Beneath the smaller birds collected and screamed with one accord, while motherly old hens in MT. Nunsby's back yard. though for the mo- ment broodless. nevertheless bristled up and dropped their wings over imaginary chicks as they gazed at the enemy. each with one bright eye turned skyward watching his movements.
 "Do," said Miss Nunsby indignantly replying to Phil Calmont's question. do why every man ought to be able to de- eide that for himself,'
 "I daresay--in theory" groaned Phil dismally; "but in practice it's jolly diff cult when you happen to be a man"
 The truth of this seemed to strike Miss Nunsby, but she recovered herself.
 'Nonsense." she cried: there are only few things that women can do. but q man can do anything, be anything.''
 For instance" suggested Phil. 'King of England. or Pope of Rome!'
 Tut said Miss Nunsby; 'be sensible and set your mind on something
 Well. then" said Phil calmly. "I set my mind on remaining here. becoming an author. and dwelling all my life among the green things and the faces of the kind folk I know and who know me-"
 A quick flush passed over Miss Nuns by's face, something like sheet lightning seen pulsing up towards the zenith on summer nights.
 "Ah. you mean the green lawns abo1t Glebe End Cottage and Vida Bryan's kind face?"
 '.rhat has not been particularly kind of late" owned Phil still. however, shame lessly; fin fact I never get q chance to speak to her. except with all that Healthy Crowd flutterins after me-" And pray. what else can you expect:'