The Washington herald., 1907-11-05
CHAPTER VII.
The CaImonts, Father and SON.

The NaimOntss father anu son.
The Calmonts were generally called the
Calmucks. though their cast OF coun-
tenance was anything bat Monaghan. Dr.
Hugh Calmont was a huge man OF a
ruddy countenance who brought an al
most offensive atmosphere Of health and
wen-being into the sick room. He was
not popular in nervous cases. Dyspeptic
ladies and vaIetudiuarian gentlemen. who
liked a droopy practitioner TO sympathiza
with them and tell them how similarly
ne had been afflicted. had been known
absolutely to loathe Dr. Calmont
But there were few Of these in the
neighborhood of Kirktown, and "the
Doaktor" was personally OF an eXtraordi-
nary popularity. Literally he enjoyed it
that is the word. He knew himself 20
be popular. and on the strength OF it.
even jovially he bullied Il. But stln he
bullied il. Careless miners, fighty wives,
silly girls, possibly prodigal young men
were threatened with the DOaktor" And
they became good" on the spot.
His wife seemed hardly the helpmeet
for him. that is. 10 judge by the law Of
probabilities. Mrs. Calmont was a Ian
guild woman, tall and dark. rather silent.
OF a quite invincible good humor. care
less of things domestic. and her numer-
Gus family had apparently fatigued her
1t, the Healthy Family. had been brought
up. dragged up. kicked up. in the midst
Of the most inexpressible hUgger-mugger
The Healthy Family lived in an elastic
house 1t possessed unnumbered friends,
and no one was surprised when two or
three OF these appeared in the evening
with the obvious intention OF staying the
night Nor was there ever the least diff
Guilty. Shakedowns appeared and disap-
peared as by magic. The peculiarities
and capacities OF every sofa in the house
were known-thosef which needed chairs
in rows TO keep you from rolling of
them, and the others which, with the
family photograph album under one leg.
did very well when merely turned face
10 the wall.
Special corners OF the dining-room and
drawing groom. where the boards were
notably soft. had also their devotees.
Four boys and three girls. who considered
posed the sum total Of the Healthy Fam
| ily Of Kirktown.
They came into this story over the wall
Of the Doctors orchard. An empty cube
sugar box did for spring board, and
both girls and boys prided themselves on
the flying leap with which they were wont
20 enter the garden Of Glebe End cottage.
Neither Vida nor the little music mistress
were at all surprised 10 see them. They
were often thus interrupted. Only Miss
| Nunsby, who held greatly her talks with
/ Vida Bryan very near her heart, some
what resented the frequency Of the in
| Fiction.
Hello, Calmucks," said Vida.
Halo yourself, and see how you like
| it," cried the Twin Infant Phenomena
Willie and Wilhelmina Calmont. going off
as quick as a "rip-rap" cracker They
were still at school. but the fact was con-
sidered 70 be under the rose. It was not
polite to allude TO 1t.
I'VE have come TO see you," said Jean
and Jessica. the two elder girls, tanning
| themselves with rhubarb leaves-a luxury
the whole family had thOughtfuliy pro-
vided itself with en- route.
Good" said Aaron and Herbert (eon-
monty called Hur), the two elder bows
both horne from college, have some
girls, No end useful and ornamental
Suck one end and fan yourself with the
other,"
But the third son. Phil CalmOnt, though
he had taken the flying leap into the
garden with the others, hung back a
little. scarcely raising his eyes from the
rose graftings TO look at Vida and her
friend. the little music mistress.
The rest roasted like crows, anywhere
about. the Twins occupying the corner OF
a wall, where they made room for Vida
between them. She had given up heI
place on the summer seat 10 Jean and
Jessica, who. having wedged little Miss
| Nunsby tightly between them. now pro-
pitiated her by offering her the contents
of their ''skirt-pockets The girls of The
Healthy Famill- all carried 'skirt-pock
ets"-that is, pockets tied round the wais
under the outer skirt, and filed with va.
i rious treasures.
i Grandmother did" they said in ex.
cuse; "and she was minister's wife fol