Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-10
CHAPTER XII.
The Prjvet Hedde

The Privet Hedge.
81 am supposed to be like my
father" Philip Calmont, the DOCTORS
third son, was saying to little Miss
N,tnsby,' SO everybody expects me to
run about crying Ha, Ha,' and slap
ping people on the back"
The eye that mocketh at his
father the ravens of the valley
snail pick it OUT rejoined Miss Nuns
by, punctuating with the quick ges,
ture Of her pretty hand, which she
used to throw the dread the way she
wanted it to run. Miss Nunsby kept
her own father, as well as most of the
healthy family, in stockings. To knit
came as natural to her as to breathe.
And Phil Calmont liked 10 drop down
to the small cottage by the abandoned
smithy, which Mr.. Nunsby occupied,
apparently in order to watch ner do
1t. There was a garden behind, and
from the back Of his fathers orchard
Phil had only to cross couple Of
fields. and open low-arched lych-gate
with a leather hasp, to find himself
in the summer-house beside the quiet
knitter with the sharp tongue and the
helpful heart.
Perhaps he went rather too often,
considering the capacities Of Kirktown
for gossip But-he talked mostly
about Vida, while Miss Nunsby smiled
and knitted. He, too, had his hours
of philosophy, this quiet youth.
"Wny do you come here?" Miss
Nunsby asked him sometimes, "the
rest will be over the wall talking to
Vida-you know you would far rather
be there!"
YES" murmured Phil lazily cross.
hands together. with his mead in the
hollow of the palms, as he leaned
backed against the hedge. 1t was
mixed of privet and thorn, and to re.
cline upon 1t unpricked meant some
care and adjustment. But Phil had
dad long experience of the Nunsbys
hedge He knew it to the last thorn
spine, took things gently, and never
kicked against the pricks.
Eyes. no doubt. They will be talk
Ing at her and through her and across
her, and all at time But would
rather come mere. and -"
Talk about her." put in Miss Nuns
by. Verify, | am more than human.
But go on--you amuse me, Phil"
Philip Calmont, nothing 10th,
stretched out his legs to their utmost,
accommodated his head more deeply
Into the privet hedge with possible
spines), and exposed his philosophy
Queer place, Kirktown." he said,
waving the point of MS mended boot
In the air. Incubus is our god, and
Jacob Romer is his prophet We all
live by the pits; the ministers up yon-
der"-he pointed with his finger to the
ridge which was called Mount Zion be-
cause 1t was crowned with alternate
kirk and manse-"rny faher and all
of us get our living, our schooling and
colleging, our. meat and drink--and d
lot fthese!-out of Incubus, CORN,
Romer & Co., of the Incubus work
lngs. Your fathers Sunday hat, and
the bread he eats. the needles you
are knitting with, the yarn that you
toss every moment across your arm
to clear the ball in the side pocket OF
your apron-very pretty it is!Aevery-
thing comes from Incubus. Why from
[ncubus?"
Because we work for Incubus!"
said Miss Nunsby simply.
Philip, who did the thinking for the
healthy family. and kept the results to
himself only nodded. After all that
was what it came to. They were set
on earth to work, and it was no use
arguing the matter. Incubus was as
far out Of reach Of their complaints as
If they had 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 no
dream had been his avocation, and
there was quite an easy chair mark.
ed out-green elastic, adjustable as
an air cushion (due care being taken
to eliminate the pricks)-in the privet
hedge Of the summer house at Nuns
by's cottage.
Incubus holds us all within barD-
ed wire fence" continued Phil, "and
James Kahn does the driving 1t 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,
I'VE are going to do that. are We? I
should be gald to know my fate"
"Well," said Phil quietly, Il am only
exposing the situation Of course
everybody can't marry Vida Byran
can they?"
No, of course not" said Miss Nuns.
by. and her hand trembled as she toss
ed 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 resulted
So the rest Of us must marry OF
bide single, according to our fates,'
Philip continued, tipping his chair
dangerously on its hind legs.
- fail to see the necessity" retorted
little Miss Nunsby;" a great many
people will need to be a good dea'
more serious before they can earn
bread and butter for themselves, lei
alone for-for family"
Sharp, slipped and dry fell the re
ROOF, but Phil Calmont never blench
ed.
q know know what you think o
me-" said Phil with his usual pnilos
ophy, "but l will do something one
day. You shall not always call M
only a long and lazy lout.'"
At this Miss NuHsby blusher quit,
pretty Din.i