The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-10
CHAPTER XII.
The Privet Hedge.

L am supposed 10 DC ike my ldlueEt
Philip Calmont the Doctors third son,
was saying to little Miss Nunsby. so
everybody expects me to run about cry
ing Ha, ma and slapping people on the
back"
The eye that mocketh az his father
the ravens of the valley shall pick
it out " rejoined Miss Nunsby, punctuat-
ing with the quick gesture OF her pretty
hand. which she used to throw the thread
the way she wanted II 10 run. Miss Nuns
by kept her own father. as well as most
OF the Healthy Family, In stockings. To
knit came as natural 70 her as to breathe
And Phil Calmont liked to drop down to
the small cottage by the abandoned
smithy. which Mr.. Nunsby occupied. APP
parently in order to watch her do IT,
There was q garden behind and from the
back OF his fathers orchard Phil had
only 10 cross a couple of fields and open
a lowsarched 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 ne went rather too often. con-
sidering the capacities Of Krktown for
gossip. But-he talked mostly about Vida,
while Miss NunSby smiled and knitted.
lie. too. had his hours of philosophy. this
quiet youth
why do YOU come here2'' Miss Nunsby
asked him sometimes. the rest viii be
over the wall talking 10 Vida-you know
You would far rather be there"
Yes. murmured Phil. lazily crossing
J.
gether. with his head - the hollow Of
the palms. as ne leaned back against the
hedge. II was mixed Of priyet and thorn.
and 20 recline upon H. unpricked meant
some care and adjustment. But Phil had
had Il long experience of the Nunsby' 8
hedge. He knew Il 10 the last thorn
spine. took things gently. and never
kicked dgaias; the pricks.
Yes no doubt. They will be talking
AZ her and through her and across her.
and all at a time. But I would rather
come here, and"
TAX about her put in Miss Nunsby.
Verify. l am more than human. But go
On-you amuse me. Phil"
Philip Calmont. nothing 10th. stretched
out his legs 10 their utmost, accommo-
dated his head more deeply into the privet
hedge with possible spines), and exposed
his philosophy
Queer place. Kirktown." he said. wav-
ing the point Of his mended boot in the
air. Incubus is our god, and Jacob
Romer is his prophet We all live by the
pits; the ministers up yonder"-he pointed
with his finger 20 the ridge which was
,.1red Mount zion reo.,rrce IL ,,-oo oro,,-,,
ed with alternate kirk and manse-' my
father and all Of us get our living orr
schooling and c0leging. our meat and
drink-and a lot of these-Out Of Incubus,
CORN, Romer x Co., of the Incubus work
ings. Your fathers Sunday hat, and the
bread he eats, the needles you are knit
ting with. the yarn that you toss every
moment across your arm TO clear the ball
in the side pocket of your apron-very
pretty Ii Everything comes from In
cubus. Why from Incubus?"
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 ALI, 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
each OF their complaints as If they
been oyer-burdened ants. working
night for the formic community.
han that, as yet Phil Calmont
me but little work himself. TO
had been his avocatiOn. and there
quite an easy chair marked out
en-. elastic adjustable as an air cush-
tdue care being taken 10 eliminate
he pricks)-in the privet hedge OF the
summer house at Nunsbys cottage.
Incubus holds US all within barbed
wire fence" continued Phil "and James
Kahn does the driving. Il is not very
hard i'm our time. but when We have all
married one another"
OH cried little Miss Nunsby. with a
twinge of helpless bitterness, we are
going TO do that. are We? l should be
glad to know my fate"
We'll" said Phil quietly. II am only
exposing the situation. or course. every
body can't marry Vida Bryan. can theyZ'
mo. OF course not" said Miss Nunsby
and her hand trembled as she tossed the
thread. There was knot on the heel of
that sock. II was FOR Phil 20 wear. and
he had well earned the blister which re-
suited.
so the rest OF US must marry OF bide
single. according 10 our fates," Philip
continued. tipping his chair dangerously
on its hind legs.
Il fail 20 see the necessity retorted
little Miss Nunsby; "a great many people
will need to be a good deal more serious
before they can earn bread and butter
for themselves, let alone for-for a fam
ilyi"
Sharp. clipped. and dry fell the reproof
but Phil CalmOnt never blenched.
Il know-I know what you think Of
me- said Phil. with his usual philosophy
but l viii do something one day. You
shall not always call me only long and
lazy lout."
At this Miss Nunsoy blushed quite a
pretty pink.
You have not forgotten that" she said
"Ah. / only meant TO stir you up little
You are the cleYerest Of them all. Phil
Why will you persist in doing nothingg'
MY father Is not rich" Phil answered
quite calmly; "all his money he makes
from year 10 year. He has laid nothing
by. and with two boys-Aaron and Hur-
~ the university and the youngsters with
tutor, he has nothing TO spend on me-
Besides. the others all run in pairs. while
/ am by-prOduct. and must depend on
anything that may turn up. The 'pater'
actually wanted me 10 become a chemist.
so as to De handy when Aaron and Hur
took over the business-keep il all in
the family. you know. ha har"
and he initiated his fathers hearty