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

manner, for which he was again reproved
by little Miss Nunsby.
1T Is horrible of you to do that. she
said; your father is indeed blamable
for letting you run about like this. with
nothing 10 do but scribble sOnnets 10
Vida Bryan, or come down here 20 chat
ter about her while I knit But just the
same, DR.. Calmont is ready to 90 all
that he can for you,
Granted said Phil cheerfully only
that does not happen to be anything
which l can accept"
In my time" said little Miss Nunsby
primly. boys We're expected 10 do as
their parents told them. There is. | be-
lieve. "a commandment in your Bible to
that effect
Yes, said Phil interrogatively, bat
not 70 be chemist and druggist Even
Solomon, who is pretty hard on US. draws
the line at that. Why ! should poison
the whole parish in no time. and you and
my father would be hanged for murder.
Besides. you need not preach to me after
all; you are only a year or two older
In 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 pricked him sharply into conscious
ness. He erected himself. and the bal
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 hedged quadrilateral Of the garden
Only overhead hawk planned with slow
balancings and swift, short beats OF the
wing. Beneath the smaller birds collected
and screamed with one accord. while
mctherly old hens in Mr.. Nunsby's back
yard, though for the moment 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 move
ments
Do said Miss Nunsby. Indignantly
replying to Phil Calmont's question, do
why every man ought 10 be able 20 de-
eide that for himself"
7 daresay-in theory" groaned Phil
dismally; but in practice it's jolly diff
cult when YOU happen 10 be a man"
The truth Of this seemed 10 strike Miss
Nunsby. but she recovered herself
Nonsense she cried. there are only
n few things that women can DO. bat A
For instance" suggested Phil king
OF England or Pope or Rome"
Tut said Miss Nunsby. be sensible
and set your mind on something"
Well then" said Phil calmly. Il 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-
\ quick flush passed over Miss Nuns
by's face. something like sheet lightning
seen pulslng up toward the zenith On
summer nights.
An, YOU mean the green lawns about
Glebe End Cottage and Vida Bryan's
kind face?"
That has not been particularly kind Of
late owned Phil still. however. shame
lessly; in fact, never set "A chance to
speak 10 her except with all that Healthy
crowd futtering after me-"
And pray. what else can you eXLoct2- p
snapped the little music teacher You
do nothing: you do not try 20 do any
| thing. And every evening Vida has the
advantage of comparing you with"
with whom cried Phil. excitedly.
dropping himself back against the privet
hedge.
with Vic Morris"
And at the name, prompt as an echo.
If the biggest OF all thorns had pricked
him.
Vic Morris. he repeated; vie Nor
ris, I will show her that I am as good as
any Vic Morris in the world
And he went through the wicket gate
rather rudely. and without saying good
by, though little Miss Nunsby looked
after him, half-amused and haIf-wistfuI
And Phil Calmont did not discover till
he got to his room In his fathers house,
that huge hawthorn spike had indeed.
pierced between the neck and the collar
OF his shirt. He thought il was the COM
parison with VIC Norris that was giving
/ him pain
But, at least. he had left some pain be-
hind him, though Miss Rose. In her gar
den, suffered from no thorn-save. il may
be. from the fact that she had one shout
der higher than the other.