The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-17
CHAPTER VI.

dener at Corn House. This teacher. Her father was d man by no means popular in the district. First he was an Englishman and prided himself upon the fact. By "Englisher' the Kirktown pitworker meant some one not "Geordie," which meant from Newcastle way-not a "Lanky," which in addition to Lancashire included Yorksh ire-to the disgust of casual na : lives of the county of the Three Rid ings "Scotties," "Geordles,' and "Lankies' were, however, more or less on an equality because there were pits in all these places, and also owing to the respect bred by ability in bargain making. But MT. Nunsby was south country man, an "Englisher" pure and simple, without shame or excuse, for whom there was nothing to be said, nc eXtenuating circumstances. The pop ular verdict was Guilty" without a rider.
 Besides what was worse, he fetched and carried for James Kahn.
 Arthur Nunsby had been q man of & certain position. He had been edu- cated for the office of National school master. But he had had the misfor tune to quarrel with his vicar, and from that moment for him there was no return Hope had abandoned him and he Hope. He grew bitter, as he saw himself far past the meridian of life and still depending for daily bread on a man whom he hated and despised. It is small wonder that his saturnine humor increased and his tongue grew more and more caustic.
 As he must always have some one to practice upon he made the little "slavy" the immediate butt of his Sar- casms For on this account Rose Nuns by secretly cherish ed the girl, afford ing her many privileges and never for a moment suspecting that Leebie Cal lum cared no whit for her father s sarcasms, considering him mentally af- f1icted but on the whole innocent, and indeed, callous to human speech of every sort so long as there remained to her the inalienable freedom of cup board and pantry.
 Rose Nunsby had been very lonely before Vida came to Glebe End Cot tage. Her father was making suffi- cient money to keep the two of them in comfort So that it was more for something to do than for necessity that Rose had begun to give lessons on the piano and violin to the children of the shopkeepers and pit superintendents about the Kirktown of Inch gormach.
 Just as many perfectly harmless in- sects initiate wasps and stinging flies, the innocent Rose Nunsby had taken on something of her fathers manner. But within her nature was mild as milk and her heart even as q honey comb She had taken Vida to it at once and from the first hour had loved her as sister. She had taught her all she knew, watched over her by day, warned her of dangers, rejoiced in her springing beauty. and now at last she had found in her a companion after her own heart
 Every afternoon Vida Bryan went to 32 Dudley Gardens, where a piano was waiting for her, and also for the space of one hour, very emphatic and stern mistress. After that little Miss Nuns by began to spread a table. "The Cal lum" was summoned. all jam as to her mouth and coaly as to her fingers, from her secret afternoon lair. Life to the Callum was one protracted sur- reptitious meal. She had always been hungry all her life before. So since she came to 32 Dudley Gardens it is small wonder that the Callum regard ed not the most polished arrows of MT. Nunsby's wit.
 After tea Miss Nunsby walked back to Glebe End Cottage with her friend and pupil, and there she stayed till it was time to go home for her fathers one, on account of his never being able to get away from the Incubus offices before MT. Kahn.
 Rose Nunsby was a frail, pale, al- most dwarfish creature. with a strange twist to her neck, high. white brow, and her fathers abundant dark brows, from under which looked out, incongruously enough, a pair of the mysterious gentian-blue eyes, which only the fairies and the good hunchbacks have upon the earth.
 As usual, the girls talked books and music. but every now and then they became more personal condescending lightly on the topics of the Kirktewn the pits, the possible strike, MT. Romer, the church choirs, the preach ing qualifications of the several min isters their personal merits or de- fects-and MT. Kahn. These subjects are arranged in order of interest as con- versational topics-reading back wards.
 Rose" cried Vida. so suddenly and after so long a pause that little Miss Nunsby discontinued stroking her friends head, 'I hate himl"
 50 do l, dear" said Rose Nunsby, promptly. Proper names are mostly superhuous in the intimate converse of women. With delicate voice intona- tions they differentiate their pronouns with severe classic accuracy.
 In this case both understood that James Kahn was the object of tn cir dislike. Yet his name had not been mentioned and Vida was thinking of something else. Perhaps this peeu- liarity originated in natural precau- tion against eavesdroppfng.
 Why, then, do-some other people like him?" Vida asked of her friend the music mistress
 My father-because he has got to-" snapped little Miss Nunsby, almost as sharply as that gentleman himself, 'yours because he is so simple that he knows no better"
 Yes" said Vida, with slowly deep ening quicker, which ran across her brow when she was thinking, yes poor old Daddy--he is simple"
 What a blessing that we are so wise and see so much more clearly" said her friend, quaintly. "I am sure of it whenever you make that wrinkle between your eyesi Do you know whom you look like then?"
 "No-who?" said Vida innocently.
 Why, old MT Romer," said the little music teacher, laughing aloud at Vida s dscomfture. 'You're younger and a girl-prettier. too. some would think --but it's the identical same frown. I wonder everybody doesn't notice it."
 But by this time Vida was learning self command and though the red came , slowly to her cheek and brow, it might lonly have been mere annoyance at being likened to a man of an ancient iangry crab-apple countenance like MT. Jacob Romer.
 Now just over the cottage wall, in a