Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-17

Van Brunt and Mr.. Hartley stay here,
| guess. IT'S a restful place. aint IT.
says I, reaching for the next stack OF
dishes.
She smiled. mo doubt they md It
So" she says. How do you like tho
Natural Life?"
"Who--me? Oh, cal'late l shall
like II tiptop when I get a little more
used to it-that Ia, n | last. I was
Oldest boy in n family OF nine and dad
died young. so was brought up Natur
al. ms you might say. IT'S been some
time, though. since had so many
hours OF stralght.slong, pitch-ln-and-
hustle Naturalness in the days run;
been getting artificial and lazy OF late
years. guess. But I'm tough. and I'll
be all right and used to It pretty soon
getting lots OF practice. BY the
way" says, who was It that sent 'cm
here?"
"Who?" says she. looking surprised.
Sent? / don't understand"
was Mr. Van Brunt and his chum
sent here by the doctor, or who?"
"Why, didn't know they we're sent
At all. think they came here Of their
own accord"
"Humph!' says I, considering. Was
any OF their folks ever took this way =?
Does II run in the families?"
That seemed to tickle her and I
guess che understood what I meant.
But she didn't answer the question;
went on dry.polishing the pickle dish.
Then she says. kind OF accidental on
purpose:
rs Mr.. Hartleys health improving?"
"Oh, yes" says !. Hes picking up
some. specially in his appetite. He
amt ZIP to Van Brunt In that line yet,
though. Van eats for three Hartley's
only up to the one.man-and.a- boy mark
so far. He'd do better II he didn't have
them blue streaks of his. Seems to
have something on his mind"
Perhaps he's troubled about leav-
ing his business" she suggests look
ing sideways at the pickle dish.
Guess not" says I looking side.
ways at her. Il don't think I've heard
him mention business since he's been
down. No, faint that. according to
my notion. He amt in love. is he?"
She looked at me then pretty hard;
but was as wooden-faced as a cigar
sign.
Dear me. no." she laughs. brisk. II
guess not. What made you think
that"
"Oh. nothing" says l. 81 amt eyer
seemed to me ne had all the symp
toms. Didn't know but he was fret
ting about some young woman. He's
a fine chap. that young Hartley. It'll
be q lucky girl that gets him
She didn't say much more, but she
looked at me every once in while az
II she was wondering. never let on
/ was as innocent and easy as the cal
with the cream on its whiskcrs. I hat
sneakng hope that I might hav,
boosted Hartley little mite. and
felt good down one side Then
thought OF Van, and | felt mean al
up tho other
After a spell the Twins and Miss
Talford happened along. and what ;
time Van Brunt made when he see hi!
girl helping me wipe dishes.
We'll WE'LL" he says. rs this thu
way you hurry back to see what thu
dear children are doing? Sol. you OIL
and l fell in love with him at frs
sight, Miss Talford; and now look a
Agnes.
Hold on there says |. Don
spread It too thick, amt got but on
hat thatll do for Sunday, and | wan
that to ut me was giving Miss Pag
few lessons in housekeeping. an
you'd ought to thank me for that. MI
. Van Brunt."
1t seems the Talfovd girl had see
James and no had agreed to so t
Eastwich with EN-. Twas O goo
} chance for him, soft job and all thai
Truth 70 tell. guess he was kind @
sorry about parting from Van alto
gether, the cleaning might not be 3
good in his next boss berry pasture.
I So about six o'clock Scudder com
> with mis- dory and the picnic broke NJ
The Fresh Airers were pretty mig
played out by this time, The smalle
q children was noddng with their head
= on the shoulders of the bigger one
Y and even had 70 tote two OF the II
1 tlest In my arms down to the beacl
. But they was all full fed and sui
!. burned and dirty and happy. an
!, they'd had the bullicst time In the
poor, pinchedup little lives.
O well, good-by, Andrew Jackson
a says to Redny. Had good tim
o enough to want to come again, HAY
q YOU"
Sure thing" says he
Y Like 1t as well here as you do owe
= at the school,"
"Yup," he says "Ain't nobody
d plug potato skins at over there"
d He was smart little coot. Had II
e makings OF a man IN him II you DIT
e down far enough to get at II.
d Lord James comes down to II
d shore Juggling his trunk behind him.
n 80 long. Hopper" says l. Shall
h give your love to Marcellus' spook
II comes gliding again
n He looked at mo very solemn. You
,r better come too he says You tai
II my advice and leave this bloomiT
ID island now VILE YOU ave the chanc
10 Therell come time" says he. "whf
re you won't ave IL"