Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-25

from the top shelf of the pantry and
reached for spoon, Willie recovered
in a twinkle, scudding away with the
note before the bottle could be un-
corked.
His mother looked after him with
an indulgent smile. Boys will be
boys" she murmured.
Then she set her well-appointed
house in order and awaited Anne,
still with lips pressed firmly togeth-
er. From the front window she view
ed the five White boys playing soldier
in their front yard. They were rang
ed in steps in the order Of age
two years space between succeeding
steps,-and were exercising legs and
lungs vigorously.
80 that Tommyi" cried Mrs. Drew,
Indignantly, aloud. cit seems as
though Mrs. White might realize how
he actSi"
Tommy, exercising his prerogative
as general, had kicked the second IN
command, who promptly kicked back
again, whereupon the march turned
into a riot, in which Tommy, beset
by the rest of the army, got worsted
"And yet there sits Mrs. White,
looking out of the window placidly
and doing nothing!" calculated Mrs.
Drew, still more Indignantly. Il
never saw any one so slack with chill
dren. Now if Willie"
The entrance of Anne cut the sent
meet her.
Mrs. Drew was the kindest of
neighbors-except where Mrs. White
was concerned. She did not mean
/ to be unkind to Mrs White. She
had simply fallen into the habit OF
comparing her one blue-eyed, perfec5
Willie with the five imperfect boys
across the street-especially Tommy
who was of Willie's age.
"Of course" she often declared,
willie has his faults!" She said it
complacently, but with mental reser-
vations-the rest of the town said
the same with neither placidity nor
mental reservation.
Il felt sure you'd comet" was Mrs.
Drew,s greeting. 81 never knew you
to fail a friend"
A pleased expression crept into An
mes eyes as she sat down. Along
with the rest of girl-kind, Anne liked
praise.
Mrs. Drew seated herself, and fold
ing her hands, looked at her guest.
Then she uttered an exclamation and
| leaned forward. what a becoming
new coat, Anne! I've not seen it be-
fore. / like those stitched bands
down the front Certainly brown is
your color"
The pleased expression in Anne's
eyes deepened. "I like it myself"
she answered, briefly. Anne's remarks
were generally brief.
In church work Mrs. Drew was
made chairman of everything, be-
cause of what she could accomplish
through her committees. She had a
tactfully compelling way-so her
friends said. Others who were not
SO friendly said she could wind peo-
pie up skilfully.
Be that as it may, she proceeded
succinctly to lay the case before An
ne. beginning with the generally bad
behavior of the five Junior Whites.
Anne listened attentively. That was
Annes greatest charm. Willie, sit
ting behind his mother, also listened
! attentively, motioning beguihngly at
Tabby meanwhile.
Narrowing her remarks down to
particular misdeeds, Mrs. Drew re-
ferred to the "doings" on Halloween,
! especially the destruction of the pic
ket fence in front of old Mrs. Smiths
house.
"You know Tommy was in that,
she ended, land l took it on myself
! to tell Mrs. White She didn't thank
me for it. and l made up my mind
| then that no matter what that Tom
my did, l would say nothing further.
But this thing, Anne, she ought to
| know"
Anne. realizing now the purport OF
! her summons to the Drew house,
moved uneasily, and began pleating
J her handkerchief Willie, with Tab
bv almost within reach, neglected his
opportunity, and pricked up his ears.
what thing?"
Mrs. Drew sat up straight and tap
ped the arm of her chair impressive
| w. There was a lady in .here yes
terday.-I name no names, Anne, as
am careful not to cause hard feel
ings between friends,-but she told
me and | said at once, Mrs. White
ought to know"
'Know what?" asked Anne again
smoothing out her handkerchief.
Mrs. Drew tapped the arm of the
chair. 81 was told that Tommy White
deliberately walked up behind old Mr.
Reffert-poor old, half-blind man that
he Island knocked his hat into the
ditch and ran away!"
obi" cried Anne. "Oh!" She
lifted wide eyes to her hostess 5
face.