Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-08
CHAPTER XIV.
The White Plague.

was going 70 help Eureka. and that
callated would be one more big boost
for him in the Page girls eyes, had
gone to pot to see the kettle bile. In.
stead Of getting rid of Papa Sparrow,
1t had fetched that old hypocrite
right over to eat and sleep and groan
under our very noses. And, instead
Of helping Martins love business. It
had knocked the keel right out OF 1t
and left him stranded with bigger
reputation than ever for cold FLOODED,
mercenary money-grabbing. Sweet
mess. want Il?
snum. I did hate to tell Eureka!
And vet OF course she was bound to
find It ont for herself. When she went
home that night, thinks I: I'll catch
It tomorrow morning" And. sure
enough, next morning she was laying
for me-
She come out to the garden, where
| was trying to fool myself into
hoping that six inches OF green string.
with leaf or two hung along It. might
bear cucumber some day, and down
she sets in the heap OF dry seaweed
by the pig pen.
Now. then" says she. sharp, II
want to know oil about It."
on" says I, looking innocent at
the cucumber string; II amt give up
hope, by no manner Of means. II the
loan don't blow off. and I'm able to
lug water enough. well have as much
as one Jar of twoinch pickles off this
So IIAa 1tcu
are ready to quit"
"Humph," she shifts. You ought to
pickle that understanding OF yours.
It's too fresh and green to keep long.
out in this sun. Now you look me In
the eye and tell me all about it.
About what" asks. not looking at
her. however.
About the doings at our house yes
terday. Why is pa coming over here
TO live? And what makes Mr.. Hartley
so blue and cross? And how come that
Agnes Page to be mixed up In our af-
fairs? Out with IT, It's my family
business, and want to know"
So I had to tell her. She was pretty
mad, and mighty sarcastic.
Il thought So" she snaps. Didn't
you know no better than that? Didn't
you know that girl who's as far gone
with charity as Miss Page is would
be sure TO 80 and see pa and want to
do for him. I've found out that she s
been giving him money for medicine
and things for over week. Why, a
sentimental city woman Is pas best
holt he can tie 'em in bow knots
round his finger s'pose you thought
you could fetch Hartley and his girl
together all by yourself, Well, you've
done a good Job. Now I've got to be
gin 1t AL over again
ut amt no use now" says. Shes
: down on him for good"
Rubbish. Don't talk so foolish It'll
be my turn next, and my plans
won't 90 backside frontwards like q
crab. And I've got to fix pa, too. I've
been working out notion about him
> for two or three days. | guess It's
time to be starting it agoing."
= She wouldn't tell me what the no
ton was. Twas her turn TO have
secrets She seemed pleased 70 have
, Fditha and the children go over to the
. Fresh Air school. because there they
. could be studying their. lessons witt
somebody to look after EN- She liked
the idea OF Lycurgus' hiring out te
, Nate Scudder, too, though she did sa!
= that she guessed he wouldn't wear ON
his pants pockets cartins his wage
( around.
!. Next day she stayed at home Ant
a shut up the house. and that night sh
and Washy come to the island to sta,
r all the time They had rooms in tn
/. back part Of the house, three flight
e UP, and Scudder sold the Twins bee
ding and truck enough to more tina
s make up for losing the rent OF tn
;. Sparrow house. Van put the wa
>. wreath and Marcellus picture and tn
e rest OF Mates presents" up in tn
h invalids room. He said he though
Z. they was kind OF appropriate. Wash
didn't mind. He said they was Lowell
~ and made him think OF his 'futur
state" 'Cording to my notion tn
y cook stove would have been better fc
" that.
=, Martin and his chum was pretty coo
;. to each other for q while, but the
~ soon got over It. Hartley was diffe
~ ent. though, from what he'd bee
-. afore He was more reckless and nj
- don't care" manner was back again
only, now that his health was so goo
=, 1t showed In other ways.
- The two Of EN- took to raising III
very Old Bow They must be ND
=. something all the time. The islam
- want big enough to hold EN- and the
was crowded over into the village, S
70 to speak. They got mixed up wit
60 some OF the men boarders at the hot
40 anS twas "Whoop!" and "Hooray!
u all the time.
IN They and the hoarders got horse
N out OF the livery stable and had rae,
at right through the main street; goir
IL hcketty-cut and scandalizing II
4. neighbors and soaring old women In
~ conniption Ats, Deacon Patterson hs
- a new horse and the deacon happene
~ to be setting In his buggy in front
~ the Boston dry goods and variety sto
=. when the racers went by The rack
-. scared the critter and he bottled, ar
10 there was the deacon going down Il
road IN the middle OF the race, hs
lering Whoa" to beat the cara. wi
~ his hat on and his hair a.aying. 10
~ OF the sewing circle women saw hi