The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-03-13


note"
AT This white looked alarmed. aad
when his mother took down a bottle
| from the top shelf Of the pantry and
reached for a spoon, Willie recovered
| in a twinkle. scndding away with the
note before the bottle could be I'M
| corked.
a His mother looked after him with
an indulgent smile. Boys win be
boys she murmured.
Then she set her well-appoiptel
house in order and awaited Anne,
still with lips pressed firmly togeth-
er. From the front window she View
ed the I'VE 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.
20 that Tommy" cried Mrs. Drew,
indignantly, aloud. It seems as
though Mrs. White might realize how
| he acts!'
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 II Willie
The entrance of Anne cut the sent
ence short, and Mrs. Drew rose to
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, perfect
| Willie with the five imperfect boys
across the street especially Tommy
who was of Willie's age.
sQf 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. II never knew you
to fail friend. =
A pleased expression crept into. An.
mes eyes as she sat down. Along
with the rest OF girlkind. 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. I like those stitched bands
down the 'front.' Certainly brown is
| your color"
The pleased expression in Anne's
eyes deepened. II 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 sl1ilfulIy.
Be that as 1t 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
Anne,s greatest charm. Willie, sit
ting behind his mother, also listened
attentively, motioning beguilingly 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 thai"
she ended, and ! took it on myself
to tell Mrs. White. She didn't thank
me for it, and made up my mind
then that no matter what that Tom
my did, ! 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
her handkerchief. Willie. with Tab
by 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.
ly. There was 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. Il was told that Tommy White
deliberately walked up behind old Mr..
Reffert-poor old. half-blind man that