The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-06-06


they followed Tabby.
Yes, think can prevail on Anne
to tell her Every one likes Anne
especially Mrs. White. She'll take
it from Anne"
Consequently Anne was sent for by
way Of Willie. Willie went reluctant
ly. He whimpered and whined. He
dug fist into one eye-keeplng tn3
other innocent blue orb fixed on Mrs
Drew-and pleaded st4machache
Poor child" said his mother "Ol
course you needn't 60, then. I'll step
across and ask Tommy to take the
note"
At this Willie looked alarmed. and
when his mother took down a bottle
from the top shelf of the pantry and
reached for a 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-appOintej
house in order and awaited Anne,
still with lips pressed firmly togeth-
err 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.
20 that Tommy" cried Mrs. Drew,
Indignantly, aloud. 1T 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 If 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. perfec-
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 GOMEZ" was Mrs.
Drew's greeting. Il 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 liket
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 1t be.
fore. like those stitched bands
down the front. Certainly brown IL
your color"
The pleased expression in Anne's
eyes deepened. Il like 1t 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 PEG.
pie up" skilfully.
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. Smith >
house.
"You know Tommy was in that"
she ended, land / 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