The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-04-02

say So" vowed the distressed dair
man recklcssly.
"No, Ike. Bntcherln' times Ion
enough. IN he ready by then"
"Iookie." cried Ike. heres pat
that leads TO the lake Let's 80 down
Following this path, they found
little cove sheltered from the world d
high clay ridges that shut them con
pletely from view OF either gap. Ier
they sat hand IN hand watching III
waves and. growing hungry, lunche
on whole bag OF amorous worde
sweets that Ike produced from bull
Ing pocket
Maybe we ought TO look the other
up" suggested Phyllis after long SCI
son OF blissful munchlng.
Jaw. thunder-no!" objected Ike.
There might be something TO do
somewhere" she added vaguely.
II done II ALL Ike assured her.
In the meantime the minister's wifi
and her satellites waited inpatient,
for Ike and the other plcnlckers.
Lets feed these children and ca
ourselves suggested Mrs. Jenner,
NO" said Mrs. Pashley emphatlcal
ly. '"The others might not like It."
mis- Peters would have n fit II W,
ct without her" declared Mrs. Bllsh
Lets all go over to Coggin's gap ant
then send Ike and Brother Pashley
1 back here for the dinner"
mo. II we go. Wen take the dinner
with u.s." said Mrs, Pashley. ALBERT,
chest isn't strong"
tits long walk TO tug all these
victuals," sighed Mrs. Blish.
But I guess It's the only thing tc
do" replied Mrs. Pasbley Mrs. Jen.
ner, you get the children together and
we'll 60"
They went through the woods, as Ike
had gone, for that was the shortest
way.
At last they filed thankfully down
the crooked path into Coggln's gap.
But the Rev. Mr.. Pashley and his half
Of the crowd were not there.
where's Ike?" burst out Mrs Blish
as she sat cumbrously down on the
sand TO rest In the shade OF an ant
covered willow.
and where's Brother Pashley and
the rest gone to-" exclaimed Mrs Jen-
ner.
"Well, they've gone,' declared Mrs.
Jenner, "and we can't help 1t. SO we'd
Jest better unjack these victuals double
quick"
NO no; 1t won't do at all" cried
Mrs. Pashley sharply as several wo-
men, anxious to feed the clamoring
children, fused over the baskets.
Put those covers on again." COM
manded the minister's wife. "Mr.
Pashley and the others will probably
come in few minutes"
But nobody appeared. and they be-
gan TO think that the crowd must have
gone to Feathers gap by the wagon
road or the beach and that they had
missed them.
II was long past dinner time and the
shadows were beginning to lengthen
when the woebegone party, still ably
commanded by the minister's wife, re-
traced their steps to Feathers gap.
But not a yestlge Of the other party
or Ike was to be found there.
Nov, II you'll take my advice. Mrs
Pashley, well eat snack" urged Mrs.
Jenner as they dumped the dinner in
the sand at Feathers gap.
"We'll do no such thing" retorted
the minister's wife. II shan't have 1t
said that meddled with the dinner"
The children, too tired and hungry
to play, dropped languidly on the warm
sand or tried to drown their sorrows
In copious drafts Of warm lake water
I'm going home" said Mrs. Jenner
firmly. after another bitter season OF
fruitless waiting. Il shall take the in
FAINT class and my five and go. The
rest Of you can do what you please"
She would have opened her own bas-
ket and fed the children, but II con-
tanned only sour pickles and cabbage
salad, and she dared not thrust such
food en- the empty stomachs Of the In
FAINT class not TO mention her own five
II thought we'd have man to help
us" fretted the minister's wife. but,
no; sond Ike on an errand. and that's
The last OF him"
II should think that Brother pashley
would do something" observed Mrs.
Jenner
Mrs Pashley let this remark pass In |
silence. I'VE viii all go home now"
she announced In tired voice. That's
MI we can do. Each one carry some |
hing" And again they were marshal
ID along, but this time It was toward |
home.
They had planned 10 walk back, for |
he Sunday school conld not afford 10
-ide both ways Drearily they snaiied
along A mile passed by. and its
weary length seemed stretched 10 half
! dozen.
As these picnic tollers rounded a |
,end IN the road that now led through /
r.eiess. open fields they beheld as 10
! vision dispirited company halted
~ the dusty roadside for rest 10 the
lot sun.
II was the Rev. Albert Pashley. the
formidable Mrs Peters. several other
natrons aud dozen or more GUM chill
lren. all sitting dejectediy on the grass
isngllng their tired feet IN a dry ditch.
The Rev. Albert arose as spokesman
or This disgrnntled assembly. Where
ave you beeny' be Inquired ungra
fously Of his wife, as " she and Der
.rowd were the offending ones
Looking aud waiting for you-aii
lay long replied Mrs pashIey coldiy |
Where's Phyllis Jonesfr asked Mrs.
Peters. coming forward we sent Der
o tell you that we'd come 10 Feathers
mp and eat dlaner with you. bot she
lidn't come back So We went over
here. but yon gas gone. Then We