Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-10

ed in steps in the order of age
two years space between succeeding
steYs,-Gnd 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 prerosatlve
as general, had kicked the second in
command, who promptly kicked back
again, whereupon the march turned
into 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. 81
never saw any one so slack with chill
dren. Now IL 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, lerfec.
Willie with the five imperfect boys
across the street-especially Tommy
who was of Willies 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 likei
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 Is
your color"
The pleased expression in Anne's
eyes deepened. 81 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
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 that,
she ended, "and ] took 1t 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, / 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 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!"
"Oh!" cried Anne. "Oh!" She
lifted wide eyes to her hostess's
face.
81 knew, Anne" said Mrs. Drew, In
a tone of quiet triumph, that you
would be shocked"
"Yes!" breathed Anne. "Oh, yes!"
Willie. aiming a kick at the cat,
fell off his chair at this juncture, and
so made his presence conspicuous.
His mother, out Of consideration for
Anne's feelings, sent him out to play.
"Of course" she remarked, you
would not like Willie to know what
am going to ask of you, although ne
never repeats what he hears"
Indeed" murmured Anne.
Mrs. Drew returned to the original
subject. Shouldn't you think. Anne,
that any mother would be glad to be
told if her boy did such a thing as
that?"
Indeed" assented Anne, Il
should" Into her eyes, fastened now
on Mrs. Drew's face, crept an express