The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-31


as she drew nearer aud held out her thin
little hand. Aunt Remson smiled, the gentle
smile she unconsciously reserved for her motherlcss
niece
"AIy land" wheezed Aunt Vance. "ths child gets
more piudling all the time. William, even II he 10
boy hes got more Fat on his bones than she has :"
al weigh seveasy-riae pounds" chantod Bily,
proudly, "and grew four inches just this last year.
Sounded like 1t when you como up the steps"
responded his aunt, dryly
"Now can I have a doushnutT' he demanded,
turning to lis mother.
do you think is good for them to eat between
meals?" Put in Aunt Vance.
"They do get SO hungry" murmured Mrs. REM
son. "Meg's doughnu.s never seem to hurt anyone.
either"
"wel I think all sweets are bad" sighed Aunt
Vance putting her hand to her cusaony side. DOC
tor Flannery has positively forbid my touching
them"
Rosa, rummaging in the cooky jar moment later,
ccred naushtily across the lid ut her cousins.
Doctor Tlummerty has positively forbid" she
r,i:ncled closing her eyes and signing melodramat
cay.
Gosh but + hate Aunt Vance," sputtered Billy,
his mouth full Of doughnut "she makes me think Of
mush."
Rosa shlvered. "rm glad my this years stay is
over there" she sighed, "oaly Ann Mary is nice.
love her Ann Mary. You'd like Ann Mary, Eily,
for she makes the grandest apple pie"
shouldn't" snapped Billy, Shouldn't like any
place nur anybody where Aunt Vance was"
II shouldn't" decided the blueeyed twin. II
shouldn't ether
The brown-eyed giggled. "I should she in
sisted iInpshy, 81 certainly should"
'You should not sarieked the other they
chased madly from TIE pantry. "You should not
her thin voice screamed, "'cause you're my twin
and you couldn't"
could " taua.ed the other from the grape-arbor
,o<ch
the combat
what are you hanging round here for" asked
Rosa curiously she nibbled close to the raisin.
Crowds gone to Bat weavers," he responded,
laconically.
'Play hyspy if get enough kds:" demanded
Rosa.
Eilly considered, loftily He hated playing with
Urls; it only little better than not playing
1T all. But in view Of his recent difficulties with
tBat Weaver he could not consistently into the
neighborhood reveiries when she had rounded up
the twins. the three Schuyler girls, ard TIE boy
who had just moved the street, he consented
to "couat OUT with glib twisting Of the mystic
formula that elected the boy cit" Rosa wrig-
sled breathcssy through the cellar window to
snug nook under the side veranda. As she squirIned
close to the lattice to peer out at the new boy,
who was chanting mono.onously "forty-f-an-ffty-
fftyf-ansi1ty-" she observed that his half-shut
eyes were slyly searching the landscape
"O-oo-ooh, the little cheat" she thought, disgust
cdly. wait till tell Bill him."
Above her she could hear the cracking of Aunt
yances rocker Fer dolorous voice sounded Disagree
ably clear above the creaking.
"You ought to put stop to her stromping around
so' said the lady, severely. "She isn't allowed to
romp around at my house; to my mind thirteen
is altogether too big for such goings on" Rosa
stuck out her tongue in the darkness But she
:srnned when she heard Aunt Remson's laugh
Il haven't the heart to stop her fun, Kate, simply
haven't. Did you notice what beautiful manners
she has? Didn't she greet you nicely7" Rosas head
lifted proudly.
Huh. manners is all that win be beautiful
about her." grunted Aunt Vance. "My land, never
saw such limpsey-ooking child anywhere. She
certaE!y don't get her plain looks from the Stephen
son size and will say her mother was right pretty
she can be so downright homely."
Just growing fast" said Aunt Remson lightly.
-tShe has lovely eyes and 1 think she will be a
great deal prettier in a year or So"
pretty" snapped her sister:in-law "That gawky
little thing pretty! Don't be such fool Jane. I
said to Ben when sent her on to you last month
that it was no wonder that my Frederick didn't mind
not seeing her more'n twice year. She just gets
her pindlingness-but that hair! just strng-lookng
call it-you can't braid it smooth. Put it in
like rat-tais."
Rosa's hand was over her mouth smothering
into defiant little heap behind the lattice. "Hatefu
DIE thing" she whispered. holly. ashes JUS stringy
sEre at all, DON'T"
Eut she yanked slender braid over her shoulder
I'D eyed it curiously 1t undeniably limp ard
shin The anger died in her great eyes and she
stared, bewildered. She was quite unconscious Of
Aunt Remsons eager defense. She did not see the
new boy peering through the lattice. she hardly
heard him whooning joyously q moment later
-Touched the bye for Rosie! Yah. she's it!'
She pulled herself wearily THROUGH tie cellar win.
dow. cra". ed up the stairs and out to the back
veranda.
I'm not PLAYING any more after I'm it." she
I'm it."
Inc twins stored Of her. CAV you got M this
game snutterod Fiv. "I wouldn't be a gutter
when Ia rone and ster-nd ranna,
she turned her hack mechSniralIv ani BEGAN
Counting with an aching throat. "Fiteen- fifteen"