Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-07-19


bors garden rakes, patterns, scissors,
handkerchiefs, silver forks and coffee
grinders. They were always just out
of lard, flour, chocolate or yeast cakes
when company came. Thrifty people
got into the habit Of retiring to the
attic or the cellar if they saw the
Tices headed their way. Still, in spite
of these drawbacks, the Tices did very
well in their line.
Since she was born and brought up
in this atmosphere, Lucy Tice natural
ly accepted borrowing as a matter of
course. If she wanted anything she
at. once cast about to see who of her
acquaintance had one and then
promptly went and borrowed it. Lucy
was so pretty that usually she was for
given. 1t was only in the natural or
der of things then that she should
reach our for Sally Petty's beau when
her own supply of beaux ran low.
Maybe there was a little spite be-
hind it, too. For Randolph Witt when
he had settled in their town had not
served his term of paying court to
Lucy, as had every other young man.
1t was tacitly recognized that all the
boys must have a spell of desperately
adOring Lucy before they permanently
bestowed their affections on other
girls.
There was nothing startling about
q lon Il
pale and weak-eyed, but he had de.
voted himself to Sally Petty ever since
he came to town and that was suffi
cient reason for discipline Also Sal
ly had rather prided herself on her
conquest, which was sufficient reason
for her taking down.
Lucy began 1t one evening when Sal
ly and Ranny Witt were seated decor
ously on Sally's front porch across the
way. Lucy fluttered down to her Swn
gate in fluffy white gown and called
across prettily:
Sally" she cried, won't you let me
have Mr.. Witt just minute? can't
get the lamp put together, some
howl"
Of course Ranny fastened to the aid
of beauty in distress, and Sally, fiat
tered by the implication that Lucy rec
ognized her property rights in him, let
him go willingly When he came back
after an hour and a half he found il
rather difficult to explain to irate Sal
ly. No, it hadn't taken him so long tc
fix the lamp, but somehow he couldn't
get away without being rude
The next time he called on Sally he
found Lucy also on the steps, and he
never quite knew how it happened thai
when she went home he went with
her. The next day everybody in towr
knew that Lucy Tice had taken Ranny
Witt away from Sally Petty and the
town divided into two camps.
Sally quit speaking to Lucy ant
Lucy paraded her captive on the mai1
street. He seemed a willing enough
captive, too, but then Ranny neve
e could be accused of being strong mind
ed. He danced attendance on Luc,
everywhere and Sally went aroun,
looking like bottled dynamite Whel
this had gone on two months tn
young man whom Lucy really like
best of all came back and she prompt
ly returned Ranny. She told him tina
1t was all mistake and she didn
care for him and Sally was really a
awfully nice girl.
So Ranny, being easily convinced
trotted back quite resignedly to Sail
Petty, expecting to be received wit
open arms. He got terrible shock.
Il don't care for you!" Sally al
nounced to him. you can go rigf
back and tell Lucy Tice that she ca
keep you with my compliments!
never like borrowed articles that al
returned after such length of time
Il don't understand you,' star
mered poor Ranny.
II don't suppose you do" said So
ly Petty, "but that has nothing to {
with the case! l bid you good nigl
because I'm very busy. Go on over
Lucy's, why don't your
She flounced into the house. al
Ranny walking bewilderedly out b
tween the SNOWFALL bushes in fl