Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-22

For all that their voices rang high
IND hot, the Twins were really dis
,ussing the question who had hit
Stubb's bull-terrier with the greatest
number Of stones in the most amicable
spirit Violet Anastasla Dangertieid
who always took the most favorable
view Of her exploits, had claimed
twenty hits out Of the thirty; Hya-
cinth Wolfram Dangerfeld, in very
proper spirit, had at once claimed the
same number. and both of them were
defending their claims with loud We
hemence. because. if you were moi
loudly vehement. your claim lapsed.
Suddenly Hyacinth Wolfram, as
usual. closed the discussion; he said
firmly, II tell you what we both hit
that dog the same number Of times"
SO saying. he swung round the rude
calico bag. bullying with booty, which
hung from his shoulders. and tool
from 1t two Ribstone pippins.
Perhaps we did" said Violet Anas
tasia amably.
They went swiftly down the road
munching In a peaceful silence.
1t had been an odd whim of Nature
to make the Twins so utterly unlike
sia Dangerfield. so dark Keyed. dark
haired. dark-skinned. of so rich q
coloring. so changeful and pquant q
face. for th0 cousin. much less fore the
twin sister, of Hyacinth Wolfram
Dangerfield, SO fair-skinned. fair
haired. blue-eyed. on whose finely CHS
eled features rested SO perpetual. sc
contrasting a serenity. But it was 6
W nj Of hni vvyif ynd nc1r
Sir Maurice Fnlconer. which had
robbed them OF their pretty names. He
had named Violet "Erebus" because
he said.
She walks in beauty like the night
or cloudless climes and starry spheres
and he had forthwith named Hya.
cinth "The Terror" because. he said
the Inflated Sir John Franklin had
made the Terror the eternal companion
Of Ercbns.
Erebus and the Terror they became
Even their mother never called them
by their proper. pretty names save in
moments Of the severest displeasure.
They're good apples" said the Ter
ror presently as he threw away the
core of his third and took two more
from the bag.
"They are" said Erebus in CRATE
full tone-"worth all the trouble we
had with that dog
WED have cleared him out Of the
orchard In half the time, II we'd had
our catapults and bullets. 1t was hare
luck being made to promise never tt
use catapults again." said the Terror
sadly.
"Al that fuss about little leai
from the silly old belfry gutter =" sale
Erebus bitterly.
"As if belfries wanted lead cutters
They could easily have put states II
the place of the sheets of lead w
took" said the Terror.
"Why can't they leave us alone? I
quite spoils the country not to hav'
catapults." said Erebus, gazing on tn
rich autumn scene through which the,
moved with mour1ifTl eyes.
They climbed over a gate (for thu
Twins it was always simpler to climl
over gate than to unlatch it an(
walk through and took their wa.
along the common. They had gon'
some fifty yards, when from among tn
gorse on their right a voice cried
"Bang-g-g! Bang-g-g."
The Twins fell to the earth and la
still; and Virgins came out Of tn
gorsc. his wooden gun on his shoulder
a smile Of proud triumph on his richl
freckled face. He stood over the IA
len twins; and his smile Of trump
changed to scowl Of the most savag
ferocitr.
"Ha! Fla! Shot through the heads -!
he cried Their bones will bleach 4
The painless forest while their scalp
hang in the wigwam Of Red Bear, th
terror Of the Pawnees."
Then he scalped the Twins with
formidable, but wooden knife. The
he took from his knickerbocker poke
tattered and dirty notebook, an II
conceivable notebook ct was the Onl
thing to curb the exuberant imagine
ton of Erebus). made an entry in 1
and saId In n tone Of lively satisfa'
ton, you're only one game ahead
II thought we were three" sal
Erebus, rising.
They're down in the book" sal
Virgins firmly; and his bright blu
eyes were very stern.
"Well, we shall have to spend
whole afternoon getting we'll ahead {
you" said Erebus, shaking out he
dark curls.
Virgins waged deadly war wit
the Twins. He ambushed and scalpe
them; they ambushed and scalpe
him. Seeing that they had alread
passed their thirteenth birthday,
was great condescension on the
part to play with boy Of ten; an
they felt It, But Virgins was a fa'
ored friend and the game filled int
walls between sterner deeds.
The Terror handed Virgins an al
Dle; and the three of them move
swiftly OH across the common. Wi
gins was one OF those who spurn II
earth. Now and again. for Obscul
but profound reasons. he would SUI
denly spring into the air and procee
by leaps and bounds.
Once when he slowed down to Il
them overtake him. he said, "rhe gan
isn't really fair; you're two TO one
"You keep very level" said the TIE
rOr.
Eyes: It's my superior astNteness
said Virgins sedately
"Goodness! What words you use
said Erebus in II somewhat jealo'
tone.
"Its being so much with my father
you see. he has European reput
tion" Virgins explained
Yes; everybody says that. 81
what Is a European reputationT 50
EFe6us.