News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-02-19

! the CRACK VI lnS uoOI anu luen the
door opened and the Watermelon
grlnned at them in the light of a small
smoky lamp he held.
"Where did you get the lamp
asked the general as the Watermelon
led the way in.
Found it," said the Watermelon.
"The place is furnished. The family
is probably only away for visit" He
set the lamp on the table and from
long habit wiped his dusty hand on
his trou5er leg. 81 fell over every
thing in the room before l got next to
the fact"
He glanced about with some pride
and the others stood in a semicircle
and stared around. The room was a
typical country kitchen, a huge stove
side by side with a large chintz-cov-
cred rockingham. A dresser for the
crockery and haircloth lounge took
up one side. There was center table
with a red checked cloth, few chairs
and a sewing machine near the win
dow.
Bartlett glanced around and at every
unfamiliar object his heart sank low
er and lower and his first sickening
suspicion became q painful fact. He
had never lived there. Everything was
strange, the furniture, the rugs, the
| very shape of the room. Where were
they? Whose house had they uncere-
moniously broken into? A clammy
chill crept down Bartletts back and
J his ford face grew still redder.
None of the others was noticing him
The general was proving around to
see that the enemy could not come
upon them unawares. The Watermelon
had lifted the basket on to the table
and the girls were preparing gaily to
set forth the repast, all three rum
maging in closets and drawers for
plates and knives and forks.
The general returned to the table.
Cali serene along the Potomac" said
he, thrusting his hands into his peck
cts and peering into the basket with
renewed hope. Henrietta smiled gaily.
She had pushed aside her auto veil,
HeI CHSSho hClC Will lnG JOY
of the adventure and her eyes bright.
Father" said she, Gin all our lives,
we have never had an adventure be-
fore, because you persist in using
those blue books"
The general laughed and helped
himself to a sandwich.
Billy opened the dresser and peered
gingerly in, her small nose wrinkled
for any unforeseen emergency. She
had taken off her hat, and her soft
yellow hair, bound back by a black
velvet snood, escaped around her tenn
pies in tiny waves. Her eyes, thought
the Watermelon, were brighter than
the lamp upon the table and her laugh
ing, kissable mouth redder than the
crimson lips of the fair creatures in
the gay calendars on the wall. Her
hand upon the latch of the door was
so near his own, that he was tempted
to put his on it, but instead slipped
his into his pocket with delicacy he
did not recognize in himself. She was
a girl, young and sweet and attractive,
and because she was attractive, she
had been flung into the nav of the
street, a victim of the ages insane de-
sire for money and more money. Each
dainty curl, each flash and disappear
ance of her single dimple had been
reckoned as SO much in dollars and
cents. So the Watermelon put his
hand in his pocket and only watched
her with poorly yelled admiration.
do you know what I am looking
for?" she asked, glancing at him, her
eyes full of mischief.
For the family silver" said the Wa.
termelon. 1--WE might as well take
some souvenir of our visit"
Il don't believe the family silver is
silver" said she. 81 am trying to find
a bucket which you can take to the
we'll and fill for tea. 1t will give you
an appetite"
eve will let Alphonse go for the
water" said the Watermelon, turning
over the articles on the dusty, crowd
ed shelves. 1.-THE general sees to
the cars. We will give Alphonse a
chance to eaER his pay
"You should do something to earn
yours" said she.
What is mine?" he asked, trying to
see into her eyes.
I'VE must find that bucket" said
she, gazing innocently upward at the
higher shelves. 81 love to muss around
among other peoples things. They are
so much more interesting than your
own. l wonder why"
I'VE can't be amused with ourselves
and our things" said the Watermelon,
1--WE are too important. Father used
to say nothing else was really impor
tant but ourselves and what affected
u.s."
Henrietta, fussing with the alcohol
lamp at the table, laughed. why |
didn't your father write book" she
asked, "a philosophy? 1t would have
been a deal more interesting than
James or Spencer or Decant."
HE used to say that man who |
knew life never wrote about 1t. 1t |
would be too painful. 1t wouldn't SELL"
There was heavy step on the porch |
and Bartlett turned quickly with sick |
ening fear. 1t was Alphonse come |
from putting the cars away in the |