News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-01-29
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stone wall and more woods. 1t wa
narrow woodland road, a short Gu
to the hotel. 1t wound its way out o
sight, up hill, through the pines. I
was grass-grown and shady and lh
trees met overhead. Sweetbrier an,
wild roses grew along the stone walls
while gay little flowers and delicat
ferns ventured out into the road itself
and with every passing breeze nodded
fnerrily from the ruts of last winter
wood hauling. By the side of tn
road, like a glaring anachronism, ,
variety theater in Paradise, vacuum
cleaner among the ferns and daisies
stood a huge red touring car will
shining brass work and raised top. NJ
one was anywhere in sight and the
watermelon climbed into the tonnear
and leaned comfortably back in the
Toomy depths.
Home, Henry" said he languidly
ito an imaginary chauffeur.
A honk, fonk behind him answered
HE leaned from the car and saw an
other turn into the road and come
howard him. 1t was touring car, big
and blue. An elderly gentleman, fat
serious, important, was at the wheel
Beside him sat a lady, and a chauf.
feur languished in the tonneau.
Hello, Thomas" called the old
gentleman with the affability of per.
FORMING elephant, addressing the Wa.
termelon by the name of his car, as
Hs the custom of the road
Hello, William" answered the Wa.
fermelon, wondering why they called
him Thomas.
The old gentleman flushed angrily
and the lady laughed, a delightful
laugh of girlish amusement. The Wa.
hermelon smiled
I'VE are Packard" explained the
,old gentleman stifly.
Are your" said the Watermelon.
wholly unimpressed by the informa.
dion. well, amt Thomas"
/ 81 called you by the name of your
car" said the old gentleman. 81 sur
mise that you have not had one long"
Il don't feel as If | owned it now"
ahe Watermelon admitted.
The old gentleman smiled geniaIIy,
Anything was pardonable but flip.
lpancy in response to his own utter.
ances, none Of which was ever lack. |
ing in weight or Importance. The
young man, it seemed, was only igno.
rant.
"Are YOU IN trouble?" he asked
with a gleam of anticipated pleasure
IN his eyes. To tinker with a ma,
chine and accomplish nothing but
crying need for an immediate bath
was his dearest recreation.
NO." said the Watermelon, thinking
OF the three, ten, in the pocket of the
new clothes and of the lonely swim.
mer. II ain't-yet."
The old gentleman was vaguely dis.
appointed "Can you run your ma
he asked, hopeful of reply
n the negative.
NO" said the Watermelon.
won't go, eh?" The old gentle
nan turned off the power in his car
md stepped forth, agilely, joyfully
to do irreparable damage to
he strangers car. He drew off his
cloves and slipped them into his
rocket, then for a moment he hesi.
ated.
"Where is your chauffeur?''
II haven't one," said the Water.
aelon.
The old gentleman disapprowed.
Until you know more about your
you should have one," said
e oratorically. 81 am practically an
xpert, and yet I always take rhine
Nth me-"
He waved aside any comment on
lis own meritorious conduct and fore
light and turned to the machine.
"Father," suggested the lady gently,
maybe you had better let Alphonse-"
Alphonse, sure of the reply, made
10 move to alight and assist.
The old gentleman, with head near
= out of sight, peering here ana
here, tapping this and sounding that,
'eplied with evident annoyance. Ger.
ainly not, Henrietta. l am perfectly
capable"
His words trailed off into vague
mutterings.
The Watermelon glanced at the
ady, girl or woman, he was not sure
which. Between thirty and thirty-five
The unconquerable youth of the mod
ern age radiated from every fold of
her dainty frock, from the big hat
and graceful veil Her hair was soft
and brown and thick, her mouth was
rather large, thin-lipped and humor-
Gus. and yet pathetic, the mouth of
one who laughs through tears, seeing
the piteous, so closely intermingled
With the amusing. Her eyes were
brown, clever, with delicate brows
and a high, smooth forehead. The Wa
termeIon decided that she was not
uretty. but distinctly classy. He /
smiled at the friendliness he saw in
the eyes and turned to the old gentle
man, who was now thoroughly abb
sorbed.
: 81 need a monkey-wrench," said he.
Il thought at first that there was
something the matter with the car
buretor. but think now that it must
be in the crank shaft assembly.