Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-02-15
found HIS ideal
What Happened When France.
Kennedy Went Coastiag With
the Little Folks.
By IA. piB5ELL.

Why. Aunt Flossie, don't you re
member my telling you this morning
that Elmer Bergen was going to take
his sister and me tobogganing to
night? You don't think / would wear
my hair up so 1t would all come down
the minute we started to slide. did
your" The heavy braid fell below her
waist and a fluffy wool cap was pull
ed well down over her ears. Her dress
reached her shoe tops. thus making O
charming school girl Of the mature
young woman
Her aunt regarded her quizzicaily
What child you are. Frances; !
don't believe you ever will grow up
The idea OF college graduate going
to slide down a country hill with a
small boy and his sister"
THAT is just where the fun comes
in--I am tired OF the conventional way
of doing things. Good bye--I am GER
tain to have jolly time" She threw
her aunt kiss and danced from the
room singing Jingle Bells at the top
OF her voice.
BLESS the youngster. only hope
she keeps the child spirit all her
life" thought Aunt Flossie as she
watched her niece join Elmer and his
sister at the gate and then pass from
sight down the moonlit road.
II did not take the trio long to
reach the steep hill down which they
were to slide. and when the girls
were safely tucked in front of him
Elmer said warningly before starting
the toboggan: You must be prepar-
ed for surprise at the foot of the
hill. Frances-I shan't tell you what 1t
is" Then they were Off, going faster
and faster over the crusted snow.
Frances enjoyed the slide immensely,
until the surprise came. This proved
TO be the shooting out into the air OF
the toboFgan over the top of high
stone wall, and alighting OF the same
in the field several feet lower down
with such hearty thud that the
breath was aoout knocked out of all
three passengers
Elmer did not wait for the ven.
geance he knew awaited him. but as
soon as he could regain his breath
started array at run. calling back
with a shout of laughter How did
you like my surprise. Frances-wasnt
Il finer
Frances scrambled to her feet and
started In hot pursuit her long braid
streaming behind Just wait till
catch you. you little wretch. and see
how you like having your ears well
boxed" she threatened breathlessly
Eta Bergen remained in possession
Of the toboggan. laughing in huge de-
light at the exciting chase. until
warning shout sounded at the stone
wall, She sprang aside lust as an.
other toboggan pumped down beside
her brothers.
"Oh. Roy" she cried. as she recog.
nized the new conner "You almost
landed on top of me. I was too excit.
ed to think of moving II is such fun
In few words she explained the cause
of the chase going on before them
Big Roy Singleton watched Frances
with admiration. my but she's a
fine runner" he said shortly. Elmer
has met his match this time--look at
the young scamp doubling hack here
for protection"
Save me. Roy" gasped Elmer. as
he neared them. Don't let me be
scalped before your face and eyes
and he darted behind his friend to
drop on the snow. after his run
Frances was too taken with her
pursuit to notice anything but her pro
posed victim. and as she was almost
within reaching distance when he
swerved around Roy. she ran head
long into that young mans open arms
my. but you are a wonder," he
cried as he held her tight II would
never have believed that mite os
girl could give Elmer such hard rnn
for his life II hadn't seen 1t for my.
self"
Frances struggled to free herself.
II am not mite OF a girl" she far
ed out wrathfully. land how dare you
hold mel"
Roy released her Instantly looking
decidedly shcepish HIS first glance
showed him that his escaped captive
was not The child for which he had
taken her
81 beg your pardon" he began
stumblingly
Frances interrupted with stamp
ut ncT tOVts W, OUTLET, IOrSOt N.Y.
hair--you are not to blame Come.
Elmer Is there any way out OF this
horrid field?'' She turred her back On
Roy and marched toward the wall
with Etta and Elmer ard the toboggan
trailing meekly in her wake
I'VE have to go up TO the far end
to get out" Elmer Informed her and
soon the three were climbing up the
long hill down which they had crme
II was Elmer who broke glum ST.
lence You aren't mad are you
frances he asked contritelv -You
know I only meant It for a Joke and
II couldn't hurt you -
Yes ] am angry, Elmer--but nor
with you II is who should have
my ears boxed for acting like a
goose
What rot" was Elmer's answer
"ycu are the only nice grown-up girl
I ever knew Most OF them are So
stupid and slow they make me tired
Frances had to smile at this ria'n
expression OF opinion u am tiai
you like me. but who do you sup.sss
-