Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-07-16
KILLING The Time
By OTTO KRUGER.

With her small nose pressed against
the screen door, the small neighbor
looked wistfully into the grownup
neighbors kitchen.
Come out and play with me-" she
coaxed. There isn't a soul of per.
son to play with me at my house My
daddy's gone to town and my mothers
gone to town and my grandmother's
sewing me a dress and Hilda's max
ing bread. Can't you come out and
play?"
I'm afraid can't just now," re-
sponded the grownup neighbor I'm
busy myself. But you can come IN
and talk to me while l work"
The small neighbor opened the door
and skipped in with alacrity.
"Why aren't you at school?' in
qured the grownup neighbor as the
door slammed behind her visitor.
The small neighbor gave an embar-
rassed wriggle Well" she said, this
morning when | first got up-l mean
when first didn't get up, you know
| don't feel very well. My head ached
something fierce. So my mother she
said if | kept on not feeling well !
lidn't need to 60 to school. stayed
in bed till she went to town and then
didn't 60 to school"
I'm glad you're feeling better" said
he grownup neighbor. sympathetical'
ly. 81 suppose In little while you'll
have entirely recovered"
II shouldn't be surprised" agreed
the small neighbor.
She mediatively dipped into the
open -four box one small hand. over
which there was slightly brownish
film, as though 1t might previously
have been dipped into a mud pie.
Il guess I'll go into the other room
and play my new piece" she yolun'
teered after a moments pause.
DO" urged the grownup neighbor,
cordially.
The small neighbor disappeared
and presently the strains OF the new
piece" could be heard from the living
room. In few moments the musi.
clan returned.
Wasn't that beautiful piece and
don't you think I play 1t nice?" she In
quired with proper modesty.
"Yes it was beautiful" replied the
grownup neighbor, Now. suppose
you run back and play 1t once more
and by that time think III be ready
to play with you"
When the second musical feast was
over and the had returned to
the culinary regions. the grownup
neighbor asked, What do you want
to do now"
The small neighbor reflected. do
you remember" she said finally. that
when | was here you made candy?"
The grownup neighbor admitted that
she did remember the occasion. The
small one thereupon smiled up at her
sweetly and ingenuously. do you
know" she said, that | can remem
Der how good that candy tasted?"
Am / to gather from that remark
smiled the grownup neighbor, that
you would like to make some candy
now"
Il think I would" responded the
other.
But you have a headache" ven.
tured the grownup neighbor dubious
ly. II don't suppose you would feel
like eating any candy even II we made
It,"
The small neighbor looked up at
her friend doubtfully. "Oh!" she
cried as she detected the incipient
twinkle in the neighbor's eyes. you're
making fun. You'll let me have some
candy. won't you? My head feels per-
fectly good. could eat bushel Of
candy and it wouldn't hurt me bit"
I'm afraid" said the grownup
neighbor, seriously, when the candy
was on the stove and the small visitor
was standing on her tiptoes to watch
it bubble, that the awful accusation
made against me Is true"
The small neighbor's eyes grew very
large and round. "What?" she asked.
well, you know there Is story
,oing the rounds to the effect that
you're getting badly spoiled by me-"
Spoiled like apples?" inquired the
small neighbor. "All brown and wrin-
kled and soft 30 you can stick your
finger into them?"
We'll. you're not brown and wrin.
kled, and l don't believe l could stick
my finger into you"
We'll then l don't mind being
spoiled" chirped the small one. II
guess | like It," Then she threw her
arms around her friends neck. do
you know" she whispered. I'D rather
stay here and play with you than go
TO any school l ever went to in all my
whole life"
The grownup neighbor gave her a
severe hug. I'm simply fiattered to
DEATH" she declared.