News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-06-23


dened nose.
Thought you were so keen abou
riding on top"
"Oh, am, when it isn't so cold-bu
I'm almost frozen"
WELL We'll get off somewhere fol
tea-that1l warm you up. Ought tc
strike place along here pretty soon.
Helen loved these long bus-top rides
that on Sunday afternoons run far out
| through the quaint London suburbs
but today it was chill and raw.
Here we are" Warren nodded to
the familiar red rampant lion on a
sign up the road.
1t was one of the thousand RED
Lion Inns" about England. But when
they left the bus Helen saw that it
was not well kept, and that it had
neither age nor quaintness to recon-
mend it.
''Dear, it doesn't look Clean" draw
ing back as she caught a glimpse of
the dingy, notwithstanding dining room
with red-checked table cloths isn't
that another place down there? Let's
try that"
Farther on, across the road, was an
old gabled house, half hidden by a
high box hedge. "The. Queens Head"
read the faded swinging sign.
That's more like it," admitted War
rem as they went up the graveled,
shrublined path.
They entered long, low room with
white-clothed tables and a cheerful
open fire. Highly-colored chromos of
fish and game hung about, and on the
mantelpiece were some stuffed birds
under glass dome.
The room was empty. AS they wait
ed for someone to serve them, Helen
struggled with her hair, while Warren
turned through the Guest Book" on
the table.
Listen to this" with a chuckle.
Bed and board good, but rest dis
turbed by growing of ancient rooster
at 8 and a. M That's rich! You
can just see him looking at his watch
and cussing that rooster"
Helen glanced over his shoulder at
the closely scrubbed sentiments of the
various guests.
Too full for words. Everything
top hole. God save the king" read
Warren. That's British for you. All,
here's a choice bit:
"'The beef is good,
The tea is fine,
This is a bully place to dine"
ooh. look, dear, l love this one!
Words fail us-to be taken which way
you like
See here" Warren turned from the
book, ''how do you raise these peo-
ple?' rapping on the floor with his
cane.
A sound of a closing door, and
hurried in. Helen noticed that
her eyes were red, and her face white |
and drawn.
I'm sorry, sir, if I've kept you wait
ng, but I'm all alone here this after
loon. Will you have tea, sir?"
yes. two teas, and one brandy and
soda"
could I go somewhere to fix my
lair?" ventured Helen.
Yes, ma'am, just come right up
tairs."
She led the way up the steep dark
teps to low dormer-windowed room.
BY the high post bed was chest of
Irawers with an old round mirror.
Helen took off her hat and began to
ct down her disheveled hair, but the
woman still fingered.
eff things are a bit upset, ma'am-
hope you won't mind. II just heard
hat my brother died in a French hos
ital My husband" pausing to steady
er voice.. was killed three weeks ago
t Amiens" Then she turned abrupt
Y and was gone.
Hastily Helen thrust up her hair and
urried down to Warren.
That's hard lines" he admitted
Ihen she told him.
do you suppose she's trying to run
his place alone"
THAT'S about the size of it. Some
{ these English women are putting up
mighty game fight. Now that's the
ind of a person you'd like to help" II
A chug-chug of motor outside. and
party of three entered-two women
nd a man in long motoring coats.
hey settled themselves noisily
Three meat teas right away" the
ian ordered peremptorily when the
oman came in to serve Warren's
randy and soda.
Yes, sir" as she hurried out
The man threw off his coat. lit fat
gar and leaned back with complacent