The Washington herald., 1916-10-02

Herbert Urner.
Dear, do you think she ought to have
any more?" asked Helen. anxiousIy.
More jeIlv!' demanded little Agnes,
pounding her plate with q spoon.
"Oh, give her anything to keep her
quiet" grunted Warren.
"You haven't touched the nice potato
Aunt Helen mashed up for you" reluct-
antly spreading another slice of bread
with cUrrant jelly.
ScorniiIs the potato. Agnes lreedily
licked off the thinly spread Jelly. Then,
seeing no hope of further sweets, she
tried to wriggle down frcm the tw '-vol-
ume dictionary, an unsteady substitute
for a high chair.
Mono. not yet! Don't you want
some Of this nice brown gravy on your
potato?'
Want to get down." squirming on the
wabbly books.
Put her down." scowIed Warren.
Let's finish our dinner in peace"
But, dear, she's into something every
minute. III ask Dora to take her"
touching the buzzer under the table.
Then, as the girl appeared, Dora, can
you keep Agnes out there till we're
through? Don't give her anything to eat
and don't let her soil her dress"
well, that's relief" Warren leaned
back relaxed. as the pantry door shut of
Agnes shrill demand that she make
cake.
She's dreadfully spoiled" disapproved
Helen. Yet Carrie always talks about
how strict she is with the children"
"Strict? She pampers 'em TO death A
good thrashing's what they need"
1t was the first time Carrie had eV"c
left little Agnes in their care. She had
come in town for the wedding OF an old
schoolmate, and as her nurse had Just
gone, she could not leave both children
with the cook.
Because OF her strained relation with
Warren's sister. Helen had been most
profuse in her willingness to take care
OF the child. although she knew enough
| Of Agnes impish prsnks TO dread the
| task.
A sudden uproar from the kitchen, and
Dora. very red in the face came in drag
ging the bowling Agnes.
She got hold of the bread knife and
was tryin' to cut off Pussy's whiskers!
| l smaCked her hands for her, did,"
Poor Pussy Purr-Mew," reproachfuly.
You didn't want to hurt her, did you?
| Now, come. let Aunt Helen wash your
face and hands"
In the bathroom Helen had to divert
her attention by story, as she hastily
wiped off the sticky little hands.
What's that pink fume? p imperiousy.
That's not perfume-that's tooth wash.
No, l can't give you any. l haven't any
brush. Mono. that's Aunt Helen's No.
l haven't any toothbrush for Agnes"
But the child was not pacified until
Helen poured some OF the wash on a bit
of cotton. with which she dabbed her
tiny white teeth.
See here, you haven't finished your
dinner" protested Warren, who was just
leaving the table as they came out
"Oh, l had all I wanted" Then to
Agnes, who was wriggling from her de-
| tanning hand. Now well go in and get
the picture books"
In the last number of a fashion mag
azine, there was a full children's page
of colored cut-outs. But apparently pa
per dolls and their cut-out wardrobes
were for Agnes a passe form Of enter
| tainment. She was more interested in
a box of crayons to color the fashion
plates.
Does she have to be entertained every
mnute?" grumbed Warren, frowning
over his paper at their incessant chatter.
mo, think she's all right now. Yes,
use pink for the lady's cheeks. Yes. you
can make the dress blue"
Feeling that Agnes was safely inter
ested, Helen got out her sewing.
| For almost ten minutes there was a
restful silence. Then Pussy Purr-Mew.
doing on chair. sprang after a spool
that slipped from HeIen's lap.
I Propelled by eager, playful paws, the
/ spool rolled into the next room.
That's right. bring it to Aunt Helen"
! as Agnes scrambled after It
| Sounds of lively scufrle and shouts of
| gle from Agnes. Then with a splitting
hiss. Pussy Purr-Mew leaped through the
door, a network OF thread wound about
her. Her long fur bound tight and the
spool dangling after, she dashed madly
about, too frightened to be caught.
! Dear. help me catch her, quick" Hell
en- was darting after her. That threads
choking her.
! With the aid of Dora, whom the clamor
had brought from the kitchen. they final
lily cornered the frightened kitten. and
| Helen cut OF the tightly wound thread
from the trembling little body
Cnes. who had been silenced by this
excitement, now set up a howl over a
long scratch on her arm.
OF course, she scratched you! No,
Aunt Helen doesn't love any one who's
cruel to poor. helpless animals"
Warren, who had been looking on with
watchful impatience, now jerked Agnes
down on a stool and shook her sternly.
" ou sit there and behave yourself-or
you'll be shut up in the bathroom. Get
| that? You may put il all over your
mother and Aunt 'ielen-but YOU Il nd
me-"
Startled into obedience by this unaccus-
toned sternness, Agnes gazed a. him
with open-mouthed wonderment.
Yes, l mean just that! Now not an
other whimper out of you til your mother
comes"
Quiet once more restored. Pussy Purr-
New sought the safe refuge of Helens
lap, while Agnes, much subdued, returned
! to the fashionplates.
Yes, you can cut them out after you
color them-but only on that page" eau
toned Helen. as she rose to answer the
telephone.
It was Mrs. Reed. who wanted a sym
pathetic listener for her woeful story
about the new maid that had Just gone,
taking with her the cookbook and all her
card recipes Mrs. Reeds phone CONVEX
| sations were always lengthy, and it was
almost half an hour before Helen could