Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-09-27

that a chap who wants a garden lacks
the means to sic few men on the job.
Under those conditions he may, per-
haps, be pardoned for labor1ng him
SELF
There was a slight silence broken
by Stella, who said that we were go
ing to get some goldfshes soon.
"We can give them some out of our
pool. can't we, father?" the other girl
said. with an evident effort to be neigh
borly. "We really have too many"
certainly, certainly; have Peter
bring some over tonight" her father
| replied.
ooh, thank your Stella cried. "And
will you have Peter tell US their
names?"
''Their what?" exclaimed Mrs. Eek
strom.
ooh, haven't they names? The poor
things!" Stella said. 81 shall name
them as soon as they come"
What quaint idea." the girl said,
| with a smile. "Do you name all the
creatures on the placer
Certainly" said Stella. "Come, Ill
show you Epictetus and Luella."
This was new one on me, but
kept silent, while she led US around
| the house and lifted the plank which
led up from the sundial lawn to the
south door. Under it were two enor-
nous toads and two small ones.
'sThose big ones are Epictetus and
Luella," she announced, "and, dear me,
two children have arrived to visit them
since morning! Let me see."
She dropped on her knees and ex-
amined the toads carefully, While they
tried to burrow into the soil backward,
to escape the SUM- Our callers regard
ed her with odd expressions of mingled
amusement and amaZement-Or was 1t
pity? ...
4 son and daughter-in-law, she an
nounced, rising. '"They are Gladys
and Gaynor."
A polite smile f1ickered on the faces
of our three visitors and died out IN
silence. Stella once more shot glance
at me.
We turned toward the house. "Ii
you will excuse me for few mo
ments, I will make myself fit to brew
you some tea" said my wife, holding
open the door.
''That is very kind, but We'll not re
main today, l think Mrs. Eckstron
replied. 1--WE will just glance at wha
you have done to this awful old house
It was certainly an eyesore before you
, bought it.'
at liked it all gray and weathered,
, Stella answered. "In fact | didn'
J want 1t painted. But apparently yo1
> have to paint things to preserve them
, Still. the Lord made wood before maj
e made paint"
a "He also made man before maj
y made clothes" said I.
A polite smile from the girl FOLLOWED
this remark. Her father and mothe
seemed unaware Of it. They gave gu
beautiful living room a casual glance
and the man took in especially tn
books-in bulk.
o "You are one Of these literary chaps
y I hear" he said. II suppose you nee
: all these books in your busfnessT'
i "Well, hardly ALL" I answered
t stSome few I read for pleasure. Wi
yOu S1AOhCs
offered him a cigar.
p 'AThanks, no." said he. Doctors OF
= ders. I can do nothing want t.
9 Diet, and an that. Bally nuisanct
/ TOO. Why, once used to"
= "Father," said the girl, "don't 70
+ want to see If the car Is readyT"
The look Of animation which ha
y come over the mans face when he b.
gan to talk about his health vanishe
p again. He started toward the door.
. LET me-" said I. springing ahea
, of him.
The car, of course, was waiting, tt
y chauffeur sitting in it gazing vacant
down the road, with the patient stal
of the true funky. I came back an
s. reported. With a polite good-by an
)! an invitation to call and see their ga
den the guests departed.
- Stella and stood in the south roo
10 and listened to the car rumble ov'
the bridge. Then we looked at OF
u another IN silence.
= Presently she picked up what a
Ie peared like a whole pack Of callir
d cards from the table, and glanced
them.
Cd "John," she said, '1t's begun. They,
L called on me. I shall have to retul
the call. Are all the rest like the1