The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-31
HELP WANTED
BY CATHERINE cRANMER.

tOglcal hobby
"And If you don't marry It mean
that you'll become the worst Of al
bores--an unattached old man with
tiresome hobby" Mrs. Antes snappe,
her knitting needles impatiently
"Why. John, even ut forty you are be
coming dangerously set in your ways
you're merciless. auntie; Tn actual
ly afraid to go with you to your Mays
vile cottage, lest you handcuff me t.
some village queen and march me OF
to the Justice of the peace"
"And ii might be well for you If
did, too. However, the thing have al
ready done is to have your trunk OF
fishing tackle and toys expressed in adj
vance with my household boxes. That
leaves only our, steamer trunks and
hand luggage to bother with when we
60"
THANK you; it's really because
you're such an efficiency expert in all
you undertake that I SILVER when you
try to induce me to marry"
Maysville was always enlivened by
the coming of Mrs. Antes to her sum-
mer home In its shady suburbs. Her
coming always meant one or more
morning porch parties for matrons and
at least one garden party for Maysville
maidens. And when these maidens
learned of the presence in her home Of
her bachelor nephew, they made due
note Of the possibilities thereby in
yolved, and made so many friendly
overtures that the nephew took to the
Nver bank daily, whether he wanted to
fish or to read anthropological lore.
"The persistent cordiality of Mays
vile leaves us scarcely quiet evening
alone" said John one evening, follow
ing the departure of two overdressed
girls and their ambitious mother.
81 confess that ii is preferable some
times to have ones house all to ones
self" said Mrs. Antes.
The next morning John went off
early for days fishing, but he was
annoyed to find his favorite haunt I'M
der a big elm occupied. He had spent
80 many mornings there thet he had
come to regard the messy seat on the
rocks as his personal property, but
here was an intruder, and, worse luck,
n girl. He stopped only few feet
from her, but she did not turn her head
the slightest bit. The truth was she
had a fascinating nibble at her hook,
but John didn't notice that. With a
quick movement the girl leaned slight
ly forward, gave her bamboo pole a
whirl and landed four-pound black |
bass directly at Johns feet.
"Bravo!" called John, promptly, all |
at the intrusion having been |
replaced by admiration for the intru
der.
mot bad beginning, is it?' The
smiling response came In a voice of
natural sweetness.
In disposing of the floundering fish,
John and the girl fell into easy con-
rersation which they afterward con-
inued desultorily and in low tones as
hey sat side by side with their lines
brown far into the stream.
'The quiet beauty here only empha-
lies ones conception of the chaos in
rance" said John, after rather long
ilence.
Eyes. and makes me question my
light to stay here even for an hour
vhen / might be helping somewhere
there was a yearning emphasis on the
vord ''helping."
"As I've sat here day after day"
aid John, haltingly, 'I've thought out
plan of what hope to do. Wonder
f you'd tell me what you think of it?"
"Oh, do tell me about II F.! I'm so glad a
cure going to do something" 5
So he told her of his plan TO open his ;
lother's old colonial country house, !,
rhich for the ten years since her
eatn had been unoccupied, and make
home for as many war orphans as 2
would hold. Then they discussed it g
18th enthusiasm until she had to go to I
eep luncheon engagement. Only as o
ne disappeared did John realize that r
e had no assurance of meeting her r
gain. and he was so unhappy over the Z
disability and went slowly back TO a
IS aunt's home, entering the grounds ;,
Y way of the orchard, and the house t,
' way OF side porch.
"Come here, you tramp!" called Mrs. n
ntes from the dining room. II shall p
resent you TO my guest just as you ~
e."
And John, obeying her summons. was
the dining room doorway before he
canned that the guest was this charm
g companion of an hour before and
ar her name was Grace Morton.
my nephew, Mr.. Wells, Miss Nor a. a.
A." said Mrs. Antes. and was little IL,
zzled that both of them blushed SO q,
ticeably. Hurry into presentable tn
,thes, John, and have luncheon with Fl
You must tell Miss Morton all 90
out your plans for the orphans -
me, and. as she is just home from AL
mpleting kindergarten course, I'm -
re she can give you many sugges-
MS
Nothing would please me so much
to have Miss Morton's help in work :
out my plans" said John In tone
cerely serious.
But Mrs. Antics remained curious
nut their mutual and very evident
until the following
elk. when they confessed its cause
I announced their engagement.
pyright. 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-