Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-13
...ALICE DEVINE
BY EDGAR JEPSOM
s-s....s@. Copyright by the Merrill Co.
Copyright 1915 by the Bobbs Merrill Co.

1eeOly.
l asked George what was the mat
he had been Knocked down by mo-
tor car and had lately came out of
the hospital. The accident was Sc
we're family trouble. for the gentle
man who was driving the car had
dashed on, leaving the smashed Henry
lying where he had knocked him. and
so escaped paying the money which
would have brought him better food
during his convalescence.
as we'll have any good he could get
out of the garden; and wheeled him
into it and found a nice shady cor
ner for him. Then ! went to my
house and told Richards to get from
the cook basket Of invalid's food,
pate de foies gras and jelly, and
chicken and cake, and jug Of milk.
pleased. and so was the angel
She quite mothered Henry as he ate.
When I came away from them, told
George that he was to call at my
house every day for more invalid
food.
Miss D'Eresby followed me.
II say-I-1'm SO sorry I kicked
you. didn't know that you were
such a brick" she eaid II hope
"Oh. no: but I would rather yoL
didn't kick me when you have thick
boots on" said.
never" she said: and she went dane.
ing back to her proteges. She seem
ed to have forgotten about being In
Coventry.
Il happened to go into the garden
after dinner that evening and was
sorry to learn from Alice that the an
gel-child had got into more trouble
Pomeroy had come and thrown stones
at her and the invalid Henry, and
she came away from the contest that
followed with a nice sample Of his
two -colored curls.
After this introduction she and I
grew very friendly, and I learned
more about the garden-world from
her. ] gathered that she acted as n
kind of guardian of it. She looked
their shady corner every fine after
noon: she kept an eye on the smaller
children, and saw that the big ones
did not tease them: she was always
checking the interfering Frederick
and she did her best to keep Gwen
dolin Binns. a high colored, noisy
wench. up to her work OF looking aft
to me to look neglected: he was a
chubby baby. She gave me a good
deal of her society. in spite Of her nu-
merous occupations. declaring that
she preferred being with grown ups
to being with children.
Several times 1 asked her when she
was going to make a mana working
man of Frederick. She always shook
her head and said darltly that Freder-
ick had better look out that she would
catch him one Of these days.
l. 4 saw her catch him. .y,4.. .--e.
came into the garden about three
o'clock one afternoon and was walk
ing toward Henry's shady corner to
see how he was getting on, when the
bend in the side path that led to it;
and after her numbered the newt
able Frederick. In the middle of her
course she jumped something
could not see what-Frederick did not
jump but he came a numbering crop
per over piece Of string. about foot
from the ground, tied to a shrub on
either side of the patch.
The angel pulled UP short at
my side and turned. At the sight of
Frederick's cropper she shrieked with
joy and held on to my arm that she
might indulge in violent merriment
without falling to the ground.
Frederick picked himself up slow
ly and stood staring about in a dazed
way. as if he were trying to thinF
what he had been doing and could
not "lite remember.
"Whenever l come into the garden
find you playing with little girls.
Frederick. Haven't you any work to
do?" I said severelv
Frederick seemed to remembe"
what had ! appened.
>-tr ~, hA "ptAvin'I''
"Playing," I said. playing catch
as catch can"
'That young limb took my trowel!
'Ow can I work without a trowel?"
howled Frederick.
81 took it to make him go on with
his work and not keep Binns from
minding the Cantelune baby" said the
angel-child with most virtuous air.
To take away a mans tools seemed
an odd way of making him go on
with his work: but l took it that Miss
DEresby knew Frederick better than
did.
"Tll compline to yer ma" he roar
ed. "I'll have damages. That's what
I'll do: and damages I'll get. I'm not
goin' to be knocked about for nothing
not me! I'll have the lor of yer!
S'welp me I will!'
"Sneaking pig!" said the angel
"I'm off to yer ma-now-thts very
minute" cried Frederick. "fIis Lord
ship'll bear witness 'ow you've bin
knockin' me about. He seed yer do it,"
He turned and went.
you've forgotten your trowel."
cried the angel-child, and she threw
It after him.
The point of 1t struck Frederick's
elbow and he Jumped and squealed.
ooh, wasn't that a lucky shot. I'll
must have caught him on the funny
bone" cried the angel-child: and she