Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-03-08

connie helpleSSly passed them down
to him, and saw him carefully deposit
ing them on the ground. "Just give me
your hand"
And what could Connie do? She
couldn't sternly. order a millionaire's
son to mOsy around the house and
mind his Own business until she got
some decent clothes on, though that
was what she yearned to do. Instead
she held out a slender hand, grimy and
red, with a few ugly scratches here
and there, and allowed herself to be
helped ANONYMOUSLY out from the shell
tering branches into the garish light of
day.
She looked at him reproachfully. He
never so much as smiled.
Laugh if you like" she said bitter
ly. 81 looked in the mirror. I know all
about it,"
"Run along" he said, "but don't be
gone long, will you? Can you trust me
with the cherries"
Connie walked into the house with
great decorum, afraid the ragged skirts
might swing revealingly, but the young
man bent over the cherries while she
made her escape.
1t was another Connie who appeared
q little later, a typical tennis girl, all in
white from the velvet band in her hair
to the canvas shoes on her dainty feet.
She held out the slender hand, no long
err grimy and stained, but its wilderness
still married with sorry scratches.
81 am glad to see you" she said
gracefully, though I can only pray you
won't carry a mental picture Of me
very long"
"Tm afraid I will, though" he said
teasingly.
"Then please don't paint me verbally
for my sisters ears; they are always
too bad they are out. You'll stay for
luncheon with me, won't you? I'm all
alone-well have it in the yard"
ut sounds tempting, but-perhaps
I had better come again later in the
afternoon"
"You may do that, too" said Connie.
"But since you are here, I'm afraid ]
must insist that you help amuse me-
And she added ruefully, "Since I'have
done so well amusing you this morn
ing"
"Why, he's just like anybody else
she was thinking with relief. ITS nc
trouble to talk to him, at all. He's nice
in spite of the millions"
He stayed for luncheon, he ever
helped carry the folding table out be
meath the cherry tree, and trotteC
d~ocilely back and forth with plates anG
glasses. as Connie decreed.
1t was not until they were at lunch
con that the grand idea visited Connie
Back to her remembrance flashed the
thousand witty sallies of Carol ant
Lark, the hundreds Of times she hat
suffered at their hands. And for thu
first time in her life, she saw a cleal
way of getting even. And a million
aires son! Never was such a reveng,
fairly crying to be perpetrated.
"Will you do something for me, Mr.
Hedges?" she asked. Connie was onl,
sixteen, but something that is born il
woman told her to lower her eyes shy
ly, and then look up at him quickly be
meath her lashes. And she saw in {
flash the ruse worked.
Then she told him softly, very pref
tily.
But won't she dislike me, if I dor
he asked.
mo, she won't" said Connie. "We'r
a family of good laughers. We EMO!
a joke nearly as much when it's on us
as when we are on top"
So it was arranged, and shortly aft
ar luncheon the young mar in the i'm
maculate spring suit took his depar
ture. Then Connie summoned her aun
by phone, and told her she must hastel
home to help "get ready for the mil
lionaire's son." 1t was after two whel
the twins arrived. and Connie and thei
aunt hurried them so violently tina
they hadn't time to ask how Comm,
got her information.
He had arrived A millionaire's son
Instantly their enthusiasm returned t,
them. The cushions on the couch wer,
carefully arranged for the reclining 0
the semi-invalid aunt, who, with tn
sweet young daughter of the house
was upstairs waiting to be summoned
Connie, with the tennis racquet, wa
in the shed, waiting to arrive theatri
cally. Carol, in her trim black gowI
with a white cap and apron, was
dream.
And when he came she ushered hin
in, courtesying in a way known onl,
on the stage, and took his hat ant
stick, and said softly:
"Yes, sir-please come in, sir-Il
call the ladies'"
She knew she was bewitching, O
course, since she had done it on pur
pose, and she lifted her eyes just fal
enough beneath the lashes to give tn,
properly ~coquettish effect. He caugh
her hand, and drew her slowly toward
him, admiration in his eyes, but trepi
dation in his heart, as he followed Con
MES coaching. But Carol was panic