Gunnison news-champion., 1919-01-31
CHAPT ER T.
A Party and-My Fourth Periii

IL vas rainy sunday IN tne
nlddI. Of the afternoon Uncle Pea
cody and I had set out In our spring
su.Ey with the family UMBRELLA
'adci but sacred Implement. always
,arefriiy dried. after using and hung
n the clothes press. We were drenched
10 the skin Ia spite OF the umbrella
II was still raining when We arrived
II the familiar door in Ashery lane
Uncle Peabody wouldn't stop.
He hurried away. We pioneers rare
y stopped or even turned out for the
Xsather.
Come In said the voice OF the
,choolmast.r at the door. There's
rood weather under this roof
He saw my plISh; as entered.
I'm like shaggy dog that's been
n swimming" SAID
Upon my word. hoy. we're in luck"
remarked the scho"lmaster.
| looked up at him.
Michael Hcnrys clothes sure,
they're just the thing for you."
followed him upstnirs, wondering
how 1t had happened that Michael
Henry had clothes.
He took me INFO his room and
brought some hand Snme, soft clothes
,ut Of press with shirt, SOCKS and
boots 10 match.
There. my iaddie buck said he.
"pui them on"
These will soon dry on me-" said
Put them on-ye Iaggnrd! Michael
Henry told me to give them TO you.
It's the b!rihdAy night o little Ruth.
my boy. There's big cake with eau
dies and chicken pie and jellied cook
les and all the Ike o. that. Put them
on. A wet boy ut the feast would
dampen the whole proceedings.
put them on and with great
sense OF relief and comfort They
were an admirable if--too perfect for
an accident. although at the time
thought only Of their grandeur as !
stood surveying myself In the looking
glass. They were of blue cloth and ]
saw that they went well with my
blond hair and iigh, skin. was put
ting on my collar and neckue when
Mr. Hucket returned.
We went below and the table was
very grand with its great frosted cake
and its cundles. In shiny hrnss sticks.
and its jeIlies and preserves with the
CLEAN OF polished pewter among them.
Mrs. Hacke, and all the children. save
Ruth. were waiting for US In the din
Inc room.
Now sit down here. all o. ye. with
Michael Henry" said the schoolmas-
ter. The little lady will be impatient
I'll 70 and get her and God help us TO
make her remember the day"
He was gone moment. only. when
he came back with Ruth In lovely
white dress and slippers and gny with
ribbons, and the silver beads Of Mary
IN her neck. We clapped our hands
and cheered and. in the excitement of
the moment. John tipped over his
drinking glass and shattered 1t on
the floor.
"Never mind. my brave 'ai-no glass
ever perished In better cause. God
bless youi"
We ate and jested and talked. and
The sound of our laughter drowned
the cry Of the wind in the chimney
md the drumming Of the rain upon
he windows.
,een hung by the kitchen stove, were
lamp and wrinkled. Mr.. Hacket came
70 my room before had risen.
Michael Heory would rather zee
sis clothes hanging on Q good boy
nan on q nail in the closet" said he.
Sure they Give no comfort to the
,ail at ALL"
y guess mine are dry now" an
WeFed.
They're wet and heavy, boy. No
,on o. Baldur could keep a light heart
n them. Sure ye'd be as much out
} place as q sunbeam In u cave O
sats- II ye care not for your own
comfort think o. the poor lad In the
reen chnir. He's that proud and
Ieased to see them on ye II would be
1, shame to reject his offer. Sure. II
hey were dry yer own garments
xould be good enough, God knows,
,ut Michael Henry loves the look o.
re In these togs, and then the presi-
Sent IL in town."
That evening he discovered a big
,tnin. black rs ink. on my coat and
rousers. Mr.. Hacket expressed the
opinion that II might have come from
he umbrella. but am quite sure that
,e had spotted them to save me from
.he last homemade suit l ever wore.
ave In rough work. and keep Michael
Henry's on my back. In any event l
Eore them NO more save at chore time
Sally came and went, with the Wills
Soy, and gave no heed to me. In her
Yes ! had no more substance than
/ ghost. It seemed to me. although I
Aught her. often. looking at me.
hdeed that her fnther had given her
bad report Of rs and had some re
lpelA n spite of my knowledge that