Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-11-24
By
Booth
Harrington
Copyright, 1921
by the Bell Syndicate, Inc.

you got to-"
swell, then, If got to-" said Patty.
"What l was going to say, Florence:
Don't you think your cousin Herbert
and Henry Rooter have got the incest
eyes of any boy in town.
"Who" Florence was staggered.
81 do" Patty said in her charming |
voice. 81 think Herbert and Henry've |
got the incest eyes of any boy In
town."
"You do?" Florence cried incred-
ulousy.
Eyes, really do, Florence. I think |
Herbert Atwater and Henry Rooter
have got just the nicSSt eyes of any
boy in town."
"Well, l never heard anything like
this before!" Florence declared.
"But don't you think they've got the
incest eyes of any boy in town." Pat
ty insisted, appealingly.
81 think" said Florence, "Their
eyes are just horrable!"
"What?"
"Herbert's eyes," continued Flor
ence ardently, ''are the very worst
lookin' ole squinty eyes l ever saw,
and that nasty little Henry Rooter's
eyes"
But Patty suddenly became fidgety;
she hurried away from the fence.
Come over here, Florence" she said.
Lets go over to the other side Of
the yard and talk"
And it was time for her to take
some such action if she wished to
show any tact. Messrs. Atwater and
Rooter, seated quietly together upon
box on the otter side of the fence
Though with their baclIs to the knot
hOle) were beginning to show signs Of
inward disturbance. Already flushed
with unexpected ineAabilities, their
compilations had grown even pinker
upon Florences Open-hearted express
sions Of opinion. Slowly they turned
their heads to look sternly at the
fence, upon the other side Of which
stood the maligner of their eyes. Not
that they cared what that ole girl
thought-but she oughtn't to be al
lowed to go around talking like this
and perhaps prejudiclng everybody
that had word to say for them.
Come on over here, Florence
called Patty huskily, from the other
side of the yard. Lets talk over
here"
Florence was puzzled, but consent
ed. What you want to talk over here
for?" she asked.
"Oh, l don't know" said Patty.
Lets go out in the front yard"
She led the way around the house.
and moment later uttered cry Of
surprise as the firm Of Atwater &
Rooter, passing along the pavement,
hesitated at the gate. Their celebrat-
ed eyes showed some doubt for mo-
ment, then a brazenness Herbert and
Henry decided to come in.
isn't this the funniest thing?"
cried Patty. "After what l just a
while ago-you know, Florence. Don't
you dare to tell EN-
81 cert'nly WON'T" her hostess
promised and, turning inhospitably to
the two callers, "What >on earth you
want round hereT' she, inquired.
Herbert chivarously took the duty
of response upon himself. Look
here; this Is my own aunt and uncle's
yard, isn't it? If want to come In Il
l got a perfect right to-"
" should say So" his partner said
warmly.
"Why. of course!" the cordial Patty
agreed. 1--WE can play some nice Sun
day games, or something. Let's 81,
r, on the porch steps and think what
e to do"
S. 81 just as soon," said Henry ROoter
:. "I got nothn' p'ticuiar to do"
:, 81 haven't, either" said Herbert.
. Thereupon, Patty sat between then
- on the steps. "ThIs Is per-fickly
10 grand!" she cried. "Come on, Flor
ence, aren't you going to sit dowr
with all the rest Of us?"
- "Well. pray kindly excuse me =
= said Miss Atwater; and she added
:. that she would neither sit on thu
% same steps with Herbert Atwater ant
y Henry ROoter nor, even IL they en-
=, treated her with accompanying genu
~ fections,- would she have anything els
:, - whatever to do with them. She with
>, drew to the railing Of the porch a
~ a point farthest from the steps, and
- seated there, swung one foot rhythmic
" ally and sang hymns in tone at ono
plaintive and inimical.
~ 1t was not lost upon her, however
= that her withdrawal had little dc
=. pressing effect upon her guests. The
IT, chartered gaily and Patty devised, o
'h remembered, harmless little game
ou which could be played by few pee
pie as well as by many; and the tire
KS participants were so congenial an
noisy and made so merry that, befor
list long, FLORENCE was unable to avo'
~ the impression that, whether she like
It or not, she was giving quite
80 party.
"Henry Rooter--Herbert, too