Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-11-03

days. She stated the fact with heat,
adding: And l only came then he
cause l knew somebody ought to see
that this stable isn't ruined. It's my
own uncle and aunt'S stable, and ]
got as much right here as anybody"
you have mott" Henry Rooter pro-
tested holly. This isn't, either, your
ole aunt and uncle's stable"
at isn't!"
"No, it is not! This isn't anybody's
stable. It's my and Herbert's news
paper building, and I guess you
haven't, got the face to stand there
and claim you got fright to go in a
newspaper building and say you got
a right there when everybody tells
you to stay outside of it, l guess"
"Oh, haven't II"
"No, you haven't-I" Mr.. Rootel
maintained bitterly. you just walk
downtown and go in one of the news.
paper buildings down there and tell
'em you got a right to stay there all
Gay long when they tell you to get out
O. there! Just try it! That's all ]
ask"
Florence uttered a cry of derisiOn
"And pray, whoever told you / was
bound to do everything you ask me to
Mister Henry ROoter?' And she con.
Guided by reverting to that hostile
impulse, so ancient, which in despair
of touching an antagonist effectively,
reflects upon his ancestors. "If you
got anything you want to ask, you go
ask your grandmother"
Here !" Herbert sprang to his feet,
outraged. you try and behave like
a lady!"
who'll make me?" she inquired.
"You got to behave like a lady as
long as you're in u newspaper build.
ing, anyway" Herbert said ominously.
IF you expect to come up here after
you been told five dozen times to
keep out"
"For heavens sakes!" his partner
interpOsed. "When we goin' to get
our newspaper work done? She's your
cousin l should think you could get
her out ~
"Well, I'm goin' to. amt II" Her.
bert protested %plaintively. 81 expect to
get her out, don't ~"
"Oh, you doY" Miss Atwater in
quired, with severe mockery. pray,
how do you expect to accomplish it,
pray?'
Herbert looked desperate, but was
unable to form a reply consistent with
some rules of etiquette and gaIlantry
which he had begun to observe during
the past year or so. "Now, see here,
Florence" he said. "You're Old
enough to know when people tell you
to keep out of a place, why, it means
there"
Florence remained cold to this rea-
sOning. "Oh, pOOt ~ she said.
Now, look here! !" her cousin re-
m~onStrated. and went on with his ar
gument. "We got our newspaper work
to do, and YOU ought to have sense
enough to know newspaper work like
this newspaper work we got on our
hands here is1't-well, it amt any
Child's play"
His partner appeared to approve of
the expression, for he nodded severely
and then used it himself. NO, you
bet It isn't any child's play" he said.
mo, sir" Henry Rooter again
agreed. Newspaper work like this
isn't any child's play at ALL"
1T isn't any child's play, Florence"
said Herbert. 1T atct any child's
play at all, Florence. If it was just
child's play or something like that,
why it wouldn't matter so much your
always pokin' up here, and"
We'll" the partner interrupted, jul
dicially, "We wouldn't want her
around, even if it was child's play"
mo, we wouldn't; that's So" Her
bert agreed.
1--WE wouldn't want you around, any
how, Florence" Here his tone be-
came more plaintive. $50, for mercy's
sakeS, can't you go on home and give
US a little rest? What you want, any
how"
well, l guess it's about time you
was askin' me that" she said, not I'M
reasonably. IF you'd asked me thar
in the first place, instead of actin like
you'd never been taught anything, and
was only fit to associate with hood
lums, perhaps my time Is of some
value, myself"
The lack of rhetorical cohesion was
largely cOunteracted by the strong
eXpresSiveness of tone and manner; at
all events, Florence made perfectly
clear her position as a person of
worth, dealing with the lowest of all
her interiors. She went on, not paus-
ing:
Il thought, being as l was related to
you, and all the family and everybody
else gOin' to hat to read your ole
newspaper, anyway it'd be a good
thing if what was printed in 1t wasn't
all a disgrace to the family, because
the name Of our family's got mixed up
with this newspaper; so here!'
Thus speaking, she took the poem
from her pocket and with dignity
held ii forth to her cousin.