American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1921-10-01

tcf " NIUE III HIS uleiuOTunuuIn UOOh.
He was not always alone; he was
frequently Joined by friend, male
and. though shorter than Herbert,
quite as old; and this companion was
inspired, II seemed, by motives pre-
cisely similar to those from which
sprang Herbert's own actions. Like
Herbert, he would sit upon the top OF
the high fence, usually at little dis.
lance from him; like Herbert he
would rise at intervals, for the better
study Of something this side Of the
horizon; then. also concluding like
Herbert, he would sit again aud write
firmly In little notebook. And sci.
dom In the history Of the world have
any sessions been invested by the par
Elephants with so intentional an ap-
pearance Of Importance.
That was what most Injured their
lone observer ut the somewhat distant
back window. upstairs at her own
place Of residence she found their I'm
portance almost impossible to bear
without screaming. Her prov0cati0n
was great; the important importance
Of Herbert and his friend. impressive
ly maneuvering upon their fence, was
SO extreme as to be all too plainly WIS.,
lble across four intervening broad
back yards; in fact. there was almost
reason to suspect that the two per-
formers were aware Of their audience
and even Of her goaded condition and
that they sometimes deliberately In
creased the outrageousness Of their
importance because they knew she
was watching them. And upon the
Saturday Of that week. when the note
book writer's were upon the fence at
Intervals throughout the afternoon,
Florence Atwater's fascinated indigna.
ton became vocal.
"vile thingsi" she said.
Her mother, sewing beside another
window Of the room. looked up In.
quiringly.
"What are. Florence3
cousin Herbert and that TASTY III.
tie Henry Rooter."
"Are you watching them againr'
her mother asked.
Eyes, I am" said Florence. tartly.
"Not because I care to. but merely
to amuse myself at their expense"
Mrs. Atwater murmured deprecat-
ingly. Couldn't you nnd some other
way to amuse yourself, Florencer
VI don't call this amusement" the
inconsistent girl responded. not with
out chagrin. think I'd spend all my
days starin' at Herbert Illingsworth
Atwater, Junior. and that nasty little
Henry Rooter. and call 1t amusementT
"Then why do you do IT."
"Why do I do what, mamaT Flor
ence inquired as II In despair OF Mrs.
Atwater's ever learning to put things
clearly.
"why do you spend all your days
watching them3 You don't seem able
to keep away from the window, and
II appears to make you irritable. !
should think II they wouldn't let you
play with them you'd be too proud"
"Oh. good heavens, mamal"
"Don't use expressions like that.
Florence, please"
SWELL" said Florence, II got to use
some expression when you accuse me
Of wantin' to play with those two vile
thingsi My goodness mercy, mama, l
don't want to play with 'em! I'm
more than four years old, guess;
though you don't ever seem willing to
give me credit for II. I don't hat to
play all the time, mama; and, any.
way. Herbert and that, nasty little
Henry Rooter aren't playing. either"
"Aren't theyf" Mrs. Atwater In
Quired. IL thought the other day you
said you wanted them to let you play
at being newspaper reporter, or edi-
tor, or something like that, with them.
and they were rude aud told you to 60
away. Wasn't that itf'
Florence sighed. mo, mama, II
cert'nly wasn't"
"They weren't rude to your
Yes. they cert'nly werel"
"Well, then"
Mama, can't you understandr'
Florence turned from the window to
beseech Mrs. Atwater's concentration
upon the matter. ut isn't playing i
didn't want to play being report
err; they ain't playing"
aAran't nlayiuu ElOrenca"