The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-10-07
By
Booth
Harrington
Copyright, 1921
By the Bell Syndicate, Inc.

go on" Florence urged. patty
you got to-"
swell, then, If got to-" said Patty.
"What 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. II think Herbert and Henry've
got the incest eyes of any boy in
town."
"You DOR Florence cried incred-
ulously.
Eyes, really do, Florence. l think
Herbert Atwater ana Henry Rooter
have got just the incest eyes of any
boy in town."
"Well, 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 horrabler !"
"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 1t 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 other side of the fence
(though with their backs to the knot
hole) were beginning to show signs of
inward disturbance. Already flushed
with unexpected ineffabilities, their
compilations had grown even pinker
upon ,Florence's open-hearted express
sions of opinion. Slowly they turned
their heads to look sternly at the
stood the maigner 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 prejudicing 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, / don't know" said Patty.
Lets go out n the front yard"
She led the way around the house,
and moment later uttered a 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 brazenhess; Herbert and
Henry decided to come in.
isn't this the funniest thing?"
cried Patty. "After what 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 here?" she inquired.
Herbert chivalrously 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 it,,
got a perfect right to-"
81 should say So" his partner said
warmly.
"Why. of coursew the cordial Patty
agreed. 1--WE can play some nice Sun
day games, or something. Let's sit
on the porch steps and think what
to do"
81 just as soon," said Henry Rooter.
Il got nothin' p'ticuar to do"
81 haven't, either" said Herbert.
Thereupon, Patty sat between them
on the steps. ''1'his is per-fickly
grand!" she cried "Come on, Flor
ence, aren't you going to sit down
with all the rest of us?"
"Well pray kindly excuse me-"
said Miss Atwater; and she added
that she would neither sit on the
same steps with Herbert Atwater and
Henry Rooter nor, even if they en-
treated her with accompanying genu-
Elections, would she have anything else
whatever to do with them. She with
drew to the railing of the porch at
a point farthest from the steps, and
seated there, swung one foot rhythmic
ally and sang, hymns in a tone at once
plaintive and inimical.
1t was not lost upon her, however,
that her withdrawal had little de-
pressing effect upon her guests. They
chartered gaily and Patty devised, or
remembered, harmless little games
which could be played by few peo-
pie as well as by many; and the three
participants were so congenial and
noisy and made so merry that, before
long. Florence was unable to avoid