The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-02-09
By
Booth
Harrington
Copyright, 1871
By the Bell Syndicate. Ina

you got to"
swell, then, If l got to- said Patty
what | was going TO say, Florence
Don't you think your cousin Herber'
and Henry Rooter have got the nlcesi
eyes of any boy In town.
"Who?' Florence was staggered.
81 do" Patty said In her charming
voice. 81 think Herbert and Henry'vt
got the incest eyes of any boy IL
town.
"You do?" Florence cried incred
ulously.
ayes, I really do, Florence. I thinL
Herbert Atwater and Henry Rootei
have got just the incest eyes of an,
boy In town."
"Well, ! never heard anything Xix,
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 horrableT"
"What?"
"Herbert's eyes" continued Flor.
ence ardently. "are the very worst
lookin' ole squInty eyes l ever saw,
and that nasty little Henry RIOTERS
eyes"
But Patty suddenly became idgety /;
she hurried away from the fence.
Come over here, Florence" she said.
Let's go over TO the other side Of
the yard and talk"
And ii was time for her to take
SOM such action IL she wished TO
show any tact. Messrs. Atwater and
Rooter, seated quietly together upon
a 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
fence, upon the other side of which
stood the mallgner 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 p~rejudicing everybody
that had a word to say for them.
"Come on over here, Florence"
called Patty huskiIy, from the other
side of the yard. Lets talk over
here"
Florence vas puzzled, but consent
ed. "What you want TO talk over here
forT' she asked.
"Oh, ! don't know" said Patty.
Lets go out IL the front yard"
She led the way around the house,
and a moment later uttered a cry of
surprise as the firm of Atwater 4
Rooter, passing along the pavement
hesitated at the gate. Their celebrat
ed eyes showed some doubt for a mo
ment. then a brazenness; Herbert ano
Henry decided to come in.
isn't this the funniest thing?"
cried Patty. "After what I just a
while ago-you know, Florence. Don't
you dare to tell EN-"
81 cert'nly won'tl" her hostess
promised. and. turning inhospltably to
the two callers, what on earth you
want round here?" she inquired.
Herbert c~hivalrously took the dut,
of response upon himself. "Look
here: this Is my own aun and uncle's
yard, isn't It? If I want to come in Ii,
I got a perfect right to-"
81 should say So" his partner said
warmly.
"why. Of curse !" the cordial Patty
agreed. Eve can play some nice Sun
day games. or something. Let's SIT
on the porch steps and think what
TO do"
ST just as snon said Henry Rooter
81 got noti,in' p'ticular to do"
~ haven't. either" said Herbert.
Thereupcn. Patty sat between ther.
ON The steps. 'This is perfectly
grand" she cried. Come on. Flor
ence. aren't o going TO sit down
with all the rest Of usT"
"well pray kindly excuse met
said Miss Atwater: and she added
that she would neither sit on the
same eteps with Herbert Atwater and
Henry Rooter. nor. ever II they en-
treated her with accompanying genu
iections, would she have anything else
whatever to do with them She with
drew to the railing OF the porch ut
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.
II was not lost upon her. however,
that her withdrawal had little de-
pressing effec. upon her guests, They
shattered gaily and Patty devised. or
remembered. harmless little ganses
which could he PLAYED by a few peo
pie as well as by many; and the three
participants wer sd c~ongenial and
noisy and made 81 merry that. before
long. Florence was unable to avoid
rhe impression that. whether she liked
It or not. she was giving quite a