Ethel Hollisters Second Summer as a Campfire Girl | Page 2

a man who could give her a "fine establishment."
Among Ethel's school friends was a girl--Nannie Bigelow by name--of
whom she was very fond. Nannie had a brother in Yale whom she

(Ethel) disliked. He was a member of the ultra fashionable set and was
desirous of making a wealthy match, as his family as well had little but
their name. One of his sisters had married a titled man and lived abroad.
It was Mrs. Hollister's ambition to have Ethel like Harvey Bigelow,
although she knew that he had as little money as she. She tried to adjust
things satisfactorily, and being a clever woman she hit upon a plan
which we shall reveal later. Of course, the girl was only sixteen and
must first graduate. Ethel, who had imbibed many of her mother's
fallacies, did not openly rebel. She was quite a little snob in her way,
nor did she realize what the family daily sacrificed for her, although her
heart smote her when she saw how her father was aging, for she adored
him; nor were her eyes opened until after she had joined the Camp Fire.
Grandmother Hollister had two sons, John and Archie. Kate Hollister
was the daughter of the former. They lived in Columbus, Ohio, and
Kate had been invited to visit her New York relatives. She was a tall,
handsome girl much older than Ethel, for she was over thirty. Kate was
the Guardian of a company of eight Camp Fire Girls called the "Ohio."
She had told her grandmother and Ethel all about the new movement
one evening, and Ethel who loved the romantic side of camping out
was crazy to have Kate obtain permission from her mother to let her
join, as her father had said that she might visit Columbus that coming
summer. But lo! when she spoke to Mrs. Archie--or Aunt Bella--about
it she was politely snubbed. When Kate tried to explain how wonderful
was the organization and what benefit a girl--especially a delicate girl
like Ethel--could derive from belonging, the lady sneered and likened it
to the Salvation Army and forbade her guest from mentioning it to the
girl or even speaking of it in her presence. But alas! the deed had been
done and Ethel knew of it; but while in New York Kate had refrained
from again touching on the subject. At that time an aunt of one of
Ethel's schoolmates had formed a company and many of the swell set
had joined. Ethel longed to belong but dared not offend her mother.
Now for Mrs. Hollister's plan. She suddenly conceived the idea of
inviting Aunt Susan on for a visit, supposedly to give Grandmother a
chance to see her only sister once more, but in reality to have Ethel
ingratiate herself with the old lady, thereby causing her to leave the girl

the bulk of her fortune. Ethel read between the lines and at first refused,
but after listening to her mother for a while and thinking perhaps she
was right, she allowed herself to promise to further the plan.
Aunt Susan was a woman with fine eyes and teeth, as well as a
charming manner, but her style of dressing dated back to the
eighties--full skirts, flat hats with strings, beaded plush dolmans, etc.
Ethel was ashamed to be seen with her but she had promised to help
and she had to do her share. In the meanwhile her mother had spread
the report that Aunt Susan was a millionaire and that Ethel was to have
her fortune at her death. Everyone fell in love with Aunt Susan and
ascribed her peculiar dressing to the eccentricities of a wealthy woman.
Mrs. Hollister's joy knew no bounds when Aunt Susan invited Ethel to
return with her to Akron. Her scheme was beginning to work. Ethel
was a lovely girl. Aunt Susan would grow fond of her and the fortune
was assured. Besides, as it would cost a small fortune to take Ethel to a
fashionable summer resort, Mrs. Archie could save money for the
winter. But, accompanying the invitation, Aunt Susan requested that
during July and August, Ethel might join her other grand niece's "Camp
Fires" and live in the woods. "It will be the making of your girl," she
added, "as now she looks thin and peaked."
At first Mrs. Archie indignantly refused. She almost felt that she had
been trapped, but Aunt Susan met every objection and even told the
lady that she feared she was shallow and an unnatural mother to refuse
to consider her daughter's health. Mrs. Archie dared not let Aunt Susan
know that she considered the whole organization conspicuous and
common, nor that she did not wish Ethel to learn to do the work of a
servant, etc., or run the