Ethel Hollisters Second Summer as a Campfire Girl | Page 9

grand marriage stunt and
she's some class. Do let us choose for ourselves."
"What did your mother say to that?" laughed Ethel.
"I think she boxed Nannie's ears and then apologized. She loses her
self-control sometimes. Poor mother," and Harvey laughed. "Nannie
has some temper, too, and don't you make any mistake."
Ethel was beginning to have a real friendly feeling for Harvey. He
asked many questions about her cousin Kate.
"She rings true," he said. "I liked her from the first."
"She is true," replied Ethel. "You'll see her this summer, and I'm sure
you'll like Uncle John and his wife. He's just a dear."

Those were red letter days for Ethel. She enjoyed the air, the scenery,
and the rides; and she enjoyed talking to Harvey, for now that he
understood she could talk to him as though he were one of the
family--without restriction and without embarrassment.
"What puzzles me," said Ethel, "is the way our mothers argue. When
they plan our marriages it's only money and position. Love never seems
to enter into their heads. Oh! I grew so tired of it. Thank God it's over,
and our family are now normal. Even Grandmother wished me to marry
well. I had far rather be an old maid than to be tied to a man for whom I
care nothing, and have to sit opposite and pour tea for him three
hundred and sixty-five days in a year. Imagine the horrible monotony
of that. I heard that advice given to a girl in a play and I never forgot it;
and if only girls could be brought to realize beforehand the sin of it
there would be fewer unhappy marriages."
CHAPTER IV
ETHEL'S SECOND TRIP
The time arrived for the Hollisters to start. There were tears in
Archibald Hollister's eyes as he kissed them goodbye at the train.
Within the last year his life had been happier. He had seen more of his
wife and had grown to love her better than he had since Ethel was a
child. She and he were together nearly all of the time, and it was like
reading over a forgotten love story.
"Don't you worry, papa," said Ethel, patting his cheek. "We're going to
keep well and have a lovely summer, and when you come up for your
vacation you'll be like a boy again."
"Yes, Archie," spoke up Mrs. Hollister "Be sure that Mirinda gives you
good things to eat and has them well cooked. She'll have little else to
do, and you go out and call on the Bigelows and Judsons. Take in the
moving pictures and roof gardens. I'll trust you," she laughed, "but
don't fail to write me three times a week, will you, telling me how
things are going on. And don't let Mirinda's young man come to the
house but once a week and on Sundays."

"Remember everything," laughed Ethel.
Grandmother kissed her son and murmured:
"God bless you, Archie. I expect to take on a new lease of life."
"Do mother," said the man, "we all need you."
The trip was pleasant. The scenery was fine and the country looked as
though it had been freshly swept and dusted, everything seemed so
clean. Grandmother's eyes glistened with pleasure. They were to stop at
Akron first, where they were to leave Grandmother, and after a visit of
a week Ethel and her mother were to go on to Columbus and hence to
Camp.
As the train drew into the depot at Akron, there stood Tom with Aunt
Susan, but what a metamorphosis! Tom just escaped being a
fashionably dressed swell. He was too manly for that. He wore a blue
serge suit, colored negligee shirt with tie to match, a Panama hat, and
russet ties. His handsome face was so full of character that Mrs.
Hollister whispered to Ethel:
"What a remarkably distinguished looking man he is. You never told
me of his being so."
Ethel blushed when Tom took her up and kissed her as he might have
done had she been his sister, and as for Aunt Susan, even Grandmother
gazed at her with amazement. She was attired in a modish little
automobile bonnet, close fitting and of grey, while her grey linen suit
gave her an up-to-date air, for now, she proudly informed Ethel, Tom
owned his own car.
"Aunt Susan, you look out of sight," said Ethel, kissing her. "I never
knew you."
Mrs. Hollister was happy. Ethel had not half told her, and she was
agreeably disappointed. They took their seats in the new and
commodious car and soon reached the little house. The ingrain and rag

carpets had disappeared. In their places were Oriental rugs. Striped red
awnings shaded the windows and piazzas. The porch had been
converted into the cosiest