Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-08-21
ROSIE'S VACATION.
BY MARY REED CROMWELL.

1t was for fortnight only and in the
questionable month of May--unfash-
iOnable, that is, for city people who 60
to the country simply because it is July
and August, and everybody else goes
then.
But fashionable or questionable, that
perfect May afternoon when, at three
o'clock, the numbering stage deposited
Rosie Rice and her dilapidated little
trunk at the side door of the Peterson
farm house, was like a bit of an other
world to the pale, tired young girl who,
fifty weeks of the year, lived in a mar
row, gloomy street, between two other
narrow, gloomy streets in the very heart
of New York city, and who had seen so
much of the sky since she had passed
her last vacation in some other country
place year before.
All day, and into the evening, Rosie
stood behind the counter of famous
Sixth avenue emporium, whose prOprie-
tor, more humane than many of his fell
lows, gave each of his employees fort
nights vacation, salary to be continued,
once year-and Rosie's halcyon time
had come, and she stood on the rustic
stOOp of the farm house feeling that
something very like a bit of Paradise
was happening to her, and would keep
on happening for fourteen long, delicious
days-beyond them she resolutely deter
mined not to look.
~ have come for two weeks" she said,
happily, to the farmers wife, with whom
there had been a brief correspondence
on the subject of accommodating Rosie
Tor a couple of weeks.
Its not very long time, fyou mean
to look brighter and stronger when you
go home," Mrs. Peterson said, softly,
looking a: the thin, pale cheeks that GER
tainly needed both roundness and tint;
and then at the young girls blue eyes, SO
wistful and appealing, and yet with a
quietly contented happiness in them
for was there not whole fortnight of
pleasure ahead?
And from the moment Rosie drank
the goblet of freshly.drawn milk, all
foam and creamy richness, that kindly
Mrs. Peterson brought her as she sat in
the cushioned Boston rocker beside the
window in the big, old-fashioned room
that was to be her home so many lovely
days, she began to take in the enjoyment
of 1t all-the perfect sunsets, the brilliant
sunrises,the sweet fresh air, the spring
ing grass, the downy little chicks, the
scent of fresh earth, the robins songs,
the delicious restfulness of the Spring
rain-everything was source of raptur-
GUS happiness to her.
81 don't want to 60 back to New York
at ALL" she said, one glorious afternoon
almost the first of June, warm, balmy
and flooded with the golden-blue sum
shine.
"Then wouldn't if was you," Hulda
said-Hulda Eliza Peterson, the daugh-
of the house.
Rosie gave a faint little sigh.
"Oh, l must. have to earn my liv-
ing, and don't know how to do any
thing but stand in a store"
"Weli, l wouldn't if didn't want to, l
know" Hulda insisted, but then-Hulda
knew nothing whatever of the cruel bat
tie with life in great Gotham.
Two days afterward, when Rosie's time
was up, and she was due at Good and
Kinds establishment, she was lying on
Mrs. Peterson's lounge with a strained
foot, utterly unable to walk step, and
with the prospect of staying where she
was for week or ten days at least.
"But l must 60, must CO." she said to
III. DuAA><'iy IA % BtshhS VI
will lose my situation if don't GO"
"But you can't so, situation or no stu
alton, child" he argued, indulgently,
smiling at her pale, desperate face, and
and feeling sorry for her evident alarm
81 must, 1 aciA," Rosie said to Mrs. Pc.
terson, after the doctor had gone, and
. her foot felt so comfortable and nice after
its cool bathing and bandaging. 81 am
sure l can manage by limping little
and saving my foot all can. Anyhow
l will have to get back somehow"
And she struggled across the sitting
room floor somehow, in spite of Mrs Pc.
terson's persuasions, and-fell In a dead
faint in Hulda's strong arms.
Twenty.four hours later, in answer to
her letter to Messrs. Good & Kinds fore
woman, Rosie received brief, courteous
reply that it was impossible to keep hel
position for her. Business was heavy
every hand hurried. Miss Rice was in
deed unfortunate, and if in the future al
opening occurred, she could have it. Blu
for the present. with regrets, etc, etc.