Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-11-12

me or notr'
'sWhat sort of place is Watch Hill2"
whispered Clara Dagget.
Its the seashore," said Netta-'tdi-
rectly on the grand old Atlantic. The
very place for you to get strong in, Clara.
And say-suppose we ask Fanny Hoyt,
that little, ailing cash-girl, to come with
us? She could wait on the table and
wash dishes, you know, and"
young womenl young womenw
solemnly croaked Mr.. Robbinet, lis this
business2"
But when the April winds began to
blow clouds of dust and whirlwinds of
paper scraps about the streets, Lillian
Hand and Meta Carstairs set boldly
forth for the -bristling shores on
Watch Hill, stopping by way Of Ston-
ington to overhaul the old furniture be-
queathed by grand-aunt Locke.
Enough to set up dozen boarding
houses, " said Meta, exultantly. "We'll
have Clara down to repair and varnish
it at once And now for the house!'
tSea Cottage was an old stone house
on shelving beach, with apple orchards
behind and little garden in front,
where sea spray sprinkled the "Rose of
Sharon" trees atevery high tide.
II was ancient and inconvenient, with
additions clumsily built on; steps to go
up here and steps to come down there.
The windows were small; the stone
porch ludicrously proportioned, and
Meta clapped her hands in glee.
1.-THE very place!'' said she.
Lillian pointed disconsolately at the
great hotels on the heights beyond.
"What of them2" said Meta. "We
shall not interfere with their customers.
We are appealing to an entirely different
class s-the people who abominate bands
and Germans the people who come
here for rest and quiet. Why, there
must be fourteen or fifteen rooms in this
delicious old cubby-hole. And such
view of the seal Count the light
houses Look at the signal service
buildingsl Lii, | already see ourselves
shoveling gold pieces into our pocketsl y
81 wish could be as hopeful as you,"
said Lillian, softly.
So the brave little brigade went to
work on the wave-washed beach of
Watch Hill.
Miss Daggett proved herself not only
an adept at repairing old furniture, but
she went valiantly out with hammer and
nails and mended the fence, put in new
paues of glass. whitewashed the ceilings,
and. with the aid of young Rhode ISL
land carpenter, actually put up row Of
cow-sheds and hen houses in the rear.
Rosa Nixon reduced the kitchen de-
partment to working order, and drove
sharp bargains for supply Of provisions
from Westerly to Stonington.
at isn't the kickshaws that trouble
Inc, F." said Rosa. ~ can make ice-cream
equal to Madame Habenstein herself,
and nobody can beat me on jellies. But
the gardens here are SO late And city
boarders want green peas and strawber-
ries and all that sort of thing just the
same as if Watch Hill lay on the edge of
the tropics. People are so unreasona-
bleln
In the course of their business affairs,
Meta had made the acquaintance of the
editor of New Haven newspaper.
sfMy dear sir" said she, with charm
ing frankness, ''I'm going to advertise
in your paper. Nothing can be done
nowadays without advertising. Now,
don't you want to give, US puff The
least bit of one win dop
IT am always ready to commend
genius" said Mr.. Fordyce, CALAMITY.
I'm fact was going to speak of engag-
ing three connecting rooms-with view
of the ocean, of course-for Mrs. For
dyce and the three little ones and their
nurse. Just write your notice, and we'll
try and edge it imp
''You are so kindr cried Meta, who
felt just trife disappointed when Mrs.
Fordyce and the children were men
toned, though why she did not know.
Cuisines is business" (" said the edi-
tor. serenely.
But when Lillian read the notice she
opened her Elue eyes wide.
"Why, Meta" said she, s'you give
the impression that. Sea Cottage is full
of boarders.
'sWell, what then?n said saucy Meta.
'.No one wants to be first at place like
this"
Almost the earliest arrival was the
ne'er-do-well cousin from Kansas, with
his wife and sons. He had settled down
into portly, middle-aged merchant,
and his appearance lent solid sort of
responsibility to the place.
"Never believe what you hear, !" said
he to Meta. Il was rather wild as a
lad, but I am soberer than twenty judges
now. Ask my wife. And I came here
because my boys like the sea. Never
expected to find a relation on the prem
ises."
''Do you call those six-footers 5oyss'
said Netta laughing.
Sea Cottage throve under its vigorous
new administration.
Clara Daggett kept everything in ap-
ple-pie order. Rose Nixon worked like
a bee in the kitchen, aided by little Fanny
Hoyt, and barefooted son of the soil,