Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-10-28
HAP HAZARD.
By Myrtle M. Koon, Lisbon, Mich

DOOu NOlCC was
heard, calling; "Girls, breakfast"-
Yes" called Maud, sleepily. and the
girls snored in chorus.
After breakfast as the girls were hav-
ing a snow ball convention in the front
yard. the little Hazard cutter came up,
and Ted was in it! Happy gave
cry of Joy and ran toward him. Her
penitent feelings were strengthened
when she noticed that he was pale and
thin, and she held out her hand cordial
ly. But she cooled very soon as he
took her hand, saying carelessly. "How-
de-do cousin" and lifted his fur cap to
the girls.
Thought I'd come up and carry you
home, you know. coz" he added.
Ready?"
at was kind of you to take the
trouble to come for me. ] will not
detain you long" said Hap frigidly as
she turned toward the house to get her
wraps.
Ted looked after her, dim'y wonder
ing what had stiffcned her so in few
short weeks. ''She used to be Jolly
sort of GIRL" he thought, ''hope she
don t put on airs in honor of me 1t
doa't improve her.
Tie cousins were very silent as they
rode home, until Ted re arked politely;
disappointed not to see you last
night. Spose you had ni"e time"
''Oh, yes, the girls had little jubilee,
and couldn't miss il" said Hap care
lessly.
Ted opened his grey eyes "Aha"
be thought, my fair cousin thirsts for
revenge; she won't get it though" and
after that ne was politely Indifferent to
Happy while she as courteously
ignored him until he went back to
school.
AS spring came near Ted wrote often
er than usual, and in his old frank.
boyish way The frs few weeks of
college life had given him temporary
specifically. which he had exaggerat-
ed while with Hap because she was $50
stiff as he called it
But the lads genuine heart at last
gained the victory, and he saw the
folly of trying to be something besides
himself, and not half so 90 d. he dared
not write to Happy, so confined the
correspondence to Ora e, always speak
ing in his old adectionate way of his
cousin comrade. Happy relented, of
course, but she could not bring her
pride down so far as to make her write
to him. She just let it go and gave her
attention to study, for Aunt Edith had
sent her some of Ruskin's works in the
winter.
Ted wrote that he was keeping up
pretty well, (his lungs had been weak
all winter) but said he would be glad
t. get home and rest when school was
out. Papa and mamma Hazard looked
worried when they read this, and even
Happy began to fear, though she
couldn't think anything would happen
to Teddy. When, at last, he came in
June, their fears grew, for the boy was
very pale and had bad cough. Hap
py's heart ached for him, but she did
not show it plainly. She knew it was
wrong 20 remember the little Jar of
last holiday tive, but her pride ruled
her. Do not blan her too much, you
who critirise for she had been greatly
hurt by Ted's indifference she could
not endure '.college-y ness" and to see
it in Ted, = Il wounded her.
She was generally ruled by her whole
souled generosity, but sometimes her
pride and senstiveness would get the
best of the fray and carry the day
in spite of all. 1t was so now,
for though she was occasionally familiar
and good naturcd with her cousin as of
old, she was never the same.
With rest and change of air, Ted i'm
proved little, but he seemed to have
lost spirit Hap's ever-vigorous energy
which ad always upheld him before
was withheld now, and really he did
not realize how much il had affected
him. The Hazards all felt relieved
when DR.. Phil wrote that he and aunt
Edith would stop off at Madrid for a
visit on their way to the Rocky Noun
tains, Yosemite, &C., for a summer So
journ.
They came and met Happy with
more than their usual warmth, for they
thought they saw an element OF heroism
in the girls little sacrifice of the winter
before. This made her very happy of
course, though she insisted that her
winter with Ruskin and Grace had been
charming. Why she saids "Auntie,
I've learned so much of art
from my reading this win
ter, that j don't believe 'twould pay for
me to go to Boston now, anyway, un-
less II was TO teach painters how To
paint. y She thought this exaggerated
self satisfaction would cover up her dis
appointment so that Aunt Edith would
not see it, But Aunt Edith did; she
had been a girl herself, not long ago,
either, and besides her experience. she
had quick perception joined with her
admiration for this GLORIOUS young
creature" as she called Happy. Before
she left Boston, she had said to her
husband: Now Phil, Hap Hazard
must 90 with us TO the Yosemite She
could gain no end of help from the
Hardings who have promised to join
us, why they could give her lessons,
too Then the scenery would be con-
slant delight and inspiration to her
Mother Hazard will let her
have the money she has promised, and
there's no reason why Hap Hazard
can't leave home now, for Grace is
nearly well, they write. There's no
reason in the world why she ant gol'
Mrs. Edith had a bright positive lit
tie way of speaking when telling her
plans, as though she was sure to be OPP
posed; but she never was DIR Phil.
smiled and took the bright little IA Q
between his big hands and said: mo
body has said Hap Hazard couldn't go
West. little he er, and in ia think
IL delightful plan--just what should
expect from my wife "
Mrs. Edith's plan was disclosed to
the Hazards at the earliest opportu-
nifty after the arrival at Madrid, and
was gladly received, especially by
Grace.