The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-11-25
THAT GRAHAM GIRL.

"0il' IL All oNeI, anu III 2lau OF IT,
never want to camp out again as long
as l live! Nor does Cara Murray. To
think what II lovely time we had antici-
pated, with Tracy Loring. the greatest
catch of the year. along. and only dear,
fat, stupid Mrs. Bartlett for our chape-
ron! There's no knowing what might
have happened had it not been for that
Graham girl.
She was governess to Mrs. Bartlett's
two children, Tom and Tiny (the worst
young ones that ever breathedD and
Mrs. Bartlett said that she couldn't pos
sibly think of trusting herself and pre-
cious little ones into the wilderness un-
less her dear, faithful Helen went along.
So, of course, Helen Graham went, and
so did Tracy Loring. Cara Murray, the
two Avery girls, and their collegian
cousins, Max and viii Collins.
1t was jolly fun at first, for during the
journey on the cars Cara and / man.
aged to secure Tracy ourselves. Then
we went by stage ten miles to u lonely
farmhouse-a '.jumping-off place" as
Tracy called it-where we were to get
the guide and boat which were to take
us up Lake Moosetic-dear me, l can
never remember those horrid Indian
namesi But never mind. Tracy said
that he didn't Just like the looks of our
guide, but Cara and thought him real
romantic. His name was Francisco.
and he was kind of brigandish-looking,
you know, with flashing. black eyes,
swarthy complexion, and long black
hair. And he wore sort of picturesque
Indian costume. He talked a good deal
to us girls, and rolled his eyes, and
made up jingling bits Of poetry that
didn't sound bad. Tom Bartlett said
that he smelled of onions and poor
whisky, but Tom was always making
horrid speeches. However, this time he
wasn't so far out of the way, for, if
you'll believe il, we hadn't been camp
ing out week before that rascally
guide went off and left us in the midst
of Il bowling wilderness fifteen miles
from any living soul. Took our boat,
too! And we had to make our own
fires, and cook our own meals. and all
that-thIngs which we had paid him to
do. Mrs. Bartlett is over 40. but she
doesn't know Il thing about housekoep-
ing, for her husbands sister, who lives
with her, sees TO everything. As for the
Avery girls, they never enter kitchen,
nor do Cara and |. Tracy Loring knew
more than we did. for he could make
delicious coffee as well us broil fish. 1t
was late in the afternoon, with a cold
rain and wind storm coming on, SO that
it wouldn't have been prudent for the
gentlemen to undertake the long tramp
through the woods back to the Giles
farmhouse. Cara and l felt wretched-
ly. In the first place, we We're conscious
of looking drabbled and shabby-tnere' s
nothing like that to lower a woman's
spirits. You see. we had no idea OF
what wild, crazy place the woods
were, and so we had worn dainty suits,
whose rutflcs and putfs had soon became
crushed and crumpled. The Averys
were in the same fix. As for that Gra-
ham girl, she wore a plain, navy-blue
flannel gown, with short skirt and
blouse waist We had all made fun of
her behind her back, but after a day or
two we were forced TO acknowledge that
she looked far more dainty and tidy
than ourselves. Anyhow, Tracy Lor-
ing seemed to think her attractive, for,
from the very first, he treated her as an
equal with Care and ME, and she laugh
ed and talked as freely as he did. She
never seemed to mind the least hint,
not even when one day Cara threw out
something about working-people know
ing their place. At first though, she
drew herself up rather stately (she has
fine tigureD and looked Cara straight
in the eyes as if 10 find out what she
meant. then a smile began dimpling
the corners of her mouth, and she sang
out mischieyOusly:
Whau Adam daIvpd and Eve sDan-
Who then was the gentleman?
But to 90 back to the time the guide
left us. We had to have supper, OF
course, but what and how?
1--we got some fish" said Tracy; ''and
see that Max has picked some black,
berries. l can make the coffee. but the
rest of the culinary affairs I'll have to
leave in the hands of you ladies'"
20. my goodness gracious!' groaned
Mrs. Bartlett, II never cooked a meal in
all my lifer'
We all echoed her words. except Helen
Graham. who jumped up briskly, say
ing: .Tll try to fix something. though
it won't be very elaborate. for fear our
resources are limited. Pray, Mr.. Lor-
ing. what does our larder contain?"
'Humph! Mostly canned goods.
/ believe. There are some loaves OF
bread, but" with a sniff, ''they look
kind of queer, Miss Graham-they have
a pale, whity-green fuzz on the crust
It's very esthetic-looking. to be sure,
butt doesn't smell goodr'
Heat and moisture have made il
mold. Bread molds easily in August
weather, and this is over week old.
But can cut off the crust and toast the
inside"
..That'll be famous! am so hungry
could eat my boots almost! 1t rejOices
my soul to see genuinely capable wo.
man-one with Il 'knack'! And now,
Mime. Cook, I'm at your service"-witf
a low bow. That Graham girl didn't
seem bit impressed-she only giggled
and said, coolIy, You may clean tn,
fish, if you want to-" and Tracy Loring
aristocratic families, donned big towe
for an apron and went out to obey he
commands.
Then how she flew around! rathe
liked to watch her. She had surh ;
deft, handy way of doing things. Boil
Cara and | wished that our mothers ha,
taught us something besides fame.
things.
She made a rousing fire in the fire
place--you see, we had taken up on
quarters in log-cabin that, years be
fore, had been occupied by II hermi
trapper. 1t was rough affair, but jus
then we We're very thankful for it, con
sidering the rain outside. 1t had turn
ed off so chilly, too. that the fire fel
very comfortable, and what with tn
light, warmth, and good supper, W
had a very pleasant time. The suppe
was especially nice. Helen had opene
a couple OF cans of chicken; this sh
warmed in the saucepan, and poured
over the toast, gravy and all. Then sh
wrapped potatoes in leaves and roaste
them in the hot ashes; and these, witt
the fish. coffee, and other things, mad
8 meal tit for anybody. The gentleme
praised it up. at any rate, and the
, oaid that Graham girl so many compi
ments that she actually blushed.
made her look rather pretty, too. an
the freight falling on her brown la
gave 1t a golden sheen that we wome
couldn't help envying.
Now. what's to be doneP sal
young Max Collins after supper. Son
Of Us have got to tramp back q Gile