The Van Buren press., 1894-08-25
A VACATION MORNING.
Aunt Hetty and the College Girl
Just Home from School,

| out under the fose-arbor in the
PHEASANT front yard of the parsonage,
betty Dexter, the minister's only
daughter, and her roommate at col
iege, pretty Rose Houston, in their
fresh summer gowns are chatting mer-
rily with Mamma Dexter while they re-
lieved great dish OF straw berries of
their stems,
| Betty, a college senior now, was
scarcely q beauty, though her hand
some, smiling brown eyes made one
forget any little irregularity of fea-
ture. And though everyone IN college,
at least in the upper classes, knew that
she was only II minister's daughter,
and though any girl with half an eye
could trace the transmigration prog
ress in her hats and dress, and knew
that she could never give a really
handsome spread, yet no girl within
the college gates was SO popular as
Betty Dexter. No girl had so many
invitations for vacation, 30 many en-.
gagements to walk, drive, row and
go into the cityi but nearly all of her
vacations were spent at home with the
ever-busy mother and the delicate
father, who made many self-denials
In order to meet the slender college
bills. With her this summer, by spe-
cial request of the mother had come
her roommate, little Rose Houston,
the orphan heiress from New Orleans,
who loved Betty better than she loved
anyone else in the wide world.
ours is tiny dot OF a home," said
Betty, "and mother and do most of
the work together; but you will have
royal welcome, dear" And Rose,
being genuine, though a very desul-
tory sort of girl, by reason of her long
years Of orphanage and years of trav-
cling about with a maid and her guar.
lian, had been more than glad to
| come.
On the little table in the rose arbor,
besides Mrs. Dexter's working basket,
was a volume of "The Vision of Sir
Launfal," which the ladies had been
reading in turn.
"There is such musical swing to
those last verses" said Rose, that one
| Is forced to remember them:
"'Who gives himself with his aims feeds
| Himself, his hungering neighboring and me. w
"But really" said Betty, "it is only
| the purest selfishness TO be kind and
generous to others, for the reward is
so sweet"
"And here comes over the hill re-
ward for two busy young houseleep-
ers, l suspect" said Mrs. Dexter, as
the sound of tally-horn from the
coach of neighboring mountain re-
sort was heard rolling in peculiar ca
dence among the echoes. 1T is a
charming day for coaching party"
A nearer sound, however, attracted
their attention before the coach could
reach the gate-a sound of the queru-
lous, high, cracked voice of an old
woman in gown and bonnet that may
have been bravely fashionable fifty
years ago.
$50 glad to find you at home, Betty
and your ma, too. Walked all the way
from Chatham Mills on purpose to see
We and hear all about the college.
hain't seen ye in long time, and
have been longing for sight OF your
| sweet face"
They gave her cordial greeting, this
old Aunt Hetty from Blakcs Corners
and Betty kissed, with genuine affec-
tion, the withered face, once outward
lv beautiful and now shining with IN
ward goodness, which action Rose no.
ticed with n bit Of jealousy; for Rose
expected her friends to be very Loyal
to her, and loyalty, from her stand
point, meant caring much for her ana
little for others. 1t was part OF her
education and perhaps no one could
blame her. Indeed, onereason why shc
had so gladly accepted the invitation
to the parsonage had been that she
wished to have Rose all to herself. AT
college some one was always seeking
her. but here she thought it would be
otherwise. Yesterday, however, there
had been Sunda0School class TO en-
tertain, and herewas the ola iaoy'
The coaching party would take them
both away, no doubt, and certainly az
Mrs. Dexter's age, she, and not 'ne
daughter, would be the proper one to to
entertain Aunt Hetty. So Rose settiea
the affair in her own mind.
1t was gay company on the great
coach, with little grig OF ougier
and twenty young people on top while
the chaperons were snugly bestowed
inside. If you doubt whetherso many
could find space on mountain tally
bo inst present the problem ana the
coach to a party of that size on a iine
summer morning, and they viii speed
ily prove the truth of my statement.
Two smiling young men, IN summer H,,
eannels, and cheeks reddeneo oy
the brisk drive, were on the grouha
before the coach had time to stop ano M
were making their salutations u the
ladies' and their request to Mrs DeH C,,c
Ter. They were going TO Lagie oiiii