The Bossier banner., 1894-09-20
A VACATION MORNING.
Aunt Hetty and the College Girl
Just Home from School.

Out under the rose-arbor in the
pleasant front yard of the parsonage,
Betty Dexter, the minister's only
daughter, and her roommate at col
lege, pretty Rose Houston, in their
fresh summer gowns are chatting mer-
rily with Mamma Dexter while they re-
lieved great dish of Strawberries of
their stems.
Betty, a college senior now, was
scarcely 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 a 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, so many en-
gagements to walk, drive, row and
go into the city; bat 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.
s, J@+ 90 RI
Betty, land 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 maid and her guar.
dian, 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 a musical swing tC
those last verses" said Rose, "that one
is forced to remember them:
AAAS NAN-~E
three
Himself, his hungsring neighbor and me-"
"But really" said Betty, lit is only
the purest selfshness to be kind ano
generous to others, for the reward il
so sweet"
And here comes over the hill a re
ward for two busy young housekeep
ers, l suspect" said Mrs. Dexter, a:
the sound of tally-horn from the
coach of a neighboring mountain re
sort was heard rolling in peculiar ca
dence among the echoes. 1T is
charming day for a coaching party"
A nearer sound, however, attracted
their attention before the coach coulf
reach the gate-a sound of the queru
lous, high, cracked voice of an olC
woman in gown and bonnet that ma.
have been brayely fashionable fift,
years ago
$50 glad to find you at home, Betty
and your ma, too. Walked all the wa.
from Chatham Mills on purpose to se'
ye and hear all about the college.
hain't seen We in a long time, aud
have been longing for sight of you
sweet face"
They gave her cordial greeting, thi
old Aunt Hetty from Blake's Corners
and Betty kissed, with genuine affec
ton, the withered face, once outward
~ beautiful and now shining with in
ward goodness, which action Rose nc
tieed with bit of jealousy; for Ros
expected her friends to be very loya
TO her, and loyalty, from her stand
point, meant caring much for her an
little for others. 1t was part of he
eaueation and perhaps no one coul
plane her. Indeed, onereason why sh
mad so gladly accepted the invitation
70 the parsonage had been that sh
wished to have Rose all to herself A
college some one was always seeking
her; but here she thought IL would b
otherwise. Yesterday, however, ther
nad been Sunday-school class to Ell
eertain, and here was the old lady
Inc coaching party would take ther
ooth away, no doubt, and certainly a
mrs. Dexter's age, she, and not tn
aanghter, would be the proper one t
snteriatn Aunt Hetty. So Rose settle
'ns affair In asg owu mind.