The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-11-09
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HONOR EASTHAN'S x
X SUMMER borders.


at wish you would take them. Honor"
The voice was the peevish, fretful one Of
the farmers wife, who had added to her
burdens by taking summer boarders.
every room in my house is full, and it
would be too bad to send them back to
the city"
But our poor place Is not fine enough
for city people" said Honor Eastman,
looking deprecatingly ut the blue corn
flower pattern on the wall. then through
the open window toward the river that,
winding it's way between green banks,
reparatcd her farm from her neighbours.
Nonsense" said the other energetic
ally. You know you've got one Of the
finest places in Michigan, Honor, and
they'll pay we'll and not be much both
err
Met thus with the convincing logic of
experience, Honor laid aside her scruples
and followed the example of her neigh
bors, who opened their homes to the city
folk that overrun the Michigan side Of
the lake all the summer long. She did it
hesitatinsly. regrctting the invasion of
the privacy of her home and looking
wistfully at her flower beds, brilliant
with the many hued marigolds and petu-
MAS and holyhocks. Il hope they won't
pick them ALL" she said to herself and
then chided her own seltishness.
Mrs. Harrington came with her small
children and large trunks filed with
pretty gowns that gave Honor the near
est feeling of envy she had ever felt.
The lady's husband came out on Sum
day, accompanied by n tall, handsome
man whom the children called "Uncle
Tom" and Mrs. Harrington introduced
as my brother, DIR. Thomas Haddon."
Uncle Tom was a favorite with his
small nephew and namesake, and that
afternoon when Honor went into the
narlor to carry away her favorite book
of poems from the marble top table she
saw through the window that young gen.
tleman perched on the porch balustrade,
looking down admiringly at his uncle in
the rustic chair enjoying his after dinner
cigar.
"Its jolly here, Uncle Tom," said the
boy. 1--WE have pie for breakfast and
cake every meal, and there's an organ
instead of a piano, and the cook comes
in and says, Honor. do you want the
eggs billed or scrambled for breakfast?
and never says Yes, ma'am.' or Miss
like mammals"
The gentleman laughed, and Honor es-
capped undetected as a listener. but her
pride was hurt. She had thought her
guests must see that she understood their
standard of living. The cottage organ
represented the profits of the berry crop,
and her friends had praised her playing
until Honor esteemed herself musician.
The next morning there was no pie for
breakfast. Even the cake was reserved
for the evening meal, and when the chill
fpr hyD,nS Honor aYPuSQd
herself on the PLEA of much housewOrk.
In the fall. when the Harringtons had
gone back to the city, Honor found she
had saved quite sum above the ex-
penses of the summer. 1t was lonely at
the farmhouse without the children, and
Honor could not think of Mrs. Harring-
toms beautiful manners and tasteful dress
without a feeling of secret envy. An idea
came to her, but it was too daring to be
realized AT my time of life, too" she
said to herself. ''Why, I'm nearly 30"
But the face that looked back from the
mirror was youthful and bright. Il be-
lieve I'll do it. There's nothing to him
der" she said, and the brown eyes in
the mirror looked back with approving
assurance.
There was much wonder and some
comment in the rural neighborhood when
it was learned that Honor Eastman had
gone to Chicago to stay all winter. But
Honor had left no explanation of why
she went. and the letters she received
were addressed in the care of a promi-
nent woman's club.
In the early spring. almost as soon as
the robin redbreasts came, Honor was
back at the farm, taking up the lines Of
her duty where she had laid them down
in the autumn
When Mrs. Harrington wrote asking
II she would take the family again for
the summer, Honor was glad, and they
came when the Strawberries were ripest
and best.
DR.. Haddon came the following Sun
day, and in the afternoon as he lay
stretched in the hammock lazily watch
ing the curling smoke of a cigar as it
lost itself in the leafy canopy above him
Mrs Harrington interrupted his reveries.
II do not understand it." she said.
"EyerytIiing seems unchanged, but there
is difference. IT is more as | would do
things myself. The meals are the same,
hut so nicely served. Honor's dresses
are as simple. but her manners are those
of the self possessed woman of the world.
And the daintiness of everything! You
"Poohw said her brother. looking at his
handsome, elegant sister admiringly. ITS
only your good influence, Alice
Nevertheless some weeks later DR..
Haddon declared that Sunday trips to the
country were too brief, that he needed a
rest. and was not going back TO the city
for month.
And Master Tom. il he thought that
his uncle would devote all his time to
him, mcnding his fishing line and finding
where the finest peaches and grapes grew.
was doomed to disappointment. 1t even
went so far that that young gentleman
was forgotten or left out in the afternoon
row on the river, for Dr. Haddon, dis
covering Honor's love of hooks. declared
there was no place so favorable for the
reading of ones favorite author as in a
boat. resting in the shade of vine laden
branches ovcrhanging the banks. The
quiet. modest young woman. who could
manage q household or farm equally
we'll and whose manners were gracious
and gentle. like those of a woman of cul-
ture. at first aroused his curiosity. then
his interest, and interest is always akin
to love.
Uncle Tom" said that gentleman's
! namasake one evening. the last before the
! Harringtons were to return to town. II
wish we could i've here every summer,
don't your
perhaps your aunt will let you visit
her every summer" said his uncle. taking
, Honor's hand and turning to his sister
! for congratulations.
! "Hurrnh for my Aunt Honor" said
Master Tom.-Chicago Tribune.