Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-08-13
VOL. LXVtt.
BORROWED PLUMAGE:

BIZ WIir1or Pr 'cE:

from his first year at coilege-a year
which had been supplemented by two
months of camping in the Adiron-
dacl.s, and which was to conclude with
few. weeks spent with his mother
and sister in their seaside cottage.
As the train carried him swiftly to-
ward his destination. he pulled q letter
ont Of his pocket and ran His eye over
its concluding sentences: II was from
his mother, and he had received it the
day, before: !
''You mustn't be too much disgusted
if you find Frances passing through a
phase which must be distasteful to
young men, as it certainly is to older
women. 1t seems to be the fashion
just now for girls to be as much like
boys as they can, to dress in man
nish way, to go in for the same sports
and amusenents, and altogether to
pretend to be something they are not,
Of course Frances has caught the fe=
yer, for it Is raging here, and all the
young girls have fallen victims to the
epidemic, but we must be patient, and
remember that fevers have to ruin their
course
ii spite Of this warning, when WIFI
lam got out of the train, he found HIM
self vainly looking for the sweet-taced
girl who was hardly more than child
when he saw her last
Suddenly he felt slap on his back
and heard a deep voice exclaim, well,
old man. hsw ere you? It's bully to
See you?'
He felt his fingers crushed in the
affectionate grasp of hand Which was
the logical conclusion to an arm Dared
almost to the shoulder and freshly
Drowned in natures oven.
tHallo, Frances!" he replied, heart
iiyi then as he looked at her more at
tentiveiy he added, Il should never
have known you. Stand off and let
me look at you"
The girl obediently took d position
to be inspected. She was dressed in
short linen skirt and white shirt
waist with ro1led-up sleeves. Her
hseiless sneakers" were planted
sauareiy apart as if to enable
her to withstand a sudden at
tack, her strong, straight neck
was barred like stage sailors and
burned to crisp, and her curly, dark
hair was gathered so tightly to her
head that it gave the appearance OF
being ciose-efapped. The whites of her
eyes and her cleaning teeth flashed in
their sun-browned setting and Seemed
almost luminous.
Williams first dazed impression was
that some stalwart youth had disguised
himself in his sisters clothes and his
sisters features; assa ,s.ee.s--.Iasquerad-
ing as a girl. -
"Well, III be blowed!' ne said aloud.
Then, "How brown you are!" he COM
mented, feebly.
mercy, you ought to see Grace
Hodges!" Frances exclaimed, laughing
boisterously. She's Simply ebony: |
tell you what, she's corking good
chap. She and have been sailing the
catboat & lot this summer. We go out
in all weathers, and you'd just better
believe it's pretty stiff storm that
can puzzle Grace"
While she vas speaking Frances had
seized her trother's heavy yalise; and
swung it lightly into the high dog-cart
that was waiting for them. She hurled
herself in after it, as if she, too,
had derived impetus from some hid
den source, and William climbed awk-
~ardly after her.
sBarker's coming down to spend a
few days with me tomorrow after
noon," he said. Hes. stroke on his
class crew, you know, and no end of
fun. How would you two girls like
to take us out sailing as soon as he
arrives?"
, 'T'll bet Grace can teach him thing
or two all right, stroke or no stroke"
Frances maintained. Then she point
ed with her whip to q distant house
overlooking the harbor.
There's our moorings. and if I'm
not much mistaken, that white flutter-
ing, rag at the window is mothers
handkerchief"
nShe squared her elbows to the angle
in sporting circles, and add
Red, with some embarrassment, by
the way; Billy, wish you'd stop CAL
ing me Frances. It's so goody-goody!
always did hate the name. All the
girls call me Frank, and | wish you
would, too"
ooh" gasped William, under his
breath. Mother was right; she's got
the fever, and now the question is how
to cure her" But aloud he acquiesccd
meekly. Cali right, Frank
The next afternoon two young girls,
the color of Indian squaws were swing
ing at anchor in trig little sailboat.
"There they comet" shouted the
lighter brown of the two damsels. I'm
awfully anxious to meet Tom Barker.
He must be dandy and as for Billy,
he's just the best there isl"
She waved her discarded sailor hat,
and the two young men fastened to-
ward the. signal. In another minute
the introductions had been performed,
and Grace and Frances were furti7ely
exchanging glances of Mortified amaze
ment at the appearance Of the rowing
hero.
He was fairly tall and distinctly
5road,-no one could deny that,-but
how in The name of common sense
could fellow associate for two years
with rough-and-ready college students
and come out looking as he did!
The difficulty began with his hat
band, which was delicate baby-b!ue
and of the variety of satin ribbon
known as "double-faced"-a hypocriti-
cal badge of honor for Stroke. !"
Underneath the hat-brim his fair hair
was plastered to his temples in a
;ol ;fc o,,r1inocc fo