Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-05-08
L0T1|E's VACATION.

"You are still determined to spend
vacation with Grandmother Elton At
the old farm" said Mrs. Armstrong to
her youngest daughter, who had re-
turned home few days previous from
vassar, graduating with high honors.
ayes, mamma, | have given her my
promise and | will not disappoint her
or aunt Julia" ~ am 50 sorry, as l
am most anxious that you should spend
the season with us at Bar Harbor."
Eyes, mamma, but Essie and Nell
will be with you, and they will make
up for my loss" "But, my dear, what
will Mr.. Roylston say, or what will hs
think Of your We gave him to under
stand that you would surely go, and II
will be a great disappointment to him"
"Never mind, mamma, Mr.. Roylston
will succeed In getting some one to
Amuse him as well as possibly could
"Why, Lottie, how can you talk -
wnen you know he adores you? There
are few young ladies that would throw
away the opportunity that you are now
doing. Robert R0ylston Is rich, hand
Ione and comes Of a good family"
said Mrs. Armstrong. "Yes, and con.
elders that be can take any girls heart
and kick It about like football" add
ed Lottie. Mrs. Armstrong was horrl.
6ed, but she knew 1t would be useless
TO attempt to change her self-willed
child, so 1t was settled that LOttis
would spend her vacation on the old
farm.
It was not Robert Roylston's fault
that he heard the above conversation,
az he sat on the piazza near the room
where the mother and daughter were
talking, it being impossible for him 10
get away without letting them know
that he heard at least part Of their
conversation 80 | take young girls
hearts and kick them round like foot
ball? Ell, that's what my little spltfrs
thinks of me-" Half an hour after Bob
Roylston left the Armstrong cottage
smoking a cigar and In . meditativs
mood.
|
"This way, II you please, miss, will
eet your traps aboard" Lottie jumped
into a comfortable two-seated carryall,
and the hired man, after slowing away
the satchels and bags, jumped In and
turned the horses heads towards tho
Elton farmhouse, journey Of i've
miles over the mountains
Miss Lottie, sitting in the rear seat.
had ample opportunity to study Grand
mother Et0n's hired man. He had but
little to say, Lottie doing the most OF
the talking during the drive over the
mountains.
It was a warm and hearty welcome
Lottle received from grandmother and
Aunt Julia. But later on, when the
latter accompanied her to her room
and assisted her in removing her
wraps, 1t was evident that her mind
was still on The "hlred man."
"Who Is he, Aunt Julia? Where did
he come from? What Is his nameT
and fifty other questions in as many
seconds were asked by Lottie. Aunt
Julia replied that he was poor stu
dent, and came up to the Profile House,
where he expected to work, but was
disappointed. HE asked us to take
him for his board and give him any
wages that we saw fit. He said his
name was Edmund Roberts and he
came from Plymouth, only he is the
best hired man we ever had"
Pretty as a picture was Lottie Arm.
strong as she entered the dning-room
Of the old farmhouse that day. She
barely noticed that the hired man was
seated at the table, but was sensitive
Of the fact that his eyes were contin-
ually upon her.
She scarcely looked up during the
meal, but when she did she felt that
his eyes were looking through her. AT.
ter dessert Mr.. Roberts made simple
excuse about attending to business,
and left the ladies to themselves,
much to Lottie's relief.
"How far Is the Profile House from
! here, grandmag
"About five miles, said Airs. Elton.
"Would you have any objection to
Mr.. Roberts driving me over there
this afternoon
Certainly not: order him to do any.
thing you want done. Do not be timid
In asking him; he is accommodating"
1t did not take him long to get old
Dobbln hitched up, and the look he
gave Miss Lottle when she asked him
kept her thinking where she saw Mr..
Roberts before, but the heavy dark
beard deceived her.
Nearly every day some Of the many
places Of interest In the New Hamp-
shirs hills were visited. 80 much time
did Lottis take Of the hired man, that
another hand was employed to do the
rough work.
One afternoon they started o6 On Q
lueklebsrry sxpsditsA They wsrs