The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-08-08

WHICH MhN NAeM supplemented W AWV
months OF camping in the Adiron-
dacks. and which was to conclude with
a few weeks spent with his mother
and sister In their seaside cottage.
AS the train carried him swiftly to-
ward his destination, he pulled a letter
ont Of his pocket and ran his eye over
it's concluding sentences. Il was from
his mother. and he had received 1t the
day before.
you mustn't be too much Disguised
II you find Frances passing through
phase which must be distasteful to
young men, as It certainly is to older
women Il seems to be the fashion
just now for girls to be as much like
boys as they can, to dress in a man
nish way, TO go in for the same sports
and amusements, and altogether to
. pretend TO be something they are not,
or 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 feyers have to RUIZ their
course"
In spite of this warning, when Will
lam got out of the train, he found him
self vainly looking for the sweet-faced
girl who was hardly more than a child
when he saw her last
Suddenly he felt slap on his back
and heard a deep voice eXclaim, well,
old man. how are you? It's bully to
sec your"
He felt his fingers crushed in the
affectiOnate grasp of a hand which was
the logical conclusion to an arm barred
almost to the shoulder and freshly
Drowned in natures oven.
"Hallo, Frances" he replied, heart
lily; then as he looked at her more at
tentively he added, Il should never
have known you Stand off and let
me look at you"
The girl obediently took a position
to be Inspected She was dressed in
a short linen skirt and white shirt
waist with rolled-up sleeves. Her
heeIless Sneakers" were planted
squarely apart as if to enable
her to withstand a sudden at
tack, her strong, straight neck
was barred like a stage sailors and
burned to a crisp, and her curly, dark
hair was gathered so tightly to her
head that it gave the appearance Of
being close-cropped. 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, and was masquerad-
ing as a girl.
well, I'll be blowed!" he 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. l
tell you what, she's a 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 was speaking Frances had
seized her brothers heavy valise, 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-
wardly after her.
"Barker's coming down to spend a
few days with me tomorrow after
noon" he said He's 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"
'I'll bet Grace can teach him a thing
or two all right, stroke or no stroke, "
Frances maintained. Then she point
ed with her whip to a distant house
overlooking the harbor
There's our mornings. and il I'm
not much mistaken, that white flutter-
ing rag at the window is mothers
handkerchief"
She squared her elbows to the angle
approved in sporting circles, and add
ed, with some embarrassment, by
the way, Billy, wish you'd stop call
ing me Frances. It's so goody-goodyl
j always did hate the name. All tht
girls call me Frank. and | wish yot
would, too"
ss0bp, pasped William. under his
breath. Mother was right; she's go
the fever, and now the question is how
to cure her But aloud he acquiesceC
smeelkly. "All right Frank"
The next afternoon two young girls
the color of Indian squaws, were swing