Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-03-24
4 Weeks Vacation

have forgotten it entirely, if his mother
had not recalled him to himself.
''Of all things. Burt Marsh!' she
said, as she poured a dipper of hot
water over the dinner dishes, don't
get to thinking too much Of them girls
either of 'em. Do you s'pose they'd
look twice at you? And it they would,
what kind Of wife would one of them
make for Woodworking farmer?
Look at emf! She pointed to where
the two girls were bending over a
clump Of sweet clover in the yard.
Look at that dress and that hatv'-in-
dicatinging Cora's trim form. How
long do you s'pose you could keep her
in such things as them? Don't. do
nothing rash, Burt
The dress, Il pretty, blue-fgured
lawn, had cost precisely one dollar and
six cents, buttons and Innings included:
the hat, a rough white straw, had been
picked up at bargain for twenty
three cents and trimmed with a piece
of null and few pink buds. carefully
preserved from last summer
But how could Mrs. Marsh know
that?
And how could Burt, With his utter
ineXperience of such things, do other
wise than accept his mothers view,
| and gaze at Cora in her blue lawn as
| he might have gaZed at a princess in
| her silks and velvetS:
| Eyes, they've come" he said. with a
| sigh, as he leaned over the fence to
exchange word OF two with Bradley
| HarWood, his friend and neighbor
They're very nice looking
! Don't say so:'' said Bradley, smil-
| ing. III be over
I He was over that very evening and
! the four sat out under the maple trees,
on shawls and footstools. and enjoyed
the moonlight and the soft, warm
breeze.
Burt sat near Cora: Bradley. after
one admiring look at Della's smooth,
dark head and sweet brunette face,
sat down at her side and semeed con-
tent to remain there.
Il don't know what I shall do" said
Mrs. Marsh anXiously, addressing her
husband from the window where she
sat watching the group under the
trees, IF Burt goes to making a fool
Of himself with that girl What kind
of farmers wife would she make
She couldn't lift a finger She'd set
down and curl up her hands and want
4 maid to wait on her.
Mrs. Marsh was almost in tears as
she finished; she was quite in tears
when she went to Burt in his room
later, and repeated her warnings.
Il told her she needn't worry," said
Burt. when he reported this interview
to Bradley Harwood next day. 81
know what I'm about as we'll as the
next one, l hope. Of course, they're
J. pretty girls. and bright. and ladylike
and all that, but they wouldn't do fol
plain fellows like u.s. with our livings
to make-even if they'd have u.s.
NO, of course not said Bradley
| promptly.
But he came over that night and sa
: under the naples with Della again
with Burt auG Sierra not far away: an(
he brought his new two-seated bugg,
around the next afternoon, and tn,
four went off for long drive through
l the leafy country roads.
Della and Cora We're quite carried
away with enjoyment of their beauti
tul surroundings. and Burt and Brad
| ley were guiltily happy in being witt
them.
$ 1t was on the third day after he
d boarders arrived that Mrs Marsh cam
a down with sharp attack Of rheuma
Il tism. Rheumatism was what the doc
o tor pronounced it: but Mrs. MarSh wa
o firmly convinced that it was the fore
s runner of Drain fever, brought on b
Il worry Of mind.
Il 1T was too much for me.'' she sal
q to her husband, who stood over he
d bed i'll helpless distress, Ito see tha
1t boy getting more and more took II