Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1907-10-19

where there is one worker and fiv,
| shiriicrs"
''If you came here to criticise''- be
gan Phillipa.
Far be 1t from me-" said billiard
hastily. by the way. the day afte;
| tomorrow we're having Il hop ut the
hotel. 1t promises to be quite an
event"
Il suppose there are lot of girls
there" said Phillipa, bending to stir
the fire.
"Stunners!" cried Hiliard, with en-
thusasm well. goodby, Phillipa
I'm awfully glad you're so happy and
I'll see you soon again
won't you stay for lunchcon?'
urged Phillipa in a tone which i'm
piled that he had better not
Thanks. no. I've got to get back
Sky looks as if we might have bit
of squall, doesn't it? All prepared"
I'VE can take care of ourselves,
think" said rhillipa, with dignity.
billiards. weather prophecy came
true with a rapidity and violence that
kept the guests at HilcreSt housed for
two days "The Suuall," as IIilliard
expressed it, settled into Il good long
cry" with the rain coming down in
torrents and never clearing till the
night of the dance when IIilliard set
off in Salboat to see phillpa.
When he reached Camp Idle Ease 1t
was all in darkness, with every evil
dence that its occupants had retired
for the night. The sngging canvas of
the tents was sOdden and blown awry,
the campfire was a dreary smOldcr of
damp wood and ashes, and as billiard
stepped gropingly forward the ground
oozed and SoZZlcd undcrfoot. Sudden
ly from some place on his right came
the sound OF Il mutiicd sob, and, peer
ing through the blackncSs. he saw a
huddled figure on the rustic bench the
camp possessed. There was no mis-
taking that dark head bowed on the
Circled arms
"phillipa." cried billiard.
She raised n startled. tear wet face.
Il thought you were at the-the
hop" she Quavcrcd. her voice failing
and breaking on the last word
without YOU? Not much"'
but those other girls Phillipa's
tones were still mutilcd.
"GirlS,' For Il moment Hilliard
was utterly hcwilGcred Then Il light
broke in on him He laughed outright.
"Why. PhillipH. surely YOU know
there never was and never will be any
one else but you, As for the hotel
your aunt and uncle are waiting there
for you now And they've brought
your trunkS-all of them. | thought"
he went on. "that if you knew how
much it meant to me you'd change
your mind and come You're not an
CRY with me. are you?' he added as
Phillipa turned away her head.
phillipa'S voice held something
strangely like sob.
ANGRY! Oh, Keith, before You
came tonight | was the most miserable
girl in the whole wide world. | find
the simple life isn't what planned at
all. I'm tired and sick and diSgusted
Somehow the brunt of it seems to
come on me. All day long work. and
at night | dream of greasy dishes to
be washed and Il kettle that won't boil.
and tents that let in the rain, and
There, dear. l know But rcmem-
ber it's over and done with. And it's
getting late, and your nunt will be
anxious, so hadn't you better run and
tell those other campers that you're
coming with me-"
a few moments later IIIlliard's sail
boat was SklmmiEg In the direction of
the HillcreSt. Phlllipa sat in the
stern.
''When a woman" she muSed has
to choose between Il mode of life and
the man she loves 1t doesn't take her
very long to make up her mind. Rus
ticity and simplicity may he all very
well. but felicity is best. after all"'