The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-11-13
'~"''-s
A LONG, QUIET DAY !
IN The COUNTRY. !
&zassna swe~
sesu,s.,-.



go on an early morning train to
Brookton. From there we were to
drive eight miles to Linden Falls.
She said Arthur Knight had prom
Used to bring some of the men in our
crowd out in his automobile in time
for an early supper.
There was a w%agonette waiting for
us at Brookton and we girls climbed
into it and it was nearly lunch time
when we got to the falls. We were
all hungry, but Betty said we must
save the best things for supper, when
the men would be with us. So we
had only a little snack Of plain bread
and butter and spring water. After
that we thought we'd take a nap and
we lay down in the shade, but the
mosquitoes were Sc plentiful that
sleep was out of the question.
Because we wanted something to
do we decided to rraL.;e the supper
table. We spread a be -utiful white
cloth that Betty brought and laid out
all the sandwiches, salad, eggs, sar-
dimes, cake and cookies with heaps
of pickles and jelly. Then we made
wreaths Of maple leaves which we
wove. The lunch looked SO inviting
J we could hardly resist it. For fear
wtAmight be tempted to nibble, we
went for a walk, leaving our driver
in charge.
We strolled beside the brook into
a deep wood. where we found quanti-
ties Of ferns that we thought would
add the finishing touch to our decora-
'tions, and we became so interested
! In getting them we stayed longer
4 than was intended. Then, suddenly
realizing how late it was getting, we
were afraid the automobile party had
arrived during Jul absence, and we
ran 80 fast that we were all hot and
/breathless.
Betty fell and turned her ankle.
She is always turning her ankle.
She did it at almost every dance we
Invent to last winter. Il can understand
that, for the men used to flock around
her and offer to carry her Dr. tear up
their handkerchiefs for bandages,
but I can't see why she should turn
ankle out in the country with only us
girls around. OF course we had to
stop running and help her. She
leaned so heavily on me that I had
to get one of the other girls to take
my place.
Maybe we weren't surprised when
we got back to u picnic place and
found the horses, which had been
taken out Of the w%agonette and tied
to trees, standing on that handsome
tablecloth of Betty's. We rushed
upon them and shooed them away,
but we were too late-there was
nothing left Of our delicious luncheon
but a few olives and n pot of rogue
fort cheese. The tablecloth was ut
terly ruined. Betty cried when she
saw the dreadful holes the horses
hoofs had cut in it and all the jelly
spilled over it and trampled in. !
think it was silly of Betty to bring
4 fine tablecloth. 1t was just a bit
of ostentation or her part.
What will the men say?" all the
girls asked.
They'll be starving and we haven't
a thing to give them" moaned Betty.
Il don't believe they'll be any hun
grier than 1 am this minute" I said
IF you had let us eat some of those
things at lunch time we would have
been better off now"
Well, don't blame me. didn't
know that those horrid horses were
going to spoil everything"
THE driver is to blame" said one
Of the girls. I'D like to know why
he didn't stay here to watch them
and where he is now"
Hes here" cried another Of the
girls who Had wandered a little way
from the scene of the disaster. "He's
sound asleep. Shall | wake him."
YES" we all answered in an angry
chorus.
When he opened his eyes after a
thrust in the ribs from a white EN-.
broidered parasol he looked around
stupidity. Then he suddenly jumped
up, and asked excitedly. Where are
them horses?"
Where were they? Not one of us
had thought of them since we chased
them off the tablecloth and now they
were nowhere in sight. The driver
began calling and whistling and tear
ing around in every direction. and we
girls. all except Betty. Joined in the
search.
well, We won't see Them animals
again to-day" said the driver at last
TITS dollars to doughnuts they have
b piked out for home. I seen thei!
. tracks on the road and it's no use
hunting any more"
We looked despairin&iy at each
other for a moment ard then Betty
remarked that Arthur would Just
have to take MS to the station in his
automobile-that VIC could all pile in
somehow. That thought cheered Us
and I looked ut my watch to see il
il wasn't time for the Mel to come
"Why it's alter ski" exclaimed
"They ought to have been here long
ago"
.'Thcy must come soon." said Betty
But they didn't come. We waited