The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-11-15
VOL. Limo. As. 4

|
1t was Il clear morning on the LIST of
August that billiard walked briskly
| down the slope leading from the Hill
crest hotel to the lake and bOathousc
| below. On one side stretched the vel
| vet eXpanSe of the golf course, where Il
chattering group were starting an
early game: on the other was the ten
mis- court, the rackCtS of the players
| flashing in tie sun. Sounds of Eff
teen love-" reached billiard as he step
ped into the launch that was waiting
at the boathOuSe landing. He gave his
directions and then settled back on the
| cushioned seat.
Camp Idle Ease was five miles away
at the other end of the lake, a place
rendered secluded by reason of its
| rocky approach. which required the
GOODNESS and precision of Il well trained
boatman. The launch flashed through
the water ut full speed. but not fast
| enough TO suit billiard S impatience. 1t
| was weeks since he had bad more
from Phillipa than Il hasty postal card,
and his blood raced ut the thought OF
seeing her. As the launch meared the
| landing, Steered in and out between
the moss greened powders, he scanned
the shore for a glimpse of her. Some
one in Il gray walking skirt was stoop-
ing over a smoldering fire. She raised
her head. 1t was Phillipa.
ooh, Keith" she cried, you've come
at lastv
The hand she held out to him was
brown and hard. The mark of u burn
| ran from wrist to elbow. She was
worn and thin, and a tiny furrow
| showed between her brows. On the
| ground lay pile of pots and pans and
what seemed to be the charred re-
| mains of a days baking. But billiard
| tactfully ignored the signs. He chat
ted of mutual acquaintance, of all
| that had TRANSFERRED since he and Phil
| Iipa had last met. 1t was only when
he mentioned that he was stopping at
| the Hillcrest hotel that Phillipa paused
| to refer to her present mode Of life
Its beautiful" she declared in a
tone that held more of challenge than
! of comment.
"Surer' he agreed heartily. ''The air
Is simply great! But where are the
others?" he asked. with glance at
the seemingly deserted camp.
"Oh, two have gone for walk and
one to pick flowers, and two are writ
ers and have place where they work
farther up in the woods"
"And one does the dishwashing and
| baking and tends the fire." said Hill
lard, with a keen glance.
Phillipa flushed.
ITO each his portion" she quoted.
"And to some triple portion. APP
| parently this is one of those camps
where there is one worker and five
shirkers.''
''If you came here to criticise"- be-
gan Phillipa.
Far be it from me-" said billiard
hastily. 'By the way, the day after
tomorrow we're having hop at the
hotel. 1t promises to be quite an
event.
II suppose there are lot of girls
there" said Phillipa, bending to stir
the fire.
"Stunners" cried billiard, with en-
! thusiasm. "Well, goodby, Phillipa.
I'm awfully glad you're so happy, and
| I'll see you soon again"
Wont you stay for luncheon?"
urged Phillipa in tone which inn
| piled that he had better not.
Thanks, no. I've got to get back.
! Sky looks as if we might have Il bit
of squat, doesn't it? All prepared"
! I'VE can take care of ourselves, [
think" said Phillipa, with dignity.
billiards. weather prophecy came
true with a rapidity and violence that
kept the guests at Hillcrest housed for
two days. 1.-The squall,' as billiard
expressed it, settled into good long
cry" with the rain coming down i'll
torrents and never clearing till the
night of the dance, when billiard set
off in a sailboat to see Phillipa.
When he reached Camp Idle Ease it
| was all in darkness, with every evil
dence that its occupants had retired
| for the night The sagging canvas of
the tents was sodden and blown awry,
! the campfire was n dreary Smolder of
| damp wood and ashes, and as billiard
stepped gropingly forward the ground
! ooZed and sozzled underfoot. Sudden
" from some place on his right came
the sound of muffled sob, and, peer
ing through the blackneSs, he saw Il
huddled figure on the rustic bench the
camp possessed. There was no mis-
| taking that dark head bowed on the
circled arms.
'Phillipa!' cried Hilliard.
She raised a startled, tear wet face.
II thought you were at the-the
hon." she Quavered, her voice failing
| and breaking on the last word.
without you? Not much!'
"But those other girls Phllllpa'S
tones were still muffled.
"Girls! For q moment billiard
was utterly bewildered. Then a light
broke in on him. He laughed outright.
why, Phillipa, 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. I thought"
he went on, that if you knew how
much 1t meant to me you'd change
your mind and come. You're not an
CRY with me, are your" 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! l find
the simple life isn't what l planned at
all. I'm tired and sick and disguised.
Somehow the brunt of 1t seems To
come ON me. All day long l work, and
at night l dream of greasy dishes to
be washed and kettle that won't boil,
and tents that let in the rain, and
"There, dear, I know. But remem-
Der it's over and done with. And it's
getting late, and your aunt will be
anxious, so hadn't you better run and
tell those other campers that you're
coming with me?'
A few moments later billiards. sail
boat was skimming in the direction of
the Hillcrest. Phillipa sat in the
stern.
when a woman" she unused, has
to choose between a mode of life and
the man she loves, 1t doesn't take her
very long to make up her mind. Rus
ITCHY and simplicity may be all very
well, but felicity is best, after all"
Old Pals.
A member of the school board of
Cleveland was once addressing class
when he touched upon the beauties of
friendship.
Friendship, boys and girls" said he,
'is a thing to be cultivated and prac