Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-03

bors thought she did no more errands
than usual. 1t was only that she de-
spised to be bothered and leased by
heavy and the little ten-cent purchases
maddening to the last degree.
Il have decided to take your advice,
John,' said Jean, holding up a handful
of square envelopes. Look at this!"
Jean Burton announces that she is
too busy to do any errands for her
friends from this date" read John.
"Whew! Good for you, Sis! ! didn't
think you had that much backbone.
Are you going to deliver these from
house to house,"
''0f course not, silly, have my plans
carefully thought out and the time is
very propitiouS. Mother is away for a
week, and on the Fourth l go to visit
Edna. l will mail these envelopes the
evening Of the third, and by the time
get back the whole thing will be set
tied. They'll never tell mother and l
will be Free
Yes, the Fourth of July is a good
time to declare your independence, -
said John, with a grin. ''Ill venture to
say you'H never mail these letters"
you'll see. I'm tired Of this non
sense. l never thought of the Fourth
of July, but it will be good time to
strike for liberty. I'm going this minute
to pack my trunk, and l wish you
would tell the man from the livery sta
BILE to come promptly to take it to the
depot They usually send Some tri-
ling boy you can't depend upon, and
don't want to get to the city without my
clothes. Impress it upon their minds
John, that they must come before three
o'clock on the afternoon of the third
for | may start then instead of wait
ing till the next day"
For once the tritling boy came on
time, and Jean saw the trunk contain
ing her entire summer wardrobe loaded
into the shaky wagon drawn by frs
ky colt. She was to 60 with her friend
to q summer resort and would need he1
prettiest and coolest frocks for the
warm weather.
'"That is off my mind" said Jean, as
she deposited her bunch of envelopes
in the office just at closing-time. 1T
is just as John says, you have to de-
clare your independence if you don't
want to be a slave"
Jean, DEAR" said Miss Ross, rum
ming in next morning out of breath,
could you"
Another Grand" thought Jean,
and then remembered her resolution
I'm not going to be in the city very
long, Miss Ross she said, firmly.
Edna is"
please come over to my house 4
few minutes" said Miss Ross, who
see you at once" She hurried away,
and Jean felt forced to follow, though
a heavy frown disfigured her pretty
face. Il hope everything is all right,
DEAR" went on Miss Ross from the
depths Of jeans trunk, which stood
on the sitttingi Dom floor in the midst
of sewing SO Sps and articles of
clothing.
my trunk!n,'ssgasped Jean. q sent
it to the city BY express yesterday be-
cause the train-"
THAT no-account boy from the
livery stable let the colt run away and
scatter your things" interrupted Miss
Ross. Mrs. Clayton and some Of the
other neighbors helped me gather
them up, and we washed and cleaned
them the best we could Look them
over, Jean, and see if they are all
right. The trunk is broken, but you
can use it till you get to the city,
With trembling fingers Jean lifted
the exquisitely ironed white garments
and noticed that everything had been
carefully cleaned and pressed. Even
40 10 1,n1arclyirtc Che had
in rough dry, intending to have them
done in the city laundry, were shining
from the hot iron of Mrs. Burby, who
lowered near to see whether or not
Jean would be pleased.
when did you all do this?" asked
Jean, her voice shaking.
''They never went to bed at all last
night, but washed and pressed all
night said little Jenny Burby, before
her mother could silence her. You
ought to have seen your clothes, Jean
after that horse scattered them in the
dust"
Two trembling hands pushed the
load of white garments off her lap,
and and Jean ran swiftly to the post
office. "Those letters l mailed last
night she gasped. Are they all here
yet? l put in seventeen square
envelopes last night, and"
Let me see,' said the old post
master with provoking slowness. "Ona
was for Mrs. -. What did I DO
with them? Oh, yes, l laid them back
here till I'd get a chance to look them
over real well. You amt going to
have wedding at your house are
yOu?'
Jean fairly snatched the seventeen
square envelopes from the Old
gentleman's hand, and fled with such
haste as to almost upset Mabe Ford
coming for the mail Not till she
reached the shelter of her mothers
clean kitchen and astonished the hired
girl out of, her wits by thrusting the
whole mass into the hottest part of
the fire, did she breathe freely.
My Declaration of Independence?
Yes, indeed, it was a success, John"
she said to her brother as she started
serenely to the train. 81 have de-
clared myself free from the opinions
of all the girls in the world, and from
intend to behave myself
in manner worthy the love and re-
spect of my dear friends. What do