Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-09-28
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Charlotte's Yokel
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Literary Press

lOIIS OWSu, uyIuS uOWA II4O oIoAA p
Eyes, dear. Has Peter brought the
car around?"
He's coming now, Ruth. I'll send
him in for the baskets
Charlotte dropped her burden into
the hands of the chauffeur on the
veranda and joined the party of young
people assembled there.
At the foot of the steps stood the
large seven-passenger car which would
have to make two trips to convey the
party of a round dozen to Mosey Dell,
ten miles distant. The first load bore
Mr.. and Mrs. Moore, the host and
hostess of the occasion, her sister
Charlotte and the other girls. Mr..
Moore ond the men waved goodby
to the fiuttering handkerchiefs that
disappeared down the long driveway.
Dick Fletcher watched Charlotte's pale
blue chiffon veil rather wistfully until
the bending trees hid the car from
view
Mosey Dell, cupped in the hollow of
the deep hills, lay cool and shaded
among the pines and chestnuts. A
waterfall dropped unsteady from drip
ping rocks and gurgled away in a
brown brook bordered by fragrant
mint and wild forget-me-nots.
The girls scattered among the trees
while the automobile whirled back to
Sunnybank for the men. Mrs. Moore
busted herself with the tea basket, for
the maids had been given a holiday
and she had preferred to assume the
preparation of the feast. Charlotte
joined her, unusually grave and silent
for one 80 merry. Under a large pine
the sisters made their kitchen, ar
ranging spirit lamp and tea kettle in
readiness for the meal
Charlotte had pulled out the tea
caddy and sat dreamily regarding her
own sweet reflection in it's polished
silver surface. Mrs. Moore watched
her covertly. At last she spoke:
Were you surprised at Dicks ar
rival, Lotte?"
The girl started
"Rather-how did it happen,
Ruth?"
Jack met him in town the other
day-he mentioned the picnic and in
vited Dick; I hardly thought he'd come
after the way you had treated him"
Mrs. Moore's manner was reproach-
full
Treated him!" echoed Charlotte,
Indignantly. why, Ruth, do you real
ly believe it is ill-using a man to re-
fuse his offer of marriage-if one
doesn't carer"
IT don't see how you can help car
ing, Lotte-Dick is one of the finest
fellows in the world"
"Yet you married Jack Moore-how
did you escape Dick Fletcher's fasci-
nations?" she Queried.
Ruth emerged from the basket with
wide opened eyes. "Of course Dick
had no attraction for me, child! l
was in love with Jack! 1t is differ
ent with you-you don't care for any
body else and"
How do you know?" interrupted
Charlotte quietly.
'Lotte Owen-are you still in love
with that-that yokel, Joel Crane?
That towheaded, awkward, freckly
country pumpkin? l am surprised"
Charlotte arose and leaned against
the pine tree looking very fair and
young and slender in her pale blue
gown with the sunshine turning her
hair into :, thousand tints of bronze
and copper. The rose had faded from
her face, leaving it white.
What if l amp" she asked in re
ply.
But Lotto, you can't marry him!
Would you spend your whole life
down there buried on that little farm?
When have you seen him? I sup
posed you had forgotten all that rub
bish about his saving your life years
ago.
Il haven't seen him for ten years,
confessed Charlotte.
Ruth Moore laughed. "You silly,
romantic thing! He's probably mar
ried long ago and forgotten all about
you. Well motor around by that lit
tie farm when we return and you
shall see all the tow-headed children
playing about the door among the
chickens and pigs! I believe you're
merely joking, Lotto, after all! Who
would look at Joel Crane after know
ing that Dick Fletcher, handsome,
rich, charming-wanted to marry
one?"
Ruth, did you invite Dick down
purposely?" demanded Charlotte
81 did, Lotto, and I think you're an
ungrateful goose not to take advan-
tage of such an opportunity; Dick
would buy the Cedars, that charming
place next to Sunnyside, and"
But Charlotte had vanished around
the trunk of the tree and Ruths in
dignant glance followed her fitting
among the brown pine trunks until
the pale blue gown disappeared be-
yond the waterfall Then she turned
to welcome the coming automobile
with its gay party, and vainly tried
to think of some reasonable explana-
ton of Charlotte's disappearance.
Charlotte clambered up the steep
rocks moist with spray from the fall
ing yater. Up here in the higher
woods there flowed the deep, swift
stream that dropped over the rocky