Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-10

vacation. and the last hours of the
school year dragged heavily, for June
weather was insistently calling. Her
homeward walk led along pleasant
country lanes and through clover fields
crisscrossed with narrow footpaths.
In Maisie's pocket was her last
months salary. and in spite of June
weather and the calling bobOlink her
heart was heavy with disappointment.
though her face wore its usual express
sion of unruffied sweetness. Just the
amount of that months salary would
take her to q large summer resort.
where she might have two weeks OF
such enjoyment as she had never known
in her monotonous life. She had read
of the pleasures of this city by the sea.
she had known girls whose parents
were we'll TO do TO spend several months
there. and now Ella Shaw had written
to say they were going and wished
Maisie to join them. II was TO be
Dutch treat" and she knew that
meant each girl was to pay her own ex-
penses.
She had not even mentioned the mat
er to her mother, for she knew that
their resources were badly strained this
year There was an uncle who had
! been bedridden for two years, and they
were now maintaining his declining
days in the hospital. where he could be
best cared for. AS Maisie was the only
wage Garner in their family of two. 1t
was neutrality-suspicious. rather
that not one penny be wasted.
"If Bloomfield were not so dull" she
murmured wistfully. Ever since l
/ can remember there has never been
any unusual happening here. No new
families ever move here, and nobody
ever marries anybody that lives farther
than Paramount. l don't wonder there
are so many maiden ladies In this VII
lager She smiled as she pushed open
the front gate, for there on the front
piazza sat her mother. dispensing cake
and root beer to FIVE Of Bloomfeld's
! spinsters. Some day she. too. would
form one Of a similar group.
Lots of news. Maisie," cried Emma
step and slipped a glass Of the cool
beverage.
"News?" repeated Maisie: then she
added quickly: "Oh. you mean the new
fagpole in front of the town hall?
saw that yesterday"
mo. indeed: that's old! What do
you think is going to happen in Bloom
ficld?" Emma was bursting with i'm
portance. and the four other spinsters
nodded their heads significantly.
"A-circus?" There were painfully
few things that ever had happened in
Bloomfield, and Maisies Imagination
was starved.
mo, sir! What do you think of bal
loon races here?" Miss Risley's voice
was triumphant.
Balloon races?" echoed Maisie
blankly.
> Ten balloons all starting at once
from Cabot's big bayfield,!
when is 1t going to be?" asked
MaiSie
In three weeks. The men have
been here and looked over the grounds
and the lumber is on the way. AL
the rooms at the hotel have been en-
gagged for the workmen. You see,
knew about it the first one because
hold a first mortgage on Cabots big
field" explained Emma Risley lmpor
, family, land Joshua Cabot spoke to mt
Y about the matter"
a When they had chatted themselves
away Maisie and her mother sat OF
0 the piazza until the sun went down
They talked about the coming of the
~ 4. L.
Z that Bloomfield was chosen because
of some special advantage it possesse,
1 for the purpose, and everybody sale
> that once the city excursionists saw
. what beautiful spot Bloomfield really
was there would start an influx o
summer bOarderS and possibly a lane
j, boom.
j.. Mother. dear" half sighed Maisie
81 WAS complaining this very Afternoon
OF the dullness here. and as | walked
b. home through Cabot's field | was wish
- ing almost anything would happen T.
break the mOnOtony. Now that some
thing is going to happen | am feelin!
sorry about the clover fields They ar,
- so beautiful"
Mrs. POmeroy laughed softly an
caresSed her daughters bronze hail
That's the way WIFI all OF us. m
;. dear. ! have known for Il long tim
that you were weary OF the monoton
Of your life. and | cannot blame you
When | was a girl somehow we seem
ed to get more out of life even If W
: never went away from the village
a There were parties every week an
socials and spelling classes and skatin
parties. The winter was always TO
short for all the good times we haC
Nowadays the girls and young men 6
away to the cities. and those that re
main and marry here don't seem
care for the old simple pleasures"
Perhaps after the balloon races al
over we will rejoice in our old tim
quiet But somehow l would like I
have just taste Of life and pIeasur
before Maisie flushed and bit he
lip
Before what. dear:"
81 know I'm horrid. mother. hut
was going to say oefore l settled dow
into Il regulation Bloomfield old maid
criad tho girl hiding her face in hC