The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-19
Helen in the Country.

listen to this chance for me TO get
into the country for awhile She
read the lines to him. To Dress
makers-A I, >ndid holiday at Cha
teaugay, in Adirondacks for one
month: board and lodging free In re-
turn for making few summer
dresses. Mrs. Drake, Amble CottaGe,
Chateaugay, N. Y There! Isn't that
you can have glorious month OF
bachelordom." She Rugged her Dig
brother in an ecstacy of excitement
and went over, to her desk TO write
q hurried note to Mrs. Drake o1Ierlhs
that lady her services as seam
stress.
Two days passed before Helen's re-
ply came, and still another before she
could get comfortably packed VI ana
started on her way.
She arrived at Chateaugay In the
early, crisp dawn of the following day.
and after most wonderful orive
through the glorious mountain air she
found herself being welcomed by Mrs.
Drake at Amble cottage. Amble cot
tage was a bunga' w half hidden
among pine woods and on the very
edge of the lake. Helen thought sne
had stepped into Paradise. and heaveo
sigh of thanks.
The Drake family proved to be
most ordinary set of people, VINO &C
cepted Helen as q guest rather imam
let it be known that they had en-
gagged a seamstress to replenlsn
rather scanty wardrobe.
Helen had not been in Amble cot
tage two days before she knew the
real state of affairs.
1T seems" she wrote to her brother
that the brakes had not expected 10
meet any one whom they cared to cur
tivate, up here in the mountains, Out
Enid. the daughter, has made the &C
- nvl<
has taken the camp next door. ana
clothes are needed in hurry to en-
snare the said Mark. 1t seems. from all
I can learn, that he is a most ei1glpie
catch. Hence it is Mr.. Austen, OF
Camp Fire, that must thank Tor my
lovely holiday-isn't it? only wish you
were here to enjoy the mountains with
me, and catch trout and go for long
walks with me through pine forests.
will tell you more about the eligible
concluded her first letter to her broth
err before going down to fit dainty
pink muslin on Ends graceful figure.
She did not sigh for pink muslins nor for
eligible catches, for she was happy and
joyous in the wonders of mountain life.
1t was during one of her rambles
along the edge OF a trout stream that
she came suddenly up..- fisherman.
Helen would have quietly passed him
had he not turned laughingly toward
her. j. "' ReH'--t 3" ~ s.'
IT suppose there is not the slight
est chance of your having a match
with you?" he inquired boyishly. II
had the misfortune to drop. my box
in the stream while bending over
this beauty" He held up a rainbow
trout for Helen's admiring eyes, and
his enthusiasm was good to see.
Helen laughed and produced a box of
matches while congratulating him on
his catch.
Il often make my tea in the
woods she told him by way of ex-
planning the presence of masculine
equipment in her own pocket.
by Jove! 1 am the lucky dog" he
commented, and Helen had a suspi-
cion that he was not referring mere
ly to her production of matches. He
took a needlessly long time to light
his pipe before returning the box to
her, and Helen knew that her color
had arisen and that his queer blue
eyes had taken note of the fact.
st suppose you often take this walk
before breakfast?'' he queried with
appalling disregard for the conven-
tons. II fish here ain or shine every
morning from 6 o'clock to lunch
time; and since am no good at MAX
ing tea or anything, have to go home
to camp" He looked very appeal
ingly at Helen and she tried desper-
ately to maintain her dignity.
II only walk here wien the fancy
pleases me-" she told him with only
slightly elevated dimpling chin.
Good morning. she added and
| that she slipped on wet rock and
would have falleen.
There he said. catching her.
that is what you get for behaving
so abominably 10 me- He put her
carefully on her feet then and re-
|
could do nothing but reward him
with one of her most lovely smiles.
at was good of you to save me
| from a ducking," she said. land II I
had been properly introduced to you
| 1 would be delighted to cook some of
those beauties on a campfire, she
pointed to his basket of trout "As 1t
| is, I must hurry back. since my time
| is not entirely my own" She went
then and the lone fisherman watched
her out of sig.-t.
| Jolly girl that" he told himself
1 round of calls at every camp on the
/ lake so that she will fancy taking
| this walk again. Conventions be
hanged.' he muttered. and realized
what a joy it would be to have the
dimpled face Of the girl on the OPP
/ posite side of a campfire from his
own. dis catch that morning was
excellent. Perhap- the. trout were
determined to help the cause OF Gu
/ pid. In any event they were piled
SO high in his basket that he stopped
| on his way home to offer his neigh
bors a dozen for their lunch.
| Enid Drake met him on the wide
veranda of Amb1e cottage. "Oh. Mr..
J Austen, you disreputable person.. she
exclaimed laughingly. as she viewed
his great boots that were muddy and
his old flannel shirt that was weather
! beaten from many rains Neverthe-
/ less it was her best smile that she
j gave him, for he was the most eligible
| Mark Austen, of Camp Fire.