The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1915-07-17
Mr.. readwell' S
Vacation
By MARTHA V. MONROE

A widow with several grown sons and
daughters, owning a country home. would
like a few boarders for July and August.
/ A small auto, tennis grounds and other
means of amusement Will be at the dis
posal Of guests; references required.
! Mr.. Tre2dweu inferred what was not
/ stated in the advertiSement-that a
/ guest would be received as n member
! of the family. He was obliged if he
/ went on a vacation TO go alone. Con.
I seQuently he had no desire TO go. for
/ he was much dependent upon asso-
1 ciateS. In this country place he fan
I cied he would obviate this difficulty.
| The "sOnS and daughters" especially
/ the latter, seemed inviting. He enter
ed into correspondence with the adver-
tiSer with the result that he engaged a
room for his vacation in July.
He arrived in the evening about
o'clock, which was shortly before dark.
/ A negro butler announced that most OF
the family had gone on a picnic and
he expected them home ut any minute.
Miss Clara was somewhere about but
he didn't know where. Treadwell said
he would wait. lie went into the liv-
ing room and, seeing Il lounge, on
which some one had evidently been re-
clining, for there were an afghan and
q pillow on it, he sat down for Il rest.
The twilight deepened. There seem
ed to be no one about to light the
lamps, and the young man soon found
himself in the dark. Tired from tray
cling, he stretched himself on the
lounge. The first thing he knew. or,
rather, didn't know, he was asleep.
He was awakened by n hand laid on
his forehead-a soft hand. which he
felt sure was feminine.
Feel better?' The voice of the
speaker was melodiouS soprano.
Now there was something extremely
pleasant about this petting, which was,
of course, intended for another. and
Treadwell was not minded to bring it
TO a termination, SO he simply said
"Um!' without opening his mouth.
I've brought up some supper for
you. Do you want itY
''Um, uh," grunted Treadwell. giving
a negative intonation.
Meanwhile the hand was removed
from the forehead and slid down to
ohe of Treadwell's. This was becoming
a member of the widows family with
I a vengeance. Treadwell was somewhat
troubled about the result of his accept
ing these attentions, but both the hand
and the voice were SO soft that he
thought only Of how to avoid inter
rupting them.
81 wish they'd come" the lady con-
tinued. Mother said they'd surely be
back by I O'Clock, and it must be 8.
I'm going to light up"
"Uh, uh!" grunted Treadwell, as
though his throat were out of order,
still holding on TO the hand.
Rather lie in the dark, eh? That's
the way with me when I'm sick. /
wonder what's become of the man who
was to arrive this evening If he
should come and find the house dark it
would be Il poor reception. He might
turn around and 90 back to the city.
/ wonder what he's like"
TreadwelI could hardly help saying.
"He's fac fellow, and when you sec
him you will have met your fate" but
he refrained. He was thinking that he
would excite suspicion by silence wher
there was the sound of an automobile
and q babel of voices approaching
Withdrawing his hand from hers, he
rubbed his eyes. started Up and ex-
claimed:
81 must have fallen asleep
There was a subdued shrek. The
girl hustled about and struck match.
She saw a strange man looking at her
b. II just awakened from sleep.
BEG pardon he said. I'm Mr.,
Treadwell l was waiting for some
one to come in when | dozed off. |
suppose
Are you sure you've been asleep"
She rsised the chimney of a lamp and
touched the D3atch to the wick At the
same time a noisy party of picnickers
came up the steps and poured into the
room.
Mother" said the girl who had been
petting the guest. this is the gentle
man that was to arrive
I'm Elisha Treadweu." said that
gentleman.
"Am happy to see you, Mr.. Tread
well. I'm sorry you've had such dole.
full reception"
Don't mention it."
Ethel why didn't you light the
lamps:'
"Why, mother, Jim was in here on
the lounge. or l thought he was. and
l didn't think he wanted a light He
had gone up TO his room"
'He didn't" said Treadwell-''I mean
l didn't mind sitting in the dark at ALL
Mr. Treadwel was taken into the
dining room. where a hot supper was
served-with plenty Of Highland it
was evident to him that he had struck
just the place he needed for a vaca
ton. Now and again he caught Ethel
looking at him suspiciOusly. but he put
on an expression Of unconscious guilt