The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-10-02
An Escapade
It Was Perpetrated by a
Girl of Seventeen
By ETHEL HOLMES

By ETHEL HOLMES
confess that as a girl was reck
less. l Will not admit that was bad
Indeed, looking back to that period,
wonder at my innocence. was simply
unterrifed at any proposition. do no
mean that was unterrif1ed at facing
the consequences of any proposition
When got myself into difficulty de
pended upon circumstances to get me
out, and circumstances sometimes man
age our affairs far better than we car
manage them ourselves.
Ny brother Tom, much older thar
myself, and / were orphans and lived
together, Tom being more Of fathel
to me than brother. He was a sports
man from the crown of his head to the
soles of his feet, and since he made Q
companion Of me he taught me lot
that sportsman should know. At sew
enteen was good horsewoman, 9
good shot and did not hesitate to stand
In rubber boots in a stream Of rapidly
running water casting for trout.
One autumn Tom was obliged to &c
away on a long trip. Before leaving hG
left certain of his affairs In my charge
instructtng me to open his mail, reply
to such letters as ! was able and for
ward the others to him. While he was
away an invitation came for him tc
visit friend In the mountains. 1--WE
have some good trout fishing" said the
gentleman, "and other amusements
that I think will enable you to pass the
time pleasantly. By the by, bring that
little brother Of yours. who, you say
has your sportsman tastes. We viii
enjoy having q youngster with US"
had heard Tom speak Of his friend
Edward Erskine, the writer Of the let
ter, but bad never seen him. Toms
little brother probably meant me. Ny
name Is WilhelmiDa, and Tom bad
doubtless mentioned me as Billie, CIV.
ing Mr.. Hrskine the impression that
was boy.
An unfortunate idea popped into my
bead. At first it was only an idea, foI
it was beyond the pale Of common
sense But it gradually worked its way
into my brain as something to be 90
complished. 1t was this: to write Mr.
Erskine that my brother Tom was alb
sent and could not accept his kind In
vitationI that l, Billie. was much dis
appointed that ! must be deprived Of
what promised to be delightful visit
on this account. If Mr.. Erskine re
piled, extending the visit to me alone
my scheme was to get myself up IN
boys clothes and 90 alone.
wrote the letter, refraining from
mentioning the fact that I was q girl
and mailed 1t. Back came the invita-.
ton ! had coveted, with the words
i don't know how old you are, Billie
but If you are something Of child my
mother will give you every attention.
"Your brother has often spoken Of you
as being good sport, and feel con-
fdent l can make it all right with Tom
when / see him about your coming
without him. Mother and ! viii enjoy
having a boy In the house, SO pack
your valise and come along. Don't
bother to bring any fishing tackle, as
have all kinds here, including high
rubber boots"
certainly would have dismissed my
idea had It not been for this state
ment, for was not so innocent as moi
to know that a girl could not visit O
man, unless he was very old man
without another woman In the house
AS It was, was three days getting ur
my courage. had no business to leave
home with Tom away and without his
permission. But the bee had got into
my bonnet, and could not get 1t out.
My first yielding was to buy a suit Of
youths clothing. I concluded that
would pass very well for a boy. The
next thing was to buy more boys
clothes, and the next was to pack
them. All this while I had not made
up my mind to carry out my idea. In
fact, / never made up my mind to
carry It out; 1t carried me. Even when
on the train considered getting out al
the next station. And when I had
passed 1t considered getting out al
the next
The train and my idea took me 10 q
station In the mountains where dwell
Mr.. Erskine. was the only passenger
to alight at the station. I called a cab
and asked the cabman to drive me to
Mr.. Erskine's. He knew where Mr.
Hrskine lived, and was soon dumped
out at cottage, half frightened out
Of my senses. A gentleman about thirty
years old was on the porch mending
some fishing tackle He looked at me-
evidently wondering who I was and
what wanted.
"Are you Mr. Erskine2" / asked.
Eyes. my boy. What can I do for
your
"I'm Billie" l faltered.
billie? Billie Nettleton7 I'm de-
/ lighted to see you Sorry Tom Is not
with you Come In. Give me that suit
case"
He called Mother" and an old lady
with pleasant face showed me to a
room, where made my toilet took n
great deal Of time for it and after It
was finished spent great deal more
time In trying to screw up my courage
to go downstairs. When l did SO
found supper ready, and we all sat
down to table. which was something Of
relief to me.
you're just in time, Billie" said Mr..
Erskine. We've had a lot Of rain, and
the streams have been too high for
fishing, but they're now about right.
Wen put in all day tomorrow In rub
Der boots. I've got pair for you.
though they may be a triie large.
Well have a glorious days sport"
do you go fishing, Mrs. Erskine?" /
asked, clinging to one Of my own sex
for comfort.
Mother fish? A woman tn boots to
her waistr' cried Mr.. Erskine. laughing.
"Oh, thought she might fish from
the bank" | said, which did not make
the matter any better.
Mr.. Erskine looked at me with puz-
zled expression. Perhaps he wondered
IL Tom had not given me too much
credit for being a sportsman.
! pleaded fatigue from my journey as
an excuse to get away by myself and
went to bed very early. It seemed to
me that both mother and son were
looking at me with view to detecting
my imposture, and was glad to go to
my room. As got into bed was over
whelmed with wonder that had been
such a madcap.
However, bright morning sun gave
me courage. and went down to break
fast determined to carry out what |
had undertaken. Indeed, from this mo-
ment 1 rather enjoyed-at brief inter.
vals-playing my part. Mr.. Erskine
and 1 were soon In his buggy-that