Smyrna times., 1918-09-25
THE HOLIDAY
BY HELEN M. PATTERSON.
SA%%%SNN%NsNN,NNN%eeRSeAR%eaRRS
1918, by the Mcclure Ne
per Syndicate.)

bedroom. "DO stop your knitting, |
Ruth,s for a few minutes, and let us |
plan what we will do. 1 want to en- |
joy every minute of the day"
"Of course we do" echoed dark-eyed |
Minnie. "SOme of the boys we know |
will be home for the holiday. Won't |
it be t>iE to have picnic party and
spend the day at the beach?"
'But that isn't aything new" OBJ
jected Hazel. 81 spend most every Sun
day at the beach. Let us go into the
country"
"But this will be different, Hazel.
We will all take a lunch and picnic.
Then we can dance and swim and have
lots more fun than we could going out
into the country, where you can only
gaze at cow and get bitten by mOsQui-
toes. Besides, know the boys would
much rather spend the day where they
| can dance and have some fun. Don't
you think so, Ruth?" Minnie asked of
a vivaciOus, curly-haired girl, busily
working with knitting needles.
"If you will promise not to tell"
said Ruth, mischievOusly, 81 will i'm
part to you my plans. made them
last week"
'Well, it's like this" said Ruth. "Be-
ing tired of the city, and all such
amusemcnts, 1 decided to spend the
day in the country, looking at the
COW, that Minnie said would be there.
AS I don't like to spend the day alone,
I invited five very cOngenial people to
80 with me, so we are going to take
| lunch, start early and spend the day in
the most delightful place that 1 know
Of"
| There were looks of CONSERVATION and
amazement on all the girls faces. They
had always considered themselves
Ruth's particular friends, and now to
hear they had been sighted by their
favorite for more cOngenial company
made them somewhat chagrined.
/ 81 didn't mean to offend you girls"
hastily went on Ruth, "and I'm sure
you won't he when I tell you my com
pany will be Mrs. MOrgan's five kid
let's"
Mrs. MOrgan's five children! Are
you crazy, Ruth SanbOrn, to spend your
holiday taking care of babies?" asked
Minnie. ...-.--..
''NO, not quite crazy, Minnie" an
swered Ruth, laughing; ''but, you see,
1 knew Mrs. Morgan wanted very much
to see her youngest brother, who is at
Camp -, so l just suggested to her
that she and hubby should motor to
the camp and 1 would take the chill
dren, including baby Robert, and spend
the day in the country. She was so
grateful that 1 wondered 1 hadn't
thought of it before"
The astOnlshed girls watched Ruth
disappear through the open door, and
then, when the door was closed, voiced
their sentiments.
81 don't know what ails her She has
been rather mOOny ever since the
night she was rescued from the fire
by that young man, and she doesn't
even know his name or hasn't seen
him since" commented Hazel.
"I guess she is dreaming of finding
him some day" added Edith rather sar
castically.
Thursday dawned bright and clear
a regular July day, and eight O'Clock
found Ruth engaged in helping Mrs
Morgan dress the children, who were
all excited at spending the day in the
country with "Aunt Ruth" as they
called her.
The place Ruth had chosen for the
outing was all that she had described
to the girls. The day passed quickly
and as soon as the long shadows begar
to appear the six happy picnickers
with the empty lunch basket started
= for home. When they were ~ %cht O.
the road Ruth was surprised 20 see 4;
large automobile stop, evidently wait
ing for them.
The two older children hurried OF
ahead, and Ruth soon heard their erie
of "Uncle Jack! Uncle Jack!' and saw
them affectiOnately greeted by larg
man in uniform. Her heart began t
beat uncOmfOrtably fast. Where hat
she seen him before? Instantly he
thoughts flew back six months to
burning building and to a young mai
who had found her lost and grOpin
her way in the smoke, led her CAREFUL
out and then, as soon as she was safe
disappeared. Like in a dream sh
heard little Mary say, ''This is Uncl
Jack. He came back with mamm
and has come to take us home, Aun
Ruth"
81 suppose we are properly intro
duced," said Uncle Jack, smiling. an
then, as he took Ruth's proffered hant
"My little girl of the firep' he ez
claimed.
"And you are my knight, who disaI
peared so quickly didn't even than
you" said Ruth.
81 had to-" replied Jack, shut if 20
won't object I'll promise not to hurr
away again."
Ruth did not object, as her iIushin