The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-20
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Eldest Camper.
IN coNsrANcE GRAZ.


near by Muriel Brown, the head camp
counselor, sighed audibly and remark
ed to her coworkers. We'll earn our
keep this year. girls. What chance
l--1aye sports and crafts with couple
81 hundred or more uniformed youths
mot two miles away? Every girl will
have one eye on tennis and the other
wandering into the dim distance after
"a potential speck Of white"
Bertha Muriel's eldest sister and
the business manager of Segatchie
Camp for Girls, paused in her task
Of arranging simple furniture in an A
tent. "Cheer up, Sis; there will, per-
force, have to be grown up uniforms
h charge. Perhaps they will give US
some dances Those naval men dance
Ike dreams, too"
"M-m-m; maybe so. But prefer
dreams in my own little hammock,
thank you, after strenuous days
work in the open" returned Muriel.
There were thirty girls at the camp
that year, ranging from fifteen to eigh-
teen years old, Clad exactly alike in
khaki bloomer suits with black sailor
ties, the little company set out one
morning for the daily hike. Muriel
vas walking ahead with Miss Holden
In assistant counselor, when without
warning, there appeared over the rise
Of the ground squad Of white clad
sailor lads commanded by a young Of
ticer, immaculate in snowy white
duck.
Miss Muriel heard the excited ex-
plantations of her charges but ignored
them and led them into an opportune
woods road. Now the head counselor
and part owner Of Camp Segatchie did
not look a day older than some Of her
campers. However, she was twenty
five. Miss Holden, though only a year
older, looked every bit of it. Therefore
1t was not surprising that the dapper
young officer, hating his detachment
and hurrying ahead should address
the latter. With lifted cap, disclosing
brown curls closely barbered, he in
nuired If the shore road came out on
tho highway. Then he listened in
tently to Miss Holden's reply-and
looked at Muriel.
At a crisp order from their COM
mander the sailor lads continued down
the road. The campers vanished into
their own woods. The incident was
closed.
Lily Dart, romantic young woman
Of seventeen, elaborated upon the
meeting to Bertha. "And the officer
vas peach-like Francis Bushmanr
only better looking. He fairly ate up
Miss Muriel with his eyes.
Muriel looked up from where she
was assisting one Of the Cleveland
Twins" to pick up stitch gone wrong;
Lucky he used his eyes instead OF
hose white teeth, Lii she said, but
don't, admire fatal beauty in a man.
So don't waste your time building up
romance on that look"
1t was when the campers were out
IN the canoes the next day that big
square envelope arrived. There was
10 be hop on the following Saturday
night at the reserve station. Every
pne at Camp Segatchie was invited
Great was the rejoicing among the
girls when they returned and heard
the news. Immediately what to
wear" became the principal topic OF
conversation. Lily Dart, against the
rules Of the camp, had brought very
Glossy evening gown. Every one was
snyious. That matter, however, was
juickly settled by Muriel. "Now, girls"
laid that decided young lady, the cos
ume of the evening will be white
tdrt, with MILDLY, white shoes and
bookings, then your black sailor ties.
We are campers, not society outfit
shall wear the same"
"Ill bet that good-looHng officer
lakes you for one of u.s." gushed the
rrepressible Lily. Really Miss Mu-
riel, you don't look a day older"
AS it happened the romantic proph-
ecy came true. Ensign Richard Al
sens simply took 1t for granted that
Muriel was one of the campers. she
let him labor under that delusion.
When he inquired her home port, she
rave Akron, Ohio, which, luckily, she
knew-for so did Ensign Atkins. He
asked IL callers were allowed at the
samp. Muriel told him, very decided
II, thew were not. But when the
Young officer proposed that she meet
him on bowlder path at 2 o'clock the
following afternoon she agreed to try
Muriel walked rather slowly ano
ihoughtfury down the path, at the ap-
pointed hour. Quite against her will
S6e liked the handsome young Off
sers The flush which so often flood
ID his tanned cheeks seemed to abb
Jol9e him from the vanity of the
merely handsome man.
II had been great fun to keep him
N. a string" Then, no woman, how
sTer young, really enjoys conEessing to
usore years than appear to be hers.
But the head counselor had decided
" the time she drew close to the place
designated for the meeting that she
would do that very thing.
Atkins was sitting on a rock when
Muriel came in sight, He arose and
I ERECTED her Miss Brown, was
wrong to ask you to meet me here
slandestinely, but there is something
want to tell you where no one can
lYerhear."
gWhy, this is interesting, you have
something to tell me and / have a
confession to make to you. Let's sit
Iown. You talk first"
Ensign Atkins, after moments hes
tation, proceeded. you know Jack
Hart, in Akron"
Il certainly do"
We'll. there is where I saw your
picture"
The girl seemed about to speak, but
Atkins kept on: ut was In Jacks
.oom. One of row across the man
tei. third from the left He had an