The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-22
EVENING STORY
The Eldest Camper.
BY CONsTANCE GRAY.

| gatchie that a Junior naval reserve
station was to be located near by,
Muriel Brown, the head camp coun-
selor, sighed audibly and remarked to
her co-workers: wen earn our keep
this year, girls. What chance have
sports and crafts with couple of
hundred or more uniformed youths
not two miles away? Every girl will
have one eye on the tennis ball and
the other wandering into the dim dis
lance after a potential speck Of
whitel'
Bertha, Muriers 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
in charge. Perhaps they will give
some dances. Those naval men dance
| like dreams, too"
"M-m-m; maybe so. But 1 prefer
dreams in my own little hammock,
J thank you, after a strenuous days
work in the Open" returned Muriel.
There were thirty girls at the camp
that year. ranging from fifteen to
eighteen 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 was walking ahead with Miss
Holden, an assistant counselor, when,
without warning, there appeared over
a rise of ground a squad of white clad
sailor lads commanded by a young Of
ficer. immaculate in snowy duck.
Miss Muriel heard the excited ex-
carnations 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 day older than some of her
campers. However, she was twenty
five. Miss Holden, tho only a year
older, looked every bit of II. Therefore
1t was not surprising that the dapper
young officer, hating his detachment
and hurrying ahead, should address
the latter. With lifted cap, disclos-
ing brown curls closely barbered, he
inquired II the shore road came out
on the highway. Then he listened at
tentively 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, a romantic young woman
Of seventeen. elaborated upon the
was a peach-like Francis Bushman.
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 a stitch gone wrong.
Lucky he used his eyes instead OF
those white teeth, ILL.," she said, but
l 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 a big
square envelope arrived. There was
to be a hop on the following Saturday
night at the reserve station. Every
one at Camp Segatchie was invited.
Great was the rejoicing among the
! the news. Immediately what to
wear became the principal topic of
conversation. Lily Dart, against the
rules of the camp, had brought very
flossy gown. Every one was envious.
That matter. however, was quickly
that decided youn lady. "the costume
of the evening will be a white skirt,
white MILDLY. white shoes and stock
ings; then your black sailor ties. We
are campers. not society outfit. 1
shall wear the same"
I'll bet that good-looking officer
takes you f. one of U.S." gushed the
irrepressible Lily. Really. Miss
MurieI, you don't look day older"
As it happened, the romantic
prophecy came true. Ensign Richard
Aikens simply took it for granted that
let him labor under that delusion.
When he i .uired her home port she
gave Akron, Ohio. which, luckily, she
knew-for so did En- ign Aikens. He
asked If callers were allowed at the
{ mp. Muriel told him. very decided
ly. they were not. But when the
young officer proposed that she meet
him on bowlder path at O'Clock the
following afternoon she agreed to try.
Muriel walked rather slowly and
thoughtfully down the path at the ap-
pointed hour. Quite against her will.
she liked the handsome young officer.
The flush which so often flooded his
tanned cheeks seemed to absolve him
from the va nifty of the merely hand
some man.
1t had been great fun to keep him
on a string" Then, no woman. how
ever young. really enjoys confessing
to more years than appear to be hers.
But the head counselor had decided.
by the time she drew close 20 the
place designated for the meeting. that
she would do that very thing.
Aikens was sitting on a rock when
Muriel came into sight. He arose and
greeted her. Miss Brown, I was
wrong to ask you to meet me here
clandestinely, but there is something l
want to tell you where no one can
overhear"
why, this is interesting said
Muriel: you have something to tell
me and l have a confession to make to
you. Let's st down. You talk first"
Ensign Aikens. after a moments
hesitation, proceeded. You know
Jack Hart in Arkon."
Il certainly do
We'll. there is where / saw your
picture"
The girl seemed about to speak. but
Aikens kept on: 1T was in Jacks
room. One of a row across the man
tel. third from the left. He had an
ouija board there that afternoon try
ing to get some dope on one OF the
cham pionship ball games. Jacks a
queer duck''-Aikens smiled-''want-
ed me to try it. So l asked It the