Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-04-27
PROCRASTINATOR
BY ELIZABETH n. GREENE.


my NNAN a @uf AlAAAC NRNAldh. AuaN
descended the steps of Hill Crest
Farm TO the waiting hay rack. and
for the twentieth time that morning
Mariana wished she had been ready.
But il was always this way. Some
how Mariana could never manage TO
be quite on time. and had long ago
been affectionately dubbed by her
friends the "PrOcrastinatOr."
Nevertheless. Mariana was a gen
eral favorite. and Il was with genuine
regret that the little party OF pleas
ure seekers set forth without her that
bright morning.
Couldn't you come later. MarianaT
coaxed Bettina. lettering behind the
others.
Mariana shook her head. II can't"
she sighed. "Tve got all my packing
TO do"
Couldn't l help you tonight?" gen
erously prOffered Bettina.
Mariana dimpled. Thanks. Betty"
she smiled. you're a dear; but | can't
go. really"
"Oh. come along. Betty" called Pol
~ from the hay rack. 'She'll come at
the eleventh hour. same's she always
does. :"
Slowly Mariana went back to the
neglected packing. Tomorrow they
were all going home. "All" meant
Mariana's five girl friends. Miss Kent
who chaperoned the little party, and
Mariana.
Leaving her unfinished packing she
donned the pretty white dress thrown
over n chair Her vivid imagination
pictured the delighted surprise of her
friends when she should join them and
yes. II must be admitted. the whole
of the vision was glorifed by the trem-
ulOus hope that she might see him..
A radiant vision was Mariana that
morning. and passerSby turned TO look
admlringly az the trim. Whitehead lit
tie figure tripping gaily along the
dusty roadside.
But as the sun rose higher and the
heat increased Mariana's enthusiasm
waned with her tagging feet.
How beautiful Ii was out here
though. Somewhere in the green
branches overhead a bird carolled joy
ously and in the distance came faint
sounds Of the haymakers. Some
where. too. in this enchanted land
lived The Man.
on. It was shameful that she should
think Of him SOL But since that morn
ing when she had CHANGED 10 be at
her window in the early dawn and
caught glimpse OF him carrying
dew-wet burden OF lettuce and cueum-
bers 20 the farmhouse door below she
had been unable to put the strong.
sunburned face and stalwart form
quite out of mind.
And this was her last day Of free
dom. Her chance Of knowing him
ended today, Tomorrow meant noisy.
smoky Brewster and--Aunt Amelia.
Mariana sighed dismally. However.
being a CHEEKY little person. her gloom
soon vanished as she caught a glimpse
of the big. ripe berries near by.
"Blueberries ." she exclaimed. rising
and beginning to gather the tempting
fruit. Presently a glance over tie
stone wall revealed more berries be-
7Ond I'm the pasture.
Laughing softly. Mariana scaled the
wal! with pretty grace.
"Oh. dear" sighed Mariana. her
eyes following wistfully the distant
shadows of froest trees. II only she
might rest in those cool woods awhilei
YEARLY she plodded on under the
MONDAY sun, reaching at last the wei
come shadows OF the wood. Throw
ing herself down upon the sweet pine
needles. she drew deep breaths Of the
pine-scented air. Presently her tired
eyeIids dropped lower and lower and
she slept.