The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-05-08
Just a Desire to be
Friendly

y
Why. Mabel, Thought you were in
the country" said the girl who hap-
pened upon her dearest friend at
lunch in their favorite tea-room.
II was, but / came back-sudden
ly." said Mabel.
what was the matter? Didn't you
like Cherry Hill farm?"
"Oh, / liked the farm well enough,
and my relatives were awful good to
me. but-well, decided I'd rather
pass the rest Of my vacation in town"
''You must have had some reason
for changing your mind"
It's quite story, but you are well
come to 1t, dear, on condition that
you don't repeat it. You see. the
second morning after got to Cherry
Hill had a letter fromzs@seey John
son saying that he was coming to see
me and telling me not to make an en-
gagoment with any country swain.
because he could stay only one eve
ming and he wanted me to himself"
vi COuIS6v you W6I6 0ASACOAS
II planned moonlight row on the
river. / thought it would be grand"
swell, Aubrey had just arrived and
haa hardly more than been intro
duced to Uncle Dan, Aunt Hattie and
my bachelor cousins when a terrific
thunderstorm came up. 1t grew into
a steady rain, and we all had to go
into the stuffy little sitting room. l
could have cried; but, of course,
there was nothing to do but to make
the best of it.
aubrey came at z o'clock, and the
whole family sat there with us until
$3.50. They entertained him with
talk about the crops, the bad roads,
and how scarce hired help was get
ting in the country. At last Uncle
Oar yawned and said. Come, mother,
It's our bedtime. If you young folks
went to sit UP a little while longer,
all right
81 couldn't help being glad when
Cousin Zeb said to Cousin Dan that
they'd better go, too, for they had hay
to cut early the next morning if the
rain stopped.
"After they had shaken hands with
Aubrey and left the room, Aubrey
sGid they were decent chaps to think
OF the haying just then. and he chang
ed his seat to the sofa where was
sitting. In about minute Uncle Dan
surprised us by coming into the room
with lighted lantern.
~ thought you'd have pretty hard
work finding your way back to the
cross roads in the dark, Mr.. Johnson.
he said. You can leave this lantern
at the hotel and Zebll get it when
he goes to the creamery in the morn
ing
20. course Aubrey thanked him and
said goodnight again. He was just
turning the kerosene lamp down lit
tie-the glare made the room so hot,
you know-when Cousin Zeb re
turned.
Say went on Zeb. If you'll wait
a minute I'll get my rubber coat for
you. That's pretty thin-looking
suit you've got on
"Tll wait Aubrey replied.
''Then he and discussed the wealth
er from distant corners of the room
while Zeb was gone. After Zeb had
left us again and Aubrey had resumed
his seat on the sofa and was begin
ming to tell me how he had wanted
to see me SO much, he was interrupt
ed by the appearance of Cousin Dan.
"Let me offer you an umbrella he
said, as he produced a huge old cot
ton affair. i thought of 1t just now.
Here's one you can take all the way
to the city if you want to, and send
it back any time
". when we were once more alone
Aubrey gave me the funniest look
and said: I'm going now, quick, be-
fore your aunt comes down in her
wrapper with a chest protector for me.
/ wanted to talk to you about some
thing special. but I'll wait till y,u get
b ok to the lonesome city, where
there amt so many interruptions.
Gocd-by little girl
'srhen he went away--with the rub
Der boots, the rain coat, the umbrella
and the lantern.
We'll, the next day made up my
mind that it was kind Of dull n the
country and I'd rather be lack in
town, SO came home. I'm having a
lovely time. Aubrey takes me some
where every night, anc-"
.sAre you and he engaged?" inter
ru2ted the girl friend. excitedly.
y was just going to shM you the
ring" answered Mabel, blushing.