ETHEL’S SECOND TRIP
The time arrived for the Hollisters to start. There were tears in
Archibald Hollister’s eyes as he kissed them goodbye at the train.
Within the last year his life had been happier. He had seen more of his
wife and had grown to love her better than he had since Ethel was a
child. She and he were together nearly all of the time, and it was like
reading over a forgotten love story.
“Don’t you worry, papa,” said Ethel, patting his cheek. “We’re going to
keep well and have a lovely summer, and when you come up for your
vacation you’ll be like a boy again.”
“Yes, Archie,” spoke up Mrs. Hollister “Be sure that Mirinda gives you
good things to eat and has them well cooked. She’ll have little else to
do, and you go out and call on the Bigelows and Judsons. Take in the
moving pictures and roof gardens. I’ll trust you,” she laughed, “but
don’t fail to write me three times a week, will you, telling me how
things are going on. And don’t let Mirinda’s young man come to the house
but once a week and on Sundays.”
“Remember everything,” laughed Ethel.
Grandmother kissed her son and murmured:
“God bless you, Archie. I expect to take on a new lease of life.”
“Do mother,” said the man, “we all need you.”
The trip was pleasant. The scenery was fine and the country looked as
though it had been freshly swept and dusted, everything seemed so clean.
Grandmother’s eyes glistened with pleasure. They were to stop at Akron
first, where they were to leave Grandmother, and after a visit of a week
Ethel and her mother were to go on to Columbus and hence to Camp.
As the train drew into the depot at Akron, there stood Tom with Aunt
Susan, but what a metamorphosis! Tom just escaped being a fashionably
dressed swell. He was too manly for that. He wore a blue serge suit,
colored negligee shirt with tie to match, a Panama hat, and russet ties.
His handsome face was so full of character that Mrs. Hollister whispered
to Ethel:
“What a remarkably distinguished looking man he is. You never told me of
his being so.”
Ethel blushed when Tom took her up and kissed her as he might have done
had she been his sister, and as for Aunt Susan, even Grandmother gazed
at her with amazement. She was attired in a modish little automobile
bonnet, close fitting and of grey, while her grey linen suit gave her an
up-to-date air, for now, she proudly informed Ethel, Tom owned his own
car.
“Aunt Susan, you look out of sight,” said Ethel, kissing her. “I never
knew you.”
Mrs. Hollister was happy. Ethel had not half told her, and she was
agreeably disappointed. They took their seats in the new and commodious
car and soon reached the little house. The ingrain and rag carpets had
disappeared. In their places were Oriental rugs. Striped red awnings
shaded the windows and piazzas. The porch had been converted into the
cosiest of lounging places with willow furniture, scarlet cushions,
rugs, birds, plants, etc., as well as small tables filled with the
latest magazines and Aunt Susan’s sewing baskets. They had a hammock at
either end, and altogether it was lovely. Mrs. Hollister simply raved
over it and the artistic interior with its fine old furniture.
“Ethel is responsible for this change,” said Tom, removing his hat and
wiping his handsome brow. “Last summer when she came here I dressed like
a countryman, but in the most tactful manner she suggested high collars,
different ties, and fairly talked my army hat right off my head, saying
that I looked like a G. A. R. Little by little she’s converted Aunt
Susan into a fashionable woman. But how careless of me. Let me get you a
cup of tea,” he said to Mrs. Hollister, placing a table before her and a
stool under her feet.
He soon returned, bringing the tray and a plate of delicious jumbles.
“You see,” he continued, “Aunt Susan will not keep two girls, so I have
to be waitress now and then. She is attached to Jane, who though is a
good cook, but her trouble is she’s set in her way and refuses to stay
if we allow another girl to enter the house. We are handicapped, you
see, for we can’t spare Jane, nor could we replace her.”
Gradually he took Mrs. Hollister into his confidence and told her of his
early life and of Aunt Susan’s misfortunes. “But bless you,” he
continued, “the Lord is good to us. She’ll never need a penny for my
income is increasing and my practice is more than I can attend to. I
should have a partner but she won’t hear of my taking one. She is too
cautious. So I have several young students who study law in my office
and help me as well.”
Then he proceeded to extol Ethel.
“Mrs. Hollister,” he said, “she’s a girl of wonderful character and
she’ll make a magnificent woman. I notice she’s improved since she was
here.”
“Yes, it’s her college,” replied her mother, “and the life at camp last
summer. I must admit she knew more than I when she broke loose from my
foolish and unwise influence. I was not fit to guide her, Mr. Harper, I
realize it now.”
“Never mind, madam; it’s to you she owes her beauty. Why, you and she
look exactly like sisters,” whereupon Mrs. Hollister capitulated to Tom
Harper. She couldn’t speak of him with enough enthusiasm and praise. She
wrote pages to Archibald.
“My dear, everyone says he’ll yet be Governor, and while I wouldn’t have
you breathe it for the world I’m sure he’s in love with Ethel. What a
couple they’d make. Of course she has no suspicion of such a thing, nor
would I hint it to her; but you wait and see.”
Mr. Hollister smiled as he read his wife’s letter, and his heart was
glad. He had known Tom Harper’s father and had respected him highly.
“Well,” he thought, “this time Bella is on the right tack. I’ll not
interfere,” and he softly whistled “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye.”
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