Ethel Hollisters Second Summer as a Campfire Girl | Page 8

he'll be near us. I made him write to Mr. Adams--your
father's man--who did everything for us, and ask him to reserve a place
for the Scouts. I'm just wild for summer to come. I'm going to bring
Mother and Grandmother. Grandmother will visit Aunt Susan, and
Mother can spend her time between Aunt Susan's, your house, and the
Camp. She doesn't say much but I really think the change is a relief to
her--poor dear little mother. I was the selfish juggernaut who made her
sacrifice everyone for me. I realize it now, and thank God it's not too
late to mend.
"I am doing finely at college. I should like to form from some of my
class another Company of Camp Fire Girls, but the trouble is they are
too busy with study. They say that they're worn out when summer
comes and have to go away to rest, but they intend to join during their
third year. Then it won't be such a continuous grind as it is now.
"I am so glad that I had the good sense to start in college. I intend to be
self-supporting after I graduate. I consider it a glorious thing for an
unmarried woman--don't you?
"Well, dear, I must close. Kiss Uncle John, etc."
That was great news for Kate--that Harvey Bigelow should have
become a man. It was too good to be true. She sent the letter to Aunt
Susan, whom she knew would be interested in it.
"I tell you, Ethel is made of good stuff!" ejaculated Uncle John. "She
was in the right church but in the wrong pew--that's all."
CHAPTER III
ETHEL AND HARVEY BECOME FIRM FRIENDS

Vacation arrived. Ethel had acquitted herself well, and her
examinations were excellent. She and her mother began making
preparations to go West.
This time it was Grandmother and Mrs. Hollister whose wardrobes
needed replenishing. Ethel bought for herself two new suits and some
blouses. She had actually outgrown hers of the preceding summer.
"My dear, I am spending very little money now," said Mrs. Hollister,
"and I'm going to put some by for your trousseau."
Ethel laughed merrily.
"Why, Mother, where's the man?"
"Never mind," replied her mother, "he'll come."
"Mother, you're a born matchmaker!" exclaimed the girl. "I wish you
had had other daughters."
"Heaven forbid!" ejaculated Mrs. Hollister with a funny little smile.
"One is enough."
"Is that intended for a compliment?" laughed the girl. "If so it's a
doubtful one."
During the month of May, Harvey would invite her to go horseback
riding up to Van Cortlandt Park. They had to make it Saturdays, as that
was Ethel's only free day. They usually started early. On the country
roads the apple and peach blossoms were like pictures. To the girl they
brought back the previous spring at Aunt Susan's, and especially the
morning when she had revealed to Ethel the sad story of her married
life. On one of these excursions the girl related it to Harvey.
"By George!" he ejaculated when she had finished, "that old lady is a
sport and no mistake. She's all right. I imagined she was made of
different stuff from other women, and do you know I sort of suspected
that she hadn't all the money that your mother thought she had. She was

too refined and showed good blood. Had she been so wealthy, from her
dressing people might have taken her for a miser, and gentle folks are
seldom misers. I thought that it was necessity that caused her to wear
those old-fashioned clothes, so I argued that though Mrs. Hollister
imagined her wealthy and that you were in a line to inherit her money
there was a great mistake somewhere. But pshaw! as for that every
mother is ambitious for her daughter. Why, my mother left no stone
unturned until she had married Edith to Lord Ashurst, and I must admit
that I was easily led by my mother. Why, I've been out for a rich wife
ever since I left school; but, Ethel, I've changed. Now I propose to pay
my bills with the money I earn, not with hers; nor shall I allow her to
buy what she wears."
"Does your mother realize how you feel?" asked Ethel, pushing her fair,
curling locks from her eyes.
"Bless you, yes. She and I had one long talk, and after it I tell you there
was something doing in the Bigelow family; but Nannie who has lots of
horse sense sided with me, and together we were too many for mother.
She saw that it was up to her to make the best of it and she did, but like
your mother she still cherishes her ambitions. Nan said to her:
"'You have one daughter who has done the