Part 20 (1/2)

”Ah, perhaps you are too idle and need occupation. Can you read and write?”

”Naw, I can't read writin' but I can read readin'.”

”You should have a task set you every day and then vacation would not hang so heavily on your hands. Some useful bit of information imparted to you would be edifying and useful.”

”Pshaw! That's the way Cousin Lizzie talks. She's our chapel roan an'

knows mo'n anybody 'bout Solomon an' all his glory. She done learnt me a verse already onct this mornin'.”

”Ah, indeed! And can you repeat it to us?”

”Yes! I reckon 'twas the grape juice an' victrola that made her choose this one: 'Wine is a mucker an' strong drink is rag time.' I kin learn mos' anything,” and Bobby hastened off to put the clay on his feet before the grape juice bath had time to dry.

CHAPTER XV.

LETTERS FROM WEEK-END CAMP.

From Tillie Wingo to Her Best Friend Grace.

Greendale, Va.

Sat.u.r.day Morning.

My darling Grace:

Such a time as we are having--I've almost danced up my new ten dollar shoes, but I am sure glad I wore them as they have been much admired. There are oodlums of men up here and some of the prettiest dancers I have ever met.

I must tell you what a terrible break I made. There is a man here named Bill Tinsley, and do you know I took him for a jitney driver the first day I got here and gave him a tip--twenty-five cents. He took it like a mutt and now he has a hole in it and wears it around his neck and everybody thinks it is an awful joke on me. I must say that it is hard to tell one kind of man from another when n.o.body introduces you. He is awful dum but dances like Volinine. He never opens his face except to feed it and to laugh and he laughs louder and more than anybody I have ever met before.

Speaking of feeding, the eats are fine. I don't see how the Carter girls ever learned how to do it but they have the best things! I hoped it would be b.u.m as I want to fall off. I have always been a perfect thirty-six and must say I don't relish taking on flesh, but I can't resist fried chicken and waffles.

I am almost sorry I brought my new pink as I really need some kind of outing dress, but I did not have room for so many things and I do think that it is best to have plenty of dancing frocks rather than sport suits that after all do not become me very much.

We have chaperones to burn as Miss Elizabeth Somerville is here and Mrs. Tate may stay a long time so Lil can be here with Lucy Carter.

I am dying to stay but $2.00 per is right steep for yours truly. I don't think that is much for what you get and I think the Carter girls are real smart to charge a good price as long as they are giving you good things. Helen Carter does a lot of the cooking and has the sweetest little bungalow ap.r.o.ns to cook in. They are pink and blue, just my style, and when I get a trousseau I intend to have one.

We danced last night until eleven and then old Miss Somerville made all of us go to bed. She couldn't see to play cards was the reason she was so proper. Little d.i.n.ky kerosene lamps that blow out in the wind are not much for card playing but they do fine for dancing. The boys say they are going to bring up some electric lanterns the next week-end so the old lady can see to play and she will forget the time.

Did you ever sleep in a tent, Grace? Well, it is great--I was real sorry I didn't have a blanket when it blew up so cold. It was right down nippy. I wasn't going to say a thing but I was sorry I hadn't even brought a sweater--one of the fellows didn't have a blanket either but I heard him say he was going to sleep in his clothes. A blue Georgette crepe and a pink chiffon wouldn't help me much and all of my clothes are diaphanous this summer. I am sharing a tent with two old maids and a sten from Richmond. Do you know when I went to my tent I found six blankets on my cot and Susan the maid brought me two more? It had got out among the men that I didn't have a blanket, how I can't imagine, and they sent me theirs. Now wasn't that too sweet of them? I sent them all back but a lovely cadet blue--it was so becoming I chose that. It turned out to be Mr.

Tinsley's so I believe he is not mad about the tip I gave him.

We are going on a walk this morning over to a terrible place called the Devil's Gorge. I am going to wear Lucy Carter's shoes and Nan's skirt and Helen's middy blouse and Douglas has a hat for me. The sten in the tent with me lent me some stockings. You see I brought nothing but silk ones. After we got to bed last night and I was almost asleep but was talking to the sten, who is a very nice agreeable girl--the old maids were both snoring--we heard a car chugging up the hill and it seems two more men had arrived, motored all the way from Richmond. It was a Dr. Wright and a boy named d.i.c.k.

I heard Helen Carter, in the next tent, just raising Cain and saying he was very inconsiderate to come in on them at night that way, but before they could so much as get up to see where they were to sleep, they got a message that the new comers had brought their own blankets and hammocks and no one was to stir for them. I met Dr.

Wright at breakfast and I think he is real cute. Helen Carter is mighty rude to him and I can't see how he stands it. Helen has lovely manners usually but she certainly does pick him up quick. He is a general favorite with the rest of the family though, and Bobby is just wild about him. No more at present. I don't see how I ever wrote this much as there has been a lot of noise and I know ten times I have been begged to stop writing and come dance. It looks like rain but I do hope it won't. My blue will melt I know if it rains.

Your best friend, TILLIE WINGO.