d
she's coming. I'll devote all my extra time to her happiness."

CHAPTER XI

BREAKING UP OF CAMP AND A SURPRISE

The time had arrived for the girls to separate. The Scouts came up and
carried Nannie off. She had become a great favorite. As Patty expressed
it, Nannie was a comfortable visitor because she seemed to "belong." She
made no fuss and adapted herself to their ways.

She promised to return the following summer and Harvey pronounced their
camp as fine as any place they might select.

"So there's no reason why we boys should not come back, too; but you
must let us entertain you Camp Fire girls next year. It's been all on
your side this."

So they all went to the train to see them off, and people crowded around
as though they might be a circus troupe, staring curiously at them and
making remarks.

Then after saying goodbye the different members went to their homes.
Ethel and her cousin Kate were to go to Akron for a week or so, as
Uncle Archie Hollister was coming up to spend his vacation.

The girls met him at the train and Ethel was overjoyed.

"Oh, Papa," she said, "if only you could have been here before Camp
broke up. But we are going up for the day and give you a regular Camp
Fire dinner," and she kissed him affectionately.

"Next year I'll get off earlier," replied Mr. Hollister, "but our
President was very ill and none of us liked to leave."

They gave Mr. Hollister a rousing dinner. Nearly all of the girls were
present. They did their cooking like desserts, bread, etc., at home, but
the meat, corn and potatoes were roasted on the coals. They had Uncle
John, Judge Sands, Mr. Casey and Mr. Hollister for guests, and everything
went off finely. Mr. Hollister was loud in his praises of the cooking,
and in fact, the whole organization.

"It's great," he said, smacking his lips. "I think the person who
invented it should have a gold medal."

They spent a few days at Columbus. Ethel went to see Mattie and her
mother. She also spent the night with Nora. Their home was very handsome
and Ethel could not help but respect kind-hearted Mr. Casey, who tried
to make it so pleasant for her. She had grown very fond of Nora. She saw
her good traits,--her splendid unselfishness, and her tenderness towards
her father as she tried to take her mother's place with him.

"What a narrow, selfish girl I've been," she thought, "never to have
noticed them before. Why, the way Nora shielded Mattie when the gir