Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III DEBORAH MAKES STRAIGHT THE HIGHWAY In order that the way might be paved for the advent of the summer boarders it was necessary to follow out two distinct introductory measures. One of these was a simple matter, consisting merely of the preparation of the Harlow homestead for its new occupants; the other was the far more difficult task of preparing Wilton for its migratory guests. If the town was to receive the visitors with any degree of warmth whatsoever Deborah foresaw that the right keynote must be struck, and the striking of this note demanded all the skill of a trained diplomat. It did not seem wise to send either Nathan or Tressie upon this delicate mission, since at the outset neither of them was any too much in accord with the nlan A little avmnathv mieht wreck.resentative families of the town, and she depended upon their verdict to color public opinion. She did not, however, deceive herself with any false hopes that her expedition would be a pleasant one. She knew she was acting against every Wilton tradition. Yet forearmed as she was, she was quite unprepared to find her undertaking as difficult as it proved. On every hand wrath and opposition greeted her. Not only did no one announce himself willing to stand sponsor for the scheme, but nobody considered it a plan of the least practicability. It was hailed by her neighbors with the utmost scorn, most of them declaring without reserve that no good would come of it. Wilton agreed to be courteous to the strangers; it was too well-bred to do otherwise. But Deborah must neither expect nor demand cordiality toward her guests. Poor Deborah! With a heavy heart she trudged homeward. The hamlet was pitiless. " I, for one, am downright glad folks spoke theiryear out you wouldn't be so cocky," sug...