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diff --git a/old/62151-0.txt b/old/62151-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9428862..0000000 --- a/old/62151-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7324 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Adele Doring of the Sunnyside Club, by Grace May North - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Adele Doring of the Sunnyside Club - -Author: Grace May North - -Illustrator: Florence Liley Young - -Release Date: May 16, 2020 [EBook #62151] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADELE DORING OF THE SUNNYSIDE CLUB *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - ADELE DORING OF THE SUNNYSIDE CLUB - - - - -[Illustration: “Suppose we have a club.”] - - - - - ADELE DORING - OF THE - SUNNYSIDE CLUB - - BY - GRACE MAY NORTH - - FOUNDER AND EDITOR OF THE SUNNYSIDE - CLUB OF CALIFORNIA - - ILLUSTRATED BY FLORENCE LILEY YOUNG - - BOSTON - LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. - - - - - Copyright, 1919 - By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. - - All rights reserved - - ADELE DORING OF THE SUNNYSIDE CLUB - - Norwood Press - J. S. Cushing Co.—Berwick & Smith Co. - Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. - - - - - Dedicated to - MARGARET EDNA ROCK - AND TO ALL OTHER HAPPY-HEARTED GIRLS - FROM TEN TO FIFTEEN - - - - - CONTENTS - - I The Sunnyside Club - II The Secret Sanctum - III A Jolly Scrubbing-Party - IV Adele’s Secret - V Pleasant Plans - VI A Surprise Party - VII A Birthday Feast - VIII More Surprises - IX The Mother Goose Play-House - X Preparing for Examinations - XI Vacation Days - XII The Fudge Party - XIII The Two Dryads - XIV Pine Island - XV An Exciting Adventure - XVI More Mystery - XVII The Little Bear - XVIII A Fish Supper - XIX A Trip to the City - XX Amanda Brown - XXI The Ball Game - XXII The King’s Highway - XXIII School-Days Again - XXIV The House by the Wood - XXV A Visit to the Poorhouse - XXVI A Mystery Solved - XXVII A Really, Truly Home - XXVIII The New Pupil - XXIX Eva Begins a New Life - XXX Eva Humiliated - XXXI Something Unexpected - XXXII A Happy Meeting - XXXIII Farewell to the Orphanage - - - - - Illustrations - - “Suppose we have a club” - Adele was holding her little audience spellbound - Eric and Everett soon had a crackling fire - “The miser’s gold!” - - - - - ADELE DORING OF THE SUNNYSIDE CLUB - - - - - CHAPTER ONE - - THE SUNNYSIDE CLUB - - - There was spring in the air, - Though the woods were still bare. - There was fragrance all about, - Though not a flower was out. - There were seven girls so gay - Off for a holiday. - -Across the April meadows they danced, a long row, hand in hand. Another -month and the brown fields would be gold-and-white with daisies and -buttercups. - -“Look! Look! The pussy-willows are out!” Adele Doring called, as, with a -shout of glee, she darted ahead of the rest, toward a bush which grew -close to a low stone wall and not far from a sparkling brook. - -When the others came up, they caught hold of hands and danced about the -bush while Adele sang: - - “‘Little Pussy-willow, harbinger of spring, - We are glad to welcome you, such good news you bring.’” - -“Adele,” drawled Rosamond Wright when they had paused for breath, “I’m -powerful worried about you, for fear you are going to grow up to be a -poet or something queer like that.” - -Adele laughed as she perched on the low stone wall and fanned herself -with her broad-brimmed hat. - -“No fear of _my_ being a poet!” exclaimed Doris Drexel, as she and the -other girls sat down on the warm brown grass. “Why I couldn’t even make -‘curl’ rhyme with ‘girl’ without being prompted.” - -Then Adele, having put her hand in the pocket of her rose-colored -sweater-coat, gave a sudden exclamation as she drew out a piece of -folded paper. - -“Girls!” she cried. “Lend me your ears! I have a secret plan to reveal.” - -“Aha!” quoth Bertha Angel. “So you had a sinister motive, as Bob says, -for bringing us to this lonely, forsaken spot.” - -“You were wise to do so, if it’s a secret,” Rosie declared, “for even -the walls have ears.” - -“Well, if this old stone wall wants to hear what I have to say,” laughed -Adele, “it may listen and welcome.” - -“Do hurry and tell us!” cried the impatient Betty Burd. “Your plans are -always _such_ jolly fun.” - -“Well, then,” said Adele, mysteriously, “I’ve been reading a book.” - -“But there is nothing remarkable about that,” Doris Drexel exclaimed. -“You are almost _always_ reading a book.” - -Adele, not heeding the interruption, continued: “And in this book dwell -several maidens of about our own age. They belong to a secret society -and they have the best times ever. Now my plan is this. Since we seven -girls are continually together, suppose we have a club.” - -“Wouldn’t that be fun, though!” exclaimed Peggy Pierce. “I’ve always -wanted to belong to one.” - -“I choose to be treasurer!” declared Betty Burd mischievously. - -“Oh, Betty, _you_ treasurer!” cried Doris Drexel in mock horror. “Then -we never would know how our funds stood.” - -“Don’t you have enough of mathematics in school, little one?” Adele -asked with twinkling eyes. - -“Don’t I, though! Oh, girls!” Betty exclaimed dismally. “I just know -that you are all thinking of yesterday. Wasn’t it terrible when I was at -the board doing that problem and those visiting ladies came in and said -that they were interested in watching the progress made by the young. I -was so scared that every figure looked like a Chinese character to me, -and how I did wish that a trap-door would open under my feet and let me -gently down into the cellar. Luckily, Miss Donovan had no desire to be -disgraced, and so she bade me take my seat and let Bertha do the -problem.” - -“I hate math., too,” Doris Drexel declared. “I’m like the little boy who -said he could add the naughts all right but the figures bothered him.” - -“In truth,” said Gertrude Willis, “there is just one of us who was born -to be the treasurer of this club, and that one is Bertha Angel,—‘the -only pupil in Seven B who can add and subtract with unvarying accuracy,’ -as Miss Donovan so recently remarked.” - -“Good!” cried Adele. “Bertha Angel, you are elected treasurer, but your -duties will not be heavy, for at present there is no money to count.” - -“I accept the responsibility,” said Bertha brightly, as she sprang up -and made a bow. - -“Now,” Adele inquired, “who would like to be secretary?” - -“Secretary!” repeated Betty Burd blankly. “I thought that was a piece of -furniture. My Uncle George has one in his study and it looks like a -writing-desk.” - -“So it is, fair maid,” drawled Rosamond Wright, “but didst thou never -hear of one word having two meanings? The secretary which we want is a -person to write down the clever things that we say and do.” - -“I vote for Gertrude Willis,” called Doris Drexel. “Any one who could -write such a composition as she read yesterday in assembly on the -‘Rights of the Indian’ surely ought to be recognized as a genius in our -midst.” - -“Thanks kindly,” laughed Gertrude; “I’ll do my little best.” - -“Girls,” exclaimed Adele, “our club is now the happy possessor of a -secretary and a treasurer, but it has neither a name nor a president!” - -Peggy Pierce was on her feet in an instant, exclaiming, “There is only -one among us who could be our president, and she is”—“Adele Doring!” -the five others shouted in enthusiastic chorus. - -“You see,” laughed Peggy, as she resumed her seat, “the vote is -unanimous.” - -Adele, rising, made a deep bow as she recited with mock gravity, “Ladies -and gentlemen, I thank you for the honor which this day you have -conferred upon me, and I hope that my future acts and deeds will in no -way betray the confidence which you have placed in me.” - -“Oho!” Bertha Angel declared. “That speech was in last week’s history -lesson.” - -“I was hoping you’d all forgotten it,” Adele laughingly replied, as she -sat again on the low stone wall. - -“Well, I had, you may be sure!” Betty Burd exclaimed. “But what is the -club to be named?” - -“I had an inspiration last night,” said Adele, “so I wrote it down. I -thought we might name the club after our beautiful suburban town of -Sunnyside, and then I wrote this rhyme as a sort of pledge for us all to -sign: - - “We promise to look on the Sunnyside - And be kind and cheerful each day; - To help the needy or lonely or sad, - Whom we happen to meet on our way.” - -“Oh, Adele!” moaned Betty Burd in pretended dismay. “Why didn’t you tell -us in the beginning that we had to be saints to belong to your club? If -I should turn into a cherub too suddenly, my mamma dear wouldn’t know -me.” - -“Don’t worry about that,” laughed Adele. “We aren’t any of us in danger -of sprouting wings just at present.” And then she added seriously, “But -I do think that a club ought to stand for something more worth while -than just fun and frolic. Of course we’ll have that, too; we always do.” - -“You are right, Adele,” exclaimed Gertrude Willis warmly. “I think it is -a beautiful pledge, and I wish to be the first one to sign it.” - -Adele produced a stub of a pencil, and the paper went the rounds, each -girl writing her name thereon. - -“Now,” said Adele, “only one thing remains to be decided upon, and that -is, where we shall have our Secret Sanctum.” - -“Our which?” asked the irrepressible Betty Burd. - -“A place where we may hold our secret meetings,” Adele explained. - -“You may use our attic if you wish,” drawled Rosamond, “but, I warn you, -it’s powerful warm up there in the summer, and cobwebby.” - -“An attic is all right on rainy days,” Adele replied, “but the blue sky -is the roof for me, now that spring is here.” - -While she was talking, Adele’s eyes were roving the meadow. Suddenly she -saw something, and, leaping to the ground, she skipped about with -delight, to the amazement of the others. - -“Adele,” protested Peggy Pierce, “tell us, so we may dance, too.” - -“Ohee!” sang out Adele, catching hold of Peggy and whirling her around. -“I’ve just thought of the dan-di-est place for a Secret Sanctum, but I’m -not going to tell until I find out if we may have it. Meet me Monday -morning under the elm-tree and then I will tell you.” - -So ended the first meeting of the Sunnyside Club, which was destined, in -the months to come, to bring cheer and happiness into many lives. - - - - - CHAPTER TWO - - THE SECRET SANCTUM - - -The town of Sunnyside lay in a wide valley, beyond which were sloping -hills, and among them, clear and blue, nestled Little Bear Lake. - -To the south of the village there was a field which was so yellow in -summer that it had been called Buttercup Meadows. Near it was a maple -wood, and through the wood and across the field rippled a merry little -brook. - -Now, in the meadow and near the wood, and close to the laughing brook, -stood a picturesque old log cabin. Years before, when the nearest town -had been ten miles away, Adele Doring’s grandfather had owned all of the -land that one could see from the top of Lookout Hill, and in this log -cabin his sheep-herders had lived. - -The sheep and the herders had long since passed away, but the old log -cabin was still standing, and Adele’s father now owned it, and, too, he -owned the Buttercup Meadows and the maple wood and the laughing brook -and Lookout Hill. - -It was that log cabin which Adele had seen on the day when the Sunnyside -Club had been formed by the seven girls who were always together. They -had been wondering where they could hold their meetings, when Adele had -spied the log cabin, and she had thought at once that it would make an -ideal Secret Sanctum, but she did not want to tell the others until she -had asked her Giant Father’s advice and consent. - -The next morning, after breakfast, Adele revealed her plan. “May you -have the log cabin, Heart’s Desire?” her Giant Father asked with -twinkling eyes. “Why, of course you may! Uncover yonder ink bottle and I -will deed it to you this very moment.” - -“Oh, Daddy!” Adele laughingly exclaimed. “I don’t want to own it that -way. I just want your permission and mother’s to do with it as I like.” - -Mrs. Doring beamed on them both as she replied, “If your father is -willing, daughter, then so am I.” - -“Oh, you darlings!” Adele exclaimed, joyously hugging them. “Thank you -so much.” Then catching up her hat and books, away she skipped to -school. - -The trysting-place was a big spreading elm-tree which stood in the -middle of the girls’ side of the school-yard. Under it was a circular -bench, and here the seven maidens waited each morning until all had -gathered. - -When Adele rounded the high hedge which bordered the school-grounds, she -was greeted with a joyous chorus from the six who were already there. - -“Three cheers for the president of the Sunnyside Club!” cried Betty -Burd, the irrepressible. - -“Hush! Hush!” laughed Adele, looking quickly about. “Don’t you remember -that it is a secret society?” - -“Luckily there is no one here but ourselves and the elm-tree,” Rosamond -said. - -“Adele!” Gertrude Willis exclaimed. “Why are your eyes so shining and -bright? Have you good news to tell?” - -“Indeed I have,” Adele replied gayly. “Just think, girls, we may have -it!” - -“Have what?” asked the puzzled six. - -“O dear, how stupid of me!” laughed Adele. “Of course I hadn’t told you -about it, had I? Well, you know that we wanted a place in which to hold -our club-meetings, and I said I had thought of one if we might have it.” -The six nodded eagerly. - -“Well, then, we may, and it’s the loveliest, idealest place for a Secret -Sanctum that ever could be thought of.” - -“Oh, Adele, do tell us where it is,” begged Peggy Pierce. “I am ’most -consumed with curiosity.” - -“Well, then, I will end your suspense by telling you that it is the log -cabin over in Buttercup Meadows. It belongs to my dad, and he is glad to -let us have it, and so is mumsie.” - -“Ohee!” squealed Betty Burd. “How I do wish that there was no school -to-day, so that we might go right over to look at our newest -possession.” - -“Let’s go at three!” exclaimed Adele; “that is, if our nice mothers do -not need us after school.” - -The mothers not only did not need them, but one and all were glad to -have their daughters out of doors as much as possible in the pleasant -spring weather, and so, as soon as the afternoon session was over, the -seven maidens went hippety-skipping across the brown meadows. - -Adele was armed with a good-sized key, which was rusty with age, but -which proved that its days of usefulness were not over, for, when it was -slipped in the padlock, it turned with a creak and the door swung open. - -As first it was so dark within that they could see nothing, but soon -their eyes, becoming accustomed to the dimness, noted several objects -about. - -“Oh, do look!” cried Doris Drexel in delight. “Here is rustic furniture -which must have been made by the sheep-herders many years ago.” - -“Can’t we get some light on the subject and a little air as well?” -exclaimed Bertha Angel. “It’s stifling in here. Good! Here’s a window,” -she added as she pulled a leather thong from a nail and threw back a -rude wooden blind, thus uncovering a square opening, and through it -came, not only a fresh breeze, but also the slanting rays of the -afternoon sun. - -“There! Now we can breathe,” said Adele, “and examine our possessions -more closely.” - -There was a rude bed-couch, a rustic table, and several three-legged -stools. These were fashioned out of the trunks of small trees, with the -bark still on them. - -“Oh, but this will make an adorable Secret Sanctum,” exclaimed Betty -Burd. - -“Girls,” drawled the romantic Rosamond Wright, “if only this furniture -could talk, what tales of sheep-herder’s life it could reveal!” - -“The place is so musty and cobwebby,” said the practical Bertha, “we -shall have to scrub every inch with warm soap-suds.” - -“Oh, Burdie, how could you throw soapy water on my poetical dreams!” -moaned Rosamond, who did not even like to hear a scrubbing-brush -mentioned, much less entertain the idea of wielding one. - -“Tut! Tut! My children!” Adele intervened. “Now all listen to me. You -know the spring examinations are due in a few weeks, and we must study, -study, _study_, and cram, cram, _cram_, so let’s forget that the cabin -exists until next Saturday, and then let’s come out here with all the -needed utensils, and, with Bertha to superintend the task, we will soon -have the place as clean as a whistle.” - -“Oh-h!” moaned Rosamond, and then she added mischievously, “I do believe -that I’m going to be confined to my bed all day next Saturday with -overstudyitis.” - -“Don’t worry about that,” laughed Doris Drexel. “You may have -overtattingitis, Rosie, but never overstudyitis.” - -Rosamond had made yards and yards of tatting, which she said would some -day adorn her wedding finery, and the other six often teased her about -it, for, as yet, to them boys were playmates and brothers and nothing -else. - -Then Rosamond dramatically exclaimed: “Girls, I will not fail you in the -hour of need. Armed with my mother’s best feather-duster, to be used on -pianos only, I will be here Saturday next at the appointed hour.” - -“Well, I’ll bring an extra scrubbing-brush, Rosie,” said Bertha -teasingly. - -“And let’s bring our lunches and stay all day if our nice mothers are -willing,” Peggy Pierce remarked. - -“That we will!” exclaimed the six. The door was again closed and the key -hidden under a log which served as a step. Then, hand in hand, the Sunny -Seven, as Adele called them, hippety-skipped homeward, chattering like -magpies and laying wonderful plans for the adornment of their Secret -Sanctum, which, in the summer to come, was to be the scene of many a -jolly lark. - - - - - CHAPTER THREE - - A JOLLY SCRUBBING-PARTY - - - The sky is always bluer, - And the songs of birds more gay, - And the meadow blossoms sweeter, - Upon a Saturday. - A week of lessons over, - And long golden hours for play. - -Saturday dawned sunny and blue, and Adele was up at an early hour and -down in the kitchen before Kate had set the water to boil. - -“The top of the morning to you!” Adele called to the kindly Irish woman -who had been cook in the Doring family since before Jack was born. - -“And it’s you, Colleen,” said Kate, “and some merriness you’re planning, -to be up this early.” - -“Right you are!” the girl gayly replied. “I’m going to a picnic, and I -want to borrow a mop and a scrubbing-brush and a pail and some rags.” - -Kate held up her hands in pretended horror as she exclaimed, “And a -picnic do you call it?” - -“It truly is,” laughed Adele, “and I want some sandwiches and pickles -and some of those darling little cakes which you made yesterday morning, -and—” - -“Take anything that you can find, Colleen,” said Kate, as she busied -herself with breakfast preparations. - -So Adele put up a bountiful lunch in a covered basket which she kept for -the purpose. Jack, who was a year older than Adele, sauntered out into -the kitchen and helped himself to one of the chocolate cupcakes as he -exclaimed: “Say, Della, why don’t you ever ask us fellows to these -picnics of yours? It isn’t fair for you girls to eat all the good things -by yourselves.” - -“Maybe we will some day,” Adele replied. And then she added merrily, -“But you wouldn’t want to be asked to-day.” - -“I should say not,” Kate began, “with brooms and mops and pails—” But -she said no more, for Adele, springing up, whispered, “Hush, Kate! It’s -a secret!” - -After breakfast Adele ran down to the barn, and Terrence, Mr. Doring’s -handyman, hitched her black pony, Firefly, to the little red cart. Into -this were stowed the lunch and cleaning utensils, and then Adele drove -out of the yard, waving to her mother and Kate. - -The homes of the other six were soon visited, as they were all in the -same neighborhood, and each girl appeared with scrubbing-brush and apron -and pail. - -“We’ll take turns riding,” said Adele, as she leaped lightly to the -ground. “Betty, you may drive, and Gertrude Willis, you climb in and -ride and keep an eye on the scrubbing-brushes, lest they attempt to hop -out over the sides. The rest of us will trudge along behind.” - -Gertrude had not been strong during the winter, and that was why -thoughtful Adele had suggested that she should ride; and as for little -Betty Burd, the youngest of the seven, to own a pony like Firefly was -the dearest desire of her heart, but her widowed mother felt that other -luxuries were more necessary. Adele, knowing this, took every -opportunity which offered to give Betty the pleasure of riding or -driving Firefly. - -Across the meadow they went, a gay cavalcade. Like all young things in -spring, their hearts were filled with joy and they wanted to dance and -sing. During the week the maple wood had changed from brown to silvery -green, and there were patches of fresh grass along the banks of the -laughing brook. - -“Hark!” cried Adele with glowing eyes, as she stopped and held up one -hand. “Did I hear it or did I not?” - -They all listened, and from a clump of bushes near there arose, sweet -and clear, the morning song of a robin. Then, with a rushing of wings, -the redbreast was up and away. - - “Cheerily! Cheerily! The robins sing. - We’ve come to tell you. It’s spring! It’s spring!” - -Adele sang happily. - -“I hope you all wished on the first robin,” Rosamond exclaimed, “for -that wish is sure to come true.” - -“Well,” said Adele thoughtfully, “I don’t believe that there’s a thing -in the whole world that I have to wish for. I’ve mother and father and -Jack and a happy home and such nice friends. What is there left for one -to desire?” - -“Lucky Adele!” Betty Burd said almost wistfully; and then Adele -remembered how lonely Betty and her mother were for the loved one who so -recently had been taken away; but brave little Betty, sensing this, -called cheerily, “Trot along, Firefly! Let’s run them a race!” and -Firefly did trot along at such a gay pace that the brushes and pails -rattled about and Gertrude had quite a time to keep them from bobbing -out, while the girls on foot had to run and skip to keep up, and so, -gayly, they soon reached the Secret Sanctum. - -Adele unhitched Firefly, with Betty helping, and then the pony was -allowed to roam, for he never wandered far away from his mistress. - -The door and window of the cabin were soon open, and Bertha, who had -been appointed director-in-chief of the scrubbers’ brigade, began to -issue orders. “Somebody fill the pails at the brook,” she said, “and -somebody else be gathering sticks for a fire. Hot water gets things much -cleaner than cold.” - -And so the girls skipped about, finding wood, and filling pails, and -starting a fire, for, of course, Bertha had some matches. - -“Did any one think of scouring-powder?” asked Peggy Pierce, as she -rolled up her sleeves and donned her big apron. - -Silently Bertha produced the required article. - -“Burdie, what an orderly brain you must have,” Rosamond exclaimed in -wonder and admiration. “I never would have thought of soap-powder in a -thousand years.” - -“You’d have brought the latest song or a bit of tatting, wouldn’t you, -Rosie?” Doris Drexel asked, to tease. But Adele, fearing that Rosamond -might be hurt, hastily added, “We need all sorts of people in this world -to keep it balanced. Now a story-book is much more to my liking than -soap-powder, but Rose and I are going to show you young ladies that we -are as good scrubbers as any of you.” - -Rosamond smiled lovingly at her champion, and then, as Bertha was giving -further orders, they all gathered about to listen. - -“I think,” the director-in-chief was saying, “that it would be better to -carry the rustic furniture all out by the brook, and then it can be -washed there and dried in the sun, and that will clear the cabin floor -and make it easier to scrub. Now, Gertrude, you take charge of the -outdoor work, but don’t you lift a thing, and Rosamond and Peggy will -help you while the rest of us do the inside.” - -Then the girls took hold of the rustic table, and, by turning it -sidewise, it soon stood near the brook; the rustic bed-couch followed, -and, with six to lift, it was not heavy for any. Gertrude protested that -she was really much stronger than she had been, but they would not allow -her to help. - -By this time the water in the pails was hot, and Betty Burd impulsively -stooped to lift one of them from the fire, when Bertha warned: “Don’t -you touch that handle, Betty. It will burn you. Wait! I’ll show you -how.” Then, taking the broom, Bertha slipped it under the hot handle. -Betty took hold of the other end, and together they lifted the pail from -the fire and placed it on the grass. The soap-powder was added, and, -when the water was cool enough, the brushes were dipped in and the -rustic furniture was drenched and scrubbed. - -“If there are any little bugs living in this bark,” Peggy said, “we bid -them come forth.” - -“They’ll be drowned little bugs before many minutes,” Rosamond added, as -she threw a pail of fresh water from the brook over the table, to rinse -off the soap-suds. This they also did to the couch-bed and the stools, -and then the rustic furniture was left in the warm noon sunshine to dry -and sweeten. - -Meanwhile, the inside of the cabin was being thoroughly scoured, and -many a startled spider darted out into the meadow, never to return. - -At last the four maidens appeared in the doorway, and Adele threw -herself down on the warm ground as she exclaimed, “Well, if scrub-ladies -get as weary as this in their bones, I’m glad that I’m planning to take -up a different profession.” - -“Oh, you girls had the hardest part of it,” Gertrude declared. -“Scrubbing the furniture was really like play.” - -“Well,” said Adele, “we seven have banded together with the firm resolve -of looking on the sunny side of things, and the sunny side of this -scrubbing is—” - -“That it’s done,” Rosamond interrupted. - -“I’ll agree that is one sunny side to it,” laughed Adele, “and the other -is, that we’ll enjoy our Secret Sanctum so much more, now that it is -sweet and clean—” - -“And bugless,” put in Betty Burd. - -Adele, heeding not the interruption, continued, “And you know a thing -that’s worth having is worth working for.” - -“Oh, Della,” cried Peggy Pierce, “would you mind postponing the lecture -until after we have our lunch? I’m positively famished.” - -“So am I,” Rosamond declared. - -“Well, since we’re hungry, suppose we eat,” said the practical Bertha. - -“Hurrah for our treasurer!” cried Betty Burd, springing up and dancing -toward the little red cart with a sprightliness which did not suggest -weariness of bones. Then, climbing up, she handed out the seven baskets, -and soon a tempting repast was spread on the paper table-cloth which -Rosamond had brought. - -“Did ever sandwiches taste so good before?” muttered Peggy Pierce, with -a mouth full of bread and cold chicken. - -“Who said olives?” asked Adele, as she sighted a little pile in front of -Rosamond. - -“Pardon me for not passing them sooner,” Rosamond exclaimed, with -elaborate politeness as she lifted the paper napkin on which they were -heaped, but, this being moist, the olives fell through and rolled about -on the table-cloth. - -“Grabbing isn’t manners!” Doris Drexel called, as Betty Burd pounced -upon one. - -“There are two olives apiece,” said Rosamond, “so you might as well grab -that many if you wish.” - -“I did have a chocolate cup-cake apiece for us,” moaned Adele, “but that -brother Jack of mine came out into the kitchen, and, without as much as -saying ‘by your leave,’ he ate the biggest, and when I went back to the -jar for more, nary a one was left.” - -“Never mind, Della,” Bertha condoned, “I have an extra sugar -cookie,—they’re made out of real cream—and you shall have it.” - -“Yum-m!” murmured Rosamond as she took a bite of her sugar cookie. -“Aren’t they delicious! I suppose you made them, Burdie.” - -“I did that,” Bertha replied, expecting again to hear how practical she -was. - -“You’ll make a good wife for a poor man, a missionary or somebody like -that,” said Doris Drexel, as she nibbled daintily on her cookie, to make -it last as long as she could. - -“Marry!” said Bertha scornfully. “I’m not going to marry anybody.” - -“Well, you needn’t be so snappy about it,” laughed Doris. “I didn’t mean -right away, to-morrow. I know you’re only thirteen, though tall for your -age.” - -“Girls!” the sentimental Rosamond exclaimed. “Which one of us do you -suppose will have the first romance?” - -“Not I,” laughed Adele, as she sprang up and shook the crumbs from her -lap; and then she added reproachfully, “There’s somebody at this picnic -who hasn’t had a bite to eat and it’s a shame, so it is. He’s coming now -to tell us what he thinks about it.” - -The girls looked around and there stood Firefly, gazing reproachfully at -them. - -“I choose to feed him,” cried Betty Burd, springing up; and dancing -again to the cart, she called gayly, “Come on, you darling Firefly. -Here’s the nicest hay for you, and some oats and a lump of sugar for -your dessert.” - -The other girls repacked the baskets and tossed the papers on the dying -embers of their fire. It had been made close to the brook, so that they -could put it out quickly if the dry grass began to burn. - -Then, to their delight, they found that the floor of the cabin was dry, -and so the warm, clean furniture was carried back in, and then Adele -exclaimed, as she brought forth a pad and pencil, “Sit down everybody, -and, since your brains are rested, I shall expect them to produce -brilliant ideas. Now gaze about our Secret Sanctum and tell what it -needs.” - -“There’s a green fly coming in at the window,” Doris Drexel announced. -“We ought to tack up mosquito-netting.” - -“Good,” exclaimed Adele, as she wrote down the suggestion. “We’ll call -that item one.” - -“I think we ought to make a sort of mattress for this hard couch,” Peggy -remarked, “if it’s intended for comfort.” - -“And sofa-pillows we need in plenty,” said the rather indolent Rosamond, -who liked things luxurious. - -“I’ll contribute a pine pillow,” Doris volunteered. “I have such a -fragrant one, and it’s just the thing for a rustic place like this.” - -“We need a bowl for flowers,” said Rosamond. “Mother has a big blue one -with a chip in it, and it would look adorable on the center-table filled -with buttercups and ferns.” - -“Fine!” cried Adele brightly; “item five. And in every one of our -pantries, on top shelves or in out-of-the-way places, there is apt to be -chipped or cracked china. With our mothers’ consent, let’s bring it over -here and have a china-closet. Then, when we wish to give a party, we -shall have plenty of dishes.” - -“But where’s the closet?” asked Betty Burd, looking about as though she -expected one to appear like magic before her. - -“We’ll make one,” Adele announced. - -“Make a china closet?” repeated Betty Burd in amazement. “Out of what?” - -“Orange boxes, no less, little one,” Adele replied. “I made a book-case -once and covered it with flowered chintz, and it was just ever so -pretty.” - -“Dad will let us have the boxes,” said Bertha Angel, whose father was -the leading grocer in town. - -“And my dear papa will contribute the cloth, I am sure,” Peggy declared. -Mr. Pierce owned the Bee Hive department store. - -“Some magazines would look homey scattered around on the top of the -table,” Gertrude remarked. “And then, we must have a bank in which to -keep our funds.” - -“And you must have a little blank-book, Trudie, and write down in it all -that we say and do,” Betty Burd declared. - -“Gertrude will certainly be kept busy if she does that,” laughed Doris -Drexel, “for some of us could out-chatter a poll-parrot.” - -“Naming no names,” said Betty Burd, making a merry face at Doris. There -was one delightful thing about their youngest member, she always took -teasing good-naturedly and joined in a laugh, even though it were about -herself, as gayly as did the rest. - -“And then, when our Secret Sanctum is all finished and furnished we must -have a house-warming party,” Rosamond declared. - -“Oh, won’t that be fun, though!” exclaimed Betty Burd, whirling around -like a top. - -“And we’ll invite Bob and Jack and all of the Jolly Pirates’ Club,” -Doris Drexel added. - -These happy girls were soon to give a party at their Secret Sanctum, -though it was to be very different from the one which they were so gayly -planning. - - - - - CHAPTER FOUR - - ADELE’S SECRET - - - A secret! A secret! - Who can guess the secret? - There’s blue in it and green in it, - And bird-song lilting gay, - There’s dancing and there’s laughter - And there’s mirth and merry play. - -One Friday, after the Secret Sanctum had been furnished as the girls had -planned, the six were waiting for Adele under the elm-tree in the -school-yard. - -“Didn’t we have fun last Saturday!” chattered Betty Burd. “But I don’t -know what we would have done if Bob Angel and Jack Doring had not carted -those heavy things to the cabin for us.” - -Bob Angel assisted his father after school-hours by delivering -groceries, and he had readily consented to cart the mattress and boxes -to the cabin for his sister, Bertha, and her friends. - -“I’m so glad I found those bright-colored prints up in our attic,” said -Doris Drexel. “They are some my grandmother had, and, with their queer, -old-fashioned frames, they are just suited to our Sanctum.” - -“I can’t get over admiring the china-closet and the book-case,” Betty -declared. “I never dreamed that such pretty things could be made out of -just orange boxes.” - -Rosamond glanced at her wrist-watch as she exclaimed: “Here it is five -minutes to the last bell. I never knew Adele to be so late before. What -can have happened?” - -“If Adele is late to-day,” said Doris Drexel, “it will break her perfect -record. She hasn’t even been tardy a moment this whole term.” - -“Ho! Here she comes now!” cried Peggy Pierce with a sigh of relief, for -the girls would have been as sorry as Adele herself if the perfect -record had been broken. - -“What ever kept you so long, Della?” Rosamond called. “We’ve been -waiting here for almost fifteen minutes.” - -“Did you break a shoe-lace?” Doris Drexel inquired. - -“Nary a bit of it,” laughed Adele when she could get her breath. “I -happened to see a clump of violets in a sunny corner and I dug them up, -roots and all, and took them over to Granny Dorset. She told me last -week that she was eager for the first violets to bloom; that somehow the -ache in her bones got better then, and since she can’t leave her bed to -get them for herself, I thought that I would take them to her, and she -was so pleased! I wish you might have seen her dear old eyes twinkle.” - -“Oh, Adele, you’re always thinking of kind things to do,” Betty Burd -declared. “I wish I were that way!” - -“There’s the last bell!” called Peggy Pierce. “Forward! March!” But -Adele detained them, exclaiming: “Wait, girls; I have the most -beau-ti-ful secret to tell you, but I’ll have to keep it now until after -school! Meet me under the elm-tree just as soon as ever you can.” - -Then into their class-room they went, but all through the morning -session they kept wondering and wondering what new fun Adele was -planning. In fact, Betty Burd was thinking so much about it that she -could not keep her mind on her lesson, and when Miss Donovan suddenly -asked her to name the capital of England, Betty was so confused that she -answered, “Oh, it’s a secret!” - -“A secret?” exclaimed the mystified Miss Donovan. Poor Betty blushed as -crimson as a poppy, and the other six girls just had to laugh. - -Then Betty explained that she had meant to say that London was the -capital of England, but that she had been thinking of a secret. - -When at last the class was dismissed, the Sunny Seven, as Adele called -them, hurried out to the elm-tree, and Betty Burd exclaimed: “Wasn’t -Miss Donovan a dear not to keep me in! I was so afraid that she would, -and then I couldn’t have heard the secret.” - -“Like as not you deserved to be kept in,” Bertha Angel remarked, “but we -are glad that you weren’t.” - -“Now, Adele, do tell us that secret,” pleaded Peggy Pierce, and they all -listened with eager anticipation. - -“Look at me hard,” Adele said, “and see if you can guess my secret.” - -The six girls turned her around and even examined the big ribbon bows on -her golden-brown braids, but they couldn’t find a clue to the secret. - -“Don’t I look a little bigger or older or something?” Adele asked. - -“Oho-ho! I know!” cried Doris Drexel, clapping her hands gleefully. -“Adele, it’s _your_ birthday.” - -“You are warm,” Adele replied, “but it isn’t my birthday yet. It’s just -going to be. Think of it, girls! Next week I shall be thirteen years old -and almost a young lady.” - -“Shall you do your hair up?” asked Rosamond Wright, whose dearest desire -was to wear her curls twisted on high. - -“Dear me, no,” laughed Adele. “I shall wear braids until I’m twenty, I -guess.” - -“Oh, Della, I do hope you’re going to have a party,” exclaimed Peggy -Pierce. “I have the sweetest new dress. It’s white muslin, all scattered -over with pink rosebuds, and I’m just pining to be asked to a party so -that I can wear it.” - -“Yes, I’m going to have a party,” Adele replied, “but you won’t be able -to wear that dress to it, Peggy; it’s going to be a different sort of -party.” - -“Oh-o-o!” came a wailing chorus. “Aren’t we going to be invited?” - -“Not exactly,” laughed their favorite, “and yet I shall expect you all -to be there.” - -“Oh, Adele!” Bertha Angel exclaimed. “You are so mysterious and so -provoking! Do you expect us to come to your party without an -invitation?” - -“Of course not,” Adele replied, “and I won’t keep you guessing any -longer. This is the way of it. Yesterday I went over to the orphan -asylum to read stories to the very little children, as I do every -Sunday, and when I was coming out I passed what I supposed was an empty -class-room. The door was open a crack, and I thought that I heard some -one crying inside. I looked in and saw a girl of about our own age -sobbing as hard as ever she could. I had never seen her before. I went -nearer and said, ‘Little girl, can I do something to help you?’ At first -she only cried the harder, but I sat down beside her, and at last she -told me that her mother and father were both dead and that the people -she had been living with couldn’t keep her any longer, and so they had -sent her to the orphans’ home. I told her that she would like it there -because the matron was so kind. - -“‘Yes,’ she sobbed, ‘I shall like it, I guess, but next week Saturday -will be my birthday, and mother always gave me a party, but now nobody -cares.’ - -“I felt as though I would have to cry, too, but I knew that would not be -the way to cheer her up, so I asked her to take a walk with me and I -showed her the pleasant places around the Home. She loved the woods, she -said, and when we went back, an hour later, I guess she felt better, but -right then and there I decided that this year, instead of having a party -for _myself_, I would give a surprise birthday-party for Eva Dearman.” - -“Oh, Adele!” Gertrude Willis exclaimed. “I am so sorry for that poor -orphan girl. May we help give the party?” - -“That’s just what I hoped that you would want to do,” said Adele -happily. “I must skip home now and do my practicing, but to-morrow will -be Saturday, so let’s meet in our Secret Sanctum at three o’clock and -make our plans.” - - - - - CHAPTER FIVE - - PLEASANT PLANS - - - The Secret Sanctum log cabin stood - In Buttercup Meadows beside the green wood, - And the birds at nest-building would pause and sing - That joyous song which they carol in spring, - And the brook as it purled on its fern-edged way, - And the daisies and buttercups golden and gay, - Were all of them telling, “It’s May! Lovely May!” - And there the maids of the Sunny Clan - Met one Saturday a party to plan. - -“Girls,” said Rosamond Wright, as she looked out of the cabin for the -twentieth time, “it is quarter-past three and Adele not yet come.” - -“Oh, I forgot,” Betty Burd exclaimed, as she placed a bowl of daisies on -the rustic center-table, “Adele asked me to tell you that she might be a -little late, as she had to go on a very important errand!” - -“There is some one coming now on horseback,” Peggy Pierce remarked as -she came up from the brook with a pitcher of sparkling water. - -“All that I can make out is a cloud of dust,” said Bertha Angel, as she -shaded her eyes to look. - -“It is Adele!” cried Betty Burd. “She’s turning into the meadow lane -now.” - -The six girls ran out eagerly to meet the lassie, who came galloping up -on Firefly. Leaping lightly to the ground, Adele let the pony go -wherever he wished to browse, knowing that he would return to her when -she whistled. - -The girls pounced upon their favorite and led her into the cabin, where -she sank down among the soft-pillows, exclaiming, “I’ve ridden so fast, -I’m ’most out of breath, but I knew that you girls would be waiting -here, and so I came on a gallop. Now be seated and I’ll tell you all -about it.” - -Down on the floor the Sunny Six sat, tailor-fashion, and Adele began: -“I’ve been over to the Orphans’ Home to see the matron, Mrs. Friend. -She’s a dear! She was so pleased to hear that we wanted to give Eva -Dearman a birthday party, and what do you think? That little girl was -brought up just as nicely as we have been. Her father was a wealthy -broker, but he lost his money, and then both of her parents died. Some -neighbors took care of Eva until her money was all gone and then they -sent her to the orphanage.” - -“Heartless wretches!” exclaimed the impulsive Betty Burd. “Seems like it -wouldn’t have cost them much to have given the poor motherless girl a -corner in their home.” - -“Well, they didn’t,” Adele continued, “and Mrs. Friend says that all Eva -Dearman has to her name is the deed to some worthless desert property in -Arizona.” - -“Oh, girls,” exclaimed the romantic Rosamond Wright, “what if there -should be gold on that desert land, and what if our Orphans’ Home girl -should turn out to be an heiress!” - -“Such things only happen in story-books,” said the practical Bertha -Angel. “Now don’t let’s interrupt Adele again. We want to hear the plans -for the party.” - -“Mrs. Friend told me that there are twelve girls in the Home who are -just about our own age. One of them, Amanda Brown, is so surly and -disagreeable that none of the others like her, and the matron said that -we need not ask her unless we wish, but of course we would not think of -leaving her out.” - -“Perhaps a party is just what she needs,” suggested Gertrude Willis, the -minister’s daughter. - -“And now,” said Adele, “don’t you think it would be nice to give a -present to each one of the Home girls?” - -“It would be a nice thing to do, surely,” Gertrude answered. “How much -money have we in the club treasury?” - -The girls had each given what they could to start a Sunnyside fund, and -Doris Drexel, whose father was a bank president, had contributed a small -bank in which to keep their wealth. - -Bertha Angel rose and said gayly, “I’ll go and get the bank and then -we’ll count our money.” - -Now, back of the log cabin was a shed, and, one of the boards in the -floor being loose, the girls had hidden their bank in a dark hole which -they had found underneath it. The shed was then padlocked and the -precious fund they believed was surely safe. It would have been safe -enough had it been locked in the log cabin, as the girls well knew, but -Rosamond had declared that it was much more romantic to steal out to the -shed and place it in the dark hole under the loose board, and so, to -please her, this had been done. - -Bertha took the rusty key and ran around to the shed. When the door was -open, the girl noticed that the board was slightly lifted, and that the -stone which they usually placed on it had been rolled away. What could -it mean? Kneeling, she lifted the board higher and thrust her hand into -the dark hole. But the bank was not there. - -Springing up, she ran back to the cabin, calling excitedly, “Girls! -Girls! What do you suppose has happened?” - -The startled six rushed out of the cabin door. “Why, Bertha, what is the -matter?” Adele exclaimed. “You look as though you had seen a ghost.” - -“It’s worse than a ghost,” said Bertha dismally. “Our bank is gone.” - -“Gone!” echoed all of the girls in amazement. - -“Then we can’t give the party or the presents or anything,” wailed Betty -Burd. - -“And I’ve spent all of my allowance for two months to come,” moaned -Adele. - -The girls reached the shed and each one felt in the dark hole under the -loose board. - -“It must have been a tramp,” Doris Drexel declared. - -“Maybe he’s hiding in the woods this very moment,” said Rosamond -fearfully. - -“It couldn’t have been a tramp,” Bertha remarked thoughtfully, “because -the door was locked and there is no window.” Then suddenly she burst -into a peal of merry laughter. The other six looked at her in puzzled -amazement. - -“Why, Bertha,” Adele exclaimed, “surely there is nothing funny about -it!” - -“Yes there is,” Bertha replied, her eyes dancing. “Don’t you remember -that, at our last business meeting, we decided that our bank _might_ be -stolen, and that we would change its hiding-place?” - -“Oh, of course,” said Peggy Pierce. “And that very day I took it -down-town and asked father to keep it in his safe. I’ve been cramming so -hard for examinations, I guess, that now I can’t remember anything.” - -“Never mind, Peggy,” said Adele, as she slipped her arm around the -crestfallen girl. “Our memories all play strange pranks at times.” Then, -turning to the others, she called, “Come on; let’s don our hats and -finish this meeting down at the Bee Hive, because, of course, we would -buy the birthday presents there anyway.” - -Firefly came on a gallop when Adele whistled, and whinnying for the lump -of sugar which his mistress always had for him. - -“Gertrude, would you like to ride?” Adele asked. But Gertrude said that -she wasn’t a bit tired and would much rather walk with the others. - -“Well then, Betty,” Adele began, and the others laughed at the happy -eagerness with which that small girl clambered up on the pony’s back. -Betty was only eleven, though she would soon be twelve. She was _petite_ -and dark and sparkling, and everybody’s pet. Away she galloped over -Buttercup Meadows, her hair flying out like a mantle about her -shoulders. - -Half an hour later the six who were walking reached the Bee Hive, and -found Betty, flushed from her gay ride, awaiting them. Luckily at that -hour of the day the store was not as busy as its name implied, and jolly -Mr. Pierce gave his whole attention to the flock of happy girls. How he -laughed when he heard the story of the lost bank. Out of the safe it was -taken and the money was counted by the treasurer. - -“Exactly six dollars and thirty-three cents,” she announced. “Now the -question is, will that amount of money purchase suitable birthday -presents for twelve guests?” - -The girls had not noticed that during the counting Peggy, the darling of -her father’s heart, had beckoned him to the back of the store and had -begged him to be a _dear_ and give them something extra nice for the -orphans. Had the girls known about this, they would not have been as -surprised as they were when Mr. Pierce stepped forward with a tray on -which were ever so many necklaces with lockets of different designs. - -“Oh-h!” breathed the six with delighted sighs. “But, Mr. Pierce, we -never could purchase twelve of these adorable chains for six dollars and -thirty-three cents.” - -“The cause is such a good one,” said Mr. Pierce, with a twinkle at -Peggy, “that you may have them at cost.” - -Then followed a rapturous fifteen minutes, during which the girls -selected twelve necklaces and lockets. - -“Orphans always have to wear things just alike,” Adele declared, “and so -I am sure that they would like to have these different.” - -“I suppose that we ought to give them stockings or handkerchiefs or -something useful,” suggested Bertha Angel, the practical. - -“Maybe so,” said Adele, “but this time the poor things are going to have -just what we would like for ourselves,—something useless and pretty.” - -When at last the twelve necklaces were chosen, each was placed in a -little square white box lined with pink silk. The Sunny Seven thanked -Mr. Pierce and then away they went with their treasures. The twelve -orphans, busily working at the Home, little dreamed of the pleasure that -was in store for them. - - - - - CHAPTER SIX - - A SURPRISE PARTY - - -The eventful Saturday dawned bright and sunny. Adele awoke as soon as -did Robin Red, who lived in the blossoming apple tree close to her -window. Perched on a teetering twig, he caroled his good-morning song -and Adele listened with a happy heart. - -“Such a beautiful, sunny day for our party,” she thought joyously as she -hurriedly dressed, tiptoeing about, that she need not awaken the rest of -the family. The Sunny Seven had agreed to rise at dawn and meet at the -log cabin as early as they possibly could, for there were many things to -be done to make ready for their guests. - -Meanwhile, in the orphan asylum, which was a mile out on the Lake Road, -the morning tasks were begun. The atmosphere of the place was home-like, -due to the kindly, mothering heart of the matron. Windows were thrown -open, and sunshine, fragrant breeze, and bird-song drifted in. - -Eva Dearman, upon awakening, had slipped a photograph from under her -pillow, and, gazing at the sweet pictured face, she had whispered -softly, “Mumsie, dear, this is my birthday, and I’m going to think that -you are with me all day, and I’m going to try to be brave and happy, -just as I know you would want me to be.” - -An hour later the older girls in the Home stood in line, waiting for the -morning tasks to be allotted to them. Eva was next to Amanda Brown. To -Amanda fell the task of sweeping and dusting the study-hall, while to -Eva Dearman was given the pleasanter one of sweeping the verandas, -raking the gravelly walks, and tidying up the summer-house. - -“That’s always the way,” grumbled Amanda, as the girls turned to get -brooms and brushes. “You have the easy work given to you, but they give -me that horrid old study-room to clean.” - -“I’ll tell you what,” Eva replied brightly, “I’ll hurry up with my work, -and if there’s any time before sewing-class, I’ll help you with yours.” - -Amanda stared in amazement. Eva had not been long in the Home, and the -girls were barely acquainted with her. - -Amanda Brown could not believe that any one really intended to be kind -to her. She knew that the other girls did not like her, and she tried to -think that she didn’t care, and so, instead of thanking Eva, she rudely -retorted, “Seeing’s believing,” and away she went. - -Eva sang a little song softly to herself as she swept the front porch -thoroughly and as quickly as she could. Then the garden-walks were raked -until not a stray leaf or twig could be found. When her task was -finished, Eva paused to listen to a bird-song as she thought: “Poor -Amanda! It is hard to be shut in that dreary study-hall this bright -morning. I’ve half an hour left to do as I like.” - -Almost longingly, she looked over toward the little wood where she loved -to go when her task was done, but instead she skipped into the Home, -and, dancing down the hall, burst into the study-room, exclaiming gayly: -“Ho there, Amanda! Seeing _is_ believing!” - -Amanda looked up in surprise. Indeed she could hardly believe her eyes -when she saw Eva pounce upon the teacher’s desk and dust it thoroughly -and vigorously. In fifteen minutes the work was finished, and Amanda -knew that she ought to say “Thank you,” but her stubborn spirit -rebelled. However, just at that moment one of the younger girls appeared -in the doorway and said: “Oh, Eva Dearman, here you are! I’ve been -hunting everywhere for you. Mrs. Friend wants you to come to her study -at once, and she wants you, too, Amanda Brown.” - -Puzzled, and wondering if they had done anything wrong, the two girls -went down the corridor and Eva rapped on Mrs. Friend’s door. - -A kindly voice bade them enter. In the study were ten other girls, who -looked flushed and excited. What could it mean? - -“Eva,” said Mrs. Friend, putting her arm about the girl and kissing her -on the forehead, “we want to congratulate you on this your thirteenth -birthday.” - -Eva blushed rosily as she replied happily, “Oh, thank you, Mrs. Friend.” - -Then the matron continued, “Because it is Eva’s birthday, I am going to -give you other girls who are near her own age a half-holiday, and so you -may go now and take your baths and put on your best white dresses.” - -“Oh, goodie! goodie!” cried several of the girls, as they clapped their -hands gleefully. Then out of the door they went, remembering to be quiet -in the halls. An hour later, fresh from the bath, they donned their best -white dresses and their butterfly hair-ribbon bows, which their matron -had given to them at Christmas. - -Eva, like a princess among her maidens, beamed on them all as she -exclaimed: “You girls do look so pretty, every one of you! But,” she -added suddenly, “where is Amanda Brown?” - -No one knew. She had not been in the bath-room, nor had she dressed, for -her white gown was still lying on her cot. - -A bell was ringing, which called the girls below. Eva, alone, lingered -behind, looking everywhere for Amanda. At last, pausing to listen, she -heard a faint sobbing, which seemed to come from the linen-closet. Eva -opened the door, and there on the floor lay Amanda in a miserable heap -of brown calico. She looked up with eyes that were red and swollen. - -“Go away!” she said sullenly, but Eva leaned over and took hold of her -hot hand. - -“Amanda,” she said gently, “please come out. Do you want to spoil my -party?” - -“I’d spoil your party if I went to it,” sobbed Amanda. “Jenny Dixon said -I would. She said that I am so cross and homely, she doesn’t see why I -was invited.” - -“Did Jenny Dixon say that to _you_?” asked Eva with a white face. - -“No-o, she didn’t say it _to_ me,” Amanda replied. “She whispered it to -Mabel Hicks, but she knew that I would hear, and I won’t go to your -party! I won’t! I won’t!” - -“Very well,” said Eva firmly, “then neither will I! Amanda Brown, do you -suppose that I would enjoy my birthday-party for one minute if I knew -that some one was left out and unhappy?” - -Amanda found it hard to understand Eva. “I don’t see why you should care -about _me_,” she replied; “nobody else does.” - -“But I do care,” Eva said sincerely. “Now please hurry, Amanda, and I -will help you to dress.” - -With a strange new happiness in her heart, Amanda crept from the dark -closet, and half an hour later the two girls went down-stairs to the -dining-room arm in arm. Amanda, in her white dress, with the crimson -bows on her black braids, looked very different from the Amanda who that -morning had been dusting in the study-hall. - -After dinner Mrs. Friend told the twelve to put on their best hats and -go out in the front yard and watch for something to come down the road. - -“Oh! Oh!” cried Sadie Bell. “I do believe that we are going somewhere. I -supposed that the party was to be right here at the Home.” - -The twelve girls stood on the front lawn, Eva with her arm shelteringly -about Amanda’s waist. Eagerly they watched down the road for—they knew -not what. - -“Look! Look!” cried Jenny Dixon excitedly. “Here comes something queer. -Whatever can it be?” - -The girls ran to the gate and beheld a very strange vehicle coming. - - - - - CHAPTER SEVEN - - A BIRTHDAY FEAST - - - Twelve little orphan girls in white, - Hearts a-brimming with delight, - Watched with eager, dancing eyes - For what? They knew not! - A _surprise_! - -The twelve girls, flushed and excited, were peering down the country -road at the strangest vehicle which they had ever seen. It was, in -truth, a hay-rack covered with garlands of daisies and buttercups and -drawn by two white horses with daisy wreaths about their necks. On the -front seat was the driver, Bob Angel, with Adele at his side, while in -the wagon part the Sunny Six sat on the soft new-mown hay. They were all -dressed in white, and, to the surprise of the twelve orphans, the -wonderful equipage stopped at their own gate. In a twinkling Adele was -on the ground, and, taking both of Eva’s hands, she kissed her on the -cheek, exclaiming, “Lovely Queen o’ May! Your carriage has come to take -you away on this your thirteenth natal day.” - -Tears rushed to Eva’s eyes as she exclaimed, “Oh, Adele, you were so -good to plan all this for me.” Then, brushing them away, she said -brightly, “I’d reply in rhyme if I could, for I do suppose that one -should.” - -“Oho!” laughed Betty Burd. “Eva, you’re a poet and don’t know it.” - -“Come now,” said Adele, who was Mistress of Ceremonies, “we must start -on our journey. Eva, you are to sit in state with the driver, and all -the rest of us are to scramble up on the hay, because we are not so -important to-day.” - -“More rhymes,” laughed Peggy Pierce. - -Into the daisy-covered hay-rack the girls climbed, looking as pretty as -the flowers themselves. Then Bob started the horses, Jerry and Jingo, -and somehow they seemed to know that the spirit of fun was abroad, for -they galloped down the road at a merry pace and the girls laughed and -sang. Soon they turned into the meadow-lane. “What a darling log cabin!” -Eva exclaimed, as they neared the Secret Sanctum. - -“Just wait until you see the inside of it,” said Adele. Then the horses -stopped and out of the hay-rack the girls leaped, not waiting for Bob’s -proffered assistance. Adele threw open the cabin-door and the guests -entered with exclamations of pleasure. - -Bertha hung back for a few last words with her brother Bob, after which -he drove the equipage over near the wood, unhitched, and turned the -horses out to graze. Then he took a short cut to the town. - -Soon the merry fun began. There were whirling and singing and dancing -games, and after an hour of rollicking, Adele invited the guests to take -a walk with her in the maple wood, so away they went, little dreaming of -the delightful surprise that would await them when they returned to the -cabin. - -When the last gleam of white had disappeared among the trees, all was -hustle and bustle in Buttercup Meadows. - -“Quick now!” exclaimed Bertha Angel, who was Mistress of Ceremonies in -Adele’s absence. “We must hurry if we are to have everything ready in -fifteen minutes, and Adele never can keep the orphans in the woods -longer than that.” - -“The boys ought to be here this very second, if they are going to help -us,” said Betty Burd. - -“Bob and Jack promised to be here promptly at four,” Rosamond remarked, -“and it’s powerful close to that now.” - -“Well, you can depend on Bob,” Bertha exclaimed. “He is never even a -fraction of a moment late. Being my brother, I know his virtues and -otherwise.” - -“What is the otherwise?” asked Peggy Pierce, as the girls donned their -big aprons and darted about at various tasks. - -“Oh,” laughed Bertha, as she heaped lettuce sandwiches on a big blue -plate which had a crack in it, “Bob’s besetting sin is teasing me, and -such pranks as he can invent!” - -“Well,” exclaimed Rosamond Wright, as she glanced at her wrist-watch, -“your model brother is late to-day, for it is four to the second and -there is no one in sight.” - -“Oh, yes, there is,” said Betty Burd, as she came in from the brook with -a bucket of sparkling water. “There are two colored men coming across -lots just below here.” - -Doris Drexel looked out of the door, and then she sprang back with a -startled cry. “They _are_ negroes, and, oh, girls, what if they should -be tramps? I do wish that Bob had been here on time.” - -“They are coming right this way,” whispered Betty Burd. “Hadn’t we -better close the door and lock it?” - -“Let me look,” said Bertha Angel, as she stepped fearlessly into the -meadow. Then, to the surprise of the others, she called gayly, “Well, -Rastus, do hurry up! We’ve wasted time enough as it is.” - -“Why, Bertha!” exclaimed Peggy Pierce in surprise. “Do you know those -colored men?” - -“Know them? I should say that I do,” Bertha laughingly replied. And then -she ran right up to one of them, and, shaking her finger at him, she -exclaimed: “Aha, Bob Angel, now I know why you wanted to borrow my red -silk handkerchief.” - -Then the other girls, their fear changed to laughter, trooped out of the -cabin. - -“Jack Doring and Bob Angel!” Betty Burd exclaimed. “I never would have -known you boys in a hundred years.” - -“We-all heard you wanted some waiters,” Bob drawled, trying to talk in -negro dialect, “and we-all came to apply.” - -“Well, you-all are engaged,” laughed Bertha, “and now please do hustle.” - -Then every one bustled about. The boys made a long table with boards and -sawhorses, and benches on each side were fashioned with boxes and more -boards. Soon the tables were covered with flower-bordered paper -table-cloths, and there were napkins to match. Two bowls of daisies and -buttercups and ferns adorned the ends of the table, and in the very -center was placed a huge birthday cake, which Mrs. Doring had made for -Adele. It was frosted with white, and on it were thirteen pink candy -roses, for Eva and Adele that day were both thirteen. - -Mrs. Drexel had sent chicken salad, and the girls themselves had made -lettuce sandwiches, which were piled in tempting array. Rastus, as they -called Bob Angel, was just filling the last tumbler with pink lemonade -when Rosamond Wright exclaimed, “Here comes Adele!” - -There was a chorus of delighted exclamations from the orphans as they -approached. - -“I didn’t know a table could look so beautiful,” Amanda whispered to -Eva, as Adele motioned them to their places. Soon the festive board was -surrounded with laughing, happy faces, and then Bob and Jack, as black -as burnt cork could make them, greatly added to the merriment with their -antics. They wore small white aprons, and each had a folded towel flung -over one arm. They passed things with a flourish and talked a string of -nonsense, trying, with more or less success, to imitate the negro -dialect. - -The heaps of delicious sandwiches disappeared rapidly, the pink lemonade -was often replenished, and never before had a chicken salad been more -appreciated. - -At last Adele called gayly, “Girls, we must leave a corner for the -ice-cream and cake.” - -“That’s right,” laughed Gertrude Willis, while at the mention of -ice-cream the orphans looked as though their fondest dreams were being -fulfilled. - -“Garçon!” called Adele, who was just learning a bit of French. “You may -clear the table.” - -The waiters put their black heads out of the cabin-door and cried, “Law, -chile, wait a minute!” Later, when they did appear, each carried a -partly eaten sandwich, for the boys did not intend to miss any of the -good things themselves. - -Adele, to save Eva from embarrassment, agreed to cut the birthday cake, -but first she counted noses. - -“Say, Miss Doring,” Jack drawled, “I’ll be ’bleeged to tell you, ma’am, -I’se got two noses.” - -How the girls laughed, for it is easy to laugh when the heart is light. -So Adele allowed two pieces for each boy. When the cake had been cut and -the generous slices passed, the waiters appeared with pyramids of frosty -ice-cream. Then, when this had disappeared, Rastus came out with a -basket lined with flowers, but piled in the center of it were little -white boxes tied with pink and blue baby-ribbon. It was first passed to -Eva, who chose the wee box which was nearest, and then waited until each -orphan had drawn forth one of the dainty packages. - -“Now,” said Adele, with shining eyes, “open them all together.” - -How eagerly the ribbons were untied and the little boxes opened, and -then what a chorus of rejoicing there was! Eva had chosen just the one -that Adele had hoped she would, a slender golden chain and a locket -wreathed with pearls. When it was fastened about her neck Eva exclaimed, -“Oh, Adele, how can I thank you!” - -But Amanda called their attention to her locket, which was set with -pretty red stones. “I never owned a trinket before in all my life,” she -said softly to Eva, who sat at her side. Then, almost wistfully, she -asked, “Is it to be mine for keeps?” Eva fastened the chain about -Amanda’s neck and softly assured her that it was to be her very own. The -other ten orphans were equally pleased, and pretty the lockets looked as -they hung around the necks of their new owners. - -Soon Adele rose and the girls sauntered about until the flower-bedecked -equipage reappeared and they donned their hats. - -Eva held out both hands to Adele as she exclaimed gratefully, “If I live -to be a hundred years old, I never can have a happier day.” - -“You and I are going to have many happy days together,” Adele replied -warmly. And then the Sunny Seven, who were staying behind to clear up, -waved to the guests as long as the hay-rack and its black drivers were -in sight. - -During the day Adele had often wondered why none of the girls had -congratulated her on its being _her_ birthday as well as Eva’s, but she -was of too generous a nature to feel hurt, and so she soon forgot all -about it, but her friends had not forgotten, as you shall hear. - - - - - CHAPTER EIGHT - - MORE SURPRISES - - -When Adele reached home after the orphans’ surprise-party, she found a -note telling her that her father and mother had gone for a ride into the -country. Jack Doring, having taken a bath, was changed from black to -white again. Then, donning his very best suit, he announced that he -might not be in until late; and, since this was Kate’s evening out, -Adele was soon left all alone in the big rambling house. - -Up to her room she went, just a bit weary from the long, busy day. -Leaning back in her comfortable lounging-chair, Adele thought to -herself, “It seems strange that even mumsie and dad have forgotten that -this is my birthday, and Jack hasn’t said a word about it. But then, I -could not have had a nicer time if I had had a party all for myself.” - -Then, closing her eyes, she drowsily listened to the evening song of the -robins who lived in the apple-tree just outside her open window. The -crooning melody seemed to grow fainter and fainter to Adele; a warm, -fragrant breeze from the garden brushed against her cheek, and soon she -fell asleep. It was dark when she awakened, and she sat up with a start. -What could it have been that had aroused her? Probably her father and -mother were returning. The girl listened intently. Suddenly something -fell with a crash in the room below. Springing to her feet, she turned -on the light, and, running to the top of the stairs, she called: -“Mother! Father! Is that you?” - -There was no reply, and for one brief moment Adele’s heart stopped -beating. There surely was some one down-stairs, but who could it be? -Then Adele remembered that her big white Persian cat had been asleep on -its cushion when she left the library. Of course it must be Fluff -prowling about, and perhaps he had tipped over a bowl of roses. She ran -lightly down the stairs and switched on the library lights. The white -cat rose from his cushion and yawned sleepily, so Fluff had not made the -noise. Adele had a strange feeling that some one was in the room, hidden -and watching her. - -“I hope that I am not growing timid,” she thought to herself; and then, -deciding that she would read for a while, she went out into the -dining-room, where she had left her book. She was only gone one moment, -but when she returned, the library was in total darkness and she knew -that she had left it lighted. Before she could be very much frightened, -however, there was a rushing, rustling noise, and snap! the lights were -on again. Great was Adele’s surprise at finding the room filled with -laughing friends. “_Happy Birthday!_” they shouted. - -Adele sank down on a chair and looked so white and strange that Jack ran -to her side and exclaimed, “Oh, Della, did we frighten you too much? I -didn’t realize that it would be so scary.” - -“I was afraid that we should frighten Adele,” Gertrude said -remorsefully, as she knelt beside her friend. “That’s why I suggested -that we go to the front door and ring.” - -But Adele, quickly regaining her composure, sprang up with a laugh, and -the color returned to her cheeks as she said: “No, you did not frighten -me too much. I guess I am just surprised, and that is what one should be -at a surprise-party, isn’t it?” - -Then, quite herself again, she chattered on gayly: “Do look at you all, -in your pretty best! And Peggy has her heart’s desire—a chance to wear -her new muslin with the rosebuds on it. It’s as pretty as can be, Peggy, -and your pink sash is adorable. Well, now I must run up-stairs and -dress.” - -“I’ll go with you and be your maid,” said Gertrude Willis, who was -Adele’s dearest friend. “You other girls may stay and entertain the -boys.” - -With Jack as Master of Ceremonies, the fun soon began. Meanwhile Adele -bathed and dressed in her prettiest. From below came the merry strains -of the victrola, playing waltzes and hops. When the two girls descended -the stairway, they found that the library had been cleared of furniture. -Mrs. Doring, having returned from her drive, had made this good -suggestion. - -Then what a merry hour they had. Suddenly the front-door bell rang and -Adele skipped to open it. An expressman stood outside and he inquired, -“Does Adele Doring live here?” - -“Yes, she does,” that wondering young lady replied, and then into the -hall the expressman brought a wooden box, which he deposited on the -floor. When he was gone Adele exclaimed eagerly, “Oh! _Oh!_ What do you -suppose is in it?” - -“I’ll get the hammer and then we will find out,” Jack said. A moment -later he was prying off the cover. There, among soft tissue papers, lay -ever so many books, all bound in pale blue, and the set was called -“Stories That Girls Like Best.” Indeed, there was every title among them -that a girl of thirteen could wish to possess. Adele clasped her hands -and exclaimed rapturously, “Who could have sent me such a beautiful -gift?” - -“Here’s a card,” Jack said, as he handed it to her, and eagerly she -read: - - To Our Darling Adele Doring - from - Her Sunny Six. - -“I just knew it!” cried their happy hostess, “and I do wish that I had -arms long enough to hug you all at once.” - -“Adele!” exclaimed Betty Burd. “Don’t make such a terrible wish. An old -witch might be lurking around and it might come true.” - -“Well, I hope not,” laughed Adele, “for my beauty would surely be -spoiled if my arms dragged on the floor.” - -Jack and Bob carried the pretty blue books into the library and placed -them on the center-table, and then the merry fun was renewed, when -suddenly the side-door bell clanged and Adele skipped to open it, but -there was no one outside. - -“Some one is playing a prank, I guess,” she laughingly said. But Jack -suggested that they turn on the porch light, and when this was done -Adele saw a low bird’s-eye-maple table on which stood a beautiful -drooping fern. When the boys had carried it into the library Adele -gleefully clapped her hands as she exclaimed, “It’s just what I need for -the bay-window in my room.” - -The little card which hung on the fern informed her that this was a gift -from her brother Jack and his six boy friends, who called themselves the -Jolly Pirates. Adele thanked them with shining eyes. - -“Now,” she said, “surely the surprises are over,” but just that very -moment Mrs. Doring called from the top of the stairs, “Adele, come up -here a moment and bring the girls with you.” And so up the stairs they -flocked, looking for all the world like a bevy of butterflies in their -pretty muslin dresses and their many-colored sashes. - -“Maybe it’s another surprise,” exclaimed Betty Burd, who was enjoying -Adele’s happiness as much as did that girl herself. - -Adele’s room was brilliantly lighted, and her adorable mother and her -Giant Daddy were standing in the door, waiting. Into the room the girls -trooped, and Adele gave a cry of joy when she saw a bird’s-eye-maple -writing-desk, on which were rose-colored blotters and a silver ink-stand -and scratcher, and holders for both pen and pencil. - -The card fastened to the desk read: - - To “Heart’s Desire” - from - “Giant Father.” - -These were the pet names which they had for each other. How Adele hugged -him! And then he laughingly exclaimed, “Now put on your spectacles, for -there is something else in this room for you to find.” - -Adele looked about, high and low. Suddenly she spied a water-color -painting in a rustic frame. It was a picture of their very own log -cabin, painted when the meadow was yellow-and-white with daisies and -buttercups. There were fleecy clouds over a sunny blue sky, and the -woods in the background were fresh and green, and, as for the laughing -brook, you could fairly see it sparkle and hear it gurgle as it danced -along. - -“From Mother,” a little card told her. - -“Mumsie!” Adele cried. “An artist from the city painted it, didn’t he? I -watched him one day when he was just beginning on the brook, and how I -loved it, but I never even dreamed that I was to own it.” - -Now, just at that very moment bells began ringing all over the house: -the front-door bell, the side-door bell, the Chinese gongs, the little -silver tea-bell clanged and jingled. What could it mean? - -“More surprises!” laughed Adele. “Come along, girls; let’s fathom the -mystery.” - -So down the stairs the Sunny Seven trooped. Bob Angel stood in the lower -hall, ringing a dinner-bell, as he chanted: - - “Ding, dong, dell! - Hark to the bell—ll—ll! - Come, follow me, - And see what you will see!” - -“Bob’s happy now,” his sister Bertha jokingly exclaimed. “Like all -little boys, he loves to make a big noise.” - -The girls trooped after the bell-ringer, and as they entered the -library, the folding-doors slid silently open, and such a festive scene -as they beheld in the room beyond! - -A mahogany table was decked with shining silver and sparkling glass, and -in the center was a frosted cake with thirteen candles ablaze. Pretty -name-cards told each guest where to sit, and of course Adele was at the -head of the table and Bob at the foot. Kate, with her kindly Irish face -aglow, appeared in the kitchen doorway and then Mrs. Doring came in to -help pass the good things. - -“Two feasts in one day!” exclaimed Bob Angel. “I wish I had the capacity -of Giant Blunderbuss of fairy lore.” - -The first course soon disappeared, and then the cake, with its twinkling -candles, was placed in front of Adele to be cut. - -“Thirteen is going to be my lucky number hereafter,” Adele laughed, and -then she puckered up her mouth and blew the lights out. “Oho, here’s a -card on the cake,” she called gayly, and then she read aloud, “For my -little Colleen, from Kate.” - -“Another present!” cried the delighted girl, “Thank you, Kate, and when -your birthday comes, I’ll make you a cake.” - -“Poor Kate!” Jack Doring said in mock sympathy. “I wouldn’t have a -birthday soon if I were you, Kate, but if you do have one, be sure to -hide the salt-box. You know why.” - -Adele laughed good-naturedly as she exclaimed, “Just because I put salt -in one cake instead of sugar is no sign that I am going to do it forever -after.” - -When the generous slices were passed, Betty Burd gave a squeal of -delight. “Oh, do look!” she cried. “There are things in the cake to tell -our fortunes.” - -“Mine is a piece of straw,” Dick Jensen chuckled. “So I am to be a -farmer, I suppose. Well, I’d like nothing better.” - -“Alas and alack!” moaned Doris Drexel. “I have a thimble, and I just -hate sewing, but I suppose that I shall have to be resigned to my fate.” - -“See what I have!” Jack Doring exclaimed, as triumphantly he held aloft -a silver dime. “I just felt in my bones that I was going to be rich some -day.” - -“Not if you have to work for it,” teased Adele, for Jack was rather -inclined to be indolent. - -“I wasn’t planning to work,” Jack replied calmly. “I shall find a gold -mine or some little thing like that.” - -“Poor little me!” moaned Rosamond Wright. “There doesn’t seem to be a -thing in my piece of cake.” - -Rosamond, in her pink dress, with her flushed face and short golden -curls, looked as pretty as the flower after which she had been named. - -“Don’t give up, Rosie,” Bob Angel called. “Seems to me I see a glint of -gold there in the frosting.” - -Eagerly Rosamond broke the cake where the glint was, and out fell a -wedding ring. - -“Congratulations!” cried Adele. “Rosie is to be our first bride.” - -When each future had been prophesied and the boys and girls had eaten -their ice-cream and cake, the merry party returned to the library, and -soon after, as the hour was late, they took their departure. - -When they were gone Adele nestled in her mother’s arms, as she said -softly, “Mumsie, this has been the happiest day of my life.” - -“That is because you have given others so much happiness,” her mother -replied. - - - - - CHAPTER NINE - - THE MOTHER GOOSE PLAY-HOUSE - - - There’s many a high-chair put away - For the baby that came, but could not stay. - There’s many a mother-heart yearning still, - And arms that a motherless babe might fill. - There’s many a home that’s sad and drear, - That a prattling child might bless and cheer. - -It was Sunday, the day after the eventful Saturday which would be so -long remembered by the Sunny Seven, as well as by the twelve orphans who -had been made so happy. - -Adele, dressed in pretty white muslin and wearing her daisy-wreathed -hat, tripped down the road toward the orphan asylum. She was so deep in -thought that she did not notice some one standing on the corner and -evidently waiting for her, until a pleasant voice called, “May I go with -you, my pretty maid?” - -“Oh, Gertrude Willis!” Adele exclaimed. “I was thinking of you that very -moment and wishing that you were going with me, and here you are.” - -These two friends were especially dear to each other. They walked on -together, and Gertrude said, “Adele, I think it so nice of you to go -every Sunday afternoon to tell stories to the little children at the -Orphans’ Home. I have often wanted to go with you, but usually father -has a young people’s meeting at the church and he likes me to be there, -but to-day he himself suggested that I go with you.” - -“I’m so glad!” Adele replied, giving her friend’s arm a loving squeeze. -Then they talked of Eva Dearman, and decided that they would try to be -like sisters to the little girl who had no home-people of her own in all -the world. - -“I just can’t imagine what that would be like,” Gertrude remarked, as -she thought of the parsonage in which there were five merry children, -watched over by a loving, if dignified, father, and the dearest mother -in all the world. - -Mrs. Friend, the matron of the Home, greeted them pleasantly, and led -them to the large, barren room where, on little red chairs, twenty small -children were seated. - -Their round, eager eyes were watching the door, and when they saw Adele, -their faces brightened, and it seemed as though sunshine had suddenly -entered the rather gloomy room. - -The children, ranging from five years to eight, arose, and, standing -beside their chairs, made funny little bobbing curtsies, and they piped -out, like so many chirping birds, “Good afternoon, Miss Adele.” - -“Good afternoon, little sunbeams,” Adele replied. “I have brought a -friend with me to-day. Miss Gertrude is her name.” - -Then the tiny tots bobbed another curtsy, and with solemn faces they -piped, “Good afternoon, Miss Gertrude.” - -“The little darlings!” Gertrude exclaimed softly, and tears rushed to -her eyes. It made her heart ache to think of all those babies and not a -mother to cuddle them, and then she thought of the childless homes to -which these very little ones might bring so much joy and happiness. - -Meanwhile they were seated, and Adele was holding her little audience -spellbound with the simple tales that all children love. Tucked away in -each one of them was a thought that would help the little listener to be -a better boy or girl during the following week. - -When the story-hour was over, Adele arose, and that was a signal for the -tiny tots to rise and chirp all together, “Thank you, Miss Adele.” Then, -to the surprise of Gertrude Willis, the twenty, without ceremony, rushed -at Adele, and that loving girl caught as many of the children as her -arms would hold. - -[Illustration: Adele was holding her little audience spellbound.] - -On their way out they stopped for a moment in the matron’s office. - -“Oh, Mrs. Friend,” Adele exclaimed impulsively, “how I do wish there was -a sunnier spot for the nursery! That north room seems so bleak and -chilly.” - -“I have often wished that we had money enough to fit out a cheery -nursery for our little ones,” Mrs. Friend replied with her kindly smile, -as she walked outdoors with the girls. “As it is,” she continued, “we -have all that we can do to feed and clothe the children entrusted to our -care.” - -As they sauntered toward the gardens Mrs. Friend said, “Yonder is a -little house that used to be occupied by a gardener. It is quite empty -now, and there is a sunny front room in it, and I have often wished that -I had some way of making it into a play-house for the very little -children.” - -“Oh, Mrs. Friend!” Adele exclaimed eagerly. “If we can find the way, may -we do it?” - -“Indeed you may!” Mrs. Friend replied, smiling at the girl’s enthusiasm, -and then she bade them good-bye. - -On Monday morning Adele started to school hippety-skipping and singing a -merry little song to herself. There were berry-bushes abloom in the -field over which she was taking a short cut, and from one of these just -ahead of her there arose a clear, whistling note. - -“A bobolink!” Adele thought, as she stole nearer to catch a glimpse, if -she could, of the feathered songster, but, to her surprise, the notes -changed to “Bob White!” Adele stood still, puzzled, when from the -blossoming bush, sweet and clear, arose a robin’s morning-song. - -“How strange!” the girl thought. “It must be a birds’ convention!” She -tiptoed nearer, when up from behind the bushes sprang a bevy of laughing -girls, and joyously they cried, “The top of the morning to you, Adele.” - -“But where are the birds?” asked the mystified girl. - -“Here in my hand,” Peggy Pierce replied, as she displayed a silver -whistle. “It’s a musical instrument belonging to my small brother. I -borrowed it because I wanted you all to hear the sweet bird notes.” - -“Truly, I thought there were birds in the bush,” Adele said. Then, -turning to Gertrude Willis, she asked, “Trudie, have you told the girls -about our plan?” - -“Of course not, Della,” that maiden replied. “The president of the -Sunnyside Club should make all announcements.” - -“Oh, what is it? Do tell us!” Peggy Pierce and Betty Burd exclaimed -eagerly. - -“It isn’t a party this time,” Adele replied, smiling at little Betty’s -enthusiasm, “but it is another opportunity for our Sunnyside Club to do -a kind deed.” And then she told them about the gloomy room which was the -nursery for the very little children at the orphanage; about the toys, -many of them old and broken; and about the cheery cottage in the garden, -and how Mrs. Friend had said that they might fit it up as a play-house -if only they could find the way. - -“Oh, girls!” Betty Burd cried with shining eyes. “We surely _can_ find -the way; that is, if mumsie is willing. I had the darlingest play-house -in the South. Papa was an architect and he planned it himself. There -were three rooms in it, and one of them was the home of Mother Goose. I -wasn’t very old then, but I shall never forget the joy in my heart when -I first beheld that room. It was like stepping into a Mother Goose -picture-book and being able to skip about in it. Then, when papa died -and we came North to keep house for Uncle George, I just couldn’t bear -to part with those Mother Goose things, so mumsie packed them in a big -box and brought them along, and ever since they have been up in the -attic. - -“Of course I am too old to play with those things now, but wouldn’t I -just love to fit up a play-house with them for those poor little -orphans! We’ll do it, too, if mumsie is willing.” - -Betty’s mother gladly gave her consent, and the following Saturday found -the Sunny Seven in the orphanage garden. The little cottage had been -thoroughly cleaned, much to the delight of Rosamond Wright, who did not -care to attend another scrubbing-party. - -The two orphans, Eva Dearman and Amanda Brown, at Adele’s invitation, -came out to help, and how happy they were to be included! - -“I do wish that the Mother Goose box would come, so that we might begin -to unpack it,” Betty Burd declared impatiently. - -“Bob said that he would bring it over just as soon as his morning work -was done,” Bertha explained. - -“Here he comes now, and Jack Doring is with him!” Doris Drexel called. -The girls crowded to the sunny window and looked out at the driveway; -then Adele threw open the door as Bob leaped to the ground. Pretending -to be a cartman, the boy exclaimed in a rather poor imitation of Irish -brogue, “Good day to yez. And where will yez be afther havin’ the -baggage put?” - -“Oh, Bob!” Betty Burd cried. “Weren’t you an angel to bring it over for -us!” - -“Of course he’s an angel, and so am I, too, for that matter!” Bertha -exclaimed. - -“Oh, I quite forgot that ‘Angel’ is his name,” Betty gayly replied. “But -do please bring the box right in and set it in the middle of the floor.” - -When this was done, she laughingly inquired, “And now, Mr. Cartman, what -might your charges be?” - -“Hum-m!” said the mischievous Bob. “Since it’s fer ladies, we’ll make -the charges light. I think one box of fudge would do nicely. What do you -say, Jack?” - -These boys well knew that wherever the girls were gathered together, -there also was a batch of fudge. - -“But we want some for ourselves,” Doris protested. “I think two squares -for each of you would be good pay for delivering the box.” Then she -added brightly, “Girls! I have a brilliant idea! We might give the boys -four squares each if they will open the box and help us unpack; but if -they refuse, they shall have nothing at all.” - -“Of course we will open it for you,” Jack Doring replied amiably, as he -took a hammer out of his coat-pocket. “Here, Bob,” he added, “proceed to -show the ladies what an excellent box-opener you are.” - -“Not a bit of it,” Bob replied. “Wouldn’t deprive you, old chap, of all -that honor for worlds.” So indolent Jack, having the hammer, had to pry -off the boards, and then merrily the unpacking began. There were four -large squares of cotton cloth on which were colored prints of Mother -Goose pictures. - -“Boys,” Betty implored, “please find a stepladder and tack these up for -us, and then we shall be through in short order.” - -“I should call it a large order,” Bob Angel declared, but nevertheless -he went out and soon returned with the needed stepladder. Then from a -high seat on the top of it he announced, “Ladies, be it known that my -charges for tacking are ten fudge squares with chopped walnuts in them.” - -“I’ll tell you what!” Adele exclaimed. “If you boys will help us to-day, -we girls will soon give a fudge party and you shall have just all the -candy that you can eat.” - -“Three cheers for Adele!” Bob exclaimed. And then so ably did the boys -lend their assistance that the work of unpacking and decorating was soon -completed, and with laughter and joking they remounted the wagon and -rode away. - -An hour later the twenty kiddies were admitted to their new play-house. -Mrs. Friend was with them, and she was as pleased as they were with the -Mother Goose room. There were cloth dolls dressed to represent the -different characters, and woolly Mother Goose animals, and there were -bright picture-books which babies could look at to their heart’s content -and the pages wouldn’t tear. - -Betty Burd, with her arm about Adele’s waist, stood looking on, and she -was hoping that somehow her dear daddy might know of the wonderful -happiness that his gift to her was giving to these baby orphans. - -When the children were willing to sit down and be quiet, Adele told them -the stories that went with the pictures on the walls. Then, when it was -all over and the Sunny Seven were about to depart, the little ones -scrambled to their feet and, making their funny little bobbing curtsies, -piped out, “Thank you, Miss Betty.” This was so unexpected that tears -rushed to Betty’s eyes and her voice trembled as she said, “You’re -welcome, little darlings.” - -On their way home Rosamond exclaimed, “And now, girls, let us plan that -fudge party which we promised to give for the boys!” - -“Not yet, Rosie,” Adele replied. “Final examinations are drawing near, -and I think we would better plan to just study and study, but as soon as -vacation arrives, we’ll have the nicest fudge party that ever was or -could be.” - -And with that promise Rosamond had to be content. - - - - - CHAPTER TEN - - PREPARING FOR EXAMINATIONS - - -On the first Saturday in June the Sunny Seven were to meet at the Secret -Sanctum, to begin a review of the term’s lessons, for the final -examinations were only three weeks away. - -Six of the girls were already there at the appointed hour, but, strange -to relate, the one who was usually first, this day was last. - -“Perhaps Betty isn’t coming,” Adele said. “It is possible that she is -not going to take the examinations. You know she is a year younger than -we are, and though she had been in Seven B in the South, the lessons are -different, and when she came North last term, they put her in our grade -on trial, and I think that she has found it very hard to keep up.” - -“You are right, Adele,” Gertrude replied. “Mrs. Burd told me that she -would far rather have Betty remain in this grade another year, but her -Uncle George is eager for her to advance.” - -“Here comes Betty on a skip and a run!” Rosamond exclaimed as she looked -out of the cabin-door, and in another moment the little girl about whom -they had been talking, danced in, and, sinking down on the couch, fanned -her flushed face with her broad-brimmed hat. - -“Girls!” she exclaimed as soon as she could get her breath. “I had -decided to give up taking the examinations,—mother wanted me to,—when -something very remarkable happened, and I am so excited about it, I just -don’t know what to do.” - -“Betty! Betty!” laughed Adele. “We can’t make head or tail out of what -you are saying. Won’t you begin at the beginning of your story?” - -“All right,” Betty replied, as she settled down among the sofa-pillows. -“You know my Uncle George is a very smart young man.” - -“He isn’t very young, is he?” Rosamond inquired. - -“Why, mother says that he is,” Betty replied vaguely. “Of course he -isn’t a boy, but every one says that he is very young to be an editor -and hold such a responsible position on a big city newspaper.” - -“I’ve heard my Giant Daddy say that your Uncle George writes very -cleverly,” Adele said kindly. - -Betty gave her a grateful glance as she continued, “Well, I guess he -must write pretty well, for he’s just sold his first story for one -hundred dollars. The check came on this morning’s mail, and Uncle George -opened the letter while we were at breakfast. When he saw the check, he -gave a whoop just like a boy, and he exclaimed, ‘Betsy Bobbets,’—that’s -his pet name for me,—‘if there’s anything in this shining universe that -you want, if a hundred dollars will buy it, you shall have it.’ Of -course I said that I wanted a jet-black pony, just like Firefly, and -Uncle George jokingly replied: ‘Betsy, we’ll make a bargain. If you will -pass perfect in spelling and grammar, the pony shall be yours!’ Mother -said, ‘Oh, George, I do not wish Betty even to try the examinations.’ -But he exclaimed, ‘Puppy-dogs and fiddle-sticks! My dear madam, this -daughter of yours is possessed of as fine a quality of gray matter as -one could wish, but she is sadly lacking in concentration and -perseverance.’” - -“How could you remember all that?” Rosamond exclaimed. - -“I guess because I was so interested and was listening hard, and, -besides, I knew that Uncle George was right. I had not expected to be -promoted this year, and so I had not really tried to learn the term’s -work.” - -“I believe that you could do it,” Adele remarked. “We should be sorry to -be promoted and leave our little one behind. Now our plan is to review -the entire term’s work, and if we go over and over it with Betty, we -shall also be impressing the lessons more firmly on our own minds.” - -“Then you think that I could do it?” Betty asked eagerly. - -“Of course you can,” Adele replied confidently, as she opened a speller. -“You all sit in a row and we will play school, the way we used to do, -and we’ll take turns being the teacher. Now, Betty, don’t you mind if -you make mistakes, but just listen and listen, and you will be surprised -how much you will learn.” - -Then followed a busy hour, and a robin, alighting for a moment on the -door-sill, wondered why girls could stay within on such a perfect June -day. But what could a robin know of examinations only three weeks away? - -When at last the girls were sauntering across the meadows on their -homeward way, Betty exclaimed joyously, “Girls, I’ve learned more to-day -than in a whole month at school.” - -“That’s because you put your mind on it, little one,” Gertrude replied. -“I have always felt that you could do much better if you really wanted -to.” - -Suddenly Betty laughed gleefully. “Won’t Miss Donovan be surprised,” she -chuckled, “if to-morrow in class I should happen to spell a word -correctly? She says that I can think up more wrong ways to spell a word -than any one she ever met.” - -As Betty had prophesied, Miss Donovan was indeed surprised to hear a -constantly improved recitation from that young lady, but little did she -dream of the hours and hours that were spent by that once heedless girl -in poring over spellers and grammars. - -One morning when the girls met under the elm tree, Doris Drexel -announced, “Only ten more days before the final examinations.” - -“Oh-h!” moaned Betty Burd dolefully. “If you were saying only ten days -more before Betty Burd’s funeral, I wouldn’t feel a bit more dismal -about it!” - -“Cheer up, little one,” Adele said brightly. “You are getting on -famously. Can you spell ‘believe’ to-day?” - -“B-e-l-i-e-v-e,” Betty replied with a faint attempt at a smile. “I do -believe,” she added with conviction, “that whoever made up the English -language tried to tangle the letters in it just as much as possible.” - -“Those old sages didn’t know about your pony, Betsy, or they never would -have done it,” Bertha Angel gayly remarked, and then the last bell -called them to their classes. - -This unusual application to her studies at last began to tell on Betty, -and as the fatal day drew near she visibly drooped. - -“George!” Mrs. Burd exclaimed one morning, when Betty, after having sat -listlessly at the table, finally departed for school without having -touched her breakfast. “If you do not forbid Betty’s studying so hard, I -shall do so myself. She’s all I have left in the world, now that her -daddy is gone, and I don’t care if she never, never learns to spell. If -you wanted to give her a pony, why didn’t you do so without making her -work so hard for it?” - -George Wainwright had been unusually busy in his city office of late, -and was seldom at the table when Betty was there, and as for the -examinations, he had quite forgotten about them. But that night he was -home for dinner, and he noticed how pale was the little girl whom he so -dearly loved, and when she refused to eat chocolate pudding and whipped -cream, her very favorite dessert, then, indeed, did his conscience smite -him, and he decided to take the child out of school at once and get the -pony, that she might ride and bring the roses back to her cheeks. And so -it was that he asked her to walk with him in the garden while he had his -after-dinner smoke. - -This was always a treat to Betty, and she went with him gladly. After -they had walked up and down the gravelly paths a few times, Uncle George -asked suddenly, “And how’s the spelling getting on, Betsy Bobbets?” - -“Well,” said Betty with a sigh, “I’ve got the ‘i-e’ right at last, and -if they will examine me on that I am sure to be perfect; that is, I -shall be if it’s a written examination. But, oh, Uncle George, if the -principal, Mr. Dickerson, comes in and gives us an oral one, I won’t be -able to spell one single word. I get so scared when he asks me a -question; something clutches at my throat, and everything turns black -before me, and even the words that I _know_ I know, I just don’t know at -all.” - -Uncle George laughed at the twisted sentence, and then he drew the -little girl down on a bench beside him. - -“What is it that clutches at your throat, little one?” he asked. - -Betty looked surprised as she replied, “Why, nothing, really, I -suppose!” - -“That’s just it,” Uncle George said earnestly. “People call it fear, but -it is nothing. What is there to be afraid of? Since you know how to -spell the word, all that you have to do is to spell it. And even if you -misspell it, no harm is done. The word will always remain, and you can -learn it at another time. Courage is the quality that I want my Betsy -Bobbets to cultivate,—courage and fearlessness.” - -“Oh, Uncle George!” Betty exclaimed, more like her bright self. “I am so -glad that you have talked to me this way. I feel ever so much braver. I -guess that all I am really afraid of is that I shall lose the pony.” - -How Uncle George wanted to tell her that she should have the pony, come -what might, but he decided that perhaps it would be better for her -character-development if he left things as they were. - -A few moments later Betty danced into the dining-room. Her mother, who -was putting away the silver, glanced up anxiously. She hoped that her -brother George had told Betty that she need not take the examinations, -and she was convinced that this was so when Betty exclaimed gayly, “Oh, -Mumsie, where’s my chocolate pudding and whipped cream? I’m so hungry -for it!” - -“It’s in the china-closet, dear. I thought that you might want it -later,” the mother replied. And then, while Betty was eating the pudding -with her old appreciation, Mrs. Burd asked, “Are you glad that you -aren’t going to take the examinations, Betty?” - -“But I am going to take them, mumsie dear, and you will be so proud of -me when I bring home a card marked ‘perfect’ in grammar and spelling.” - -Mrs. Burd was indeed puzzled, but she said no more just then. The girls, -too, noticed the change in Betty, and then one morning, under the -elm-tree, Peggy Pierce chanted dolefully, “And this is the day of the -final examinations. They mean to find out how little I know.” - -“Oh-h!” moaned Rosamond. “I’m scared stiff.” - -Then Betty surprised them all by asking: “What’s scaring you, Rosie? You -know your lessons, don’t you?” - -“Indeed I do! I know every word in every book from cover to cover,” -Rosie responded. “And so do we all, for that matter, for we’ve been over -them together at least twenty times.” - -“Well,” Betty remarked, “my Uncle George told me that fear is really -nothing at all but just our imaginations. I know that there is nothing -to be afraid of, and I’m not going to be afraid of it.” And before the -girls could recover from their astonishment, the last bell rang and they -went to their class-room. - -Miss Donovan smiled encouragingly at them as they entered, and then the -books were taken up and the examination-papers passed. - -Some of the grammar questions were rather hard, and took a clear brain -to think out. Adele glanced anxiously at Betty, but when that little -girl smiled back so reassuringly, she gave her no further thought. - -For an hour and a half the girls wrote and wrote, and then the papers -were taken up and they were allowed fifteen minutes for recreation. - -“Now,” said Rosamond, “what I would like to know is, are we to have a -written examination or is Mr. Dickerson coming in to give us an oral -test?” - -“Mr. Dickerson is the father of five children,” said Gertrude, “so we -need not be in the least afraid of him. He must know that children are -not perfect.” - -Once more in their seats in the class-room, the girls watched the door -eagerly. Would he come or would he not? Suddenly the door opened a crack -and then closed again; but a second later it reopened and Bob Angel -entered, bearing a message for Miss Donovan. He smiled broadly at the -girls as he went out. He felt sure that the message he had brought would -be a welcome one. - -Miss Donovan smiled, too, as she announced, “Mr. Dickerson has been -called away, and so we will have a written examination.” - -When at last the Sunny Seven were out under the elm-tree, Rosamond -dropped down on the bench, exclaiming, “Well, girls, I don’t know how -you all feel, but I am limp.” - -Betty’s eyes were shining. “Wasn’t Miss Donovan a dear to give us so -many i-e words!” she exclaimed joyously. “I almost think that I might as -well name the pony.” - -The next day Miss Donovan announced the result of the examinations, and -she said: “First of all, I want to congratulate Betty Burd. Her grammar -and spelling were perfect.” Then she added kindly, “Betty is to be -excused from the test in arithmetic, because she is to be tutored in -that subject during the summer, and then she will be promoted with the -rest of the class in the fall.” - -Such rejoicing as there was when the Sunny Seven were again under the -elm-tree. Betty wanted the other girls to go home with her, and so -across the meadows they joyously took their way. Into the house Betty -danced, shouting, “Mumsie! Mumsie! I passed perfect in grammar and -spelling.” - -“It isn’t possible!” exclaimed her delighted and astonished mother, as -she hurried from the library, embroidery in hand. But the card which -Betty triumphantly produced verified this startling statement. - -“Your Uncle George came home early this afternoon,” Mrs. Burd said. “He -is in the study.” - -But Mrs. Burd was wrong, for Uncle George, having heard the joyous -commotion, knew that it could have but one meaning and was already in -the hall. - -“Just good enough to be true, Betsy Bobbets,” he exclaimed when he had -heard the glorious news. Then Betty, remembering her manners, introduced -the six girls, and Rosamond mentally decided that Uncle George was ever -so good-looking and not so awfully old either. - -“And now,” said that young man gayly, “let’s visit the barn.” - -“Oh! Oh!” cried the delighted Betty, “Is that darling pony here this -very minute?” - -The pony was indeed there, and the girls all gave exclamations of -admiration when they beheld him, for even Firefly was not more handsome. - -Then each of the seven rode on his back around the circular drive, and -Rosamond declared that a rocking-chair could not be more comfortable. - -“I ought to name him Spelling or Grammar, I suppose,” Betty declared. -“But since he has a white spot on his forehead, I’m going to call him -Star.” - -Then, when Uncle George had led the pony back to his stall, Mrs. Burd -called the girls to the wide side-porch, which was so attractive and -cosy with deep wicker chairs, comfortable cushions, and here and there -big drooping ferns on wicker pedestals. When they were seated, Melissy, -the colored maid, brought out cold lemonade and little nut-cookies. - -“Well,” said Betty with a happy sigh, “I really do not deserve these -high marks, for if Uncle George had not bribed me, and if you girls -hadn’t encouraged and helped me, I probably would still be spelling -‘believe’ with an e-i.” - -“Next year,” Gertrude said wisely, “we will learn our lessons each day -as we go along, and then we shall not have to over-study just before the -examinations.” - -“And now,” Rosamond declared, “since vacation is here, we must plan to -give that fudge party which we promised the boys.” - - - - - CHAPTER ELEVEN - - VACATION DAYS - - - “Vacation days have come again, - Joyous, glad, and free. - We’ll brim them full of happiness - As ever days could be.” - -Adele sang this little song as she and the Sunny Six skipped across the -meadows on that last day after school. Then, parting with her friends at -the cross-roads, she went on her homeward way, walking more demurely, -since she was now in the village, but her thoughts were dancing as -joyously as before. - -“I’m so happy, so happy!” she said to herself. “I wish I might share it -with some one who hasn’t as much as I have.” - -And just as she turned in at the lilac gate, she thought of the some -one. Into the house she skipped, and, pausing in the lower hall, she -called eagerly, “Mumsie mine, where are you?” - -“Climb the golden stairs, daughter,” a sweet voice replied. And up the -softly-carpeted stairway Adele tripped, and, dancing into her mother’s -sunny sewing-room, she threw her arms about the pretty little woman who -was busily making buttonholes. Then, sinking down on a near-by stool, -she exclaimed, “Adorable Mother, have I been a real good girl this -year?” - -“Indeed you have,” Mrs. Doring replied brightly. And then she laughingly -added, “That reminds me of when you were a little girl, Pet, for you -always asked that when you were about to request a favor.” - -“Did I?” Adele inquired with twinkling eyes, as she took off her -broad-brimmed, daisy-wreathed hat and fanned her flushed face. Then, -laying her head against her mother’s knee, she added, “Mumsie, darling, -I haven’t changed very much, I guess, for I want to ask a great, big, -and perfectly beautiful favor of you. And since I have been so good, -don’t you think that you might say yes?” - -“Oho, Mistress Adele,” laughed her mother, “I cannot grant a favor -unless I know what it is.” - -“It’s something just ever so nice,” Adele said, “and it won’t be a mite -of trouble to you. I want to invite that orphan girl, Eva Dearman, over -to spend Saturday and Sunday. She’s just a dear, mumsie, and her home -was as nice as ours before her father lost his money and died, and then, -soon after that, her mother was taken. Oh, mumsie, when I think how it -might have been me, homeless and all alone, I’m so thankful, and yet -that makes me all the sorrier for Eva, and I would so like to share my -home with her just for two days.” - -There were tears in Mrs. Doring’s eyes as she held Adele close. Then she -said: “Do go and get Eva this very moment. I would like to meet your -friend.” - -“Oh, Adorable Mother!” Adele exclaimed as she sprang up. “I fly to do -your bidding. I’m sure that Mrs. Friend will be willing to let her come, -and won’t Eva be happy, though!” - -Adele tossed her school-books into her room as she hurried past, and -then down the stairs she flew. Out to the barn she skipped, and soon -Firefly was hitched to the little red cart. Adele waved to her mother as -she drove out of the lilac gate. She was so happy that, as soon as the -village was passed, she just had to sing. - -In the orphanage Eva Dearman was patiently helping Amanda Brown with her -mending, little dreaming of the joy that was soon to be hers. - -Adele drew rein in front of the rambling brick building, and telling -Firefly that he should have a lump of sugar if he would stand just ever -so still until she came back, into the Home she went. - -Mrs. Friend’s cheery voice bade her enter the office, and how the kind -matron beamed when she saw Adele’s shining face. - -“Why, lassie,” she exclaimed, “you look as though the nicest thing -imaginable was just about to happen.” - -“And so it is,” Adele replied, “if you will be a kind fairy and grant my -wish.” - -“It is granted,” exclaimed Mrs. Friend. “Now tell me what it is.” - -“I want to borrow one of your children for over Sunday. Mother would -have written a note, but she was too busy making buttonholes for the -Lend-a-Hands,” Adele explained. - -“A note is not at all necessary,” Mrs. Friend replied. “Which of my -children do you wish to borrow? I’m like the old woman who lived in the -shoe: I have so many children, I don’t know what to do.” - -“Can’t you guess which one I want to borrow?” Adele asked. And the -matron smilingly replied, “Indeed I can, and you will find Eva in the -sewing-room, I believe.” - -“Thank you, Mrs. Friend!” the girl exclaimed gratefully, and then she -tripped down the hall and rapped on a door. Eva herself opened it, and -with a little cry of joy she stepped out and exclaimed, “Oh, Adele, I’ve -just been pining to see you.” - -“Eva,” Adele said mysteriously, “you have an invitation. Would you like -to accept it?” - -Eva caught her friend’s hands, and with shining eyes she replied, “Would -I? Why, Adele, that’s a needless question! Indeed I would! Is it for all -of the girls, or is it just for me?” - -“Just for you this time,” Adele replied, and then she told her what the -invitation was. - -Tears rushed to Eva’s eyes, but through them a radiant smile was shining -as she joyously exclaimed, “Am I really and truly to live in your home -for two whole days?” - -Adele had not thought that it would mean so much to the little orphan. - -Half an hour later, Eva, dressed in her Sunday best and looking -radiantly happy, sat beside Adele in the little red cart, and Firefly, -having had his lump of sugar, was trotting along in his briskest -fashion. - -“Oh, Adele,” Eva exclaimed joyfully, “I was having such a hard time to -see the sunny side of life this morning, but now just everything sings -and glows.” - -And Adele, having brought so much joy to another, was radiantly happy -herself. - -Soon they were turning in at the driveway, and there was Adorable Mother -waiting on the porch to greet them. Her heart had been full of -tenderness for this orphan even before she had seen her, but when she -beheld the slender, graceful girl with soft golden-brown hair, which, -though braided, would escape in ringlets, and the sweet blue eyes which -looked up at her so yearningly, those mother-arms reached out and held -Eva in close embrace. - -“Mumsie, dear,” laughed the delighted Adele, “is it manners to hug a -young lady before you’ve been introduced?” - -“Yes, and kiss her, too,” Mrs. Doring replied, as she kissed Eva’s -flushed cheeks, and then she added kindly, “Adele’s friend is very -welcome to our home.” - -“Thank you, Mrs. Doring,” Eva said, smiling through the tears that would -come. - -“There now,” Mrs. Doring said briskly, “you two girls skip up-stairs and -have a nice visit before supper.” - -So up the broad and softly-carpeted stairway they went, hand in hand. -Eva gave an exclamation of delight when they entered Adele’s room. - -“It’s just like a fairy bower, and I’m so glad that I know the fairy who -lives in it.” - -It was indeed a pretty room. The wallpaper was the color of pale -sunshine, and looped about on it, here and there, were wreaths of wild -roses. The window-seat coverings, the curtains, the downy sofa-pillows, -all carried out the wild-rose design. There were bird’s-eye-maple -furniture, low shelves overflowing with good books, a little brass bed, -its pale yellow spread bordered with wild roses, and the big drooping -fern in the sunny bay-window. Surely there never was a cheerier room, -nor one better suited to the maiden who dwelt therein. - -“I’m glad that you like it,” Adele exclaimed, “and some day I want a -picture of you to put in this long frame with my very best friends, the -Sunny Six.” - -“Do you really?” Eva asked happily. “Oh, Adele, you are so dear and so -good to me that it isn’t a bit hard to see the sunny side when you are -around. Now if it’s manners, I’m going to poke about and examine your -room, just as if I were visiting a museum.” - -“Of course it’s manners,” laughed Adele. “I’m very proud of my -ornaments. Father’s younger brother is a great traveler, and he has -brought me things from all parts of the world. See this blue bowl with -the dragon wound about it? A little girl in Japan gave it to Uncle Dixon -for me. He said that her name was Wistaria, and that she looked as -though she had just stepped off of a Japanese fan.” - -“Wouldn’t you love to see her!” Eva exclaimed. “I’m so eager to visit -Japan some day when the cherry-trees are in blossom, and sit on the -floor and drink tea in the funny way that they do.” - -So with happy chatter the two girls wandered about the room, and Adele -told the story of each ornament. Then drawing Eva to the long mirror, -she laughingly exclaimed, “And now I will show you the life-sized -portrait of two beautiful girls.” Eva, looking in the mirror, saw two -happy faces smiling out at them. - -“Look closely,” Adele was saying. “See how true to life the artist has -made them. He has even put in the freckles.” Suddenly a boy’s voice -exclaimed from the doorway, “Vanity! Vanity! Thy name is Girl!” - -“Oh, Jack Doring!” Adele cried, whirling about. “It isn’t any such -thing. You were in front of your mirror for ages this morning, trying on -seven different neckties. But, oh, I forgot. Eva, you haven’t met my -brother Jack, have you? He isn’t famous for anything as yet, unless it -is for dodging work.” - -“How do you do, Miss Eva?” Jack said solemnly, as he made a low bow. -“Don’t believe a word that Sis says. I have acquired fame this very day, -of which my small sister knows nothing. I have been appointed Pirate the -Terrible, which means that I am now chief of the band of pirates to -which I belong; and, by the way, Sis, they are all coming over here this -evening to get that fudge which you promised to make for us when we -delivered the box.” - -“Honestly, Jack Doring?” Adele asked. “Why, I don’t believe that there’s -a square of chocolate in the whole house.” - -“Well, there will be,” Jack replied. “You see to inviting the girls and -I’ll get the chocolate and the walnuts. Mother said that we might have -the kitchen to-night.” - -When Jack had gone his way, Adele hugged her friend as she exclaimed, -“It will be a party for you, Eva, and I want you to have just the nicest -time.” Then, as the supper-bell was ringing, they made ready and went -down the stairs, arm in arm. - - - - - CHAPTER TWELVE - - THE FUDGE PARTY - - -As Adele and Eva entered the big pleasant library, which was living-room -for the Dorings, a tall man rose from a deep, comfortable chair, and, -laying aside the evening paper, turned to greet them. - -“This is my Giant Father!” Adele exclaimed. “Eva, I am introducing you -to the nicest man in the whole world.” - -Giant Father shook hands with Eva, and was just about to say some kindly -word of welcome when the side-door banged, and Jack, cap in hand, -appeared before them. “Sis,” he cried, “cast your eye upon this package! -Does it look like chocolate enough? And here are the nuts. It took all -the money I have earned this month to make these purchases.” - -“Earned!” exclaimed Adele. “Doing what?” - -“Children! Children!” Mrs. Doring laughingly admonished from the -doorway. And then she added, “Come now, since Jack has returned we will -have our supper.” - -When they were seated at the table, Adele gayly exclaimed, “Yes, Jackie, -since we have a guest, let us have peace to-night.” - -“I’ll gladly have a ‘piece’ of yonder chocolate mountain,” Jack said, as -he waved his hand toward a large cake such as no one could make, so he -thought, except their own cook, Kate. And Kate, serving the supper, -beamed happily on the brown head of the boy who had been the darling of -her heart ever since he had been placed in her arms fourteen years -before. It was indeed her chief happiness to make or bake something for -her boy, Jack. - -The merry supper in such a happy home brought tender memories rushing to -the heart of the orphan girl, but bravely she thought, “I must -appreciate what I have and stop grieving for what I cannot have.” - -When the supper was over Adele drew Eva into a little room near the -library. “This is Giant Daddy’s den,” she said. “Come in and close the -door. I want to telephone to the Sunny Six and invite them to the fudge -party.” - -Soon the line was busy, for Adele was holding merry conversations with -first one of her friends and then another. Yes, indeed, Betty Burd could -come, and wouldn’t it be jolly fun! - -“What shall I bring?” Peggy Pierce asked. “Just your own sweet self,” -Adele replied. Bob, Jack’s pal, had told Bertha Angel about the party, -and she said that she and Gertrude Willis would come together. Doris -Drexel lived next door to Adele, so all that she had to do was to crawl -through the hole in the hedge. - -Rosamond Wright said that she had to take a music-lesson first. Oh, yes, -she would come to the party after that. Why, she wouldn’t miss it for -worlds, but she _might_ be late. - -“They can all come,” Adele announced, as she arose from the desk on -which the phone stood, and then, taking Eva by the hand, she dragged her -gayly toward the kitchen. - -“We’ll help Kate do the supper work,” she announced, “and then we can be -getting the place ready for the party.” - -With so many helping hands, the room was soon in apple-pie order. Adele -explained to Eva about the club to which her brother belonged. “It’s the -luckiest thing,” she declared. “There are just seven girls in our club -and there are seven boys in Jack’s, so when we give parties we have an -even number. Not that we pair off. I don’t believe that any of the boys -like one girl more than another. They are just our brothers, you see. Of -course, being boys, they are not content to have a nice quiet club like -ours. Last year they had been reading Cooper, so they called themselves -‘The Mohicans,’ and such blood-curdling yells as they could give. -Sometimes they would dress up like Indians and paint their faces and -swoop down upon us girls when we were in the woods, and, truly, they -would frighten us, even though we knew perfectly well who they were. -This year they are reading Stevenson, and so their club is The Jolly -Pirates. They have elected Jack as their chief, and they call him Pirate -the Terrible.” - -Just then the front-door bell rang and Adele skipped away, soon to -return with five girls, all of whom welcomed Eva gladly, and then -laughingly they made deep curtsies to Jack, who had just appeared. That -good-looking boy, in return, bowed in most courtly fashion. - -A few moments later another bell rang, and Adele, opening the side-door, -peered out into the gathering darkness. - -On the porch stood six boys. The head of each was covered with a black, -shroud-like cloth, and in a melancholy tone they chanted: - - “Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest. - Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.” - -“Oh, boys!” Adele exclaimed. “Do take off those dreadful black things! -You give me the shivers, even though I do know who you are.” - -But the six black figures stood motionless, and then one asked, in a -deep, gruff voice, “Is this the home of Pirate the Terrible?” - -“Yes, it is,” laughed Adele, “but he isn’t so very terrible just now, -for he has on a calico apron and he’s cracking nuts for the fudge.” - -Then, to the surprise of the onlookers, the boys jumped up into the air, -and, clicking their heels together, they shouted in chorus, “Yo-ho! -Jolly Pirates, seize the fudge!” Then, snatching off their black -headgear, six laughing boyish faces were revealed, and Bob Angel cried, -“In, my good men, and enjoy the revelry. Rich entertainment awaits you.” - -“You ought to say, ‘In, my _bad_ men,’ I should think, if you are -playing pirates,” Adele suggested. Then she added, “Eva, permit me to -introduce to you my brother’s boon companions, the Jolly Pirates. I -won’t tell you their names just at first; it would be too confusing. -I’ll let you learn them gradually. Now, boys, you may sit over here with -Jack and crack nuts. And Peggy, you’d better stay near them and see that -they put the nuts into the bowl.” - -“Oh, let’s trust to their honor,” Peggy gayly replied. Meanwhile Doris -Drexel was grating the chocolate, and soon the candy-making was well -under way. - -“It’s strange that Rosie doesn’t arrive,” Adele said at last. “It’s -quite dark now, and she may be afraid to come alone. Perhaps—” But -before Adele could say another word, some one stumbled up on the side -steps, the kitchen door burst open, and there stood Rosamond with wide, -startled eyes, and face as white as a sheet. - -“Rosie!” Adele cried in alarm. “What is the matter?” - -“I saw a ghost!” Rosamond exclaimed, as she glanced fearfully out of the -still open door. - -“It must be some one playing a prank,” said Jack, who had risen. Then he -added, “Up, Jolly Pirates! Let us fare forth and capture this ghost.” - -The fudge, which was already on the buttered tins, was set to cool, and -so the girls declared that they would go along. Not one of them believed -that Rosie had seen a real ghost, for they all knew that she was timid -and imaginative. - -Rosie, however, was convinced that she had seen a being supernatural, -and so she clung to Adele’s arm fearfully as they went out into the warm -night. In the sky were low, gray clouds, which were slowly drifting. -Occasionally the moon appeared in a rift, and then it was dark again. - -“It will rain before morning,” Dick Jensen said. - -“Now, Rosie,” Jack Doring exclaimed, when they were out on the highway, -“I am Pirate the Terrible. Lead me to your ghost and I will scare him so -that I will make his bones rattle.” - -“I saw it in the orchard, right at the cross-roads,” said Rosie. - -“Follow me!” Jack commanded. “We’ll take a short cut through the -graveyard.” - -At that Rosamond stopped and exclaimed, “Jack Doring, you’ll do no such -thing. There are tombstones in the graveyard,—you know there are!” - -“Of course I know it,” Jack agreed. “But, my dear Rosie, did you ever -hear of a stone, tomb or otherwise, taking legs unto itself and pursuing -a young lady?” - -“No-o,” Rosamond reluctantly admitted. “But graveyards are so scary.” - -“We will stay on the high-road,” Adele said, wishing that they had not -come, since Rosie seemed really frightened. - -The cross-roads was a lonely spot. There had been a pleasant home -standing on one corner, but it had recently burned, leaving only a -charred ruin and a yawning cellar. In the fitful moonlight this looked -very ghostly. Beyond was an old apple-orchard, and on the far corner -near the fence stood— - -“Look! Look!” cried Rosie, clutching Adele. “There it is! There’s the -ghost. Right there—all in white!” - -They all stopped and stared,—the girls startled, the boys puzzled,—for, -truly enough, a tall, white figure stood silently in front of them. Then -suddenly an unearthly scream rang through the air, followed by another -from Rosamond. - -“That was a screech-owl,” Jack said. “Now, fellows, if you are worthy of -the name of pirates, show your courage and let’s at the ghost before -Rosie faints.” - -“Yo-ho-ho!” the boys shouted as they ran toward the white apparition. -Then such a merry laugh rang out! - -“Oh, Rosie!” Jack called. “Come, quick, and see what your ghost is.” - -No longer afraid, Rosamond went forward with the others. “What is it?” -she asked. - -“Why, it’s an old tree-trunk,” Bob explained, “and for some reason or -other Mr. Wiggin had it whitewashed.” - -“Well, it looked like a ghost, anyway,” Rosamond said faintly. How the -boys laughed! - -“Never mind our fun, Rosie,” Lawrence Collins called; “we’ve surely had -an exciting adventure. Now, let’s hike back to the fudge, for I am -convinced that it is cool.” - -Then the seven boys locked arms and marched ahead of the girls, chanting -in loud voices: - - “Yo-ho-ho! Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest.” - -“I do wish they wouldn’t sing that dreadful song,” Rosie said with a -shudder. - -Adele laughed as she replied, “I guess that we shall have to put up with -it as long as they are playing Pirates.” - -“I wonder what they will be next,” Peggy Pierce remarked. “You remember -that last year they were Indians.” - -“Many of them will be going up to the city in the fall to attend the -high school, and so probably this will be their last club,” Gertrude -replied. - -They were all rather glad to get back into the warm, cosy kitchen. - -“Good!” cried Betty Burd. “The fudge is cool. It’s so nice and creamy, -and the nuts are just crowding each other.” - -Then followed a happy half-hour in which the candy was eaten amidst much -joking and laughter. Soon thereafter the Jolly Pirates escorted the -Sunny Six to their homes and quiet settled down over the town of -Sunnyside. - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTEEN - - THE TWO DRYADS - - -It was ten o’clock when Eva and Adele went to their room that night. - -“Think of it!” Eva declared with shining eyes. “The orphans at the Home -have been in their beds and sound asleep for two long hours. I feel as -though I were a grown-up young lady, don’t you, Adele?” - -“I do, indeed,” Adele replied, “but to-morrow morning we may sleep as -late as we wish.” - -“Oh, what a treat that will be!” Eva said, as she nestled down in the -soft bed. “In the Home we have to be up at six.” - -But, for all their resolution to sleep late, both of the girls were wide -awake with the robins who lived in the apple-tree nearest the window. -Eva sat up and exclaimed, “Oh, Adele, wouldn’t it be lovely on the top -of Lookout Hill so early in the morning! I’ve often wanted to climb up -there.” - -“Let’s go!” Adele replied. - -An hour later, the two girls, having breakfasted in the kitchen, even -Kate, the cook, being still asleep, started out on the highway. - -“I left a note at mother’s place on the table,” Adele said, “and I told -her that we might be gone all the morning.” - -Hand in hand the two girls skipped along the deserted road, through the -village and out into the country. - -There the dwellers in tree and grass were awake; no laggards were they. - -“Good morning to you, little squirrel,” Eva called gayly, as a little -red creature darted by. Adele noted with pleasure her friend’s shining -face. - -“Good-morning, meadow-lark,” she called to a bird which was perched on a -fence-post, warbling its cheeriest song. Then, single file, they tripped -over the little brown path which led across the Buttercup Meadows and on -up the hill. - -“Look at yonder gnarled oak-tree,” Adele exclaimed. “If we rapped upon -it, do you suppose a door would open and a girl dryad would appear?” - -“Oh!” Eva cried, as she stretched her arms out toward the glistening -fields which lay below them. “I almost wish that I _was_ a dryad and -that I could live forever in the wonderful green out-of-doors.” - -“Let’s play that we are dryads,” suggested Adele, who had not outgrown -her delight in making-believe. - -“Very well,” Eva gayly replied, as she began to unbraid her thick golden -hair. “We’ll weave garlands of oak leaves and then we’ll dance on the -hill-top.” - -“Oh, Eva!” Adele cried admiringly. “You have the prettiest hair that I -ever saw. You are like a fairytale princess, whose golden tresses hung -like a mantle over her shoulders.” - -“I’m glad,” Eva said simply. “I want to look nice to you. Now shake down -your locks, my nut-brown maid, and I’ll crown you with these oak -leaves.” - -“We ought to have different names,” Adele declared. “You be Dryad Fern -and I’ll be Dryad Oakleaf.” Then, taking Eva by the hand, she called -merrily, “Come, Dryad Fern, let’s sing and dance, where the wild birds -wing and the sunbeams glance.” - -Away they went, skipping and singing, as graceful and lovely as two -dryads could be. On the hill-top, just for the joy of it, Eva whirled -about alone, and Adele, breaking a hollow reed, pretended to play upon -it, when suddenly a strange voice called, “Lovely! Lovely! How lucky I -am to meet two dryads!” - -The girls turned and beheld a young woman who was seated in front of an -easel. “Good morning, little dryads,” she said, with a pleasant smile. -“You see I am painting that oak-tree on the hill-top. I was wishing for -a dryad to appear, and lo, there you were! Now, here you go upon the -canvas!” - -“Oh, how beautiful!” Eva exclaimed, as she looked at the picture of the -hill-top and the gnarled oak and the wide, sunny skies. “If I could -paint like that I should be so happy.” - -The artist looked at the girl with a bright smile. “Perhaps you could if -you tried,” she said. “Have you done any sketching?” - -“No,” Eva replied. “I have not had any chance.” - -“I believe that you might have talent,” the artist said pleasantly. “I -am Madge Peterson, from the city. My young brother and I are spending a -fortnight at Little Bear Lake, and if you two dryads will go down to the -inn with me, I’ll get my things and we’ll go sketching. How would you -like that?” - -“We’d love it!” Adele exclaimed, glad to have pleasant things happening, -for she did so want this to be the happiest weekend of Eva’s whole life. - -Soon the easel and paints were packed and Madge Peterson, who was little -more than a girl herself, having just had her eighteenth birthday, -beamed on her two new friends as she said, “Come now, little dryads; we -will start on our downward way.” - -“Oh,” exclaimed Adele, “I forgot something!” - -“What?” asked Madge, looking up brightly. - -“My manners,” Adele laughingly replied. “Miss Peterson, I never thought -to tell you what our names are.” - -“Why, yes you did,” Madge replied gayly. “You are Dryad Oakleaf and your -friend is Dryad Fern.” - -“Oh, but we change back to girls when we leave the oak-trees,” Adele -said, as she began to braid her wavy brown hair, while Eva did the same -to her golden locks. - -“It’s a pity,” said Madge, who thought that she had never before met two -lovelier girls. - -“There!” Adele exclaimed when their hats were on. “Now, Miss Madge -Peterson, from the city, permit me to introduce to you my friend, Eva -Dearman, and myself, Adele Doring, from Sunnyside.” - -“I am delighted to meet you,” Madge laughingly declared. - -The path they were following was rounding the hill, and suddenly Eva -stood still with an exclamation of joy. - -“Adele,” she cried, “I didn’t know that there was such a lovely little -lake on the other side of Lookout Hill. I have never been in this -direction since I came to the Home.” - -Poor Eva, suddenly realizing what she had said, blushed crimson, and -then she hurriedly explained. “Oh, Miss Peterson, I’m just a girl from -an Orphans’ Home, whom Adele is befriending, out of pity, I guess.” - -“How can you say such a thing, Eva Dearman!” Adele exclaimed, with -flashing eyes, as she put her arm around her friend. “I love you just as -much as I do any of the Sunny Six, and my mother says that it doesn’t -matter what clothes we wear or what house we live in; it’s what we are -that counts.” - -“That is indeed true,” Madge Peterson said kindly. “You are a princess -among girls, Eva, and a princess is no less royal because, for a time, -she is kept in a dungeon.” Then, to change their thought, Madge -exclaimed: “See that sail-boat rounding Pine Island! There’s a merry -breeze down there; you can tell by the ripple on the water. Why, -whatever has happened? The sail-boat has tipped over. Come, let us -hasten down to the shore and see if we can help.” - -Hurriedly they scrambled through the berry-bushes to the edge of the -lake. The up-turned sail-boat was drifting toward them, and a -good-looking lad dressed in white was calmly sitting on the side of it. - -“I declare if that isn’t my brother, Everett,” laughed Madge. Then, -making a funnel of her hands, she called, “Ship ahoy!” - -The lad, looking toward them, recognized his sister with a joyous shout, -and, leaping into the water, he swam ashore and soon stood before them, -dripping wet. - -“Miss Doring and Miss Dearman,” exclaimed Madge mischievously, “may I -present to you my young brother, Everett? If I had not claimed him, you -might have mistaken him for a white water-rat, if such a creature -exists.” - -Everett made a deep bow as he gayly cried, “Young ladies, may I take you -for a sail? My boat will be in directly.” - -“You may row us out to Pine Island in about half an hour,” Madge -declared, “and now we’ll leave you to your fate.” - -“My brother is just learning to sail a boat,” she explained, as she led -the girls toward Little Bear Inn. - -“What pretty gardens!” Eva said. “And, oh, what a picturesque, rambling -old house!” - -The inn was built of rough logs, and all about it stood great old -pine-trees, through which the breeze was murmuring. - -“I do love pine-trees,” Adele exclaimed. “There’s something so restful -about them.” - -“I like them, too,” Madge said, as she led the girls across the wide -veranda, on which were rustic chairs and tables and green bowls filled -with ferns and wild flowers. - -Eva thought that she had never seen anything more attractive than the -big cool room which they next entered. There were heavy beams overhead, -and the furniture was green willow, comfortably upholstered in dark red. -There were antlers on the wall, and pictures of deer drinking at the -edge of the lake. - -“Do look!” Eva exclaimed. “Here is a picture of the darlingest little -bear. Oh, Miss Peterson, was the lake named after him, do you suppose?” - -“So they say,” Madge replied. “There is a story about it, which as yet I -have not heard.” - -Madge excused herself and went to her own room to put away her easel and -paints and to get her sketching materials. A moment later she returned -with shining eyes. “Little dryads,” she said, “I have a beautiful plan. -You don’t have to hurry back, do you?” - -“Not if I can let mother know where we are,” Adele replied. “She will be -expecting us home about noon, and I do not want her to be worried. We -left so early that I haven’t seen her to-day.” - -Madge Peterson pointed toward a table in the far corner of the room as -she laughingly declared, “Yonder is the modern Mercury, who will gladly -carry a message to your mother.” - -“Good!” exclaimed Adele when she saw the telephone. “But, Miss Peterson, -you have not told me what I am to say to my mother.” - -“Ask her if you may stay to lunch with me and spend the afternoon,” -Madge replied. - -“Oh, how nice that will be,” Adele said. “And I am sure that Adorable -Mumsie will say Yes.” - -She was quite right. Mrs. Doring, knowing that she could rely upon -Adele’s good judgment, readily granted the permission desired. - -“I’m so glad,” Madge Peterson said gayly. “Now I’ll hie me kitchenward -and have a basket filled with good things to eat. Then we’ll hunt up -brother Everett, who is a much better oarsman than sailor, and he will -row us out to that lovely Pine Island. It’s just an enchanting place for -a picnic-lunch, and there are such pretty things to sketch.” - -The two girls were delighted with this plan, and they little dreamed of -the exciting adventures they were to have before they returned. - - - - - CHAPTER FOURTEEN - - PINE ISLAND - - -Half an hour later the merry trio wended their way again toward the -lake. Eva and Adele were carrying a well-laden basket between them, -while Madge carried the box of sketching materials. As they neared the -boat-house, they beheld Everett, neatly clad in a dry suit of white -flannels. By the side of the dock was moored a wide, comfortable-looking -boat. - -The youth saluted them as they neared the lake, and then sprang to take -the basket from the girls. This he stowed in the stern as he exclaimed, -“Oh, sister of mine, I do hope that yon wicker receptacle contains about -one hundred pies and two hundred doughnuts, a dozen boiled lobsters, -and—” - -“You may be sure that it doesn’t,” his sister interrupted, “but, to tell -you the truth, I am as ignorant of its contents as you are. Ching Ling, -the kindly Chinese gentleman who presides over the kitchen at the inn, -filled it for me, and as yet I haven’t peeped under the cover.” - -“Oh-h!” groaned Everett in pretended dismay. “What if Chingaling gave us -fried-mouse sandwiches and—” - -“Everett Peterson! We’ll leave you behind if you make any more such -terrible suggestions,” Madge threatened. - -“Well, that’s what Chinese children eat in their native land, isn’t it?” -laughed Everett. “And as for leaving me behind, I’m pretty sure that you -won’t do that, as I do not believe that any of you know how to row.” - -“I do, a little,” Eva replied, as Everett unfastened the boat. A few -strong, swift strokes sent the craft dancing out on the sunny blue lake. -Eva, with shining eyes, looked happily about her. Madge and Adele -visited, while Everett, with long strokes, sent the little craft over -the sparkling water, and soon the keel grated on the sandy beach of the -prettiest island imaginable. It seemed dense with pine trees where they -had landed, but at the other end they beheld a rocky point. They had -entered a quiet little cove, and, with Everett’s assistance, the girls -were soon climbing over the bow and then the boat was drawn high on the -sand. - -“Oh! Oh!” Eva exclaimed to Adele, as she caught her friend’s hand. -“Isn’t this the prettiest place! Adele, pinch me, will you, and see if I -am really myself. It doesn’t seem possible that only yesterday I was an -Orphans’ Home girl. To-day I feel like—like Cleopatra, or somebody rich -and luxurious.” - -“Please don’t feel like Cleopatra,” laughed Madge, who had heard the -last part of the sentence. “I’d much rather go a-picnicking with Dryad -Fern than with that historical lady, if it’s all the same to you. Come -now, let’s select our banquet-hall, for my small brother declares that -he will turn cannibal and eat us if we do not soon spread the viands.” - -“Look! There’s the prettiest place under those two pines that seem to be -twins,” Adele exclaimed. - -“True enough!” said Madge. “And the ground is covered with dry -pine-needles.” Then, turning to her brother, she gayly called, “My good -Man Friday, bring the basket and follow us.” - -Everett didn’t much care what he was called, as long as he was being -called to a feast, and so with several long strides he reached the place -ahead of the girls. - -“Yum! Yum!” he said as he placed the basket on the ground. “Please do -hurry and give me some.” - -“Isn’t it fun not to know what is in the basket!” Adele exclaimed, as -Madge knelt down and took off the red table-cloth which covered the top. - -“A bit of color to enliven the scenery,” Everett said, as he helped Eva -spread the cloth on the ground. - -“Now,” Madge exclaimed mysteriously, “within our basket are four square -boxes, one apiece. I’ll give you the biggest one, Everett, even if it -isn’t manners.” - -“Thanks for your generosity,” Everett exclaimed. “I shall eat every -crumb which this box contains.” - -“Perhaps it’s something which doesn’t crumble,” Adele suggested. - -Everett lifted the cover just a crack and peeped under. - -“Ha!” he exclaimed mysteriously. “My fondest hopes are realized. To -think that I may have the contents of this box all for myself.” - -“Oh, Everett, you are so provoking!” Madge cried. “Do let us see what is -in it.” - -“Very well,” Everett replied. “You may have a look and a sniff if you -like, but nary a bite, for there’s just enough here for me.” - -The curious girls peered into the box which Everett held out, and Madge -joyously exclaimed, “Oh, wasn’t Ching Ling just a dear. He has given us -four fried chickens,—one apiece. Here are some wooden plates. Everett, -you may have the biggest bird, for I do suppose that you are the -hungriest, having been for a sail and an unexpected swim this morning. -Now, Adele, here’s a box for you, and one for Eva.” - -“Lettuce sandwiches!” Adele announced when she had removed the cover. - -“Olives and pickles!” Eva said gleefully when she peered in her box. - -“Olives!” sang out Adele. “I just adore them.” - -“Woe is me!” moaned Everett. “How I wish that I had been born an olive!” - -“Everett, do behave yourself and bring us a bucket of fresh water,” -Madge commanded. - -Soon the feast was spread and the tin cups filled with sparkling water, -and Everett’s nonsense was stilled only because he was so busy gnawing -at the chicken. - -When nothing was left but crumbs and bones, Everett exclaimed -tragically, “Sister, can it be that Chingaling forgot the dessert?” - -“Why, there must be dessert of some kind, somewhere,” Madge said as she -looked about. “Oho!” she added brightly. “Here is the fourth box. I -forgot to open it.” - -“Do not keep me in suspense,” Everett cried. “Is it, can it be, the one -hundred oozy pies?” - -“No,” Madge replied, as she took from the box a chocolate cake with -thick frosting. - -“Ah, well,” said Everett resignedly. “Deeply as I regret the loss of the -one hundred pies, I will condescend to accept a piece of chocolate cake. -I did not say a crumb,” he added, as Madge handed him a slice. - -At length the merry meal was over, and the things cleared away. Then -Madge exclaimed, “Now, Everett, you and Adele may explore the island if -you wish, for Eva and I are going to sketch.” - -“Come, fair maid!” Everett exclaimed. “We’ll pretend this is a South Sea -Island and that we are about to have an exciting adventure.” - -That they truly were to have an exciting adventure, they little dreamed. - - - - - CHAPTER FIFTEEN - - AN EXCITING ADVENTURE - - - “On this little island are pine-trees green. - A nicer little island, I’m sure was never seen, - With a hi-hi-hi, and a ho-ho-ho! - There may be cannibals lurking about; - There are some snakes in the rocks, no doubt; - But if there are, we will scare them out, - We merry explorers, ho!” - -Everett shouted, as he and Adele started to explore the pretty Pine -Island. - -“The snakes are more apt to scare us out,” Adele said laughingly, when -the lad paused for breath. - -Meanwhile Madge selected a spot with a view of the rocky point. One -little pine-tree, bent by the wind, stood on the top. Eva, who had -longed to learn to draw and paint, and who had covered many a page with -imaginary pictures of fairies and elves, was eagerly waiting for her -first lesson. Madge gave her a drawing-board on which a piece of paper -was fastened with thumb-tacks, and then she said, “Now, Dryad Fern, you -lean back against this stump and sketch for me that pine-tree on the top -of yonder rocks.” - -Then Madge made herself comfortable a short distance away and continued -to work on a sketch which she had started the day before. - -Adele and Everett, exploring the island, were nearing the upper end, -where the ground was rougher and the underbrush more dense. - -Thinking to take a short cut to the rocky point, they found themselves -deep in a briery tangle of bushes. - -“I hope you won’t think that I’m overly scary,” Adele said, as she stood -still, “but I don’t like to walk where I can’t see the ground, for I -might step on a snake.” - -“Not pleasant to contemplate,” Everett agreed. “But if you will follow -close after me, I’ll step on him first, and—” - -“Hark!” Adele whispered. “I heard a noise in those bushes just ahead of -us.” - -“So did I,” said Everett softly. “And, what is more, I saw a -strange-looking creature that was trying to slink away. It walked like a -man and yet looked like a bear. I am certainly puzzled to know what it -can mean, for I am sure that no one lives on this island. If you will -stand still here, I will peer over those rocks and see if the creature -is there.” - -Adele, though usually fearless, could feel her heart beating as she -stood waiting, while Everett crept, oh, so still, toward the point of -rocks. Suddenly he heard a digging noise which came from behind a -bowlder. Stealing toward it, he cautiously peered over and beheld a -sight which made even his brave heart beat quicker. A long-haired man, -who was dressed in a bear’s skin, was digging in the ground among the -rocks with feverish haste. - -Suddenly he leaped up into the air, giving animal-like cries of joy. -Then out of the hole which he had dug he lifted an iron box, which -Everett could see was full of something which glittered. - -“I must get the girls away from here at once,” Everett thought, as he -stole back to Adele. To her he said hurriedly, “The man is evidently a -miser who lives in this wild end of the island.” - -Then, as they turned to go back to the place where they had left the -others, he added, “Do you know there is something very strange about -this? Camping parties are continually coming to Pine Island, and if -there were a wild man living here, he would surely be seen by others and -the fact become known.” - -“That is true,” said Adele. “Then what do you think it may be?” - -“I honestly don’t know,” Everett replied; “but having a little of the -Sherlock Holmes instinct, I don’t believe that it is just what it -seems.” - -“Hark!” Adele cried, clutching Everett’s arm. “What was that?” - -“It was the report of a gun, and there is another and another! Adele, -this is certainly mysterious,” Everett said. “I am going to ferret it -out. Will you go back to the girls?” - -“I would like to go with you,” Adele replied. - -“Then come,” the boy said. “We will creep along the shore and approach -the point of rocks from this side.” - -The firing had ceased, and there was no noise save the murmuring of the -wind in the pines. - -Everett led the way up the rocks and Adele followed. Suddenly, as they -rounded a huge bowlder, Everett stopped and pointed ahead of them. -“Look! There is a cave!” he whispered. “This is evidently where the wild -man lives.” - -But Adele’s gaze was fastened to the point of rocks beyond. Suddenly she -burst into a merry peal of laughter. - -Everett was indeed puzzled. “Adele,” he exclaimed, “why do you laugh?” - -“Do you see the flag which is flying on yonder rocks?” she asked. - -“Whew!” Everett whistled. “Why, that’s a black flag with a skull and -crossbones. Surely the days of pirates are long since passed.” - -“You are wrong there,” Adele replied, no longer afraid, but desiring -further to mystify the city lad. “Follow me and I will show you the -pirates.” - -The girl now took the lead, and over the rocks she clambered. Down on -the other side was a sheltered cove. Adele peered over and then silently -she beckoned Everett to come closer. - -The lad’s alarm was changed to amusement when he saw, on the shore -below, six boys dressed as pirates, with bright handkerchiefs about -their heads. One or two of them had earrings hanging from their ears, -and each one had a belt containing a knife and a cutlass and a pistol. -They were sitting in a circle around a camp-fire, and the two silent -listeners could hear clearly every word that was spoken. - -One pirate was talking excitedly. “Shiver my timbers!” he said. “At last -we have found what we came for. You remember Ben Gunn, who was left on -this deserted island three years ago? Well, this minute I sighted the -old sea-dog, hairy and almost bent double, but, dash my buttons, men, if -he hasn’t found that treasure that we’ve sailed the seas to get.” - -Then up rose Pirate the Terrible, and in a roaring voice he issued an -order: “Capture the black-hearted scoundrel at once and bring him to me. -I’ll cut him limb from limb and show him no mercy unless he hands over -the treasure.” - -Then, waving their knives in the air, the five other pirates leaped -around the rocks, returning a moment later with the wild man securely -tied with ropes. - -“Yo-ho!” roared Pirate the Terrible. “So you are Ben Gunn. Three years -you have lived alone on Treasure Island. What did you live on, you -black-hearted scoundrel?” - -“Goat meat and such,” Ben Gunn replied, looking about wildly. - -“And what have you been doing?” roared Pirate the Terrible. - -“Digging for the buried treasure, and, dash my buttons, I have found it, -and we’ll all share equal if you’ll take me away with you on your ship,” -the wild man cried eagerly. - -“Old Sea-Dog,” Pirate the Terrible replied, “you have saved us many -days’ digging, and so we’ll share equal and take you off on the good -ship _Hispaniola_.” - -Then, to the amusement of the onlookers, the pirates and the wild man -began to caper about the fire and sing: - - “Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest. - Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!” - -Adele had risen and was stealing away. Everett followed her, glad indeed -that their scary adventure had ended in so harmless a manner. - -“Do you know those boys who were playing pirates?” he asked, when they -were again on the shore and well out of hearing. - -“I do, indeed,” Adele laughingly replied. “I have the honor of being the -sister of Pirate the Terrible, but just at first I was certainly -scared.” - -As they talked, they approached the spot where they had left the others. - -“More mystery!” Everett cried. “The girls are not here and the boat is -gone.” - - - - - CHAPTER SIXTEEN - - MORE MYSTERY - - -While Adele and Everett had been exploring the island, Madge Peterson -and Eva had been comfortably seated under the pine-trees, sketching the -point of rocks. At first Eva had felt shy and embarrassed, but when she -found that Madge was not watching her, she lost her self-consciousness -and began to draw, and when the sketch was finished she laughingly -exclaimed, “I really ought not to show it to you. I’m afraid I never -shall make an artist.” - -“Indeed you will,” Madge replied brightly. “You have natural talent, and -now I have a beautiful plan to suggest. Have you a guardian or any one -especially interested in you?” - -Eva shook her head sadly. “No one,” she replied simply. - -“Then the matron of the Orphanage is the one whom I must ask if I wish -to obtain permission for you to do something, is she not?” Madge -questioned. - -“Yes, Mrs. Friend is the only mother I have, but she is truly kind. -Every one is kind. Adele has been just like a sister, and now you—” - -“I hope that you will let me be your friend,” Madge Peterson said. “I -sincerely believe that you have a talent for drawing which ought to be -cultivated, and if Mrs. Friend is willing I would like you to come to -the city every Saturday morning and attend the Art Institute.” - -“Miss Peterson!” Eva cried, with glowing eyes. “How wonderful, wonderful -that would be!” - -“We’ll have beautiful times,” Madge exclaimed, “and I feel sure that -Adele has a talent which she, too, would like to cultivate, and you -could come together.” - -“Adele writes verses,” Eva exclaimed joyously. “She can even make up -rhymes while she is talking, and—” - -“Beg pardon, miss,” a strange voice interrupted. “Would you loan me your -boat for half a minute? Mine broke loose and is drifting out into the -lake. I’d be back with both of them in no time, and be ever so much -obliged.” - -Madge, looking up, saw before her a weather-browned, kindly-faced -fisherman, and so she replied pleasantly, “Yes, do take the boat. We -will not need it for half an hour at least.” - -Then, rising, she said to Eva, “Now, Dryad Fern, let us wander about a -bit. I want to show you a pretty view from the other side of the -island.” - -And so it chanced a few moments later, when Adele and Everett arrived on -the scene, they could find neither the girls nor the row-boat. - -“Well, this is strange!” Everett exclaimed. “But I believe that it will -turn out to be as harmless a mystery as the other.” - -“Hark!” Adele said. “I hear the girls calling, and there they come now.” - -“Madge, what has become of our boat?” Everett inquired, and Madge, for -answer, pointed out toward the lake, where Everett saw two boats -approaching the shore. A fisherman was rowing a rather rough-looking -craft and towing their own. Madge explained how it had happened, and the -lad went down to the water’s edge to assist at the landing. - -“Thank ye,” said the fisherman, as he tossed the painter of the little -craft to Everett. “Strangers from the city, I take it,” he added, as he -looked at the youth’s white flannel suit, with a twinkle under his -shaggy eyebrows. “What would ye think now, if ye’d lived on Little Bear -Lake, as I have, for upward of fifteen year, and not been away from it?” - -“Oh, then you must know the story of the Little Bear!” Eva exclaimed -eagerly. “We saw a picture of him over at the inn.” - -“Know the story? I should say I do! Why, little gal, that bear was a -good friend of mine and the Kid’s. If ye’ve time to row over to my -shack, I’ll show ye Little Bear’s skin and tell ye the tale about him. I -live in that clump of trees on the mainland yonder.” - -“We’d love to go,” Madge replied. - -“All aboard!” Everett called, and soon the two boats were crossing the -lake. - -In a grove of pine-trees the rude shack stood. A three-legged stool was -in front of the door through which the party entered. There was very -little furniture in the one room, only things that were absolutely -necessary, and those were homemade, it was plain to see. Over a rustic -bed an Indian blanket was thrown. Three-legged stools, a table, and a -stove completed the furnishings. - -“I cook on a camp-fire mostly,” the fisherman said. “Stoves are too -civilized for the like o’ me, but when it’s winter that stove comes into -its own. Many a blustery night Little Bear and I would come in chilled -to the bone, and we’d make a crackling fire in that rusty old stove, and -glad we were to have it, I kin tell ye!” - -“Oh!” cried Eva. “Did Little Bear live right here with you? Weren’t you -afraid of him? I thought bears were ferocious and ate people up.” - -“Well,” said the old fisherman, “I s’pose there are ferocious ones, -maybe, but to my thinking there’s no creature more good-natured and -kindly-intentioned than a bear. He won’t fight a man unless he sees that -the man means to harm him, and the bear’s in the right to fight then, I -should say.” - -A brown bear-skin was nailed on the wall of the shack. Smoothing the -rough fur, the old man said tenderly, “And this here skin is all that’s -left now of Little Bear. Sit down, and I’ll tell ye the story.” - -“Let’s go outdoors under the pines,” Madge suggested, and so out they -went. The weather-tanned old man sat on the three-legged stool, and the -four young people made themselves comfortable on the soft pine-needles -which formed a thick carpet under the trees. - -“Many years ago,” the fisherman began, “no white men lived on this -lake,—just Injuns and bear and deer. But one summer a lumber-camp was -started where the inn stands to-day, and upwards of twenty white men, -armed with axes and guns and knives, built log huts about and began to -live in them. The lake shore in those days was covered with great -pine-trees, and the concern that owned them wanted them cut down for -lumber, but the Injuns had a notion that they owned those pine woods -themselves, and many a hard fight there was between the reds and the -whites, but the guns beat the arrows in the end, and the Injuns moved -away farther north. Bear and deer were thick in those days, and the -lumbermen had plenty to eat and all the fish they wanted when they took -time to catch them. After a while other white men came and started -sheep-raising and farming. They were always big, husky men, who were -used to roughin’ it, but one day a covered wagon arrived, and in it was -a man and a woman and a baby. - -“The man looked pale and sick-like. He’d come to the woods for his -health, he said. He offered the wood-cutters all the money he had if -they would give food to his wife and child. He himself wasn’t long for -this earth, he said, and he was right, for he died that night. - -“Those rough men were sorry enough for the woman, and they made her as -comfortable as they could. They let her have one of the huts to live in. -She tried to pick up strength for the child’s sake, but she just -couldn’t do it, and a week later she went to join her man. Then there -was that baby boy left in the lumber-camp. The rough men didn’t know -what to do with the kid. Some were for sending him to the nearest -settlement, ten miles away, but one of them had had a kid of his own -once, and he said he’d look out for the young one, so, after that, the -men called Jock Henderson the kid’s foster-father. - -“I’m slow coming to the bear, maybe ye think, for it’s my way to begin -at the beginnin’, but prick up yer ears, for the bear is soon coming. - -“Kid Henderson, as they called the baby, was a jolly little fellow, and -when the men came home from their work, he toddled around and teased to -be tossed up into the air, so one big man and then another would bounce -the Kid, and how he would squeal and laugh! Somehow or other, those -rough men kept things tidier after that, for having a Kid around made it -seem more like home. And, too, they were careful how they talked,—never -said a hard word in that baby’s hearing. Truth was, Kid Henderson had -crept right into the hearts of those rough lumbermen, and, though not -one would have said it, they all loved him like he was their own. That’s -why they was so frantic-like when the Kid was stolen. Did the Injuns -steal him? Well, wait and you shall hear. - -“As I said, the men had all the deer and bear and fish they wanted to -eat, but there was one Irishman, Pat Mahoney, who had a hankering for -bacon, and bacon he was going to have, he said, if he took a week off to -get it. The long and the short of it was that Pat built a pig-pen out of -logs, and then he rode to the nearest settlement and came back with a -litter of little squealing pigs that were just old enough to get on -without the sow. Of course that was a good ways from having bacon, but -Pat said those porkers would be good to eat by winter, and, as it was -then early spring, the men were willing to believe him. Kid Henderson -went wild over those little pigs, and if he had been let, he would have -spent all his time in the pen, rolling about and playing with them. And -now here comes the bear, not Little Bear, I’ll agree, for it was a huge, -big bear that came prowling around the lumber-camp one night, and, -smelling pork, he calmly reached over the fence and carried off one of -the little pigs. Pat Mahoney was mad, I kin tell ye. He set a trap for -old Bruin, but no use, and the next night another little pig was -missing. - -“Then Pat decided to set up and watch and shoot the intruder when he -came prowling around, but something happened before night which made all -the men forget about the pigs. - -“They always put the Kid in the main hut and barred the door on the -outside when they went away to the woods to work, but at noon Jock -Henderson would ride back and get the Kid’s lunch and put him to bed for -his afternoon nap. The Kid was used to being left alone and he didn’t -make a fuss,—just played around on the floor with the rough toys the men -had made for him. - -“Well, the noon of the day after the second pig had been stolen, Jock -Henderson went home the same as usual, but when he got near, he saw that -the hut-door was standing wide open. This was curious, being as the men -had barred it on the outside so’s the Kid nowise could open it. - -“Jock sprang into the hut and looked all around. The Kid wasn’t there! -‘Injuns!’ Jock thought on the instant, but his heart went cold when he -saw what the tracks really was. Not Injuns. No, sir; they war -bear-tracks! Looked as though a big bear had stood up to scratch his -back on the rough bark of that door and had pushed off the bar. Then, of -course, the door had opened and Jock Henderson knew the rest. The big -bear had gone off with the little Kid, just as it had with the pigs. - -“Jock leaped on his horse and followed the bear-tracks. There’d been a -rain the night before and the tracks was easy to find. They led up into -the hills. Jock knew he was running an awful risk, going right up into -the bear’s den, especially if it was a mother-bear with young; but Jock -didn’t care anything about his own life if he could only save the Kid. -He tied his horse in a pine wood because most horses won’t go anywhere -near a bear, and then, taking his gun, he started through the brush and -slowly made his way up the hill. - -“He lost the bear-tracks when the ground became rocky, and he was just -going to change his course when he heard a low growl. Instantly Jock -whirled in that direction, and he saw a huge bear rearing up to its full -height and ready to attack him. There were no trees around, and Jock -knew that his only safety lay in hitting the bear’s heart. If he missed, -the enraged critter would plunge on him and tear him to pieces. - -“Jock Henderson was a good shot, but his nerve was pretty much shaken. -He took aim and fired. The bear stood so still for a second that Jock -feared he had missed it entirely, but in another moment the big fellow -fell in a heap on the ground. - -“Then Jock looked about for some sign of the little Kid, but he didn’t -find any. Maybe he’d come too late, he was just thinking, when suddenly -he saw something which brought tears of joy into his eyes. He had -rounded a heap of rocks, and there, in the doorway of a cave, lay the -Kid, with his head on the woolly back of a little brown bear, and they -were both sound asleep. The old mother-bear had spared the life of the -little child, as bears often do, and a feeling of tenderness came into -Jock’s heart for the poor mother-bear, but of course he had to kill her -to save his own life. - -“Then the lumberman took a strap from around his waist and he made a -muzzle, which he put over the nose of the sleeping cub. Then he lifted -the boy on one arm and took the tiny cub under the other, and down the -hill he went. The small bear was soon awake and struggling for its -freedom. Then the Kid woke up, and finding he was safe in his -foster-father’s arms, he said: ‘Nice bear took Kiddie. Nice bear didn’t -hurt Kiddie.’ - -“Meanwhile the other men wondered why Jock did not return to the woods -that afternoon, and they was all anxious and watching for him when he -appeared with the Kid and the little cub bear. When they heard the -story, many an eye was wet, and the Kid had to tell over and over how -the nice bear took him, but ‘nice bear didn’t hurt Kiddie,’ he would -always say with that winnin’ smile of his. - -“Right then and there the men made up their minds that there wouldn’t -anything get another chance to steal their Kid, and after that they -never left him alone again. If it was fair weather, he was taken to the -camp, and he liked nothing better; while in bad weather the men took -turns staying behind and lookin’ after him, and so the years passed and -the little boy and bear grew up together. Then something happened,” said -the old man with a far-away look in his eyes. “Well, like as not it was -best that it did.” - - - - - CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - - THE LITTLE BEAR - - -“What was it that happened?” the listeners asked eagerly. - -“Well, if ye’re not tired of the story,” the old fisherman said, “I’ll -tell ye the rest of it. The men had decided that since the mother-bear -had been so good to their Kid, they’d be good to her little cub, so they -adopted him, and the bear and the Kid grew up together like two -brothers. - -“Little Bear was soon as tame as a puppy, and though he grew some, he -never became as big as his mother. Little Bear he was always called, and -how he did love the Kid! When the boy was seven years old, the men put -together and bought him a small horse and a rifle, but wherever he went, -Little Bear ambled after him. - -“The men had built a log raft, which they pushed about with poles, and, -when the lake was calm, often the Kid and the bear would sit on the -raft, and the boy would fish. Sometimes the Kid would catch a fish that -wasn’t good to eat. However, Little Bear wasn’t as particular as folks, -but he wouldn’t touch a fish until the Kid tossed it over to him and -called, ‘Little Bear, here’s a fish for ye!’ Then he would snap it and -gobble it up in a hurry. - -“Kiddie never had any other playmate except just Little Bear, and he -never seemed to want any. Nights after grub, when the men were all -sitting around, swapping yarns and smoking, Little Bear would curl up on -the ground and the Kid would lie there with his head on the bear’s back. -How the Kid loved to hear their yarns, and the men made them pretty -exciting, just to amuse him. - -“That winter a man came to the camp with a fiddle. Then ’twas that the -fun began. The bear took to music like a duck to water, and he just -couldn’t lie still while that fiddle was being played. He up on his -hind-legs and galloped about like he was trying to dance. That gave the -Kid the idea of teaching Little Bear to do tricks, and he learned them -easy. Sometimes the Kid would take hold of Little Bear’s paws while the -fiddle was being played, and they would both dance about, and how the -men would shout to see them! Those were happy evenings in the -lumber-camp, happy for the men and for the Kid and the Little Bear. A -fine lad the boy had grown to be,—tall and slim, with frank blue eyes -looking straight at you out of that handsome, weather-tanned face of -his,—and not a bad word did he know, and that was saying a good deal, -bein’ as he was raised in a lumber-camp with rough men. True, Kid hadn’t -any learnin’ ’cept what he’d picked up watchin’ and studyin’ nature’s -ways, that is, he didn’t have any till Fiddler Fritz came; he taught him -to read out of a book which he always lugged around in his pocket. -Poems, he called it,—stories of knights and ladies. Soon the Kid could -read them aloud, but Jock never saw no sense in the story, but he was -powerful proud because his Kid could read. - -“One evening Fiddler Fritz sat smoking, thoughtful-like, and all of a -sudden he said: ‘Jock Henderson, unless I miss my guess, that Kid of -yourn comes of a mighty good family. Maybe ye ought to be looking them -up. Maybe ye’re keeping the Kid from getting a good education and a -start in life.’ - -“Jock Henderson’s heart turned cold inside of him. He’d thought the same -plenty of times, but he couldn’t bear to part with the Kid. Jock saw -that Fiddler Fritz was expecting an answer, and so he said: ‘The Kid’s -mother was a lady; anybody could see that. She only lived a week after -her man died, but she wrote a letter to some brother she had who was -rich, she said. He’d been angry with her for marrying, and so, maybe, -that’s why he never answered her letter. Anyhow, he never did. I mailed -it myself the day after the woman died, and I wrote on the envelope that -we’d keep the child till called for, so I guess nobody’s a better right -to keep the Kid than I have.’ - -“Now, just as Jock Henderson finished speaking, there came a rap on the -door, and Jock said, the minute he heard it, he as good as _knew_ that -it was somebody come to take his Kid away. It had to be a stranger -anyhow, for nobody living in those parts stopped to rap. - -“Jock could hardly open the door, his hand shook so. There stood a tall, -gray-haired man, and by his clothes Jock knew he was from the city. Near -by another man held the bridles of two horses. - -“‘How do ye do, sir,’ the stranger said pleasantly. ‘I have been abroad -for many years, and on my return, last week, I found this letter in my -desk. Can ye explain it to me?’ - -“It was the letter Jock had mailed the day after the boy’s mother had -died. - -“‘Are ye the Kid’s uncle, then?’ Jock asked, and his voice trembled. - -“‘I am the brother of the woman who wrote that letter,’ the man replied. -‘If she had a son, I would like to see him.’ - -“Jock looked down toward the lake. He knew that the Kid had gone walking -along the shore, as he often did at sunset, with Little Bear close at -his heels. - -“‘There he comes now,’ Jock said, as he pointed. And the man, turning, -saw a graceful, bare-headed and bare-legged boy leaping along just for -the joy of it, while Little Bear, who was full-grown by then, was -lumbering along, trying to keep up with him. - -“‘I beat ye, Little Bear!’ the boy cried; and then, seeing that there -were strangers in front of the shack, he stood still and put one arm -about the bear’s neck. - -“The strange man seemed to choke up like. Probably he had been powerful -fond of his sister before he got angry at her. At any rate, he went -toward the boy and said, ‘My lad, I am your mother’s brother; and so I -am your uncle.’ - -“Jock feared that, since the boy wasn’t brought up to meet strangers, he -might act shy-like, but blood tells, and the Kid stepped up with his -frank smile and held out his hand as he said, ‘I thought, sir, that you -might come to see me some day.’ - -“‘I’ve come to take you home with me, my lad,’ the stranger said. But -the Kid looked up quickly, as he replied: ‘Why, sir, I don’t believe -that Jock Henderson could spare me. He’s been all the father I’ve ever -had, sir.’ And then, to Jock’s delight, the boy ran to the rough old man -and caught hold of his hard knotted hand and held it tight. - -“‘Then it’s you I have to thank for making my sister’s child into such a -fine, manly lad, as I can see at one glance that he is,’ the stranger -exclaimed. ‘I won’t take him away from ye, entirely, Jock Henderson, -that I will not. He shall go to the city for his schooling, but it’s -only ten miles away, and every weekend he can come riding back to visit -ye. How would that do, my lad?’ - -“But it was Jock Henderson who answered. ‘That will be a first-rate -plan, Kid,’ he said. ‘I’ve been wanting you to get an education, and all -the week I’ll be waiting for Saturday to come, and so will Little Bear -here. He’ll be as lonesome as I’ll be, won’t ye, Little Bear?’ Jock -asked, trying to be cheerful-like. - -“And that is what happened. The next day the Kid rode away on his own -small horse, which had been his gift one Christmas from all the men. -Lightning, the Kid called him, on account of his speed, and he loved him -next to Little Bear. - -“That was five year ago, and now every Saturday, as sure as the day -dawns, the Kid comes riding down to Little Bear Lake toward evening, to -spend Sunday with old Jock Henderson. - -“The lumber-camp was moved north the year after the Kid left, and all -the men went away except Jock Henderson. He had saved enough money to -live on, and there was plenty of fish and game, and so he built him a -little shack up the lake shore and he and Little Bear settled down to -keep house together. Then the inn was built over where the lumber-camp -had been, and summer people began coming. They all loved Little Bear, -and many a sweetmeat he got there, but one day he ate poison, it seemed -like. He moped about all day Saturday, and when the Kid came, Little -Bear dragged over to him and put his head against the boy, and so he -died. The Kid cried just like a child, and no wonder, for Little Bear -had been his only playmate, just as Jock Henderson had been his only -father.” - -“Where is Jock Henderson now?” Madge asked, with tears in her eyes. - -“He’s telling the story to ye,” the old man said simply. - -“I thought so,” Madge replied. - -Then the old man continued, “The Kid’s right name is Eric Brownley. He’s -fifteen years old now and preparin’ for college.” - -“What!” cried Everett Peterson, springing up. “You don’t mean to tell me -that this is the life-story of our Eric Brownley! Why, he’s our champion -in all the school-games.” - -“Sure he is!” said the old man, with shining eyes. “To-day’s Saturday, -you know, and I’ve been a-watching for him, and, unless I’m mistaken, -here he comes now!” - -The young people looked eagerly in the direction toward which the old -man pointed, and they saw a horse and rider coming on a gallop. - - - - - CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - - A FISH SUPPER - - -The lake road was only a stone’s throw from the shack, and the boy on -horseback was soon at the shore. - -“Hello, Daddy Jock!” he cried before he noticed that there were others -with his foster-father. Leaping to the ground, he gave an exclamation of -pleased surprise, as he cried, “Why, Petey, old man, are you here? I -thought you were off somewhere cramming for the entrance examinations.” - -The two lads shook hands, but not until Jock Henderson had had a warm -hand-clasp from his boy. Everett Peterson laughingly replied, “That’s -why I’m down here, Eric. Nice quiet place to study, don’t you think so? -But let me do the honors. Miss Peterson, Miss Doring, and Miss Dearman, -permit me to introduce you to the scapegrace of our school.” - -Eric smilingly bowed to the girls, as he gayly replied, “‘I deny the -allegation and I defy the alligator,’ but I am truly pleased to meet -three fair maidens in our pine woods.” Then, turning to the old man, who -stood proudly watching him, he exclaimed, “Daddy Jock, you haven’t a -dog-biscuit or any little thing like that around, have you? I’m so -hungry that I could eat more than old Giant Blunderbuss.” - -“We would better be going,” Madge declared, “and then you and Mr. -Henderson can have your supper.” - -“Don’t go, Miss,” Jock Henderson said. “I had great luck this -day,—caught a fine mess of trout,—and if you’ll stay we’ll cook them -over the camp-fire.” - -“I’d powerfully like to accept that invitation!” Everett exclaimed. - -Madge turned to the girls. “Adele,” she said, “could you and Eva remain -longer?” - -Adele glanced at her little wrist-watch as she replied, “It’s nearly -five now, and I ought to be home by six.” - -“We’ll get you there,” Eric declared. “That is, if home isn’t more than -a million miles away.” - -“Not a million, quite,” Adele laughingly replied. “We live in Sunnyside. -Three miles, I think they call it.” - -“No distance at all,” replied the youth. “I’ll put you both on the back -of my trusty brown steed and we’ll have you there by six surely. Now, -Daddy Jock, show us the fish!” - -“Lads, gather the wood and make a fire,” Jock said, “and I’ll have the -fish cooked before any of ye have time to starve.” - -Then what a merry scurrying there was! Eric and Everett soon had a -crackling fire in the circle of stones where a fire was often made, and -then, when it had burned down and there was nothing left but red-hot -coals, the fish were cooked a delicious brown. Eric brought from the -shack thick plates and steel knives and forks. These he handed to the -girls with many flourishes. - -[Illustration: Eric and Everett soon had a crackling fire.] - -“Sit ye down anywhere!” Jock called. “Ladies to be served first, and -these speckled beauties are done to a turn.” - -“Oh-h!” Madge exclaimed, when a tempting brown fish was laid on her -plate. “Am I supposed to eat a whole one?” - -“Wait till you see me eat a whole twenty,” Eric remarked, as he gave a -fish to Adele and another to Eva. Then, bringing out bread and butter -and filling their tin cups with sparkling water from a spring, Eric -exclaimed, “Now, having filled the immediate wants of our fair guests, -I’ll hie me over to the small whale that I see waiting upon my plate.” - -“I never, never tasted fish cooked to such perfection!” Madge declared. - -A merry meal it was, and when at last there was nothing left but bones, -Adele looked at her wrist-watch and then sprang up, exclaiming: “It’s -quarter to six. We never can walk to Sunnyside in fifteen minutes!” - -“Hark!” cried Eric. “I hear an automobile plunging madly down the lake -road. Come on, Petey. Let’s hold them up, whoever they are, and command -them, at the point of the gun, to take our fair guests to their -destination.” - -Snatching up a rifle which stood leaning against the shack, he emptied -the barrel as he ran toward the road. The machine had not yet turned the -curve, and when it did, the driver was indeed surprised to see two -highwaymen standing in the middle of the road, but their laughing, -boyish faces showed that they were not very dangerous. Beside the driver -a young girl was seated. When the car had slowed down, Eric exclaimed, -“Kind sir, if you are going to Sunnyside, we have passengers for you.” - -Just then Madge and the two girls emerged from the pine trees, and Adele -joyously cried, “Oh, it’s Betty Burd and her Uncle George. Mr. -Wainwright, would you mind if we rode with you into town? Mother is -expecting us home by six.” - -“Why, Adele Doring!” Betty exclaimed before her uncle could reply. “You -know we’re glad to have you.” - -Then Adele introduced her friends, and Betty asked, “Miss Peterson, -wouldn’t you like to ride with us?” - -“Why don’t you, Sis?” Everett exclaimed. “It won’t take but a moment for -Mr. Wainwright to stop at the inn, and then I’ll stay a spell with my -old friend here.” - -“Bully! I wish you would!” Eric cried, clapping his hand on his friend’s -shoulder. So when the car started again, the three smaller girls were -seated on the wide backseat, while Madge Peterson sat with the driver. - -Mr. Wainwright drove slowly, because, as he explained, the lake road was -in rather poor condition. Adele, hearing this, smiled, for the car had -been plunging along when the boys had stopped it. - -“Miss Peterson,” Betty’s Uncle George said, with his pleasant smile, “I -have met you before, haven’t I?” - -“Have you? Where?” Madge glanced up inquiringly, and then she exclaimed, -“Oh, yes, I know—at Dora Pendleton’s Musical Tea.” - -“And you had some drawings exhibited that day,” Uncle George continued. -“I remember that I thought they were excellent.” - -Madge smiled, as she said, “I truly did not want to have them exhibited, -but Dora Pendleton knew that I was eager to do some illustrating, and -she said that several writers would be among the company, and that it -might be a good plan to show them samples of my work.” - -“A splendid plan!” Uncle George said warmly. “And I am sure that you -received an order.” - -“I did, indeed!” Madge exclaimed enthusiastically. “And such an -interesting one it has proved. Miss Kimberly, the children’s poet, was -there, you remember, and she has asked me to illustrate her book of -fanciful child-verse. I am having the most beautiful time making the -drawings, and, besides that, it pays well and I need the money.” - -Adele was surprised to hear this, as she had supposed that Madge -Peterson had no need to earn money. When the inn was reached and -farewells had been exchanged, Madge called, “I’ll be at the Home on -Monday, Eva,” and then the car sped on. Little did the three girls dream -of the wonderful something that was going to happen because of that -lake-shore ride. - - - - - CHAPTER NINETEEN - - A TRIP TO THE CITY - - -When Eva Dearman awoke on Monday morning in her little iron cot-bed in -the orphanage dormitory, somehow she did not see things plain and -unattractive, as they really were. There was such a joyous anticipation -in her heart that even the dull gray morning seemed aglow. She met -Amanda Brown in the hallway and gave her a sudden hug, as she exclaimed, -“I have had the loveliest time, Mandy. Did you miss me just a little -bit?” - -Amanda clung to her friend, as she sobbed: “Oh, Eva, don’t go away and -leave me again. It’s just like funerals all the time when you are gone. -Everybody else is so horrid to me. I tried being nice, the way you asked -me to, and then the girls said I was aping after you, and they called me -Miss Dearman.” - -“Well, it’s just a mean shame!” Eva cried, with flashing eyes. “How -girls can take pleasure in being unkind is more than I can understand. -But don’t cry, Amanda! There’s half an hour yet before classes; let’s -run to the woods and back.” - -All that day it was hard for Eva to keep her mind on her work, for had -not her wonderful artist-friend said that she would call at the Home on -Monday! And so Eva was continually expecting to be called to the office. -Would Mrs. Friend allow her to accept the drawing-lessons? she wondered. - -Never did a day pass more slowly, and, for the first time since she had -been there, Eva’s recitations were poor, but the teacher, Miss Bently, -loved Eva, and was very patient with her. At last there came a rap on -the class-room door and Eva held her breath. Who would it be? Perhaps -Mrs. Friend would bring Madge Peterson to visit the class-room, but it -was only a little girl with a note. Miss Bently read it and then glanced -up with a smile. She believed that she now understood her favorite’s -mental preoccupation. - -“You are to go to Mrs. Friend’s office, Eva,” she said, kindly. “You -have a visitor.” - -The girl’s face glowed as she went toward the door. In the office Madge -Peterson was seated. She arose as Eva entered, and, taking both her -hands, she exclaimed: “Eva, I have splendid news for you! Mrs. Friend is -pleased with our plan, and you may come to the city next Saturday -morning and spend the day with me.” - -“Oh, Mrs. Friend!” Eva cried joyously. “How can I ever thank you!” - -“It is Miss Peterson whom you must thank, Eva,” Mrs. Friend replied. - -“I do indeed thank her,” the girl exclaimed, with shining eyes. “And I -hope I shall become such a famous artist that she will feel repaid for -her interest. Shall you be very much disappointed if I don’t, Miss -Peterson?” - -“Indeed I shall not,” Madge laughingly replied. “I never expect to -acquire fame myself, but I do get a great deal of pleasure from my -sketching, and now and then I am asked to do a bit of illustrating and -so earn extra pin-money, or Roberty-Boberts money, I should say. Some -day you must meet little Bob, Eva. You will just love him.” - -Then Madge expressed a desire to look about the orphanage and the matron -asked Eva to show her friend the building and the grounds. What a happy -hour it was for that orphan girl! and Madge, who was patroness of -another orphanage, took great interest in seeing how this one was -conducted. - -Then, arm in arm, these two friends sauntered to the front gate. There -stood a little olive-green car, which Eva thought was the prettiest she -had ever seen. - -“I like it,” Madge exclaimed, “but Brother Everett makes fun of it. His -car is as big a one as he could find, and when they stand together in -the garage Everett says they look like a giant and a pigmy, so I have -named my car Pigmy, and we are the best of comrades. Some day, Eva, you -shall go riding with me.” - -Then Madge was gone. She wanted to visit Adele’s mother and make further -plans for Saturday. - -Was ever a week so long? the orphan girl wondered, but at last Saturday -dawned bright and sunny. Eva awakened with the feeling that something -wonderful was going to happen, and then she remembered! Leaping from her -little cot-bed, which was the last of a long row, she looked out of the -open window and up at the sky. How gleaming and blue it was! and out in -the orchard the birds were singing their happy morning-songs. Eva wished -that she too might sing, but even then the dressing-bell was ringing, -and the nineteen other orphans who slept in that dormitory were tumbling -out of their beds. - -“Good morning, Amanda,” Eva said softly to the girl who slept in the cot -next her own. - -“Good morning,” Amanda replied, but she turned quickly away. She did not -want Eva to see that she had been crying in the night. - -At breakfast the orphans were allowed to talk, and Eva chattered like a -magpie, making every one near her bright and happy, but not once did she -tell about her trip to the city, because she did not want the other -girls to feel that she was having pleasures which they could not share. - -When the orphans had gone about their Saturday-morning tasks, Eva went -up to the dormitory to put on her pretty white dress. When she was ready -to go, she slipped her mother’s picture out of its hiding-place and -whispered, “Oh, mumsie, dear, everybody is so kind to your little girl. -Aren’t you glad?” - -Then down the stairs she skipped, and there was Adele Doring waiting for -her in the hall. - -“What do you think?” Adele exclaimed. “We have an invitation to ride -into town with Bob Angel and Brother Jack. They were going in to see a -ball game on the high-school campus, and mother said that we might ride -in with them.” - -“Will wonders never cease?” Eva said, joyously. “I adore riding in autos -and I almost never have the chance.” - -Mrs. Friend stepped out of her office and greeted Adele. Then she looked -over her young charge, to see if all the buttons were in the right -holes, for Eva was so excited that she could not keep her mind on -ordinary things. - -“Have you a clean handkerchief, dear?” Mrs. Friend asked. Eva felt in -her pocket. It was empty. “I’ll run back and get one,” she said. “I -won’t be half a jiffy.” - -Up the stairs she fairly flew and into the dormitory she danced. -Suddenly she stopped. She heard some one crying. On the bed next to her -own a girl was lying, sobbing as though her heart would break. It was -Amanda Brown. Eva flew to her friend, and, putting her arms about her, -asked: “Mandy, dear, what is the matter? Has some one been mean, horrid, -to you?” - -“No-o!” sobbed the girl. “Oh, Eva, I thought you were gone! Please, -please don’t let me spoil your day.” - -“Mandy,” Eva said firmly, “tell me why you are crying! I shall stay here -until you do.” - -Amanda knew that Eva meant what she said, and so she replied brokenly, -“It’s—it’s my birthday, Eva, and nobody cares.” - -Tears rushed to Eva’s eyes, and she held her friend close. She -remembered how lonely she had felt on her birthday, when she thought -that nobody cared. - -“I care, Amanda Brown,” Eva exclaimed sincerely. “You wait here a -moment. I’ll be right back.” And before Amanda could prevent it, Eva had -left the dormitory. Down the stairs she went more slowly, and the two -watching from below wondered at her changed expression. - -“Mrs. Friend,” Eva said, “I can’t go to the city! It is Amanda Brown’s -birthday, and she will be so unhappy if I go away and leave her. I know -how I felt when I thought that nobody cared about my birthday.” - -“Oh, Mrs. Friend!” Adele exclaimed. “Couldn’t we take Amanda Brown with -us? I know Miss Peterson would be so glad to have her.” - -Mrs. Friend readily consented, so Eva hurried back to the dormitory with -the news, and when Amanda tried to refuse, insisted that she would -remain at home unless her friend would go with them. - -In less time than it seemed possible, Eva had Amanda dressed in her -Sunday best, and the three girls hurried down the gravelly walk to the -gate. Bob Angel leaped to the ground and threw open the door of the car -with a flourish. “Good morning, ladies,” he said. “Jack is your -chauffeur and I am your footman.” - -“My! What a grandness!” Adele laughingly exclaimed as the lad helped -them into the car. - -Then such a joyous ride as they had! They had to take off their -broad-brimmed hats, and the fresh wind soon blew the tearstains from -Amanda’s cheeks, and left there such a rosy color that the other two -girls, looking at her, thought that she would be truly beautiful if only -she was loved and made happy. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY - - AMANDA BROWN - - -The ride, which Amanda Brown wished would last for hours, was quickly -over, for the city was only ten miles away, and very soon the speed had -to be slackened as they entered the busy streets. - -“Here is Miss Peterson’s address,” Adele said, as she handed Jack a slip -of paper. - -“Nice neighborhood that,” Bob commented as he read it. It was indeed a -nice neighborhood, as the girls decided when, a few moments later, they -turned off of the noisy streets and found themselves in a place so quiet -that it seemed like the village of Sunnyside. There was a small park, -green with grass and trees, around which stood handsome brown-stone -houses. Adele was puzzled. If Madge Peterson lived in one of these, what -could she have meant by saying that she needed to earn money with her -drawing? Adele had not heard of Roberty-Bob. - -Jack had stopped the car at the curb, and Adele laughingly said, “Our -footman ought to go up and ring the bell.” - -“Very well, Miss Doring,” Bob gayly replied. “Your footman will do your -bidding.” - -So out of the car the lad leaped, and up the flight of stone steps he -ran, but before he could ring the bell the door opened and there stood -Everett Peterson. - -“Why, Bob Angel!” he cried. “This is great! Did you come in for the -game?” - -“Well, Everett, do you live here?” Bob exclaimed in surprise. Bob was -already doing some preparatory work at the North High, and it was there -they had met. Then suddenly remembering the part he was supposed to be -playing, Bob said solemnly, “Mr. Peterson, at present I am Miss Doring’s -footman, and she sent me to inquire if your sister is in.” - -“So that’s it,” laughed Everett. “Yes, my sister is at home, and is -expecting her guests.” - -The three girls now appeared on the porch, and Madge, hearing merry -voices, came out of the library to greet them. She was indeed glad to -meet Amanda, and that orphan girl, who had dreaded coming, for fear she -would not be welcome, was soon put at her ease. - -Everett and Bob had gone back to the car, and Everett was introduced to -Adele’s brother, Jack. - -“I’ll tell you what,” Everett cried. “You fellows come back here for -lunch and we’ll all go to the game together.” - -Meanwhile Madge had led the girls into the library, which was richly -though simply furnished. She asked them to be seated while they talked -over which classes they would like to enter. “The Art Institute is just -around the corner, and we are not due there until ten-thirty,” Madge -said. “Of course, you lassies understand that it is an endowed -institute, and so the classes are free. Eva has decided to take drawing. -Adele, what would be your choice?” - -“Oh, Miss Peterson!” Adele cried joyously. “I didn’t know that I was to -take anything. Have they a class for writers? I may not have any talent, -but I’d so love to try.” - -Miss Peterson smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm as she replied, “Then you -shall have the opportunity, and really wanting to do a thing is half of -success, I think, because one is more apt to persevere in spite of -seeming failures.” Then, turning to Amanda, she said kindly, “And what -talent have you hidden away, little Miss Brown?” - -Amanda flushed with evident embarrassment as she replied, “Oh, Miss -Peterson, I don’t suppose that I have any talents. If I have, I don’t -know what they are. I never had a chance to try anything.” - -Madge Peterson’s heart was touched with pity for this forlorn girl, and -she said softly, “Amanda, won’t you tell us a little about your life, -before you went to the orphanage, and then perhaps we shall know how -best to find your talent?” - -“There isn’t much to tell,” Amanda said hesitatingly. “My mother was -only eighteen when I came. She sang in concert-halls, and folks said her -voice was like an angel’s, sweet and sad-like. All that I seem to -remember of her looks is that her face was so white and her dark eyes -shone like stars. She used to leave me in a little back room when she -sang, and then, when her part was over, she would catch me up in her -arms and hold me close, and sometimes she cried. Then, when I was seven -years old, she was taken sick. A kind old woman took care of us. One day -my mother called me to her bedside. She said, ‘Little daughter, if you -can sing when you grow up, promise me that you won’t sing in -concert-halls.’ Of course I promised. The old woman kept me for a while -after mother died, but she didn’t have any money, and so she sent me to -the orphanage and I’ve been there ever since, and now I am thirteen.” - -There were tears in the eyes of the listeners, and Madge said kindly, -“Amanda, would you like to try to sing?” - -Amanda shook her head. “You have to feel happy inside to want to sing,” -she said, “and I never feel that, at least I never did until Eva came,” -she added, with a loving glance toward her friend. - -Then Madge rose and said, “Come, girls, we will go to the Art Institute -now.” - -A few moments later they were entering a large building only a block -from the Peterson home. Eva was placed in a drawing-class and Adele in -one for composition. When the other two were alone, Madge said kindly, -“Amanda, there is a dear old singing-master here. I have known him for -years. Will you let him try your voice?” - -“If you wish it,” Amanda replied. - -The kindly professor welcomed them and was soon testing the quality of -the girl’s voice. Later, he drew Madge aside and said: “The child has a -sweet tone, though not strong. There is a sad note in her voice, strange -for one so young. I will teach her gladly, and see what we can make of -it.” - -And so it was that a new joy came into the life of Amanda Brown. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - - THE BALL GAME - - -When the classes were over, the girls met in the lower hall, and Eva was -delighted to hear that Amanda had consented to have her voice tried. -“And now you will come in with us every Saturday,” she whispered to her -friend, when, for a second, they were together in the merry throng of -students who were leaving the building. - -When they entered the Peterson home, a few moments later, they heard a -great racket overhead. - -“It sounds as though there were wild Indians in the house,” Madge -laughingly exclaimed. “Ho, there, Brother Everett! Are you making all -that noise just by yourself?” - -“Not much, sis,” a boy’s voice replied. “I have company. Be down -directly.” And before the girls had time to lay off their wraps, down -the stairs Everett leaped, followed by Bob Angel and Jack Doring. - -“Sister mine,” Everett cried, “I do hope that you ordered grub enough, -for three uninvited guests are coming to your party and we’re as hungry -as Russian wolves in winter.” - -Madge laughed and was about to reply, when Jack Doring exclaimed, “Miss -Peterson, I do hope that we are not intruding. Bob and I had no -intention of staying, but—” - -Madge laughingly held up her hand as she replied, “My dear boy, if we -had twenty unexpected guests, it would not inconvenience us in the -least.” - -“We’d just add twenty more cups of water to the soup,” Everett explained -gayly, and then the Chinese gongs called them to the dining-room. The -cook, who was an especial friend of Everett’s, had been duly notified by -that youth, and so the correct number of places had been laid. - -The boys were so excited over the coming game that they could talk of -nothing else. There were two high schools in the city, and the North -High was to play against the South High. Everett attended the North -High, and so, of course, his guests were on his side. - -“We’ll win!” Everett cried. “How _could_ we lose? We have the best -pitcher this side of Jerusalem.” - -“Everett!” Madge exclaimed. “Isn’t that a good deal of a boast? -Jerusalem is a long way off. Wouldn’t you better say Sunnyside?” - -“No, ma’am,” Everett retorted. “Eric Brownley is the best pitcher in the -whole United States, or I miss my guess.” - -“Why, that’s the boy we met at Little Bear Lake, isn’t it? The one who -had been brought up by that nice old lumberman?” Adele asked. - -“The very same!” Everett replied. - -And then, as soon as lunch was over, the merry party put on their wraps, -entered the two cars, and were soon driven to the campus of the North -High, where the game was to be held. - -Everett was so excited that he simply had to shout, but a great -disappointment was awaiting him. - -The North High campus was crowded with merry boys and girls. Those who -were from the South High waved bright red pennants, and those from the -North High had equally bright yellow ones. Every time one of the -ball-players appeared, his particular class-mates gave their yell and -cheered him until he disappeared again. - -“The Souths are making a great to-do,” Everett said scornfully. “As -though they had a ghost of a chance of winning! Not they, with our Eric -Brownley on the diamond. Now, here come the players, and when you see -Eric, _yell_ like good ones.” - -The girls stood on tiptoe and watched for Eric as eagerly as did the -boys. The players were taking their places and yet Eric did not appear. - -“Great guns!” Everett cried in dismay. “There’s Dorset, Eric’s sub! -What’s he pitching for, I wonder? Say, you wait here till I find out.” - -Everett, with a heavy heart, made his way through the crowd to the -diamond. One of the players gave the information that he sought, and -Everett returned to his friends, looking anything but cheerful. - -“It’s all up,” he said dismally. “The game is as good as lost. I’ve a -mind to go home.” - -“Why, Everett,” Madge asked. “What has happened?” - -“Oh, that old lumberman down at Bear Lake was hurt or something, and -they sent for Eric two days ago, and he said that if he possibly could, -he’d be back for the big game, but he didn’t make it. Imagine _anything_ -keeping a fellow from playing this game when he’s bound to be the -victor.” - -“I felt sure that Eric Brownley was a fine lad,” Madge declared warmly, -“and now I know that he is.” - -The game had commenced and the North High was decidedly getting the -worst of it. They were not even playing their best; they were all -disheartened because Eric had failed them. - -The students from the South High were making the place ring with their -cheers. Everett was disgusted. - -“We’ve as good as lost. Come on! I’m going home,” he said, when suddenly -there was a commotion in the crowd. - -“What’s up?” Everett asked, trying to see over the heads. - -“There’s a horseman coming at top speed down the road,” some one -replied, “and it _might_ be Eric Brownley.” - -“It is Eric!” Everett cried excitedly, as he pushed through the crowd. - -Eric had already leaped from his foaming horse and had entered the -shack. As soon as possible he reappeared in his suit, and what a cheer -went up when Dorset dropped out and Eric took his place on the diamond. -The rest of the nine took heart, and never before had they played such a -splendid game as they did then. - -When it was over the boys from the North High took Eric on their -shoulders and bore him in triumph to the shack. Everett’s joy knew no -bounds, and he shouted until his hero had disappeared. Soon after, the -three girls and Bob and Jack bade their host and hostess farewell and -sped away over the smooth road which led to Sunnyside. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - - THE KING’S HIGHWAY - - -One day in the week following, Gertrude Willis and Adele were seated on -the front veranda of the Doring home, when the postman came up the walk. - -“Does Miss Adele Doring live here?” he asked with twinkling eyes. - -“Oh, Mr. Drakely!” Adele exclaimed, skipping down the walk to meet him. -“Have you really a letter for me? Thank you so much! Letters are a rare -treat,” she confided to Gertrude, “because all of my friends live in -Sunnyside, and so there is no one to write to me except Uncle Jerry, but -this letter hasn’t a foreign post-mark and so it isn’t from him. Why, -it’s from Dorchester, and so, of course, Madge Peterson must have -written it. She is that charming artist that I have been telling you -about, Gertrude. I am so eager to have you meet her.” - -Then Adele, reseating herself in the porch-swing, tore open the pale -blue envelope, with its delicate odor of spring violets, and read aloud: - -“Dear Dryad Oakleaf: - -“I just happened to remember that you once told me that you belong to a -clan of seven girls. Are there any among them who have talents which -they are eager to cultivate? If so, do bring them with you on Saturday -mornings to attend the Institute. The more the merrier, and I shall be -glad to have them take luncheon with me, as I shall always expect you -and Eva and Amanda to do. - - “Your loving friend, - “Madge Peterson.” - -“Oh, Gertrude!” Adele cried joyfully. “Could anything be nicer? I have -so wished that you might go with me to take composition. I am just sure -that you have talent for writing. Do you suppose that your mother could -spare you?” - -“If mother will permit me to do my share of the cleaning on Friday,” -Gertrude said, “I would be glad to go, and, since it is vacation, I am -sure that I can. I do want to study everything that will help me to -become a writer. I enjoy that more than anything else, and I am eager to -find some way to earn money, so that I may help educate the babies. -There are so many of us, and a minister’s salary is not princely.” - -“Then I will write Miss Peterson this very day and tell her that one of -my dearest, bestest friends will gladly accept her invitation,” Adele -exclaimed happily, as she gave Gertrude an impulsive hug. - -Although Adele loved all of the Sunny Six, some way Gertrude was a -little nearer and dearer, and she was beginning to think that, next to -her, she loved Eva Dearman most among her friends. - -Mrs. Willis was as pleased with the invitation as Adele and Gertrude had -been, and the very next Saturday four girls instead of three went into -the city of Dorchester. This time they traveled by train, but the -station being within a few blocks of the Institute, the country girls -were in no danger of being lost. - -Madge was charmed with gentle Gertrude and welcomed her graciously. -“Girls,” she said, as she drew on her gloves, “it is early, and since I -have an errand in another part of town, I thought that perhaps you would -like to accompany me.” - -“We would, indeed,” Adele replied, and soon they were all in Everett’s -big car and that youth was slowly driving them through the crowded -down-town district. The streets became narrower and noisier. The people -were shabbily dressed, dirty children played in the gutters, loafers -lounged on the corners. The air seemed hot and heavy with unpleasant -odors. On both sides of the street were wretched tenement-houses. - -“I have heard of this district,” Gertrude said, “but I never before -visited it. Oh, Miss Peterson, doesn’t it make one’s heart ache to think -that so very near are fields of daisies and buttercups, and yet these -babies have to play in the gutters?” - -Madge nodded, and then, as the car was stopping at the curb, she opened -the door, and, taking a covered basket, led the way across the walk. -Ragged little children stopped their play and watched them curiously -with open eyes and mouths. Madge smiled down at them and then entered a -dark, narrow hallway and began climbing the rickety stairs. - -“I thought it was hard to have to live in the Home,” Eva said softly to -Adele, “but how thankful we ought to be that we do not have to live in a -place like this.” - -Soon Madge was rapping on an upper door. - -“Come in, Fairy Godmother!” an eager boy’s voice called. Madge opened -the door and they entered a room which was very different from the dark, -shabby halls which they had just left. Here all was clean and home-like. -The windows were filled with blossoming plants, and a canary, hanging in -the sunshine, was warbling his cheeriest song. Goldfish splashed and -sparkled in their big shining bowl. A fluffy white kitten on the floor -frisked about with a red ball for a playmate. A bright-eyed little -hunchbacked boy sat on a softly-cushioned wheeled chair. He looked up -with eager eyes. - -“Good morning, Roberty-Bob,” Madge said. “I have brought some of my -friends to call upon you. We cannot stay long, however, as we are on our -way to the Art Institute, but I found the book that you wanted in the -library this morning, and so I brought it right over.” - -“Oh, good!” Roberty-Bob said with shining eyes. “The last one you -brought was such a beautiful story, Fairy Godmother. It was all about -the King’s Highway.” Then, turning to Gertrude, he asked in his eager, -friendly way, “Do you know where the King’s Highway is?” - -“I suppose it is where a king lives, and where princes and princesses -play in beautiful gardens,” Gertrude replied, with her sweet smile. - -“You are wrong!” the strange child exclaimed. “She is wrong, isn’t she, -Fairy Godmother? God is the King, and His Highway is just wherever you -are.” - -Gertrude’s heart was touched by what she had seen and heard, and when -they were in the street again she looked at the forlorn little children -playing in the gutters and she said to Adele, “And so this is the King’s -Highway, and oh, Della, I was being so thankful before we went up-stairs -that we didn’t have to live here!” - -Roberty-Bob was waving to them from his high window, and the girls waved -in return. - -“I guess I won’t grumble any more,” Amanda Brown declared. “Here I have -a straight back and I can run if I want to, but it seems I’m always -feeling fretful about something, and there’s that little fellow, with -his crooked back, keeping so bright and cheerful.” - -“Does Roberty-Bob have to sit alone all day long?” Adele asked, as the -car was slowly wending its way back to a pleasanter part of the city. - -“Yes,” Madge replied. “His mother works in a factory, and she leaves -early in the morning and does not return until late, but Roberty-Bob is -never lonely. He can wheel his chair about the room and feed his -goldfish and pussy, and water his plants, and sometimes Muffin, the -kitten, rides around with him. Then he loves to read, and every Saturday -afternoon the children who live in the rooms near by go in and sit on -the floor, and he reads to them or tells them stories. I used to take -him riding in the car, and how he enjoyed it! but the jarring made the -pain in his back so much worse that we had to give that up.” - -The Art Institute was soon reached and the girls went to their classes. -Adele and Gertrude found that they were to write a composition on -whatever had most impressed them that morning. They were glad to do -this, although neither had any expectation of winning the high marks, -and so, on the following Saturday, they were indeed surprised when the -teacher, Miss Fenton, said, “The best composition for last week was -written by our newest pupil, Miss Gertrude Willis.” And then, before -that astonished girl could fully grasp this surprising announcement, the -teacher was saying in her kindly way, “It is our custom to have the best -composition read aloud each week, and so, Miss Willis, will you please -come forward and read yours?” - -Gertrude, self-possessed by nature, soon quieted the tumult in her -heart, and, stepping to the platform, she took the composition which -Miss Fenton handed to her, and then, in her clear, sweet voice, she -read: - - “The King’s Highway - -“Once upon a time there was a great city, and in the lower part of it -there were narrow streets, with ragged children playing in the gutters, -and loafers standing on the corners. If there ever had been hope in -their hearts it had long since fled. And many of the mothers were shut -in shops where they toiled all day and earned very little, that they -might feed their children. - -“The sun never seemed to shine in the lower part of that great city. The -fog hung gray and dismal, and there was constantly the sharp clanging -noise of traffic. The children in the gutter did not seem to mind, for -they knew no different, but one day an artist was forced, through -poverty, to move to this lower end of the city, and with him was his -little daughter, Alicia. Her startled blue eyes looked about, and she -clung to her father’s hand as they wended their way down one of the -narrow streets. - -“‘Must we live here, father?’ she asked, and the artist sadly bowed his -head. - -“Alicia tried to make the barren room in the tenement look as home-like -as possible, but she dreaded going to the corner store to buy even the -few provisions that were needed. - -“She shrank from touching the raggedly dressed children, who, attracted -by her golden hair, would leave their play when she passed and whisper, -‘Pretty! Pretty!’ - -“But Alicia paid no heed. Her one thought was how sorry she was for -herself. If only she could live again in that lovely home which they had -lost. - -“All of her life she had lived in a beautiful garden, where high -ivy-covered walls had sheltered her from the winds, where a fountain had -sparkled for her, and where the birds had sung to her. But now,—The -sensitive child looked about her and shuddered. - -“One day her father brought her a book, and while she was alone she read -the stories it contained, and one of them was called ‘The King’s -Highway.’ Alicia fell to daydreaming, as was her wont, and she thought -how wonderful it would be, this King’s Highway. There would be castles -on either side, and the pavement would be of gold. Gorgeous carriages, -drawn by milk-white horses, would be passing up and down, and in them -would be princesses and noble ladies, richly dressed, and they would -have pages with plumed hats to attend them. As she thought of all this, -and wished that she might be on the King’s Highway, she fell asleep and -dreamed, and in her dream an angel came to her and said, ‘Alicia, the -King is your Heavenly Father, and to-day you are living on the King’s -Highway.’ - -“Alicia, awakening, sprang up, and, seeing that it was late, she went -out to do her marketing. The fog had not lifted all day. The children on -the curb seemed weary and tired of their play. Many of their faces -looked pinched, as though they did not have enough to eat. ‘And so this -is the King’s Highway,’ Alicia thought, ‘and these are the King’s -children.’ And then the angel that was always with Alicia whispered, -‘And what are _you_ doing on the King’s Highway?’ - -“‘Nothing,’ Alicia replied, ‘only to be sorry for myself because I am -there.’ - -“And then, to the surprise of the ragged children, the pretty Alicia -went over and sat on the curb in their midst, and, putting her arms -about those nearest, she said, ‘Little ones, do you like stories?’ ‘What -are stories?’ one small boy asked, nestling close to her. ‘I will tell -you,’ Alicia replied, and soon she was repeating a fairytale that they -could all understand. - -“From that day Alicia was very happy. She was never lonely because she -was kept so busy making others happy on the King’s Highway.” - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - - SCHOOL-DAYS AGAIN - - -The long vacation was over, and on Monday morning the Sunny Seven met -once more under the elm-tree in the school-yard. - -“Oh, I’m so glad that school is going to begin again,” exclaimed the -impulsive Betty Burd. - -“Why, Betty?” Gertrude Willis laughingly inquired. “I didn’t know that -you had such a thirst for knowledge.” - -“Well, neither have I,” Betty confessed. “But somehow, during the -vacation we all have so many things to do, we seven girls don’t see each -other as often as we do in school-days. Why, just think! We haven’t been -to our Secret Sanctum in ages, and we were so wild about it in the -beginning.” - -“I’ll tell you what!” exclaimed Adele. “Let’s go over there this -afternoon and take our supper and have a good old-fashioned visit. This -being the first day of school, we may not be kept in long.” - -“Oh, let’s!” cried Doris Drexel, who, with her mother, had spent July -and August at a seaside resort. “I’m just pining to see the meadows -again. I’ve been away so long.” - -“I suppose the cabin will be full of spiders,” said Rosie with a -shudder. - -“I’ll go ahead,” laughed Adele, “and ask them to please roll up their -webs and move out into the meadows.” - -Then, as the last bell was ringing, the girls trooped into the school. -They were all eager to know who their new teacher would be, and all sad -because they were losing Miss Donovan. They had heard that some changes -had been made, and that the teacher who formerly had Seven B had been -sent to another town. - -“I just can’t wait to get to the room, to see who our teacher is to be,” -Betty whispered, as the seven girls hurried up the stairs. The door of -the seventh grade was standing open, and Betty was the first to enter. -She gave a joyous cry as she danced in. The other girls, closely -following, saw Betty throw her arms about the teacher, whose back was -toward them. - -“Why, it’s Miss Donovan!” Adele cried in delight. “Oh, are you to be our -teacher again this year? That would be too good to be true.” - -“Yes, I’ve been promoted with my girls,” laughed the young teacher, “and -I’m glad that you’re glad.” - -It touched her heart to find how much the seven girls really loved her, -and she planned to make this new year as happy and as profitable for -them as she could. - -“Now, girls,” she said, “since I know that you can be trusted to keep -the rules, you may choose seats wherever you wish.” - -“May we all sit in this window-corner together?” Doris asked. And when -the permission was given, they chose seats and stowed away their books. - -“It will not be necessary for you girls to remain to-day,” Miss Donovan -said. “I’ll give you your home-work and then you may go, but be back -to-morrow morning at nine, ready for a term of hard study.” - -“We will, indeed,” Adele assured her. “We are going to try to be perfect -all through the year.” - -“_We_, Adele?” Betty Burd inquired. - -“Yes, we,” Adele replied. And Miss Donovan laughingly exclaimed, “That’s -right, hitch your wagon to a star.” - -That afternoon the girls met early at the cross-roads and wended their -way over the meadows, which, in the bright September weather, were -purple and yellow with golden-rod and wild aster. In the woods beyond -were maple trees, flaunting in the sunlight their brightly colored -leaves. - -“I love the autumn days,” Adele said, as she danced along. “It doesn’t -make me feel the least bit sad to see the leaves fall and the flowers -fade, because I know that they are all coming back in the spring. The -plants and trees have to sleep, as we do, I suppose.” - -Soon they reached the long-neglected Secret Sanctum. Peggy Pierce found -the key and the door swung open. - -“Oh, isn’t it pretty and homey!” Doris Drexel exclaimed. “It’s so long -since I’ve been here, I had almost forgotten how very nice it is.” - -Bertha threw open the little high-up window and a merry breeze danced -in. - -Rosamond, still on the threshold, called, “Will somebody please look for -spiders?” - -Betty Burd seized the broom, and, dancing around the room, poked it up -in the ceiling-corners, for the cabin had a low and almost flat roof. - -Peggy Pierce, just for mischief, looked under the bed-couch and Doris -Drexel peered in the china-closet. - -“Nary a spider here, fair Rosamond,” she called. “You may safely enter.” - -“I know that you girls think I’m a dreadful scare-cat,” Rosamond -declared. “But I just can’t help being afraid of things.” - -“You’ll get over it,” Adele said kindly, “when you find that nothing -hurts you. Now every one be seated and we will have the secretary read -the minutes of the last meeting.” - -Hats were tossed on the rustic couch, lunch-boxes stacked in a corner, -and the seven girls sat tailor-wise on the floor. - -“I deeply regret to have to inform you, Madam President,” Gertrude began -with solemn dignity, “that your secretary forgot to bring the book, but -she remembers that at the last meeting it was unanimously resolved that -the Sunnyside Club should, singly and all together, do at least one kind -deed a week. Has this resolve been carried out?” - -“Dear me, no, I’m afraid not,” Adele said. “Fixing up the play-house for -the orphan babies was the last kind deed on the records, and the credit -for that belongs to Betty Burd.” - -“Not at all!” Betty protested. “That was the whole club’s kind deed.” - -“And how the kiddies are enjoying their play-house!” Gertrude declared. -“I went over there last Sunday to read to them, and twenty happier -babies it would be hard to find.” - -“Good!” Adele exclaimed. “Now the question before the house is, What -kind deed shall the Sunnyside Club do next?” - -“You tell us,” Gertrude Willis said. “Adele, I just know that you have a -suggestion to make.” - -“Well, then, I have,” Adele confessed. “Last week, when I was over -visiting with dear old Granny Dorset, I was telling her about one of our -parties, and she said, rather wistfully, ‘Parties are just for the young -folks, aren’t they, Della? And yet, I do believe that I would enjoy a -party more now than I ever did, but I guess I’ve been to my last.’ And -then she sighed, which was so unlike cheerful Granny Dorset, that I -decided right then and there to give a party for her, and I want you all -to help. Will you?” - -“Will we?” Bertha Angel exclaimed. “Indeed we will! I think it is so sad -when the grandmothers are kept away by themselves and are not invited to -share in the good times. My dear old grandma told me that at eighty her -heart felt as young as it ever had, and that she enjoyed having a pretty -new dress as much as she did when she was sixteen.” - -“Oh, yes, and that’s another thing,” Adele said. “Granny Dorset told me -that she would have a seventieth birthday one week from Saturday, and I -asked, ‘Granny, if you could have just what you wish for a birthday -present, what would it be?’ And, girls, you never could guess what she -replied, not in a thousand years.” - -“Well, then, we might as well give up first as last,” Peggy Pierce -declared. - -“Indeed you might,” Adele laughed. “I’m sure I never would have guessed -it. Granny Dorset said that the dearest desire of her heart for the past -ten years had been to possess a purple silk dress with lace in the neck -and sleeves.” - -“And she hasn’t been able to have it, of course,” Gertrude declared. -“They belong to our church, and father calls there, and he said that the -son-in-law is rather shiftless and the daughter has to scrimp in every -way to provide for her own three children and Granny Dorset, but she is -so proud that she won’t accept a bit of help.” - -“Well,” Adele continued, “I thought that we would find out what other -old people are still living in Sunnyside, who were young when Granny -Dorset was, and then we’d invite them to a surprise birthday-party for -her, and if we have money enough in the bank, we might buy her the -purple silk dress.” - -“Alas and alack!” Bertha exclaimed. “The bank is quite empty. Nothing -has been put into it since we bought the presents for the orphans.” - -“I’ll tell you what!” Peggy Pierce exclaimed. “Let’s start an account at -the Bee Hive. Dad will be glad to do it for us, and we can buy the -purple silk at cost. Miss Meadly, who does our sewing, will make the -dress for us and wait for her pay until we have the money.” - -“And as for the lace,” Rosamond Wright exclaimed, “my mother has ever -and ever so much of it, and I know she will gladly donate enough for the -neck and sleeves.” - -“I hate to go in debt,” Adele said thoughtfully, “but we surely will -find a way to earn money soon, and I do so want Granny Dorset to have -the purple silk dress on her birthday.” - -“We might do it just this once,” said the practical Bertha, “and then as -soon as the party is over we must scurry around and find some way to -earn money. We simply must not stay in debt.” - -“We might give a play or something,” Betty Burd suggested. - -“Now,” said President Adele, “who would like to be on a committee to -find out from Granny Dorset which of the old people who are to-day -living in Sunnyside were young when she was?” - -“I suggest that Adele Doring and Gertrude Willis be appointed on that -committee,” Rosamond drawled. - -“Very well, we will accept, won’t we, Gertrude?” Adele asked brightly. -And when Gertrude had agreed, the president added, “And I would like to -nominate Peggy Pierce and Rosamond Wright as a committee of two to see -that the purple silk dress is made, and that there is lace in the neck -and sleeves.” - -“But you will all have to help pick out the color and the pattern,” -Peggy protested, and to this the others agreed. - -“I am glad that we have two weeks to prepare,” Adele said, “because, now -that school has begun, we will not want to neglect our studies, and it -will take two weeks to have the dress made and—” - -“But Adele,” Bertha exclaimed, “we haven’t decided where to hold the -party.” - -“We might have it here,” Adele said thoughtfully. “But don’t let’s -decide that yet. And now let’s go for a tramp to the orphanage and -invite Eva and Amanda to come over here and share our picnic supper.” - -This was done, and the orphans were so happy and so grateful that the -seven could not but feel that their Sunnyside Club was fulfilling its -mission by bringing so much joy into the lonely lives of these two -girls. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - - THE HOUSE BY THE WOOD - - -The following afternoon Adele Doring and Gertrude Willis, hand in hand, -skipped along Cherry Lane on their way to Granny Dorset’s. The leaves on -the trees were yellow, and fluttered down on them as they passed. Dear -Granny Dorset, who had not walked for many a year, was sitting on the -sunny front porch in her pillowed chair. She looked up brightly as the -girls opened the gate, calling gayly, “Here come my little Sunshine -Maidens. What good news have you to-day?” - -Granny Dorset’s own middle-aged daughter was so busy with housekeeping -and making ends meet that she seldom knew what happened in the village -of Sunnyside, and so these girls often hunted up bits of happy gossip to -take to the little old lady. - -Sitting on the edge of the porch, Gertrude replied, “Oh, Granny Dorset, -did you know that Jane Dally has the darlingest new baby? It was -christened last Sunday, and when father held it in his arms, it smiled -up at him, and it has the sweetest dimple. Old Grandfather Dally stood -up with it, and how his face did shine with pride and happiness!” - -“’Lijah Dally a grandad again!” the old lady said brightly. “Well, to -think of that now. He and I were children together. Della, his dad was -one of your grandpa’s sheep-herders, and when he was a little fellow he -lived in that cabin over in the meadows.” - -“Oh, Granny, did he really?” Adele asked eagerly. - -This indeed was the object of the girls’ visit, to find out what other -old people, now living in the village, had been young when Granny Dorset -was a girl, so that they might invite them to Granny’s surprise-party. - -Then Gertrude asked a direct question: “Is there any one else living -around here who was young when you were?” - -“Not so many now,” the old lady replied thoughtfully. “Some have moved -away and some have gone to the better country, but there’s old Mr. and -Mrs. Quigley,—they as had to go to the poorhouse when their cabin burned -down. They had lived in it for nigh forty year, and they always did for -others when they had it, but when they needed help themselves, folks let -them go on the county.” - -“Oh, how sad!” Adele exclaimed. “Why couldn’t some one have given them a -cabin to live in for the few years that are left?” - -“Well, nobody did,” Granny replied. “And then there’s Sally Grackle. She -lives all by herself, out on the edge of the woods. It’s strange how -people change! Sally was such a jolly girl and everybody liked her, but -she had a sorrow, which, like as not, made her queer-actin’, the way she -is now. She’s shut herself up, and I’ve heard tell that she won’t see -anybody. That’s all the folks living around here now who were young when -I was.” - -Half an hour later, when the two girls were slowly wending their way -homeward, Gertrude said, “Not a very promising party, Della, judging by -the guests. Poor Miss Grackle, not quite in her right mind, and Mr. and -Mrs. Quigley out at the poorhouse. Luckily Grandpa Dally is a host in -himself. He’s jolly and brimful of stories, so perhaps our party will be -a success if we can get the guests to agree to come to it.” - -The next morning the Sunny Seven met under the elm-tree in the -school-yard to report progress. When the other five had heard of the -visit to Granny Dorset, Betty Burd exclaimed, “That terrible Miss -Grackle! You needn’t appoint me on a committee to go and invite her. I -know some church ladies who went there once and she chased them away -with a broom.” - -“Poor thing!” Adele said. “She must be very unhappy, living there all -alone by that desolate wood. Gertrude and I will gladly go and invite -Miss Grackle to the party.” - -That very afternoon they started out toward the woods at the north edge -of the village. The houses were scattered, and at last the girls turned -into a path which led through a swampy meadow. They had to pick their -way carefully, to keep from getting their feet wet. Their destination -was a weather-beaten, gray house, which looked as though it was about to -tumble down, standing in the deep shade of two large pines. It was a -cloudy day and the wind moaned dismally through the trees. There was no -sign of life about the place. The seldom-used gate creaked as it swung -open on rusty hinges. - -“I suppose that at any minute Miss Grackle may rush out at us with a -broom,” Gertrude whispered. “Do you feel at all afraid, Adele?” - -“No,” the other girl replied, as they steadily advanced toward the -house. The porch, which was broken in places, was littered with leaves. - -“Miss Grackle doesn’t use her broom to sweep with, I judge,” Gertrude -said softly. - -Adele rapped bravely, but no one answered. Then she turned the knob and -the door opened. The room which they entered was dark, cheerless, and -damp. At first, they could scarcely see, and so they stood still. When -they had become accustomed to the dim light, the girls saw a large, -old-fashioned bed, and in it lay an elderly woman with a pinched, gray -face. - -“Oh, Miss Grackle!” Adele said, hurrying to the bedside. “You are ill -and all alone here!” - -“Well, what if I am?” the old woman replied tartly. “It’s nobody’s -business and nobody cares.” - -“If we made a fire in the stove, it would take the chill from the room,” -Gertrude suggested kindly. - -“Maybe so, like as not,” the old woman agreed. “But where’s the wood?” - -“I’ll bring some in,” Gertrude replied. “I saw some fallen branches near -by.” - -So saying, Gertrude went out and quickly returned with an armful of dry -wood, and soon a fire snapped and crackled cheerfully in the stove. - -“And now I’ll make you some broth,” said Adele. - -“You’ll be smart if you do,” Miss Grackle replied. “What are you -planning to make it out of?” - -“Why, Miss Grackle!” Adele exclaimed when she found the cupboards bare. -“Haven’t you had anything to eat?” - -“Not a sumptuous banquet,” the old woman replied in a non-committal -manner. - -Now Adele’s father had said only that very morning that Miss Grackle had -plenty of money, so Adele decided that she had just been too ill to -order things. - -“I’ll be back in a minute,” the girl said aloud, and away she went, -leaving the wondering Gertrude to care for the invalid. - -A woman who often came to the Doring home to help Kate with the cleaning -lived in the house nearest, on the main road, and from her Adele -procured some lamb broth and bread. Miss Grackle, truly faint from -hunger, could not resist the fragrance of the broth which Adele was -heating, and she rather ungraciously permitted Gertrude to prop her up -with the pillows, while Adele brought to her a bowl of the steaming -broth and some fresh bread and butter. - -When this was eaten Miss Grackle seemed stronger. She looked at the -girls curiously. - -“Young ladies,” she said, “perhaps you do not know it, but you are the -first two human beings who have succeeded in crossing my threshold in -ten years. Now, pray tell me, what did you come for? You must have a -reason.” - -“We came to invite you to a surprise birthday-party which we are going -to give for Granny Dorset,” Adele said simply. - -The girls, watching the old lady, were surprised to see a twinkle appear -in the gray eyes. - -“Well,” she declared, “I had decided to die, but now I do believe that I -will live a while longer; and, thank you kindly, I’ll come to the -party.” - -Before they left, Miss Grackle gave the girls some money and asked them -to order some groceries for her at the store. - -“And be sure to tell that boy to leave the things just inside the gate -the way he always does.” - -The next morning, under the elm-tree, the five other girls listened with -ever-widening eyes, as Adele and Gertrude told of their visit to Miss -Grackle. - -“Well, you surely are the two bravest girls I ever met,” Rosamond Wright -declared, and the others fully agreed with her. - -“The visit we are going to make this afternoon,” Gertrude replied, “will -be harder still. I almost dread calling on those two old people, who are -so unhappy because they have to live in the poorhouse.” - -But a pleasant surprise awaited the girls. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - - A VISIT TO THE POORHOUSE - - -That afternoon Adele and Gertrude drove to the poorhouse, which was two -miles out on the east road. Leaving Firefly hitched at the gate, they -walked up the gravel path, on either side of which was a narrow garden, -bright with autumn flowers. Tall maples stood about on the lawn, and -their leaves were red and yellow. The afternoon sun was warm, and many -old ladies, wrapped in shawls, were seated here and there on rustic -benches. - -“Everything seems cheerful,” Adele said. “I wonder where we shall find -Mrs. Quigley.” - -They made inquiry of a woman who was coming down the walk. - -“I’m Mrs. Quigley!” was the cheerful reply, and the old lady led them to -a bench near by. “I don’t know you, do I?” she asked kindly. - -The girls were indeed relieved, for they had both feared that they were -to meet a grief-stricken old lady. They were not old enough to know that -many a bright face hides an aching heart, and the wrinkled face smiling -up at them surely tried to be bright. - -When Adele told their errand, Mrs. Quigley exclaimed, “Well, now, won’t -Pa Quigley be pleased! It’s a long time since we were asked to a party.” -Then, turning to Adele, she took her hands and said: “And so you’re -Daniel Doring’s granddaughter. Daniel was mighty good to my man and me, -and he’d be sorry if he knew that we had lost our little home. But -there—” she smiled quickly through her tears. “I tell Pa Quigley, when -he’s wishing we had our little home once more, where we could sit by the -fireplace evenings, like we used to love to do,—I tell him that we must -count our blessin’s. Things might be worse. One of us _might_ be dead, -and then how lonely the other of us would be!” - -“That’s true,” Adele said as she arose, and then, stooping, she -impulsively kissed the wrinkled cheeks as she added, “Mrs. Quigley, you -belong to our Sunnyside Club, don’t you?” - -“Maybe so,” said the little old lady, rising. “Once I read somewhere, -‘Every cloud has a silver lining; let’s wear our clouds with the linings -on the outside.’ I try to do that. It makes it pleasanter for other -folks, and I don’t know but it’s cheerier even for the person who is -wearing the cloud.” - -“I’m going to remember that,” Gertrude said as she pressed the wrinkled -hand which she held. Then Adele exclaimed, “Now, Mrs. Quigley, a week -from Saturday we’ll call for you at two, so you be ready and watching.” - -When the girls were driving down the country road, Adele exclaimed -earnestly, “Gertrude, those Quigleys are going to have a home together -if it lies within my power to get it.” - -“Isn’t it queer, Adele,” the other remarked reflectively, “how different -people are. There are some women who have everything that money can buy, -and yet they are discontented and fretful. If they could have heard dear -old Mrs. Quigley just now, it might have done them more good than a -whole book full of sermons.” - -They were driving along a pleasant street in the village, and Adele soon -drew rein in front of a neat white cottage with green blinds. “There is -Grandfather Dally under the apple-tree,” she remarked as she hitched -Firefly to a post. - -“Well! Well!” the old man exclaimed, as he peered over his spectacles at -the two girls. “If it ain’t Tudy and Dellie! ’Taint often I have a call -from two nice little girls, but there, more’n likely you’ve come to call -on my daughter, but she’s out somewheres, a-wheelin’ the baby.” - -The girls assured him that they had called on purpose to see him, as -they wished to invite him to a party. The old man was as pleased as a -boy when he heard this. Then he added with a chuckle, “I’ve heerd that -you little girls have turned the cabin out in the meadows into a sort of -a play-house. Ain’t you skeered that the miser’ll come back some time -and ketch you there?” - -“Miser!” Adele and Gertrude exclaimed in one breath. “What miser, -Grandpa Dally? We never heard of one!” - -“Hum, now, you don’t say! I thought like as not everybody had heerd tell -of him. It was after the sheep-raisin’ business had been given up in -these parts, and there wa’n’t no one a-livin’ in the cabin at that time. -Your grandpa, Della, had locked it up and kept the key. Well, one day a -long, lank man from nobody knew where appeared in these parts, and asked -ole Daniel Doring if he might rent that cabin for a spell. Your grandad -was for givin’ the under fellow a chance, and this stranger said he was -here to recuperate his health or some such, and so he got the key and -was told he could live there as long as he chose and welcome. - -“The man stayed pretty close to the cabin, and the folks in town was -puzzled about him, and so one night two of the boys went out there and -they clum up the side of the cabin somehow, and peeked in at that little -high window, and Josh Perkins said afterwards that he almost fell down -agin, when he saw what was a-goin’ on inside of that cabin. There sat -the long, lank man at the table, and in the candlelight he was -a-countin’ out gold pieces. Josh said he had a bag full of them. People -were suspicious, of course, when they heerd that, and the very next day -the sheriff went out to the cabin, and what do you think? The place was -empty. Like as not the miser had heerd the boys prowlin’ about in the -night, and he left for parts unknown and took his gold with him, I -suppose, though nobody knows as to that, for your grandad, Della, locked -the cabin right up then and kept the key.” - -Half an hour later the girls were again driving down the road. “What a -strange, uncanny story that was about the miser!” Gertrude said with a -shudder. - -“Rosamond has always said that the furniture in the cabin would probably -tell queer stories if it could talk,” Adele remarked. And then she added -suddenly, “Oh, Gertrude! Don’t you wish that we could find that gold, -and then we could take care of the Quigleys!” - -Gertrude laughed. “If he was a miser, he certainly took his gold with -him.” Then she asked, “Della, did you ever hear what Miss Grackle’s -great sorrow was, the one that made her turn against every one and live -all alone by herself in that dismal house by the woods?” - -“Yes,” Adele replied. “Father was telling mother about it last night. He -said that when he was a boy, Miss Grackle and a younger sister lived in -that big, rambling house on the Dickerson Road, the one that has been -boarded up for so many years. The sister’s name was Miranda, and she was -about ten years younger than Sally, and very pretty, but father said she -was nowhere near as capable. They lived together very happily after -their father died. Sally did all of the housework and waited on Miranda -hand and foot, as the saying goes, and the younger one, who was rather -selfish, accepted it as her due. They owned the house and land together, -but they each had plenty of money besides. Then one day a stranger -appeared in town, and, having heard that the pretty Miranda Grackle had -a fortune in her own right, he began to court her. Miss Sally quickly -saw that he was a mere adventurer, trying to marry some one with money, -and she begged Miranda to give him up, but she wouldn’t, and then one -night they ran away and were secretly married. Miss Sally was -heartbroken. She heard that they had gone to Arizona, where the man had -mines. She followed them there, but never found them. She came back a -broken-hearted woman, boarded up the old homestead where she had been so -happy, and then went to live all alone in that house out by the woods.” - -“Poor Miss Grackle!” Gertrude said. “Here we are by the Dickerson Road, -Adele. Would it be much out of our way to drive past the boarded-up -house? I never happened to notice it.” - -“No,” Adele replied, as she turned the pony’s head in that direction. -“The house is just beyond that clump of trees.” - -When the little grove was passed, the girls gave an exclamation of -surprise. “Why, it isn’t boarded up at all,” Gertrude said. “See, even -the windows are open.” - -“And if there isn’t Miss Grackle herself,” Adele cried, as a tall, -elderly woman appeared in the doorway to shake a dustcloth. She had on a -big apron, with a towel about her head. - -Adele drew rein and fairly flew up the walk, Gertrude following her. - -“Oh, Miss Grackle!” Adele cried. “I’m so glad to see that you are well -again. And have you really and truly moved over here?” - -Somehow Miss Grackle did not seem to be old, like Granny Dorset, and, -for that matter, she was several years the younger. - -Upon hearing her name called, the woman turned and welcomed the girls -gladly. “Yes,” she said, and there was almost a quiver in her voice. -“For years it has seemed as though I just couldn’t come back here -without sister Miranda, and when she never even wrote to me, I turned -bitter against everybody, but when you little girls came the other day -and showed me that there was love and kindness in the world, I decided -to live a while longer and see if I couldn’t do a bit of good. I’m going -to try to really live now. I’ve been buried long enough.” - -“Oh, Miss Grackle,” Adele cried, “I’m so glad! So glad! And what a nice -place this is! You had beautiful grounds once, didn’t you?” - -The lady nodded. “Father was proud of his lawns and gardens,” she said. -“You see that little cottage on the edge of the grove. Father’s gardener -lived there, and his wife helped mother in the kitchen, for there were -three children of us then,—I had a brother who died,—and there was work -enough to do.” - -“It’s a pretty little cottage,” Adele said. “Has it been empty all these -years?” - -“Yes,” Miss Grackle replied. “I would like to have a couple living in it -now, if the man would attend to my grounds in exchange for the rent.” - -With a cry of joy Adele threw her arms about the astonished woman as she -exclaimed, “Would you really, truly, Miss Grackle? Oh, Gertrude, -wouldn’t it be just the nicest place for the Quigleys?” - -“Why, what has happened to the Quigleys?” Miss Grackle asked in -surprise. “I thought that they had a small farm of their own. Did they -lose it? You see, I haven’t heard a bit of news in years.” - -Then Adele told the whole story, and Miss Grackle indignantly exclaimed: -“That shows the ingratitude of people! There never was a sick child in -the country round but that Mrs. Quigley was there to help the tired -mother care for it, and never a tramp passed her door but that she made -him a cup of tea and gave him a bite to eat, and talked to him all the -time in that bright, cheerful way of hers; and some of them, I know, -took to honest work after that, and they said that it was just because -of her. And the town let the Quigleys go to the poorhouse! Well, they’ll -not stay there! At least they can live in the cottage, and perhaps in -the spring Mr. Quigley could work the garden on shares.” Then she added -simply, “My income is not as large as it was, Adele, and my sister -Miranda may come home at any time and be in need, so I must be saving -for her sake. But there,” she added more brightly, “the Quigleys shall -move into the cottage at once, and a way to provide for them will surely -open up.” - -Soon after that two happy girls drove away. “Isn’t it just like magic, -the way things are happening!” Adele exclaimed, and Gertrude agreed. The -girls were to have a strange adventure the next day, as you shall hear. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - - A MYSTERY SOLVED - - -After school on Friday the Sunny Seven danced over the Buttercup Meadows -on their way to the cabin. - -“We ought to call it Golden-rod Meadows now,” Betty Burd declared. - -“I love the purple asters tangled in with the gold!” Gertrude Willis -exclaimed. “Dame Nature is a wonderful artist.” - -“And the maple wood is so bright and red,” Doris Drexel said. “We might -have Granny Dorset’s party here. Surely, no ball-room could be more -splendid.” - -As they were talking they approached the cabin, and Peggy Pierce, -finding the key, opened the door. - -“Girls!” Rosamond exclaimed, as she peered in. “I almost wish that -Grandpa Dally had not told us about that miser. It makes me feel -shuddery to think of him. Long and lank, he sat right there at our table -as he counted out his gold pieces by the light of a candle.” - -“Well, he isn’t here now,” said practical Bertha, as she entered the -cabin and threw open the window. - -“Of course he isn’t,” Adele exclaimed. “There’s no one in our Secret -Sanctum but just ourselves.” - -The girls, finding it hard to overcome an uncanny feeling, nevertheless -entered the cabin and began to make definite plans for the party which -they were going to give for Granny Dorset, when suddenly there was a -strange clinking noise in the wall. - -Rosamond sprang to her feet, her eyes wide and startled. “What was -that?” she asked. The other girls stood up and listened. They distinctly -heard a scurrying and then another clinking sound. - -“It must be a chipmunk or a ground-squirrel,” Adele said, trying to -speak calmly. - -“I would think so myself,” Bertha replied, “but for the other noise,—the -clinking. How could a squirrel make that?” - -The girls examined the wall, and Gertrude exclaimed, “Why, this seems to -be a boarded-up fireplace.” - -“Yes, and here is a loose board,” Bertha said, “so now the mystery will -be explained.” - -The bark-covered boards were easily pried away and a stone-lined -fireplace was disclosed. There were wood-ashes on the floor of it, but -no squirrel, and nothing that would clink. - -“Look!” Gertrude said. “Here is a hole through which a squirrel might -have gone.” - -Adele peered up the blackened chimney. There was a rude stone ledge just -above her head, and suddenly, with a frightened chirr, a chipmunk jumped -from the ledge to the floor and darted into the meadow through the hole -which Gertrude had seen. - -The creature’s quick movement had dislodged something on the shelf and -it fell clinking against a stone. - -With a cry of amazement Adele stooped and picked up a gold piece. - -“Quick, bring a stool, somebody!” she called. “I’ll climb up and see -what is on that ledge.” - -[Illustration: “The miser’s gold!”] - -“The miser’s gold!” she declared, as she handed Bertha a bag. The -chipmunk, hoping to find nuts, had gnawed a hole in it. The girls -gathered around were scarcely able to believe their eyes. “Here’s a -piece of brown paper,” Adele said, “and there’s writing on it!” - -The writing in places was very hard to read, but at last they made it -out, and Adele read aloud: - -“To whoever finds this money, I wish to say that it wasn’t come by -honest. It hasn’t brought me any happiness and I don’t want it. I’d give -it back to the folks who own it, if I knew who they was, but I don’t. -I’m going back to the town where I was a boy and I’m going to live -straight.” - -“I’m so disappointed,” Adele announced. “I thought of the Quigleys at -once, and how it would help them, but they would not want stolen money.” - -“I’ll tell you what,” said Gertrude Willis. “Let’s take it to father -with the note and ask his advice. Perhaps it would help to right the -wrong if the money were used for some good purpose.” - -Half an hour later the girls arrived at the neat parsonage. They found -the minister working in his garden, and he listened gravely to the story -of the miser and his bag of gold. - -As Gertrude had anticipated, her father said, “Since the money cannot be -returned to its rightful owners, it surely ought to be used in doing -good. If I were you, I would deposit it in the bank and draw upon it as -a need arises.” - -Thanking Mr. Willis for his advice, seven happy girls went to the bank -of which Doris Drexel’s father was president. - -Luckily Mr. Drexel was still there, and he had the bag emptied and the -money counted. “One thousand dollars,” he reported with a smile, “and I -believe, little lassies, that Mr. Willis has made a wise suggestion.” - -When the girls left the place a while later, Bertha carried a little -book which stated that she was the treasurer of the Sunnyside Club, -which had funds to the amount of one thousand dollars in the First -National Bank in the town of Sunnyside. - -Next, the seven girls visited Miss Grackle, to tell her the story. “We -wish this money to be used by the Quigleys,” Adele said, “but since we -do not want them to feel that they are receiving charity, we wish that -you, Miss Grackle, would give them a certain amount of it each month for -taking care of your garden and grounds.” - -“That will be a splendid plan,” Miss Grackle said brightly. “And now, -before you go, would you girls like to see the cottage in which the -Quigleys are to live? I have aired it out and made it fresh and tidy.” - -“We’d love to see it!” Adele exclaimed, and so Miss Grackle led the way -to the little cottage beside the maple grove. - -The three rooms were sunny and bright, and the big, old-fashioned stove -in the kitchen had been freshly blackened. The wood-box was filled, for, -as Miss Grackle explained, she wanted it to look home-like as soon as -they saw it. In the living-room there were two easy-chairs with bright -patch-work cushions, and in the bedroom beyond all was spotlessly clean -and inviting. - -“I can hardly wait until to-morrow,” Betty Burd exclaimed. - -“Nor I,” Gertrude Willis declared. “The party was planned to be a -surprise for Granny Dorset, but think of the joyous surprise which is in -store for those poor Quigleys. They will expect to return to the -poorhouse after the party, and when they find that they are to have a -home, oh, Adele, won’t they be the happiest old people in all the -world!” - -“Girls!” Adele cried suddenly. “We did plan on having the party out in -our meadow cabin, but wouldn’t it be much nicer to have it right here? -That is, of course, if you are willing, Miss Grackle.” - -“That is really a first-rate idea!” Miss Grackle declared. “And then, -instead of having a cold chicken supper, we can have a warm one.” - -Adele’s mother, when she heard of the change, agreed that it was a -splendid plan. Kate offered to cook the chickens and things in her own -kitchen, and then, at the last moment, they were to be taken to the -cottage and kept warm until served. - -When Saturday morning dawned, Adele, at an early hour, drove over to the -orphanage and readily obtained permission for Eva and Amanda to spend -the day with her. On their way back they gathered armfuls of bright red -leaves from the sumac bushes, and graceful stalks of golden-rod and -purple aster. These they took to the cottage where the Quigleys were to -live, and Adele filled bowls and pitchers and set them about everywhere. - -Soon thereafter the other six girls arrived, and then what a hustling -and bustling there was! The living-room table was covered with a -snowy-white cloth, and on it was laid Miss Grackle’s choice -old-fashioned blue-and-white china and the newly polished silver, and in -the very center was a blue bowl of golden-glow. - -“Now,” Adele said as she stood back and surveyed the scene, “everything -is ready for the surprise-party and we may rest a while from our labors. -At two o’clock Bob Angel and Gertrude Willis are to go to the poorhouse -to get the Quigleys, and at two-thirty Brother Jack and Eva may go after -Granny Dorset. I think it would be nice to have all of the guests here -before she arrives.” - -“Here comes an automobile up the drive now!” Betty Burd exclaimed. “Who -do you suppose is in it?” - -“Oh, it’s brother Bob in our car,” Bertha declared. - -The girls skipped out to the driveway, and Bob, leaping to the ground, -made a deep bow as he said, “Ladies, this is a free bus which will -gladly convey you to your several homes, if you care to entrust your -lives to my keeping.” - -“Oh, good enough!” Peggy Pierce exclaimed. “I was just wishing that I -was home to help mother get the dinner, and now I will be there in a -twinkling.” - -“We have our fiery steed,” Adele said, “so Eva and Amanda and I will -travel in my little red cart, but thank you, just the same.” - -Then, waving good-bye to smiling Miss Grackle, the girls and Bob started -down the Dickerson Road on their homeward way. - -Meanwhile, in the poorhouse, Mrs. Quigley was hunting in her shabby -hair-trunk for a bit of old-time finery. Little, indeed, did she dream -of the great joy which was so soon to be hers. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - - A REALLY, TRULY HOME - - -Promptly at two o’clock Bob Angel and Gertrude Willis arrived at the -poorhouse, and on a bench near the gate sat the old couple. How their -faces shone when they saw the automobile which was to bear them to the -party! - -The old lady in bonnet and shawl, and the old man in a well-brushed, -though threadbare, coat, and hat, frayed at the edges, arose as Gertrude -went forward to greet them. She said afterwards that it was hard for her -to keep from throwing her arms about the dear old lady and telling her -then and there of the great happiness that was in store for them, but, -instead, she kissed the bright, wrinkled face and shook hands with Mr. -Quigley, whom she had never met before. Bob had leaped to the ground, -and after Gertrude had introduced him to their guests, he carefully -helped the old lady to the comfortable back seat and the old man to the -front. - -Mr. Quigley’s eyes were shining like a boy’s as Bob drove rather slowly -down the country road. “Land sakes alive, ma!” he called. “Ain’t this -great! Make her go faster, boy. We ain’t a mite afeared.” So Bob put on -a bit more speed, and soon they reached the Grackle homestead. - -“Well, I swan!” the old man cried when he shook hands with Miss Grackle. -“Wonders never will cease, I reckon. If here ain’t Sally Grackle -herself, lookin’ younger’n she did when I saw her last.” - -Miss Grackle beamed happily as she greeted the Quigleys and led them -into the cottage. A moment later Grandpa Dally, as he insisted that -every one should call him, arrived in a long-tailed coat which he had -first worn at his wedding many years before. - -“Well, Della!” he exclaimed when that maiden met him at the door. “So -the party day arrived all right. Bless me, but you do look cozy in here! -Howdy, Dan Quigley! Mighty glad to see you lookin’ so pert! Hum, ha!” he -added, with twinkling eyes, as the two old ladies appeared from the -bedroom. “And if these girls aren’t Sally Grackle and Betsy Quigley. You -don’t look a minute older’n you did in them days when we used to have -parties pretty frequent.” - -Suddenly Adele darted into the living-room from the kitchen. “Everybody -hide!” she whispered. “Here comes Granny Dorset, and when she gets well -settled I will say ‘Ahem,’ and then you are all to spring out and call -‘Happy Birthday!’” - -What a scurrying there was! Grandpa Dally hid behind the open door, Mr. -Quigley squeezed himself into a closet, and Mrs. Quigley and Miss -Grackle went into the bedroom. - -Bob and Jack helped Granny Dorset into the pleasant living-room, and she -looked about her in speechless amazement as she sank into the -comfortable rocker in a sunny window. “Well, Della,” she exclaimed, -“whatever is the meaning of all this?” - -“Ahem,” said the laughing girl, and out from their hiding-places sprang -the four old people, each calling gayly, “Happy birthday, Sarie Dorset!” - -The eight girls, watching from the kitchen-door, were certainly -satisfied with the way in which Granny Dorset was surprised. - -“Oh! Oh!” she said, with tears of joy running down her wrinkled cheeks. -“It’s a party, isn’t it? I never thought I’d live to go to another one.” - -Then, when her bonnet and shawl had been removed, Adele reappeared from -the bedroom, carrying a long box. - -“It’s a birthday present for you, Granny Dorset,” the girl announced. -“And if you can guess what’s in it, you may have it.” - -With shining eyes the old lady guessed one thing and then another, and -then at last hesitatingly said, “It couldn’t be a dress, could it, -Della?” - -“You’ve guessed it!” Adele cried gayly. “And now open it up and see what -you will see!” - -Granny Dorset gave a little cry of joy when she beheld the purple silk -dress. “It’s just what I’ve always wanted,” she said; “and there’s lace -in the neck and sleeves.” Then she added, “Della, being as it’s my -birthday, I wish I could put it on.” - -“And so you shall,” Adele declared. Then she and Eva assisted the little -old lady into the bedroom, whence a little later she emerged, dressed in -the purple gown, and the happiness glowing in that dear old face made -the girls glad indeed that Adele had thought of that particular birthday -present. - -Then, when the old people were comfortably seated in the easy-chairs, -some having been brought from the big house, and the girls, tailor-wise, -on the floor, Granny Dorset said, “’Lijah Dally, being as the girls have -turned that sheep-herder’s cabin into a play-house, why don’t you tell -them something that happened round there when you was a boy?” - -Grandpa Dally looked pleased to be called upon to entertain the company. -“I would, Sarie,” he replied, “but just this minute I don’t seem to -think of nothing.” - -“Suppose you tell ’em how you met the wolves,” Mr. Quigley suggested. - -“Oh, Grandpa Dally,” Rosamond cried with a shudder. “Did you really meet -some wolves once, and didn’t they eat you?” - -Every one laughed at Rosie’s question. “If they had,” Grandpa Dally -replied, “I wouldn’t be here to tell you the story. Well,” he began, -“when I was about eight years old, my father and me lived in that -sheep-herder’s cabin out in the meadows. I hadn’t a mother and I sort of -grew up any way. There was wolves hereabouts in them days, and when they -got real hungry, especially in winter, they came prowling around and -howling at night. Often father and the other herder who lived with us -would go out with their guns and drive them away from the fold. - -“When I was twelve year old, my father gave me a gun and taught me how -to shoot it, and after that I felt very brave and bold. - -“That winter was bitterly cold, and the snow was deep, but it was -crusted over so that we could walk on it. The sheep were all in the -fold, and at night we often heard the wolves howling in the hills. - -“‘’Lijah,’ my father said to me, ‘whenever you go to the store at the -crossings be sure that you carry your gun.’ - -“Once a week I went to the store, which was two miles away, to get -supplies and the mail. I wore a fur cap and mittens, and I did not mind -the cold much. With my gun over my shoulder and my snowshoes on my feet -I started out one day. I only passed one house on the way, and in it -lived a wood-cutter and his wife and two children. As I was a-passin’ -by, the woman called and asked me if I’d do an errand for her at the -store. She said her man was up to the woods, but she was expectin’ him -back about nightfall. I said I’d do her errand and glad to oblige, and -then I went on my way. - -“At the store there was some trappers just come in from the hills, and -they said wolves was thick up that ways, and extra hungry on account of -the deep snow. ‘Hello, sonny,’ one of them called after me, when, with -my packages strapped to my back, I started to leave the store. ‘You -ain’t goin’ home all alone, be you? Don’t see what yer pa’s thinkin’ of -to let ye, with wolves around as thick as they be.’ - -“I told him I wasn’t a bit afeared, and I hurried out. The first -half-mile I skated over the hard, crusted snow without a trip, but then -a strap bust on one of my snowshoes and I had to stop quite a while to -fix it before I could go on. When I got it mended it was growing dark, -and I was almost afeared to go on, thinking of what the trapper had -said, but I knew dad would be out huntin’ for me if I didn’t turn up, so -I skated off at a stiff pace. I tried to whistle, to sort of cheer me -up, but somehow I couldn’t, for fear that the wolves would hear. - -“I was nearing the woods, when I suddenly saw something which made my -blood run cold. There was wolf-tracks all around in the snow, and they -was fresh. I stood still, not a-darin’ to go on. I knew I was near the -woman’s house, but I couldn’t see it for the trees. Just as I was -wonderin’ what to do, I heerd a frightened cry for help. It was that -woman, I felt sure, and with all speed I rounded the edge of the wood. -The cabin door stood open and I saw two wolves a-goin’ in. Without -thinkin’ what I was to do, I darted to the door and fired. One wolf fell -at my feet with an ugly snarl, but the other turned and leaped at me. I -struck it with my gun, but I felt its sharp teeth cuttin’ into my arm. -Just as I thought it was all over with me, a shot rang out from behind, -and that wolf dropped dead, hit in the heart. - -“It was the wood-cutter. He had been a-returnin’, but when he heard my -gun he came on a run. Then, for the first time, I saw the woman and two -small children crouched in a corner. The woman came forward, white from -fright, and she took my hand as she said in a tremblin’ voice, ‘’Lijah -Dally, if I live to be a thousand, I can’t do enough to thank you for -savin’ my babies. The wolves was just about to leap on them when you -came in and fired, and the critters turned on you instead. A minute more -and nothin’ could ’a’ saved them.’ - -“‘You are a brave boy,’ the woodsman said, but I didn’t feel brave at -all. I was shakin’ so I ’most couldn’t stand. Just then there came a rap -on the door. It was my dad and one of the sheep-herders, out to look for -me. Wasn’t I glad to see them, though! But I didn’t feel real safe till -we three was in our log cabin, with the door bolted and barred.” - -“Oh-h!” said Rosamond Wright with a shudder. “How glad I am there are no -wolves around the log cabin now!” - -While Grandpa Dally had been telling this story there had been a quiet -bustling in the cottage kitchen, and suddenly the door opened and in -came Kate and Mrs. Doring, bearing the good things to eat. - -Granny Dorset’s chair was drawn up to the table and soon the merry feast -began. - -“A good old-fashioned chicken dinner,” Mrs. Quigley said with -appreciation. “And pumpkin pie!” Grandpa Dally added with a chuckle. - -“It’s a good while since I ate any home cookin’,” Mr. Quigley remarked. -“I tell you, folks, there’s nothin’ like a home, whether it’s for -cookin’ or just livin’ in,” he added wistfully, and every one knew that -he was thinking of the poorhouse. - -Then Miss Grackle impulsively exclaimed, “Dan Quigley, you seem about as -strong as ever. I should think that you could get gardening to do.” - -“I’ve tried, Sally, but all the farmers say I’m too old,” Mr. Quigley -replied. - -“You are too old for hard farming, I agree,” Miss Grackle said, “but -maybe there is some one who has a garden and grounds to be cared for, -where you could work when you felt like it and rest when you were -tired.” - -“I wish there was such a place,” the old man said sadly, “but there -ain’t.” - -“Yes, there is, too,” Miss Grackle exclaimed. “I want this place of mine -fixed up the way it was when father was alive, and I want you and Mrs. -Quigley to come and live in this cottage and take care of it for me.” - -Mrs. Quigley’s eyes were shining. “Pa Quigley,” she said, “I always told -you the dear Lord would send one of His angels to deliver us from the -poorhouse, if it was right that we should be delivered.” - -“And so He has!” Mr. Quigley said in a shaking voice. “And Sally Grackle -is that angel!” - -How Miss Grackle longed to tell them that Adele Doring and her six -friends were really the angels, but she had promised Adele that she -would not. When at last the guests took their departure they left the -happy old couple in a really, truly home. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - - THE NEW PUPIL - - -The Sunny Seven met under the elm tree in the school-yard the following -Monday, when a strange girl appeared with her books under her arm. She -was elaborately dressed, and each black curl hung in its prim and proper -place. - -“That new girl knows that we’re watching her,” Betty Burd exclaimed, -“and she’s trying to put on airs. Who is she, anyway?” - -“I’m sure I don’t know, and I don’t want to,” Rosamond Wright declared. - -“I know who she is,” Doris Drexel said. “Her father was an inn-keeper -out west until a few months ago. He owned a mine that never had amounted -to much, so he told dad. Then one morning he woke up and found himself -rich. After that his wife wanted to come east and live like folks, so -they came. They have mints of money, dad says, and they have bought that -beautiful Restwell estate out on the Lake Road. Father was asked there -to dinner last night. Mother was, also, of course, but she declined, but -dad is their banker and so he had to go. He said that the house is -luxuriously furnished, but in very poor taste. Dad likes Mr. Green, but -the wife boasts all the time of their great wealth, and tells what -everything cost.” - -“What is the girl’s name?” Adele asked. - -Doris smiled. “Her name used to be plain Susie Green, but since they -became rich, the mother thought Susie too common, and so they call her -Susetta.” - -“How ridiculous!” Bertha exclaimed. “I suppose if my father gets rich, I -will have to be called Berthetta.” - -“Well, then, let us hope that he never will,” Doris replied. “Dad said -that poor Mr. Green acted like a fish out of water all the time. He -hardly ate a mouthful at dinner, and afterward, when the two men were -alone, Mr. Green said that he did wish they were out west again, where -he could breathe. He said he felt smothered, with so much velvet around. -Father was real sorry for him.” - -“Poor little Susie!” Adele said, as the last school-bell began to ring. -“So much money will probably spoil her, but we must be kind to her and -make her feel that she is welcome to our school.” - -“Oh, Adele, if that isn’t just like you!” exclaimed Rosamond Wright. -“For my part, I shall leave the snippy little thing quite alone.” - -At the recreation hour the girls trooped again into the school-yard, -some romping about, and others sauntering in chattering groups. Susie -Green, with a book in her hand, sat alone on the bench under the -elm-tree. - -Adele, leaving the six, walked over to the girl and said pleasantly, -“Good morning, Susie. I know that you are a stranger, so, if you wish, I -will introduce you to my friends.” - -Susie tossed her head as she replied rather ungraciously, “My ma—I mean -my mother—doesn’t wish me to make up with any children at this public -school until I know what families they come from. She says I may meet -Doris Drexel, because she is our banker’s daughter. My ma—I mean my -mother—wanted to send me to a private school, but there ain’t,—I mean -there isn’t,—any around here.” - -Adele arose. “I am sorry that you feel that way, Susie,” she said -kindly. “Our schoolmates are all nice, and I am afraid that you will be -lonely alone.” - -“Poor girl!” Adele said, as she rejoined her friends. - -“Such airs!” Rosamond Wright declared with a toss of her pretty head. -“An inn-keeper’s daughter, and she doesn’t want to meet us, whose -ancestors have been gentry for hundreds of years.” - -“Well,” exclaimed Bertha Angel, “let’s proceed to forget her.” But they -were not allowed to forget the new pupil, as you shall hear. - -About a week later the Sunny Seven met under the elm-tree early one -morning, and Betty Burd held up a pink envelope, as she exclaimed, “Who -else had the honor to receive one of these?” - -“Honor, do you call it?” Rosamond asked languidly, as she displayed a -pink envelope. “I have one, but I shall not accept.” - -Adele and Gertrude and Doris also had them, but Bertha and Peggy had -none. The pink envelopes contained invitations to a very _select_ party -to be given by Susetta Green on the following Saturday. - -“I wasn’t select enough, because my father owns a grocery store, I -suppose,” Bertha Angel declared. - -“And my dad is also a tradesman, and so I am left out,” Peggy Pierce -added with twinkling eyes. “But you other girls go, and then you can -tell us all about the party.” - -“Go!” Doris Drexel exclaimed. “Indeed we will not go! I told Susie Green -myself that we seven always went to places together, or we didn’t go at -all. Do you suppose for one second, Peggy Pierce, that I would go to a -party if you and Bertha were left out?” - -And so it happened that Susetta Green received five notes of refusal to -her party. She took them to her mother with tears in her eyes, as she -said, “I told you, ma, that they wouldn’t none of them come unless you -asked them all.” - -Mrs. Green bristled indignantly. “Ask the daughters of tradespeople to a -select party? Well, I should say not! With all our money, we ought to -associate with earls and dukes.” - -“But ma,” Susie dolefully replied, “there ain’t any earls and dukes, and -I’m so lonely I’d just as soon play with the gardener’s children.” - -Her mother looked at her scornfully. “Well,” she said, “it’s mighty -queer those girls refused to come to your party. I looked up all their -families and they’re the best around, but your pa—that is, your -father—has more money than all of them put together. Just you remember -_that_ when you go back to school, and hold your head high. What’s more, -I intend hiring a girl to be a maid for you, and then, when you’re -older, you shall have a French maid.” - -That very afternoon Mrs. Melissa Green, with Susetta at her side, drove -in their handsome carriage down the country road. There was a coachman -and a footman dressed in green livery, with brass buttons, sitting -stiffly on the high front seat, and Mrs. Melissa Green, elaborately -dressed in purple satin, felt that they must be making a very grand -appearance. - -“Where are we going, ma?” Susie asked. - -“I do wish you wouldn’t say ‘ma’ any more, nor ‘pa,’ neither,” Mrs. -Green said irritably. “’Tain’t stylish! Say ‘father’ and ‘mother.’ We’re -going to visit the orphan asylum. Folks with money, like us, ought to be -doing something for charity. That’s the way to get a start in society, -so I’ve heard tell.” - -Susetta Green thought that was a queer reason for doing good, but, -wisely, she said nothing about it. What she did say, after a few moments -of thoughtful silence, was: “Ma—I mean mother—I almost wish that we had -never made any money. I’d heaps rather be riding bareback on my cow-pony -out west than be sitting here so stiff in this grand carriage.” - -“Well,” said Mrs. Green scornfully, “if I had any such common wishes, -I’d keep them to myself. Land sakes, don’t let the servants hear you -talk that way.” - -Soon the elegant equipage stopped in front of the orphanage. The footman -sprang to open the carriage-door, and Mrs. Green stepped down, with what -she believed to be a queenly air. Susie, looking anything but happy, -followed her up the gravelly walk. - -Eva and Amanda, standing at the sewing-room window, saw them, and Amanda -said, “Some rich woman, I guess, who is coming to offer a home to one of -the orphans.” - -“Maybe so,” Eva replied, giving the matter little thought, but she was -to give it very serious thought before another hour had passed. - -When Mrs. Melissa Green, with Susetta at her side, entered the -orphanage, the kindly matron, Mrs. Friend, welcomed them pleasantly and -led them to her office. The visitor at once began to state her errand, -while Susetta watched her and listened with wide, wondering eyes. - -“I am Mrs. Cyrus Green of the Restwell estate,” the newcomer began in a -condescending manner, which she deemed proper for the very rich to use -toward persons who were working for pay. Mrs. Green tried to forget that -a very few months before she herself had been serving guests in her -husband’s tavern, and she sincerely hoped that no one else knew about -it. Unfortunately for her, every one in town did know about it, because -simple Mr. Green often mentioned the tavern which he used to keep, and -the men liked him all the better for it. - -“I am glad to meet you, Mrs. Green,” the matron said pleasantly, not at -all impressed by the grand airs. “I had heard that a Western family had -purchased the Restwell estate. That fine old house has been closed for -so long that we are indeed glad to have it opened again. The former -owner, the elderly Mr. Restwell, was greatly loved in the village and -gave generously to all of the charities.” - -Mrs. Cyrus Green cared nothing about the former owners, the present -owner occupying all of her thoughts. “Well,” she said pompously, “I do -feel that we people who have great wealth ought to do something for the -folks who ’ain’t got it, and that is why I came here this morning. I -want to hire one of your older orphans to be a sort of companion for -Susetta here. I understand that you hire them out after they’re twelve.” - -“No, Mrs. Green,” the matron replied. “We do not permit our girls to -work for wages until they are fourteen, but we are glad to find pleasant -homes for them at any age,—homes in which they will be kindly treated, -and where they will receive greater advantages than we can afford to -give them.” - -Mrs. Green did not look pleased. “Well,” she replied stiffly, “I wasn’t -planning to adopt a common orphan to share equal with my Susetta, but I -will take one for a time, if I find one that’s suitable.” - -Mrs. Friend arose as she said, “I will call together our older girls, -and you may make their acquaintance.” - -Stepping into the hall, she rang three times on the gong. In the -sewing-room Eva looked up from the hem which she was stitching, and -aloud she counted, “One! Two! Three!” Then, rising and folding her work, -she said, “Come, Mandy; three bells means that we older girls are to go -to the study-hall. I wonder why.” - -“It’s just what I told you,” Amanda declared. “That rich woman has come -to adopt an orphan. I’m so ugly-looking that I’m sure she won’t choose -me, and if she takes you, Eva, I’ll just die of lonesomeness.” - -Twelve orphan girls gathered in the study, and together they curtsied to -the strangers when the matron introduced them. Then Mrs. Green lifted a -lorgnette to her eyes, though she could see perfectly well without -glasses, and, walking down the line, she examined each girl as a man -might a horse or a dog which he was about to purchase. - -Eva blushed as crimson as a poppy while she was being scrutinized, and -unconsciously drew herself up proudly and held her head high. - -As soon as possible Mrs. Friend dismissed the girls, and the trio -returned to the office. - -“Well,” said Mrs. Green, “there’s no use settin’ down again. I’ve made -my choice. I pick the slender one with yellow hair. She looks rather -uncommon. Eva, I think you called her. I don’t want no orphan who had -common parents to live with my Susetta.” - -Mrs. Friend was about to protest that she could not possibly spare Eva, -but just in time she remembered that the orphanage was greatly in need -of funds, and she knew that it would not do to offend this rich woman -who might contribute largely in the future, and so, with a sad heart, -Mrs. Friend said, “Eva Dearman is a very lovely girl and comes of a fine -old family. I am sorry indeed to part with her, but I am sure that you -will do much to make her happy.” - -Making the orphan happy had not been a part of Mrs. Green’s scheme. She -merely wanted a maid and companion for Susetta, and so she replied -rather coldly, “I guess any girl would consider it an honor to live in -an elegant house like ours after this here orphanage. I will send for -her to-morrow.” Then the woman was gone, Susetta meekly following her. - -Mrs. Friend watched them go with a heavy heart. How she dreaded telling -poor Eva! Then suddenly her face brightened. That very afternoon there -was to be a meeting of the directors of the orphanage. Perhaps they -would decide that Eva need not go after all. At least, she would not -tell the little girl whom she so dearly loved, until the matter was -definitely settled. - -Meanwhile, Eva and Amanda, hand in hand, had wandered over to the woods. -“It’s such a lovely day,” Eva declared, “I feel as though I wanted to -dance and sing, don’t you, Amanda?” - -The other girl shook her head. “No, I don’t!” she said. “I feel just as -though some terrible thing was going to happen. It’s that dreadful woman -makes me feel that way, I guess.” - -Eva laughed gayly. “Well, Mandy,” she replied merrily, “if a dreadful -calamity does come, you and I must try to look on the sunny side of it.” - -Whether or not the calamity came, you shall soon know. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - - EVA BEGINS A NEW LIFE - - -The board of directors met at the appointed hour, and as soon as the -regular business was disposed of, Mrs. Friend told the story of Mrs. -Green’s visit, and ended by asking permission to refuse to permit Eva to -leave the orphanage. - -The matter was discussed, but it was finally decided that it would be -very unwise to offend so wealthy a possible patron as Mrs. Cyrus Green. -“Let the child go for a while,” said one, “and perhaps later a way will -be found to recall her.” - -And with that decision Mrs. Friend had to be content. Late that -afternoon, as Eva and Amanda were walking arm in arm about the garden, a -little girl ran out to them and called, “Eva Dearman, Mrs. Friend wants -to see you in the office right away quick. I guess something awful has -happened, she looks so sad.” - -Amanda clung to her friend. “I knew it,” she almost sobbed. “That -dreadful woman chose you. I knew she was going to by the way she looked -at you. Oh, Eva, you’ll be so unhappy there. Why couldn’t she have -chosen me?” - -Eva released herself from her friend’s embrace and said tenderly, “Why -should you suffer for me? You would be just as unhappy at Mrs. Green’s -as I should. But don’t cry, Mandy. It may not be so very dreadful after -all.” Then she turned and went into the house. - -Eva’s face was very pale when Mrs. Friend looked up and saw her standing -in the doorway. The matron put her arms about her and held her close, as -a mother would, and then she said, “Eva, dear, you don’t know how I -dread telling you.” - -But the girl smiled bravely as she replied: “I know what it is! Mrs. -Friend, you have been so kind to me. No one but my own mother was ever -so kind, and I know that if you could have prevented this, you would -have done so.” - -“I have not given up hope yet, Eva,” the matron replied. “If you will go -for a time, I will try in every way to have you recalled as soon as -possible. Dear,” she added, looking tenderly at the girl, “are you -_sure_ that you have no living relative?” - -Eva shook her head sadly. “There is no one,” she said. “Father had only -one brother, and mother was the last of her family.” - -“What became of your father’s brother, Eva? Did he die, also?” the -matron asked. - -“Yes, he is dead,” Eva replied. “Uncle Dick went west when he was a mere -lad, because he was so eager for adventure, and for several years he -wrote to my father from different places. At last he seemed to settle -down to one, and he wrote that he was having an interesting life and -making money. Then, for a long time, father did not hear, and at last a -letter which he had written was returned to him unopened, and on the -outside was scrawled, ‘Dick Dearman was killed in an Indian raid, -leastwise it is supposed so.’ After that father wrote time and again, -but his letters always came back. All this happened before father -married my mother.” - -“Did you ever hear how your father addressed those letters, Eva?” the -matron inquired. - -“To Dry Creek, Arizona,” the girl replied. And then she asked, “When am -I to go to Mrs. Green’s?” - -“To-morrow,” the matron replied sadly. - -“Very well. Good-night, Mrs. Friend,” the girl said so quietly that the -matron thought that perhaps she did not mind going so much after all; -but if she could have seen the lonely motherless girl a few moments -later, she would have known how cruelly hard this new experience was for -her. - -Eva did not return to the garden, but, instead, she ran up to the -dormitory, and throwing herself upon the bed, sobbed as though her heart -would break. Then, slipping to her knees, she held her dear mother’s -picture, and prayed for strength to bear this heavy cross bravely and -cheerfully, as that dear mother had taught her. - -After a time peace crept into the heart of the girl, and she seemed to -know that in some way all was well. By the time that the other orphans -came into the dormitory for the night, Eva was able to meet them -smilingly; and since most of them believed that she had been greatly -honored to have been the choice of the rich woman, they little dreamed -of the hour of suffering which she had just passed through. - -When Eva awoke the next morning, it was with the feeling that something -unusual was going to happen. She looked out at the bare tree-tops in the -orchard and at the gray autumn sky, and then she remembered, and for a -moment her heart sank within her. But suddenly the sun burst through a -rift in the clouds, and the world was bright again. - -Eva sprang up to dress, as she thought bravely: “Maybe the sun will -shine through my clouds. Anyway, if I pretend that going to Mrs. Green’s -is something that I very much want to do, it will make it seem easier, -and, as Adele says, every cloud has a sunny side, even if it is very -hard to see just at first.” - -Mrs. Friend glanced anxiously at Eva when she entered the dining-room -that morning, her arm linked through Amanda’s, but the bright smile of -greeting dispelled the matron’s fear that she might have cried all -night. - -“What a dear, brave girl she is!” Mrs. Friend thought, and she -strengthened her resolve to leave no stone unturned in her effort to -have Eva recalled. - -After breakfast Eva went to the dormitory to pack her few belongings, -and Amanda was with her. - -“I feel just like crying,” Amanda said, “but when I see how brave you -are, it makes me feel ashamed of myself, for even living here with -orphans won’t be so bad as living with that dreadful woman. Do you -suppose that you are to be sent to school with that prig of a girl?” - -“No,” Eva replied. “Mrs. Friend told me that Susetta is to have a tutor -come from the city each day, and I suppose I am to have lessons with -her.” - -Poor little Eva little dreamed that educating the orphan was not in Mrs. -Green’s scheme. - -Few were the girl’s belongings, and those were soon packed in a satchel -which had belonged to her father. Lovingly Eva touched it, and it was -hard for her to keep back the tears when she remembered the big, fine -man who had owned it. How sad he would be if he knew that his only -little girl—But she put the thought away from her and smiled brightly up -at her friend. It would not do for her to be recalling the once happy -home and the two who had so loved her. - -“Amanda,” she said, trying to speak cheerily, “would you like to wear my -blue ring while I am away? Maybe it would be sort of company for you.” - -Amanda choked as she replied: “Oh, Eva, I’d be so glad to wear it. Maybe -it would help me to be brave, the way you are. I’ll just look at the -ring and remember that you love me, and then I won’t care so much if the -other girls are mean.” - -“There!” Eva announced as she snapped the clasp of the satchel. “My -wardrobe is packed and I am ready to depart for my future palatial -residence at Restwell.” Then she laughingly added, as she caught hold of -her friend and swung her around: “Amanda, do smile! You look as though -you were at a funeral. Really, now, things might be ever so much worse. -I might be going miles and miles away from you, but, as it is, I shall -be near enough to run over and see you often.” - -At that moment a small girl put her head in the dormitory-door and -called excitedly: “Eva! Eva Dearman! Are you here? There’s the grandest -kerridge come to get you. My, don’t I envy you though! Wouldn’t I like -to be leavin’ this dismal old orphans’ home and going to live in a -castle, like as not, where there’s servants with gold buttons to wait on -you.” - -Eva hurriedly put on her hat and coat, and then, kissing her friend, she -whispered: “Don’t cry, Amanda. Somehow I feel sure that something ever -so nice is going to happen soon for both of us. I can’t think what it -will be, but I feel it in my bones, and you can’t guess what good -prophets my bones are,” she added merrily as they started down the -stairs. - -Mrs. Friend was waiting in the hall, and she and Amanda walked out to -the gate with Eva, Amanda carrying the satchel, as she would gladly have -carried all of her friend’s burdens if only she could. - -A liveried footman helped Eva into the carriage, to the envy of all the -orphans, who were watching from the windows of the Home. - -“My, but ain’t she a lucky girl!” said Jenny Waine to her neighbor. - -“For my part,” Sally West replied, “I can’t see why that rich woman -would choose such a pale, skinny girl. You’re much prettier, with your -red cheeks and black eyes.” - -“Well, I’m thinking they won’t keep her long,” Jenny replied, with a -toss of her head which set her raven curls to bobbing, “and then maybe -one of us will get the next chance.” - -Meanwhile Eva, seated upon the luxurious purple cushions, leaned back -comfortably as she thought, “I’m just going to enjoy every pleasant -thing that comes along and not worry about the future.” - -This was a wise decision, but Eva did not find many things to enjoy -during the next few weeks. - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTY - - EVA HUMILIATED - - -The spirited horses soon turned in between two high stone gate-posts, on -the top of which two stone lions were crouching. The wide lawns were -beautifully kept, and bright-colored autumn flowers flamed in the neat -beds. Over a smooth, wide drive the carriage rolled with its small -occupant. It did not stop at the front of the house, but went around to -the servants’ entrance, and there a maid, in cap and apron, met Eva and -led her up the back-stairs to a small room which she said was next to -her own. - -When Eva had been left alone, she stood very still, looking about her at -the plain furnishings, and then it slowly dawned upon her that, instead -of being there as an equal and a companion for Susetta, she was to be -classed as a servant. Hot tears rushed to her eyes, but she tried to -console herself with the thought that it would not be for long; it could -not be. Mrs. Friend would not permit it. And Adele, what would Adele -say? - -There was a rustle in the doorway, and there stood Mrs. Green in an -elaborate rose-colored house-dress. - -“I see you’ve come,” she said without a word of greeting. “Here’s a -black dress I want you to wear, and—er—a cap and apron. I like to have -all the—er—helpers around the house dressed alike. Folks who have great -wealth ought to do things stylish.” - -“So they should, Mrs. Green,” Eva replied politely. - -“Your duties,” Mrs. Green continued, “will be to look after Miss -Susetta’s room, and to mend her clothes, and to ride out with her when I -am not able to go. I hope that you speak English right. I don’t want no -one who talks ignorant associatin’ with my daughter, and me a-paying out -a lot of money for a tutor to come down from the city to teach her.” - -“I will try to speak correctly,” Eva said, feeling as though she was -taking a part in a play, everything seemed so unreal and unnatural. - -“When you are dressed, you may come to my room, which is at the front of -the second-floor hall.” So saying Mrs. Green, elephantine in her loose -rose-colored house-dress, walked away, and Eva actually laughed to -herself as she made the change. Being able to see the humorous side of a -thing saves many a needless heartache. - -Half an hour later she rapped lightly on a closed door on the -second-floor front and was bidden to enter. - -Susetta was there, and she jumped up, crying joyfully, “Oh, Eva, I’m so -glad you have come! How I have wanted a girl of my own age to—” - -But she got no farther, for her mother, with a frown, said reprovingly, -“Susetta, didn’t I tell you never to speak familiar, like that, -to—er—the helpers?” Then, turning to Eva, she said, “Yonder is some -mending in a basket. You may begin on that.” - -Eva sat in a low rocker by a side-window and began to mend the muslin -garments. She liked to sew, and she dearly loved lacy things, so she was -rather enjoying her task. Susetta pouted, but obediently returned to her -seat at the front window. Picking up her book, she tried to read, but, -not being interested, she often looked listlessly down on the park-like -grounds. Suddenly she gave an exclamation of pleasure. “Oh, ma! ma! Do -look!” she cried excitedly. “There’s the banker’s daughter, and the -Doring girl in her pony-cart. They’re coming to call on me.” - -Mrs. Green peered out between the curtains as she replied, “I told you -they’d come fast enough when they found out how rich we are. I’m glad -it’s that Doring girl. Her folks belong to one of the oldest families -around, and her grandpa owned ’most all of the land in the town. Those -two girls are just the ones that I want you to know.” - -There came a rap on the door, and a maid entered and announced, “Miss -Doring and Miss Drexel to call upon Miss Eva Dearman.” - -A deep red mounted to Mrs. Green’s brow, and she replied angrily, “Just -tell them, if you please, that I do not let my servants have company -except on certain days, and that Eva Dearman’s day hasn’t been picked -out yet. What’s more, tell them that the servants’ friends go to the -side-door.” - -Mrs. Green was so angry that she hardly knew what she was saying. Eva’s -cheeks flushed, and for a second she felt inclined to resent what had -been said, but wisely she decided to say nothing. - -The maid delivered the message which Mrs. Green had sent, and the girls -were very indignant. - -“Poor Eva!” Adele said as they were driving away. “If I only had known -that she was to be sent to Mrs. Green’s. I didn’t know a thing about it -until I telephoned to Mrs. Friend an hour ago. But she won’t have to -endure this humiliation much longer. My mother loves Eva, and she will -gladly invite her to visit us indefinitely.” - -When Adele reached home she ran into the house, and, pausing in the -lower hall, she called, “Mumsie, where are you?” - -“In the library, dear,” a sweet voice replied. And Adele, flushed and -excited, went in and sank down on the stool at her mother’s feet as she -exclaimed, “Oh, mumsie, I am so mad! I never was madder, I guess, in all -my days. I’ve tried and tried to think kind things about that horrid -Mrs. Green, but I just can’t, no matter how hard I try.” - -“Mrs. Green!” the mother repeated wonderingly. “Why, pet, what have you -to do with her?” - -Then in a rush of words Adele told the whole story. Mrs. Doring, who -truly loved Eva, was surprised that the matron of the Home had allowed -her to be so humiliated. “I will telephone to Mrs. Friend at once,” she -said, as she arose and went into Mr. Doring’s small study. - -The matron of the orphanage was also very indignant when she heard that -Eva was being treated as a servant. - -“Mrs. Doring,” she said over the wire, “I sincerely hope that you do not -think that I had any knowledge that such was to be the case. Mrs. Green -told me that she wished Eva to be a companion for Susetta, and when I -asked her in what manner the orphan would be able to continue her -studies, Mrs. Green replied that she had engaged a tutor to come from -the city each day, and she inferred, if she did not directly say, that -Eva would have lessons with Susetta. Eva is one of the dearest girls I -have ever known, and I did my best to prevent her going, but the -directors, knowing that the orphanage is much overcrowded, felt that it -is best to find homes for the girls as soon as possible, and, moreover, -they did not wish to offend Mrs. Green, who is a rich woman and might -contribute liberally, and the home is greatly in need of funds.” - -“But surely Eva ought not to be sacrificed,” Mrs. Doring replied. -“Couldn’t you send one of the other girls who has not so sensitive a -nature?” - -“Unfortunately, Eva was Mrs. Green’s choice,” the matron said sadly. - -“Suppose, then, that I take Eva,” Mrs. Doring continued. “I will do so -gladly. In fact, Mr. Doring and I were recently considering the matter, -and had almost decided to ask Eva to become our adopted daughter and a -sister for Adele. The two girls love each other so dearly that I am sure -that it would be a very happy arrangement.” - -“It would, indeed,” Mrs. Friend replied, “and I will lay the matter -before the board of directors at their next meeting, which, -unfortunately, will not be for another fortnight. Until that time I -shall be powerless to act in the matter.” - -When Mrs. Doring returned to the library, Adele threw her arms about her -and cried joyfully, “Oh, mumsie, I heard what you said about adopting -Eva. How wonderful that would be! When can she come? May I drive over -and get her this very moment? I can’t bear to have her spend a single -night under the same roof with those horrid people.” - -“Adele, dear,” her mother said gently, “calling names won’t help Eva. -Mrs. Green has had few opportunities. If she had had the advantages that -we have had, perhaps she would be different. We must remember that.” - -“Very well, mumsie,” Adele said contritely. “I’ll try not to think -unkindly of Mrs. Green any more. I’ll try not to think of her at all, -but please do tell me when I may go after my dear sister Eva.” - -Then Mrs. Doring told all that the matron had said. “Oh-h!” Adele -sighed. “Then poor Eva must stay there for two long weeks. Well, at -least I will telephone to her and tell her that we are trying to get her -out of her prison.” - -A moment later Adele emerged from her father’s study, looking very -unlike her cheerful self. Mrs. Doring put one arm about the girl, as she -laughingly exclaimed, “Well, little Miss Thunder-cloud, what happened?” - -“I called up Restwell,” Adele began, “and I asked if I might speak to -Eva Dearman. The butler, I suppose it was, replied, and he said the -servants were not allowed to use the ’phone. Now, how can I let Eva -know? She may fret herself ill.” - -“Eva has a brave, noble nature, and I am sure that she will cheerfully -make the best of things, and, Della, two weeks will quickly pass, and -after that we will do all that we can to make up for the unhappy year -that Eva has had.” - -However, before the fortnight was over, something very unexpected -happened. - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - - SOMETHING UNEXPECTED - - -The days dragged slowly by for both Eva and Adele. Mrs. Green had been -so angry because the daughters of the two best families in town had -called upon her servant instead of upon her daughter, that she tried -ever after to humiliate the girl, as though in some way it had been her -fault. - -Once only did Adele catch sight of Eva, and that was when the orphan was -sitting beside Susetta in a handsome carriage, which was being slowly -driven down the main street of the village. Susetta was elaborately -dressed in a ruffled pale-blue silk, which was partly covered with a -mantle of fluffy white furs. Her pale-blue hat was also fur-trimmed. Eva -Dearman, by contrast, was dressed like a maid, in black, with white cap -and apron. This was the first time that the orphan had been publicly -humiliated, and her face looked very white as Adele passed on her pony. - -“Good morning, Eva,” Adele called. A faint smile was the only reply that -she received, but Susetta tossed her head angrily. She was imbibing more -of her mother’s spirit every day. - -Adele, who had intended to call upon Amanda at the orphanage, was so -indignant at Eva’s public humiliation that she whirled her pony around -and galloped home as fast as Firefly could go. She found her mother in -the sewing-room. “Oh, mumsie!” she sobbed as she threw her arms about -Mrs. Doring. “I can’t stand it! I won’t stand it!” - -“Can’t stand what, pet?” her mother asked, as she smoothed the girl’s -hair. - -Then Adele told what she had seen, and she added, “Eva’s family was just -as good as ours, or anybody’s, and she is so sensitive. I could tell by -her white face that she was suffering cruelly, but she held her head -high, and, oh, mumsie, for all the difference in clothes, any one could -tell that Eva was the real lady.” - -“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Doring replied. “It is not the work that we do -nor the clothes that we wear, but just what we are, that makes us -gentlewomen. But do not grieve so, Adele. Just think, in four days we -shall have Eva here with us, and after that we will do all that we can -to make her happy.” - -“Well,” Adele said with a sigh, as she picked up her riding-hat, “if -there is nothing that I can do about it, I might as well go over and see -Amanda Brown. She is so lonely with Eva away.” - -As Adele neared the orphanage, she saw the station-wagon stopping near -the gate. “More orphans being brought to the Home, I suppose,” she -thought, but instead, a man alighted and bade the driver wait. The -stranger was about forty-five years of age, dressed in typical western -style, and as he glanced at the girl, she saw that his weather-browned -face was good-looking and kindly. Adele dismounted, and, tossing -Firefly’s reins over a hitching-post, started up the gravelly walk, just -back of the stranger. He turned and smiled pleasantly at her, as he -asked, “Am I right in believing that this is the county orphanage?” - -“Yes, it is,” Adele replied, walking beside him. - -“Do you happen to know if this is where my niece, Eva Dearman, is -staying?” - -If the skies had opened and an angel had appeared to deliver Eva, Adele -could not have been more surprised. - -“Oh, sir!” she cried, scarcely able to believe what she had heard. “Are -you really her uncle? Can it be true that poor Eva has an own relation?” - -“Why do you call my niece ‘poor’?” the stranger asked with evident -concern. “Is she ill or in trouble?” - -Then Adele told the whole story. The face of Richard Dearman showed deep -feeling as he listened, and then he said almost brokenly, “To think of -my brother’s little girl enduring such humiliation!” - -Then he strode to the orphanage door and inquired for Mrs. Friend. The -matron was out and was not expected back for two hours. - -The man then turned to Adele, as he asked, “Young lady, will you take me -to the place where my niece is being treated like a servant?” - -“Indeed I will, gladly,” Adele replied, and soon they were on the road, -Richard Dearman in the station-wagon, and Adele riding alongside on -Firefly. - -Meanwhile Eva, sad and weary, was on her knees, cleaning the hardwood -floor in Susetta’s room. Little did she dream of the great joy that was -coming to her. - -When they reached the imposing entrance to the Restwell estate, Adele -bade Mr. Dearman good-by, believing that he would rather meet his niece -alone. Just as the station-wagon stopped at the broad front steps, the -door of the house opened, and a short man, with reddish complexion, -hurried down. Mr. Dearman was at that moment alighting from the wagon, -and the two men met face to face. There was an exclamation of pleased -surprise from Mr. Green, as he hurried forward and extended his hand. - -“Well, Dick Dearman!” he cried. “Whatever are you doing so far from the -Woolly West? I swan, I never was so glad to see anybody! I’m sure tired -of these Eastern dudes. The men are decent enough, you understand, but -somehow they are different. Mighty good of you, Dick, to hunt us up.” - -Before the visitor had time to explain the truth concerning his errand, -the door opened again, and this time Mrs. Green, in her rose-colored -house-dress, appeared, and Mr. Green called, “Melissy, do see who is -here. Dick Dearman, the Cattle King of Silver Creek, has come to visit -us.” - -“How do you do, Mrs. Green,” the newcomer said. “I heard that you had -given up the tavern business and had come east, but I did not dream that -it was you with whom my niece, Eva Dearman, is staying.” - -For a moment the face of Mrs. Green became very white and her eyes -looked frightened. She had understood, from what the matron of the Home -had told her, that Eva had no living relation, and now she suddenly -found that Eva had an uncle, who was a man of wealth and influence in -the West. What would he say if he knew how unkind she had been to the -girl? But he must not know. She thought quickly, and aloud she exclaimed -with pretended pleasure, “Well, now, is it possible that you are the -uncle of our dear Eva? I didn’t suppose that she had any own folks, and -I was so taken with her sweet face, when I was over at the orphanage, -that I asked the matron to let her come and live with us, and be a -sister to our lonely little girl.” - -Mr. Dearman knew that this was not the truth, but he replied with -extreme politeness. “You were indeed kind to take so much trouble to -make my niece happy, but, as you may surmise, I am very eager to see my -brother’s little girl; that is, if she is here.” - -Mrs. Green knew very well that at that moment Eva was cleaning Susetta’s -room, but she answered evasively, “I’m not sure that the girls have come -home as yet. It was such a lovely day, I sent them for a drive.” - -Then, turning to Mr. Green, she said: “Pa, you take Mr. Dearman into the -library and I’ll see if I can find Eva. How pleased the dear child will -be!” - -Then the flustered woman hurried away. When the two men were in the -library, Mr. Green excused himself, saying that he had an engagement -with his banker, but that he would see their visitor at luncheon. Then -he, too, departed, leaving Mr. Dearman alone. - -Meanwhile, Mrs. Green had hastened to her daughter’s room. It was in -perfect order, and Susetta, curled in a chair, was reading a book. The -orphan was not there. - -“Wherever is Eva Dearman?” Mrs. Green asked in such an excited tone of -voice that Susetta looked up in surprise and inquired, “What’s wrong, -ma?” - -“Wrong? Everything’s wrong!” her mother replied. “Here we’ve been -treating that orphan like a servant, and her uncle has just come for -her, and he’s richer than your own pa even, and what would he say if he -knew how we’d been treating the girl? But he mustn’t know! Susetta, find -Eva at once and dress her up in some of your fine clothes and tell her -that we didn’t intend to have her for a servant any longer. Tell her I -was a-going to adopt her and have her for your sister.” - -Then it was that something in Susetta which was like her blunt, honest -father, awoke, and her eyes flashed as she replied, - -“I won’t tell Eva any such thing, ma, because it’s a lie.” - -The mother cowed before her daughter’s reproof, and then hurried down -the hall to see if Eva was in her room, but she was not there. The girl -had gone down-stairs to replace the cleaning utensils in the -kitchen-closet. She was about to return to her room when the parlor-maid -appeared with a vase of flowers. - -“Oh, Eva,” she said, “won’t you please take these into the library? I -have so much to do, I will never get through.” - -Eva, always willing to oblige, took the cut-glass vase with its bouquet -of sweet pink roses and went toward the library, little dreaming that -her very own uncle was waiting in there. - -The girl had one hand on the silk plush portières, and was about to push -them back, when she heard her name called softly from above. - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - - A HAPPY MEETING - - -Eva paused and looked up the broad stairway. At the top stood Mrs. -Green, frantically beckoning to her. - -“Eva,” the woman called in a stage whisper, “don’t go into the library. -Come here, quick!” - -The girl, puzzled indeed, was about to obey, when the portières parted -and a tall, good-looking man appeared. He had been examining a painting -near the doorway and had plainly heard the excited stage-whisper, the -meaning of which he had easily interpreted. - -Eva stepped back in surprise when she beheld the stranger, and, placing -the vase of flowers on a near-by table, was about to hasten away, when -the man stepped in front of her and held out both his hands. Eva, -glancing at his face, saw in it an expression of love and tenderness -such as she had not seen for many months. What could it mean? Then the -stranger spoke. “Eva,” he said, “I am your Uncle Dick. Mrs. Friend wrote -to me and—” But before he could say another word, the girl had thrown -her arms about his neck, and was clinging to him as though she never -meant to let him go again. - -“Oh, Uncle Dick! Uncle Dick!” she sobbed. “Take me away from here! -Please take me away! I’ve tried so hard to be brave, truly I have, but -I’ve been so miserably lonesome without father or mother or any own -folks to love me. How good it was of God to send you to me!” - -There were tears also in the eyes of the strong man as he held the -slender girl in a close embrace. - -Meanwhile Mrs. Green, when she saw that the meeting was inevitable, had -disappeared into her own room and locked the door. She did not care even -to face her daughter just then. Soon she heard the front-door close, -and, peering between the window-curtains, she saw the station-wagon roll -away, and she was indeed glad that Mr. Dearman was taking Eva without -further ado. The girl, she noted, was dressed as she had been when she -came from the orphanage, and her own belongings were in the satchel -which had been her father’s. - -Adele, having galloped home at top speed, had told the wonderful news to -her mother. - -“Of course I am sorry to lose my new sister,” she ended, “but it never -would have been the same as own folks for Eva. And, just think of it, -mumsie, her very own uncle has come for her and is going to take her -back west with him.” - -“I am so glad for the poor child,” Mrs. Doring replied. “And now, -Adele,” she added, “suppose you ride back and invite Eva and her uncle -to come here and stay until they leave for the west.” - -“Oh, mumsie,” the girl cried with shining eyes, as she gave her mother a -bear-hug. “What nice things you do think of! I will go at once, for I am -sure they will not be long at Mrs. Green’s, and the hotel is such a -dismal place.” - -Once more the girl mounted Firefly and galloped up the Lake Road. Before -long she saw the station-wagon approaching, and she waved her hat -joyously. - -“Here comes Adele!” Eva exclaimed, as she looked up at her uncle with -shining eyes. Her face, which had been pale an hour before, was glowing -with rosy color. “You just can’t think how kind she has been to me,” Eva -continued. “She found me crying one day soon after I came to the -orphanage, and she has been just like a sister to me ever since, haven’t -you, Adele?” she asked gayly, as Firefly whirled around beside the -carriage. - -“Yes, I suppose so,” Adele replied, not knowing in the least what her -friend was talking about. “Oh, Eva!” she cried. “I’m so happy because -now you have some own folks, and so is mumsie, and she sent me to ask -you and your uncle to come to our house and stay until you go west.” - -“How nice that will be!” Eva exclaimed. “When are we going west, Uncle -Dick?” - -“Just as soon as I can arrange to get a section through to Chicago. -Probably by to-morrow noon.” - -“Oh, so soon?” Adele asked dolefully, as she suddenly realized what -losing Eva would mean to her. Mr. Dearman saw the troubled expression, -and he was pleased to know that his niece had so good a friend, so he -hastened to say, “Miss Adele, I do hope that you will be able to come -west and make us a long visit. We have an attractive old ranch-house and -I am sure that you would enjoy it, and, since you ride so well, perhaps -you and Eva would like to be my cow-girls.” - -“Oh, wouldn’t I love that life!” Adele replied. “If mumsie will allow me -to, I will visit you next vacation.” Then she looked up anxiously as she -asked, “Would that be too soon?” - -“No, indeed!” laughed Uncle Dick. “The sooner the better. The ranch -needs just such company.” - -Mrs. Doring was at the front gate to greet Eva, and she repeated the -invitation which Adele had already given. - -“Thank you, Mrs. Doring,” Mr. Dearman replied. “My suit-case is at the -hotel, and so I will remain there to-night, but I will gladly leave Eva -with you until morning.” - -What a happy visit the two girls had that evening, as they sat in the -pretty wild-rose room! “Adele,” Eva exclaimed, as she put her arm about -her friend, “I’m almost glad now that I was sent to the orphanage, for -if I hadn’t been I would never have known you, and I do love you just as -much as I could if you were my very own sister, I do believe.” - -“And we’ll never, never lose each other, will we?” Adele replied. - -“Of course not!” Eva exclaimed. “How could we? We’ll write letters -often, and next summer you are to come to visit me. Your mother told -Uncle Dick that she thought that you might, if some friend happened to -be traveling west at that time.” - -“Good!” Adele cried. “How I’d love to play cow-girl and dress in khaki, -with a red handkerchief about my neck! Oh, Eva, won’t it be glorious to -gallop across the desert trails?” - -“It will be glorious to have you with me,” Eva replied, “but since I -have never ridden horseback, I am not sure how much I shall enjoy that.” - -“You’ll love it, I know,” Eva exclaimed. Then a tender light appeared in -her eyes as she said, “Oh, Adele, just to think that I am going to have -a real home with an own relative in it; and the best, the very best, of -it is that Uncle Dick looks just as father did when he was younger. Why, -Adele, I’m so happy, so happy, that it seems as though those dreadful -days at Mrs. Green’s must have been just a dream.” Then, taking Adele’s -hand, she added, “There is one request which I have to make, and that -is, please be kind to poor Amanda.” - -“I promise,” Adele replied. Then for a time the two girls, hand in hand, -sat quietly in the gathering twilight, and then Eva said softly, “I’m -thinking of my mother and of how happy she must be if she knows that at -last her little girl is to have a real home and some one to love her.” - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE - - FAREWELL TO THE ORPHANAGE - - -The next morning the girls woke up early. Soon after breakfast the -station-wagon appeared, and in it was Uncle Dick, who said that he would -drive Eva over to the orphanage, that she might say good-by to the -matron and to the orphans. - -Mrs. Friend, they were told upon arriving, was with a sick child, but -would be down as soon as possible. - -“You wait here in the office, Uncle Dick,” Eva said, “and I will go and -find poor Amanda.” - -How Eva dreaded telling her friend that she was going away to the Far -West, for well she knew how deep and sincere the girl’s grief would be. -It was Saturday morning, and the orphans were busy about their tasks, -Amanda, as usual, cleaning the study-hall. When the door opened, she -looked up, and then, with an exclamation of joy, fairly flew across the -room, and, throwing her arms about Eva, she cried: “Oh, you dear, dear -Eva! Have you come back to stay? Please say that you have! I can’t live -here without you! I had made up my mind that if I couldn’t be with you -any more, I would run away.” - -“Oh, Mandy!” Eva exclaimed anxiously. “You mustn’t run away! Promise me -that you will not. Mrs. Friend is so kind, and—and, I can’t stay with -you, Mandy, because I am going far away to the West.” - -Then Eva drew her friend to a bench and told her the story of her -uncle’s coming. - -“I’m so glad for you,” Amanda said, and then, putting her head down on -her friend’s shoulder, she burst into a torrent of tears. - -“Oh, Eva!” she sobbed. “Please don’t think I am selfish enough to want -you to stay here now, but when I think that I am never, never to see you -again, and there’s _no one_ else in the whole world whom I love, I guess -it’s more than I can bear.” - -“Do try to be brave, Mandy,” Eva said, tears brimming her eyes. “I’ll -write to you every week, and Adele said that she would be a friend to -you. She likes you, really she does. But come; I want you to meet my -dear Uncle Dick.” - -Amanda dried her eyes and permitted her friend to lead her to the -office. There she took Mr. Dearman’s offered hand, and, looking up into -his face with a pitiful expression, she said brokenly, “I’m so glad that -Eva has an own relation.” - -Then the tears came with a rush, and the girl hurried out of the room. -Going to the dormitory, she threw herself on her cot and sobbed and -sobbed. - -Eva looked at her uncle with brimming eyes. “I’m the only friend Amanda -has,” she said simply, and then she told the story of the lonely -orphan’s life. “It doesn’t seem right for me to go and leave her,” Eva -added sadly. - -Then all of a sudden a bright smile lighted the face of Uncle Dick, and -he exclaimed, “We won’t leave her, Eva. We’ll take her with us! The -ranch-house is big, and it will be splendid for you to have a girl -companion, for our nearest neighbor is eight miles away.” - -“Uncle Dick,” Eva cried, scarcely able to believe her ears. “Do you -really mean that? Truly, may Amanda go with us? Oh, you can’t guess how -happy she will be!” - -Then Eva, entirely forgetting that Mrs. Friend ought first to be -consulted, flew up-stairs to the dormitory, where she felt sure she -would find the heart-broken orphan. “Amanda!” she called joyously. -“Don’t you cry another tear. Something wonderful has happened. Uncle -Dick is going to take you, too. He suggested it all himself.” - -Amanda, springing to her feet, caught her friend’s hands as she -exclaimed, “Eva Dearman, am I dreaming, or is it really true?” - -“It’s really true,” the other replied. “And do hurry, dear, for we are -to take the noon train.” - -Hastily Amanda washed, combed her hair, and donned her best blue alpaca -dress, and then, all of a sudden, she thought of something. “Why, Eva,” -she said, “won’t I have to ask Mrs. Friend if I may go?” - -Before the other girl could reply, the matron herself appeared with such -a bright smile that the girls knew that everything must be all right. - -“Eva and Amanda!” she said as she kissed one and then the other. “I am -so happy for you both. It is not customary to dismiss a child from the -Home without the approval of the board of directors, but this time I -myself will assume the responsibility.” - -A few moments later the station-wagon drove away, and Eva and Amanda -waved to the matron and her remaining children until they were out of -sight. They were beginning a new life. - -Adele, at the Doring gate, was surprised to see Amanda’s shining face. -Then, all at once, the truth dawned upon her, and, with a cry of joy, -she ran forward and caught the orphan’s hand as she stepped from the -carriage. “Oh, Mandy!” she cried. “You are going, too. I just know that -you are, and I’m so glad for you.” - -Mrs. Doring came out, and she, too, rejoiced to hear the wonderful good -news. Then, turning to Mr. Dearman, she said: “I want you all three to -come in and have a good dinner before you start on your journey. It is -only eleven, two full hours before your train leaves. My son Jack is -here, and he will take you to the station in our car.” - -Mr. Dearman, knowing that this had been planned to give Eva pleasure, -readily consented, and, paying the driver of the station-wagon -generously, with a pleasant word he dismissed him. - -Jack Doring was eager to meet this man from the West about whom he had -heard so much. - -Eva and Adele visited merrily as they ate the good dinner which Kate had -prepared, but Amanda was so overcome with her new joy that she could -hardly eat at all, but her black eyes were shining like stars at -midnight. Mrs. Doring, noticing this, slipped out and asked Kate to put -up a bountiful lunch that the girls might eat later on the train. - -“Do tell that kind Madge Peterson all about our great good fortune,” Eva -was saying to Adele. “She was so nice to us, and I am sure that she will -be glad to hear about it. Tell her that I hope, some day, she will be in -the West and that we may meet her again.” - -“Eva,” Jack said solemnly, “here you are inviting everybody else to -visit you and leaving me out. Haven’t I been nice to you? Why, the very -first evening I ever met you, I invited you to a fudge party.” - -“So you did,” Eva laughingly replied. “And if it were my house, I would -surely invite you to visit us when Adele comes next summer.” - -“Then you may consider yourself invited, Master Jack,” Mr. Dearman -exclaimed, “for Eva is going to be the mistress of the Bar-X Ranch, and -she may invite there whomever she pleases. Indeed, we shall be able to -find bunks for any number of young people.” - -“If my sister goes West I surely ought to escort her,” Jack exclaimed, -“and protect her from train-robbers and scalping Indians!” - -“Oh-h!” sighed Adele. “It will be nine whole months before next summer. -It doesn’t seem as though I could wait so long.” - -“Time flies,” her mother smilingly assured her. “Before you realize it, -you will be packing your trunk and buying a ticket for—where, Mr. -Dearman?” she inquired, turning to their guest. - -“Douglas is the nearest station, although some of the trains stop at -Silver Creek,” he replied. Then they all arose, and soon were seated in -the big touring-car, with Jack driving them to the station. - -Adele was almost as excited as were Eva and Amanda when the shrill -whistle of the approaching engine was heard, and when the train slowed -up and stopped, there were tears in their eyes as they kissed each other -good-by, promising to write often. - -“Oh, Adele,” Eva whispered in a last embrace. “You have been so good to -me, and you will never know what it has meant, because you have not lost -your mother.” - -Then Uncle Dick helped the two girls into the car nearest, and they -waved from the window while the train was slowly leaving the station. - -Adele turned away with a sense of loneliness, but through her tears she -saw her mother waiting for her, and, nestling close to that loved one on -the back seat of the car, she said softly, “Mumsie, dear, I feel as if I -were living in a story-book, and that one chapter was finished, and now -I am so eager to know what the next chapter will be.” - -If you are also interested, you can learn the “next chapter” by reading -“Adele Doring on a Ranch.” - - THE END - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adele Doring of the Sunnyside Club, by -Grace May North - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADELE DORING OF THE SUNNYSIDE CLUB *** - -***** This file should be named 62151-0.txt or 62151-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/1/5/62151/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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