Update for 76807HEAD main

author: pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> 2025-09-03 15:22:07 -0700
committer: pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> 2025-09-03 15:22:07 -0700
commit: e60246cec34a81e49cf46a0af217c842b6cae988 (patch)
tree: 189dc2895831ac478f43b50d618a33a240ad3c9c /76807-h/76807-h.htm
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+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8">
+    <title>
+      Another year with Denise and Ned toodles | Project Gutenberg
+    </title>
+    <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover">
+    <style>
+
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+    </style>
+</head>
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76807 ***</div>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h1>
+ANOTHER YEAR WITH<br>
+DENISE AND NED TOODLES
+</h1>
+</div>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="frontispiece"> </span></p>
+<figure class="figcenter illowp52" id="i_frontis" style="max-width: 46.875em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_frontis.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption>
+      <div class="blockquot">
+    <i>Frontispiece—Denise.</i>
+    </div>
+      <p>“DENISE RAISED HER HEAD AND LISTENED FOR THE
+    SECOND CALL.”</p>
+      <p>
+      <i>See page <a href="#Page_15">15</a></i></p>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="ph3">
+  ANOTHER YEAR</p>
+  <p class="ph4">
+  WITH</p>
+  <p class="ph2">
+  Denise and Ned Toodles</p>
+  <br>
+  <p class="ph4">BY</p>
+  <p class="ph4">
+  GABRIELLE E. JACKSON<br>
+  </p>
+  <p class="ph3"><i>With Illustrations</i><br>
+  <br>
+  PHILADELPHIA</p>
+  <p class="ph3">
+  HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="ph3">
+  BY THE SAME AUTHOR</p>
+  <p class="ph4">
+  <span class="smcap">Caps and Capers</span><br>
+  <br>
+  <span class="smcap">Doughnuts and Diplomas</span><br>
+  <br>
+  $1.00 each<br>
+  <br>
+  <span class="smcap">A Blue Grass Beauty</span><br>
+  <br>
+  Fifty cents<br>
+  <br>
+  Copyright, 1904, by Henry Altemus
+</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">
+    CONTENTS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<table class="autotable">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER I</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdr"><span class="allsmcap">PAGE</span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">What the Wood-Thrush Told</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER II</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">Mabie Lilly Taintit</span>”</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER III</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">An Old Friend and a New One</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER IV</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Hart</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER V</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">King Royal Distinguishes Himself</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER VI</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Sunset Hour</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER VII</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">Oh, We’ll Sail the Ocean Blue!</span>”</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER VIII</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Pokey and a Circus</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER IX</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Earth Opens and Pokey is Swallowed Up</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER X</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Troubles Never Come Singly</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XI</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Timely Rescue</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XII<span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</span></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Joy Turns Pokey Daft</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIII</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Mischief</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIV</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Aunt Miranda Comes to Town</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XV</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Aunt Miranda and Ned have a Little Altercation</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVI</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Aunt Miranda Interviews Nero’s Owner</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVII</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Ned Disgraces Himself, but Makes Amends</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVIII</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Birthday Frolic and What Came of It</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIX</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Denise to the Rescue</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XX</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Coasting Episode</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_254">254</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XXI</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Another Christmas Day Draws Near</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdc">CHAPTER XXII</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Christmas for all the Pets</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="ILLUSTRATIONS">
+    ILLUSTRATIONS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<table class="autotable">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdr"><span style="margin-left: 3.0em;"><span class="allsmcap">PAGE</span></span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“Denise raised her head and listened for the second call”</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdr"><i><a href="#frontispiece">Frontispiece</a></i></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“‘Why not call it the <i>River Kelpie</i>?’”</td>
+<td class="tdl">Facing p.</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“The man bent down to avoid the branches”</td>
+<td class="tdc">“</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“They had many things to talk over”</td>
+<td class="tdc">“</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_231">230</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_xi"></a>[Pg xi]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="WHAT_THE_WOOD-THRUSH">
+    WHAT THE WOOD-THRUSH
+    TOLD
+
+
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[Pg 13]</span></p>
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="ANOTHER_YEAR_WITH_DENISE">
+    ANOTHER YEAR WITH DENISE
+    AND NED TOODLES
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="r5">
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">
+    CHAPTER I
+    <br>
+    WHAT THE WOOD-THRUSH TOLD
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Denise sat all alone in her phaeton, her
+elbows resting upon her knees, and her
+chin propped upon her hands. The
+soft brown curls fell all about her face, and the
+brown eyes, which matched the curls in color,
+looked dreamily off toward the glassy river.
+The linen carriage-robe had slipped from her
+knees and one end trailed out upon the fresh
+green grass upon which the phaeton stood, for
+she had driven out of the main road into a
+little by-way leading up the mountain, her
+favorite spot for a “good quiet think,” and she
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>and Ned Toodles were reveling in the beauty
+of that early spring day. The atmosphere was
+so balmy, so filled with the thousand promises
+of spring, the sun so warm and comforting,
+without the oppressive heat that would come
+later in the season, and all nature so entrancing
+in the exquisitely soft green of her new spring
+attire, that it was no wonder that the sensitive,
+imaginative child of eleven should be transported
+into a fairy-like reverie, or the little
+pony, which had now been her constant companion
+for more than eighteen months, should,
+so far as an animal can sympathize with a
+human being’s moods, enter into sympathy with
+Denise’s. He stood perfectly still, his head
+turned slightly toward the river upon which
+Denise’s eyes rested, his head slightly drooping,
+and the usually wide-awake eyes partly closed,
+as though he, too, had nearly slipped away into
+the land of dreams. One ear, however, was
+turned backward toward the occupant of the
+phaeton, as though he had placed an anchor in
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>the land of reality in which his beloved little
+mistress dwelt most of the time.</p>
+
+<p>To the right of the phaeton stretched the
+great woodland, with its silence, broken only by
+the wind whispering through the trees, and its
+bird-calls. It was a dreamy, beautiful world
+which Denise and her pet were dwelling in just
+there and then, and a fitting surrounding for a
+child whose life had been filled with sunshine,
+and whose nature reflected it, as well as for the
+little pony, who ever since he had become hers,
+eighteen months before, had not known the
+meaning of a harsh word or unkindness.</p>
+
+<p>Presently from out the woodland came the
+incomparable call of the wood-thrush, rising
+from its soft, tender note to the clear joyous
+call which told to all the world that life was, oh,
+so sweet! Denise raised her head from her
+hands and listened for the second call which
+she knew would follow. It came, and this time
+a little nearer, as though the bird were searching
+the woods for its mate. Then back went the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>answering call, but not from the bird’s mate.
+Raising her head, Denise puckered up the soft
+red lips, and clear and sweet from between them
+came the</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_music" style="max-width: 50.0em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_music.jpg" alt="">
+</figure>
+
+<div class="center-container">
+<div class="audio">
+
+<audio controls="controls" title="">
+<source src="music/i016-1st.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" id="id-audio1">Audio content is not currently supported on your device.</audio>
+[<a href="music/i016-1st.mxl" id="id_music1">MusicXML</a>]
+
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<div class="center-container">
+<div class="audio">
+<audio controls="controls" title="">
+<source src="music/i016-2nd.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" id="id-audio2">Audio content is not currently supported on your device.</audio>
+[<a href="music/i016-2nd.mxl" id="id_music2">MusicXML</a>]
+</div>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Then she listened for the answer. It came,
+and so did the bird, peering cautiously from a
+leafy covert, flying nearer and nearer the still
+figures at the roadside, hopping questioningly
+from bough to bough, as though asking,
+“Where is she?”</p>
+
+<p>Denise smiled, but made no sound, and the
+little bird, deciding that those odd-looking
+creatures so near by were harmless, opened
+his tiny beak, and clear and sweet at her very
+side gave his entrancing call again.</p>
+
+<p>The moment it ceased Denise repeated hers,
+and for a few moments a very bewildered little
+bird flitted about the phaeton, calling and hearing
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>the answering call without seeing the lady
+bird whom he felt sure must be near at hand.
+It was altogether too tantalizing, and the mystery
+must be solved if possible, so, gathering
+courage from his intense curiosity, down he
+flew from his leafy branch and alighted upon
+the wheel of the phaeton, to give a still louder
+and more peremptory call. It was of no use,
+for even though his lady-love politely answered
+from between Denise’s lips, she refused to appear,
+and with an indignant flourish of his
+brown tail, off flew her suitor to seek a lady-love
+less disdainful.</p>
+
+<p>As he disappeared into the wood a merry
+laugh rippled after him, which must have
+caused a surprised flutter from his wings, and,
+giving one bound, Denise sprang over the
+wheels and landed upon the grass beside Ned.
+The move was a sudden one, but Ned was used
+to moves of all sorts, so, giving a soft little
+whinny of welcome, he aroused himself from
+his dreams, took a step or two nearer, and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>poked his head under Denise’s arm. She
+dropped upon the soft grass, saying:—</p>
+
+<p>“Ned Toodles, it’s springtime, springtime,
+springtime! I am so glad, aren’t you?” And
+cuddling both arms about the warm head
+which was thrust into her lap as she sat there,
+she buried her face in the silky forelock and
+“snuggled” as hard as she could. Ned responded
+by a succession of subdued whinnies,
+as though saying, “More delighted than I can
+express, for spring means green grass, long
+walks with you, and no bother with blankets!”</p>
+
+<p>“Now, Ned, listen,” continued Denise, for
+these conversations were by no means uncommon;
+they were held daily. “Spring means
+warm weather, warm weather means vacation,
+vacation means Pokey! What do you think of
+that? Vacation doesn’t mean much to us, does
+it? It’s a sort of vacation all the time with
+Miss Meredith, for she seems to know just
+when I have done enough, and doing any more
+would make my brain all sort of muddled up,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>and it’s just fun to study with some one who
+makes you see every solitary thing you learn,
+till you couldn’t <i>help</i> knowing it unless you
+were as stupid as—as, well that funny person
+who called upon mamma the other day and
+who said to me, ‘So this is the examplry child
+I have heard so much about. Dear me, I
+think I shall have to ask your mamma to let
+you come and visit my children for a while;
+they are simply irrepressible, and perhaps your
+shining example will serve as a beacon to their
+benighted minds.’”</p>
+
+<p>“Ned, it was just awful! Really, it was!
+That funny woman was so very much dressed
+up, and was so very, very polite, but she used
+such queer words. I did not dare look at
+mamma for fear I should laugh, and then what
+would she have thought of this ‘examplry’
+child I am sure I don’t know. Mamma said,
+‘We do not consider Denise a model child by
+any means, Mrs. Smithers; she is no more than
+any child may be if the parents will take the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>trouble to study their children’s characters and
+learn the wisest manner of government. “One
+man’s meat is another man’s poison,” you know,
+and I think the rule will apply to children
+pretty well, too, don’t you?’ And then mamma
+smiled that odd little smile of hers that just
+means <i>so</i> much. You sort of <i>feel</i> its meaning way
+down inside you, and even if you could not <i>tell</i>
+in words just what she means you know it all
+the same. Then she said to me, ‘Mrs. Smithers
+will excuse you now, Sweetheart,’ and gave me
+the little love-nod which means, ‘I see you
+don’t understand what it is all about, but we
+will talk it over together when twilight comes
+and we have our cuddle in the big armchair in
+the library.’ Ned Toodles, that armchair is just
+the very nicest place in the whole wide world,
+do you know that?”</p>
+
+<p>Ned evidently agreed perfectly, for he answered,
+“Hoo-hoo-hoo!” and Denise continued:—</p>
+
+<p>“But, oh, dear, I’m just miles away from
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>where I started! What was I telling you?
+Oh, yes, I remember. Vacation and Pokey.
+You see, Ned Toodles, Pokey is smart, very
+smart, indeed, and some day she is going to be
+famous, because she told me so. She is going
+to study hard and get to be a teacher, and buy
+a dear little house and furnish it all just as
+pretty as can be, and have her mother live with
+her and never wish for a single thing that she
+cannot give to her right off! Isn’t that just
+splendid? But to do that she must study hard
+while she is a little girl, and that is what she is
+doing now, oh, <i>so</i> hard! And she gets all tired
+out and fidgety, and sort of criss-cross, because
+she doesn’t know what ails her, but mamma
+says it is because the brain is trying to grow
+too fast for the body, and Pokey can’t keep up
+to it, so just as soon as vacation comes Pokey
+will come out here, and—<i>then</i>!”</p>
+
+<p>This thought was too tremendous to be dealt
+with in a sitting position, and, springing up,
+Denise cried:—</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Let’s go home just as fast as ever we can,
+Ned, for I’ve a sort of feeling that something
+fine is going to happen,” and she scrambled
+into the phaeton, and was soon spinning
+down the road toward home—the very road
+down which she and her beloved Pokey had
+scurried the previous summer in their vain
+attempt to escape from Colonel Franklin when
+their taffy candy had led them into disgrace.
+Her thoughts were still busy with her little
+friend as she hurried along, but she could not
+look into the future to see that friend’s dream
+a reality beyond her most sanguine hopes nor
+behold her grown to dignified womanhood and
+presiding as superintendent of one of the largest
+schools in the city which had always been her
+home.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">
+    CHAPTER II
+    <br>
+    “MABIE LILLY TAINTIT”
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Ned Toodles trotted along the road
+that beautiful afternoon, and Denise’s
+joyous mood found a vent in a charming
+little song which kept time with Ned’s footfalls
+and to which he occasionally gave a sort of
+staccato accent, by breaking into a frisky jump.
+“Sing-Song Polly” rang out over the fields,
+the song growing gayer and wilder at every
+bar, till suddenly a second voice took up the
+theme in a long-drawn, doleful wail, that
+brought Denise’s warble to an abrupt ending.
+Ned heard it, too, and gave a little start to one
+side, for the wail seemed to proceed from the
+very ground beneath them, and was decidedly
+uncanny. Denise drew rein quickly, and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>stopped to listen for further signs of distress.
+They came very promptly, and a second later
+she was stooping over a forlorn figure which the
+low bushes at the roadside nearly concealed.</p>
+
+<p>A little ditch divided the adjacent fields from
+the road, and at this season of the year the ditch
+was very apt to be filled with water and inhabited
+by a flourishing family of tadpoles. Seated
+upon the ground at the further side of the ditch,
+her feet firmly embedded in its mud, from which
+she was vainly striving to withdraw them, was
+a small child, probably six years of age. She
+wore a little pink and white checked gingham,
+which was splashed with mud from top to
+bottom; her hands were the color of a little
+darky’s, and her hair, which perhaps had not
+been in perfect order upon setting out, was now
+a hopeless snarl and firmly caught in the overhanging
+branches of the bushes at her back.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether she was in a sorry plight, for she
+was held fast by head and feet, and, unless
+some good Samaritan appeared upon the scene
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>to release her, in a fair way to remain a prisoner
+for some time to come. But she certainly had
+no intention of submitting meekly to the predicament
+in which she found herself, if lusty
+shouts and yells could compass her release.</p>
+
+<p>“My good gracious!” exclaimed Denise,
+“how in this world did you ever get in there,
+and stuck tight fast in the mud?”</p>
+
+<p>“I wanted the littule fat fises! I wanted the
+littule fat fises! I want to get out! I want to
+get out!” screamed the child, tugging with might
+and main to free her feet, and thereby only
+adding to the trouble above.</p>
+
+<p>“Wait a minute! Wait a minute!” cried
+Denise. “I must get your hair free before you
+can move.” But the youngster was beyond all
+reasoning with, and, turning to Denise, shrieked
+at the top of her lungs: “Take that old tree
+away! Take it away, I say!”</p>
+
+<p>“Why don’t you ask me to take the whole
+woods away, you little goose!” exclaimed Denise
+with some asperity. “I <i>can’t</i> take the tree
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>away, and if you don’t keep still long enough
+to let me loosen your hair from the branches, I
+shall never in the world get you free. Be still!”
+and she gave the screaming youngster a little
+shake. It was not much of a shake, but it had
+the desired effect, and was doubtless the sort of
+persuasion to which she was accustomed. As a
+rule Denise was wonderfully gentle with little
+folk, but here was a situation which needed
+prompt action, and this small imp seemed determined
+to frustrate every move she made to
+help her.</p>
+
+<p>Denise began to unwind the tangled hair, and
+was just upon the point of releasing the whole
+mop, when, “Oh! Oh! Ohuu! They’re all
+tummin’ after me! Oh-h! Ou-u! Ou-u!” and
+up bounced the youngster, as four or five tadpoles,
+emboldened by the silence which had prevailed
+while Denise was absorbed in her task,
+came swimming toward her, only to vanish at
+the howl which greeted them. In a twinkling
+Denise’s labors were undone. Up bobbed the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>head into the branches, only to be jerked back
+again by the imprisoned feet, and the hair,
+caught more firmly than ever, drew down with
+it a slender branch which gave a stinging lash
+across the child’s face.</p>
+
+<p>If she had howled before, she outdid herself
+now when the pain added to her miseries, and
+Denise was literally at her wit’s end. To ever
+untangle that hair now was out of the question,
+and what in the world was to be done? Every
+moment was adding to the mischief, and the
+child was becoming nearly frantic. Stepping
+to one side, Denise drew from her pocket the
+little knife she always carried, and, opening the
+largest blade, stepped carefully back to the
+struggling child. Watching her chance, she
+grasped her firmly with one arm, and, despite
+her struggles, held her fast while she cut the
+hair from the bush. Once that end was freed,
+she flung the knife out into the road, and set
+about pulling the other end from the mud.
+The first jerk produced no effect, but the second
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>resulted in a prolonged “s-k-e-r-S-w-A-P,”
+and up flew one foot without a shoe, the other
+foot with so much mud upon it that it looked
+like nothing in this world but a lump of wet
+peat, while heels-over-head went Denise and
+her charge into the bushes behind them. Denise
+was too frightened to care whether she was
+hurt or not, but, scrambling to her feet, turned
+to see what had befallen Miss Pink-Gingham.
+The howl had been scared out of her, and she
+was making for the road as fast as her legs
+would carry her. Once upon <i>terra firma</i> she
+stood still to wait for her rescuer, sobbing meanwhile
+in a subdued sort of fashion.</p>
+
+<p>By this time it may easily be imagined what
+sort of condition Denise was in, but, feeling
+that it could not possibly be any worse, she
+clawed down into the mud till she found
+the missing shoe and drew it out in triumph.
+As upon one other memorable occasion,
+the linen duster now served as a towel, and
+a moment later Denise had scoured off her hands
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>and was turning her attention to the little
+blackamoor in the road. At sight of the
+forlorn little figure Denise’s heart melted, but
+to offer condolence, excepting in the form of
+words, until some of mother earth had been removed,
+was obviously impossible. So she
+rubbed and scraped as she poured forth words
+of consolation, and ere long had the child as
+much restored to her normal color as was possible
+and seated beside her in the phaeton. Then
+came the question of where to take her, for,
+although pretty well acquainted with every one
+in that town, this face was a strange one, and
+where its owner belonged she did not know.</p>
+
+<p>“Now tell me your name and where you
+live,” said Denise, soothingly, but, as though the
+mention of home recalled her recent harrowing
+experiences, the child began to sob again, and
+Denise was in despair.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, please stop crying, and tell me where to
+take you. See. I will drive you in the carriage
+wherever you tell me, and Ned Toodles
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>will go ever so fast if you will only let him
+know where <i>to</i> go.”</p>
+
+<p>“Mabie Lilly—oh!—Taint! Taint—it!”
+sobbed the child.</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe Lilly—what? Isn’t Lilly your
+name? Then what is it?” pleaded Denise.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Taint-it! Taint-it!” was all she could
+hear.</p>
+
+<p>“<i>What</i> isn’t it? Lilly? Isn’t Lilly your
+name?” demanded Denise, inwardly thinking
+that no name could have been a greater misnomer
+under existing conditions.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes; yes, Mabie Lilly—boo, hoo. Taint-it!
+Taint-it!”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, <i>dear</i> me, what <i>shall</i> I do with her,”
+wailed Denise, then, thinking to find out the
+child’s address if she could not learn her name,
+she asked, “Where do you live?” Tell me
+that, and I’ll take you straight there.</p>
+
+<p>“In Noo York! In Noo York!” was the climax
+of a reply.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I’ll take you there by the very next
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>train, of course,” cried Denise; “or, perhaps,
+I’d better turn around and drive there to save
+time. Where in the world <i>does</i> she belong, I
+wonder. I’ve never seen her before, but I suppose
+I might sit here till to-morrow and never
+find out from her. Go on, Ned, and we’ll see
+what we can find out from the first person we
+meet,” for pity, combined with despair of learning
+who the child was, was a sore tax upon
+nerves and patience, and, gathering up her
+reins, she started for the town, the youngster
+beside her keeping up an incessant sob of
+“Taint-it; Taint it! Oh, Ma-bie Lilly; Ma-bie
+Lilly—Taint-it! Taint-it!”</p>
+
+<p>Ned spun along over the road, till at last they
+came to the section of the town dotted all along
+the roadside with pretty homes. They were
+about a quarter of a mile from Denise’s when she
+spied a man hurrying toward them, gesticulating,
+and evidently holding an animated conversation
+with <i>himself</i>. Denise could not help
+laughing at the figure he cut, for wrath, strong
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>and potent, was written in every gesture. Just
+at that moment the child saw him also, and,
+jumping up in the carriage, cried at the top of
+her lungs: “Oh, Michael! Michael! Here I
+is! Here I is!” By this time they were nearly
+up to him, and, stopping short in the road, the
+man froze to his last gesture and stared at them
+open-mouthed. Then, shaking his fist at the
+youngster, he came a step nearer, saying:</p>
+
+<p>“An’ is it yersilf I see a-sittin’ up there in
+yer illigince, an’ me runnin’ me legs arf me ter
+search the town fer ye, ye schmall bit av a divil,
+that has run away twinty times within the past
+tin days! Faith I’ve a mind ter shake the head
+arf ye fer the thrubble ye’ve put upon me!
+An’ yer mither a-screechin’ an’ a-screamin’ that
+ye’re drownded entirely in the river beyant, an’
+fer gettin’ out half the town ter search it fer ye!
+Arrah, now! Come out av that, an’ let me—Ah!
+what shall I do wid ye at all, I dunno!”
+and, reaching over the wheel, the irate Irishman
+lifted the child out with not the gentlest hand,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>she protesting and screaming that she wanted to
+“wide home with the nice young lady dat fised
+her out of the brook.”</p>
+
+<p>“An’ will ye look at the young lady, ye
+young limb o’ Satan! See the sthate ye’ve been
+after puttin’ hersilf an’ her kerrege in! Ah!
+Miss Denise, an’ it’s a shame, so it is, the
+dhirt that’s from hid ter ind av yer little
+wagon.”</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind the mud, Michael. I don’t care
+about that, for John will soon brush it all out.
+But who on earth is that child? I thought I
+knew everybody in Springdale, but I have
+never seen her before. I thought I should
+never get her home, because I could not get her
+to say a single thing when I asked her name,
+but that maybe it was Lilly, and then she
+always added, oh, taint it, taint it, till I knew
+less than before she began to tell it.”</p>
+
+<p>Over Michael’s broad face a smile began to
+spread itself, till it well-nigh reached from ear
+to ear, and then, becoming aware of his rudeness,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>he put his hand over his mouth to suppress
+the guffaw that <i>would</i> come.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh! Oho! Oho!” cried Michael, spasmodically,
+his face puckered up as though he
+were going to sneeze. “Is that what she towld
+ye? Will I iver hear the bate o’ that! Faith,
+tis no wonder ye couldn’t make head or tail av
+it. Shure, she is master’s sister’s choild what is
+a-visitin’ him fer the last tin days, an’ runnin’
+arf iviry blessed one av those tin, wid me
+chasin’ after her till me legs is worn out. ’Tis
+Taintit her name is, Mabel Lilly Taintit. Her
+mother is Mr. Wilson’s sister.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, it is no wonder I didn’t understand,”
+cried Denise, as she joined in the laugh, and
+then turned Ned’s head toward home, as
+Michael lifted up his charge and turned toward
+theirs, asserting as he departed that “afther this
+it’s tied up ye’ll be fer sertain.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">
+    CHAPTER III
+    <br>
+    AN OLD FRIEND AND A NEW ONE
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was the twentieth of April! Tan’s birthday!
+At least, Denise considered it his
+birthday, for upon that date, when she was
+a wee lassie of four, Tan had been given to her,
+although he certainly had not come into the
+world upon the same day, for Tan was “no kid”
+when she got him. That he was more than
+seven and one-half years she knew, and a friend
+of her father’s who was well up in animal lore,
+said that Tan was not far from fourteen years
+of age, to judge from the rings upon his horns,
+which were almost as distinct as those seen upon
+the Rocky Mountain sheep which Tan resembled
+both in size and color. So Tan was growing
+old for a goat, and during the past winter
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>had suffered somewhat from rheumatism. The
+Veterinary who came to see him did all that he
+could to afford him relief, but said that Tan
+would probably not live through another winter.
+Denise had been greatly troubled at this, but,
+like all “mothers,” only loved old Tan more
+dearly in his affliction, and cared for him more
+tenderly. But as spring drew near Tan improved
+steadily, and when the warm days came
+and he could go out in his field to crop the
+fresh, sweet grass, it seemed just the tonic he
+required, and he grew quite gay and frisky.
+He still followed Denise whenever he could do
+so, but in some of their long rambles, or after
+a particularly hard climb, often grew tired and
+stopped stock-still in the road to pant.</p>
+
+<p>Ned, Sailor, and Beauty Buttons were not
+able to understand, although Sailor, himself,
+was not very young.</p>
+
+<p>Directly lessons were ended and luncheon
+eaten, Denise flew out to the “Bird’s Nest,”
+for the pretty little playhouse and stable for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>her pets combined was still as dear to her as
+upon the day she had received the key to it
+from papa’s hand, and most of her time was
+spent in it. Running into the part which held
+the carriages for Ned and Tan, she took down
+Tan’s harness, which had not been put on him
+for many a long day, wheeled out the little
+carriage, and then went to the door to whistle
+for Tan. Ned Toodles stood in his day-stall,
+which permitted him to see through the bars
+all that was taking place, and looked upon the
+unusual preparations with a sort of “Well, I
+wonder what you are up to now?” look. He
+stood perfectly still except for an occasional
+whisk of his tail, very much as a person
+might, without really being aware of it, hastily
+brush away a stray lock of hair which tickled
+him.</p>
+
+<p>Out upon the grass in front of the “Bird’s
+Nest,” Denise rolled the little old-fashioned carriage,
+and then turned to greet Tan, who, at the
+first sight of these familiar objects, felt his poor
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>old bones filled with new life, and his loving old
+heart beat for joy, for these meant that he was
+again to draw the little carriage and, as he supposed,
+his beloved little mistress. With a prolonged
+baa-aa-a-a—a, he came trotting toward
+her as fast as the stiff legs permitted, and
+rubbed his head against her sleeve by way of
+telling her how pleased he was.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, Tanny-boy,” said Denise, “this is
+your birthday. At least, <i>I</i> call it your birthday,
+because you came to live with me on the
+twentieth of April just seven years ago.
+Haven’t we had good times all these years?
+You haven’t been harnessed for ever so long,
+and I don’t know whether you ought to be now,
+to tell the truth, for you don’t seem very strong,
+but I am not going to take you out of the
+grounds, and this is to make you feel that you
+<i>aren’t</i> so very old after all,” and Denise stroked
+the faithful old pet, who responded in every way
+he knew how; licking her hands, rubbing against
+her, and making a soft little snuffling sound.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p>
+
+<p>It was only a moment’s work to her practiced
+hands to adjust the harness, and Tan was a
+proud goat as he waited for her to get into the
+carriage. But she had no intention of doing so.
+Such a load as her plump little self was not to
+be thought of, so, bidding him stand perfectly
+still, she ran back into the playhouse and a
+moment later reappeared with a little pink
+flannelette blanket, bound all around the edges
+with black braid, and a piece of broad pink
+ribbon.</p>
+
+<p>“Here, Beauty Buttons,” she called to the
+tiny black-and-tan terrier which was enjoying
+a sun-bath in the playhouse dining-room,
+“come and ride in Tan’s wagon, for I’m too
+heavy,” and down trotted the small dog, to be
+dressed in the blanket she had made for this
+festive occasion and adorned with the bow to
+match. He knew well enough what was expected,
+and hopped into the carriage. Denise
+put the reins over his neck and there he sat,
+a brave little groom, while Denise went up to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>Tan’s head and took hold of the bridle. Poor
+old Tan! All aches and pains were forgotten, and
+he stepped off in his bravest style.</p>
+
+<p>“Now we will go over there under the apple-trees,
+and I’ll dress you all up,” said Denise,
+and off they went, and presently were standing
+beneath the blossom-laden trees, so filled with
+their beautiful bloom that they looked exactly
+like huge bouquets. The boughs hung low, and
+before long Tan had nearly disappeared under
+his decorations, for sprigs of apple-blossoms were
+stuck in every part of the harness that they
+could be stuck in, the carriage and Beauty also
+coming in for their share. When all was
+finished Denise led Tan to the rear porch and
+gave a “bob-white” call. It was almost instantly
+answered by a bob-white from within,
+and her mother’s face appeared at an upper
+window.</p>
+
+<p>“What is this, Sweetheart? A flower fête?”
+asked Mrs. Lombard, smiling at the posy bank
+under her window.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Isn’t it pretty,” cried Denise, “and did you
+ever see such lovely blossoms. Tan seems so
+much better, and I guess he will be all right
+now that warm weather has come again, don’t
+you?”</p>
+
+<p>“I would not wonder a bit,” was the comforting
+reply, for somehow this mother rarely made
+any other sort, and had a knack of putting the
+simplest things in a new and happy light.</p>
+
+<p>“Have you got a letter?” asked Denise,
+noticing that her mother held an envelope in
+her hand.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, dear; it is a letter from Mrs. Murray,
+saying that they will be back in their old home
+this week, and that we may expect to see the
+house open any day. I am so pleased to hear
+such good news, for it has seemed very lonely
+to have our nearest neighbor’s house shut up all
+these years. I wonder if you can remember
+the children at all? The eldest was only six
+months your senior, and a dear little lad.”</p>
+
+<p>“I am afraid I can’t,” said Denise, wagging
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>her head solemnly, as though she were found
+wanting in something.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, keep your weather eye open,” said
+Mrs. Lombard, laughing, “and when you see
+some one whom you don’t know, just say to
+yourself, ‘that is an old friend.’”</p>
+
+<p>“I will,” answered Denise, joining in the
+laugh, and turning to lead Tan and her passenger
+back under the trees. The apple-trees grew
+near to the fence which divided Mr. Lombard’s
+property from his neighbor’s, and that particular
+corner of the grounds was always a favorite one
+of Denise’s. Up in one tree was her “cubby,”
+beneath two others swung her hammock, and
+upon the velvety grass beneath them she spent
+many a happy hour reading, while Ned
+Toodles, Tan, Sailor, Beauty Buttons, and the
+kittens stood, sat, or stretched themselves about
+her. A hedge of currant-bushes grew along the
+fence, concealing all that took place within or
+beyond.</p>
+
+<p>Denise had led Tan to a particularly inviting
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>spot and took him from the shafts, although
+she did not remove the harness and its decorations.
+Beauty had hopped out of the carriage,
+and was now sprawled out like a big frog.
+Seating herself in one of the rustic benches
+beneath the trees, she drew Tan toward her and
+began to scratch the little spot between his
+horns; a spot which seemed to be in a perpetual
+state of itching, as his head would fall lower
+and lower the longer she scratched there. As
+she rubbed she talked to Tan, rambling on in
+the odd way she had of sharing all her thoughts
+with her pets, safe confidants, who never betrayed
+her secrets, and who loved the voice for
+the voice’s sake. Presently a loud, impatient
+whinney caused her to look over toward the
+playhouse.</p>
+
+<p>“Do you hear that?” she demanded. “I
+do believe that Ned is jealous for the first time
+in his life,” and she answered the whinney by
+giving a peculiar piping whistle.</p>
+
+<p>A stamping and a clatter was the result, and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>presently John’s voice was heard shouting:
+“Hi! you young scamp! Don’t you dare thry
+that thrick on me agin. It’s takin’ out yer own
+bar fastenings ye’ll be, is it? Don’t ye dare!
+There,” as the sound of dropping bars told that
+Ned was free, “gt-t-t out beyant to Miss Denise,
+and cut no more capers,” and with a rattle
+and clatter out rushed Ned to come tearing over
+the grass toward Denise. His abrupt exit so
+startled the kittens, who were basking in the
+sunshine just outside the door, that they
+bounced up like two rubber balls and tore
+along ahead of him with both tails stuck
+straight up in the air like bottle-brushes, and
+did not stop their flight until they were safe in
+the branches above Denise’s head.</p>
+
+<p>As though to rebuke such unseemly haste,
+Sailor rose majestically from his favorite corner
+of the piazza, and, descending the steps, came
+slowly across the lawn, waving his plumy tail
+like a flag of truce and looking with dignified
+contempt upon such mad antics as Ned was
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>just then giving way to, for having been confined
+in his stall all the morning while Denise
+was occupied with her lessons, and then having
+had insult added to injury by receiving from
+her only a few words when she ran out to get
+Tan, his outraged spirit had to find some sort
+of vent, and this up-end, down-end, tip-end,
+top-end sort of performance with which he was
+now favoring his audience was evidently the
+proper sort of demonstration under the circumstances,
+and for a little time it would have been
+hard to tell which end of him rested upon
+<i>terra firma</i>. As a fitting ending to his performance,
+he rushed around and around two or three
+times, evidently regarding Denise’s laughter
+which pealed out as wild applause, and then,
+coming toward her with a rush, bumped against
+old Tan and nearly upset him, as he pushed
+him aside to put <i>his</i> saucy nose where Tan’s
+had been.</p>
+
+<p>It was all done so quickly that Denise hardly
+realized what had happened till she was startled
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>by a hearty, boyish laugh from the other side
+of the hedge, and, turning quickly, saw a
+lad of about twelve looking over it and laughing
+as hard as he could. Giving Ned a shake
+by his little silky ears, Denise pushed him from
+her and hopped up from the bench, saying:
+“Isn’t he the craziest thing you ever saw? I
+guess you are the person I am to see and not
+know a bit, but to call an old friend,” and with
+this bewildering announcement she went over
+to the fence to speak to the still amused boy.</p>
+
+<p>Hastily reaching in the pocket of his immaculate
+little overcoat, the boy drew from it a
+small card-case, and, taking from it a card,
+handed it to Denise with a truly Chesterfieldian
+air as he raised his cap and waited
+for her to read the name.</p>
+
+<p>Although a carefully-bred child, Denise had
+not had much experience in conventionalities,
+and did not go about with a card-case in her
+pocket. So it never occurred to her to throw
+any formality into her reply, and her next
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>words banished forever any misgivings the boy
+was entertaining of the outcome of this act.
+“Will she be stiff and prim?” had been his
+inward doubt while coming back to the home
+so long untenanted by his parents, and learning
+that their next-door neighbor had an only
+daughter blessed with more good things than
+usually falls to the lot of one child. He had
+been at school abroad, and “manners polite”
+had been as breakfast, dinner, and supper to
+him for three long years, till very little of the
+genuine boy appeared upon the surface, however
+much it seethed and bubbled beneath. True to
+his training, the card had been produced when
+occasion called for it, but the sigh of relief which
+came at Denise’s next words told that a mighty
+burden had been lifted from his boyish soul:</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, how perfectly splendid! You are Hart
+Murray, mamma’s old friend’s son. Come
+straight over the fence and let me show you
+all my pets, and we’ll talk, talk, talk, till we
+can’t think of another word to say!”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">
+    CHAPTER IV
+    <br>
+    HART
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>No second invitation was needed, and with
+one of the marvelous “neck-or-nothing”
+bounds which only boys can make,
+Hart rested one hand upon the fence and the
+next instant stood beside the surprised girl.</p>
+
+<p>“How under the sun did you do it!” she
+exclaimed, for never having had any boy companions
+excepting her cousins from the city,
+Denise hardly knew what to expect from boys.</p>
+
+<p>“That didn’t amount to much,” answered the
+boy, modestly, as he followed Denise over the
+lawn, and a moment later was surrounded by
+her inquisitive family. Ned promptly struck
+an attitude, and sniffed from afar in long, audible
+breaths. Tan presented arms, so to speak,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>by trying to rear upon his hind legs as of old,
+and make believe butt the newcomer. Sailor
+walked right up to him and put his paw into
+his hand, and Beauty, not to be outdone in
+politeness, instantly began to do his tricks for
+their guest’s benefit. He lay down at his feet,
+rolled over first one way and then the other so
+quickly that one wondered if he had some
+sort of a patent spring inside him; then sat
+upon his hind legs to “beg” and “sneeze”
+three times in rapid succession. Overhead
+the kittens kept up a sort of accompaniment
+to the other’s performances by running
+rapidly up and down the limbs and meowing
+incessantly.</p>
+
+<p>“I say! What a lot of them!” exclaimed
+the boy, “and aren’t they dandies?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, I think that they <i>are</i> a pretty nice
+family. Tan is all dressed up because it is his
+birthday.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not really? That’s a joke, for it’s mine,
+too. I’m twelve years old to-day, and that is
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>the reason I came out here. A sort of birthday
+treat, don’t you see.”</p>
+
+<p>“How funny,” cried Denise, “but isn’t it
+splendid, too! Let’s leave the children down
+here to enjoy themselves while you and I get up
+into the tree and have a fine talk. See the seats
+up there? It’s a fine place for a powwow.”</p>
+
+<p>“What do you mean by the children?” asked
+Hart, glancing about for several infants, but
+failing to see them.</p>
+
+<p>Denise laughed. “Oh, that is only my way
+of speaking of the pets. There are such a lot of
+them that they need as much care as children,
+so I call them so.”</p>
+
+<p>Hart glanced up into the blossom-laden tree,
+and without another word began to scramble
+into its fragrant depths, Denise following as
+nimbly as a squirrel. Seating themselves upon
+bits of board which had been nailed in the
+branches, they at once availed themselves of
+that blessed privilege of childhood, and asked
+questions by the dozen.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p>
+
+<p>“When did you come out?” was Denise’s first
+question.</p>
+
+<p>“Just before luncheon with Mrs. Dean, the
+housekeeper. Father and mother won’t be out
+until to-morrow. But I couldn’t wait any
+longer. I wanted to see the place so much,
+and—” Hart paused abruptly, for he had been
+about to add “you,” when he bethought himself
+of his manners.</p>
+
+<p>“And what?” asked Denise.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, you see, I hadn’t seen the place since
+I was just a little kid only five years old, and
+mother said that she had always lived here when
+she was a girl, and that your mother was her
+school-friend. And then she told me about
+your pets, and—and—well, she said that she
+hoped you and I would grow to be good friends,
+too, don’t you see,” and the handsome blue eyes
+smiled in the friendliest way. Hart was a
+handsome boy, tall and well formed for a boy
+of twelve, with a firm mouth, fine teeth, and the
+most winning smile imaginable. Little brownie
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>Denise was an exact opposite, for his hair was
+a mass of golden waves and hers as dark as a
+seal’s.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, of course we’ll be friends. We are
+already, and it is just too splendid for anything
+to think that you live so near, and we can be
+together all the time,” for it never occurred to
+Denise that there might be people in this world
+ready to criticise a boy and girl friendship, and
+the silly nonsense of “little beaus” and “little
+sweethearts” had, happily, never even entered
+her head. It was just good comradeship with
+all her boy friends. True, she had never had
+any close ones, although she knew nearly all
+the children in Springdale, and was always
+glad to welcome them to her home. But the
+greater part of her life was passed with her
+pets, and they filled it very full, indeed. But
+here was a friend close at hand with whom she
+might talk, drive, or cut any prank, and the
+experience was novel.</p>
+
+<p>As they sat chattering, a musical bob-white
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>whistle sounded almost beneath their feet, and
+Mrs. Lombard’s face peered through the boughs.</p>
+
+<p>“Who ever heard of a quail and a golden
+pheasant up a tree!” she said merrily. “That
+boy up there is Hart Murray, I know, for he
+has stolen his mother’s eyes and golden hair,
+and come out here to masquerade. Come
+straight down here and let me shake hands with
+you.”</p>
+
+<p>It would have been hard to resist the cordial
+welcome of Mrs. Lombard’s voice, and a second
+later Hart’s slender hand lay in hers, and she
+was smiling into his face as only Mrs. Lombard
+could smile. “I thought I heard a
+wonderous piping in the old apple-tree,” she
+said, “and came out to learn what manner of
+bird had taken possession. I have found a <i>rara
+avis</i>, sure enough, and shall try to induce it to
+spend a good part of its time in my grounds.”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t believe it will need much coaxing,”
+was the laughing reply.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, we have laid all sorts of splendid plans
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>already,” cried Denise, “and were just going
+over to see the rabbits when you piped up.
+Come with us, Moddie,” and slipping her arm
+about her mother’s waist, Denise led the way to
+the rabbits’ quarters in one end of Tan’s field.
+Resting her hand upon the shoulder of the tall
+boy walking beside her, Mrs. Lombard asked:
+“And what are the plans for good times?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, all sorts of things. Father says that he
+will give me a pony and a boat. Denise and I
+can have jolly rides, and I’ll take her rowing if
+you’ll let her go; will you?” he asked eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>“Dear me, who will guarantee her safe return?”
+asked Mrs. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I’ll take first-rate care of her, if you’ll
+only let her come; please say yes,” and he placed
+his hand upon her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>He was probably unconscious of the act, but
+that was exactly the influence Mrs. Lombard
+always exercised over young people; they were
+at once drawn toward her, and soon lost all
+sense of the presence of a “grown-up.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span></p>
+
+<p>They had now reached the rabbit-house, and
+were surrounded by black, white, gray, and
+brown wiggling noses—dozens and dozens of
+of them. Hart was delighted, and when Mrs.
+Lombard asked, “Wouldn’t you like to have a
+pair for your own?” accepted her offer with a
+frank, boyish, “You’d better believe I would.”
+So a fine pair, one black and one white one, was
+selected, and within the hour had taken up their
+abode in the hothouse in their neighbor’s
+grounds, there to live until their new owner
+could build a house for them.</p>
+
+<p>That was the beginning of a boy and girl
+friendship which lasted many years, and was
+not broken till years after when Hart, grown to
+splendid, talented manhood, slipped into “the
+great beyond,” and left many a sad heart
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>Ned Toodles had always displayed a very
+marked aversion for any one wearing trousers,
+and it was funny enough to watch his attitude toward
+Hart. At first he submitted to his caresses
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>with the air of, “Well, good breeding compels
+me to show no aversion, but remember, you are
+only accepted on probation.” But Hart was too
+manly a little chap to torment an animal, and
+before long Ned grew very fond of him,
+although Hart had never yet attempted to ride
+him.</p>
+
+<p>One afternoon, when Denise and Hart were
+playing “livery stable,” and, as usual, having a
+royal good time, with Ned upon constant call,
+Sailor harnessed to a small express wagon, and
+Beauty Buttons to the doll’s carriage, for “pony
+orders for children,” the proprietor of the stable
+received an order for a saddle-horse to be sent
+to a customer as quickly as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Obviously, Ned was the only animal in that
+stable who was saddle-broken. Tan was standing
+in line, lest he feel neglected, but “let’s
+make believe that he is just a boarding horse,
+which some lady keeps in the stable, and that
+we can’t use him for anything.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, and sometimes we must take him out
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>and walk him around for exercise,” answered
+Hart.</p>
+
+<p>Z-z-z—z-ing! rang an imaginary telephone-bell,
+or, at least, a call-bell, for this all happened
+long before the days of telephones.</p>
+
+<p>“Thomas, there goes the order-bell,” called
+the proprietor, Mr. Andrews.</p>
+
+<p>“Aye, aye, sir!” answered Thomas, running
+to the little window to receive an imaginary
+order from without. “It’s from Mr. Casey, and
+he wants a saddle-horse sent up right off.”</p>
+
+<p>“Does he ask for a <i>side</i> or man’s saddle,”
+asked the proprietor, filled with inward misgivings
+should the order prove to be a demand for
+the latter.</p>
+
+<p>Thomas turned to the window to ask the invisible
+messenger which was wanted, and stated
+that Mr. Casey wished to ride himself. Here
+was a coil, but that proprietor was not to be
+baffled by the fact that the stable boasted no
+man’s saddle, or that the only saddle horse
+would be very liable to make things pretty
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>lively for the first masculine creature attempting
+to mount him. With an air of added importance
+she said:</p>
+
+<p>“Very good! Very good! I shall have to
+get the new saddle from the harness-room,” and
+went to the pretty little closet containing all
+Ned’s belongings. Taking from it her own
+beautiful little saddle with its castor seat and
+immaculate saddle-cloth, she hastily rigged up
+a stirrup upon the right side, unscrewed the
+pummels, and, heigh, presto! there was your
+man’s saddle fine as a fiddle.</p>
+
+<p>Ned was then taken from his stall, and the
+saddle adjusted. So far so good. That move
+was not an unusual one, and his little mistress
+had superintended the operation. No doubt
+she was going to ride him, even though she had
+rigged up that queer dangling thing upon the
+right side of the saddle.</p>
+
+<p>“Thomas, it is only a short way to Mr.
+Casey’s, and I think that you’d better lead King
+Royal. He is pretty fresh, and it will be safer.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Very good, sir,” answered the obedient
+Thomas, secretly resolving to get upon that noble
+animal’s back once he was out of sight of the
+stable. Just then another order was delivered:
+this time for a pony-phaeton. “As this order
+must be filled without delay, I shall take Tiny
+Tim over to Mrs. Murray’s myself, for perhaps
+she will not want the young lady to drive herself,”
+said Mr. Andrews. “When you get back
+you’d better take Gold Auster out for a little
+exercise; Miss Ward does not like him to get
+stiffened up.”</p>
+
+<p>King Royal was led out of the stable by the
+submissive Thomas, and Mr. Andrews, making
+believe seat himself in the doll’s carriage, said
+“Get up” to Tiny Tim. King Royal looked
+back as Thomas led him away, as though trying
+to reason out in his horse mind why the one he
+loved best did not come, too. But that person
+was filled with other concerns, and Thomas was
+saying “Come on, now, Mr. Casey will be
+wantin’ you” in very excellent imitation of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>John’s voice. A moment later, Tiny Tim had
+passed into Mr. Murray’s grounds, and King
+Royal was marching off down the road which
+led to Mr. Casey’s beautiful home on the river
+bank.</p>
+
+<p>Arrived at the entrance gate, Thomas held a
+conversation with Mr. Casey, and a wonderful
+transformation instantly took place, for Thomas
+vanished, and “Mr. Casey” prepared to mount
+the noble animal sent to him by Mr. Andrews.
+What happened next will need a chapter all to
+itself.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">
+    CHAPTER V
+    <br>
+    KING ROYAL DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Although Hart had been with Denise
+and her pets daily for the past three
+weeks, up to this time he had never
+undertaken to mount Ned. He had ridden
+in the carriage by the hour, and often driven
+him, but for some reason had never thought of
+getting upon his back. Denise had never revealed
+Ned’s peculiarities regarding boys, excepting
+to say that he did not like <i>some</i> boys,
+feeling, perhaps, that she might arouse distrust
+of her pet in her friend. But here was a crisis,
+and well enough she knew that there would be,
+as she mentally termed it, “a high old time”
+when Hart tried to get on Ned’s back, as she
+felt sure he meant to do when “Mr. Casey”
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>sent in the order for a saddle-horse. However,
+Ned was not vicious, and the worst outcome of
+the venture would be a spill, which neither
+Hart nor she minded in the least. Now Ned’s
+usual procedure, when submitted to the indignity
+of a boyish burden, was to stand perfectly still
+until he had his victim safe upon his back,
+looking, meanwhile, the very picture of innocence
+and meekness, a sort of “what a good
+boy am I” expression. So when Hart gathered
+up the reins in the most scientific manner,
+for he had ridden all his life, and was a skillful
+little horseman, Ned wagged one ear wisely and
+“prepared for action.”</p>
+
+<p>Hart placed his foot in the stirrups, adjusting
+the makeshift one to his satisfaction. “Now,
+old fellow, let’s show our paces!” he said, and
+Ned took him at his word. First a sedate walk,
+smooth and easy as a rocking-chair, but gradually
+growing more rapid. Charming! The
+walk is changed into a trot. Quite the Park
+gait. Now a gentle lope. <i>Could</i> anything be
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>more perfect than that gait? His rider becomes
+more than ever assured that the animal he is
+bestriding is the most perfectly broken one he
+has ever ridden. All this time one wise eye is
+cocked knowingly backward to watch the boy
+upon his back, and note with great satisfaction
+that his confidence in his mount is momentarily
+increasing. Then! Off like a mad thing, tail
+up in the air, head down, and Tam o’Shanter’s
+imps in hot pursuit till about three blocks are
+told off. HALT! Down goes the head, up go
+the hind legs, and it is a skilled rider, indeed,
+who sticks on at the point of the game.</p>
+
+<p>But this time Master Ned had reckoned without
+his host, for his host “didn’t spill worth a
+cent,” as that host himself asserted. Then
+came a tussle, and up and down the road tore
+that crazy little beast, bent upon dislodging Hart
+or dying in the attempt. Meanwhile “Mr. Andrews”
+had returned from giving the “Misses
+Murray” their outing, and was standing at the
+gate screaming with laughter. Hart’s hat had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>long since sailed into a neighboring field, and
+most of his attire looked as though he had
+dressed himself in the dark. But he was still
+on Ned’s back, and, so far as that bad little
+scamp’s efforts were concerned, liable to stay
+there for some time.</p>
+
+<p>“Ned Toodles, how <i>can</i> you be so bad!” cried
+Denise, forgetful for the time being, that it was
+the royal antics of a royal king she was witnessing.
+Ned stopped short at that sound, and took
+time to consider the situation. Fatal moment!
+Fatal, at least, for Hart, for into that wise little
+horse noddle flashed an idea, and without a second’s
+hesitation was acted upon. With a wild,
+triumphant neigh, he wheeled short around,
+made a rush for an open gate at the end of the
+grounds, pelted through it like a monstrous cannon-ball,
+and a second later was in Buttercup’s
+cow-yard. Now Buttercup was the dearest cow
+in the world, and her eyes were beautiful to behold,
+and her coat like satin. But her barnyard—well,
+they are very nice places for—<i>cows</i>.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>Into this yard came Ned like a tornado, scaring
+poor Buttercup out of her wits, for, although
+upon the friendliest of terms, she had never before
+received a visit from him.</p>
+
+<p>“So you <i>won’t</i> get off my back!” said Ned’s
+face and attitude, as plainly as words could have
+said it. “We’ll see!” and down he went flat
+upon his side. What happened next would
+better be left untold. Alas, for the pretty castor
+saddle! When Denise arrived upon the scene
+Ned was still resting from his labors, Hart stood
+staring at the peacefully reposing animal with a
+decidedly crestfallen air, and John had arrived
+upon the scene to “drop a casual word” regarding
+affairs in general.</p>
+
+<p>Ned had never been whipped, but he came
+pretty near being that time, and did not forget
+his sound scolding, for after that an armistice
+was declared, and Hart was permitted to ride all
+he wished, Ned evidently feeling that he had
+earned a right to do so.</p>
+
+<p>Not long after this Hart’s pony was given to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>him, and, although somewhat larger than Ned
+Toodles, as warm a friendship was formed by
+the two little horses as existed between their
+master and mistress. “Pinto,” as Hart’s pony
+was named on account of his peculiar marking,
+was a dear little beastie, although he never attained
+to the degree of intelligence that Ned displayed
+as the years went on. But that, no doubt,
+was due to the fact that he had not been so
+closely associated with a human being as Ned
+had been ever since he became Denise’s and as
+Mr. Lombard suspected he had been during much
+of his former life, although nothing for a long
+time was known of it, and it was not until this
+eventful summer that they learned his history.</p>
+
+<p>Hart and Denise, mounted upon Ned and
+Pinto, ranged the country far and wide, and it
+was a far corner indeed that they did not
+find their way into sooner or later. Those
+spring months, with all their bud and bloom,
+were halcyon days for the children, for Hart
+literally lived at Mrs. Lombard’s house till
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>Mrs. Murray said to her: “Emilie Lombard,
+when do you intend to send in my son’s board-bill?
+This is simply dreadful. He is hardly
+out of bed in the morning before he is making
+some excuse to come over here.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let him come all he wants to. It is good
+for Denise to have such a sturdy playmate, for
+she has never had any real crony but Pokey,
+and she is such a gentle little soul that I’m
+afraid Denise will think more of her own way
+than some one else’s.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, you have no idea what it means to me
+to have that boy so happily associated,” exclaimed
+Mrs. Murray. “He has been abroad at
+school so long that I hardly know him myself,
+and isn’t in the least like our true, every-day
+American boys. And Denise is just the jolly
+little chum for him to have.”</p>
+
+<p>“It all seems too delightful to be true,” said
+Mrs. Lombard, “and to have you for my neighbor
+after all these years of separation makes me
+feel like a young girl again.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span></p>
+
+<p>“You have never been anything else,” replied
+Mrs. Murray, “for you have stayed young
+with Denise, and that is the secret of your beautiful
+attitude toward each other.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps so,” replied Mrs. Lombard, a
+happy smile creeping about her lips as thoughts
+of the sunny little daughter and their mutual
+love put into her eyes the lovely “mother”
+light that never comes till that precious name
+becomes ours.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, you must not let him remain to
+dinner every night, at all events,” added Mrs.
+Murray. “Send him home in time to dine with
+his father, or I do not know what will happen.”</p>
+
+<p>“Very well, home he goes at the stroke of
+five, to remove all traces of the afternoon’s siege
+before Mr. Murray’s arrival at six.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, do; it will be a real kindness, for my
+time is so occupied with the other children that
+I fear I have let Hart paddle his own canoe more
+than I should have done. But they are all so
+small that they need me more. Good-bye, and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>run in when you can. I am always disengaged
+between five and six.”</p>
+
+<p>“And I am always engaged at that hour,”
+answered Mrs. Lombard with an odd smile,
+which made Mrs. Murray ask: “Afternoon
+tea, and a quiet little gossip with your best
+friends?”</p>
+
+<p>“The gossip with my best friend, but not the
+tea,” answered Mrs. Lombard. “That is
+Denise’s hour with me, and I try never to let
+anything interfere with it.”</p>
+
+<p>“What? Do you give up all that time to the
+child never mind what is going on? I should
+think it would be impossible at times!”</p>
+
+<p>“There, of course, arise circumstances which
+make it impossible once in a while, but they are
+rare, and she is always ready to accept my explanations
+and apology,” answered Mrs. Lombard,
+with the gentlest expression.</p>
+
+<p>“Explanations and apologies to one’s child!”
+cried Mrs. Murray in dismay. “You don’t
+mean to say that you carry things to that extent
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>with her! I should think that she would
+be so conceited that you would never in the
+world be able to do a thing with her.”</p>
+
+<p>A slight flush overspread Mrs. Lombard’s
+sweet face as she answered, “Could I hope to
+have her wholly courteous to me or to others if
+she found me wanting in courtesy to her?”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">
+    CHAPTER VI
+    <br>
+    THE SUNSET HOUR
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>The library windows stood open, and the
+soft little June winds played “peep” with
+the lace curtains, swaying them in and out,
+and letting the rose-laden air slip into the
+room. Outside the setting sun cast long slanting
+rays upon the lawn and foliage, lighting the
+world as it can only light it just before it slips
+away behind the hills to carry the promise of a
+new day to other lands. Within the library
+all was wonderfully peaceful and quiet. It was
+a very attractive room, pervaded with the home
+atmosphere that only a much-used, well-loved
+room can possess. A sort of individuality of
+each member of the family, as though even in
+their absence they left there something which
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>could not fail to recall their presence. In the
+bay-window stood a monstrous leather-covered
+armchair. A motherly-fatherly sort of chair
+that said: “Come, snuggle within my inviting
+depths and tell me all your secrets, and whether
+they be joyful or sad, I’ll prove a comfort
+to you.”</p>
+
+<p>It was five o’clock. As the cuckoo clock announced
+the fact to all who cared to know it, a
+stately pad, pad, pad, came stalking across the
+piazza, and a second later Sailor’s great head
+pushed aside the curtains and he looked into the
+room. That no one was visible did not seem to
+deter him in the least, for walking over to the
+fur rug which lay upon the floor beside the
+couch, he stretched himself at length upon it,
+and lay there with his head raised in a listening
+attitude. Pat, pat, pat, came the sound of small
+hurrying feet through the hall, and in ran
+Beauty Buttons with a “woof, woof,” by way
+of salutation. He, too, evidently expected
+others to follow, for, after settling himself comfortably
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>between Sailor’s great front paws, he
+listened with ears erect.</p>
+
+<p>But he must, indeed, have possessed acute
+hearing to have detected the footfalls of the
+next arrivals, for not until they had crossed
+the piazza, and slipped beneath the curtains,
+did they make the least sound. Then a
+warbly little “r-r-r-r-rwow” told that Hero
+wished to say “good-evening,” and Leander,
+who was never far away from his lady-love,
+echoed her greeting in deeper tones. Advancing
+toward the dogs with tails held straight up in
+the air, they rubbed against Sailor’s long hair
+and then sought the places they preferred in
+the library. Hero was soon perched upon the
+top of the big chair in the window, and Leander
+blinked at her from the luxurious billows of a
+bright red sofa-pillow which lay upon the couch
+near at hand. The two cats were so exactly
+alike that it would have been impossible to tell
+one from the other had not Denise tied a red
+ribbon upon Leander and a blue one upon
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>Hero, which contrasted finely with their maltese
+coats.</p>
+
+<p>Apparently the stage was now properly set
+for the “stars,” and a moment later Mrs. Lombard
+came into the room and took her seat in
+the big chair, stopping on her way to stroke the
+dogs and Leander.</p>
+
+<p>As she sat down Hero welcomed her with a
+soft little warbly sound she reserved for those
+she loved, and, arching her back, rubbed her
+silky coat against Mrs. Lombard’s face.</p>
+
+<p>“Dear old pussykins, are you glad that ‘cosy
+hour’ has come?” she asked the cat, as she
+stroked her. And Hero gave another little
+throaty meow, which no doubt meant that it
+was a very happy one for them all.</p>
+
+<p>“Good-night! Come over early in the morning
+and we’ll get ready to launch it,” cried a
+happy voice at the foot of the piazza steps, and
+the next moment Denise’s merry face peered
+through the curtains.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, there you all are! Waiting for me, as
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>usual. Oh, me, the days aren’t half long
+enough, are they, Moddie? Hart and I have
+so many plans for each one that we could never
+carry them all out if we lived to be a hundred.
+But, Moddie,” she added, as she slipped into the
+big chair, whose proportions were amply large
+for the accommodation of these two, and,
+placing her arm about her mother’s waist, snuggled
+her head upon the shoulder that had never
+failed her, “I am so glad you got it all so nicely
+settled about Hart going home at five o’clock.
+Of course, I couldn’t say a word, but I did so
+miss our cosy hour. Somehow, the day doesn’t
+seem finished without it, for every day is sure
+to have just <i>one</i> little kink come into it somewhere,
+and I don’t know how to get it out. But
+when we have our talk at the end of it, the kink
+flies away, and—it’s just my precious Moddie
+who sends it!” and Denise flung her other arm
+about her mother to hug her as hard as she
+could. There was a wonderfully tender light in
+Mrs. Lombard’s eyes as she held her impulsive
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>little daughter close to her side, and answered:</p>
+
+<p>“This is a sort of weather bureau, where we
+prophesy fair weather instead of foul, and try
+to set about providing it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, that is it, I guess,” answered Denise,
+falling back to her original position, and holding
+one of her mother’s hands in her own warm
+ones. “You see, now that the vacation has come,
+and I have the whole day in which to think of
+just nobody but Denise Lombard, I am afraid
+that I think about her and her good times
+entirely too much, and if I didn’t come in here
+once in a while I should grow just too selfish to
+live. Hart is lovely, and we <i>do</i> have splendid
+times, but he likes to do things his way, and I
+like to do them mine, and—well, if it wasn’t for
+a little Moddie who lives in a big armchair, I’m
+afraid that sometimes I’d be, yes—I’m very much
+afraid I’d be sort of mean. And then that ‘wise
+fairy’ which ever so long ago you told me lived
+way down in your heart, and helped you know
+what was best for me, pops out and flies to my
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>shoulder, and whispers in my ear: ‘There is a
+little Moddie who lives in the armchair, and
+by and by you will have to talk with her, and
+tell her every little thing that has happened
+to-day, and if some of them are not pleasant to
+tell, then you will feel ashamed of yourself, and
+she—well she won’t <i>say</i> a single word, but her
+<i>eyes</i> will look sorry, and then you will feel just
+like a nasty little worm—all crawly and wriggly.’
+Isn’t it funny, Moddie, that I sort of see
+<i>you</i> when such things happen? It doesn’t make
+any difference how far away you are. What
+makes it so?”</p>
+
+<p>“I presume it is the same influence as that
+which frequently causes us to think exactly the
+same thoughts at the same moment—our great
+love and sympathy for each other, dear. Our
+lives are so closely identified that joy or sorrow,
+pleasure or pain, seem to be mutually shared.”</p>
+
+<p>Denise thought a moment before replying, for,
+although but eleven and a half years of age, she
+had a thoughtful little head upon her shoulders,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>and liked to reason out her mother’s words, and
+see them in her own peculiar light. Presently
+she said:</p>
+
+<p>“That is funny when you come to think of it,
+isn’t it? But I know it is true, too, because it
+so often happens so, and only yesterday, when I
+was out on the lawn with Ned I was thinking
+about that pink gingham dress that I used to
+wear last summer, and wondering if it would be
+too small for me this year, and just at that
+moment you whistled ‘Bob White,’ and when I
+answered you called me to come up and try it
+on. Wasn’t that odd? I didn’t know that you
+were even thinking about getting the dress
+out.”</p>
+
+<p>“That is but one of many similar instances,
+Sweetheart. But apropos of those much shrivelled-up
+gowns, or is it that their owner has
+expanded?” asked Mrs. Lombard as she looked
+into Denise’s upturned face and smiled. “Will
+you be good enough to drive me over to Mary
+Murphy’s to-morrow morning, for I think that
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>the little Murphys will fit into those garments
+to perfection.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, I promised Hart—” began Denise, and
+then stopped short and colored slightly.</p>
+
+<p>“What did you promise him, dear?” asked
+Mrs. Lombard gently.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, you see,” said Denise, somewhat
+embarrassed, “his new rowboat will be sent out
+this evening, and he wants me to christen it
+when it is launched, and I told him I would.
+Of course, I did not know that you wanted me
+to drive you up to the village, or I would not
+have promised.”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly you could not have known it,
+and now we must see what can be done to
+smooth out these little kinks that have been
+saucy enough to obtrude themselves upon us and
+upset our plans.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know <i>you</i> can do it,” cried Denise.
+“There is only one Moddie like this one, and
+‘I got her!’”</p>
+
+<p>“There is only one such madcap of a daughter,”
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>laughed Mrs. Lombard. “But now to
+continue. I particularly wish to have you go
+with me to-morrow, for there is a new little
+daughter at Mary’s house, and I think that
+there are many things which we may be able to
+do for her. She was a very faithful nurse to
+you during the first five years of your life, and
+it gives her great pleasure to have you visit her
+and do these little things yourself, for she is
+very proud of her nursling. So much for my
+reasons concerning Mary. Now for Hart. It
+is only a step over there, I know, but I think it
+would be more courteous if you were to sit
+down and write a little note to him explaining
+the situation. This may seem a trifle formal to
+you both when you are such jolly chums, but it
+is one of those little acts which, even though
+they seem uncalled for, serve to help you both.
+It shows Hart that you know what it is proper
+to do under the circumstances, and that even
+though you are both children, you do not wish
+to be found wanting in politeness to each other,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>and he will respect you all the more for doing
+this. John may take your note to him. On
+the other hand, it helps my girl to learn how to
+write a graceful note, and to excuse herself properly
+when she finds it impossible to keep an
+engagement. There! What do you think of all
+those ‘reasons why’?”</p>
+
+<p>Denise did not reply for a moment or two,
+nor did Mrs. Lombard break the silence. The
+cuckoo opened his little door in the top of the
+clock and gave one toot, as though trying to
+break the silence. Way down in Denise’s heart
+lingered a strong desire to go with Hart in the
+morning, Mary Murphy and new babies, nevertheless,
+and notwithstanding. But eleven and
+a half years of the firmest, gentlest training
+led by this wise mother to do the right thing simply
+because it <i>was</i> right, and not because she
+had been ordered to do so by those who possessed
+the right and power to so order, had not
+been in vain, and this little girl had grown to
+regard the right way as the only one, and the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>wrong one as a reflection upon herself. It was
+often hard to give up, for the days were wonderfully
+happy ones. Presently she asked:</p>
+
+<p>“When may I tell him that I will christen
+it?”</p>
+
+<p>“The following morning, dear, if agreeable to
+him,” replied Mrs. Lombard without further
+comment, for the heart beside her was as plainly
+revealed to her as though glass instead of flesh
+covered it, and she well knew that a struggle
+was going on, not only to do what she wished,
+but to do it cheerfully and without regret—the
+true beauty of the doing.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll write it this minute,” cried Denise,
+springing so suddenly from the chair that Hero
+lost her balance upon the top and tumbled upon
+the floor. “Oh, dear! Isn’t that exactly like
+me? I’ve upset Hero and scared her nearly
+out of her wits besides. Poor pussy,” she said,
+as she picked the cat up and comforted her.
+“Your missie is a madcap, do you know that?”
+and then a merry laugh came to dispel the haze
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>that had gathered, and the sun shone forth
+again. The note was written, and a wise woman
+had tact enough to say that it was charmingly
+done, and that she was delighted to see how
+prettily her little daughter could write, and
+how well she was able to express herself. Only
+a few words of praise, but they were dropped
+when most needed, and served as a wonderful
+balm to a slightly ruffled spirit. None of us
+are <i>born</i> saints, and we <i>all</i> like to have our own
+way. Mrs. Lombard did not add just then that
+she was much troubled at the thought of
+Denise going upon the river with Hart, or that
+she feared she must forbid it. It was not the
+moment for doing so, and would have seriously
+marred the beautiful harmony of the hour.
+Nevertheless, she had decided that she could
+not let her go until she had learned more of
+Hart’s seamanship and tested it herself. But
+that would all adjust itself later.</p>
+
+<p>Just as the letter was finished the whistle of
+the incoming train told that Mr. Lombard
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>would be with them presently, and by the time
+both had reached the entrance to the grounds,
+with two dogs and two cats as body-guard, Sunshine
+and Flash came spinning along the road
+and neighed aloud as Denise called out, “Oh,
+papa L., papa L.! here we are!” for these
+horses did not dread their driver, and loved the
+voices they knew so well. Mr. Lombard stepped
+from the carriage at the gate, and, slipping an
+arm about his wife and sunny little daughter,
+walked with them toward the house, the dogs
+and cats crowding about him and claiming the
+notice which they never claimed in vain. The
+peace of all the world lay upon that home.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">
+    CHAPTER VII
+    <br>
+    “OH, WE’LL SAIL THE OCEAN BLUE!”
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“We will stop at the market, dear, and
+lay in a supply of goodies for
+Mary,” said Mrs. Lombard, as she
+took her seat in the phaeton beside Denise, the
+following morning.</p>
+
+<p>“‘Allee rightie,’ as John Chinaman said to
+me the other day when I stopped for papa’s
+laundry work. Good-by, Hinky-Dinky, we’ll
+come back before long, and I am going to bring
+you a surprise,” she called out to Hart, who had
+just crawled through the opening in the hedge.
+“Moddie says she has thought of a splendid
+plan, and you’ll be glad we waited till to-morrow
+to launch the boat. There, it’s lucky
+Miss Meredith didn’t hear <i>that</i> sentence! She
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>would ask me when I’d landed,” and Denise’s
+laugh rang out upon the balmy June air.</p>
+
+<p>“The old thing didn’t come anyway, Snipenfrizzle,”
+called Hart, as the carriage rolled out
+of the grounds. “It won’t be out till to-night,
+papa says. There was something wanting for
+the rudder. Tralla!” and he waved his hat
+and disappeared within the “Bird’s Nest,” there
+to lose himself in one of the numerous books
+which the book-shelves held, for Denise’s library
+was an extensive one, and she was as fond of
+boys’ stories as she was of girls’.</p>
+
+<p>After purchasing a generous supply of good
+things for Mary, they drove to the little cottage
+in which she lived and reared her numerous
+progeny. There were six all told, and Patsy,
+of dirty-face fame, was the eldest. But Patsy
+had improved somewhat of late. Possibly the
+possession of a wash-bowl and its accessories for
+his very own exclusive use had incited a desire
+to live up to such elegancies, for Mrs. Lombard
+had made it her duty to send him one directly
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>Denise had related to her the conversation held
+with the incorrigible Patsy during the previous
+summer.</p>
+
+<p>At all events Patsy was the proud owner of
+“a foin bowel an’ pitcher, all blue on wan soide,
+an’ white on ’tither,” and sallied forth each
+morning shining and radiant.</p>
+
+<p>“Ah, Miss Denise, darlint, an’ have ye come
+to see me ba-b-y!” said Mary when Denise’s
+smiling face peeped through the doorway.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, here we are, Mary, and have brought
+along the expressman, too. See him? He
+wears dresses,” she cried, as she placed upon a
+chair the parcel she was carrying. Mrs. Lombard
+followed close behind with a basket of provisions,
+and a moment later Mary’s eyes were
+gladdened by the sight of a very substantial
+supply of eatables.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, Blossom,” said Mrs. Lombard, “while
+I take a few stitches for Mary and this new
+baby, I want you to play ‘Polly’ and put the
+kettle on. We will get dinner started, Mary,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>and when Patrick arrives he can eat it and clean
+house.”</p>
+
+<p>“Ah, the poor childe mustn’t be doing such
+work for the likes of me,” protested Mary. “Sure,
+she don’t know nothin’ of this worrk.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t I, though!” cried Denise, giving an
+emphatic nod. “What do you think I have
+had all my ‘Bird’s Nest’ cooking lessons for,
+I’d like to know? What shall I do, Moddie?
+You sit still and talk to Mary while I play
+cook. What fun!”</p>
+
+<p>“Make some tea, dearie, and put the beef
+over for the broth. Then put on that piece of
+corned beef for Patrick’s dinner. My sweetheart
+knows what to do,” said Mrs. Lombard,
+stopping to give Denise one of the little love-pats
+that meant so much, and then, taking her
+seat beside Mary, she began to sew upon some
+garments for the new baby.</p>
+
+<p>“May I have this big apron, Mary?” asked
+Denise, taking up a huge gingham one which
+lay upon a chair and enveloping herself in it
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>till she nearly vanished from sight. “Now for
+it,” she added, rolling back her sleeves, and
+seizing the poker. “Moddie says that it’s no
+use to try to cook with a poor fire, so you
+see how well I remember my lessons, Mary,” and
+the little poker rattled at a great rate. Then,
+catching up the kettle, she ran to the sink to fill
+it with fresh water.</p>
+
+<p>“Where shall I find the saucepan, Mary?”</p>
+
+<p>“Jist beyant in that little cupboard, darlint.
+Faith, did iver I see the loikes of the child.
+Sure, ma’am, ’tis a housekaper she is alriddy.”</p>
+
+<p>“She cannot begin too soon, Mary. It is all
+play now, but there may come a time when she
+will be very glad to have learned it all in this
+pleasant manner.”</p>
+
+<p>Meantime the preparations went on. The
+chopped beef was put back upon the stove to
+simmer in the cold water till all the rich juices
+were extracted. Patrick’s big piece of corned
+beef was put into a big pot and placed beside it,
+some potatoes were carefully washed and peeled
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>and left in cold water until needed. And all
+this time Denise was humming away like a big
+bumblebee. And all this was the result of the
+little playhouse training which this mother,
+whom the neighbors sometimes termed “overindulgent,”
+had carried on in the guise of play,
+till this little girl, now in her twelfth year, had
+become a capable, helpful little body, able to
+do her share of the world’s work should occasion
+ever arise for it. And years later, when
+the dear mother was no more, and Denise,
+grown to womanhood, was forced to meet the
+vicissitudes of life, her thoughts often went back
+to those happy days and the precious mother,
+who taught so wisely and well that, as though the
+mother eyes were capable of looking into the
+future and there seeing all that lay in store for
+this cherished little daughter, she was fitted
+when the necessity arose for it to meet the duties
+which lay upon every hand.</p>
+
+<p>“Tea is all ready,” announced Denise, as she
+brought to her mother and Mary fragrant,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>steaming cups. True, the cups were not of
+“egg-shell” china, but the tea was properly
+made, and everything was clean as wax, for,
+notwithstanding her six children and hard
+work, Mary was a neat woman, and everything
+in her house testified thereto. Twelve o’clock
+had struck upon the town clock before all was
+completed, and Denise had just set the potatoes
+on to boil when Patrick came home and the
+children came rushing in from school.</p>
+
+<p>“Now we will leave you to your many nurses,”
+said Mrs. Lombard, as she arose from her chair.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t you let my potatoes burn, Patrick,”
+said Denise, wagging an admonishing finger at
+him.</p>
+
+<p>“Indade no, that I will not,” said Patrick,
+positively. “They’ll be the foines’ taties that
+iver was at all, Miss Denise.”</p>
+
+<p>Upon the way home Denise spied some circus
+posters, and was at once filled with a desire to
+see the circus, for anything in which horses
+were introduced was bliss unalloyed for her.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p>
+
+<p>“They will be here on the seventh!” she
+cried. “The very day that <i>Pokey</i> will come!
+Oh, Moddie, how splendid! We can go, can’t
+we? Papa will surely take us.”</p>
+
+<p>“I wouldn’t wonder,” answered Mrs. Lombard,
+with the expression which Denise knew to
+mean “yes.”</p>
+
+<p>For the next few days Denise could hardly
+think of anything else, and no suspicion of the
+startling events which would take place ere
+that circus, which proved to be a circus in more
+senses than one, and its proprietor, passed out
+of her life, ever entered her head.</p>
+
+<p>Hart was waiting for them at the turn of
+the road, and Pinto and Ned exchanged greetings
+with joyous neighs. He cantered along
+beside them, his tongue and Denise’s keeping
+time to the ponies’ clattering feet.</p>
+
+<p>That evening the new boat was delivered at
+Mr. Murray’s house. It was a fairy-like little
+craft, built of cedar and shining with its fresh
+varnish. Of course, Denise was upon the scene
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>when it was taken from the long express-wagon,
+and nearly as eager as Hart to see it in the
+water.</p>
+
+<p>Without letting the children suspect it, Mrs.
+Lombard had made a fine silk flag and embroidered
+thereupon Hart’s monogram. Then, to
+make the launching like a “really truly one,”
+she bought a tiny bottle of cider, warranted to
+smash and sizzle in the most approved style.</p>
+
+<p>While they were at breakfast the next morning
+Hart’s face peeped in at the window, for
+boyish patience was stretched to the snapping-point.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve only two more bites of beefsteak to
+eat, and then I’ll come,” said Denise, when Mrs.
+Lombard added, “Come in here, laddie, and
+help us eat some of this fruit,” for she had no
+notion of letting the children out of her sight
+until she could follow behind.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you think of those bouncers?”
+asked Mr. Lombard, holding up a big bunch of
+bright scarlet cherries. “Ah, ah! Tell your
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>father that my cherry-tree has beaten his this
+year. Put some of these beauties in a little
+basket, Mary, and give them to Master Hart to
+take over to his mother with my compliments.
+One must be generous to one’s neighbors when
+one has fine cherries to show off,” laughed Mr.
+Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>By the time Hart had eaten his fill, and the
+basket was ready to be carried to Mrs. Murray,
+Mr. Lombard had left for town, and his wife
+was ready to be present at the launching.</p>
+
+<p>“What is the boat to be named?” she asked,
+as she followed the children down to the river,
+with Ned, Tan, and the two dogs trotting along
+with them, for Denise rarely stirred without
+her family surrounding her.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, do you know that we haven’t been
+able to decide yet,” said Hart, rather dismayed
+at the thought.</p>
+
+<p>“He wants to call it ‘Denise,’” said the
+owner of that name, “but I don’t think that it
+will mean much for the boat, do you?”</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_094" style="max-width: 50.0em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_094.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption>
+      <div class="blockquot">
+    <i>Denise.</i>
+    </div>
+      <p>“‘WHY NOT CALL IT THE <i>RIVER KELPIE</i>?’”</p>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span></p>
+
+<p>“He pays you a very pretty compliment,”
+answered Mrs. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, I know that, but it seems to me a boat
+ought to have a name that sort of means something
+about water, and sailing, and all that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why not call it the <i>River Kelpie</i>? That
+means something.”</p>
+
+<p>“There! you have just hit it! That’s splendid.
+She is as light as a fairy, and those things
+are water-fairies, aren’t they?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, little water-sprites who come to the
+surface and do all sorts of graceful, fascinating
+things.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then that’s what she is going to be called.
+What a shame that we haven’t got a real simon-pure
+bottle to smash on her bow,” he added
+regretfully.</p>
+
+<p>“How will this answer for a substitute?”
+asked Mrs. Lombard, as she drew from the
+little bag she was carrying a miniature champagne
+bottle, gayly decked with blue ribbons.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh! I say! Aren’t you just a trump!”
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>cried Hart, surprised into genuine boyish
+praise. “That’s a regular jim dandy, and
+Denise can smash it to smithereens. Quick,
+let’s get her launched!”</p>
+
+<p>The little boat lay high and dry upon the
+rocks, and a moment later Hart and Denise
+had carried it to the water’s edge, for it was as
+light as a feather, and they could easily handle
+it. To put it into the water stern foremost,
+letting the bow rest upon sand until the ceremony
+of christening it was ended, took but a
+few seconds, and, grasping the little bottle by its
+ribbon-decked neck, Denise bent over the bow
+saying: “I christen thee the Water Kelpie!”
+As the last word left her lips, SMASH went
+the bottle, and a vigorous push from Hart sent
+the boat into the water, he singing at the top of
+his lungs: “Oh, we’ll sail the ocean blue,” and
+Mrs. Lombard joining in with a will.</p>
+
+<p>After the children had somewhat subsided
+from the Indian war-dance which followed the
+launching, Mrs. Lombard said:</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p>
+
+<p>“And may I have the honor of presenting to
+the captain of this beautiful craft the private
+signal, which I hope will add to its attractions
+and wave to his glory as long as the vessel rides
+the waves?”</p>
+
+<p>The shrieks of delight which greeted the
+pretty flag when she unrolled it from its wrappings
+left her no doubt of its reception. It was
+mounted upon a slender cedar staff, which fitted
+exactly the little socket in the stern, and Mrs.
+Lombard never hinted that a note sent to Mr.
+Murray when Denise had sent hers to Hart had
+been the cause of the delay in the delivery of
+this little craft until the socket could be placed
+in the stern all ready to receive the flagstaff,
+whose dimensions she had given to Mr. Murray.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, the Captain was duty bound to
+invite the donor of this splendid flag to accompany
+him upon his trial trip, and taking her
+seat in the stern, with Beauty Buttons beside
+her, Denise up in the bow, and the Captain
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>“amidships,” off they glided upon the calm
+river. Sailor, Ned, and Tan were minded to
+follow, but Denise called out, “Take them home,
+Sailor, that’s a dear dog,” and Sailor, proud of
+his responsibilities, waved his tail in farewell
+and set about doing her bidding.</p>
+
+<p>More than an hour was spent upon the river,
+and when they came ashore Mrs. Lombard felt
+entirely reassured, for Hart handled his oars
+like an “old salt,” having rowed a great deal
+while at school.</p>
+
+<p>“Thank you very much for a delightful
+morning,” she said to him. “I shall make but
+one proviso regarding water expeditions, and
+that is this: Please ask my consent before
+going, and then I shall never feel anxiety.”</p>
+
+<p>“We will! Of course, we will,” cried the
+children in chorus.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">
+    CHAPTER VIII
+    <br>
+    POKEY AND A CIRCUS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>As she had waited just one year before,
+gayly decked in blue ribbons in honor
+of the occasion, Denise was now waiting
+again for Pokey to arrive.</p>
+
+<p>This time Ned was not arrayed in ribbons,
+but in tiny American flags stuck in every part of
+his harness that they could be stuck and fastened
+all over the carriage, for it was the seventh of
+July, and the glorious Fourth had been a gala-day,
+celebrated with roaring crackers by day
+and splendid fireworks after dark. Ned had,
+as usual, been prinked out for so great an occasion,
+his decorations being appropriate to the
+day celebrated.</p>
+
+<p>Usually Pokey arrived for her summer visit
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>before the Fourth, but a slight illness, the
+result of too much study and difficult examinations,
+all too taxing for her young body and
+brain when the thermometer stood at ninety,
+had caused a collapse, and for several days poor
+Pokey lay upon her bed with her heart playing
+a wild tattoo, and her brain working like a
+runaway engine. Had she not had the prospect
+of her visit before her, it is probable that she
+would have lain upon that bed several days
+longer, for the very thought of exerting herself
+brought added weariness. But up the Hudson
+River there waited a lovely little white bed, a
+pretty room to be shared with some one she loved
+dearly, and, blessed thought, sunshine, green
+grass, great spreading trees that whispered all
+manner of secrets to this dreaming little body,
+and a welcome which left nothing to be desired.
+So Pokey made haste to get better and start
+upon her two hours’ journey, but it was a pale,
+thin little Pokey that stepped from the train
+into Denise’s outstretched arms.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p>
+
+<p>She was somewhat taller, and that made her
+seem even more slender, but it was the same
+Pokey, and Ned Toodles greeted her with a
+cordial neigh.</p>
+
+<p>“And what do you think!” cried Denise,
+when they were spinning along home, Ned
+occasionally joining in their conversation with
+a sociable whinney, “a circus is here, and papa
+is going to take us all to see it. It is going to
+parade through the town at eleven, and as soon
+as we have seen mamma and grandma we’ll drive
+up to the village and see it. It won’t, of course,
+come down this way. I left Ned all dressed
+up on that account. Won’t it be great fun!”</p>
+
+<p>“You don’t suppose Ned will try to do any
+of <i>his</i> tricks when he sees the other ponies, do
+you?” asked Pokey, for a year’s acquaintance
+with Ned had not served to overcome her misgivings
+of that animal’s wild pranks.</p>
+
+<p>“Of course not! Why should he? Besides he
+couldn’t while in harness,” replied Denise, blissfully
+ignorant even yet of that little scamp’s
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>resources or determination to carry his point
+once he set about doing so. Ned was never ugly
+or vicious, but well Denise knew that a good bit
+of firmness was required upon her part when she
+wished to get him past the little store where
+chocolate creams were sold, and that it was
+always far wiser to choose another road if time
+pressed. But she was too loyal to her pet to
+betray his little weaknesses.</p>
+
+<p>“Moddie! Moddie! grandma! Here we
+come, bag and baggage, only that is coming along
+behind escorted by John!” she cried, as she
+rushed into the hall with weary little Pokey following
+her as fast as she could.</p>
+
+<p>“My dear little girl, how delighted we are to
+have you with us again!” said Mrs. Lombard,
+as she gathered Pokey into her arms, and dear
+old grandma stroked the tired head which
+nestled upon Mrs. Lombard’s shoulder as though
+it had found a very peaceful haven.</p>
+
+<p>“Take her right out to the dining-room,
+dearie, and have Mary fetch her a glass of cool
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>milk and some little biscuits,” cried grandma,
+filled with solicitude for the little girl.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, indeed,” added Mrs. Lombard, “we
+must not lose a moment in setting about finding
+some roses for these white cheeks.”</p>
+
+<p>“There! Now you look quite refreshed, and
+when you have had a drive with Ned, and seen
+this great parade that is filling all Denise’s
+thoughts, I am sure you will be ready for, oh,
+<i>such</i> a luncheon!”</p>
+
+<p>On their way to the village they were overtaken
+by Hart mounted upon Pinto. Knowing
+that Pokey was about to arrive, he had kept at
+a safe distance till he could “size her up,” as he
+put it, for his intercourse with girls had been
+decidedly limited, and he had no notion of
+plunging into an intimacy with one whom he
+had never seen before. The hedge was a safe
+covert for observing all that took place in
+Denise’s grounds, and from that vantage-point
+he had “sized up” to his entire satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>“Guess she ain’t much like Denise,” was his
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>mental comment. “But if Denise likes her so
+much she must be all right.”</p>
+
+<p>As he drew up beside the phaeton he was
+greeted by Denise, who said: “Pokey, this is
+my friend Hart Murray, and this is Elizabeth
+Delano, Hart, only we don’t call her by her
+name once in a blue moon. She is our very own
+Pokey, and <i>he’s</i> Hinkey-Dinkey,” giving a
+laughing Nod toward Hart.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, and <i>she’s</i> Snipenfrizzle!” was the
+prompt retort.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I guess we all know each other now,”
+laughed Denise, and before another word could
+be spoken the sound of a band playing in the
+village, just beyond, caused all to exclaim,
+“Oh, they’ve started! They’ve started!” and
+to hurry forward as though one brain urged
+them all. But upon Ned the effect of that band
+was certainly odd. It was playing “Marching
+through Georgia,” and one might have supposed
+it to be his favorite air, for he began to
+prance and dance in perfect time to it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Do look at him! Do look at him!” cried
+Denise; “I believe he knows that march.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, let’s get out,” begged timid Pokey.
+“He acts as though he were crazy.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nonsense; he won’t do anything but mark
+time,” answered Denise, laughing. “I always
+said he knew just everything, but I never supposed
+that he was a musician.”</p>
+
+<p>They were now just at the entrance to the
+village, and at that moment the circus parade
+turned in from a side street which led out to the
+grounds where their tents were pitched. The
+streets were crowded as though the entire town
+had turned out to see the show, which, doubtless,
+it had, for Springdale in those days was a
+small place, and circuses did not often tarry
+there. But this time it was to be an exception,
+for “Backus’s Greatest Show on Earth” had
+deigned to honor the town with a two days’ performance
+upon its way to the more important
+town of Sing Sing further up the river. It
+would give a performance this Saturday afternoon
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>and evening, “rest up” on Sunday,
+give another on Monday, and then “fold its
+tents like the Arabs” and depart, leaving many
+an enthusiastic youngster behind who would live
+for six months upon his memories of its delights,
+and for another six upon his anticipations of
+its return. It was, indeed, a gorgeous pageant
+which burst upon the children’s sight, for in a
+splendid golden chariot blared and tooted a
+brass band, the musicians resplendent in red
+uniforms, and blowing as though their very
+lives depended upon the volume of sound they
+could make, and six handsome white horses
+pranced and curveted before it. Then came a
+pale-blue and gold chariot drawn by six of the
+dearest piebald ponies one ever saw, and with
+whom Ned instantly claimed kinship with a
+regular rowdy “hullo-yourself” neigh. But
+you have all doubtless seen circus parades, and
+know all about the knights and fairies, beautiful
+horses with their gay riders, elephants, camels,
+wild animals and tame ones which go to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>make up a show which will be in vogue as long
+as children are, and when <i>they</i> drop out of this
+world’s economy, then the sooner we all scurry
+out of sight, too, the better. But it is with one
+particular pony that we must deal, and a summary
+dealing it is liable to prove before it
+ends. All the time the parade was passing Ned
+kept up an incessant fidgeting, tugging at the
+reins, pawing the ground, shaking his head
+up and down, and only restrained from plunging
+headlong into the midst of it all by Denise’s
+firm hand. Pinto stood behind the phaeton,
+but, save for a start or two of surprise when
+an exceptionally loud toot was blown, he
+behaved like a gentleman. The children
+were as close to the line of march as they
+well could be without the ponies’ noses brushing
+the elephant’s sides, when there came
+along a magnificent black horse, bearing upon
+his back the grand high mogul of the show.
+This was the manager, so the posters announced,
+mounted upon “his splendid Sinbad
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>the Great, most wonderful performing
+horse in the world.”</p>
+
+<p>Just then the parade was obliged to halt for
+a moment or two, and the handsome horse and
+his rider stopped directly in front of the children.
+With a “Hullo, how-are-you-glad-to-make-your
+acquaintance” air, Ned poked out
+his muzzle and greeted Sinbad the Great. As
+Sinbad was a true gentleman, and not to be
+outdone in politeness, down came his nose to
+meet little perky Ned’s, and they held a second’s
+whispered conversation—a conversation fraught
+with fatal results for Ned, as will be seen.</p>
+
+<p>Now Sinbad’s rider had a pair of eyes which
+just nothing escaped, and one sweeping glance
+took in every detail of pony, phaeton, and children.</p>
+
+<p>Nodding pleasantly to them he addressed
+Denise with:</p>
+
+<p>“Fine little horse you’ve got there. Had
+him long? He doesn’t look very old.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nearly two years. I just guess he <i>is</i> fine!
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>There isn’t another like him in all the world.
+He is not nine years old yet.”</p>
+
+<p>“Want to sell him?” asked the man.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I just guess NOT!” was the indignant
+reply.</p>
+
+<p>“Live here?” was the next question, but
+Denise began to think that this bravely decked
+individual was decidedly curious, and hesitated
+before answering. Before she had made up her
+mind to do so, the parade moved on, and a few
+moments later the last donkey had passed.
+Then Ned took matters into his own hands, or
+rather his teeth, and did that which he had
+never done before since Denise had owned him:
+He positively refused to turn around and
+go home, and neither coaxing, threats, nor a
+loudly-cracked whip had the least effect upon
+him. Shake his head, back, paw, and act like
+a regular little scamp was all he would do, and
+at last, growing tired of trying to make her
+understand what he did want, he resolved to show
+her, and off he went, pelting ahead till he had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>overtaken the vanishing circus, wheeling aside
+to avoid those at the end, tearing along until
+he had overtaken the part of the parade in
+which Sinbad was still delighting all beholders,
+and then, neck or nothing, forcing his way,
+carriage, occupants, and all, right in behind
+that wily beast whose whisper had surely been:
+“Come on behind me and we’ll cut a dash, see
+if we don’t.”</p>
+
+<p>Having achieved his object, Master Ned was
+triumphant, and no French dancing-master ever
+pirouetted and “showed off” for the admiration
+of all beholders as did this vain little scrap of a
+beast as he danced along in perfect time to the
+band.</p>
+
+<p>Pokey was very nearly reduced to a state of
+collapse, for Sinbad the Great was making the
+path before them rather lively, while just behind
+stalked a huge elephant who now and again by
+way of welcome to the ranks gracefully flourished
+a wriggling trunk over the phaeton.</p>
+
+<p>Denise’s face was a study. Never before had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>she met with open rebellion upon Ned’s part,
+and this first exhibition of it was certainly a
+triumph. Although thoroughly frightened, she
+sat holding her reins for dear life, with no
+thought of deserting her post, while Pokey
+begged her piteously to “please drive home.”</p>
+
+<p>“Home! Don’t you suppose I want to go
+there every bit as much as you do? But how
+<i>can</i> I when this little villain is acting so like
+time? I can’t get out and leave him, can I?”
+and just then Hart came tearing alongside the
+line shouting:</p>
+
+<p>“Hello, Snipenfrizzle, I’m off for home to
+tell your mother that you’ve joined the circus
+and the next time she sees you you will be
+riding bareback! Good-by,” and with a wild
+whoop he pelted off down the road, Ned whinnying
+out after Pinto: “Oh, I’m having the
+time of my life!”</p>
+
+<p>Then the funny side of the whole affair
+appealed to Denise and saved her from tears,
+and she began to laugh. Never say that animals
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>do not know the different tones of the human
+voice! If others do not, Ned <i>did</i>, and that
+familiar laugh was the one thing wanting to
+complete his festive mood, and if he had cut
+shines before, he simply outdid himself now,
+and not till he had followed that circus parade
+over the entire town, and marched straight into
+the big tent behind Sinbad, did he decide that
+he had had enough excitement, and consent to
+go home. At half-past one he walked sedately
+up the driveway, and as John led him off to
+his stable, roundly berating him for his prank,
+he heaved a sigh which said as plainly as words
+could have done: “Well, I’ve kicked over the
+traces for once in my life, anyway.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">
+    CHAPTER IX
+    <br>
+    THE EARTH OPENS AND POKEY IS SWALLOWED UP
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“Well, how soon can you all be ready?
+We must get an early start if we
+expect to secure the best seats in the
+house,” cried Mr. Lombard, as dessert was being
+served at dinner that night.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, we’ll be ready the very minute we’ve
+finished,” cried Denise, who was so eager to
+start that she would willingly have dispensed
+with dessert altogether.</p>
+
+<p>“How soon can you be ready, mamma,” he
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>“As quickly as I can stick in a hatpin to
+keep my hat from tumbling off when I laugh,”
+replied Mrs. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>“And you, mother?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Why, Lewis Lombard, are you crazy?”
+demanded grandma. “Do you suppose that I
+am going to a circus at my time of life?”</p>
+
+<p>“To be sure you are! We’re <i>all</i> of us going,
+the whole family, from you down to cook, John
+and his family included. I’ve ordered down a
+hack from the village, and away we all go. Dear
+me, you don’t suppose that we are going to let
+such a rare treat as ‘Backus’s Greatest Show on
+Earth’ go by unappreciated. Certainly <i>not</i>!”
+and Mr. Lombard leaned back in his chair to
+laugh in his hearty way that proved so infectious
+that none could resist.</p>
+
+<p>And it was not long before he was assisting
+his family into one of the village hacks sent
+down, rather than use his own horses and so
+deprive the help of their treat, for his thoughts
+were always for the pleasure he could give to
+high or lowly. Hart was perched in front with
+the driver, for he had been borrowed for the
+occasion; grandma, still protesting that “it was
+utterly absurd for a woman of seventy to attend
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>a circus,” sat with Mrs. Lombard on the back
+seat, while her son assured her that she “was his
+best girl and that no fellow ever went to a circus
+without his best girl.” “And you’re my
+‘second best,’” he said, as he put his arm around
+Pokey, who sat between him and Denise on the
+front seat, “and I shall put you one side of me
+and grandma upon the other, just to keep you
+from getting into mischief. Grandma looks
+sedate enough, but you must never judge from
+appearances.”</p>
+
+<p>“Right this way, gentlemen and ladies!
+Right this way to secure the finest reserved
+seats in the house! Fine cushioned parquet
+chairs. Comfortable as your own lux<i>ur</i>us sofas
+at home. Don’t lose a moment! They’re
+going fast! Seventy-five cents each for first
+choice!” shouted the ticket-seller, perched in a
+funny little tent all by himself at the entrance
+to the big tent.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s just what we’re after! Here are
+six of us; now let’s see how well you are
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>going to treat us!” said Mr. Lombard to the
+man.</p>
+
+<p>The smile with which it was said sent a cheering
+ray straight down into the man’s tired heart,
+for, whatever it might seem to the public, circus
+life was not bliss unalloyed, as this ticket-seller
+had learned to his sorrow. “Treat you first-class,
+sir! Six fine seats all in line on third
+row. Just high enough to see the whole arena,
+and escape any dust! Here you are! Thank
+you, sir. Thank you, sir,” as Mr. Lombard laid
+the money upon the little shelf and gathered up
+the six tickets. But as he did not pass on, the
+man looked at him rather questioningly. “Now
+I want seven more somewhere else. How about
+your fifty-cent seats? Got plenty of those?”</p>
+
+<p>If the man had beamed before, he fairly
+glowed now, for such customers were rare. “All
+you want, sir! All you want!” he cried.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lombard made his second purchase, and
+then, turning to the man who had driven them
+up, said:</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Now get along back for your second load,
+and here’s a ticket for yourself when you’ve
+safely landed all the help at the show. Tie up
+your horses where they’ll be comfortable—I’ve
+made that all right with Mr. Andrews—and see
+the whole thing. Only don’t forget us when it’s
+over. There will be another hack along for
+John and the maids when needed.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I say, <i>you’re all right</i>, Mr. Lombard,”
+said the hackman, with a broad grin.</p>
+
+<p>I need not tell you a single thing about the
+performance. You have all been to the circus,
+and I dare say much finer ones than this little
+country show, but I doubt if you ever laughed
+more heartily at the funny pranks of the clowns
+and trick ponies, or ever enthused more wildly
+over the beautiful horses and wonderful trapeze
+performances, than did this happy party. Near
+the end of the performance the ringmaster
+announced that there was to be a “new and novel
+feature presented this evening by an exhibition
+of the manner in which bareback riders were
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>taught to ride.” Then a tremendous crane was
+fastened to the great center pole of the tent in
+such a manner that it would swing around in a
+circle the size of the circus-ring. A steady
+old horse, a very patriarch of ring horses, was
+brought in, and some one was selected from the
+audience to ride him. Now it so happened that
+John’s eldest hopeful, a boy about twelve years
+of age, was the one to volunteer, and to scramble
+upon the horse’s back like a young monkey.
+A long strap with a stout belt attached dangled
+from the end of the crane, and the belt was
+buckled securely about the boy’s waist, and the
+word given to start. So far so good. He sat his
+steed bravely, and the horse cantered around
+the ring in the easy rocking motion peculiar to
+circus horses, who learn to move like machines.
+“Now stand up,” ordered the ringmaster, and
+John, Jr., essayed to do so, to find himself a
+moment later dangling in midair like a big
+spider from its web, legs and arms flying
+wildly about in search of something to grasp
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>as the old horse still plodded staidly along
+beneath him, although just out of reach of those
+wildly gesticulating arms and legs, while the
+audience howled with laughter. Around went
+the horse, and just above him moved the crane
+at the same speed, but land upon that beast
+again John, Jr., could not.</p>
+
+<p>“Lewis, if you do not take me home I shall
+certainly die of laughter,” said poor grandma
+to her son, who was so convulsed at the sight
+before him that he was powerless to heed her,
+for certainly anything funnier than that struggling
+boy, who had mounted that beast so confident
+of his ability to ride him “any old way,”
+as he had confided to his father, it would be
+hard to conceive of. On Mr. Lombard’s left
+sat Pokey, laughing as she seldom laughed and
+until she ached therefrom. But now John, Jr.,
+grew desperate, and resolved to ride bareback
+or die in the attempt. Ah, now he has his feet
+upon that broad back, and then follows a wild
+struggle, only to end in defeat, as John, Jr.,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>wildly kicking, slides gracefully over his
+steed’s tail and lands gently upon the sawdust.
+But he was not to monopolize all the excitement,
+for Pokey had resolved to create a little
+on her own account, and when next Mr. Lombard
+turned around to see how she fared she
+had vanished entirely.</p>
+
+<p>“My soul and body, what has become of her!”
+he cried, in dismay, when a voice from the
+bowels of the earth answered:</p>
+
+<p>“I slipped through when I doubled up to
+laugh, and I can’t get back,” for the “fine
+cushioned parquet chairs” had proved to be but
+boards laid upon tiers and covered with turkey-red
+cushions, which needed but a slight push to
+slip them into space. Pokey, in her excitement,
+had given the push, and away she went, cushion
+and all, her exclamations being completely
+drowned in the shouts of laughter.</p>
+
+<p>Reaching down, Mr. Lombard gave a “long
+pull and a strong pull,” and brought Pokey to
+light, none the worse for her spill.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Look here, Miss. I’m going to tie a string
+to you in future,” said Mr. Lombard, while
+grandma administered consolation in the shape
+of cream peppermints, with which she seemed
+provided upon all occasions.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t see how I ever did it, I’m sure,”
+said Pokey solemnly.</p>
+
+<p>“No more do I,” laughed Mrs. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>When the show came to an end Mr. Lombard
+said:</p>
+
+<p>“Now keep all in a line close behind me, and
+then we will not become separated in this jam, for
+the whole town is turned loose I firmly believe.”</p>
+
+<p>So off they started, Hart in the lead, with
+Mr. Lombard’s hands upon his shoulders to
+“steer him straight,” Grandma, Mrs. Lombard,
+Denise, and Pokey, as usual, at the end. They
+had just reached the exit, when Denise turned
+to speak to Pokey, when lo, and behold, Pokey
+had again disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>“Papa, mamma, grandma!” she screamed,
+“Pokey’s gone again.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span></p>
+
+<p>They would have stopped could they have
+done so, but who can check the outpouring of a
+circus crowd? Willy-nilly they were swept
+out into the moonlight.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, what can have happened to her now,”
+wailed Denise. “How <i>could</i> she get lost in just
+that little time?”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t be alarmed, dearie,” said mamma.
+“Papa and I will go right back the moment we
+can get through the crowd, and will surely find
+her.”</p>
+
+<p>Placing grandma and the two children in the
+waiting hack, Mr. and Mrs. Lombard made
+their way back into the rapidly emptying tent,
+and had hardly proceeded twenty feet when
+they came upon Pokey, covered with dirt and
+sawdust.</p>
+
+<p>“What under the sun has happened?” demanded
+Mr. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, that old stump!” answered Pokey in
+tones of intense disgust. “Just look at it, and
+the mess I’m in!” and she gave an impatient kick
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>at a small stump which showed about three
+inches above the ground close to the bottom
+row of seats. “I was walking right along
+close behind Denise, when I stubbed my toe on
+that hateful old thing and down I went, flat on
+my face, and before I could get up I guess a
+<i>hundred</i> people walked right over me. I
+thought they’d kill me, and I couldn’t get up or
+stir. So I rolled over till I was in under the
+seats, and lay there till the people got by. And
+just look what a sight I am!”</p>
+
+<p>“Pokey, my girl, you are altogether too much
+given to stretching at length upon mother
+earth, and after this I must beg you to keep
+right end up, if you wish to avoid giving the
+entire family nervous prostration. But considering
+that no bones are broken, and you are not
+ground to fine powder, I’ll forgive you this
+time,” said Mr. Lombard, as he scrubbed her off
+with his pocket-handkerchief.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">
+    CHAPTER X
+    <br>
+    TROUBLES NEVER COME SINGLY
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“We have waited for Pokey’s arrival
+before making our first visit to the
+‘Chapel’ this year,” said Mrs. Lombard,
+when all were seated at the dinner-table
+at one o’clock on Sunday.</p>
+
+<p>“Haven’t you been up there at all this year?”
+she asked, for it was one of her favorite spots.</p>
+
+<p>“No; but John finished putting it in order
+yesterday afternoon and we will all go up at
+about three o’clock.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, splendid!” cried Denise. “I’ve got the
+loveliest book for you to read, Pokey, and I’ll
+take dear old Tan and Ned. Tan can go up the
+hill as easy as can be.”</p>
+
+<p>Before long the whole party set out for the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>beautiful little woodland retreat which went by
+the name of the Chapel because, during the
+summer the family spent nearly every Sunday
+afternoon there, resting in the hammocks, in the
+comfortable rustic seats, or stretched at length
+upon the soft moss. Plenty of cushions were
+always carried, and a more restful, soothing
+spot it would have been hard to find. The
+path led through the fields up the hill and to
+the woods’ edge, and just within it, where
+the view of the river was most charming,
+the seats had been built. But between the
+previous late autumn days and this warm
+July one, something else had been built, too,
+although the owner of the property little
+suspected that squatters had taken possession
+of a portion of this land. Possibly he would
+never have made the discovery at all, had not
+his daughter and her pets brought it about.
+All were toiling up the hill, burdened with
+their pet cushions, books, etc., with Denise
+in the lead, Tan on one side of her, and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>Ned on the other. She had thrown an arm
+across each neck, and was saying, “Now ‘hay-foot,
+straw-foot’” to teach them to keep in step.
+Not far behind came Pokey upon “Mrs.
+Mamma’s” arm, for Pokey had not had time to
+get her climbing wind yet, and the hill made
+her pant. Grandma was assisted by papa’s
+arm, and all were “making haste slowly.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hay-foot! Straw-foot! Hay-foot! S-t-r-a-w—Ohw-w-w-w-w!!!!!”
+“Baa-a-a-a-a-a!”
+and a screeching neigh! Then pandemonium
+reigned for a few moments, for the
+“straw-foot” no, <i>feet</i>, three of them! had
+been planted fairly and squarely into a ground-hornet’s
+nest, and, in far less time than it takes
+to tell about it, these “three musketeers” wore
+yellow and brown uniforms, for the hornets literally
+covered them as a garment. Mr. Lombard
+rushed to Denise’s rescue, or there is no
+telling what her fate would have been, shouting
+to the others as he ran to fly for their lives.
+Ned did not wait to be told, but tore down the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>hill as though all the demons from the lower
+regions had attacked him, while poor, stiff old
+Tan forgot all his stiffness and fled for “home
+and peace” like any kid. But Mr. Lombard
+found his task no easy one, for the enraged
+hornets were venting their wrath upon poor
+little Denise, and he had actually to scrape
+them from her legs with a stick, only to find
+them swarm upon the next unprotected spots
+and upon himself. At last, in desperation, he
+rolled her in a rug he had brought with him,
+and tore down the hill, mamma having fled at
+the first alarm to send John to his assistance.</p>
+
+<p>If you have ever been stung by even one
+hornet, you will know just about a one-hundredth
+part of what Denise was enduring then,
+for some of the hornets were still on her and
+Mr. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>John now came hurrying up, and, taking
+Denise from her father’s arms, fled for home,
+leaving Mr. Lombard to dispose of his little
+enemies.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p>
+
+<p>For a few hours there were lively scenes
+enacted in that home, for while Mrs. Lombard
+and grandma, with Eliza the cook, and Mary the
+maid, to help, administered all manner of home
+remedies to the sufferers, John, mounted upon
+Flash, rushed for the doctor, and Pokey sat
+down and quietly sobbed in one corner.</p>
+
+<p>She had not been stung, but was filled with
+anxiety for Denise, and heart-broken to see her
+suffer as she was suffering.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Swift was as good as his name, and came
+with all haste to give relief, but it was many
+days before Denise could leave her room, and
+Pokey was her greatest comfort, for the dear
+child cared for her as she used to care for the
+invalid dolls. But before Denise could get about
+again upon those poor swollen legs, something
+else happened which almost reconciled the
+family to her having been so severely stung
+that she was confined to her room.</p>
+
+<p>Ned and Tan were not much the worse for
+their experience, for their hair had been a protection,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>and a vigorous rolling in the dusty road
+had produced a wonderfully pacifying effect upon
+those rampant insects. After he had done all he
+could for the family, John turned his attention
+to the pets, and had just made Tan comfortable
+and begun upon Ned when he noticed a man
+standing by the fence and looking at the pony
+as he brushed him and rubbed ointment where
+the stings were worst. John gave a friendly
+nod, and said: “It’s lively work we’ve been
+havin’ these past two hours!”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s happened?” asked the man.</p>
+
+<p>John related the story, embellishing it, till
+the man might have thought that Denise had
+retired in a garment made of hornets.</p>
+
+<p>“Fine little beast, that,” said the man presently.</p>
+
+<p>“You niver saw the loike of him in all your
+loife!” said John proudly.</p>
+
+<p>“What will you take for him?”</p>
+
+<p>“What’ll I take for him, is it, ye’re askin’?
+Faith he’s not mine to sell, as ye well know,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>but ye’d better not be askin’ the master that
+same.”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the boss’s name?”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that to you?” demanded John with
+some asperity, for he was beginning to dislike
+the man.</p>
+
+<p>“Say, I know a man who’ll give a cool two-fifty
+for him and never wink.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, he may save his offer, thin, for the
+boss paid three-fifty for him not two year ago,
+and wouldn’t sell him for twice that, and don’t
+you forgit it aither, me son.”</p>
+
+<p>“Want ter make a deal? You git him to
+sell the little horse to my man for what he paid
+fer him, an’ it’ll mean a fifty for you.”</p>
+
+<p>But this was too much. “Who the divvil
+are ye, thin, I’d loike to know? Get out av
+this, an’ if I catch ye about the place with yer
+blackguard offers I’ll call the constable for ye
+as sure as iver me name’s John Noonan,” and
+John advanced toward the fence with ire in his
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Did iver ye listen to sooch chake as that,
+me foin boy?” he asked his small charge.
+“Don’t ye let it worry ye heart, me soon; it’s not
+goin’ to be sold out of <i>this</i> home ye are! Not
+fer <i>no</i> money!”</p>
+
+<p>On Monday the circus gave another performance,
+and after that, in the evening, crossed the
+river by special arrangement with the ferry-boat
+and went upon its way.</p>
+
+<p>As Pokey never drove Ned, he was not used
+at all on Monday, and at eight o’clock had been
+locked in his little stable by John, and left, as
+usual, to his dreams.</p>
+
+<p>It was John’s custom to come early to his
+work, his own home being but a short walk
+across the fields, and six o’clock usually found
+him at the stable-door, to be greeted with welcoming
+neighs by the horses, which had learned
+to love him, and by Denise’s pets, who found in
+John a very faithful attendant. After opening up
+the big stable he went over to the “Birds’ Nest,”
+and was surprised to find the door unlocked.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Now who’s been that careless, I wonder,”
+he muttered.</p>
+
+<p>Then, entering, he wondered not to hear Ned’s
+morning greeting. Filled with an unaccountable
+misgiving, he hurried across the floor and
+looked over the top of the door of the night-stall,
+but Ned was gone!</p>
+
+<p>But even then the true situation did not dawn
+upon him, and he hurried out to look all about
+the grounds and in every place Ned could possibly
+have gone. But no Ned was to be found,
+and now, thoroughly alarmed, he went to the
+kitchen to ask Eliza, who was just lighting her
+morning fire, to call Mr. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>“Whatever has happened you?” demanded
+Eliza, looking up from her range. “Ye look
+like ye’d seen a ghost.”</p>
+
+<p>“The little horse is gone! I’ve hunted the
+place for him and can find no trace of him,”
+answered John, in a distressed voice.</p>
+
+<p>“The Lord save us! What will that dear
+child do?” cried Eliza in dismay.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Go quick and call master,” was John’s
+answer.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t let this get to Miss Denise’s ears if it
+can possibly be helped,” said Mr. Lombard
+when he and John had returned from a fruitless
+search. “There may be some foundation
+for your suspicion regarding that man who
+spoke to you on Sunday, and, coupled with what
+Denise has told me about the circus-manager’s
+questions, I am forced to admit that it does
+not look well. Go up to the village and ask
+Mr. Stevens to come to me as quickly and as
+quietly as possible, for this case needs both a
+lawyer and detectives. I will warn the others
+to keep silent,” and with a very troubled face
+Mr. Lombard entered the house.</p>
+
+<p>But all that day passed, and still others,
+without revealing a trace of Ned. Inquiries
+set afoot came to naught. The circus had left
+at one <span class="allsmcap">A. M.</span>, but Ned had not been among the
+ponies. If he were really stolen, as Mr. Lombard
+was reluctantly compelled to believe, for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>that wise little beast was not going to lose himself
+or stay away from home voluntarily, those
+who tried to get him away must have used great
+skill, for everybody in that town knew him.</p>
+
+<p>The search had been on foot for three days
+when the thunderbolt fell from the sky, dropped
+by Hart.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard, Denise, and Pokey were sitting
+in the former’s pleasant room on Thursday
+morning when Hart called to Mrs. Lombard
+from the bottom of the stairs, “Please may I
+speak with you a second?”</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard hastened into the hall, for she
+was fearful that the message pertained to Ned,
+and, even though the voice vibrated with hope,
+she did not wish it to be heard by Denise unless
+it was the one message she longed for. Hart
+had scoured the country on Pinto, but thus far
+to no purpose. Half-way down the stairs Hart
+met her, and whispered, as he supposed, in a
+low voice: “They think they have found tracks
+of him because that man who spoke to John
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>was seen away up on Hook Mountain, and had
+come across the river in a great big boat, big
+enough to carry Ned over in! And—”</p>
+
+<p>“Hush!” whispered Mrs. Lombard, holding
+up a warning finger, but it was too late. Over
+the railing hung a white little face, and a pair
+of wild eyes looked beseechingly at her as Denise
+demanded: “<i>What</i> do you mean? Ned
+found? Traces of Ned? Where is he? What
+has happened? Tell me right off.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">
+    CHAPTER XI
+    <br>
+    A TIMELY RESCUE
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Feeling that a real tragedy had come
+into the little girl’s life, as great as perhaps
+she would ever experience, for Mrs.
+Lombard fully realized how strong was the tie
+between Denise and this well-beloved pet, and
+also realizing that which, unhappily, few do realize,
+that childhood’s trials and sorrows are fully
+as keen for the time being as the trials and sorrows
+which visit us later in life, although,
+blessed provision of providence, less enduring.
+Had not a beneficent Father so ordained it there
+would be no childhood, for we should be old men
+and women while still in our teens.</p>
+
+<p>Stepping quickly to her little daughter’s side,
+Mrs. Lombard put her arm about her and said,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>“Come into the sitting-room, darling, and let
+mother tell you all about it. I had thought to
+spare you the anxiety, for we are confident that
+all will end well, but now that you have heard
+so much you would better know the truth.”</p>
+
+<p>Trembling from sympathy, Pokey had drawn
+near and taken one of Denise’s hands, and now
+stood beside her “pooring” it and looking into
+her eyes as though beseeching her not to be
+quite heart-broken. Hart, with contrition
+stamped upon his handsome, boyish face, had
+crept up the stairs, and was looking in at the
+door. Drawing Denise beside her upon the
+couch, Mrs. Lombard said in her calm, soothing
+voice:</p>
+
+<p>“When John went to the stable Monday
+morning Ned was not there. At first we thought
+that he had managed to run away, but later we
+were convinced that he could not have gone voluntarily,
+and a thorough search has been instituted.
+Thus far it has been fruitless, but Hart
+has just reported that one of the detectives
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>whom papa has pressed into service has seen
+one of the men whom we now know to have
+been connected with the circus, and has further
+learned that which surprises us not a little, that
+Ned once belonged to another branch of this very
+circus. Indeed, that he and Sinbad, the big
+black horse with whom he so promptly renewed
+his acquaintance, were formerly ring companions,
+and performed tricks together. All
+this papa’s men have discovered, and also that
+about a year before Ned became yours, the
+circus then being in financial straits, Ned was
+sold, very much to the regret of the proprietor.
+When more prosperous days returned, they tried
+to find him, but could not, and not until they
+chanced to come to Springdale did they ever see
+their clever little trick pony again. Then this
+manager recognized him from the odd mark upon
+his right temple, and sent a man down to see if
+he could buy him back again, but John sent him
+to the right-about with a word of advice. Then
+Ned vanished, and, naturally, our first thought
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>flew to the circus. But Ned is not with it, nor
+yet with the main body of it, for papa has sent
+everywhere. If they have taken him they have
+surely hidden him somewhere till the excitement
+shall pass, and they think it safe to bring
+him upon the scene far from this section of the
+country. There, my dear little girl, is all the
+truth, and you understand better than any one
+else can, how very sorry I am to be forced to tell
+it to you,” and Mrs. Lombard held Denise close
+to her and tenderly kissed her forehead.</p>
+
+<p>Denise had not opened her lips but had
+grown whiter and whiter as the story was
+told. The hand which lay in Pokey’s was
+icy, and the eyes, which had never once been
+removed from her mother’s face while she
+was speaking, had the look of a terrified
+animal’s.</p>
+
+<p>Not a sound was heard in that room for a few
+moments save the ticking of the little clock upon
+the mantel, and then Denise asked in a strange,
+hard little voice:</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p>
+
+<p>“You say that the man was seen up near
+Hook Mountain?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes!” burst in Hart. “He had rowed
+across the river, they think, and was prowling
+along the shore in a great big boat. Patsy
+Murphy was out on the river fishing and saw
+him, and told Mr. Stevens when he got back.”</p>
+
+<p>“Mamma, could he take Ned in a boat?”
+asked Denise.</p>
+
+<p>“He might do so if the boat were a very large
+one and Ned so tied that he could not struggle.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hart,” she cried suddenly, the big brown
+eyes filling with a fire which boded ill for any
+one minded to take Ned from her, “do you
+remember that wild little path we once came
+upon on Hook Mountain when you and I were
+trying to find a short cut over to the lake one
+day? It led around the curve of the mountain,
+and seemed to end, but when we forced our way
+through the underbrush it led down to an old
+brick-yard dock. We said at the time that it
+would be a splendid place to play Captain Kidd
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>and bury a treasure, for nobody would ever
+think of scrambling way round there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course I remember,” cried Hart, catching
+her excitement, although as yet he hardly
+knew why.</p>
+
+<p>“Have you hunted there?”</p>
+
+<p>“No! I never once thought of that place.”</p>
+
+<p>“Please go quick, <i>and take Sailor</i>. Give him
+something of Ned’s to smell of and then say:
+‘Find Ned, Sailor; find him!’ and he will
+know just what you mean, because that is what
+I always say to him when he and Ned and Tan
+and I play hide-and-seek, as we often do when
+we are alone. I would go, too, but somehow I
+don’t feel very well, and I—guess—I’ll—lie—”
+and the voice dwindled off into nothingness, as
+poor little nearly-heartbroken Denise drew a
+long sigh and quietly dropped into her mother’s
+arms, for the time being oblivious of her loss
+and grief.</p>
+
+<p>Raising her hand in warning to the terrified
+children, Mrs. Lombard laid the limp little figure
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>upon the couch, and began administering
+restoratives with grandma, who, at the first sign
+of distress, had appeared upon the scene to
+help. Pokey promptly sat down at the foot of
+the couch and, taking Denise’s feet in her arms,
+proceeded to bedew them with tears, begging
+them piteously to “oh, please get better right
+off, and she would go herself to find Ned for
+them.”</p>
+
+<p>Hart fled, dashing from his eyes the tears
+that had sought to disgrace him, and muttering
+an excited, “Dod blasticate that circus! Wish
+the hanged old thing had never showed up in
+Springdale! I’ll go up to that place before
+I’ve lived another minute, and if Ned is anywhere
+in the mountain, I’ll have him or bust
+the whole shebang. Wish I could catch that
+man, I’d smash his head for him sure as guns!
+I’d—I’d—Why didn’t we think of Sailor
+before! That girl’s got the longest head <i>for a
+girl</i>, and if Pinto doesn’t just hustle <i>this</i> time!”
+and with his thoughts upon the gallop, Hart
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>rushed across the lawn, calling to Sailor, who
+was always ready to follow, and five minutes
+later was tearing up the road toward Hook
+Mountain with Sailor bounding on ahead of
+him.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime Denise had come to her senses, but
+was limp as a little rag, for she had not yet
+recovered from the effects of her terrible stings,
+and the news had been as a thunderbolt to her.
+But Mrs. Lombard was a wise nurse, and presently
+had the satisfaction of seeing her patient
+succumb to the gentle influence of hyoscyamus,
+and slip away into dreamland. Then, motioning
+to Pokey to leave the room, she drew the
+shades, and followed her, saying to the distressed
+girl:</p>
+
+<p>“Something tells me that Ned will come
+home to-day, and that Hart and Sailor will find
+him. So run out into the sunshine and keep a
+sharp watch, dearie, and be ready to report at
+the first sign of good news.”</p>
+
+<p>Pokey, with Beauty Buttons close upon her
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>heels, went downstairs, and out into the
+grounds, making her way from force of habit
+to the Birds’ Nest. But the place was so deserted
+and silent that she gave a little shiver
+and turned away from it, to wander aimlessly
+about with her thoughts filled with Denise and
+Ned. Hardly knowing what she did, she walked
+out of the grounds and turned toward the road
+which Hart had so lately galloped over, and
+began walking along it.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Hart had passed through the
+village, and was galloping toward Hook
+Mountain. Before long he came to the point
+at which the main road turned aside to wind its
+way by a circuitous route over the mountain,
+and this was the only way known to the ordinary
+traveler to reach the fairy-like lake which
+lay in the lap of the mountain. But not so to
+the children, who had scoured the country for
+miles in every direction. A little path which
+seemed to end at the edge of an adjoining field
+did not end there at all, but made its way
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>through the undergrowth, up, down, in, and out
+until it finally scrambled over to the other side
+of the steep cliff, at whose base years before a
+small dock had been built for the accommodation
+of a long-since-dismantled brick-yard.
+Stopping at the entrance to the path, Hart
+called Sailor to him and, taking from under his
+arm the saddle-cloth of Ned’s saddle, said to
+the dog: “Here, old boy, see this? Smell it
+good, it’s Ned’s, Ned’s! Find him, Sailor, find
+him! That’s a good dog!”</p>
+
+<p>If ever an animal’s eyes spoke, Sailor’s did
+then, for, giving Hart one comprehensive glance
+from those big brown eyes, so full of love and
+faith, he began to bark and caper about like a
+puppy. Then Hart started Pinto forward, and
+he and Sailor began their search. On and on
+they went, furlong after furlong measured off
+behind them, brushed by overhanging boughs,
+stumbling through the tangled undergrowth,
+and repeatedly stopping to call and listen;
+Hart telling Sailor to bark for Ned, and the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>deep bark waking the echoes of the silent
+woods. As though he understood what they
+were doing, Pinto, too, would often join in with
+a loud neigh, but no responsive neigh could be
+heard. Nearly three hours had slipped away
+since Hart left Mrs. Lombard, and the boy was
+beginning to lose hope, when they came upon
+the old dock, and Sailor uttered a low growl, as,
+with hair bristling, he walked toward it in that
+peculiar manner a Newfoundland dog advances
+upon his enemy—a sort of “Come on and
+face me fairly and squarely” air. Hart drew
+rein and called, while down his boyish spine
+crept a wee bit of a chill, for he was far from
+home, and entirely defenseless. But there was
+no sign of living thing, and, thinking that
+Sailor must have been mistaken, Hart called to
+him, and went on into the wood again. Had
+he been able to see the lower side of the old
+dock he might have discovered a large flat-bottomed
+boat tied close under an overhanging
+shed of it, while, from beneath the rickety
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>boards peered a pair of steely eyes which
+watched his every movement. Hart was indeed
+in greater peril than he suspected, for this man
+would be the richer by a considerable sum of
+money if he carried out successfully the dastardly
+scheme of the one who offered the money
+to him, and to sit hidden there and see his
+plans balked before his very eyes, unless he
+resorted to far worse villainy than that already
+afoot, was a sore temptation.</p>
+
+<p>With hair still bristling, and an occasional
+admonitory growl, Sailor stalked very slowly
+after Hart, looking back from time to time to
+guard against trouble from the rear. They
+reached the point where the path wound its
+way up the jagged rocks, and where they had
+been forced to pause when he and Denise
+explored it before, and a feeling of despair began
+to settle upon him, for it seemed utterly hopeless
+to look further. Sailor stood panting beside
+Pinto, evidently trying to ask, What next?
+when suddenly he supplied the answer himself
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>for, putting his head close to the ground, he gave
+one long sniff, and then uttered a joyous bark
+and dashed into the woods. As it was almost
+impossible for Pinto to make way through the
+tangle, Hart slipped from his back, and tore
+after Sailor. Just as he did so, Sailor barked
+again, and far off in the distance a faint whinny
+answered him. “Gee whillikens, Christmas!
+If that ain’t Ned’s whinny, I’m a bluefish!”
+shouted Hart, and the next moment he
+almost tumbled into a little dell at the bottom
+of which a sight greeted him that made him
+throw his cap into the air and simply yell. In
+a little cleared space, firmly tied to a tree, a
+dirty old blanket strapped upon him, and the
+remains of his last meal scattered upon the
+ground near him, stood little Ned, with Sailor
+licking his velvety nose and whining over him
+as though he were a lost puppy. The next
+second Hart had his arms around Ned’s neck,
+laughing, talking, asking questions as though
+he were speaking to a human being who could
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>answer if he only would. And Ned very nearly
+did, for the little fellow’s joy was pathetic to
+witness. When Hart had somewhat calmed
+down, he discovered how Ned had been led into
+his hiding-place, for at the other side of it from
+the one he had entered there were distinct
+traces of hoof-marks, and Hart lost not a second
+more in untying the rope which held him and
+leading him out that way. This path came
+out upon the wood-path somewhat below the
+point where Pinto had been waiting, but, at
+Hart’s call, Pinto came picking his way down
+the path and was greeted by his old friend with
+a joyous neigh. They had not gone far when
+Sailor gave signs of anger, and, without a moment’s
+warning, sprang upon a man who suddenly
+barred their progress.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">
+    CHAPTER XII
+    <br>
+    JOY TURNS POKEY DAFT
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Had not Sailor acted so promptly, one
+trembles to think what might have
+been the outcome of Hart’s adventure,
+but as the man bent down to avoid the branches
+when he entered the pathway, Sailor sprang
+upon him and bore him to the ground, face
+downwards, then planted both front feet
+squarely upon the man’s back and held him
+firmly by his coat-collar, growling in his ear:
+“If you know what is well for you, you won’t
+move!”</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp52" id="i_150" style="max-width: 46.875em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_150.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption>
+      <div class="blockquot">
+    <i>Denise.</i>
+    </div>
+      <p>“THE MAN BENT DOWN TO AVOID THE BRANCHES.”</p>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>“Guard him, Sailor, guard him!” shouted
+Hart. “Hold him fast, good dog, and I’ll send
+some one to you!” and, scrambling upon Pinto’s
+back and leading Ned by his tattered rope, he
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>plunged along the path at a pace fit to bring
+destruction upon all three. But he had no
+thought of destruction just then, his only
+thought being to send some one to the noble
+dog’s aid. He reached the main road, and was
+tearing along at breakneck speed, when he came
+upon a hay-wagon which had just turned in
+from a roadside field. Pulling up so suddenly
+that he nearly fell over Pinto’s head, he shouted:
+“Quick! Quick! Run up into the woods, for
+Mr. Lombard’s Sailor has caught the man who
+was trying to steal Ned and is holding him
+fast.”</p>
+
+<p>All Springdale knew the story, and the three
+men in the hay-wagon tumbled out of it as one
+man, to run toward the wood-path as though
+they had Mercury’s wings upon their feet, while
+Hart, still quivering with excitement, again
+pelted off toward home and friends. He was
+still rivaling John Gilpin when a voice from
+the side of the road called:</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Hinkey-Dinkey! Hinkey-Dinkey!
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>Where did you find him? Where did you find
+him?” and up bounded Pokey, to plant herself
+almost directly in his path, for joy made her
+reckless. They were on the lower side of the
+village, Pokey having walked and walked till
+she was weary, and then seated herself by the
+roadside to think things over. Hart slid off
+Pinto’s back, and both ponies were glad to rest,
+for Hart had never given a thought to time,
+distance, or heat in his eagerness to reach home.
+Both ponies were blowing like porpoises, and for
+once in her life Pokey forgot all fear of Ned and,
+gathering his head in her arms, proceeded to sob
+out her joy upon his neck.</p>
+
+<p>“I say, what the dickens are you crying
+about now when we’ve got him?” demanded
+Hart, with a boy’s usual disgust for tears.
+“Those fellows up there will fix that man all
+right and Sailor’s a trump. Come on home, for
+that’s where we want to get Ned now just as
+quick as ever we can,” and he gave Pokey’s
+sleeve a pull.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p>
+
+<p>“I know it,” she answered, raising her head
+from Ned’s silky mane. “But I’m sort of all
+shaky, I’m so happy, and please let me lead Ned
+home. He’s awful tired, and will be glad to
+walk the rest of the way, and I want to take
+him to Denise, for I couldn’t go to find him, and
+I wanted to do something so badly.”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course you may lead him, but I thought
+you were scared to death of him,” said Hart,
+amazed to find that timid Pokey, who had
+invariably kept some one between herself and
+Ned, wanted to lead him. But on they went, and
+Hart had cause to be more surprised before he
+was less so, for Pokey hurried along the road,
+Ned pattering beside her, and occasionally tugging
+at the rope to hasten her steps as he drew
+nearer and nearer the dear home and dearer
+little mistress. Pokey did not take time to go
+around by the driveway when she reached the
+grounds, but slipped in through a side gate, and
+right across the lawn. What happened next
+will be told presently.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span></p>
+
+<p>After about an hour’s sleep, Denise awakened
+much refreshed, and Mrs. Lombard was on
+hand to say a soothing word the moment her
+eyes opened. Then followed a long, quiet talk,
+Denise asking questions and her mother
+answering them with the utmost care and infinite
+patience.</p>
+
+<p>“Where is Pokey, mamma?” she asked, after
+a little.</p>
+
+<p>“I sent her outdoors to freshen up a bit, for
+she is much disturbed over this misfortune.
+She will be in soon, I think, dear.”</p>
+
+<p>“Would you mind if I went down into the
+library, mamma? That room always seems the
+nicest one to be in when things trouble me, for
+somehow or other they seem to sort of get
+straight there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly, we will go down, darling, if you
+think you can do so, but the poor legs are still
+pretty stiff.”</p>
+
+<p>“I think I can with your help.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then off we go,” and Mrs. Lombard placed
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>her arm about Denise’s waist to help her
+down the stairs. In a few moments they were
+settled in the big chair, Denise saying, with a
+sigh, as she rested her weary little head against
+her mother’s shoulder:</p>
+
+<p>“Mamma, why is it that I always feel such a
+sense of security when <i>you</i> are with me? Then
+things always seem to go so smoothly, and troubles
+don’t seem half so hard to bear.”</p>
+
+<p>“I wish that it lay within my power to make
+all your pathway smooth for you, my darling,
+and insure a future free from trials. But that
+cannot be, so I try to make the childhood days
+sweet and happy ones, that you may carry with
+you throughout your life a beautiful memory,
+of which nothing can ever deprive you, and
+which will bring into the dark days which you
+like all others, must meet, a ray of sunshine to
+cheer and gladden you. Then the memory of
+these precious home hours, our little talks, and
+confidences, our perfect trust in each other, will
+come back to you, and, I think, strengthen you
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>to meet the daily trials we must all meet, and
+to see how you may smooth them out for others
+when opportunity arises.”</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard was stroking back the hair
+from Denise’s forehead as she talked to her,
+and Denise was toying idly with the ribbons
+upon her mother’s gown. When Mrs. Lombard
+finished speaking they sat silent for a moment
+or two, and then the silence was broken in a
+startling manner.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, you can do it if you want to, and you
+just <i>must</i> ’cause her legs are too stiff for her to
+come to you. There? Now you see you can,
+just as well as not! Now another! Another!
+One more! Another! Now only two more-and—t-h-e-r-e
+you are!” and then a clatter and
+a scramble over the piazza, and in through the
+lace curtains tore Pokey and Ned side by side,
+one with a cry of, “I had to bring him! I
+couldn’t wait!” and the other with as joyous a
+neigh as ever a horse gave voice to. Straight
+into the library they came pell-mell, and straight
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>into Denise’s arms, to be laughed over and cried
+over. For the tears which had not come at the
+sorrow, fell like a refreshing summer shower now,
+and Denise never knew that they were falling.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard and Denise had sprung to
+their feet as the funny pair entered the library,
+and both joined in the shout of welcome, and
+now Pokey, having done her one wild, unbridled
+act, curled herself up in a little heap in the
+middle of the floor and, clasping her knees in
+her arms, swayed back and forth, crying and
+laughing by turns as she said:</p>
+
+<p>“Hart found him in the woods, and I made
+him scramble up the piazza-steps, so we both
+got him! We both got him, didn’t we?”</p>
+
+<p>Need I tell you any more? Yes, I will tell
+you how Beauty Buttons carried the good news
+to papa when he came home that evening. Of
+course all was excitement for a time, for Ned
+was welcomed like a lost son, the entire family
+gathering about him as he stood in the middle
+of the library with Denise hugging him as
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>though she would never give over doing so, and
+every one trying to find some spot to stroke, for
+grandma, Eliza, Mary, and John had rushed up
+to the library to rejoice, eulogize, and all talk
+at once of Ned’s abduction by “that bad man,”
+and his rescue by “this blessed boy.” Hart’s
+head was in a fair way to be turned hind-side-before
+with sheer conceit, and in future Ned
+might be expected to demand quarters in the
+library. After the excitement had subsided a
+little, John went tearing off to the village to
+learn the fate of the “bad man” and Sailor, and
+also to telegraph to Mr. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, during all the attention paid to
+Ned, Beauty was somewhat overlooked, but this
+he set about remedying himself by first jumping
+upon a chair, and then upon Ned’s back,
+where he wriggled about so much that Ned
+turned his head around to hint at less active
+demonstrations of joy.</p>
+
+<p>Finally Ned was taken to the “Birds’ Nest”
+by the children, Denise having speedily recovered
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>under the stimulating influence of so much
+happiness. During the afternoon Beauty was
+as fidgety as a flea, and kept running to the
+entrance-gate every time a train whistled. As
+six o’clock drew near he vanished, but was not
+missed by the family because Sailor, who had
+just been brought home by John, after having
+held his victim till the men sent by Hart released
+him and led him to the sheriff’s office, where
+he was promptly dealt with, was now the conquering
+hero to be worshiped and commended.</p>
+
+<p>As John’s testimony was required at the
+sheriff’s office, he was not on hand to drive to
+the station as usual for Mr. Lombard, but as
+that gentleman stepped from the train, what
+should he see perched at the end of the platform,
+but a tiny black-and-tan dog, with both
+ears cocked up expectantly, and who, directly
+he spied his master, rushed toward him fairly
+squirming and wriggling with excitement. Mr.
+Lombard said that he felt sure that Beauty was
+trying to tell him the good news.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">
+    CHAPTER XIII
+    <br>
+    MISCHIEF
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“Good-night, Sweetheart. Good-night,
+Pokey, dear,” said Mrs. Lombard, as
+she kissed the children just before
+departing a few evenings later to attend a card-party
+given by one of their neighbors. The
+children were not to accompany them, and a
+few moments later Mr. and Mrs. Lombard, with
+grandma, sweet and delightful to look upon,
+arrayed all in soft gray china silk, with a dainty
+little white lace cap upon her snowy hair, and
+dainty lace at her throat, took their seats in the
+carriage and were whirled out of the grounds
+and down the road, waving farewells as long as
+they were in sight.</p>
+
+<p>“Now what shall we do this evening?”
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>demanded Denise, as they ran back to the
+piazza.</p>
+
+<p>“Let’s take a walk down the road,” answered
+Pokey.</p>
+
+<p>“No, we can’t do that, because mamma does
+not like me to leave the grounds when she goes
+out in the evening.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then let’s go into the library and get a nice
+book and read aloud. I saw one that looked
+wonderfully interesting when I was looking in
+there the other day. It was called ‘Ernest
+Hart on Mesmerism,’ and I want to see what it
+is about.”</p>
+
+<p>“My goodness! Why don’t you try to read
+Greek and have done with it? Why, papa
+would think we were crazy if we tried to read
+those books. Besides, I don’t think he would
+like to have us take them. Whenever I want
+to know anything about such things I ask him
+and he tells me all about them in just plain every-day
+language that I can understand. I don’t
+believe that we could make head or tail of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>that book if we took it. What is mesmerism,
+anyway?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why,—it’s—it’s—a man who can put people
+to sleep and make them do things they
+don’t know a thing about. When they wake
+up again they can’t remember a single thing
+they have done, and—why, what are you
+laughing about? I don’t see anything so
+very funny in that,” for Denise’s eyes had
+begun to sparkle, and a mischievous smile
+appeared upon her lips.</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe our mesmerizings aren’t the same,
+but I know of one kind that is the funniest
+thing that you ever saw if we only had some
+one to mesmerize.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who told you about it?”</p>
+
+<p>“We did it one time at a Hallowe’en party,
+and we nearly died laughing. Some of the girls
+got angry, but most of them took it just as fun.
+It really was fun, for it did not do them the least
+harm, and it all came off.”</p>
+
+<p>“<i>What</i> came off?” persisted Pokey, for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>Denise’s explanation certainly left room for
+speculation.</p>
+
+<p>“The smudge. I tell you what we’ll do.
+We’ll mesmerize Eliza. She’s such a good-natured
+old thing that she’ll not mind it a bit,
+and Mary will nearly have a fit when she
+sees her.”</p>
+
+<p>Pokey’s faith in Denise was boundless, so a
+few moments later the conspiracy was hatched,
+and the two scapegraces were on their way to
+victimize Eliza.</p>
+
+<p>Running down to the little porch just outside
+the laundry-door, where Eliza took her evening
+airing after the labors of the day were ended,
+the children pounced upon her, crying:</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Eliza, we have come to show you and
+Mary something wonderful that we have
+learned. Do you want to see it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Somethin’ wondherful, is it, Miss Denise?
+Shure, yoursilf and Miss Pokey is wondhers all
+riddy.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, but really, Eliza, this <i>is</i> something
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>wonderful! Have you ever heard of a man
+named Mesmer?”</p>
+
+<p>“Mismer? What was he loike at all? Was
+it him thot came out to tach ye all to dance last
+winter?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, no! That was Monsieur Mezereau.
+The man Pokey and I mean was a great magician,
+and could do almost anything.”</p>
+
+<p>“A mugician? What did he play on, thin?
+A horn? Thim Frinch min does be playin’
+horns mostly.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Eliza, she doesn’t mean a musician,”
+explained Pokey. “She means a man that does
+all sorts of tricks, and magic things like they do
+in the theatres. Have you ever seen one?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure! Didn’t me niphew take me to see
+that feller called Heller whin I was down in
+New York this very sphring past. Faith, he
+was a marvil thin, an’ no mistake. Is it him
+ye mane, an’ can ye do some av thim things
+yersels?” and Eliza clasped and unclasped her
+hands in excitement, for her trip to town to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>pass a week with her married sister early in the
+spring, the first Mrs. Lombard had been able to
+persuade her to take in more than two years,
+had been one of the events of her life, and the
+happenings of that week, among which had
+been an evening at the theatre watching Professor
+Heller’s marvelous performances, had
+been gone over again and again for the benefit
+of the none too credulous Mary.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, we can’t do <i>all</i> the things he did, of
+course,” said Denise, “but we can do one of them.
+We can put you to sleep and make you do just the
+things we tell you if you will let us. Will you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Thot Heller man put a girl to slape, and
+then tuck away the thing she was slapin’ on
+and left her lyin’ there on the air! Could ye
+do thot same wid <i>me</i>?” demanded Eliza in
+amazement.</p>
+
+<p>“We can put you to sleep, but we don’t know
+how to make you lie on the air,” answered
+Denise, a twinkle coming into her eyes as she
+surveyed Eliza’s ample proportions.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Well thin, thry it now, an’ I’ll bet ye all
+me old shoes that niver a wink will ye be
+afther gittin’ out av me. So there now!” and
+Eliza settled herself comfortably back in the
+rocking-chair she was occupying, and looked
+defiance at her amateur magicians.</p>
+
+<p>“Will you do just exactly as we tell you to
+do?” demanded Pokey.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure!” with a confirming nod.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime Mary, who had been having a
+neighborly chat across the fence with Mr. Murray’s
+gardener, came upon the scene, and at
+once became interested in the proceedings.</p>
+
+<p>“There now, ye wouldn’t belave me whin I
+towld ye all I’d seen down yonder, would ye
+now?” cried Eliza, “but here the very childer
+know about it an’ will be afther showin’ ye.
+They think that they’ll be able to put <i>me</i> to
+slape! Faith, it do be wake-moinded cratures
+that can be sint off to the land o’ nod by thim
+thricks. I’m not such a fool as not to know
+<i>that</i> much. But let thim thry if they want to.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>It’ll do <i>me</i> no harm, and it’ll show ye a thing
+or two ye’ve been doubtin’,” and Eliza, whom
+Mary had driven nearly to the point of distraction
+by teasing unmercifully when she had related
+some of her experiences while in town, nodded
+her head in the way that meant, maybe you will
+believe me when you have seen it tried yourself.</p>
+
+<p>Pokey and Denise now came running back
+armed and equipped for magical deeds. They
+carried three plates, each one partially filled
+with water. When they saw Mary, Pokey cried:</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Mary, you must let me mesmerize <i>you</i>,
+while Denise mesmerizes Eliza. Will you?
+Please do.”</p>
+
+<p>“If she kin stand it I guess I kin,” was
+Mary’s laughing reply, and, taking a seat beside
+Eliza, she waited developments. Pokey rushed
+back into the house and presently returned with
+a fourth plate.</p>
+
+<p>“Now you must both do just exactly as you
+see us do, and you must look right straight at
+us <i>every</i> minute,” commanded Denise.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Sure, that’s dead aisy,” answered Eliza,
+reaching two chubby hands for her plate.</p>
+
+<p>Denise undertook to direct Eliza, while Pokey
+gave her attention to Mary.</p>
+
+<p>“Now hold it just this way, and <i>no</i> other,”
+said Denise, adjusting the plate in Eliza’s hands
+in such a manner that her thumbs rested upon
+the rim, and her four fingers just touched the
+under side. “Don’t take your eyes from my
+face, and don’t <i>laugh</i> whatever you do. Mary,
+you do just exactly the same as you see Pokey
+do.”</p>
+
+<p>Two chairs were then placed opposite their
+victims, and the children took their seats, their
+own plates held in precisely the same manner
+the maids were holding theirs.</p>
+
+<p>“One, two, three,” counted Denise, and “one,
+two, three,” counted Pokey.</p>
+
+<p>“Wan, twoo, thrae-e,” echoed Eliza, and “one,
+two, three,” repeated Mary, looking intently at
+the children.</p>
+
+<p>“With this magic sign I charm thee,” droned
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>Denise, dipping her finger into her plate and
+making a snake-like streak across her forehead.</p>
+
+<p>“’Tis the sign av the divvil himsilf, I doubt,”
+muttered Eliza.</p>
+
+<p>“Hush! You must say exactly what I say,”
+commanded Denise.</p>
+
+<p>“The god of sleep descend upon you,” muttered
+Pokey, frowning prodigiously at Mary, and
+making moist, wavy signs upon her own forehead,
+which Mary imitated with a half-laughing,
+half-scared look.</p>
+
+<p>“Hickory, dickory, dockory, o,—Four little
+imps on the bottom, I know,” continued Denise,
+doing her best to keep a straight face, while
+Eliza repeated with more or less accuracy the
+nonsense which had sprung into Denise’s fertile
+brain and out of her lips, as she rubbed her
+fingers around and around upon the bottom of
+her plate, and then drew it carefully down the
+bridge of her tip-tilted nose; Eliza doing precisely
+the same so far as motion was concerned,
+but with a far more startling result.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p>
+
+<p>“‘<i>De gustibus non est disputandum</i>,’”<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> quoted
+Pokey, airing some of the Latin which she had
+learned the previous winter, and which she now
+used with telling effect upon Mary.</p>
+
+<p>“Lord have mercy upon us! She’s sayin’
+the very words the praist said on Sunday
+last!” said Eliza, glancing hastily toward
+Pokey.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, you mustn’t! You mustn’t!” cried
+Denise. “Now pay strict attention to me.
+By all the powers of the little god of sleep,”
+and a finger was rubbed beneath the plate, and
+then a cross made upon her cheek: “By all
+the charms that he can work upon us,” another
+cross upon the other cheek: “By every dream
+that haunts us,” more vigorous rubbing upon
+the bottom of her plate, and cabalistic signs
+drawn upon her face, which were closely imitated
+by Eliza’s fat finger, upon her fatter face,
+until it would have been doubtful if her own
+sister, so recently visited, would have recognized
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>her. “By—, By—, oh dear! <i>Don’t</i> you
+feel the least <i>little bit</i> sleepy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sorry a wink! Didn’t I tell ye it would
+take a wake-moinded person, Mary?” turning
+a most triumphant, soot-marked face toward
+Mary, who, giving a howl of derision, let her
+own plate go rolling across the porch floor, to
+bound off the steps and land in the grass, where
+it lay peacefully right side up and told no
+tales.</p>
+
+<p>“What are ye howling at me loike that for,
+I’d loike to know?” demanded Eliza, for Mary
+had come to the house when a mere slip of a
+girl, and Eliza had trained her in the way she
+should go, and laughing at her superior was not
+one of the duties inculcated.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Eliza, will ye be lookin’ at yer face!
+’Tis a sight for sinners ye are!”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, thin,” cried Eliza, bridling, and
+adding red as well as black to her decorations,
+“maybe it would be jist as well were ye afther
+takin’ a look at yer own pheeziognomy in the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>mirror there in the dinin’-room beyant, for
+beloik ye’d think that ye had not missed all the
+beauty av the whorld entoirly,” and up rose
+Eliza to sail majestically into the house, from
+whence a moment later arose a howl of wrath
+which caused Denise and Pokey to flee to the
+seclusion of the Birds’ Nest, there to confide to
+Ned Toodles the prank they had played upon
+the autocrats of the kitchen and dining-room,
+while said autocrats resorted to a vigorous application
+of pumice-stone soap and hot water,
+meanwhile comparing notes and vowing vengeance
+upon their would-be mesmerizers.</p>
+
+<p>“Ah, ’tis sthrong-minded ye are, Eliza,”
+cried Mary, scouring vigorously, and then bursting
+into hearty laughter.</p>
+
+<p>“Faith I do be thinkin’ it’s a <i>nayguer</i> I am,
+an’ no mistake. Did iver ye know the loikes
+av them childer, to take in an old woman loike
+me wid their palaverin’? Faith, it’s makin’
+their marks in the whorld the’ll be afther
+doin’!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Glory be, but they’ve already begun on
+oursels, an’ no mistake,” and Mary sat down
+upon a near-by chair to laugh as only a light-hearted
+Irish girl can, even though the joke be
+at her own expense.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> There is no use disputing about tastes.</p></div></div>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">
+    CHAPTER XIV
+    <br>
+    AUNT MIRANDA COMES TO TOWN
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Vacation was slipping away all too
+rapidly, and the first of September
+drawing near to carry Pokey away
+from her beloved Springdale and back to
+the city and school duties. But Pokey
+was an ambitious little soul, as well as a very
+philosophical one, and took her blessings as they
+came, making the most of them for the time
+being, and taking up the duties with a cheerful
+face when the time arrived to take them—a
+characteristic which followed her through her
+whole life, and made many a wearisome burden
+less wearisome.</p>
+
+<p>But two more weeks remained of that precious
+vacation, and how to make those weeks the very
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>best of all was a problem the children were settling
+themselves to solve one warm morning,
+when John appeared with the mail-bag. Springing
+from their seats upon the soft grass under
+the old apple-tree, and scattering dogs, cats, a
+goat, and a pony helter-skelter, the two girls
+rushed after him to claim any mail the bag
+might hold for them. True, their correspondence
+was not so overwhelming that they required
+amanuenses, but a mail-bag has a wonderful
+fascination for both old and young folk,
+and simply to watch for a possible letter was
+exciting.</p>
+
+<p>This time there was the usual supply for each
+member of the family, and, although there was
+nothing for either of the children, there was
+one letter which held a peculiar, and none too
+pleasing, interest for the family. This one came
+from an aunt who usually visited the family
+once a year—an aunt of Mr. Lombard’s, who
+had seen many, many summers and winters pass
+by, and yet had never learned that simplest of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>all lessons: to look upon certain situations with
+other people’s eyes. No, Aunt Miranda saw
+things with her <i>own</i> eyes, and why her range of
+vision was not the only correct one, or why
+some one’s else might not be equally correct,
+sixty-seven years spent upon this big globe had
+utterly failed to convince her. In <i>her</i> day
+young girls, young men, middle-aged men, and
+middle-aged women did thus and so, and consequently
+ought to do so at the present day.</p>
+
+<p>It need hardly be added that her annual visit
+was not anticipated with enthusiasm, for, from
+the moment she entered the front door to the
+moment it closed upon her, a succession of comments,
+criticisms, and commands, issued as only
+Aunt Miranda could give voice to them, kept
+everybody rubbed the wrong way, and made
+things generally miserable.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, dear-r-r! Is she really coming day
+after to-morrow?” wailed Denise, in a tone very
+unlike her usual cheery one, for if “coming
+events cast their shadows before,” certainly
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>Aunt Miranda’s letter had already obscured the
+sun.</p>
+
+<p>“Sweetheart!” said Mrs. Lombard gently.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, I know what you mean, mamma, and
+I know it isn’t the proper way to speak of a
+guest; and I know you don’t like to have me
+feel so; and I know that it’s just hateful to;
+and I know that Aunt Miranda is coming, and,
+oh, me, that means the fidgets for every one of
+us, from Beauty Buttons straight down to <i>you</i>,
+or up, just as you want to count. There! Now
+I’ve said my hateful things, I’ll set about getting
+my mind in shape for saying nice ones,
+when way down inside myself I feel like saying
+horrid ones, and if that is not being a little
+hypocrite I’d like to know it,” and Denise gave
+herself a shake as though she hated the very
+thought of doing something which she knew
+did not ring true.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard was too wise a woman to read
+her little daughter a lesson on manners and
+morals and goody-goody conduct generally, for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>she understood human nature too well for that,
+and realized just how hard it was for a happy,
+open-hearted girl, entirely natural in speech and
+manner, to control herself when every act, every
+word, and every expression of countenance was
+undergoing the keenest criticism, and she was
+being taken to task for the very acts which had
+always been considered proper by those who had
+trained her so carefully. So now, instead of
+speaking harshly, or making the situation even
+more trying by laying down certain rules to be
+followed during the coming visit, she did the
+one thing best calculated to smooth a ruffled
+spirit. Laying down the unwelcome letter, she
+took Denise’s rather defiant face in both her
+hands, drew her gently toward her, and kissed
+her ever so softly just under the little curls
+upon her forehead, saying as she did so:</p>
+
+<p>“If it were not for the little clouds in the sky
+we should never half appreciate the sunshine,
+darling. We all have obligations, and you and
+I will endeavor to meet ours gracefully, even
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>though they are not as pleasant as they might
+be. One little week out of our lives will hardly
+count, and some day we shall both be old and,
+possibly, peculiar ourselves. Then we will be
+glad to have others tolerant of our peculiarities.
+But in the present case we must both
+fill the rôle of hostess, and, as the Scots say,
+‘Stranger is a holy name.’ Aunt Miranda is not
+a stranger to us by any means, but if we substitute
+the word ‘guest’ for that of ‘stranger,’
+we shall hold to the spirit of the old saying, and
+that is all we need consider. Shall we try to
+remember, Sweetheart?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’d be the crankiest old thing that ever lived
+if I didn’t, and Aunt Miranda will find me a
+perfect saint!” cried Denise, the laugh coming
+back to her usually sunny face.</p>
+
+<p>“Not a saint; they are entirely too oppressive
+for every-day life; just a ‘creature not too wise
+or good for human nature’s daily food,’ you
+know,” answered Mrs. Lombard, with a final
+pat upon Denise’s head, and a smile for Pokey.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p>
+
+<p>In the course of time Aunt Miranda, her
+baggage, and her whims arrived. Denise and
+Pokey drove to the station with John when he
+went to meet that estimable lady, and were
+greeted with:</p>
+
+<p>“My heart and body! how do you ever
+expect me to get into that carriage with you in
+it already? I can’t abide being crushed, and I
+shall <i>not</i> put my bag and things on the bottom
+of the carriage.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Pokey and I will sit on the front seat
+of the surrey with John, Aunt Miranda, and
+you can put all your things on the seat beside
+you,” cried Denise, remembering her mother’s
+gentle words, and doing her best to overcome
+the spirit of rebellion which this “dash of cold
+water” instantly summoned up within her, for
+Aunt Miranda had not taken the slightest
+notice of her greeting, but, pushing her to one
+side, had sailed straight for the surrey, and the
+opening remark had been her first words.</p>
+
+<p>“And crowd him up so that he can’t manage
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>the horses? Not if I know it! I never risk <i>my</i>
+life with fractious horses.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Sunshine and Flash are <i>never</i> fractious!”
+cried Denise, prompt to defend her
+favorites. “They are only spirited, and John
+can manage them perfectly.”</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Miranda turned upon her like a whirlwind.
+“Young lady, will you be good enough
+to let <i>me</i> have an opinion of my own? I’ve
+ridden behind those animals more than once, I
+can assure you, and I think that I know a
+thing or two about them which even you, with
+all your wisdom, may not have learned yet.
+Elizabeth Delano, come right out of that
+surrey! You and Denise (where on earth
+your father and mother ever found <i>that</i>
+heathenish name I can’t conceive) may walk
+home. ’Twon’t hurt you one mite. Then I’ll
+put my things on that seat and set Lorenzo on
+this seat beside me; he can’t bear to be away
+from me a moment,” and she held forth to
+John, who was already seething inwardly, a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>bag and bundle of shawls, while she firmly
+grasped a huge cage which held the idolized
+“Lorenzo,” a parrot of many accomplishments
+and diabolical temper.</p>
+
+<p>Pokey came meekly forth, and Aunt Miranda
+stalked into the place she had vacated. The
+cage was settled beside her, her traps beside
+John, and her orders issued.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, don’t you children come tearing home
+as though your lives depended upon your getting
+there within the next five minutes. It’s
+only eleven o’clock now, and your luncheon
+won’t be ready for two hours. So take your
+time, do you understand?”</p>
+
+<p>“Wait here, Miss Denise, and I’ll drive back
+for you and Miss Pokey,” said John, for he was
+wroth with the elderly maiden who would make
+his young mistress tramp nearly a mile through
+the sultry August heat.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ll do nothing of the sort! My heart
+and body, do you suppose it is going to kill two
+perfectly healthy girls to walk that distance?
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>In <i>my</i> time girls walked or stayed home, I can
+tell you. No such nonsense as teams being sent
+for them. Now you girls come right along
+behind; do you understand?” and Aunt
+Miranda wagged a lisle-covered finger at the
+bewildered pair upon the platform. But before
+further orders could be issued, John adroitly
+drew the long whip-lash gently across Flash’s
+flanks, and that sagacious horse needed no
+broader hint to put a quietus to Aunt Miranda’s
+tirade. It was all fun and good spirits,
+but when Flash “arose to the occasion”
+by rearing upon his hind feet and then
+making a dash forward, which Sunshine was
+not slow in following, Aunt Miranda had all
+she wished to attend to.</p>
+
+<p>“My heart and body! My heart and body!”
+she screamed, grasping the front seat with one
+hand and holding on to Lorenzo for dear life
+with the other. “Look out for those demons!
+Didn’t I say they were fractious? I shall do
+all in my power to persuade Lewis to sell them
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>at once. They are not fit to be driven by any
+one! Vicious brutes!”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, that’s jist the tickle in their fate,
+ma’am,” said John, doing his best not to smile,
+and sending at the same time a silent message
+along the reins all too well understood by those
+sagacious beasts. That ride of three-quarters
+of a mile was a wild one, for if John could
+not speak his mind to the lady behind him,
+he certainly held a means of retaliation which
+worked to a charm, and when he finally
+whisked her up to the door=step, both she and
+Lorenzo had experienced a very lively five
+minutes, and a more flustered bird, or more
+flustered elderly lady, it would have been
+difficult to find.</p>
+
+<p>“Emilie Lombard, if you ever send those
+horses for me again I shall refuse to ride behind
+them!” was the greeting Mrs. Lombard heard
+as she hastened to welcome her guest. “They
+are perfect demons; just nothing but demons!
+Here, let me get out before they kill me outright!
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>Never, never again shall I ride in this
+carriage! There, there! Be careful how you
+handle Lorenzo, Mary. He has been nearly
+shaken to death as it is, and I dare say will be
+ill from the fright. No, don’t touch that bag!
+It has my camphor and smelling-salts, to say
+nothing of several other things, which I never
+permit any one to touch, in it. Emilie, you hold
+this while I get out, and John, get straight down
+and hold those beasts’ heads. I sha’n’t stir one
+step from this carriage unless you do, and I
+don’t know but what I’ll die of fright if I stay
+in it. My heart and body, why people can
+want to drive such fractious animals is entirely
+beyond my understanding.”</p>
+
+<p>John obediently dismounted, and, going to
+the horses’ heads, began the little freemasonry
+which he and they so well understood, with the
+result that they nosed and mumbled him like a
+pair of kittens, and no kittens could have shown
+more coyness than they while their irate passenger
+was removing herself and her belongings
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>from the carriage, and fussing and bustling herself
+into the house.</p>
+
+<p>“Faith, we fixed her well that toime, didn’t
+we now, me dandies?” said John with a knowing
+laugh, as he gave a final pat to the pretty
+creatures, and sprang back into the surrey.
+“And now we’ll spin back for the young ladies,
+that we will, and never turn a hair for the spin.
+Walk home is it they will? Faith, I’d loike
+to see thim doin’ the loiks of it if me and you
+knows what we’re about! Now, thin! Off wid
+yees!”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">
+    CHAPTER XV
+    <br>
+    AUNT MIRANDA AND NED HAVE A LITTLE
+    ALTERCATION
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>It all began with Beauty Buttons. Ordinarily
+Beauty was a well-behaved dog, but
+even a well-behaved dog has been known,
+to resent discourtesies, and Beauty had a grievance.
+In the first place, he knew his rights and
+privileges, and meant to have them respected
+One of these was to lie upon the couch-rug in
+the guest-room if he chose to do so. With Aunt
+Miranda’s advent that privilege was withheld
+for the time being, but of this, of course, Beauty
+was ignorant, and when he felt disposed to take
+a little siesta in the cool, inviting guest-room,
+thither he made his way, and was peacefully
+dreaming of luscious bones when Aunt Miranda
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>pounced upon him, and, with one sweep of her
+strong right arm, sent him sprawling upon the
+floor, there to blink at her with sleep-stupefied
+eyes until another swoop sent him scurrying out
+of the room to rush to the Birds’ Nest, there, no
+doubt, to confide his wrongs to Ned Toodles’
+sympathetic ears, and receive assurance that they
+would be avenged at the earliest possible moment.
+The moment arrived that very afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>“Emilie Lombard, how am I to get to the
+village to register this letter?” demanded Aunt
+Miranda shortly after luncheon.</p>
+
+<p>“John will take it for you, Aunt Miranda, if
+it is very important,” answered Mrs. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>“No he won’t, either! Catch me trusting
+an important letter to that Irishman! He would
+not know the difference between a registered
+letter and one to be sent special delivery; I shall
+take it myself. But how am I to get there, I’d
+like to know?”</p>
+
+<p>“John will drive you up in time for the outgoing
+mail if you wish to have him.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Drive me with what? Not those demons,
+I can tell you. I would not go with those
+horses if I never went.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, you really need not feel any alarm.
+They are perfectly safe. I will accompany you
+if it will make you feel any easier.”</p>
+
+<p>“And like enough both of us will be killed.
+No. I shall go in the pony-carriage. If that
+snip of a horse cuts up I shall get out and put
+him in the carriage and <i>drag him</i> home,”
+asserted Aunt Miranda, in happy innocence of
+that small beast’s capabilities when he was not
+treated with proper respect. Moreover, did he
+not have a wrong to avenge for a fellow-pet?</p>
+
+<p>“Very well, Denise will drive you to the post-office
+with pleasure,” was Mrs. Lombard’s gentle
+reply.</p>
+
+<p>“She won’t drive me with pleasure or anything
+else, for I mean to drive <i>myself</i>!” was the
+startling statement, made with a series of positive
+wags of Aunt Miranda’s head.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh—” began Denise, who, with Pokey, had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>been a silent listener to the foregoing conversation,
+and who could no longer keep quiet, for
+well she knew what might be expected from
+Ned if Aunt Miranda undertook to drive him
+to the village.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, Miss, you need make no remarks, nor
+advance any opinions. I drove long before you,
+or your mother, were born, and I have an idea
+that I can drive yet. At any rate, I mean to
+try, and it won’t do a mite of good for you to
+try to stop me. I’m <i>going</i>!”</p>
+
+<p>Denise gave one imploring look at her
+mother, who answered it with another which
+meant, “We will not say another word.”</p>
+
+<p>The order was given, and twenty minutes
+later Aunt Miranda took her seat in the little
+phaeton, her tall, spare figure towering up from
+it like a liberty-pole, and her face set in determination
+to drive that atom of an animal or die
+in the attempt.</p>
+
+<p>“Now you stand right there at his head until
+I get comfortably settled, you man. I don’t
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>want to be jerked all to pieces before I get my
+clothes settled right, and that beast seems to
+have been imbibing some of those horses’ ideas,”
+she said, as Ned cocked one wicked eye back
+toward her as she stepped into the carriage.
+“And you come and tuck this linen robe in so
+that it won’t drag a mile on the ground,” she
+continued, beckoning to Denise, who stood at
+the foot of the steps, undecided whether to offer
+her services or keep discreetly in the background.
+She came obediently forward at the
+bidding, Pokey hastening to the other side of
+the phaeton to do her share. “Stand aside.
+Keep out of the way. One person can do this
+easy enough,” was the ungracious speech which
+greeted Pokey’s overture.</p>
+
+<p>“Now hand me those reins. There! I’d
+like to see him cut up now!” she said, as she
+gave the reins a twist about her hands, and held
+them as though she were holding an elephant.
+“Now stand out of my way, all of you. Now!”
+and giving the loud cluck which she felt to be
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>the correct signal for a start, and slapping the
+reins upon Ned’s back, she essayed to start.
+John had held Ned’s head up to this moment,
+but now he let go, and, with a bound, Ned
+started forward, to find himself suddenly jerked
+almost upon his haunches.</p>
+
+<p>“Not if <i>I</i> know it, you little villain!” cried
+his driver.</p>
+
+<p>Ned came to a standstill, but gave his head
+two or three ominous shakes sidewise, which, to
+any one understanding him as Denise understood
+him, meant mischief ahead, but Aunt
+Miranda merely regarded them as a proof of
+her control over him.</p>
+
+<p>“Now I shall take my time and go by the
+river-road,” she announced to those watching
+her, “and you need not expect me back for
+more than an hour. I’ve no notion of being
+hustled about.”</p>
+
+<p>At the announcement that she was going by
+the river-road, Denise sprang forward and
+clasped her hands about her mother’s arm,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>whispering excitedly: “Oh, mamma, she ought
+not go that way with Ned. You know Mr.
+Blair’s Nero!”</p>
+
+<p>“Aunt Miranda,” called Mrs. Lombard, “I
+would advise you to take the other road. Mr.
+Blair’s—” but Aunt Miranda had not paused
+for any instructions, and, with a backward nod,
+drove off with determination in her eye and
+defiance in her attitude.</p>
+
+<p>Now Ned’s mouth still pained from the jerk
+it had received, and Ned’s sense of right and
+justice had been outraged at the very outset.
+He was never vicious, but, on the other hand,
+he was invariably wisely handled, and carefully
+driven. A horse’s mouth, if properly
+treated, is a wonderfully sensitive thing, and
+Ned’s was filled with many delicate nerves
+which had never been abused. But there was
+nothing gentle about the person who now had
+him in hand, and the poor little beast was
+having anything but a pleasant time of it.
+With arms stretched straight out in front of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span>her, reins grasped as though she were driving
+upon a race-track, and her body as rigidly erect
+as though an instant’s relaxation would bring
+instant death, she sent her charger along the
+one road in all Springdale that he detested, for
+midway between his home and the village lived
+his sworn enemy, Mr. Blair’s big Newfoundland
+dog. Several months before, Denise had
+had an experience the like of which neither she
+nor Ned wished repeated. She was driving home
+from the post-office one morning, when over
+Mr. Blair’s high fence bounded a huge dog, to
+rush into the road and pounce upon Ned’s back,
+and bite savagely at the saddle. It was fortunate
+for Ned that the dog happened to set his
+teeth in the harness, or the poor little horse
+would have had a very bad quarter of an hour
+indeed. Denise held on to the reins, and laid
+the whip upon the dog with a will, but it made
+little impression upon his shaggy coat, and
+something very serious might have occurred
+had not Mr. Blair’s groom rushed to their
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>rescue to beat the dog off and drag him back
+to their own grounds. But both Denise and
+Ned had received a thorough fright, and after
+that carefully avoided the river-road.</p>
+
+<p>As he approached Mr. Blair’s grounds, Ned
+steadily increased his pace, evidently wishing
+to get past as speedily as possible. But Aunt
+Miranda entirely mistook his motive, and set
+herself to work to discipline him. They got
+past the danger-point, and went upon their
+way, doing the errand at the post-office without
+any interruption, and all would have gone well
+had Aunt Miranda taken the broad hint which
+Ned tried to give her when they came to the
+two roads leading toward home. Ned wished
+to take the upper one. Aunt Miranda wished
+to take the lower one, and for a few minutes it
+was a question as to which would carry their
+point.</p>
+
+<p>What was really “good horse sense” upon
+Ned’s part, Aunt Miranda chose to regard as
+balkiness, and set herself religiously to work
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>to overcome it. A lively scuffle ensued, and
+for a few moments it seemed as though the
+occupant of that little phaeton would have to
+make good her threat of putting Ned into it
+and dragging him home if she wished to have
+him go that particular road. Presently he
+stopped his antics, stood stock-still, and seemed
+to consider the situation. Then, giving a defiant
+neigh, he started pell-mell down the road
+she wished to follow, as though to say:</p>
+
+<p>“You stupid old thing, I’ve done my best to
+keep you out of trouble, but if you are determined
+to have it, why go ahead. Because Nero
+was not around when we came up, it is no reason
+to feel sure that he won’t be there when we go
+back, and if you come to grief it will be your
+own fault. I’ll take <i>my</i> chances, and if I don’t
+make good use of <i>my</i> legs in an emergency, it
+will not be <i>my</i> fault. Now come on with you!”
+and off he pelted full tilt. In vain did Aunt
+Miranda tug at those reins. Ned had the bit
+in his teeth and she might as well have tugged
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>at a post, for fear of Nero, combined with his
+determination to get past that dreaded spot as
+speedily as possible, settled Aunt Miranda’s
+fate, and Ned was putting for friends and
+safety.</p>
+
+<p>“You little wretch, how dare you? It is all
+because you have been utterly spoiled with
+coddling. Such nonsense! There never was a
+beast or child that wasn’t utterly ruined with
+such folly. <i>Will</i> you go slower and behave
+yourself?” and Aunt Miranda tugged with a
+will. Now Ned’s sight was keen and his hearing
+acute, and what Aunt Miranda neither saw
+nor heard owing to her tirade toward him, he
+saw and heard distinctly.</p>
+
+<p>They came to the Blair grounds, were speeding
+past, when over the fence sprang a creature
+which Aunt Miranda took to be nothing less
+than a bear. She let go her right rein, grabbed
+for the whip, meantime tugging with might and
+main upon her left rein. Perhaps it was this
+which really saved her, for when the great dog
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>saw what he took to be a still greater one, turn
+directly toward him, as though to pounce straight
+upon him, some of his courage failed him and
+he paused for just a second. But in that second
+a number of things happened. The sudden
+jerk upon the left rein had thrown Ned completely
+out of his gait, and caused him to swerve
+suddenly toward the gutter, which was nothing
+more than a deep gully beside the road. Into
+it went the wheels, and over tipped the phaeton,
+landing Aunt Miranda, whip and all, in a heap.
+As she fell out, the sudden overturn brought the
+whip full upon Ned’s back, and at the same
+moment she loosened her hold upon the other
+rein. Thus released, and with a stinging lash
+across his haunches, it was no wonder that Ned
+took the broad hint to depart, and he departed
+with might and main; tearing down the road with
+the phaeton bounding along behind him, for it
+had righted almost instantly, he paused not upon
+the order of going, or for ladies who for the past
+hour had made life a wearisome thing for him,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>to say nothing of having ill-treated his chief
+crony, Beauty Buttons, but went with a will.</p>
+
+<p>The shriek which issued from Aunt Miranda’s
+lips when she landed in the soft grass of the
+gully, did double duty, for it scared the cowardly
+dog half out of his wits and also summoned
+Mr. Blair’s groom, who came running to
+the rescue of the irate lady sitting bolt upright
+in the gutter.</p>
+
+<p>“Are you hurt, ma’am? Are you hurt?”
+demanded the man anxiously as he bent over
+her.</p>
+
+<p>“Hurt! It is a wonder that I’m not killed!
+Who owns that dog? I am going at once to
+have him killed. Stand back, I don’t need any
+help. But that dog has got to die! Take me
+to your master this minute,” and up she rose to
+stalk after the astonished man.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">
+    CHAPTER XVI
+    <br>
+    AUNT MIRANDA INTERVIEWS NERO’S OWNER
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“Here is a lady to speak with you, sir.
+She—”</p>
+
+<p>“Stand aside! Get out of my way!
+I can say what I wish to. Do you own that
+savage beast which sprang over your fence and
+caused me to be upset in your gutter?”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Blair arose from his chair beside his
+library table, and stood speechless, for Aunt
+Miranda had followed close upon the groom’s
+heels, and brushed him aside like a fly when
+he attempted to explain why he was forcing
+himself into his master’s presence unannounced,
+and bringing with him an elderly
+lady very much the worse for her sudden spill,
+and wild with rage at its cause.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Whom have I the pleasure of seeing?”
+began Mr. Blair.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know that it will make the least difference
+to you who I am, and as for the pleasure
+it will give you, perhaps it will prove quite the
+reverse, for I have come to insist upon the death
+of that savage brute you see fit to own and allow
+to rush from your grounds to attack inoffensive
+passers-by. Such an outrage I have never in all
+my life heard of. Suppose I had been killed?
+What do you suppose my niece will think when
+that pony comes tearing home, as he no doubt
+has already done, without me? I tell you a dog
+like that cannot be allowed to live. Now how
+soon will you kill him?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, really, madam,—” began Mr. Blair,
+but got no further, for—</p>
+
+<p>“I’m not madam at all. I’m <i>Miss</i>, and
+expect to remain so all my days, for there never
+yet lived a man that I would let dictate to me,
+and I’m pretty capable of looking out for myself.
+So we will drop that and attend to the dog
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>question. Have you a revolver, and will you
+shoot him? I sha’n’t leave this place until I
+see him ready for burying,” and down she
+planted herself upon a near-by chair, and began
+settling her tossed-about bonnet.</p>
+
+<p>If ever a man looked nonplused, Mr. Blair
+was that man, for Nero was a very valuable
+dog, and, aside from his dislike of Ned, whom
+he evidently took to be a Newfoundland dog,
+like himself, was a faithful, valued watch-dog.
+What in the world to say, or do, in order to
+pacify this irate old lady who had suddenly
+pounced upon him with such an extraordinary
+demand, and how to get her out of his house
+without bodily ejecting her, was a question too
+tremendous for him to answer. Before he could
+collect his wits, and do so, an interruption came
+from an unexpected source, and he was spared
+the ordeal.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime things were happening at home.
+John had just stepped from the stable to go to
+the house when there fell upon his ears the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>rapid clipperty-clip! clipperty-clip! of rushing
+feet, and down the road came Ned upon a dead
+run, the phaeton spinning along behind him,
+and the carriage-rug flying out behind like a
+danger-signal.</p>
+
+<p>“The Lord have mercy upon us, and what
+has tuk place wid the old lady now?” gasped
+John, and he rushed toward the entrance-gate
+to call to Ned, and stop his mad career before
+he could come to grief.</p>
+
+<p>Ned recognized the well-known voice instantly,
+and as though it brought reassurance
+to him at once, he slackened his pace, and a
+second later stood with his head nestled in
+John’s arms, while that good soul patted and
+comforted him as he would have comforted a
+frightened child. Ned was wringing wet with
+perspiration, and panting from the combined
+effects of fear and his wild stampede, and John
+was filled with indignation at the sight, for well
+he realized what a runaway, resulting from a
+fright, meant to horse or pony.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Ah, me bonny lad, me bonny lad, quiet
+down now; quiet down now. Don’t ye know
+that it’s John what’s got ye, and never a sthroke
+af har-rm kin come near ye? There now;
+there now. Faith, I’d like to have jist wan
+word with that mule-headed old lady what drove
+ye to the village. She’d be afther rememberin’
+what John Noonan said to her, I’ll bet me last
+cint. Bad cess to her and her fool ways,” and
+John led his charge toward the Birds’ Nest.
+Mrs. Lombard and the children had heard the
+clatter of Ned’s hoofs, and now came hurrying
+upon the scene, and, as though even John’s consolation
+sank into insignificance beside hers,
+Ned gave a loud neigh, and started toward
+Denise.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, my precious pony!” she cried, as she
+put her arms about his neck, and kissed the
+damp muzzle, never stopping to think or care
+whether Ned was as moist as though he had
+been dipped into the river. “What did Aunt
+Miranda do to you? What did she do?” for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>Ned’s mouth showed signs of his rough handling,
+and it filled Denise with indignation.
+“Oh, mamma, just look at his poor mouth! It
+is all cut from being jerked and pulled so. How
+could Aunt Miranda treat him so? How could
+she?” cried Denise almost in tears, while Pokey
+cuddled and caressed the misused little beast
+from the opposite side.</p>
+
+<p>But much as Mrs. Lombard was distressed at
+the sight of Ned’s deplorable condition, she was
+still more alarmed at the thought of what might
+have befallen Ned’s passenger, and said:</p>
+
+<p>“We must go at once to learn what has happened
+to Aunt Miranda, and where she is.
+Something very serious may have occurred, and
+I am terribly distressed. Harness as quickly as
+possible, John, and leave Ned to the children’s
+care. We must go at once to find Miss Lombard.”</p>
+
+<p>John flew to do his mistress’s bidding,
+although deep down in his heart he harbored
+the wicked wish that the object of their search
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>had received a wholesome lesson, and that it
+would prove sufficiently wholesome to induce
+her to take her departure from Springdale at an
+earlier date than she had contemplated.</p>
+
+<p>In a very few minutes the surrey stood at the
+door, and Mrs. Lombard took her seat in it, to
+be whirled toward the village. She entertained
+little doubt of the cause of the disaster, as Ned
+had come home by the dreaded river-road, so
+thither she made her way as fast as Sunshine
+and Flash could speed her, and that was by no
+means a snail-pace. As they drove along the
+road they discovered traces of Aunt Miranda by
+the way, for, after mailing her letter, she had
+made several small purchases, and these, with
+the cushion of the phaeton, were dotted along
+the road. When they came to the scene of her
+spill, there lay the whip, and her change-purse,
+and the story was told.</p>
+
+<p>Turning directly into Mr. Blair’s grounds,
+Mrs. Lombard stopped at the door-step, and
+was met by Mrs. Blair, who strove in vain to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>restrain her laughter, for she had been sitting in
+the adjoining room, and had overheard the conversation
+her husband was holding with his
+angry guest.</p>
+
+<p>“Pray tell me what has happened?” began
+Mrs. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>“Forgive me for smiling, but if you could
+hear the controversy taking place in the library
+at this moment, I am sure you would smile, too.
+Miss Lombard is endeavoring to convince
+Mr. Blair that Nero should be taken to instant
+execution, and he, poor man, is striving to collect
+his wits sufficiently to know how to gratify her,
+yet spare the dog’s life. But I cannot tell you
+how sorry we are that such a thing should have
+happened. Nero jumped the fence again, and
+rushed upon Ned. Patrick saw him and rushed
+to the rescue in time to see Miss Lombard pull
+Ned into the ditch, where she was very gently
+spilled out of the little carriage, and where she
+sat bolt upright when he ran to her aid. She
+was not in the least hurt, and I hope that Ned
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>was not, and she is even now laying down the
+law to Mr. Blair. Step into this room a moment
+and you will excuse my mirth, I believe.”</p>
+
+<p>They went into the room next to the library,
+and divided from it by a heavy portiere, just in
+time to hear:</p>
+
+<p>“Very well, if <i>you</i> do not shoot him, I shall
+go straight back to the village and get an officer
+to do it. Mark my word, that dog will be a
+dead one before I sleep this night. He is not
+fit to live! Not fit to live!”</p>
+
+<p>“Dear me, we certainly all have our trials
+in this world,” whispered Mrs. Lombard, as she
+moved toward the library, and a moment later
+was using all her persuasive powers to induce
+Aunt Miranda to come home with her. After
+many attempts to soothe that lady’s ruffled
+spirit, she at last succeeded in bringing about a
+truce between her and Mr. Blair. Nero should
+live until Mr. Lombard’s return from town that
+evening, and then Mr. Blair and Mr. Lombard
+should agree upon his fate. With this Miss
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>Lombard had to feel satisfied, and, with a vigorous
+shake of her head, Aunt Miranda followed
+her niece from Mr. Blair’s home, much to that
+harassed man’s relief. But when the door-step
+was gained a new difficulty confronted them,
+for Miss Lombard would not get into the surrey.</p>
+
+<p>“But it is quite a long walk,” urged Mrs.
+Lombard, “and after your fright you ought not
+tax yourself.”</p>
+
+<p>“Tax myself! Do you think I am an invalid?
+It would take a good deal more than that
+snip of a horse to unnerve me. I am not hurt
+a mite, but, my heart and body! I’d like to have
+a reckoning with that dog. I will, too, before
+I am done. Now get into that surrey and ride
+home if you aren’t equal to the walk. I am,
+and I’ll do it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I shall walk with you,” said Mrs. Lombard
+very quietly, but very decidedly. Aunt Miranda
+gave one swift glance at the sweet-faced, dignified
+lady beside her and said:</p>
+
+<p>“Humph!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span></p>
+
+<p>John grumbled inwardly and drove slowly
+along the road.</p>
+
+<p>When Mr. Lombard returned that evening,
+Aunt Miranda pounced upon him with her
+woes. He listened to all she had to say,
+and then said in his positive way, possibly
+some of her own determination had been inherited
+by him, and she had met her match
+in him, even though he was ordinarily the
+gentlest of men:</p>
+
+<p>“So you came to grief simply because you
+<i>would</i> have your own way, and would <i>not</i> listen
+to the advice offered by those who had had some
+experience with Mr. Blair’s dog, even though
+they were considerably younger than yourself?
+Is that the case, Aunt Miranda?”</p>
+
+<p>“He has no right to keep such a dog!”</p>
+
+<p>“That may all be true, too. But how would
+you suggest preventing him from so doing if he
+chooses?”</p>
+
+<p>“What is the law for, I’d like to know?”
+demanded Aunt Miranda.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span></p>
+
+<p>“To help Mr. Blair keep a dog, and prevent
+his neighbors from destroying it, is one of its
+provinces.”</p>
+
+<p>“And encourage him in harboring an animal
+which flies over his fence to tear people to
+pieces?” was the indignant query.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, you see, Nero is a pretty valuable
+dog, notwithstanding his aversion for small
+horses which insult him by resembling him;
+and, even though I have pretty good cause to feel
+anything but friendly toward him, I cannot in
+justice blame the dog for trying to ‘do’ a dog
+bigger than himself. True, I should be glad to
+convince him of his error, and think that I
+shall do so by taking Ned up there and letting
+them get acquainted. At present it is not safe
+for Denise to drive by there, and for that reason
+she has been forbidden to do so. Had you been
+willing to listen to the warning given, you would
+have been spared a fright, and a number of other
+unpleasant things, as well as our being spared
+one, and having the pony frightened and caused
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>to run away. Was the game worth the candle?”
+and a very quizzical expression came over Mr.
+Lombard’s face.</p>
+
+<p>“I never allow people younger than myself
+to dictate to me!”</p>
+
+<p>“We are never too old to give heed to a kind
+or a wise suggestion, my dear aunt, and, even
+though you are my senior, I shall take the liberty
+of advising you to do so when it is liable to
+prove for your own good.”</p>
+
+<p>Now Aunt Miranda hated to be talked to in
+this manner as she hated the evil one himself,
+and up she bounced, crying:</p>
+
+<p>“Lewis Lombard, I have spanked you more
+than once in your life, and I don’t propose to
+take your impertinence now. Your father was
+always as weak as water, and that is the reason
+he had such a headstrong son.”</p>
+
+<p>“We will not discuss my father, Aunt
+Miranda,” replied Mr. Lombard in a tone which
+caused Aunt Miranda to recall the gentle, dignified
+man whom she had detested simply
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>because she could not rule him, but who was
+over the courteous gentleman to her.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, thank goodness I shall not have to
+remain in a town which harbors such a beast.
+I shall leave day after to-morrow.”</p>
+
+<p>And two days later Aunt Miranda, her parrot,
+and her bundles were conveyed to the station by
+one of the village hacks, as she still stoutly
+refused to enter the surrey.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">
+    CHAPTER XVII
+    <br>
+    NED DISGRACES HIMSELF, BUT MAKES AMENDS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>The first of September came all too quickly.
+Pokey’s trunk was packed, and Pokey,
+with many regrets, and many yearnings
+for a longer stay in her beloved Springdale, set
+her face toward Brooklyn, and school. As
+usual, Denise was forlorn for several days, but
+it is hard to remain doleful when one is but
+twelve years old, and the world is a very lovely
+place indeed. Her own studies would not be
+resumed until October, when the cool, crisp air
+would turn work into pleasure, and the young
+brain, fresh and keenly receptive after its long
+rest, would be ready to grasp and retain new
+ideas and new impressions.</p>
+
+<p>During Pokey’s visit Denise had scarcely
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>ridden Ned at all, but now that she was alone
+once more, riding presented a novelty, all the
+more alluring because she had not indulged in it
+for several weeks. The day after Pokey’s
+departure Denise had Ned saddled, and started
+off for a canter. The little beast seemed to enjoy
+the outing quite as much as she did, and swung
+along with the easy motion so natural to him
+when under the saddle. They chose a pretty
+road leading along the river-bank, but in the
+opposite direction from the village, as Denise did
+not wish to take any chances with Nero, and, so
+far as she knew, no belligerent animals lived
+along the road she and Ned were following so
+happily. But, alas! how easily our most carefully
+laid plans can go amiss.</p>
+
+<p>Denise rode gracefully and easily, and it
+required something rather out of the ordinary to
+unseat her. They were cantering along beneath
+the beautiful elms which bordered the road and
+cast their shadows upon it, making it sweet and
+cool that delightful morning, when, just behind
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>the hedge dividing it from a gentleman’s
+grounds, there arose a wild yapping which
+caused Ned to shake his head as though he were
+disgusted with such a discordant sound when all
+was so silent and restful about them.</p>
+
+<p>“Do we know that dog?” Denise asked, as
+though Ned were able to understand and reply
+to her question. But such questions were not
+unusual. She and Ned held amazing conversations,
+each in a language well understood by
+the other. Ned tossed his head up and down
+in an irritable sort of manner, as though he
+were trying to say, “I don’t think that he is
+one of our friends,” and somewhat increased his
+pace. The hedge was a high one, and they
+could not see over it, but, before they had gone
+ten yards, a fluffy, clumsy puppy wriggled
+through a gap just behind them, and came tearing
+after them as fast as he could run.</p>
+
+<p>Now neither Denise nor Ned had any objections
+to puppies in general, or to this one in
+particular, and would have attended strictly to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>their own business had he only seen fit to
+attend to his, but this puppy had recently
+arrived upon the scene, and felt that he had
+much to discover. His master had bought him
+at a dog fancier’s in New York, where the
+greater part of his life had been spent in very
+limited quarters, and his walks abroad had been
+taken at the end of a chain. Now, joy to tell!
+he had ten-acre grounds to cavort about in, but,
+like many another creature who suddenly finds
+himself surrounded by almost boundless luxury,
+after narrow limitations, he wanted an ell when
+a very liberal inch had been voluntarily given
+him.</p>
+
+<p>So he proceeded to take it by wriggling
+under the hedge, and, once out upon the highway,
+there he beheld a sight which instantly
+banished what small remnant of common sense
+remained to him, and he set about having a
+royal good time.</p>
+
+<p>If Denise had any notion of getting out of
+his blundering way, he had no idea of allowing
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>her to do so, and, almost before a breath could
+be drawn, his legs and Ned’s were being tied
+up in hard knots.</p>
+
+<p>“Yap, yap,” barked the tormenting little
+beast, making wild grabs at Ned’s flowing tail,
+or snapping at his fetlocks.</p>
+
+<p>“Get away, you stupid thing!” cried Denise,
+reaching over to give him a well-merited lash
+with her riding-whip. But she might as well
+have tried to hit a will-o’-the-wisp, for, clumsy
+as he seemed, that vexatious little beast was
+wonderfully agile, and seemed to regard the
+action as part of the fun. Helter-skelter,
+around and about he scurried, one minute in
+front of Ned, the next minute snapping at his
+heels, until it was no wonder that such a well-conducted
+animal’s patience became exhausted,
+and he felt that this tomfoolery had gone far
+enough.</p>
+
+<p>“Of all the crazy things I have ever seen, <i>you</i>
+certainly are the craziest!” exclaimed Denise,
+doing her best to get unsnarled from the little
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>wretch. “Go!” she cried, giving the word that
+Ned understood so well, and was always so
+quick to respond to. And “go,” he did.</p>
+
+<p>With one wild leap, he bounded straight over
+his tormentor, and made a dash for freedom,
+but even as he sprang forward that miserable
+puppy got in the last stroke, which settled matters
+in short order, for he gave a final vicious
+snap at Ned’s heels, and his sharp teeth pricked
+like needles.</p>
+
+<p>That was too much! Ned forgot the beloved
+burden he was carrying, forgot that Denise was
+somewhat off her guard, and more liable to
+become unseated than she would ordinarily have
+been. Out flew two hind feet to administer one
+and one <i>very</i> telling, vicious kick at that hateful
+little beast, which caught him fairly and
+squarely in his ribs, and sent him howling back
+to his friends. But, alack-a-day! it accomplished
+other things also, for away shot Denise
+clear and clean over Ned’s head, to land in a
+heap in the dust of the road, where she lay for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>a moment half stunned by the shock, although
+not seriously hurt.</p>
+
+<p>If ever an animal’s face expressed consternation
+and contrition Ned’s certainly did then,
+and, with one wild neigh, he rushed up to his
+beloved little mistress just as a carriage rapidly
+approached from the other direction. Now
+some people assert with a good bit of assurance
+that animals do not think, particularly that
+horses do not. Nevertheless, what I am about to
+tell you is as true as anything in this world can
+be. Ned stood beside his prone rider, his eyes
+wild with fright and quivering in every limb.
+That carriage was coming toward her as fast as
+ever it could come, and why, oh! why, didn’t
+she get out of its way? It would certainly run
+over her, and those big, prancing horses would
+crush something which he loved better than
+anything in this world. They must not! No,
+they <i>should</i> not do it, and he must prevent them
+if possible. Poor little Ned Toodles could not
+understand that the very haste with which the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span>carriage approached meant succor for Denise,
+for the occupants had witnessed the whole scene,
+and were filled with dismay at its ending.</p>
+
+<p>It was almost upon them when Ned gave
+another neigh, and did that which caused the
+lady in the carriage to clasp her hands together
+and almost scream aloud. He stepped directly
+over Denise, and stood with his front and hind
+legs astride her, thereby making it impossible
+for the big horses to harm her without
+first crushing him. The brave little head was
+raised in defiance, and the nostrils snorted a
+challenge to those great creatures which he
+thought were about to trample his mistress
+beneath their feet. Dear little Ned Toodles, you
+have been dust these many years, but your mistress
+has never forgotten that brave deed, and
+her eyes fill with tears when she recalls this
+proof of your devotion to her.</p>
+
+<p>The coachman drew up his horses beside the
+fallen girl and her courageous little horse, the
+lady hastily descended from the carriage, and a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>second later held Denise in her arms, Ned nosing
+and nickering over her as though he were
+trying to express his sorrow and console her for
+her fall.</p>
+
+<p>“You darling!” exclaimed the lady, sparing
+a hand to rub his velvety nose, even though she
+was seriously alarmed for Denise. But Denise
+was not injured, and presently opened her eyes
+to blink at Ned and look with surprise at the
+lady holding her.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, what happened to me?” she cried,
+sitting straight up and looking at those gathered
+about her.</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing serious, I hope,” answered the
+lady. “You took a header over your pony’s
+neck, and it stunned you for a moment. But
+he took such wonderful care of you that no
+great harm has come to you, I think.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh! I fell off when Ned kicked at that horrid
+little dog, didn’t I? But I am not hurt a bit,
+although I feel sort of all shaken up and tossed
+about,” said Denise, as she got upon her feet
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span>and began settling her dusty habit. Ned
+scrooched close up to her, as though striving
+to apologize, and Denise put her arm about his
+neck.</p>
+
+<p>“Poor little Ned Toodles, did you think you
+had killed your missie?” she asked, as she rested
+her still dizzy head upon his shaggy mane.
+“No, I’m not a bit dead, and when I get my
+wits we will go home and tell mamma all about
+it before some one else has a chance to do it,
+and frighten her half to death. Thank you
+ever so much for helping me,” she said to the
+lady.</p>
+
+<p>“We are more than glad that we came along
+just as we did, even though you seem to have a
+very efficient protector in your pony. It was
+the most wonderful thing I have ever seen.
+Won’t you get into the carriage with me and
+tell me something about yourself and him? I
+am a stranger in Springdale, but I am sure I
+have stumbled upon one of its attractions.”</p>
+
+<p>“Ned is considered quite remarkable,” answered
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span>Denise, never for a moment appropriating
+even a portion of the compliment. “We
+have been so much together since I got him two
+years ago that I half believe he has grown to
+be just like folks. But I don’t believe that I
+would better get into the carriage. I feel nearly
+all right now, and if mamma were to see me
+coming home in the carriage and Ned following
+it, she might be frightened. Ned won’t spill me
+again, and it wasn’t so much his fault anyway;
+if I had been thinking what I was about I never
+would have fallen, for he often jumps a fence or
+ditch and I never think of spilling off. But
+that puppy drove all my wits out of my head,
+I believe; the horrid little thing!”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, we will drive along beside you, at all
+events, and if you do not feel just right you can
+dismount and come into the carriage with me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Thank you very much, but I don’t think
+that I shall have to,” and, turning to Ned, she
+cuddled and stroked him before mounting him
+again. Ned met her more than half-way, and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span>the lady smiled at the pretty bit of by-play she
+was watching, although the actors were entirely
+unconscious that they were doing anything out
+of the ordinary.</p>
+
+<p>Leading Ned to the stepping-stone beside the
+road, Denise settled herself upon his back,
+although, ordinarily, she would not have required
+any aid in mounting. But her head was still
+unsteady, and the usual spring to her seat did
+not seem as easy a thing as it ordinarily would
+have seemed.</p>
+
+<p>They walked along side by side, the lady
+keeping a watchful eye upon Denise, and feeling
+greatly entertained by her. As though to
+make full amends for his temporary lapse from
+good behavior, Ned Toodles pattered along
+beside the carriage as sedately as any old stager
+might have done, and when they came to
+Denise’s home stopped for her to bid her friend
+farewell. But Mrs. Lombard was walking
+about the grounds, and only one glance from
+<i>that</i> mother’s eye was needed to discover that
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>something had happened to that very precious
+little daughter, and she hastened to the gate.
+Then followed explanations, and began an acquaintance
+which, ere long, ripened into a very
+warm friendship, and Ned’s first misdemeanor
+resulted in something very delightful for his
+little mistress and her mother.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">
+    CHAPTER XVIII
+    <br>
+    A BIRTHDAY FROLIC AND WHAT CAME OF IT
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“Oh, what fun! Are we all going? And
+way down to Summit Ridge? Who
+planned it? Are we to stay all day
+long?” were the questions which poured rapidly
+from Denise’s lips one bright October morning
+when Hart came rushing over to ask if she
+might accompany a party of young people upon
+an outing planned for the coming week. He
+had been away from Springdale for several weeks,
+reveling in the delights of the seashore, but his
+family had now returned for the winter, and his
+studies, as well as Denise’s, had commenced.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard stood beside them listening,
+and smiling at the eager faces before her. Presently
+she said:</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Which day next week have you chosen?”</p>
+
+<p>“We had to choose Saturday, you know, on
+account of school. We aren’t all so lucky as
+Denise, having a governess who will let us off
+at a pinch,” and Hart looked mischievously up
+into Mrs. Lombard’s face.</p>
+
+<p>She reached over to give a tweak to his curly
+“forelock,” and reply: “Don’t be so sure of
+that. She is not let off so easily as you seem to
+think. After such a long holiday we expect
+even more wonderful things. So the frolic is
+planned for Saturday next. Was it prearranged?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why no; what do you mean?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, oh! I know! It will the thirteenth,
+and my birthday! Isn’t that just splendid?”</p>
+
+<p>“Honest? Oh, I say, that’s just dandy,
+isn’t it? No, I didn’t know a thing about it,
+and I don’t believe the others did, either. At
+any rate, they didn’t say a word about it. But
+it’s great luck. Say, we sort of stumble on each
+other’s festive days, don’t we? Do you remember
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>how you hit upon mine last spring? Then
+I’ll tell them you will go, of course?”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course I’ll go; won’t I, Moddie?”</p>
+
+<p>“First a positive assertion, and then a doubt;
+‘he who hesitates is lost,’” quoted Mrs. Lombard,
+laughing.</p>
+
+<p>“Then I won’t hesitate; I’ll <i>go</i>,” and Denise
+ran prancing off to the Birds’ Nest, followed by
+Hart, for they had many things to talk over
+after a separation of six weeks, and much to
+plan for the coming picnic.</p>
+
+<p>The Saturday named dawned clear and frosty,
+promising in the form of many hickory nuts and
+chestnuts, an extra treat for the party gathering
+so merrily at Hart’s home. Not that they literally
+gathered at dawn, but it was not long
+after eight o’clock when the first horseman was
+seen coming along the road to the meeting-place.
+There were to be fourteen in the party,
+besides the older people who went along to guard
+against accidents, but who, as it later proved,
+did not succeed in so doing after all.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span></p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Lombard drove in the
+former’s carriage, and carried a good portion of
+the refreshments, but each boy and girl rode
+their own beastie, whether it was a pony or a
+horse, for Springdale’s young folk were pretty
+well supplied with mounts of one sort or another,
+and could, when occasion called for it, turn out
+quite a brave array of equestrians. There were
+horses and ponies of all sorts and kinds gathered
+in Mrs. Murray’s driveway that beautiful
+October morning, and they possessed as varied
+dispositions as the boys and girls mounted upon
+them. Ned and Pinto were, of course, special
+cronies, and rubbed noses, and whispered secrets
+as only old cronies can. They tolerated the
+other horses, but did not encourage familiarities,
+and when one overgrown specimen of horsedom,
+noted especially for his pronounced Roman nose,
+and monstrous feet, undertook to force his way
+between them while they were comparing notes
+about the flavor of their morning oats, they
+promptly united forces and administered justice,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>thereby creating a wholesome respect for small
+horses in that misguided animal’s brains, and a
+lively diversion for their respective owners, who
+rushed to settle the disagreement.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="i_230" style="max-width: 46.875em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i_230.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption>
+      <div class="blockquot">
+    <i>Denise.</i>
+    </div>
+      <p>“THEY HAD MANY THINGS TO TALK OVER.”</p>
+  </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>But all was ready in the course of half an
+hour, and away they went, as merry a party as
+ever set forth for Summit Ridge, a plateau upon
+the summit of South Mountain, where many
+years before a gentleman had erected a beautiful
+home and planted extensive orchards. It was an
+ideal spot for such an orchard, and the trees had
+flourished marvelously, bearing pears, plums,
+and apples, such as were not to be found for
+miles around. The gentleman had lived there
+until the death of his wife several years before,
+and then left the place abruptly, never to return.
+Its remoteness from all other dwellings,
+and the difficulty of reaching it, kept most
+people from visiting the place, and it was only
+at long intervals that the residents of Springdale
+plucked heart of grace and clambered up the
+rough, neglected mountain-road which led to it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span></p>
+
+<p>During October the winter pippins and several
+other varieties of winter apples proved a
+strong inducement to the young people, and
+hardly an autumn passed without a party being
+made up to form a raid upon Mr. Powell’s
+orchard, and carry off apples enough to keep
+them supplied for months.</p>
+
+<p>Up the mountain scrambled the riders, the
+horses harnessed to the carriage scrambling
+along behind, and doing their best not to get left
+altogether. Denise, Hart, and one of their young
+friends, who had recently become the possessor
+of a little mustang, sent her by her uncle, who
+had a ranch in the West, and who assured her
+that Comanche was all that she could wish for,
+were leading the party, scrambling up the steep
+places, racing along the level ones, and picking
+their way down the descents. Flossy Bennett
+was a bright, pretty girl, but one wonderfully
+fond of her own way, and, once having taken it
+into her head to do a certain thing, it was no
+easy matter to persuade her to do differently.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span></p>
+
+<p>Two hours’ hard scrambling and picking their
+way at last brought them to the old house high
+up upon the mountain, and all dismounted to
+unsaddle their mounts, and tether them to the
+rustic fence which ran all about the neglected
+grounds, separating them from the orchards
+beyond. Then came the preparation of their
+luncheon, and rigging up a tripod to swing the
+kettle. After the merry feast ended, all
+repaired to the orchard to fill every sort and
+size of bag with the bright and luscious apples,
+which were almost breaking the branches with
+their weight.</p>
+
+<p>But October days are short ones, and, when
+three o’clock came, the preparations for the
+homeward journey were begun. Most of the
+boys and girls put their bags in the carriage,
+although some of them tied them in the middle
+and placed them across their saddle-bows. This
+plan worked well enough where the horses, or
+ponies, were accustomed to such liberties, but in
+some cases it was an entirely new experience,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>and the mountain-road was not a wise place
+upon which to make experiments.</p>
+
+<p>Flossy Bennett’s little mustang, although
+apparently as gentle as a kitten, seemed strongly
+disinclined to have her bag of apples strapped
+upon his withers, as his mistress wished to have
+it strapped, and fussed and fidgeted when one
+of the boys undertook to fasten it there. There
+was no one with the girl who was in a position
+to say either yea or nay, for she had joined the
+party just as many of the others had joined it,
+with the understanding that Mrs. Murray was,
+for the time being, both hostess and chaperon.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing how restless the pony seemed, Mrs.
+Murray came over to where the children were,
+and suggested that Flossy put her bag of apples
+in the carriage with the others, but Flossy did
+not care to act upon the suggestion, and Mrs.
+Murray, who did not possess Mrs. Lombard’s
+quiet dignity, and the power to control with a
+firm, though a gentle word, had rather an animated
+discussion with the young lady.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p>
+
+<p>“You must not try to carry those apples in
+that way, Flossy. It is dangerous, and I cannot
+allow it,” she said rather warmly, when suggestions
+failed to dissuade Flossy from having her
+own way.</p>
+
+<p>“He has just <i>got</i> to carry them that way,
+Mrs. Murray. It is all nonsense. The other
+ponies are carrying the bags, so why shouldn’t
+he? Uncle Frank said that he was thoroughly
+broken, and if he is, he will do what I wish him
+to do.”</p>
+
+<p>“But this is neither the time nor the place
+to make him, and I insist upon your putting
+that bag into my carriage at once. I am astonished
+that you presume to argue the point with
+some one older than yourself. Give me that bag
+at once. You are keeping the entire party
+waiting. Do you hear me?”</p>
+
+<p>Now Flossy’s disposition was one which had
+never encountered, and never could brook,
+downright opposition. Her mother had died
+when she was a tiny child, and her father had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>either indulged or neglected her, as the occasion
+prompted. Having been left to the care
+of the maids, and a long-suffering, rather weak
+governess, it was no wonder that at the age of
+fourteen Flossy Bennett had pretty strong ideas
+of her own, and carried them out whenever she
+could.</p>
+
+<p>“Excuse me, Mrs. Murray, but I think it is,
+and I shall carry the bag right here. Comanche
+may as well submit at once, and, as you
+see, he is behaving properly now;” and, with a
+defiant toss of her golden head, Miss Flossy
+braced herself in her side-saddle with an air of,
+“How do you intend to stop me if I choose to
+do it?”</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, the other members of the party
+were gathered about listening to the controversy
+with varying emotions. Mrs. Lombard had
+seen and heard it all, but had not, of course,
+taken any part in it. Now Mrs. Murray turned
+to her and said impatiently:</p>
+
+<p>“Emilie, will you come here and see if you
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>can dissuade this headstrong child from taking
+her life in her hands, as she seems determined
+to do? I am out of all patience to think that
+she will insist upon having her own way about
+such a trifle when it is so liable to prove
+disastrous to her. I am surprised at you,
+Flossy.”</p>
+
+<p>Now if there was one person upon earth for
+whom Flossy entertained a warm regard, and
+whose good opinion she valued, it was Mrs.
+Lombard’s. Had fate ordained that she should
+have been placed under such a wise training as
+that lady would have exercised over her, a very
+different girl would have sat upon Comanche’s
+back than the one who sat there at that
+moment, and whose face was the very picture of
+perversity and defiance. Deep down in the
+girl’s heart was a strong desire to do as she felt
+sure Mrs. Lombard, as well as Mrs. Murray,
+wished to have her, and had the first word been
+spoken by the former, there would never have
+been a sign of discord. Now, however, the first
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span>misstep had been taken, and she felt that she
+would lose prestige if she drew back.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard walked over to where the disputants
+were standing, and, laying her hand
+gently upon Flossy’s, which grasped her reins,
+said, in her sweet, gentle voice:</p>
+
+<p>“Will you not oblige Mrs. Murray by yielding
+this point to her wishes? I should be much
+gratified if you would do so, as it will spare us
+all much uneasiness.”</p>
+
+<p>“I should be sorry to cause any one uneasiness,
+Mrs. Lombard, and would hate to make
+you anxious, but there really isn’t the least
+danger. Uncle Frank said that I could do anything
+with Comanche, and all he needed was
+firmness. I shall ride slowly, and you know
+that I have ridden all my life.”</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard did not say another word, but
+looked steadily into the girl’s eyes for just one
+moment, with a look which she remembered for
+a long time after, and never ceased to wish she
+had heeded. Then, returning to Mrs. Murray’s
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span>carriage, she took her seat in it, saying to that
+lady:</p>
+
+<p>“I think that we would better start without
+more delay. It is growing late.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">
+    CHAPTER XIX
+    <br>
+    DENISE TO THE RESCUE
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Down the rough mountain-road wound
+the party, Hart, as usual, well in the
+lead, for Pinto hated to travel behind
+the others, but this time Denise kept close by
+the carriage, and, for some reason best understood
+by herself, Flossy chose to remain beside
+her.</p>
+
+<p>The greater part of the journey had been
+accomplished without mishap, and, even though
+he had from time to time demonstrated his dislike
+of the bumping bag of apples by tossing
+his head from side to side, Comanche had
+behaved far better than the older members of
+the party had expected he would, and they were
+beginning to breathe freer. But, alas! it is
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span>never safe to feel too sanguine, for the “slip”
+comes when we least look for it.</p>
+
+<p>“Who’s for a race?” cried one of the boys,
+when the last plateau was reached, and a long
+stretch of smooth, inviting wood-road stretched
+out before them. They were barely two miles
+from home, and the horses knew that stables
+and oats were not far away.</p>
+
+<p>“We are! we are!” was quickly shouted from
+all sides, and, before a word of remonstrance
+could be spoken by the occupants of the carriage,
+away dashed the riders, hot upon the track of the
+leader. As the other ponies and horses sprang
+forward, Comanche gave a plunge which caused
+the bag of apples upon his withers to shift dangerously
+to one side, and nearly fall to the
+ground. Flossy quickly changed her reins to one
+hand and with her free one made a wild grasp to
+steady the bag, just as Mrs. Lombard cried in a
+tone very unlike that generally used by her:</p>
+
+<p>“Flossy, stop! That bag must be put into
+the surrey!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span></p>
+
+<p>Too late. Comanche was off like the wind,
+the bag pounding and banging upon his sides,
+and his young rider tugging with all her might
+to hold him in. The other boys and girls were
+not aware of the serious situation just behind
+them, and the cry of alarm which rose from the
+carriage as the pony sped forward was entirely
+drowned in the shouts of laughter and the challenges
+called from one to another of the racers.</p>
+
+<p>Denise gave one terrified look at her mother,
+and then there settled upon her face the look
+which showed her Lombard determination once
+she recognized the necessity for prompt and
+decisive action.</p>
+
+<p>Comanche was larger by at least two hands
+than Ned, but nothing like so sure-footed, for
+Ned had come straight from the mountains of
+Wales, where for generations his ancestors had
+scrambled over the wild mountain-passes and
+kept their footing like goats. Comanche had
+spent his entire life upon the grassy plains, and
+until within the past three months had never
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span>seen a mountain, much less scrambled over
+one.</p>
+
+<p>What Denise meant to do she could not
+have told, but she felt that she must keep
+beside that fleeing pony as long as Ned Toodles
+could run. For a pony of his size, Ned was
+wonderfully fleet of foot, and their perfect
+mutual understanding made many things possible
+for them which would have been quite
+impossible for an animal and rider less in
+sympathy.</p>
+
+<p>“Go!” said Denise in a low, tense voice, and
+“go” Ned did, bounding along the mountain-road
+like a roebuck, and keeping neck and neck
+with the wild little gray, which seemed to have
+lost his senses altogether.</p>
+
+<p>As they drew near the end of the level road
+the other riders began to check their horses,
+and prepare for the last short but very steep
+descent, leading into the town. But, even
+though Flossy tugged with the strength of
+desperation upon his reins, she failed to lessen
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span>the speed with which he was nearing that dangerous
+hit of road. Had she held the curb rein
+her chances would have been greater, but she
+had let it fall when she steadied her apples, and
+had not been able to regain it. Ned instinctively
+slackened his pace as he drew near the
+down grade, but Flossy’s pony was less wise,
+and tore ahead.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Ned, Ned!” cried Denise, as she bent
+over the shaggy neck, and poured her fears
+into the ears which seemed to have almost
+human understanding, “he will kill her! he
+will kill her! Please, please, let me catch
+him!” and as though he realized the peril, Ned
+gathered himself together for a mighty effort.
+By this time the others had awakened to the
+situation, and some were urging their horses
+forward, some were stopping stock-still in dismay,
+and others calling orders which fell upon
+unheeding ears, while those in the carriage
+were hastening after the runaway as rapidly as
+a well-laden carriage could travel over such a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span>road. Mrs. Murray was shrieking aloud, but
+Mrs. Lombard, white to the very lips, sat rigid
+and with hands clasped as though asking the
+only aid which could help her in such a crisis.
+She had not called to Denise, for she understood
+all too well the resolute spirit which was
+urging the girl forward, and could not censure
+her for the very act which she herself would
+have been the first to perform.</p>
+
+<p>The brink was reached, and down it tore
+Comanche, with Ned sweeping behind him,
+bent upon bringing that lunatic horse to his
+senses if one well-conducted beast could compass
+it. Once upon the down grade the plains-bred
+pony began to flounder and swerve from
+one side of the road to the other, and that gave
+Ned his chance. Clatter, clatter! Click, click!
+went the flying hoofs, and with Ned’s next
+bound Denise reached forward and caught the
+dangling curb rein. How that bag of apples
+had remained upon the saddle until that
+moment was a mystery to all who saw its wild
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span>bumps and bounds, and had it only fallen off
+sooner it would have been far better for all
+concerned. But stick it did until Denise
+caught the rein, and then, with a jerk given to
+Comanche, down it fell, straight beneath his
+feet, to nearly throw him down, and cause the
+saddle to shift dangerously to his left side.
+Wild before, he was simply frantic now, and
+began to plunge and rear, Denise guiding Ned
+with one hand and jerking upon Comanche’s
+curb for dear life with the other. Ned never
+swerved, but seemed to understand that he had
+a duty to perform, and did it nobly. But
+neither Ned nor his mistress were equal to the
+terrified mustang, and, with one wild plunge,
+up he reared, swerved sidewise, sending his
+rider out of her saddle, and jerking the reins
+from Denise’s hand, to go tearing down the
+mountain at a rate which threatened instant
+destruction.</p>
+
+<p>At his last plunge a piercing cry came from
+Flossy’s lips, and she lay helpless in the ditch
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span>at the roadside, for Comanche’s flying hoofs had
+struck one final and crushing blow as he rushed
+off, shattering the arm which had been vainly
+striving to control him.</p>
+
+<p>Ned’s impetus made it impossible for him to
+come to a sudden standstill, and before Denise
+could stop entirely she had gotten nearly twenty
+yards beyond Flossy. Meanwhile, the rest of
+the party had hurried to her, and were doing all
+within their power for the suffering girl. But
+the moment had come when the mother in
+Mrs. Lombard cried out for her own, and as
+Denise came rushing back, a pair of outstretched
+arms awaited her and a tense voice
+cried: “My darling! Thank God you are
+unharmed, my brave little daughter!” as Denise
+dropped her reins and almost fell into the
+beloved arms awaiting her, for the tension was
+removed and she began to realize the situation
+as she had not been able to realize it earlier.
+“Oh, mamma, mamma! Is she killed?”</p>
+
+<p>Flossy was not killed, but was suffering
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span>keenly, and it would be many days before she
+recovered from that wilful ride. Willing hands
+helped to remove the baskets from the carriage,
+and make it ready for her, and a very subdued
+party of boys and girls made their way down
+the mountain. Comanche had rushed home as
+fast as he could go, and, when he arrived there,
+his saddle, or what was left of it, was dangling
+beneath his stomach. Mrs. Murray was too
+unnerved to do anything but go straight to her
+home, but Mrs. Lombard remained in the carriage
+to take Flossy to hers. Some of the party
+had already gone on ahead to secure a physician,
+and by the time he arrived at Mr. Bennett’s
+home poor Flossy had been placed in bed,
+and all was in readiness for the trying ordeal of
+setting the fractured arm. Feeling that Denise
+had experienced enough of a strain already,
+Mrs. Lombard had left her at their own home,
+where grandma came promptly forward with
+soothing words, and comforting ministrations,
+while John gave Ned the best rub-down and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span>feed a small horse could wish for, to say nothing
+of praise enough to have turned his head
+had it not been a very “level” one indeed.</p>
+
+<p>Two hours later Flossy was lying weak and
+wretched upon her bed, and Mrs. Lombard was
+giving directions to the distraught governess
+before taking her departure for home and the
+rest of which she was sorely in need herself, for
+she had stayed to give all possible assistance,
+and, with two inexperienced maids, and a governess
+but little better qualified to meet an
+emergency, she had found her hands full. The
+girl had borne her suffering bravely, but had
+scarcely spoken a word to any one. After a few
+final words, Mrs. Lombard, with the governess
+following closely upon her heels, came to say
+good-by, and, taking Flossy’s hand, bent over
+to kiss her.</p>
+
+<p>“Send her out of the room. I want to speak
+to <i>you</i>,” were the words which came faintly
+from the girl’s white lips.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I must not leave you! I will do anything
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span>you wish!” was the none too wise answer
+made by the governess.</p>
+
+<p>“Please go and leave us together for a few
+moments,” said Mrs. Lombard, quick to understand
+that she could be helpful in a way which
+the governess never suspected, but ought to
+have fully understood if she would fill such a
+position as the one she held.</p>
+
+<p>“What can I do for you, dear?” she said
+very gently, as she sat upon the bedside, and
+smoothed back the tousled golden hair with a
+touch which was wonderfully soothing and
+quieting.</p>
+
+<p>Flossy reached up and rested her own hand
+upon the one upon her forehead, and looked
+into Mrs. Lombard’s eyes with the hungry,
+yearning look sometimes seen in a young girl’s
+eyes when the strongest of all ties—mother love—is
+wanting. Mrs. Lombard smiled encouragingly
+at her and waited.</p>
+
+<p>“Denise might have been killed,” Flossy
+whispered.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Let us thank the dear Father that you both
+escaped,” replied Mrs. Lombard gently.</p>
+
+<p>“But how can you forgive me?” continued
+the whisper.</p>
+
+<p>“Because you have no mother to help you
+exercise the one thing we all need to exercise at
+times—self-control. We have both had a trying
+experience to-day, and one we shall not soon
+forget. Let us strive to profit by it, dear. I
+know how hard it must be for you at times, but
+you can conquer the desire to carry your point
+if you will only believe it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t; I just can’t, and I never shall
+because I am rubbed the wrong way all the time.
+I hate it, and almost wish Comanche had killed
+me and ended it all outright.”</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Lombard laid her finger ever so gently
+upon the lips which were forming the bitter
+words, and said:</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t try to talk any more to-night. You
+are sorely unnerved. To-morrow you will feel
+differently, and then we will have what Denise
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span>calls one of our ‘comforting talks,’ and the
+world will look less dismal, I know.”</p>
+
+<p>“If I could have some one to talk to as she
+does I wouldn’t be so hateful. Somehow, I seem
+to need setting straight about a dozen times a
+day, and there is no one to set me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Will you let me try?” asked Mrs. Lombard
+very tenderly.</p>
+
+<p>“If you only would, oh! if you <i>only</i> would,”
+wailed such a despairing voice that Mrs. Lombard’s
+heart ached to hear such a tone from one
+only a little older than her own sunny daughter,
+whose life was so well ordered from one day’s
+end to the next that very little “setting
+straight” was ever needed.</p>
+
+<p>“Then I shall have to call you my adopted
+daughter, and shall expect you to come to me
+with all the little vexations which come to
+young people at times, and which older people
+were made to smooth out. Do you think that
+you can do this, dear, and let me feel that I am
+helping another girl just as I would wish to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span>have Denise helped if I had slipped from her
+life when she was a little child? Try, Sweetheart,
+and meantime we will see how we can
+make less trying the weeks which must bring
+some suffering and some weary hours to you.
+I will come to see you in the morning, and
+Denise will come also, if you would like to have
+her. I hope your night may not be a very
+trying one, but know that you will do your best
+to bear the pain bravely. Good-night, adopted
+daughter mine,” and, with a final motherly
+caress, Mrs. Lombard took her departure, leaving
+behind her the beginning of a far happier condition
+of things in that misdirected home, and the
+developing of a character which only needed
+the union of wisdom and affection to make it a
+very lovely thing indeed.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">
+    CHAPTER XX
+    <br>
+    A COASTING EPISODE
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Winter had come in earnest. November
+was drawing to a close, and leaving
+behind convincing evidence that it had
+claimed the right to be classed as a winter,
+rather than as a fall, month, for snow lay thick
+upon the ground, and coasting and sleighing
+made life gay for the young people of Springdale.
+Directly lessons were ended for the day,
+a merry party of girls and boys gathered upon
+the hill leading down from the chapel, and
+thick and fast sped the sleds down the steep
+descent. Given to original performances, it
+was no wonder that even coasting held a novel
+feature as indulged in by Denise, or that Ned
+Toodles had to share the fun in some way.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span>Outsiders might have been of the opinion that
+there was but little fun in his share of it, but to
+judge from the manner in which he took part
+in it, there was far more than they suspected.
+Accustomed to following Denise as a dog would
+have followed her, he had trotted along one day
+when she started off with her sled for a spin,
+and had watched her with those wise eyes of
+his as she settled herself upon the sled and
+went whizzing down the hill. Then, with one
+grand, hilarious kick-up, off he pelted after
+her, and reached the bottom of the hill very
+nearly as soon as the sled reached it. That he felt
+immensely proud of his achievement was evinced
+by the sort of hurrah he cut up as she got up
+from the sled and started up the hill for another
+coast, for he pranced and curveted and was as gay
+and giddy as possible. Then, apparently grasping
+the situation, he trotted along beside Denise
+until he reached the top, and the whole performance
+was repeated. There were several other children
+coasting at the time, and Hart among them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Oh, say! What’s the matter with making
+him draw you up if he is so anxious to be in
+the fun?” he shouted, and thus it came about.
+The little Dutch collar and an old bridle were
+promptly brought from the Birds’ Nest, and, in
+far less time than it has taken to tell you about
+it, a whiffletree was rigged up, and fastened to
+the front of the sled and Ned harnessed to it.
+Then away he went up the hill dragging his
+little mistress to the top as easily as winking,
+and sometimes another sled “cutting” behind
+hers. After one or two trips he understood
+exactly what was expected of him, and the moment
+Denise’s sled started down the hill he was
+off after it like a shot. Reins and traces were
+carefully fastened so that he could not trip over
+them, and he usually managed to bring up at
+the foot of the hill very nearly as soon as
+Denise. That he was often borrowed by some
+of the other children need hardly be added.</p>
+
+<p>The coasting was at its very best when one
+morning on his way to school Hart stopped to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span>give the signal whistle, which promptly brought
+Denise upon the piazza.</p>
+
+<p>“Are you coming out on the hill this afternoon?”
+he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“You would better believe I am! This is
+the finest day we have had yet. I wouldn’t miss
+it for anything,” Denise replied.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, you’ll see a show if you do. Charlie
+and Archie are coming out on the two o’clock
+train, and they are going to bring Lionel Algenon
+Montgomery with them, ha! ha! I say,
+that fellow is a piece of work, and if we don’t
+have a regular circus before this day is over then
+my name isn’t Hart Murray. Of all the Miss
+Nancys you ever saw he is just the greatest,
+and I dare say he will pad himself all up with
+cotton wool before he risks his precious bones
+upon anything so dangerous as a sled. Just
+wait until you see him, that’s all,” and Hart
+laughed as though the very thought of Lionel
+Algenon was enough to stir up any right-minded
+boy.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Who is he, any way?” asked Denise, her
+eyes already twinkling.</p>
+
+<p>“The greatest chump you ever heard tell of.
+He lives next door to Archie and Charlie, and
+is his mamma’s precious only son. How she
+ever made up her mind to let him come out here
+with my cousins I’m sure I don’t know, for he
+never stirs ten steps without either her or his
+tutor. Maybe she thinks that he is coming
+among such models that no harm can come
+to him. We’ll see,” and, with a farewell wave
+of his school-bag, Hart went tearing across the
+lawn.</p>
+
+<p>When two o’clock came, Hart and his guests
+came with it. All extra sleds to be obtained by
+either borrowing or begging had been pressed
+into service, and yet the supply was one short,
+but turn about was fair play, and so no great
+harm threatened.</p>
+
+<p>“Hullo, Denise!” called out the boys, for they
+had often visited Hart before, and looked upon
+her as one of themselves. “This is our friend,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span>Lionel Montgomery. Denise Lombard, Lionel,”
+was the boyish, off-hand introduction.</p>
+
+<p>Now Lionel Algenon Montgomery had been
+taught that it was highly reprehensible to
+address a strange young lady by her Christian
+name, even though she were but twelve years of
+age and he fourteen, so, making his very best
+dancing-school bow, he lisped politely:</p>
+
+<p>“Charmed to meet you, Miss Lombard,” and
+then stood waiting for that young lady to take
+up the conversation. But Denise was far from
+being the society young lady he imagined, and
+nearly laughed in his face as she said:</p>
+
+<p>“I am afraid that I shall have to wait a few
+years before I can be called Miss Lombard, and
+meantime I’ll be just Denise, if you don’t
+mind. I guess we can have lots more fun coasting
+and snowballing if we don’t have to think
+that we may bang off Mr. Murray’s cap, or
+upset Miss Lombard in the snow.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I shall be charmed if you will allow
+me,” was the stilted, unnatural reply.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span></p>
+
+<p>“I am afraid I shouldn’t know who you were
+talking to if you didn’t,” was the laughing
+answer. “But let’s begin our coasting before
+this lovely day is all gone,” and off she started
+for the “Birds’ Nest,” the boys tearing after
+her. At least, three of them “tore;” the fourth
+one paced along behind them as though he
+were promenading down Fifth Avenue. Presently
+Ned was brought from his stall, the bridle
+and collar put upon him, and off they
+started.</p>
+
+<p>Now, Chapel hill had one peculiarity, and
+that peculiarity needed to be studied. In the
+first place, it was a steep hill, and at the foot of
+it ran a road at right angles to the descent.
+During the summer the hill was covered with
+a luxuriant growth of clover, from which
+Mr. Lombard harvested a fine supply of hay for
+his horses. Where the fields bordered the road,
+a steep terrace, fully five feet high, made it impossible
+for a hay-wagon to enter it, but, to overcome
+that obstacle, the men had dug the terrace
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span>away in one place and made a gradual incline
+about ten feet wide, through which they could
+drive in and out without taking a flying leap
+into the roadway with their load. It was
+through this incline that the coasters guided
+their sleds, whizzing through it and out upon
+the smooth road, to make a sharp turn and go
+bounding on to the very edge of Mr. Lombard’s
+grounds, where they had thrown up a great pile
+of snow for a bumper.</p>
+
+<p>“Clear the track!” shouted Hart, flinging
+himself upon his sled, to go spinning down the
+hill, through the hay-wagon’s entranceway,
+and on pell-mell to the bottom, the other boys
+hard after him, leaving Lionel to do the gallant
+for Denise if she felt disposed to accept it.</p>
+
+<p>“Here, take my sled and have a spin,” she
+said. “The boys will be back in a minute, and
+I can have one of theirs.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, no! I couldn’t think of depriving you.
+Besides, I don’t know that I shall coast. It
+seems so dangerous.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Mercy, me! No, it isn’t. You couldn’t get
+hurt if you wanted to. All you have got to do
+is steer straight down where we have gone, and
+you will come out all right. Go on! It’s great
+fun, and Ned will pull you up,” and she held
+her sled-rope toward him.</p>
+
+<p>“I will watch you go first. I am not accustomed
+to very violent exercise. Mamma does
+not approve of it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I guess she wouldn’t call coasting such violent
+exercise,” said Denise, as she settled herself
+upon the sled, gave the necessary hitch forward,
+and spun off over the icy hill, whistling for Ned
+to follow.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the boys were coming up, and
+became conscious of their own shortcomings.</p>
+
+<p>“Say, fellows, we need to be thumped,” cried
+Charlie, in contrition. “Look at Lionel standing
+up there. He hasn’t got so much as a
+shingle to coast down on.”</p>
+
+<p>“Bet five cents he won’t coast anyway. If
+he did he would want to roll himself up in a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span>bearskin to keep warm,” was Archie’s comment.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m the one who ought to be thrashed.
+Wonder what sort of a host mother would say
+I am. Say, Lionel, we’ll be up in a minute, and
+then you can have a go! Awful sorry I didn’t
+think of my manners sooner. There you are,”
+and Hart brought his sled up with a flourish.</p>
+
+<p>“Thanks, awfully, but I don’t think that I
+care to go down. I’ll just watch you fellows.
+It’s pretty steep, don’t you know.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, it’s the finest you ever saw! Not a
+bit steep. Just try it, and see if it isn’t just
+O. K. Take any sled you like, but mine’s a
+hummer.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is a very low one, don’t you think so?”
+asked Lionel, eying askance the rakish little
+sled built for speed and endurance, as a boy’s
+sled has need to be.</p>
+
+<p>“Why you can’t do a thing with them if
+they are high!” was the rather derisive comment.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Denise seems to manage hers very well,”
+replied Lionel, as Denise came up, Ned supplying
+the motive power.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, she coasts girl fashion, of course. No
+fun in <i>that</i>! Got to go a whopper if you want
+to have fun,” cried Archie.</p>
+
+<p>“Seems to me I would prefer sitting up
+straight. Really, I should not like to have my
+head get there <i>first</i>,” was the remark which
+caused Charlie to cry:</p>
+
+<p>“You want to ‘get in with both feet,’ do
+you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, it would not hurt so much if one met
+with an accident, don’t you know,” was the
+reply, given in all seriousness.</p>
+
+<p>“Will you go down on my sled?” asked
+Denise.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, I hate to deprive you of it, but, really,—well,
+I think that, perhaps, I could manage
+that one better than the others, if you will let
+me take it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course you may take it, and Ned will be
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span>at the bottom of the hill nearly as quick as you
+are,” cried Denise.</p>
+
+<p>“Really? Will he follow me as he follows
+you? What a remarkable pony,” said Lionel,
+reaching toward Ned to stroke him, whereat
+Ned gave a comical bounce and evaded him.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, let’s do something beside standing
+here and freezing,” added Ned’s mistress, for
+she was accustomed to going up and down in
+hot pursuit of the other sleds, and found this
+polite parleying rather cold work.</p>
+
+<p>With many adjustings and false starts, questions
+as to whether it would not be wiser to keep
+to one side of the well-beaten slide, lest he lose
+control of the sled where the descent was so
+glassy, and if he should put down his left or his
+right heel if he wished to go to the right,
+Lionel Algenon, at last, got started amidst a
+hurrah of shouts at the send-off. It may have
+been the hurrah, and it may have been the
+sight of the long stretch of gleaming snow which
+spread before him like ground glass, or it may
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span>have been wicked Ned Toodles careering along
+just behind him, that caused him to become disconcerted
+long before the bottom of the hill was
+reached. Whatever it was, the climax came
+very speedily.</p>
+
+<p>“Keep in the track! Oh, keep in the track!”
+shouted those following close behind him.
+“You’ll jump the terrace if you steer way over
+to that side. Go through the opening where we
+went! You’ll smash the sled to bits if you go
+over the bank!”</p>
+
+<p>But their warnings fell upon deaf ears.
+Lionel felt that sled spinning along beneath
+him at a rate which struck terror to his very
+soul, and turned instinctively into the softer
+snow at the side of the beaten path. But that
+snow was treacherous, for it was merely a light
+coating of new-fallen snow upon a hard crust
+underneath, and his speed was hardly a particle
+lessened. On sped the sled with a perfect
+shower of fine, dry snow plowing up in front of
+it, and nearly blinding the bewildered boy.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span>Through the opening whizzed the other two
+boys, landing in the road safe and right side up
+just in time to see Denise’s sled, with Lionel
+clinging to it with both hands, come bounding
+over the terrace with one wild, flying leap, and
+land in front of them. Whatever saved them
+from piling on top of it was a miracle. Then
+came the end, and when they finally got their
+sleds stopped, and made their way back to the
+spot, there sat Lionel, still clinging to the side
+bars, the sled beneath him, which was flattened
+out as though it had been put beneath a letterpress.</p>
+
+<p>“I really think that I prefer not coasting
+any more,” he remarked, as they assisted him
+to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, until Denise gets another sled I don’t
+believe you will. What the dickens made you
+do such a fool thing as try to jump that terrace,
+anyway?” demanded Archie, with some spirit,
+for he was growing just a trifle tired of “taking
+care of a sissy,” as he dubbed Lionel, and his
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span>own day was being spoiled by this boy’s affectations.</p>
+
+<p>“I did not see the terrace, and the other path
+was very slippery.”</p>
+
+<p>“You don’t expect to coast on <i>sandpaper</i>, do
+you?” demanded Charlie.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I think it would be nicer to coast on
+<i>level</i> ground. Then there would be no real
+danger.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, go get an automobile,” was the natural,
+boyish retort.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, really, I think that I shall ask mamma
+to get me one. One can keep so comfortable,
+don’t you know.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">
+    CHAPTER XXI
+    <br>
+    ANOTHER CHRISTMAS DAY DRAWS NEAR
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Once November passes, Christmas seems
+very near at hand, and, before we know
+it, the day dearest to all young people,
+with its plans, its secrets, and its surprises, is
+with us. But before that day arrived, a great
+sorrow came to Denise, and she felt that not
+even Christmas joys could entirely dispel her
+sadness.</p>
+
+<p>Since early winter Tan had been ailing, and
+as the weather grew colder and colder, the
+rheumatism which had caused him so much suffering
+the previous winter, and which the veterinary
+had said he feared he could not survive
+if it attacked him again, made life almost a
+burden for the dear old pet, and sometimes,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span>when she saw how wretched he was, Denise
+almost wished that his suffering might be ended
+forever. But then came the thought of never
+seeing him again, and his long years of devotion
+to her; for eight years seem a very great number
+when one is young. And it really was
+a great number in Denise’s life; it was two-thirds
+of all she, herself, had lived.</p>
+
+<p>Tan still had his warm stall in the Birds’
+Nest, and John cared for him very tenderly, but
+it was Denise alone who could soothe him and
+comfort him when the poor bones ached past
+endurance. Seated upon some fresh straw in
+his stall, she would hold the poor weary old
+head in her lap, rubbing and “pooring” it, and
+rambling on in the crooning voice she had
+always used when holding her little love-talks
+with her pets, and which they all understood
+and responded to, each in his own particular
+manner.</p>
+
+<p>December opened with a wild, driving snow,
+the sort that soon buries everything from sight,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span>and creeps into every crevice. A high wind
+sent the snow scurrying before it, and the cold
+penetrated the very marrow of one’s bones.</p>
+
+<p>“I think I’ll stop in the Birds’ Nest the night,
+sir. The poor old goat can’t hold out through
+it, I’m afraid, and it sort of goes agin the grain
+of me fer me to lave him to give up the fight all
+by himself afther the years I’ve tuck care of
+him,” said John to Mr. Lombard, when he
+brought him home from the station that night.</p>
+
+<p>“Is it really so? Poor old Tan! If he is only
+a goat, he has certainly been a faithful creature,
+and I’ve known many a human being give less
+proof of affection and appreciation of kindness
+than he has given,” replied Mr. Lombard.</p>
+
+<p>“’Tis right ye are, sir, and the way he do be
+looking for Miss Denise and a listenin’ for her
+voice would clean break the heart of ye. Faith,
+he can hear her no matter where she is, I belave,
+and give his queer blaat av an answer. And
+the eyes av him whin she comes into the Nest
+are just fair human.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span></p>
+
+<p>“I’ll go right out to the Nest with you,” replied
+Mr. Lombard, and John drove on through
+the grounds.</p>
+
+<p>A dim light was burning, shedding its rays
+upon the occupants of the tiny stalls, and the
+kittens curled up in their box in the corner of
+the stable. In the larger stall, well blanketed
+in his gay plaid blanket, stood Ned Toodles,
+peeping through the little slot in the door. The
+other stall did not have a door, and in it, lying
+upon a thick bed of fresh, clean straw, and
+swathed almost from head to foot in flannel
+bandages, lay Tan, no longer able to get upon
+his feet. As Mr. Lombard stooped down to
+stroke him he gave his usual friendly blaat,
+although not in the same vigorous tone.</p>
+
+<p>“Poor old pet,” said Mr. Lombard, “is
+the story of your devoted life almost told?
+Your little mistress will grieve long and
+sorely for you, I fear. No, he cannot last
+much longer, John, and, perhaps, we should
+be thankful, for he suffers cruelly. I’ll leave
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span>him to your care, for he could not be in better
+hands.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure, he is Miss Denise’s, and that’s all
+that anny wan nade know,” answered John.</p>
+
+<p>Dawn was just breaking when John came up
+to the house to ask for Miss Denise. The good
+fellow had spent the entire night ministering to
+the pet he had cared for for eight years, and, as
+the night waned, the tender-hearted fellow felt
+that he could not see him suffer as he was without
+at least trying to do something more for his
+comfort. Nothing had soothed him as Denise’s
+stroking, and John felt that since it could only
+be for a few hours at most he would call the little
+mistress.</p>
+
+<p>It was not yet seven o’clock, but Denise and
+her father hurried into their clothing and
+hastened to the Nest.</p>
+
+<p>“Poor, dear old Tanny-boy,” called Denise,
+as she went toward the stall, and a weak, quavering
+blaat answered her as Tan strove to raise
+his head. But the head had been raised for the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span>last time. Without a word, but with brimming
+eyes, Denise sat down upon the straw and lifted
+the weary head into her lap, crooning over it in
+the old, familiar way. For hours during that
+long night John had striven in vain to quiet
+Tan’s piteous moans by bathing him with hot
+lotions, but all to no purpose. But who shall
+say that love may not compass what skill cannot?
+No sooner did Tan feel that beloved little
+mistress’s gentle strokes than the moans
+ceased, and the sigh almost of a tired child
+testified that so far as human comfort could minister
+to him and bring relief, he had found it.
+The snow had ceased falling in the night, and
+when the sun arose it shone upon a gleaming
+white world—a world which seemed too beautiful
+to hold any sorrow. Breakfast-hour came
+and passed, but Denise did not give it a thought,
+and neither Mr. nor Mrs. Lombard would disturb
+her. Mr. Lombard deferred his departure
+for town, and waited for Denise to end her
+watch, which he felt sure must end very soon.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span>It was not long past nine o’clock when Tan
+gave a sudden start, looked up into Denise’s face
+with the look of loving devotion she had known
+so long, gave one of the old familiar blaats, and
+dropped his head upon her lap again, to give
+one long, weary sigh, and close the great topaz
+eyes forever.</p>
+
+<p>“I just can’t believe it is so,” said Denise an
+hour later, when her sobs were subsiding and
+she was nestling in the arms which never failed
+her in any sorrow. “I have had him so long
+that it seems as though I couldn’t get on without
+seeing him every day. What will be done
+with him, mamma?”</p>
+
+<p>“Will you leave that entirely to papa and me,
+darling?” asked Mrs. Lombard, as she stroked
+back the rumpled locks from the hot forehead.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes; I don’t want to even see him again,
+for unless I could see him standing as he used
+to be, and his great eyes looking right at me, I
+just couldn’t stand it, mamma.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, try not to think about it any more
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span>just now, dear, but have Ned put to the cutter
+and take me for a drive to the village. I wish to
+do some errands, and the roads are pretty well
+broken now. It will do us both good,” and so
+it happened that all that was left of Tan
+had passed from sight before Denise and her
+mother came home, both the happier for the
+drive in the crisp, keen air.</p>
+
+<p>Denise’s holiday began the week before
+Christmas, for Miss Meredith lived a long way
+from Springdale, and three days were required
+to make her journey home. Then came trips to
+the city, and one of them resulted in a funny
+enough addition to the family of pets, for, while
+passing through one of the streets in the lower
+part of the city with her father and mother, a
+forlorn, wretched dog, a tin saucepan tied to its
+tail, frightened nearly to death, and hotly pursued
+by a mob of howling, yelling boys, came
+tearing toward them. Denise was walking a
+few steps in advance of her father and mother,
+and, before she could gather herself together to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span>resist the onslaught, the dog, as though he had
+instinctively recognized in her a protector of
+his kind and all helpless creatures, had sprung
+straight at her, knocking her flat upon the sidewalk.
+With never a thought for self, she
+instantly clasped her arms around the dirty,
+miserable beast, and clung to him for dear life
+and justice. Her father and mother had sprung
+toward her, as had one or two passers-by, each
+one feeling sure that they would find the dog’s
+teeth firmly buried in some part of her.</p>
+
+<p>But that dog had been wise in his choice of
+a protector, and was also wise enough not to
+abuse his good fortune.</p>
+
+<p>Now the sight of a handsomely dressed
+twelve-year-old girl sitting in the middle of the
+sidewalk and holding in her arms a dirty, forlorn
+dog with a tin pan securely fastened to the
+end of his tail, and trembling with fright, is certainly
+not a common one, and in just one brief
+little minute about one hundred people of all
+sorts and conditions, to say nothing of the boys
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span>who had been in hot chase after the dog, and a
+big policeman, who felt that he had, at least, the
+right to make a few polite inquiries, were surrounding
+her.</p>
+
+<p>“Denise, my darling!” was all Mrs. Lombard
+could exclaim, while Mr. Lombard endeavored
+to get the young lady and her dog upon their
+own legs. Close at hand was a large wholesale
+store, where fruits and vegetables of all sorts
+and kinds were piled in crates and barrels, and
+just behind some bouncing pumpkins loomed a
+fat, ruddy face, so like them that it might have
+been mistaken for one of them.</p>
+
+<p>This animated pumpkin had been standing
+in the door of the store, and had witnessed the
+whole scene, and, just as Mr. Lombard got
+Denise right side up, and the big policeman
+was shooing off the crowd, he waddled out of
+his store and, beckoning with one fat, pudgy
+hand, said:—</p>
+
+<p>“Yow prings dat yung lady und dat dog
+straightavay into mine store. She vas one fine
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span>trump already. Dat dog, he find himself in one
+great big luck, if he himself know. You git
+soom mud? Chust so. I take it you all off,
+and you pretty soon don’t know you got some
+bimeby.” As he talked, he took hold of Denise’s
+arm and led her into the store, Mr. and Mrs.
+Lombard being only too glad to follow and get
+away from the all-too-curious crowd. Into the
+store they hurried, and it was not until Denise
+was put into some sort of shape, and made fit
+to appear in public once more that they all
+realized that they had become the owners, willy-nilly,
+of about as forlorn a specimen of a dog
+as any one could have thrust upon them. Then
+arose the question of what in this world to do
+with him, and it <i>was</i> a poser.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span></p>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">
+    CHAPTER XXII
+    <br>
+    CHRISTMAS FOR ALL THE PETS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!”
+was the cry which sounded
+from one end of the house to the
+other when Christmas morning dawned, bright
+and beautiful, as we always love to picture it,
+upon Denise’s home. Denise was wide awake
+long before there was any dawn at all, and scurrying
+about the house to get the others awake.</p>
+
+<p>As usual, Pokey was upon the scene, for
+Christmas day would hardly have seemed
+Christmas day without her. Ever since they
+were tiny children she and Denise had passed
+it together. Christmas eve had been filled with
+its usual merrymaking and secrets, and the
+constant ringing of the door-bell and delivering
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span>of packages by the belated expressmen
+had kept things wildly exciting. Among the
+last things delivered was a huge box, standing
+fully as high as Denise’s head, and so broad
+that it required the two men upon the wagon
+and John to carry it into the Birds’ Nest.</p>
+
+<p>“What can it be? Where did it come from?
+Who do you suppose sent it?” were the questions
+which greeted it.</p>
+
+<p>“St. Nick, of course,” said Mr. Lombard,
+laughing. “Who else sends mysterious boxes
+and bundles at this season of the year?”</p>
+
+<p>“It says New York on the cover, if that <i>is</i>
+the cover,” said Pokey, as she walked around
+and around it, and touched it as though that
+might reveal the secret of what it contained.</p>
+
+<p>“Did you have that Christmas fun out in the
+Birds’ Nest because you knew that this big box
+was coming, papa?” asked Denise, with a
+twinkle in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>“Who said that I knew it was coming, Miss
+Paulina Pry?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span></p>
+
+<p>“He didn’t take that bait worth a straw, did
+he?” asked Denise, laughing, as she turned to
+Pokey.</p>
+
+<p>“Did you think that your old daddy was to
+be taken in so easily? I guess not,” and Mr.
+Lombard wagged a finger at her.</p>
+
+<p>The entire family had gathered in the Birds’
+Nest on Christmas eve, and had decked the
+little house from end to end with greens. In
+one corner stood the tree laden with all manner
+of shining trifles to catch and reflect the light,
+while beneath it lay the almost endless number
+of parcels which had come from all directions.
+During the dressing of the tree, Ned Toodles,
+the dogs, and the cats, had roamed about at will,
+and more than once, in the midst of the gayety,
+Denise had peeped through the door leading
+into the little stable to look with saddened eyes
+at Tan’s empty stall, for Tan would have been
+in the midst of the merrymaking. When all
+had been arranged for the grand distribution
+next day, the big box was placed in the very
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span>middle of the little dining-room, thereby very
+nearly filling it up, and sending curiosity up to
+fever heat. So it was no wonder that Denise
+and Pokey were astir at an early hour, and
+leaving no stone unturned to get the other
+members of the family astir, too.</p>
+
+<p>The Birds’ Nest was not to be visited until
+after breakfast, for the maids and John were to
+be present when the gifts were distributed, and
+that meant more bottled up patience.</p>
+
+<p>But at last even domestic affairs came to an
+end, and the signal to start for the Nest was
+given, and pell-mell rushed the girls, with the
+older members of the family not very far
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>A brighter, prettier, more novel Christmas
+setting it would have been hard to picture, for
+John had been early astir, and all about the
+little playhouse everything was in spandy order
+for the reception of its young mistress and her
+friends, while within, the tall Christmas tree, and
+bright-green decorations, with the gleaming red
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span>berries of the holly, and pearly white ones of
+the mistletoe, proclaimed it Christmas day beyond
+all question. Nor was this all. There
+stood the pets, Ned, Sailor, Beauty Buttons, and
+“Charity Jack,” as the dog rescued in New
+York had been named. For Denise had begged
+so hard to have him sent to Springdale, “where,”
+she urged, “he could have such good care, and
+never again be in danger of being so misused,
+and where she, herself, could train him properly,”
+that consent had finally been given, and
+now, marvel of marvels that he knew himself at
+all, there he stood with the other respectable
+members of dog society. A “bra’ brass collar”
+was upon his neck, although, strictly speaking,
+it was not brass at all, but leather, with a nickel
+plate with “Charity Jack” and Denise’s name
+upon it, to say nothing of a small bell, for, even
+though filled to repletion with the best food that
+dog ever had, poor Charity Jack could never
+overcome his early habits, and would go straying
+off from a dinner such as he could never
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span>have dreamed of, even when imminent starvation
+quickened his dreams, to forage in every can
+and barrel for miles around, and return home
+triumphant with a bone which made his friends
+flee from his presence, until he had carefully
+buried it for future emergencies.</p>
+
+<p>The cats, too, were there, and each pet had a
+sprig of holly tied upon his collar or fastened
+on the gay ribbon about his neck. Whether
+they were fully alive to their honors was somewhat
+of a question, for now and again a holly
+prickle would prod them a trifle, and produce a
+demonstration of some sort or another, according
+to the animal which wore it.</p>
+
+<p>But what did Denise’s startled eyes behold?
+Had dear old Tan come to life again? Surely
+that beautiful creature standing in the midst of
+the other pets, although grown strangely tall,
+and so gayly decked with holly, must be Tan.
+The head was held in the same attitude he had
+always held it when listening for Denise’s voice,
+the ears were pricked forward as he had always
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span>turned them when listening for her footsteps,
+the splendid horns gleamed as they had always
+gleamed when John varnished them, and, most
+wonderful of all, the beautiful topaz eyes looked
+at her just as Tan had always looked. John had
+posed him well, and the taxidermist’s art had
+not omitted a single detail of those supplied by
+the fine photograph Mr. Lombard had shown
+him of Tan as the goat had looked in life;
+for the pets, with Tan among them, had
+been photographed again and again, in all
+possible, and sometimes almost impossible, attitudes.</p>
+
+<p>At Denise’s entrance the pets had greeted her
+in their usual manner, Ned neighing, the dogs
+barking, and the cats mewing, but for once their
+greetings were almost ignored, as Denise, with
+a cry of—“Oh, Tanny-boy! Tanny-boy! have
+you really come back?” rushed toward the
+great creature standing there upon his wheeled
+platform in such a lifelike attitude that it was
+hard to realize that it was not the true Tan once
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span>more among the mates of whom he was so
+fond.</p>
+
+<p>Denise forgot all else as she clasped her arms
+about the figure beside her, and if anything
+could have assuaged her grief at Tan’s loss,
+this came nearest doing so. After many questions
+had been answered, and the other pets had
+come in for their share of petting from all present,
+for they had no notion of being slighted,
+the distribution of the gifts took place, and fun
+ran riot. Last of all came the gifts for the pets—a
+funny enough collection. Ned had a box of
+chocolate cream drops, his favorite delicacy,
+with which he would have promptly made
+himself ill had he been permitted to do so;
+Sailor a huge Bologna sausage tied up with a
+scarlet ribbon, and when it was handed to him,
+he took it and paraded thither and yonder
+with the sausage sticking out one side of his
+mouth and the red bow waving at the other.
+Beauty’s present was a monstrous chocolate
+rat, from which he bit and bolted the head
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span>the very instant it was given to him, and
+was severely reproved for his greediness. Then,
+realizing the error of his ways, he followed
+Sailor about, the rat in his mouth, and the tail,
+the longest rat ever boasted, dragging upon the
+floor. Charity Jack made a wild grab for the
+huge bone offered him, and fled with it to some
+well-known hiding-place. Hero, the cat, had a
+dainty piece of fried liver neatly done up in
+paraffine paper, and created considerable diversion
+in her efforts to remove the paper, while
+Leander caused no little amusement by striving
+to remove the paper from his package of catnip,
+and at the same time roll upon it.</p>
+
+<p>And so we will leave them, these happy, well-cared-for
+pets, only stopping long enough to
+take a peep at the birds up in Denise’s bedroom,
+which were enjoying their Christmas gifts of
+celery and hemp seeds, and the bunnies reveling
+in a feast of parsley and carrots.</p>
+
+<p>Some day you will, perhaps, wish to learn
+more of their pranks, but now, since the story
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span>ends at the blessed Christmas season, I must
+wish you all a Merry Christmas, and let you
+bid farewell to this second story of Denise and
+her pets.</p>
+
+<p class="ph3">[THE END]</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<div class="tnote">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_note_2">
+    Transcriber’s note
+</h2>
+<p>On page <a href="#Page_16">16</a> there is an
+illustration of music. Some versions of the epubs show attached
+audio files for this music which can be played by some ereaders. These music files are the music transcriber's interpretation of the
+ printed notation and are placed in the public domain.</p>
+    <p>
+    Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Hyphenation
+    has been standardized.</p>
+
+
+<p>Page numbers in the list of Illustrations reflect the position of the illustration in the
+original text, but links to the current position of illustrations.</p>
+
+    <p>Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following
+    changes:
+    </p>
+
+<table class="autotable">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">Page <a href="#Page_19">19</a>: “are simply inrepressible”</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“are simply irrepressible”</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">Page <a href="#Page_29">29</a>: “Denise was in depair”</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“Denise was in despair”</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">Page <a href="#Page_142">142</a>: “gure upon the couch”</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“figure upon the couch”</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">Page <a href="#Page_174">174</a>: “MIRANDA COMES FROM TOWN”</td>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdl">“MIRANDA COMES TO TOWN”</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+</div>
+</div>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76807 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+
author	pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org>	2025-09-03 15:22:07 -0700
committer	pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org>	2025-09-03 15:22:07 -0700
commit	e60246cec34a81e49cf46a0af217c842b6cae988 (patch)
tree	189dc2895831ac478f43b50d618a33a240ad3c9c /76807-h/76807-h.htm