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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/76807-0.txt b/76807-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e42db8 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4954 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76807 *** + + + + + + ANOTHER YEAR WITH + DENISE AND NED TOODLES + + + + +[Illustration: + + _Frontispiece--Denise._ + +“DENISE RAISED HER HEAD AND LISTENED FOR THE SECOND CALL.” + + _See page 15_ +] + + + + + ANOTHER YEAR + + WITH + + Denise and Ned Toodles + + BY + + GABRIELLE E. JACKSON + + _With Illustrations_ + + PHILADELPHIA + HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY + + + + + BY THE SAME AUTHOR + + CAPS AND CAPERS + + DOUGHNUTS AND DIPLOMAS + + $1.00 each + + A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY + + Fifty cents + + Copyright, 1904, by Henry Altemus + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER I PAGE + + WHAT THE WOOD-THRUSH TOLD 13 + + CHAPTER II + + “MABIE LILLY TAINTIT” 23 + + CHAPTER III + + AN OLD FRIEND AND A NEW ONE 35 + + CHAPTER IV + + HART 48 + + CHAPTER V + + KING ROYAL DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF 61 + + CHAPTER VI + + THE SUNSET HOUR 71 + + CHAPTER VII + + “OH, WE’LL SAIL THE OCEAN BLUE!” 85 + + CHAPTER VIII + + POKEY AND A CIRCUS 99 + + CHAPTER IX + + THE EARTH OPENS AND POKEY IS SWALLOWED UP 113 + + CHAPTER X + + TROUBLES NEVER COME SINGLY 124 + + CHAPTER XI + + A TIMELY RESCUE 136 + + CHAPTER XII + + JOY TURNS POKEY DAFT 150 + + CHAPTER XIII + + MISCHIEF 160 + + CHAPTER XIV + + AUNT MIRANDA COMES TO TOWN 174 + + CHAPTER XV + + AUNT MIRANDA AND NED HAVE A LITTLE ALTERCATION 187 + + CHAPTER XVI + + AUNT MIRANDA INTERVIEWS NERO’S OWNER 200 + + CHAPTER XVII + + NED DISGRACES HIMSELF, BUT MAKES AMENDS 214 + + CHAPTER XVIII + + A BIRTHDAY FROLIC AND WHAT CAME OF IT 227 + + CHAPTER XIX + + DENISE TO THE RESCUE 240 + + CHAPTER XX + + A COASTING EPISODE 254 + + CHAPTER XXI + + ANOTHER CHRISTMAS DAY DRAWS NEAR 269 + + CHAPTER XXII + + CHRISTMAS FOR ALL THE PETS 280 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + + “Denise raised her head and listened for the second call” + _Frontispiece_ + + “‘Why not call it the _River Kelpie_?’” Facing p. 94 + + “The man bent down to avoid the branches” “ 150 + + “They had many things to talk over” “ 230 + + + + +WHAT THE WOOD-THRUSH TOLD + + + + +ANOTHER YEAR WITH DENISE AND NED TOODLES + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WHAT THE WOOD-THRUSH TOLD + + +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 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 the land of reality in which his beloved little mistress dwelt most +of the time. + +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. + +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 +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 + +[Music] + +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?” + +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. + +The moment it ceased Denise repeated hers, and for a few moments a very +bewildered little bird flitted about the phaeton, calling and hearing +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. + +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 poked his head under Denise’s +arm. She dropped upon the soft grass, saying:-- + +“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!” + +“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, and it’s just fun to study with some one who +makes you see every solitary thing you learn, till you couldn’t _help_ +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.’” + +“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 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 _so_ much. You sort of _feel_ its meaning way down +inside you, and even if you could not _tell_ 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?” + +Ned evidently agreed perfectly, for he answered, “Hoo-hoo-hoo!” and +Denise continued:-- + +“But, oh, dear, I’m just miles away from 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, _so_ 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--_then_!” + +This thought was too tremendous to be dealt with in a sitting position, +and, springing up, Denise cried:-- + +“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. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +“MABIE LILLY TAINTIT” + + +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 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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +“My good gracious!” exclaimed Denise, “how in this world did you ever +get in there, and stuck tight fast in the mud?” + +“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. + +“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!” + +“Why don’t you ask me to take the whole woods away, you little goose!” +exclaimed Denise with some asperity. “I _can’t_ take the tree 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. + +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 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. + +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 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 _terra +firma_ she stood still to wait for her rescuer, sobbing meanwhile in a +subdued sort of fashion. + +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 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. + +“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. + +“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 will +go ever so fast if you will only let him know where _to_ go.” + +“Mabie Lilly--oh!--Taint! Taint--it!” sobbed the child. + +“Maybe Lilly--what? Isn’t Lilly your name? Then what is it?” pleaded +Denise. + +“Oh, Taint-it! Taint-it!” was all she could hear. + +“_What_ 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. + +“Yes; yes, Mabie Lilly--boo, hoo. Taint-it! Taint-it!” + +“Oh, _dear_ me, what _shall_ 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. + +“In Noo York! In Noo York!” was the climax of a reply. + +“Oh, I’ll take you there by the very next train, of course,” cried +Denise; “or, perhaps, I’d better turn around and drive there to save +time. Where in the world _does_ 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!” + +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 _himself_. Denise could not help laughing at the +figure he cut, for wrath, strong 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: + +“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, she +protesting and screaming that she wanted to “wide home with the nice +young lady dat fised her out of the brook.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +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, he put his hand over his mouth to suppress the guffaw that +_would_ come. + +“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.” + +“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.” + + + + +CHAPTER III + +AN OLD FRIEND AND A NEW ONE + + +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 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. + +Ned, Sailor, and Beauty Buttons were not able to understand, although +Sailor, himself, was not very young. + +Directly lessons were ended and luncheon eaten, Denise flew out to the +“Bird’s Nest,” for the pretty little playhouse and stable for 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. + +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 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. + +“Now, Tanny-boy,” said Denise, “this is your birthday. At least, +_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 _aren’t_ 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. + +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. + +“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 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. + +“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. + +“What is this, Sweetheart? A flower fête?” asked Mrs. Lombard, smiling +at the posy bank under her window. + +“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?” + +“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. + +“Have you got a letter?” asked Denise, noticing that her mother held an +envelope in her hand. + +“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.” + +“I am afraid I can’t,” said Denise, wagging her head solemnly, as +though she were found wanting in something. + +“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.’” + +“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. + +Denise had led Tan to a particularly inviting 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. + +“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. + +A stamping and a clatter was the result, and 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. + +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 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 _terra firma_. 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 _his_ saucy +nose where Tan’s had been. + +It was all done so quickly that Denise hardly realized what had +happened till she was startled 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. + +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. + +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 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: + +“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!” + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HART + + +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. + +“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. + +“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, 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. + +“I say! What a lot of them!” exclaimed the boy, “and aren’t they +dandies?” + +“Yes, I think that they _are_ a pretty nice family. Tan is all dressed +up because it is his birthday.” + +“Not really? That’s a joke, for it’s mine, too. I’m twelve years old +to-day, and that is the reason I came out here. A sort of birthday +treat, don’t you see.” + +“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.” + +“What do you mean by the children?” asked Hart, glancing about for +several infants, but failing to see them. + +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.” + +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. + +“When did you come out?” was Denise’s first question. + +“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. + +“And what?” asked Denise. + +“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 Denise was an exact opposite, for his hair was a mass of +golden waves and hers as dark as a seal’s. + +“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. + +As they sat chattering, a musical bob-white whistle sounded almost +beneath their feet, and Mrs. Lombard’s face peered through the boughs. + +“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.” + +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 +_rara avis_, sure enough, and shall try to induce it to spend a good +part of its time in my grounds.” + +“I don’t believe it will need much coaxing,” was the laughing reply. + +“Oh, we have laid all sorts of splendid plans 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?” + +“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. + +“Dear me, who will guarantee her safe return?” asked Mrs. Lombard. + +“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. + +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.” + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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.” + +“Yes, and sometimes we must take him out and walk him around for +exercise,” answered Hart. + +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. + +“Thomas, there goes the order-bell,” called the proprietor, Mr. Andrews. + +“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.” + +“Does he ask for a _side_ or man’s saddle,” asked the proprietor, +filled with inward misgivings should the order prove to be a demand for +the latter. + +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 lively for the first masculine +creature attempting to mount him. With an air of added importance she +said: + +“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. + +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. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +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 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +KING ROYAL DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF + + +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 _some_ 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” 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.” + +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. +_Could_ anything be 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. + +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 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. + +“Ned Toodles, how _can_ 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--_cows_. 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. + +“So you _won’t_ 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. + +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. + +Not long after this Hart’s pony was given to 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. + +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 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.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“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. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“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 run in when you can. I am always disengaged +between five and six.” + +“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?” + +“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.” + +“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!” + +“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. + +“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 +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.” + +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?” + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SUNSET HOUR + + +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 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.” + +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 between Sailor’s great front paws, he listened +with ears erect. + +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 Hero, +which contrasted finely with their maltese coats. + +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. + +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. + +“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. + +“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. + +“Oh, there you all are! Waiting for me, as 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 _one_ 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 little daughter close to her side, and answered: + +“This is a sort of weather bureau, where we prophesy fair weather +instead of foul, and try to set about providing it.” + +“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 _do_ 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 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 _say_ a single word, but her +_eyes_ 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 _you_ when such things happen? It doesn’t make any difference how +far away you are. What makes it so?” + +“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.” + +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, +and liked to reason out her mother’s words, and see them in her own +peculiar light. Presently she said: + +“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.” + +“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 the little Murphys will fit into +those garments to perfection.” + +“Why, I promised Hart--” began Denise, and then stopped short and +colored slightly. + +“What did you promise him, dear?” asked Mrs. Lombard gently. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“I know _you_ can do it,” cried Denise. “There is only one Moddie like +this one, and ‘I got her!’” + +“There is only one such madcap of a daughter,” 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, 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’?” + +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 _was_ 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 wrong one +as a reflection upon herself. It was often hard to give up, for the +days were wonderfully happy ones. Presently she asked: + +“When may I tell him that I will christen it?” + +“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. + +“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 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 _born_ +saints, and we _all_ 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. + +Just as the letter was finished the whistle of the incoming train told +that Mr. Lombard 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. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +“OH, WE’LL SAIL THE OCEAN BLUE!” + + +“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. + +“‘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 _that_ sentence! She would ask me when I’d landed,” and +Denise’s laugh rang out upon the balmy June air. + +“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’. + +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 Denise had +related to her the conversation held with the incorrigible Patsy during +the previous summer. + +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. + +“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. + +“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. + +“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, and when Patrick arrives he can +eat it and clean house.” + +“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.” + +“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!” + +“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. + +“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 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. + +“Where shall I find the saucepan, Mary?” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +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 +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. + +“Tea is all ready,” announced Denise, as she brought to her mother and +Mary fragrant, 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. + +“Now we will leave you to your many nurses,” said Mrs. Lombard, as she +arose from her chair. + +“Don’t you let my potatoes burn, Patrick,” said Denise, wagging an +admonishing finger at him. + +“Indade no, that I will not,” said Patrick, positively. “They’ll be the +foines’ taties that iver was at all, Miss Denise.” + +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. + +“They will be here on the seventh!” she cried. “The very day that +_Pokey_ will come! Oh, Moddie, how splendid! We can go, can’t we? Papa +will surely take us.” + +“I wouldn’t wonder,” answered Mrs. Lombard, with the expression which +Denise knew to mean “yes.” + +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. + +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. + +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 when it was taken from +the long express-wagon, and nearly as eager as Hart to see it in the +water. + +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. + +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. + +“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. + +“What do you think of those bouncers?” asked Mr. Lombard, holding up a +big bunch of bright scarlet cherries. “Ah, ah! Tell your 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. + +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. + +“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. + +“Why, do you know that we haven’t been able to decide yet,” said Hart, +rather dismayed at the thought. + +“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?” + +[Illustration: + + _Denise._ + +“‘WHY NOT CALL IT THE _RIVER KELPIE_?’”] + +“He pays you a very pretty compliment,” answered Mrs. Lombard. + +“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.” + +“Why not call it the _River Kelpie_? That means something.” + +“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?” + +“Yes, little water-sprites who come to the surface and do all sorts of +graceful, fascinating things.” + +“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. + +“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. + +“Oh! I say! Aren’t you just a trump!” 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!” + +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. + +After the children had somewhat subsided from the Indian war-dance +which followed the launching, Mrs. Lombard said: + +“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?” + +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. + +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 “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. + +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. + +“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.” + +“We will! Of course, we will,” cried the children in chorus. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +POKEY AND A CIRCUS + + +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. + +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. + +Usually Pokey arrived for her summer visit 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. + +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. + +“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!” + +“You don’t suppose Ned will try to do any of _his_ 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. + +“Of course not! Why should he? Besides he couldn’t while in harness,” +replied Denise, blissfully ignorant even yet of that little scamp’s +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. + +“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. + +“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. + +“Take her right out to the dining-room, dearie, and have Mary fetch her +a glass of cool milk and some little biscuits,” cried grandma, filled +with solicitude for the little girl. + +“Yes, indeed,” added Mrs. Lombard, “we must not lose a moment in +setting about finding some roses for these white cheeks.” + +“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, _such_ a luncheon!” + +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. + +“Guess she ain’t much like Denise,” was his mental comment. “But if +Denise likes her so much she must be all right.” + +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 _he’s_ Hinkey-Dinkey,” giving a laughing Nod +toward Hart. + +“Yes, and _she’s_ Snipenfrizzle!” was the prompt retort. + +“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. + +“Do look at him! Do look at him!” cried Denise; “I believe he knows +that march.” + +“Oh, let’s get out,” begged timid Pokey. “He acts as though he were +crazy.” + +“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.” + +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 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 make up a show which +will be in vogue as long as children are, and when _they_ 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 the Great, most wonderful +performing horse in the world.” + +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. + +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. + +Nodding pleasantly to them he addressed Denise with: + +“Fine little horse you’ve got there. Had him long? He doesn’t look very +old.” + +“Nearly two years. I just guess he _is_ fine! There isn’t another like +him in all the world. He is not nine years old yet.” + +“Want to sell him?” asked the man. + +“Well, I just guess NOT!” was the indignant reply. + +“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 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.” + +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. + +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. + +Denise’s face was a study. Never before had 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.” + +“Home! Don’t you suppose I want to go there every bit as much as you +do? But how _can_ 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: + +“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!” + +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 do not +know the different tones of the human voice! If others do not, Ned +_did_, 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.” + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE EARTH OPENS AND POKEY IS SWALLOWED UP + + +“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. + +“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. + +“How soon can you be ready, mamma,” he asked. + +“As quickly as I can stick in a hatpin to keep my hat from tumbling off +when I laugh,” replied Mrs. Lombard. + +“And you, mother?” + +“Why, Lewis Lombard, are you crazy?” demanded grandma. “Do you suppose +that I am going to a circus at my time of life?” + +“To be sure you are! We’re _all_ 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 _not_!” and Mr. Lombard leaned +back in his chair to laugh in his hearty way that proved so infectious +that none could resist. + +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 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.” + +“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_ur_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. + +“That’s just what we’re after! Here are six of us; now let’s see how +well you are going to treat us!” said Mr. Lombard to the man. + +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?” + +If the man had beamed before, he fairly glowed now, for such customers +were rare. “All you want, sir! All you want!” he cried. + +Mr. Lombard made his second purchase, and then, turning to the man who +had driven them up, said: + +“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.” + +“Oh, I say, _you’re all right_, Mr. Lombard,” said the hackman, with a +broad grin. + +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 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 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. + +“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., 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. + +“My soul and body, what has become of her!” he cried, in dismay, when a +voice from the bowels of the earth answered: + +“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. + +Reaching down, Mr. Lombard gave a “long pull and a strong pull,” and +brought Pokey to light, none the worse for her spill. + +“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. + +“I don’t see how I ever did it, I’m sure,” said Pokey solemnly. + +“No more do I,” laughed Mrs. Lombard. + +When the show came to an end Mr. Lombard said: + +“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.” + +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. + +“Papa, mamma, grandma!” she screamed, “Pokey’s gone again.” + +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. + +“Oh, what can have happened to her now,” wailed Denise. “How _could_ +she get lost in just that little time?” + +“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.” + +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. + +“What under the sun has happened?” demanded Mr. Lombard. + +“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 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 _hundred_ +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!” + +“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. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TROUBLES NEVER COME SINGLY + + +“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. + +“Haven’t you been up there at all this year?” she asked, for it was one +of her favorite spots. + +“No; but John finished putting it in order yesterday afternoon and we +will all go up at about three o’clock.” + +“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.” + +Before long the whole party set out for the 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 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.” + +“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, _feet_, 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +She had not been stung, but was filled with anxiety for Denise, and +heart-broken to see her suffer as she was suffering. + +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. + +Ned and Tan were not much the worse for their experience, for their +hair had been a protection, 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!” + +“What’s happened?” asked the man. + +John related the story, embellishing it, till the man might have +thought that Denise had retired in a garment made of hornets. + +“Fine little beast, that,” said the man presently. + +“You niver saw the loike of him in all your loife!” said John proudly. + +“What will you take for him?” + +“What’ll I take for him, is it, ye’re askin’? Faith he’s not mine to +sell, as ye well know, but ye’d better not be askin’ the master that +same.” + +“What’s the boss’s name?” + +“What’s that to you?” demanded John with some asperity, for he was +beginning to dislike the man. + +“Say, I know a man who’ll give a cool two-fifty for him and never wink.” + +“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.” + +“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.” + +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. + +“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 _this_ home ye are! Not fer _no_ money!” + +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. + +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. + +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. + +“Now who’s been that careless, I wonder,” he muttered. + +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! + +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. + +“Whatever has happened you?” demanded Eliza, looking up from her range. +“Ye look like ye’d seen a ghost.” + +“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. + +“The Lord save us! What will that dear child do?” cried Eliza in dismay. + +“Go quick and call master,” was John’s answer. + +“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. + +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 A. +M., but Ned had not been among the ponies. If he were really stolen, as +Mr. Lombard was reluctantly compelled to believe, for 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. + +The search had been on foot for three days when the thunderbolt fell +from the sky, dropped by Hart. + +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?” + +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 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--” + +“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: “_What_ do you +mean? Ned found? Traces of Ned? Where is he? What has happened? Tell me +right off.” + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A TIMELY RESCUE + + +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. + +Stepping quickly to her little daughter’s side, Mrs. Lombard put her +arm about her and said, “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.” + +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: + +“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 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 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. + +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. + +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: + +“You say that the man was seen up near Hook Mountain?” + +“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.” + +“Mamma, could he take Ned in a boat?” asked Denise. + +“He might do so if the boat were a very large one and Ned so tied that +he could not struggle.” + +“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 and bury a treasure, for nobody would ever think of +scrambling way round there.” + +“Of course I remember,” cried Hart, catching her excitement, although +as yet he hardly knew why. + +“Have you hunted there?” + +“No! I never once thought of that place.” + +“Please go quick, _and take Sailor_. 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. + +Raising her hand in warning to the terrified children, Mrs. Lombard +laid the limp little figure 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.” + +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 +_for a girl_, and if Pinto doesn’t just hustle _this_ time!” and with +his thoughts upon the gallop, Hart 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. + +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: + +“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.” + +Pokey, with Beauty Buttons close upon her 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. + +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 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!” + +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 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 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. + +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 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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +JOY TURNS POKEY DAFT + + +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!” + +“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 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.” + +[Illustration: + + _Denise._ + +“THE MAN BENT DOWN TO AVOID THE BRANCHES.”] + +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: + +“Oh, Hinkey-Dinkey! Hinkey-Dinkey! 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. + +“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. + +“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.” + +“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. + +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. + +“Where is Pokey, mamma?” she asked, after a little. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“Certainly, we will go down, darling, if you think you can do so, but +the poor legs are still pretty stiff.” + +“I think I can with your help.” + +“Then off we go,” and Mrs. Lombard placed 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: + +“Mamma, why is it that I always feel such a sense of security when +_you_ are with me? Then things always seem to go so smoothly, and +troubles don’t seem half so hard to bear.” + +“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 to meet the daily trials we +must all meet, and to see how you may smooth them out for others when +opportunity arises.” + +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. + +“Yes, you can do it if you want to, and you just _must_ ’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 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. + +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: + +“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?” + +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 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. + +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. + +Finally Ned was taken to the “Birds’ Nest” by the children, Denise +having speedily recovered 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MISCHIEF + + +“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. + +“Now what shall we do this evening?” demanded Denise, as they ran back +to the piazza. + +“Let’s take a walk down the road,” answered Pokey. + +“No, we can’t do that, because mamma does not like me to leave the +grounds when she goes out in the evening.” + +“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.” + +“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 that book if we took +it. What is mesmerism, anyway?” + +“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. + +“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.” + +“Who told you about it?” + +“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.” + +“_What_ came off?” persisted Pokey, for Denise’s explanation certainly +left room for speculation. + +“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.” + +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. + +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: + +“Oh, Eliza, we have come to show you and Mary something wonderful that +we have learned. Do you want to see it?” + +“Somethin’ wondherful, is it, Miss Denise? Shure, yoursilf and Miss +Pokey is wondhers all riddy.” + +“No, but really, Eliza, this _is_ something wonderful! Have you ever +heard of a man named Mesmer?” + +“Mismer? What was he loike at all? Was it him thot came out to tach ye +all to dance last winter?” + +“Oh, no! That was Monsieur Mezereau. The man Pokey and I mean was a +great magician, and could do almost anything.” + +“A mugician? What did he play on, thin? A horn? Thim Frinch min does be +playin’ horns mostly.” + +“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?” + +“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 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. + +“Well, we can’t do _all_ 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?” + +“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 _me_?” demanded Eliza in amazement. + +“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. + +“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. + +“Will you do just exactly as we tell you to do?” demanded Pokey. + +“Sure!” with a confirming nod. + +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. + +“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 _me_ 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 _that_ much. But let thim thry if they want to. It’ll do +_me_ 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. + +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: + +“Oh, Mary, you must let me mesmerize _you_, while Denise mesmerizes +Eliza. Will you? Please do.” + +“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. + +“Now you must both do just exactly as you see us do, and you must look +right straight at us _every_ minute,” commanded Denise. + +“Sure, that’s dead aisy,” answered Eliza, reaching two chubby hands for +her plate. + +Denise undertook to direct Eliza, while Pokey gave her attention to +Mary. + +“Now hold it just this way, and _no_ 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 _laugh_ whatever you do. Mary, you do just +exactly the same as you see Pokey do.” + +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. + +“One, two, three,” counted Denise, and “one, two, three,” counted Pokey. + +“Wan, twoo, thrae-e,” echoed Eliza, and “one, two, three,” repeated +Mary, looking intently at the children. + +“With this magic sign I charm thee,” droned Denise, dipping her finger +into her plate and making a snake-like streak across her forehead. + +“’Tis the sign av the divvil himsilf, I doubt,” muttered Eliza. + +“Hush! You must say exactly what I say,” commanded Denise. + +“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. + +“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. + +“‘_De gustibus non est disputandum_,’”[1] quoted Pokey, airing some of +the Latin which she had learned the previous winter, and which she now +used with telling effect upon Mary. + +“Lord have mercy upon us! She’s sayin’ the very words the praist said +on Sunday last!” said Eliza, glancing hastily toward Pokey. + +“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 her. “By--, By--, oh dear! _Don’t_ you +feel the least _little bit_ sleepy?” + +“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. + +“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. + +“Oh, Eliza, will ye be lookin’ at yer face! ’Tis a sight for sinners ye +are!” + +“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 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. + +“Ah, ’tis sthrong-minded ye are, Eliza,” cried Mary, scouring +vigorously, and then bursting into hearty laughter. + +“Faith I do be thinkin’ it’s a _nayguer_ 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’!” + +“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. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] There is no use disputing about tastes. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AUNT MIRANDA COMES TO TOWN + + +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. + +But two more weeks remained of that precious vacation, and how to make +those weeks the very 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. + +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 all lessons: to look upon certain situations with other people’s +eyes. No, Aunt Miranda saw things with her _own_ 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 _her_ 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. + +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. + +“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 Aunt Miranda’s letter had +already obscured the sun. + +“Sweetheart!” said Mrs. Lombard gently. + +“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 _you_, 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. + +Mrs. Lombard was too wise a woman to read her little daughter a lesson +on manners and morals and goody-goody conduct generally, for 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: + +“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 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?” + +“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. + +“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. + +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: + +“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 _not_ +put my bag and things on the bottom of the carriage.” + +“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. + +“And crowd him up so that he can’t manage the horses? Not if I know +it! I never risk _my_ life with fractious horses.” + +“Oh, Sunshine and Flash are _never_ fractious!” cried Denise, prompt to +defend her favorites. “They are only spirited, and John can manage them +perfectly.” + +Aunt Miranda turned upon her like a whirlwind. “Young lady, will you be +good enough to let _me_ 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 _that_ +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 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. + +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. + +“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?” + +“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. + +“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? In +_my_ 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. + +“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 +at once. They are not fit to be driven by any one! Vicious brutes!” + +“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. + +“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! 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.” + +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 from the carriage, +and fussing and bustling herself into the house. + +“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!” + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +AUNT MIRANDA AND NED HAVE A LITTLE ALTERCATION + + +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 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. + +“Emilie Lombard, how am I to get to the village to register this +letter?” demanded Aunt Miranda shortly after luncheon. + +“John will take it for you, Aunt Miranda, if it is very important,” +answered Mrs. Lombard. + +“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?” + +“John will drive you up in time for the outgoing mail if you wish to +have him.” + +“Drive me with what? Not those demons, I can tell you. I would not go +with those horses if I never went.” + +“Oh, you really need not feel any alarm. They are perfectly safe. I +will accompany you if it will make you feel any easier.” + +“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 _drag him_ 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? + +“Very well, Denise will drive you to the post-office with pleasure,” +was Mrs. Lombard’s gentle reply. + +“She won’t drive me with pleasure or anything else, for I mean to drive +_myself_!” was the startling statement, made with a series of positive +wags of Aunt Miranda’s head. + +“Oh--” began Denise, who, with Pokey, had 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. + +“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 _going_!” + +Denise gave one imploring look at her mother, who answered it with +another which meant, “We will not say another word.” + +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. + +“Now you stand right there at his head until I get comfortably settled, +you man. I don’t 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. + +“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 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. + +“Not if _I_ know it, you little villain!” cried his driver. + +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. + +“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.” + +At the announcement that she was going by the river-road, Denise sprang +forward and clasped her hands about her mother’s arm, whispering +excitedly: “Oh, mamma, she ought not go that way with Ned. You know Mr. +Blair’s Nero!” + +“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. + +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 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 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. + +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. + +What was really “good horse sense” upon Ned’s part, Aunt Miranda +chose to regard as balkiness, and set herself religiously to work 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: + +“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 _my_ chances, and if I don’t make good use of _my_ +legs in an emergency, it will not be _my_ 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 +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. + +“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. _Will_ 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. + +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 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, to say nothing of having +ill-treated his chief crony, Beauty Buttons, but went with a will. + +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. + +“Are you hurt, ma’am? Are you hurt?” demanded the man anxiously as he +bent over her. + +“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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +AUNT MIRANDA INTERVIEWS NERO’S OWNER + + +“Here is a lady to speak with you, sir. She--” + +“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?” + +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. + +“Whom have I the pleasure of seeing?” began Mr. Blair. + +“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?” + +“Why, really, madam,--” began Mr. Blair, but got no further, for-- + +“I’m not madam at all. I’m _Miss_, 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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +“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. + +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. + +“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. + +“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 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. + +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: + +“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.” + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +“Pray tell me what has happened?” began Mrs. Lombard. + +“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 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.” + +They went into the room next to the library, and divided from it by a +heavy portiere, just in time to hear: + +“Very well, if _you_ 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!” + +“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 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. + +“But it is quite a long walk,” urged Mrs. Lombard, “and after your +fright you ought not tax yourself.” + +“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.” + +“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: + +“Humph!” + +John grumbled inwardly and drove slowly along the road. + +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: + +“So you came to grief simply because you _would_ have your own way, +and would _not_ 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?” + +“He has no right to keep such a dog!” + +“That may all be true, too. But how would you suggest preventing him +from so doing if he chooses?” + +“What is the law for, I’d like to know?” demanded Aunt Miranda. + +“To help Mr. Blair keep a dog, and prevent his neighbors from +destroying it, is one of its provinces.” + +“And encourage him in harboring an animal which flies over his fence to +tear people to pieces?” was the indignant query. + +“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 to run away. Was the +game worth the candle?” and a very quizzical expression came over Mr. +Lombard’s face. + +“I never allow people younger than myself to dictate to me!” + +“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.” + +Now Aunt Miranda hated to be talked to in this manner as she hated the +evil one himself, and up she bounced, crying: + +“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.” + +“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 because she could not rule him, but who was +over the courteous gentleman to her. + +“Well, thank goodness I shall not have to remain in a town which +harbors such a beast. I shall leave day after to-morrow.” + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +NED DISGRACES HIMSELF, BUT MAKES AMENDS + + +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. + +During Pokey’s visit Denise had scarcely 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. + +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 +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. + +“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. + +Now neither Denise nor Ned had any objections to puppies in general, +or to this one in particular, and would have attended strictly to +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. + +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. + +If Denise had any notion of getting out of his blundering way, he had +no idea of allowing her to do so, and, almost before a breath could be +drawn, his legs and Ned’s were being tied up in hard knots. + +“Yap, yap,” barked the tormenting little beast, making wild grabs at +Ned’s flowing tail, or snapping at his fetlocks. + +“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. + +“Of all the crazy things I have ever seen, _you_ certainly are the +craziest!” exclaimed Denise, doing her best to get unsnarled from the +little wretch. “Go!” she cried, giving the word that Ned understood so +well, and was always so quick to respond to. And “go,” he did. + +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. + +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 _very_ 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 a moment half stunned by the shock, although not seriously +hurt. + +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 _should_ not do it, and he must +prevent them if possible. Poor little Ned Toodles could not understand +that the very haste with which the carriage approached meant succor +for Denise, for the occupants had witnessed the whole scene, and were +filled with dismay at its ending. + +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. + +The coachman drew up his horses beside the fallen girl and her +courageous little horse, the lady hastily descended from the carriage, +and a 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. + +“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. + +“Why, what happened to me?” she cried, sitting straight up and looking +at those gathered about her. + +“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.” + +“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 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. + +“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. + +“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.” + +“Ned is considered quite remarkable,” answered 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!” + +“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.” + +“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 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. + +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. + +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 _that_ mother’s eye was needed to discover +that 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A BIRTHDAY FROLIC AND WHAT CAME OF IT + + +“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. + +Mrs. Lombard stood beside them listening, and smiling at the eager +faces before her. Presently she said: + +“Which day next week have you chosen?” + +“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. + +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?” + +“Why no; what do you mean?” + +“Oh, oh! I know! It will the thirteenth, and my birthday! Isn’t that +just splendid?” + +“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 +how you hit upon mine last spring? Then I’ll tell them you will go, of +course?” + +“Of course I’ll go; won’t I, Moddie?” + +“First a positive assertion, and then a doubt; ‘he who hesitates is +lost,’” quoted Mrs. Lombard, laughing. + +“Then I won’t hesitate; I’ll _go_,” 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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +[Illustration: + + _Denise._ + +“THEY HAD MANY THINGS TO TALK OVER.”] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, and +the mountain-road was not a wise place upon which to make experiments. + +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. + +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. + +“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. + +“He has just _got_ 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.” + +“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?” + +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 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. + +“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?” + +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: + +“Emilie, will you come here and see if you 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.” + +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 misstep had been +taken, and she felt that she would lose prestige if she drew back. + +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: + +“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.” + +“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.” + +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 carriage, she took her seat in it, saying +to that lady: + +“I think that we would better start without more delay. It is growing +late.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +DENISE TO THE RESCUE + + +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. + +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 never safe to feel too sanguine, for the “slip” comes when we +least look for it. + +“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. + +“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: + +“Flossy, stop! That bag must be put into the surrey!” + +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. + +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. + +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 seen a mountain, much less scrambled over one. + +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. + +“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. + +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 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. + +“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 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. + +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 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. + +At his last plunge a piercing cry came from Flossy’s lips, and she lay +helpless in the ditch 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. + +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?” + +Flossy was not killed, but was suffering 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 +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. + +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. + +“Send her out of the room. I want to speak to _you_,” were the words +which came faintly from the girl’s white lips. + +“Oh, I must not leave you! I will do anything you wish!” was the none +too wise answer made by the governess. + +“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. + +“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. + +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. + +“Denise might have been killed,” Flossy whispered. + +“Let us thank the dear Father that you both escaped,” replied Mrs. +Lombard gently. + +“But how can you forgive me?” continued the whisper. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +Mrs. Lombard laid her finger ever so gently upon the lips which were +forming the bitter words, and said: + +“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 +calls one of our ‘comforting talks,’ and the world will look less +dismal, I know.” + +“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.” + +“Will you let me try?” asked Mrs. Lombard very tenderly. + +“If you only would, oh! if you _only_ 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. + +“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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A COASTING EPISODE + + +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. 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. + +“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. + +The coasting was at its very best when one morning on his way to school +Hart stopped to give the signal whistle, which promptly brought Denise +upon the piazza. + +“Are you coming out on the hill this afternoon?” he asked. + +“You would better believe I am! This is the finest day we have had yet. +I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Denise replied. + +“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. + +“Who is he, any way?” asked Denise, her eyes already twinkling. + +“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. + +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. + +“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, +Lionel Montgomery. Denise Lombard, Lionel,” was the boyish, off-hand +introduction. + +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: + +“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: + +“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.” + +“Oh, I shall be charmed if you will allow me,” was the stilted, +unnatural reply. + +“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. + +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 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. + +“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. + +“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.” + +“Oh, no! I couldn’t think of depriving you. Besides, I don’t know that +I shall coast. It seems so dangerous.” + +“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. + +“I will watch you go first. I am not accustomed to very violent +exercise. Mamma does not approve of it.” + +“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. + +By this time the boys were coming up, and became conscious of their own +shortcomings. + +“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.” + +“Bet five cents he won’t coast anyway. If he did he would want to roll +himself up in a bearskin to keep warm,” was Archie’s comment. + +“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. + +“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.” + +“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.” + +“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. + +“Why you can’t do a thing with them if they are high!” was the rather +derisive comment. + +“Denise seems to manage hers very well,” replied Lionel, as Denise came +up, Ned supplying the motive power. + +“Oh, she coasts girl fashion, of course. No fun in _that_! Got to go a +whopper if you want to have fun,” cried Archie. + +“Seems to me I would prefer sitting up straight. Really, I should not +like to have my head get there _first_,” was the remark which caused +Charlie to cry: + +“You want to ‘get in with both feet,’ do you?” + +“Well, it would not hurt so much if one met with an accident, don’t you +know,” was the reply, given in all seriousness. + +“Will you go down on my sled?” asked Denise. + +“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.” + +“Of course you may take it, and Ned will be at the bottom of the hill +nearly as quick as you are,” cried Denise. + +“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. + +“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. + +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 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. + +“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!” + +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. 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. + +“I really think that I prefer not coasting any more,” he remarked, as +they assisted him to his feet. + +“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 +own day was being spoiled by this boy’s affectations. + +“I did not see the terrace, and the other path was very slippery.” + +“You don’t expect to coast on _sandpaper_, do you?” demanded Charlie. + +“Well, I think it would be nicer to coast on _level_ ground. Then there +would be no real danger.” + +“Oh, go get an automobile,” was the natural, boyish retort. + +“Yes, really, I think that I shall ask mamma to get me one. One can +keep so comfortable, don’t you know.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ANOTHER CHRISTMAS DAY DRAWS NEAR + + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +December opened with a wild, driving snow, the sort that soon buries +everything from sight, 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. + +“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. + +“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. + +“’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.” + +“I’ll go right out to the Nest with you,” replied Mr. Lombard, and John +drove on through the grounds. + +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. + +“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 him to your care, for +he could not be in better hands.” + +“Sure, he is Miss Denise’s, and that’s all that anny wan nade know,” +answered John. + +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. + +It was not yet seven o’clock, but Denise and her father hurried into +their clothing and hastened to the Nest. + +“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 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. 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. + +“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?” + +“Will you leave that entirely to papa and me, darling?” asked Mrs. +Lombard, as she stroked back the rumpled locks from the hot forehead. + +“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.” + +“Well, try not to think about it any more 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. + +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 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. + +But that dog had been wise in his choice of a protector, and was also +wise enough not to abuse his good fortune. + +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 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. + +“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. + +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:-- + +“Yow prings dat yung lady und dat dog straightavay into mine store. +She vas one fine 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 _was_ a poser. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CHRISTMAS FOR ALL THE PETS + + +“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. + +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 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. + +“What can it be? Where did it come from? Who do you suppose sent it?” +were the questions which greeted it. + +“St. Nick, of course,” said Mr. Lombard, laughing. “Who else sends +mysterious boxes and bundles at this season of the year?” + +“It says New York on the cover, if that _is_ 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. + +“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. + +“Who said that I knew it was coming, Miss Paulina Pry?” + +“He didn’t take that bait worth a straw, did he?” asked Denise, +laughing, as she turned to Pokey. + +“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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 more among the mates of whom he was so fond. + +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 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. + +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. + +Some day you will, perhaps, wish to learn more of their pranks, but +now, since the story 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. + + +[THE END] + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber’s note + +Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Hyphenation +has been standardized. + +Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following +changes: + + Page 19: “are simply inrepressible” “are simply irrepressible” + Page 29: “Denise was in depair” “Denise was in despair” + Page 142: “gure upon the couch” “figure upon the couch” + Page 174: “MIRANDA COMES FROM TOWN” “MIRANDA COMES TO TOWN” + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76807 *** diff --git a/76807-h/76807-h.htm b/76807-h/76807-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d2d2b3e --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/76807-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7667 @@ +<!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> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdc {text-align: center;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + +figcaption {font-weight: bold;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +.x-ebookmaker body {margin: 0;} +.x-ebookmaker-drop {color: inherit;} + +.ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } +.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } +.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } +.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } + +.tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; +padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; padding-left: .5em; +padding-right: .5em;} + + + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp52 {width: 52%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp52 {width: 100%;} +.illowp100 {width: 100%;} +.illowp50 {width: 50%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp50 {width: 100%;} + +div.center-container { + display: flex; + justify-content: center + } + +div.audio { + display: flex; + justify-content: center; + margin: auto; + border: 1px solid + } +.x-ebookmaker-2 div.audio { + display: none + } + + </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> + diff --git a/76807-h/images/cover.jpg b/76807-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0346725 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/76807-h/images/i_094.jpg b/76807-h/images/i_094.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f369c41 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/images/i_094.jpg diff --git a/76807-h/images/i_150.jpg b/76807-h/images/i_150.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ce236b --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/images/i_150.jpg diff --git a/76807-h/images/i_230.jpg b/76807-h/images/i_230.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a4a589 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/images/i_230.jpg diff --git a/76807-h/images/i_frontis.jpg b/76807-h/images/i_frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..30fc100 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/images/i_frontis.jpg diff --git a/76807-h/images/i_music.jpg b/76807-h/images/i_music.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ec2223 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/images/i_music.jpg diff --git a/76807-h/music/i016-1st.mp3 b/76807-h/music/i016-1st.mp3 Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb93ed5 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/music/i016-1st.mp3 diff --git a/76807-h/music/i016-1st.mxl b/76807-h/music/i016-1st.mxl Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6936ed6 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/music/i016-1st.mxl diff --git a/76807-h/music/i016-2nd.mp3 b/76807-h/music/i016-2nd.mp3 Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ddbcae --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/music/i016-2nd.mp3 diff --git a/76807-h/music/i016-2nd.mxl b/76807-h/music/i016-2nd.mxl Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..df6c1e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/76807-h/music/i016-2nd.mxl diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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