Blue Bonnet's Ranch Party

xt five minutes," declared Blue Bonne

g along the smooth white road between the railway station and the ranch, Grandmother Clyde and the girls in a buckboard drawn by sturd

ink and white; her eyes very shiny, her lips quivering. This home-coming was having an effect she had not dreamed of. Eve

out of the chaparral, hurled themselves on the big gate and held it open, stan

m something." Hurriedly seizing a half-eaten box of candy from Amanda's surp

they cried in a duet, thei

aimed Kitty, "-did you h

else here. They meant 'Many thanks, Ma'am.' Yo

"It sounds like a title-'my lady'

a'-doesn't it just suit her

Se?ora,' too?" asked Debby, "-

e eternal fitness of

aid Mrs. Clyde. "When you're in Texas

can while I'm here," remarked Sarah.

nation went up fr

e," scolded Kitty. "We didn't come to the Blue B

re of those books,"

gh my-pores, is welcome to stick," said

. "Your house is a good way from th

iles," Blue B

e owning all outdoor

s and the cattle ranged through two or three counties. But now we keep a lot of fence-riders, who don't do a thing

r?'" Sarah asked, as they rattle

etter not insult us by calling it a creek

name," said Sarah, making a me

et, "behold the 'casa' o

started out as a one-roomed, Spanish 'adobe,' and, as the needs of the family demanded it, an ell had been added here, a room the

" exclaimed Kitty. "It looks as if a fat, Spanish

ho and his wife and the children and-oh, everybody!" Bl

as Miguel raced the mustangs up to the veranda steps, where

Blue Bonnet leaped from the wheel

ita," said Blue Bonnet, helpi

ed Benita in Spanish. Then, in spite of her sti

woman. "Thank you, Benita," she said. "M

a!" breathed B

et, presenting Mrs. Clyde to the entire circle, "an

only American cowboys on the ranch; while the Mexic

responding to this vociferous welcome. Blue Bonnet set them all an example: she had a smile and a word for every man, woman and child

ys in New York had been profitably spent was fully attested now when the contents of the many trunks were displayed. There were ribbons,

ir natural guardians and protectors. As yet they had not acquired a Yankee sense of independence, nor had they lost the soft Southern courtesy inherent in their race. They came up one at a time to Blue Bonnet as she stood at the top of the steps, her gifts in a great heap beside her; and each one, as he recei

c. "Blue Bonnet is a princess just returned to her c

ind-mills?" suggested Kitty, with a mocking glance

igned n

Clyde, softly, "-t

reen and softly undulating, in front of the veranda, and watched t

felt like pushing back the houses in Wo

ho complained that people in cities live too close together and not near enough," she said, p

asked Debby, snuggling up to Amanda.

"I never knew what lonesome me

soon cam

nita. It was like Blue Bonnet not to give the mat

ave the little Se?ora's room," she said, throw

tered it with

ell to a huge airy room, seemingly all windows. It was Blue Bonnet's old nursery, and, next to the living-room, the

f bedtime frolics and long talks after light

party like this going on, you're mistaken. I say-" here she turned on Sarah, "-you've always wanted a bed-ro

ylight hours, accepted the proposition eagerly. May

lling to give it up?" s

ulous stare returned: "Are you

t Blue Bonnet dismissed her lurking suspicion that Sa

tet who shared the nursery. It was a long time before they subsided. There were so many things to be observed and discussed in that delightful place. Uncle Joe Terry had ha

their hair. Every nationality and every degree of mutilation was there represented, and the effect was funny beyond description. On the broad mantel-shelf over the stone fireplace reposed drums, merry-go-rounds, trumpets and toy horses; while on the hearth

"that we weren't any

ay. She had not had a word alone with Uncle Cliff for days, and had exchanged only a hurrie

at came laden with sweet scents from off the prairie. Blue Bonnet

lizabeth, I mean,"

h Ashe was left behind in Massachusetts, and

ly. "Elizabeth came mighty hard. It didn't fit, some

means just what I feel, Uncle Joe," replied Blue Bonnet, perching

ignificant glance that wa

all it stood for. I meant that too-then. But I feel different now. It isn't that I'm sorry I went away; I

. "Reckon we're most of us

been through doesn't count for much. We all have to bliste

ll silent f

Solomon?" asked Bl

nch," replied Uncle Joe. "I saw them bo

and a moment later the two animals came racing across the yard, tumbling over each other in their eagerness to be first up the steps. Blue Bonnet

id you say?" la

under Don's muzzle; his soft eyes met hers affectionately. "I'm going to put Solomon in your charge-understand? You must warn him about snakes, Don,-and don'

ed Blue Bonnet, her hospitable instinc

t have to waste any time to-morrow. I never saw a boy so keen about ranch-life as he is.

his first glimpse of the West. I hope he gets strong

l go back to Massachusetts as husky as Pinto Pete, if he'll ju

him," declared Blue Bonnet. "And Sarah Blake wil

erm disease they have back there in Massachus

she, as she said good-nigh

or the summer by a neighboring ranch, was mixing something mysterious in a wooden bowl, while her granddaug

That's a pretty step, Juanita,-w

, showing all her white teeth in a d

ining-room and then gave her a hearty squeeze. "Everything's just lovely, you old dear," s

the Se?orita is pleased, old Benita

ff there in Woodford. I had to make

of distress. "But Benita will

around Grandmother t

is kind-"

d Blue Bonnet. "I

ers, that it seemed only about five minutes before they were awakened at daybre

e-like cries rent the ear, and punctuated the incessant bo

y from four white beds, and four voices in cho

lying, eyes wide with terror. Straight to Blue Bonnet's bed the spectre fle

ailed the newcomer; and then

There aren't any Indians around her

e house and the stables seemed to be filled with a howling, whirling mass of men. In the gray half-light of early dawn she could recognize no one. Suddenly a fresh explosion set the wi

about her. Uncle Cliff's voice giving an order came to them from outside. Blue

m, soothing tones, when Uncle Cliff replied: "

on the girls. "Wh

ly greater than that from without as

urth of