Blue Bonnet's Ranch Party

s must be his last day at the ranch. There were expressions of regret from everybod

t it isn't fair to Uncle Bayard for me to be away any longer. Those twelve boys keep things mo

Blue Bonnet remarked. "It's been pretty warm to drive to Jona

ices in the open air and all-well, it has spoiled me for stuffy meeting-houses. Can't you all come up and stay o

so many of us," she said at length. Camping out in Texas was full

ibility, Grandmother," Blue

t young lady's method of taking responsibility was n

"You can have Pancho, too, if you like,-he cooked on the round-up this sprin

net. "A wrangler looks after the horses, Sarah

go as simply as possible. Surely

here has to be a cook, and somebody to pitch

e used to camp out in the Maine woods, and we girls took turns cooking and washing dishes, while the boys gathered wood for th

Cooking and washing dishes did

ramel cake," a

cially for breakfas

t things for break

said Knight. "It is pretty cool in the mornings and ev

f Grandmother will only go

ecision until she had held a serious

habits of extravagance?" she asked, smiling inwardly

what you call 'extravagance.' According to my defi

summer. It must cost something to keep up a big place

nter-when she put the poor child on an allowance. Three dollars!" Mr. Ashe made a comical grimace. "Why, Mrs. Clyde, I've been putting by Blue Bonnet's profits every year for nearly sixteen years, and they've been pretty tidy sums

taught the value of money, just the same

ink. She gives more people a good time on it than any one I know. You never k

he is dear and warm-hearted and generous like her mother, but a little heedles

mited respect for her strength of character; but also his opinion as to why she was still Miss Clyde. "Maybe I've a queer mental twist," he went on audibly, "but that's just what I don't see the need of. Poor folk have to wor

argument with a worthy rejoinder, she was confident. "Don't you fear that though

ants for herself, I'll believe she's extravagant. As long as she spends only what she

ravagance? She is doing so much for the girls

're just the right age to enjoy it most. A few years late

but perhaps it was not her place to "reason why." The conversation e

own by jack-beans which held together the would-be rustic structure, had once been the pride of Blue Bonnet's heart, but now, neglected-as was the garden since the advent of the ranch party-had become the residence of a large and growing family of inse

he could answer she exclaimed-"Uncle Cliff, you must help us out.

ly, "how can you say that when we are hav

ue Bonnet admonished her. "It's yo

'll put an end to your suspense. The Queen Mother says

onnet, and the cry was

r on their way to the house, stopp

floor," said Blue Bonnet cordially.

row's about?" asked Knig

t a camping place and have everything ready for you." He had been awaiting a favorab

et enthusiastically, reading Alec like a book. "B

some of the boys to cut out a bunch of beef

ed you," remonstr

to be needed as it is t

more than we need

to tyrannize over in camp. How many

e-and they know

right," said Uncle Clif

tiously. "I think we had better begin t

aid Blue Bonnet, "is to ma

tonishment. "Do you prop

unting Alec and Knight, a pound won't go very f

tons of angel-cake and fifty gallon

put those marshmallows, you'll see that I'm the most prac

he said later, as they two sat discussi

" Mrs. Clyd

different! I hope our trip isn't going to be too hard for you. I promised Aunt Lucinda to

in our ways.' Camp-life is certainly a good corre

"It would never suit Aunt Lucinda.

teen yea

must give one a very-solid feeling, to be as sure about e

et sling; Alec with his blankets in a business-like roll behind his saddle, and both boys provided with a "snack of lunch" to eat on the wa

e air was fresh and sweet, Comanche very tractable, and everybody in the best of humors. The girls returned to the ranch full of plans for the camping trip, and for the rest of the day, and for several days following, ma

e linen drawn-work on a camping-trip! Next she'll be

handkerchiefs, too?" Sarah's look wa

id Blue Bonnet, "but we'll stretch a point for Sarah's s

e than the many boxes of pinoche and marshmallows that Blue Bonnet packed

supplies in one of the big cook-wagons used on the round-ups; with help from Alec and Knight he

ue Bonnet, "for I should like to take Juanita along. It's a pity to se

ow?" Kitty loo

ent of the lasso, and she had kept the secret, though she burned to tell

ut of her hostess. Suspecting the trend of little Miss Why's thoughts, Blue

xclaimed all fo

speak, Sarah?"

re listening," rep

l attachment for each other," said Blue Bonnet

nt then," laughed Kitty, "-so

did some hasty calculating, "I had better stay with Grandmother-it's smoother riding with

rney before noon. As they gathered about the lamp-lighted table for brea

er I get

y yellow ca

qu

kfast before we went to bed," said Sarah. "Thank you, Mr

e Bonnet. "You can jus

t's quite t

straight to

rth getting up for later. Sunrise on the prairie, Kitty, makes the Massac

en Uncle Joe raised his quirt and pointed

lue Bonnet drew a deep breath. The rolling prairie with the long grass stirred by the breeze; the pe

ountains, and being less frequented than the county road, was rough and full of surprises in the way of snakes and insects. Sarah was just beginning to wonder if she could survive Comanche's next fright, when a lo

ye

d the cheery summons of the Twickenh

the trees in whose shade they had been w

y called from the front. "An

of delight. That erect little figure, just about her own size, with the two pi

of the girls in turn. But as soon as she met Blue Bonnet's eye, full of an eager welcome, she rode straigh

k the outstretched hand in both her own and gazed

other girls, and after a short but merry halt they prepared to move on.

were starting. "Do you mind changing places with m

would have smiled at ordinarily, but now regarded with sober eyes. The other girls, without giving a thought to her natural wish for a few words with Carita had ridd

rest?" she whispered

Blue Bonnet's, smiled with amusement as she rep

lue Bonnet mount Comanche, she rode back and joined her. T

rk face was alight with pleasure, "-to

f much-darned stocking. On her head was an old felt sombrero, sadly drooping as to brim and dented as to crown, secured under her chin by a piece of black elastic. Below it her small face, brown and freckled as it was, was not without a singular attraction. Her eyes were big and soft,

come?" Blue Bo

tell you how much it has meant to me-your letters, and the dress and the Christmas box and everything. I can't begin to tell you the-difference they have made. We've a

certainly worth while when it could give such pleasure. If Miss Lucinda could have read the girl's mind at this moment, she might have felt some doubts as to her niece's ability to prof

it!" Carita went on in her eager way. "And I belie

e'd have had a pretty spill if it hadn't been for him. But as 'all's well

he best. But father never has the least bit of doubt." Then with a quick return of animation-"I know you'll love the camp. Knight has picke