Five Little Peppers Grown Up

s, then stood like an automaton to wat

y," he confided afterw

can't get over t

Jasper, in resp

ing in tumultuously. "Well, well, so this is your

g from his chair to seize Pickering's hand. "Well, what brought you?

ything's right; a

with Polly?" Jasper turned quite

asty hand, and stalked to the other side of the little room. "She's-she's-well, she's so hard to come at n

color again. "Oh, yes-well, it's all going on

ything else talked about at home. But," he broke off abruptly, "got a cigar, Jasper?" and he b

an article,"

will you bear trouble when it comes, old chap?" He came back to the

uch," said Jasper, with a laugh; "but

ve something on my mind. Came over on purpose to

Pickering. "Sit down, and I'll have one sent up," and h

head in the doorway, and sta

n," said Jasper, filliping

igars?" demanded Pickering,

ll," said Jasper, laughing;

have none of your ordering. You needn't bring it up, boy;

, putting down the coin on the

aid Jasper,

n't like the rest of 'em that boards here. They orders me around with a 'Here, you!' or a 'Hoi, t

ering's cigar was steady and bright, "open your budget of news,

ckering, with extreme abruptness, "for I'v

ocked from the table a slender crysta

at Pickering's dismay

iting any longer to tell her so. Why, man," he turned savagely now on Jasper, "I've loved her for years,

fingers working over the table-cloth, under

wn heavily on the table; "he has more sweet words from Polly Pe

to help his sister,"

fellow should hang around fore

road!" exclaimed J

ckering, with a sage nod, and knock

cried Jasper,

now as well as I do," squaring around on Jasper, "that he don't care a rap

expected of him, Jasper

one knows it, or ought to; I haven't ever

oughead is coming back?

easily in his chair. "Hibbard Crane had a letter yesterday; th

ied Jasper,

nger. It has almost killed me as it is." Pickering threw his head on

to repeat the words. "How in all this world can I do anything

one; and she'll see it from you. And you must hurry about it, too, for

Jasper, getting out of h

now what you are asking

heard of such a thing

your

always those girls around her; and she's been away an age at Mrs. Whitney's. And everlastingly somebody is sick or getting h

ldn't ever speak on such a subject to Polly. Beside it would be the very way to set h

g you think they won't like, they take to amazingly. Oh, you go al

aid Jasper, in his most crusty fas

ied to last night aft

ed way, "but I couldn't

ll

still marching up and down t

to see me," said Pickering, very much agg

sper, determined, since his assistance w

relessly throwing away his cigar end and lighting a fresh one, "and wanted Polly. Never mind why; she c

red Jasper, with rising irr

won

I can't, my

o his feet. "Do you mean to say, Jasper King, that you won't do such a simple thing for me as to sa

at each word. "And if you insist in making such a request when I tell you that I cannot speak to Polly f

in front of Jasper's advancing strides,

d

eside himself, "it's absolutely necessary for

. Then he stopped short, and looked into Pickering's

't 'old chap' me," he cried. "And there's an end to our frie

ess, threw herself against her old teacher,

look at her former pupil. "You mustn't hinder me; I'm on my way to

d Alexia, just as familiarly as in the old days,

Young Ladies' Select Boarding and Day School," "but I don't see how she can need me,

n, but Polly is a dear, sweet, dreadful idiot. Oh dear me!

it by my instructions. To think that one of my young ladies, especially one on whom I have spent so much care and attention as your

s Salisbury, and it isn't your fault that I'm not fine. But oh, don't

nervously. "Really, Alexia, I think Polly would do very well if you didn't

er. Miss Salisbury," she cried, "for everybody is trying to take poss

took an impatie

alisbury," she cried, throwing her arms around her, thereby endangering the glass

the embrace, "for me to stay and listen to you in this

Salisbury, to me. If you hadn't, why, I don't know what I should have done,

so. You are very dear to me. You always were," patting her hand. "

er do what she ought to, Miss Salisbury?" cried

Pepper do as she ought to?" she repeated. "My dear Alexia, wha

s, she'd-oh, dear me! I don't know what would happen. What do you suppose, Miss Salisbur

ALEXIA," CRIED MISS SA

T FEE

e me, Polly has gone and asked that Charlotte Chatterton to sing at her Recital; j

tterton sing well?" asked M

's Recital will all be part of that Chatterton girl's glory. And it was to b

exclaimed Miss Salisb

lly really has spoiled that elegant Recital

ong breath. "I'm very g

e said at last. "It was

Chatterton girl to sing?" almost shri

sbury decidedly. "Ver

to be stuck into that Recital?" cried Alexia wildly. "Oh, dear me! and

Miss Salisbury, with a

y's, and she knows b

stiffening up, "when that Charlotte Chatterton sings; but

ejaculated Miss Sali

ldn't be right," gasped

r me, why will Polly ac

tterton was i

n quiet disapproval; and with a part

her, to pluck her gown, "do turn around. Oh, de

, I will talk with you," said Miss Salisbury di

ld girls," as Miss Salisbury's present scholars called Polly and

om the depths of a corner easy

exia, her face buried in her handkerchief, "

"Well, what did she say about

!" groaned Alexia gust

oves, after all that Polly Pepper ha

e in and grab the glory?

ween. "And Miss Salisbury would kill y

Miss Salisbury say?" deman

sk Charlotte Chatterton to sing, and

claimed the group

she loves Polly Pepp

her handkerchief around her fingers. "Now! It's poked at

lexia

ittle bit wicke

ow. "Girls," she began hesitatingly. But no one would listen

ineffectual attempt to be heard. "Do stop, gir

said Clem, laughing, "lose you

o say I ought to have been ashamed to act so about that Chatterton

ght I should die; I did," tragically, "without any one speaking to me. And one day Polly Pepper came up and asked wouldn't I come to her house to

efiantly, "what do you want to bring back those dreadful old

athie, rushing at her, "for you've been to

lexia, sinking into her chair again, quite o

t as nice and sweet and lovely to me as you can

o be; Polly made

on't care. You are

be nice to that Chatter

Alexia with a sigh, ge

us go and tell Polly

te is t