Georgina of the Rainbows

s and the

schools which made the Cape end famous, or set up their models down by the wharfs. One ran into easels pitched in the most public places: on busy street corners, on the steps of the souvenir sh

ad of excursionists, and the "accommodation" busses began to ply up and down

resque figure in his short blue jacket and wide seaman's trousers, a red bandan

g brass bell. "Lost, between Mayflower Heights and the Gr

at every dog which thrust a friendly nose into his hand in passing. Several times strangers stepped up to him t

ng. They say there's only one other place in the whole United Stat

me he passed along, and he knew some of the owners. He noticed that the loft above a boat-house which had once been the studio of a famous painter of marine scenes was

hthouse, and had had an especial interest for Georgina, since she heard someone say that its owner, Mr. Milford, was an old bachelor who lived by himself. She used to wonder when she was younger if "all the bread and cheese he got he kept upon a shelf." Once sh

her curls blowing back from her glowing little face. He would have hastened his steps to meet her, but his honest soul always demanded a certain amount of service fro

this one. With her hands behind her, clasping her jumping rope ready for another throw, she stood looking out to sea. Presently a slight scratching sound behind her made her turn suddenly. Then she drew back startled, for she was face

laughing with her over some good joke they had together. It gave her such a feeling of comradeship that she stood and smiled back at him. Suddenly he raised his right paw an

o reaching out very cautiously she gave it a limp shake. Then as he still kept looking at her

ention, she glanced up to see a small boy on the highest step. He was sucking an orange, but he took his mouth away from

on the shaggy throat hid it, and she was timid about touching a spot just below such a w

pirate dog?"

ose the chance of glorifying him if she held them in as high esteem as he did. After a long meditative suck at his or

even if his face was smeary with orange juice and streaked with dirty finger marks. She wanted to ask more about Captain Kidd, but her acquaintance with b

galow he hadn't yet discovered what there was for a boy to do in this strange place. Everybody had gone off and left him with the servants, and told him to play around till they got back. It wouldn't be long

old man as if it were her right to do so. She turned and walked along beside him, tinkling it fai

appear at some of the windows they were pas

the dog was sitting, and put his arm around its neck. The banister posts hid him fro

y. He's named Captain Kidd bec

a song which he had roared lustily many a time i

ame is Ca

ick-ud thi

s of gol

sai

interesting, and this old seaport town one of the nicest places he had ever been in. The singer stopped at the steps and Georgina, disconcerted at fi

et every inch of him quivering in affectionate response. "Here's a friend wo

d to the boy's shoulder with the same kind of

rd Mor

you a son of the artist Morland, who is v

that

all morning. If I'd known there was a fine lad like you sitti

was as quick to recognize a friend w

his mouth just after Daddy went away. He was starting to dig a hole in the sand down by the garage to bury it in, like he does everything. He's

Kidd, feeling that it was his by right of discovery, stood up, wagging himself all over, and pokin

aiming the reward next thing, you o

given to me when he wa

old are y

I'm so big for my age I w

ith Georgina beside him, telling the most thrilling pirate story he knew. And he told it more thrillingly than he had ever told it before. The reason for this was he had never had such a spellbound listener before. Not even Justin had hung on each word with the rapt interest

rage plant began to blow for noon, a

home, I should have

!" cried the boy, in distress at this s

e of the old blue jacket to pull

, Uncle

r coaxing that that magic word

o this end of the beach in my dory and take you two children out to the weirs to see the net hauled in. There'

y said "Rats!" But the next instant the light died out of his eyes and he plu

ait, and I have to stick around so's he can work on it any old time he feels like i

ff, just for to-day,

last thing before we left home Aunt Letty said, 'Whatever you do, boys, don't let anything int

or a moment, broken by the

come around this afternoon, and if he doesn't let you off to-day maybe he will to-morrow. Just trust your Uncle Darcy for

of boyhood undimmed in his heart, walked slowly down towards the town. And on the bottom step of the Green Stairs, his arm around Captain Kidd, the boy sat watching them, looking from one to the other as long as they w