The Little Colonel: Maid of Honor

r own things in order for a long absence, was glad to lean back in her seat with closed eyes, and take no notice of her surroundings. But Mary travelled in the same energetic way in which she killed

y herself in secret. The first day she made no acquaintances, for she admired the reserved way in which her pretty nineteen-year-old sister travelled, and tried to imitate her, but after one day of

udgingly moved over a few inches when Mary tried to squeeze in to wash her face. Any one but Mary would have regarded her as a most unpromising companion, when sh

er several times, with polite apologies on Mary's part. Then as the woman finished skewering h

heerfully, reaching for a towel

her comb, as she was sent toppling against Mary s

egained her balance. "You do

tiful times that she used to have in Lloydsboro Valley that it's been the dream of our life to go there. Since we've been wandering

sourly. "They say distance lends enchantment, and things h

Mary, with unfailing cheerfulnes

t been set to rights with the world by her morning cup of coffee, for she answ

h the world in general. Even old Moses himself didn't have his journey turn out the way he expected

hantly, "and that's the best thing that could happen to anyb

ressing-room door just then, the woman remarked something about two being compa

to the last arrival. "She took up most as much room as two peopl

iable before breakfast. In a few minutes she knew all about the promised land to which the little pilgrim was journeying, and showed such friendly interest in the weddi

rest in everybody the most refreshing thing they had met in their travels. By night she was on speaking terms with nearly everybody in the car, and at last, when the long journey was done, a host of good wishes and good-byes followed her all down the aisle, as her ne

n stopped was that at last she

houldered young man come hurrying along toward the girls, and heard Joyce exclaim in surpr

was so ill they telegraphed for me, and I got leave of absence for the rest of the term. We were desperately alarmed a

, her admiration shot up like mercury in a thermometer. She had felt all along that she knew Rob Moore intimately, having heard so much of his past escapades from Joyce and Lloyd. It was Rob who had given Joyce the little fox terrier, Bob, which had been such a joy to the whole family. It

d not come in to meet them, adding, "Your train was two hours late, so I telephoned out

read for three. In her anxiety to do the right thing she watched her sister like a hawk, copying every motion, till they were safely launched on the first co

e had such lovely long curls and such big dark eyes. To Mary, whose besetting sin was a love of pretty clothes, the picture hat the other girl wore was irresistible. She could not k

daughter, Elise. You'll probably see all three of the girls while you're at The Loc

his was an aunt of the two little knights of Kentucky, and the mother of the "Little Captain," whose name had been in all the papers as the youngest commissioned officer in the entire army. She would have someth

unch, and on her way out stopped at

house-party themselves, at present, some girls from Lexington and two young army officers, whom I want you to know. Come here, Elise, and meet the Little Colonel's Wild West friends. Oh, we've lived in Ar

diality that Joyce said, impulsively, "She's just dear! She makes you feel as if you'd known her

come visiting this way, to know everybody's history beforehand! Then just a

able in regard to her choice of dishes on the bill of fare, and he turned to look at

f Joyce's and not be bright." Then, in order to hear what she might say, he began to ask her questions. She was eating ice-cream. Joy

ine to mamma to let her know we've arrived safely. I've dropped notes all along the way

ey out to the Valley. They run every half-hour now, you know. So take your time. It will give me a ch

cause he was not as familiar with her background as she was with his. A long ap

ls and polite men. Of course I've not been anywhere yet but just in this room, and it certainly seems to be swarming with colored waiters. I can't see all over the room without turning around, but the ladies at the tables in fr

nt's waiting, "you haven't g

h, you,-you're like Marse Phil and Marse Chan and those men in Thomas Nelson Page's stones of 'Ole Virginia,' I love those stories, don't you? Especially the one abo

d for. An embarrassed flush actually crept over his h

try himself," she said. "I'll warn you now.

everything I think. I'll admit that I did use to be a chatte

Joyce. "I was just warning Rob that he must expect

to start Mary to talking again, Rob cas

able, Gibson girls, would you?" he asked. "Look at

pug nose needn't make any difference; that some day I'd surprise people as the ugly duckling did. But Jack said, no, I am not the swan kind. That no amount of waiting will make straight hair curly and a curly nose straight. Jack says I'll have my innings when I am an old lady-that I'll not be pretty till I'm old. Then he says I'll make a beautiful grandmother

warning had been for her to remember on all occasions that she was much younger than Joyce's friends, and they would not expect her to take a grown-up share of their conversation. She

posite Joyce and Rob. The car made so much noise she could catch only an occasional wo

t's fifty-eight-just like the song 'Ten little, nine little, eigh

st choked her. Her heart gave a great thump when Joyce finally called, "Here we

d wide stretches of waving blue-grass. Stately white pillars of an old Southern mansion gleamed through the vines at th