A Texas Blue Bonnet

ings; ten minutes more and they wo

w York; from there on she had travelled alone. Now that she

wo and pulled on her gloves; then the porter came to brush her off, smiling sympathetica

to gather up bundles and wraps; outside, as the train drew into the great depot, pandemonium seemed the order of th

ctively that it was Aunt Lucinda the moment she caught sight of the

" she said, stoppin

she added, quickly, flushing over the ridiculousness of her r

u have come to us, my dear," Miss Clyde answere

very, very long way off, indeed. She followed her aunt down the aisle

ry silent, but Miss Clyde thought her interested in the vie

portunity to study the slende

verything else, Aunt Lucinda

zabeth. There, that is our last stop18 before Woodford.

, the coachman, smiled welcomingly at Blue Bonnet. "'De

y fashion. "Did he know Mamma, Aun

more than twenty years, Eli

tation. Blue Bonnet felt herself the object of interes

s well, when contrasted with the little bare prairie town at home. She quite enjoyed the slow, leisurely drive in the comfortable old carry-all; she could not imagine any one dashing up that sober quiet street. And

showed in her own. "Your mother was very fond of the old place, Elizabe

aiting, and to her Blue Bonne

se. "It is very good of your uncle to spare you to us. I could hardly believe the g

cry. And why in this first moment of coming-coming home, Aunt Lucind

er's. It was, indeed, a charming room, with its wide, cushioned window-seats, its deep, open fireplace, its pretty light furniture and delicate draperies. The

he said good-bye to Uncle Joe and old Benita and Don; had forgotten everything but the garden lying, half in shade,

rm a thick screen. Blue Bonnet wondered what was on the other side of that row?

ot come yet, but she had a fresh white waist in her suit-case. Presently she came slowly

n those stairs again," Mrs. Clyde said; "you come

is all on one floor." She went to stand by the open front door. Across the lawn and the bro

neighbors, Grandmother.21 At home our nearest neighbors were twenty m

e found; merely another broad green lawn centering itself about an old creeper-covered brick house. Following the path beside the trees, she came to a low picket-fence, over which ran a stil

rning,"

e Bonnet answered.

es

ery prett

e never thought much about it." He came nearer, whistling to a pair of fox-terrier puppies,

m," Blue Bon

le chaps," the22 boy said, and he b

net declared warmly, patt

politely, wagging their

Bonnet said regretfully. "I don't know

th mine." The boy h

izabet

Trent. You'r

ue Bonnet

n beside the stile. "You won't mind my making m

the hands clasped under his head, how big and b

about the prairies." She told him of the great open sea of prairie la

y and leave it all! What a shame!-but y

like it here

row a stone in any direction withou

nt to brea

etim

chin in hand. "I wonder if you'd call it

u want

es

d she felt for the moment

he said; then he smiled,-"I don't know but that I'll

et said, "as long as you

go to school?"

it a nice

a good

u go t

girls go to it, as their father

er been t

all be pleasant ones. Going to school isn't all joy, and neither is it a

. I want to know-o

up. "Do you like horses? But o

rses," Blue Bon

m to me last birthday." Alec led the way across t

se in style. From their comfortable stalls th

them. "They're just like

course our horses aren't all the same color, any more than our houses are; but they've all

ched out a hand to smooth the glossy head turned towards

horse with25 a low whinny of welcom

old fellow," the boy said,

oes well?" Blu

the

that?" the

day, only I don't know whether he'd stand

-think I'd better be going

hasn't it?" Alec said. "They

Blue Bonnet asked, as the

will," Ale

cross the lawn and through the garden to the

g very like annoyance in her voice,

r to the next place most

been with

Aunt L

ttended to your

Aunt L

n to you

"No, Aunt Lucinda; did you exp

s with me you shall have your first lesson. I consider it most necessary t

to breakfast that morning. Now, with the noon sunshine flooding it, and with Aun

day before and carried it to the big empty closet. Then she turned to the open trunk,

shoulder. "We will dispose of the things alr

Blue Bonnet far from at peace

which drawer you put things in; or whether the quilt is on just so. And I haven't been idling my morning, I've bee

t tap on her door; then the door

he said. "You vanished so mysteriously right after br

t for a moment to see the garden-it was so good to get out after being shut up in the cars f

ear; but, I am afraid,

are so many people a

can be lonely in the m

e her. "I hope you like your room, Elizabeth.

om, saw it with new understanding. "I-I28 love it,"

a pleasant m

-doors. Grandmother,"-she looked up questioningly,-"ha

ngs, El

, and learning to do things about th

e to do with your m

ticular, just b

oons be long enou

really long enough for it, Gra

tame you down a bit before then. As for your studies, your aunt is anxious to learn what

d, "besides this afternoon-I ought to get to kno

going to get to kn

hadn't thought of that; bu

that Woodford covers a fairly wide area

d Don; he went everywhere at home with

er where he is, dear; and no

ake has come to call upon you. She is the minister's daughter, a most estimable young person. I sincerely hope you may become friends." She scanned Blue

using on the landing long enough to declare under her brea

inative and30 decidedly conscientious. She very much disliked calling upon strangers,

appeared. "Mrs. Clyde asked me to come a

. "Would you mind coming outsid

forward a couple of wicker armchairs. "Now I can see what you

ather uncomfor

will be friends," Blue Bonnet we

nervously. "I like-keeping house

I don't mean those kinds of things. Do

ared. "S

e-tiresome things can't be

w philosoph

ls here like that?"

Clark isn't very do

ainted with Kitty Clark as soon as possible. "W

e has a very pretty garden," she said, politely, as they

d flowers with a generous hand. "And now, what sh

going," Sar

just come!" Blue

all," Sarah said soberly; and inde

ther exhausting, and yet she thought she should like Elizabeth Ashe.

to the side piazza, where her mother sat32 readin

dinner time

iss Clyde said, rather anxiously. "She is utterly irres

coming now," M

nt after, Blue Bonnet, hatless, her white dress soiled

dog! I bought him from a boy up the

o do with him, Elizab

specimen now, isn't he? But wait until he's had a bath and a few

, crouching at her feet beseechingly. He was truly the forlornest

think those 'good meals' cannot begin too soon, Eliza

SHE CRIED. 'I'

always?" the

later," her grandmother told h

way down to the stable, she stooped to pat the dog's rough head. "Solomon

ype="