A Texas Blue Bonnet

,'-yes, Aunt Lucinda,-Kitty Clark,-sh

Eliz

Blue Bonnet observed a moment later. She sighed wearily. "It would have been a w

zabe

vously. She was learning how to draw forth that particular

Aunt Lucind

will b

en a heap of girls at

t, Eli

er so many,

tain

others be d

izabeth, I

aren't there to be any

s are all writt

ike boys, Au

ect the envelope

was not used to having her rem

, lying on the desk before her, she drew a deep breath o

ractising yet, Elizab

unt Lu

the time you are through I shall be at

I'd so much rather go over the

zabe

ertinent. "When it was just the straight truth," the girl said. As she went to throw open the blinds, the riot of color in

beds-which were strictly forbidden ground. Solomon was getting more in evidence every day. Blue Bonnet had secret visions of the time when

ed an emphat

l have to be going back to the house. Take my advice, old fellow, and nev

t Lucinda called

nnet obeyed

again when you were through in the

"But, Aunt Lucinda, I wasn't through! I-I haven't begun. It can't

izabeth; your practising must

ucinda!37 I won't get through until nearly

t is that,

ll that morning; both teacher and pu

easy rule had hardly prepared the girl for the orderly, busy routine that life stood for in this staid old house. Mrs. C

tired writing those notes; some of them got blotted and had to

l, Eliz

that she was fifteen and-and-mi

look at things from your aunt's point of view. Remember, dear, s

blue38 eyes. Just before dinner she appeare

Aunt Lucinda," she said. "Will

de took

us moods and tenses with the thoroughness her aunt delig

he quiet words of comme

unknown things to Blue Bonnet. It seemed to her that they were rather serious affairs. Especially did it appear too

your grandmother and I wish you to choose y

o like them all

you find them

Blake," Blue Bonnet observed thoughtfully. "I don't dis

e to criticize your

is going to be a fr

zabe

ctising. "I'm getting a bit tired of being-'Elizabethed,'" she

t during the night a sudden change had come, and to-day the air was clear and fresh, with a touch of the coming fall in it.

e than one involuntary response. About noontime, Alec came whistling up the

?" he

h now, than

you ca

he

ver follow

caught up her shade hat from a nea

te opened into a wide open meadow, Blue

rook, until, further on, it suddenly entered the woods, where it laughe

bit, Elizabeth," he said, "and I'll cut back to

ne. From where she sat there was nothing to be seen but open fields and blue sky; and these sent her thoughts homeward. She had been two weeks in Woodford. Lo

the prairie. She forgot that she hated the prairie. Oh, but it was good to be ou

He came up at a quick pace, a small covered b

for me to get to

ave made the t

think I shall come out here every day fo

more than an hour," Alec answered.

d it; now on this side, now on that; talking, laughing, growing better acquainted every moment. Ahead

better-looking every

been a beauty at the

to his feelings; but he's a mighty ni

return his

m a little; and she really is good

dden halt; he had been fighting against the need for42 rest for the last half-hour. It was into

In spite of himself, he could not

him. "Yes," she said quic

ing the basket over a flat s

onnet declared. "It's fun, i

nod

," Blue Bonnet said. "Just a lot of gi

't like tea-parti

ng to be lots of fun; only I'm scar

do, except put on your be

ich. "But acting 'proper' in Wo

oes the shin

er, Debby Slade, and43 Ruth and Susy Doyle. I know Sarah and Debby;

, if they had a tea-party on, would be off tramping the woods

ys studied under tutors. I've had a lot of different ones. Aunt Lucinda says that largely accounts for my 'desultory habits.' But I've read a good deal. Uncle Cliff used to have a box of

ote Miss Clyde so

ed back against a gnarled old stump. "Sometimes I wish," she said, "that there were two of me-so that one of us

Sarah for your alter

ucinda; though I really don't believe," Blue Bonnet's blue eyes twinkled, "that she would have suit

nesome being in a family where there weren't any women." Alec co

t's strange how much we have in common

done," Ale

h wou

hes in the brook, and ti

nything like that," Blue Bonnet explained; "

was content to sit silent in the soft green twilight of the woods, listening to the faint r

to his feet. "Elizabeth, you've got exactly one hour and a half in wh

, too astonished to move. "A

inutes a

n know where I am!"

ome pretty tall spr

able woods. She felt that Alec was hurrying far beyond his strength; but he would not let her go on without him. She h

he open meadow before them. They were crossing i

er stillness sounded the village

ck Blue Bonnet. "My first tea-party!" sh

ne watching for you now down at the gate; pro

l. "Oh, Miss Elizabeth," she cried, "

"Elizabeth!" she exclaimed, in tones of mingle

rook with Alec

set for half-past five! Go up to your room at once-I

floor to change her shoes and stockings, she could h

opeless tangle. She was struggling with it desperately, trying to get out the bits of twigs and dried moss,

bon. And all the time Mrs. Clyde had not spoken again, but the look in

ad, Grandmother?" the

ou have been very co

e gave a few finishing touches to her

to appear interested in the decidedly perfunctory conversation Miss Clyde was endeavoring to keep up;

lightful uncertainty as to what might be to follow; and when presently Blue Bonnet, flushed, apologetic

ue principally to Blue Bonnet herself. There was nothing stiff or formal about her; a

girls who could play had come duly48 prepared. One by one, vario

e at the piano. A moment later, not a girl in the room bu

ough the sober old house. Mrs. Clyde, sitting by herself on

to explain; "you ought to hear him play it on his fiddl

," Kitty cried, breathlessly, "how could you eve

s face sober

to go to school,"

net answered, "

rst move to go, making it ve

they would all go out on the piazza and si

nd Sarah's ideas on duty were far-reaching. She was the el

ove rebellious, she presently led them upstairs

mahogany bedstead, beamed upon them one and all, urging them

olemnly downstairs in line, Kitty pulled Blue Bonnet back, giv

uld go with her guests to the front door-and no

her escapade of the afternoon, and what Aunt Lucinda

tering the parlor, dispelled any such hop

od waiting for her, "it was a very nice party, and I'm v

gone at all, Elizabeth,"

, but her face expressed both astonishment and indignation. Never before had she been talked

?" she asked, the instant

"that I very much regret having had to speak to you like this and that

door, her breath caught in a quick sob, and later, as she buried her wet face in her pillow, she told