A Texas Blue Bonnet

Mr. Ashe sat looking rather lonely. "Any news from

him Blue Bonnet'

hool-and wishes schoolrooms were built without walls. Aunt Lucinda's very kind, but Gran

cript which gave Unc

ything being so different that I keep thinking of the ranch. A

y!" Uncle J

rly contented,

ted something

anything about wanting to c

pt," Uncle Joe remarked; "and I reckon this ain't any exception to the rule. She's a spunky little

f the fireplace in the Trent library. Opposite her sat Alec, flushed and hoarse from a cold, b

e rain against the windows, making the wa

e establishment, was in Blue Bonnet's eyes a delightful place. "It's so ni

," Alec

ole afternoon free; but I earned it this morning-I behaved like an angel of light-and then as soon as dinner was over, before Grandmother had gon

am

to say yes, seeing what disgrace

nterested. "G

ncing. "Well," she began,

s w

started yesterday afternoon, I couldn't for the life of me remember whether it was Amanda's turn this week and Debby's next, or Debby's this time and Amanda's next. Amanda's house came first and I saw Sarah going up the steps, so I turned in there. I'd reasoned it out by that time that it was Amanda's turn-Amanda's the sort of girl to come tagging along towards the end. Mrs. Parker came to the door. I thought she

aughter. "Elizabeth," he declare

o me at the time; but when I told about it at home, Aunt Lucinda couldn't see anything funny

irs now; suppose we go make some of th

llar for the nuts, first showing Blue Bonnet wh

," Blue Bonnet said, as the pleasant odor of t

hings you used to do you have

used not to do on the ranch

't min

pose anyone re

ur

ke doing disagreeable things. Kitty says she has

e direction of making other peo

ke Ki

do

her candy slowly; "but it's horrid staying indoors so mu

ad come down again, grumbling good-natu

he candy out to the shed to cool; and Blue Bonnet accepted the

us flapjacks. And you'll let us have them out here, won't yo

, Master Alec?"

red; "I've always wanted to eat in a

d always to have my supper at this," he said, "b

tir up the batter, and Alec, as he came and went from the dining-

y. "There's a knock-I feel it

he door; "she says as how Miss Clyde thin

tell your aunt that you simply can't come now-that the f

gh in the great fireplace, and drew the heavy crimson curtains, shutting out the

ied, "do you

w wh

Bonnets Are Ove

struck a few chords; then, in spite of his ho

h! Ettrick an

inna ye march f

! Eskdale an

onnets are ove

re glowing. "Now whistl

en Alec had done so. "That's how I could tell he was comin

he always cho

ed it. Alec, I wish

What is

and good, and he's

nd he's never cross with me.' All the same

lue Bonn

r West Point. Grandfa

you c

ould I

an you'

enough

oo," Blue Bonnet said slowly;

you talk

hink that's Delia again. I

o her mackintosh, drawing the hood over her head. "It's been awfully jol

said. "It's been so delightfully diffe

dn't get here 'too e

and rubbers, Blue Bonnet hoped that Aunt Lucinda was not g

e in the sitting-room; there was nothi

apjacks good

earth-rug beside Grandmother; Aunt Lucinda disapproved of he

as maple-syrup, to

n the kitchen; and, Grandmother,

es one wish one were fifteen again, and could have f

the softly glowing pine logs, "is a person to

-of wha

somet

ought to be do

really-ought to be

estion of mere righ

hink so, G

physica

hink

e person,

Bonnet answered, with mo

Eliz

le Cliff! He said 'afraid' was

a Clyde,

grace to the family; but I

at you are77 afraid of, dear-and l

ell you, G

am I to

n't-no

ven yo

st of all,

And, dear, have

ly. "I-I don't know why it had to come to

back from her flushed, troubled face

kon I'll go to bed now. Good-night,

a bad headache. Goo

or, Blue Bonnet hesitated a m

" Miss Cl

headache, Aunt Lucinda," Blue B

. You have had a pleasan

ry satisfactory sort of friend. Aunt Lucinda, don't you think boys

g a companion of Sarah Blake. Alec is a very nice boy; but i

e took to each other r

arkably elegant way in whic

ucinda-but it expr

l for further discussion, let th

r her in the garden. It was the Saturday after her tea with Alec, and the three were of

e, which stretched ahead of them

n, Kitty?" Blue Bonnet asked, thr

retty

y morning?" Blu

t think

there?" Blue Bonnet pointed to a low, wea

oor Farm," Ki

farm? I thought most of the lan

by the side of the road to laugh,

interested. "Let's go

"Why should we? I don't

r been?" Blue

ainly

the worst thing about you Woodford girls, you nev

laimed; she got up and

ore they reached the narrow lane leading down to the bare, lone

ne end of the long piazza

," Blue Bonnet

Woodford?" the

've been taking a walk; it's

king at Kitty; "I mind seeing you ride by with your

izabet

Texas," Ki

k of wonder. "Texas! That do be a long wa

hat," Blue B

eth," Kitty urge

s Kitty did not, the little touch of interest their

ngth Blue Bonnet had yielded to her repeated

mustn't it be awful to be so

ouse," Kitty laughed. "What

w all right," Blu

her. "My, isn't it t

e of hills. For the moment the sun had gone behind a cloud, and the fields lay gray and blea

it," s

ared. "Do hurry, Elizabeth,

en-down bar of fencing, her arms full of golden-rod. To Kitty's disma

oman smiled up at her. "Yes, deary, and these

ng in the old woman's manner, sat down besi

I live back yonder," the82 woman said, with a little nod in the d

in Woodford," Blu

atiently; "you're staying anywhere a

old woman said. "'Tain't much use going to a place, whe

ks?" Blue Bonnet as

of 'em. She was second cousin to me-I'd been staying with her for quite

hot wave of indignation that had swept through Woodford ove

swered. "It used to be a pretty wel

dford, would you go to see

some,83 never going nowhere. And-it ain't 's

see me?" Blue Bonne

though not from the same reason.

e said hurriedl

on one of the old woman's workworn

day's the

esday-and to supper.

two retreating figures, "you ain't told me

I'm staying with my grandmother, Mrs. Cl

The Clyde place! And she w

ever possessed you to go and do that, Elizabeth Ashe! A nice scrap

"I never once thought of Au