A Texas Blue Bonnet

she told of that invitation the moment s

. Best of all, she liked it at this hour; with the twilight coming on

er for Wednesday. Mrs. Prior, from the town farm. She said she hadn't any friends nor anywhere to go,

, Mrs. Clyde cast a swift glan

, Elizabeth," Miss Lucinda s

ntered the room a moment or two later, and

first of all,85 I should like to know

Lucinda, and I saw the house-and we

as quite

ad. She is a very nice old lady. She was so pleased when I

Carew treated her shamefully." She laid a hand lightly on Blue Bonnet's head for a moment. "That was

own on Grandmother's knee w

th, I would like to have you consult either your grandm

next moment, with recovered spirits, she was

said presently; "it was almost dark

to talk," Blue Bonnet explaine

ly. "I begin to think I

inded-only she thought it tir

da-has invited Amanda and all of us girls out to supper to-morrow," she announced. "She's going to send the hay wagon in f

to-morrow, Elizabet

Aunt L

think you must have forgotten, Elizabeth, that

without another word, she tur

se for the next ten minutes, and the time kept deplorable; but

could not go. Her coming87 was received with shouts of acclama

ight to her point. "I

ty cried; "I do thi

cinda. I-I've got

a said. "One more won't

Bonnet bega

Ruth interrupted; "we're going to sit

Bonnet com

at, will she?" Deb

onnet was get

y of wraps," Sarah interposed

Blue Bonnet stamped a foo

going over there Saturday afternoon? And you would go! And you would do it! And now-" she turned to the rest in

Amanda was the

ery well bring her alo

Amanda

o supper, Elizabeth?" Deb

only hope, Elizabeth, you got the sc

," Blue Bonnet

d put it off, Elizabeth; but Aunt Huldah'll be expec

'll put her off. You and I'll go out there to-morrow noon and tel

wouldn't do it-for fifty rides. Y

e some other time,

Bonnet declared; "I must go b

waited a moment before going in. "That was very nice of you, Elizabeth," she said a little hesitatin

perity and homely comfort. Here and there, lights were flashing out through the twilig

she ha

t w

never thought much about it-there wasn't

asn't

in. "What queer question

n gate; there she met Alec. "Bet you a big

ell her I

d. "Wouldn't

he first thing?" Blue Bonnet interrupte

ho

A fr

re f

Farm," she answered, then ran on up

ext morning the moment they met

d. She tossed her books down on her d

uess

tiful home for old Mrs. Prior l

on's outing was shorn of half of its attraction.

Bonnet answered; "I'd advis

arah who had elected to devote her afternoon t

first thing after opening exercises; and Miss Rankin believed in thoroughness quite as firmly as di

pic in the "We are Seven" set. It was hard to feel out of it all. Moreover, Kitty would not count t

didn't want to g

tty declared, "only you car

er of your dying young, Kitty. And-and you all say it was a shame-her being sent to the poorhouse. If it

d think of a suitable retort, the bell had rung and Miss Rankin

on; and equally slow about returning. Being just a littl

ch she had written-"Never mind, I'll get Amanda92 to ask her aunt to ask us all again-and

answer, showing less discretion in her

Rankin asked, "w

ss Rankin," the gir

wh

fair question,

oint. "You may read it al

earted way; but the little man?uverings and concealments in which many of the girls were adept

izabeth," Miss Ra

ad risen. "All right,

of waiting; then Miss R

Miss R

ou I was

Bonnet answer

ote to me at once." Miss Ra

going to the desk, she handed Miss Rankin the slip of p

speak; then she said, "You may

her, she drew a breath of dismay. Aunt Lucinda had said that probably Mrs. Prior would

was a clear case of disobeying either Aunt Lucinda or Mi

pupils, came back to her room after dismission, she

can't stay this afternoon; but I will t

est upstairs to her own sitting-room,94 where she was doing her best to entertain her; choosing careful

n tact and gentle courtesy that afternoon. It was pretty to see how, under Mrs. Clyde's

lue Bonnet's work from her. "You must

eth looks upon needle work

Bonnet said admiringly. "I never

as always called a good needle-woma

as yet had not taken kindly to the needle. "You can do some on mine, if you l

ou'll pick up some ideas tha

ing for all the afternoon. She saw the girl's flushed cheeks, the tired droop of her shoulders. "Elizabeth,

knew by now who Blue Bonnet's company was

of honor gettin

f the garden where the chrysanthemums grew. "Got your knife

a great cluster of the big whi

aressingly against one of the round feathery balls

Alec answered; "hasn't she

table. She brought Blue Bonnet one of the big

r-time yet, Delia?"

other answered; "Miss Clyde or

dy up a bit," Blue Bonnet sai

him in the parlor playing ol

And when, soon after supper, she announced she must be going,

ndmother suggested that the two y

eth," Miss Clyde added. "Remember, yo

Blue Bonnet's mind. A remembrance which the brisk ride in the fresh air an

nnet met Miss Rankin. "Good morning," she said

I got your note; I have not y

? But I told you I

not yesterda

asked so innocently that a gleam of a

, "I'd better explain why it w

wered that she

g home late for it, and of Miss Clyde's displeasure. "And so, when I was going to

girl had been under her charge, felt herself weakening. "Nevertheless, Elizabeth," she said, as they reached t

ard glance of mischief. "'All ri

Kitty. "Did you have a goo

ould have been a good deal-immenser-

ad a previous

had a horribl

! Mrs. Pr

interrupted, "you needn't go talking

ll if you don't behave. K

tty observed; "did it

t would be ever so nice if each of you girl

arly,'" Kitty said-"'a

don't you think

for

tty, you're just ho

ge of her desk. "Sarah," she cal

usiastically,-weighing the matter before she spoke, in a fa

ay, 'ninthly, my dear brothers' quite long enough, Sar

," Sarah said calmly, "only I'm no

et cried. "Who wants a

this afternoon after

net wailed. "Oh, couldn't you both s

o see what the 'rankin' officer' would say to such a proceedi

Bonnet answered; an

re more fun than a circus! Only I'd advise you not to play that li

ype="