A Texas Blue Bonnet

h her mates; one or two of them agreed with Sarah that it would be

the other kind-out-of-doors. And every day, the girl's thoughts were more and more of the Blue Bonnet Ranch. All unconsciously, the longing to be back on it,

nes. She had a knack of getting a good share of all the fun

l, "Amanda and I've been concocting such a scheme-we're all101 going nutting to-morr

s shone. "It will

arah-of course you do. She says she doesn't like it, but it's my private opinion tha

rses," Blue Bonnet said. At her t

she said. "What's the mat

ok?" Blue Bo

nd by the livery now, a

a would like me to. Kitty, I

fond of Sarah a

ond of you all

r," Kitty proposed, as they came to the cor

e," Blue Bonnet a

d all at102 once, Elizabeth," Kitty pr

a coward and despised herself accordingly, she went on up the s

her. "You have been making a spee

thi

Blue Bonnet halted, her hand on the gate. "It's baking-day, an

tudy," Blue Bonnet said;

k hung at either end; there were low, comfortable chairs

e of Norah's fresh cook

king out across the leaf-strewn lawn in silence. Al

been cutting

st, no103 more than usual. Alec, sh

is not always equ

l, she hasn't been ver

-morrow a

n't k

thought you'd be pr

m n

"That's a good one; give m

it's equally good. I'm

whi

ng?" Blue B

etty ride-a bit r

hat Alec could not understand. He was leaning a

t afraid of-anythin

being able to do all I want to. It's

an that even. "Here104 comes General Trent," she added. Blue Bonnet like

lizabeth?" he asked now, ta

wered, and regretted her words

too fond of Woodfor

far as Boston, now

belongs to

k to Texas one of th

e that Victor hasn't been out for a day o

to, Gran

ould be so delicate. Then he turned to Blue Bonnet again. "You must miss your rides, Miss Elizabeth? Come to

t tried,

thinking; to remembering, as his grandfather had, that he had nev

Miss Elizabeth. Shall I speak to Darrel about her for you? She'd make a fine m

t go now. Thank you very much, G

pleasure, Miss Elizabeth,

all at once," Alec said, as

ile, she suddenly faced down upon him with flami

ho-do

don't want the horse

up at her.

e-I'm a

! you a

the reason I don't want to

t w

old

h, I can't understan

e ridden," she said; "and I've seen-others ride." Suddenly she sat down, her hands over her f

begged, "what

. You-you'll tell the G

es

coward. Maybe, you won't w

nse

won't tel

now I

w. Oh, dear! I forgot Aunt Lucinda always likes me to rep

Elizabeth?" Miss Clyde asked, wh

Lucinda, I've be

onnet that it followed her all the way upstairs. "As if I hadn't trou

COWARD. MAYBE YOU WON'T WAN

when Alec came over. He was whistling "All the Blue Bonne

he cried; "I'm

you com

ise, she sat down on the window sill, while

tically, "I want you to bear m

lau

twisted posts, and so on-ought to be publicly anathematized," Blue Bonnet dec

house yo

it any more than I

I haven't time to disc

are

horse of the Blakes isn't precisely a Maud S.-and it would be too b

sure I'

t be a picnic. With you, it's prett

ldn't." Blue Bonnet's

s have your own

ther expects

more objections up your sleeve? It's a

ason!" Blue Bonnet smiled ac

e ground. "Half-past two, then; by the way, yo

ng with fairly good grace, doing it so much more carefully than usual that when Miss Lu

t said, "I have hopes of making

Blue Bonnet109 answered soberly;

Miss Clyde sa

, Aunt Luc

your mending

y mending hour; which, in some mea

g her work-basket into Mrs. Clyde

had, as you have, her fath

of a stocking. "I wish I had known Grandfather.

tlewoman should know

e used to learn

h-sitting in t

nd granddaughter, during sewing hour, was generally of Blue Bonnet's mother. Gradually the girl felt herself drawing nearer

up suddenly, "am I really like Mamm

Eliza

e little Se?ora,' they call her at home yet.

ny a time-through y

letters? Could she

for yourself

Grand

me

tiently. "If you were Uncle Cliff, Grandmothe

"And if Uncle Cliff

e much in my letters-they've been rathe

cle Cliff, Elizabeth? Think how

em longer." Blue Bonnet held u

beth. I shall make a n

dlewoman' of me, Grandmother, and Aunt Lucinda's made 'a house

. "You know, the owner of the Blue Bon

got to mention that she intended t

nner earlier," she told Alec; "Grandmother is such an accommodating person." She looked very trig and ja

th Sarah," she said. "We'll put th

m off. "Mind you take good care

e off down the drive and out into the broad village

mpany that presently s

lose to the cart, "why are

ckly. "I invite

he

uess at; it was before

d her to ride, I know

e is a dangerous th

, Kitty," Blu

y-" Kitt

ckname, Kitty?" Alec brok

eth Ashe," Kitty said. "I know you've got so

r cheeks were hot. For the next quarter of a mile, she sat very still,

-it wouldn't have been very pleasant driving all alone-and I

essly. "No, you don't!

er a particularly businesslike thank-you-marm, and Bl

, possessing more years than certainty of temper, having taken it into his he

ent home well laden. Going back the party kept together, arriving at Alec

evening, "did you ever want to do som

quen

ld do somethi

, de

bec

, Elizabeth. General Trent was saying only this afterno

hat! I mean somethi

said. "I met Miss Rankin this afternoon;114 and she g

ether like Miss Rankin

ly to the poi

er when you like a p

better first, and see if

Rankin is so very tiresome-I hate de

ell me how much you dislike al

ect again. "I am falling behind, Grandmother," she said; "I've had a lot of failures lately. I do study every night, too;

eth. You do not want all these Ea

care, Grandmother.

is the thing115 you are to do now; an

I am, Gra

think that

bject. "And, please, when

y-when you have ear

on to earn those letters before the week was out. Before the

. She took her failures as lightly as her successes; and seemed more and more disposed to vie

sibility; and, wondering, was more than once tempted to put the question to the test; and then

, sooner or later, matters w

izabeth," she said one afternoon, "don't you th

in a perverse mood

tions will be com

hey-fro

zabe

in unwonted fierceness. "Sarah Blake, if you dare

of angry, which only aggr

ht-" Sar

o be missionary

in a silence so expressiv

e nests agree,'" Kitty

nnet retorted, "but Sara

n," Kit

rned to Sarah. "I-I'll be d

e too," K

to study," Sa

t aid to the injured,

ailing pretty near to the wind lately.117 I never knew befo

Sarah's efforts and Kitty'

g; a long letter, that had brought the life on the ranch very near. More than ever "the call of the wild" was in her blood that day. She was late for school in the morning; late ag

e street, but on and out to the wide, illimitable prairie; and across the prairie to a long, low house, standing like a little island

zabe

lifting a pair of dr

the third time I have spoken

Rankin-I beg

the subject whe

rom Ruth to the open history in M

lue. Blue Bonnet turned to Miss Rankin. "I am afraid I haven't any idea wher

ne of the other girls.

's eyes had gone back to the window. To her, the troubles and trials of George the Second seemed of very little consequence, in compa

wrong again, looked up. "Did you speak to me, Miss Rankin?" she asked;

she said, "I119 was speaking to you, Elizabeth. You will remain this afternoon to

t. It would mean hours! And she had been co

watched the rest gathering up books and papers, and making rea

little glances of sympathy, protest, or amusement, only hel

line of boys and girls filed out to the march Miss Rankin was playing outside in the assembl

very little akin to the prairie. One line to Uncle Cliff, and her way back was open; but st

p of misery, resisting even Solomon's120 attempts at c

g have you been here? Kitt

dn't

Rankin

n't k

what have yo

not to-day, Alec,

fraid there'll be something

intend to explain to Miss Rankin

te, she halted.

wered; "I've a

to have good lessons on the morrow; she would g

on would have to wait. And then, the moment the opening exercises we

understand121 yesterday afternoon th

hension ran through Blue Bonnet.

you not, unders

lness of the room. "Yes, Miss Ran

explanation to Mr

ype="