A Texas Blue Bonnet

arted in surprise as the front door was slammed viole

by Elizabeth was probable, but what was

found her tossing the things about in her

h!" she e

Grandmother." Blue Bon

r pu

legram to Uncle Clif

n on the lounge. "

in her hands. The123 last barrier her pride had raised had fallen, broken down by that scene of the morning. Her one thought now was to go back. Back to the ranch, where there were no explanations to be made; no Mi

randmother asked,

in has behaved horridly; and I-came home; I'm neve

beth, to occasion such behavi

st go to-Mr. Hunt!" Blue Bonnet's head went down again; th

u to Mr. Hun

r; but I didn't

done, requiring such extreme measur

e Bonne

. For Grandmother had the blessed gift of seeing more than one side of a question. Knowing the girl's inherited love of freedom, rem

y, "I want to go home. I'm so tire

e going must be done decently and in order; or you shall stay, and do that which in your heart you know to be right. The decision

r-even if I coul

too late,

can't do it!" Bl

rd, dear; I do

restlessly. "I

girl I think you, if you run away125 in that cowardly fashion

, it was likely to be a speedy one. She was glad that Lucinda had chosen this day on whi

aught a glimpse of a hurrying figure, a crimson tam-o'-shanter, even more awry than usual. She we

a low knock on his door. "Come in," he called, w

en't you been rather a long time getting

n the grave kindly eyes,

come at all, if it hadn't been for Grandmothe

Mr. Hu

ng home-to

her than

he having

ell me why you

in yesterday, when Mi

't you, E

ir of very frank blue eyes, told him why,

the only one who gets tired, very tired, of the confinement of school work-who longs for the open? What

e never been before school closed, though

e you went before you had the ri

itted. "You-you know

es

rong. You see I've never been to school before I came to Wood

nd time, Elizabeth? You

to get out-of-doors. I think fifteen is rather

been very patient with you, Elizabeth. But things cannot go on as they have been doing. Do you want your class to

ht of that," B

eriously. And now, what do you su

might or might not be expected to do under the circumstances, we

more carefully to all the rules of the school,-which will include, most emphatically, being more

r meant all to the girl that Mr.128 Hunt had known it would

forenoon. As the morning went by and Blue Bonnet did not

telegraphed to Debby, be

nodded a

was a straining of eyes and ears, but nothing was heard of the low conversation that followed. Th

t turned and came slowly d

en, Elizabeth Ashe

aces," Blue Bo

g about organizing

back to class been for her. She had passed the noon hour by herself in the grove back o

was far too serious

l, Elizabeth?" she a

was-

thoughtfully, "Mr. Hu

ow?" Blue Bonn

ginning to sit up and take no

fternoon and stopped to speak with her. "Well,"

unders

ll happen again. I hav

you could have

ropriate in her case, she is not taking very kindly to bit a

d you send her t

t was one of the thing

ankin answered. "She is a dear child. I

home from school that afternoon, but

grandmother met

p. "I reckon it's al

en Mr. Hunt,

ther; he was

izabeth; but where

dear!" Blue Bonnet looked up, struck by a su

had left me in something of a

e out, Grandmother. I wonder will I

ood many things, dear. Now you must have

going t

after you have had some fresh air. It has not been the lack of tim

ter, they met Alec at the gate. "Halloa," he said, "you're

going fo

en. We'll go out

st. Once out on the turnpike, Blue

o-day is nearly over

ignantly. He was not in Blue Bonnet's room at school, but Ki

ng the fresh wind blow through her hair. "Nothin

t gallop. Instantly the girl turned, looking after him

l," Alec said,

is like-Firefly. Alec, if one might

s choice would be-and he would be content with the one w

oking off along the turnpike. "Courage,"

grandmother in the twilight, with a little involuntary s

lizabeth," Mrs. Clyde said, "and try

Grandm

ying very h

ere and being with you-and Aunt Lucinda; and knowing Alec and the girls.

eferred not to be called Blue Bonnet. Your au

e called it, though, Grandmother-I think I shouldn't be so

ore than that, dear, to make

u mean-you truly li

you ask t

uch a lot o

e would not wil

you didn't care so much. I shall have to go

k. Only you want to make yourself ready

spoiled, Grandmother. I never knew how much Benita did for me, until I came here. She always did my

hed the girl's head lovingly, "but I don't th

nnet said. "Grandmother, don't you ever get tired of havin

ow that I w

d; then for a while she sat ve

was thinking of the other Elizab

e-I sha'n't ever be ready-really ready. Imagine li

he fear you mea

Grandm

le used to write what a fearle

ike to tell you-I've never told anyone-p

me,

dragged-it was horrible! No one knew I saw him-tha

nce, dear; keeping it to yourself was

y-and I-couldn't. Uncle Cliff used to wonder why I wasn't riding; he asked me about it one night, and I ju

y tried to conque

ad seen-that. It wouldn't be any use. I can't ride, Gran

want to

ven if I can't ride. I re

ot afraid

t, I haven't

rses do seem a bit tame. I wish, dear, I had s

s Delia came in to light up. "I'm going to study mighty hard to-night, Gran

, she found a little bundle of letters, smel

e of the head, she made herself get quite ready for bed136 first; then, wrapping a gaily striped

l had forgotten time and place, and was feeling the prairie wind on her face; seeing the swayi

her coming.-"And she is to be called Blue Bonnet, our little prairie flower, with her eyes just the colo

ed the ranch-had asked not to be called Blue Bonnet!

zabe

rted, and lo

pen doorway. "My dear, do

at

er half-pa

t I had reformed!" Blue Bonnet said. "But, Grandmother, I did make137 mysel

d hurried the girl into bed. Bending in the dark to kis

r her to do was to write to her uncle, confessing frankly how honestly she regretted those hast

f it at once; the Blue Bonnet of to-day dressed and went down to breakfas

ermined not to be late to school that day. But

e yesterday at recess, Elizabeth,"

lue Bonnet fi

writing abou

a

beth!

-it's a138 very important letter;

ne,-but it brought great pleasure to Mr. Cliff. "Looks like we needn't put th

met Aunt Lucinda in the hall. "Are you just back

but I am glad to be back." Miss Clyde bent and kissed Blue Bonnet,-not a m

a good deal happened since yesterday mor

ndmother has been telling me. I am much

her aunt. "And you'll c

r, I th

now,-until I was just all round horrid that

ear; only I139 think I shall still

m afraid it'll be more 'Elizabeth' t

Lucinda actually stooped and kissed Bl