A Texas Blue Bonnet

as they were on their way to school, "what

ue Bonnet Ashe. Alec, I wish you'd ca

will. Are you name

he flower. The Blue Bon

calling you that all along?-Blue Bonnet see

beca

ly fond of th

a conveni

dequate. See here, Blue Bonnet, is that why your un

for me right no

nk how I've been Elizabe

d to live up to. But when Aunt Lucinda used to say it, in a particular sort of to

emain to be see

ue Bonnet's especial friends-Kitty, like Alec, declaring it fa

fternoon a few days later, "had yo

N

te friend, of course

e horrid!-No, I

to get well. He says he's never

how dr

ed, with unusual gravity; "s

n early October,142 rather than November. How could anyone, on such a day, not want to live! She wished she might go out to

nding it even harder than usual to fix her thoughts on her studies

he heard him. "Is it a brown study?" he a

w that poor old Mr

teps. "She isn't-now.

simply ha

orld is up now

riend to her-she said s

whole lot more than any of the rest of us ever thought of doing

r some flowers, or something, now and then; but I just forgot all abo

rikes me, young lady, you'd better come up

d I don't remember one word of it. It's very stupid anyhow. Who wan

o Bob and Ben, who were having a game of tag on the lawn with Sol

ked that evening, "may I send

Mrs. Clyde turned to her daughter. "It is getting to be '

I really think Blue Bonnet ha

Boston for the night, and Blue Bonnet was allowed to

ccepted the invitation with pleasure. "I'd like to come ve

ou'd have a lot more fun, if you'

ghed. "I reckon Aunt Lucinda must have thoug

oice!" Kit

nage. Blue Bonnet was much interested in the scene. "Only some of the things aren't very-pretty," she told herself. If ever she joined a sewing society

est child, was burdened with many cares. It was almost unprecedented, her going away for the

, Blue Bonnet turned to Sarah. "What

e getting a

b

don't you understand?

going?" Blue

ue Bonnet, it's

in it," Blue Bonn

om; and you wouldn't get m

s it go

s a church missionary, and very

hey send pre

better," Sarah answere

and useful too," Blu

aid. "Blue Bonnet, let's study this afternoon; th

ou've got to keep strictly to the thing in hand,

airs drawn close to the broad west window in the dining-room, a dish of apples, and another of cookies. "O

upy one of the big chairs and take one of the big appl

books bravely. Scarcely speaking, save for a little e

much more smoothly. She did not know how often Miss Rankin, recognizing how earnestly the girl was endeavoring to do her best, h

ook down with a long breath of relief, "

sked; Sarah was n

nkin' of

rah exclaimed, thoroughly puzzled

lue Bonnet asked, carefull

Blue Bonnet," Sarah said;

give Solomon a romp before dark. Sol

-room, Blue Bonnet's thoughts went back to that missiona

Bonnet? A moment ago you we

e b

there are other thi

ing for this one. I'd like

e as satis-as complete as we would like. There's a girl

feet. "We'll go right

h's voice was full

didn't suppose I meant anybody's things but my own? I've g

ning on the light, throwing open her bureau drawers w

aces, and the odds and ends of finery th

rah asked, "can you r

re of, and I can get more. But if I couldn't, I shou

of c

ate to wear gloves! I'd send them all, only I supp

e Bo

ou can go downstairs until I get this bundle made up. It'll save a lot of trouble-packing this

ost affectionately; new ribbons were a luxury at th

r it. I wonder," she looked up laughingly, "if tha

ah said. "Blue Bonnet, she'll be so ple

lection with dissatisfied eyes. "Sar

e Bo

doesn't, I reckon it can be

hat's an entir

." Blue Bonnet went to her closet, coming back with the dress over her arm, a simple shirtwaist suit in some soft woollen goods. "Isn't it the loveli

lue Bo

rd! Out on the ranch I did what I wanted to, when I wanted to,-that is, g

"I don't think you ought to send that dress

d if I did wait the box would be

l be mor

his dress is going in th

ertainly,-"oh, Blue Bo

ull as I wish it were," she laughed. Next she went to her desk, where she wrote on a scrap of paper,--"From a Texas Blue Bonnet." The paper was slipped into the purse, the purse into the

she said, "you make me dizzy. You do the oddest, nic

as quick to recognize the tone, "I should

on. "It must be nice, having a room to yourself.

gs with me. It's a great deal prettier than my room at home-I didn't think much about such things ther

of something a little like envy in her voice. There were so

, her eyes dark with sudden feeling. "I haven't any-

left at the parsonage,-Sarah promising that it sho

atisfaction to feel that she had helped in the making of that Texas box. After this

Brazil, Blue Bonnet, who was trying to imagine what tha

amusement. "Elizabeth!" Miss Rankin e

, Miss Rankin," t

ed sharply for o

e parsonage yesterday afternoon, and I got to thinking about it, and how nice

er this try to keep those wandering tho

Rankin," Blue B

Sarah exclaimed, the moment th

eography lesson was interesting,-only, I'd like to

insisted. "Sarah, do you su

the noon train,

aty, the cook, into putting up some lunch for her to take to school. Kitty and Debby had brought

would be received grew very rapidly indeed. She went up the path to the house at a much slower pace than usual, answering Solomon's rush of welcome rather soberly. If only Aunt Lucinda would be out-Grandm

?" Miss Clyde asked, as Blue Bonnet sat down

ile about the corners of Mrs. Clyde's mouth-Sarah had been chosen for the expre

wered slowly. "Grandmother, I gave

" Miss Clyd

nd that there was a girl about my age. I did want to send

nd?" Miss Clyde asked

ings-I had such a lot. I'll go without a red

ld that serve

t answered; "I thought may

ather impatient stitches. It

ither your aunt or myself before giving away any of your clothes. You are too young to give indiscriminately, or on your own responsibility. Some

spleased; it was almost as bad as being scolded. Blue Bonnet drew a long breath. Life in Woodford was so c

"it was a kind impulse; and somewhere out in that beloved Texas of yours is a girl who

Grandmother,"

moment Blue Bonnet had gone, "do y

too sweet a nature. She has all her mother's impulsi

hour later, she found Miss C

sant walk, Blue Bonn

please, the girls want me to go for a long walk to-morro

? I used to go up the

o, Aunt

Bonnet," Aunt

Bonnet met the next afternoon. Blue Bonnet ignored it completely; t

It was a long walk-the latter half principally a climb-before they reached the little disus

before the door were not greatly disappointed. They had come for the mere pleasure of the coming; and now they rested, contentedly enjoying the

ll," Kitty remarked, ta

't any money-I sha'n't have any before the first of the month. I'll treat twice run

ur allowance for thi

t pointed to the winding road down below

et," Debby said; "do

by the road," Kitty declared. "Alec isn't strong, but h

ng himself off his horse with an involuntary sigh of weariness. "Wha

time," Blue B

ose a warmer spot?"

o inside and make a fire-

and they soon had a bright fire roaring and leaping in the fir

n a semi-circle, they told stori

gely silent for some moments, kee

in floor. "It's only a faint," she said, her hand on his wrist; "he's overtired, and his heart i

mill road-he's due at N

ow," Debby said, lo

itty offered; "I'll be as quick a

said anxiously. "Oh, Blue Bonnet, you must ride-all We

answered; would the other

like the wind

anding there in wretched indecision for hours. And yet she knew it was only a

o where Victor stood tied; he whinn

ride him?" Debby ask

e was stroking Victor's head w

raid?" Kitty said excitedly.

er known what fear was-as she knew it at that m

tty to

share in the discussion

breathed a little easier. If he would not let her moun

ighting blood was up,-and she knew

e's glossy neck, "Victor, fight with me, not

s something magical in the touch of Blue Bonne

t was in the saddle and th