Half a Dozen Girls

ould come," Molly was saying, as she and Polly

they get here?"

bringing them along. It's going to be splendid to have them here. You must come over to

l be nice," said

running them down to you. He is so queer about it; I should think he'd like to have

olly; "how nice it w

your nose wasn't quite so puggy, and you didn't have quite so many freckles, you'd be r

Polly flushed

day; you know boys have queer tas

rce. "Aunt Jane wants me to wear a veil and keep white; but I'd rather be black and speckled all over, than make a

aid Molly sympathetically. "Did y

ran into my eyes and made them smart;

s good," suggested Mol

rt. How do you use it, Molly? I'll do it to- night, and then I could start white

nk they put it on over night, and rub it in well. You'd

rance; "and even if it does, anything

ed, "What does keep Alan so? His errand wasn't going to

Polly; "she likes Alan

st chance we shall ha

had spent so many contented hours. The memory of their frequent quarrels seemed to sink away into the past, and only the thought of their good times was before them then. But Alan's whistle was heard, as he came out of the house; and he and Molly went away down the street, leaving Polly standing alone at the gate. She looked after them until they disappeared in the gathering darkness; then her curly head dropped on her folded arms, and she began to sob with all the fervor of her impetuous, affectionate nature. It was over in a minute or two, and no one was the wiser for it but the birds in the tall elm trees above her head. Then she turned forlornly, and started to walk to the h

bowl of buttermilk, which she carried up stairs. She set it down on the table and, lamp in hand, went to the mirror. In the main, Polly was not a conceited girl, nor a vain one. On the contrary, she thought little about her personal appearance, except to give an occasional sigh over her hair and freckles. But,

id to herself, in a tone

morning she repeated the operation with even greater zeal, and ended by a vigorous application of soap and water, and a rough towel. Then she drew near the glass once more, to see and admire her soft, white skin, where no freckle would be found. As she gazed, her eyes grew round with wonder, and she stood as if transfixed at the sight before her. To say the least, it was striking. The freckles had not disappeared, but still the buttermi

ked Aunt Jane's voice at her door. "The breakfast

remembered that she must present herself to the family in th

ror, a glance which was by no means reassuring, she turned away and silently went down the stairs and into the dining-room, hoping to take her place at the table so quietly that she could escape not

what have you been putt

t, but she answered, with

ut a little bu

phasis, "I should think you'd better ask why

all staring at her, and she saw a mischievo

now what fresh piece

ing severely, when t

d. Come, Polly, tell us what you have been doing to ma

ork for a minute; but sulkiness was not in h

urning to her mother with the certainty that she would find sympathy in that quarter, if in no other, "the Shepard gi

tor, who laid down his knife and fork and leaned bac

out it? I don't consider the freckles themselves beautiful; but I would rather see her with enough of them to prove that she lives out of doors in the sunshine, as every healthy child should, than be one of t

soul," added Aunt Jane, feeling that here w

and sun. Show me a healthy child, and a small amount of care will make her a good one; I'm not so sure of the sickly ones. It's my opinion that more can be made of a healthy sinner than a feeble saint. Isn't it so, Poll?" And h

en Alan came in to bring a note from Molly. At sight

Polly! What'

begged; "but I tried to get ri

low, express

she let the moon shine on her while she was asleep, she'd all swell u

Alan," remarked Mrs. Adams, as she

any; so we split the difference and agreed that I could have one. I chose 'great Scott,'

doubtfully

r soon, Alan?"

one night, and we'll have to see to the girls. Molly can't manage them both, and I'm no use at all, so

ered Polly, laughing, as she followed him to the door;

ales!" returned Ala

line, Poll; and no

shrill whistle was heard. At the sound, she drew herself into a more dignified position, settled her skirts about her and fell to reading with a will. But though her eyes went down the left-hand page and up again to the top of the right-hand one, she could not have told so much as the title of the book, so absorbed was she in listening for the wheels that would pass the house. She heard them drawing near, but continued to be lost in her reading until just as the carriage was

self up to read in earnest, now that her excitement was over. "I needn't have tried t

thanks to her mother's efforts, her burnished skin had lost a little of its coppery lustre; and her fresh blue and white gingham gown was as dainty and trim as loving hands could make it. But Polly, as she looked in the glass before starting, only saw that

ming, and start

" she said, noticing his

hink I took cold last night, perhaps. They're up-stairs with Mo

ating herself on the broad stone

t of it. I do hate a girl that thinks she's pretty. I'd rather they'd be homely as Miss Bean, and not think a

sauciness in the slant of its tip. It was this nose that captivated Polly, and, indeed, Katharine was like a beautiful picture, in figure and feature, while her rapidly changing expressions and her brilliant health added a charm which no picture could ever have. She seemed years older than the other girls, and this effect was increased by the elegance of her dress and by her quiet, settled manners, which made Polly feel very young and shabby in

you've come t

imples in her dark skin, as she answered

d Molly has suc

urt, chatting like old friends, while Molly and Alan followed with Katharine, who looked

saying eagerly. "I never saw one before. Out in Omaha

ith a feeling of pity for any girl who had never kn

out it," answered Jessie. "I think I am going to like it,

omesick, I'm sure," sa

ed outright

ck?" she inquired, rath

should think you'd be lonely withou

a is off travelling with papa ever so much of the time, and when she's at home, even, we don't see

out there?" inquired Poll

estion, Alan shot a sly glance at Molly, as

society, and is very gay, so of course she

old town and her own mother's devotion to her had not taught her to know tha

dangerous ground, so, to ward off

of tennis. You girl

get the net and rackets, followed by Polly, who we

e?" asked Katharine, w

ll sorts of dreadful things," answered Molly, wit

usin sedately. "We play tennis and skate; but we nev

any fun without. I hope you don't consider yourself a young lady-Excuse me, Katharine," she a

d reappeared, and the

all the girls' e

ed to her glance; "I'm too stiff in

ying of these two girls, who returned her swiftest balls with the precision born of long practice. As the bell rang for dinne

We shall have to try a series of match

m the rear, with a tone of conscious pride. "I've coached

wouldn't play, just because he was afraid yo

rrange it?" a

opped. "It isn't quite as much fun, but there are just five of us, and it gives us all a chan

asked Jessie, when they wer

ired Katharine, w

e and Moll

e critically; "and Molly is well enough; but what a funny little thing that Poll

, though,"

f she isn't like the Omaha girls. I do like Alan, though, Jessie; don't you? He is a splendid-

e he has been sick a

ss

fetters at every motion of her hand; "but he doesn't look as if he'd been ill a day in his life. I'm so gl

the next room, kick off his shoes and let them drop, with a thu