Princess Polly's Gay Winter

he long train, her eyes bright with excitement,

handkerchief, while the other grasped

y times, and then, lest her courage fail her, had turned and fled from the house, wher

n silence? Did he fear to speak lest the tears might come? It had been decided that Sprite should accept Mr. Sherwood's invitation, and spend the Winter at A

ardrobe, she had talked of the delight of having Ro

chool, and she had dreamed all night, and talked al

d about her with frightened eyes. Captain Seaford stood beside her. He had b

e little daughter wh

ma, I'm thinking, will need me, 'bout the ti

must go back to h

ng to leave the car must leave at once, or remain on board

ed so hard to get me ready for the long visit, I

he good schooling and the merry playmates. The Winter at the shore is always dull

eckoned, impatiently, and with another kis

tand on the platform, and s

aw his stalwart form, and she

andscape, and then,-why she was actually riding away from her seashore home! For a time she sat, as if in a drea

e said, and she blushed at her forge

hen, in a gentle, fa

you, and see that you got off the train at Avondale. He said this was your first bit

ied, "and thinking of that makes me feel h

me, than she is when the time comes to start. But don't worry, little Miss Seaf

She opened the new book, hoping that the story and the pictures might make her for

She nestled close to the window, her long golden hair fell over her shoulders, and framed her face

her forget to worry

used beside her seat, she

se if I stop to think, I remember that all

ou are getting nearer, and nearer to Avondale, where you can w

o sleep to-night, and post it early to-morrow morning."

ook she realized that th

ng toward her. What wa

ndale!" he shouted, and littl

at now. "I'll take your suit

little h

n? They had promised to be

from where she s

She was going down the steps. The kindly conductor was saying somet

she utte

e!" cried a sweet, fami

ght both

thing would happen, and yo

u when I left the car. Oh, wouldn't I have been fri

oming to meet you? Mamma said the l

n,' and I did," Polly said. "Now, come over to

, and, oh, there's my

e'll get seated so as to reach home in just

ened in Sprite's

grand residences, such spacious piazzas, such velvet lawns and gorgeous masses of flowers, that the sea captain's l

ened his pace at the broad gateway, "and this

le John Atherton with Rose beside him in his big motor,

believing that Mrs. Sherwood and Polly should greet their guest, uninterrupted by neighbor or friend, Uncle J

ied Sprite, "and what a dear place to

" cried Polly, "

as long as Captain Atherton will permit. He was over here last evening, and he said that he would let us keep you up to the first half of the Winter, as we ag

es were as bright as stars. She was tired with the long car ride, and with Princess P

nd these two pretty beds are

nted you with me, and beside, mamma said if

," said little Sprite, "and

looked from the windows, and the vines peeping in at the windows, and she wondered how it had happen

from it a pale blue frock, with a r

and its coloring was like

y tied it with the blue ribbon, then, her hand t

ll just in time to see the two

little sea nymph has c

ar little Sprite, I am

offered him, and the three chatt

Sprite, and the pleasant evening that followed made her

rite wrote a loving letter to the dear f

en gave it a place on the dresser where she would sure

o drop to sleep, but, accustomed to early rising, she was the first to wake. She slipped from her bed, glanced at Polly, saw that she had not yet awakened, and quietly began to dress. She had learned, t

hat the fresh air might pass through the hall. Sprite

e sunlight touched the glowing bloss

placed on a broad stretch of sand, and only a few of the res

ladioli, dahlias, and scarlet salvia, she looke

tiful it is h

emembered her

e street, and sli

in the world that I got here safely, and that everyone

that the letter that the dear ones at home

she sat for a long time watching the

knew that she should not wander about the vacant lower rooms, so she

am. Her long rippling hair fell over her shoulders, and she mad

id, softly, lest someone might hear her, "and the big gulls are fl

at home, and gran

one is really finer than the

t straight to Sprite for the caress everyone offered him. He listened to her sweet voi

on the grass beside her,

ime, had awakened and missed

alking to Sir Mortimer made her pause a

dn't guess where you were. I'll come right down to the ga

heir arms about each other, they p

approved of their merry chatter. Possibly he thought it fine th

Sprite said, as they paused

"I'll show you all

e gravel walk, pausing whenever they did, as

g in queenly grace beside the stone wall, the terraces crowned with rose bushes, and the gorgeous beds

sed to sing last Summer when we were out on th

like to sing when I'm

d play it's a dory, and while we'

thrill of happiness ma

te s

s the sky

the se

re hoverin

ing to

the sky

s the ear

he friends

g where'

above,

aps flo

he world

, my lov