Marjorie at Seacote

en had been told that guests were expected to

spectively, wandered out on to the front veranda, they found the

to dinner, Mothe

father,

w, Mother? Well, wh

ody else," replied

idget. "Then it must be some

they kids or gro

-ups,

looked disappointed

e met th

live at

here for t

y live winter

Stars and

mean the Philip

people who reside in thos

d that's a fact. Well, are

ey

Uncle Steve! He said they'd come down here s

You see, I said t

of t

of t

are, then," declared King. "I don'

ere and we've met them. Of course, it couldn't be Kitty! She isn

hose names fit ou

side of the pier. I don't know any more on thi

But never mind our guests for the moment; I w

said King

and and walk a block and a half. Do you know that plac

Marjorie, "but n

you to take a mes

r, what do

nobody lives there, and th

g. "We'll go, if you

hat shall we say to

doorbell, and if Nobody

ens the door, how

swer him politely, and say your father, one Mr

lieve you're crazy!"

Father's crazy, we'll be craz

n sense and good judgment. And,-you woul

ing. "Nobody cou

ll, you are a foolish boy i

he laughed and said, "Well, I'd just a

ht, my boy. Now, skip along,

m Nobody! Well, I guess that's right, Father, but it all

way, King said, thoughtfully,

oose chase, or an April-fool sort of joke. I know Father

silly! I know nobody lives there, for I passed

e corner toward the house in question. Sure enough, the

all right!" said King

d Marjorie, looking at the luxuriant vin

half-silly at the performance. In a moment

d King. "Nobody

," said Midget.

aven't any right to go into

dget urged him inside. They stood in the middle of a pretty

still clasping King's hand tightly,

ded a cheery voice, but t

d he said, humorously, "I se

couldn't judge where it came from. Also it sounded very gay and laughing,

n King, sturdily. "He says he want

a laughing face appeared, followed by a man's active body. At the same time

in Et

sin

in glee as they recogni

to startle you so, but it's the joke of your father and y

e, cuddling in Cousin Ethel

d. "I wasn't scared, but

in Jack slapped King on the shoulder and said, "You're a

t?" he inquired, an

cote, we're going to stay here for a while. In fa

house for the summer, and Father knew i

to call Midget by this old-fashioned name. "And now, if we were properly invited

eaking in upon her, "you're the

s is the first time we've been invited out t

ynard house, and Midget le

ou come?" s

et to rights yet, though I brought my own s

u and Father fi

your house, your father telephoned over here, and we prepared to receive you in that crazy fa

t seemed a little,-a l

But that house is so overhung with creepers it makes you

ounds horrid! Makes you think of

you name it for us. I can't li

Bower. That sounds

names! Bryant Bower it is. What's th

prettier," sugge

ards, especially the younger generation of them," and though Cousin Jack spoke laughing

ye do, Helen? Here we are! We're returning your youngsters right side up with care. Why, look who's

afterward they all sat on the wide veran

Cousin Ethel, as she leaned back

sk me, I think it's too restful. I like a plac

name for King, an

ere, Cousin Jack, if

I'll try to make some. Let's see,

d Marjorie. "Next

n; and an especially good day for a

r us to choose?

u think of the very nicest sort of celebrations

rty or a picnic. How many people do you mean, Co

Cousin Jack looked so woe-begone that they almost thought him in earnest. "You kno

!" laughed

children, for the children, and by the children! How

"hardly any, in fact,

t sounds interestin

its six members, and Cousin Jack declared that was jus

the woods, which I see sticking up over there, and th

utiful!" said Marjorie,

e?" said Mr. Maynard. "You're t

picked out the glorious Fourth for my own little racketty-packetty party.

p, Cousin Jack?

nd tucker, if you like, but I like

n that. I me

ng. "She always wants some cheesecloth wobbed a

es, I rather guess

lue sash, and a liberty cap,"

tion affair, and you, Mehitabel, can be the Goddess of Liberty, or Miss Columbia, whichever you li

amond, who had been allowed to stay up

, and you shall be a dear little Goddess of Liberty all your own s

be?" asked Cousin Ethel, re

er beyond the pier," said

we'll have a sand-pail picnic. Didn't y

the Emblem

of sandwiches and cakes, and a pail of lemonade,

ng. "Shall I in

o'clock, and we'll depart at once. Tell them all

catch fir

-pistols or bombs or any firearms. I'm not going to have a

eem to be all settled, I think you young patriots must skip to bed. Your

dget, gayly. "Cousin Jack says

ts, the brother and sister, a

!" exclaimed King, a

e fun on the Fourth! Oh, I was so sur

will like Cousin

d Hester, too. G

al compliment, King pulled off her hair-ribbon

ionate tweak, and with these goo