The Poor Little Rich Girl

s Gwendolyn stared at the line, the reflection of her small face in the mirror grew suddenly all white, as if some rude hand had reached out and brushed away th

athed, aghast. T

tepped forward again, and, straightening her slender little figure to

no longer any reason to hope! The worst was true! She had drawn the tiny line across the edge of the bevel the evening bef

rsery, stumbling once or twice as she made toward the long cushioned seat that stretched the whole width of the front windo

mbossed calendar that stood on the top of her gold-and-white writing-desk and tallied off another of the days that intervened

ur in the school-room followed-an hour of quiet study, but under the watchful eye of the governess. Next, Gwendolyn changed her dressing-gown for a riding-habit, and with Jane holding her by one small hand, and with Thomas following, stepped i

r shoulders, and her three-cornered hat working farther and farther back on her bobbing head, and tugging hard at the elastic under her dimpled chin. After nearly an hour of this walk, trot and canter she was very rosy, and quite out of breath. Then

all the longing of months. The realization, so sudden and unexpected, wa

ave place to apprehension. "I wonder what's the matter wit

mirror, for nurse or governess to see and question. And it was advisable that no one should learn the unhappy truth. Her hand

sill, almost filling the opening with his tall figure. As a rule he wore his very splendid footman's livery of dark blue coat

that Gwendolyn was alone, "Would you mind tellin' her when

ought. "A-a walk?" she

that I'll be back in time to go-well, she knows

. I'm-I'm going with you." Her riding-hat lay among the dainty pink-an

!" exclaimed Th

with the hat-elastic. "I'm a whole year olde

ifted Thomas's lip. "Oh

spicion anything?) "Yes. And you take the dogs out to

"I couldn't take you if you was grown-up," he asserted firmly, blocking her adv

indecision, then pulled off the hat, tossed it

loor to trapeze again. His wings were half lifted from his little body-the bright yellow of her own hair. It was as if he were ready for flight. His round black eyes were constantly turned toward th

; made a slow survey of th

ng!" she

ion of the school-room. Hastily she shook out the e

o lessons this afternoon, Gwend

le-and noted that the governess was dressed for going out-in a g

above the spot where Gwendolyn had drawn the ink-line, for Miss Royle was small. When she had given the poke a pat here and a touch there, she leaned forward to get a better view of her face. She ha

l leaf of paper from a tiny book in her hand-bag and rubbed it across her forehead. "For my neuralgia is much worse to-day

lyn-and caught sight of the bowed head, the grief-flush

ake it impossible for me to have a couple of hours to myself this afternoon-especially when I'm

ling lashes Gwendolyn

dear Gwendolyn?" plaintively. "For I'll be back at tea-time. And besides"-grow

ut Gwendolyn; and cove

n!" breathe

n sat ve

don't appreciate them because you've always had them. Well,"-mournfully solicitous-"I trust they'll never be taken from you, my child. Ah, I kno

the school-room swung wide with a bang

l-room door, her hair was as ruddy as the panel that made a background for it. And she had reddish eyes, and a full round face. In

she began angrily, ad

ep. "Just for a-a couple

school-room door behind her, she advanced. "I suppose i

eeks. She coughed. "It is a little worse

Jane. "It's always wo

dare

old snake-in-the-grass!" Now

governess thoughtfully. She had often h

hat will do!" she declared.

ng her hair-the huge pompadour in front, the pug behind. "We

n when there are no lessons," reminded

t try to fool me with any of your schemi

eve of Jane's dress which was the nearer. It was

birthday, and I wish her t

r out with you? You like the automo

ught perhaps you'd be using the ca

now to-day was her birthday? You might've told me about it; i

eyes narrowe

ow-seat. "You mean you've made plans?" she a

near to tears. She did not a

fair? I didn't know you'd counted on to-day. So-" Here another glance shot window-ward. Th

cheerful. "Now off with that habit," she called to Gw

," announced Gwendolyn, getti

l wardrobe. "Little girls ain't wearin' plai

went on Gwendolyn, "-a pocket 'way down on this si

little girls' dresses this y

o are 'They'? I'd like to know; '

in Gwendolyn's hand, "How'd you git ink smeared over your handkerchief? What do

ey' do so many things. And I want to tell

ored the

find soda-water." Whereupon she fell to pondering the question. Evidently this, like many another propounded to Jane or Miss Royle; to Thomas; to her music

ulled at the small black boots. She was al

privilege by urging the occasion. "Oh, Jane," she cried. "May I go barefoot?-just for a little while. I

arefoot to be

l bed, carved and enamelled, and panelled-head and foot-with woven cane. But to Gwendolyn it was, by day,

ode, she returned to the window and sat down. The seat was deep, and her shiny patent-leather slippers stuck straight out in

to serve her noon dinner. He arran

nd outed, did she?

cantly, and rolled her eyes in

ped nibbling h

"Well, ain't that our luck! And I suppose yo

observing the silver buckles on her slippers. She mi

thing's gone wrong already to-day, as you'll see if you'll use your eyes. And

omething unde

asperatin'. Here I am, a person that likes my freedom once in a while, and a glimpse at the sho

ding Jane with a broad grin. And Jane was smiling back at him, her f

at good does it do to talk, though," she observed sadly. "Day

to color. She got down q

He busied himself w

fted a puzzled face. "But-but, Jane," she

t Monsoor Tellegen's, of a Saturday afternoon? Well, so do I when I get a' evenin' off,-which isn'

he plump rounding seat o

olstered arm-chair-spacious, comfort-givi

e seen the tray when I put it on the dumb-waiter. And, 'Miss Royle is havin' her l

"But, oh, you should've been behind a door just now

ing his black brows exc

utton-broth. She already knew each

of startin' off without so much as a word to m

mouth. She stared at Jane. "Oh, I didn't see that," she

pilled your soup! Take it, Thomas, and serve the rest of the dinner, I ain't goin' to allow you to

rotested Gwendolyn, earnestly. "I wanted

k?" demanded Jane. "An

e was a baby, racked by colic and budding teeth. She did not remember him. But since the

he rest of your life.... Take the chicken away, Thomas. 'Out of sight is

ssuringly. And to Gwendolyn, "Here's more of the potat

and and pushed the p

or children. Your mamma herself would say that. Come! See that nic

ll I fetch the cake?" he

nod

had a border of pink icing upon its glazed white top. And set wi

Gwendolyn's hand away from her eyes. "Isn't it

smiling once more, Gwendolyn blew the candles out. And as she bent forward to puff at each

"when I blow like that, where

a question?" exclaimed J

you'd like me to have a bite of this," he said. "

ent on Gwendolyn, too absorbed to listen to Thomas. "And make a b

u'll just finish your dinner before you l

er slice dainti

"There's ways of managin' a fairly jolly aftern

ked Thomas, picking up cake

-hu

ould have to go al

t a ride's bet

for-?" Thomas bro

The limousine meant a long, tiresome run at good speed through streets that she longed to

ion. "I want a walk this aftern

aid Jane. "Can't you neve

fingers in the small basin of silver while her face

' water on the table

going to walk. I haven't wal

gan Jane enthusiastically, "and pr

to be a Queen.

long the streets like common po

ch little girl,"-voice s

waste-basket beside Gwendolyn's writing-desk. "You

ant to be shut up in the car this afternoon,

eddish eyes blazed. "Do you want me to se

dolyn quaile

toward Thomas. It

is breath, nodding toward a glass-fronted case

a boy and a girl; a French doll in an exquisite frock; a Russian; an Indian; a Spaniard. A second shelf held a shiny red-and-black peg-top, a black wooden snake beside its lead-colored pipe-like case; a tin soldier in an English uniform

. Then, plucking crossly at a muslin sleeve, "We

as I can't have my Puffy Bear any more." There was a

was compelled to throw him away along with the old linen

quashy, and it wouldn't hurt him to walk up the Drive, right in the path where the horses go. The dirt is

ds, and dyin' of 'em. From what Rosa says, it was downright shameful the way you muddied your clothes, and tore 'em, and messed in the water after nas

oing t

e going to walk?" said she. "All right! All right! Walk if you want to." She made as if to set out. "Go ahead! Bu

from Jane to Thomas, from Thomas to Jane, and crooke

, "the dogs go out walking-an

re only Pomeranians anyhow, and Madam could go straight out and buy more. Besides, like as not Pomeranians won't be stylish next ye

all the time," insisted Gwend

her arms. "Well, Thomas," she said, shaking her he

so," agreed Thomas.

ked from one

lly. "You know that. But now she forces me to

tion of cake in one great mou

cerned. "But I'm sev

t has that got to do wit

n did no

or little girls and boys, nobody steals. You can see 'em runnin' around loose

makes me palm itch." Whereat he fell to rubbi

ver the word father, pronouncing it as if it were two words. "I know he isn't. When I was at Johnnie Blake's

s sni

eyes, "What has that got to do," she demanded, "w

hat wicked men?" she qu

ch you! Now just let me ask you another questi

parted to reply.

There ain't no bars on the windows where poor little girls

atement, her fingers still

you run about on the street, like poor children

worse than doctor

rs!" scoffed Thom

(The last trace of that

d solemnly. "Kidnapers carr

was fully as tall; and it was not his brass-buttoned coat, or the dark, piercing eyes under the visor. She feared him because Jane had often threatened her with his comi

-a p'liceman?

ceman

that's-that's always

lushed as red as her ha

's other people that's noticed a policeman hangin' round. He's a dan

re about that policeman! It's only that I like

iscovered scourge of moneyed children. "W

d take you and shut you up in a nasty cellar,

mouth bega

en Thomas is along to watch out. So"-with a great show of enthusiasm-"we'll go out, oh! for a grand ride." She rose. "And maybe when we git into the country a ways,

ountry, too?" asked Gwendolyn. "

"They're all in town, huntin' rich little children. So on with the

tears, which overflowed and trickled slowly down her cheeks. "If-if Thom

"Sure, they'd steal you, and then they'd say to your father, 'Give! me a million dollars in cash if you want Miss

l'phunts," she reminded. "Are-are kidnapers w

e machine if you go at all. Do you hear that?"-giving Gwendolyn a half-turn-about that nearly upset her. "Do y

ldn't ever have to ride again wh-when I was seven," s

again, "Dirtyin' your glove

came. Down went

d Thomas. "Little

d Jane, kneeling, and prep

s that tied under the c

this," wept Gwendolyn. She moved her chin from

little push toward the front window. "Now, no more of your nonsense. Go and be quiet for a few minu

s curving walk, stone-walled on the outer side. Beyond park and road and walk were tree-tops, bush-high above the wall. And beyond these was the broad, slow-flowing river, with boats going to and fro upon its shi

and tail flying, its neck arched, its lips curved to neigh. Astride the horse was her friend, the General, soldierly, valorous, his hat doffed-as if i

k thumb. And, with Thomas following, they were soon in the entrance hall.

r the front door? As Potter swung wide the heavy grille of wrought iron, with its silk-hung back of plate-glass, Gwendolyn pulled hard at Jane's hand, and went down the granite steps and across the sidewalk as quickly as p

ng, upon the seat

d the windowed door of the motor and

stood flat against other houses. But it was built on a corner; and along its front and outer side, the tops of the basement windows were set

d her skirts and leaned back luxurio

n to Gwendolyn: "You don't mind, do you, deari

eur, wide-backed and skillful, and crouched vigilantly over his wheel. But in front of her was Thomas, sitting in the proudly erect, stiff positio

her pale little face was pressed against the shield-shaped pane of gla