The Story of the Big Front Door

O

ight, and before the children had made the acquaintance of their new ne

be seen, and the only sound not made by the birds and i

ting place, so, closing her umbrella, she sat down. She had a pair of frank gray eyes and a smile th

wish I might go into their houses and break the spell. And here comes an enchanted prince," she con

onfidence, for the victim of enchantm

omebody's pet," she said, so

d a little, and then, as if he suddenly remembered important business, trotted off through the bars of the gate and up the walk leading to a large house. The observer on the carriage-block thought it the most attractive house she had ever seen. Everything about it told of pleasant times:

d, all in a flutter of dainty blue ruffles. Each carried a

orch, Bess?" asked the

s and settled themselves under the horse-chestnut, the branches of which met those of the maple tree that cast its shade over the carriage-block.

, feeling rather shy in the presence of these charming little persons who might look a

what they were going to do. Standing where she was shielded front the

rletons for ever so long;

een, you know, and I suppose people are generally married wh

has been engaged to Ed

nsented, though they wanted her to marry an

ouise, holding up a drawing which represented the in

the most beautiful of all. She did not care for him, though, because she loved Edwin and had promised to marry him

he patriotic sentiment, "but do you suppose if she

him," said Bess, refusing

wedding. It is a beautiful cloudless night in June, and

e you are telling it,"

"Lucy is dressed now, and she is the

" asked Louise. "Cousin Helen says she

she looked, but I think she is the mo

es, so

nt on without inter

aks very softly, and has the sweetest smile, and she walks like a queen. Her dress is white silk

out Edwin Gr

arder to do," said the

nds around her knees and gazing upwards, Louise began: "He is very ta

, "Louise, here comes Uncle William, and

start. "How dreadful of me!" she said, walking away very rapidly, while the sto

he thought, looking back once m

house like that. Bess and Louise;

g, comfortably established in a shady corne

eye on Carie while Joanna

élie," she resp

capable of entertaining herself, and was at that moment promenading back and

thority, and then returned to the new mansion for the Carletons upon which she was w

would be to go to the real market where she had often been with Joanna! She knew perfectly well that she was not allowed outside by herself, but that did not make it seem any less attractive. With a cautious glance over her shoulder sh

, little one?" asked

ish glance as she a

n to feel timid. Then she suddenly saw a very large dog coming toward her. He was so large she thought he must be a bear, and

? You mustn't be afraid of the do

y a girl of eleven or twelve, who he

rie lifted her big blue eyes, all swimming

ives next door to me, so I know all about hi

I dess you better take me home," she added, l

me what your name is

pointing in the wrong direction with great assurance. Her companion was puzzled; she

e named Hazeltine," she said. "Come in and sit on

w now, you dear little thing! It must be

she discovered her absence. She ran to the gate and looked up and down the street,

t her! I ha

thing else could be thought of

ew over to ask if by any chance Miss Brown had seen the

elve helped her up and

e sobbed as her aunt came out and stood b

reless another time," Aunt Zé

use of all the excitement, chatting away to her new friend

you been?" cried Louise, drying

rightened her," her companion explained, re

, taking possession of her. "You might ha

over," Carie ins

very much obliged to you," Louise added, turning to the stranger. Cari

name is Hazeltine," said

thing very funny and interesting, people made such a fuss ove

w, aren't you?" asked Elsie Morris, a neighbor

d you came home in time, Elsie; Aleck

and all sorts of things," observed Ale

ave a-I don't know what you call it-something to

be almost like Chri

e William's parties,

three months of pegging befo

the most of the time we hav

day, and Louise stood before the

made Bess's bows ever s

ply, for the September day was warm and the task of dressing thre

k exactly alike," said Louise loftily. "And if you are going t

we are not ready," exclaimed

. I never saw the beat of your equal," and

l," Bess repeated. "Wh

nly reply to be had from

Zélie to tie my sash," said Loui

e stiff, in a new standing collar. Louise decided that he needed a rose in his button

y the same height, and were sometimes taken for twins. This delighted them beyond measure

because that was the only comfortable fashion in which her sister's heavy loc

thought was very strange, considering they had no

Zélie after she had inspected them, and given some finishin

rticularly proud to be counted one of her boys. He only half wanted to go, for, tho

They never do anything worth while; who car

t he must be going for the supper, he s

g with Japanese lanterns ready to light when the sun went down. As the children

did not like parties. But there was one person who seemed to be left out of the fun. Stopping to rest after some

speak to her; won't you go

ot. I think she i

id she does no

Annie May take care of her?" And Elsie

go by herself to speak to a stranger.

" some one asked t

ived here long. I have tried to introduce her, but nobody wants to talk to her, a

t timid and unhappy, and had to wink very hard now and then t

expect to get acquainted all at o

t. Such dainty dresses, such laughing and dancing about, such airs and graces, she had never before seen! She recognized t

t last; "I can't help

e bench, and began slowly to screw it into the ground. Just then a boy rushed by hotly c

ry; I did not mean to do i

ds with his handkerchief. "How did you come to do it anyhow?" and he gave her

know," sh

n for you I could

again, in such a mournful

! Aleck knows I can catch

ten lately. I think you cou

thing girls aren't much on run

she?" as

; I thought every

ne," was the reply

ng up very straight; "and is that the

a baby. We have been travelling about a good deal, so I haven't had a

eedingly pleasant in he

said Carl, "but if you want to get acq

do?" Dora a

nds with somebody who knows somebod

ith you, though I do

ister Louise, the boy with her is Isaac Ford-the one who is laughing I mean; next to hi

n't possibly remember so many, and I hav

taking a small round glass from his pocket and composedly s

so vain when we tied a ribbon on his collar," was the prompt response. Then they both

re there la

it gre

and mamma always with

ne made Carl notice th

ght, but could think of nothing to say, an

a funny one, but his friendly mann

ied by a little girl with soft dark eyes an

ister Bess,"

s you don't know anyone. Wouldn't you like to come

nly I am afraid I shall

is very easy-just throwing bean-bags," and, taking her hand in a friendly clasp, Be

" whispered Elsie to Helen. "Just

r Carie home yesterday, aren't you?"

out you all day. Carl, it was Dora who f

friends-to find herself suddenly popular! What could have seemed more incredible half an hour before? Louise, who was a born leader, and whose bright face and sunny temper m

n't you going to

," was her reply,

y easy," said o

know beans," laughed Alec

re very rude,

reluctantly she yielded, for she really wanted to play. Before they were thro

her, concluded that she was quite able to take care of h

, Dora thought, as she s

re acquainted with

you," she continued. "The other day I walked by your house, and I was so tired I sat down on your carriage-block to

w it was our hou

came out. You had on blue dresses, and Louise had a book

didn't

flushed-"I couldn't help hearing the beginning of your story, and then I forget what

see you! Why, Dora, we don'

I hoped some day I should know you, but I did not think

hat you should have f

, joining them. "It is really as curious

s Brown?" a

tely moved into Nottingham

one of her windo

all," fretted Elsie, who was so easily teas

e. I will tell you about

s over and they were starting home. "I think we ought

r she had taken a desperate f

e; Helen and all of you

side her mother's couch a few minutes later. "Does your head ache? Then I'll wait