Tabitha's Vacation

er breath, as she drew on her slippers that bright,

ond girl, letting down her luxuriant auburn mane and beginning to brush it vigorously. "But I had a horri

ve a letter from her just two days ago saying she would reach here on

ke in a cold sweat, the dream was so very real. I couldn't help wondering if so

r companion in surprise. "You are usually just the o

it in my bones that somet

s is coming home and r

disappointi

to her shining, black hair and whisking into her big, kitchen apron. "You must have the rheumatism and that

aired girl disappeared through the door, but her gay spirits were contagious, an

on's braes

rly fa's

here that A

er promis

my forebodings in the other room. What shall we have for dinner in honor of the occasion? Green peas, asparagus tips, Fren

r the hungry brood; and when that was out of the way, and the house swept a

Tabitha carefully concocted her best layer cake. So busy were they that the morning flew by as on wings, an

n!" gaspe

hildren up or changed our ow

the station, to be sure she came h

oungsters a little more presentable before the 'bus

ing up by this time, I'll admit

rilly, but there was no answering trill, sav

do the disappearing act as quickly or as completely as the tribe of McKittrick? If you will

p the trail to the summit, but nowhere were the children to be found. Tabitha became alarmed. What mischief had B

the gray flat below, the dingy station house, and presently her sharp eyes espied

hen she sees that bunch of dirty ragamuffins! One, two, three, four-Billiard is lugging J

e she didn't come? Was Gloriana right after all? She surely would not let the children plod home in the heat while she rode in t

omrade in misery, catching a glimpse of her disturbe

have been t

ch as asking leave! And it is such

had not asked about Miss Davis; and she fell to dishing up potatoes with

y, "you have burned yourself.

for getting so provoked. I do wish

use of the children's latest escapade; and in silence they finished dinne

s in her hand. "They are both for you, Tabitha," she panted. "One's from mamma. I'd know her writing in the d

ne stroke of the knife she held, muttering feverishly, "The other is from Miss Davis." Her

ana timidly, the morning's f

broken

repeated the red

eg!" echoed m

? Ma

s Da

y sn

, Su

I was so s'prised at wondering what we'd do wi

She must stay flat on her back in bed for three weeks, and then it

stay a while longer. Mrs. Goodale's grand-baby's got the fever and she is goi

nded Tabitha, her heart sinki

ll? She has only one girl, and

t! Where did you hear

from Carson City, and he saw Mrs. Goodale there. Why do

d the blurred, uneven lines. Then without a word of explanation, she slipped the paper back into its envelop

At last, however, the hungry appetites were satisfied, the chattering children had gone back to their play, the dishes were washed and piled away in the cupboard, and Tab

t on the bed before her and read and re-r

t yet her heart rebelled hotly against the circumst

fore Miss Davis can come home, and there is no telling when Mrs. Goodale will be back. It is out of the question for Mrs. McKittrick to leave her husband just when he needs her most,

e way you have been doing? Oh, dear, what a queer world it is! I wouldn't mind so much if Gloriana didn't have to suffer, too; but it is too bad to keep her here on the boiling desert when she might be enjoying life on the Island or at the beach. It wouldn't be so bad if those awful boys weren't here, either; but they are the limit. I am o

ust opposite the window, sat Irene, rocking to and fro on a teetering stone, and singing in a high, sweet treble to a battered rag-doll, hugged tightly to her breast. The words floated up to the girl in the

he asked herself in amazement, recognizing with a f

the verse and c

n breaks h

ly swall

heir hat an

a pumm

e a pu

ar forgo

onnet and

e a dow

that grand old song, and somehow the frown of pe

ther and your mother! I am a selfish old heathen

es had read the message and glanced inquiringly up at the dark face beside her, Tabitha nodded her head. "Yes," she half-whispered. "I can't desert them now

w you wouldn't leave here as long as you were needed, and you needn't think I'll let you

ted. "And it does get so hot here. Besides,

to make some fun,"

at the thought. "Maybe the boys would

t," agree

se some method of breaking the deadly monotony of the desert d