Three Little Women's Success: A Story for Girls

popping her head into her mother's room short

ed Mrs. Carruth, looking up from her desk at which

ay to school, and, by the same token, she ought to be on h

ink. She knows she

or perhaps I would better say that it exists only for her; she so calmly takes all she wishes

as Constance hurried away in quest o

her husband's lifetime, she was none the less comfortable. Upon Hadyn Stuyvesant's advice Mrs. Carruth had not rebuilt the old home, although by careful economy she could have done so. But Hadyn was looking farther into the future than Mrs. Carruth looked. Perhaps his wish had some bearing upon the thought, for from the moment Hadyn Stuyvesant had met Constance Carruth his future was settled so far as he was concerned. But he was too wise to let the sixteen-year-old girl guess his feelings. The gulf between sixteen and twenty-three is a wide one. As the years advance it mysteriously narrows. At nineteen Constance often wondered why Hadyn seemed younger to her in his twenty-sixth year than he had at twenty-three. Never by look or word had he betrayed any warmer feeling for h

sked Constance, looking up to

, doubtfully. "No, somehow that doesn't fit h

gan to wonder what was simmerin

s me 'Little Sister,' an

uld approve of your cal

g to be a love name for him, just like his

did not imply d

e respectfuller to than Mr. Stuyvesant. He's just lovely. Only just plain Mr. Stuyvesant keeps him such a long way off, and he mustn't be. Mother has adopted

r ladies,'" answered Constance, slipping her ar

heap of times since when I've got into scrapes. So that's what I'm going to call him. He is down on the piazza talking with mother about the new

onstance, always a little doubtful

henceforth to guard his "lady fair." So "Champion" he was from that moment on, and, long as the na

e stairs in quest of Jean

in her room, B

arketing list. Have you seen Jean? It

I done tol' her a'reddy, but she boun

There was no sign of Jean, but Constance crossed the velvety turf to the stable at the further side of the grounds, passing on her way the candy kitchen, and calling cheeri

ing for Jean." A moment later she turned the corn

the old horse for the one rescued by Jean. His coat was now as sleek as satin, his old body round and plump, his manners those of a thoroughly spoiled thoroughbred horse. It had not required all the four years spent with the Carruths to blot out the effects of Jabe's harsh treatment, or to revive in Baltie the memory of

ifled nicker, for his position made a gentlemanly greeting well-nigh impossible: he was lying at full length upon a bed of sweet clo

m pressing her cheek against one larg

but I've got to hustle you off to s

e're having a beau-ti-ful ti

not stir. The clear morning sunshine flooded the paddock, Baltie's little kingdom, and filtered through the gorgeous sugar maples overhead. The air was clear and crisp, the ground dry as thoug

," urged Constance, rising to

got to get up. Now! All together!" and placing her arms beneath the great neck Jean gave the preliminary heave-ho! necessar

d at "mashargin" (Mammy's pronunciation of massaging), a course of treatment to which Baltie

ce; yet Baltie might have given points to some of his younger brethren. Up came his head, the slender forefeet were

th Baltie to make your peace for your abrupt departure," said Constance, gayly, w

spend the ensuing five minutes with the old horse, who noz

out sight, can steer a straight course, surely I, with both my eyes to the good, ought to be able to. Good-bye, dear," and clasping her arms around the sleek, warm neck, Constance stood perfectly still for a moment or two, her head pillowed upon the silky mane, her thoughts traveling rapidly back across the intervening years-years so full of effort, anxiety, hope, disappointment, love and faith. The one which was beginning with this October-for it was in October that she had begun her work four years before-was bidding fair to prove a crisis in all their lives. Instinctively the girl felt this. Girl in years, yes, but a little woman in executive ability, foresight and execution, withal, still sweet and true, and retaining her faith