Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-04-25
CHAPTER VI.

GLlIcc NGHkS W Lcll NIlSo vi oAuJ o'S "ssJ
ordered her to tie on her sun-bonnet and
run across the meadow and through the
woods until she came to a rye stubble,
then follow the footpath along the fence
until she came to another strip of woods,
with a brook running thEough it. And
Just on the fur edge of them woods" said
She you'll see the men folks to work.
and do tell EN- to come to their dinner
quick.
1t was a mild September day, and
Mary determined not to hurry. She had
mot gone far when she came suddenly
apon boy and two little girls, who Scent
ed to be playing near the brook. In the
features of the boy she recognized Henry
lincoln, and remembering what Billy
Rad said of him, she was about turning
away when the smallest of the girls
esped her, and called out: Look here,
Rose, | reckon that's Mary Howard.
TIM going to speak to her."
Jenny Lincoln, you mustn't do any
lSuch thing. Mother won't like it," an
awered the girl called Rose.
But whether mother would like it, or
mot, Jenny did not stop to think, and
going toward Mary she said "Have you
come to play in the woods?"
mo" was Marys reply. Il came to
call the folks to dinner"
''Oh, it was you that screamed so loud.
II couldn't think who it was, but it can't
be dinnertime?
Yes, It's: it's noon"
'Well, we don't have dinner until z,
and we can stay here till that time.
Won't you play with us?"
NO, can't; L must go back and
work. said Mary.
Work" repeated Jenny. 81 think
its bad enough to have to live in that
i0ld house without working; but come and
gee our fish pond;" and taking Marys
ihand. she led her to a wide part of the
lstream where the water had been dam
.med up until it was nearly two feet deep
and clear as crystal. Looking in, Mary
could see the pebbles on the bottom,
while fish occasionally darted out and
,then disappeared.
II made this almost all myself" said
Jenny. Henry wouldn't help me be-
cause he's 50 ugly. and Rose was afraid
isf backing her fingers. But | don't care.
Mother says I'm a great-great-Iv for
gotten the word, but it means dirty and
careless. and 1 guess L do look like a
fright. don't II"
Mary now for the first time noticed the
appearance of her companion, and readi-
by guessed that the word which she could
mot remember was "slattern." She was
in fat, chubby little girl, with round,
;suuuy face and laughing blue eyes, while
ther brown hair hung around her fore
head in short, tangled curls. Altogether
she was just the kind of little girl which
enc often finds in the country swinging
an gates and making mud pies.
Mary was naturally very neat: and in
reply to Jenny's question as to whether
she looked like fright, she answered,
~ like your face better than | do your
raress." because it is Clean
why. so was my dress this morning"
.said Jenny, "but there can't anybody play
i'm the mud and not get dirty"
Jenny drew nearer to Mary and said:
.''Tf You'll never tell anybody as long rs
you live and braeathe, I'll tell you some
ishins."
Mary gave the required promise, and
!Jenny continued: Il shouldn't like to
'have my mother know it, for she scolds
sail the time now about my vulgar
tastes. though I'm sure Rose likes the
same things that l do. except Billy Ben
der and it's about him l was going to
tell you. He was so pleasant l couldn't
help loving him, if mother did say |
mustn't He used to talk to me about
Keeping clean, and once | tried whole
week. and | only dirtied four dresses in
sI that time Oh. how handsome and
ftlnny his eyes looked when l told him
about it. He took me in his lap, and
said that was more than he thought a
little girl ought TO dirty. Did you ever
xcc any boy YOU loved As we'll as you do
Billy Bcnder?'
Mary hesitated moment, for much
as she liked Billy, there was another
whom she loved better, though he had
never been one-half as kind to her as
Rilfy had After a time she answered:
'Yes. like, or / did like, George More
lsnd. but l shall never see him again."
and then she told Jenny of her home in
England, of the long, dreary voyage to
America, and of her fathers death; but
when she came to the sad night when her
mother and Franks died, she could not
go on. and laying her face in Jenny's lap
she cried for long time. Jenny's tears
flowed, too, and she. softly caressing
Mary. said: Don't cry so. for I'll love
y9u, and well have good times together,
600. We live in Boston every winter,
but II will be most six weeks before we
GO and | mean to see you every day"
I'm Boston, said Mary, inQuiringly.
'George lives in Boston"
.Ienny was silent moment, and then
suddenly clapping her hands together,
xhe exclaimed: Il know George More
had. He lives just opposite our house,
and is Ida Seldon's cousin Why, he's
'ntost as handsome as Billy Bender only
he 1eases you more. I'll tell him about
you. for mother says he's got lots or
money. and perhaps he'll give you some"
Mary felt that she wouldn't for the
world have George know she was in the
poorhouse, and she quickly answered,
w, muStnt Toll him, u-.arl