The Little Colonel's House Party

ere came a day for which no special entertainment had been planned. It was a hot morning, and the girls were out under the trees: Betty in

e fell on the little group after her departure. Betty, lost in her book, and Joyce, intent on her sketch, d

HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CO

in the country the year round! Nothing to do-nothing to see-I'd turn to a vegetable in a

"Why, I think it is lovely here!" she cried. "I'

etty's cheek. There was a tinge of a sneer in it that seemed to say, "Oh,

oot from a mass of pink ruffles, gave an impatient push against the groun

"I wish that we could go down to the

ed wagons, and that old crone bending over the camp-fire. I know a woman at home who

they can tell,

, whether you'll be married or not, and what sort of a future you're to have. They say that there are some lines in your

ut her little brown hands, to examine them, Eugenia held up one of her slim pal

d marks that I never noticed before. I wonder which is the marriage line. Oh, girl

they had to pay a dollar apiece. That bars me out, for dollars don't grow on bushes at my house. Besides, Bob said his brother said that they are not real gypsies. The people around here think they are a set of stroll

go. It will be my treat. I haven't touched my allowance since I've been here, and papa gave me ten dollars more than usual this month. There isn't any

eyes, and thinking of the five nickels with which s

're mean things if you don't, for it will give me more pl

d Joyce. "It is awfully sweet

, adding her thanks. Joyce rose, g

d word to Alec to saddle the ponies, and tell her we want her to take a short

red Joyce, moving

ts. I'll be there by the time the ponies are at the house. Don't you think it will be fun?" she added, tur

be perfectly lovely. It is so generous of you

ed Eugenia, loftily. "Plenty

ard her in a dog-cart. "Do you want to drive down to the po

gaily, over her shoulder, "Other fish to fry

want to go?" Mrs. Sherman asked, sto

u," said Eugenia, languidly.

stonishment at the excuse Eugenia gave,

you are not going to leave me in the lurch. I knew

it was only any other time. But I've just been inv

Mrs. Sherman, in surprise.

icious child, adding, gratefully, "Isn't it good

d she darted an angry look at Betty. There was a shad

tle girls to go near them. I intended to mention the matter to Lloyd when I first heard that they had camped in the Valley, and tell her to avoid taking you on any of the roads leading to the camp. But I forgot it until you had ridden away.

nia; "I had set my heart

things are entertaining. How would it do for me to call at Miss Allison MacIntyre's while I am out, and ask her to come up to dinner to-night? She is a great friend of mine and knows enough about palmistry to tell some very interesting fortunes. She can amuse young people better than any one I ever k

heard Lloyd talk about the MacIntyre boys, and had been hoping to see them.

ng? If you had kept still we could have gone and nobody would have been the wi

d Betty, with a look of horror in her big brown eyes. "Why, a wild Arab wou

men can't make me change it again. It is foolish of Cousin Elizabeth to be so particular, and I am going to do as I please. I always do at home, no matter what papa says. I've never had to mind anybody all my life, and I'll certainly not begin it now that I am in my teens. It is all nonsen

fe distance, reaching the house in time to see Joyce and Lloyd come down, ready for their ride. She would have made some excuse to stay at home if she thought that Eu

noisy little cavalcade racing down the pike toward them. Rob Mo

ayed out heah with their grandmothah one whole wintah, and they used to come up to ou' house lots. You remembah I told you 'bout them. They bought that pet beah from a tramp and neahly frightened me

tle knights when they were in the tableaux." She surveyed them with gr

in a hand-car, and nearly let the lo

youngest one. He is

you the silver arr

, putting up her hand to feel the litt

to laugh over her shoulder at the other girls. "See

rbes, you are the biggest goose I evah saw! Mothah says it's silly for

rts who send me flowers and candy, and write me notes, a

for a quarrel. The boys had come up with them, and Lloyd had to make the necessary introductions. Eugenia thought she had never seen two handsomer b

the rear. The Little Colonel led the way. At the statio

ys passed that way a little while ago, and they were playing on ba

ne told. Joyce and I were talking about it a little while before we start

camp? Of course. I thought that that was

sed the matter with Eugenia and Betty, and was wholly

go," said Lloyd. "Maybe it would be bett

they did not hear the discussion that followed. Lloyd was not willing to go without her mother's permission, remembering what had been sai

here they were going, until the strumming of a banjo and loud singing d

seeing that the other girls were dismounting, and t

using in the act of sp

dn't think for a moment of allowing Lloyd to come. When she saw that we were disappointed, she planned a

boys drew to one side, leaving the girls to settle the matter between them

everlasting fuss about nothing," she ex

Lloyd, "if mothah said I co

l you, did she?

told you, it i

n desperate to carry out her own wishes, and not

of mole-hills. She is such a fraid-cat that she wouldn't look behind her if a fly buzzed. Now you know, Lloyd, that, as particular as I am, I wouldn't think of going anywhere

turns, and finally Lloyd yielded, and they all started in. All but Betty. She waited in the lane

the tent, where they were all gathered around the old fortune-teller. Now and then she heard voices and laughter, and it gave her such a lonely, left-out feeling t

ent. The banjo-playing had stopped on their arrival. It was nea

d me my whole past, and even described the three girls I go with at school. I am to have a long life and lots of money, and to be m

, feeling that she had missed the great opportunity

ter and was going again, but the rest was a lot o

by a long shot." He had paid his own way and now thought regretfully of

ed homeward. "It will make it so much more romantic, to keep it a secret.

uld enjoy hearing the funny fortunes the old woman told us, and I'm suah if she knew

" urged Eugenia. "Promise not to say anything about i

oyd, with a puz

ue any longer, and still smarting with the recollection of some of the thing

my own for not saying anything about it for awhile. It is a very little thing to ask, and I'm sure

," said Lloyd, "I'll not say anything

do you?" asked Eugenia, flashing a smi

heir promise, "and swear 'Really truly, blackly, bluely,

tty, riding on alone in dignified silence. "Then it is all right," she exclaimed, loud enou

held high. Mrs. Sherman was sitting in the wide, cool hall when the little party stoppe

olm and Keith came up to shake hands. "Your Aunt Allison has consented to play fort

warning look from Eugenia. "It wasn't very satis

noticed it. "I am afraid you have ridden too far in this noonday heat, li

she came down to lunch, the flush was gone from her cheeks, but there was an uncomfortable pricking of h