Blue Bonnet's Ranch Party
s must be his last day at the ranch. There were expressions of regret from everybod
t it isn't fair to Uncle Bayard for me to be away any longer. Those twelve boys keep things mo
Blue Bonnet remarked. "It's been pretty warm to drive to Jona
ices in the open air and all-well, it has spoiled me for stuffy meeting-houses. Can't you all come up and stay o
so many of us," she said at length. Camping out in Texas was full
ibility, Grandmother," Blue
t young lady's method of taking responsibility was n
"You can have Pancho, too, if you like,-he cooked on the round-up this sprin
net. "A wrangler looks after the horses, Sarah
go as simply as possible. Surely
here has to be a cook, and somebody to pitch
e used to camp out in the Maine woods, and we girls took turns cooking and washing dishes, while the boys gathered wood for th
Cooking and washing dishes did
ramel cake," a
cially for breakfas
t things for break
said Knight. "It is pretty cool in the mornings and ev
f Grandmother will only go
ecision until she had held a serious
habits of extravagance?" she asked, smiling inwardly
what you call 'extravagance.' According to my defi
summer. It must cost something to keep up a big place
nter-when she put the poor child on an allowance. Three dollars!" Mr. Ashe made a comical grimace. "Why, Mrs. Clyde, I've been putting by Blue Bonnet's profits every year for nearly sixteen years, and they've been pretty tidy sums
taught the value of money, just the same
ink. She gives more people a good time on it than any one I know. You never k
he is dear and warm-hearted and generous like her mother, but a little heedles
mited respect for her strength of character; but also his opinion as to why she was still Miss Clyde. "Maybe I've a queer mental twist," he went on audibly, "but that's just what I don't see the need of. Poor folk have to wor
argument with a worthy rejoinder, she was confident. "Don't you fear that though
ants for herself, I'll believe she's extravagant. As long as she spends only what she
ravagance? She is doing so much for the girls
're just the right age to enjoy it most. A few years late
but perhaps it was not her place to "reason why." The conversation e
own by jack-beans which held together the would-be rustic structure, had once been the pride of Blue Bonnet's heart, but now, neglected-as was the garden since the advent of the ranch party-had become the residence of a large and growing family of inse
he could answer she exclaimed-"Uncle Cliff, you must help us out.
ly, "how can you say that when we are hav
ue Bonnet admonished her. "It's yo
'll put an end to your suspense. The Queen Mother says
onnet, and the cry was
r on their way to the house, stopp
floor," said Blue Bonnet cordially.
row's about?" asked Knig
t a camping place and have everything ready for you." He had been awaiting a favorab
et enthusiastically, reading Alec like a book. "B
some of the boys to cut out a bunch of beef
ed you," remonstr
to be needed as it is t
more than we need
to tyrannize over in camp. How many
e-and they know
right," said Uncle Clif
tiously. "I think we had better begin t
aid Blue Bonnet, "is to ma
tonishment. "Do you prop
unting Alec and Knight, a pound won't go very f
tons of angel-cake and fifty gallon
put those marshmallows, you'll see that I'm the most prac
he said later, as they two sat discussi
" Mrs. Clyd
different! I hope our trip isn't going to be too hard for you. I promised Aunt Lucinda to
in our ways.' Camp-life is certainly a good corre
"It would never suit Aunt Lucinda.
teen yea
must give one a very-solid feeling, to be as sure about e
et sling; Alec with his blankets in a business-like roll behind his saddle, and both boys provided with a "snack of lunch" to eat on the wa
e air was fresh and sweet, Comanche very tractable, and everybody in the best of humors. The girls returned to the ranch full of plans for the camping trip, and for the rest of the day, and for several days following, ma
e linen drawn-work on a camping-trip! Next she'll be
handkerchiefs, too?" Sarah's look wa
id Blue Bonnet, "but we'll stretch a point for Sarah's s
e than the many boxes of pinoche and marshmallows that Blue Bonnet packed
supplies in one of the big cook-wagons used on the round-ups; with help from Alec and Knight he
ue Bonnet, "for I should like to take Juanita along. It's a pity to se
ow?" Kitty loo
ent of the lasso, and she had kept the secret, though she burned to tell
ut of her hostess. Suspecting the trend of little Miss Why's thoughts, Blue
xclaimed all fo
speak, Sarah?"
re listening," rep
l attachment for each other," said Blue Bonnet
nt then," laughed Kitty, "-so
did some hasty calculating, "I had better stay with Grandmother-it's smoother riding with
rney before noon. As they gathered about the lamp-lighted table for brea
er I get
y yellow ca
qu
kfast before we went to bed," said Sarah. "Thank you, Mr
e Bonnet. "You can jus
t's quite t
straight to
rth getting up for later. Sunrise on the prairie, Kitty, makes the Massac
en Uncle Joe raised his quirt and pointed
lue Bonnet drew a deep breath. The rolling prairie with the long grass stirred by the breeze; the pe
ountains, and being less frequented than the county road, was rough and full of surprises in the way of snakes and insects. Sarah was just beginning to wonder if she could survive Comanche's next fright, when a lo
ye
d the cheery summons of the Twickenh
the trees in whose shade they had been w
y called from the front. "An
of delight. That erect little figure, just about her own size, with the two pi
of the girls in turn. But as soon as she met Blue Bonnet's eye, full of an eager welcome, she rode straigh
k the outstretched hand in both her own and gazed
other girls, and after a short but merry halt they prepared to move on.
were starting. "Do you mind changing places with m
would have smiled at ordinarily, but now regarded with sober eyes. The other girls, without giving a thought to her natural wish for a few words with Carita had ridd
rest?" she whispered
Blue Bonnet's, smiled with amusement as she rep
lue Bonnet mount Comanche, she rode back and joined her. T
rk face was alight with pleasure, "-to
f much-darned stocking. On her head was an old felt sombrero, sadly drooping as to brim and dented as to crown, secured under her chin by a piece of black elastic. Below it her small face, brown and freckled as it was, was not without a singular attraction. Her eyes were big and soft,
come?" Blue Bo
tell you how much it has meant to me-your letters, and the dress and the Christmas box and everything. I can't begin to tell you the-difference they have made. We've a
certainly worth while when it could give such pleasure. If Miss Lucinda could have read the girl's mind at this moment, she might have felt some doubts as to her niece's ability to prof
it!" Carita went on in her eager way. "And I belie
e'd have had a pretty spill if it hadn't been for him. But as 'all's well
he best. But father never has the least bit of doubt." Then with a quick return of animation-"I know you'll love the camp. Knight has picke