The Poor Little Rich Girl

ir part in Gwendolyn's pretend-games. She crowded the Drive with the soldiers of the General, rank upon rank of marching men whom he reviewed with pride, while his great bronze steed pranced

panions selected were those smiling friends that appeared at neighboring windows; or she chose hearty, happy laundresses fr

s, his seamen bound to smokestacks and railing, his prow pointed for the ocean whereinto the River crammed its deep flood. A smaller boat, smoking its way up-stream, changed into the fabled bark of a man by the name of Jason, and at the bow of this Argo sat Johnnie Blake, fish-pole over the side, feet dangli

But her household was always blissfully free of those whose chief design it was to thwart and terrify her-Miss Royle, Jane, Thomas; her teachers [as a body]; also, Policemen, Doctors a

e. Were there not trees there? and rocks? Without doubt there were Johnnie Blake glades as well-glades bright with flowers, and green with lacy ferns. For of these glades Gwendolyn had received proof: Following a sprinkle on a cool day, a light west wind brought a butterfly against a pane of the front window. When Gwendolyn raised the sash, the butterfly fluttered in, throwing off a j

w from the

s Gwendolyn could see. They were all heights, all shapes, all varieties as to tops-some being level, others coming to a point at one corner, a few ending in a tower. One tower, which was

e for all those acres of roof.

our till their metal sheeting glistened as brightly as the sides of the General's horse. The sea-fog, advanced by the wind, blotted out

-and that without her having to do much pretending. For across them, in some building which no one

e, then in another. Whenever a new one rose, as it often did, there she promptly moved his

e was sponging off the rubber-plant, and waving the long green leaves at her in greeting. Gwendolyn feigned not to see. Her lips were fi

g down there!"

Rustle

preparing to go out for the afternoon, and was busily engaged in drawing on her gloves

have such a lovely long pretend-gam

ing so, she rubbed the tip of her nose against the smoo

ed Miss Royle. "And wher

ranite pile. "Oh, Asia, I guess," answered Gwendolyn, indifferen

ill you travel, darlin

d full of suggestions when she was setting out thus. Sh

of the world-"or a llama, or a'-a' el'phunt." She rubbed her no

o!" and, Rustle

ake her wish known-to assert her will. With a running

'way, 'way down on t

r?"-with

where my

Royle stared down.

s met squarely-"'cause I'm g

athed the

yn, passionately. "I want to!" Her

ant to tell him,

dolyn dropped her chin, and made

hms invariably prepared the way

let you go until you're sent for, dear; Your papa doesn't

ever told you about t

l with low

to it if I were you." The to

Gwendolyn, back against the door. The question wa

"Well, I'll tell you: The

and Jane, these dread animals-who existed in all colors, and in nearly all climes-made it their special office to eat up little girls who disobeyed

heir being

with earnestness "Is it

Royle, gently repro

ration. Jane, at times, resorted to bald falsehood. Bu

oved

and slung the chain of her hand-bag across her arm. Then, "I'll be home ear

ar

ere the Zoo bears in her father's str

ursery door. As she went she glan

rustling in the next room. And Gwendolyn could hear the quick shoo-ish, shoo-is

tly, s

lyn we

th puckered soberly, reddish eyes winking with disquie

, and filled her with misg

n motor-ride, Gwendolyn tested the matter-yet

-er's office is to-day," she

she answered, with a sigh and a shake of her red head, "you couldn'

. "Bears?" she

ittle figure carefully about, "Gwendolyn, lovi

in opposition to others; who was certain to differ

wendolyn was leaning against the nu

rrible thing f

entertainment afforded by Thomas's enlivening company. He stayed beside the chauffeur-as he had, indeed, ever since the memorable

e was her father, his safety threatened. Arrived home, she resolved upon still another course of action. She was forced to give up visiting

mination. However, to give a hint of it would be folly. So, while Miss Royle picked at a chop and t

ch the Drive. Or she did not believe it was seven-there was something wrong with the

into the school-room, leaving the door slightly ajar. She snapped on the lights

ining-room? At seven her father-if all were well-should be

o the nursery. Gwendolyn did not speak or move. When the nurs

er Gwendolyn heard another door open and shut, then the rum

rself. That would never do! To keep herself awake, she got up cautiously, put on her slippers and dr

only dimly. Beyond the Drive the river stretched like a smooth wide ribbon of black satin. It und

uses; where moored boats rocked at a landing-place up-stream; and on boa

yn did not pronounce. For Miss Royle, whenever she chanced to look out and see them, said "Sha

oll of street-cars, the warning; honk! honk! of an automobile, the scream of a tug; and lesse

ed about h

igh-keyed, monotonous cry of a man who often hurried past with a bundle of

about the lubble-lubble

ed her ears to catch the words. What

nearer, yet the words were no clearer. "A-a-al

trip downstairs meant running the risk of discovery. She tiptoed noiselessly to the school-room door. There she listened. Thomas's d

ool-room door for the

onze shaft. Gwendolyn put her face against the scrolls a

and on the polished banisters to steady herself, the other carrying her slippers. At the next floor s

knew which was really her best foot, so that she might put it forward. But there was no time for conjectures. She bore dow

ng built out farther than the other two, so as to form an embrasure. Over against these windows, in the shallow bow the

come any too soon. For his shoulders were bent as from a great

desk and the windows she stopped, but did not spe

traightened on his cha

t so wildly that it stirred the lace ruffles of her dressin

mouth. It traveled up his cheeks in little ripple

hter," he said we

neck, to cry, "Oh, daddy! daddy! I don't want them to hurt you!" But she conquered

egan timidly. "And I-I thought may

s!" He gave a

his tightened its hold. "Have the bears ever f

ide and looked at her-for a full half-minute. Then h

at sort of candles, if any, he burned in the seclusion of the library. Now she forgot to

along on your car," she suggested chokingly. "He

dows, though the shades of these were drawn, the hangings were in place.

or him wrung th

terror there, he knelt, suddenly all concern. "Who told y

s Ro

re are things a little girl can't understand."

where's that child!" The voice was Jane's

his lips to plead for silence, "Here, J

er stealin' off like that! Madam doesn't like her to be up late, as she well knows. And I'll be b

with all the strength of her slender arm. "Oh, fat

roval; but tender reproval,

ething," cried Gwendolyn. "

acts, sir, whenever it'

she'd better go now," he said quietly. "And she's not to

-these brought the great sobs. She went without resisting, but stumbli

he dropped the hand to look over the banisters. And through a blur of tear

rew a

f the staircase hid