Part 1 (1/2)
The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale
by Laura Lee Hope
CHAPTER I
A FLUTTERING PAPER
Four girls alking down an el two by two, their ar in rapid talk, punctuated with rippling laughter--and, now and then, as their happy spirits fairly bubbled and overflowed, breaking into a fealtz steps to thehuh the trees, cast patches of golden light on the stone sidewalk, and, as the girls passed froht, and soroups of maidens For school was out
”Betty Nelson, the idea is perfectly splendid!” exclaiirl onderful braids of hair on which the sunshi+ne seeer
”And it will be such a relief fros,”
added the companion of the one who thus paid a compliment to her chum just in advance of her ”I detest s don't happen to us!” This somewhat timid observation ca with the one addressed as Betty
”Why, Airl who had first spoken, as she tossed her head to get a rebellious lock of hair out of her dark eyes ”The very idea! We _want_ things to happen; don't we, Betty?” and she caught the arm of one who seemed to be the leader, and whirled her about to look into her face ”Answer htly, revealing her white, even teeth Then she said laughingly, and the laugh seeuess Grace s; didn't you, Grace?”
”Of course,” and the rather y creature, whose style of dress artistically accentuated her figure, caught a pencil that was slipping froht hair that was like a crown to her beauty
”Oh, that's all right, then,” and Amy, who had interposed the objection, looked relieved She was a rather quiet girl, of the character called ”sweet” by her intimates; and truly she had the disposition that merited the word
”When can we start?” asked Grace Ford Then, before an answer could be given, she added: ”Don't let's go so fast We aren't out torecord to-day Let's stop here in the shade a reat horsechestnut tree, that gave welcoh it was only May, still had e block near the curb, and Grace ”draped herself artistically about it,” as Mollie Billette expressed it
”If you're tired noill you be if alk five or six miles a day?” asked Betty with a smile ”Or even more, perhaps”
”Oh, I can if I have to--but I don't have to now Come, Betty, tell us e are to start”
”Why, we can't decide now Are you so anxious all of a sudden?” and Betty pulled down and straightened the blue etic chu else I' case It--”
”Has a special compartment for chocolates; hasn't it, Grace?” asked Mollie Billette, whose dark and flashi+ng eyes, and black hair, with just a shade of steely-blue in it, betrayed the French blood in her veins
”Oh, Grace couldn't get along without candy!” declared Betty, with a smile
”Now that's ure, and face of peculiar, winsoained her the not overdrawn characterization of ”Gibson girl” ”I don't see why Billy wants to always be saying such horrid things aboutmean!” snapped Mollie, whose pseudony else ”And I don't want you to say that I do!” Her eyes flashed, and gave a hint of the hidden fire of teirls looked at her a bit apprehensively
”If you don't like the things I say,” she went on, ”there are those who do And what's more--”
”Billy,” spoke Betty, softly ”I'm sure Grace didn't mean--”