Part 7 (1/2)
”Ye-o-o-w!” answered the boy promptly. They saw him turn into the byway. The horse he was driving was so thin that every rib stood out plainly. The democrat wagon was all squeaks and groans, its wheels being so crooked that the girls thought they were going to come off.
”You must help us to get our things aboard,” said Miss Elting. ”Will your wagon hold them all?”
”If it doesn't break down,” was the reply.
”Well, some of us can walk.”
The boy backed his rickety wagon down near where the belongings of the Meadow-Brook Girls lay in a tumbled heap. Jane a.s.sisted him in loading the equipment, amazing the country boy by her strength and quickness.
”You going to camp, eh?” he questioned.
”We don't know what we are going to do,” replied Jane. ”We're likely to do almost anything that happens to enter our minds as well as some things that don't enter our minds. Stow that package under the seat forward; yes, that way. There. Do you think of anything else, Miss Elting!”
”Nothing except the automobile. I hardly think we shall be able to take that with us.”
”Indeed, no,” answered Jane with a broad grin. ”We'll let Dad do that.
Who is going to ride?”
”Let's see. Harriet, of course--”
”I can walk,” protested Harriet.
”No; you will ride. Margery and Tommy also may ride. Hazel, Jane and I will walk. It will do us good, for we need exercise this morning, though I must say that a little breakfast would not come amiss.”
”You thay that ith a Democrat wagon?” questioned Tommy.
”Yes, dear. Why do you ask?” answered Miss Elting smilingly.
”I jutht wanted to know. I'll walk, thank you, Mith Elting. You thay it ith a Democrat wagon?”
”Yes, yes. What of it?”
”I wouldn't ride in a Democrat wagon. My father would dithown me if I did! If it wath a Republican wagon, now, it would be all right--but a Democrat wagon--thave me!”
CHAPTER V
THE ROCKY ROAD TO WAU-WAU
”You surely are a loyal little Republican, Tommy. Whether we agree with you in politics or not, we must respect your loyalty. However, I think you had better get up and ride,” urged Miss Elting.
Tommy shook her head, regarding the democrat wagon with a disapproving squint. Jane a.s.sisted Harriet up over the front wheel, Margery climbed in on the other side, the boy ”pushed on the reins,” and the procession moved slowly toward the main road, with Miss Elting, Jane, Hazel and Tommy trudging on ahead. Harriet rode only a short distance before she grew weary of it, and, dropping to the ground, ran on and joined her companions.
”I shall have nervous prostration if I ride in that wagon,” she said.
”Every minute expecting it to collapse isn't any too good for one who has just been drowned, and whose nerves are on edge.”
”Promise me that you will not overtax your strength; that if you feel yourself getting weary you _will_ get in and ride,” answered the guardian, looking anxiously at Harriet.
”I promise,” was Harriet's laughing rejoinder.