Part 12 (1/2)

Ruth was determined to have her way, and really, after one has suffered with a felon for a week, one is in no shape to combat the determination of as strong a character as that of the girl of the Red Mill!

At least, so Miss True Pettis found. She bowed to Ruth's mandate, and sat meekly in the rocking chair while that young lady bustled about, made the toast, poached eggs, made a pot of the kind of tea the spinster liked, and just as she liked it-- Oh, Ruth had not forgotten all her little ways, although she had been gone so long from the seamstress's tiny cottage here in Darrowtown.

All the time, she was as cheerful as a bluebird-and just as chatty as one, too! She ran out and caught a neighbor's boy, and sent him scurrying down to the sidetracked sleeping car with a note to Helen. The rest of the crowd expected at Sunrise Farm would arrive on an early morning train on the other road, and both parties were to meet for breakfast at the Darrowtown Inn.

The vehicle to transport them to the farm, however, was not expected until ten o'clock.

Therefore, Ruth insisted, she had plenty of time to fix up the house for Miss Pettis. This she proceeded to do.

”I allus _did_ say you was the handiest youngun that ever was born in Darrowtown,” said the seamstress, with a sigh of relief, as Ruth, enveloped in a big ap.r.o.n, set to work.

Ruth did more than wash dishes, and sweep, and clean, and scrub. All the time she told Miss Pettis about her life at the Red Mill, and her life at the boarding school, and of many and various things that had happened to her since, two years before, she had gone away from Darrowtown to take up her new life with Uncle Jabez.

Not that she had not frequently written to Miss Pettis; but one cannot write the particulars that can be told when two folks are ”gossiping.”

Miss True Pettis had not enjoyed herself-felon and all!-so much for ages as she did that forenoon.

And she would have a long and interesting story to tell regarding ”Mary Fielding's little girl” when again she took up her work of going out by the day and bringing both her nimble needle and her nimble tongue into the homes of the busy Darrowtown housewives.

On the other hand, Miss Pettis told Ruth all the news of her old home; and although the girl from the Red Mill had no time then to call upon any other of her one-time friends-not even Patsy Hope-she finally went away feeling just as though she had met them all again. For little of value escaped Miss Pettis, and she had told it all.

The Brick Church clock was striking ten when Ruth ran around the corner and came in sight of the Darrowtown Inn. There was a crowd of girls and boys on the porch, and before it stood a great, s.h.i.+ny yellow coach, drawn by four sleek horses.

”Bobbins” himself-Madge Steele's big, white-haired brother, who attended the military academy with Tom Cameron, was already on the coachman's seat, holding the reins in most approved style. Beside him sat a man in livery, it was true; but Bob himself was going to drive the four-in-hand.

”Isn't that scrumptious, Ruth?” demanded Belle Tingley, one of those who had arrived on the other railroad. ”Where have you been all the time?

Helen was worried for fear you wouldn't get here.”

”And here's Ralph!” exclaimed Ruth, heartily shaking hands with one of Belle's brothers. ”I'm all right. I used to live here in Darrowtown, you know, and I was making calls. And here is Isadore!”

”Oh, I say, Ruth!” exclaimed the chap in knickerbockers, who was so sharp and curious that he was always called ”Busy Izzy” Phelps. ”Where have you been all the time? We were going to send a searching party after you.”

”You needn't mind, sir. I can find my way around a bit yet,” laughed Ruth.

”All ready, now!” exclaimed Bob, importantly, from the high seat. ”Can't keep these horses standing much longer.”

”All right, little boy,” said his sister, marshaling the girls down the steps of the hotel. ”Don't you be impatient.”

”It's the horses,” he complained. ”See that nigh leader beginning to dance?”

”Tangoing, I suppose?-or is it the hesitation?” laughed Lluella Fairfax.

”May anybody sit up there beside you, Mr. Bob?”

”I'm afraid not. But there's room on top of the coach for all of you, if you'll crowd a bit.”

”Me behind with the horn!” cried Tom, swinging himself up into the little seat over the luggage rack.

”Now, girls, there are some steep places on the road,” said Madge. ”If any of you feel nervous, I advise you to come inside with me.”

”Ha!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Heavy. ”It's not my nerves that keep me from climbing up on that thing-don't think it. But I'll willingly join you, Madge,”