Part 29 (1/2)
Jack, however, could distinguish every word, and before the three tormentors finished their promenade he regretted having accompanied the little woman.
”I ain't afraid they'll get very much the best of me,” he said to himself; ”but there isn't goin' to be a great deal of fun if I've got to keep my eyes open for them all the time.”
CHAPTER XVII.
CAMP MEETING.
When the train drew up at the station, Jack was relieved at seeing his tormentors take their places in a car far ahead of the one he and Aunt Nancy occupied.
He antic.i.p.ated no slight amount of enjoyment from this ride behind the iron horse, and it would be sadly marred if he was forced to listen to such remarks as Bill Dean and his friends would probably make.
Aunt Nancy sat by the window with Louis in her arms, and Jack took the seat beside her, watching everything around with the most intense interest, for it was the first time he had ever journeyed so far on the cars.
The little woman would have spent considerable of the money received from the sale of the wheat in buying for her crippled escort such articles as the newsboy brought, in the hope of tempting customers; but for the fact that Jack prevented her by whispering more than once,--
”You've paid enough for me already in buyin' the railroad ticket, an'
you must save some to get things for the summer boarders.”
”Bless you, child, I ought to be able to take a little pleasure now and then without thinking constantly of how many pennies there are in a dollar.”
”But this time, Aunt Nancy, you are not using it for yourself. If you want any of the stuff, why, it's only right you should have it, but don't buy anything for me.”
Then the little woman whispered as she laid her hand affectionately on his shoulder,--
”It's a comfort to have you around, Jack dear, for you are always thinking of others and never of yourself.”
”A crooked feller like me don't need as much as other folks, an' I'm sure I get more'n I deserve.”
”That could never be, my child,” Aunt Nancy replied; and Jack fancied she wiped a tear from her eye, but it might have been nothing more than a cinder.
Judging from Louis's expressions of delight, he would have been pleased had the journey continued all day, and even Jack was a trifle disappointed because the tenting grounds were reached so soon.
The place at which they disembarked was not a village, but only a grove of pine-trees bordering the ocean, with a broad strip of s.h.i.+mmering white sand between the foliage and the water.
It was a little settlement of canvas houses among the pines, the gleaming white showing vividly amid the sober green, and the dusty paths here and there resembling yellow ribbons laid on to complete the harmony of color.
Jack would have remained a long while silent and motionless gazing in delight at the scene before him, now and then raising his eyes to view the heaving emerald bosom of the sea beyond, but that Aunt Nancy was impatient to ”settle down” before the morning services should begin.
”It looks pretty, I know, Jack dear, but we mustn't stand dawdling here, because there is considerable work for us to do. I'll carry the baby, and you see what can be done with the bundles.”
The two were literally laden to the utmost of their strength, as they stepped from the railway platform.
Such generous supplies had the little woman brought for their bodily comfort that quite an amount of the belongings would have been left behind but for Deacon Downs, who kindly offered to take charge of the remainder of the goods.
In order to find Mr. Chick's tent it was only necessary to follow the party with whom they had travelled, and in a few moments the little woman was arranging her provisions in one corner of the huge tent which had been reserved for her use.
Jack hovered around helplessly.