Grace Harlowe's Problem

  CHAPTER II

  THE LAST FROLIC

  The Sempers could scarcely have chosen a more perfect day for their lastfrolic. The sky wore its most vivid blue dress, ornamented by littlefluffy white clouds, and a jolly vagrant breeze played lightly about thepicnickers, whispering in their ears the lively assurance that wind andsky and sun were all on their good behavior for that day at least. Theparty were to make the trip to "Picnic Hollow," as Arline had namedtheir destination, in Elfreda's and Arline's automobiles. During thepast year the latter had become greatly interested in automobiles, anddrove her own high-powered car with the sureness of an expert.

  "What is the pleasure of this organisation?" called Emma. It was an hourlater, and nine young women stood grouped beside one of the automobiles.The other was stationed a short distance ahead. "Four beauteous damselscan ride with Chauffeur Thayer, the other five will have to trustthemselves to the tender, but uncertain, mercy of J. Elfreda."

  "If that's your opinion of me you are welcome to ride in Arline's car,"declared Elfreda.

  "Oh, my, no," retorted Emma blandly. "I couldn't think of it. I feelthat my inspiring presence is due to ride on the front seat with you, J.Elfreda. To aid and sustain you, as it were."

  "Yes, sustain me by making me laugh and running us all into the ditch. Iknow just how sustaining you can be. Never mind. I'll forgive yourslighting remarks about me, and give you the vacant place on the frontseat. Now, good people," she put on the business-like expression of anauctioneer, "who bids for the back seat of the Briggs' vehicle?"

  "Every one is welcome to it except the Emerson twins," put in Emma. "Idislike having them sit behind me. I prefer to sit behind them, but as Ican't sit on the front seat and the back seat at the same time, it wouldreally be better to put the twins in the Thayer chariot."

  "We are going to ride with J. Elfreda," was Sara Emerson's defiantultimatum.

  "I'll sit between you and preserve the peace," volunteered Miriam.

  "And me at the same time," added Emma hopefully. "Twins, do your worst.Sit where you choose. Miriam will protect me." Emma tottered towardMiriam, looking abjectly grateful and supremely ludicrous.

  "That leaves Grace, Anne and Ruth to me," declared Arline. "Now let'shurry, girls. The sooner we reach Picnic Hollow the longer we'll have tostay."

  The ride to Picnic Hollow was not a long one, but the picnickers werehighly alive to every moment of it.

  "We'll have to turn in here and take the road to the left," calledElfreda over her shoulder. They had reached a point where a narrowerroad crossed the highway and wound around the hills, sloping graduallyat the lowest point, into the very heart of the little valley, whichlooked particularly cool and inviting.

  "All right," caroled Arline. "Lead the way and we'll follow."

  Slowly the two cars, propelled by two extremely careful chauffeurs,wound their way down the country road which, according to Elfreda, wasjust wide enough and no wider.

  "Bumpity bump, even to the bottom of the hollow, and no bones broken,"announced Emma Dean, with a cheerful wave of her hand, as she hopped outof the car, and proceeded to assist the Emerson twins to alight with agreat show of ceremony.

  "What a perfectly darling spot!" was Arline's joyous exclamation. "Justsee that cunning brook! It's so pretty where it ripples past that oldtree. It doesn't look deep, either. I'm going in wading. See if Idon't."

  "What shall we do first, girls?" Grace, who had been walking ahead withArline, a luncheon hamper swinging between them, suddenly turned andfaced the others, as, laden with rugs and cushions, they strolled alongbehind her.

  "Let's just play around for awhile," proposed Miriam. "There's a fieldof daisies and golden rod if any one wants to go blossom gathering. Ruthspoke of taking some pictures, too. Then we can play in the brook, andgo in wading if we like, only I don't like."

  Arline and the Emerson twins elected to go in wading. Miriam and Annedrifted off to explore the brookside, while Ruth posed Grace, Emma andElfreda for snapshots until they rebelled and begged for mercy. Laterhalf the company stayed near their impromptu camp under the big elm treethat overhung the brook while the other half went on an exploringexpedition, and when they returned the first half sallied forth.

  "We shan't stay away long," warned Arline Thayer. "It's after oneo'clock now, and I'm hungry as a hunter."

  "Still we don't intend to let mere hunger conflict with our desire forexploration," was Emma Dean's firm reminder. "Given a chance, we mayfind something wonderful. We may dig the prehistoric mastodon from somesnug corner where he burrowed several thousand years ago. We may----"

  "I never knew that mastodons 'burrowed,'" scoffed Sara Emerson. "That'sa new truth in natural history brought to light by Professor Dean."

  "Which shall be proven when we return triumphantly with a few armfuls ofbones," flung back Emma as she hurried to catch up with Grace, Arline,Ruth and Anne, who had already started.

  "What would life be without Emma Dean?" eulogized Sue Emerson afterEmma's vanishing back. "Sara and I are always quoting her at home. Itseems so strange that until the Sempers organized we never knew her verywell. It was through Grace we learned to know Emma."

  "The longer I know Grace Harlowe the prouder I am to be her friend,"said Elfreda slowly.

  "That is the way we all think about Grace," was Sue Emerson's quickreturn. "You and Miriam are especially lucky in having her for a chum."

  The four young women talked on until a long, clear trill announced thereturn of the other half of the exploring party. "Where, oh, where, arethe mastodon's bones?" called out Sara Emerson jeeringly, as soon asEmma Dean came within hailing distance and empty-handed.

  "Buried out of sight and as hard as stones," came Emma's rhymedrejoinder.

  "How do you know how hard they are if they're buried out of sight!"scoffed Sara as Emma came up beside her.

  "Mere supposition, my child, mere supposition."

  The strollers had now reached the impromptu camp and were smiling overthe exchange of words on the part of Emma and Sara.

  "It was a delightful walk," declared Grace. "I'd like to spend two orthree days in these woods."

  "Stay over another week and do it," tempted Elfreda.

  "I can't." Grace shook her head regretfully. "I must spend one week athome before I leave for Overton, and I simply must be at Overton, and inHarlowe House, at least a week before it opens. There are so many thingsto be done. Thank goodness, I'll have Emma to help me this year. Lastfall I felt as lonely as a shipwrecked mariner when I landed on thestation platform at Overton. Then I heard Emma Dean's voice behind me.I truly believe that was the pleasantest surprise of my life."

  "There, twins! Now you hear what others think of me," exclaimed Emma intriumph. "Perhaps, hereafter, you'll be more appreciative of my manylovely qualities."

  "We never said you were the worst person in the world," conceded Julia.

  "Neither did you ever refer to me as the 'pleasantest surprise' of yourlife," reminded Emma.

  "You're a constant surprise, Emma, and always a funny one," was Sara'smagnanimous tribute.

  "Twins, you are forgiven. You may sit beside me, if you're good, whilewe eat luncheon. I can be magnanimous, too."

  The big luncheon hampers were brought out by Elfreda and Miriam. Atablecloth was laid on the grass, and the luncheon was spread forth inall its glory. There were several kinds of toothsome sandwiches, salads,olives and pickles, fruit and plenty of sweets for dessert. There wascoffee in two large thermos bottles, and there was also imported gingerale. The hungry girls lost no time in seating themselves about this alfresco luncheon, making the quiet hollow ring with the merry talk andlaughter of their last delightful frolic together.