Dixie Martin, the Girl of Woodford's Cañon

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE A HAPPY FATHER

  The next day dawned gloriously, but the snow was still too deep in thecanyon for the children to attend the morning session of the log-cabinschool.

  "The snow-plow will be along soon, I suppose," Carol said, as she peeredup toward the highway.

  Sylvia, who stood at Carol's side exclaimed: "Look! Look! There's ashining white cloud flying low. Did you suppose clouds ever came so fardown the mountain?"

  Carol gleefully clapped her hands. "It's the plow going up the road thisvery minute," she cried in joy. "It throws up the snow in clouds justlike that." Then she added: "I'll tell my brother. He'll want to finishshoveling our path now."

  "Oh-ee! How I'd love to help shovel," Sylvia exclaimed. "Couldn't youand I help, Carol?"

  "Of course we could, and maybe it would be kind of fun! We haven't beenout of the house for 'most four days. I'll ask Dixie."

  The older girl thought the plan a splendid one, and she bundled upJimmy-Boy, that he might accompany them. With the three children awayfrom the cabin, Mr. Edrington might get the undisturbed sleep that he soneeded to restore his strength.

  The younger girls climbed to the loft and put on their leggings,rubbers, and heavy coats and hoods; then, getting small shovels, theyjoined the boy who was already working with a will, his cheeks the colorof the muffler that was tied about his neck.

  When they were far enough away from the cabin to shout, without beingheard by the injured man, they paused now and then in their path-makingto have a snowball battle, and, at last, when they had cleared the trailto the highway, the four children stood looking admiringly at the roadthat had been so recently smoothed by the snow-plow.

  Suddenly Ken sang out, "Hark, what do I hear?"

  "Sleigh-bells, I do believe," Carol cried.

  "Jingle! Jingle! Somebody's coming. Let's guess who." Sylvia, her cheeksflushed, her eyes sparkling, watched the bend in the road expectantly."I'll guess it's Mr. Piggins," she concluded.

  "I'll guess it's--" Ken began, but before he could mention a name, atrim little cutter, drawn by a spry white horse, appeared.

  There was a cry of joy from one of the children.

  "It's my dad! My dear, dear dad!" Leaping from the trail into thehighway, Sylvia waved her red-mittened hand, laughing and shouting. Theman in the rapidly-approaching sleigh looked at the small girl as thoughhe could not think who she might be.

  Then with an expression of radiant gladness, he called "Whoa!" tossedthe reins to Ken and held out his arms to catch the small figure thatwas flying toward him.

  "My Miggins!" the father's voice was tender with emotion. "This can't beyou!"

  He held her off at arm's length to gaze at her with admiring eyes.

  The small girl laughed up at him happily, her eyes bright, her cheeks asrosy as Carol's. Then again holding her close, he said softly: "Littlegirl, your mother is at home now, and she wants to see you. She has beenasking every day since the storm set in if I wouldn't go and get herbaby for her." Then he added anxiously: "Are you old enough, I wonder,to see the great change that there is in your mother, and not let herknow? Our loved one is very frail yet, little daughter, but I believe,when you are with her, she will be more content and will grow strongeragain. We will try to help her, for she longs to get well, that she mayenjoy the simple home life which, somehow, we have always missed." Then,smiling down at the other three children, the genial banker called,"Pile in, all of you, and I'll give you a sleigh-ride."

  Up they scrambled, stowing the shovels away as best they could. Thenagain the horse started, turning down the drive toward the cabin. Howthe sleigh-bells rang, and how the children shouted! Jimmy-Boy was mosthilarious of all, and he wanted to keep on riding, even when Dixieappeared to lift him out and carry him into the warm kitchen. "I wantmore sleigh-ride," the little fellow kept saying. Then Dixie had aninspiration. "Maybe big brother will be able to make a bob-sled, andmaybe Pegasus will pull it, and then Jimmy can go riding."

  "Will there be a ting-a-ling?" The small boy had been about to cry, buthe waited to hear his big sister's reply. Dixie hesitated. She neverliked to promise anything that she could not grant.

  "What's the matter with that little man?" the kind banker asked as heentered the kitchen.

  Jimmy-Boy, from his place on Dixie's lap, hastened to tell him. "I wantting-a-ling to put on Pegthus."

  Mr. Clayburn looked so truly mystified that Dixie had to explain thatPegasus was their burro, and that the little fellow wished they had astring of bells to put about his neck.

  "A splendid suggestion!" the genial man exclaimed. "I was wondering whatI could do with the old bells, now that I have bought a new harness.Pegasus shall have them. Come with me, little chap, and we'll see howyour burro likes them."

  Ken accompanied them to the barn while Dixie went up to the loft whereshe found the two smaller girls busily packing the suit-case whichSylvia had brought with her.

  That little maid stood up, and, throwing her arms about Dixie's neck,she said: "Oh, I just don't know how to tell you what a nice time I'vehad. How I do hope that I can come again!"

  "Of course you'll come again--lots and lots of times," Dixie assuredher.

  Ten minutes later they were all out on the porch. Mr. Clayburn took thehand of the oldest girl as he said earnestly, "Dixie, I shall never beable to repay you four little Martins for all that you have done for mysmall daughter, but promise that you will call on me if ever you needhelp in any way."

  Dixie was glad to promise. Then, when the sleigh had been driven away,Ken said: "I didn't tell Mr. Clayburn the reason for Mr. Edrington'sbeing here. That's his secret. He doesn't want any one to know."

  "Nobody shall know!" Dixie promised, but she was mistaken.