CHAPTER XIX--A SAFE AND SANE FOURTH?
Of course, somebody had to go to the Caslons and explain all this, andthat duty devolved upon Ruth. Naturally, permission had to be sought ofthe farmer and his wife before the "fresh air kids" could be carried offbodily to Sunrise Farm.
It was decided that the ten dollars, of which Tom had taken charge,should be spent for extra bunting and lanterns to decorate with, and tobuy little gifts for each of the fresh airs to find next his or herplate on the evening of the Fourth.
Therefore, Tom started again for Darrowtown right after breakfast, andRuth rode with him in the high, two-wheeled cart.
Ruth had two important errands. One was in Darrowtown. But the firststop, at Mr. Caslon's, troubled her a little.
How would the farmer and his wife take the idea of the Steeles suddenlypatronizing the fresh air children? Were the Caslons anything like Mr.Steele himself, in temperament, Ruth's errand would not be a pleasantone, she knew.
The orphans ran out shrieking a welcome when Tom drove into the yard ofthe house under the hill. Where were the "terrible twins"? Had theirsister really come to see them? Were Willie and Dickie coming back tothe orphanage at all?
These and a dozen other questions were hurled at Ruth. Some of thebigger girls remembered Sadie Raby and asked a multitude of questionsabout her. So the girl of the Red Mill contented herself at first withtrying to reply to all these queries.
Then Mrs. Caslon appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands ofdish-water, and the old farmer himself came from the stables. Theirfriendly greeting and smiling faces opened the way for Ruth's task. Shethrew herself, figuratively speaking, into their arms.
"I know you are both just as kind as you can be," said Ruth, eagerly,"and you won't mind if I ask you to change your program a little to-dayfor the youngsters? They want to give them all a good time up at SunriseFarm."
"Good land!" exclaimed Mrs. Caslon. "Not _all_ of them?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Ruth, and she sketched briefly the idea of thecelebration on the hill-top, including the presents she and Tom were tobuy in Darrowtown for the kiddies.
"My soul and body!" exclaimed the farmer's wife. "That lady, Mis'Steele, don't know what she's runnin' into, does she, Father?"
"I reckon not," chuckled Mr. Caslon, wagging his head.
"But you won't mind? You'll let us have the children?" asked Ruth,anxiously.
"Why----" Mrs. Caslon looked at the old gentleman. But he was shaking allover with inward mirth.
"Do 'em good, Mother--do 'em good," he chuckled--and he did not mean thefresh air children, either. Ruth could see that.
"It'll be a mortal shame," began Mrs. Caslon, again, but once more herhusband interrupted:
"Don't you fuss about other folks, Mother," he said, gravely. "It'll do'em good--mebbe--as I say. Nothin' like tryin' a game once by the way. AndI bet twelve little tykes like these 'uns will keep that Steele manhoppin' for a while."
"But his poor wife----"
"Don't you worry, Mrs. Caslon," Ruth urged, but wishing to laugh, too."We girls will take care of the kiddies, and Mrs. Steele sha'n't bebothered too much."
"Besides," drawled Mr. Caslon, "the woman's got a good sized family ofher own--there's six or seven of 'em, ain't there?" he demanded of Ruth.
"Eight, sir."
"But that don't make a speck of difference," the farmer's wifeinterposed. "She's always had plenty of maids and the like to look outfor them. She don't know----"
"Let her learn a little, then," said Mr. Caslon, good naturedly enough."It'll do both him and her good. And it'll give you a rest for a fewhours, Mother.
"Besides," added Mr. Caslon, with another deep chuckle, "I hear Steelehas been rantin' around about takin' the kids to board just for the sakeof spitin' the neighbors. Now, if he thinks boardin' a dozen young'unslike these is all fun----"
"Don't be harsh, John," urged Mrs. Caslon.
"I ain't! I ain't!" cried the farmer, laughing again. "But they'rebitin' off a big chaw, and it tickles me to see 'em do it."
It was arranged, therefore, that the orphans should be ready to go up toSunrise Farm that afternoon. Then Ruth and Tom drove to Darrowtown. Theyhad a fast horse, and got over the rough road at a very good pace.
Tom drove first around into the side street where Miss True Pettis'slittle cottage was situated.
"You dear child!" was the little spinster's greeting. "Are you having anice time with your rich friends at Sunrise Farm? Tell me all aboutthem--and the farm. Everybody in Darrowtown is that curious!"
Tom had driven away to attend to the errands he could do alone, so Ruthcould afford the time to visit a bit with her old friend. The felon wasbetter, and that fact being assured, Ruth considered it better tosatisfy Miss Pettis regarding the Sunrise Farm folk before getting tothe Raby orphans.
And that was the way to get to them, too. For the story of the tempestthe day before, and the appearance of Sadie Raby, the runaway, and herreunion with the twins, naturally came into the tale Ruth had to tell--atale that was eagerly listened to and as greatly enjoyed by theDarrowtown seamstress, as one can well imagine.
"Just like a book--or a movie," sighed Miss Pettis, shaking her head."It's really wonderful, Ruthie Fielding, what's happened to you sinceyou left us here in Darrowtown. But, I always said, this town is deadand nothing really happens _here_!"
"But it's lovely in Darrowtown," declared Ruth. "And just to think!Those Raby children lived here once."
"No?"
"Yes they did. Sadie was six or seven years old, I guess, when they lefthere. Tom Raby was her father. He was a mason's helper----"
"Don't you tell me another thing about 'em!" cried Miss Pettis, startingup suddenly. "Now you remind me. I remember them well. Mis' Raby was asnice a woman as ever stepped--but weakly. And Tom Raby----
"Why, how could I forget it? And after that man from Canady came totrace 'em, too, only three years ago. Didn't you ever hear of it, Ruth?"
"What man?" asked Ruth, quite bewildered now. "Are--are you sure it wasthe same family? And _who_ would want to trace them?"
"Lemme see. Listen!" commanded Miss Pettis. "You answer me about thesepoor children."
And under the seamstress's skillful questioning Ruth related everydetail she knew about the Raby orphans--and Mr. Steele, in her presence,had cross-questioned Sadie exhaustively the evening before. The storylost nothing in Ruth's telling, for she had a retentive memory.
"My goodness me, Ruthie!" ejaculated the spinster, excitedly. "It's thesame folks--sure. Why, do you know, they came from Quebec, and there'ssome property they've fell heir to--property from their mother's side--Oh,let me tell you! Funny you never heard us talkin' about that Canadylawyer while you was livin' here with me. My!"