CHAPTER XVIII
KITTY'S COTILLION
"That was plucky--Blue Bonnet's riding the mare home yesterday," Alecremarked at the breakfast-table next morning.
"What was that?" asked the General.
Alec explained.
"It was plucky," Knight remarked. "She's a true Texan, all right. Whatgot into the mare? Only playing, wasn't she?"
"I suppose she was," Alec answered, deep in thought. "But it was aserious business, just the same. When Blue Bonnet fell I scarcely knewwhether I'd pick her up whole. Not having a scratch is marvelous."
"She says she has a guardian angel," Knight said, laughing. "Jove, shemust have. Only a kind and interested fate saved her yesterday. Well,what's the program to-day?"
Alec came out of his reverie.
"To-day? Nothing in particular. There's the party at the Clarks'to-night. Blue Bonnet's honor, I believe--and yours."
"I'm at the young ladies' disposal," Knight said.
It was late afternoon when Alec, coming in with Knight from a ride,suggested a call at Mrs. Clyde's.
"This is about the tea hour," he said. "I'm not particularly long ontea, but I must pay my respects to Miss Clyde and her mother."
Tea _was_ in order when the boys were ushered into Mrs. Clyde'scomfortable sitting-room. Blue Bonnet was helping herself to a secondcup.
"Just in time," she said gaily, bestowing a handshake on Knight, andnodding at Alec.
Alec felt the omission.
"Not wholly forgiven yet," he thought, as he turned his attention toMiss Lucinda. "'Fraid that cut on Chula must be looming large to-day."
That was exactly the trouble. Denham had noticed the mark when the horsehad been turned over to him the afternoon before, and, alarmed for BlueBonnet's safety, remarked about it to Miss Lucinda. The situation hadbeen awkward. Blue Bonnet was forced to explain; which she did with asmuch credit to Chula as possible.
"Do you mean to say that Chula ran away with you?" Miss Clyde had asked.
"She was only playing, Aunt Lucinda." Blue Bonnet carefully guarded thefact of her fall. "She felt so good after the long winter at pasture.She didn't mean a bit of harm. I'm sure she didn't."
But Aunt Lucinda was far from satisfied, and at her first opportunityquestioned Alec.
"Don't you think Chula is a bit wild for Blue Bonnet after being out allwinter?" she asked.
Alec glanced at Blue Bonnet in surprise.
"Oh, scarcely wild, Miss Clyde. She was a little frisky yesterday fromhaving been in the stable a few days on extra rations. I think thelittle run we gave her took away some of her surplus energy. I daresayBlue Bonnet will have to prod her to make her move in a day or two."
"Going to stand for that, Blue Bonnet?" Knight asked. "I can't imagine aTexas girl riding anything that had to be prodded. By the way, Kittytells me that Sarah has become quite expert in the art of riding: asksat the livery stable for 'a horse with some go in him,' and has triedout the best of them."
"Good for Sarah!" Blue Bonnet exclaimed, grateful to Knight for sotactfully diverting the subject. "That reminds me of the day she firstrode Comanche at the ranch. The girls made such fun of her, but shestayed with him gloriously. That was Sarah's first experience with ahorse with 'go' in him."
Blue Bonnet laughed at the recollection.
"See you and Carita to-night at Kitty's, I suppose," Alec said as he andKnight were leaving a little later. "May we stop and take you over?"
"Thank you--yes," Blue Bonnet answered, looking more at Knight than atAlec. "I reckon Delia will resign in your favor. She's been my duennafor some time now."
Over at Doctor Clark's great excitement prevailed. Kitty, with the aidof Amanda and Debby, was changing the entire landscape of the Clarkdomain. Furniture was carted out wholesale. Canvas had been laid in thelarge double parlors for dancing, and the hall and library reveled incosy corners and tete-a-tetes. Out on the broad veranda, although theseason was yet so young, comfortable nooks braved the chill atmosphere,and Japanese lanterns gave an air of festivity.
Kitty was giving a cotillion, an event of some importance in Woodford.Kitty's two cousins from Medford, Jack and Ferren Allen--Amherst menhome for vacation--had come over to help with arrangements and makethemselves generally agreeable at the party.
"What am I to do with this, Kitty?" Jack asked, lifting a table. "Amandasays it stays here. Is that right?"
"In other words, I'm not to be depended upon," Amanda said, laughing. "Itold him that table was for the favors, and had to stay where it was."
"That's true, Jack," Kitty called from the porch, where she and Ferrenwere struggling with rugs and Indian blankets. "Amanda's perfectlydependable. That's her one accomplishment--making the truth go as faras possible!"
"See?" Amanda retorted, making a little _moue_. "Next time you'll takeorders direct, and save time, won't you? Isn't it a lark, getting readyfor a party? Oh, would you please straighten out these chairs? They haveto go all round the room--so! Then perhaps you'd help Debby with thefavors. They are in that box by the window. Kitty got the sweetestthings in Boston. I do hope some nice man will present me with a pinkfan. I'm pining for one for my new gown."
"I shall try to remember," Jack promised humbly. "Pink, did you say?"
At last everything was in place. Kitty gave a parting glance at therooms. They must have fulfilled every requirement from the satisfiedlook on her face.
"Boys," she called to her cousins, who were finishing a hasty lunch inthe dining-room, "you'll have to hurry. It's a quarter past seven thisblessed minute. How long does it take you to get into evening clothes?"
"Not as long as it takes you by an hour," Ferren called back. "We'll goup to dress at eight, and then hang round for you."
"Don't you ever think it! I dress like chain lightning. Come on, Amanda,we'll show them how long it takes us."
Amanda, living near, had brought her clothes over, intending to dresswith Kitty and stay all night. The girls scrambled through a half dozenthings forgotten at the last minute, and then proceeded to dress withhaste. But, sure enough, at a quarter past eight, Ferren, true to hisword, emerged immaculate from his bedroom, and commenced beating atattoo on Kitty's door.
"Go away!" Kitty called. "We're all ready. We're just resting a minute."
But Ferren, laughing scornfully, kept up the noise until the girlsappeared.
Kitty opened the door and gave him a push.
"Go away now. You see we _are_ dressed! We only have to put on a fewtouches; Amanda's flowers and--"
"I know those touches, Kitty. Come along!"
In the front parlor Doctor Clark stood waiting to receive the guestswith his daughter. Mrs. Clark, being an invalid, found herself unequalto such occasions.
"Oh, Father, you look--just lovely!" Kitty said, smiling up to him andnoting every detail of his correct evening dress. "Only--just a minute;it's your tie! There! Isn't he splendid, Amelia? My, but this is anoccasion! I do hope everybody will have a good time. There's BlueBonnet. I hear her voice. She's early, isn't she? Amanda, take a peek atthe favors, will you, and tell Sarah not to get them mixed. I haveexplained it all to her a dozen times, but when one doesn't dance, oneis apt to bungle."
It had fallen to Sarah's lot to preside at the favor table; a treat shewas looking forward to with no little pleasure. It was nice to be takingpart, even if one couldn't dance.
Blue Bonnet was looking her best in the pink gown purchased for thedinner the week before. She was very attractive as she entered the roombetween Alec and Knight, whose glances followed her approvingly.
"Some party, Miss Clark!" Alec said, bowing before that young lady inhis best military form. "I was just telling Knight that he was in luckto be introduced to society under such favorable circumstances."
"I'm certainly in luck to be here," Knight said. "May I see yourprogram, Kitty?"
"We haven't any programs, Knight. This is to be a cotillion. The _girls_get a chance to bestow favors. See that table where Sarah is sittin
g?Come over and I'll explain."
Which she did, a little to Knight's bewilderment.
The rooms began to fill up. On the up-stairs landing violins squeaked inthe tuning. Ferren, who was to lead the cotillion with Kitty, chose sixcouples for the first figure, and the dance began.
Alec and Knight both stood before Blue Bonnet. "I suppose you are goingto say 'how happy I'd be with either,' aren't you?" Knight saidlaughing.
Blue Bonnet paused only a second.
"Since Knight is the guest of honor I think I'd best dance with him,"she said.
But Alec, nothing daunted, brought her his first favor.
"You can't resist this vanity box, Blue Bonnet," he said, smilingbroadly.
Blue Bonnet accepted the favor, but after a couple of turns through therooms, she stopped.
"Want to sit it out?" Alec asked.
"If you please--I think I should rather."
They found a seat in one of the cosy corners. Alec strove to beentertaining. Suddenly, in the midst of the conversation, he broke offabruptly:
"I say, Blue Bonnet! You're not vexed still about that Chula affair, areyou?"
"No; certainly not."
"You're awfully quiet!"
"I just happen to feel quiet, I reckon."
"Sorry to miss this two-step. We won't have many more dances."
"Oh, there'll be lots of parties."
"Yes, I daresay--but not for me."
"Why?"
"Because--I leave in the morning."
"In the morning?"
"My holiday is over. I'm only here at all through a specialdispensation of Providence. I ought to be at school this minute,grinding like the mischief. Our exams begin the last Monday in April,and they're no joke."
In her keen disappointment Blue Bonnet forgot her small grievance.
"Why, that's perfectly outrageous! The very idea, only three days!"
"But they've been such bully days! It's been so pleasant to see Judsonagain. He'll be here. He's going to stay on for a week withGrandfather."
"And when will you get another holiday?"
"Two years from next June, if I'm lucky."
"How do you mean, lucky?"
"If I pass the examinations and make the Point. If I do, I enter thetwelfth of June for two years."
"Why, it's just like having a sentence! Why didn't you stay at theranch? One can do as one pleases there, at any rate."
A half wistful expression crept into Alec's eyes.
"That's true," he said. "I loved the ranch life, but--yousee--Grandfather had chosen the army for me, and when the appointmentcame, I knew what a disappointment it would be to him if I didn't make atry at it. It's all right though. I like it. There's a fascination aboutit. Think you don't want to finish this dance?"
Blue Bonnet rose, but just as they moved off the music stopped.
For the next two or three dances Blue Bonnet saw nothing at all of Alec.She looked about the room once or twice for him, but he was nowhere tobe seen.
"Where's Alec?" she inquired of Knight when he came up to her for adance. "He seems to have disappeared."
"I saw him on the veranda talking with Kitty a minute ago," Knight said,peering in that direction. "Don't believe he's dancing much."
Blue Bonnet watched her opportunity and carried her next favor to Alec;but Kitty was ahead of her. The rest of the evening was spoilt for her.She had hurt Alec; and Alec was going away to-morrow--for two years! Twoyears seemed an eternity.
Some one announced supper, and Blue Bonnet and Knight wended their waytoward the dining-room. Kitty came into view at the same moment. Alecand her cousin Ferren were both claiming her company for refreshments.
"Go get Debby, Ferren," Blue Bonnet heard Kitty say. "I'm taking care ofAlec to-night. He's going away to-morrow and we sha'n't see him againfor ages." Then, spying Blue Bonnet and Carita, she, called:
"Come over here, girls, Alec has heaps to say to you. Did you know hewas going away to-morrow, Blue Bonnet? I never was so surprised in mylife! I tell him I think it's right horrid of him and such a scarcity ofboys in Woodford."
For a few minutes the conversation was lively. Knight took theopportunity to tease Kitty about Sandy, the young Texan who had foundher so attractive the summer before.
Blue Bonnet tried to appear interested. She smiled and answeredquestions in monosyllables. She wondered afterwards if she had smiled inthe right place: her thoughts had been miles away from Sandy andKitty--from her surroundings. She was wondering how she could make Alecunderstand that she was sorry for having been so disagreeable; that sheshould miss him terribly during the rest of the vacation. She had turnedthe matter over in her mind for the twentieth time without coming to anydefinite conclusion when Alec began saying good-by.
"I'm going to turn Blue Bonnet and Carita over to Knight's care," sheheard him saying. "I have to get out early in the morning and there area few things to be done yet to-night. It's been a great old party,Kitty. If I make the Point you'll have to come down to some of thedances next winter. Good-by. See you all again one of these days, Isuppose."
"You'll see us all to-morrow morning at the station," Kitty answered,looking straight at Blue Bonnet, hoping she would acquiesce, but BlueBonnet in her surprise could scarcely find voice to speak.
It was not until she was in the privacy of her own room that Blue Bonnetconfided her disappointment to Carita.
"I've been perfectly horrid to Alec," she confessed. "I've been angry athim ever since he struck Chula yesterday. I don't know why--Chula didact badly. Perhaps it was because I was so horribly upset. I was sofrightened--oh, you can't think how frightened! And now he's goingaway--for two years--and he'll never know how sorry I am."
"Why didn't you tell him?" Carita asked.
"I wanted to, but I couldn't get a chance. He seemed so terriblyinterested in Kitty. I couldn't get near him--alone."
"Why don't you write him a note, Blue Bonnet? Write and tell him thatyou _were_ angry, but that you're all over it now."
"A note? I hadn't thought of that. How could I get a note to him? Heleaves so early in the morning."
"Write it now and we'll skip out and put it under his front door. We canslip down-stairs--no one will hear us, and--"
"Carita! You don't know what you are talking about. It's twenty minutesafter twelve this instant. Don't you ever think you could get out ofthis house without Aunt Lucinda's knowing it. She sleeps with one eyeopen. No--that won't do. Can't you think of something else?"
"Yes--" Carita answered after a moment. "You write the note. I alwayswake early in the morning--I got the habit in Texas and it seems to staywith me. I'll get up and take it over early--very early, and give it tothe maid--or--I could send it by Denham, couldn't I? He's always up bysix o'clock."
"Of course--the very thing! You're sure you don't mind? You'll beawfully sleepy in the morning."
"I'd love to do it," Carita answered, truthfully. To be of service toBlue Bonnet constituted her greatest happiness. "Hurry up and write it!"
For the next ten minutes Blue Bonnet's pen scratched away busily. Theremust have been some difficulty in writing the note, for several attemptswent the way of the waste basket. Finally it was done. Blue Bonnet readit through three times, then slipped it into an envelope and laid it onthe table beside the bed.
"There it is," she said, eying it with misgivings. "I hope it's allright, and I haven't been too awfully humble. I don't suppose he cares arap, anyway--as long as--"
She stopped abruptly. She was going to say "as long as Kitty Clark wasaround," but she couldn't bring herself to it.
Carita was up with the larks the next morning and slipping down-stairsquietly, so that she did not even waken Blue Bonnet, found Denham andgave him the note.
"It's for Mr. Alec, Denham," she said, "and it's very, _very_ important.Please take it over immediately and give it to the cook. Tell her togive it to Mr. Alec the first thing when he comes down to breakfast.And, Denham, please impress upon her how importan
t it is. She mightmislay it or something."
Denham promised faithfully, and a few hours later at the station BlueBonnet was rewarded by a cordial handshake from Alec.
"I got the note all right, Blue Bonnet. It was good of you to send itover--makes my going away a lot easier. Hope you have a jolly goodvacation. Put Judson through his paces, won't you? Good-by. Send alongsome of those fine letters of yours and tell me all the news."
He was off, and Blue Bonnet watched the long train vanish into a blackspeck.
"Come along, Solomon," she said with a faint sigh, after Alec's lastsalute had been lost to view, "there's no use moping here."
She left the girls at the first corner and turned into a little lanethat led to the Widow Patten's cottage. The Widow Patten was a uniquefigure in the village. Small of stature, cheery of countenance,charitable by nature, she mothered the town. Fate had not been kind toMrs. Patten, but she cherished no resentment; it had left her a pair ofwilling hands, and indomitable courage to face emergencies.
"Seems to me if I'd had to endure all that the Widow Patten has, I'dhave given up long ago," more than one neighbor said, beholding hersorrows and cares; but the Widow Patten _never_ gave up. "The way willopen," was one of her favorite sayings, and nine times out of ten itdid. It had opened up opportunely when Miss Clyde asked her to takelittle Gabriel and his nurse from the city hospital. The pantry had beendeplorably bare, and the very substantial check that preceded theinvalid's coming had been a godsend.
Blue Bonnet opened the white picket gate and walked up the path borderedwith old-fashioned flags that led to Mrs. Patten's front door. Sheknocked softly.
Mrs. Patten was not long in answering. She flung back the door with agesture that bespoke hospitality.
"Why, it's Miss Blue Bonnet," she said, smiling a welcome. "Come rightin. S'pose you want to see Gabriel. He's out in the orchard with MissWarren. They're both crazy 'bout the fruit blooms and the sunshine."
She led the way through a spotless kitchen, and Blue Bonnet stopped atthe door to catch a glimpse of Gabriel's ecstatic face. The child waspropped with soft, comfortable pillows in a wheel chair. It was thefirst time Blue Bonnet had seen him out of bed, and the sight of hiscrutches gave her a start.
"So you arrived safely?" she said, shaking hands with Miss Warren anddropping down beside Gabriel.
Gabriel removed his eyes from a robin in the peach-tree long enough tosay "good morning" at his nurse's request. Then he spied Solomon.
"A dog!" he cried delightedly, as if wonders were multiplying toorapidly to be true.
Blue Bonnet took Solomon by the collar and pulled him closer to the boy."Pet him," she said, "he won't hurt you." But at Solomon's friendlyapproach the child shrank away in terror.
"Gabriel has never known much about dogs," Miss Warren explained. "Andjust think, Miss Ashe, he's never seen a robin before! That's why heforgot to speak to you; he was entranced."
Entranced he was. The trees in bloom; the soft fragrant air swaying theleaves gently; the singing birds; Mrs. Patten's lazy yellow cat drowsingin the sunshine; the chickens cackling in the tiny barnyard, opened upa panorama before the child's wondering eyes that could scarcely beeclipsed by heaven itself. Only one who has lain for months in ahospital ward with blank walls and a sea of sick faces, could haveappreciated the vision.
"'Tain't any better than this, is it--the place where we're goin'?"
"Well--" Blue Bonnet paused a moment before answering. She wondered ifanything _could_ be better than Woodford in the spring. She had grown tolove it very dearly herself.
"There's the pony," she said at last. "You haven't forgotten about him,have you? And there are great stretches of land to gallop over as soonas you are well enough--and there's Uncle Cliff, and Uncle Joe andBenita. Benita adores little boys. Just wait until you hear some of herstories and taste her cookies."
"Stories 'bout Injuns and soldiers?"
"Yes, some."
Gabriel heaved a sigh of content and his head dropped back on thepillows contentedly.
"Guess it'll suit me all right," he said, "specially the pony. What yous'pose he looks like?"
"I shouldn't wonder if he was a bay--or perhaps brown; and not so veryhigh. Just high enough for a little boy to climb on easily. Were youever on a pony?"
"Gee--no! Wish I could see him right now!"
"Would you like to see my pony?"
Gabriel's eyes brightened.
"Bet yer!" he said. "Could I get on him?"
"Maybe. I'll see."
"Can you get him now?"
"I reckon I could--yes."
She was back in a short time on Chula; Knight Judson with her on Victor.They hitched the horses round at the back of the little house so thatGabriel might get a good view of them.
"Gee! Oh, I wish--Couldn't I get on one of 'em? Just a minute?"
Miss Warren looked alarmed.
"Not to-day, dear. You aren't nearly strong enough. I couldn't think ofletting you."
"Not if I lifted him very carefully and held him, Miss Warren?" Knightasked.
Gabriel's eyes plead with her.
"Knight would be very careful," Blue Bonnet urged.
All three turned and looked at the child. His cheeks had flushedscarlet; his eyes were as brilliant as stars, his little thin armsoutstretched toward Chula with the wildest anticipation.
"Just for a minute then, if Mr. Judson will be very careful."
Knight already had the child in his arms and was lifting him with thegreatest tenderness. Gabriel sank into the saddle and reached for thelines with a chuckle of delight.
"Git ap!" he said, "git ap!"
Knight patted Chula's shoulder and spoke quietly.
"Careful, old girl. This is a little sick boy you have on your back; nocapers to-day."
"Couldn't he just walk round a minute?" Gabriel begged.
Knight looked at Miss Warren.
"If Mr. Judson takes you round _once_ will you get off willingly,Gabriel?"
Gabriel promised with a quick nod.
Around they went once--so carefully; Blue Bonnet leading Chula, andKnight holding the child in the saddle. When they came back to the placewhere they had started, Gabriel put his arms round Knight's neck and thetired body sank into the strong arms willingly. Knight carried him tothe chair and Gabriel snuggled into the pillows exhausted.
"He will be all right presently," Miss Warren promised, noting BlueBonnet's and Knight's alarm. "He has no reserve strength yet--but itwill come; here, in this sunshine."
Miss Warren went into the house for a glass of milk for Gabriel, andBlue Bonnet, dropping down beside him, rubbed his colorless littlehands. For a moment the eyelids fluttered weakly; then they openedslowly and the eyes smiled.
"It was fine!" he said, almost in a whisper. "Fine! Say, bring himagain to-morrow, will you?"
Blue Bonnet promised, and as she mounted Chula a few minutes later, aweak voice called:
"To-morrow! Don't forget--you promised!"