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HAPPY HOUSE 1
By Jane D. Abbott
COPYRIGHT. 1930. BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
~ —~.. ... —m
Then into Nancy’s happy med
itations flashed the disturbing
thought that nothing about the
garden or the house belonged in
any way to her!
‘ It’s just like me to forget,”
she declared aloud, shouldering
her hoe and turning toward the
carriage barn. “And like me to
get fond of it all.!”
‘ Anyway, Nonie‘11 have her
party, ami oven if there isn’t a
harp and a velvet train there II
he lots to eat or B’limly’s name
isn’t B'lindy. 1 wonder,” and
Nancy addressed the distant out
line of the Judson’s barns, “how
I» .ter Nyde’ll ever net at a tea
party!’’
' CHAPTER XVIII.
i The Party.
Very early, on the morning of
the day of the party, Nancy and
Aunt Milly and B’lindy and
Jonathan and Nonie and Davy
and Peter Hyde, eaeli, scanned a
sunny, cloudiless sky with relief
and iov.
“Well, it isn't going to rain,
anyway,” each thought.
Even Miss Sabrina, lifting her
shade slowly, felt her pulse beat
more quickly as a sunbeam
danced into her face. This day
was a new day for Happy House;
she could not count the years
since a “party” had been given
in her home; her old hands
trembled now as she dressed hur
riedly. “What if something
goes wrong!” she thought. Had
they forgotten anything?
A little later Nancy, standing
with her arms full of girlish
finery of 30 years ago, voiced the
same fear to Aunt Milly.
“What is something should go
wrong!” Hut there had been a
giggle in her voice as she had
said it. This was the most de
lightfully funny party she had
ever known, and it was going to
be tin* very jolliest, too.
Direct|y after breakfast Nonie
had run home with the made-over
- white dress. She thought it much
lovelier than velvet and in her
joy over a pair of Nancy's slip
pers the child forgot her cher
ished dream of a train.
What Miss Milly should wear
to the party was a matter that
demanded much thought. “You
see, 1 want you to look happy,”
Nancy explained to Aunt Milly.
She had dragged down from the
attic a little trunk in which, after
the accident,’ many of Aunt Mil
ly 's girlish possessions had been
packed. It was great fun taking
them out and selecting from them
what Aunt Milly should wear.
There were not many things —
compared to Nancy’s own ward
robe it. was pitifully small and
spoke eloquently of the limited
pleasures of Aunt Milly’s girl
hood.
“This will be lovely,” Nancy
held out a flowered silk. “And
you can wear these darling beads.
And this,” picking out a shell
comb, “in your hair. And 1 will
send -Jonathan over to Judson’s
for a bunch of their lovely roses.
1 know they liave some!”
“Hut isn’t this—queer—and
out. of date? I’m old now,
Nancy!”
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* i iiuui i<uutr ;
Don’t you knpw that you’re not
a hit old? All this time you've
been shut away the years have
been rolling right past you and
have left you untouched. You’re
going to be the sweetest picture
and you’re going to be a—sur
prise, too!”
Site was a picture when
Nancy’s eager fingers had fin
ished with her. The pink of the
quaintly fashioned dress was not
more pink than the color that
flushed her delicate cheeks; Into
her soft hair Nancy had thrust
the shell comb and around her
neck hung a chain of tiny corals.1
Jonathan had returned from
Judson’s with four Punches of
roses and one of them now
adorned Miss Millv.
“You’re just lovely,” Nancy
had cried, imprinting a warm
kiss upon the blushing cheek.
She awarded the same stamp
of approval upon Aunt Sabrina,
too, who was very stately in a
black silk with one of the Judson
roses pinned in the net fichu
about her throat.
“And I shall kiss you, too,”
Nancy called out to Il’lindy,
catching, through the open door
a glimpse of marvellously
starched calico.
“You go 'long and keep nut
from under my feet,’ had 1 ■ en
B’lindy’s retort as she retreated
It
from Nancy’s threatened attack.
“I guess there’s work has to be
done before this party’s over!”
But the grumbling in her voice
could not conceal her pride ami
satisfaction.
‘‘Oh, everything is just love
ly,” Nancy exclaimed, tiptoeing
about to add a finishing touch
here and there. And indeed,
some magic wand seemed to have
scattered gladness everywhere
about the old place; the great
rooms, open now to the sunshine,
radiated it in the fragrance of
the flowers that Nancy had
heaped everywhere.
‘‘I wish it would stay likje
this,” was her unspoken thought.
But in her plans for the party
which was to show all Freedom
that llappy House was a happy
house, Nancy had reckoned with
out Mrs. Cyrus Eaton.
Since trouble had shadowed
nappy House and shut its hos
pitable doors, time had brought
changes to Freedom just as it had
to every place on the globe;
commerce, trade’, politics, a cer
tain democratizing of the stan
dards of living had made their
ini uttu» cvcu upuu mu mtiu vii
lage; new families came and old
ones died out. And new influ
ences challenged and threatened
the old Island aristocracy.
Not the least of these was the
influence of trade. When Cyrus
Eaton bought and rebuilt the
general store next to the post
office he made for himself—or
for his wife—a social prestige
that was beyond dispute. As the
years had gone by he had
strengthened this materially by
certain credits which he ex
tended to different families in
the village.
Webb had gone to Mrs.
Eaton’s first with his invitation
and his story. That lady had
flipped the little card upon the
table with a snort. Did Miss
Leavitt or anyone else think
she’d go anywhere where those
Ilopworths were? Was it not
her duty, too, to warn her friends
to what this party would be
like—to tell them of this hoy
denish, impertinent girl, “of the
bad branch of the family,” who
seemed to have hypnotized Miss
Sabrina?
By the time Mrs. Eaton had
finished her baking, put on her
best purple poplin and started
out in Webb's trail, her rage had
carried her to such heights of
eloquence that it was not diffi
cult for her to convince her
neighbors that some “hoax” was
about to be played upon the good
folks of Freedom and that each
one must show her pride by re
maining away from the party.
She talked so fast, and repeated
her stories so often, that she di
gressed, quite unconsciously,
from the truth and, at the last
few calls, made Nancy out a most
shocking young person 1
“I can’t tell you—I wouldn't
tell you—all the goings on at
that Cove,” was her favorite in
troduction. “And in the orch
ard, too! Anyone could have
told Sabrina Leavitt she was a
fool bringing the creature here
—that branch of the family,
_ .. .. 1...__ _I J., l. .
x * V i j uuc i\nun n, iniumu ii uv
above doing anything!”
So while happy Nancy ar
ranged flowers for the party the
expected guests entrenched
themselves behind thrir closed
blinds, their righteous satisfac
tion tinged the very least bit by
regret born of immense curiosity.
However, there were two ex
ceptions. Samuel Todd, the post
master, was an aspirant for a seat
in the state legislature. His an
cestors had never lived anywhere
else but on the island and he
had inherited a wholesome re
spect for the Jjeavitt name. He
was enough of a politician, too, to
know that, even though she was
an old woman he might sometime
need Miss Sabrina’s good will.
“You go ’long and keep your
eyes open and your mouth shut,’
he advised his wife when, aftei
Mrs. Eaton's hurried call, sin
had sought his counsel. “YotJ
women talk too much, anyway.’
fklrs. Todd, for once, was de
lighted to do his bidding; Carrii
Baker, over at North Hero, hac
made over her yellow muslin sc
that it was “better’n new—anc
just lyin’ up there in the close
eatclan’ dust,’’.she explained t<
Mrs. Suiggs. Mrs. Snigg:
1 promptly offered to accompany
Tier.
“I’m that purious to see tha
mantel—-and the girl, too!”
So that, when the hour ©f th
party struck and found Nancy,
like a flower, with Miss Sabrina
and Miss Milly, on the lawn,
ready to receive their guests, the
only guests (excepting Peter
Hyde and the Hopworths and
Miss Sabrina nad B’lindy, peek
ing from the door, did not count
them) were Mrs. Sniggs and Mrs.
Todd!
Liz Hopworth with Nonie and
Davy had come early. Davy
shone as to face and feet; the
grandeaur of the new shoes
Peter Hyde had given him quite
made up for the small things
lacking in the rest of his appear
ance. Liz was trying not to pant
in a plum-colored cashmere that
was many sizes too small for her
gaunt frame. Nancy had man
aged to place her near Aunt Milly
—Aunt Milly was sure to be cor
dial and gentle with her and put
her at her ease.
Webb and Peter Hyde had
come early, too. Nancy had
I caught herself watching for Peter
; I lyde. She had given a little
: involuntary gasp when she saw
him—he was resplendent in im
maculate white flannels!
“Of course he bought them—
just for this I” she thought re
gretfully. However, she had a
moment of delicious satisfaction
when she took him to Miss Sa
brina; they should all see that a
hired man could be very much of
a gentleman.
“Peter”, she managed to whis
per to him, “I have a feeling that
something awful is going to hap
pen!” Then Mrs. Todd and Mrs.
omggs had come through the
gate and she had gone forward to
meet them.
It was Webb who gave Nancy
a bint of the real truth. He was,
as ho expressed it, “so gol darn
flubberin’ mad at the liul parcel
of womenfolks he’d liked to
burst!’’ Gossip had crept to the
postoffice stoop and Webb had
sensed what was going on.
“Skunks—beggin’ your pardon,
Miss Anne, but that’s whatl”
Nancy had a moment of panic;
her eyes sought wildly for Peter
■ Hyde. Then her fighting blood
stirred. “Thank you, Webb,’’
she said with well assumed calm
ness. “Don’t worry a bit! We’ll
show them—we’ll act just as
though we hadn’t invited anyone
else l”
But her nonchalant manner
cloaked real distress. There was
; Miss Sabrina, proud Miss Sa
brina who had opened the doors
j of her trouble for all Freedom to
j come and gape at—Nancy-knew
it had not been easy! There was
pretty, fluttering, expectant
Aunt Milly in the dress she had
j had made when she was 18;
Nonie who had dreamed of
throngs of guests paying homage
before her; and B’lindy, who had
i made a cake that was “like as a
twin to the one my mother made
for the gov’nor!’’ What would
they say?
Was she not, indirectly, the
cause of the humiliation that
, threatened them?’’
| Nancy hurried to Peter Hyde
, where, in a corner of the garden,
1 he stood paying court to Nonie.
| In answer to his pleasant non
Isense Nome’s delighted laughter
| was rising shrilly. Nancy sent
i Nonie back to Aunt Milly. Then
she caught Peter’s arm.
“Peter! Pe-ter! Quick—
come behind this bush! I’m—
I’m—I’ve got to cry-”
And to Peter Hyde’s conster
nation Nancy did burst into
tears.
“For Heaven’s sake, Nancy,
»t
“I’m just — mad,” Nancy
I blurted from behind a haudker
j chief. “The—the cats!” She
, lifted her head, relieved by her
! sudden outburst. “ It’s that Mrs.
Eaton again! She’s—just—get
| ting even!” She told what Webb
had said. “And here’s the—par
ty—and no one will come 1 Aunt
Sabrina will never, never get
over it. And B’lindy—I wish I
could run away.”
Peter Hyde wanted very much
to laugh, but the real distress in
Nancy’s face touched him. He
patted her consolingly,
j “Can’t I do something?'Can’t
1 Webb and I round ’em up at the
I point of a gun?”
“N-no, it’s too late! We’ve
just got to act as though the—
the garden was full and make the
best of it I I wanted it to be such
a succesc. I wanted it to be a
party that Nonie ’d never forget.
And I wanted everyone to see
Aunt Milly! Oh, why, oh, why
doesn’t something happen!” For
■ Nancy had suddenly' remembered
; the huge pails of ipe .cream and
j the cake that was “like as a twin
i | to the one my mother made for
i the gov’nor.”
r j At that moment the loud whir
I ring of an automobile caught
: their attention. Nancy, red eyed
peeped from behind their’bush,
i “'It’s at our gate 1” she cried
“Peter——” she clutched his
arm. From the tonneau a tall
man was aligting. To Nancy
there wa ssomething vaguely fa
miliar in the sharp featured,
clean shaven face and in the mass
of wavy white hair that fringed
his coat collar.
1 ‘ Peter,—it’s—Theodore Hoff
man !”
CHAPTER XIX.
The Master.
A bolt from the cloudless blue
could not have startled the little
gathering on the lawn more than
did the arrival of the distin
guished stranger at the gate of
Happy House. Moreover, French
Mercedes cars did not often pass
through North Hero; this was
purple and cream color and the
chauffeur wore purple livery.
And the man who walked up the
path had a bearing that distinct
ly set him apart from ordinary
mortals.
Nency, in a panic, wanted the
earth .to swallow her, but as the
earth was very solid, she had no
choice but to drag herself for
ward. She had, only a moment
before, prayed that something
would happen—and something
had!
Peter Hyde had rnshed for
ward to greet the newcomer and
this had given Nancy a moment
to rally her scattered wits. She
was too busy whispering an ex
planation to Miss Sabrina to no
tice how friendly had been the
master’s greeting to Peter.
“Miss Leavitt,!may I present
Mr. Theodore Hoffman—and
Miss Anne Leavitt.’’
Peter’s voice was as steady as
though he was introducing any
-John Smith; there was even a
twinkle in his eye, as it caught
Nancy s glance, that seemed to
say: ‘‘I have brought the mas
ter to you—now!”
There was a gentleness in the
keen, deep-set eyes, a friendliness
in the musical voice of the mas
ter that suddenly quieted
Nancy’s fluttering nerves. Time
and again, at the very thought of
this meeting, she had been so
frightened and now—sherwas not
a bit afraid. She was even glad
he had come when the garden
looked so pretty, when Aunt Sa
brina was so proudly garbed in
her best silk, when Aunt Milly,
all pink and white, with Nonie
perched on the arm of her chair,
was leaning over explaining some
intricate stitch in a bit of em
broidery to Liz, to whom em
broidery was not less remote than
Sanskrit literature.
Mrs. Sniggs and Mrs. Todd
were staring, open mouthed, first
at the stranger, then at the
cream and purple car at the gate.
Nancy’s spirits that had
dropped to such depths behind
the syringa bushes soared again.
At last her moment had come!
The master was declaring his de
light in having chosen sue.h a
happy afternoon to come to Ilap
py House; he admired the gard
en, and the old house; he admit
ted to a great curiosity concern
ing the Islands—he had never
visited, them before.
Nancy left him -with Aunt Sa
brina. Aunt Sabrina would
manage to tell him a great deal
—Nancy, watching, knew just
when she left the Indians and the
burning of Freedom and began
on Etl^an Allen nad the Green
Mountain Boys and the coming
of Benedict Arnold and his flag
SIlip LU LHC 1SUU1U.
“He’ll love her,” she whis
pered to Peter Hyde, nodding to
ward where the master leaned
with deep attention over Miss
Sabrina’s chair. “Look me
square in the eye, Peter! Did
you know he was coming today?”
“On my honor, I didn’t. Is
the play ready?”
“Oil ready, in a nice fat en
velope. For goodness sake, look
at Webb!”
Webb, returning from the
house where he had hurried to
tell B’lindy of the coming of the
distinguished guest (“Don’
know who he is nor whar he come
from, but he’s got one of them
thur autymobiles that’s bigger’n
a steam enjine and a fellar driv
in’ it thet’s dressed up like a
circus lady”) was standing in
the path wildy gesticulating with
one hand to atract Nancy’s at
tention and with the other
clapped over his mouth to sup
press the laughter .that was plain
ly shaking his entire body.
Nancy.and Peter turned to see
what had so convulsed him. Up
the road toward the gate were
approaching three separate
groups of women, all coining
hurriedly, breathlessly, with a
great deal of chatter and fussing
with hats and gloves. _
(To be continued next week.)
The city of Bostop Is to have a pres*
agent. Ills first task will be to under
take a "ship from a New England port”
campaign.
WRKLEY5
AFTER EVERY MEAL
Select your food wisely, chew it well,
*uid—use WRIGLEY’S after every meal.
Your stomach will thank you.
It is both a benefit and a treat—good,
and good for you.
And, best of all, the cost is small.
Sugar jacket “melts
in your mouth” and
gum center remains
to give you all the
usual Wrigley's
benefits.
J R™J
fzi) /n
Iii Tahiti serious crimes are punished
by tattooing a mark upon the fore
head of tiie delinquent.
Important to Mothers
Examine carefully every bottle of
CASTORIA, that famous old remedy
for Infants and children,’and see that It
Signature
In Use for Over 30 Years.
Children Cry for Fletcher’s Castoria
The Definition.
Johnny—Pa, what's an author?
Pn—It’s a limn who empties his head
to fill his stomach.
Sentiment Vs. Reality.
Poet—“Alas! What boots tills
theory of true love?” Unfortunate
Lover—“That’s easy. Her father.”'
Cuticura for Pimply Faces.
To remove pimples and blackheads
smear them with Cuticura Ointment,
Wash off in five minutes with Cuti<
cura Soap and hot yater. Once cleat
keep your skin clear by using them for
daily toilet purposes. Don’t fall to in
clude Cuticura Talcum. Advertisement
Almost* enyona will gossip a little)
but the vast majority are cureful who
with.
WARNING 1 Say “Bayer” when you buy Aspirin.
Unless you see the name “Bayer” on tablets, you are
not getting genuine Aspirin prescribed by physicians
ever 22 years and proved safe by millions for
Colds Headache Rheumatism
Toothache Neuralgia Neurjtis .
Earache Lumbago Pain^Pain
Accept only “Bayer" package which contains proper directions.
Handy “Bayer” boxes of 12 tablets—Also bottles of 24 and 100—Druggists.
Aspirin Is the trigs mirk of Biyer Manufacture of MoaoacetlcaddeeU r of SallcyllcaelJ