CHAPTER IXFAIRIES AND SUCH
Dollydid think over the question of Bernice Forbes and the party. And the result of her cogitation led her straight to Grace’s house.
“I’ve come,” she said, “to ask a favour, Grace. I want to know if you won’t ask Bernice Forbes to your Hallowe’en party.”
“Why, Dolly, I would,—only,—well, you see the number is all made up.”
“What number?”
“The number I planned to invite. Twelve, it is.”
“But couldn’t you add two more? Bernice, and another boy to make it even?”
“I suppose I could, but,—you know, Dolly, nobody likes Bernice. She’s—”
“Oh, don’t tell me what she is! I know it! But, Grace, I think it’s mean, the way we girls treat her. Now, never mindwhatshe is, won’t you ask her, just for my sake?”
Dolly’s smile was very winning and her blue eyes very pleading and Grace was about to consent, when Ethel came in. They told her the subject under discussion.
“Not much!” declared Ethel. “If that thing goes,Idon’t!”
“All right,” Dolly blazed back, “if shedoesn’tgo,Idon’t!”
Probably neither girl meant what she said, but having said it, they both stuck to it. So spirited the argument became, that Mrs. Rawlins overheard the angry voices and came into the room.
“Whatisthe matter, girlies? Why, Dolly Fayre, what are you crying about?”
“I’m not crying, Mrs. Rawlins,” and Dolly brushed a tear or two off her cheeks, “b-but I’m afraid,—maybe I m-might. I guess I’ll go home now.”
“Not till you tell me the trouble, dear,” and Mrs. Rawlins sat down beside the disturbed guest. “What is it, Grace?”
“It’s my fault, Mrs. Rawlins,” Dolly spoke up. “I was trying to make the girls do something they don’t want to. And I had no business to do it.” Dolly was always just, even against herself.
“But what is it? Tell me, Ethel.”
“Why, Mother, Dolly wants to ask Bernice Forbes to our party, and we don’t want to, ’cause she’d spoil the whole thing.”
“Why?” and Mrs. Rawlins smiled. “Is Bernice such a spoilsport as all that?”
“Yes, she is.”
“Do you think so, Dolly?”
“Well, you see, Mrs. Rawlins, sheisn’tawfully nice, but I’m sorry for her; and I thought if we invited her to things, and made her like us, she’d be nicer, and we’d like her.”
“Is this the only reason, Dolly?” and Mrs. Rawlins looked quizzically at her.
Immediately it came into Dolly’s mind how Dotty had said everybody would attribute Dolly’s interest in Bernice to the fact that she was the daughter of the richest man in town, and really an heiress in her own right. Dolly blushed uncomfortably, but she looked straight at her questioner, and replied, “Yes, Mrs. Rawlins, it’s only because I’m sorry for Bernice, and,” she hesitated, and then added, honestly, “and alittle, because everybody is so down on her, and I don’t think it’s fair!”
“I don’t either!” declared the lady, heartily; “you’re just right, Dolly. And Bernice shall be invited.”
“But Ethel says she won’t go, then,” began Grace, as Ethel herself spoke up, “Oh, of course I will, if mother says we must ask Bernice. I don’t care such a terrible lot, anyway, and I’m sorry I was snappy to you, Dolly.”
“I’m sorry I was snappy, too,” and Dolly’s pretty face showed real contrition. “Are you sure you won’t mind too much, girls?”
“Of course they won’t,” Mrs. Rawlins answered for them. She was a pretty, smiling little lady, and as a rule everybody who was with her liked to do as she said. “Now that is settled, Bernice shall be asked. Mustn’t we then ask one more boy?”
“Yes, Mother, and let’s ask Clayton to get some one. He knows a lot of boys, and he’ll know just which one to ask.”
“Good idea, Gracie. Is your dress ready, Dolly? What are you going to wear?”
“Oh, I can’t tell you that before the girls! You know it’s a masquerade.”
“Oh, yes, so it is. Well, set your mind at rest, dear. I’ll ask Bernice myself, and I’ll tell her about the masquerade. Don’t let any one know she’s coming, and then they’ll never suspect who she is, until you take off your masks.”
“Oh, what a lovely idea, Mrs. Rawlins,” and Dolly’s eyes shone with pleasure. “Don’t tell, will you, girls?”
“No,” said Grace, “but everybody will know, when they see seven girls, who the other is.”
“They won’t know for sure, and anyway, the boys won’t know. You needn’t even tell Clayton.”
So the matter was settled, and Dolly went off home happy at having gained her point.
At last the night of the party arrived. The girls had planned not to let each other know what they would wear, and see if they could guess identities. Dolly and Dotty had no idea of each other’s costume, and even Grace and Ethel Rawlins were in equal ignorance of theirs.
The girls were to meet at the Rawlins house and the boys at the Browns’ and go out to Uncle Jim’s separately, in motor cars provided by the several families.
Mrs. Rawlins would act as hostess, and Mr. Rawlins was a general manager, who seemed to look after everything at once.
At the hour of meeting, Dolly found herself to be the first one to arrive. She had come from home by a roundabout way, and her father, who accompanied her to the corner, stepped aside and let her go up the steps alone, so that no one might suspect it was she. Dolly was attired as a Ghost. Her dress was lovely, being made of many layers of white tarlatan, one over the other, with long angel sleeves, and fluttering draperies, that wafted about as she walked.
A scarf of the same material enveloped her head and neck, and trailed its long ends behind her. She wore white silk gloves, but her hands were hidden in the swirl of the misty material. She was a veritable ghost, and deep in the shadows of her swathing headgear, her face was concealed by a little white satin mask. Of course her hair was completely hidden, and she moved with slow, sinuous movements, waving her draped arms in true spectre fashion.
“Come in, Ghost,” said Mrs. Rawlins, as Dolly stepped into the reception room. “Well, you are a spirit, indeed! I never saw a real live ghost before!”
Dolly swept long, ghostly curtseys, but said no word.
Grace Rawlins came next. She had gone out and around several blocks so that she might enter her own house as a visitor. Grace was a Fairy. Her dress was full and frilly, of pale pink crêpe paper, and she had pink and gilt wings, and a long wand. Her hair, which might have been recognisable, was hidden in a dainty pink silk cap, with a long gilt feather, and a full ruche of frilled paper hid her neck and chin. A pink mask covered her face, and she wore long pink silk gloves.
Dolly stared hard at her, but could not be sure who it was. She thought the Fairy looked a little like Maisie May, but never suspected Grace.
Maisie came next, though nobody knew it. She was a Brownie. She had borrowed a suit from a cousin out of town. The costume had been made for a city party and was an exact Brownie rig. Of course it completely disguised Maisie, and the goggle-eyed mask was weird and quite appropriate to the occasion.
Then Bernice came. She represented an Elf. Her costume was made entirely of overlapping green leaves, and a head-dress of the same. Green stockings and slippers, green gloves and a green mask made her entirely unrecognisable. Dolly thought it was Dotty, as the two were much the same height. Bernice moved about shyly, and sank into the first chair she came to, and then Dolly felt sure it was Dotty, trying to disguise her own brisk manner.
When Dotty did come, Dolly had no idea who it was. Her costume was that of a witch. Long red cloak and high peaked cap, from which hung straggling grey locks. A red and black gown, red stockings and black slippers, and a mask like that of a little old lady with a hooked nose and apple-cheeks. She carried a broom, gilded and tied with red ribbons. It was a most picturesque garb, and Dolly decided it must be Bernice.
But no one spoke to another. Occasionally one would nod knowingly, as if to say she recognised some one, or point a finger at her. But the other always shook her head vigorously, as if the guess were wrong.
It was imperative that each should represent some idea connected with the occasion, so Celia Ferris came as Autumn. She wore yellow and brown with touches of red, and she carried a basket of fruit. Her head-dress was made of Autumn leaves, and she wore long necklaces of cranberries strung on a thread.
Last to arrive was Ethel Rawlins. She had delayed late, thinking that then no one would suspect her identity.
She was The Nut Brown Maid. All her robe was of brown, and it had fringes of nuts at the ends of bits of ribbon. Her head-dress was trimmed with chestnut burs, and she had necklace and armlets of strung nuts.
Now the girls were all present, and though they guessed, none knew positively who any other was. Those who knew Bernice’s invitation had not told, and those who did not know it, wondered greatly who the seventh girl could be, though some surmised correctly.
Mrs. Rawlins laughingly collected her weird-looking charges and packed them into two big motor cars, and they set off for Uncle Jim’s,—for, at his request, all the girls called him by that familiar title,—and as the cars were swift ones, the party soon reached the country house.
Not a word was spoken on the way, for the girls found they were well disguised, and they determined to keep up the mystery. But there was much giggling and many expressive exclamations in deep guttural tones.
Reaching their destination, a wonderful scene awaited them. Uncle Jim had begged Mrs. Rawlins to do anything she could to make the house attractive and appropriate for the occasion. So, with the help of the willing servants, she had transformed the great hall and the big, old parlour into a veritable Hallowe’en Revel. Branches of bright Autumn leaves decked the walls. Red and yellow cheesecloth made gay draperies, and streamers of red and yellow crêpe paper fluttered here and there. Hollowed-out pumpkins held masses of little late chrysanthemums, and sheaves of grain stood in corners.
There were jack-o’-lanterns, too, made of yellow or of green pumpkins, and also of crook-neck squashes, whose candles within lit up their strange grotesque faces.
The boys had already arrived, and round the room stood seven silent figures. They were dressed as Robin Hood, Peter Pan, or merely as spooks and goblins. Apparently the boys had been quite willing to “dress up,” and their costumes were as picturesque as the girls’.
Uncle Jim greeted the incoming crowd.
“Wal, wal, what a visitation! My, but ye’re a lot of perty spooks! Look at this white ghost now!” as Dolly swept him a long, low bow. “Ain’t she the beauty? I ain’t afeard of ghostes like that, now, you bet I ain’t! And see the Fairy! My stars! Ye’re all so fine, I dunno which way to look first!”
Then the boys advanced and greeted the girls with bows, peering closely for some identifying sign, and getting laughed at for their pains.
“Now, here’s yer welcome,” said Uncle Jim. “This is a writ welcome, fer the reason that I ain’t much on expressin’ my thoughts. But I’m right down glad to see ye all!”
Then each received a pretty printed card, decorated with designs of black cats and owls and witches on broomsticks. It read:
Spooks and Spirits we inviteTo our party Witches’ night.And the black cat yowls,And howls and growls!And the gray owl hoots,And To-whits, To-whoots!And the moon is yellow and big and roundAs the pumpkins lying on the ground.So join our ranks, and come alongTo Uncle Jim’s where the witches throng!
Spooks and Spirits we inviteTo our party Witches’ night.And the black cat yowls,And howls and growls!And the gray owl hoots,And To-whits, To-whoots!And the moon is yellow and big and roundAs the pumpkins lying on the ground.So join our ranks, and come alongTo Uncle Jim’s where the witches throng!
Spooks and Spirits we inviteTo our party Witches’ night.And the black cat yowls,And howls and growls!And the gray owl hoots,And To-whits, To-whoots!And the moon is yellow and big and roundAs the pumpkins lying on the ground.So join our ranks, and come alongTo Uncle Jim’s where the witches throng!
Spooks and Spirits we invite
To our party Witches’ night.
And the black cat yowls,
And howls and growls!
And the gray owl hoots,
And To-whits, To-whoots!
And the moon is yellow and big and round
As the pumpkins lying on the ground.
So join our ranks, and come along
To Uncle Jim’s where the witches throng!
This was read with nods of delight and the cards laid away to take home as souvenirs.
Robin Hood stood near Dolly as she finished reading hers, and he politely offered her a pencil to write her name on it for safe-keeping. Then he eagerly leaned over to see what name she wrote.
“O-o-o-o-h!” groaned Dolly in sepulchral tones, and then she wroteGhoston her card. But she printed it in straggling letters, for she was too canny to show her own penmanship.
Many were the traps laid to learn who was who, but the secrets were, for the most part, well kept.
Lollie Henry was discovered by his familiar laugh and his inability to suppress it.
Maisie May was known, when a lock of her auburn hair escaped from the queer Brownie head-covering. Then, of course, these two being known, they tried to make the others speak.
“Tell me who you are,” Lollie wheedled of the Elf, Bernice. The only answer was a vigorous shake of the green-leaved head.
“Ah, you needn’t tell, I know!” he exclaimed triumphantly. “You’re Dotty Rose! I know by the toss of your head. Aren’t you, now?”
The Elf nodded Yes with such insistence, that Lollie felt sure his guess was wrong.
Dotty as a witch, was in her element. She darted about, tweaking people’s ears, or tapping their arms with her broomstick. She had a funny little cackling laugh, that was so unlike her own voice, it was not recognised, though Dolly soon suspected her.
She hovered about Uncle Jim, teasing him until the old man shook with laughter. “My! what a witch it is!” he exclaimed. “Right from old Salem Town, I’ll be bound!”
They played all the regulation Hallowe’en games. “Thread the Needle,” “Blow the Candle,” and all the well-known ones.
Then Mrs. Rawlins brought in a plate, which she set on the table. “This,” said she, “is a test to see who of you will be married this year. Now, who will try first?”
The girls hung back, and the boys urged them forward. At last, the Fairy flitted up to make the first test.
On the plate was a mound of flour, tightly pressed into shape. Mrs. Rawlins explained the test. “You see,” she said, “the rule is, to fill a bowl with flour, and drop a ring into it. Then press the flour down so tightly, that it will keep its shape when turned out on a plate. Each of you must cut out a slice, and any one who finds the ring will be married this year.”
“Sure?” asked Lollie Henry, laughing.
“Yes, sure,” asserted Mrs. Rawlins, gravely. “Come, Fairy, after I read the charm, cut your slice. Cut it like a pie, and wherever you choose.”
Then Mrs. Rawlins read the charm:
“Little ring within the flour,Waiting for this witching hour,Tell me where it is you hide —Onthisside or onthisside.Now, with care the knife I bring —Do I get you, Little ring?Now I cut! Just at this spot!DoI get you, Ring—ornot?”
“Little ring within the flour,Waiting for this witching hour,Tell me where it is you hide —Onthisside or onthisside.Now, with care the knife I bring —Do I get you, Little ring?Now I cut! Just at this spot!DoI get you, Ring—ornot?”
“Little ring within the flour,Waiting for this witching hour,Tell me where it is you hide —Onthisside or onthisside.Now, with care the knife I bring —Do I get you, Little ring?Now I cut! Just at this spot!DoI get you, Ring—ornot?”
“Little ring within the flour,
Waiting for this witching hour,
Tell me where it is you hide —
Onthisside or onthisside.
Now, with care the knife I bring —
Do I get you, Little ring?
Now I cut! Just at this spot!
DoI get you, Ring—ornot?”
The Fairy cut the slice, and all crowded round to learn the result.
“You donot!” exclaimed Lollie, as there was no ring seen in the Fairy’s slice.
One after another, they each cut a slice, and even to the very last one, no one secured the ring.
“Not strange,” said Mrs. Rawlins, calmly, as she took away the plate, “there wasn’t any ring in it! Of course none of you children will be married this year or for many years yet.”
Then a great laugh went up at the way they had been hoaxed, and Lollie said, comically, “Just my luck! I thought I might get a rich wife, who would promise to wait for me till I’m of age!”
CHAPTER XFORTUNES FOR ALL
Itwould seem that it would be easy to discover who the spooks were, but the secrets were well kept. And though several suspected that Bernice Forbes was present, not one connected her with the green-robed Elf. And somehow, the Elf was exceedingly popular. She had merry little ways, and was among the foremost ones in any game or trick. She was often chosen as a partner in the Hallowe’en jokes, and when at last it was supper time, when they would all unmask, the Elf was watched with as much if not more interest than the others. The boys chose partners for the march out to the dining-room.
“I’ll take you,” said Lollie Henry, linking his arm in that of the Elf. “I think you’re Dot Rose, and yet, I think that red witch is Dotty, too. But I mostly think you are, so come along.”
The Elf shook her head, hard.
“Does that mean you won’t go with me?”
Another negative shake.
“Oh, it means you’re not Dotty Rose.”
An affirmative nod to this.
“Well, all right, I’ll soon find out who you are. May I, fair Elf, escort you to the Spook Feast?”
Lollie bowed low, and then Bernice accepted his escort and they joined the line of march.
Dolly was with Reggie Stuart, though neither of them knew it, and Dotty was with Tod Brown, in equally blissful ignorance.
They marched to the dining-room, and there awaited them a true Hallowe’en table. Decked with yellow paper and red ribbons, loaded with dainties of all sorts, and crowded with little gnomes, witches, black cats, owls and goblins for souvenirs, it was a welcome sight.
They all took their seats, and at a given signal were bidden to remove their masks.
Mr. Rawlins gave the signal.
“Ready, everybody,” he said. “When I count three, off with your face coverings. You’ve been hidden long enough, and I for one will be glad to see your happy smiles. One, two, three!”
And, already loosened, off came every mask, and the flushed, smiling faces looked eagerly at each other.
Dolly was stunned when her eyes lighted on Bernice, for she had concluded the Elf was really Dotty, and she thought the red witch was Grace.
But more surprised even than Dolly was Lollie Henry. He caught sight of Bernice’s smiling face, and he fairly jumped, as he involuntarily exclaimed, “By Gum!” Then suddenly his good manners came to his rescue, and though disappointed in his partner, he managed to look pleasant, and went on. “This is an unexpected pleasure! I didn’t know you were to be here.”
“And you wish I wasn’t!” Bernice flashed back, for she didn’t misunderstand him.
“Not a bit of it! Haven’t I been chasing the Elf around all the evening?”
“Because you didn’t know it was me.” Bernice’s voice quivered a little. She had been so happy when people were nice to her, and now she caught sight of many surprised and not altogether pleased glances thrown her way.
“But I didn’t know anybody, except red-headed Maisie, when one of her rosy locks came out of her Brownie cap. So how could you expect I’d know you?”
“I didn’t expect it, and I’m glad you didn’t know me, ’cause then you could be nice to me.”
“I can be a whole lot nicer now that I do know you, just you wait and see!”
This speech, and the pleasant smile that accompanied it, were greatly to Lollie’s credit, for he didn’t like Bernice, but having “got into it,” as he expressed it to himself, he was bound to put it through, as he further informed himself, “with a hurrah!”
And so, Lollie laughed and chatted with Bernice as well as with the others near him, and the Elf felt a little better.
But others were not so kind-hearted as Lollie, and, too, they hadn’t his responsibility as a supper partner. So, on the whole, few spoke to Bernice, while all laughed and joked with the others.
Dotty was not sitting near Dolly, but once, when she caught her eye she frowned a little. However, in the gay chatter that was general, no one had much chance to think of personal matters.
Uncle Jim, himself, sat at the head of the table, and Mr. and Mrs. Rawlins at the other end of the wide board.
“This is downright fine!” Uncle Jim said. “I’d like to have a party like this about once or twice a week. I declare I would!”
“You’d get tired of us, sir,” suggested Tod Brown. “We’re not always on such good behaviour.”
“Ain’t, hey? Well, I calk’late you’re always perty good. Good enough, anyway. Don’t want childruntoogood.”
“Small danger of that, Uncle Jim,” cried Dolly, laughing. “We’re none of us sprouting wings yet!”
“Except Gracie, there!” and Uncle Jim laughed at his Fairy niece.
“Sure enough, I forgot Grace’s wings. But she’ll moult ’em off to-morrow, and be no more angelic than the rest of us.”
“You’re all good enough for me. I think you’re as fine a lot of little misses and masters as ever I see. I’d like a picture of ye.”
“And you’re going to have one, Uncle,” said Mr. Rawlins, rising from the table.
Soon, with the help of Uncle Jim’s man he had put in position a camera, and bidding them pose, he took two or three flash-light pictures, which caused great exclamations and startled shrieks.
“Those things scare me to death, don’t they you?” said Bernice to Reggie Stuart, who sat at her other side.
“No,” he returned, rather uninterestedly. “I’m sort of used to ’em. I’ve been taken a lot of times that way.”
“Have you?” said Bernice. “How exciting! Where?”
Now as a matter of fact, Reggie’s experiences were not so numerous as he implied, and most of the times he had been “taken” were failures. So, he only shrugged his shoulders and said, “Oh, I can’t remember. It made so little impression on me.”
Bernice felt snubbed, and showed it by looking cross. Reggie saw this, and saying to himself, “old sourface!” he turned back to Dolly, who sat on his other side.
“Good for you, Reg,” she said in a low tone.
“What for?”
“For being nice to Bernie Forbes. I saw you talking to her. She isn’t so bad, now, is she?”
“Dolly, she’s the limit! and if you say B. F. to me again to-night I’ll—I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” and Dolly laughed at the irate youth.
“I’ll take you out to Berwick Lake and drown you all up!”
“Goodness sake! How ferocious! Well, be sure to ask her for a couple of dances.” Roguish Dolly knew Reg wouldn’t do this, but it did no harm, she thought, to suggest it.
Supper over, they returned to the big hall, and sat around the roaring log fire, while the next entertainment took place.
Lollie escorted Bernice dutifully to a chair, and then, feeling his duty done, he left her, and went over to speak to Dotty.
“You wished that on me,” he said, accusingly. “I thought she was you!”
“Why, Lollie Henry! I refuse to be mistaken for Bernice Forbes! How dare you?” Dotty’s dark eyes flashed and she looked a pretty picture in her mock rage.
“Needn’t get huffy,” returned Lollie, serenely. “B. F. is some looker, all right. To-night, anyway.”
Bernice was a pretty girl, and her green costume was exceedingly becoming, but the last few minutes had not been pleasant ones, for since Lollie’s defection, no one had spoken to her, and she looked resentful.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Dotty returned. “She might be pretty if she didn’t look cross enough to bite a nail in two.”
“Guess she’s made that way, and can’t help it,” said Lollie, and then they were called to attention.
It was to be Fortune Telling, Mr. Rawlins informed them.
“And,” he said, “if you will all seat yourselves round the fire, I will tell each and every one of you just what will happen in the years to come. Aren’t you anxious to know?”
“Indeed we are!” cried several, as they took their places.
Mr. Rawlins sat down at a table where were a great many papers.
“These are Fortunes,” he said, indicating some neatly folded sheets. “But it would never do to give them out hit or miss. We must see to it that they get where they belong. And this is the only way it can be done. We will invoke the assistance of the Fire Spirit. You know, Hallowe’en is the birthday of the Fire Spirit or Sun Spirit, or some such thing. My Mythology is a little rusty, but you can ask your teachers in school to-morrow. However, I’ve invoked for your aid to-night the Fire Spirit, and he will help us get the Fortunes right. Now, will some kind gentleman volunteer to help the Fire Spirit help me?”
Nobody offered, as the boys felt a little shy about it, so Mr. Rawlins called on his son, Clayton.
“You’ll do, Son,” he said. “You’re not as handsome as some of those other chaps, and not as wise as some, but on the whole you’re a good sort, so come on, and help your old dad.”
Clayton went up and stood by his father’s side.
“Now, you see,” went on Mr. Rawlins, “all these are Fortunes, and all these are small slips of blank paper. I take a Fortune in my hand. I ask of thee, O Fire Spirit, to tell me for whom it is meant! Clayton, please hold a slip of blank paper to the blazing fire. The Fire Spirit will write upon it.”
Clayton picked up the top slip from the pile, and did as he was told. As he held it, writing began to appear.
“Ah,” said Mr. Rawlins, as everybody watched a name being written on the paper, by no means that they could see. “Has the Fire Spirit written, Son?”
“Y-Yes, sir,” stammered Clayton, a little frightened at what he saw.
“Can you read it?”
“Yes, sir; it says Dotty Rose.”
“Ah, this fortune is for Dotty, is it? I will read it:
“You’ll have a careerMore brilliant each year;But you’ll climb a steep hillEre you get what you will.
“You’ll have a careerMore brilliant each year;But you’ll climb a steep hillEre you get what you will.
“You’ll have a careerMore brilliant each year;But you’ll climb a steep hillEre you get what you will.
“You’ll have a career
More brilliant each year;
But you’ll climb a steep hill
Ere you get what you will.
Take it, Dotty, and keep it always. It may serve as a guidance to your feet in future years!”
Dotty came and took the paper, a little bewildered. “May I have the name the Spirit wrote?” she asked.
“Yes, oh, yes, indeed. Treasure it carefully. The Fire Spirit does not always respond to mortal’s requests.”
Dotty returned to her seat, and with the rest sat breathlessly watching while Mr. Rawlins took up another fortune paper, and motioned for Clayton to hold out another blank paper for the Fire Spirit to write on. “You’re sure it’s blank, are you, Clay?”
“Yes, Father,” and the boy looked carefully on both sides. It was pure white. He held it out to the fire and soon it was written on, in a clear bold hand, just like Dotty’s.
“It says Grace Rawlins, Father.”
“Ah, my Gracie’s fortune. I hope it will prove a good one.” Mr. Rawlins then unfolded and read the fortune he was holding.
“As you pass through future yearsHere are smiles and there are tears.But the passing days will showFar more happiness than woe.
“As you pass through future yearsHere are smiles and there are tears.But the passing days will showFar more happiness than woe.
“As you pass through future yearsHere are smiles and there are tears.But the passing days will showFar more happiness than woe.
“As you pass through future years
Here are smiles and there are tears.
But the passing days will show
Far more happiness than woe.
Good for you, Grace, that’s a nice fortune.”
Grace stepped up and took her fortune and her name paper, and then the next one was tried. This time the Fire Spirit wrote Lorillard Henry, and the verse ran:
For a few years, my boy, you may want for the pelf,But later in life you will earn it yourself.And as the years fly, you’ll get richer and richer,For you’re destined to be a professional pitcher.
For a few years, my boy, you may want for the pelf,But later in life you will earn it yourself.And as the years fly, you’ll get richer and richer,For you’re destined to be a professional pitcher.
For a few years, my boy, you may want for the pelf,But later in life you will earn it yourself.And as the years fly, you’ll get richer and richer,For you’re destined to be a professional pitcher.
For a few years, my boy, you may want for the pelf,
But later in life you will earn it yourself.
And as the years fly, you’ll get richer and richer,
For you’re destined to be a professional pitcher.
They all laughed at this, for Lollie’s love of baseball was well known.
“Another blank, Clayton, and hold it closer to the Fire Spirit. He is old and he can’t see very well.”
“But I don’t want to burn my fingers, Dad.”
“True that would be a pity. And you’re already red-faced from the blaze. Well, try the tongs. It may be more comfortable.”
So Clayton took a slip of blank paper, and fastened it securely in the tongs’ grip and held it out to the Fire Spirit in the flames. He began to write at once, and in a moment the name Bernice Forbes stood out clearly.
Mr. Rawlins read the paper he was holding:
“Fate holds joy in store for you,Loving friendships warm and true.As through life your way you wend,Happiness will crown the end.
“Fate holds joy in store for you,Loving friendships warm and true.As through life your way you wend,Happiness will crown the end.
“Fate holds joy in store for you,Loving friendships warm and true.As through life your way you wend,Happiness will crown the end.
“Fate holds joy in store for you,
Loving friendships warm and true.
As through life your way you wend,
Happiness will crown the end.
A very pretty fortune, Bernice, dear,—may it come true.” Mr. Rawlins spoke so kindly, that Bernice’s pale face glowed with pleasure as she took her two papers.
“Let me holdmyname, mayn’t I?” asked Maisie May.
“I don’t know when your name will come,” returned Mr. Rawlins. “It’s as the Fire Spirit decrees.”
“Well, let me hold the next name, anyway. I want to see how that Spirit holds his pen!”
“Surely,” said Mr. Rawlins. “Always glad to oblige. Let her take your place, Son.”
Clayton gave the tongs to Maisie. With careful scrutiny, she looked over the blank bit of paper before she clutched it tightly in the tongs.
“Don’t let it drop into the fire,” cautioned Mr. Rawlins, “or somebody will be without a fortune.”
“No, sir,” said Maisie, watching the paper carefully. And sure enough, as she held it, the name was slowly written thereon.
“It’s Todhunter Brown,” she announced.
“All right,” said Mr. Rawlins, “here goes:
“You will flyFine and high,In an airship through the sky!Looking downWith a frownOn your friends in Berwick Town.”
“You will flyFine and high,In an airship through the sky!Looking downWith a frownOn your friends in Berwick Town.”
“You will flyFine and high,In an airship through the sky!Looking downWith a frownOn your friends in Berwick Town.”
“You will fly
Fine and high,
In an airship through the sky!
Looking down
With a frown
On your friends in Berwick Town.”
“Hullo, Tod,” said Lollie, “so you’ll get your airship, then! Won’t that be fine! Give me a ride?”
“Yes, indeedy. I’m glad old Fire Spirit knows how much I want an airship, and maybe he’ll give me one.”
“Well, fortune will, and it’s all the same.”
“Let me hold a paper once,” asked Dolly. “I want to see how it is done, really.”
“Now, Dolly Fayre, don’t you seem to doubt the Fire Spirit, or he may run away home and not tell any more fortunes.”
“Oh, I won’t hurt him. I just want to try it once. Come on, Dot, let’s try it together.”
“No, I don’t want to,” and as Dolly looked at her in surprise, she added, “the fire burns my face so.”
“Pooh, never knew you to be afraid of your complexion before.”
“Well, I don’t want to, anyhow. Let Bernice help you, if you need help.”
Oho, so that was it! Dolly thought to herself. Dotty was mad at Bernice’s presence at the party, and took this means of showing it!
CHAPTER XITHE FIRE SPIRIT
Dollyglanced round to see if any one else had noticedDotty’s speech. Apparently, no one had.
So, deeming it best to ignore it, Dolly said, “Come on, Bernice,” and laughingly drew the half-unwilling Elf along with her.
“Here you are!” said Mr. Rawlins, gaily. “One nice clean blank paper for each of you. Who’ll go first? You, Dolly?”
“No; Bernice, you try it.”
So taking the paper carefully in the tongs, Bernice held it to the blaze of the logs.
“Spirit of the Fire,” said Mr. Rawlins, in a dramatic voice, “tell us, pray, whose is this Fortune I have here, folded in my hand.”
And then appeared on the paper, the name of Maisie May.
“Ah, our Maisie,” and Mr. Rawlins read:
“Ere you are so very old,You will marry wealth untold.Now your Knight is far away,But he’ll come to you some day.
“Ere you are so very old,You will marry wealth untold.Now your Knight is far away,But he’ll come to you some day.
“Ere you are so very old,You will marry wealth untold.Now your Knight is far away,But he’ll come to you some day.
“Ere you are so very old,
You will marry wealth untold.
Now your Knight is far away,
But he’ll come to you some day.
Congratulations, Maisie, dear. May you be very happy, in your future life, rolling in gold and living in palaces.”
“I can’t feel positively sure it will come true,” laughed Maisie; “is it guaranteed?”
“Wait till ‘Some day’ and see,” returned Mr. Rawlins. “Now, Dolly.”
Dolly was most anxious to know how the writing appeared on the papers. She didn’t for a moment believe in the Fire Spirit, but she was curious to know the trick. She scrutinised her paper, but saw only blank whiteness. Then she carefully put it in the tongs, and held it to the fire. Sure enough, there came the writing at once, and it said, Clayton Rawlins.
“This is interesting,” exclaimed Clayton’s father. “I’m glad to know the future of my children. Listen, Clay:
“In years to come, in some far distant land,You’ll run a fine and prosperous peanut stand!
“In years to come, in some far distant land,You’ll run a fine and prosperous peanut stand!
“In years to come, in some far distant land,You’ll run a fine and prosperous peanut stand!
“In years to come, in some far distant land,
You’ll run a fine and prosperous peanut stand!
Well, my boy, as you are assured of earning an honest living, I’ve no fault to find, have you?”
“No,” returned Clayton; “I love peanuts!”
Dolly gave it up. She couldn’t see how the trick was accomplished. Mr. Rawlins let her try again, and this time she read the name of Dolly Fayre, herself.
“Read me my fortune,” she cried. “What is my fate?”
“You will visit distant scenes,You will meet with Kings and Queens.But the one who’ll be your mateLives already in this State.”
“You will visit distant scenes,You will meet with Kings and Queens.But the one who’ll be your mateLives already in this State.”
“You will visit distant scenes,You will meet with Kings and Queens.But the one who’ll be your mateLives already in this State.”
“You will visit distant scenes,
You will meet with Kings and Queens.
But the one who’ll be your mate
Lives already in this State.”
Mr. Rawlins handed her the fortune paper, saying, “You are to be envied indeed! Meeting with royalty! Oh, my!”
“Oh, my! I should say so! Well, I’ll like it all right. I love adventure, and this sounds fine. Only I wish I knew when the king and queen visits would begin.”
“That’s the worst of fortunes,” observed Mrs. Rawlins; “they leave so much to the imagination.”
Then others wanted to try holding the papers. But none could guess how a blank paper could be written on by the fire, whether a spirit did it or not.
“Great, isn’t it?” cried Tad Brown, as he watched the writing appear. “Joe Collins! Hullo, Joe, what you s’pose your fortune will be? Something desperate, ’ll bet. Joe’s a terror, you know!”
“We’ll see;” and Mr. Rawlins read:
“Your wit is keen, your humour fine,To you they’ll prove a real gold mine!For you will move from Berwick Town,And be a famous Circus Clown!
“Your wit is keen, your humour fine,To you they’ll prove a real gold mine!For you will move from Berwick Town,And be a famous Circus Clown!
“Your wit is keen, your humour fine,To you they’ll prove a real gold mine!For you will move from Berwick Town,And be a famous Circus Clown!
“Your wit is keen, your humour fine,
To you they’ll prove a real gold mine!
For you will move from Berwick Town,
And be a famous Circus Clown!
Good, Joe! I’d go to the circus twice a day to see you perform.”
“I can do it!” and Joe capered around with the antics of a clown. “Here you are, ladies and gentlemen! The funniest living clown in captivity! Come one, come all! Pink lemonade free. Get your peanuts from Old Clay Rawlins! Hip! Hip! Hooray!”
When Joe stopped prancing about and the others stopped laughing at him, Mr. Rawlins read next “Tadema Brown.”
“Hardly know myself by my Sunday name,” and Tad listened for his fate.
“You care but naught for this world’s goods,You love the fields and flowers and woods;To you the note of singing birdsIs sweeter far than human words.”
“You care but naught for this world’s goods,You love the fields and flowers and woods;To you the note of singing birdsIs sweeter far than human words.”
“You care but naught for this world’s goods,You love the fields and flowers and woods;To you the note of singing birdsIs sweeter far than human words.”
“You care but naught for this world’s goods,
You love the fields and flowers and woods;
To you the note of singing birds
Is sweeter far than human words.”
“Well, that’s true, anyway,” said Tad, heartily. He was a born naturalist, and often spent his Saturdays wandering alone through the woods and fields, looking for new wild flowers or birds’ eggs to add to his collections.
“Poky old fortune, I call it,” declared Dotty. “Whose is next?”
“Ethel’s!” said her father. “Well, my child, here you are: