A Little Maid of Old Maine | Page 8

In a moment both the girls had
forgotten all about their clothes, and were chasing each other along the
water's edge splashing in good earnest, and laughing and calling each
other's names in wild delight. Farther up the shore Luretta, a draggled
stocking in each hand, looked at them a little enviously, and wondered
a little at the sudden change in Melvina's behavior.
"Now show me the clam's nest!" Melvina demanded, as out of breath
and thoroughly drenched the two girls stood laughing at each other.
"All right," Anna responded promptly. "Come on down to the point,"

and followed by Melvina, now apparently careless of the rough beach,
she ran along the shore toward a clam bed in the dark mud.
"Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to the black flats-mud. "There is the
clam's nest--in that mud. Truly. They are not birds; they are shellfish. I
was only fooling."
"I don't care," answered Melvina. "I shall know now what clams really
are."
"And those birds are gulls, not partridges," continued Anna, pointing to
the flock of gulls near shore, "and come here and I will show you a real
alder," and the two girls climbed over a ledge to where a little thicket of
alder bushes crept down close to the rocks.
"And those splendid tall trees are pines," went on Anna, pointing to the
group of tall trees on the bluff.
Melvina laughed delightedly. "Why, you know all about everything,"
she exclaimed, "even if your hair is short like a boy's."
"I know all the trees in the forest," declared Anna, "and I know where
squirrels hide their nuts for winter, and where beavers make their
houses in the river."
The two girls were now beyond the ledge and out of sight of Luretta,
and Anna was so eager to tell Melvina of the wonderful creatures of the
forest, and Melvina, feeling as if she had discovered a new world,
listened with such pleasure, that for the moment they both forgot all
about Luretta.
At first Luretta had been well pleased to see that Melvina was no longer
vexed and unhappy; but when both her companions disappeared, and
she found herself alone with Melvina's soiled and discarded skirts and
the wet stockings, she began to feel that she was not fairly treated, and
resolved to go home.
"Dan can play with Melvina Lyon if she likes her so much," thought

Luretta resentfully, and started off up the slope. Luretta was nearly as
tidy as when she left home, so she would have no explanations to make
on her return. As she went up the slope she turned now and then and
looked back, but there was no sign of Anna or Melvina. "I don't care,"
thought the little girl unhappily. "Perhaps they will think I am drowned
when they come back and don't find me." She had just reached the top
of the slope and turned toward home when she saw London Atus
hurrying along the path that led to the church.
"Perhaps he has been sent after Melvina, and can't find her," thought
Luretta; and she was right; the colored man had been to Captain
Horton's house to walk home with his little mistress, and had been told
that Melvina had not been there that afternoon; and he was now
hurrying home with this alarming news.
Anna and Melvina were now comfortably seated on a grassy knoll near
the alder bushes, Melvina asking questions about woodland birds, and
the wild creatures of the forest, which Anna answered with delight.
"Perhaps you can go with Father and me to the forest to-morrow," said
Anna. "We are going to find a liberty pole, and 'twill be a fine walk."
"I know about liberty poles," declared Melvina eagerly, "and my father
is well pleased that the town is to set one up. But, oh, Anna! surely it is
time that I went on to my visit with Lucia Horton!" and Melvina's face
grew troubled. "Do you think Luretta Foster will have my clothes in
good order?"
At Melvina's words Anna sprang to her feet. "I think she will do her
best, and 'tis well for us to hurry," she responded; "but you have had a
good time, have you not, Melvina?"
"Oh, yes! I would like well to play about on the shore often; but I fear I
may never again," said Melvina; her smile had vanished, and she
looked tired and anxious.
"Let us hasten; the tide is coming in now, and Luretta will have taken
our things up from the beach," said Anna, taking Melvina's hand and

hurrying her along over the ledges. "I am glad indeed, Melvina, that we
are better acquainted, and we will often wade together."
But Melvina shook her head dolefully. "My mother does not like me to
play