A Little Maid of Old Maine | Page 9

out-of-doors," she said. "Do you think, Anna, that Luretta is quite
sure to have my things clean and nice?"
The two little girls had now come in sight of the place where they had
left Luretta. They both stopped and looked at each other in dismay, for
the tide had swept up the beach covering the pool where Luretta had
endeavored to wash the stockings, and the rocks where Anna and
Melvina had left their things, and there was no trace either of Luretta or
of their belongings.
"Luretta has taken our things up the slope," declared Anna. "She saw
the tide would sweep them away, so she did not wait for us."
"But how can we find her?" wailed Melvina. "I cannot go up the slope
barefooted and in my petticoat. What would my father say if he met me
in such a plight? He tells me often to remember to set a good example
to other children. And I would be ashamed indeed to be seen like this."
"You do look funny," Anna acknowledged soberly. Her own flannel
dress had dried, and, except for her bare feet, she looked about as usual;
but Melvina's white petticoat was still wet and draggled, her hair untidy,
and it was doubtful if her own father would have recognized her at the
first glance.
"I will go and get your things," said Anna. "Come up the slope a little
way, and sit down behind those juniper bushes until I come back.
Luretta must be near the pine trees. I'll hurry right back, and you can
dress in a minute."
Melvina agreed to this plan, and followed Anna slowly up to the
juniper bushes, and crouched down well under their branches so that
she was completely hidden from view; while Anna scrambled hurriedly
up the slope and looked anxiously about for some sign of Luretta and
the missing garments. But there was no sign of either; so she ran along

the bluff to where the pines offered shelter, thinking Luretta must
surely be there.
And now Anna began to be seriously alarmed. Perhaps Luretta had
been swept out by the tide before she could save herself. And at this
thought Anna forgot all about shoes and stockings, all Melvina's fine
garments, and even Melvina herself, and ran as fast as her feet could
carry her toward Luretta's home. At the blacksmith shop she stopped to
take breath, and to see if Luretta might not, by some happy chance, be
there; but the shop was silent. Mr. Foster had gone home to his supper;
but Anna did not realize that the hour was so late, and ran swiftly on.
As she neared the house she stopped suddenly, for Luretta was standing
in the doorway, and Rebecca was beside her, and they were both
looking at Anna. There was no time to turn and run back.
"Why, Dan! Where are your shoes and stockings?" said Rebecca,
coming down the path to meet her sister. "You were so late in coming
home that Mother sent me to meet you."
"What did Luretta say?" gasped Anna, thinking to herself that if Luretta
had told of Melvina, and their making sport of her, that there was
trouble in store for them all.
"Luretta hadn't time to say anything," responded Rebecca, "for I had
just reached the door when we saw you coming. Now we'll get your
shoes and stockings and start home, for Mother is waiting supper for
us."
"Luretta has my shoes," said Anna, and ran on to the door, where
Luretta was still waiting.
"Give me my shoes and stockings; quick, Lu! And then take all
Melvina's things and run, as fast as you can, to the----"
"Luretta! Luretta!" called Mrs. Foster; and Luretta with a hurried
whisper: "Oh, Anna! I haven't her things. Don't say a word about
Melvina," vanished into the house.

"Come, Anna," called Rebecca reprovingly. "Father will come to look
for us if you do not hasten. Why did not Luretta give you back your
shoes and stockings?" she asked as Anna came slowly down the path.
"It's a stupid game for her to keep them, I will say;" and she put a
protecting arm across her sister's shoulder. "But do not feel bad, Dan,
dear; she will bring them over before bedtime, if the storm holds off;
and Mother has made a fine molasses cake for supper." But Anna made
no response.
"Oh! Here comes the minister. Keep a little behind me, Dan, and he
may not notice your bare feet," exclaimed Rebecca.
Usually the Reverend Mr. Lyon was very ceremonious in his greeting
to the children of the parish; but to-night he wasted no time in
salutations.
"Have you seen Melvina?" he asked anxiously. "She left home early
this afternoon to visit