Dorian | Page 7

color into her cheeks."
"Oh, gee, mother!" he remonstrated.
"Now, Dorian, be reasonable. She's such a simple, quiet girl. She will
not be in the way in the least. I want you to treat her nicely."
Dorian had finished his dinner and was gazing out of the window.
There was an odd look on his face. The idea of a girl living right here
with them in the same house startled and troubled him. His mother had
called her a little girl, but he remembered her as being only a year or
two younger than he. Gee!
"That's why I wanted you to get a pair of decent shoes for tomorrow,"
said the mother, "and I told you to get a nice pair. I have brushed and
pressed your clothes, but you must get a new suit as soon as possible.
Where are your shoes! I couldn't find them."
"I--didn't get any shoes, mother."
"Didn't get any! Why not?"
"Well, you see--I didn't know about these visitors coming, mother, and
so I--bought some books for most of my money, and so; but mother,
don't get mad--I--"
"Books? What books? Where are they?"
And then Dorian told her plainly the whole miserable story. At first the
mother was angry, but when she saw the troubled face of her boy, she
relented, not wishing to add to his misery. She even smiled at the
calamitous ending of those books.

"My boy, I see that you have been sorely tempted, and I am sorry that
you lost your books. The wetting that Carlia gave you did no harm ...
but you must have some shoes by tomorrow. Wait."
The mother went to the bureau drawer, opened the lid of a little box,
drew from the box a purse, and took from the purse two silver dollars.
She handed them to Dorian.
"Go to town again this afternoon and get some shoes."
"But, mother, I hate to take your money. I think I can black my old
ones so that they will not look so bad."
"Blacking will not fill the holes. Now, you do as I say. Jump on Nig
and go right away."
Dorian put the money in his pocket, then went out to the yard and
slipped a bridle on his horse, mounted, and was back to the house.
"Now, Dorian, remember what I say. Get you a nice pair, a nice Sunday
pair."
"All right, mother, I will."
He rode off at a gallop. He lingered not by creeks or byways, but went
directly to the best shoe store in the city, where he made his purchase.
He stopped neither at book store or candy shops. His horse was
sweating when he rode in at the home yard. His mother hearing him,
came out.
"You made quick time," she said.
"Yes; just to buy a pair of shoes doesn't take long."
"You got the right kind?"
"Sure. Here, look at 'em." He handed her the package.
"I can't look at them now. Say, Dorian--" she came out nearer to

him--"They are here."
"Who, mother?"
"Mrs. Brown and her daughter. They got a chance to ride out this
afternoon, so they did not wait until tomorrow. Lucky I cleaned up this
morning. Mildred is not a bit well, and she is lying down now. Don't
make any more noise than you can help."
"Gee--but, mother, gosh!" He was very much disturbed.
"They are dear, good people. They know we are simple farmers. Just
you wash yourself and take off those dirty overalls before you come in.
And then you just behave yourself. We're going to have something nice
for supper. Now, don't be too long with your hoeing or with your
chores, for supper will be early this evening."
Dorian hoed only ten rows that afternoon for the reason that he sat
down to rest and to think at the end of each row. Then he dallied so
with his chores that his mother had to call him twice. At last he could
find no more excuses between him and the strange company. He went
in with much fear and some invisible trembling.

CHAPTER THREE.
About six o'clock in the afternoon, Mildred Brown went down through
the fields to the lower pasture. She wore a gingham apron which
covered her from neck to high-topped boots. She carried in one hand an
easel and stool and in the other hand a box of colors. Mildred came
each day to a particular spot in this lower pasture and set up her easel
and stool in the shade of a black willow bush to paint a particular scene.
She did her work as nearly as possible at the same time each afternoon
to get the same effect of light and shade and the same stretch