Grace Harlowes Sophomore Year at High School | Page 8

"This is to be a plain, every-day affair."
"Who else is invited, David?" asked Jessica.
"Only one other girl beside yourselves has had the honor of receiving an invitation."
"Miriam?" queried Grace, unable to conceal a shade of disappointment in her tone.
"No, no; not Miriam," answered Miriam's brother.
Grace looked relieved. If Miriam joined the party, something unpleasant was sure to happen. Miriam treasured a spite against Anne for winning the freshman prize, and never treated her with civility when they chanced to meet. Grace knew, too, that Miriam's attitude toward her was equally hostile. She wondered if David knew all these things about his sister.
Whatever he did know of Miriam and her deep-laid plans and schemes, he divulged to no one. None of the girls had ever heard him say a word against his sister; although they felt that he deeply disapproved of her jealousy and false pride.
"You haven't guessed her name yet," smiled David. "She is one of my best friends, girls. She has been my sweetheart ever since I was a young man of five. She's one of the prettiest girls in Oakdale, she's sixty years young, and her name is----"
"Dear Mrs. Gray, of course!" exclaimed Grace delightedly.
"And has she accepted your invitation?" asked Anne.
"She has," replied David, "and will come in her coach and four, or rather her carriage and two. You ordinary mortals will be obliged to walk, I fear."
"But why does she use her 'coach and four,' When she lives in the palace just next door?" rhymed Nora.
"Very good, my child," commented David. "However, what I was about to say was this: My party is not to be in a house. It is an open-air party. We are to meet at the Omnibus House, to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock. Two very distinguished gentlemen have also been invited--Mr. Reddy Brooks and Mr. Hippy Wingate."
A shout of laughter went up from the girls
"Distinguished, indeed," cried Nora. "It will be a delightful party I am sure."
"Shall we bring food for Hippy!"
"No," laughed David. "Let him eat the apples he finds on the ground. If we feed him on every festive occasion he will soon be too fat to walk, and we shall have to roll him about on casters."
"What a terrible fate," said Anne smiling.
"Well, girls? do you promise to attend?"
"Yes? indeed!" cried the four girls.
"Be sure not to surprise us with a disappointment."
"The main thing is not to disappoint you with the surprise," were his parting words.
"If all boys were as nice as David the world would be a better place!" exclaimed Grace. "I suppose you can guess what the object of this party is."
"Never mind, don't mention it," said Jessica in a low tone. "Here come some other girls, and if they knew what we know, there would be a multitude instead of a select, private party at the Omnibus House to-morrow."
CHAPTER IV
AN UNFORTUNATE AVIATOR
It was an unusual entertainment that David had provided for his little circle of intimate friends in the old orchard surrounding the Omnibus House. There was a look of intense excitement in his eyes, as he stood awaiting his guests, the following afternoon. Mrs. Gray had already arrived, and, leaving her carriage to wait for her near the entrance, now stood by David and helped him receive.
"It's good to see all my children together again," she exclaimed, giving Anne a gentle hug; for ever since her Christmas house party she had acquired a sort of proprietary feeling toward these young people. "I only wish Tom Gray were to be with us to-day. I should like him to have a share in the surprise; for you may be sure there is to be a surprise. David would never have asked us to this lonely place for nothing."
"David is a good old reliable, Mrs. Gray," cried Hippy. "Certainly if I had imagined for a moment that he would disappoint us, I never should have dragged my slight frame all this distance."
"Good, loyal old Hippy," replied David. "The surprise is ready, but even if it had not been, there is no exercise so beneficial to stout people as walking."
"Well, bring it on, bring it on," exclaimed Reddy. "We are waiting patiently."
"Curb your impatience, Sorrel Top," said David. "Just follow me, and see what I have to show you."
They helped little Mrs. Gray, who was nimble in spite of her years, through a broken gap in the wall of the Omnibus House. The old ruin was more picturesque than, ever in its cloak of five-leafed ivy which the autumn had touched with red and gold. A lean-to had been built against the back wall of the building, fitted with a stout door on the inside and a pair of doors on the outside.
"I rented this plot of land from the farmer who owns the orchard," explained David, taking a