Madge Mortons Secret | Page 4

her shivering with fear.
"Don't scold me, and don't tell Uncle," she pleaded as Mrs. Curtis and
Tom climbed hurriedly from the wagon and came back to her. "I know
it was dreadful of me, and Uncle would never have forgiven me if I had
killed myself."

At this characteristic speech both Madge and her friends laughed.
Madge kissed Mrs. Curtis affectionately. Then, holding out her hand to
Tom, she said, "Do you think I could let you get away without seeing
you for a minute at least? Perhaps you had better go on to the station. I
will follow you on Dixie. We can talk after we reach there."
The carriage, closely followed by Madge on her pony, reached the little
station at least ten minutes before the time for the Curtis's train. Madge
could not leave Dixie to walk to the front of the station, so Mrs. Curtis
and her son walked to the road where Madge had alighted and stood
waiting for them, one hand in her pony's mane.
Tom thought he had never seen her look so pretty, but he was too wise
to say so. He had learned by embarrassing experience that Mistress
Madge frowned disapprovingly at the slightest intimation of a
compliment.
"Tom and I stopped at 'Forest House' to tell you that we are ready for
you. We wish you four girls to be our guests as soon as you can make
ready to come to us. Your uncle and aunt have given their consent to
the arrangement. We leave it to you and Nellie to communicate with
Lillian, Phil, and Miss Jenny Ann. You must rally the houseboat party.
Write to Madeleine and me and tell us anything you think you would
like to do. We are at Old Point Comfort. Good-bye, dear; here comes
our train. Don't disappoint us."
Mrs. Curtis and Tom boarded their train, leaving Madge staring after it
in happy anticipation of the good times that were sure to be theirs when
once more aboard the "Merry Maid."
CHAPTER II
WHAT MADGE FOUND IN THE ATTIC
"Aunt Sue," declared Madge gravely, wrinkling her straight, dark
eyebrows into a solemn frown, "there is only one thing that worries me
about our second houseboat party: Nellie and I haven't enough pretty
clothes."

Mrs. Butler looked as though she quite agreed with her niece. It was the
day after Mrs. Curtis's hurried call.
"You see, it is this way, Auntie. On our first trip our houseboat was
anchored in a quiet, out-of-the-way place. We met Mrs. Curtis only by
accident and had a few parties at the Belleview Hotel. This time we are
to be Mrs. Curtis's guests. Although the houseboat won't be on the
Virginia side of the bay, because the water is much too rough there, we
shall probably be crossing over to Fortress Monroe and Old Point and
all the lovely places near. Mrs. Curtis will be sure to get up parties for
us. We may even look on at some of the dances at Fortress Monroe. So
Nellie and I ought each to have a new evening gown, besides our white
silk gowns. Don't you think so?"
Aunt Sue sighed in answer to Madge's question.
"I don't see where new party gowns are to come from, dear. Even if I
felt we could afford them, I simply haven't time to go to town to get the
material for them. It has taken a great deal to get you and Nellie ready
for school, since you will go directly to Miss Tolliver's when your
houseboat party is over. Fortunately, your new school clothes will be
suitable for most occasions, as the weather will probably be cool.
Somehow I feel uneasy about this second houseboat party. I have a
premonition that something will happen to you girls. Your uncle thinks
I am absurd. He says you are very fortunate to have made a friend like
Mrs. Curtis, and to have another opportunity to enjoy your houseboat. I
suppose I am foolish." Mrs. Butler smiled nervously. "You know I am
rather given to having premonitions, so don't concern yourself about
anything I have said to you."
Mrs. Butler was a delicate, high-bred looking woman, with soft blue
eyes and brown hair lightly streaked with gray, who was quite likely to
be influenced by her wilful niece's opinions. It was in her Uncle
William that Madge met her match.
"Nellie!" called Madge when her aunt had finished speaking, "please
come in here. I want to persuade Auntie to do something that I am
going to ask of her, and I wish you to help me."

Nellie appeared at the dining room door, her fingers stained with
grape-juice. She was determined to help her mother with the jelly
before she and her cousin left for