Polly of Pebbly Pit | Page 8

about my education?" queried Mrs. Maynard,
with dignity.
"Mercy, no! I only tried to show Bob the difference in present day
methods and the past."
Mr. Maynard entered the room during Eleanor's reply, and smiled as he
heard his youngest daughter's frank words. It was a keen pleasure to
him to have one child fearless in thought and word. His son and elder
daughter had been spoiled by fawning tutors and companions, so they
had acquired the habit of white-washing facts to suit the needs. Eleanor
had been too delicate to attend any expensive and fashionable seminary
and, being taught by Anne Stewart while in Denver, had acquired many
of Anne's splendid ways.
"Frederick, what do you know about this mountain resort you asked
Anne Stewart to write about?" asked Mrs. Maynard.
"Well, now that we are all together and have the time to talk this matter
out, I will say my say," replied Mr. Maynard, seating himself and
drawing Eleanor down beside him upon the divan.
"You remember the first year we were married--I had to visit Bear
Forks to investigate a loan one of our clients at the bank asked us to
make on a tract of timber-land? You wouldn't go with me when you
heard we would have to camp out at night and ride horses over rough
mountain- trails. That is the season you visited your school-friend in
the East."
Mr. Maynard looked at his wife as he spoke and she nodded her head as
if the memory was not pleasant to recall. Her husband smiled an
enigmatical smile and continued his description.
"That is when I met Sam Brewster and his wife--they had been married
about as long as we had, and their happy ranch-life struck me as being
the most desirable existence I ever heard of."
Mrs. Maynard's lips curled in silent derision. She understood her

husband's yearning for a simple life in place of the frivolous and empty
excitement of the social career she had made for herself and family.
"The country about the sections I visited is beautiful and healthy, and
as Nolla is ordered to a quiet, mountainous region for a time, I know of
no place so suitable. Besides, Anne Stewart has been there, too, and she
is wild over the place."
"But you are so old-fashioned in your ideas of living and pleasures,
father, and I want to know if this place will suit me. Are the Brewsters
members of the best set there, or will I be left absolutely unaided to
find a way to meet young people such as we would like to know?"
asked Barbara, anxiously.
"The Brewsters are by far the wealthiest family in that whole section of
country, and I have heard that the ranch and house are the finest in the
state. You met young John Brewster at the College Prom and you can
tell what you think of _him._"
"Ye-es, young Brewster is all right. Every one seemed to think he is
exceptionally nice," remarked Barbara.
Mrs. Maynard sighed with relief as she felt that a weight had been
lifted from her mind. She was anxious to have her two daughters climb
the social ladder to a higher plane than she had been able to reach, so
she knew they must be careful to associate with only those who had
already arrived there through forbears or ambition.
"Then we can wire Anne at once to complete arrangements,
Frederick?" ventured the lady, watching her husband's expression.
"I'll attend to that but when can you be ready to go?" asked Mr.
Maynard, glancing from one to the other of the trio.
"The same day you start, Daddy!" declared Eleanor, giving her father a
hug.
"Why, we simply can't, Nolla! Father leaves Chicago next week and we

have so much to prepare before going to a place where we are apt to
meet the very elite of society," cried Barbara.
"It will take fully two weeks to go through the girls' wardrobe,
Frederick, and see that everything is the last word," added Mrs.
Maynard, explanatory of her eldest daughter's dismay.
"Well, fix things up any way you say, but I'm off for the bank when
you begin talking dress," laughed Mr. Maynard.
"Now, Frederick, don't leave us like this! You know we will need
money to fit out the girls, and then you must have some idea of when
Anne can expect them in Denver," hurriedly said Mrs. Maynard as her
husband crossed the room to leave.
"Daddy, I don't want another thing to wear; I've got so many things
now that it makes me tired to keep changing to suit the thousand and
one occasions," declared Eleanor, running after her father to kiss him
good-by.
"Nolla! I declare you will never grow up! Pray walk like