The Quest of Happy Hearts | Page 7

be afraid of 'Gem.'"
In a flash, Marty disappeared down the trail.
Nora was watching and came to meet her. She noted at a glance, the worn, shabby red dress, but neat appearance, of the small stranger of the forest cabin.
"I've come for you--" Marty began timidly--"Jerry said you were afraid to come nearer he guessed, but 'Gem' is friendly now--come!"
Nora held out a hand in greeting.
"We shall love to if you'll have us--" she smiled, as Janey, Beth and Alice joined her.
"We want you all," Marty said at once, and indicated that they follow her lead.
"This is our home--Jerry and I and Grandfather live here, together."
"How nice! We are all on a visit to Aunt Janice Meredith, and I'm sure she'll be willing for us to come and see you often."
Marty gave a little gasp.
"The castle must be a grand place to live--but--" she hesitated,--"but one evening late, we were passing there, and I thought I saw something white waving from a window--Grandfather said though, not to say anything about it, but I forgot; he called it, the story of the tower room--Do you know it?"
She looked inquiringly at Nora, who shook her head quickly.
"Aunt Janice hasn't told us yet, but we know it makes her sad, and so we don't mean to try and find out, you see!"
"It's a secret, I guess--" Marty continued, "and of course secrets must be kept."
"We're making Aunt Janice happy again," Beth beamed, "she told us so herself!"
They had gathered in front of the cabin now, and the boys began to cast wishful eyes at the lunch basket.
"Let's have our picnic right here under this big tree, if Marty and Jerry are willing; it's been quite a while since breakfast!"
"Oh, of course--it will be lots of fun to have you," they both joined at once in the invitation. "We usually wait for Grandfather for awhile, but if he's too long in coming, we have dinner without him."
"You are to be our guests today though, and the more the merrier,--Aunt Janice said that of us; let's spread the table."
Alice skipped around as they made preparations, running back and forth, and helping Marty with tumblers and a pitcher of cool water from the spring.
Even the Merediths were not prepared for such a feast! Aunt Janice had everything good imaginable, packed to overflowing, in the basket; enough and more to spare, even after the hungry boys and girls, had eaten all they could, with "Gem" to do his part.
"There's not quite enough left for another picnic!" Beth looked over the table and gave a little sigh.
Everyone joined in the laugh that followed.
"Why, you sound sorry," Nora said, "we'll leave the rest of the feast for Jerry's and Marty's Grandfather."
Jerry's face brightened, although he began to demur, but Harry and Don ended the discussion at once, by declaring they would certainly not lug the heavy basket back again.
"Won't you get hungry though?" Marty's eyes rested on the delightful things left.
"No, indeed; supper will be waiting and ready, when we get back to the castle."
"It's beginning to get late, too--we've stayed here so long, since finding you and Jerry in the cabin."
"Please, don't go yet," Marty began, fearing Janey's remark was leading up to that point.
"We promised Aunt Janice to be back by sundown, and we haven't explored very much of the forest," Nora smiled.
"Then you'll come another day," Jerry proposed, "and Marty and I can go along too; I'm sure Grandfather will be willing."
Another happy hour slipped by, and then the Merediths knew their time was really up.
"I just wish you could all live here," Marty's eyes were beginning to look cloudy.
"We'll come soon again, and of course you and Jerry are to be guests at the party, whenever it comes off."
"Of course," Nora joined in with Janey, at once--"Aunt Janice told us that we could invite any one we met out here."
Marty and Beth had caught hands at the mention of a party and were dancing around in a circle. Then Nora began laughing--
"Why, we've had such a pleasant day, that we forgot all about digging up wild ferns to carry back with us."
"The party won't be for awhile yet, and so after all we'll have a plenty of time," Don said. "I think Aunt Janice will agree that it's better to make another trip for them anyway."
"I'm sure she will--" Beth had her arms around Marty, "and you and Jerry will know where we can find the prettiest ones."
Good-byes were at last over, and they all waved until Marty and Jerry were swallowed up by the shadowy forest trees.
"Forward--march--" ordered Don--"it's almost sunset!"
"After a delightful day!"
Nora spoke softly, as they followed the trail, that led out of the forest.
"And, I believe, we've found two more on our quest for happy hearts," she ended, joyously.

CHAPTER VII
TALKING OVER THE