The Quest of Happy Hearts | Page 7

'Gem'--down--down--who's there?"
The boys, waiting a few feet away, replied, "Harry and Donald
Meredith; we were just exploring and thought we'd come up and see if
anyone was occupying the cabin, but your dog sounds mean."
The door had opened by this time, while a boy, holding "Gem" by the
collar, appeared.
"Oh, 'Gem' is our protector, you see. Marty and I are alone at night
sometimes, when Grandfather's away foresting; you are from the Castle
then?"
"We're visiting our Aunt Janice; she gave us a basket of lunch and said
we might have a day of exploration."
"Then, we were also to gather greens and wild ferns, for a party that she
is giving for us later."
"How nice!" a bright-eyed girl had joined her brother at the door.
She nudged him quickly as a reminder.
"Why don't you ask them in, Jerry?"
The boy smiled--"This is Marty, my sister--and she's wondering if you
won't come in--see, 'Gem' is quite friendly now, since he sees that you
are also friends!"
Don and Harry stooped to pat the small dog, capering around at their
feet.
"Thanks--" they both replied, "but we left Nora, Janey--Beth and Alice,
behind; they were waiting for us to make a discovery here."
The small girl clapped her hands impulsively.
"Girls--" she cried, "there are girls too, Jerry!"

Jerry looked as pleased as his sister--"Go and bring them along,
Marty--they may 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