Sunbridge Girls at Six Star Ranch

Hodgman Porter Eleanor

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The Reverend Thomas Wilson's sister, Miss Sophronia, had come to Sunbridge on a Tuesday evening late in June to make her brother's family a long-promised visit. But it was not until the next morning that she heard something that sent her to her sister-in-law in a burst of astonishment almost too great for words. For pity's sake, Mary, what is this I hear? she demanded. Edith insists that her cousin, Cordelia, is going to Texas next week - to Texas! - Cordelia! Yes, she is, Sophronia, replied the minister's wife, trying to make her answer sound as cheerful and commonplace as she could, and as if Texas were in the next room. (It was something of a trial to Mrs. Thomas Wilson that her husband's sister could not seem to understand that she, a minister's wife for eighteen years and the mother of five children, ought to know what was proper and right for her orphaned niece to do - at least fully as much as should a spinster, who had never brought up anything but four cats and a parrot!) "Edith is quite right

Informations

• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 23 octobre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819904496
• Langue: English

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CHAPTER I
AUNT SOPHRONIA
The Reverend Thomas Wilson's sister, Miss Sophronia,had come to Sunbridge on a Tuesday evening late in June to make herbrother's family a long-promised visit. But it was not until thenext morning that she heard something that sent her to hersister-in-law in a burst of astonishment almost too great forwords. "For pity's sake, Mary, what is this I hear?" she demanded."Edith insists that her cousin, Cordelia, is going to Texas nextweek – to Texas! – Cordelia! " "Yes, she is, Sophronia,"replied the minister's wife, trying to make her answer sound ascheerful and commonplace as she could, and as if Texas were in thenext room. (It was something of a trial to Mrs. Thomas Wilson thather husband's sister could not seem to understand that she, aminister's wife for eighteen years and the mother of five children,ought to know what was proper and right for her orphaned niece todo – at least fully as much as should a spinster, who had neverbrought up anything but four cats and a parrot!) "Edith is quiteright. Cordelia is going to Texas next week." "But, Mary, are youcrazy? To let a child like that go all the way from here to Texas –one would think New Hampshire and Texas were twenty milesapart!"
Mrs. Wilson sighed a little wearily. "Cordelia isn'texactly a child, Sophronia, you must remember that. She was sixteenlast November; and she's very self-reliant and capable for her age,too. Besides, she isn't going alone, you know." "Alone!" exclaimedMiss Sophronia. "Mary, surely, the rest that Edith said isn't true!Those other girls aren't going, too, are they? – Elsie Martin, andthat flyaway Tilly Mack, and all?" "I think they are, Sophronia.""Well, of all the crazy things anybody ever heard of!" almostgroaned the lady. "Mary, what are you thinking of?" "I'mthinking of Cordelia," returned the minister's wife, with a spiritthat was as sudden as it was unusual. "Sophronia, for twelve years,ever since she came to me, Cordelia has been just a Big Sister inthe family; and she's had to fetch and carry and trot and run herlittle legs off for one after another of the children, as well asfor her uncle and me. You know how good she is, and howconscientious. You know how anxious she always is to do exactlyright. She's never had a playday, and I'm sure she deserves one ifever a girl did! Vacations to her have never meant anything butmore care and more time for housework."
Mrs. Wilson paused for breath, then went on withrenewed vigor. "When this chance came up, Tom and I thought atfirst, of course, just as you did, that it was quite out of thequestion; but – well, we decided to let her go. And I haven't beensorry a minute since. She's Tom's only brother's child, but we'venever been able to do much for her, as you know. We can let herhave this chance, though. And she's so happy – dear child!" "Butwhat is it? How did it happen? Who's going? Edith's story soundedso absurd to me I could make precious little out of it. Sheinsisted that the 'Happy X's' were going."
The minister's wife smiled. "It's the girls''Hexagon Club,' Sophronia. They call themselves the 'HappyHexagons.' There are six of them." "Humph!" commented MissSophronia. "Who are they – besides Cordelia?" "Bertha Brown, TillyMack, Alma Lane, Elsie Martin, and Genevieve Hartley." "And who ?" frowned Miss Sophronia at the last name. "GenevieveHartley. She is the little Texas girl. It is to her ranch they aregoing." " Her ranch!" "Well – her father's." "But who is she?What's she doing here?" "She's been going to school this winter.She's at the Kennedys'." "A Texas ranch-girl at the Kennedys'! Why,they're nice people!" exclaimed Miss Sophronia, opening wideher eyes.
Mrs. Wilson laughed now outright. "You'd better notlet Miss Genevieve hear you say 'nice' in that tone of voice – andin just that connection, Sophronia," she warned her. "Genevievemight think you meant to insinuate that there weren't any nice people in Texas – and she's very fond of Texas!"
Miss Sophronia smiled grimly. "Well, I don't meanthat, of course. Still, a ranch must be sort of wild and – andmustangy, seems to me; and I was thinking of the Kennedys,especially Miss Jane Chick. Imagine saying 'wild' and 'Miss Jane'in the same breath!" "Yes, I know," smiled Mrs. Wilson; "and Iguess Genevieve has been something of a trial – in a way; thoughthey love her dearly – both of them. She's a very lovable girl. Butshe is heedless and thoughtless; and, of course, she wasn'tat all used to our ways here in the East. Her mother died when shewas eight years old; since then she has been brought up by herfather on the ranch. She blew into Sunbridge last August like averitable breeze from her own prairies – and the Kennedy home isn'tused to breezes – especially Miss Jane. I imagine Genevieve didstir things up a little there all winter – though she has improveda great deal since she came." "But why did she come in the firstplace?"
Mrs. Wilson smiled oddly. "That's the best part ofit," she said. "It seems that last April, when Mrs. Kennedy andMiss Chick were on their way home from California, they stopped inHouston, Texas, a few days, and there they met John Hartley and hisdaughter, Genevieve. It appears they had known him years ago whenthey were 'the Chick girls,' and he came to Sunbridge to visitrelatives. I've heard it whispered that he was actually a bit inlove with one of them, though I never heard whether it was MissJane, or the one who is now the Widow Kennedy. However that may be,he was delighted to see them in Texas, report says, and tointroduce to them his daughter, Genevieve." "But that doesn'texplain how the girl came here," frowned Miss Sophronia. "No, but Iwill," smiled her sister-in-law. "Fond and proud as Mr. Hartleyvery plainly was of his daughter, it did not take Mrs. Kennedy longto see that he was very much disturbed at the sort of life she wasliving at the ranch. That is, he felt that the time had come nowwhen she needed something that only school, young girl friends, andgently-bred women could give her; yet he could not bear the thoughtof sending her off alone to an ordinary boarding school. Then iswhen Mrs. Kennedy arose to the occasion; and very quickly it wassettled that Genevieve should come here to her in Sunbridge forschool this last winter – which she did, and Mrs. Kennedy has beena veritable mother to her ever since. She calls her 'Aunt Julia.'""Hm-m; very fine, I'm sure," murmured Miss Sophronia, a littleshortly. "And now she's asked these girls home with her – the wholelot of them!" "Yes; and they're crazy over it – as you'd know theywould be."
Miss Sophronia sniffed audibly. "Humph! It's theparents that are crazy, I'm thinking," she corrected. "Imagine it –six scatter-brained children, and all the way to Texas! Mary!" "Oh,but the father is in the East here, on business and he goes backwith them," conciliated Mrs. Wilson, hastily. "Besides, Mrs.Kennedy is going, too."
Miss Sophronia raised her eyebrows. "Well, I can'tsay I envy her the thing she's undertaken. Imagine my attempting to chaperon six crazy girls all the way from NewHampshire to Texas – and then on a ranch for nobody knows how longafter that!" "I can't imagine – your doing it, Sophronia,"rejoined the minister's wife, demurely. And at the meaning emphasisand the twinkle in her eye, Miss Sophronia sniffed again audibly."When do they go?" she asked in her stiffest manner. "The first dayof July." "Indeed! Very fine, I'm sure. Still – I've been thinkingof the expense. Of course, for a minister – "
Mrs. Wilson bit her lip. After a moment she filledthe pause that her sister-in-law had left. "I understand, ofcourse, what you mean, Sophronia," she acknowledged. "Andministers' families don't have much money for Texas trips, I'llown. As it happens, however, the trip will cost the young peoplenothing. Mr. Hartley very kindly bears all the expenses." "Hedoes?" "Yes. He declares he shall be in the girls' debt even then.You see, last winter Genevieve sprained her ankle, and was shut upfor weeks in the house. It was a very bad sprain, and naturally itcame pretty hard on such an active, outdoor girl as she is. Mrs.Kennedy says she thinks Genevieve and all the rest of them wouldhave gone wild if it hadn't been for the girls. One or more of themwas there every day. Then is when they formed their Hexagon Club.It was worth everything to Genevieve, as you can imagine; and Mr.Hartley declares that nothing he can ever do will half repay them.Besides, he wants Genevieve to be with nice girls all she can –she's had so little of girls' society. So he's asked them to go ashis guests." "Dear me! Well, he must have some money!" "He has.Mrs. Kennedy says he is a man of independent means, and he has noone but Genevieve to spend his money on. So, as for this trip – inhis whole-hearted, generous Western fashion, he pays all the billshimself." "Hm-m; very kind, I'm sure," admitted Miss Sophronia,grudgingly. "Well, I'm glad, at least, that it doesn't cost youanything."
There was a moment's silence, then Mrs. Wilson said,apologetically: "I'm sorry, Sophronia, but I'm afraid you'll haveto stand it till the children go – and there'll be something tostand, too; for it's 'Texas, Texas, Texas,' from morning tillnight, everywhere. Genevieve herself is in New Jersey visitingfriends, but that doesn't seem to make any difference. The wholetown is wildly excited over the trip. I found even little Mrs.Miller, the dressmaker, yesterday poring over an old atlas spreadout on her cutting-table. "'I was just a-lookin' up where Texaswas,' she explained when she saw me. 'My! only think of havin'folks go all that distance – folks I know, I mean. I'm sure I'dnever dare to go – or let my girl.'" "Very sensible woman, I'msure," remarked Miss Sophronia.
Mrs. Wilson smiled; but she went on imperturbably."Even the little tots haven't escaped infection. Imagine mysensations Sunday when Bettie Barker, the primmest Miss Proprietyin my infant class, asked: 'Please,