HASTA LA VISTA
THE We are Sevens were packing. An open trunk blocked each aisle
between the six beds in the nursery; in Sarah's room two more were
standing, half-filled, one reflecting the neatness and order of its
owner, the other bearing silent witness to the fact that it belonged
to Blue Bonnet Ashe.
"What are you doing with that old stick, Blue Bonnet?" asked Sarah, as
she carefully folded her riding-skirt and laid tissue paper between
the folds.
"Old stick, indeed! That's the alpenstock Knight cut for me and Sandy
carved,--I've sawed off about six inches of it, though it broke my
heart to do it. It's one of my dearest treasures and I'm going to take
it to Woodford if I have to carry it all the way!" Blue Bonnet
declared vigorously.
"I don't see anything so wonderful about it," Sarah returned. "There
are plenty of old sticks just like it to be had around Woodford."
Blue Bonnet lifted indignant eyes. "As if any old Woodford stick could
mean as much as this one. Why, this has the initials of every one in
both camps carved on it, and every inch of it represents a good time.
You've no sentiment, Sarah."
"I certainly haven't enough sentiment to make me rumple my best white
dress with a clumsy old stick," Sarah replied.
"I reckon it ought to have gone in with my shoes, but it's too late
now. How you do fuss over that riding-skirt, Sarah!"
"Well, if you want to know it, I've a lot of sentiment about that
skirt. I wish I could take Comanche along, too."
Here Blue Bonnet amazed Sarah by jumping up and giving her a hug. "Oh,
Sarah, I do love you for saying that! If you had been reconciled to
riding that same old poke you had last year I'd have been
so--disgusted. Won't the livery-man in Woodford open his eyes when
Miss Blake demands a 'horse with some go in him'--! The inhabitants of
the town will get a few thrills too, I reckon."
"Do you think it will be proper for us to ride there the way we ride
here?" Sarah asked eagerly.
"Astride? We'll make it proper! It's the only humane way, Uncle
says--a side-saddle is a downright cruelty. And I don't see why a
parson's daughter shouldn't set the fashion."
"Then Ruth will get a chance to wear her riding-skirt after all--her
heart will be stronger after a while. I've hated to ride when she
couldn't, but she has insisted upon our going."
"That's just like you, you unselfish old dear! But Ruth told me that
it was the next best thing to riding herself, to see you on Comanche."
"Did she?" asked Sarah; and then hid her face in the trunk so that
Blue Bonnet should not see how pleased she was.
They were to leave in the morning, and trunks were to be sent to the
station this very afternoon. Already Uncle Joe was hovering about,
rope in hand, waiting to give the final touch to the baggage. He had
found it necessary to keep very busy these last few days.
"We might have seen this coming," he said disconsolately to Mr. Ashe,
as the latter sat smoking a solitary pipe on the front veranda. "Let
young folks get runnin' with young folks, and they're never again
contented alone."
"It isn't _young_ folks that's taking Blue Bonnet this time, Joe." Mr.
Ashe glanced in to where a silver head showed just inside the window.
"_Her_ girl never went back to her from Texas, and I reckon it's only
right she should have her share of Elizabeth's daughter."
Uncle Joe looked sober. "You're right, Cliff." Then, as if determined
to look on the bright side of things, "We'll have the boy for
company."
"Yes, and there'll be more letters. She'll tell him things she
wouldn't be likely to write to two old fellows." And with this crumb
of comfort the "two old fellows" were forced to content themselves.
Blue Bonnet was up at daybreak next morning, and, sitting on the top
rail of the pasture fence, watched the sun rise out of the prairie.
Don and Solomon eyed her expectantly.
"Our last sunrise on the ranch, Solomon, for ever and ever so
long,--we're off to Massachusetts this very morning. And it's a
Pullman for me and a baggage-car for you--no private car this time!
But I'll come and see you at every station and see that you have
exercise. Poor dog, I wonder how you'll like the 'resumption of
discipline'--as Alec calls it? We're going back to Aunt Lucinda, you
know, Solomon, and Aunt Lucinda's strong for discipline."
Her eyes wandered off toward the distant hills and then away across
the wind-swept, rolling prairie. How would it seem to be back again
among houses, tall houses with trim door-yards and clipped
hedges,--houses so close one couldn't throw a stone without "breaking
a window or a tradition"--?
Some one was whistling "All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border." She
looked up as Alec came towards her.
"Do I intrude upon a solemn hour?" he asked.
"The solemn hour has ticked its last second. I've said good-bye to
everything and everybody,--except Texas and Massachusetts. Come with
me to see those infants."
Hardly infants any longer, however. Long-tailed, with erect silky ears
and coats that stood out shaggily from their fattening sides, the
coyotes were fast growing into big, clumsy dogs.
"You'll look after them, won't you, Alec?" Blue Bonnet asked
anxiously.
"That I will," he promised.
"And you'll write me often about--everything? And see that Uncle Cliff
doesn't smoke too much, and that Uncle Joe takes his rheumatism
medicine--"
"Trust me!" Alec knew better than to smile at such a moment. "And in
turn, Blue Bonnet, you'll give an eye to Grandfather, won't you?"
They shook hands on it solemnly, and went in to breakfast.
Kitty, her face restored to its usual milky-whiteness, and looking
very pretty in her jaunty travelling-suit, met them at the door.
Peering over her shoulder stood Ruth--a sunburned Ruth with bright
eyes and a rounder curve to her cheek than it had worn two weeks
before.
"We were afraid you had decided to run off and hide at the last
minute," said Kitty, slipping her arm around Blue Bonnet as if
determined not to risk losing her a second time.
"I was only--saying good-bye," said Blue Bonnet soberly.
"Blue Bonnet is like more than one famous prima donna," said Alec,
"she has made half a dozen 'positively last' farewell tours!"
They were off at last. Distributed equally between the buckboard and
one of the farm-wagons, the We are Sevens, Grandmother Clyde, General
Trent and Uncle Joe went ahead. Blue Bonnet, Alec, and Uncle Cliff
followed on horseback.
As they neared the bridge Blue Bonnet drew rein, and, turning in the
saddle, glanced back for a last look at the weather-stained old
ranch-house. The cowboys and most of the Mexicans, who had gathered to
say good-bye to the Señorita and her "amigos" from Massachusetts, were
already scattering about the work of the day. But in the doorway the
faithful Benita still stood, waving her apron.
Blue Bonnet's eyes filled.
"Good-bye, old house, good-bye, Benita," she said, and then added
softly: "_Hasta la vista!_"
=THE END.=
Selections from
The Page Company's
Books for Young People
* * * * *
=THE BLUE BONNET SERIES=
_Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.75
=A TEXAS BLUE BONNET=
By CAROLINE E. JACOBS.
"The book's heroine, Blue Bonnet, has the very finest kind of
wholesome, honest, lively girlishness."--_Chicago Inter-Ocean._
=BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY=
By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND EDYTH ELLERBECK READ.
"A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter."--_Boston
Transcript._
=BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON=
By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS.
"It is bound to become popular because of its wholesomeness and its
many human touches."--_Boston Globe._
=BLUE BONNET KEEPS HOUSE=
By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS.
"It cannot fail to prove fascinating to girls in their teens."--_New
York Sun._
=BLUE BONNET--DÉBUTANTE=
By LELA HORN RICHARDS.
An interesting picture of the unfolding of life for Blue Bonnet.
=BLUE BONNET OF THE SEVEN STARS=
By LELA HORN RICHARDS.
"The author's intimate detail and charm of narration gives the reader
an interesting story of the heroine's war activities."--_Pittsburgh
Leader._
=THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES=
By HARRISON ADAMS
_Each 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.65
=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO; OR,= CLEARING THE WILDERNESS.
"Such books as this are an admirable means of stimulating among the
young Americans of to-day interest in the story of their pioneer
ancestors and the early days of the Republic."--_Boston Globe._
=THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES;= OR, ON THE TRAIL OF THE
IROQUOIS.
"The recital of the daring deeds of the frontier is not only
interesting but instructive as well and shows the sterling type
of character which these days of self-reliance and trial
produced."--_American Tourist, Chicago._
=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI;= OR, THE HOMESTEAD IN THE
WILDERNESS.
"The story is told with spirit, and is full of adventure."--_New York
Sun._
=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSOURI;= OR, IN THE COUNTRY OF THE SIOUX.
"Vivid in style, vigorous in movement, full of dramatic situations,
true to historic perspective, this story is a capital one for
boys."--_Watchman Examiner, New York City._
=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE;= OR, LOST IN THE LAND OF
WONDERS.
"There is plenty of lively adventure and action and the story is well
told."--_Duluth Herald, Duluth, Minn._
=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE COLUMBIA;= OR, IN THE WILDERNESS OF THE GREAT
NORTHWEST.
"The story is full of spirited action and contains much valuable
historical information."--_Boston Herald._
=THE HADLEY HALL SERIES=
By LOUISE M. BREITENBACH
_Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.65
=ALMA AT HADLEY HALL=
"The author is to be congratulated on having written such an appealing
book for girls."--_Detroit Free Press._
=ALMA'S SOPHOMORE YEAR=
"It cannot fail to appeal to the lovers of good things in girls'
books."--_Boston Herald._
=ALMA'S JUNIOR YEAR=
"The diverse characters in the boarding-school are strongly drawn, the
incidents are well developed and the action is never dull."--_The
Boston Herald._
=ALMA'S SENIOR YEAR=
"A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter."--_Boston
Transcript._
=THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE SERIES=
By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH
_Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.65
=THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE=
"A book sure to please girl readers, for the author seems to
understand perfectly the girl character."--_Boston Globe._
=PEGGY RAYMOND'S VACATION=
"It is a wholesome, hearty story."--_Utica Observer._
=PEGGY RAYMOND'S SCHOOL DAYS=
The book is delightfully written, and contains lots of exciting
incidents.
=THE FRIENDLY TERRACE QUARTETTE=
These four lively girls found their opportunities to serve their
country. The story of their adventures will bring anew to every girl
who reads about them the realization of what she owes to her country.
=FAMOUS LEADERS SERIES=
By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON
_Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $2.00
=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS=
"More of such books should be written, books that acquaint young
readers with historical personages in a pleasant, informal way."--_New
York Sun._
=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS=
"Mr. Johnston has done faithful work in this volume, and his relation
of battles, sieges and struggles of these famous Indians with the
whites for the possession of America is a worthy addition to United
States History."--_New York Marine Journal._
=FAMOUS SCOUTS=
"It is the kind of a book that will have a great fascination for boys
and young men."--_New London Day._
=FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVENTURERS OF THE SEA=
"The tales are more than merely interesting; they are entrancing,
stirring the blood with thrilling force."--_Pittsburgh Post._
=FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN AND HEROES OF THE BORDER=
"The accounts are not only authentic, but distinctly readable, making
a book of wide appeal to all who love the history of actual
adventure."--_Cleveland Leader._
=FAMOUS DISCOVERERS AND EXPLORERS OF AMERICA=
"The book is an epitome of some of the wildest and bravest adventures
of which the world has known."--_Brooklyn Daily Eagle._
=FAMOUS GENERALS OF THE GREAT WAR=
Who Led the United States and Her Allies to a Glorious Victory.
"The pages of this book have the charm of romance without its
unreality. The book illuminates, with life-like portraits, the history
of the World War."--_Rochester Post Express._
=HILDEGARDE-MARGARET SERIES=
By LAURA E. RICHARDS
Eleven Volumes
The Hildegarde-Margaret Series, beginning with "Queen Hildegarde" and
ending with "The Merryweathers," make one of the best and most popular
series of books for girls ever written.
_Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.75
_The eleven volumes boxed as a set_ $19.25
=LIST OF TITLES=
=QUEEN HILDEGARDE=
=HILDEGARDE'S HOLIDAY=
=HILDEGARDE'S HOME=
=HILDEGARDE'S NEIGHBORS=
=HILDEGARDE'S HARVEST=
=THREE MARGARETS=
=MARGARET MONTFORT=
=PEGGY=
=RITA=
=FERNLEY HOUSE=
=THE MERRYWEATHERS=
=THE CAPTAIN JANUARY SERIES=
By LAURA E. RICHARDS
_Each one volume, 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per
volume_ 90 cents
=CAPTAIN JANUARY=
A charming idyl of New England coast life, whose success has been very
remarkable.
SAME. _Illustrated Holiday Edition_ $1.35
=MELODY:= THE STORY OF A CHILD.
=MARIE=
A companion to "Melody" and "Captain January."
=ROSIN THE BEAU=
A sequel to "Melody" and "Marie."
=SNOW-WHITE;= OR, THE HOUSE IN THE WOOD.
=JIM OF HELLAS;= OR, IN DURANCE VILE, and a companion story, BETHESDA
POOL.
=NARCISSA=
And a companion story, IN VERONA, being two delightful short stories
of New England life.
="SOME SAY"=
And a companion story, NEIGHBORS IN CYRUS.
=NAUTILUS=
"'Nautilus' is by far the best product of the author's powers, and is
certain to achieve the wide success it so richly merits."
=ISLA HERON=
This interesting story is written in the author's usual charming
manner.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Italics are denoted by _tags_ and bold text by =tags=.
Varied hyphenation was retained in horseback/horse-back;
bedroom/bed-room; bedclothes/bed-clothes; buckboard/buck-board;
cowbells/cow-bells; oilcloth/oil-cloth; outdoors/out-doors;
sunbonnet/sun-bonnet; We are Seven/We-are-Seven.
Varied spelling of bandana/bandanna was retained.
Page 36, "horse" changed to "horses" (appraised the horses)
Page 101, "Francescito" changed to "Franciscito" (skirting San
Franciscito)
Page 200, "pique" changed to "piqué" (white piqué skirt)