The Heart's Kingdom

And at his admonition to hurry and the alluring description of the

entertainment to come, we all betook ourselves on foot toward the

schoolhouse down the street a few blocks, halfway between the Town and

the Settlement.

And as we went all the rest of the Town hurried out of wide, high,

vine-covered doors, down broad, flower-lined walks, and joined us from

under bowers of blooming roses, honeysuckle and clematis. We actually

approached the schoolhouse in the form of quite a large procession, and

as we wound our way down the hill we met a like procession winding

itself up the hill from the Settlement, a procession arrayed in its best

bib, tucker and boiled shirt, just as we were adorned in silk, lace,

fine muslin and linen.

"It looks like two armies approaching each other--Greek is going to meet

Greek," said Billy.

"Rather Greek meets Vandal, and there stands Goodloe to do the

interpreting," Nickols jeered in answer.

And as we all flocked into the wide gate of the school yard I was again

struck with the great beauty of the tall, broad, lithe, free man who

stood in the middle of the walk just inside, welcoming Town and

Settlement alike. And while he greeted us, his enthusiastic flock of

older children seated the groups of guests on the long rough benches

which were placed facing the door of the schoolhouse, leaving a wide

space at the foot of the steps, which was roped off with golden chains

of black-eyed daisies and which was evidently to be used as a stage for

the pageant.

"Just look how Goodloe is failing to mix his oil and water," Nickols

whispered to me, as we observed all of the Settlement groups gravely

gravitate to the left side of the walk while all the Town in chattering

parties took seats on the right. "That's right, Burns, take off my last

summer coat," he added, still in a whisper to me as the Burns parent

struggled out of the unendurable gift garment and thus gave a signal

that whipped off every coat on the left side of the walk in the

twinkling of an eye, to the evident distress of the tightly girted and

uncomfortable but more formal feminine members of the Settlement

contingent. Conjugal strife was about to make its appearance when Mother

Spurlock, who was seated beside poor little Hettie Garrett, holding the

Mother Only in her arms with never a glance for Mrs. Sproul, who had

beckoned her to a seat next to her own beruffled silk skirts, passed the

word around that such comfort was to be accorded the masculine guests.

Even with such sanction, however, Luella May Spain looked pained at her

father's gay new red suspenders, and I could see that Mr. Todd's striped

shirt was hurting the feelings of Sadie Todd dreadfully, and she and

Luella May returned Billy's gallant salute with the greatest

embarrassment. And in all the buzz I found myself looking anxiously for

Martha Ensley's pale face and dark eyes, but failed to find them.