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Read Ebook: When They Were Girls by Moore Rebecca Deming Owen Helen Mildred Editor Hill Mabel Betsy Illustrator
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Ebook has 227 lines and 7457 words, and 5 pages
"Come on in, Ed," called Jack. "Didn't know you were in town. You're just in time to assist."
"What's it all about?" asked the newcomer. "Are you going or coming?" he inquired, as he looked at the partially-filled suitcases and trunks.
"Both," answered Walter. "You're coming and they're going."
"Oh, excuse me," murmured Cora. "Miss Osborne, let me present to you Mr. Edward Foster--just plain Ed, mostly."
"The plainer the better," observed the newcomer, as he bowed to Marita. "But what's it all about, Jack?--No, there's no use asking him," he murmured as he noted Cora's brother resuming his interrupted conversation with the little girl. "Will someone please enlighten me?"
"It's our annual flitting," sighed Cora. "And really half the pleasure is taken away with this packing. Well, as long as you boys are here you might as well make yourselves useful, as well as ornamental."
"Delighted!" cried Walter, looking about. "Where shall I put this?" and he caught up a box from the floor.
"Be careful!" cried Belle. "You'll spill it!"
"Candy?" he asked questioningly, as he rattled the contents.
"My manicure set, and you'll have it all upset. Give it here!" went on the owner, and Walter surrendered it.
"No, but seriously, what's it all about?" he asked. "I've just come home."
Cora shrugged her pretty shoulders.
"Don't worry, Sis, we are!" Jack threw at her, without turning his head.
"Camping at Crystal Bay--that sounds good," murmured Ed, who liked life in the open.
"Can't you come along, old man?" asked Walter. "We've got plenty of room, and we were counting on you later, when you got back from your trip. Now, as long as you're here, can't you come with us?"
"I don't know but what I could. Yes, I will. I haven't anything on. I'll go home and pack up right away. You leave in the morning? I guess I can make it."
"Well, when you go, please take them with you," and Cora indicated her brother and Walter. "Then we'll be able to go on with our packing. Really, Jack," and she spoke most seriously this time, "you must go!"
"All right, Sis!" he agreed. "Don't forget," he added, to Marita, as he rose.
"What nonsense has he been telling you now?" asked Belle with a laugh. "Don't believe him, Marita."
"Don't tell!" cautioned Jack. "It's a secret!"
Somehow the boys were gotten out of the room, and somehow the girls managed to get through with their packing in time for the expressman.
From the Kimball home driveway the expressman drove with the baggage, and soon the trunks were rattling down the main street of Chelton, that pretty New England town, nestling in a bend of the Chelton River.
"Well, that's over, thank goodness!" sighed Cora, as she saw the baggage safely off. "Now to get ourselves ready for morning. You girls will take supper with me."
"Oh, that's too much," protested Belle.
"No, really it isn't. I've told mamma, and she is counting on you. But I'm too excited to eat much."
"So am I," chorused the others.
"And I'm so anxious to see our new motor boat!" added Bess, for the girls had purchased one that had been sent on ahead to Crystal Bay.
"I do hope Ed can go," murmured Belle. "He's such good company."
"Yes, I like him, too," confessed Marita, with a blush, at which the others laughed.
The boys came over to the Kimball home that evening, Jack having dined with Walter Pennington. Ed came also, to say that he could go, and then the young people talked over plans for Summer fun, until the chiming of the clock warned the girls, at least, that they must separate if they were to get up early the next morning.
"Lottie Weaver will meet us at the station," said Cora, referring to another of the party, who had not assisted at the packing.
"That's good. If we had had her trunk over here, with all our things, we'd never have gotten the baggage off," said Bess, with a sigh.
"And now, after it's all over," said Cora to her mother that night, "I think I would not again have all the packing done in one place. I thought it would save time for the girls to bring their things here, especially as the Robinsons are so upset with building that addition to the parlor. But it was a lot of work!"
"Oh, well," said Mrs. Kimball, "you meant it for the best, my dear. I'm sure you will have a pleasant Summer."
They met at the station the next morning--the girls and boys. Lottie Weaver was there, in the glory of a new maroon sweater, and Ed Foster was also on time.
The express for Crystal Bay was late, and as Cora and her motor girl chums marched up and down the platform, nervously waiting, Cora saw a girl coming from the waiting room.
"Why, Freda Lewis!" she exclaimed, hurrying up and putting her arms about her. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going back to Bar Harbor for the Summer."
"So we were! Oh, Cora! I'm so glad to see you. I had to change cars here--I got on the wrong train, it seems. I've been traveling all night."
"I haven't been waiting long. I'm to take the Shore Express."
"That's our train. But, Freda, you don't look at all well--not a bit as you did at school," for Freda was a chum Cora had made much of a year or so before, but had not seen of late.
"I'm not well, Cora," said Freda, earnestly.
"What is the trouble?"
"Anxiety, mostly. Oh, Cora, we've had such a dreadful time, mother and I!"
Her voice trembled pitifully.
"Freda, dear, what is the matter?" asked Cora in sympathetic tones, for she saw tears in the other's eyes.
"Oh, it's money matters. You know we own--or at least we thought we did--a large tract of land at Crystal Bay."
"Crystal Bay!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise.
"Yes. It was Grandfather Lewis's homestead. Well, most of our income has come from that since father's death, and now--Oh, I don't know all the details, but some land speculators--land sharks, mother calls them--are disputing our title.
Poor, worried Freda could not go on. Cora held her close and the thought came to her that Freda herself was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The girl had changed very much from the happy, laughing chum of a year before.
"Here comes the train!" interrupted Jack. "Come on, Cora!"
"I must see you again, Freda," said Cora, hastily. "I'll look for you on the train. I've got to get my party together. Don't forget--I'll see you again!" and, wondering what was the cause of her friend's worry, Cora hastened up the platform, toward her companions, while the train steamed noisily in.
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