Books: Polly of Pebbly Pit
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Lillian Elizabeth Roy >> Polly of Pebbly Pit
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"Everything will simply be ruined! Just see that trunk holding my
evening-dresses--right by that horse-trough. Do make those awful
creatures go away, won't you, Nolla?" begged Barbara.
"With those nasty guns sticking from their belts--not me! But I'll go
to the office and complain to the baggage-master."
So Eleanor courageously turned her back on the fascinating sight of all
those revolvers, and Barbara followed closely at her sister's heels;
both of them hurried to the old car that displayed a sign saying it was
the baggage-room. No one was there, so the girls stood at the door,
whence the road leading to the railway could be seen.
"If only we knew when the chauffeur would come!" sighed Barbara, but
now Eleanor had misgivings about an automobile.
Meantime the men had seen the two strangers hovering about but they
were not aware that the trunks belonged to the new-comers. When the
girls entered the "station" one old rascal leaned over and said:
"Them are tenderfeet an' we-all oughter welcome 'em in th' good old-
fashioned custom."
"Sure thing!" cried the others, and they quickly planned.
Eleanor decided it was time to dispossess these ruffians from her
property, so she assumed an air of courage and started for the group,
while Barbara held firmly to her sister's sleeve. But an unexpected
denouement halted the two girls.
"Ah say you cheated that deal!" howled a miner, at the same time he
slapped his leather gauntlet across a cow-boy's face.
Instantly every revolver was whipped forth and a terrible fight ensued,
every man taking part in the general melee. The girls, trembling with
fear as shots and curses rang out profusely, clung to each other
helplessly, but failed to note that the guns were aimed skyward.
"Hey, boys--what the deuce do you-all mean?" shouted a fine-looking man
coming upon the scene unannounced.
The crowd of men looked sheepish and hurriedly explained the joke,
looking over in the direction of the two strangers. As their welcome
was considered a huge joke the men laughed loudly. Mr. Brewster (for it
was the rancher) frowned when he saw the pale girls almost fainting
from fear. Then he turned to the ringleader in the plot:
"Say, Bill! Was that pesky train from Denver on time--or too soon, for
a change?" asked Mr. Brewster, consulting his watch.
"It war ten minits too airly, 'cause Hank Janssen, th' ingineer, 's got
a christenin' down to his home to-night," explained Bill.
"Then those two girls are my company," groaned the rancher, causing a
scramble at his words. The cow-punchers whipped off their hats to
salute and the miners shuffled behind the daring cow-boys, the better
to hide their faces from the "Boss."
Mr. Brewster hurried over to reassure the girls that the whole fight
had been staged to entertain them. He explained the cause of his not
being on hand to meet them, and waving his hand for the cow-boys, he
called:
"Get busy, boys! Shake those trunks into the wagon."
While the men eagerly lent shoulders and muscles to the task expected
of them, the three principals in this group made personal notes of each
other, albeit not a word was said.
"Ah never did see such ridiculous styles as this!" thought Sam
Brewster, looking the girls over from top to toe.
"This rough man Mr. Brewster! Why, he's a common farmer!" thought
Barbara, disdainfully.
"I bet Polly's father's a heap of fun!" thought Eleanor.
When Mr. Brewster realized there were _seven_ great trunks belonging to
two girls, he groaned within himself, wondering what in the world could
be found to fill so many!
The men were handed cigars, and as they doffed their hats to say "Thank
you-all" they backed away to permit the Boss to help the girls up the
high wagon-side.
Barbara looked at the rough stained hands and said insultingly: "No,
thank you!"
"Here--let me jump up and pull you in," laughed Eleanor, uncomfortably,
seeing that her sister had offended their host.
Sam Brewster turned to give his horses a pail of water while the two
girls attempted to climb up. But the small steel foot-rest was too high
to be reached without a boost from below, so they had to climb, hand
over hand, up the great wheel with its spokes clogged with the heavy
mud from the trails.
When they were finally seated, both girls looked at each other. Fresh
natty traveling suits were streaked by the mud, and their gloves--soft
chamois-skins--could now be thrown away. Even their faces had been
smeared with mud when they slipped and had to clutch at any possible
rescue. Naturally, they were not in too amiable a frame of mind for
what awaited them at the end of the trip.
The high spring-seat was the only one, so Barbara had to sit there. "I
simply cannot hold on to this sky-scraper!" complained she testily.
"It's the only one, Bob, so you will _have_ to!" replied Eleanor.
In another moment, Mr. Brewster climbed up easily and sat beside the
strangers. He churked to the horses and drove away in a manner that
threatened to hurl the city girls from their earthly perch into kingdom
come.
"Oh, this is terrible!" groaned Barbara, at an unusually hard bump of
the wagon over a rutty road.
"Maybe we can sit down on the floor of the wagon where the trunks are?"
ventured Eleanor, looking at Mr. Brewster.
"Shore--if you-all want to. The senseless trunks make better company
than a rough old farmer," replied Mr. Brewster, without the least
suspicion of malice in the words.
The exchange was made and the girls felt protected by the trunks, so
they could take a livelier interest in the ride. As they left the road
leading from Oak Creek, the sight of imposing mountains towering in the
distance thrilled them in spite of their determination to dislike
everything they saw. And the gorgeous hues and beauty of the strange
wild-flowers caused exclamations from Eleanor, while Barbara gasped at
the vast herds of cattle, grazing, as they roamed over the plains.
Finally Mr. Brewster guided the horses away from the wide trail, into
the Bear Forks trail that wound in and out, now on the brink of the
river's chasm, or again between jagged cliffs. Anon the awed girls
gazed down into fearful depths as the wagon skirted the dangerous
brink, or craned their necks to look at the wonderful vines and foliage
hanging from the tops of massive rocks. By the time they reached the
ridge of foot-hills where the trail led off to the cliffs at the
Devil's Grave, both sisters were silenced by the impressive scenery, so
that petty problems of puny mortals faded into a misty back-ground.
Suddenly the trail turned around a group of great rocks and the first
glimpse of Rainbow Cliffs could be seen. As the wagon drew nigh the
gorge running through the cliffs, Anne Stewart and Polly were found
waiting for the visitors.
Anne introduced Polly, and Eleanor acknowledged the courtesy, but
Barbara rudely failed to notice it as she was so obsessed with the
desire to complain about the railroad, the natives of Oak Creek, the
trails to Pebbly Pit, and everything connected with the coming.
Polly felt dreadfully shy with such unusual-looking girls. Not that
their hats had feathers or fine flowers, nor their suits had any
expensive trimmings on them, to suggest wealth, but the way they
_looked_ in their clothes! What made the difference, she wondered. Had
Anne told her the actual cost of those hats and suits, poor Polly
would have fainted from shock.
Barbara was holding forth on her wrongs. "I can't see for the life of
me, Anne, why you selected such an outlandish spot as this, for us, in
which to waste a precious summer. Why, it is simply _unbearable_--
nothing but mountains and trails in sight! And no one but just farmers
to associate with! Oh, oh!" The accent on "farmers" made Polly wince
and Eleanor frown, at the speaker. Anne hastened to change the subject
for she feared Mr. Brewster might turn his horses and take them all
back to Oak Creek station.
It was a duel of dialogue between Anne and Barbara after that, each one
trying to keep up a conversation they wished to down the other with.
Thus the wagon reached the porch.
Polly sprang out and ran indoors unnoticed by any one. Eleanor was
deeply interested in gazing out at the great crater bowl that formed
the pasture and farm-lands of Pebbly Pit. Anne was anxious to have her
charges make a good impression on Mrs. Brewster and so she jumped out
and held a hand to assist Barbara.
The lady of the house stood waiting to welcome the girls, when Sary ran
out from the kitchen, hurriedly drying her wet hands on an apron. She
fully expected to shake hands with the fine ladies, when her turn came
to be introduced. She stood directly back of her mistress peering
eagerly at the new-comers in their simple straw hats, severe cloth
suits, and shoes, gloves, and veils of the finest.
Before Anne Stewart could open her lips to introduce the girls, Barbara
sent a scornful glance over the group and then at the ranch-house, and
said: "What a barracks! It's nothing more than a log cabin on a
gigantic scale."
"Oh, I think it is great! Just like the wonderful cabins we read about
in the Adirondacks, or other large camp-sites," quickly added Eleanor.
"But this is not a camp, my poor little sister! And we haven't the same
set either, as we would have had at a fashionable camp," sneered
Barbara.
"You needn't 'poor me,' Bob! I'm just crazy over the farm and--and
everything. Hurry up, Anne, and introduce me so I can get acquainted,"
cried Eleanor, nudging the teacher to remind her of her duty.
Mr. Brewster had driven the team to a post a little farther up the
road, and was not present when the introductions took place. Mrs.
Brewster summoned a pleasant smile for Barbara, and a motherly pat on
the shoulder for Eleanor. Then Sary stepped forward to be introduced,
as it was customary for her to be treated as a member of the family.
"Glad t' know you-all!" simpered Sary, bowing stiffly and offering her
reddened hand to shake the gloved ones of the girls.
Barbara completely ignored the par-boiled digits and slightly lifted
one eyebrow at Sary. Eleanor felt so humiliated at her sister's actions
that she came forward to make amends but Sary would have none of it.
When Barbara gave her a frozen look, Sary examined her hands for a
moment, then humped her shoulders and stamped back to the kitchen-range
where she had been boiling soap-fat and straining out the scum before
the arrival of the city misses.
"Anne, would your friends like to refresh themselves in the bedroom?"
asked Mrs. Brewster to break the embarrassed silence.
"Oh, yes, of course!" replied Anne, anxiously turning to Barbara.
Eleanor took the initiative of going toward the door. "I never saw such
a darling bungalow! I just love everything spread out on the ground
floor. No stairs and no elevators--Oh, how nice!"
"It is a change from your brown-stone mansions, isn't it?" replied Mrs.
Brewster, smiling at the concerned face.
"To me it is the most awful place! I don't suppose you have baths, or
electric light, or telephone service?" said Barbara.
"Now you see here, Barbara Maynard! You've got to stop this whimpering
or I'll wire Daddy to make you go home! I just won't have my whole
summer spoiled by your complaints!" cried Eleanor, angrily, and
stamping her foot to emphasize her words.
"I hope you didn't expect me to _stay_ here, did you?" demanded
Barbara.
"I hope you won't--that's all I've got to say! Come on, Anne, and show
me the place. Where's Polly gone?" said Eleanor.
Polly was found in the large living-room, looking the picture of
disappointment. Anne understood how she must have felt, so she diverted
the attention of the newcomers to the great yawning fire-place that
could hold several tree-trunks at one time.
"And do you know, Nolla, every bit of wood in this house was hewn and
carted here by Mr. Brewster? You see the government allows settlers
just so much timber with which to construct a home and barns. There is
a county sawmill to saw and trim logs and then the owner has to cart
them himself. Naturally, one hasn't time to carve fancy _ideals_ in the
wood one uses for the house. And having it sent from Denver, or other
large cities where labor is to be had, is also out of the question. The
freight costs, and the long haul from Oak Creek to the Pit presents
difficulties not to be overcome. So folks build homes as solid and
strong as they can, and leave the trimmings for a future generation."
Anne explained all this for Barbara's benefit, and Mrs. Brewster smiled
her gratitude to the girl.
Eleanor seemed more impressed than ever after she heard of the time and
labor it must have taken to construct such a house as the Brewster
ranch boasted; and Barbara was taken back, as she had not thought of
such things, but she pretended not to care.
[Illustration with caption: Barbara completely ignored Sary.]
CHAPTER VI
THE HARROWING DETAILS
"Now, girls, come and see the guest-room Polly prepared for us. You
know she is going to study interior decorating when she grows up--
aren't you, Polly?" said Anne, placing an arm protectingly about the
girl's shoulders and moving towards the chamber.
Polly brightened up at once, for she remembered the sofa that Anne had
praised as having made a fine bed, and then there were the gorgeous
bronzed shades that darkened the windows!
Polly stood at the head of the sofa watching eagerly for the effect of
the decorating on the city visitors. Barbara stared at first in utter
unbelief that her room could be so barren of comfort, then she turned
and frowned darkly as the truth impressed her.
"Why! There's nothing here--only an old bed, and a painted set of
drawers such as our servants would fling out of the room!" Then she
caught a twisted reflection of her face in the green mirror. It was too
much!
She threw herself upon the sofa and laughed hysterically. Eleanor
wondered at her sister's discordant mirth but when she looked in the
direction Barbara's eyes were turned, she saw the cause.
"Verily, Anne, 'pride goeth before a fall'--Poor Bob!" said Eleanor,
cynically.
Anne could not hide a smile at the words but tried to smooth matters
out by going to the window and speaking of the view.
"I've had landscape enough for one day, Anne, and could recover
somewhat, if I had an opportunity, without having a family party
about," retorted Barbara, meaningly.
Instantly, Mrs. Brewster turned and beckoned Polly to follow her from
the room. The moment the door closed upon the hostess and her daughter,
Barbara anticipated her friend's reproach.
"Anne, where were your brains when you recommended this awful place to
father?"
"I had nothing to do with recommending it, Bob. Your father already
knew of it and merely asked me to write Polly--my little pupil of a few
years ago."
"But why didn't you tell _me_ what to expect?" demanded the angry girl.
"Simply because I was asked not to mention any particulars that might
prejudice you; and besides, you never asked me anything!" retorted
Anne, feeling impatient with Barbara.
"What's more, Bob, I can't see any justice in making the poor Brewsters
suffer for what your own father did! But I'm glad he sent us here--it
is great!" declared Eleanor.
"Naturally, you find your level in a common country home and family!"
said Barbara in an unpleasant voice.
"Words never killed any one, Bob, so keep it up if it makes you feel
better. I'm used to your complaints," laughed Eleanor.
"And allow me to add, Bob, that the Brewsters are _not_ common
farmers. Mrs. Brewster had a better education and has more sense than
any woman--other than my mother--that I know; and Mr. Brewster is a
fine man respected by every one that knows him. Even the government
admires his intelligence and worth, and employs him in cases where they
need expert agricultural advice and reports!" Anne spoke with frankness
and warmth.
"The government employs all sorts of men in its need, but that doesn't
say the man is a gentleman, nor does it make his wife a lady. _Our_
mother is a lady and goes in the very best society in Chicago!" said
Barbara.
"Society does not make the lady, but the lady makes society. Mrs.
Brewster could form the most exclusive set in Chicago if she cared for
that sort of thing!" came from Anne, curtly.
"But it would take money, my dear--a farmer couldn't afford an
exclusive set!" jeered Barbara.
"If that is the case, the Brewsters could ride on Chicago society's
very crest! But they never brag about their money!" laughed Anne,
sarcastically.
Barbara's breath was suddenly taken away by this news but she recovered
enough to say maliciously: "Oh, I see! That is why you take such a deep
interest in John!"
"Barbara Maynard! you--you--if you dare say another word like that to
Anne, I'll--I'll just pull your hair, so there!" cried Eleanor, running
to Anne and throwing her arms around her neck.
Barbara felt ashamed of her words but she was too proud to confess it.
So she tried to excuse herself by saying: "Of course, one can't be
expected to fall right in with folks one never heard of before. Anne
and you fancy a rural existence, so you naturally defend everything
that goes with it. But I shall return home to-morrow on the very first
train!"
"There is only one out a day, and you'll have to ask a favor of the
farmer before you can get to Oak Creek station!" added Anne, with a bit
of triumph in her tone.
Having relieved her heart of some of its bitterness, Anne felt sorry
for Barbara, so she endeavored to change the current of their thoughts.
She went to the window to raise the shade as far as it would go, and
was struck with the wonderful sunset sky.
"Oh, girls! Come here and look at that glory!"
Eleanor rushed over, followed by Barbara who never wanted to miss
anything good. All irritation was forgotten and healed as they stood
gazing raptly at the beautiful view. The cliffs looked as if volcanic
fires were again burning within their hearts, and the mist from the
valley crept up to form an illusion of smoke rising from the sharply
outlined peaks. A purple haze enveloped the mountains and the dusky-red
streaks in the sky perfected the appearance of a vast eternal fire
consuming the earth.
The sight had a salutary effect on the girls, and when they turned from
the window, it was with the old friendship restored. But Barbara was of
a complaining nature and must have something to find fault with. This
time it found innocent objects to bear the grumbling.
"Where are we expected to sleep? Both in the same bed?"
"Of course! Isn't it big enough? Why, I never saw such a wide bed; it's
large enough to hold a dozen of us," said Eleanor.
"Where is your room, Anne?" Barbara asked, ignoring her sister's
remark.
"I sleep here on the sofa," admitted Anne, fearing another scene.
"Sofa--impossible!" exclaimed Barbara.
"It is a bed-lounge, you know. It opens into the nicest bed!" explained
Anne, taking hold of the loop that was partly hidden in the deep crease
formed by the meeting of the seat and back.
"Watch me! I give a hard tug and presto! the upper half of the seat
swings open and turns over like this. There we have a wide bed with
ready-made mattress and all that goes to form a comfortable resting
place."
Anne demonstrated her words and the city girls saw a low bed opened
before their wondering eyes. The pillows and bedding were neatly folded
and kept in a long shallow drawer under the sofa.
"How awful--to sleep on that!" cried Barbara. "It looks like great fun!
May I sleep here, Anne?" said Eleanor.
"Indeed you shall not! You will sleep with _me!"_ snapped Barbara.
Then turning to Anne again, she added: "Where are the wardrobes?"
"Those curtains hide the shelves we will use. You will find nails
driven into the board against the wall."
"What! hang our expensive clothes on these common nails!--With only a
calico drapery to protect them!" gasped Barbara.
"Leave your expensive clothes in the trunks, then. I am," laughed
Eleanor.
"Nolla, I will need all of this one for myself; Anne and you will have
to share the other one between you," remarked Barbara.
"I thought you were leaving on the early train to-morrow?" teased
Eleanor, quickly.
To avoid another quarrel, Anne hastily said: "Oh, I forgot about the
trunks. What shall I tell Mr. Brewster?"
"Tell him anything you like about Nolla's, but leave mine where the man
can pick them up readily, to-morrow, when I leave," returned Barbara,
in a nonchalant manner.
"How about the price of the ticket to Chicago? You know we haven't more
than a dollar between us?" suggested Eleanor, dryly.
Barbara had evidently forgotten the fact, but she was equal to the
emergency. "I'll telegraph to the bank, the first thing in the morning,
and have them wire me the money."
During this animated argument in the guest-chamber, a family gathering
formed on the porch of the house.
"Mary, what shall we do with those seven huge trunks?" asked Mr.
Brewster, quizzically watching Polly.
"Seven! Why, Paw!" exclaimed Polly, instantly picturing the wonderful
things those trunks held. Creations such as she had pored over in the
"Farm Journal Fashion Notes."
"I don't know, Sam, unless we leave them in the wagon until the girls
decide what they wish done with them?" replied Mrs. Brewster.
Sary overheard the conversation and now ran out to see whether there
really could be seven trunks!
"Laws me! Ah never see'd sech quare-shaped trunks--all bulgy at one
side, and all them brass locks!"
"They are wardrobe trunks, Sary," remarked Mrs. Brewster.
Sary deigned no reply to the information but vented a bit of her ire
against the new-comers by shrugging her great shoulders and saying: "Ef
Ah w'ar you-all, Miss Brewster, Ah'd shore pitch them trunks clar over
th' line inta Wyomin' state whar th' Injuns kin scramble fer th' fancy
duds!"
"Oh, Sary, I smell the cherry-dumplings scorching!" cried Mrs.
Brewster, suddenly, knowing the quickest way to rid herself of Sary.
Anne Stewart now came out and saw the group looking at the wagon. "The
girls won't bother to unpack to-night, Mr. Brewster, so we may as well
leave the trunks in the wagon and take them to the barn."
Jeb was sent to the barn with the wagon and contents, and Mr. Brewster
retired to the lean-to back of the kitchen where he washed his face and
hands in a tin basin. He had dried his hair and face, when Sary called
to her mistress that the meal was ready.
Polly and her mother added the last touches to the table, when Mr.
Brewster came to the door saying: "Well, Ah'm ready, Maw!"
"Run and call the girls, Polly; I think Anne went to tell them about
the trunks," said Mrs. Brewster.
Unwillingly, Polly obeyed and rapped on the door. "Supper's waiting."
While Polly was absent on her errand, Jeb came into the kitchen, took a
home-spun towel from its peg on the back of the door, and his hair-
brush from a small cabinet in the corner. With these toilet articles he
went out again to the lean-to where the crude oak bench held the basin
and soap. The pump was nearby, and Jeb filled the basin quickly and
proceeded to immerse his whole head. Unfortunately, at the moment the
city maidens reached the kitchen door leading from the living-room, Jeb
was guggling loudly. Then he stood up and snorted as he shook his mane
free from the streaming water.
Eleanor turned toward Anne with a smile of amusement on her face, but
Barbara expressed her disgust with an emphatic "Ugh!"
Polly saw and heard, but failed to understand, as she had been
gradually accustomed to Jeb and his uncouth ways. But Mrs. Brewster
comprehended the shock it must have been to the city girls and tried to
cover the unfortunate incident.
"Anne, will you seat your friends at that side of the table? Polly and
I will sit on this side. Mr. Brewster always sits at the head, you
know, and I leave the other end for Sary as it is nearest the stove
where she can reach it without walking so far."
Jeb came in and immediately pulled out a chair and sat down in his
accustomed place, regardless of the standing ladies. Barbara looked on
in amazement but said nothing. She was past words!
As they all sat down, Eleanor happened to catch her sister's eye and
expression, and turned suddenly to Anne. Anne, too, had seen the horror
on Barbara's face as Jeb reached over the table for a spoon Sary had
forgotten to place beside his plate.
Eleanor raised the napkin to hide her laughing face, but Mr. Brewster
construed the act to be one of reverence, and he approved of such
tendencies in the young. Consequently, he hastened to say grace.
Barbara sat stiff-necked throughout the lengthy prayer because she felt
so rebellious at everything and with everything, that she wouldn't pay
heed to the usual courtesy at prayer-time.
The moment Mr. Brewster said "Amen," Sary carried the large soup-pot
from the stove and was about to ladle the soup into the bowls when
Barbara said icily: "None for me, thank you!"
Jeb was tying his napkin about his neck, but at such a surprising
refusal he gaped at the stranger. However, the fact that his own soup-
plate was now placed before him ended the speechless shock.
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