Aunt Janes Nieces on Vacation | Page 5

all opposition.
Her tall, slender form was exceedingly graceful and willowy, her
personality dainty and refined, her temperament under ordinary
conditions essentially sweet and agreeable. In crises Louise developed
considerable character, in strong contrast with her usual assumption of
well-bred composure. That the girl was insincere in little things and
cultivated a polished manner to conceal her real feelings, is undeniable;
but in spite of this she might be relied upon to prove loyal and true in
emergencies.
Patricia Doyle was more than two years the junior of her cousin Louise
and very unlike her. Patsy's old father, Major Gregory Doyle, said "she
wore her heart on her sleeve," and the girl was frank and outspoken to a
fault. Patsy had no "figure" to speak of, being somewhat dumpy in
build, nor were her piquant features at all beautiful. Her nose tipped at
the end, her mouth was broad and full-lipped and her complexion badly
freckled. But Patsy's hair was of that indescribable shade that hovers
between burnished gold and sunset carmine. "Fiery red" she was wont
to describe it, and most people considered it, very justly, one of her two
claims to distinction. Her other admirable feature was a pair of
magnificent deep blue eyes--merry, mischievous and scintillating as
diamonds. Few could resist those eyes, and certain it is that Patsy
Doyle was a universal favorite and won friends without a particle of
effort.
The younger of the three nieces, Elizabeth De Graf, was as beautiful a
girl as you will often discover, one of those rarely perfect creations that
excite our wonder and compel admiration--as a beautiful picture or a bit
of statuary will. Dreamy and reserved in disposition, she lacked the

graciousness of Louise and Patsy's compelling good humor; yet you
must not think her stupid or disagreeable. Her reserve was really
diffidence; her dreamy, expressionless gaze the result of a serious
nature and a thoughtful temperament. Beth was quite practical and
matter-of-fact, the reverse of Patsy's imaginative instincts or Louise's
affected indifference. Those who knew Beth De Graf best loved her
dearly, but strangers found her hard to approach and were often
repulsed by her unresponsive manner. Underneath all, the girl was a
real girl, with many splendid qualities, and Uncle John relied upon
Beth's stability more than on that of his other two nieces. Her early life
had been a stormy and unhappy one, so she was but now developing
her real nature beneath the warmth of her uncle's protecting love.
Topping the brow of a little hill the wagon came to a smooth downward
grade where the road met the quaint old bridge that spanned Little Bill
Creek, beside which stood the antiquated flour and feed mill that had
given Millville its name. The horses were able to maintain their brisk
trot across the bridge and through the main street of the town, which
was merely a cluster of unimposing frame buildings, that lined either
side of the highway for the space of an ordinary city block. Then they
were in the wilds again and rattling over another cobblestone trail.
"This 'ere country's nuth'n' but pine woods 'n' cobblestones," sighed old
Hucks, as the horses subsided to a walk. "Lor' knows what would 'a'
happened to us without the trees! They saves our grace, so's to speak."
"I think the scenery is beautiful," observed Patsy. "It's so different from
other country places."
"Not much farming around here, I imagine," said Arthur Weldon.
"More than you'd think, sir," replied Thomas. "There's certain crops as
thrives in stony land, an' a few miles north o' here, towards Huntingdon,
the soil's mighty rich 'n' productive. Things ain't never as bad as they
seem in this world, sir," he added, turning his persistently smiling face
toward the young man.
Mr. Merrick sat beside the driver on the front seat. The middle seat was

occupied by Patsy and Beth, between whom squeezed little Mary, the
maid. Louise and Arthur had the back seat.
A quarter of a mile beyond the town they came to a sort of lane running
at right angles with the turnpike, and down this lane old Hucks turned
his team. It seemed like a forbidding prospect, for ahead of them
loomed only a group of tall pines marking the edge of the forest, yet as
they came nearer and made a little bend in the road the Wegg farm
suddenly appeared in view. The house seemed so cozy and homelike,
set upon its green lawn with the tall pines for a background, that the
girls, who knew the place well, exclaimed with delight, and Arthur,
who now saw it for the first time, nodded his head approvingly.
Uncle John was all excitement over the arrival at his country home. An
old fashioned stile was set in a