Green Valley | Page 2

LAST
OF THE CHURCHILLS IV A RAINY DAY V CYNTHIA'S SON VI
GOSSIP VII THE WEDDING VIII LILAC TIME IX GREEN
VALLEY MEN X THE KNOLL XI GETTING ACQUAINTED XII

THE PATH OF TRUE LOVE XIII AUTUMN IN GREEN VALLEY
XIV THE CHARM XV INDIAN SUMMER XVI THE
HOUSEWARMING XVII THE LITTLE SLIPPER XVIII THE
MORNING AFTER XIX A GRAY DAY XX CHRISTMAS BELLS
XXI FANNY'S HOUR XXII BEFORE THE DAWN XXIII FANNY
COMES BACK XXIV HOME AGAIN

GREEN VALLEY
CHAPTER I
EAST AND WEST
"Joshua Churchill's dying in California and Nanny Ainslee's leaving
to-night for Japan! And there's been a wreck between here and Spring
Road!"
Fanny fairly gasped out the astounding news. Then she sank down into
Grandma Wentworth's comfortable kitchen rocker and went into
details.
"The two telegrams just came through. Uncle Tony's gone down to the
wreck. I happened to be standing talking to him when Denny came
running out of the station. Isn't it too bad Denny's so bow-legged?
Though I don't know as it hinders him from running to any noticeable
extent. I had an awful time trying to keep up so's to find out what had
happened. I bet you Nan's packing right this minute and just loving it.
My--ain't some people born lucky? Think of having the whole world to
run around in!"
The telephone tinkled.
"Yes, Nan," Grandma smiled as she answered, "I know. Fanny's just
this minute telling me. Yes, of course I can. I'll be over as soon as my
bread's done baking. Yes--I'll bring along some of my lavender to pack
in with your things."

"Land sakes, Grandma," exclaimed Fanny, "don't stop for the bread. I'll
see to that. Just you git that lavender and go. And tell Nanny I'll be at
the station to see her off."
Up-stairs in a big sunny room of the Ainslee house Grandma
Wentworth looked reproachfully at a flushed, busy girl who was
laughing and singing snatches of droll ditties the while she emptied
closets and dresser drawers and tucked things into four trunks, two
suitcases and a handbag.
"Nanny, are you never going to settle down and stay at home?" sighed
Grandma.
"Yes, ma'am," Nanny's eyes danced, "some day when a man makes me
fall in love with him and there are no more new places to go to. But so
long as I am heartfree and footfree, and there's one alien shore calling,
I'll have the wanderlust. I declare, Grandma, if that man doesn't turn up
soon there will be no new places left for a honeymoon!"
Grandma smiled in spite of herself. There were things she wanted very
much to say and other things she wanted very much to ask; but the
trunks had to get down to the station and already the afternoon sun was
low.
The two women worked feverishly and almost in silence so that when
the packing was done they might get in the little visit both craved
before the months of separation.
Nanny finally jumped on the trunks, snapped them shut, locked them
and watched the expressman carry them down and out into his waiting
dray. Then she sat down with a trembling little laugh.
"There--it's over and I'm really going! I have been to just about every
country but Japan. I believe father would rather have skipped off alone
this time. It seems to be some suddenly important international crisis
that we are going over to settle. That's why we are going East the
roundabout way. We must stop at Washington for instructions, then
again at London and Paris."

"Nanny," mused Grandma, "there's a good many years difference in our
ages but there's only one woman I ever loved as I love you. I think I
might have loved your mother but she died the very first year your
father brought her here. And she was ailing when she came. The other
woman that meant so much to me used to go traveling too. I always
helped her with her packing. Then one day she packed and went away,
never to come back."
"Was that Cynthia Churchill?" Nan asked gently.
"Yes--Cynthia. She was dearer than a sister to me, and neither of us
dreamed that a whole wide world would divide us."
"Why did she go, Grandma?"
"Because a Green Valley man well-nigh broke her heart."
"A Green Valley man did--that? Oh, dear! And here I have been hoping
that some day I might marry a Green Valley man myself."
"Nanny, I expect I'm old and foolish but I've been hoping and hoping
that you'd marry a home boy and fearing you'd meet up with some one
on your travels who would take you away from us forever. It would be
hard to see you go."
The last sunbeam had faded away and golden twilight