Pearl and Periwinkle | Page 8

with the Greys and the Maises
alike. But never had it made a greater conquest than now. Every child
and every grown-up whose heart is young is a hero-worshiper. In the
heart of Periwinkle a new fire was kindled, a new shrine built. Then
and there he decided that his every deed should be worthy of his Ideal.
"You don't want me to fight at all," he questioned after a moment of
silent adoration. "And I won't unless they pitch into Pearl. Why, here
comes your father and I guess it's most supper-time."
"Oh," laughed the minister, entering the room, "Miss Hetty's table
would make an appeal to anyone. I know you could not resist it, or I
would ask you to stay here for your supper."
"We'll come again, thank you," said Pearl, "but it's cream pie tonight,
please, and I helped Aunt Hetty make it."
"Pearl," said Periwinkle when they were started on their way home,
"there's one thing I want you to notice, Smith called me Peri and from
now on that's my name. Periwinkle sounds like a sissy. There was once
a great man named Perry. Will you remember, Pearl?"
"Yes, Periwinkle," replied his sister absent-mindedly, "but don't you
love the story he told us?"
"It was beautiful," replied her brother, "and I think it's splendid to try to
do good because Jesus loved people so, and because Joe Smith loves
Him too."

CHAPTER IV
THE CLAN
Preparations for the "big dinner" to which all the Maises had been
invited and to which, knowing the good treat which was in store, they
had been eagerly looking forward, were about complete. This dinner
was to be held at Miss Hetty's home, as a birthday celebration in honor
of the "clan leader," as the minister's son had designated that worthy
man. Jeoffrey Maise was the twin brother of the deceased owner of the
famous pig and it was he who had always maintained the bloodless but
bitter feud with the greatest fervor. It was always his eloquence and
burning hatred that rekindled the flame when the blaze of enmity
showed any signs of abating.
He had now reached his sixty-fifth year and to do him honor Aunt
Hetty assisted by a bevy of rosy-cheeked nieces and cousins, had
brewed and baked and stewed one hot morning in late August.
Altogether eight families of Maises, arrayed in their best, sallied out to
the white-gabled home of their spinster relative. Not only were they
prompted to attend because of the prospect of revelling in the contents
of Miss Hetty's famous kitchen, but they would also have the
opportunity of meeting the "circus children."
Pearl and Periwinkle had up to this time met only a few of their
mother's relatives, but on this day they submitted to a deluge of kisses,
questions, stares, and advances that wellnigh overwhelmed them, but
which they nevertheless met with commendable equanimity. On the
whole their aunts and great-aunts, uncles and great-uncles, cousins and
near-cousins were better pleased with the children than perhaps the
children were with them. The common agreement was that Myra's boy
and girl were exceptionally pretty, bright, and not at all ill-mannered;
although they perhaps lacked the shyness of their village cousins.
When dinner at last was over, the big living room became the scene of
an important family council. A vivacious girl of sixteen clad in a smart
white linen frock with shoes to match, took her young cousins in

charge, expecting to entertain them, while their elders were engaged in
a discussion that would in no way likely be of interest to young minds.
She informed them that she was the only child of Eldon Maise and how
she spent her winters in a fashionable boarding school, only coming to
the country in summer to spend her vacation. Eldon Maise, as Peri
knew, was the rich man of the "clan." But the lively prattle of his sister
and their dainty cousin on topics of interests common only to girls,
bored him and he soon found himself becoming interested in the
conversation of his elders.
"You say Jim Grey's son-in-law is running for postmaster?" the guest of
honor was asking.
"So I hear," replied his nephew Eldon in his cold, quiet way.
"You don't intend to sign his petition, Eldon?" demanded the old man,
his suspicion aroused by the matter-of-fact answer of his nephew.
"Oh, business is business, Uncle," retorted the younger man, rather
abruptly. "I can't afford to provoke the illwill of the Greys. If Holner
comes to me, I dare say I shall sign his paper."
"And you a son of your father!" cried Jeoffrey Maise, much aroused by
this apparent defection from a family duty. "You to go back on us and
help the other side!"
"Oh, Uncle," replied his