Lizette M. Edholm

“ Shirley added.
"That would be a real Christmas," agreed Kit.
"But where will our fun come in? Don't we see their eyes getting big and bigger, or anything? I think that will spoil it all. I want to see them get their toys, put them right into their hands," pouted Joy.
"That's all right, Joy Evans. But what about their faith in Santa Claus? If Santa Claus doesn't come when their Dad is out of work, what will they think of a saint like that, I'd like to know?" ”

“ Who can live up to an angel? I can't," said Kit sadly.
"None of us can, but Dad says it's a good thing to have a star to aim at. Course it's away above our heads but we can aim, just the same. She's our star. Each of us can have our own pet ones. I have my lovely mother, who is another angel. She's for myself, but Lady Betty is a company affair."
"Did you think all that out, Bet?" asked Shirley.
"Dad helped me. It troubled me to have Lady Betty for our club ideal! It seemed like putting her before my mother, then Dad explained that I could hardly share mother! ”

“ He dropped it suddenly and gave several loud barks, making sure that everyone had seen his deed of helpfulness, then started toward the Manor.
"You see," laughed Shirley. "Even Smiley Jim wants to join our club and help others."
"And he wants the whole world to know that he's doing something noble. —But I don't blame him for that," bubbled Joy.
"That dog is strong for flattery," laughed Bet. "He just eats it up. Scold him and he'll pout like a wee child; praise him and he thrills."
"He's exactly like a human being, isn't he Bet?" remarked Shirley with a smile. ”

“ Abruptly, a rustling sound, the breaking of a twig, disturbed the quiet and Bet sat erect with a gasp of surprise. She caught Joy by the arm. "S-sh! Keep quiet!"
For a tall girl, slightly older than the three, had appeared on top of the stone wall that enclosed the estate and with a quick jump had straddled it. Whipping off her cap she twirled it around her head. "Whoopee!" she shouted, and her curly black locks bobbed in the breeze. Then beating her cap against the wall at her side she cried: "Go it Powder! Let's race! Faster! Faster! Good old pony!" ”

“ Kit made daily visits to the antique shop, hoping to find something suspicious. She made friends with Jacques, the freckled-faced little French boy who worked for Peter. He was shy at first, but Kit soon put him at ease with her kindly smile. He gazed up at her with big, dark eyes that expressed his devotion. Kit had won his heart, and the girls saw him often staring up from the basement window, hoping to get a glimpse of her.
One day when Kit was looking over the assortment in the glass case of Peter's shop, she was surprised to find that the fans had been removed. ”

“ When the door to the narrow stairway was opened, Bet heard a queer scraping sound as if one of the old trunks had been moved.
"What's that?" asked Kit. "Do you suppose it's rats?"
"No, don't worry! It isn't anything!" But as Bet switched on the light and reached the top step she was just in time to see a figure in bright clothes go out the window. She heard the sound of a thud on the veranda of the second floor and running feet along the corridor. ”

“ I am rejoicing that the money I will receive from the fan will meet the demands of my creditors and that I'll not have to sell the Manor. The lucky little fan has saved us!"
"Girls, what am I going to do?" Bet sobbed as she finished reading the letter to them.
"I know one thing, Bet Baxter. A Merriweather Girl doesn't waste time and energy in tears! Lady Betty scorned tears!" declared Shirley.
"She looks as if she had never had a trouble in the world," sighed Bet, looking up at the picture.
"Laugh and the world laughs with you!" hummed Joy. "Cheer up, the worst is yet to come!" ”

“ The stately bow as he kissed her finger tips quite startled Kit and made her flush with embarrassment. But this quickly passed as the girls laughed heartily and gathered about him, treating him as if he were their own age.
"Oh, what do you think, Dad! Kit has come all the way from Arizona. —And she has a cowpony."
"And oh, Colonel Baxter, just think," exclaimed Joy. "She knows a lot of cowboys and she can rope a wild steer just like they do in the movies! Don't you think she's wonderful!" ”

“ The canoe was now headed toward the beach, having reached the quieter waters of the farther shore, and as soon as the boat touched the sand, Bet sprang out and with practised hand drew the bow up on the beach.
"Here you are, Kit. Now you've been across the Hudson. It's not often a person has a chance to have her wishes granted so quickly."
"Isn't it wonderful!" gasped Kit. "I've never had such a gorgeous time in my life."
The girls stretched themselves out on the sand for a few minutes.
"Doesn't Lynnwood look beautiful over there? And just see how very romantic the Manor is from here." ”

“ He had the Manor, of course, but there was little money and they had few luxuries."
"But I'm sure Lady Betty didn't care about that! She still had Lord Cecil!"
"You know, Kit, I don't believe people have a chance now-a-days to show so much courage. In those stirring times, one had to do daring things."
"If Lady Betty were alive now, I think she'd do something wonderful. It was her nature."
"I think she'd be pleased if she knew about our club, don't you? The Merriweather Girls! I half fancy her smile is sweeter since we thought of it," smiled Bet. "She's the dearest thing, isn't she?" ”

“ CHAPTER XII A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Shirley's Shop was a success. The four girls had made it so. All their friends, who heard of their efforts, came to buy gifts.
"Aren't we lucky!" exclaimed Bet. "Everybody has been so good!"
"I didn't know I had so many friends in the world," said Shirley with moisture in her eyes. "I wish I could pass it on to others."
"How can that be done?" asked Joy.
"Well, there are so many men out of work this year that I'm sure we could find lots of people to help. ”

“ She was always unhappy when any of the girls got into trouble.
"Is Miss Elder as sweet as she was last year?" asked Bet.
"Oh, she's sweeter than ever," exclaimed Joy.
"And Edith?"
"Oh that girl is always with us, to keep us from enjoying life too much. Why don't they send her away to Boarding School or something? She has already gotten two people into trouble by tattling."
"That girl's a pest!" Bet frowned with indignation.
"Lady Betty Merriweather would have won her friendship and changed her whole character," said Kit, gazing into the smiling eyes. ”

“ The girls selected a shady spot and seated themselves while Joy continued:
"Wouldn't it be nice to form a club of some sort and meet every Saturday?"
"And as many times during the week as possible," readily agreed Bet. "What fun we can have!"
"But if we are a club, we should have a serious purpose. All clubs do," said Shirley.
"We might even do things for other people, like the Camp Fire Girls or the Girl Scouts," suggested Kit.
"Of course we wouldn't want to be selfish and think only of ourselves. We must stand for something. Honor, Loyalty and Friendship!" prompted Shirley again. ”

“ Miss Elder and Bet met the girls outside. "Oh I think Miss Owens is terrible!" exclaimed Joy.
"Why no, Joy. Miss Owens looks heart-broken. She is harder hit than any of us. She had taken such pride in Kit's work. Then to find the key in her desk! You know that's a terrible shock." Miss Elder tried to soothe the girls.
"But just the same she ought to know that Kit couldn't do it," protested Shirley.
"Whose book is it, anyway? Who put it in Kit's desk?" asked Joy.
"No one seems to know or if they do, they won't tell," said Bet. "But it's up to the Merriweather Girls to find out." ”

“ I know I've been frightfully contrary lately and I'm not in Auntie Gibbs' good graces. She said the other day she wished I had come a boy; that boys were lots nicer."
"The very idea!" cried the girls together. "Boys better than girls! That's silly!"
"Well if it's boys she likes, you certainly do your best to make her happy, for you look like a boy—and act like one most of the time," teased Joy. ”

“ Oh Uncle Nat, is there a letter for me?"
"Of course, you know that without asking. Your Dad always writes and if he thinks a letter may not reach you, he sends a telegram."
"Sure. Give it to me!" And Bet tore open the letter eagerly and read it.
"Oh Auntie Gibbs, come here this minute until I tell you something wonderful. Just think! Dad says the queen's fan is worth a fortune. Somebody wants to buy it for a lot of money!"
"Oh, oh!" exclaimed the girls in one voice.
"You don't say so! Isn't that fine, now? Where is this queen and her fan?" asked Auntie Gibbs. ”

“ It is that Shirley Williams should open an art and photographic shop right here in Lynnwood!"
"Whoopee!" shouted Kit, swinging her arm around her head as if she were waving a sombrero.
"Why of course," said Bet. "I'm surprised that we didn't think of that ourselves. I move that the shop be opened at once, immediately! Where is it to be?"
"Well I was thinking," said the Colonel.
"But listen. To run a shop a person must have money and must know how to sell things and I don't know how or anything." The prospect was alluring to Shirley, but the difficulties seemed too great. ”

“ A few rods up the path she met Bob Evans and Phil Gordon.
"Here we are!" Bob shouted. "We've come without an invitation from you, Joy Evans. Where's the eats? We're starved."
"Bet said she'd be glad to see us," laughed Phil, pretending displeasure with Joy.
"Oh Bob, quick!" cried Joy. "Do something! Bet and Kit are out in the canoe, just started back from the other side. It looks terribly mean, I think there is going to be a bad storm."
"Oh you needn't worry if Bet is paddling. You can trust her. She can paddle a canoe better than any man. ”

“ Kit and Joy, who had been whispering for some time in the back room now appeared with a tray and teapot.
Bet gave them a ravishing smile of approval, and over tea and cakes the girls amused their callers with a recital of their doings.
"Will every customer get a cup of tea?" laughed Mrs. Lester.
"We haven't quite decided that yet. We want to have it cozy and homey as well as business-like."
"I'm sure after this reception we will always want to drop in when we are down town," said Mrs. Lester. "It's the coziest shop I've ever seen." ”

“ For a moment no one spoke. The prospect that spread out before them, leading them on into future joys, left the girls quite overcome. Even the lighthearted Joy, who usually had a song or dance for every occasion, was silent and thoughtful.
"It's too good to be true!" laughed Kit. "I can see all sorts of wonderful adventures in Shirley's Shop." Kit's eyes were sparkling as she thought of all the fun ahead.
"And that's a good name for it," cried Bet. "We'll paint a sign for the window:
'SHIRLEY'S SHOP
MARVELOUS PICTURES AT A BIG PRICE.'"
"Oh no, Bet, that won't do! ”

“ And when Kit heard of the loyalty of her chums in the club she was happy. "But you shouldn't have done it, Bet, you'll only get yourself in bad."
"Right-O!" cried Joy. "If you're in bad, Kit, then all the Merriweather Girls are in bad. We stick together."
"In sunshine and storm! Isn't that right, Shirley!" exclaimed Bet impulsively.
Shirley answered by putting her arm around Kit.
And when Bob and Phil heard of the trouble they were indignant. "There's only one girl in that class mean enough to do it," said Bob. "I wonder if she would!" ”