e not
going to try to cook over that open fire all this summer? It will kill
you."

"I _do_ need a stove--a big range," admitted the young girl. "But I don't
see how----"

"Let me lend you the money!" exclaimed Harris. "See! I'll pay you ahead
for father and me as many weeks as you like----"

"I most certainly shall not accept your offer, Mr. Colesworth!" declared
Lyddy, immediately on guard again with this too friendly young man. "Of
course, I am obliged to you; but I could not think of it."

She chilled his ardor on this point so successfully that Harris scarcely
dared suggest that they four go to the Temperance Club meeting at the
schoolhouse that night. Evidently Lucas and he had talked it over,
and were anxious to have the girls go. 'Phemie welcomed the suggestion
gladly, too. And feeling that she had too sharply refused Mr. Colesworth's
kindly suggestion regarding the kitchen range, Lyddy graciously agreed to
go.

Mr. Somers, the school teacher, was possibly somewhat offended because
Lyddy had refused to accompany _him_ to the club meeting; but for once
Lyddy took her own way without so much regard for the possible "feelings"
of other people. The teacher could not comfortably take both her and
'Phemie in his buggy; and why offend Lucas Pritchett, who was certainly
their loyal friend and helper?

So when the ponies and buckboard appeared after supper the two girls were
in some little flutter of preparation. Old Mr. Colesworth and Grandma
Castle (as she loved to have the girls call her) were on the porch to see
the party off.

The girls had worked so very hard these past few weeks that they were both
eager for a little fun. Even Lyddy admitted that desire now. Since their
first venture to the schoolhouse and to the chapel, Lyddy had met very
few of the young people. And 'Phemie had not been about much.

Since Sairy Pritchett and her mother had put their social veto on the Bray
girls the young people of the community--the girls, at least--acted very
coldly toward Lyddy and 'Phemie. The latter saw this more clearly than her
sister, for she had occasion to meet some of them both at chapel and in
Bridleburg, where she had gone with Lucas several times for provisions.

Indeed she had heard from Lucas that quite a number of the neighbors
considered 'Phemie and her sister "rather odd," to put it mildly. The
Larribees were angry because Mr. Somers, the school teacher, had left them
to board at Hillcrest. "Measles