just like her pouring her holy
water over the kitten. You oughtn't to do those things."

"I ought to," said Alanna, in a whisper that reached only her father's
ear.

"You suit me, whatever you do," said Mayor Costello; "and Mrs. Church
can take her chances with the rest of us."

Mrs. Church seemed to be quite willing to do so. When at last the great
day of the fair came, she was one of the first to reach the hall, in
the morning, to ask Mrs. Costello how she might be of use.

"Now wait a minute, then!" said Mrs. Costello, cordially. She
straightened up, as she spoke, from an inspection of a box of
fancy-work. "We could only get into the hall this hour gone, my dear,
and 'twas a sight, after the Native Sons' Banquet last night. It'll be
a miracle if we get things in order for to-night. Father Crowley said
he'd have three carpenters here this morning at nine, without fail; but
not one's come yet. That's the way!"

"Oh, we'll fix things," said Mrs. Church, shaking out a dainty little
apron.

Alanna came briskly up, and beamed at her. The little girl was driving
about on all sorts of errands for her mother, and had come in to report.

"Mother, I went home," she said, in a breathless rush, "and told Alma
four extra were coming to lunch, and here are your big scissors, and I
told the boys you wanted them to go out to Uncle Dan's for greens, they
took the buckboard, and I went to Keyser's for the cheese-cloth, and he
had only eighteen yards of pink, but he thinks Kelley's have more, and
there are the tacks, and they don't keep spool-wire, and the
electrician will be here in ten minutes."

"Alanna, you're the pride of me life," said her mother, kissing her.
"That's all now, dearie. Sit down and rest."

"Oh, but I'd rather go round and see things," said Alanna, and off she
went.

The immense hall was filled with the noise of voices, hammers, and
laughter. Groups of distracted women were forming and dissolving
everywhere around chaotic masses of boards and bunting. Whenever a
carpenter started for the door, or entered it, he was waylaid, bribed,
and bullied by the frantic superintendents of the various booths.
Messengers came and went, staggering under masses of evergreen,
carrying screens, rope, suit-cases, baskets, boxes, Japanese lanterns,
freezers, rugs, ladders, and tables.

Alanna found the stage fascinating. Lunch and dinner were to be served
there, for the five days of the fair, and it had been set with man