CHAPTER XXV
FUTURE PLANS
Betty's first impulse was to run up to her room and close the door.Then she sat down on the edge of the bed and tore open the envelopeeagerly. She read the half dozen closely written sheets throughtwice, thrust them back into the envelope, and ran down to tell theLittells the good news.
"I've heard from Uncle Dick!" she cried radiantly, facing them asthey turned at her entrance. Betty's vivid personality often betrayedher mood without a word, and to-night she was vibrant with happinessso that she fairly glowed. "He has just got back to Flame City, wherehe found the telegram and my letters. And he wants me to come out tohim, as he expects to be there for the next few months. He's been ona long prospecting trip, and he can't get East till his company sendsout another representative. You may read the letter!"
She thrust it into Mr. Littell's hands and buried her head on Mrs.Littell's broad shoulder.
"I'm so happy!" she choked, while the motherly hands smoothed herhair understandingly.
"It's been so long, and I was afraid he might have died--like mymother. I don't think I could stand it if Uncle Dick should die--he'sthe only one who belongs to me."
"Why, Betty, child!" Mrs. Littell gathered her into her lap androcked her gently as though she had been a little child. "You'renervous and unstrung. We ought to have taken better care of you andnot let this waiting wear you out so."
"If you're going to cry, Betty, so'll I," promised Bobby, putting anawkward arm around Betty's neck. Bobby was as undemonstrative as aboy and rarely kissed any one. "What in the wide world are we goingto do without you?"
Betty sat up and pushed the damp hair from her forehead. The fourgirls were regarding her dolorously.
"I won't stay forever," she assured them. "Uncle Dick doesn't intendto live out there, you know. The company he represents will likelysend him East this very winter."
"Well, that's a mighty interesting letter," commented Mr. Littell,folding up the missive and returning it to Betty. "Though you'regoing to leave a hole in this household, Sister, when you set sail.You see, he's been out of sight and hearing of trains and post-officesfor a long time. I'd like to be able to lose myself in thedesert or a wilderness for a month or two. Think of having notelephone bell to answer!"
The next morning a letter came to Mr. Littell from Mr. Gordon,thanking him warmly for his kindness to Betty, containing theassurance of the writer's lasting gratitude, and asking him if he andhis wife would oversee her preparations for the journey, help herengage a berth, and start her on her way. A generous check wasenclosed, and Mrs. Littell and the girls immediately set abouthelping Betty do the necessary shopping, while Mr. Littell engagedher reservations on the Western Limited. She had decided to leave thefollowing Wednesday, and when Bob came out to spend the week-end, heimmediately announced his intention of going too.
"I figure out Flame City is the nearest station to my aunt's oldplace. I have enough money saved now, and there's no reason why Ishould stay on here. Hurrah for Oklahoma!"
The preparations went forward merrily after that, and Wednesdayfound Betty on the Western Limited, bound for Flame City. Whathappened to her there and her experience in the great oil fields willbe told in another volume to be called, "Betty Gordon in the Land ofOil; or, The Farm That Was Worth a Fortune."
Bobby insisted that they make the week-end at Fairfields a farewellcelebration to be remembered, and the six young people managed to getthe maximum of enjoyment out of every hour. Bob had been brought outto Saturday luncheon, and as soon as he had heard about the Oklahomatrip and announced his own plans, Louise insisted that Betty was tohave a lesson in riding.
"Of course you'll want to ride out West," she said. "They all do inpictures. Come on out to the barn, and we'll get the ponies out."
A stable boy brought out a gentle, coal-black pony, and Bettymounted him trustingly.
"Why, it's lovely!" cried Betty, enjoying the sensation to the full."He goes like a rocking chair, bless his heart! I'm sure I can learnto ride."
"Of course you can!" Bobby encouraged her swiftly. "You must try himat a slow canter in a minute. Here comes Esther with the camera."
A picture of Betty was taken, and then the lesson was resumed. Atthe close of the afternoon Bobby announced that Betty was in a fairway to become a good horsewoman.
Mr. and Mrs. Littell took them into Washington to the theater thatnight, and to make up the hours of lost sleep all the young peopleslept late the next morning.
Instead of going into Washington to church, they all went to thelittle country church that Mrs. Littell attended and loved, and afterthe service they spent a quiet, pleasant day about the house andgrounds of Fairfields.
That evening the five girls and Bob gathered on the spacious whitesteps of the house to watch the beautiful Virginia sunset.
"Let's promise each other," suggested Betty, her pretty face seriousand thoughtful, "to meet five years from now, wherever we may be, andcompare notes. We'll be almost grown up then and know what we'regoing to be."
"No matter how often we meet, or how seldom, five years from to-daywe'll promise to come together," agreed Bobby. "Here's my seal."
She put out her hand and the hands of the six interlocked in a tower.
"To our close friendship," murmured Betty, as they unclasped.
Then, the sun having set, they went into the glow and welcome of thelighted lamps.
THE END
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends