CHAPTER TEN CAROL'S CHOICE
When the three children entered the big living-room of the old logcabin, Ken was the first to notice that Dixie had been crying.
"I knew it, I just knew it!" the boy blurted out. "You're sick orsomething, Dix. That's why you looked so pale, and why you didn't wantto go for a walk like you always do Sunday afternoons."
"No, Ken, it isn't that," the oldest girl said. "Get your hats off andcome and sit here a while. I want to tell you all something."
Dixie lifted little Jimmy-Boy and held him crushingly close. Then shehid her face among his thick yellow curls, that Ken might not see therush of tears to her eyes, for she had suddenly thought, "The next thingI know, somebody will offer to take my baby away from me, but, oh, theycan't have him, not if I work my fingers to the bone to keep him!"
Luckily Ken remembered that the pig, three hens, the goat, and Pegasusmust be fed before dark, and, as it was dusk, he hastened to thebarnyard. Carol had climbed to the loft bedroom to put away her onetreasure, a hat with a pretty flower-wreath on it, and so Dixie had timeto dry the telltale tears before they returned.
"Fire ahead, Dix," was Ken's boyish way of announcing that he was readyto listen. He whirled a straight-backed chair about and straddled it ashe spoke.
Dixie had not planned what she should say. She left it to theinspiration of the moment. What she said was: "Mr. Clayburn has beenover while you-all have been away, and he said his wife would like tohave Carol go to Genoa and live with them and be a sister to theirSylvia."
If Dixie had hoped that Carol would say that she would far rather livein the log cabin with them, she was doomed to disappointment, forCarol's pretty face glowed joyfully, and, clapping her hands, she cried:"Oh, Dix, how wonderful that will be! Just think of the pretty clothesI'll have. That old ruffly dress of Jessica Archer's will look like poorfolks by the side of the dresses I will wear. Why, Sylvia Clayburn hadon a pink-silk dress at the fair. I'd be the happiest girl on earth,Dix, if I could have a silk dress and have Jessica Archer see me wearingit."
Ken had not spoken, but he was watching both of his sisters veryclosely, and the slow anger of Pine Tree Martin was mounting in hisheart.
Suddenly he blurted, "Let her go, Dix, and be glad to get rid of her, ifthat's all the thanks she's got to give, after the scrimping andgoing-without you've done to buy her things."
"Don't, Ken, dear," Dixie cried. "Carol's not as old as we are,and--she's different."
"I should hope I _am_ different," the younger girl replied, tossing hercurls. "I am a Haddington-Allen through and through, my mother oftentold me so, and you two are--are--"
"Don't you dare say it!" Ken warned, and Carol, after a quick glance ather brother, thought best not to complete her sentence.
The boy had whirled the chair away and was standing. Looking steadily atthe now shrinking younger girl, he declared, "Dix and I are proud,proud, _proud_, that we are children of our father." Then there was abreak in his voice that made even Carol ashamed of herself.
"Oh, I don't see why we need be mad about it," she said in a wheedlingvoice, "and I should think you two would be glad to have me living whereI could have nice things and won't have to dust and--"
Again Ken blurted out with, "Yes, you're quite willing Dix should go ondoing all the work and bearing all the burden. We'll be well rid of you,I say, and the sooner the better." At that the boy turned and left thehouse, closing the door with a bang.
The next day Dixie sent word to Mr. Clayburn, and the following Sundaynoon, true to his promise, the banker reappeared.
Carol wore her best clothes and had nothing to carry. When it came tothe moment of saying good-by, Dixie, to outward appearances her owncheerful self, kissed her little sister tenderly, and Ken said, "Solong," not knowing whether he was glad or sorry. Then Carol stooped tokiss little Jimmy-Boy, who suddenly threw his arms about her neck andheld her close. "Jimmy loves Carol," he prattled, as he put his dewymouth up to be kissed.
For one brief moment the little girl hesitated, then, unfastening theclinging baby arms, she ran and climbed into the waiting buggy and satbeside Mr. Clayburn. Then she smiled and waved. Little Jimmy, not in theleast understanding what was happening, began to sob and reached out hischubby arms.
Dixie caught him up and held him as she waved his small hand at thedisappearing wagon. Then, with a sigh, the little mother turned backinto the log cabin, feeling very much as though there had been a deathin the family.
To the very last she had hoped that Carol loved them all too much reallyto leave them; but Ken was calling to her, and so, holding fast to BabyJim's hand, she went out to the barnyard to see what he wanted.