CHAPTER XIX
THE OLD GRAY GOOSE
The day for the Lenox sports dawned clear and beautiful. By breakfasttime the mists had rolled away from the hilltops. The trees, which werenow beginning to show bare places among their leafy branches, beheldtheir own reflections in the lakes that nestled at the feet of the Lenoxhills.
From their veranda Miss Stuart and her girls could see every style ofhandsome vehicle gliding along the perfect roads that led toward the FairGrounds from the beautiful homes surrounding the old township.
The Society Circus could be enjoyed only by invitation. The tickets hadbeen sent out only to the chosen. An invitation meant the payment of fivedollars to the Hospital Fund.
Barbara was the first of the girls to be ready to start to the FairGrounds. She wore the tan riding-habit that Ruth had loaned her. She wasnot to ride until later in the day, but it would not be feasible toreturn to the hotel to change her costume.
Miss Stuart and her party had been asked to be the guests at luncheon ofAmbassador and Mrs. Morton.
Ruth and Grace were dressed in short skirts, loose blouses, and coats.They, also, looked ready for business. So only Miss Stuart and Molliewere able to wear the handsome toilets suited to the occasion. Mollieappeared in her blue silk costume. Miss Sallie was resplendent in a pearlgray broadcloth and a hat of violet orchids.
At half-past nine, Hugh Post and Ralph Ewing knocked at Miss Stuart'ssitting-room door. Barbara had already seen Ruth's and Hugh's automobileswaiting for them on the hotel driveway. The boys were impatient to beoff.
"Kindly explain to me, Ruth," asked Hugh, as the party finally started,"why you are carrying those two large bolts of ribbon? Are you going intothe millinery business to-day?"
Ruth laughed. "Remember, if you please, that Grace and I are going in fora much more serious undertaking. These ribbons are the reins that weintend to use for our extraordinary race to-day. I shall endeavor todrive my turkey with blue strings. Grace considers red ribbon moreadapted to the disposition and appearance of a rooster."
"Well, you girls certainly have nerve to take part in such a wild goosechase!" laughed the boy.
At the Fair Grounds Miss Stuart had reserved seats for her party near thegreen inclosure. Just in front of them was a little platform, decoratedin red, white and blue bunting. On this were seated the Ambassador, FranzHeller, Mr. Winthrop Latham, Reginald and several other prominent Lenoxresidents.
Grace and Ruth were not allowed to remain with their friends; they wereimmediately hurried off to the clubhouse, where they found eight othergirls waiting for them. The entrance of the ten girls, driving theirextraordinary steeds, was to be the great opening event of the SocietyCircus.
At ten-thirty Mr. Winthrop Latham announced the first feature of theirentertainment.
A peal of laughter burst from hundreds of throats.
Marching from the clubhouse were ten pretty girls, "shooing" in front ofthem ten varieties of barnyard fowls!
Dorothy Morton walked along in a stately fashion, led by an old graygoose. Neither Miss Morton nor the goose seemed in the least degreedisturbed by the applause and laughter.
Ruth's turkey was not so amiable. It stopped several times in itspromenade from the clubhouse, to crane its long neck back at the driver.The turkey's small eyes surveyed the scene about it with a look ofmingled suspicion and indignation. The old rooster, which regarded theoccasion as given in its honor, traveled in front of Grace at a livelypace.
Within the inclosed field, just in front of the little stand, where theAmbassador and his friends sat, two poles had been placed ten yardsapart. Across the meadow, about an eighth of a mile, were two other polesof the same kind.
The girls were to try to persuade their curious steeds to run across thefield from the first posts to those opposite. There the drivers wereexpected to turn their steeds and come safely back to the starting place.
Of the ten entrances Grace and her rooster made the best start. Ruth'sturkey refused to stir; he had found a fat worm on the ground in front ofhim. His attention was riveted to that. Ruth flapped her blue silk reinsin vain.
But a peacock bore the turkey company. Seeing himself and his barnyardacquaintances the center of so many eyes, Mr. Peacock was properly vain.He spread his beautiful fan-shaped tail, and would not be driven from thestarting-place.
Dorothy Morton and her old gray goose continued their stately walk acrossthe meadow. Only once did the goose's dignity forsake it. Grace'sexcitable rooster crossed its path! The rooster had made a short scurryto the side, his driver trying to persuade him back to the straight path.As the rooster hurried past the old gray goose, the latter stopped short,gave an indignant flap of its wings, rose a few inches from the ground,and pecked at Mr. Rooster. A moment later the goose continued itsdignified march.
This incident was too much for Grace's irascible rooster. With aterrified crow he darted first this way, then that, until Grace was woundup in her own red silk reins. It seemed a hopeless task to try to reachthe goal.
It was another instance of the old story of the hare and the tortoise.While Grace struggled with her rooster, a fat duck waddled past her. Theduck's mistress had enticed her nearly the whole length of the journey bythrowing grains of corn a yard or so ahead of her steed. Of course, anywell disposed duck would move forward for refreshments.
Dorothy Morton arrived safely at the first goal with her old gray goose.But now her troubles really began. Her steed had no disposition to returnto the crowd of noisy spectators that it had so cheerfully left behind.Dorothy tugged at one of her heavy white reins. The goose continuedplacidly on its way across the broad field. A goose is not a pleasantbird in attack, and Dorothy did not like to resort to forcible methods.
Assistance came from an unexpected quarter. Grace's rooster had at lastbeen persuaded to rush violently between the required posts. In one ofits excited turns, it brushed close behind the old goose. Here was achance for revenge! The rooster gave a flying peck at the goose's tailfeathers and flew on.
With a loud squawk the goose turned completely around. It flew up in theair, then down to the ground again, and made a rush for its opponent. Butthe rooster was unworthy game. It tacked too often to the right and left.The old gray goose gave up its pursuit in disgust. Since it was headedtoward the starting-place it took up its walk again, Dorothy Mortonmeekly following it.
Only three of the girls remained in the race. Ruth had given up indespair. Her turkey had wandered off to parts unknown. Another girl saton an upturned stump feeding crumbs to a motherly hen that had foundwalking disagreeable and had taken to scratching around the roots of atree.
Dorothy passed her rival with the duck midway on her journey back home.The duck took no further interest in corn. It had eaten all that awell-bred fowl could desire. Now it squatted in the grass to enjoy awell-earned repose.
Shrieks of laughter rose when Dorothy Morton at last drove her gray gooseback to the judge's stand.
"Hurrah for the old gray goose!" shouted the spectators in merryapplause.
Franz Heller rushed down from the platform, carrying two wreaths in hishands. One was made of smilax and pink roses; the other a small wreath ofevergreens with a silver bell fastened to it. Franz dropped the rosegarland over Dorothy Morton's head. The small wreath with the bell heplaced on the neck of the old gray goose.
Exhausted, Dorothy dropped into the nearest seat. The old gray goosewandered off toward home, led by a proud farmer's boy.
Scarcely had the laughter from the first event ceased, when the Threadand Needle Race was called for.
Ralph Ewing was an easy winner, thanks to Mollie's skill as a seamstress.Ralph declared the button she sewed on him should ornament his coat forevermore.
But the Egg and Spoon Race was a closely contested event.
The race appeared to be a tie between Ambassador Morton and Mr. WinthropLatham.
Near-sighted Franz Heller made a brave start, but his eyes betrayed him.Carefully carrying his egg in a
spoon which he bore at arm's length,Franz forgot to look down at his feet. He stumped his toe against a smallstone. Crash, the egg rolled from his spoon! A yellow stream marked theplace where it fell.
Mr. Latham and the Ambassador were painstaking men. They ran along, sideby side, at a gentle pace. The man who arrived first at the appointedgoal with an unbroken egg was, of course, the victor.
Unfortunately for Mr. Latham, an old habit overcame him. In the midst ofthe contest he paused to adjust his glasses. The movement of his arm wasfatal. His spoon tipped and his egg rolled gently to the earth.
Still the Ambassador continued unmoved on his stately journey. With asmile he solemnly handed an unbroken white egg to Reginald Latham.
"Here, cook this for your breakfast!" he advised Reginald, who was actingas judge of this famous event.
Cutting a lemon with a saber, and the Dummy Race, ended the morning'ssports. The afternoon was to be devoted to riding.