THE HICKORY LIMB
By
PARKER FILLMORE
Illustrations by
ROSE CECIL O'NEILL
NEW YORK
HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY
Copyright, 1907, by
The Ridgway Company
Copyright, 1910, by
John Lane Company
TO MARTHA
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| PAGE | |
| "I don't care what she says! I'm going!" | 13 |
| "Dare you to come in swimmin'! Dareyou to come in swimmin'!" | 25 |
| Eddie Grote was in a tight place | 37 |
| "Margery Blair, you come right out ofthat pond!" | 41 |
THE HICKORY LIMB
Yes, my darling daughter;
Hang your clothes on a hickory limb,
And don't go near the water.
THE HICKORY LIMB
ladys Bailey had a parasol in one hand and a card-case in the other.From her own wide experience in social usage, she was going toinitiate the twins into the mystery of formal calls. She had told themearlier in the day that they might bring their younger sister, butlater reflection decided her to withdraw this permission. As Katherineand Alice were ready first, it was easy to explain to them herreasons.
"Four," Gladys said, "are too many to go calling. Margery's too littlefor our crowd anyway, and, besides, that would make three from onefamily. We had just better start before she comes down."
For a moment the twins looked doubtful; then, as usual, agreed.Thereupon,[12] all three cautiously tiptoed off the porch and down thelawn. Before they reached the street, Margery was after them, calling:"Wait a minute, Katherine! Wait, Alice!"
The twins had barely time to slip through the gate and hear Gladys'slow injunction, "Don't let her come," when Margery was upon them.
"You can't come with us, Margery," Katherine began, with an assumptionof innocence.
"Why, Katherine, you promised I could."
"That was for to-morrow," suggested Alice weakly.
Margery looked from her sisters to Gladys, who was staring vaguelyacross the street. Her excessive aloofness was suspicious, and Margeryinstantly jumped to conclusions.
"I bet I k