Once the children were in bed, they talked awhile of their fortunate
deliverance. Duke came in for a big share of praise. Then Julia fell
asleep, but Beth felt very wide awake. Presently, even Duke on the
floor near their bed also slept. Beth knew that he was sleeping
because he moaned as if he were haunted by a nightmare of the fire.
"Poor, poor fellow, he feels almost as bad as I," thought Beth. For a
long time she lay awake wondering what her father would do now that
their home with all its contents was burned.
"Just s'posing--just s'posing----" With these words Beth fell into a
troubled sleep.
About ten minutes afterwards, she began crying in her sleep, which
wakened Julia.
"Why, Beth dear, what's the matter?" and Julia twined her arm lovingly
around her friend.
Beth wakened with a start. She sat up in bed. "Where am I, Julia? In
Florida?"
"Of course, dear. What made you----"
"Oh, I'm so glad I'm here. I went to sleep s'posing----"
"Supposing what, Beth?"
"Oh, I don't like to tell for fear it may come true. I dreamed that it
did come true and it made me very miserable."
"You're just nervous over the terrible fire. All the bad that can
happen has already happened to you."
"I don't know about that," murmured Beth, but could not be persuaded to
tell Julia more about her dream. Julia therefore sank back into
slumberland, and forgot all about her friend's dream, but not so Beth.
The fear of what she dreamed haunted her, waking and sleeping.
The next morning, Beth had quite a time dressing. Most of Julia's
clothes proved a very tight fit.
"I'll have to pretend I'm a young lady. Then I shall not mind if it is
tight," Beth said as she struggled into Julia's blue dress.
"It's a little short, but then short dresses are the style now,"
commented Julia in an effort to be polite.
Immediately after breakfast, the Davenports and the Gordons started
over to view the fire. For some reason known only to herself, Beth did
not care to go. She even refused to be moved by Julia's entreaties,
and insisted that Julia go without her.
Duke remained to keep Beth company. When the two were alone, Beth put
her arms around the faithful dog. He looked up into her eyes and
whined.
"I believe you know," cried Beth. "Are you afraid of it, too?"
Again Duke whined.
"You do know, Duke." There were tears in Beth's eyes. "If it happens,
they'll take you from me. Don't you remember what Mr. Brown said?"
Duke looked as if he understood.
"They shan't take you from me. I'll go in town and see Mr. Brown. You
shall go with me, Duke."
He wagged his tail as if pleased, at the promise. Beth ran for a hat,
and then, with Duke, started down the road towards town.
The day was extremely sultry, and the warmth in combination with the
excitement of the night before soon caused Beth to tire, but she would
not give up her undertaking.
"You'd do as much to stay with me, wouldn't you, Duke?" she asked, to
encourage herself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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