The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure — John Shaqi
The Ranch Girls and Their Great AdventureVandercook, Margaret
General
The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure
Vandercook, Margaret
Family -- Fiction; Friendship -- Juvenile fiction; Love stories; Sisters -- Juvenile fiction
She and Olive and Jack and Frank Kent were in the library at Kent House
with Captain MacDonnell talking one morning, several weeks since the
afternoon tea and during, perhaps, the most momentous week in all
history.
"I think you must be mistaken about your husband's being unable to
shoot, Frieda," Lord Kent answered dryly. "As a matter of fact I believe
he is an expert; he told me himself that he had taken prizes for
marksmanship when he was a boy, but had never cared to use his skill for
hunting. As for your saying he can't go; well, the truth is, Frieda,
Professor Russell has already gone. He came in to see me a few days ago
to say that he had volunteered and was about to be sent somewhere in
France."
Frank had not intended to be unkind. So many things had happened and
were happening every crowded second of the time that he was simply
forgetting to think of the individual. However, under the circumstances,
he did not suppose that Frieda would care very much what became of her
husband.
"You mean that Henry has joined the army--that he has crossed over to
France without asking me how I would feel--without even coming to say
good-bye," Frieda returned slowly. And suddenly even her brother-in-law
observed the change in her expression. It was strange to see Frieda with
her face paling; her full, red lips closed tight and her blue eyes dark
and strained.
"But, my dear child, how could your husband come to say good-bye to you
when you have been steadfastly refusing to see him for weeks?" Frank
continued, still a little impatient over feminine unreasonableness. "He
told me to tell you his plans and that he had made all arrangements in
case--"
But, that instant, catching a warning glance from his wife, Lord Kent
changed color over his own tactlessness and desisted. This was a time
when everybody's nerves were overstrained; when hearts were torn to
pieces and imaginations were picturing only horrors.
"Won't you motor down to the station with me, please, Jack?" Lord Kent
added, hastily, anxious to get away as soon as possible from the
situation he had created.
Jack slipped on a long tan coat and soft hat and went with her husband,
leaving Olive to look after Frieda.
"Bryan is expecting to be here again this afternoon for a farewell
visit, dear. He has been delayed for some reason or other but hopes to
leave with his regiment tomorrow," Frank announced on the way to his
train. "Do you know I think Bryan is a lucky fellow these days, not to
have anyone very close to him--anyone who cares very much what becomes
of him. Oh, of course, I should care, more than I like to think; but I
mean no mother or father--no family."
"I should also care a great deal, Frank," Jack interrupted quietly.
But Lord Kent went on, scarcely hearing her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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