The Lilac Lady   By: Ruth Brown MacArthur (1881-)

THE SECOND OF THE PEACE GREENFIELD BOOKS

BY RUTH ALBERTA BROWN

Author of "At The Little Brown House," "Tabitha At Ivy Hall," "Tabitha's Glory," "Tabitha's Vacation," Etc.

THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AKRON, OHIO NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT, MCMXIV By The Saalfield Publishing Co.

TO EDITH HASERICK MCFARLANE, THE SAINT ELSPETH OF MY GIRLHOOD, THIS STORY IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

[Illustration: "Oh," cried Gail in quick sympathy, "what a feeble old creature! It is a shame she has to beg her living. Where is my purse?"]

CONTENTS

I. EXPLORING THE NEW HOME

II. THE FLAG ROOM

III. CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE CAMPBELLS

IV. A ZEALOUS LITTLE MISSIONARY

V. AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION

VI. PEACE'S SPRING VACATION

VII. A VOICE FROM THE LILAC BUSHES

VIII. A PICNIC IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN

IX. GIUSEPPE NICOLI AND THE MONKEY

X. THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

XI. PEACE FINDS NEW PLAYMATES

XII. A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM

XIII. CHILDREN'S DAY AT HILL STREET CHURCH

XIV. HOW THE FOURTH OF JULY MONEY WAS SPENT

XV. PEACE GIVES THE LILAC LADY AN IDEA

XVI. THE LILAC LADY FALLS ASLEEP

THE LILAC LADY

CHAPTER I

EXPLORING THE NEW HOME

Two days after the night of the memorable surprise party in the little brown house, the place stood dismantled and deserted under the naked, shivering trees, good byes had been spoken, and the six smiling sisters had driven away from their Parker home amid much fluttering of handkerchiefs and waving of hands. Everyone was sorry to see them go, yet all rejoiced in the great good fortune which had befallen the little orphan brood. Even after the Judge's carriage, which was to take them to the station, disappeared around the bend of the creek road, the enthusiastic crowd of friends and neighbors clustered about the sagging gate continued to shout their joking warnings and happy wishes upon the crisp, frosty, morning air.

"There," breathed Peace, grinning from ear to ear, as she slowly unwound from the corkscrew twist she had assumed in her attempt to catch the last glimpse of the old home. "They're all out of sight now. I can't even see Hec Abbott any longer up in the tree with his dirty handkerchief. Oh, Mr. Judge, I forgot you were our coachman this morning, but his handkerchief is awful dirty! It always is. I guess his mother doesn't chase him up like Gail does us with clean ones. Faith Greenfield, what do you mean by kicking me like that? Ain't there room enough on that back seat for your big feet?"

"Little girls should be heard and not seen," quoted Cherry with her most sanctimonious air, noting the gathering frown on the older sister's face, and not quite understanding what had gone amiss.

"Yes, that's just what Peace believes, too," cried Hope with her happy, contagious laugh in which Gail and the Judge and even Faith joined, making the sharp air ring with their hilarity.

"Guess this ride must make you feel ticklish, too," suggested Peace, looking over her shoulder with a comical, self complacent air at the crowded rear seat of the carryall. "I 'xpected to see some of you bawling about now "

"Bawling!" echoed the girls in genuine surprise, while the old Judge chuckled to himself. "What for?"

"'Cause we've left Parker for good and all. We're never going to live there any more."

"But we shall visit there often. Grandpa said so," cried Hope, warmly. "It isn't as if we were bound for the poor farm or some dreadful orphan home. We might have reason to cry then; but as it is, we're going to Martindale to live in a splendid great house with splendid, lovely people; and I can't help wanting to jump up and shout for gladness, even though we do love Parker and all the people there who have been so good to us "