The Story Girl ran over to the buggy and climbed in. Uncle Blair
followed her. Her arms were full of Mrs. Dale's chrysanthemums,
held close up to her face, and her beautiful eyes shone softly at
us over them. No good-byes were said, as she wished. We all
smiled bravely and waved our hands as they drove out of the lane
and down the moist red road into the shadows of the fir wood in
the valley. But we still stood there, for we knew we should see
the Story Girl once more. Beyond the fir wood was an open curve
in the road and she had promised to wave a last farewell as they
passed around it.
We watched the curve in silence, standing in a sorrowful little
group in the sunshine of the autumn morning. The delight of the
world had been ours on the golden road. It had enticed us with
daisies and rewarded us with roses. Blossom and lyric had waited
on our wishes. Thoughts, careless and sweet, had visited us.
Laughter had been our comrade and fearless Hope our guide. But
now the shadow of change was over it.
"There she is," cried Felicity.
The Story Girl stood up and waved her chrysanthemums at us. We
waved wildly back until the buggy had driven around the curve.
Then we went slowly and silently back to the house. The Story
Girl was gone.
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