Chapter I: Front Matter

Bonnie May

Bonnie May

By
Louis Dodge

Illustrations by
Reginald Birch

_A strolling player comes_

New York
Charles Scribner’s Sons
1916

COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS

Published August, 1916

TO

THE LITTLE NEW ENGLAND GIRL

WHO (IN COMPANY WITH HER MOTHER)
MADE FRIENDS WITH AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
ON A JUNE DAY IN 1898
IN THE MARKET-PLACE IN HONOLULU
AND PROMISED
“I SHALL NEVER FORGET YOU”

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE INTRUSION OF AN ACTRESS 1

II. A MOMENTOUS DECISION 15

III. MRS. BARON DECIDES 24

IV. A CRISIS 36

V. BONNIE MAY OPENS THE DOOR 46

VI. CONCERNING A FROCK 59

VII. A SUNDAY MORNING 75

VIII. STILL UNCLAIMED 86

IX. A DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE 95

X. THE WHITE ELEPHANT 110

XI. HOW A CONVEYANCE CAME FOR BONNIE MAY--AND HOW
IT WENT AWAY 121

XII. RELATES TO THE PLAYING OF PARTS 137

XIII. A MYSTERIOUS SEARCH BEGINS 146

XIV. MR. ADDIS RECEIVES SUPPORT 155

XV. A QUESTION OF RECONSTRUCTION 169

XVI. MRS. THORNBURG REVEALS A SECRET 184

XVII. “A KIND OF DUEL” 193

XVIII. MRS. BARON TAKES UP THE GAUNTLET 202

XIX. BONNIE MAY LOOKS BACK 218

XX. CONCERNING LAUGHTER 230

XXI. AN EXIT AND AN ENTRANCE 244

XXII. BAGGOT’S PLAY 257

XXIII. BARON COMES HOME ON A BEER-DRAY 267

XXIV. BONNIE MAY HIDES SOMETHING 279

XXV. BONNIE MAY SEES TWO FACES AT A WINDOW 289

XXVI. A GATHERING IN THE ATTIC 298

XXVII. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ATTIC 310

XXVIII. AFTER THE CURTAIN WAS LOWERED 321

XXIX. THE MANSION IN SHADOW 331

XXX. “THE BREAK OF DAY” 339

Illustrations

She assumed a slightly careless air and looked airily
at imaginary objects _Frontispiece_

FACING PAGE

“I thought everybody knew me,” she said. “I’m Bonnie May” 8

“Good evening,” she said, as if she were addressing strangers 28

“You seem a little old for the part,” she suggested 54

A most extraordinary ancient man stood there watching her 82

“Enter the heroine!” was the child’s greeting 162

“They look as if they were quite happy--and didn’t care to be
anything else” 180

“I don’t know what you’re getting at!” he exclaimed. “If you’ve
got anything to say, why not say it and be done with it?” 196

“Dear child, do try to love me, won’t you?” 252

Thomason jerked his needle through a tough place and pulled it
out to arm’s length 292

“Look at them!” she screamed. “Look! Look!” 318

She had put her arms about the trembling old lady’s neck, and
for the moment they were both silent 352

Bonnie May

_Only women understand children thoroughly, but if a mere man keeps
very quiet and humbles himself properly, and refrains from talking
down to his superiors, children will sometimes be good to him and let
him see what they think about the world._

RUDYARD KIPLING.

Bonnie May