Chapter I: Front Matter

[Cover Illustration]

THE
STORY OF BETTY

BY
CAROLYN WELLS

ILLUSTRATED BY
REGINALD B. BIRCH

NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.
1901

Copyright, 1898, 1899, by
THE CENTURY CO.

THE DE VINNE PRESS.

TO
LILIAN WILLIAMS

CONTENTS

I. “AN IMP OF WICKEDNESS”
II. IN THE CELLAR
III. BETTY’S LETTER
IV. MAKING PLANS
V. A SHOPPING TOUR
VI. THE STILLFORD HOUSE
VII. MR. DICK PLANS A PICNIC
VIII. DAYS IN NEW YORK
IX. BUYING A GRANDMOTHER
X. “DENNISTON HALL”
XI. THE FAMILY ARRIVES
XII. CHOOSING A BIRTHDAY
XIII. THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
XIV. PERPLEXITY AND ADVICE
XV. “TRYING SISTERS”
XVI. THE “PIXIE’S” FIRST TRIP
XVII. ANXIOUS HEARTS
XVIII. A FRIENDLY SHELTER
XIX. A DAWNING HOPE
XX. HOME AT LAST

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. BETTY CONVERTED THE RIBBONS INTO A VERY BECOMING COLLAR AND BELT
2. THE HOSE GAVE A SQUIRM, AND A GREAT STREAM OF WATER WAS DIVIDED
IMPARTIALLY AMONG THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CARRIAGE
3. “IT’S THE BEST I’VE ATE SINCE THE CRESCENT WAVED OVER THE CHURCH
OF ST. SOPHIA”
4. A HOBBLING STEP WAS HEARD COMING ROUND THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE
5. BETTY NEARLY FAINTED WHEN MRS. TUCKER OFFERED HER A CHAIR
6. “MY DEAR, I HAVE A WONDERFUL PIECE OF NEWS FOR YOU—SO GREAT AND
SPLENDID THAT I SCARCELY KNOW HOW TO TELL IT”
7. “MY DEAR CHILD, WHAT _ARE_ YOU DOING? YOUR PLACE IS NOT HERE ANY
MORE”
8. BETTY’S CHEEKS FLUSHED AND HER EYES DANCED AS THE SALESWOMAN PUT
THE HAT ON HER CURLY HEAD
9. “THEN I CAN BUY MY HOME!” SHE SAID
10. “HALLO, POPINJAY! HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I TURNED THE HOSE ON
YOUR FINE PINK FROCK?”
11. BETTY CLASPED HER ARMS TIGHTLY AROUND A LAMP-POST, THUS ANCHORING
HERSELF
12. “CAN’T I GO UP WITH YOU?” BETTY ASKED. “I’M LOST, AND I MUST FIND
MY PEOPLE”
13. WITH A PARTING KISS BETTY RELUCTANTLY LEFT HER
14. UNCONSCIOUSLY BETTY HAD IMITATED MRS. VAN COURT’S EVERY MOVEMENT
15. “POPINJAY, YOU OUGHT TO KNOW BETTER THAN TO ASK SUCH DIFFICULT
CONUNDRUMS”
16. “MISS BETTY, I’LL WURRK ME FINGER-ENDS OFF FER YE, SO I WILL!”
17. ALMOST PETRIFIED WITH FRIGHT, BETTY STOOD PERFECTLY STILL
18. AS THE ELEVATOR DOOR SLID BACK, BETTY FELL INTO PETE’S STRONG
ARMS
19. A TALK AFTER SUPPER
20. BETTY AND TILLIE RETURNED LADEN WITH POP-GUNS, JEW’S-HARPS,
COMBS, WATCHMEN’S RATTLES, DRUMS, CYMBALS, BONES, AND
SAND-BRUSHES
21. BETTY LED THE LINE, WALKING BACKWARD
22. “WHO WANTS THIS PLUM?” SAID JACK HORNER
23. “‘LEAN ON ME, GRANDPAPA,’” SAID BETTY
24. “THE WATERS ARE RISING!” YELLED MR. DICK, FRANTICALLY. “I SHALL
BE DROWNED!”
25. BETTY, POLLY, AND JACK WERE ON THE VERANDA WAITING FOR THE
VISITOR
26. BETTY LOOKED, AND THERE WAS A SPIDER
27. A DOZEN WILD INDIANS IN WAR-PAINT AND FEATHERS RUSHED OUT
28. BETTY BOARDS THE “PIXIE”
29. “WHEN MR. VAN COORT SEES THE SHTORM COMIN’. HE’LL PUT INTO PORT”
30. “MY EYE, BETTY! YOU’RE A STUNNER IN GROWN-UP CLOTHES”
31. THERE IS NOTHING SO COMFORTING AS A PILLOW
32. L’ALOUETTE CLASPED HER IN HER ARMS

The Story of Betty