Elsie on the Hudson Part 1

Elsie on the Hudson.

by Martha Finley.

CHAPTER I.

Crag Cottage was almost overflowingly full the first night after the arrival of its young mistress and her friends, but with a little contrivance all were comfortably accommodated. Most of them, weary with their journey, slept rather late in the morning, but Captain Raymond and his eldest daughter were as usual out of doors--out in the grounds--early enough to enjoy the beautiful sight of the rising of the sun over the eastern mountains. They met upon the front porch just in time to walk down together to Evelyn's favorite summer house on the edge of the cliff, before the king of day showed his bright face peeping above those eastern heights.

"Oh, what a lovely sight!" exclaimed Lucilla. "I am so glad, papa, that we are out in time to see it."

"Yes," he said, "it is worth the giving up of an extra hour of sleep.

Especially as we can take that during the day if we feel the need of it. I would never have you do without needed sleep, daughter. There is nothing gained by it in the end."

"No, papa, but I think I do not need so much as do some others,--Gracie, for instance,--and I do so enjoy these early walks and talks with you--the dearest father that ever any girl had, I am sure," she added, giving him a look of ardent affection.

"Ah, but you must remember there are some fathers you haven't tried,"

he returned with a slight laugh of amus.e.m.e.nt, but accompanied by a fond pressure of the pretty white hand she had slipped into his.

"Yet I am just as sure as if I had tried them all, father," she laughed. "There may perhaps be some few nearly as good, but I know they can't be any better. Oh, see! yonder is a yacht coming up the river. I wish it was ours."

"Possibly it may be. Look again," her father said.

"Oh, is it, papa?" she asked eagerly. "Did you order it brought here?"

"I did; and thought it might arrive some time to-day."

"And it is--it is the _Dolphin_! I'm so glad! How nice in you, papa, to have it come to us so soon; for now we can supplement Eva's sleeping accommodations and take delightful little trips up and down the river."

"Yes; that was my idea in having the vessel brought here. There are a number of historical scenes along the Hudson's banks which I have no doubt you and the others would like to visit."

"Oh, yes, indeed, papa! and the very pleasantest way to do it will be in our own yacht--with Captain Raymond to take charge of us and it,"

she added with a bright smile up into his face. "Oh, the yacht seems to be heading for the little landing down at the foot of the hill!

Can't we run down and get aboard of her just to take a peep, here and there, and see that all is right for us to move into the staterooms whenever we will?"

"Yes, come along, daughter. I think we can go and come back again before the summons to breakfast," he replied, leading the way as he spoke. They reached the landing just as the _Dolphin_ had anch.o.r.ed and thrown out a plank to the sh.o.r.e.

"Oh, how bright and fresh she looks!" exclaimed Lulu.

"Yes--outside," laughed her father. "We will go aboard and see whether the same can be said of the inside," he added, leading her carefully onward till they reached the deck.

"Lovely!" she exclaimed as they stepped upon it; "everything is as spick-and-span as possible."

"I am glad indeed that it pleases you, Miss Raymond," said the man in charge, coming hastily forward to greet and welcome them. "I hope you too are satisfied, sir?"

"Perfectly, so far as I have yet examined," returned Captain Raymond in a cheery tone. "You had good weather for your trip up the coast.

Mr. Bailey?"

"Yes, sir, yes; indeed, couldn't have asked finer. Hope you all arrived safely and well?"

"Yes, thank you, and I expect to make pretty constant and good use of the yacht. There could hardly be a better place for it than this river."

"No, sir; I think not."

With Lucilla by his side, the captain went here and there, satisfying himself that everything was in perfect order, exchanging kindly greetings with the sailors, and bestowing words of praise upon their care of the vessel.

"She seems in excellent condition," he said, "and I perceive no dirt or disorder. I should not blush to show her to the highest dignitary in the land."

"I hope not, sir," returned Mr. Bailey with a gratified smile; "and I think if anything were wrong no eyes would detect it sooner than those of her owner."

"Now let us go below, papa," said Lucilla. "I quite want to take a peep into my own cosey stateroom."

"Yes, so you shall," he returned, leading the way.

"Oh!" cried Lulu as they stepped into the saloon; "I see you have been making some changes here, father; and they are all improvements. What lovely carpets and curtains!"

"I am glad you like them," he said with a smile, as she turned toward him with a look of surprise and delight. "The old ones were looking considerably the worse for the wear, and the good parts I knew would be acceptable and useful in another place."

"Oh, yes, I am sure of that," she said in reply, as she hastened to the door of her own little bedroom and threw it open. "Oh, this looks as neat, sweet, and pretty as possible!" she exclaimed joyously.

"Can't Gracie and I occupy it to-night, papa? Won't you let us?"

"Probably; if matters are so arranged that your mamma and I, with the younger ones, can be here also. Now," consulting his watch, "we will take a hasty look at the other staterooms and then hurry back to the cottage on the crag; lest we keep Evelyn's breakfast waiting."

"I am so glad the yacht is here, papa," Lucilla said as they walked up the winding path that led to Crag Cottage. "I felt last night as if it were an imposition for so many of us to crowd into Evelyn's small house--even though we were there by her own invitation; and yet I was afraid she might feel hurt if we should go off very speedily to some house of entertainment."

"Yes," returned her father; "but it will be all right now, I think. If I had known you were so troubled about the matter, I should have told you I was expecting the _Dolphin_."

"But you didn't because you wanted to give me and all the rest a pleasant surprise?" she said questioningly, and with a loving look up into his eyes.

"Yes, that was it. You are as good at guessing as a Yankee."

"But I am a Yankee, am I not?" she laughed.

"Yes; you certainly belong to the universal Yankee nation; as did your ancestors for several generations. Both mine and your mother's were here long before the Revolution."

"A fact which I think is something to rejoice over," she said in joyous tones.

"Therefore something to be thankful for," he said in a tone between a.s.sertion and inquiry.

"Oh, yes, sir; yes, indeed! I am very glad and thankful that you are my father and I am your child."

"And I that you are my own dearly loved daughter," he said in response.

"Ah," as a turn in the walk brought the house into full view, "I see we are no longer the only ones up and about"--for nearly all the guests were now gathered upon the porch or wandering to and fro under the trees or among the flower beds near at hand.

"Oh, yonder come papa and Lu!" shouted Ned at the same moment, starting on a run toward them, quickly followed by his cousins, the Leland boys.

"Good-morning, papa and Lu," "Good-morning, uncle and Lu," cried the three as they drew near. Eric adding: "Have you been down by the river? and is there a walk along down by the waters edge?"