TWO MAY-QUEENS 273

“Why, Aunt,” answered the little girl, in her sweet,
patient voice, “I was only wondering about Miss Du-
plaine’s May-pole. Did n’t you hear how Miss Duplaine’s
little girl ’s going to be a May-queen? They ’re going to
have a great high pole, oh! ever so high! all hung full of
flowers, and Miss Lotty ’s a-going to have on her lovely
white frock and loads of flowers around her head!”

“How Wd yer know ?”

“Why, I heard ’em talkin’ about it when Jake Delany
and me went last night to take home Miss Duplaine’s clean
clothes.”

“Much you took home Miss Duplaine’s clothes!”

“Well, I went with Jake, anyhow, an’ I love himn—he’s
so good about carryin’ me when-I ’m tired.”

“Lerviny! Mow, see you looking so again! Let that
there sky be! If you don’t stop that way of lookin’ up
smilin’ at the clouds, I ’ll be after you, so I will.”

“T was only thinkin’ how good Jake is. And, Oh, Aunt!
you ought to see the throne !”

The aunt gave a jump. “ What throne, you on’arthly
child, you ?”

“Why, the one that ’s for dear little Miss Lotty Du-
plaine. It’s all made up pretty and green, and to-day she’s
going to sit on it for Queen of May, and have a whole
bushel o’ flowers all throwed over her!”

“Sakes! what voin’s-on them rich folks do have! I
don’t see no sense into it.”

“Oh, Aunt Lizer! J do!”

Just then they heard a sound of mingled shouts and
laughter and the tramping of little feet.

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