“He is better able to give, perhaps,” returned Laura, coolly.
“There will have to be some large donor, if we are to have a real, up-to-date athletic field,” sighed Celia. “The boys have a good baseball and football park. The railroad company gave the land, and public subscription put it in shape. But we have just got to interest some rich person in our project.”
“Colonel Swayne, for instance?” laughed Mary.
“Well, why not?” demanded Laura, suddenly.
“Why, he just hates boys and girls!” cried her chum.
“So they say.”
“You know he won’t allow one of us to step on his grounds—and it’s right next to our bathing place, too,” said Jess, with a considerable show of feeling.
“He doesn’t seem to love a soul but that married daughter of his—you know, the widow. She’s a peculiar acting woman. I don’t believe she’s quite right,” said Miss Prime. “And he certainly is wrapped up in her.”
“And with all that money—and his beautiful estate,” sighed Laura. “He really ought to be interested in girls’ athletics.”
The others laughed. “We’ll appoint Miss Belding a committee of one to try and separate Colonel Swayne from some of his wealth,” said Mary O’Rourke.