Having gone so far as this, the unhappy boy suddenly hit upon another scheme to obtain his revenge. He stopped short and scowled darkly.
“I’ll do it,” he said to himself; then turned and walked homeward, meditating all the way on the surest means to accomplish his purpose.
It was no less than to bring about the defeat of his own companions. How he succeeded will be seen.
There were only four days before the afternoon set for the match, and uncle Will found his young folks so full of the coming game that they could think of nothing else. Tom, who made a lively third base, seemed for the time to have forgotten his troubles, and entered heartily into the sport. Dick Manning came over from the village every afternoon, and tried his favorite “delivery” with Randolph, who practised catching whenever he could get anybody to throw balls at him. He was continually enticing little Bridget out to perform this duty, which she did with such earnestness and energy that he had to fairly beg for mercy.
KITTIE AT WORK.
It was wonderful to see how the little North Street waif expanded and grew, mentally, physically and morally, in this pure air, and under the gentle teaching of aunt Puss, who had received her with open arms. The girl’s sallow cheeks grew plump and wholesome to look at; her dull eyes brightened; she worked, or tried to, all day, and slept soundly all night. She even learned to play a little, which was the hardest of all. When Randolph had gravely suggested that she could make herself useful by throwing a ball at him, out in the orchard, she accepted the proposition in perfect good faith.
“Sure I wull,” said Bridget, taking the ball from Randolph’s hand.
Her throws, he found, were just wild enough to give him practice; while their velocity left nothing to be desired. She flung the ball at him as if she were determined to annihilate him on the spot. It was only when he rolled over in the grass, laughing and crying for mercy, that a bewildered smile came into her face.
“Sure ye tould me fire hard, thin,” she said slowly, tossing back her long hair.