"I told you we might find the woods enchanted," said Alice who, of
course had learned of the secret, as it was Mr. MacAllister who provided
the wagons for the boys as well as for the girls.
Such running about and such shouting! Some lads had hidden in the pines
and now as the girls ran through the grove, the "goblins" dropped down
upon their unsuspecting heads.
Tavia and Alice helped make things livelier by gathering up parasols and
lunch boxes that had been left in the wagons for safety. These they gave
to the boys, who lost no time in forming a brigade, parasols in the air
and boxes under arms, to the distress and dismay of the unlucky owners.
But there was still another surprise in store for the school children.
When everything was fairly settled down for a day in the woods, a two
seated carriage drove in, and in this were President of the Town
Council, Franklin MacAllister; the Treasurer of Dalton, Major Dale,
Squire Travers and Ralph Willoby.
Wild cheers went up from the woods as the party entered the grove; first
for the president, then for the major and a "hip-hip" and series of
hurrahs for the new squire.
Certainly it was jolly to have such a crowd in the shady woods. The
officials told Miss Ellis they came to get acquainted with the pupils of
the Dalton schools.
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