She found the booth with no difficulty,
but William Vaughan was not in it. Nor was the young man she had seen
before. There was a new one, a strange one, a careless, whistling young
man, with very bright socks, very yellow shoes, and very striped cuffs.
He said, in answer to Betsy's inquiry: "Vaughan? Will Vaughan? Never
heard the name," and immediately went on whistling and looking up and
down the aisle over the heads of the little girls, who stood gazing up
at him with very wide, startled eyes. An older man leaned over from the
next booth and said: "Will Vaughan? He from Hillsboro? Well, I heard
somebody say those Hillsboro Vaughans had word one of their cows was
awful sick, and they had to start right home that minute."
Betsy came to herself out of her momentary daze and snatched Molly's
hand. "Hurry! quick! We must find the Wendells before they get away!" In
her agitation (for she was really very much frightened) she forgot how
easily terrified little Molly was. Her alarm instantly sent the child
into a panic. "Oh, Betsy! Betsy! What will we do!" she gasped, as Betsy
pulled her along the aisle and out of the door.
"Oh, the Wendells can't be gone yet," said Betsy reassuringly, though
she was not at all sure she was telling the truth. She ran as fast as
she could drag Molly's fat legs, to the horse-shed where Mr. Wendell had
tied his horses and left the surrey.
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