until
she was quite out of sight of the store, and then paused to meditate.
What should she do? It seemed dreadfully hard to give up her plan now
when she had thought it all nicely settled. There were plenty of stores
in Bentley; some of them might sell handkerchiefs for eleven cents. She
glanced dubiously along the road leading to the town, and noticed that
the sun was nearly out of sight behind the hills.

"But it stays light ever and ever so long after the sun sets," she
murmured, "and it didn't seem a bit far when I rode to town with Aunt
S'mantha. I guess this store is most part way. Anyhow, I just must have
a bandana!" she added, as she once more caught sight of her soiled
apron and muddy shoes.

She straightened her sun-bonnet, and started resolutely forward again.
She had grown to feel that the proposed purchase was in some way a
reparation due to Aunt Samantha, and she could not give it up. On and
on trudged the tired little feet, aching wearily at last, but never
hesitating nor turning back. It seemed a long way, though.

"Wonder if I wont ever and ever come to where the houses get thicker,"
she murmured. "When I keep a store I'll build it on the edge somewhere,
so folks wont have to walk so far to get to it."

After a time, the buildings did nestle more closely together, and,
somewhat comforted, she stopped a moment to rest. But she started
suddenly to her feet as a light flashed upon her from an opposite
window. People were really beginning to light their lamps, and the
daylight was almost gone.

Weariness was forgotten in the thought that night might fall before she
could return, and she ran as fast as her light feet would carry her--so
swiftly and so far that she had nearly passed a small store without
seeing it.

She checked her steps at this discovery, and entering, asked,
breathlessly:

"Oh,--please,--have you any ban-banners?"

"What? any what?" demanded a severe-looking lady, coming forward and
eying Nan suspiciously through her spectacles.

"Bandaners,--handkerchiefs," explained Nannie, less confidently.

"Bandanas? No; I don't keep them," responded the lady, very stiffly.

"Should think she might have been more p'lite, if I didn't call it
right," commented the young traveler as she hurried along the street
once more. "Here's another." This time there was only a boy in
attendance. He was head of the establishment when the proprietor went
to supper, and he enjoyed his important position.