parents' satisfaction in
this promptness. Books were bestowed in tidiness, lunch-baskets hung in
place, and in every house in the village there was simultaneously
preferred the request:

"May I go out to play?"

Consent obtained--and what mother could refuse it to so deserving a
petitioner?--there followed a stampede of youngsters toward Eunice
Maitland's south corn-field.

Late October brings early nightfall, and even playtime seems over with
the dusk, but that night there were many, many empty places at waiting
supper-tables, and many mothers' ears grew anxious listening for the
clatter of young feet which came not.

[Illustration: "BUT THE LATE RISING MOON LOOKED DOWN UPON A CURIOUS
SCENE"]

But the late rising moon looked down upon a curious scene. Throughout
that same south corn-field had been scattered hundreds of golden
pumpkins ripe for the harvest; and all among them, each with his or her
allotted pile of the great fruit, was every truant youngster. Corn
shocks had been overturned for the more comfortable seating of the
toilers, and knives gleamed in the moon-rays as the diligent fingers
fashioned Jack-o'-lanterns sufficient in number, as Monty declared, to
"l-l-light the w-w-wh-whole world!"

CHAPTER XX.

UNINVITED GUESTS

Katharine escaped the chiding she deserved because, when she reentered
the house, Miss Eunice was engaged with company and Susanna was
preparing a tray of refreshments to be served the guests. Montgomery
escaped because Madam supposed he had been at The Maples where so much
of his time was now passed. He went supperless to bed, but Katharine,
most guilty of all delinquents, fared sumptuously upon a portion of the
dainties from the housekeeper's "company tray." The Turner trio of
culprits ate wedges of cold pumpkin pie, eaten standing by the kitchen
sink, and went to bed to dream that all the world was made of pumpkins
which it was their destiny to consume before a general illumination
began. At least, that was what Martha dreamed, and, having roused the
other pair to relate it to them, they were sleepy enough to believe they
had dreamed it, too.

Other children--But why prolong the story? Many of the pumpkin artists
had reason to remember that night for some time to come; yet not one
ever admitted that they had not found their fun outweigh their
punishment.

Some days previous Katharine had put a very mild request to Aunt Eunice,
in the words:

"Aunty, would you min