Read Online The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard - Free Book Online

girls.
    Mandie turned back as she went out the door, followed by Polly.
    â€œDinner’s at twelve o’clock on the button. Don’t be late.”
    â€œNever been to dinner on time in my life, but I’ll turn over a new leaf just for you,” Bayne called back to her.
    As the two girls sat in the swing on the front porch, Polly asked, “What are you going to do now? That man says he’s your cousin, and he’ll take what he came after, if you ask me.”
    â€œWe’ll see about that! Just leave him to me!” Mandie teased.
    â€œBut what can you do about it?” Polly wanted to know.
    â€œTonight’s the night for Uncle Ned to come visit,” Mandie said.
    â€œUncle Ned? Who’s he?”
    â€œHe’s the Indian who brought me here. Remember I told you?”
    â€œYeh, but so what? What can an Indian do about this Bayne Locke?”
    â€œI’ll ask Uncle Ned to get the Cherokees to check up on this so-called cousin. Uncle Ned has his own ways of finding out things.”
    The screen door opened and Aunt Lou stuck her head out. “Got that new dress done fuh you, my child.”
    Mandie quickly followed her back into the house with Polly close behind. The blue dress was finished and pressed and was hanging in the sewing room. Mandie could only stand and gasp. She had never owned such a garment in all her life.
    â€œWell, don’t just stand there, my child. We’se got to put it on to see if it fits.” Aunt Lou smiled as she began to unbutton the dress Mandie was wearing.
    The dress fit perfectly and Mandie turned and twirled in front of the long mirror with oh’s and ah’s and Polly admiring.
    â€œIt’s beautiful, Aunt Lou.” Mandie was tearful as she turned to hug the old woman tightly. “Thank you, Aunt Lou! Thank you!”
    â€œIt takes a pretty girl like you to make a dress pretty,” Aunt Lou told her. “You look mighty fine, my child.”
    â€œPositively heavenly, Mandie,” Polly agreed.
    â€œWill you unbutton me now, Aunt Lou?” Mandie asked.
    â€œUnbutton you? What for? There’s more acomin’ from where that one came from. Now you just keep it on and enjoy it, my child.” The old woman patted her on the head.
    â€œMore, Aunt Lou?”
    â€œSho’ ’nuff. Next one will be ready ’fore you git that one dirty,” Aunt Lou assured her. “Gonna be the lady of the house, you is. And you gotta look like the lady of the house—no more countrified looks. You’se a city girl now. Gotta dress like city folks.”
    â€œBut, Aunt Lou, I hate to make so much work for you. You have other things to do, I know.”
    â€œAin’t just me working on these dresses. Got help from old Miz Burnette over on the hill, too.”
    â€œMrs. Burnette makes my clothes too, Mandie,” Polly told her. “Mother says she does the best work in town.”
    â€œSomebody has to pay her,” Mandie said.
    â€œOh, never you mind about pay. Mr. Bond done arranged all that. Now git on ’bout your business. I’se got other things to do,” Aunt Lou gave the two girls an affectionate shove out the door.
    Thank you, dear God, Mandie whispered to herself. Thank you for all these nice things.
    That night, when Mandie met Uncle Ned in the summerhouse nearby, she wore her new blue dress. The old Indian was happy when she told him about all the nice things that had happened to her, but he was greatly disturbed when he heard that her UncleJohn had died and Bayne Locke had come to the house saying he was his nephew.
    â€œBayne Locke. You know where he come from?” he asked.
    â€œHe said he had come all the way from Richmond, Uncle Ned,” Mandie told him. “I suppose he must have lived there before he came here.”
    â€œCherokee go to Richmond. Find out. I know by next full moon,” he promised.
    â€œThank you, Uncle Ned. I seem to ask you for