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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34926-8.txt b/34926-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aca001d --- /dev/null +++ b/34926-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5120 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp Fire Girls in After Years, by +Margaret Vandercook + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Camp Fire Girls in After Years + +Author: Margaret Vandercook + +Release Date: January 12, 2011 [EBook #34926] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: RICHARD HUNT SAT DOWN ON A WAYSIDE BENCH WITH HER] + + + + + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS + +BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK + +Author of "The Ranch Girls Series," etc. + +ILLUSTRATED + + PHILADELPHIA + THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. + PUBLISHERS + + + + + Copyright, 1915, by + THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY + + +STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS + +Six Volumes + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SUNRISE HILL + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AMID THE SNOWS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ACROSS THE SEA + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' CAREERS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. THE INAUGURAL BALL 7 + II. NEW NAMES FOR OLD ACQUAINTANCES 21 + III. IDLE SUSPICION 32 + IV. TIES FROM OTHER DAYS 44 + V. SOMETHING UNEXPECTED 55 + VI. THE FIRST DISILLUSION 66 + VII. A NEW INTEREST 79 + VIII. "BOBBIN" 91 + IX. BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 101 + X. LONELINESS 110 + XI. A MEETING AND AN EXPLANATION 120 + XII. THE WAY HOME 132 + XIII. "A LITTLE RIFT WITHIN THE LUTE" 140 + XIV. SUSPICION 150 + XV. WAITING TO FIND OUT 160 + XVI. A TALK THAT WAS NOT AN EXPLANATION 172 + XVII. CHRISTMAS 180 + XVIII. THE STUPIDITY OF MEN 191 + XIX. A CRY IN THE NIGHT 201 + XX. THE DISCOVERY 212 + XXI. ONCE MORE IN CONCORD 221 + XXII. THINGS ARE CLEARED UP 230 + XXIII. FINIS 244 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + RICHARD HUNT SAT DOWN ON A WAYSIDE BENCH WITH HER _Frontispiece_ + PAGE + HE GLANCED QUICKLY ABOUT HIM AND THEN DISAPPEARED 39 + ANGEL HAD CAUGHT BETTINA'S ATTITUDE ALMOST EXACTLY 167 + SHE SPRANG OUT OF BED HERSELF THE NEXT MOMENT 239 + + + + +The Camp Fire Girls in After Years + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE INAUGURAL BALL + + +FACING the hills, the great house had a wonderful view of the curving +banks of a river. + +Half an hour before sunset a number of workmen hurried away across the +grounds, while a little later from behind the closed blinds glowed +hundreds of softly shaded electric lights. The lawns were strung with +rows and rows of small lamps suspended from one giant tree to the next, +but waiting for actual darkness to descend before shedding forth their +illumination. + +Evidently preparations had been made on a splendid scale, both inside +the house and out, for an entertainment of some kind. Yet curiously +there seemed to be a strange hush over everything, a sense of anxiety +and suspense pervading the very atmosphere. Then, in odd contrast to the +other lights, the room on the third floor to the left was in almost +total darkness save for a single tiny flame no larger than a nurse's +covered candle. + +At about half-past six o'clock suddenly and with almost no noise the +front door of the house opened. The next moment a slight form appeared +upon the flight of broad steps and gazed down the avenue. From behind +her came the mingled fragrance of roses and violets, while before her +arose the even more delicious tang of earth and grass and softly +drifting autumn leaves of the late October evening. + +Nevertheless neither the beauty of the evening nor its perfumes +attracted the girl's attention, for her expression remained grave and +frightened, and without appearing aware of it she sighed several times. + +Small and dark, with an extraordinary quantity of almost blue-black hair +and a thin white face dominated by a pair of unhappy dark eyes, the +girl's figure suggested a child, although she was plainly older. In her +hand she carried a cane upon which she leaned slightly. + +"It does seem too hard for this trouble to have come at this particular +time," she murmured in unconscious earnestness. "If only I could do +something to help, yet there is absolutely nothing, of course, except to +wait. Still, I wish Faith would come home." + +Then, after peering for another moment down the avenue of old elms and +maple trees, she turned and went back into the house, closing the door +behind her and moving almost noiselessly. + +For the present no one else was to be seen, at least in the front part +of the big mansion, except the solitary figure of this young girl, who +looked somewhat incongruous and out of place in her handsome +surroundings. Notwithstanding, she seemed perfectly at home and was +plainly neither awed by nor unfamiliar with them. The hall was decorated +with palms and evergreens and festoons of vines, and adorning the high +walls were portraits, most of them of men of stern countenance and of a +past generation, while here and there stood a marble bust. But without +regarding any of these things with special attention the girl walked +quickly past them and entered the drawing room on the right. Then at +last her face brightened. + +Surely the room was beautiful enough to have attracted any one's +attention, although it was not exactly the kind of room one would see in +a private house, for it happened to be in the Governor's mansion in the +state of New Hampshire. + +In preparation for the evening's entertainment the furniture had been +moved away except for a number of chairs and divans. The two tall marble +mantels were banked with roses and violets and baskets of roses swung +from the two crystal chandeliers. + +With a murmured exclamation the girl dropped down on a low stool in the +corner where the evergreens almost entirely concealed her and where she +appeared more like an elf creature that had come into the house with the +green things surrounding her than an everyday girl. For a quarter of an +hour she must have remained there alone, when she was aroused from her +reverie by some one's entrance. Then, although the girl did not move or +speak, her whole face changed and the sullen, unhappy look disappeared, +while oddly her eyes filled with tears. + +There could have been nothing fairer in the room than the woman who had +just come quietly into it. She must have been about twenty-eight years +old; her hair was a beautiful auburn, like sunshine on certain brown and +red leaves in the woods in late October; her eyes were gray, and she was +of little more than medium height, with slender hips, but a full throat +and chest. At the present moment she was wearing a house gown of light +blue cashmere, and although she looked as if life might always before +have been kind to her, at present her face was pale and there were marks +of sleeplessness about her eyes and mouth. + +Apparently trying to summon an interest in her surroundings which she +scarcely felt, she glanced about the room until her eyes rested on the +silent girl. + +"Why, Angel, what are you doing in here alone, child? How lovely +everything looks, and yet I am afraid I cannot come down to receive +people tonight. All afternoon I have been trying to make up my mind to +attempt it and each moment it seems more impossible." + +Then with a gesture indicating both fatigue and discouragement the woman +sat down, folding her hands in her lap. + +"But the baby isn't any worse, I heard only half an hour ago," the +younger girl interrupted quickly, and in answer to a shake of the head +from her companion went on: "You simply must be present tonight, +Princess. This is the greatest night in your husband's career and you +know the Inaugural Ball would be an entire failure without you! Staying +up-stairs won't do little Tony any good. And think what it would mean to +the Governor to have to manage all alone! You know you promised Anthony +before his election that you would attend to the social side of his +office for him, as he declared he didn't know enough to undertake it. So +you can't desert him at the very beginning." + +Swiftly Angelique Martins crossed the room and seated herself on the arm +of her friend's chair. "I promise you on my honor that I shall sit just +outside little Tony's bedroom the entire evening and if he is even the +tiniest bit worse I shall come down and tell you on the instant." + +There was a moment of silence and then the newly elected Governor's wife +replied: "I suppose you are right, Angel, and I must try to do what you +say, for nothing else is fair to Anthony. Yet I never dreamed of ever +having to choose between my love and duty to my baby and my husband! But +dear me, I am sure I have not the faintest idea how the Governor's Lady +should behave at her first reception, even if I have to make my début in +the character in the next few hours." + +Then, in a lighter tone than she had yet used in their conversation, +Betty Ashton, who was now Mrs. Governor Graham, smiled, placing her hand +for a moment on that of her companion. + +For the friendship between Betty Ashton and the little French girl whom +she had discovered at the hospital in Boston had never wavered even +after the Betty of the Camp Fire days had become Mrs. Anthony Graham, +wife of the youngest governor ever elected to the highest office in his +state. Moreover, Betty and Anthony now had two children of their own, +the little Tony, a baby of about two years old, who was now dangerously +ill on the top floor of the Governor's mansion, and Bettina, who was +six. + +Angelique Martins was almost like an adoring younger sister. She was +approaching twenty; yet on account of her lameness and shyness she +appeared much younger. But she was one of the odd girls who in some ways +are like children and yet in others are older than people ever dream. +After her mother's death, several years before, she had come to live +with Betty and Anthony and held a position as an assistant stenographer +in the Governor's office. Ordinarily she was strangely silent and +reserved, so that no one, not even her best friend, entirely understood +her. + +"But you must not miss the ball tonight, Angel," Betty now continued +more cheerfully. "You and Faith have been talking of it for weeks, and +so I can't have you sacrifice yourself for me. Besides, one of the +nurses can do what you offered and send me a message if I am needed. +Don't you remember that your dress is even prettier than Faith's? I was +perfectly determined it should be." And Betty smiled, amused at herself. +She was always a little jealous for her protégé of Faith Barton. It was +true that since their first meeting at Sunrise Cabin the two girls had +become close friends. But then Betty could seldom fail to see, just as +she had in the beginning, the painful contrast between them. Faith had +grown into a beautiful girl and Dr. Barton and Rose were entirely +devoted to her; and she had also both charm and talent, although still +given to impossible dreams about people and things. + +Angel now shook her head. "You know you would feel safer with me to +stand guard over Tony than if you had only one of the servants," she +argued a little resentfully. Then with her cheeks crimsoning: "Besides, +Princess, you know that I perfectly loathe having to meet strangers. No +one in the world except you could ever have induced me even to think of +it. I am ever so much happier alone with you and the children or pegging +away at my typewriter at the office. I believe people ought to remain +where they belong in this world, and you can't possibly make me look +like Faith by dressing me up in pretty clothes. I should never conceive +of being her rival in anything." + +There was a curious note in the lame girl's voice that passed unnoticed, +for her companion suddenly inquired: "By the way, dear, do you know what +has become of Faith? I passed her room and she was not there. I hope she +is not out alone. I know she has a fashion of loving to go about in the +twilight, dreaming her dreams and composing verse. Still, when she is +here visiting me I would much rather she did not." + +"But Faith isn't alone. She is with the Governor's secretary, Kenneth +Helm," Angel answered. "Mr. Helm came to the house with a message and +Faith asked him to go out with her." + +Betty smiled. Faith Barton scorned conventionalities and felt sure that +she was above certain of them. "Oh, I did not know Kenneth and Faith had +learned to know each other so well in two weeks' time," she replied +carelessly, her attention wandering to the little Tony up-stairs. +"However, Faith is all right if she is with Kenneth. I know Anthony has +the greatest possible trust in him or he would never have selected him +for his secretary in such troublesome political times as these. I don't +believe you seem to like Kenneth as much as you once did. But you must +not be prejudiced against so many people. He used to be very kind to +you." + +Without waiting for Angel's reply Betty walked away. If she could have +seen her expression she might have been surprised or annoyed. + +For sometimes Angel had wondered if it would be wise for her to take her +friend into her confidence. Surely she had reasons for not being so sure +of the Governor's confidence in his secretary. But then what proof had +she to offer against him? Besides, people often considered her +suspicious and unfriendly. Moreover, in this case the French girl did +not altogether trust herself. Was there not some personal reason in her +dislike? It was entirely true that she had not felt like this in the +beginning of their acquaintance. + +With a feeling of irritation against herself, Angel started to leave the +drawing room. This was plainly no time for worrying over the future; she +must go and have something to eat at once so as to be able to help watch +the baby. There was only one regret the girl felt at her own decision. +She was sorry not to see Betty receiving her guests at the Inaugural +Ball tonight. For her friend remained her ideal of what a great lady +should be in the best sense. Moreover, there would be other old friends +whom she had once known at Sunrise Cabin. However, some of them were +guests at the mansion, so she could meet them later. + +Out in the hall the little French girl now discovered Faith and Kenneth +Helm returning from their walk. The Governor's private secretary must +have been about twenty-four or five years old. He was a Yale graduate +and had light-brown hair and eyes of almost the same color. He had the +shoulders of an athlete, a clear, bright complexion, and as Angel +watched them she could not deny that he had a particularly charming +smile. However, he was assuredly not looking at her. It was absurd to +care, of course, yet nevertheless even the humblest person scarcely +likes being wilfully ignored. And Angel was sure that the young man had +seen her, even though he gave no appearance of having done so. + +The next moment, after her companion's departure, Faith Barton turned to +her friend. Faith's cheeks were delicately flushed from her walk in the +autumn air and her pale gold hair was blowing about her face. Her blue +eyes were wide open and clear and she looked curiously innocent of any +wrong or misfortune in the world. Surely there were seldom two girls +offering a more complete contrast than the two who now tiptoed softly +down the long hall together. + +"I am going to rest a little while," Faith said at parting. "But do let +us try to have a long, quiet talk tomorrow. I want to tell you a secret +that no one else in the world must know for the present." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +NEW NAMES FOR OLD ACQUAINTANCES + + +THERE was a shimmer of silver and blue on the stairs and then the man +with his eyes upturned saw his wife moving toward him in a kind of +cloud. + +The next moment with a laugh of mingled embarrassment and pleasure Betty +Graham put up her hand, covering her husband's eyes. + +"You must not look at me like that, Anthony, or you will make me +abominably vain," she whispered. "Wait until the girls and the receiving +party appear and then you will see what an ordinary person the new +'Governor's Lady' is and repent having raised humble Betty Ashton to +such an exalted position." + +Arm in arm the husband and wife now moved toward the drawing room. + +"How little we ever dreamed of this grandeur, dear, in the days when I +had to work so hard to persuade you to marry me." + +"Perhaps if I had known I never should have dared," Betty went on, still +half in earnest. "But I mean to do the best I can to help in our new +position, although I must confess I am dreadfully frightened at having +to receive so many distinguished people tonight. However, nurse says +Tony is really better. And I shall have you to tell me what I ought to +say and do." + +Now under the tall crystal chandelier the young Governor lifted his +wife's hand to his lips with a smile at her absurdity. In spite of his +ordinary origin Anthony Graham had a curious courtliness of manner. It +was amusing to hear Betty talking of being afraid of people. All her +life she had had unusual social charm, winning friends and admiration in +every circle of society almost from her babyhood. Naturally in the years +since her marriage, during her husband's struggle from the position of a +successful young lawyer in a small town to the highest office in the +state, both her charm and self-possession had increased. Indeed, it was +well known that she had been her husband's chief inspiration and aid, +and there were many persons who declared that it had been the wife's +beauty and money that were responsible for the husband's success. +However, this remark was made by the Governor's political enemies and +not his friends and was of course untrue. + +Nevertheless Anthony did look somewhat boyish and insignificant tonight +for his distinguished position. He was of only medium height, and +although his shoulders were broad, he had never lost the thinness of his +boyhood due to hardships and too severe study. Yet there was nothing +weak or immature about his face with its deep-set hazel eyes, the high, +grave forehead with the dark hair pushed carelessly back, and the firm, +almost obstinate, set of his lips. + +Indeed, the young Governor already had gained a reputation for +obstinacy, and once persuaded to a policy or an idea, was difficult to +change. This trait of character had been partly responsible for his +election to office. For there had been serious graft and dishonesty in +the politics of New Hampshire, and led by Anthony Graham the younger +men in the state had been able to defeat the old-time political ring. +Whether or not the good government party would be allowed to remain in +power depended largely on the new Governor. He had promised to stop the +graft and crime in the state and to give positions to no persons who +were not fitted for them. Of course this meant that he must have many +enemies who would do their best to destroy his reputation. Already they +were aware that the young Governor's one weakness was his devotion to +his beautiful wife. + +But Betty used often to be amused at the outside world's opinion of her +husband's character. For never once in their married life so far had he +ever refused any request of hers. Therefore the real test was yet to +come. + +Five minutes later and there was once more the sound of movement and +laughter on the stairway when the re-opening of the drawing room door +admitted six persons, who were to form the first members of the +receiving line. + +First came Doctor and Mrs. Richard Ashton. Already Dick had made a +reputation for himself as a surgeon in Boston, while Esther was one of +the plain girls who so frequently grow handsomer as they grow older. Her +tallness and pallor with her abundant red hair and sweet yet reserved +manner formed tonight as striking a contrast to her sister's grace and +animation as it had in the days when they first learned to know of the +closeness of the tie between them. + +Mr. and Mrs. William Webster had come all the way from Woodford to +Concord, leaving three babies at home, to assist their old friends at +the Inaugural Ball. You must have guessed that Mollie O'Neill, as Mrs. +William Webster, would have grown plumper and prettier during the busy, +happy years of married life with her husband and children on their large +farm. For Mollie now had a small daughter "Polly," named for her beloved +twin sister, and a pair of twin sons, Dan and Billy. She was more than +ever in love with her husband and, many people believed, entirely under +his thumb. Yet there were times when Mollie could and would assert +herself in a surprising fashion just as she had in former days with her +girl friends. + +Tonight she was wearing a white silk which looked just the least bit +countrified and yet was singularly becoming to Mollie's milk-white skin, +pink cheeks and shining black hair. Yet in spite of never having changed +his occupation of farmer, there was little to suggest the countryside in +Billy Webster's appearance, except in his unusual strength and size. For +he had fulfilled the prediction made to Polly O'Neill over a Camp Fire +luncheon many years before. He had remained a farmer and a highly +successful one and yet had seen a good deal of the world and understood +many things besides farming. + +Of the three Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls who had within the last few +moments joined Betty and her husband, the third was the most changed. +For is it not difficult to imagine Meg Everett transformed into a +fashionable society woman, Meg, whose hair never would stay neatly +braided, whose waist and skirt so frequently failed to connect? + +However, after a number of love affairs, to her friends' surprise Meg +had married a man as unlike her in taste and disposition as one could +well imagine. He was a worldly, fashionable man, supposed to be wealthy. +Anyhow, he and Meg lived in a handsome house, owned a motor car and +entertained a great deal. They had no children, and perhaps this was the +reason why Meg did not look altogether happy. Sometimes her old friends +had wondered if there could be other reasons, for Meg had always been a +warm-hearted, impetuous girl, careless of fashions and indifferent to +conventions, and now she was always dressed in clothes of the latest +design and at least appeared like a fashionable woman. + +Nevertheless Meg had always been more easily influenced than any other +of the Camp Fire girls, hating to oppose the wishes of any one near to +her heart. Her husband, Jack Emmet, was an intimate friend of her adored +brother John. He and Meg made an attractive couple, for although Mr. +Emmet was not handsome, he was tall and had a slender, correct figure +and sharply cut features with light blue eyes and brown hair. Meg's +costume was quite as beautiful as Betty's, a soft rose silk and chiffon, +and her golden hair was fastened with a small rope of pearls. + +"You are as lovely tonight as ever, Betty, and I know Anthony is proud +of you," Meg whispered, holding her friend's hand for an instant. +"Remember when you once believed that Anthony was falling in love with +me? Silly child, he never thought of any one except you! But then he and +I have always been special friends since he believed I helped him win +you. I want to tell him how proud I feel of you both tonight." + +As Meg moved away, Mollie's plump arm, which was only partly concealed +by her glove, slipped inside her hostess's. + +"It is nice we can have a few moments to ourselves before the ball +begins," she remarked shyly, glancing toward her husband, who was for +the moment talking with Jack Emmet. The two men did not like each other, +but had been forced into conversation by Meg's moving off with Anthony. + +Betty kissed her friend, quite forgetting the dignity of her position on +the present occasion. + +"Dear old Mollie, it is good of you to have come to help me tonight! I +know you don't like this society business. How I wish we had Polly here +with us! She promised to come if possible, but I had a telegram from her +only this afternoon saying that she is almost on the other side of the +continent. It was dated Denver, I believe." + +The same look of affectionate incomprehension which she had often +directed toward Polly, again crossed Mollie Webster's pretty face. + +"It is just as impossible as ever to keep up with Polly," she explained +half complainingly. "She has been acting through the West all summer, +but promised to come home for a visit this autumn. Now she writes she +won't be here for some time. Dear me, I do wish that Polly would marry +and settle down. Of course I know it is wonderful for her to have become +such a distinguished actress, but I never think she is very happy and I +am always worrying over her." + +Betty laughed and then looked serious. "Polly never will settle down, as +you mean it, Mollie dear, even if she should marry," she argued, +forgetting for the moment the other friends close about her and the +evening's ordeal. For her thoughts had traveled away to Polly O'Neill, +who was to her surprise still Polly O'Neill. For at one time she had +certainly believed that Polly had intended marrying Richard Hunt, the +actor, and just why their engagement had been broken no one had ever +been told. Possibly it was because Polly had wished to devote herself +entirely to her work. She had always said as a girl that marriage should +never be allowed to interfere with her career, and certainly it had not. +For the Polly who had made her first success some ten years before in +the little Irish play was now one of the best known actresses in the +United States. Indeed, she had succeeded to the position once held by +Margaret Adams, since Margaret Adams had married and retired. + +However, for the present there was no further opportunity for mutual +confidences, since in the interval Faith Barton had appeared and with +her the Governor's new secretary, besides a dozen other persons, most of +them political friends, who were to assist in opening the Inaugural +Ball. + +As Anthony joined her, Betty felt her cheeks flush and her knees tremble +for an instant. Moving toward them, accompanied by his wife, was the man +whom Anthony had defeated in the election for Governor. To save her life +Betty could not help recalling at this instant all the hateful things +this man had previously said against her husband. Yet she must not be +childish, nor show ill feeling. Ex-Governor Peyton and his wife were +much older than she and Anthony, and besides they were their guests. + +Betty's manner was perfectly gracious and collected by the time the +visitors reached them. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +IDLE SUSPICION + + +SHE had sat huddled up in a chair outside the baby's room for several +hours. Her self-sacrifice had been entirely unnecessary, as half a dozen +persons had assured her, but Angel was by no means certain that she was +not happier in her present position than if she had been down-stairs in +the crowded ballroom unnoticed and perhaps in the way of the few people +who would try to be kind to her. + +Two or three times she had stolen in to look at Tony. He was sleeping +quietly and peacefully, a big beautiful baby with Betty's soft auburn +hair and Anthony's hazel eyes. But now a clock somewhere was striking +twelve and Angel decided that she must have a look at the guests before +they went away. She had put on the white frock of soft chiffon and lace +that Betty had given her, but somehow it only made her look more +childish and insignificant. Her face was pale now with weariness and her +hair and eyes seemed so dark in comparison as to give her a kind of +uncanny appearance. Perhaps waiting to gain more courage and perhaps for +other reasons, immediately after leaving the nursery Angel, before +starting down-stairs, went into another big room at the end of the hall. + +As the girl leaned over to gaze at a little sleeper a small hand reached +up and touched her face. It was that of Bettina, the "little Princess" +as everybody called her. Nevertheless Bettina was not in the least like +her mother. She had long hair that was gold in some lights and in others +a pale brown, and her eyes were bluer than gray. Indeed, Polly had once +said of her two or three years before, that Tina's eyes had no color +like other people's, for they merely reflected the lights above them +like a clear pool. The little girl was slender and quiet and many +persons believed her shy, which was not altogether true. Possibly the +oddest of her characteristics was her ability to understand what other +people were thinking and feeling without being told. + +Now she whispered: "Why don't you just find a place where you can see, +Angel, without any one's seeing you? I shall want you to tell me +everything tomorrow. Mother won't understand in the way I mean." + +Of course that was just what she should have been doing for these past +two hours, Angelique thought to herself as soon after she slipped away. +But it was like Bettina to have suggested it. Already she knew the exact +place where she might have been in hiding all this time. + +On the second floor toward the rear of the house there was a kind of +square landing which faced a small room that was oddly separated from +the other apartments. For this reason the Governor had chosen it for his +private study. Only one servant was allowed to enter this room and very +rarely any member of the family. For in it were kept a number of +important letters and papers. + +But concealing the entrance tonight were a number of palms and other +tall plants, and by placing a small camp chair behind them one could +see through the railing of the balustrade down into the big hall. The +music was there and many beautifully dressed people were walking up and +down. + +The little French girl stared for ten minutes without moving. She had a +curious, almost passionate love of beautiful people and things, +inherited from some far-off French ancestor, who may have been a great +artist or perchance only carried a great artist's longings in his soul. +Indeed, Angel had real talent of her own and whatever her hands touched +she could make lovely, whether it was designing a dress, decorating a +room or even making a sketch of a scene or a flower, anything that had +appealed to her imagination. Through her Camp Fire training she had +learned to make remarkable use of her hands, especially in the days +before she was able to leave her wheeled chair. Indeed, Betty and all of +her friends had been disappointed when she had failed to follow some +artistic profession. Betty had urged and pleaded with her to become an +artist or designer and had offered to pay her expenses, yet as soon as +she was well enough Angel had insisted upon studying something through +which she could at once make her living. By this time the little French +girl had been brought too close to life's realities not to understand +its difficulties. To make her living as an artist or a designer would +take years and years of study and work before she could hope to succeed. +Besides, Betty, in spite of Judge Maynard's legacy, was not so rich as +she was generous and there were always other people to be thought of. +For the Princess had never ceased her generosities, and even if her +husband had become a distinguished man it would be difficult for him +ever to be a rich one unless something unforeseen happened. Therefore +Angel had been happy enough with her stenography and typewriting and +with her new position in the Governor's office. For in her heart of +hearts it was her philosophy that duty could be done every day and +beauty kept for certain exquisite moments. + +Now, however, she felt that one of these perfect moments had come. Only +she wished that Betty or some one whom she knew might appear within her +range of vision. It was entertaining, of course, to watch the strangers +and to decide whose clothes were prettiest and guess their names. + +Angel drew her chair farther away from the landing so she could peep +squarely through the banisters and was now some distance from the study +door. Moreover, the following moment she had caught a glimpse of a +friend whom she had wished to see almost as much as Betty. There stood a +tall girl with pale gold hair, wearing a frock of white and blue, and +talking to a young man in as absorbed a fashion as if they had been +entirely alone. It was difficult to see her companion and yet the French +girl felt that she might have guessed before she finally discovered him. +For Faith's face wore the same rapt, excited expression it had worn that +afternoon on returning from her walk. What could it mean? Angel +pondered. Surely Faith and Kenneth Helm did not yet know each other well +enough for Faith's secret to have anything to do with him. Their +acquaintance had started only about ten days before. + +[Illustration: HE GLANCED QUICKLY ABOUT HIM AND THEN DISAPPEARED] + +Surely in her absorbed interest Angelique had no thought of spying on +her friend, for two people could not be seriously confidential when +hundreds of others were close about them. Nevertheless the watcher felt +her own cheeks flush guiltily as she saw the young man below her +whispering something in his companion's ear. The next instant, however, +Faith had left the hall with some one else. Then to her intense +consternation Angel observed Kenneth Helm coming alone straight up the +broad stairs. Could it be possible that either one of them had seen her +and that Faith was sending Kenneth to bring her down to the ballroom? +With all her heart Angel hoped not. She would like to have gotten up and +run away to shelter, yet knew it was impossible for her to move without +making a noise. By remaining silent there was just a chance that Kenneth +Helm was on his way to the men's dressing room and would not notice her. +Moreover, if Faith had not sent him to find her probably he would not +even speak to her. + +It was quite true that the girl in hiding need have felt no concern. The +young man certainly did not see her, nor did he pass her by. For some +odd reason he stopped for a moment at the top of the landing, glanced +quickly about him and then disappeared inside the Governor's private +study, opening the door with a key which must have been given him for +the especial purpose. + +"What could Kenneth wish in there tonight?" Angelique wondered idly, +somewhat relieved because his errand plainly had nothing to do with her. +Moreover, there was too much that was absorbing below stairs to give a +great deal of thought to anything else just at present. + +The next instant Angel started, uttering a little gasp of anger and +dismay, as a hand was laid rudely upon her shoulder. + +"Whom are you spying upon now, 'Angel in the House?'" the young man's +voice asked mockingly. "Don't you think that perhaps you are rather an +uncanny person anyhow?" + +The girl flushed and found it impossible to keep her lips from +trembling. When she had first gone to work in Anthony Graham's office, +Kenneth Helm had also been employed there and had been unusually kind to +her. Recently, however, he seemed to have avoided and almost to have +disliked her. This she knew had caused a change in her own attitude, so +perhaps her prejudice against the young man's position as the Governor's +private secretary was largely due to this. Nevertheless she had done +nothing to deserve the change in his treatment of her, and if a human +being is disloyal to one friendship, why not to another? + +However, at the present moment the girl only wished to be left alone, so +she merely shook her head, explaining: "I didn't mean to be spying upon +any one, and I am sorry if you think I am uncanny." Then she glanced +pathetically down toward the cane at her side, and this time her +companion blushed. + +"Oh, I did not mean that, Miss Martins. That is not fair of you," he +remonstrated. "But please don't mention to the Governor or any one that +you saw me go into his private study tonight, will you? You see, I had +forgotten something that I ought to have attended to at the office. My +memory is not so good as yours. Won't you let me take you down-stairs?" + +The lame girl rose slowly, not knowing exactly how to refuse the young +man's offer. Besides, she remembered what Betty had said to her. "She +must not be so suspicious and prejudiced against people." + +"Certainly I won't speak to Mr. Graham of your having gone into his +office. Why should I?" she conceded, laying her hand lightly on her +companion's arm. "Besides, do you think I talk to the Governor about his +affairs just because I live in his house? He is so quiet and stern I am +dreadfully afraid of him. It is Betty, Mrs. Graham, who is my friend. If +it is not too much trouble to you and she is not too busy I would like +to have you take me to her now for a little while. Never in my life have +I seen anything so splendid as this reception tonight!" + +When the little French girl talked she was not half so homely and +unattractive, Kenneth Helm decided as he made his way with her through +the crowd. Moreover, he must not turn her into an enemy, for assuredly +Mrs. Graham was her devoted friend and what his wife desired was law +with the Governor. + +Kenneth Helm intended to succeed in life. This was the keynote of his +character. He wanted money and power and meant to do anything necessary +to attain them. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +TIES FROM OTHER DAYS + + +ONE morning, a few days later, Mrs. Jack Emmet was ushered into Betty's +personal sitting room. Betty was writing notes and Bettina was curled up +in a big chair near the window with a book of fairy tales in her lap. + +Both of them rose at once, Betty kissing her friend affectionately. But +her little girl, who showed her affection differently from other +children, sitting down by Meg's side, slipped her small hand inside +hers. + +Meg was beautifully dressed in a dark blue broadcloth and black fox furs +with a velvet hat and small black feather curled close against her light +hair. Yet the hat was the least bit awry, one lock of hair had come +uncurled and been blown about by the wind, and a single blue button hung +loose on the stylish coat. Noticing these absurd details for some reason +or other, Betty felt oddly pleased. For they brought back the Meg of +old days, whom not all the strenuous years of Camp Fire training had +been able to make as neat as she should have been, although since her +marriage she seemed to have greatly changed. + +Therefore, in observing these unimportant facts of her friend's costume +Betty failed to catch the difference in her expression. They began their +conversation idly enough in discussing the ball of a few nights before, +the Governor's health and just how busy he was and what people were +saying of him in Concord. For, although Mr. and Mrs. Graham had only +been installed in the Governor's mansion a few weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Jack +Emmet had been living in Concord ever since their marriage about five +years before. + +Nevertheless, if Betty had not observed the change in her friend, in +some unaccountable fashion Bettina had. Not that the little girl +realized that Mrs. Emmet had dark circles under her eyes and that +instead of gazing directly at her mother as she talked, her glance +traveled restlessly about the pretty room. Nor did Bettina know that +Meg's cheeks were not a natural pink, but flushed to uncomfortable +redness; no, she only appreciated that "Aunt Meg," for whom she cared a +great deal, was uneasy and unhappy and would perhaps enjoy having her +keep close beside her. + +"You will stay and take lunch with us, won't you, dear?" Betty urged, +moving forward to assist her visitor in removing her wraps. "You see, we +shall probably be all by ourselves. Anthony is too busy to come home, +Angel is at the office and Faith asked to be left alone for the day. The +child is probably scribbling away on some story she desires to write. +Then after lunch we can see little Tony. The baby is well again, only +the nurse wants him kept quiet." + +Affectionately Betty placed her hands on Meg's shoulders and standing +directly beside her now for the first time looked closely into her face. +To her shocked surprise she discovered that unexpected tears had started +to Meg's eyes. + +At once Betty Graham's happy expression clouded. For she was no less +ready with her sympathy than in former days, and the Camp Fire girls of +the old Sunrise Club seemed almost like real sisters. + +"You came to tell me of something that is troubling you and I didn't +dream of it till this minute!" Betty exclaimed, slipping off Meg's coat +and unpinning her hat without waiting for permission. Then, pushing her +friend down into a big, soft armchair, she took a lower one opposite. + +"Isn't it good fortune that we are living in the same place just as we +used to long ago?" She continued talking, of course, to allow her +companion to gain her self-control. Then she glanced toward Bettina, but +Meg only drew the little girl closer, hiding her face for an instant in +her soft hair. + +"I'm absurd to be so nervous, Betty," Meg whispered apologetically. +"Please don't think there is anything serious the matter. Only--only I +have come to ask you a favor and I don't know exactly how to begin. Of +course, we used to be very intimate friends and all that, but now you +are the Governor's wife, and--and----" + +Before she could finish a somewhat hurt voice interposed. "And--and--I +am Betty Ashton Graham still, very much at your service, Sweet Marjoram, +as Polly once named you. Dear me, Meg, don't be absurd. I can't say I +feel particularly exalted by my position as wife of the new Governor, +though of course I am frightfully vain of Anthony. Besides you know if +there is anything I can do that you would like, I shall be happier than +I can say." With a laugh that still had something serious in it, Betty +put her hand over her friend's. "I still insist that I owe Anthony +partly to you," she ended. + +But this time Meg did not trouble to argue the absurd statement. + +She began talking at once as rapidly as possible, as if glad to get the +subject off her mind. + +"It's about John, I came to talk to you, my brother, John Everett, +Betty," Meg explained. "I don't know whether you have seen much of him +lately, but you were devoted friends once and I thought perhaps for the +sake of the past you might be interested." + +"John Everett? For the sake of the past I might be interested! Whatever +are you talking about?" Betty was now frowning in her effort to +understand and looked absurdly like a girl, with her level brows drawn +near together and her lips pouting slightly. "Why, of course I am +interested. I used to like John better than any of the other beaus we +had, when we were girls, except Anthony. Tell me, is John going to be +married at last? I have wondered why he has waited such a long time. But +I suppose he wanted to be rich first. It has been about two years since +we met by accident in a theater in New York, but I thought he had grown +handsomer than ever." This time Betty's laugh was more teasing than +sympathetic. "I wonder why sisters are so jealous of their big brothers +marrying, Mrs. Jack Emmet? You are married yourself--why begrudge John +the good fortune? I don't believe Nan has ever entirely forgiven me for +capturing Anthony. I am convinced she would have preferred any other of +the Camp Fire girls. There is only one of us, however, whom she would +have really liked, and that is Sylvia. Yet who would ever think of +Doctor Sylvia Wharton's marrying?" + +This time Meg's voice was firmer. "But John isn't going to be married, +Betty. It is quite a different thing I wish to talk to you about. +Instead of John's getting rich on Wall Street, as you think, he has +gotten dreadfully poor. And I am afraid it is not just his own money he +has lost, but father's savings. Now Horace will have to give up his +college and I really don't know what will become of father. He is too +old to begin teaching again since his resignation several years ago." + +Her voice broke, but then her friend's face was so bewildered and so +full of a sudden, ardent sympathy, that it was difficult for Meg to keep +her self-control. However, she said nothing more for a minute, but sat +biting her lips and wondering how to go on to the next thing. + +Fortunately Betty helped her. "I expect John will have to come back home +and take care of your father. Horace is too young and it is more John's +place than your husband's. I am sorry, for I'm afraid things will seem +pretty dull for him here after his gay life in New York." + +All at once Betty's face cleared a little and she leaned back in her +chair. "But you remember, Meg, that when you first spoke you said you +wished me to do you a favor. Is there anything in the world I can do? I +am sure I can scarcely imagine what it is, yet if I can in any way help +you out of this trouble----" + +"You can," Meg whispered shyly; "that is, perhaps not you, but Anthony, +and you are almost the same person." + +In answer to this rather surprising statement Betty Graham merely shook +her head quietly. However, this was scarcely the time to argue whether +or not marriage merged two persons into one or simply made each one +bigger and more individual from association with the other. She wanted +to do whatever was possible to assist Meg and John Everett too in this +trying time in their affairs. Besides, as a little girl she had always +been fond of old Professor Everett, whose life had been given to the +wisdom of books rather than to the living world. But most of all, being +a very natural woman, Betty was now keenly curious to know how she could +possibly be expected to be involved in the present situation and what +she could do to help out. + +"You are right. John does mean to come home, or at least he wishes to +return. He says he is tired of New York and all the fret and hurry and +struggle of life there. But you see, Betty dear," and Meg spoke quickly +now that she had finally come to the point of her story, "there is no +use John's returning unless he has something to do. There is where you +and Anthony can help. I didn't think of this myself, but when my husband +and I were talking things over he said that Anthony and you and I were +such old friends and that the new Governor had so many appointments he +could make to all sorts of good positions. So we thought perhaps you +would ask Anthony to help John. I know Anthony does anything you wish." + +"Oh!" Betty replied somewhat blankly. For never had she been more +surprised than by Meg's request. Of course she knew that Anthony was +making a number of changes in positions held by people whom he thought +unworthy of trust throughout the state. Often he talked about what he +felt he should do, but really it had never dawned upon Betty until this +minute that she or her friends could be in any way concerned. Still, why +not? John was a good business man, Betty thought; he was not dishonest +or dishonorable and the Everetts were her old friends. If Anthony could +help them in their present trouble, surely he would be as glad as she +was to have the opportunity. + +Yet Betty hesitated before answering. However, as she did not wish to +make Meg uncomfortable she slipped from her own chair and put her arm +sympathetically about her friend's shoulders, while she endeavored to +think things quietly over. Finally Betty returned: + +"I can't _exactly_ promise what you first asked, Meg dear. You see, I +have always intended not to interfere in the things that did not seem +altogether my affair. But somehow, since you have asked me and for +John's and your father's sakes, who are such old friends, why I don't +feel as I did before. I tell you, I _will_ ask Anthony this very night, +so let's don't worry any more. Tina darling, run and tell the maids we +would like our luncheon up here. Our dining room is so absurdly big." + +As she talked, as if by magic Betty's expression had changed and again +she was her usual gay, light-hearted self. Of course she and Anthony +together would be able to clear away Meg's troubles. Never before had +she entirely realized how fine it was to have power and influence. + +Moreover, Betty's confidence also inspired Meg, and for the first time +in weeks Mrs. Jack Emmet felt like the Meg Everett of the old days in +Woodford, who used to keep house for her father, kiss her small brother +Horace's (surnamed Bump's) wounds and help and encourage her big brother +John in all his ambitions and desires. + +Just as Meg went away, however, she insisted quite seriously: + +"Betty, I often think that even if our old Camp Fire Club did nothing +more for us than to bind our friendships together in the way it has, it +would be dreadful for all girls not to have the same opportunities in +their lives. Talk of college friendships, surely they are not to be +compared with those of Camp Fire clubs!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SOMETHING UNEXPECTED + + +DINNER was tiresomely dull! Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned +that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible. Several times during +the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the +evening without him. For they had been invited to a dinner party and +dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty +had declined without any objection at the time. She had made up her mind +never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband. + +Nevertheless, tonight the young wife of the new Governor felt somewhat +differently. If Anthony was going everlastingly to be kept at his office +must she always sit alone during the evenings? Always as Betty Ashton +she had loved people and gayety and still loved it quite as much as +Betty Graham. Moreover, her only two companions at dinner, Angel and +Faith, were both in extremely bad humor and unwilling to confess the +cause, for Faith looked sulky and annoyed and Angel undeniably cross. Of +course, the two girls must recently have had a quarrel. Their hostess +wondered for a few moments what the trouble could have been. But then +they were so utterly different in their dispositions and tastes, it was +not surprising that they sometimes disagreed. Besides, she decided that +they were both unlike the intimate friends of her youth and far harder +to understand. In fact, though she was scarcely much more than a girl +herself, Mrs. Graham concluded that "girls had changed since her day" +and determined as soon as dinner was over to leave them to themselves. +Naturally, if they had wished her society Betty would have been glad +enough to have remained and received their confidences. However, neither +Angel nor Faith showed the slightest sign of desiring her society. + +In a pale blue silk dinner gown Betty wandered disconsolately about her +big house waiting for her husband. He had promised to come home early +and it seemed not worth while to settle down to any task beforehand. +The babies were asleep and she did not feel like writing letters either +to Esther or her mother. Several times she thought of Polly. But Polly +was so far away out West that she really did not know where to find her +at the present time. Betty wondered if her best friend was happy with no +home or husband or children, nothing intimate in her life but her career +as an artist. She had always been puzzled to understand why Polly and +Richard Hunt had never married after an engagement lasting over several +years. But since neither of them had cared to explain their separation, +it was, of course, useless to conjecture again after all this time. + +The drawing room was too hopelessly big and formal! After Betty had +walked around inside it for half an hour perhaps, sitting down in half a +dozen chairs and then pacing up and down, she grew even more restless. +Surely it was no longer early in the evening, and why did Anthony not +keep his word and come home at the time he had promised? It would be +ever so much more satisfactory to have her talk with him in regard to +giving John Everett a good position, with a comfortable salary, early in +the evening, before they were both tired and wanting to sleep. + +Suddenly, with an impatient stamp of her foot, Mrs. Graham fled from her +state apartment. She was homesick tonight for her old home in Woodford, +where she and Anthony had lived ever since their marriage until his +election as Governor, and where her mother still lived. + +Passing through the hall, more and more did Betty become convinced that +Anthony was not keeping his word, for the tall clock registered quarter +to ten. The upper part of the house looked dark and quiet as if the rest +of the family had already gone to bed. Besides it was lonely enough on +the first floor, for the servants had their sitting room and dining room +in a big old-fashioned basement and were nowhere to be seen. Of course, +one of them would come at once if she desired anything, but Betty could +not think of anything she wished at present except society and +amusement. + +In the library back of the drawing room a few moments later she decided +that things were not so bad. There was a little wood fire in the grate, +kept there for its cheerful influence and not because the steam-heated +house required it; but Betty had not been a Camp Fire girl for half her +lifetime without responding to the cheerful influence of even a grate +fire. + +Sinking down into a comfortable chair, she picked up a magazine and +began reading. The clock in the hall ticked on and on and she was not +conscious of the passing of time. The story was not particularly +interesting--an absurd tale of a husband and wife who had quarreled. It +was, of course, perfectly unnecessary for people who loved each other to +quarrel, Betty Graham insisted to herself, and yet the writer did not +seem convinced of this fact. Toward the close of the story she grew more +interested and excited. + +Then, without actually hearing a sound or seeing a figure, Betty +suddenly looked up, and there in the open doorway of the library stood a +strange man. Like a flash her mind worked. She was alone on the first +floor of a big, rambling old house and uncertain of how late the hour. +Must she at once cry for help, or should she try to get across the floor +and ring the bell furiously?--for that would be more certain to be +heard. Yet for the moment her knees felt absurdly weak and her hands +cold. However, with a stupendous effort Betty now summoned her courage, +of which the shock of the moment had robbed her. For her Camp Fire +training had taught her the proper spirit in which to meet emergencies. +Quietly Mrs. Graham rose up from her chair. + +"What is it you wish? I think you have made some mistake," she remarked +stiffly. For in spite of her terror the man in the doorway did not look +like an ordinary thief. Besides, if he were a thief why did he remain +there staring at her? Why had he not committed his burglary and gotten +away with his spoils without alarming her? + +But he was now advancing a few steps toward her and there was no light +in the library, except from the reading lamp. + +"Anthony!" Betty cried instinctively, although she knew that the +Governor could not be in the house at the time, else he would have come +straight to her. + +Then to her immense amazement, almost to her stupefaction, the intruder +actually smiled. + +"Betty," he answered, "or rather Mrs. Graham, have I startled you? Yes, +I know it is dreadfully informal, my coming upon you in this fashion and +not even allowing your butler to announce me. But I ran down from New +York today to spend the night with Meg and Jack Emmet. A few moments ago +we began talking of you. Well, as I've got to go back to town in the +morning I decided that nothing would give me more pleasure than seeing +the wife of our distinguished new Governor, so here I am!" + +Positively the stranger was holding out his hand. + +Moreover, the next instant Betty had laid her cold fingers inside it. + +"John, John Everett, how ridiculous of me not to have recognized you! +Yet, though I was thinking of you, you were the last person in the world +I expected to see at present. And I confess you frightened me." Betty +made her visitor a little curtsey. "Remember how you boys used to try +to terrify us when we were in camp just to prove the superiority of Boy +Scouts over Camp Fire girls? I would not have been frightened then! But +do let us have more light so that we can really see each other." + +Betty touched the electric button and the room was suddenly aglow. + +Then she again faced her companion. It had been foolish of her not to +have recognized her old friend, John Everett. He did look a good deal +older, but he was a large, handsome man with blond hair, blue eyes and a +charming manner. Moreover, he was undoubtedly returning Betty's glance +with undisguised admiration. + +"You won't mind my saying it, will you, Mrs. Graham, but you are more +stunning than ever. I suppose it sounds a little impertinent of me, but +you know even though I always thought you tremendously pretty as a girl, +really I never believed----" John began. + +Betty shook her head reproachfully and yet perhaps she was a little +pleased, even though she recognized her visitor's compliment as +extravagant. + +Motioning to another chair, she then sat down in her former one. For a +few moments there was a kind of constraint in the atmosphere, such as +one often feels in meeting again an old friend with whom one has been +intimate in former years and not seen in a long time. + +Under her lashes Betty found herself studying her visitor's face. At +first she did not think that he appeared much discouraged by his +misfortunes, but the next moment she was not so sure. + +"I am awfully pleased the world has gone so well with you, Mrs. Graham," +John Everett began, to cover the awkwardness of the silence. "You were a +wise girl to have known that Anthony had so much more in him than the +rest of us fellows. I hear he is making things hum in the state of New +Hampshire." + +Betty looked a little shocked. "Oh, I did not care for Anthony because I +thought him cleverer than other people. I--oh, does one ever know +exactly why one cares? But do tell me about yourself, John. You don't +mind my knowing of your present difficulty? Meg has just told me, but I +am sure things will be all right soon again." + +Half an hour later the young Governor, coming in very tired from his +long day's work, seeing the light burning in the library, walked quickly +toward the door. He was worn out and hungry and wanted nothing so much +as supper and quiet talk with his wife. For Anthony had never gotten +over the pleasure he felt at returning home to find her there to receive +him. Already it seemed ages since he had said good-bye at breakfast. + +However, just before he arrived at the open door he heard the sound of +Betty's laughter and some one answering her. + +Of course it was selfish and absurd of him to feel a sudden sense of +disappointment. He knew that he should have been glad to find Betty +entertained. + +Before entering the library the new Governor managed to assume a more +hospitable expression. He was also surprised at finding John Everett +their caller. But then he too had known him in their boyhood days in +Woodford and was glad to see him. Certainly they had never been friends +as boys. The young Governor could still remember that John had then +seemed to have all the things he had wanted as a boy--good looks, good +family, money enough for a college education. Yet with all these +advantages John had not been able to win Betty. Now was Anthony's chance +to feel sorry for him. Lately he too had heard that John Everett was in +some kind of business trouble. He hoped that this was not true. + +Therefore it was Anthony who insisted that their visitor should remain +with them while they had a little supper party in the library. And Betty +was glad to see that her old friend was making a good impression upon +her husband. For she was now firmly determined to ask Anthony to give +John Everett a fine position at once. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FIRST DISILLUSION + + +"BUT you can't mean, Anthony, that you positively refuse to do what I +ask?" + +It was a little after midnight and Betty and Anthony were up-stairs in +their own apartment. Betty had on a blue dressing gown and her hair was +braided and hung over her shoulders. But her cheeks were flushed, her +gray eyes dark with temper and her voice trembled in spite of her effort +to keep it still. + +Undeniably Anthony appeared both obstinate and worried. Moreover, he was +extremely sleepy and yet somehow Betty must be made to understand before +either of them could rest. Never before had he dreamed that she could be +so unreasonable. + +"I don't think that is exactly a fair way of stating the thing, Betty," +the young Governor answered gently enough. "You see, I have tried to +explain to you, dear, that I can't give positions to friends just as +though running the affairs of the state was my private business. I could +afford to take risks with that if I wished, but you know I promised when +I was elected Governor only to make appointments of the best men I could +find." + +If possible, the Governor's wife looked even more unconvinced. She was +sitting in a big blue chair almost the color of her wrapper, and every +now and then rocked back and forth to express her emotion, or else +tapped the floor mutinously with the toe of her bedroom slipper. + +"You talk as if there was something wrong with John Everett," she +answered argumentatively, "and as if I were asking you to give a +position to a man who was stupid or dishonest. I am perfectly sure John +is none of these things. He has been unfortunate in business lately, of +course, but that might happen to any one. Really, Anthony, would you +mind telling me exactly what you have in your mind against John Everett? +Of course, I remember you never liked him when you were boys, but I +thought you were too big a man----" + +"See here, Betty," the Governor interrupted, "can't we let this subject +drop? I never knew you to be like this before." He had thrown himself +down on a couch, but now reached over and tried to take his wife's +reluctant hand. "I've been explaining to you for the past hour that I +have nothing in the world against John Everett personally, except that +he has no training for the kind of work I need men to do. He has been a +Wall Street broker. Well, that is all right, but what does he know about +prison reform, about building good roads for the state, or anything else +I'm after? Just because he is your friend--our friend, I mean--I can't +thrust him into a good job over the heads of better men. Please look at +this as I do, Betty. I hate desperately to refuse your request and I +know Meg will be hurt with me too and think I'm unfaithful to old times. +Heigh-ho, I wonder if anybody thinks being Governor is a cheerful job? +Good-night, Princess." + +Plainly meaning to end their conversation, Anthony had gotten up from +his sofa. He now stood above Betty, waiting to have her make peace with +him. But Betty looked far from peaceful, more like a spoiled and angry +little girl thwarted in a wish which she had not imagined could be +refused. + +Of course the Princess had always been more or less spoiled all her +life. Her friends in the Camp Fire Club and her family had always +acknowledged this. But she was usually reasonable with the sweetest +possible temper, so that no one really minded. Nevertheless Betty was +not accustomed to having her serious wishes denied, and by her husband +of all people! + +Really she would have liked very much to cry with disappointment and +vexation, except that she was much too proud. Moreover, even now she +could not finally accept the idea that Anthony would not eventually do +as she asked. + +But she drew back coldly from any idea of making friends until then. + +"Good-night," she replied indifferently. "I don't think I shall try to +go to sleep." Her voice trembled now in spite of all her efforts. + +"Really, Anthony, I don't know how I can tell Meg and John that you +have declined to do what I have asked you. I wonder what they will +think? Certainly that I haven't any influence with my own husband! Do +you know, Anthony, perhaps I am wrong, but I thought I had helped you a +little in your election. I've made a good many sacrifices; you have to +leave me alone a greater part of the time because you are too busy to +spend much of your time with me. Well, I have never thought of +complaining, but somehow it does seem to me that I have the right to +have you do just this one thing I ask of you. I'm afraid I don't find +being a Governor's wife so very cheerful either." + +While she was talking Betty had also gotten up and was now standing near +the doorway. As her husband came toward her she moved slowly backward. + +"I say, Betty dear, you are hard on a fellow," Anthony protested. "Of +course I owe my job to you and anything else that is good about me. But +you can't want me to do wrong even for your sake. Maybe you may see +things differently tomorrow." + +However, instead of replying, the Governor's wife slipped outside the +room. In the nursery she lay down by Bettina. But she slept very little +for the rest of the night. + +For in her opinion Anthony had not been fair; he had not even been kind. +A few hours before, when she had assured John and Meg of her sympathy +and aid, she could not have believed this possible. This was the first +time in their married life that her husband had refused her anything of +importance. Surely she had been wrong in suggesting or even thinking for +half a second that his old boyish dislike and jealousy of John Everett +could influence Anthony now! It was an absurd idea, and even a horrid +one; and yet is one ever altogether fair in anger? + +Down-stairs, in spite of his fatigue, Anthony Graham walked up and down +their big room for a quarter of an hour. If he only could have +reconciled it with his conscience to do what Betty asked him, how much +easier and how much more cheerful for both of them! She was right in +saying that he owed something to her. He owed everything. It was not +just that she had helped him since his marriage--most wives do that for +their husbands--but she had helped him from that first hour of their +meeting in the woods so many years before. + +Nevertheless he had given his word to keep his faith as Governor of the +state. He had promised to give no one a position because of pull and +influence. Naturally he had not expected his wife to have any part in +this, but only the politicians and seekers after graft. Yet even with +Betty misunderstanding he must try to keep his word. + +Sighing, the young Governor turned out the lights. He did look too +boyish and delicate for the weight of his responsibilities tonight. For +there had been other troubles in his office which he had wished to +confide to his wife, had she only been willing to listen. However, he +finally fell asleep somewhat comforted. For he was convinced that Betty +was too sensible a woman not finally to see things in the light that he +did. When he had the opportunity and she was neither tired nor vexed +with him he would explain to her all over again. + +An uncomfortable spirit, however, seemed to be brooding over the +Governor's mansion this evening, for in another part of the big house, +there was another argument also lasting far into the night. + +Angel and Faith sat on either side an old-fashioned four-poster bed, +often talking at the same time in the way that only feminine creatures +can. + +In her white cashmere kimono over her gown, with her pale hair unbound, +Faith Barton looked like a little white saint. But alas, and in spite of +her name, the little French girl bore no resemblance to one! + +Angel's dark hair was extraordinarily heavy and curly but not very long, +and now in her uneasiness she had pushed and pulled at it until it was +extremely untidy. Moreover, her black eyes now and then flashed +resentfully at her friend and two bright spots of color burned in her +cheeks. When she was not talking her lips were pressed closely together. + +"Faith, it isn't right of you; you know it isn't. You should not have +made me promise to keep your secret before telling me it. How could I +ever have guessed such a dreadful thing! I simply must, must tell Betty +if you are not going to confide in Mrs. Barton. Then Betty can do what +she thinks best and it will be off my conscience." + +Certainly Angelique Martins was not speaking in an amiable tone, and yet +her companion seemed not in the slightest disturbed. + +Indeed, Faith began quietly brushing her long, straight hair. + +"Don't be a goose, Angel, and don't have so much conscience for other +people. Of course, I am sorry I told you. Kenneth said it would be wiser +not to speak to any one for the present, but I had to have some +confidant. Now you are trying to spoil my first real romance by wanting +me to get up and proclaim it on the housetops. What I like most about +being engaged to Kenneth is that no one knows of it and that we can see +each other without a lot of silly people staring and talking about us. +Of course, when we begin to think about being married I shall tell Rose +everything. Then I know she will understand. But we are not going to be +married for a long, long time, I expect. Kenneth says that nothing would +persuade him to marry me until he could give me everything in the world +I want. Oh, you need not look so superior, Angel; I understand you don't +approve of that sentiment, but I think it is beautiful for a man to feel +that way about a girl. You simply can't appreciate Kenneth." And Faith +looked sufficiently gentle and forgiving to have tried the patience of a +saint. + +"Perhaps not," the other girl answered shortly. "Anyhow, Faith, you are +right in believing I don't approve of the things you have told me. The +idea of your being secretly engaged to a man whom you have only known +about two weeks! It is horrid! Naturally you don't either of you know +whether you are really in love; but then I don't think you ought to be +engaged until you are willing to tell people. Besides, what do you know +about Mr. Helm's real character, Faith? He is the kind of fellow who +makes love to almost every girl he meets." + +Almost under her breath and with her cheeks flaming the little lame +French girl made this last speech. Nevertheless her companion heard +her. Still Faith did not appear angry as most girls would have been +under the circumstances, but perhaps her gentle, pitying expression was +harder to endure. + +"Is that what troubles you, Angel? I am so sorry," Faith returned, +ceasing to brush her hair to smile compassionately at her friend. "You +see, Kenneth warned me that you did not like him very much. He was too +kind to explain exactly the reason, only he said that you seemed to have +misunderstood something about him. I suppose he was kind to you once, +Angel, because of course he would be specially kind to a girl like you. +But, there, you need not look so angry! You have a dreadful temper, +Angel. Even Betty Graham thinks so in spite of being so fond of you." + +With pretended carelessness Faith Barton now glanced away, devoting all +her energy to plaiting her long hair. Really her speech had been more +unkind than she had intended it. But somehow she and Angel were always +having differences of opinion and it seemed to Faith that it was +usually Angel's fault, because she never quarreled with any one else. + +Besides, ever since her first meeting with the little French girl at +Sunrise Cabin she had been the one who had tried to make and keep their +friendship. Angel never seemed to care deeply for any one except her +mother and now Mrs. Graham and her babies, and was always getting into +hot water with other people. + +However, it certainly did not occur to Faith that her own amiability +came partly from a lack of interest in any one except herself and partly +because her own whims were so seldom interfered with. + +Curious that Rose Barton, who had been such a sensible guardian and +friend to her group of Camp Fire girls, had been so indulgent to her +adopted daughter! But very few persons understood Faith Barton. She +seemed to be absolutely gentle and loving and to live always in a world +of beautiful dreams and desires. How could any one guess that she was +often both selfish and self-willed? + +"There is no use talking any more on this subject, Faith, if you think I +wish to interfere because I am jealous of you," Angel declared, and +finding her cane slipped down from the bed. "Besides, you know perfectly +well you are doing wrong without my saying it. Anyhow, I believe that +something will happen to make you sorry enough before you are through." + +With this parting shot Angel marched stiffly out of the room, too proud +to reveal how deeply her friend had wounded her. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A NEW INTEREST + + +IT is a far journey from the New Hampshire hills to the plains of the +West. + +Nevertheless a girl whom we once knew at Sunrise Hill is walking alone +this afternoon on the rim of a desert and facing the western sun. It is +scarcely fair to call her a girl, unless one has the theory that so long +as a woman does not marry she retains her girlhood. Yet glancing at her +as she strolled slowly along, no one could have guessed her to be more +than twenty, though perhaps she was a little nearer the next decade. + +Exquisitely dressed in a long, dark green broadcloth coat with a fur +collar and small hat, she was a little past medium height and unusually +slender. Her hair was so black that it had an almost somber look, and +yet her eyes were vividly blue. Just now, having wandered a good many +miles from the place where she was staying, she looked extremely tired +and depressed. In no possible way did she appear to fit into her present +surroundings, for without a doubt she was a woman of wealth and +distinction. It was self-evident in the clothes she wore, but more so in +the unconsciously proud carriage of her head and in the lines of her +face, which was not beautiful and yet seemed to have some curious charm +more appealing than mere beauty. + +She stopped now for a moment to gaze with an appreciation that was +almost awe at the beauty of the sinking sun. There was a glory of color +in the sky that was almost fantastic; piles of white clouds seemed to +have been flung up against the horizon like mammoth soap bubbles, tinted +with every rainbow shade. With unconscious enthusiasm, the woman clasped +her hands together. + +"Why," she exclaimed aloud, "I was wondering what this scene reminded me +of. It is dear old Sunrise Hill! What would I not give to be there in +the old cabin tonight with Betty and Mollie and the others! But they +must not know what has become of me until things are all right again. +Both Betty and Mollie are too happy with their babies and husbands to +worry over the old maids in the family. Sometimes, though, I feel that I +should like to send for Sylvia." Then the wanderer turned and stared +around her. + +In every direction there were long waving reaches of sand with an +occasional clumping of rocks, while growing near them were strange +varieties of the cactus plant. Some of them had great leaves like +elephants' ears, some were small and thick with queer, stiff hairs and +excrescences, and among them, in spite of the lateness of the season, +were occasional pink and crimson flowers with waxen petals. + +Behind the wayfarer there was a trail which she must have followed from +some nearby village, yet it was growing less and less distinct ahead, +and certainly the hour was far too late for a stranger to be traveling +alone so near a portion of the great Colorado desert. + +Nevertheless the young woman at this moment turned and left her path. +Walking deliberately for a few yards she seated herself on a giant +rock, and leaning forward, rested her chin in her beautifully gloved +hands. + +"So like you, Polly O'Neill, even in your old age to have gotten +yourself entirely used up on the first walk you were allowed to take +alone!" she began aloud, giving a half despairing, half amused shrug of +her thin shoulders. "I am not in the least sure that I know the way back +to my hotel if it grows dark before I arrive there, and assuredly I am +too weary to start for the present. And hungry! Heaven only knows when I +was ever so ravenous! Now if I had only been a Camp Fire girl in the +West instead of the East, doubtless I could at once discover all sorts +of delectable bread fruit and berries growing nearby. But I don't feel I +want to run any further risks at present." + +So for the next half hour in almost perfect quiet Polly O'Neill remained +seated. It would have been impossible for her to have done otherwise, +for suddenly a curious attack of exhaustion had swept over her. It was +not unusual of late, for indeed Miss O'Neill and her maid had +established themselves in a small hotel near Colorado Springs in order +that the well-known actress might recover from an attack of nervous +exhaustion which she had suffered during her successful tour in the +Western states. So Polly was quite accustomed to finding herself all at +once too weary either to move or speak. But quite like the Polly of old +she had just deliberately walked five miles without reflecting on her +lack of strength or the fact that she must return by as long a road as +she had come. + +No, in spite of the fact that Polly O'Neill had in the last ten years +made a great name for herself as one of the leading actresses in the +United States, she was as thoughtless and impetuous as she had been as a +girl. + +Finally, however, with what seemed to require a good deal of effort she +got up and moved, this time toward the east, but all the elasticity had +gone from her. The sand was uncomfortably heavy, so that she dragged one +foot after the other and her slender body seemed to wave like a stalk in +the wind. But the worst of her difficulty was that her breath came in +short, painful gasps. Unconsciously the effort which the business of +walking required made Polly pay less strict attention to the path which +she should have followed. But by and by, realizing that her way was less +plain and that it was now quite dusk, she paused for a moment, put her +hand to her side and then again seemed to be considering her situation. +Whatever her decision, she must have accepted it philosophically, for +this time, more deliberately, she sought another resting place. +Fortunately not far away was a better shelter of rocks, half a dozen of +them forming a kind of semicircular cave. Deliberately Polly crept +toward their shelter and there removed her hat and tied her hair up in a +long automobile veil. Then she lay down in the sand with the stones as a +shield behind her and before her a wonderful view of the night as it +stole softly over the desert. + +Polly was not afraid and not even seriously annoyed. Life to her was but +a series of adventures, some of them good and others less cheerful. She +was not at all sure that she was not going to enjoy this one and she +could not believe that it would do her any especial harm. She was +sleeping outdoors for the benefit of her health in a small porch +attached to her hotel bedroom. Perhaps the sand was less comfortable and +clean than her bed, but then she had never before imagined so much sky +and prairie. Moreover, there was no one to worry over her failure to +appear except Marie, her maid. It was just possible that Marie might +arouse the hotel and a searching party be sent to find her. In that case +Polly knew that she would be glad to return to civilization. However, +she did not intend to worry if no one came. Her hunger and thirst must +be forgotten until morning. + +Somehow, when the stars came out, in spite of the beauty of the night +Polly found she could not manage to keep her eyes open. She was not +exactly sleepy, only tired. For never in years had she had such an +opportunity to think things over. How crowded her life had been, how +full of hard work, of failure and success, yes, and loneliness! She was +willing to confess it tonight to herself. How she would have liked to +have had one of her old Camp Fire friends here in Colorado with her! Yet +they were all too busy and she had not wished any one of her family to +know how ill she had been. How much trouble she had always given all the +people who cared for her ever since she could remember! Polly's +conscience pricked her sharply. Why had she not married and settled down +as her sister Mollie had suggested at least a hundred times? Because she +would not give up her acting? Well, she need not have done this had she +married Richard Hunt. But too many years had passed since their +engagement had been broken for her to recall him. She had not even seen +Mr. Hunt in the past five years, although they had occasionally acted in +the same cities and at the same time. + +Finally, however, when the famous Miss O'Neill actually fell asleep she +was smiling faintly. For a vision had suddenly come to her of how +shocked her sister Mollie and her brother-in-law, Mr. William Webster, +would be if they knew that she was sleeping alone on the edge of a +desert. But she was surely too near the village to be in any danger from +wild animals and no one would undertake such a walk as hers had been at +this hour. + +Nevertheless, wisdom should have prompted an old Camp Fire girl to have +found twigs enough to have started even a miniature camp fire. But the +edge of a desert is scarcely the place where wood abounds and the fact +is, though she had thought of it, Polly had been too tired to make the +necessary effort. For goodness only knows how much farther she need have +wandered before coming to an oasis of shrubbery or trees. + +When at last Miss O'Neill opened her eyes actually it was broad daylight +and standing before her was a figure that almost fitted into her dream. +For the girl was just about the age of the group of friends who had once +lived together in a log house in the woods, and all night she had been +dreaming of Sunrise Cabin. + +Nevertheless her visitor bore no other resemblance to them, so that the +distinguished lady rubbed her eyes, wondering if she were yet awake and +how the girl could have come so close up to her without her hearing. + +A glance explained this, for the intruder was barefooted and her legs +and feet were so brown and hard they appeared totally unfamiliar with +shoes and stockings. + +She was staring so hard at Polly that she seemed scarcely conscious of +anything except her own surprise. + +With an effort Miss O'Neill sat upright. She did not feel tired now in +the least, but gloriously rested and strengthened from her wonderful +night out of doors in the clear, pure air. But of course she must +explain her situation to the little girl before her, although she would +have preferred her discoverer to have explained herself. + +In spite of being about fourteen years old, this child had on only a +thin yellow calico frock, and it was late October. Her hair was +perfectly straight and Polly might have thought her an Indian except +that it was light brown in color, although a good deal stained by wind +and sun. However, the girl's eyes were a kind of greenish gray in shade +and her features were delicately modeled. But she had a peculiar and +not an agreeable expression. + +"I wandered away from my hotel last evening and was not able to return, +so I slept here all night. How did you happen to find me?" Polly began, +feeling that some one must start a conversation in order to persuade her +companion to cease her almost frightened staring. Of course Polly +appreciated that she herself was not looking her best, but there was no +reason why she should excite so much curiosity. + +Notwithstanding she received no answer. With a slight gesture of +annoyance Miss O'Neill stood up. After all, she did not feel as +energetic as she had thought and it was undoubtedly a long walk back to +her hotel. + +"Do you live anywhere near here? I am both hungry and thirsty. If you +could find some one to help me I should be most grateful," Polly said as +politely as if she had been speaking to a friend. For if the girl was +afraid of her she wished her to forget her timidity. + +But instead of replying the strange child stared harder than ever for +half a minute, and then before Polly could speak again or touch her she +was off, running across the sand like a deer, without a backward glance. + +Miss O'Neill watched her for some time until she vanished into what +appeared at this distance to be a clump of trees. Then she deliberately +set out to follow her. The child must have come from some place nearer +than the village where she was staying. In almost any kind of settlement +she would be able to find a horse to take her back to her hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"BOBBIN" + + +ALL her life Polly O'Neill had felt a curious shrinking from physical +cruelty, and growing older had not made the least change in her feeling. +She had never talked about it, but had always been fearful that at heart +she was a coward. The Camp Fire girls used to laugh at her because, of +course, she had learned to do all of the things that their rules +required without feeling any possible nervousness. But then no one of +them understood what physical cruelty might mean and possibly might +never see an exhibition of it. + +Yet nothing was farther from her own mind at the present moment than +this fear. She had come in about fifteen minutes' walk to a clump of +cottonwood trees by a small stream of water, and there in their midst +stood a crude two-room shanty with a bare space of ground in front of it +and a lean dog sitting in a patch of sunshine. + +But the sight that froze Polly's blood and made her stand suddenly so +still that she might have been a wooden image was the figure of a man +with a long whip in his hand, such as one might have used in driving +cattle. And this whip was now whirling and stinging through the air and +twisting itself about the body of the little girl who had been the first +vision that Miss O'Neill's eyes had rested upon on waking that morning. + +But the strangest thing of all was that the child was making no outcry +and showing no effort to run away. Indeed, she stood perfectly still, +hugging half a loaf of bread in her arms. + +Polly made an inarticulate sound which she thought was a loud cry: +"Stop!" But the man had not seen her approach and was too occupied with +his hateful task to hear her, and to her intense shame she felt all at +once desperately afraid of him. She was so far from any one she knew, +she had so little physical strength and this man was so much more brutal +than any one she had ever seen before in her life. Perhaps he would +cease hurting the child this instant. + +Then, without in the least knowing when nor how she had accomplished it, +Polly rushed forward and seizing the man's thick wrist in her own +slender fingers, clung to him desperately, while the thong of the whip +curled and fell in a limp fashion about her own shoulders. + +Too surprised to speak, the man took a step or two backward. In the +course of her stage career Polly had acted a number of tragedy queens; +and notwithstanding her slightly rumpled appearance at this moment, she +had never looked the part better than now. Her thin figure was drawn up +to its fullest height, her Irish blue eyes flashed Celtic lightnings. +She even stamped her foot imperiously. + +"You beast!" she exclaimed. "What do you mean by striking a little girl +in that cruel fashion? I'll have you arrested! I don't care in the least +if you are her father or what she has done, you have no possible right +to be so brutal." + +The man had dropped his whip to the ground and Polly now stooped and +picked it up. It was absurd of her ever to have dreamed she could have +been frightened by mere brute strength. The man was a good deal more +afraid of her for the instant. The sudden apparition of a fashionably +dressed young woman, appearing out of nowhere and springing upon him in +such a surprising fashion, had destroyed his nerve. + +"I wasn't doin' nawthin I hadn't a right ter," he growled. "That young +'un is allers stealin' somethin'. I caught her red-handed running off +with that there loaf of bread." + +For the first time since her arrival on the scene Polly O'Neill turned +toward the girl. She was still staring at her with almost the same +expression she had worn earlier in the day. But somehow something in her +look touched Polly, brought her sudden inspiration. + +"Why," she exclaimed with a break in her voice, "I believe she was +bringing the bread to me. I told her I was hungry just a little while +ago." + +There was no one in the world who could be sweeter or simpler than Polly +O'Neill when her feelings were deeply touched. This had always been +true, even as a young girl, and of course, as she had grown into a +famous woman, her charm had deepened. Now she put her arms about her +new friend's shoulders. "You were going to give the bread to me, I'm +sure. Thank you." Oblivious of the fact that the little girl's dress was +exceedingly dirty and that her face was far from clean, Polly leaned +over and kissed her. + +Then she turned to the man. "If you will get a horse and drive me to my +hotel I will pay you well for it," she explained. + +In reply the man nodded and moved away, so that Polly was once more left +alone with the girl. + +It suddenly occurred to her that the child had never spoken since their +meeting. Could she possibly be deaf and dumb? That might explain her +strange expression. + +"What is your name?" Polly asked gently. + +Still the girl stared. Miss O'Neill repeated her question. + +Then the girl, picking up a stick from the ground, slowly and +laboriously printed in big letters, such as a child of six might have +made, the word "Bobbin." + +"Bobbin?" Polly repeated the name aloud as she read it. What an +extraordinary title! One could scarcely call it a name. + +"Is that the only name you have?" she inquired again, wondering at the +same time how it was possible for the little girl to understand what she +said without being able to reply. But Bobbin bowed her head, showing +that she had understood. In some fashion she must have learned the lip +language. Yet it was curious why if the girl had ever been sent to +school she had learned nothing else. She appeared the veriest little +savage that ever lived so close to wealth and civilization. + +Polly sought in her mind to find out what she could do or say to show +her gratitude. She had a sudden feeling that she could not turn her back +upon the girl and leave her to her wretched fate, and yet of course the +child had no claim upon her. It was something in the expression of +Bobbin's eyes that seemed to haunt one. + +With a slight, unnoticeable shrug of her shoulders, as though giving up +the problem as too much for her, Polly now slipped her hand into her +pocket, drawing out her purse bag. Opening it she found a large silver +dollar, such as one uses in the West. + +"Won't you buy yourself something from me?" she asked, trying to speak +as distinctly as possible. She had not observed that in taking out the +money she had carelessly dropped a handkerchief from her bag. + +With a fleeting expression of pleasure the girl accepted the gift, but +the next instant, when Polly turned to watch the man who was now +approaching her with a lean horse hitched to a cart, she swooped down +toward the ground and picking up the crumpled white object thrust it +secretively inside her dress. + +Five minutes after, when Polly and the man had started for Colorado +Springs, Bobbin remained in the same position, watching them until they +were out of sight. Then she began eating the neglected bread. + +Upon arriving safely at her hotel, Miss O'Neill discovered that the news +of her disappearance had been spread abroad by her frightened maid, and +that a thorough search was being made for her. For although Polly had +been trying to live as quietly as possible in a small, obscure hotel, +the fact of her visit was well known to hundreds of people. You see, at +this time in her life not only was her name celebrated from one part of +the country to the other, but her face was equally familiar. + +Through her maid, Marie, Polly was told that a gentleman, whose name she +had not learned, had been particularly kind and interested in seeking to +find her. So as soon as she rested she had every intention of inquiring +his name and thanking him personally. But by late afternoon, when she +finally dressed, this was impossible. Evidently the man did not wish to +be annoyed by her thanks, for the message brought her was that on +hearing of her safety he had suddenly left the village. + +However, Polly was able to acquire some actual information about the +girl she had seen earlier in the day, for "Bobbin" was apparently a +well-known character in the famous Western resort. She was a little +stray daughter of the place. Years before, the mother had come to +Colorado from some city in the South and had died. Afterwards no one had +ever claimed the child. + +So the town had taken care of her, sent her to school and tried to +teach her to talk. She was perhaps not entirely deaf, although no one +exactly understood her case. But the girl was a hopeless little rebel. +In no place would she stay unless kept there by iron bars. She seemed to +have an unconquerable desire to be always out of doors, and in the +brilliant Colorado climate this was nearly always possible. Recently she +had been living with some gypsy people, who had established themselves +in a temporary shanty at some little distance from the roads usually +followed by sightseers. So Miss O'Neill had certainly wandered from the +beaten track. Nevertheless she need not make herself unnecessarily +unhappy over "Bobbin," for the girl would again be brought back to +school as soon as she could be captured. + +Yes, her name had been Roberta, an old-fashioned Southern name, and then +in some way it had been shortened to Bobbie and now Bobbin. The child +had a last name, of course, but the woman who told the story to Miss +O'Neill had either never heard the mother's name or else had completely +forgotten it. + +Late that night in reflecting over her adventure Polly wished that she +and Betty Graham could have changed places for a week or so. For Betty +would certainly do something for the unfortunate Bobbin to make life +happier for her, as she had a kind of genius for looking after people. +Her Camp Fire training had taught her a beautiful sympathy and +understanding. But Betty must have been made that way in the beginning, +Polly concluded with a sigh and a smile. She had no such gift herself. +The girl's story, fragmentary as it was, interested her, but there could +be no possible point in undertaking to interfere with the child's +future. + +Nevertheless, try as she might, all night it was impossible for the +famous actress to get the half tragic, half stupid figure of Bobbin out +of her vision. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE + + +BETTY was driving alone through one of the less crowded parts of +Concord. She had been into the country and was now on her way home +again. Not very often did she go out alone, but she had not felt in a +mood for company and had purposely gotten away by herself. + +A week had passed since her midnight talk with Anthony and there was +still a coldness between them. Each day Betty had expected her husband +to declare that he had changed his mind in regard to finding a position +for John Everett and would do as she asked. Yet so far he had not even +referred to the subject. + +On her way home Betty considered that she had better stop and tell Meg +how she had failed in influence with her husband, notwithstanding she +could not decide just what she should do or say. Meg would not +understand and might believe that she had made no real effort for +John's sake. Yet she could not be such a coward as to leave her old +friends in suspense. Since Anthony would do nothing to help, it was +better that John Everett should know, so that he might find another +occupation. + +They were passing through a quiet street shaded by magnificent old maple +trees that were now bare except for a few clustering brown leaves, when +Mrs. Graham leaned over to speak to her coachman and the man drew in his +horses. The next moment her attention was attracted by seeing some one +on the sidewalk pause and lift his hat to her. Betty had returned the +bow before she actually recognized John Everett. Then he took two or +three steps forward and held out his hand. + +"I was just going to see Meg," Betty explained, blushing and wishing +that she could escape the confession that lay before her. If John should +question her now she felt she might have a sudden panic of +embarrassment. Of course she could think up some excuse for Anthony's +unkindness; she might even offer the same excuse he had made to her. Yet +the fact that he had declined to do what she so much desired would +remain the same. + +But John Everett was smiling in the most ordinary fashion. + +"I wonder, Mrs. Graham, if you will not let me ride along with you, if +you are going to Meg's. I am on the way home myself." + +Then in a short while Betty had forgotten her worry and was having the +same agreeable talk of old times that she had enjoyed the week before. +Moreover, it was John Everett who relieved her from her chagrin. + +"By the way," he began, just as they were about to arrive at Mrs. Jack +Emmet's house, "please don't worry, Mrs. Graham, or Betty, if I may call +you by the old name, about asking your husband to fix me up with a +position in his office. I know the new Governor is being overwhelmed +with office seekers. I have been lucky enough to secure something to do +with my brother-in-law, Jack Emmet, and ex-Governor Peyton. They have a +new business scheme on hand in which they think I may be useful." + +Of course, Betty could not utter her thanksgiving aloud, although she +repeated it very fervently to herself. So, after all, she need not +confess to other people Anthony's lack of consideration. It was enough +that she should be carrying the hurt feeling about inside her own heart. +Instead, she merely murmured something or other that was not clear, +about the Governor's having been so very busy recently and having some +special annoyance in his affairs. She was by no means certain of just +what she said at the moment nor how she explained the situation, but +fortunately John Everett did not appear to be particularly interested in +the subject. + +Meg was not at home when they arrived, but instead of saying good-bye, +John suggested that he should drive back to her own home with Betty. It +had been years since they had seen each other, except the other evening, +and there was so much to talk about. + +Then John explained that he had taken a small house in Concord and that +his father was soon coming to live with him. Bumps would continue with +his course at Cornell for this winter anyhow. So, after all, there were +uses in this world even for old bachelors, he ended smilingly. + +It was Betty, however, who suggested that they should go and see this +house, although John told her it was a good deal out of her way. Yet it +was a beautiful warm November afternoon and would not be dark for +another hour. Somehow Betty did not feel that she wanted to go home at +once. Faith had gone for a walk with Kenneth Helm, Angel had a half +holiday and was spending the afternoon with the children. She and +Bettina had a wonderful secret game that they played together in a room +by themselves, where no one else had ever been allowed to come. There +was no prospect of Anthony's returning home for some time, so the +Governor's splendid mansion would seem big and empty to the Governor's +wife for an hour or so more at any rate. + +There was a caretaker in the little white house with green shutters, who +was anxious to show Mrs. Graham and Mr. Everett every detail of it. The +house was to be let furnished and yet it seemed to have been peculiarly +fitted for old Professor Everett's needs. It was pleasant for Betty to +imagine the sweet-tempered, learned old man here with John and near his +daughter Meg. He had been living alone in Woodford ever since his +younger son, Horace, departed for college. Somehow Betty felt that it +would be pleasant for her also to have the old gentleman living so near +by. He had been a devoted friend of Mr. Ashton's, whom she had certainly +loved even more than an own father. + +"I shall be running in here very often to see Professor Everett and tell +him the things that trouble me, just as Meg and I used to do when we +were little girls," Betty remarked to her companion. "He was the one +person who never by any possible chance believed that Meg or I could +ever be in fault." + +"I'm sure he will always be overjoyed to see you," John Everett replied. +"Only it is a little difficult for me to imagine Mrs. Anthony Graham +ever having anything to trouble her." + +As the November evenings grew dark so soon, it was almost dusk when +Betty at length entered her own home after saying good-bye to her +friend, who had insisted on walking back to his sister's house instead +of allowing the coachman to drive him. + +Going into her private sitting room, Betty was surprised to find that +Anthony had come home and was sitting there pretending to read. But most +undeniably he looked cross. + +"I thought we were going to have a drive and tea together, Betty," he +remarked reproachfully. "Where in the world have you been? No one seemed +to know. I should think you would leave word where you are going, so +that if anything happened to the children or to me the servants would +know where to find you." + +Actually Anthony was reproaching her in a perfectly unreasonable +fashion! Betty could hardly believe her ears, it was so unlike him. Was +he going to turn into the dictatorial type of husband after all these +years of married life when he had been so altogether different? + +Usually Betty's temper was gracious and sweet. Possibly if Anthony had +approached her in his usual fashion at this moment they might have +gotten over the feeling of estrangement that had come between them for +the first time since their wedding. Moreover, the room was not brightly +lighted, so that Betty did not notice how tired and worried Anthony +looked. Of course, fatigue and worry explain almost any temporary +unreasonableness on the part of human beings. + +Quite casually Betty began to draw off her long gray suede gloves. She +wore a beautiful gray coat and skirt and chinchilla furs and a hat with +a single blue feather. + +"Don't talk as if we lived in England and you were a kind of domestic +tyrant, please, Anthony," she said lightly. "I am sorry, but I had no +possible way of knowing that you were coming home from your office so +much earlier than usual. You should have had some one telephone me. I +have been having a very agreeable drive with John Everett. And, by the +way, it was not worth while for me to have annoyed you by asking you to +do me the favor of giving John something to do. He tells me he is going +into business with Jack Emmet and ex-Governor Peyton." Then as she moved +toward her own bedroom Betty was surprised and annoyed by another +speech from her husband. + +"I don't like the combination very well," he remarked quietly. "Neither +Emmet nor Peyton have very good business reputations. They are going to +try and get a shaky bill through the Legislature in the next month or +so, I hear. But I suppose Everett knows his own affairs best." + +As Betty had now disappeared, she did not hear Anthony's closing speech. + +"I am sorry to have talked like a bear, dear. Won't you forgive me and +let us be friends? I wish I could have fixed up things for Everett for +your sake, but I could not feel that I had the right." + +Moreover, the young Governor's back was unfortunately turned, so he did +not appreciate that Betty had not heard him. He was under the impression +that she had simply refused to pay any attention to his apology. + +Well, he was too tired to discuss the matter any further for the +present. He had several important decisions that must be made before +morning and he and Betty and Faith and Kenneth Helm were to go to some +big reception later in the evening. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +LONELINESS + + +NEVER in her entire career had Polly O'Neill felt more depressed. She +was, of course, accustomed to a very busy life filled with people and +excitement. Nothing else is possible to an actor or actress, although +Miss O'Neill had tried to keep her private life as quiet as possible. + +But here in her little hotel about a mile or more from the celebrated +Colorado Springs she was finding existence duller than she had bargained +for. In the first place, on her arrival she had let it be known that she +desired no callers or acquaintances. Her reason for giving up her work +at the present time was that she was greatly in need of a rest cure, so +visitors to the Springs had taken her at her word and Miss O'Neill had +been left to recover her health unmolested. Now and then some unknown +admirer had appeared at her hotel or sent books and flowers. +Nevertheless, she had so far made no acquaintances. + +However, after several weeks of the wonderful, brilliant air, with +nothing to do except sleep and write an occasional letter, Polly felt a +good deal stronger. Yet she did not feel that she was well enough to +return to Woodford, and today the news from home had been depressing. + +You see, Mollie had never been told that her sister was ill and +considered that if she only required rest it might as well be enjoyed at +her own lovely big farm as among strangers in the West. So this morning +her letter had urged Polly's return home and had also imparted a great +variety of dispiriting reasons. In the first place, Mollie told at great +length that Dan, who was Polly's favorite of her sister's children, was +not in good health and that he was showing certain oddities of +disposition which struck his aunt as very like her own. Indeed, she +believed that neither her sister nor brother-in-law understood the +delicate, difficult little fellow, and she would have liked to have been +near enough to have helped him through a trying time. Then more +disquieting had been Mollie's information about their mother, Mrs. +Wharton, who was beginning to show her age. Moreover, Mr. Wharton seemed +somewhat depressed over his business affairs. Then finally the most +mystifying and in a way disturbing of Mollie's statements had been her +account of Betty Graham. + +For several weeks there had been no line to Polly from her dearest +friend, which in itself had made Polly vaguely uneasy. It was so unlike +Betty ever to fail in her weekly letter which had always followed her +friend to whatever part of the world she happened to be. But now Mollie +announced that Betty had been on a visit to her mother, Mrs. Ashton, in +Woodford, and that she had seemed entirely unlike herself. Instead of +having a great deal to say she had been strangely quiet, almost sad. + +Moreover, the new Governor's enemies were said to be making a tremendous +effort to destroy his reputation and there was a great deal of talk +going on about some matter which Mollie did not claim to understand. +Possibly Anthony's annoyances may have been worrying his wife. + +Polly had been sitting alone on her small, private veranda which +commanded a wonderful view of a rim of hills, when her sister's letter +had been given her along with her other mail. + +Before glancing at the other communications she had eagerly opened this. +But now she sat with the pages fluttering in her lap and her eyes filled +with tears. + +Naturally Mollie had not intended to be so depressing; people seldom do +seem to realize just what effects their letters may produce. Often they +write merely to relieve their own feelings and once having put down all +the gloomy possibilities that worry them at the time, rise up and go +cheerfully about their business with the evils forgotten. + +So naturally it remains for the unfortunate recipient of the letter to +become even more depressed than the writer had been. + +Moreover, Polly really wanted desperately to go home. It had been many +months since she had seen her own people, and though they often +believed her to have less affection than other women, it was not in the +least true. She had given up many things for her art and had sometimes +seemed selfish and cold-blooded. But it wasn't fair that her sister, +Mollie, always seemed to think that she had never desired a home of her +own, babies and some one to care for her supremely, that she had never +grown tired of the wandering life her stage career forced her to lead. + +Finally, however, Polly managed to smile and give a characteristic shrug +over her own self-pity. There was nothing in the world so silly. Like +the rest of us she knew this to be true, yet, like the rest of us, now +and then even this famous, grown-up woman, who had most of the things +that people would give worlds to possess, indulged in attacks of being +sorry for herself. Moreover, the day before she had sent for her doctor +and he had positively refused to consider her leaving Colorado for the +present. + +You may remember that Polly had a certain inherited delicacy that used +to keep her mother uneasy, and lately it had troubled her. It was this +fact she had concealed from her family and friends, so that now, though +she was better, her physician had scouted the idea of a return East. +Once near New York he was sure she would begin to talk business with her +theatrical manager, or even undertake to study a new play. + +No, she must undoubtedly remain at her post a while longer. And yet was +it really necessary to have her post quite so lonely? + +Just as this idea occurred to her, a slight noise attracting her +attention, Polly glanced down into the garden below her veranda. + +There stood Bobbin and the next moment she had flung a poor little +bouquet at her feet. It was a strange offering, all prickly cactus +leaves with a single white flower in their midst. For some absurd reason +it flashed through Polly's mind to wonder if her offering could be in +any way symbolic of the girl who had given it her. Could there be +something beautiful hidden within the child's peculiarities? + +For this was not the first token of affection that Bobbin had presented. +Indeed, many queer, small gifts had been brought to the strange lady +since their first meeting, so that Polly had been curiously touched. For +of course Bobbin's offerings came straight from her heart. In her +pathetic, shut-in world she had no way of knowing anything of the +history of the woman whom she so plainly admired. + +Yet inside Polly O'Neill's sitting room at this moment there were four +or five tokens of affection that must have come from her. They were too +extraordinary for any one else to have sent them and had been laid at +her shrine in too unusual a way. For most of them had been literally +flung on her veranda. A few of them, when she happened to be sitting +outdoors as she was doing at the present moment, and the others when no +one had seen or known of their appearance. + +One of the gifts was a beautiful blue feather that must have fallen from +some unusual bird flying over the western lands, another a stone that +shone like the finest crystal, in the sun, and a third a horseshoe some +small broncho must have shed in trotting across the plains. + +However, never once had Polly been able to thank her new friend for her +gifts. For always at the slightest movement on her part Bobbin had +turned and run away more fleetly than any one else could. For since Miss +O'Neill's report that she had found the girl living with such rough +people Bobbin had been recaptured and brought back to the village to +school. Notwithstanding, she had once more escaped and now either no one +knew just where she had gone or else no one had taken the trouble to +capture her a second time. + +It occurred to Polly at this moment that she would like to try and +influence the girl, or at any rate show her gratitude. Besides, anything +would be better than spending the rest of the day bewailing her own +loneliness. Moreover, it would do her good for a moment to compare her +own loneliness with Bobbin's! + +Without a movement or a sign to the girl to betray that she had even +caught sight of her, Polly at once slipped into her bedroom and put on +her coat and hat. And she was down in her yard and had stretched out her +hand to touch her visitor before the girl became aware of her. + +Yet the very next instant Bobbin started and began running as swiftly as +she had at their first meeting. And this time, even more impetuously and +with less reason, Miss O'Neill pursued her. + +It was ridiculous of Polly and utterly undignified and unbecoming. No +other person in the world in her position would have done such a thing. +Yet she had no more thought of its oddity and the attention that she +might create than if she had been a Camp Fire girl in the New Hampshire +woods nearly fifteen years before. + +Of course the woman could not run half so fast as Bobbin in these days, +but it was only because she was not well, Polly said to herself angrily. +She had been the swiftest runner of all the girls for short distances in +their old Sunrise Hill Club. Of course Sylvia had used to get the better +of her in long distance tests. Still, even now she was managing to keep +Bobbin in sight, although she had a horrid stitch in her side and was +already out of breath. + +Fortunately, however, for Miss Polly O'Neill's reputation she was not +at the present time within the fashionable precincts of Colorado +Springs, else she might possibly have been thought to have gone suddenly +mad. Her hotel was some distance out in the country and there were but +few houses in its neighborhood. Moreover, Bobbin was running away from +the town and not toward it. + +The road was a level, hard one, but all at once Polly felt a queer pain +that took her breath completely away and then a sudden darkness. + +She did not fall, however, because some one who was walking in the +direction of her hotel reached her just in time. + +Then to her amazement Polly heard an exclamation that had in some +unexplainable way a familiar note in it. The next moment when +straightening up and opening her eyes she seemed to be reposing in the +arms of a tall man with dark eyes and gray hair, whom she had once known +extremely well, but had not seen in the past five years. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A MEETING AND AN EXPLANATION + + +"I--I was running," explained Miss O'Neill as soon as she had sufficient +breath to speak. + +Which was such an absurdly unnecessary statement of an apparent fact +that her rescuer smiled against his will. + +He was not pleased at this meeting with Miss Polly O'Neill. It was true +that he had been walking out to her hotel to make inquiries concerning +her health, but he had no thought or desire to see her. Indeed, deep +down in his heart he believed that few women had ever treated a man much +worse than she had treated him and he had never even tried to forgive +her. For several years they had been engaged to be married, only +postponing the wedding because of Polly's youth and because she wanted +to go on with her acting for a few years longer without interruption. +Then when Richard Hunt had insisted that he was not young and could not +wait forever, with characteristic coolness Polly had broken her +engagement. She had written him of her change of mind and heart and he +had accepted her letter as final. Never once since had they met face to +face until this minute. + +Yet now Richard Hunt found himself holding the same young woman in his +arms, rather against his will, of course, but not knowing what else to +do with her since she scarcely looked strong enough to stand alone. + +"I think I would like to sit down for a moment," Polly volunteered +finally and managed to cross over to the opposite side of the road, +where she established herself very comfortably on a carefully cultivated +mound of grass. + +Her rescuer stood over her. "May I do anything for you, Miss O'Neill?" +he inquired formally. "I think it might be well for me to find your +maid." + +He was about to move off when Polly with her usual lack of dignity +fairly clutched the back of his overcoat. + +"Oh, please don't go, Mr. Hunt--Richard," she ended after a slight +hesitation. "Really, I don't understand why you have treated me so +unkindly all these years. I don't see the least reason why we should not +have continued to be friends. Still, you were going to my hotel to call +on me. There isn't any other possible reason why you were marching out +this particular road, which does not lead anywhere else." And at this +Miss O'Neill smiled with open and annoying satisfaction. + +"I hadn't the faintest idea of asking to see you," Richard Hunt +announced firmly, although a little surprised by Polly's friendly +manner. If they had been parted for a matter of five weeks instead of +five years, and if the cause of their separation had been only some +slight disagreement rather than something affecting their whole lives, +she could not have appeared more nonchalant and at the same time more +cordial. But then there never had been any way of accounting for Polly +O'Neill's actions and probably never would be. However, Richard Hunt had +no desire again to subject himself to her moods. He wished very much to +walk on, and yet he could not make up his mind to remove her hand +forcibly from his coat. Moreover, she looked too pale and exhausted to +be left alone. Yet this had always been a well-known method by which +Polly had succeeded in gaining her own point, he remembered. + +"Then what were you going to my hotel for? Didn't you even know I was +staying there?" she demanded, finding breath enough to ask questions, in +spite of her exhaustion of a few moments before. + +If only he had been a less truthful man! For a moment Richard Hunt +contemplated making up some entirely fanciful story, then he put the +temptation aside. + +Notwithstanding, his manner and answer were far more crushing to Miss +Polly O'Neill than if he had told her a lie which she would probably +have seen through at once. + +Always he had commanded more respect from her than any man she had ever +known in her life, which was secretly mingled with a little wholesome +awe. Polly had always put it down to the fact that he was so much older +than she was. But she had had other acquaintances among older men. + +"You misunderstood me, Miss O'Neill, when I said that I was coming to +your hotel without any intention of seeing you. That was true, but I was +coming with the idea of inquiring how you were. You see, I also have +been staying in this part of the country, and not long ago I read in one +of the papers that you were here and seriously ill. Afterwards I learned +that you were alone. Your family and friends have always been so kind to +me that it appeared to me my duty to find out your true condition. I of +course guessed that you had not told them the truth." + +Richard Hunt gazed severely down at the crumpled young woman at his +feet, ending his speech as cruelly as possible. + +"Well, I like that!" Polly returned weakly, falling into slang with +entire unconsciousness. "Here I have been suffering perfect agonies of +loneliness and crying my eyes out every day because I so wanted mother +and Mollie and Betty to come to me. And I only did not let them know I +was ill, to keep them from worrying. Yet you make it sound just as if I +were keeping my tiresome old breakdown a secret from the pure love of +fibbing inherent in my wicked nature. I do think you are--mean!" + +Was there ever such another grown-up woman as Polly O'Neill? Actually +there were tears in her eyes as she ended her speech, relinquishing her +hold on her companion in order to fish about in her pocket for a +handkerchief, which she failed to find. + +With entire gravity Mr. Hunt presented his, and Polly, wiping her eyes +and perspiring forehead, coolly retained the handkerchief. + +"Don't you think you are strong enough now to permit me to take you back +to your hotel, if I may not look for your maid?" the man suggested, +wondering if his companion had any idea of how absurd their position +was, nor of how much he desired to get away from her. + +However, she only sighed comfortably. "Oh, thank you very much, but +don't trouble. I am perfectly all right now. I was only out of breath +because I was running after a little girl who is as fleet as a deer. But +I don't want to go back to my hotel unless you were coming to see me. I +was much too lonely there. I'll just walk along with you and after a +while, if I am tired again, perhaps we may find a bench and you'll sit +down with me. Of course I know you are too dignified to sit on the grass +like I am doing." + +Without the least assistance Polly rose up and stood beside her +companion, smiling at him somewhat wistfully. + +What else could any man do except agree to her wishes? Besides, she had +him cornered either way. For now if he continued his journey toward her +hotel she would assuredly accompany him, and she had also volunteered to +walk the other way. + +Moreover, it would seem too surly and disgruntled to refuse so simple a +courtesy to an old acquaintance. + +So Polly and her former friend walked slowly along in the brilliant +Colorado sunshine in air so clear that it seemed almost dazzling. Beyond +they could see the tops of snow-covered mountains tinted azure by the +sky. It would have been humanly impossible to have felt unfriendly +toward any human being in such circumstances and on such a day. + +Every now and then Polly would glance surreptitiously toward her +companion's face. Gracious, he did look older! His hair was almost +entirely gray and his expression certainly less kind. Polly wondered if +he had really minded their broken engagement. Surely he had never cared +seriously for so unreliable a person! She must have seemed only a +foolish school girl to him, incapable of knowing her own mind. For of +course if he had not felt in this way he would have made some effort to +persuade her to change her decision. How often she used to lie awake +wondering why he did not write or come to her? Well, he was probably +grateful enough for his escape by this time. + +Then without in the least knowing what she was going to say nor why she +said it, Polly inquired suddenly: + +"Richard, do you think Margaret Adams is happy in her marriage? I have +so often wondered. Of course she writes me she is." + +Several years before, Miss Adams had married one of the richest men in +New York City and since then had retired permanently from the stage. +Indeed, many persons considered that Polly had succeeded to her fame and +position. + +Richard Hunt shook his head. "Really, I don't know any more than you do, +Miss Polly," he returned. "But she has a fine son and certainly looks to +me to be happy." + +Polly smiled. At least she had succeeded in persuading her companion to +call her "Miss Polly." That was a step in the right direction, for in +spite of her own boldness in using his first name as she had done years +before, up to this moment she had been addressed as Miss O'Neill. + +But there were so many things to say that she quite forgot in what way +she should say them and talked on every minute of the time. + +She had been so lonely, so depressed until now, that life had seemed to +have lost almost all its former interest. + +When she was plainly too tired to go further Richard Hunt sat down with +her on a wayside bench for ten minutes. Then he resolutely rose and said +good-bye. + +"I am ever so glad to find that you are so much better," he concluded +finally. "I see there is no cause for anxiety." Yet even as he spoke the +man wondered how any human being could manage to be as delicate looking +as Polly O'Neill and yet do all the things she was able to accomplish? +Just now, of course, she did look rather worse than usual for her run; +and then the walk afterwards had used up her strength. Besides, she had +been trying so hard to persuade her old friend again to cherish a little +liking for her and at this moment was convinced of her failure. + +She shook her head. "Thank you," she answered quietly. "It has done me +good to have seen some one of whom I am fond. It hasn't been altogether +cheerful being out here ill and alone. It was kind of you to have cared +enough to inquire about me. I suppose you will soon be going back to +work. Good luck and farewell." + +Polly reached out her slender hand, which was white and small with blue +veins upon it. In her haste on leaving her apartment she had, of course, +forgotten gloves. + +However, instead of shaking her hand quietly, as both of them expected, +Richard Hunt raised her fingers to his lips. + +"I am not going away from Colorado immediately. May I come and see you +soon again?" he inquired. A few minutes before he had not the slightest +intention of ever deliberately trying to see Polly O'Neill alone as long +as they lived. But she did look so forlorn and as lonely as a forsaken +little girl. No one could ever have guessed that this was the celebrated +Miss O'Neill whose acting had charmed many thousands of people during +the last eight or ten years. + +Polly bit her lips. "Then you will come? I was afraid to ask you," she +replied. "I want so much to tell you about a queer little girl whom I +have come across out in these wilds. Her name is Bobbin and she seems to +be deaf and dumb. I feel that I ought to do something for her and don't +know exactly what to do. Perhaps I'll adopt her, although I'm afraid the +family and Betty Graham won't approve. But anyhow, Sylvia, the +well-known Doctor Sylvia Wharton, who is a children's specialist, may be +able to do something for her." + +Naturally this idea of adopting Bobbin had not dawned upon Polly until +the instant of announcing it. But the more she thought of taking the +girl to Sylvia's care the more the idea appealed to her. Besides, +Bobbin perhaps might awaken Mr. Hunt's interest if he could see the +child and hear her tragic story. The little girl might be made +attractive with her queer eyes and sunburned hair, if she were cleaner +and more civilized. + +"You will come some day and help me decide what to do, won't you?" Polly +urged. "One's chief difficulty is not alone that Bobbin won't be +adopted, she won't even let herself be discovered. She is such a queer, +wild little thing." + +Then she watched her companion until he was entirely out of sight and +afterwards got up and strolled slowly home. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE WAY HOME + + +NOT a long time afterward Bobbin must have changed her mind for some +reason or other, for voluntarily she came to call on Miss O'Neill. That +is, she appeared in the garden and threw a queer scarlet flower up to +the veranda. Then she waited without trying to escape when Polly came +down to talk to her. And evidently she must have felt, somewhere back in +the odd recesses of her mind, that she was to be considered a visitor, +for she had washed her face and hands and even her hair. Indeed, though +it hung perfectly straight, Polly thought that she had never seen more +splendid hair in her life, it held such strange bright colors from being +always exposed to the sun and air; besides, it was long and heavy. + +Moreover, Bobbin wore an old red jacket, which some one recently had +given her, over the same pitiful calico dress. + +By and by, using all the tact she possessed, Polly persuaded her visitor +out of the yard and up-stairs to her own rooms. Of course Marie, the +maid, was shocked and displeased, but after all she was fairly +accustomed to her mistress's eccentricities. Moreover, after a little +while she too became interested in Bobbin. The first thing Polly +undertook to do was to feed her visitor. She had an idea that Bobbin +might be hungry, but she did not dream how hungry. The girl ate like a +little wolf, ravenously, secretly if it had been possible. Only, +fortunately, she had learned something of table manners from her +occasional training in institutions, so that she at least understood the +use of a knife and fork, and altogether her hostess was less horrified +than she had expected to be. + +Later on Bobbin and Polly undertook to have a conversation. This they +managed by acquiring large sheets of paper and nicely sharpened pencils. +But it was astonishing how easily Bobbin appeared to understand whatever +her new friend said to her and how readily she seemed to be willing to +accept her suggestions. + +The truth is that the half savage little girl had conceived a sudden, +unexplainable devotion to the strange lady whom she had discovered +asleep on the sands. Perhaps Bobbin too may have dreamed dreams and +imagined quaint fairy tales, so that Polly's appearance answered some +fancy of her own. But whatever it was, she had offered her faithful +allegiance to this possible fairy princess or just ordinary, human +woman. Yet how Bobbin was to keep the faith it was well that neither she +nor Polly knew at the present time. + +However, by the end of her visit the girl had promised to go back to the +home which the town had provided for her and to do her best to learn all +she could. As a reward for this she was to be allowed to make other +visits to Miss O'Neill. She was even to be allowed to eat from the same +blue and white china and drink tea from the same blue cup. + +Moreover, before Bobbin's final departure Marie persuaded her into the +bathroom and half an hour later she came forth beautifully clean and +dressed in a discarded costume of Polly's, which was too long for her, +but otherwise served very well. It was merely a many times washed white +silk shirt waist and blue serge walking skirt and coat. They made Bobbin +appear rather absurd and old, so that Polly was not sure she had not +liked her best in her rags. However, both Bobbin and Marie were too +pleased for her to offer criticism; yet, notwithstanding, Polly made up +her mind that she would try and purchase the girl more suitable clothes +as soon as possible and that she would write and ask Betty Graham's and +Sylvia's advice in regard to her. + +For Richard Hunt had not come to see her since their accidental meeting +and she could hope for no interest from him. Polly wished she had never +laid eyes upon him, for their little talk had only served to start a +chain of memories she wished forgotten. Besides, of course, she felt +lonelier than ever, since there is nothing so depressing as waiting for +a friend who does not come. + +Soon after dinner that evening Polly undressed and put on a pretty kind +of tea gown of dark red silk, the color she had always fancied ever +since girlhood. She was idling about in her sitting room wondering what +she could do to amuse herself when unexpectedly Mr. Hunt was announced. + +"Why, Polly," he began on entering, his manner changed from the coldness +of their first meeting, "do you know what that gown you are wearing +brings back to me? Our talk in the funny little boarding house in Boston +so many years ago, when you explained to me that you had run off and +were in hiding in order to try and learn to be an actress. I wish I +could tell you how proud I am of your success." + +But Polly did not wish to talk of her success tonight. So she only +shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, I have always been doing foolish things for +the sake of my acting and yet I don't seem to amount to much." + +After this visit Richard Hunt returned half a dozen times. Polly did not +understand whether he was acting in the West not far from Colorado +Springs or whether he too was taking a holiday. She asked the question +once, but as her old friend did not answer her explicitly she let the +matter drop. + +Nevertheless it was quite true that from the time his visits began she +grew steadily better. Finally, about ten days before Christmas, Miss +O'Neill's physician announced that she might return to the New Hampshire +hills to complete her cure at her sister's home. + +Then came the hour of final decision in regard to Bobbin. + +Of course Polly could not adopt the girl in the conventional sense. It +would have been impossible to have her travel about with her or to have +kept her constantly with her. And even if it had been possible this was +not what Bobbin needed. Fortunately for Polly, Richard Hunt's ideas on +the subject were far more sensible than her own. Between them it was +decided that Bobbin should travel east with Miss O'Neill and her maid +and spend Christmas at the big Webster farm. Mollie had written she +would be glad to have her. Then later Bobbin was to see Sylvia Wharton +and be put into some school where she might learn to talk and perhaps +acquire some useful occupation. + +There was no difficulty in persuading the town authorities to permit the +little girl to follow her new friend. Indeed, the child had always been +a tremendous problem and they were more than glad to be rid of the +burden. She seemed completely changed by Miss O'Neill's influence. She +was far quieter and more tractable and had not run away in several +weeks. Besides this she appeared to be learning all kinds of things in +the most extraordinary fashion. However, her teacher explained this to +Polly by saying that Bobbin had always been unusually clever, but that +some wild streak in her nature had kept her from making any real effort +until now. + +Another peculiarity of the girl's which Polly remembered having seen an +example of on the morning of their first meeting was that she had +absolutely no sensation of physical fear. Either nothing hurt her very +much or else she was indifferent to pain. For this reason it had always +been impossible either to punish her or to make her aware of danger. The +thought interested Polly, since she considered herself something of a +coward. She wondered if some day she and Bobbin might not change places +and the little girl be discovered taking care of her. + +However, when the three women finally started east there was nothing +unusual in the appearance of any one of them. For by this time Polly's +protégé was dressed like any other girl of her age with her hair neatly +braided. There only remained her peculiar fashion of staring. + +Richard Hunt saw the little party off. He expected to be in New York +later in the winter and promised to write and inquire what had become of +Bobbin. However, he did not promise to come to Woodford to see Miss +O'Neill, although Polly more than once invited him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"A LITTLE RIFT WITHIN THE LUTE" + + +"BUT, my dearest sister, what is the matter with Betty? You were +perfectly right, she isn't one bit like herself and neither is Anthony. +I don't even believe she was particularly glad to see me when I stopped +over in Concord with her for a few days." + +Polly O'Neill was in her sister Mollie's big, sunshiny living room in +her splendid old farm-house near Sunrise Cabin. There was no specially +handsome furniture in the room, perhaps nothing particularly beautiful +in itself, yet Polly had just announced that it was the very homiest +room in all the world and for that reason the nicest. + +There were low book-shelves on two sides of the room, for though Mollie +never read anything except at night when her husband read aloud to her, +Billy Webster kept up with all the latest books, fiction, history, +travel, besides subscribing to most of the magazines in the country. +Indeed, although he and Polly often quarreled good-naturedly, Polly was +openly proud of her brother-in-law, who had turned out to be a more +intelligent and capable man than she had ever expected. + +But besides Billy's books there were lots of old chairs, some of them +rather worn, but all delightfully comfortable; a great big table, now +littered with children's toys; the old-fashioned couch upon which Polly +was reposing; some ornaments belonging to ancestral Websters and a tall +grandfather's clock, besides half a dozen engravings and etchings on the +walls. + +Mollie was sitting in a low chair dressing a big china doll. The +sunshine lingered on her dark hair, her plump pink cheeks and her happy +expression. For she was in a delightful state of content with the world. +Was not her beloved Polly at home for the Christmas festivities and were +not Billy and the children and her mother in excellent health and +spirits? + +Yet she looked a little uneasy over her sister's question. For Betty was +nearer to her heart than any one outside her own family. + +"So you noticed it too, Polly?" she returned, stopping her work for a +moment and gazing out the great glass window. Outside in the snow her +three children were playing, her little girl, Polly, and Billy and Dan. +Bobbin was standing a short distance away watching them intently. +Indeed, ever since her arrival at the farm she seemed to have done +almost nothing except look and look with all her might and main. The +girl seemed scarcely to wish either to eat or sleep. And at first this +had worried her new friends, until suddenly Polly had realized what a +wonderful new experience Mollie's home and family were to this child who +had never seen anything in the least like it in her whole life. + +But Mollie was not watching the children. Polly got up and leaned on her +elbow to discover what had attracted her sister's attention. For only a +few moments before the children had been sent outdoors to keep them from +tiring the aunt whom they adored. + +No, Mollie's gaze was fastened on a big man who had just approached +wearing a heavy overcoat and a fur cap and carrying a great bunch of +mistletoe and holly in his hands, which he was showing with careful +attention to the little girl visitor. + +"Here comes Billy," she explained. "Perhaps he can tell us." + +Of course Polly laughed. "Gracious, dear, isn't there anything in the +world you won't let your husband decide? I should think that even Mr. +William Webster could hardly tell us what is troubling our beloved +Betty. And I don't know that it is even right to ask him. You see, old +maids are shy about these things." + +But in reply Mollie shook her head reproachfully. "I was only going to +ask Billy about the difficulty Anthony is having with his position as +Governor," she explained. "You see, I know there is some kind of talk. +People are saying he is not being as honest as they expected. There is a +bill which ex-Governor Peyton and Meg's husband, Jack Emmet, and her +brother, John, are trying to get through the Legislature. Most people +don't think the bill is honest and believe Anthony should come out and +say he is opposed to it. But so far he has not said anything one way or +the other. I thought maybe Betty was worrying because people were +thinking such hateful things about Anthony. I simply couldn't stand it +if it were Billy." + +"Wise Mollie!" her sister answered thoughtfully. "You may be right, but +somehow there seemed to me to be something else troubling Betty. If it +were only this political trouble, why shouldn't she have confided in +me?" + +But at this instant William Webster came into the room with a dozen +letters and almost as many newspapers in his hands. Six of the letters +he bestowed on Polly, who opened five of them and stuck the sixth inside +her dress. + +Ten minutes later Billy Webster looked up from the paper he was reading. +"See here," he said, "I don't like this. This paper comes pretty near +having an insulting letter in it concerning Anthony Graham. Of course it +does not say anything outright, but the insinuations are even worse. +See, the article is headed: 'Is Our Reform Governor So Honest As We +Supposed?' Then later on the writer suggests that Anthony may not be +above taking graft himself. Everybody knows he is a poor man." + +Afterwards there was an unusual silence in the big room until Billy +turned inquiringly toward his wife and sister-in-law. + +"Don't take my question in the wrong way, please," he began rather +timidly. "But is Betty Graham a very extravagant woman? I know she was +brought up to have a great deal of money, and although she was poor for +a little while that may not have made any difference. You see, Anthony +Graham is absolutely an honest man, but everybody knows that he adores +his wife----" + +Billy stopped because quite in her old girlhood fashion Polly had sprung +up on her sofa and her eyes were fairly blazing at him. + +"What utter nonsense, Billy Webster! You ought to be ashamed of yourself +for suggesting such a thing. In the first place, Betty is not +extravagant, but even if she were she would most certainly rather be +dead than have Anthony do a dishonest thing on her account. Besides, if +Anthony is your friend and you really believe in him, you ought not to +doubt him under any possible circumstances." Then Polly bit her lips and +calmed down somewhat, for Mollie was looking a little frightened as she +always did when her sister and Billy disagreed. However, her sympathies +this time were assuredly on her sister's side. + +"If you had only belonged to a Camp Fire club as we did with Betty +Ashton you would never have doubted her even for a second, Billy. I know +you don't really," Mollie added, somewhat severely for her. "Oh, dear, I +never shall cease to be grateful for our club! All the girls seem almost +like sisters to me, and especially Betty." + +Billy Webster folded up his paper and glanced first at his wife and then +at his sister-in-law. + +"I beg everybody's pardon," he said slowly, "and I stand rebuked! +Certainly I did not mean really to doubt either Anthony or Betty for a +moment. But you are right, Mollie dear, that Camp Fire Club certainly +taught you girls loyalty toward one another. I don't believe people dare +say nowadays that women are not loyal friends, and perhaps the Camp Fire +clubs have had their influence. But some day soon I believe I will go up +to Concord and see Anthony. Perhaps he might like to talk to an old +friend." + +"He and Betty and the children are coming to Woodford for Christmas," +Mollie announced contentedly, whipping away at the lace on the doll's +dress now that peace was again restored. "Betty says she can't miss the +chance of spending a Christmas with Polly after all these years. +Besides, she is curious about Bobbin. I hope Sylvia will come too. She +won't promise to leave her old hospital, but I believe the desire to see +Polly will bring her here. You know she writes, Polly, that you are +positively not to come to her for the present." + +Her sister nodded, but a few moments later got up and went up alone to +her own room. + +Their talk had somehow made her feel more uncomfortable about Betty +than she had in the beginning. Somehow she had hoped that Mollie would +not be so ready to agree with her own judgment. Yet most decidedly she +had noticed a change in Betty during her short visit to her. Betty was +no longer gay and sweet-tempered; she was nervous and cross, sometimes +with her husband and children, now and then with the two girls who were +spending the winter with her, Angelique Martins and Faith Barton. +Moreover, she had gotten a good deal thinner, and though she was as +pretty as ever, sometimes looked tired and discontented. Besides, she +was living such a society existence, teas, balls, dinners, receptions +almost every hour of the day and night. No wonder she was tired! Of +course Anthony could not always go with her; he was far too busy and had +never cared for society. For a moment Polly wondered when Betty and her +husband managed to see each other when they were both so occupied with +different interests. Yet when they had married she had believed them +absolutely the most devoted and congenial of all her friends. + +Well, Betty need not expect finally to escape confessing her difficulty. +Even if there was no opportunity for an intimate talk during the +Christmas gayeties they must see each other soon again. Either she would +go to Concord or have Betty come again to Mollie's. + +Then Polly cast off her worries and settling herself comfortably in a +big leather chair by the fire took out the letter concealed inside her +dress and began reading it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SUSPICION + + +"ANGEL, will you go into Anthony's private office; he told me he wanted +to speak to you," Betty Graham said carelessly one afternoon in +December. She was dressed for driving in a long fur coat and small black +velvet hat which brought out the colors in her auburn hair in the most +attractive fashion. + +However, her expression changed as she saw the girl to whom she had just +spoken turn white and clasp the railing of the banister as if to keep +herself from falling. + +"What on earth is the matter with you, Angel?" she demanded crossly. +"You look like you were going to faint when I deliver a perfectly simple +message. Surely you are not afraid of Anthony after living here with us +all this time and working for him even longer. I suppose he just wants +to speak to you about some business in connection with the office. He +never talks of anything else." Then a little ashamed of her impatience, +Betty put her arm on Angel's shoulder. + +"There has been something on your mind recently, hasn't there, Angel, +something you have not cared to confide to me?" She stopped, for her +remark was half a statement and half a question. + +However, Angel nodded agreement. + +"Well, I am sorry, but I don't seem to be worthy of any one's confidence +these days," Betty continued, trying to speak lightly. "However, if any +one wishes to know where I have gone, dear, please say that Meg Emmet +and I are driving together and that we are to have tea with old +Professor Everett." And the next moment Betty Graham had disappeared +down the steps. + +Still Angel stood in the same place and in the same position. + +Surely Betty was being kept in the dark if she did not dream of the +trouble that had been hovering over the Governor's office for several +weeks. Several important state papers had been misplaced, lost or +stolen. No one knew what had become of them, yet on them a great deal +depended. They were the proof that the Governor required for exposing +certain men whom he believed dishonest. It was absolutely necessary that +they should be found. + +Summoning her courage, Angel knocked timidly at the Governor's study +door. It was in front of this same door that she had watched the guests +at the Inaugural Ball some weeks before. Of course it was absurd for her +to be frightened at the Governor's having sent for her. She was too +insignificant a person even to be questioned in regard to the lost +papers, as she was only one of the unimportant stenographers at the +Capitol and was only occasionally asked to do any of the Governor's +private work. + +Anthony was sitting with his desk littered with papers when Angel walked +timidly in. She thought he looked rather old and tired and stern for so +young a man. But he was always very polite and at once got up and +offered her a chair. + +"I am sorry to disturb you out of office hours like this, Angel," he +began kindly. "I know it is Saturday afternoon and a half holiday, but I +thought perhaps we could talk something over better here at home than +at the office. One is so constantly interrupted there." + +Angel made a queer little noise in her throat which she believed to have +sounded like "Yes." + +Of course the Governor was going to dismiss her from her position. She +was not a particularly good stenographer, not half so fast as many of +the girls, although she had tried to be thorough. But then she had no +real talent for office work and of course there was no reason why she +should continue to hold her position because she was a friend of the +family. Positively Angel was beginning to feel sorry for the Governor's +embarrassment and already had made up her mind to try and get some other +kind of work. She would not stay on and be dependent. + +Anthony was tapping his desk with his pencil. + +"See here, Angel," he said, "I wonder if you by any chance have the +faintest idea of what has become of some papers we have been a good deal +worried about at the office. I know you don't often have anything to do +with my private business, but I thought by accident you might have seen +them lying around at some time. They were two or three letters bound +around with a blue paper and a rubber band. Know anything about them?" + +The girl started. For suddenly the Governor's manner had changed and he +was looking at her sternly out of his rather cold, searching eyes. For a +man does not win his way to greatness through all the trials that +Anthony Graham had endured without having some streak of hardness in +him. + +Quietly Angel shook her head, but she was neither nervous nor offended +by the Governor's questioning. She had heard the gossip, strictly within +the office, of the loss of these letters and it was most natural that +every member of the force should be investigated concerning them. + +"I am sorry," she answered, her voice trembling the least little bit in +spite of her efforts, "but I have never at any time seen anything of the +letters you mention. Could it be possible that one of the servants at +the Capitol realized their importance and stole them in order to get +money for them?" + +"No," the Governor answered promptly, "that is not possible, because the +letters were taken from this study and in this house. Think again, +Angel, have you seen nothing of them? There is no one else living in the +house here, you know, who works at my office except you." + +Angel jumped quickly to her feet. "You don't mean--you can't mean," she +began chokingly. "Oh, I can't bear it! I shall tell Betty--she will +never believe. Why, I thought you were my best friends, almost my only +friends." For a moment she found it impossible to go on. + +But the Governor was looking almost as wretched as she was herself. "My +dear, I don't mean really to accuse you of anything, remember. I am only +asking you questions. And I particularly beg of you not to mention this +trouble of ours to Betty. She is not very well at present and I am +afraid she thinks I am too hard on all her friends. Indeed, I am sure I +should never have dreamed of you in connection with this matter, but +that some one in whom I have great confidence told me that he had seen +you coming out of my study on the night on which I believe my papers +were mislaid. We won't talk about the matter any more for the present, +however. Possibly the letters will yet turn up, and it has been only my +own carelessness that is responsible for the loss. There, do go up to +your own room and lie down for a while, Angel. I assure you this +conversation has been as distasteful to me as it has to you. It was only +because the discovery of these letters is so important that I decided to +talk to you. But don't think I am accusing you." + +Sympathetically and apologetically the Governor now smiled at his +companion, the smile that had always changed his face so completely from +a grave sternness to the utmost kindness and charm. + +But Angel would not be appeased. She had always a passionate temper +inherited from her Latin ancestors, though she usually kept it well +under control. + +"You mean your private secretary, Kenneth Helm, has suggested that you +question me," she announced bitterly. "I knew he disliked me for some +reason or other, but I did not know his dislike was as cruel as this. +It was he who saw me sitting out here watching the people down-stairs +the night of your Inaugural Ball, because I was too shy to go down +alone." For an instant it occurred to Angel to say that she had seen +Kenneth Helm enter the Governor's private study on this same evening. +But what would have been the use? The Governor probably knew of it and +certainly he had the utmost faith in his secretary. It would only look +as if she were trying to be spiteful and turn the suspicion upon some +one else. Besides, had she not promised Kenneth Helm not to tell? At +least she would not condescend to break her word. + +Stumbling half blindly, Angel made her way out of the study. In the hall +she found Bettina waiting for her. + +"You promised to come and play more secret with me. Will you come now, +Angel? We can go up to the nursery and lock the door; there is no one to +find us," Tina urged. + +But Angel could only shake her head, not daring to let the little girl +see into her face. + +Nevertheless, outside her own bedroom door she had to meet an even +greater strain upon her nerves. For there stood Faith Barton in a pretty +house dress and with a box of candy in her hands. + +"May I come in and talk to you for a little while, Angel?" she asked, +hesitating the least little bit. "Kenneth has just sent me a note and a +box of candy, saying that he cannot keep his engagement with me tonight. +He is so dreadfully busy, poor fellow! I don't believe Governor Graham +works one-half so hard. So I thought maybe you would let me stay with +you, as I am rather lonely. Besides, Angel, there isn't any sense in +your treating me so coldly as you have lately. If I am doing wrong in +keeping my engagement a secret, I am doing wrong, that's all. But I +don't think you ought to be unkind to me. If I have been hateful to you +about anything, truly I am sorry. You know I have always been awfully +fond of you, dear, and wanted to be your friend ever so much more than +you ever wished to be mine." + +But instead of answering Faith, the other girl had to push by her +almost rudely, stammering: + +"I can't talk to you now, Faith. I've got the headache. I'm not very +well; I must lie down." + +Then with Faith standing almost on her threshold, resolutely Angel +closed the door in her face. + +If there was one person above all others at this moment with whom she +could not bear to talk it was Faith Barton. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +WAITING TO FIND OUT + + +AS the days passed on, the little French girl did not find her +difficulties grow less. At the office she continued to hear veiled +discussions of the seriousness of the lost letters. No one, of course, +except a few persons in the Governor's confidence, knew exactly what +information the letters contained, but there was no question of their +political importance, for everybody could feel the atmosphere of strain +and suspense. Yet for one thing at least Angelique Martins was grateful: +no one had in any way associated her with the lost or stolen papers. For +whatever Kenneth Helm suspected, or Governor Graham feared, they had +both kept their own counsel. Yet this did not mean that they both +considered her guiltless. + +Time and time again Angel tried to summon courage to speak directly to +Kenneth Helm on the subject. She had frequent opportunities, for even +if there was danger of notice or interruption at the office, he came +very often to the Governor's mansion to see Faith or to dine with the +family. + +However, she simply did not know what to do or say. To go to Kenneth and +ask him why he had accused her seemed to the girl almost like a +confession of wrongdoing. For oftentimes it appears preposterous in this +world to be forced into denying an act that one could never have even +dreamed of committing. How can one suddenly say, "I am _not_ a thief, I +am _not_ a liar," when every thought and act of their lives has been +pure and good? + +Neither could Angel persuade herself to tell Kenneth Helm that she felt +just as suspicious of him as he could possibly feel of her. For she had +no proof of any kind except her own dislike and distrust and the fact +that she had seen him coming out of the Governor's private study on the +same night on which he had suggested that she might have previously +entered it. For of course the Governor's private secretary had a right +to his chief's private papers at almost all times. No, Kenneth would +only consider her accusation an expression of feeble revenge and be +perhaps more convinced of her guilt in consequence. + +Therefore there was nothing to do but wait with the hope that everything +would soon be cleared up and the lost letters either found or their +thief discovered. + +Moreover, Angel was not even to have the satisfaction of talking the +matter over with Betty, the one person in the world who could and would +have helped her. For she had the Governor's strict command against this +and did not dare disobey. Besides, Angel could see that Betty was unlike +herself these days and so should not be troubled by any one else's +trials. This, of course, was a mistaken point of view, as nothing would +so have helped Betty Graham at this time as to have had some one to +think about who really needed her. However, neither her friend nor her +husband could have realized this. + +Nevertheless there was one consolation that the little French girl +enjoyed during these days and that was "the secret" which she and +Bettina had been cherishing so ardently for weeks. Every spare hour she +had from her work she and Bettina had spent together in a big room at +the top of the house, which was Bettina's own private play-room, sacred +to her uses only. + +It was a lovely room with pale gray walls and warm, rose-colored +curtains, and all about were pictures of girls and boys who had come +straight out of fairyland and had their photographs taken by such +wonderful fairy artists as Maxfield Parish and Elizabeth Shippen Greene. + +For you see Angelique was absolutely attempting to draw one of these +fairy pictures herself, while Bettina was acting as her model. + +The picture was not to be a portrait, the artist had scarcely courage to +have undertaken that, but it was to represent Bettina's favorite +heroine, "Snow White and Rose Red." + +All her life, ever since she was a little girl of five or six, Angelique +Martins had been drawing and painting whenever she had the least chance +or excuse. Of course it was this same artistic gift that had showed in +her clever fingers and sense of color through all the work which she had +done in the Camp Fire Club. But of her actual talent as an artist +Angelique had always been extremely shy. You see, she cared for art so +much that she did not consider that she had any _real_ talent. But even +confessing that she had the least little ability, of course it would +take years of study and goodness knows how much money before she could +have hoped to amount to anything. + +Nevertheless there was nothing to forbid the little lame French girl's +amusing herself with her fancy whenever she had the chance. And ever +since she could remember, Angel had been drawing pictures for Bettina. +It had been their favorite amusement as soon as Tina passed beyond her +babyhood, which was sooner than most children. + +Naturally Angel had drawn hundreds of pictures with Bettina as her model +before, but never one half so ambitious as this. However, this last one +represented about the sixth effort, and it was a great question even +now whether this was to be the final one. For "Snow White and Rose Red" +was not merely a play picture, one that had been painted merely for +amusement; it had a most serious intention behind it. + +Weeks before in a magazine which the two friends had been looking over +together they had come across an advertisement. A prize of two hundred +dollars was offered for the best picture illustrating any fairy story. +Moreover, no well-known artist was to be allowed to enter the +competition; the drawings were all to be made by amateurs under +twenty-five years of age. + +The first suggestion that Angel should take part in this wonderful +contest had come, of course, from Bettina as soon as the older girl had +read her the amazing announcement, for Tina's faith in her friend was +without limit. Then just as naturally Angel first laughed at her +suggestion and afterwards decided to try just for fun to see what she +could do; and here at last was most furiously in earnest, although still +undecided whether to send her picture to the competition or to throw it +away. + +There were only a few days more before the time limit expired. +Therefore, would it be possible for her to undertake an entirely new +picture here at the very last? + +With these uncertainties weighing on her mind Angel was sitting in front +of a small easel with a box of pastels on a table near by. Closer to the +big nursery window Bettina was curled up in a white armchair, one foot +tucked up under her in a favorite attitude and in her lap were half a +dozen red roses. + +She was tired, for she had been quiet an unusually long time while Angel +made slight changes in her work and then stopped to consider the whole +thing disparagingly. But somehow her weariness made Bettina's pose even +more charming. + +[Illustration: ANGEL HAD CAUGHT BETTINA'S ATTITUDE ALMOST EXACTLY] + +Her long yellow-brown hair hung over her shoulders down into her very +lap, her eyes were wide open and yet were plainly not looking at any +particular object. For Tina was making up stories to amuse herself while +Angel worked. It was only in this way that she could manage to keep +still for so long a time as Angel needed. + +But this was the picture that Bettina herself made; what of her friend's +drawing of her? Naturally it was not so graceful or pretty as the little +girl herself. + +Nevertheless, by some happy chance Angel had caught Bettina's attitude +almost exactly. Then too she had drawn a little girl who did not look +exactly like other children. There was a suggestion of poetry, almost of +mystery, about her fairy tale girl, in the wide open blue-gray eyes, +dreaming as Tina's so often were, and in the half uncurled lips. + +Of course the lines of the drawing were not so firm and clear as an +experienced artist would have made them, yet glancing at the little +picture, you felt something that made you wish to look at it again. + +However, Angel sighed so that Bettina came out of her dream story and +stretched herself in the big chair. + +"What is the matter?" she inquired. "May I get up and walk about the +room now?" + +The older girl nodded. "Thank you, dear. This is the last time I am +going to trouble you to sit for this picture. I have just decided that I +can't do any better by trying it over again, yet I don't know whether I +shall send it to the competition after all." + +The next moment Angel was startled by something that sounded almost like +a sob from Tina. Since the little girl was so seldom cross, she was +surprised and a little frightened. + +"I am sorry you are so tired. Why didn't you tell me?" Angelique +demanded. + +Bettina had crossed the nursery and was standing close beside her +picture. + +"It isn't that, it is only that I do want you to send it so much," +Bettina answered. "You see, I think it is the best picture anybody ever +painted and we have both worked so hard and it has been such a nice +secret," she said huskily. + +Angel put her arm about her. "Of course I'll send it, dear, if you feel +that way," she conceded. "But you must not even dream that I shall get +the prize and you must promise not to be disappointed if we never hear +of the picture again." + +Bettina agreed and then there followed a most unexpected knocking at the +locked nursery door. The two conspirators stared at each other in +consternation. + +"Who is it, please?" Bettina demanded. "You know Angel and I are having +our secret together and we can't let any one come in." + +Betty's voice replied: "Yes, I know; but I thought maybe the secret was +over and you would like me to come and play too. I am feeling pretty +lonesome." + +"Oh," Tina returned, and then she and Angel whispered together. Finally +the little girl came over toward the closed door. + +"I wish you would not be lonesome just now, mother," she murmured, "just +when we are most dreadfully busy. If you will only go away for a little +while and then come back, why, Angel and I will love to play with you." + +"I am afraid I won't be here after a while," Betty answered and then +walked slowly away. It was absurd for her to feel wounded by such a +trifle, and yet recently it had looked as though Bettina preferred +Angelique's company to hers. What a useless person she was growing to +be! Well, at least she and Meg were going to a Suffrage meeting that +afternoon! She had not intended going, but the baby was asleep and +Anthony would not be home for hours. Perhaps after the talk ended she +might drive by and get Anthony to return with her. She had not thought +him looking very well that morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A TALK THAT WAS NOT AN EXPLANATION + + +THE Suffrage meeting was fairly interesting, but then both Meg and Betty +had been believers in equal rights for men and women ever since their +Camp Fire days and there were few new arguments to be heard on the +subject. + +When they came out from the crowded hall, however, it was still too +early to call for Anthony. There could be no hope of getting hold of him +before half-past five o'clock. So it was Meg Emmet's suggestion that she +and Betty stop by and see her father for a few moments. Professor +Everett had a slight cold and his daughter was a little uneasy about +him. + +They found the old gentleman in his library sipping hot tea and +re-reading a letter from his son, Horace, whom Betty could not ever +think of by any more serious name than "Bumps." She always saw a vision +of the small boy dragging around at his sister Meg's heels and tumbling +over every object in their way. However, "Bumps" had grown up to be a +very clever fellow and had a better record at college than his brother +John ever had. The young man was to graduate in law at Cornell in the +coming spring. The present letter was to say, however, that he expected +to spend Christmas in Concord with his father. He had been doing some +tutoring at Cornell and had earned the money for his trip himself. + +Plainly Professor Everett was much pleased by this news. He had always +been a devoted father to all his three motherless children, but Horace +was his "Benjamin." + +Moreover, they were still talking of "Bumps" when unexpectedly John +Everett made his appearance. He was looking rather fagged, but explained +that there was nothing going on at his office and so he had quit for the +day. + +Nevertheless tea had a reviving effect upon him, as it had upon both Meg +and Betty, so that Betty was surprised to discover that it was twenty +minutes past five o'clock when her visit seemed scarcely to have begun. + +It was quite dark, however, as it was toward the middle of December when +the days are short, so that John Everett insisted upon accompanying his +sister and friend, even though they were in Betty's carriage. + +Meg's home was nearer. They drove there first and later John went on to +the Capitol, where Betty sent in to inquire if the Governor were free to +return home with her. + +There was a little time to wait before the answer came, so that in the +meanwhile Betty and John continued talking. + +It was Betty who asked the first important question. + +"I do hope, John, that your new business is succeeding," she said +carelessly, although of course she felt a friendly interest in John's +success and in that of Meg's husband. + +However, John Everett hesitated a moment before replying. + +"Oh, our success depends on your Governor and so perhaps on you," he +answered in a half joking tone. "I don't know whether you happen to have +heard anything about it, but we are trying to get a bill through the +Legislature this season which will give us the chance to build the new +roads in the state of New Hampshire for the next few years. But we don't +know just yet how the Governor feels about it, whether he is going to +oppose our bill or work with us. He has a big lot of influence." + +"Oh," Betty replied vaguely. She sincerely hoped that John Everett was +not going to try persuade her to ask her husband to assist him for the +second time. Surely if he did she would refuse. For in the first place +she did not wish to confess that she believed herself to have no real +influence with her husband and in the second she wouldn't try to +interfere in anything so important as a bill to be gotten through the +Legislature unless she knew everything about it. Formerly she had taken +an intense interest in all the political affairs that interested her +husband, yet recently Anthony had not been discussing matters with her +very often. Moreover, she had a sudden feeling that she did not wish to +be mixed up again with John Everett's concerns. + +So fortunately before Betty had a chance to reply Anthony came down the +length of stone steps to his wife's carriage. + +He seemed pleased at seeing her, but not very enthusiastic over her +companion. + +However, John Everett said good-bye and left at once. + +They had only fairly started on the road toward home when Anthony said +suddenly: + +"I do wish, Betty, that you would not be seen so often with John +Everett. Oh, I know you don't realize it, but it seems to me that you +are very often with him. I know he is Meg's brother and that you are +devoted friends, but I tell you I don't like the fellow. The more I know +him, the less I like him. So I simply won't have my wife in his +society." + +Betty caught her breath and her cheeks flushed hotly in the darkness. +How unkind Anthony was to her these days! Could it be possible that he +did not love her any more? He certainly could not be jealous of John +Everett; that idea was too absurd to be considered. For she never had +cared for any one in her life except her husband and he must know it. +However, she had no intention of being bullied. + +"Don't be silly, Anthony," Betty replied petulantly. "I don't see very +much of John Everett. Besides, if I did what difference would it make? +Of course, if you know anything actually against him you would tell me?" + +"So you no longer wish to do things just because I wish them? I'm sorry, +Betty," Anthony returned. Then they drove the rest of the way home in +silence, both behaving like sullen children in spite of the fact that +they were entirely grown-up people, the Governor of the state and his +clever and charming wife. + +For the truth was that Anthony Graham was jealous of John Everett and +yet was ashamed to speak of it. He would never have dreamt of such a +feeling if only he and Betty had not been estranged for the past few +weeks. Besides, he was missing the opportunity to spend as much time +with her as he formerly had before his election to office. Surely Betty +must understand that. How could he help hating to have another fellow +drinking tea with her on any number of afternoons when he was slaving +at his office--especially a man like John Everett? + +Oh, of course Anthony realized that this was rather a dog-in-the-manger +attitude on his part and that he ought to laugh over it with his wife. + +Moreover, if he had, Betty would have understood and forgiven him. She +might even have been a little pleased, since she believed that Anthony +did not miss the loss of her society half so much as she had the loss of +his. If he had even told her the special reason he had for disliking +John Everett doubtless she would have been convinced, in spite of her +natural loyalty to her old friends. + +But Anthony did not even do this. He had an idea that he was saving +Betty trouble by not telling her of the loss of the papers by which he +could prove that the bill which ex-Governor Peyton, Jack Emmet and John +Everett were trying to get through the Legislature was an effort to +cheat the state. + +Yet in consequence Betty cried herself into a headache and was therefore +unable to come down to dinner, while Anthony decided that she would not +come simply because she was too angry with him. + +So can people in this world manage to misunderstand each other, even +after they have been married a number of years and are very deeply and +truly in love with each other. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +CHRISTMAS + + +STILL unreconciled, Anthony and Betty went together to spend their +Christmas with Mrs. Ashton in Woodford in the old Ashton homestead. They +took with them both Bettina and Tony and the nurse and Faith Barton. +However, Faith was of course to stay with her foster parents, Doctor and +Mrs. Barton. + +Only Angel refused to accompany the little party. She claimed not to be +feeling well, to have some business that she must attend to, and indeed +made so many excuses that Betty, seeing that she really did wish to be +left behind, gave up arguing the matter with her. Moreover, Meg promised +to look after Angel and see that she had her Christmas dinner with them, +so that she would not be particularly lonely. + +It was in Angel's mind that perhaps during the family's absence +something might occur which would relieve her from all suspicion in the +Governor's sight. Yet if she thought that this would come about through +Kenneth Helm she was mistaken, for Kenneth departed for Woodford on +Christmas eve to spend the following day with Faith and her parents. + +Besides seeing her mother and giving her children the pleasure of a +country Christmas Betty was chiefly looking forward to being with Polly. +Somehow she felt that Polly would be sure to cheer her up and make her +feel young again. They could take long walks through the woods and +discover whether little Sunrise Cabin was still habitable. Billy and +Mollie had always looked after it, carefully attending to whatever +repairs were necessary, so doubtless it was as good as new. + +Nevertheless it was extremely difficult after her arrival for Betty and +Polly to find time for the intimate hours that they both longed to have +together, for there were so many other people about--old friends and +relatives. + +Nan Graham came from Syracuse, where she had charge of the department of +domestic science in the High School, in order to be with her brother +Anthony, whom she had not seen since his election. + +Edith Norton with her husband and four children still lived in Woodford +and claimed the intimacy of their Camp Fire days. Then, of course, there +was Herr Krippen and Mrs. Krippen and Betty's small stepbrother to be +considered, besides Mr. and Mrs. Wharton, Eleanor and Frank. + +But perhaps the most important and unexpected member of the Christmas +gathering was the distinguished and eccentric Doctor Sylvia Wharton. +Certainly it was Sylvia who kept Betty and Polly from being alone with +each other during her own brief visit. + +The morning of the day before Christmas Mollie got a letter from Sylvia, +who had charge of a hospital in Philadelphia, saying that much as she +regretted it she would be unable to spend Christmas with them. + +During the late afternoon Polly, who had escaped from the noise and +confusion going on inside Mollie's big house, was taking a walk up and +down the bare wind-swept orchard to the left of the house. The ground +was covered with hard white snow and the air stung with a kind of +delicious cold freshness. + +It was a part of Polly's regular duty to stay out of doors for a certain +number of hours each day, so she now stopped her walk for a moment and +glanced ahead at some almost blue-black pine trees silhouetted against +the twilight sky. + +Suddenly she became conscious of what sounded like a masculine step +behind her, and before she could turn around felt her two arms firmly +grasped by a pair of capable hands and herself swung slowly about. + +She faced a figure not so tall as her own, but broader, stronger and far +more sturdy. The blue eyes looked at her through a pair of spectacles, +the flaxen hair was parted in the middle and without the least sign of a +crinkle drawn straight back on either side. The mouth was firm, but +curiously kind. And just now it actually showed signs of trembling. + +"Why, Sylvia Wharton!" Polly said and straightway hid her face in the +fur of her stepsister's long coat. Immediately she had a feeling of +dependence on Sylvia's judgment and affection just as she had for so +long a time, although she was several years the older. + +"Don't try to hide your face from me, Polly O'Neill. I want to see how +you are looking before you get back into the house and do your best to +deceive me. I can feel already that you are thin as a rail," Dr. Sylvia +murmured severely. "You see if I don't straighten you out before you go +back to that wretched work again!" + +"It was good of you to come, Sylvia; I was so disappointed over your +letter this morning. Only I am not your patient, dear; I am quite all +right. It is 'Bobbin,' my poor little girl, I want you to look after and +find somebody to help," Polly returned with unaccustomed meekness. +"Really she is interesting and unusual. Both Mollie and Billy Webster +think so; it isn't only my foolishness. I suppose you thought my +bringing her east with me was rather mad, didn't you, Sylvia?" + +Sylvia smiled the slow smile that had always beautified her plain face. +"No, not mad, only Polly!" she answered dryly. "But of course I'll look +the little girl over for you, and then I'll find the best person to see +her and you can send her to me in Philadelphia. Only don't think you are +going to escape by that method yourself." + +On Christmas Eve all the grown-up members of the Christmas party dined +with Mrs. Ashton and Betty in the town of Woodford, since Mollie was to +have the tree and Christmas dinner for them and the children on the farm +the next day. + +It was an amusing change from the past to find that Anthony Graham and +Sylvia Wharton were really the lions of the evening. How different it +had been in the old days when Anthony was only an awkward, shabby, +obscure boy and Sylvia the plainest and most unprepossessing of the +Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls! + +Polly and Betty too, in spite of her wounded feelings, were both +immensely pleased and amused by it. + +Of course Sylvia would rather have died than have mentioned the fact, +but quite by accident Anthony had read the previous day of Sylvia's +election as President of the American Medical Society, the highest honor +that had ever been paid a woman in the medical profession in the United +States. + +Hearing the story at the dinner table, Sylvia was of course confused by +the admiration and applause it excited, for she was still as shy and +reserved about her own accomplishments as she had ever been as a young +girl. + +Moreover, it was Polly who recalled having once predicted that Sylvia +Wharton would become the most distinguished of the Camp Fire girls and +who made a little speech in her honor, much to the confusion and disgust +of Sylvia. + +Then Billy Webster offered their congratulations to Anthony, who was +almost equally modest about his own attainments and insisted that his +election as Governor was due to a happy accident and not to any possible +ability of his own. + +The Christmas day following was even more crowded with people and +excitement. Actually Mollie and Billy were to have thirty guests to dine +at the farm at two o'clock and the Christmas tree for the children was +to be given immediately after. + +Notwithstanding, Sylvia arranged to spend an hour alone with Polly and +Bobbin in a room at the top of the house where there could be no +interruption. + +She appeared to be deeply interested in Bobbin. She made Polly talk and +then saw how easily Bobbin seemed to be able to understand. Then she +asked questions herself which now and then the little girl was able to +comprehend. + +Polly explained that perchance Bobbin understood her better than other +people, because of her training as an actress, which of course required +her to enunciate more distinctly. However, Dr. Wharton made no reply and +after a time Bobbin was sent away to watch the children at play. + +Then Polly sat quietly in a big armchair, while Sylvia strode up and +down the room with her hands clasped behind her. They were both silent +for quite five minutes. + +Afterwards Sylvia spoke first. + +"I am by no means sure your little girl is entirely deaf, Polly," she +remarked abruptly. "But I am not an expert in the matter and I don't +want to trust my own judgment. I believe she hears indistinctly perhaps +and so has never learned to talk. Yet it would not surprise me if a +sudden shock of some kind might make her hear, and after that she would +learn to talk easily enough. But I'll discuss her case and we can see +about it later. Now you are to let me look you over." + +Of course Polly shrugged her shoulders and objected, insisting that she +was entirely well and that it was absurd to waste Sylvia's time. + +Nevertheless, as usual, Dr. Wharton had her way and at the end of a half +hour's examination Polly appeared pale and exhausted, while Sylvia +looked more satisfied. + +"You are not to go back on the stage again this winter, Miss O'Neill," +she announced decisively. "But you really are in better health than I +expected to find you. If you only would behave with a little more +sense!" + +Polly sighed, waving her accuser away. + +"Do go and let me rest now, please," she commanded. "You know I have +promised to recite for the children for an hour or so after dinner. And +I do wish my friends and family would stop asking me to behave with +better sense. How can I if I haven't got it? Everybody ought to be sorry +for me." + +Smiling, Sylvia departed. It was like old times to hear Polly talking in +her old aggrieved fashion when she knew herself to be really in the +wrong. But then Sylvia decided that she would probably always love Polly +more than any one else in the world, even if they saw each other so +seldom. For she never expected to marry herself and doubted now whether +Polly ever would. There had been a scare years before about a Richard +Hunt, but as Polly never mentioned his name now she must by this time +have forgotten him. + +The Christmas dinner and tree were a great success. After Polly had made +the children shriek with pleasure by playing a dozen characters from +Mother Goose, and the older people cry by reciting several exquisite +Christmas poems by Whitcomb Riley and Eugene Field, the guests then sang +Camp Fire songs until darkness descended. + +It was a pity, however, that Esther and Dick and their children were in +Boston and unable to come home for the holidays, for Esther's beautiful +voice was sadly needed in the music. + +But at six o'clock Sylvia was forced to leave for Philadelphia, and so +the other guests decided that it was time that the weary children should +be taken home. + +However, for one minute Polly and Betty did manage to slip over into a +corner and in that moment made an engagement to spend the whole of the +next afternoon together. Moreover, in order to get away from every one +else they planned to take a long walk to Sunrise Cabin. + +Nevertheless that same night each of the two friends lay awake for +several hours, firmly resolving not to tell the other the trouble that +lay nearest their hearts. For they both decided that they should have +gotten beyond their old girlhood confidences and that there were certain +things women should keep to themselves. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE STUPIDITY OF MEN + + +"BUT, my dear, there isn't the least use of your denying it. The fact +that you are unhappy is as plain as the nose on your face. Of course if +you don't want to tell me the reason you need not, but don't expect me +to be so stupid as not to see it," Polly concluded solemnly. + +Actually the two friends were in the time-honored old living room in +Sunrise Cabin. With their own hands they had brought in twigs and logs +from outdoors and lighted an enormous fire in the big fireplace. Then +Polly had produced three candles from her handbag and had stuck them +into the tarnished brass candlesticks that were still ornamenting the +mantel, where they were now burning fitfully. + +With their coats off both of the old Camp Fire girls sat on rickety +chairs before the fire, their chins resting in their hands and gazing +none too happily into the flames. + +"But I tell you, you are mistaken, Polly. There is nothing the matter +with me. Of course one can't expect to be happy when one grows older, as +in our old irresponsible Camp Fire days. Maybe it is old age that is +troubling me, for I am a most uninterestingly healthy person." + +In replying Betty tried to make her tones as light as possible; +nevertheless her companion only frowned the more unbelievingly. + +"Our Camp Fire days were never irresponsible ones for me, Betty child," +Polly responded, gazing thoughtfully around the dear, dismantled room. +"Often I feel I never learned so much at any other time in my life as I +did then. But the fact remains that you are not happy as I want you to +be, and I wish with all my heart that you loved me enough to tell me the +reason why. You see, Betty, I am rather a lonely, good-for-nothing old +maid and I can't expect much for myself. But you have absolutely +everything in the world any woman could wish. And I think it is +positively wicked of you not to be the same gay, sweet Betty." + +At this Polly got out a small handkerchief and began dabbing her Irish +blue eyes, that were shedding tears partly from the smoke of the fire +and partly from a general sense of discouragement. + +In return Betty stared back at her with equal severity. "What a +perfectly absurd fashion for you to talk, Polly O'Neill!" she replied. +"You know perfectly well that if you had chosen to marry you might have +had what I have. Only you didn't want to marry; you wanted a career and +to be famous and to make money instead. Well, haven't you succeeded? Is +that what you are crying about?" + +Polly nodded. "I expect there isn't any law about wanting everything, is +there, Betty Ashton Graham? So long as women are women, no matter what +they may try to do or be, there will be times when they cry for nice +husbands and babies. But I wasn't crying about me, it was about you," +she continued ungrammatically and with her usual logic. "Here you are +growing more beautiful every day you live. Everybody loves you; you have +hundreds of friends, the two most fascinating children in the world, +except Mollie's, and a husband who is about the best and cleverest man +in the state, and who simply adores you, and yet you are wretched and +cross and unlike yourself. I watched you yesterday, Betty, and you never +smiled a single time when you thought no one was looking and you never +once spoke to Anthony. The poor fellow appeared dreadfully troubled too. +Whatever is the matter, I am much sorrier for him than I am for you," +Polly concluded somewhat vindictively. + +"Oh!" Betty faltered and then was so silent that Polly humped her stool +nearer until her shoulder touched that of her friend. + +"That last remark wasn't true, of course, Betty," Polly apologized. "For +if Anthony is really a snake in the grass and treats you badly when he +looks so noble and kind, why, I shall simply come to Concord and tell +him what I think of him right in the Governor's mansion. I don't care +whether he puts me into the state prison or not." + +Then, although she had been tremblingly near tears herself the moment +before, Betty was compelled to laugh. Whoever could do anything else in +Polly O'Neill's society? The thought of Anthony's thrusting a very +noisy and protesting Polly into prison was a picture to dispel almost +any degree of gloom. + +Betty slipped her arm across her friend's shoulder. "No, dear, you must +not think Anthony is unkind to me; it isn't that," she responded slowly. +"Only I don't believe he exactly 'adores' me as much as he used to. +Sometimes men get tired of their wives." + +"Nonsense, goose! What put that notion in your head?" Polly returned +lightly, although she was a little frightened by her friend's reply. + +Really she had not believed that anything could have come between +Anthony and Betty. Her suggestion had only been made in order to induce +Betty to deny it. The next moment she leaned over and put several fresh +logs on the fire. + +"Nothing and no one in this world could ever persuade me, Betty dearest, +that Anthony does not adore you," Polly then continued with convincing +earnestness. "You see, he began when you were sixteen years old and he +never knew that any other girl lived in the world. He does not know it +now, for he never even glanced at a single one of us yesterday, if he +could help it. But you see Princess, dear, you are a good deal spoiled. +You always have been ever since you were a baby, by your family and all +your friends. Even the Camp Fire Club used to look up to you and be more +devoted to you than any one else. Esther has always been your slave and +now your little French girl seems to feel about you just as Esther used +to do. Really, Betty, I expect you need discipline." + +Yet even as she spoke Betty's auburn hair glistened with such exquisite +colors in the firelight that Polly stroked it softly with her slender +fingers. + +The Governor's wife was thinking too deeply to notice her. + +"I wonder if things are my fault, Polly. I almost hope they are," she +answered wistfully. "You see, it has seemed to me lately that Anthony +has been dreadfully unreasonable. He won't do the things I ask him to +and though he is too busy to be with me himself, he isn't willing for me +to spend much time even with my oldest friends." + +"Oh, ho!" whistled Polly softly. "What friends, for instance, Princess?" + +"Oh, Meg Emmet and--John Everett. Isn't it absurd? But Anthony has +always felt a prejudice against John ever since we were boys and girls +together here in Woodford," Betty explained. "I don't care particularly +for John now myself. He has grown kind of stupid and thinks too much +about what he eats, but it would look utterly ridiculous of me to cut +him for no reason except that Anthony is absurd." + +Polly dug her chin deeper into the palm of her hand as she so often did +in moments of abstraction. + +"Seems like a little enough thing to do if Anthony wishes it and you +could do it very gracefully you know, Princess dear," Polly replied. +"Besides, I am not so sure Anthony has no reason for his prejudice. I +never liked John Everett a cent myself when we were all young. He was +always trying to lord it over the rest of us and pretend to be very rich +and grand and superior. Besides, Betty Graham, I don't believe I should +care to have a husband who would do every solitary thing I asked him to +do. Somehow, I think I would like him to have a little judgment of his +own now and then. So you really wish Anthony to do exactly as he is +told. I wonder if your children are as obedient? But come along, dear, +it is getting so late Mollie will be having fits about us. Fortunately +you are a more sensible woman than I am. A perfectly obedient husband is +about the last thing in this world I require. To what dreadful end would +I bring him!" + +But Betty did not stir from her stool even when her companion had +crossed over the room and now stood holding out her long fur coat, +waiting for her to put her arms inside it. + +"Dear, if there is one thing I am more sure of at this moment than of +anything else, it is that I am not _so_ sensible a woman as Polly +O'Neill. Though goodness knows I never could have believed it!" Betty +whispered, laughing and yet profoundly in earnest. "It was a most +excellent sermon and I mean to do my best to profit by it. Truly I have +been behaving like a spoiled child for weeks. I know Anthony has a great +many things that trouble him and I ought to have been more considerate. +Somehow I expect this marriage is really more the girl's business than +the man's. He has to make the living for the family in most cases and +the Camp Fire taught us that home making was a girl's highest +privilege." + +Then Betty got up and slipped on her beautiful long coat and the two +friends started back toward Mollie's big farm together. + +In all their girlhood they had never felt more intimate or more devoted. +Yet neither one of them talked much during the long walk, just an +occasional question now and then. + +The sun was going down, but there was an after-glow in the sky and +because of the whiteness of the snow there was still sufficient light. +At least Polly and Betty could see each other's faces with perfect +distinctness. + +They had nearly reached the farm-house when Betty suddenly stopped and +put both hands on Polly's shoulders. + +"Look me directly in the eyes, Polly," she commanded. + +And Polly attempted doing as she was bid, but her lashes drooped until +they touched her cheeks. + +"Have you fallen in love with some one recently, Polly? Is that why you +talked about yourself in such a discouraged fashion just now and +lectured me so severely?" Betty inquired. + +Polly shook her head. "I don't know whether you would call it falling in +love recently, Betty, or whether I have been in love for the last ten +years. But I saw Richard Hunt again when I was in Colorado and he was +even nicer than he used to be. He don't care a single thing about me any +more, Betty. He hasn't even sent me a Christmas card! The letter I had +from him a few days ago was all about Bobbin. He wasn't even interested +enough to inquire if I was well." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A CRY IN THE NIGHT + + +BECAUSE she was tired from her long walk and her conversation and from +other reasons Polly went up-stairs to bed sooner than her sister and +brother-in-law. + +As a special privilege the children had begged that Bobbin should be +allowed to sleep in the nursery with them, and rather against her will +Polly had consented. The little girl had previously occupied a small +room connected with her own. + +However, she was too weary for argument, and besides Mollie's babies +were cross and unreasonable. They had been playing all afternoon with +the Christmas tree which stood in the big back parlor just under Polly's +room. Anything to get them safely stowed in bed and the house quiet! + +For Polly had expected to lie awake for a number of hours, reflecting on +many things, when in point of fact immediately after retiring she sank +into a deep and dreamless sleep. + +Moreover, about ten o'clock Mollie and Billy also decided to follow +their sister's example. And it was Billy himself who closed up the +windows and made the house ready for the night. Only he failed to go +into the back parlor where the Christmas tree stood and where the floor +was now littered with discarded toys and games and the walls hung with +dried-out evergreens. + +He was under the impression that the windows in this room had been +closed and locked when the children departed to bed. Moreover, locking +up at the farm-house was more of a custom than a necessity. No one had +any real fear of burglars or tramps. Besides, the windows in the back +parlor were locked and no danger was to come from the outside. + +But it must have been only about three hours later when Mollie suddenly +awoke with a scream and start. A hand had passed lightly over her face. + +The next instant and Billy jumped up and seized hold of the intruder. + +Yet his hands clasped only a slight, childish form in a white gown. It +was too dark in the room to see who it could be until Mollie lit the +candle which stood always by their bedside. + +Then they both discovered Bobbin, not walking in her sleep as they +supposed, but with her face very white and making queer little movements +with her hands and lips. + +"The child is frightened; something must have to disturbed her," Billy +suggested, still only half awake himself. + +But Mollie had jumped out of bed and was already on her way to the +nursery. Naturally she presumed that something had happened to one of +the children and that Bobbin had come to call her. Poor little girl, she +had no other way of calling than to touch with her hands! + +However, half way down the hall Mollie turned and ran back into her own +bedroom. + +"Get up please, Billy, in a hurry, won't you? I do believe I smell smoke +somewhere in the house. Something must be on fire. Of course Bobbin +could detect it before the rest of us; she is sure to have a keener +sense of smell." + +A moment later and Billy had jumped almost all the way down the long +flight of old-fashioned country stairs. + +"Don't be frightened, dear, but get the children up and put clothes on +them," he shouted back. "It is too cold for you to go out in the snow +undressed and we are miles from a neighbor. I will call the men and we +will fight the fire. Don't forget to waken Polly!" + +With this last injunction in her mind Mollie stopped to hammer on her +sister's door before she ran on to the nursery. + +She was certain that she heard Polly answer her. Besides, by this time +the house was filled with an excited tumult, Mollie's little boys were +dancing about in the hall, half pleased and half frightened with the +excitement, their nurse was scolding and crying and vainly endeavoring +to dress the small Polly. + +So it was plain enough that for the next few minutes Mollie had +difficulty enough in keeping her wits about her and in quieting her +family, especially as every now and then she could hear her husband's +voice from below calling on her to hurry as quickly as possible. + +Only Bobbin at once slipped into a heavy, long coat and shoes and rushed +back to Polly's room. The door was locked, but she pounded patiently and +automatically on the outside, unable, of course, to hear the answering +voice from within. + +Then there came a sudden hoarse shout from below stairs and in that +instant Mr. Webster, dashing up a flight of steps almost at one bound, +returned with the baby in his arms, while Mollie led one of the small +boys and the nurse the other. + +"Come on, you and Polly, at once!" Mollie cried, waving her hands and +pointing toward the great hall to show that there was no time for +further delay. + +But this was evident enough to Bobbin without being told, for the smoke +was pouring out of the parlor into the hall and coming up the stairs +like a great advancing army. + +However, Bobbin would not leave her post. There was not the faintest +thought in her brain of ever stirring from without that locked door +until the one person whom she loved in the world should come forth from +it. And she was not conscious of feeling particularly afraid, only she +could not understand why Miss O'Neill would not hurry. + +A moment later, however, and Bobbin found herself outside standing alone +in the snow. + +There had been no possible outcry on her part, no explanation and no +argument, of course. Only when one of the farm laborers rushing +up-stairs had seen the little girl loitering in the hall, without saying +by your leave, he had seized her in his arms and borne her struggling +through the now stifling smoke. + +Outside in the yard Bobbin for a moment felt weak and confused. For all +at once the place seemed to be swarming with excited people. + +There were a dozen men and their families living on the big farm with +houses of their own. And now the ringing of a great bell had brought +them all out with their wives and children as well. + +The women were swarming about Mollie with their children, crying, +gesticulating, talking. It was a clear, white night and Bobbin could +see them easily. The men were engaged in rushing back and forth with +pails of water, fearing that the water might freeze on the way. + +But there was nowhere any sign of Polly! + +Bobbin did not try to attract attention. In the instant it did not even +occur to her that she might not have been able to make any one +understand. Simply and without being seen she slipped into one of the +big front windows, opened by the men as a passage-way, and started +fighting her way again up the black, smoke-laden steps. + +There seemed to be no more air, it was all a thick, foggy substance that +got into your throat and made you unable to breathe and into your eyes +so that you could not see. But Bobbin went resolutely on. + +She clung to the banisters and dragged herself upward, either too stupid +or too intent on her errand to suffer fear. Nevertheless, through the +smoke she could see that long tongues of flame were bursting out of the +doors of the back parlor into the hall beneath her. + +Only, once more at Polly's bedroom door Bobbin lost heart and the only +real terror she ever remembered enduring seized hold on her. For Polly's +door was still locked and she had no means of making her hear. + +All that she could accomplish by hammering and kicking she had done +before. Of course, she tried this again, yet the door did not open and +so far as Bobbin could know there was no movement from the inside. + +Yet next Miss O'Neill's room there was her own room and the door of this +was unfastened. With a kind of half-blind impulse Bobbin staggered into +it. She had no clear or definite idea of what she intended doing, yet +fortunately this room was only partially filled with smoke so that she +could in a measure see her way about. + +There in the corner stood an old-fashioned, heavy wooden chair. Almost +instinctively Bobbin seized hold on it. She was curiously strong, doubly +so to any other girl of her age, since she had lived outdoors always +like a little barbarian. Besides, there was nothing else that could be +done. She must break down Miss O'Neill's door. + +With all her force the girl hurled the heavy chair against the oak door. +There were a few marks on its surface, yet the door remained absolutely +firm, for the Webster house had been built in the days when wood had +been plentiful in the New Hampshire hills and homes had been expected to +endure. + +Nevertheless Bobbin pounded again and again, almost automatically her +thin arms seemed to work, and yet all her effort was without avail. + +During these moments no one can guess exactly what emotions tore at the +girl's heart. If only she could have cried out her alarm and her desire, +surely she would have been answered! + +Bobbin's face worked strangely, there was a kind of throbbing in her +ears and her lips moved. "Polly!" she called in a hoarse little whisper, +and this was the first word she had ever spoken in her life. + +Inside in her smoke-filled room Polly O'Neill could not possibly have +heard her. For the past fifteen minutes, during all the excitement due +to the fire, she had been lying upon her bed in a stifled condition. For +no one had realized that as Polly's room was immediately above the back +parlor, where the fire had been smouldering ever since the children had +gone up-stairs to bed, her room had been first to be filled with smoke. +Yet the smoke had come so slowly, so gradually as she lay in a kind of +exhausted sleep, that she had been stupefied rather than awakened by it. + +Now was it the miracle rather than the sound of Bobbin's speaking her +name that penetrated slowly to Polly's consciousness, or was it the +noise of the repeated pounding of the heavy chair against her door? +Whatever the cause, she came back to the world, choking, blinded, +fighting with her hands to keep off the black substance that was +crowding into her lungs. + +Then somehow she managed to crawl across her room, remembering that the +smoke would be denser higher up in the atmosphere. Unlocking the door, +she turned the handle and Bobbin caught her as she half fell into the +hall. + +With a quick movement the girl put her arm about the older woman's waist +and started for the stairway, for the hall was dense with smoke and now +and then a tongue of flame leaped up from below and seemed to dance for +a moment in the air about them. + +It was overpowering, unendurable. Polly was already dazed and exhausted +and her lungs were always delicate. At the top of the stairs she became +a dead weight on her companion's arms. Besides, by this time Bobbin too +was very weary. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE DISCOVERY + + +A FEW moments after Bobbin's disappearance inside the house Mollie +O'Neill had suddenly torn herself away from the people closed about her +in their effort to hide from her eyes the possible destruction of her +home. + +She looked searchingly around her. + +"Polly!" she called, "Polly!" For the first moment since the fire +started, she seemed to be losing her self-control. For all at once it +had come to her in a terrifying flash that she had not caught a glimpse +of her sister since the moment when she had gone up-stairs at eight +o'clock to retire to bed. + +Nevertheless Polly must be somewhere near by. She must have heard her +calling and she had had plenty of time to escape, more than any one +else, as she had no one else to look after save herself. Yet it was not +like Polly not to have come at once to her aid with the children! + +Mollie ran here and there about the yard, still crying out her sister's +name, horror and conviction growing upon her at every step. + +At last she caught sight of her husband directing half a dozen men and +caught hold of his arm. + +"Billy, Polly is still inside the house, locked in her own room. Don't +ask me how I know it, I do. We have got to go in and get her." And +Mollie started quickly toward the front porch, until her husband flung +his arms about her. + +"Wait here, Mollie," he said sternly. "You will do no good, only make +things harder for me. If Polly is inside the house, as you say, I'll +have her out in a jiffy." + +Then he called to one of the men. "Keep Mrs. Webster here. On no account +let her follow me," he commanded, and glancing about in every direction +as he ran, he too made for the house. + +Assuredly Mollie was right. Neither had he gotten even a passing glimpse +of Polly since the alarm of fire. But was it going to be so simple a +matter to rescue her as he had pretended to his wife? For certainly if +Polly had heard nothing of the tumult and danger surrounding her she +must be already hurt and unconscious. + +Once inside his own hall Billy Webster squared his great shoulders. The +way ahead of him now looked like a pathway of flame and yet the smoke +was harder to endure than the heat. Nevertheless go through it he must, +since Polly's room lay at the head of the stairs. + +She must be saved. Billy had a sudden vision of Polly from her girlhood +until now; her wilfulness, her charm and her great talent. How stupidly +he had opposed her desire to be an actress in the days when he had +supposed himself in love with Polly O'Neill instead of her twin sister! +Well, now they understood each other and were friends and she should not +come to grief in his house. + +In his pocket there was a wet handkerchief. Indeed, all his clothes were +fortunately damp from the water that had been splashed upon him in the +work outdoors. Quickly the man tied the handkerchief about his mouth. +Then he took a few steps forward and paused. There was a noise of +something falling from above; possibly some of the timbers of the old +house were beginning to give way. Could they be under Polly's room? + +But even while he thought, Billy Webster fought his way deliberately +forward until he at last reached the bottom of the stairs and then his +feet struck something soft and yielding. Stooping down, he caught up two +figures in his arms, not one! + +For in that moment at the head of the stairs when Polly had lost +consciousness Bobbin had managed to half carry, half drag her on a part +of the way. Then realizing that her own strength was failing, with +instinctive good sense and courage she had flung them both forward, so +that they both slid inertly down to the bottom of the stairs. + +Instantly and without feeling their weight the man carried the woman and +girl out of doors. + +Poor Bobbin, whom in these last terrible moments they had forgotten! Yet +she it was who had remembered better than them all! + +Nevertheless, although both Polly and Bobbin were unconscious, neither +of them was seriously burned. Yet Mollie was dreadfully disturbed. Polly +had come to visit them on account of her health, and there was no way of +foretelling what effect this night's experience might have upon her. +Here she was in her night dress, outdoors in the cold, when the rest of +them were warmly clothed. + +However, in another moment Polly was comfortably wrapped in a long coat +and carried to the nearest house of one of the farm assistants. Bobbin +too was equally well looked after, and as soon as she had been in the +fresh air for a few moments the girl's breath had come back to her and +she was soon almost herself again. + +Yet by this time all the women and children had grown tired, for there +was nothing that they could do. Five minutes before, Mollie's two boys +and little girl and nurse had been taken away and put to bed by one of +the farmer's wives. Moreover, real assistance was arriving at last. + +In the excitement some one had been intelligent enough to get to the +telephone in the dining room before the fire had crept in that +direction. The town of Woodford had promised to send help. Even now the +volunteer fire department of the village with an engine and hose +carriage was trampling over the snow-covered lawns of the old Webster +homestead. + +A quarter of an hour later a physician appeared and also Betty and +Anthony Graham. Afterwards actually there were dozens of Mollie's and +Billy's friends who drove out in their motor cars to take the family +home with them, or to do whatever was possible for their relief and +comfort. + +By this time the fire in the old house had been vanquished and the earth +was filled with the cold grayness of approaching dawn. + +Mollie would see no one but Betty, who stayed on with her and the +physician in the room given up to Polly. Mrs. Wharton had been persuaded +not to come, and Anthony Graham had gone back to town to make things +clear to her. + +"It is just like Polly to be such a ridiculously long time in coming to +herself," Betty explained to her frightened friend. "I don't think it +means anything in the least alarming." Yet all the time she was wishing +that the physician who held Polly's thin wrist, counting her pulse, +would not look so deadly serious. + +However, no matter what she might fear herself, Mollie must be +strengthened and comforted. Her nerves had given way under the recent +strain and fright. It was almost impossible for her to keep her teeth +from chattering and she was unable to stand up. Notwithstanding, nothing +would persuade her to leave her sister's room. + +"For if anything serious is the matter with Polly, of course if will be +my fault and I shall never forgive myself," she would repeat over and +over. "You see, I forgot Polly; it was only Bobbin who remembered." + +Finally, however, there was a sign from the doctor by Polly's bedside +which Betty managed to intercept. Without a word to Mollie she slipped +across the room to find Polly's eyes wide open and staring in perplexity +at her. + +"What on earth has happened, Betty?" she demanded impatiently, although +her voice was so faint it was difficult to hear. "What are you and +Mollie and I doing in a room I never saw before, with me feeling as if I +had been out of the world and then gotten only half-way back into it +again?" + +At the sound of her sister's voice Mollie had also moved toward the bed. +She was distressingly white, her soft blue eyes had dark circles around +them and she seemed utterly spent and exhausted. + +Quickly Polly reached out her weak hand. + +"What is it, Mollie Mavourneen?" she asked nervously, using the name of +their childhood. + +Then before either woman replied: "Oh, I remember," she said faintly. +"There was a dreadful lot of smoke in my room and I got to the door +somehow. Bobbin was there and I can't recall anything else." + +This time Polly's fingers clung tightly. + +"Was any one injured? Was your lovely house burned down?" she inquired. + +But Mollie could only shake her head, while the tears ran slowly down +her soft cheeks. + +However, Betty spoke reassuringly. "It is all right, Polly dear. No one +is in the least hurt. We were afraid for a while you had been stifled +by the smoke, but you are perfectly well now. And Billy says the house +has been saved. Of course, it has been a good deal damaged inside, but +that can soon be restored." + +Polly smiled. "Then for goodness sake do put Mollie to bed! She looks +like a ghost and I am terribly sleepy myself. I have been ever since +eight o'clock last night and I've no doubt it is now nearly morning." + +Yet, as her sister and friend were tiptoeing softly away, Polly beckoned +Betty to come back to her. + +"Bobbin saved my life, didn't she?" she inquired gently. "I don't think +I should ever have gotten down that dreadful smoke-filled hall except +for her." + +Silently Betty nodded; for the moment she did not feel able to speak, +because the story of Bobbin's courage and devotion had touched her very +deeply. + +"It is like bread cast upon the waters, isn't it?" Polly murmured +faintly. "It returns to one buttered." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ONCE MORE IN CONCORD + + +BUT as Polly did not immediately recover from the shock and exposure of +the fire, Betty Graham did not return home with her family to Concord. + +Anthony took the nurse and children and Faith Barton accompanied them, +in order to keep Angelique from being lonely, she explained. However, +her real desire, of course, was to be able to see as much as possible of +Kenneth Helm. + +Nevertheless, the carrying on of her romance with the same secrecy as +she had first observed was not so easy now, nor did it seem to Faith so +desirable as in the beginning. Yet Kenneth still implored her to say +nothing for a short while longer. In a few weeks perhaps things would be +all right with him, so that he would have sufficient money not to worry +over the future. Then, of course, they could explain the reason for +their silence. In the meantime, however, perhaps they had best be a +little more careful, for people were noticing their intimacy and +beginning to talk. Indeed, Faith's chief difficulty was that her foster +parents, Rose and Doctor Barton, had observed her marked interest in +Kenneth Helm during his Christmas visit with them and had asked Faith if +there was anything between them. + +Naturally this placed the girl in a painfully trying position. She was +devotedly fond of both Rose and Doctor Barton, who were in reality not +old enough to be her parents, although they had always treated her like +an adored child, giving in to most of her whims and wishes. But while +Faith was selfish and considered her own dreams and desires of the +utmost importance, she was neither ungrateful nor unloving, nor fond of +deceiving the people for whom she cared. The trouble was that she was +too much under Kenneth Helm's influence, else she would never have +consented to keeping their engagement a secret. + +Faith was not aware of the fact, but in reality it was Kenneth who had +made the concealment of their affection for each other appear romantic +and alluring to her eyes. Often she had longed to confide the news to +Betty after Angel had proved so unexpectedly unsympathetic. However, +having given her word to Kenneth, she felt in duty bound to keep it, and +moreover she was the least bit afraid of him. + +The real truth of the matter was that Faith Barton was more in love with +Kenneth than he was with her. Not that Faith was unattractive, but +because Kenneth was incapable of caring a great deal for any one except +himself. + +In the beginning he had been greatly interested, for Faith was pretty +and full of a great many amusing ideas and ideals. Moreover, at the time +she was a favored member of Governor Graham's family and might turn out +to be useful. But Kenneth had no actual desire to marry any one for the +present and had not at first taken their engagement seriously. Recently, +however, discovering that Faith was desperately in earnest and that she +might at any moment announce the fact to her family and friends, the +young man had been extremely uncomfortable. More than once he had +reproached himself for not having made a friend of Angelique instead of +Faith. She was not nearly so pretty, but she was cleverer and she might +have been more helpful. + +Indeed, Kenneth rather admired the fashion in which Angel had kept her +word with him and had not reported the fact of his presence in the +Governor's study on the night of the Inaugural Ball. Besides she had +never referred to his accusation against her, so there was no doubt that +the little French girl was a true sport, whatever else she might be. + +Moreover, when Governor Graham and his family returned to the Governor's +mansion it was plain enough that Angel must have enjoyed some good +fortune in their absence. She seemed to have cast off her embarrassment +and chagrin over the suspicion which had rested upon her, and no one had +ever seen her so happy or so gay. + +Before little Bettina had been at home five minutes she and Angelique +had vanished up-stairs together and were soon locked fast in the big +nursery. + +Then Angel straightway drew a large envelope out of her pocket and began +waving it before Bettina's astonished eyes. Naturally the little girl +had no idea that a letter could be so very important, not even so large +a one as Angel's. + +An instant later and she was the more mystified, for her companion had +slipped a long, rather narrow piece of paper, with queer scrawls written +upon it, out of the envelope and was also holding it up for her audience +to admire. + +Bettina smiled politely although a trifle wistfully. It was hard luck +not being able to read anything except printed letters when one was as +old as six. However, her mother and father did not wish her to become a +student too early in life. + +"It is a very nice letter, Angel, if it makes you so glad," Bettina +remarked gently; "only there does not seem to be a great deal of writing +on it." + +Then the older girl threw her arm about her little friend's neck and +hugged her close. + +"Of course you don't understand, darling, and it's hateful of me to +tease you," she protested. "But that piece of paper is a check; it +represents two hundred whole dollars, the most money I have ever had at +once in my life. And do you know how I got it? Our little picture of +'Snow White and Rose Red' received the prize in the magazine contest. I +had a letter, too, saying that though it was not the best drawing, it +was the loveliest little girl. So you see it was really all because of +you, Bettina, that I got the prize!" + +Then Angel did another mysterious thing. She made Bettina close her eyes +very tight and while they were closed she clasped something around her +neck which fastened with a tiny click. Then on opening them the little +girl discovered a shining gold heart outside her white dress, and in the +center of the heart a small, clear stone that glittered like a star. + +"I got it for you; it is your Christmas present from me, Bettina," Angel +explained. "And I want you to try and keep it always so that you may not +forget 'Snow White and Rose Red.' Only please don't tell any one of my +having gotten the prize until your mother comes home; I want her to know +first." + +Naturally Bettina promised and having promised she was not a child who +ever broke her word. Perhaps the request was an unfortunate one under +the circumstances, and yet how could Angel ever have imagined such a +possibility? + +A few days later, coming into his wife's private sitting room, which was +next her bedroom, quite by accident Governor Graham happened to catch +sight of a beautiful new silver bowl which he did not recall having seen +before. Then besides its newness it had a card lying inside which +attracted his attention. + +"Some one has sent Betty a Christmas gift which she probably knows +nothing of," Anthony thought carelessly. "I must write and tell her of +it." Casually he picked up the card and saw Angelique Martins' name +engraved upon it. + +The next moment he looked at the bowl more attentively. Of course he +knew very little of these matters, yet this present struck him as being +an exceedingly expensive one from a girl in Angelique's position. She +received a very small salary for her work and she must have many needs +of her own. + +Then Governor Graham frowned uneasily, for he had suddenly remembered +that Bettina had exhibited a beautiful little gold chain and necklace +which her adored Angel had recently given her. How had the girl acquired +so much money all at once? Really he preferred not to have to consider +such a question, and yet it might possibly become his duty. + +Sitting down in front of the fire, Anthony tried to forget his +annoyances in smoking a cigar, but found it impossible. + +The close of the Christmas holidays had not made his responsibilities +less; indeed, they were crowding more thickly upon him. The lost papers +had not been found and in another week ex-Governor Peyton, Jack Emmet +and John Everett would have their bill before the Legislature. They had +many friends and unless he were able to prove their dishonesty the bill +might be passed in spite of the Governor's objections. + +Finally Anthony glanced toward the mantel-piece where by chance his eyes +rested upon a photograph of Betty. + +Immediately his expression changed. "I shall write Betty of this whole +business tonight," he announced out loud, in his determination. "I have +been an utter idiot to have kept the situation from her for so long a +time. I have wondered recently if perhaps she was not quite so fond of +me because I was taking her less into my confidence? Goodness knows, +that is the only sensible thing for a man and wife to do! Besides, Betty +seemed more like her old self when we were in Woodford and so perhaps I +can make her understand how I hate to seem hard on her old friends. But +in any case this suspicion that Kenneth Helm has fastened in my mind +against Angel must be looked into by Betty. Angel is a young girl and +Betty has been like her older sister. Whatever she has done, I don't +know that I would have the courage to disgrace her, but perhaps Betty +may be able to persuade the child to return the letters to us if she has +taken them. Heigh-ho! It will be a relief to me at least to have the +Princess take hold of this situation for me." + +And Governor Graham spent the entire evening in his sitting room writing +to his wife until after midnight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THINGS ARE CLEARED UP + + +AS Polly was a little better, immediately upon receipt of her husband's +letter Betty hurried home. + +First she and Anthony had a long talk together until things were once +more quite clear and happy between them. + +Of course Anthony insisted that he had been unreasonable and that Betty +was a "Counsel of Perfection" just as he had always believed her; +nevertheless the Princess was by no means ready to agree with him; nor +was Polly's little sermon in Sunrise Cabin ever entirely forgotten. + +Naturally Betty was grieved to hear that Anthony considered her old +friend, John Everett, and also Meg's husband, Jack Emmet, dishonest; yet +when he had carefully explained all his reasons for thinking so, she was +finally convinced. + +Not for a single instant, however, would she consider the bare +possibility of Angelique Martins' having had anything to do with the +loss of the Governor's important letters. She had known Angel too long +and too well and trusted her entirely. Besides, she had been one of her +own Camp Fire girls who had kept the Camp Fire laws and gained its not +easily acquired honors. + +So Betty Graham did the only intelligent thing in all such difficulties +and suspicions--she went directly to Angel and told her that she +believed in her, but asked that they might discuss the whole matter. She +even told her that she and Governor Graham had both wondered at her +having a sum of money which she could scarcely have earned through her +work. + +The woman and the girl were in Betty's pretty sitting room when they had +their long talk. It was their first meeting without other people being +present since Mrs. Graham's return. And Angel sat on a little stool at +her friend's feet with her dark eyes gazing directly into those of her +dearest friend. + +It was good to have this opportunity for confidences. Angel breathed a +sigh of relief when she learned that the Governor had confessed his own +suspicion to his wife. For she had never a moment's fear that Betty +might fail in faith toward her. Of course, she had never seen the +missing letters and had no idea what could have become of them. + +Perhaps it was curious, yet not even to the Governor's wife did +Angelique during this interview speak of her own distrust of Kenneth +Helm. She was hardly conscious of the exact reasons for her reticence, +except she had no possible proof against Kenneth, and Betty and the +Governor were both fond of him. Moreover, it seemed a disloyalty to +Faith Barton to suspect the man to whom Faith had given her affection. + +But Angel was very happy to explain where she had acquired her recent +wealth and Betty was as happy and proud as only Betty Graham could be of +her friends' good fortunes. She could hardly wait to see the picture, of +course, and registered an unspoken vow that Angel should have art +lessons when she had so much talent, no matter how much the girl herself +might oppose the idea. Certainly she and Anthony would owe this much to +their little friend for even the faintest doubt of her. + +But Angel had other information which she was even more shy in +confessing. It did not amount to very much at present, only she and +Horace Everett had taken a great fancy to each other during Horace's +stay in Concord for the Christmas holidays. She had seen him nearly +every day and Horace had made no secret of his liking for her. He had +not exactly proposed, but had told her that he meant to as soon as he +had known her long enough to make it proper. + +It was all very beautiful and unexpected to Angelique, for she had +seldom dreamed of any one's caring for her in just this particular way. +And that it should be so splendid a person as Horace Everett made +everything more wonderful. Of course, Angel could not be so unhappy as +she had been before Christmas; nevertheless, for Betty's and Governor +Graham's sake she felt that the mystery of the lost letters must be +cleared up within the next few days. + +There was only one piece of information, however, which Betty had given +her that offered any possible clue to the enigma. Governor Graham +believed that whoever had taken the letters had probably sold them to +the three men who would most profit by their disappearance. + +Yet Angel had no experience in the work of a detective and could only +hope to be of use, without the faintest idea of how she might manage it. + +There was one thing, however, which Angelique regarded as her absolute +duty after her own talk with Betty Graham. She simply must endeavor to +be better friends with Faith Barton. For somehow Betty's faith and +affection for her had served to remind her of her almost forgotten Camp +Fire loyalties. + +Kinder than any one else except Betty, Faith had certainly been to her +long ago, when she had first come, ill and a stranger, to Sunrise Cabin. +Besides, what had Faith ever done except be a little selfish and +unreasonable of late, and Angel knew that she was troubled by her own +affairs? + +It was only a few nights after her own interview with Betty, when one +evening immediately after dinner, Angel went up alone to Faith's room +for the first time since their misunderstanding. She did not know +whether Faith would care to see her, but she meant to try. For Faith had +not dined with the rest of the family; she had sent down word that she +had a headache and desired to be left alone. + +Nevertheless, when she discovered who it was who was knocking at her +door, she grudgingly said, "Come in." + +The truth was that Faith was unhappy and needed consolation. She had +never had any trouble in her life before without some one to comfort +her, and now possibly Angel was the only person who could be of service, +since Angel alone knew her secret. + +Faith was sitting up in bed looking very pretty in a pale blue cashmere +dressing gown with a cap of white muslin and lace on her fair hair. Yet +she had plainly been crying, for her eyes and nose were both a little +red. Moreover, she had eaten no dinner, as a tray of food sat untouched +on a small table close beside her. + +So Angel's first effort was quietly to persuade Faith to have something +to eat. Then she led her to talking of Woodford and the Christmas with +Rose and Doctor Barton. And within a few moments Faith was again in +tears. + +It could not be very wrong, she then decided, to confide what was +worrying her to so insignificant a person as Angel. Surely even Kenneth +could not resent this! + +So Faith revealed the fact that she had recently received a letter from +Rose Barton and that Rose had asked her again if she felt any unusual +interest in Kenneth Helm. Rose had been very kind and had said more than +once that she did not wish to force Faith's confidence. Only she cared +for her and her happiness so much that she hoped Faith would keep no +secret of this kind from her. + +And Faith had gone immediately with this letter to Kenneth Helm, begging +him that she at least be allowed to confess their engagement to the two +friends who had been almost more than a father and mother to her. + +However, Kenneth had absolutely and flatly refused and Faith could not +make up her mind what she should do. + +Without a word or a sign Angelique heard the entire story through, +although she was secretly raging with indignation against Kenneth and +wondering how Faith could possibly be so much under his influence that +she seemed to have no mind or will of her own. + +Moreover, even after Faith had ended her story and sat evidently waiting +for some comment from her companion, Angel could think of nothing to say +that would be sufficiently circumspect. For if she even so much as +breathed a word against Kenneth, Faith would probably be exceedingly +angry and rally to his defence at once. So the little French girl sat +motionless on the side of the bed, staring rather stupidly at the wall +opposite her. + +By and by, however, Faith leaned over and put her arms about her. + +"Tell me, Angel, just what you would do if you were in my place?" the +girl pleaded. "Really, I am so miserable I can't decide." + +Angel looked at her earnestly. "Do you really mean that?" she queried. +And when Faith bowed her head, she answered decisively: + +"Why, if I were you, I should simply write to Kenneth Helm tonight and +say to him that he was either to allow you to tell Rose and Doctor +Barton of your engagement or else you would consider your engagement +broken." + +Faith caught her breath and then her cheeks flushed. + +"Would you mind getting me some paper and the pen and ink out of my +desk?" she returned quietly. + +And Angel, almost dazed by the quickness with which the other girl had +accepted her suggestion, at once walked over to her desk. But the drawer +of the desk which contained the paper had stuck and as she had only one +hand (the other held her cane) she had to tug and tug at it before it +would come loose. + +Then of course it behaved in the usual fashion. For suddenly the entire +drawer plunged forward and every single thing it contained scattered +over the floor. There were letters and papers and ribbons and +photographs and pens and pencils and powder puffs. + +[Illustration: SHE SPRANG OUT OF BED HERSELF THE NEXT MOMENT] + +"Oh, I am so sorry, Faith dear! I am the most awkward person in the +whole world," Angel apologized. "But if you'll just forgive me I'll +clear up in half a minute." + +Faith smiled a little restlessly as her friend stooped to her task. + +However, she sprang out of bed herself the next moment, for Angel had +picked up a package from the floor which had a blue paper and a rubber +band about it and was also marked with the Governor's official seal. + +Faith tried to jerk the letters from her friend's hand. + +"Put those down at once, Angel!" she commanded angrily. "Why don't you +do as I tell you? Those papers are not mine; I am keeping them for +Kenneth Helm. He told me they were of the most private nature possible +and that no one was to be allowed to see them." + +However, even after this stern injunction, the French girl did not give +up the package of letters. Instead, without Faith's being aware of her +intention, she kept edging nearer and nearer toward the door which led +into the hall and so farther along to Betty's and Governor Graham's +rooms. She remembered that they had also gone up-stairs together after +dinner. And her hope was that they had not yet left the house. + +Then suddenly she turned, and running faster than she ever had since her +lameness she got out of Faith's bedroom and was on her way to her +desired destination. + +Moreover, for the moment Faith made no effort to follow her, for she +believed Angel to have lost her senses. + +Why should she desire to run away with Kenneth Helm's private papers? +Faith could even now hear Angel's cane tapping its way rapidly along the +hall. + +Then she ran to the door and stuck her head out, calling the other girl +to return. She didn't quite dare follow her, for she had on only her +night-dress and dressing gown and the servants or Governor Graham might +probably see her. + +For another half hour Faith had to remain in anger and suspense. Of +course, she dressed as quickly as possible and went to Angel's room, but +Angel was not there, neither could she be discovered in either of the +children's nurseries or in any room on the ground floor. + +At last in desperation Faith knocked on Mrs. Graham's sitting room door. +It was Betty herself who answered the knock, although Faith caught a +glimpse of Angelique Martins standing with the Governor under a +rose-colored electric light and thought they both looked unusually +cheerful. + +Moreover, it was Betty and not Angel who returned to the bedroom with +Faith. + +Just as carefully and as kindly as she could Betty then explained the +importance of Angel's discovery to her guest. She said that it was very +hard indeed for them to believe that Kenneth Helm had stolen these +letters, since Governor Graham had felt every confidence in him. +However, if Faith declared that Kenneth had given her the letters for +safe-keeping, there was nothing else for them to believe. He must have +demanded a larger sum of money for the papers than the other men were +willing to pay him. Therefore, it had evidently been his intention to +keep them until the last moment in order to accomplish his end. + +Of course, this statement of Betty Graham's at the time was only a +surmise on the part of her husband, notwithstanding it turned out to be +the correct one. + +For Kenneth Helm finally confessed the truth himself in the face of the +evidence which Governor Graham held against him. His only excuse was the +dangerous and disastrous one that he had longed to grow rich sooner than +he could with the everyday grind of a business career. + +So, after all, Faith Barton wrote her letter on the same evening she had +intended. Betty's and Angel's and Governor Graham's suspicions of +Kenneth, besides the facts themselves, were more than enough to convince +her judgment, especially when her heart had been having its own +misgivings for some time past. + +It was in entire meekness of spirit and yet in thanksgiving that Faith +Barton decided upon breaking off her engagement, which she was glad +never to have acknowledged to any one save Angelique Martins. Angel, she +knew, would never betray her. Nevertheless, before Faith had been at +home twenty-four hours she had confessed the entire story to Rose Barton +and together they had wept over her fortunate escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +FINIS + + +POLLY O'NEILL was on her sister's front porch reading a letter from +Doctor Sylvia Wharton. It was now spring time. + +Sylvia had written that Bobbin was getting on at school in the most +amazing fashion. Not only could she now pronounce Polly's name but +hundreds of others, and she could certainly hear better than she had +several months before. + +Nevertheless, Polly let the letter slide out of her hand and the tears +came to her eyes. She was not sad, however, only so extremely glad for +Bobbin's sake and for her own. + +"After all, perhaps I am not so entirely selfish a human being as some +persons believe me," she announced to herself with a shrug of her +shoulders. "For at least one little girl in this world does not think +so, and never shall." + +Then Polly closed her eyes and fell to dreaming. She was not really +asleep, only resting. She had had rather a hard struggle after Mollie's +fire and her own unfortunate part in it. That wretched cold she had +taken settled on her lungs immediately afterwards and she was now only +strong enough to lead an ordinary existence. There was no thought of her +acting again until the next fall. + +She was not yet feeling particularly vigorous, so now although she +plainly heard the sound of a man's footsteps approaching the veranda, +she made no effort to open her eyes. It was probably Billy or one of his +farm men. If a question should be asked of her then would come the time +for answering it. + +Nevertheless, she had not expected that the man would walk deliberately +up to her and then stand in front of her without saying a word. + +Miss O'Neill felt annoyed and her cheeks flamed with the two bright +spots of color always characteristic of her. Notwithstanding, she opened +her eyes coldly and calmly, haughtily she hoped. + +The intruder did not flinch. He merely continued gazing at her and still +without speaking. + +But Polly's flush burned deeper, although she also said nothing. + +"I had to come, Miss Polly," Richard Hunt announced at last. + +Polly motioned to a chair near by. "You were good--to trouble," she +returned slowly. "It has been four months since I saw you last and asked +you to come; and since then I have very nearly died." + +Then she smiled and held out her hand with the utmost friendliness. + +"Forgive me," she begged. "I am glad to see you at any time. I am afraid +I am behaving like the preacher who reproaches the members of his +congregation for not doing their duty and attending service on the very +Sundays when they have shown up." + +But Richard Hunt would not be frivolous. + +"Have you wanted to see me?" he asked gravely. + +Polly nodded. + +"Then why didn't you write or have some one tell me? I would have come +across the world if I had known," he replied. + +In return Polly shrugged her shoulders. "I did everything I could when +we were in Colorado to persuade you to be friends with me again. I +behaved without the least pride; I almost begged you to be kind to me. +Of course you were very nice then and interested in Bobbin, but I could +not go on forever pleading for your friendship. Still I thought at least +when you heard I was ill that you might be sorry." + +Then to her own complete chagrin Polly felt her eyes filling with tears. + +How big and strong and restful Richard Hunt looked! Why had she not had +the sense to have married him in the days when he had cared for her? +Somehow she believed that her life would have been ever so much happier +and more satisfying. She could have gone on with her work too, because +no one in the world except Richard Hunt had ever understood how much of +her heart was wrapped up in it--perhaps because he was an actor himself +and loved his own art. + +Notwithstanding, Polly realized that she could scarcely cry before her +visitor for his affection, which she had so deliberately thrown away a +good many years before. Moreover, what would Mollie think of her bad +manners toward their guest? + +Slowly she got up from her chair. + +"Do come into the house with me and see my sister, Mr. Hunt?" she said +graciously. "And you must stay and have lunch with us, or even longer if +you will. I am sure my brother-in-law will be more than happy to meet +you again." + +But Richard Hunt did not stir. "Please sit down again, Polly," he urged +more gently. "You don't look strong enough to be walking about alone. I +want to explain to you why I have seemed unappreciative of your +friendliness. You will have to understand this in the future as well as +now, for possibly after today I shall not see you again." + +"Oh!" Polly exclaimed a little huskily, and fortunately she could not +see how white her own face had turned. However, at this moment her +companion was not looking at her. + +"I can't be your friend, because I happen still to be too much in love +with you for mere friendship," Richard Hunt continued in the quiet, +self-contained fashion that had always made so strong an impression upon +his companion. "I know that I have had many years to get over this +feeling for you, Polly, and that I should not trouble you by mentioning +my love again. Only I want you to forgive me and to realize why I may +have seemed not to appreciate your wish to be friends." + +But Polly was now smiling through her tears and holding out both hands +in her old irrepressible Irish fashion that neither the years nor +circumstances could change. + +"But I don't want to be just friends with you either, Richard, if you +are still willing for me to be something more after the way I have +behaved," she whispered. "You see I only pretended I wanted to be your +friend so you would not give me up altogether." + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 98, "Westen" changed to "Western" (famous Western resort) + +Page 110, repeated word "at" removed from text. Original read (taken her +at at her word) + +Page 132 "a nold" changed to "an old" (an old red jacket) + +Page 140, "of" added to text (sides of the room) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp Fire Girls in After Years, by +Margaret Vandercook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS *** + +***** This file should be named 34926-8.txt or 34926-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/2/34926/ + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Camp Fire Girls in After Years + +Author: Margaret Vandercook + +Release Date: January 12, 2011 [EBook #34926] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 327px;"> +<img src="images/coverpage.jpg" width="327" height="500" alt="cover" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 279px;"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<img src="images/i002.png" width="279" height="500" alt="Richard Hunt Sat Down on a Wayside Bench With Her" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Richard Hunt Sat Down on a Wayside Bench With Her</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + + + + + +<h1>THE<br /> +CAMP FIRE GIRLS<br /> +IN AFTER YEARS</h1> + +<div class='center'>BY<br /> +<span class='author'>MARGARET VANDERCOOK</span><br /> + + +<span class='small'>Author of "The Ranch Girls Series," etc.</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +ILLUSTRATED<br /> + +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class='small'>PHILADELPHIA</span><br /> +THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.<br /> +<span class='small'>PUBLISHERS</span><br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='copyright'> +Copyright, 1915, by<br /> +<span class="smcap">The John C. Winston Company</span><br /> +————————</div> + + +<div class='center'><b>STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS</b><br /> + +<span class='small'>Six Volumes</span></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Camp Fire books"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls at Sunrise Hill</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls Amid the Snows</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls in the Outside World</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls Across the Sea</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls' Careers</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls in After Years</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Book spine and Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/spine.jpg" width="90" height="500" alt="Book Spine" title="" /> +</td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Inaugural Ball</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">New Names for Old Acquaintances</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Idle Suspicion</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ties From Other Days</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Something Unexpected</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The First Disillusion</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A New Interest</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Bobbin"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Back in New Hampshire</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Loneliness</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Meeting and an Explanation</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Way Home</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"A Little Rift Within the Lute"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Suspicion</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Waiting to Find Out</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Talk That Was Not an Explanation</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Christmas</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Stupidity of Men</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Cry in the Night</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Discovery</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Once More in Concord</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Things Are Cleared Up</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_230">230</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Finis</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +</table></div></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Richard Hunt Sat Down on a Wayside Bench With Her</span> </td><td align='right'><i><a href="#frontis">Frontispiece</a></i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">He Glanced Quickly About Him and Then Disappeared</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Angel Had Caught Bettina's Attitude Almost Exactly</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">She Sprang Out of Bed Herself the Next Moment</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h2>The Camp Fire Girls in<br /> +After Years</h2> + + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">The Inaugural Ball</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>FACING the hills, the great house +had a wonderful view of the curving +banks of a river.</div> + +<p>Half an hour before sunset a number +of workmen hurried away across the +grounds, while a little later from behind +the closed blinds glowed hundreds of softly +shaded electric lights. The lawns were +strung with rows and rows of small lamps +suspended from one giant tree to the +next, but waiting for actual darkness to +descend before shedding forth their illumination.</p> + +<p>Evidently preparations had been made +on a splendid scale, both inside the house +and out, for an entertainment of some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +kind. Yet curiously there seemed to be +a strange hush over everything, a sense +of anxiety and suspense pervading the +very atmosphere. Then, in odd contrast +to the other lights, the room on the third +floor to the left was in almost total darkness +save for a single tiny flame no larger +than a nurse's covered candle.</p> + +<p>At about half-past six o'clock suddenly +and with almost no noise the front door +of the house opened. The next moment +a slight form appeared upon the flight of +broad steps and gazed down the avenue. +From behind her came the mingled fragrance +of roses and violets, while before +her arose the even more delicious tang of +earth and grass and softly drifting autumn +leaves of the late October evening.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless neither the beauty of the +evening nor its perfumes attracted the girl's +attention, for her expression remained grave +and frightened, and without appearing +aware of it she sighed several times.</p> + +<p>Small and dark, with an extraordinary +quantity of almost blue-black hair and a +thin white face dominated by a pair of +unhappy dark eyes, the girl's figure suggested<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +a child, although she was plainly +older. In her hand she carried a cane +upon which she leaned slightly.</p> + +<p>"It does seem too hard for this trouble +to have come at this particular time," she +murmured in unconscious earnestness. "If +only I could do something to help, yet +there is absolutely nothing, of course, +except to wait. Still, I wish Faith would +come home."</p> + +<p>Then, after peering for another moment +down the avenue of old elms and maple +trees, she turned and went back into the +house, closing the door behind her and +moving almost noiselessly.</p> + +<p>For the present no one else was to be +seen, at least in the front part of the big +mansion, except the solitary figure of this +young girl, who looked somewhat incongruous +and out of place in her handsome +surroundings. Notwithstanding, she seemed +perfectly at home and was plainly neither +awed by nor unfamiliar with them. The +hall was decorated with palms and evergreens +and festoons of vines, and adorning +the high walls were portraits, most of them +of men of stern countenance and of a past<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +generation, while here and there stood a +marble bust. But without regarding any +of these things with special attention the +girl walked quickly past them and entered +the drawing room on the right. Then at +last her face brightened.</p> + +<p>Surely the room was beautiful enough +to have attracted any one's attention, +although it was not exactly the kind of +room one would see in a private house, +for it happened to be in the Governor's +mansion in the state of New Hampshire.</p> + +<p>In preparation for the evening's entertainment +the furniture had been moved +away except for a number of chairs and +divans. The two tall marble mantels were +banked with roses and violets and baskets +of roses swung from the two crystal +chandeliers.</p> + +<p>With a murmured exclamation the girl +dropped down on a low stool in the corner +where the evergreens almost entirely concealed +her and where she appeared more +like an elf creature that had come into +the house with the green things surrounding +her than an everyday girl. For a +quarter of an hour she must have remained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +there alone, when she was aroused from +her reverie by some one's entrance. Then, +although the girl did not move or speak, +her whole face changed and the sullen, +unhappy look disappeared, while oddly +her eyes filled with tears.</p> + +<p>There could have been nothing fairer +in the room than the woman who had +just come quietly into it. She must have +been about twenty-eight years old; her +hair was a beautiful auburn, like sunshine +on certain brown and red leaves in the +woods in late October; her eyes were gray, +and she was of little more than medium +height, with slender hips, but a full throat +and chest. At the present moment she +was wearing a house gown of light blue +cashmere, and although she looked as if +life might always before have been kind +to her, at present her face was pale and +there were marks of sleeplessness about +her eyes and mouth.</p> + +<p>Apparently trying to summon an interest +in her surroundings which she scarcely +felt, she glanced about the room until +her eyes rested on the silent girl.</p> + +<p>"Why, Angel, what are you doing in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +here alone, child? How lovely everything +looks, and yet I am afraid I cannot come +down to receive people tonight. All afternoon +I have been trying to make up my +mind to attempt it and each moment it +seems more impossible."</p> + +<p>Then with a gesture indicating both +fatigue and discouragement the woman +sat down, folding her hands in her lap.</p> + +<p>"But the baby isn't any worse, I heard +only half an hour ago," the younger girl +interrupted quickly, and in answer to a +shake of the head from her companion +went on: "You simply must be present +tonight, Princess. This is the greatest +night in your husband's career and +you know the Inaugural Ball would be +an entire failure without you! Staying +up-stairs won't do little Tony any good. +And think what it would mean to the +Governor to have to manage all alone! +You know you promised Anthony before +his election that you would attend to the +social side of his office for him, as he declared +he didn't know enough to undertake +it. So you can't desert him at the +very beginning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>Swiftly Angelique Martins crossed the +room and seated herself on the arm of her +friend's chair. "I promise you on my +honor that I shall sit just outside little +Tony's bedroom the entire evening and +if he is even the tiniest bit worse I shall +come down and tell you on the instant."</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence and then +the newly elected Governor's wife replied: +"I suppose you are right, Angel, and I +must try to do what you say, for nothing +else is fair to Anthony. Yet I never +dreamed of ever having to choose between +my love and duty to my baby and my +husband! But dear me, I am sure I have +not the faintest idea how the Governor's +Lady should behave at her first reception, +even if I have to make my début in the +character in the next few hours."</p> + +<p>Then, in a lighter tone than she had yet +used in their conversation, Betty Ashton, +who was now Mrs. Governor Graham, +smiled, placing her hand for a moment +on that of her companion.</p> + +<p>For the friendship between Betty Ashton +and the little French girl whom she +had discovered at the hospital in Boston<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +had never wavered even after the Betty +of the Camp Fire days had become Mrs. +Anthony Graham, wife of the youngest +governor ever elected to the highest office +in his state. Moreover, Betty and Anthony +now had two children of their own, the +little Tony, a baby of about two years +old, who was now dangerously ill on the +top floor of the Governor's mansion, and +Bettina, who was six.</p> + +<p>Angelique Martins was almost like an +adoring younger sister. She was approaching +twenty; yet on account of her lameness +and shyness she appeared much +younger. But she was one of the odd +girls who in some ways are like children +and yet in others are older than people +ever dream. After her mother's death, +several years before, she had come to live +with Betty and Anthony and held a position +as an assistant stenographer in the +Governor's office. Ordinarily she was +strangely silent and reserved, so that no +one, not even her best friend, entirely +understood her.</p> + +<p>"But you must not miss the ball tonight, +Angel," Betty now continued more cheerfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +"You and Faith have been talking +of it for weeks, and so I can't have you +sacrifice yourself for me. Besides, one of +the nurses can do what you offered and +send me a message if I am needed. Don't +you remember that your dress is even +prettier than Faith's? I was perfectly +determined it should be." And Betty +smiled, amused at herself. She was always +a little jealous for her protégé of Faith +Barton. It was true that since their first +meeting at Sunrise Cabin the two girls +had become close friends. But then Betty +could seldom fail to see, just as she had +in the beginning, the painful contrast between +them. Faith had grown into a +beautiful girl and Dr. Barton and Rose +were entirely devoted to her; and she +had also both charm and talent, although +still given to impossible dreams about +people and things.</p> + +<p>Angel now shook her head. "You know +you would feel safer with me to stand +guard over Tony than if you had only +one of the servants," she argued a little +resentfully. Then with her cheeks crimsoning: +"Besides, Princess, you know that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +I perfectly loathe having to meet strangers. +No one in the world except you could +ever have induced me even to think of it. +I am ever so much happier alone with you +and the children or pegging away at my +typewriter at the office. I believe people +ought to remain where they belong in +this world, and you can't possibly make +me look like Faith by dressing me up in +pretty clothes. I should never conceive +of being her rival in anything."</p> + +<p>There was a curious note in the lame +girl's voice that passed unnoticed, for her +companion suddenly inquired: "By the +way, dear, do you know what has become +of Faith? I passed her room and she was +not there. I hope she is not out alone. +I know she has a fashion of loving to go +about in the twilight, dreaming her dreams +and composing verse. Still, when she is +here visiting me I would much rather she +did not."</p> + +<p>"But Faith isn't alone. She is with +the Governor's secretary, Kenneth Helm," +Angel answered. "Mr. Helm came to the +house with a message and Faith asked him +to go out with her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty smiled. Faith Barton scorned +conventionalities and felt sure that she +was above certain of them. "Oh, I did +not know Kenneth and Faith had learned +to know each other so well in two weeks' +time," she replied carelessly, her attention +wandering to the little Tony up-stairs. +"However, Faith is all right if she is +with Kenneth. I know Anthony has +the greatest possible trust in him or he +would never have selected him for his +secretary in such troublesome political +times as these. I don't believe you seem +to like Kenneth as much as you once +did. But you must not be prejudiced +against so many people. He used to be +very kind to you."</p> + +<p>Without waiting for Angel's reply Betty +walked away. If she could have seen her +expression she might have been surprised +or annoyed.</p> + +<p>For sometimes Angel had wondered if it +would be wise for her to take her friend +into her confidence. Surely she had reasons +for not being so sure of the Governor's +confidence in his secretary. But then +what proof had she to offer against him?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +Besides, people often considered her suspicious +and unfriendly. Moreover, in this +case the French girl did not altogether +trust herself. Was there not some personal +reason in her dislike? It was entirely +true that she had not felt like this in the +beginning of their acquaintance.</p> + +<p>With a feeling of irritation against herself, +Angel started to leave the drawing +room. This was plainly no time for worrying +over the future; she must go and have +something to eat at once so as to be able +to help watch the baby. There was only +one regret the girl felt at her own decision. +She was sorry not to see Betty receiving +her guests at the Inaugural Ball tonight. +For her friend remained her ideal of what +a great lady should be in the best sense. +Moreover, there would be other old friends +whom she had once known at Sunrise +Cabin. However, some of them were +guests at the mansion, so she could meet +them later.</p> + +<p>Out in the hall the little French girl +now discovered Faith and Kenneth Helm +returning from their walk. The Governor's +private secretary must have been about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +twenty-four or five years old. He was a +Yale graduate and had light-brown hair +and eyes of almost the same color. He +had the shoulders of an athlete, a clear, +bright complexion, and as Angel watched +them she could not deny that he had a +particularly charming smile. However, he +was assuredly not looking at her. It was +absurd to care, of course, yet nevertheless +even the humblest person scarcely likes +being wilfully ignored. And Angel was +sure that the young man had seen her, +even though he gave no appearance of +having done so.</p> + +<p>The next moment, after her companion's +departure, Faith Barton turned to her +friend. Faith's cheeks were delicately +flushed from her walk in the autumn air +and her pale gold hair was blowing about +her face. Her blue eyes were wide open +and clear and she looked curiously innocent +of any wrong or misfortune in the world. +Surely there were seldom two girls offering +a more complete contrast than the two +who now tiptoed softly down the long +hall together.</p> + +<p>"I am going to rest a little while," Faith<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +said at parting. "But do let us try to +have a long, quiet talk tomorrow. I want +to tell you a secret that no one else in the +world must know for the present."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">New Names for Old Acquaintances</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THERE was a shimmer of silver +and blue on the stairs and then +the man with his eyes upturned +saw his wife moving toward him in a +kind of cloud.</div> + +<p>The next moment with a laugh of mingled +embarrassment and pleasure Betty +Graham put up her hand, covering her +husband's eyes.</p> + +<p>"You must not look at me like that, +Anthony, or you will make me abominably +vain," she whispered. "Wait until the +girls and the receiving party appear and +then you will see what an ordinary person +the new 'Governor's Lady' is and repent +having raised humble Betty Ashton to +such an exalted position."</p> + +<p>Arm in arm the husband and wife now +moved toward the drawing room.</p> + +<p>"How little we ever dreamed of this +grandeur, dear, in the days when I had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +to work so hard to persuade you to marry +me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps if I had known I never +should have dared," Betty went on, still +half in earnest. "But I mean to do the +best I can to help in our new position, +although I must confess I am dreadfully +frightened at having to receive so many +distinguished people tonight. However, +nurse says Tony is really better. And I +shall have you to tell me what I ought +to say and do."</p> + +<p>Now under the tall crystal chandelier +the young Governor lifted his wife's hand +to his lips with a smile at her absurdity. +In spite of his ordinary origin Anthony +Graham had a curious courtliness of manner. +It was amusing to hear Betty talking +of being afraid of people. All her life +she had had unusual social charm, winning +friends and admiration in every circle of +society almost from her babyhood. Naturally +in the years since her marriage, +during her husband's struggle from the +position of a successful young lawyer in +a small town to the highest office in the +state, both her charm and self-possession +had increased. Indeed, it was well known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +that she had been her husband's chief +inspiration and aid, and there were many +persons who declared that it had been the +wife's beauty and money that were responsible +for the husband's success. However, +this remark was made by the Governor's +political enemies and not his friends and +was of course untrue.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Anthony did look somewhat +boyish and insignificant tonight for his +distinguished position. He was of only +medium height, and although his shoulders +were broad, he had never lost the thinness +of his boyhood due to hardships and too +severe study. Yet there was nothing weak +or immature about his face with its deep-set +hazel eyes, the high, grave forehead +with the dark hair pushed carelessly back, +and the firm, almost obstinate, set of his +lips.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the young Governor already had +gained a reputation for obstinacy, and once +persuaded to a policy or an idea, was difficult +to change. This trait of character +had been partly responsible for his election +to office. For there had been serious +graft and dishonesty in the politics of New<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +Hampshire, and led by Anthony Graham +the younger men in the state had been +able to defeat the old-time political ring. +Whether or not the good government party +would be allowed to remain in power +depended largely on the new Governor. +He had promised to stop the graft and +crime in the state and to give positions to +no persons who were not fitted for them. +Of course this meant that he must have +many enemies who would do their best +to destroy his reputation. Already they +were aware that the young Governor's +one weakness was his devotion to his +beautiful wife.</p> + +<p>But Betty used often to be amused at +the outside world's opinion of her husband's +character. For never once in their +married life so far had he ever refused +any request of hers. Therefore the real +test was yet to come.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later and there was once +more the sound of movement and laughter +on the stairway when the re-opening +of the drawing room door admitted +six persons, who were to form the first +members of the receiving line.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>First came Doctor and Mrs. Richard +Ashton. Already Dick had made a reputation +for himself as a surgeon in Boston, +while Esther was one of the plain girls +who so frequently grow handsomer as +they grow older. Her tallness and pallor +with her abundant red hair and sweet +yet reserved manner formed tonight as +striking a contrast to her sister's grace +and animation as it had in the days when +they first learned to know of the closeness +of the tie between them.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. William Webster had +come all the way from Woodford to Concord, +leaving three babies at home, to +assist their old friends at the Inaugural +Ball. You must have guessed that Mollie +O'Neill, as Mrs. William Webster, would +have grown plumper and prettier during +the busy, happy years of married life with +her husband and children on their large +farm. For Mollie now had a small daughter +"Polly," named for her beloved twin sister, +and a pair of twin sons, Dan and Billy. +She was more than ever in love with her +husband and, many people believed, entirely +under his thumb. Yet there were times<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +when Mollie could and would assert herself +in a surprising fashion just as she had in +former days with her girl friends.</p> + +<p>Tonight she was wearing a white silk +which looked just the least bit countrified +and yet was singularly becoming to Mollie's +milk-white skin, pink cheeks and shining +black hair. Yet in spite of never having +changed his occupation of farmer, there +was little to suggest the countryside in +Billy Webster's appearance, except in his +unusual strength and size. For he had +fulfilled the prediction made to Polly +O'Neill over a Camp Fire luncheon many +years before. He had remained a farmer +and a highly successful one and yet had +seen a good deal of the world and understood +many things besides farming.</p> + +<p>Of the three Sunrise Hill Camp Fire +girls who had within the last few moments +joined Betty and her husband, the third +was the most changed. For is it not difficult +to imagine Meg Everett transformed +into a fashionable society woman, Meg, +whose hair never would stay neatly braided, +whose waist and skirt so frequently failed +to connect?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>However, after a number of love affairs, +to her friends' surprise Meg had married +a man as unlike her in taste and disposition +as one could well imagine. He was +a worldly, fashionable man, supposed to +be wealthy. Anyhow, he and Meg lived +in a handsome house, owned a motor car +and entertained a great deal. They had +no children, and perhaps this was the +reason why Meg did not look altogether +happy. Sometimes her old friends had +wondered if there could be other reasons, +for Meg had always been a warm-hearted, +impetuous girl, careless of fashions and +indifferent to conventions, and now she +was always dressed in clothes of the latest +design and at least appeared like a fashionable +woman.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Meg had always been more +easily influenced than any other of the +Camp Fire girls, hating to oppose the +wishes of any one near to her heart. Her +husband, Jack Emmet, was an intimate +friend of her adored brother John. He +and Meg made an attractive couple, for +although Mr. Emmet was not handsome, he +was tall and had a slender, correct figure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +and sharply cut features with light blue eyes +and brown hair. Meg's costume was quite +as beautiful as Betty's, a soft rose silk and +chiffon, and her golden hair was fastened +with a small rope of pearls.</p> + +<p>"You are as lovely tonight as ever, +Betty, and I know Anthony is proud of +you," Meg whispered, holding her friend's +hand for an instant. "Remember when +you once believed that Anthony was falling +in love with me? Silly child, he never +thought of any one except you! But then +he and I have always been special friends +since he believed I helped him win you. +I want to tell him how proud I feel of you +both tonight."</p> + +<p>As Meg moved away, Mollie's plump +arm, which was only partly concealed by +her glove, slipped inside her hostess's.</p> + +<p>"It is nice we can have a few moments +to ourselves before the ball begins," she +remarked shyly, glancing toward her husband, +who was for the moment talking +with Jack Emmet. The two men did not +like each other, but had been forced into +conversation by Meg's moving off with +Anthony.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty kissed her friend, quite forgetting +the dignity of her position on the present +occasion.</p> + +<p>"Dear old Mollie, it is good of you +to have come to help me tonight! I +know you don't like this society business. +How I wish we had Polly here +with us! She promised to come if possible, +but I had a telegram from her only +this afternoon saying that she is almost +on the other side of the continent. It +was dated Denver, I believe."</p> + +<p>The same look of affectionate incomprehension +which she had often directed toward +Polly, again crossed Mollie Webster's pretty +face.</p> + +<p>"It is just as impossible as ever to keep +up with Polly," she explained half complainingly. +"She has been acting through +the West all summer, but promised to come +home for a visit this autumn. Now she +writes she won't be here for some time. +Dear me, I do wish that Polly would marry +and settle down. Of course I know it is +wonderful for her to have become such +a distinguished actress, but I never think +she is very happy and I am always worrying +over her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>Betty laughed and then looked serious. +"Polly never will settle down, as you +mean it, Mollie dear, even if she should +marry," she argued, forgetting for the +moment the other friends close about her +and the evening's ordeal. For her thoughts +had traveled away to Polly O'Neill, who +was to her surprise still Polly O'Neill. +For at one time she had certainly believed +that Polly had intended marrying Richard +Hunt, the actor, and just why their engagement +had been broken no one had ever +been told. Possibly it was because Polly +had wished to devote herself entirely to +her work. She had always said as a girl +that marriage should never be allowed to +interfere with her career, and certainly +it had not. For the Polly who had made +her first success some ten years before in +the little Irish play was now one of the +best known actresses in the United States. +Indeed, she had succeeded to the position +once held by Margaret Adams, since Margaret +Adams had married and retired.</p> + +<p>However, for the present there was no +further opportunity for mutual confidences, +since in the interval Faith Barton had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +appeared and with her the Governor's new +secretary, besides a dozen other persons, +most of them political friends, who were +to assist in opening the Inaugural Ball.</p> + +<p>As Anthony joined her, Betty felt her +cheeks flush and her knees tremble for an +instant. Moving toward them, accompanied +by his wife, was the man whom +Anthony had defeated in the election for +Governor. To save her life Betty could +not help recalling at this instant all the +hateful things this man had previously +said against her husband. Yet she must +not be childish, nor show ill feeling. Ex-Governor +Peyton and his wife were much +older than she and Anthony, and besides +they were their guests.</p> + +<p>Betty's manner was perfectly gracious +and collected by the time the visitors +reached them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Idle Suspicion</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>SHE had sat huddled up in a chair +outside the baby's room for several +hours. Her self-sacrifice had been +entirely unnecessary, as half a dozen persons +had assured her, but Angel was by +no means certain that she was not happier +in her present position than if she had +been down-stairs in the crowded ballroom +unnoticed and perhaps in the way +of the few people who would try to be +kind to her.</div> + +<p>Two or three times she had stolen in +to look at Tony. He was sleeping quietly +and peacefully, a big beautiful baby with +Betty's soft auburn hair and Anthony's +hazel eyes. But now a clock somewhere +was striking twelve and Angel decided +that she must have a look at the guests +before they went away. She had put on +the white frock of soft chiffon and lace +that Betty had given her, but somehow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +it only made her look more childish +and insignificant. Her face was pale +now with weariness and her hair and +eyes seemed so dark in comparison as +to give her a kind of uncanny appearance. +Perhaps waiting to gain more courage +and perhaps for other reasons, immediately +after leaving the nursery Angel, +before starting down-stairs, went into another +big room at the end of the hall.</p> + +<p>As the girl leaned over to gaze at a little +sleeper a small hand reached up and touched +her face. It was that of Bettina, the +"little Princess" as everybody called her. +Nevertheless Bettina was not in the least +like her mother. She had long hair that +was gold in some lights and in others a +pale brown, and her eyes were bluer than +gray. Indeed, Polly had once said of her +two or three years before, that Tina's eyes +had no color like other people's, for they +merely reflected the lights above them like +a clear pool. The little girl was slender and +quiet and many persons believed her shy, +which was not altogether true. Possibly +the oddest of her characteristics was her +ability to understand what other people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +were thinking and feeling without being +told.</p> + +<p>Now she whispered: "Why don't you +just find a place where you can see, Angel, +without any one's seeing you? I shall +want you to tell me everything tomorrow. +Mother won't understand in the way I +mean."</p> + +<p>Of course that was just what she should +have been doing for these past two hours, +Angelique thought to herself as soon after +she slipped away. But it was like Bettina +to have suggested it. Already she knew +the exact place where she might have +been in hiding all this time.</p> + +<p>On the second floor toward the rear of +the house there was a kind of square landing +which faced a small room that was +oddly separated from the other apartments. +For this reason the Governor had chosen +it for his private study. Only one servant +was allowed to enter this room and very +rarely any member of the family. For in +it were kept a number of important letters +and papers.</p> + +<p>But concealing the entrance tonight were +a number of palms and other tall plants,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +and by placing a small camp chair behind +them one could see through the railing +of the balustrade down into the big hall. +The music was there and many beautifully +dressed people were walking up and +down.</p> + +<p>The little French girl stared for ten +minutes without moving. She had a +curious, almost passionate love of beautiful +people and things, inherited from some +far-off French ancestor, who may have +been a great artist or perchance only carried +a great artist's longings in his soul. +Indeed, Angel had real talent of her own +and whatever her hands touched she +could make lovely, whether it was designing +a dress, decorating a room or even +making a sketch of a scene or a flower, +anything that had appealed to her imagination. +Through her Camp Fire training +she had learned to make remarkable +use of her hands, especially in the days before +she was able to leave her wheeled chair. +Indeed, Betty and all of her friends had +been disappointed when she had failed to +follow some artistic profession. Betty +had urged and pleaded with her to become<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +an artist or designer and had offered to +pay her expenses, yet as soon as she was +well enough Angel had insisted upon studying +something through which she could +at once make her living. By this time +the little French girl had been brought +too close to life's realities not to understand +its difficulties. To make her living +as an artist or a designer would take years +and years of study and work before she +could hope to succeed. Besides, Betty, +in spite of Judge Maynard's legacy, was +not so rich as she was generous and there +were always other people to be thought of. +For the Princess had never ceased her +generosities, and even if her husband had +become a distinguished man it would be +difficult for him ever to be a rich one +unless something unforeseen happened. +Therefore Angel had been happy enough +with her stenography and typewriting and +with her new position in the Governor's +office. For in her heart of hearts it was +her philosophy that duty could be done +every day and beauty kept for certain +exquisite moments.</p> + +<p>Now, however, she felt that one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +these perfect moments had come. Only +she wished that Betty or some one whom +she knew might appear within her range +of vision. It was entertaining, of course, +to watch the strangers and to decide whose +clothes were prettiest and guess their +names.</p> + +<p>Angel drew her chair farther away from +the landing so she could peep squarely +through the banisters and was now some +distance from the study door. Moreover, +the following moment she had caught a +glimpse of a friend whom she had wished +to see almost as much as Betty. There +stood a tall girl with pale gold hair, wearing +a frock of white and blue, and talking +to a young man in as absorbed a fashion as +if they had been entirely alone. It was +difficult to see her companion and yet the +French girl felt that she might have guessed +before she finally discovered him. For +Faith's face wore the same rapt, excited +expression it had worn that afternoon on +returning from her walk. What could it +mean? Angel pondered. Surely Faith +and Kenneth Helm did not yet know +each other well enough for Faith's secret<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +to have anything to do with him. Their +acquaintance had started only about ten +days before.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 302px;"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a> +<img src="images/i039.png" width="302" height="500" alt="He Glanced Quickly About Him and Then Disappeared" title="" /> +<span class="caption">He Glanced Quickly About Him and Then Disappeared</span> +</div> + +<p>Surely in her absorbed interest Angelique +had no thought of spying on her friend, +for two people could not be seriously confidential +when hundreds of others were +close about them. Nevertheless the watcher +felt her own cheeks flush guiltily as she +saw the young man below her whispering +something in his companion's ear. The +next instant, however, Faith had left the +hall with some one else. Then to her +intense consternation Angel observed Kenneth +Helm coming alone straight up the +broad stairs. Could it be possible that +either one of them had seen her and +that Faith was sending Kenneth to bring +her down to the ballroom? With all +her heart Angel hoped not. She would +like to have gotten up and run away to +shelter, yet knew it was impossible for her +to move without making a noise. By +remaining silent there was just a chance +that Kenneth Helm was on his way to +the men's dressing room and would not +notice her. Moreover, if Faith had not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +sent him to find her probably he would +not even speak to her.</p> + +<p>It was quite true that the girl in hiding +need have felt no concern. The young +man certainly did not see her, nor did he +pass her by. For some odd reason he +stopped for a moment at the top of the +landing, glanced quickly about him and +then disappeared inside the Governor's +private study, opening the door with a +key which must have been given him for +the especial purpose.</p> + +<p>"What could Kenneth wish in there +tonight?" Angelique wondered idly, somewhat +relieved because his errand plainly +had nothing to do with her. Moreover, +there was too much that was absorbing +below stairs to give a great deal of thought +to anything else just at present.</p> + +<p>The next instant Angel started, uttering +a little gasp of anger and dismay, as +a hand was laid rudely upon her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Whom are you spying upon now, 'Angel +in the House?'" the young man's voice +asked mockingly. "Don't you think that +perhaps you are rather an uncanny person +anyhow?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>The girl flushed and found it impossible +to keep her lips from trembling. When +she had first gone to work in Anthony +Graham's office, Kenneth Helm had also +been employed there and had been unusually +kind to her. Recently, however, +he seemed to have avoided and almost +to have disliked her. This she knew had +caused a change in her own attitude, +so perhaps her prejudice against the young +man's position as the Governor's private +secretary was largely due to this. Nevertheless +she had done nothing to deserve +the change in his treatment of her, and +if a human being is disloyal to one +friendship, why not to another?</p> + +<p>However, at the present moment the +girl only wished to be left alone, so she +merely shook her head, explaining: "I +didn't mean to be spying upon any one, +and I am sorry if you think I am uncanny." +Then she glanced pathetically down toward +the cane at her side, and this time her +companion blushed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I did not mean that, Miss Martins. +That is not fair of you," he remonstrated. +"But please don't mention to the Governor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +or any one that you saw me go into his +private study tonight, will you? You see, +I had forgotten something that I ought +to have attended to at the office. My +memory is not so good as yours. Won't +you let me take you down-stairs?"</p> + +<p>The lame girl rose slowly, not knowing +exactly how to refuse the young man's +offer. Besides, she remembered what Betty +had said to her. "She must not be so suspicious +and prejudiced against people."</p> + +<p>"Certainly I won't speak to Mr. Graham +of your having gone into his office. Why +should I?" she conceded, laying her hand +lightly on her companion's arm. "Besides, +do you think I talk to the Governor +about his affairs just because I live in his +house? He is so quiet and stern I am +dreadfully afraid of him. It is Betty, +Mrs. Graham, who is my friend. If it is +not too much trouble to you and she is +not too busy I would like to have you +take me to her now for a little while. +Never in my life have I seen anything so +splendid as this reception tonight!"</p> + +<p>When the little French girl talked she +was not half so homely and unattractive,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +Kenneth Helm decided as he made his +way with her through the crowd. Moreover, +he must not turn her into an enemy, +for assuredly Mrs. Graham was her devoted +friend and what his wife desired was law +with the Governor.</p> + +<p>Kenneth Helm intended to succeed in +life. This was the keynote of his character. +He wanted money and power and +meant to do anything necessary to attain +them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Ties from Other Days</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>ONE morning, a few days later, Mrs. +Jack Emmet was ushered into +Betty's personal sitting room. +Betty was writing notes and Bettina was +curled up in a big chair near the window +with a book of fairy tales in her lap.</div> + +<p>Both of them rose at once, Betty +kissing her friend affectionately. But her +little girl, who showed her affection differently +from other children, sitting down +by Meg's side, slipped her small hand inside +hers.</p> + +<p>Meg was beautifully dressed in a dark +blue broadcloth and black fox furs with a +velvet hat and small black feather curled +close against her light hair. Yet the hat +was the least bit awry, one lock of hair +had come uncurled and been blown about +by the wind, and a single blue button hung +loose on the stylish coat. Noticing these +absurd details for some reason or other,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +Betty felt oddly pleased. For they +brought back the Meg of old days, whom +not all the strenuous years of Camp Fire +training had been able to make as neat +as she should have been, although since +her marriage she seemed to have greatly +changed.</p> + +<p>Therefore, in observing these unimportant +facts of her friend's costume Betty +failed to catch the difference in her +expression. They began their conversation +idly enough in discussing the ball of a few +nights before, the Governor's health and +just how busy he was and what people +were saying of him in Concord. For, +although Mr. and Mrs. Graham had only +been installed in the Governor's mansion +a few weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Emmet +had been living in Concord ever since +their marriage about five years before.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, if Betty had not observed +the change in her friend, in some unaccountable +fashion Bettina had. Not that the +little girl realized that Mrs. Emmet had +dark circles under her eyes and that instead +of gazing directly at her mother as she +talked, her glance traveled restlessly about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +the pretty room. Nor did Bettina know +that Meg's cheeks were not a natural pink, +but flushed to uncomfortable redness; no, +she only appreciated that "Aunt Meg," +for whom she cared a great deal, was uneasy +and unhappy and would perhaps enjoy +having her keep close beside her.</p> + +<p>"You will stay and take lunch with us, +won't you, dear?" Betty urged, moving +forward to assist her visitor in removing +her wraps. "You see, we shall probably +be all by ourselves. Anthony is too busy +to come home, Angel is at the office and +Faith asked to be left alone for the day. +The child is probably scribbling away on +some story she desires to write. Then after +lunch we can see little Tony. The baby is +well again, only the nurse wants him kept +quiet."</p> + +<p>Affectionately Betty placed her hands on +Meg's shoulders and standing directly beside +her now for the first time looked closely +into her face. To her shocked surprise she +discovered that unexpected tears had started +to Meg's eyes.</p> + +<p>At once Betty Graham's happy expression +clouded. For she was no less ready<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +with her sympathy than in former days, +and the Camp Fire girls of the old Sunrise +Club seemed almost like real sisters.</p> + +<p>"You came to tell me of something that +is troubling you and I didn't dream of it till +this minute!" Betty exclaimed, slipping off +Meg's coat and unpinning her hat without +waiting for permission. Then, pushing +her friend down into a big, soft armchair, +she took a lower one opposite.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it good fortune that we are living +in the same place just as we used to long +ago?" She continued talking, of course, +to allow her companion to gain her self-control. +Then she glanced toward Bettina, +but Meg only drew the little girl closer, +hiding her face for an instant in her soft +hair.</p> + +<p>"I'm absurd to be so nervous, Betty," +Meg whispered apologetically. "Please +don't think there is anything serious the +matter. Only—only I have come to ask +you a favor and I don't know exactly how +to begin. Of course, we used to be very +intimate friends and all that, but now you +are the Governor's wife, and—and——"</p> + +<p>Before she could finish a somewhat hurt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +voice interposed. "And—and—I am Betty +Ashton Graham still, very much at your +service, Sweet Marjoram, as Polly once +named you. Dear me, Meg, don't be +absurd. I can't say I feel particularly +exalted by my position as wife of the new +Governor, though of course I am frightfully +vain of Anthony. Besides you know if there +is anything I can do that you would like, +I shall be happier than I can say." With +a laugh that still had something serious +in it, Betty put her hand over her friend's. +"I still insist that I owe Anthony partly +to you," she ended.</p> + +<p>But this time Meg did not trouble to +argue the absurd statement.</p> + +<p>She began talking at once as rapidly as +possible, as if glad to get the subject off her +mind.</p> + +<p>"It's about John, I came to talk to you, +my brother, John Everett, Betty," Meg +explained. "I don't know whether you +have seen much of him lately, but you were +devoted friends once and I thought perhaps +for the sake of the past you might be interested."</p> + +<p>"John Everett? For the sake of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +past I might be interested! Whatever are +you talking about?" Betty was now frowning +in her effort to understand and looked +absurdly like a girl, with her level brows +drawn near together and her lips pouting +slightly. "Why, of course I am interested. +I used to like John better than any of the +other beaus we had, when we were girls, +except Anthony. Tell me, is John going to +be married at last? I have wondered why +he has waited such a long time. But I suppose +he wanted to be rich first. It has been +about two years since we met by accident +in a theater in New York, but I thought he +had grown handsomer than ever." This +time Betty's laugh was more teasing than +sympathetic. "I wonder why sisters are +so jealous of their big brothers marrying, +Mrs. Jack Emmet? You are married yourself—why +begrudge John the good fortune? +I don't believe Nan has ever entirely forgiven +me for capturing Anthony. I am convinced +she would have preferred any other of the +Camp Fire girls. There is only one of us, +however, whom she would have really liked, +and that is Sylvia. Yet who would ever +think of Doctor Sylvia Wharton's marrying?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>This time Meg's voice was firmer. "But +John isn't going to be married, Betty. It +is quite a different thing I wish to talk to +you about. Instead of John's getting rich +on Wall Street, as you think, he has gotten +dreadfully poor. And I am afraid it is not +just his own money he has lost, but father's +savings. Now Horace will have to give +up his college and I really don't know what +will become of father. He is too old to +begin teaching again since his resignation +several years ago."</p> + +<p>Her voice broke, but then her friend's +face was so bewildered and so full of a +sudden, ardent sympathy, that it was +difficult for Meg to keep her self-control. +However, she said nothing more for a +minute, but sat biting her lips and wondering +how to go on to the next thing.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Betty helped her. "I expect +John will have to come back home and +take care of your father. Horace is too +young and it is more John's place than +your husband's. I am sorry, for I'm afraid +things will seem pretty dull for him here +after his gay life in New York."</p> + +<p>All at once Betty's face cleared a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +and she leaned back in her chair. "But you +remember, Meg, that when you first spoke +you said you wished me to do you a favor. +Is there anything in the world I can do? +I am sure I can scarcely imagine what it is, +yet if I can in any way help you out of this +trouble——"</p> + +<p>"You can," Meg whispered shyly; "that +is, perhaps not you, but Anthony, and you +are almost the same person."</p> + +<p>In answer to this rather surprising statement +Betty Graham merely shook her head +quietly. However, this was scarcely the +time to argue whether or not marriage +merged two persons into one or simply +made each one bigger and more individual +from association with the other. She +wanted to do whatever was possible to +assist Meg and John Everett too in this +trying time in their affairs. Besides, as a +little girl she had always been fond of old +Professor Everett, whose life had been +given to the wisdom of books rather than +to the living world. But most of all, being +a very natural woman, Betty was now +keenly curious to know how she could +possibly be expected to be involved in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +present situation and what she could do to +help out.</p> + +<p>"You are right. John does mean to +come home, or at least he wishes to return. +He says he is tired of New York and all +the fret and hurry and struggle of life there. +But you see, Betty dear," and Meg spoke +quickly now that she had finally come to the +point of her story, "there is no use John's +returning unless he has something to do. +There is where you and Anthony can help. +I didn't think of this myself, but when +my husband and I were talking things over +he said that Anthony and you and I were +such old friends and that the new Governor +had so many appointments he could make +to all sorts of good positions. So we thought +perhaps you would ask Anthony to help +John. I know Anthony does anything +you wish."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Betty replied somewhat blankly. +For never had she been more surprised +than by Meg's request. Of course she +knew that Anthony was making a number +of changes in positions held by people +whom he thought unworthy of trust +throughout the state. Often he talked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +about what he felt he should do, but really +it had never dawned upon Betty until this +minute that she or her friends could be in +any way concerned. Still, why not? John +was a good business man, Betty thought; he +was not dishonest or dishonorable and the +Everetts were her old friends. If Anthony +could help them in their present trouble, +surely he would be as glad as she was to +have the opportunity.</p> + +<p>Yet Betty hesitated before answering. +However, as she did not wish to make Meg +uncomfortable she slipped from her own +chair and put her arm sympathetically +about her friend's shoulders, while she +endeavored to think things quietly over. +Finally Betty returned:</p> + +<p>"I can't <i>exactly</i> promise what you first +asked, Meg dear. You see, I have always +intended not to interfere in the things that +did not seem altogether my affair. But +somehow, since you have asked me and +for John's and your father's sakes, who are +such old friends, why I don't feel as I did +before. I tell you, I <i>will</i> ask Anthony this +very night, so let's don't worry any more. +Tina darling, run and tell the maids we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +would like our luncheon up here. Our +dining room is so absurdly big."</p> + +<p>As she talked, as if by magic Betty's +expression had changed and again she was +her usual gay, light-hearted self. Of course +she and Anthony together would be able +to clear away Meg's troubles. Never +before had she entirely realized how fine +it was to have power and influence.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Betty's confidence also inspired +Meg, and for the first time in weeks Mrs. +Jack Emmet felt like the Meg Everett of +the old days in Woodford, who used to keep +house for her father, kiss her small brother +Horace's (surnamed Bump's) wounds and +help and encourage her big brother John +in all his ambitions and desires.</p> + +<p>Just as Meg went away, however, she +insisted quite seriously:</p> + +<p>"Betty, I often think that even if our +old Camp Fire Club did nothing more for +us than to bind our friendships together +in the way it has, it would be dreadful for +all girls not to have the same opportunities +in their lives. Talk of college friendships, +surely they are not to be compared with +those of Camp Fire clubs!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Something Unexpected</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>DINNER was tiresomely dull! Again +Anthony did not return, but telephoned +that he would be in as +soon afterwards as possible. Several times +during the meal Betty almost wished that +she had accepted an invitation for the +evening without him. For they had been +invited to a dinner party and dance, but as +Anthony had declared he would be too busy +to attend, Betty had declined without any +objection at the time. She had made up +her mind never to go out into society unless +accompanied by her husband.</div> + +<p>Nevertheless, tonight the young wife of +the new Governor felt somewhat differently. +If Anthony was going everlastingly to be +kept at his office must she always sit alone +during the evenings? Always as Betty +Ashton she had loved people and gayety +and still loved it quite as much as Betty +Graham. Moreover, her only two companions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +at dinner, Angel and Faith, were +both in extremely bad humor and unwilling +to confess the cause, for Faith looked sulky +and annoyed and Angel undeniably cross. +Of course, the two girls must recently have +had a quarrel. Their hostess wondered +for a few moments what the trouble could +have been. But then they were so utterly +different in their dispositions and tastes, +it was not surprising that they sometimes +disagreed. Besides, she decided that they +were both unlike the intimate friends of her +youth and far harder to understand. In +fact, though she was scarcely much more +than a girl herself, Mrs. Graham concluded +that "girls had changed since her day" +and determined as soon as dinner was over +to leave them to themselves. Naturally, +if they had wished her society Betty would +have been glad enough to have remained +and received their confidences. However, +neither Angel nor Faith showed the slightest +sign of desiring her society.</p> + +<p>In a pale blue silk dinner gown Betty +wandered disconsolately about her big house +waiting for her husband. He had promised +to come home early and it seemed not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +worth while to settle down to any task +beforehand. The babies were asleep and +she did not feel like writing letters either +to Esther or her mother. Several times +she thought of Polly. But Polly was so +far away out West that she really did not +know where to find her at the present time. +Betty wondered if her best friend was +happy with no home or husband or children, +nothing intimate in her life but her career +as an artist. She had always been puzzled +to understand why Polly and Richard Hunt +had never married after an engagement +lasting over several years. But since +neither of them had cared to explain their +separation, it was, of course, useless to +conjecture again after all this time.</p> + +<p>The drawing room was too hopelessly +big and formal! After Betty had walked +around inside it for half an hour perhaps, +sitting down in half a dozen chairs and +then pacing up and down, she grew even +more restless. Surely it was no longer early +in the evening, and why did Anthony not +keep his word and come home at the time +he had promised? It would be ever so +much more satisfactory to have her talk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +with him in regard to giving John Everett +a good position, with a comfortable salary, +early in the evening, before they were both +tired and wanting to sleep.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, with an impatient stamp of +her foot, Mrs. Graham fled from her state +apartment. She was homesick tonight for +her old home in Woodford, where she and +Anthony had lived ever since their marriage +until his election as Governor, and where +her mother still lived.</p> + +<p>Passing through the hall, more and more +did Betty become convinced that Anthony +was not keeping his word, for the tall clock +registered quarter to ten. The upper part +of the house looked dark and quiet as +if the rest of the family had already gone +to bed. Besides it was lonely enough on +the first floor, for the servants had their +sitting room and dining room in a big old-fashioned +basement and were nowhere to +be seen. Of course, one of them would +come at once if she desired anything, but +Betty could not think of anything she +wished at present except society and amusement.</p> + +<p>In the library back of the drawing room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +a few moments later she decided that things +were not so bad. There was a little wood +fire in the grate, kept there for its cheerful +influence and not because the steam-heated +house required it; but Betty had not been +a Camp Fire girl for half her lifetime +without responding to the cheerful influence +of even a grate fire.</p> + +<p>Sinking down into a comfortable chair, +she picked up a magazine and began reading. +The clock in the hall ticked on and +on and she was not conscious of the passing +of time. The story was not particularly +interesting—an absurd tale of a husband +and wife who had quarreled. It was, of +course, perfectly unnecessary for people +who loved each other to quarrel, Betty +Graham insisted to herself, and yet the +writer did not seem convinced of this fact. +Toward the close of the story she grew more +interested and excited.</p> + +<p>Then, without actually hearing a sound +or seeing a figure, Betty suddenly looked +up, and there in the open doorway of the +library stood a strange man. Like a flash +her mind worked. She was alone on the +first floor of a big, rambling old house and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +uncertain of how late the hour. Must she +at once cry for help, or should she try to get +across the floor and ring the bell furiously?—for +that would be more certain to be heard. +Yet for the moment her knees felt absurdly +weak and her hands cold. However, with +a stupendous effort Betty now summoned +her courage, of which the shock of the moment +had robbed her. For her Camp Fire +training had taught her the proper spirit +in which to meet emergencies. Quietly +Mrs. Graham rose up from her chair.</p> + +<p>"What is it you wish? I think you have +made some mistake," she remarked stiffly. +For in spite of her terror the man in the +doorway did not look like an ordinary +thief. Besides, if he were a thief why did +he remain there staring at her? Why had +he not committed his burglary and gotten +away with his spoils without alarming her?</p> + +<p>But he was now advancing a few steps +toward her and there was no light in the +library, except from the reading lamp.</p> + +<p>"Anthony!" Betty cried instinctively, +although she knew that the Governor could +not be in the house at the time, else he +would have come straight to her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then to her immense amazement, almost +to her stupefaction, the intruder actually +smiled.</p> + +<p>"Betty," he answered, "or rather Mrs. +Graham, have I startled you? Yes, I know +it is dreadfully informal, my coming upon +you in this fashion and not even allowing +your butler to announce me. But I ran +down from New York today to spend the +night with Meg and Jack Emmet. A few +moments ago we began talking of you. +Well, as I've got to go back to town in the +morning I decided that nothing would give +me more pleasure than seeing the wife of +our distinguished new Governor, so here +I am!"</p> + +<p>Positively the stranger was holding out +his hand.</p> + +<p>Moreover, the next instant Betty had +laid her cold fingers inside it.</p> + +<p>"John, John Everett, how ridiculous of +me not to have recognized you! Yet, +though I was thinking of you, you were the +last person in the world I expected to see +at present. And I confess you frightened +me." Betty made her visitor a little +curtsey. "Remember how you boys used<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +to try to terrify us when we were in camp +just to prove the superiority of Boy Scouts +over Camp Fire girls? I would not have +been frightened then! But do let us have +more light so that we can really see each +other."</p> + +<p>Betty touched the electric button and +the room was suddenly aglow.</p> + +<p>Then she again faced her companion. +It had been foolish of her not to have +recognized her old friend, John Everett. +He did look a good deal older, but he was +a large, handsome man with blond hair, +blue eyes and a charming manner. Moreover, +he was undoubtedly returning Betty's +glance with undisguised admiration.</p> + +<p>"You won't mind my saying it, will you, +Mrs. Graham, but you are more stunning +than ever. I suppose it sounds a little +impertinent of me, but you know even +though I always thought you tremendously +pretty as a girl, really I never believed——" +John began.</p> + +<p>Betty shook her head reproachfully and +yet perhaps she was a little pleased, even +though she recognized her visitor's compliment +as extravagant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>Motioning to another chair, she then sat +down in her former one. For a few moments +there was a kind of constraint in the atmosphere, +such as one often feels in meeting +again an old friend with whom one has +been intimate in former years and not +seen in a long time.</p> + +<p>Under her lashes Betty found herself +studying her visitor's face. At first she +did not think that he appeared much discouraged +by his misfortunes, but the next +moment she was not so sure.</p> + +<p>"I am awfully pleased the world has gone +so well with you, Mrs. Graham," John +Everett began, to cover the awkwardness of +the silence. "You were a wise girl to have +known that Anthony had so much more in +him than the rest of us fellows. I hear he +is making things hum in the state of New +Hampshire."</p> + +<p>Betty looked a little shocked. "Oh, I +did not care for Anthony because I thought +him cleverer than other people. I—oh, +does one ever know exactly why one cares? +But do tell me about yourself, John. You +don't mind my knowing of your present +difficulty? Meg has just told me, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +I am sure things will be all right soon +again."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later the young Governor, +coming in very tired from his long day's +work, seeing the light burning in the +library, walked quickly toward the door. +He was worn out and hungry and wanted +nothing so much as supper and quiet talk +with his wife. For Anthony had never +gotten over the pleasure he felt at returning +home to find her there to receive him. +Already it seemed ages since he had said +good-bye at breakfast.</p> + +<p>However, just before he arrived at the +open door he heard the sound of Betty's +laughter and some one answering her.</p> + +<p>Of course it was selfish and absurd of +him to feel a sudden sense of disappointment. +He knew that he should have been +glad to find Betty entertained.</p> + +<p>Before entering the library the new +Governor managed to assume a more +hospitable expression. He was also surprised +at finding John Everett their caller. +But then he too had known him in their +boyhood days in Woodford and was glad +to see him. Certainly they had never been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +friends as boys. The young Governor +could still remember that John had then +seemed to have all the things he had wanted +as a boy—good looks, good family, money +enough for a college education. Yet with +all these advantages John had not been able +to win Betty. Now was Anthony's chance +to feel sorry for him. Lately he too had +heard that John Everett was in some kind +of business trouble. He hoped that this +was not true.</p> + +<p>Therefore it was Anthony who insisted +that their visitor should remain with them +while they had a little supper party in the +library. And Betty was glad to see that +her old friend was making a good impression +upon her husband. For she was now firmly +determined to ask Anthony to give John +Everett a fine position at once.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">The First Disillusion</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"BUT you can't mean, Anthony, +that you positively refuse to do +what I ask?"</div> + +<p>It was a little after midnight and Betty +and Anthony were up-stairs in their own +apartment. Betty had on a blue dressing +gown and her hair was braided and hung +over her shoulders. But her cheeks were +flushed, her gray eyes dark with temper +and her voice trembled in spite of her effort +to keep it still.</p> + +<p>Undeniably Anthony appeared both obstinate +and worried. Moreover, he was +extremely sleepy and yet somehow Betty +must be made to understand before either +of them could rest. Never before had he +dreamed that she could be so unreasonable.</p> + +<p>"I don't think that is exactly a fair way +of stating the thing, Betty," the young Governor +answered gently enough. "You see, +I have tried to explain to you, dear, that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +can't give positions to friends just as though +running the affairs of the state was my private +business. I could afford to take risks +with that if I wished, but you know I promised +when I was elected Governor only to +make appointments of the best men I could +find."</p> + +<p>If possible, the Governor's wife looked +even more unconvinced. She was sitting +in a big blue chair almost the color of her +wrapper, and every now and then rocked +back and forth to express her emotion, or +else tapped the floor mutinously with the +toe of her bedroom slipper.</p> + +<p>"You talk as if there was something +wrong with John Everett," she answered +argumentatively, "and as if I were asking +you to give a position to a man who was +stupid or dishonest. I am perfectly sure +John is none of these things. He has been +unfortunate in business lately, of course, +but that might happen to any one. Really, +Anthony, would you mind telling me exactly +what you have in your mind against +John Everett? Of course, I remember you +never liked him when you were boys, but +I thought you were too big a man——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>"See here, Betty," the Governor interrupted, +"can't we let this subject drop? +I never knew you to be like this before." +He had thrown himself down on a couch, +but now reached over and tried to take his +wife's reluctant hand. "I've been explaining +to you for the past hour that I have +nothing in the world against John Everett +personally, except that he has no training +for the kind of work I need men to do. +He has been a Wall Street broker. Well, +that is all right, but what does he know +about prison reform, about building good +roads for the state, or anything else I'm +after? Just because he is your friend—our +friend, I mean—I can't thrust him into a +good job over the heads of better men. +Please look at this as I do, Betty. I hate +desperately to refuse your request and I +know Meg will be hurt with me too and +think I'm unfaithful to old times. Heigh-ho, +I wonder if anybody thinks being +Governor is a cheerful job? Good-night, +Princess."</p> + +<p>Plainly meaning to end their conversation, +Anthony had gotten up from his sofa. +He now stood above Betty, waiting to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +her make peace with him. But Betty +looked far from peaceful, more like a +spoiled and angry little girl thwarted in a +wish which she had not imagined could be +refused.</p> + +<p>Of course the Princess had always been +more or less spoiled all her life. Her friends +in the Camp Fire Club and her family had +always acknowledged this. But she was +usually reasonable with the sweetest possible +temper, so that no one really minded. +Nevertheless Betty was not accustomed to +having her serious wishes denied, and by +her husband of all people!</p> + +<p>Really she would have liked very much +to cry with disappointment and vexation, +except that she was much too proud. +Moreover, even now she could not finally +accept the idea that Anthony would not +eventually do as she asked.</p> + +<p>But she drew back coldly from any idea +of making friends until then.</p> + +<p>"Good-night," she replied indifferently. +"I don't think I shall try to go to sleep." +Her voice trembled now in spite of all her +efforts.</p> + +<p>"Really, Anthony, I don't know how I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +can tell Meg and John that you have declined +to do what I have asked you. I +wonder what they will think? Certainly +that I haven't any influence with my own +husband! Do you know, Anthony, perhaps +I am wrong, but I thought I had +helped you a little in your election. I've +made a good many sacrifices; you have +to leave me alone a greater part of the +time because you are too busy to spend +much of your time with me. Well, I have +never thought of complaining, but somehow +it does seem to me that I have the +right to have you do just this one thing I +ask of you. I'm afraid I don't find being a +Governor's wife so very cheerful either."</p> + +<p>While she was talking Betty had also +gotten up and was now standing near the +doorway. As her husband came toward +her she moved slowly backward.</p> + +<p>"I say, Betty dear, you are hard on a +fellow," Anthony protested. "Of course +I owe my job to you and anything else that +is good about me. But you can't want me +to do wrong even for your sake. Maybe +you may see things differently tomorrow."</p> + +<p>However, instead of replying, the Governor's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +wife slipped outside the room. In +the nursery she lay down by Bettina. But +she slept very little for the rest of the night.</p> + +<p>For in her opinion Anthony had not been +fair; he had not even been kind. A few +hours before, when she had assured John +and Meg of her sympathy and aid, she +could not have believed this possible. This +was the first time in their married life that +her husband had refused her anything of +importance. Surely she had been wrong +in suggesting or even thinking for half a +second that his old boyish dislike and +jealousy of John Everett could influence +Anthony now! It was an absurd idea, and +even a horrid one; and yet is one ever altogether +fair in anger?</p> + +<p>Down-stairs, in spite of his fatigue, Anthony +Graham walked up and down their +big room for a quarter of an hour. If he +only could have reconciled it with his conscience +to do what Betty asked him, how +much easier and how much more cheerful +for both of them! She was right in saying +that he owed something to her. He owed +everything. It was not just that she had +helped him since his marriage—most wives<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +do that for their husbands—but she had +helped him from that first hour of their +meeting in the woods so many years before.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless he had given his word to +keep his faith as Governor of the state. +He had promised to give no one a position +because of pull and influence. Naturally +he had not expected his wife to have any +part in this, but only the politicians and +seekers after graft. Yet even with Betty +misunderstanding he must try to keep his +word.</p> + +<p>Sighing, the young Governor turned out +the lights. He did look too boyish and +delicate for the weight of his responsibilities +tonight. For there had been other troubles +in his office which he had wished to confide +to his wife, had she only been willing to +listen. However, he finally fell asleep +somewhat comforted. For he was convinced +that Betty was too sensible a woman not +finally to see things in the light that he did. +When he had the opportunity and she was +neither tired nor vexed with him he would +explain to her all over again.</p> + +<p>An uncomfortable spirit, however, seemed +to be brooding over the Governor's mansion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +this evening, for in another part of +the big house, there was another argument +also lasting far into the night.</p> + +<p>Angel and Faith sat on either side an +old-fashioned four-poster bed, often talking +at the same time in the way that +only feminine creatures can.</p> + +<p>In her white cashmere kimono over her +gown, with her pale hair unbound, Faith +Barton looked like a little white saint. +But alas, and in spite of her name, the little +French girl bore no resemblance to one!</p> + +<p>Angel's dark hair was extraordinarily +heavy and curly but not very long, and +now in her uneasiness she had pushed and +pulled at it until it was extremely untidy. +Moreover, her black eyes now and then +flashed resentfully at her friend and two +bright spots of color burned in her cheeks. +When she was not talking her lips were +pressed closely together.</p> + +<p>"Faith, it isn't right of you; you know +it isn't. You should not have made me +promise to keep your secret before telling +me it. How could I ever have guessed +such a dreadful thing! I simply must, +must tell Betty if you are not going to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +confide in Mrs. Barton. Then Betty can +do what she thinks best and it will be +off my conscience."</p> + +<p>Certainly Angelique Martins was not +speaking in an amiable tone, and yet her +companion seemed not in the slightest +disturbed.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Faith began quietly brushing +her long, straight hair.</p> + +<p>"Don't be a goose, Angel, and don't +have so much conscience for other people. +Of course, I am sorry I told you. Kenneth +said it would be wiser not to speak to +any one for the present, but I had to have +some confidant. Now you are trying to +spoil my first real romance by wanting +me to get up and proclaim it on the housetops. +What I like most about being +engaged to Kenneth is that no one knows +of it and that we can see each other without +a lot of silly people staring and talking +about us. Of course, when we begin to +think about being married I shall tell +Rose everything. Then I know she will +understand. But we are not going to be +married for a long, long time, I expect. +Kenneth says that nothing would persuade<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +him to marry me until he could give me +everything in the world I want. Oh, +you need not look so superior, Angel; +I understand you don't approve of that +sentiment, but I think it is beautiful for +a man to feel that way about a girl. +You simply can't appreciate Kenneth." +And Faith looked sufficiently gentle and +forgiving to have tried the patience of +a saint.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," the other girl answered +shortly. "Anyhow, Faith, you are right +in believing I don't approve of the things +you have told me. The idea of your being +secretly engaged to a man whom you have +only known about two weeks! It is horrid! +Naturally you don't either of you +know whether you are really in love; +but then I don't think you ought to be +engaged until you are willing to tell people. +Besides, what do you know about Mr. +Helm's real character, Faith? He is the +kind of fellow who makes love to almost +every girl he meets."</p> + +<p>Almost under her breath and with her +cheeks flaming the little lame French girl +made this last speech. Nevertheless her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +companion heard her. Still Faith did not +appear angry as most girls would have +been under the circumstances, but perhaps +her gentle, pitying expression was harder +to endure.</p> + +<p>"Is that what troubles you, Angel? +I am so sorry," Faith returned, ceasing +to brush her hair to smile compassionately +at her friend. "You see, Kenneth warned +me that you did not like him very much. +He was too kind to explain exactly the +reason, only he said that you seemed to +have misunderstood something about him. +I suppose he was kind to you once, Angel, +because of course he would be specially +kind to a girl like you. But, there, you +need not look so angry! You have a dreadful +temper, Angel. Even Betty Graham +thinks so in spite of being so fond of +you."</p> + +<p>With pretended carelessness Faith Barton +now glanced away, devoting all her +energy to plaiting her long hair. Really +her speech had been more unkind than +she had intended it. But somehow she +and Angel were always having differences +of opinion and it seemed to Faith that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +was usually Angel's fault, because she +never quarreled with any one else.</p> + +<p>Besides, ever since her first meeting +with the little French girl at Sunrise Cabin +she had been the one who had tried to +make and keep their friendship. Angel +never seemed to care deeply for any one +except her mother and now Mrs. Graham +and her babies, and was always getting into +hot water with other people.</p> + +<p>However, it certainly did not occur to +Faith that her own amiability came partly +from a lack of interest in any one except +herself and partly because her own whims +were so seldom interfered with.</p> + +<p>Curious that Rose Barton, who had +been such a sensible guardian and friend +to her group of Camp Fire girls, had been +so indulgent to her adopted daughter! +But very few persons understood Faith +Barton. She seemed to be absolutely +gentle and loving and to live always in +a world of beautiful dreams and desires. +How could any one guess that she was +often both selfish and self-willed?</p> + +<p>"There is no use talking any more on +this subject, Faith, if you think I wish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +to interfere because I am jealous of you," +Angel declared, and finding her cane slipped +down from the bed. "Besides, you know +perfectly well you are doing wrong without +my saying it. Anyhow, I believe that +something will happen to make you sorry +enough before you are through."</p> + +<p>With this parting shot Angel marched +stiffly out of the room, too proud to reveal +how deeply her friend had wounded her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">A New Interest</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>IT is a far journey from the New Hampshire +hills to the plains of the West.</div> + +<p>Nevertheless a girl whom we once +knew at Sunrise Hill is walking alone this +afternoon on the rim of a desert and facing +the western sun. It is scarcely fair +to call her a girl, unless one has the +theory that so long as a woman does +not marry she retains her girlhood. Yet +glancing at her as she strolled slowly +along, no one could have guessed her to +be more than twenty, though perhaps she +was a little nearer the next decade.</p> + +<p>Exquisitely dressed in a long, dark green +broadcloth coat with a fur collar and +small hat, she was a little past medium +height and unusually slender. Her hair +was so black that it had an almost somber +look, and yet her eyes were vividly blue. +Just now, having wandered a good many +miles from the place where she was staying,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +she looked extremely tired and +depressed. In no possible way did she +appear to fit into her present surroundings, +for without a doubt she was a +woman of wealth and distinction. It was +self-evident in the clothes she wore, but +more so in the unconsciously proud carriage +of her head and in the lines of her face, +which was not beautiful and yet seemed to +have some curious charm more appealing +than mere beauty.</p> + +<p>She stopped now for a moment to gaze +with an appreciation that was almost awe +at the beauty of the sinking sun. There +was a glory of color in the sky that was +almost fantastic; piles of white clouds +seemed to have been flung up against the +horizon like mammoth soap bubbles, tinted +with every rainbow shade. With unconscious +enthusiasm, the woman clasped +her hands together.</p> + +<p>"Why," she exclaimed aloud, "I was +wondering what this scene reminded me of. +It is dear old Sunrise Hill! What would +I not give to be there in the old cabin +tonight with Betty and Mollie and the +others! But they must not know what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +has become of me until things are all +right again. Both Betty and Mollie are +too happy with their babies and husbands +to worry over the old maids in the family. +Sometimes, though, I feel that I should like +to send for Sylvia." Then the wanderer +turned and stared around her.</p> + +<p>In every direction there were long waving +reaches of sand with an occasional clumping +of rocks, while growing near them were +strange varieties of the cactus plant. Some +of them had great leaves like elephants' +ears, some were small and thick with +queer, stiff hairs and excrescences, and +among them, in spite of the lateness of the +season, were occasional pink and crimson +flowers with waxen petals.</p> + +<p>Behind the wayfarer there was a trail +which she must have followed from some +nearby village, yet it was growing less +and less distinct ahead, and certainly the +hour was far too late for a stranger to +be traveling alone so near a portion of the +great Colorado desert.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless the young woman at this +moment turned and left her path. Walking +deliberately for a few yards she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +seated herself on a giant rock, and leaning +forward, rested her chin in her beautifully +gloved hands.</p> + +<p>"So like you, Polly O'Neill, even in +your old age to have gotten yourself entirely +used up on the first walk you were allowed +to take alone!" she began aloud, giving +a half despairing, half amused shrug of +her thin shoulders. "I am not in the +least sure that I know the way back to +my hotel if it grows dark before I arrive +there, and assuredly I am too weary to +start for the present. And hungry! Heaven +only knows when I was ever so ravenous! +Now if I had only been a Camp Fire girl +in the West instead of the East, doubtless +I could at once discover all sorts of delectable +bread fruit and berries growing +nearby. But I don't feel I want to run +any further risks at present."</p> + +<p>So for the next half hour in almost +perfect quiet Polly O'Neill remained seated. +It would have been impossible for her +to have done otherwise, for suddenly a +curious attack of exhaustion had swept +over her. It was not unusual of late, +for indeed Miss O'Neill and her maid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +had established themselves in a small +hotel near Colorado Springs in order that +the well-known actress might recover from +an attack of nervous exhaustion which +she had suffered during her successful tour +in the Western states. So Polly was quite +accustomed to finding herself all at once +too weary either to move or speak. But +quite like the Polly of old she had just +deliberately walked five miles without reflecting +on her lack of strength or the +fact that she must return by as long a +road as she had come.</p> + +<p>No, in spite of the fact that Polly +O'Neill had in the last ten years made +a great name for herself as one of the +leading actresses in the United States, +she was as thoughtless and impetuous as +she had been as a girl.</p> + +<p>Finally, however, with what seemed to +require a good deal of effort she got up +and moved, this time toward the east, +but all the elasticity had gone from her. +The sand was uncomfortably heavy, so +that she dragged one foot after the other +and her slender body seemed to wave like +a stalk in the wind. But the worst of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +difficulty was that her breath came in +short, painful gasps. Unconsciously the +effort which the business of walking +required made Polly pay less strict attention +to the path which she should have +followed. But by and by, realizing that +her way was less plain and that it was +now quite dusk, she paused for a moment, +put her hand to her side and then again +seemed to be considering her situation. +Whatever her decision, she must have +accepted it philosophically, for this time, +more deliberately, she sought another resting +place. Fortunately not far away was +a better shelter of rocks, half a dozen of +them forming a kind of semicircular cave. +Deliberately Polly crept toward their shelter +and there removed her hat and tied her +hair up in a long automobile veil. Then +she lay down in the sand with the stones +as a shield behind her and before her a +wonderful view of the night as it stole +softly over the desert.</p> + +<p>Polly was not afraid and not even +seriously annoyed. Life to her was but +a series of adventures, some of them good +and others less cheerful. She was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +at all sure that she was not going to enjoy +this one and she could not believe that it +would do her any especial harm. She +was sleeping outdoors for the benefit of +her health in a small porch attached to +her hotel bedroom. Perhaps the sand +was less comfortable and clean than her +bed, but then she had never before imagined +so much sky and prairie. Moreover, there +was no one to worry over her failure to +appear except Marie, her maid. It was +just possible that Marie might arouse the +hotel and a searching party be sent to +find her. In that case Polly knew that +she would be glad to return to civilization. +However, she did not intend to worry if +no one came. Her hunger and thirst +must be forgotten until morning.</p> + +<p>Somehow, when the stars came out, in +spite of the beauty of the night Polly +found she could not manage to keep her +eyes open. She was not exactly sleepy, +only tired. For never in years had she +had such an opportunity to think things +over. How crowded her life had been, +how full of hard work, of failure and success, +yes, and loneliness! She was willing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +to confess it tonight to herself. How she +would have liked to have had one of her +old Camp Fire friends here in Colorado +with her! Yet they were all too busy +and she had not wished any one of her +family to know how ill she had been. How +much trouble she had always given all the +people who cared for her ever since she +could remember! Polly's conscience pricked +her sharply. Why had she not married +and settled down as her sister Mollie had +suggested at least a hundred times? Because +she would not give up her acting? +Well, she need not have done this had +she married Richard Hunt. But too many +years had passed since their engagement +had been broken for her to recall him. +She had not even seen Mr. Hunt in the +past five years, although they had occasionally +acted in the same cities and at +the same time.</p> + +<p>Finally, however, when the famous Miss +O'Neill actually fell asleep she was smiling +faintly. For a vision had suddenly come +to her of how shocked her sister Mollie +and her brother-in-law, Mr. William Webster, +would be if they knew that she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +sleeping alone on the edge of a desert. +But she was surely too near the village +to be in any danger from wild animals and +no one would undertake such a walk as +hers had been at this hour.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, wisdom should have +prompted an old Camp Fire girl to have +found twigs enough to have started even +a miniature camp fire. But the edge of +a desert is scarcely the place where wood +abounds and the fact is, though she had +thought of it, Polly had been too tired +to make the necessary effort. For goodness +only knows how much farther she need +have wandered before coming to an oasis +of shrubbery or trees.</p> + +<p>When at last Miss O'Neill opened her +eyes actually it was broad daylight and +standing before her was a figure that almost +fitted into her dream. For the girl was +just about the age of the group of friends +who had once lived together in a log house +in the woods, and all night she had been +dreaming of Sunrise Cabin.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless her visitor bore no other +resemblance to them, so that the distinguished +lady rubbed her eyes, wondering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +if she were yet awake and how the girl +could have come so close up to her without +her hearing.</p> + +<p>A glance explained this, for the intruder +was barefooted and her legs and feet were +so brown and hard they appeared totally +unfamiliar with shoes and stockings.</p> + +<p>She was staring so hard at Polly that she +seemed scarcely conscious of anything except +her own surprise.</p> + +<p>With an effort Miss O'Neill sat upright. +She did not feel tired now in the least, but +gloriously rested and strengthened from +her wonderful night out of doors in the +clear, pure air. But of course she must +explain her situation to the little girl before +her, although she would have preferred her +discoverer to have explained herself.</p> + +<p>In spite of being about fourteen years +old, this child had on only a thin yellow +calico frock, and it was late October. Her +hair was perfectly straight and Polly might +have thought her an Indian except that it +was light brown in color, although a good +deal stained by wind and sun. However, +the girl's eyes were a kind of greenish gray +in shade and her features were delicately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +modeled. But she had a peculiar and not +an agreeable expression.</p> + +<p>"I wandered away from my hotel last +evening and was not able to return, so I +slept here all night. How did you happen to +find me?" Polly began, feeling that some +one must start a conversation in order to +persuade her companion to cease her almost +frightened staring. Of course Polly appreciated +that she herself was not looking her +best, but there was no reason why she +should excite so much curiosity.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding she received no answer. +With a slight gesture of annoyance Miss +O'Neill stood up. After all, she did not +feel as energetic as she had thought and it +was undoubtedly a long walk back to her +hotel.</p> + +<p>"Do you live anywhere near here? I am +both hungry and thirsty. If you could +find some one to help me I should be most +grateful," Polly said as politely as if she +had been speaking to a friend. For if the +girl was afraid of her she wished her to +forget her timidity.</p> + +<p>But instead of replying the strange child +stared harder than ever for half a minute,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +and then before Polly could speak again or +touch her she was off, running across the +sand like a deer, without a backward glance.</p> + +<p>Miss O'Neill watched her for some time +until she vanished into what appeared at +this distance to be a clump of trees. Then +she deliberately set out to follow her. The +child must have come from some place +nearer than the village where she was staying. +In almost any kind of settlement she +would be able to find a horse to take her +back to her hotel.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>"<span class="smcap">Bobbin</span>"<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>ALL her life Polly O'Neill had felt a +curious shrinking from physical +cruelty, and growing older had not +made the least change in her feeling. She +had never talked about it, but had always +been fearful that at heart she was a +coward. The Camp Fire girls used to laugh +at her because, of course, she had learned +to do all of the things that their rules +required without feeling any possible nervousness. +But then no one of them understood +what physical cruelty might mean and +possibly might never see an exhibition of it.</div> + +<p>Yet nothing was farther from her own +mind at the present moment than this fear. +She had come in about fifteen minutes' +walk to a clump of cottonwood trees by a +small stream of water, and there in their +midst stood a crude two-room shanty with +a bare space of ground in front of it and a +lean dog sitting in a patch of sunshine.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the sight that froze Polly's blood +and made her stand suddenly so still that +she might have been a wooden image was +the figure of a man with a long whip in +his hand, such as one might have used in +driving cattle. And this whip was now +whirling and stinging through the air and +twisting itself about the body of the little +girl who had been the first vision that Miss +O'Neill's eyes had rested upon on waking +that morning.</p> + +<p>But the strangest thing of all was that +the child was making no outcry and showing +no effort to run away. Indeed, she stood +perfectly still, hugging half a loaf of bread +in her arms.</p> + +<p>Polly made an inarticulate sound which +she thought was a loud cry: "Stop!" But +the man had not seen her approach and was +too occupied with his hateful task to hear +her, and to her intense shame she felt all +at once desperately afraid of him. She was +so far from any one she knew, she had so +little physical strength and this man was so +much more brutal than any one she had ever +seen before in her life. Perhaps he would +cease hurting the child this instant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then, without in the least knowing when +nor how she had accomplished it, Polly +rushed forward and seizing the man's thick +wrist in her own slender fingers, clung to +him desperately, while the thong of the +whip curled and fell in a limp fashion about +her own shoulders.</p> + +<p>Too surprised to speak, the man took a +step or two backward. In the course of +her stage career Polly had acted a number +of tragedy queens; and notwithstanding her +slightly rumpled appearance at this moment, +she had never looked the part better +than now. Her thin figure was drawn up +to its fullest height, her Irish blue eyes +flashed Celtic lightnings. She even stamped +her foot imperiously.</p> + +<p>"You beast!" she exclaimed. "What do +you mean by striking a little girl in that +cruel fashion? I'll have you arrested! I +don't care in the least if you are her father +or what she has done, you have no possible +right to be so brutal."</p> + +<p>The man had dropped his whip to the +ground and Polly now stooped and picked +it up. It was absurd of her ever to have +dreamed she could have been frightened by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +mere brute strength. The man was a good +deal more afraid of her for the instant. +The sudden apparition of a fashionably +dressed young woman, appearing out of +nowhere and springing upon him in such a +surprising fashion, had destroyed his nerve.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't doin' nawthin I hadn't a right +ter," he growled. "That young 'un is allers +stealin' somethin'. I caught her red-handed +running off with that there loaf of bread."</p> + +<p>For the first time since her arrival on the +scene Polly O'Neill turned toward the girl. +She was still staring at her with almost the +same expression she had worn earlier in the +day. But somehow something in her look +touched Polly, brought her sudden inspiration.</p> + +<p>"Why," she exclaimed with a break in +her voice, "I believe she was bringing the +bread to me. I told her I was hungry just +a little while ago."</p> + +<p>There was no one in the world who could +be sweeter or simpler than Polly O'Neill +when her feelings were deeply touched. +This had always been true, even as a young +girl, and of course, as she had grown into a +famous woman, her charm had deepened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +Now she put her arms about her new +friend's shoulders. "You were going to +give the bread to me, I'm sure. Thank you." +Oblivious of the fact that the little +girl's dress was exceedingly dirty and that +her face was far from clean, Polly leaned +over and kissed her.</p> + +<p>Then she turned to the man. "If you +will get a horse and drive me to my hotel +I will pay you well for it," she explained.</p> + +<p>In reply the man nodded and moved +away, so that Polly was once more left +alone with the girl.</p> + +<p>It suddenly occurred to her that the child +had never spoken since their meeting. +Could she possibly be deaf and dumb? That +might explain her strange expression.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?" Polly asked +gently.</p> + +<p>Still the girl stared. Miss O'Neill repeated +her question.</p> + +<p>Then the girl, picking up a stick from the +ground, slowly and laboriously printed in +big letters, such as a child of six might have +made, the word "Bobbin."</p> + +<p>"Bobbin?" Polly repeated the name +aloud as she read it. What an extraordinary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +title! One could scarcely call it a +name.</p> + +<p>"Is that the only name you have?" she +inquired again, wondering at the same time +how it was possible for the little girl to +understand what she said without being +able to reply. But Bobbin bowed her head, +showing that she had understood. In +some fashion she must have learned the lip +language. Yet it was curious why if the +girl had ever been sent to school she had +learned nothing else. She appeared the +veriest little savage that ever lived so close +to wealth and civilization.</p> + +<p>Polly sought in her mind to find out what +she could do or say to show her gratitude. +She had a sudden feeling that she could not +turn her back upon the girl and leave her +to her wretched fate, and yet of course the +child had no claim upon her. It was something +in the expression of Bobbin's eyes +that seemed to haunt one.</p> + +<p>With a slight, unnoticeable shrug of her +shoulders, as though giving up the problem +as too much for her, Polly now slipped her +hand into her pocket, drawing out her +purse bag. Opening it she found a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +large silver dollar, such as one uses in the +West.</p> + +<p>"Won't you buy yourself something from +me?" she asked, trying to speak as distinctly +as possible. She had not observed +that in taking out the money she had carelessly +dropped a handkerchief from her bag.</p> + +<p>With a fleeting expression of pleasure +the girl accepted the gift, but the next +instant, when Polly turned to watch the +man who was now approaching her with a +lean horse hitched to a cart, she swooped +down toward the ground and picking up the +crumpled white object thrust it secretively +inside her dress.</p> + +<p>Five minutes after, when Polly and the +man had started for Colorado Springs, +Bobbin remained in the same position, +watching them until they were out of sight. +Then she began eating the neglected bread.</p> + +<p>Upon arriving safely at her hotel, Miss +O'Neill discovered that the news of her +disappearance had been spread abroad by +her frightened maid, and that a thorough +search was being made for her. For +although Polly had been trying to live as +quietly as possible in a small, obscure hotel,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +the fact of her visit was well known to +hundreds of people. You see, at this time +in her life not only was her name celebrated +from one part of the country to the other, +but her face was equally familiar.</p> + +<p>Through her maid, Marie, Polly was told +that a gentleman, whose name she had not +learned, had been particularly kind and +interested in seeking to find her. So as soon +as she rested she had every intention of +inquiring his name and thanking him personally. +But by late afternoon, when she +finally dressed, this was impossible. Evidently +the man did not wish to be annoyed +by her thanks, for the message brought her +was that on hearing of her safety he had +suddenly left the village.</p> + +<p>However, Polly was able to acquire some +actual information about the girl she had +seen earlier in the day, for "Bobbin" was +apparently a well-known character in the +famous <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Westen'">Western</ins> resort. She was a little +stray daughter of the place. Years before, +the mother had come to Colorado from some +city in the South and had died. Afterwards +no one had ever claimed the child.</p> + +<p>So the town had taken care of her, sent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +her to school and tried to teach her to talk. +She was perhaps not entirely deaf, although +no one exactly understood her case. But +the girl was a hopeless little rebel. In no +place would she stay unless kept there by +iron bars. She seemed to have an unconquerable +desire to be always out of doors, +and in the brilliant Colorado climate this +was nearly always possible. Recently she +had been living with some gypsy people, who +had established themselves in a temporary +shanty at some little distance from the roads +usually followed by sightseers. So Miss +O'Neill had certainly wandered from the +beaten track. Nevertheless she need not +make herself unnecessarily unhappy over +"Bobbin," for the girl would again be +brought back to school as soon as she could +be captured.</p> + +<p>Yes, her name had been Roberta, an old-fashioned +Southern name, and then in some +way it had been shortened to Bobbie and +now Bobbin. The child had a last name, of +course, but the woman who told the story +to Miss O'Neill had either never heard the +mother's name or else had completely forgotten +it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>Late that night in reflecting over her +adventure Polly wished that she and Betty +Graham could have changed places for a +week or so. For Betty would certainly do +something for the unfortunate Bobbin to +make life happier for her, as she had a +kind of genius for looking after people. +Her Camp Fire training had taught her a +beautiful sympathy and understanding. But +Betty must have been made that way in the +beginning, Polly concluded with a sigh and +a smile. She had no such gift herself. +The girl's story, fragmentary as it was, +interested her, but there could be no possible +point in undertaking to interfere +with the child's future.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, try as she might, all night +it was impossible for the famous actress to +get the half tragic, half stupid figure of +Bobbin out of her vision.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Back in New Hampshire</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>BETTY was driving alone through one +of the less crowded parts of Concord. +She had been into the country and +was now on her way home again. Not very +often did she go out alone, but she had not +felt in a mood for company and had purposely +gotten away by herself.</div> + +<p>A week had passed since her midnight +talk with Anthony and there was still a +coldness between them. Each day Betty +had expected her husband to declare that +he had changed his mind in regard to finding +a position for John Everett and would do +as she asked. Yet so far he had not even +referred to the subject.</p> + +<p>On her way home Betty considered that +she had better stop and tell Meg how she +had failed in influence with her husband, +notwithstanding she could not decide just +what she should do or say. Meg would +not understand and might believe that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +she had made no real effort for John's sake. +Yet she could not be such a coward as to +leave her old friends in suspense. Since +Anthony would do nothing to help, it was +better that John Everett should know, so +that he might find another occupation.</p> + +<p>They were passing through a quiet street +shaded by magnificent old maple trees +that were now bare except for a few clustering +brown leaves, when Mrs. Graham +leaned over to speak to her coachman and +the man drew in his horses. The next +moment her attention was attracted by +seeing some one on the sidewalk pause and +lift his hat to her. Betty had returned the +bow before she actually recognized John +Everett. Then he took two or three steps +forward and held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"I was just going to see Meg," Betty +explained, blushing and wishing that she +could escape the confession that lay before +her. If John should question her now she +felt she might have a sudden panic of embarrassment. +Of course she could think +up some excuse for Anthony's unkindness; +she might even offer the same excuse he had +made to her. Yet the fact that he had declined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +to do what she so much desired +would remain the same.</p> + +<p>But John Everett was smiling in the most +ordinary fashion.</p> + +<p>"I wonder, Mrs. Graham, if you will +not let me ride along with you, if you are +going to Meg's. I am on the way home +myself."</p> + +<p>Then in a short while Betty had forgotten +her worry and was having the same agreeable +talk of old times that she had enjoyed +the week before. Moreover, it was John +Everett who relieved her from her chagrin.</p> + +<p>"By the way," he began, just as they +were about to arrive at Mrs. Jack Emmet's +house, "please don't worry, Mrs. Graham, +or Betty, if I may call you by the +old name, about asking your husband to +fix me up with a position in his office. I +know the new Governor is being overwhelmed +with office seekers. I have been +lucky enough to secure something to do +with my brother-in-law, Jack Emmet, and +ex-Governor Peyton. They have a new +business scheme on hand in which they +think I may be useful."</p> + +<p>Of course, Betty could not utter her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +thanksgiving aloud, although she repeated +it very fervently to herself. So, after all, +she need not confess to other people +Anthony's lack of consideration. It was +enough that she should be carrying the hurt +feeling about inside her own heart. Instead, +she merely murmured something or other +that was not clear, about the Governor's +having been so very busy recently and having +some special annoyance in his affairs. She +was by no means certain of just what she +said at the moment nor how she explained +the situation, but fortunately John Everett +did not appear to be particularly interested +in the subject.</p> + +<p>Meg was not at home when they arrived, +but instead of saying good-bye, John suggested +that he should drive back to her own +home with Betty. It had been years since +they had seen each other, except the other +evening, and there was so much to talk +about.</p> + +<p>Then John explained that he had taken +a small house in Concord and that his +father was soon coming to live with him. +Bumps would continue with his course at +Cornell for this winter anyhow. So, after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +all, there were uses in this world even for old +bachelors, he ended smilingly.</p> + +<p>It was Betty, however, who suggested +that they should go and see this house, although +John told her it was a good deal out +of her way. Yet it was a beautiful warm +November afternoon and would not be +dark for another hour. Somehow Betty +did not feel that she wanted to go home +at once. Faith had gone for a walk +with Kenneth Helm, Angel had a half +holiday and was spending the afternoon +with the children. She and Bettina had a +wonderful secret game that they played +together in a room by themselves, where +no one else had ever been allowed to come. +There was no prospect of Anthony's returning +home for some time, so the Governor's +splendid mansion would seem big and empty +to the Governor's wife for an hour or so +more at any rate.</p> + +<p>There was a caretaker in the little white +house with green shutters, who was anxious +to show Mrs. Graham and Mr. Everett +every detail of it. The house was to be let +furnished and yet it seemed to have been +peculiarly fitted for old Professor Everett's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +needs. It was pleasant for Betty to imagine +the sweet-tempered, learned old man +here with John and near his daughter Meg. +He had been living alone in Woodford ever +since his younger son, Horace, departed for +college. Somehow Betty felt that it would +be pleasant for her also to have the old +gentleman living so near by. He had been +a devoted friend of Mr. Ashton's, whom +she had certainly loved even more than an +own father.</p> + +<p>"I shall be running in here very often to +see Professor Everett and tell him the +things that trouble me, just as Meg and I +used to do when we were little girls," +Betty remarked to her companion. "He +was the one person who never by any possible +chance believed that Meg or I could +ever be in fault."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure he will always be overjoyed to +see you," John Everett replied. "Only it +is a little difficult for me to imagine Mrs. +Anthony Graham ever having anything +to trouble her."</p> + +<p>As the November evenings grew dark so +soon, it was almost dusk when Betty at +length entered her own home after saying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +good-bye to her friend, who had insisted on +walking back to his sister's house instead +of allowing the coachman to drive him.</p> + +<p>Going into her private sitting room, +Betty was surprised to find that Anthony +had come home and was sitting there pretending +to read. But most undeniably he +looked cross.</p> + +<p>"I thought we were going to have a +drive and tea together, Betty," he remarked +reproachfully. "Where in the world +have you been? No one seemed to know. +I should think you would leave word where +you are going, so that if anything happened +to the children or to me the servants would +know where to find you."</p> + +<p>Actually Anthony was reproaching her +in a perfectly unreasonable fashion! Betty +could hardly believe her ears, it was so +unlike him. Was he going to turn into the +dictatorial type of husband after all these +years of married life when he had been so +altogether different?</p> + +<p>Usually Betty's temper was gracious and +sweet. Possibly if Anthony had approached +her in his usual fashion at this +moment they might have gotten over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +feeling of estrangement that had come +between them for the first time since their +wedding. Moreover, the room was not +brightly lighted, so that Betty did not +notice how tired and worried Anthony +looked. Of course, fatigue and worry +explain almost any temporary unreasonableness +on the part of human beings.</p> + +<p>Quite casually Betty began to draw off +her long gray suede gloves. She wore a +beautiful gray coat and skirt and chinchilla +furs and a hat with a single blue feather.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk as if we lived in England +and you were a kind of domestic tyrant, +please, Anthony," she said lightly. "I am +sorry, but I had no possible way of knowing +that you were coming home from your +office so much earlier than usual. You +should have had some one telephone me. +I have been having a very agreeable drive +with John Everett. And, by the way, it +was not worth while for me to have annoyed +you by asking you to do me the favor of +giving John something to do. He tells +me he is going into business with Jack +Emmet and ex-Governor Peyton." Then +as she moved toward her own bedroom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +Betty was surprised and annoyed by another +speech from her husband.</p> + +<p>"I don't like the combination very well," +he remarked quietly. "Neither Emmet +nor Peyton have very good business reputations. +They are going to try and get +a shaky bill through the Legislature in +the next month or so, I hear. But I suppose +Everett knows his own affairs best."</p> + +<p>As Betty had now disappeared, she did +not hear Anthony's closing speech.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to have talked like a bear, +dear. Won't you forgive me and let us +be friends? I wish I could have fixed +up things for Everett for your sake, but +I could not feel that I had the right."</p> + +<p>Moreover, the young Governor's back +was unfortunately turned, so he did not +appreciate that Betty had not heard him. +He was under the impression that she had +simply refused to pay any attention to +his apology.</p> + +<p>Well, he was too tired to discuss the +matter any further for the present. He +had several important decisions that must +be made before morning and he and Betty +and Faith and Kenneth Helm were to go +to some big reception later in the evening.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Loneliness</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>NEVER in her entire career had +Polly O'Neill felt more depressed. +She was, of course, accustomed to +a very busy life filled with people and +excitement. Nothing else is possible to +an actor or actress, although Miss O'Neill +had tried to keep her private life as quiet +as possible.</div> + +<p>But here in her little hotel about a mile +or more from the celebrated Colorado +Springs she was finding existence duller +than she had bargained for. In the first +place, on her arrival she had let it be known +that she desired no callers or acquaintances. +Her reason for giving up her work at the +present time was that she was greatly in +need of a rest cure, so visitors to the +Springs had taken her <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'at at'">at</ins> her word and +Miss O'Neill had been left to recover her +health unmolested. Now and then some +unknown admirer had appeared at her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +hotel or sent books and flowers. Nevertheless, +she had so far made no acquaintances.</p> + +<p>However, after several weeks of the +wonderful, brilliant air, with nothing to +do except sleep and write an occasional +letter, Polly felt a good deal stronger. +Yet she did not feel that she was well +enough to return to Woodford, and today +the news from home had been depressing.</p> + +<p>You see, Mollie had never been told +that her sister was ill and considered that +if she only required rest it might as well +be enjoyed at her own lovely big farm +as among strangers in the West. So this +morning her letter had urged Polly's return +home and had also imparted a great +variety of dispiriting reasons. In the +first place, Mollie told at great length +that Dan, who was Polly's favorite of her +sister's children, was not in good health +and that he was showing certain oddities +of disposition which struck his aunt as +very like her own. Indeed, she believed +that neither her sister nor brother-in-law +understood the delicate, difficult little fellow, +and she would have liked to have +been near enough to have helped him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +through a trying time. Then more disquieting +had been Mollie's information +about their mother, Mrs. Wharton, who +was beginning to show her age. Moreover, +Mr. Wharton seemed somewhat depressed +over his business affairs. Then +finally the most mystifying and in a way +disturbing of Mollie's statements had been +her account of Betty Graham.</p> + +<p>For several weeks there had been no +line to Polly from her dearest friend, +which in itself had made Polly vaguely +uneasy. It was so unlike Betty ever to +fail in her weekly letter which had always +followed her friend to whatever part of +the world she happened to be. But now +Mollie announced that Betty had been on +a visit to her mother, Mrs. Ashton, in +Woodford, and that she had seemed entirely +unlike herself. Instead of having a great +deal to say she had been strangely quiet, +almost sad.</p> + +<p>Moreover, the new Governor's enemies +were said to be making a tremendous effort +to destroy his reputation and there was a +great deal of talk going on about some +matter which Mollie did not claim to understand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +Possibly Anthony's annoyances +may have been worrying his wife.</p> + +<p>Polly had been sitting alone on her +small, private veranda which commanded +a wonderful view of a rim of hills, when +her sister's letter had been given her +along with her other mail.</p> + +<p>Before glancing at the other communications +she had eagerly opened this. But +now she sat with the pages fluttering in +her lap and her eyes filled with tears.</p> + +<p>Naturally Mollie had not intended to +be so depressing; people seldom do seem +to realize just what effects their letters +may produce. Often they write merely +to relieve their own feelings and once +having put down all the gloomy possibilities +that worry them at the time, rise up and +go cheerfully about their business with +the evils forgotten.</p> + +<p>So naturally it remains for the unfortunate +recipient of the letter to become +even more depressed than the writer had +been.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Polly really wanted desperately +to go home. It had been many +months since she had seen her own people,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +and though they often believed her to +have less affection than other women, it +was not in the least true. She had given +up many things for her art and had sometimes +seemed selfish and cold-blooded. But +it wasn't fair that her sister, Mollie, always +seemed to think that she had never desired +a home of her own, babies and some +one to care for her supremely, that she +had never grown tired of the wandering +life her stage career forced her to lead.</p> + +<p>Finally, however, Polly managed to smile +and give a characteristic shrug over her +own self-pity. There was nothing in the +world so silly. Like the rest of us she +knew this to be true, yet, like the rest +of us, now and then even this famous, +grown-up woman, who had most of the +things that people would give worlds +to possess, indulged in attacks of being +sorry for herself. Moreover, the day +before she had sent for her doctor and +he had positively refused to consider her +leaving Colorado for the present.</p> + +<p>You may remember that Polly had a +certain inherited delicacy that used to +keep her mother uneasy, and lately it had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +troubled her. It was this fact she had +concealed from her family and friends, +so that now, though she was better, her +physician had scouted the idea of a return +East. Once near New York he was sure +she would begin to talk business with her +theatrical manager, or even undertake to +study a new play.</p> + +<p>No, she must undoubtedly remain at +her post a while longer. And yet was it +really necessary to have her post quite +so lonely?</p> + +<p>Just as this idea occurred to her, a slight +noise attracting her attention, Polly glanced +down into the garden below her veranda.</p> + +<p>There stood Bobbin and the next moment +she had flung a poor little bouquet at her +feet. It was a strange offering, all prickly +cactus leaves with a single white flower +in their midst. For some absurd reason +it flashed through Polly's mind to wonder +if her offering could be in any way symbolic +of the girl who had given it her. +Could there be something beautiful hidden +within the child's peculiarities?</p> + +<p>For this was not the first token of +affection that Bobbin had presented. Indeed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +many queer, small gifts had been +brought to the strange lady since their +first meeting, so that Polly had been +curiously touched. For of course Bobbin's +offerings came straight from her heart. +In her pathetic, shut-in world she had +no way of knowing anything of the history of +the woman whom she so plainly admired.</p> + +<p>Yet inside Polly O'Neill's sitting room +at this moment there were four or five +tokens of affection that must have come +from her. They were too extraordinary +for any one else to have sent them and +had been laid at her shrine in too unusual +a way. For most of them had been literally +flung on her veranda. A few of +them, when she happened to be sitting +outdoors as she was doing at the present +moment, and the others when no one had +seen or known of their appearance.</p> + +<p>One of the gifts was a beautiful blue +feather that must have fallen from some +unusual bird flying over the western lands, +another a stone that shone like the finest +crystal, in the sun, and a third a horseshoe +some small broncho must have shed in +trotting across the plains.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>However, never once had Polly been +able to thank her new friend for her gifts. +For always at the slightest movement on +her part Bobbin had turned and run away +more fleetly than any one else could. +For since Miss O'Neill's report that she +had found the girl living with such rough +people Bobbin had been recaptured and +brought back to the village to school. +Notwithstanding, she had once more escaped +and now either no one knew just where +she had gone or else no one had taken +the trouble to capture her a second time.</p> + +<p>It occurred to Polly at this moment +that she would like to try and influence +the girl, or at any rate show her gratitude. +Besides, anything would be better than +spending the rest of the day bewailing her +own loneliness. Moreover, it would do +her good for a moment to compare her +own loneliness with Bobbin's!</p> + +<p>Without a movement or a sign to the +girl to betray that she had even caught +sight of her, Polly at once slipped into +her bedroom and put on her coat and hat. +And she was down in her yard and +had stretched out her hand to touch her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +visitor before the girl became aware of +her.</p> + +<p>Yet the very next instant Bobbin started +and began running as swiftly as she had +at their first meeting. And this time, +even more impetuously and with less reason, +Miss O'Neill pursued her.</p> + +<p>It was ridiculous of Polly and utterly +undignified and unbecoming. No other +person in the world in her position would +have done such a thing. Yet she had no +more thought of its oddity and the attention +that she might create than if she had +been a Camp Fire girl in the New Hampshire +woods nearly fifteen years before.</p> + +<p>Of course the woman could not run +half so fast as Bobbin in these days, but +it was only because she was not well, Polly +said to herself angrily. She had been the +swiftest runner of all the girls for short +distances in their old Sunrise Hill Club. +Of course Sylvia had used to get the better +of her in long distance tests. Still, even +now she was managing to keep Bobbin +in sight, although she had a horrid stitch +in her side and was already out of breath.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, however, for Miss Polly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +O'Neill's reputation she was not at the +present time within the fashionable precincts +of Colorado Springs, else she might +possibly have been thought to have gone +suddenly mad. Her hotel was some distance +out in the country and there were +but few houses in its neighborhood. Moreover, +Bobbin was running away from +the town and not toward it.</p> + +<p>The road was a level, hard one, but +all at once Polly felt a queer pain that +took her breath completely away and then +a sudden darkness.</p> + +<p>She did not fall, however, because some +one who was walking in the direction of +her hotel reached her just in time.</p> + +<p>Then to her amazement Polly heard an +exclamation that had in some unexplainable +way a familiar note in it. The next +moment when straightening up and opening +her eyes she seemed to be reposing +in the arms of a tall man with dark +eyes and gray hair, whom she had once +known extremely well, but had not seen +in the past five years.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">A Meeting and an Explanation</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"I—I was running," explained Miss +O'Neill as soon as she had sufficient +breath to speak.</div> + +<p>Which was such an absurdly unnecessary +statement of an apparent fact that +her rescuer smiled against his will.</p> + +<p>He was not pleased at this meeting with +Miss Polly O'Neill. It was true that he +had been walking out to her hotel to make +inquiries concerning her health, but he +had no thought or desire to see her. Indeed, +deep down in his heart he believed +that few women had ever treated a man +much worse than she had treated him +and he had never even tried to forgive +her. For several years they had been +engaged to be married, only postponing +the wedding because of Polly's youth and +because she wanted to go on with her +acting for a few years longer without +interruption. Then when Richard Hunt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +had insisted that he was not young and +could not wait forever, with characteristic +coolness Polly had broken her engagement. +She had written him of her change of +mind and heart and he had accepted her +letter as final. Never once since had +they met face to face until this minute.</p> + +<p>Yet now Richard Hunt found himself +holding the same young woman in his +arms, rather against his will, of course, +but not knowing what else to do with +her since she scarcely looked strong enough +to stand alone.</p> + +<p>"I think I would like to sit down for +a moment," Polly volunteered finally and +managed to cross over to the opposite side +of the road, where she established herself +very comfortably on a carefully cultivated +mound of grass.</p> + +<p>Her rescuer stood over her. "May I +do anything for you, Miss O'Neill?" he +inquired formally. "I think it might be +well for me to find your maid."</p> + +<p>He was about to move off when Polly +with her usual lack of dignity fairly clutched +the back of his overcoat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, please don't go, Mr. Hunt—Richard,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +she ended after a slight hesitation. +"Really, I don't understand why you have +treated me so unkindly all these years. I +don't see the least reason why we should +not have continued to be friends. Still, +you were going to my hotel to call on me. +There isn't any other possible reason why +you were marching out this particular road, +which does not lead anywhere else." And +at this Miss O'Neill smiled with open and +annoying satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"I hadn't the faintest idea of asking to +see you," Richard Hunt announced firmly, +although a little surprised by Polly's friendly +manner. If they had been parted for a +matter of five weeks instead of five years, +and if the cause of their separation had +been only some slight disagreement rather +than something affecting their whole lives, +she could not have appeared more nonchalant +and at the same time more cordial. +But then there never had been any way +of accounting for Polly O'Neill's actions +and probably never would be. However, +Richard Hunt had no desire again to subject +himself to her moods. He wished very +much to walk on, and yet he could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +make up his mind to remove her hand +forcibly from his coat. Moreover, she +looked too pale and exhausted to be left +alone. Yet this had always been a well-known +method by which Polly had succeeded +in gaining her own point, he remembered.</p> + +<p>"Then what were you going to my hotel +for? Didn't you even know I was staying +there?" she demanded, finding breath +enough to ask questions, in spite of her exhaustion +of a few moments before.</p> + +<p>If only he had been a less truthful man! +For a moment Richard Hunt contemplated +making up some entirely fanciful story, +then he put the temptation aside.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding, his manner and answer +were far more crushing to Miss Polly +O'Neill than if he had told her a lie which she +would probably have seen through at once.</p> + +<p>Always he had commanded more respect +from her than any man she had ever known +in her life, which was secretly mingled with +a little wholesome awe. Polly had always +put it down to the fact that he was so much +older than she was. But she had had other +acquaintances among older men.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You misunderstood me, Miss O'Neill, +when I said that I was coming to your hotel +without any intention of seeing you. That +was true, but I was coming with the idea +of inquiring how you were. You see, I also +have been staying in this part of the country, +and not long ago I read in one of the papers +that you were here and seriously ill. Afterwards +I learned that you were alone. Your +family and friends have always been so kind +to me that it appeared to me my duty to +find out your true condition. I of course +guessed that you had not told them the +truth."</p> + +<p>Richard Hunt gazed severely down at the +crumpled young woman at his feet, ending +his speech as cruelly as possible.</p> + +<p>"Well, I like that!" Polly returned +weakly, falling into slang with entire unconsciousness. +"Here I have been suffering +perfect agonies of loneliness and crying my +eyes out every day because I so wanted +mother and Mollie and Betty to come to +me. And I only did not let them know I +was ill, to keep them from worrying. Yet +you make it sound just as if I were keeping +my tiresome old breakdown a secret from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +the pure love of fibbing inherent in my +wicked nature. I do think you are—mean!"</p> + +<p>Was there ever such another grown-up +woman as Polly O'Neill? Actually there +were tears in her eyes as she ended her +speech, relinquishing her hold on her companion +in order to fish about in her pocket +for a handkerchief, which she failed to find.</p> + +<p>With entire gravity Mr. Hunt presented +his, and Polly, wiping her eyes and perspiring +forehead, coolly retained the handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think you are strong enough +now to permit me to take you back to your +hotel, if I may not look for your maid?" +the man suggested, wondering if his companion +had any idea of how absurd their position +was, nor of how much he desired to get +away from her.</p> + +<p>However, she only sighed comfortably. +"Oh, thank you very much, but don't +trouble. I am perfectly all right now. I was +only out of breath because I was running +after a little girl who is as fleet as a deer. +But I don't want to go back to my hotel +unless you were coming to see me. I was +much too lonely there. I'll just walk along +with you and after a while, if I am tired<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +again, perhaps we may find a bench and +you'll sit down with me. Of course I know +you are too dignified to sit on the grass like +I am doing."</p> + +<p>Without the least assistance Polly rose +up and stood beside her companion, smiling +at him somewhat wistfully.</p> + +<p>What else could any man do except agree +to her wishes? Besides, she had him cornered +either way. For now if he continued +his journey toward her hotel she would +assuredly accompany him, and she had also +volunteered to walk the other way.</p> + +<p>Moreover, it would seem too surly and +disgruntled to refuse so simple a courtesy +to an old acquaintance.</p> + +<p>So Polly and her former friend walked +slowly along in the brilliant Colorado sunshine +in air so clear that it seemed almost +dazzling. Beyond they could see the tops +of snow-covered mountains tinted azure by +the sky. It would have been humanly impossible +to have felt unfriendly toward any +human being in such circumstances and on +such a day.</p> + +<p>Every now and then Polly would glance +surreptitiously toward her companion's face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +Gracious, he did look older! His hair was +almost entirely gray and his expression +certainly less kind. Polly wondered if he +had really minded their broken engagement. +Surely he had never cared seriously +for so unreliable a person! She must have +seemed only a foolish school girl to him, +incapable of knowing her own mind. For +of course if he had not felt in this way he +would have made some effort to persuade +her to change her decision. How often she +used to lie awake wondering why he did not +write or come to her? Well, he was probably +grateful enough for his escape by this +time.</p> + +<p>Then without in the least knowing what +she was going to say nor why she said it, +Polly inquired suddenly:</p> + +<p>"Richard, do you think Margaret Adams +is happy in her marriage? I have so often +wondered. Of course she writes me she is."</p> + +<p>Several years before, Miss Adams had +married one of the richest men in New +York City and since then had retired permanently +from the stage. Indeed, many +persons considered that Polly had succeeded +to her fame and position.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>Richard Hunt shook his head. "Really, +I don't know any more than you do, Miss +Polly," he returned. "But she has a fine +son and certainly looks to me to be happy."</p> + +<p>Polly smiled. At least she had succeeded +in persuading her companion to call her +"Miss Polly." That was a step in the right +direction, for in spite of her own boldness +in using his first name as she had done years +before, up to this moment she had been +addressed as Miss O'Neill.</p> + +<p>But there were so many things to say +that she quite forgot in what way she +should say them and talked on every +minute of the time.</p> + +<p>She had been so lonely, so depressed until +now, that life had seemed to have lost +almost all its former interest.</p> + +<p>When she was plainly too tired to go +further Richard Hunt sat down with her +on a wayside bench for ten minutes. Then +he resolutely rose and said good-bye.</p> + +<p>"I am ever so glad to find that you are +so much better," he concluded finally. "I +see there is no cause for anxiety." Yet +even as he spoke the man wondered how +any human being could manage to be as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +delicate looking as Polly O'Neill and yet do +all the things she was able to accomplish? +Just now, of course, she did look rather +worse than usual for her run; and then the +walk afterwards had used up her strength. +Besides, she had been trying so hard to +persuade her old friend again to cherish a +little liking for her and at this moment +was convinced of her failure.</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "Thank you," she +answered quietly. "It has done me good +to have seen some one of whom I am +fond. It hasn't been altogether cheerful +being out here ill and alone. It was kind +of you to have cared enough to inquire +about me. I suppose you will soon be +going back to work. Good luck and +farewell."</p> + +<p>Polly reached out her slender hand, +which was white and small with blue +veins upon it. In her haste on leaving her +apartment she had, of course, forgotten +gloves.</p> + +<p>However, instead of shaking her hand +quietly, as both of them expected, Richard +Hunt raised her fingers to his lips.</p> + +<p>"I am not going away from Colorado immediately.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +May I come and see you soon +again?" he inquired. A few minutes before +he had not the slightest intention of ever +deliberately trying to see Polly O'Neill +alone as long as they lived. But she did +look so forlorn and as lonely as a forsaken +little girl. No one could ever have guessed +that this was the celebrated Miss O'Neill +whose acting had charmed many thousands +of people during the last eight or ten years.</p> + +<p>Polly bit her lips. "Then you will come? +I was afraid to ask you," she replied. "I +want so much to tell you about a queer +little girl whom I have come across out in +these wilds. Her name is Bobbin and she +seems to be deaf and dumb. I feel that I +ought to do something for her and don't +know exactly what to do. Perhaps I'll +adopt her, although I'm afraid the family +and Betty Graham won't approve. But +anyhow, Sylvia, the well-known Doctor Sylvia +Wharton, who is a children's specialist, +may be able to do something for her."</p> + +<p>Naturally this idea of adopting Bobbin +had not dawned upon Polly until the instant +of announcing it. But the more she +thought of taking the girl to Sylvia's care<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +the more the idea appealed to her. Besides, +Bobbin perhaps might awaken Mr. +Hunt's interest if he could see the child +and hear her tragic story. The little girl +might be made attractive with her queer +eyes and sunburned hair, if she were +cleaner and more civilized.</p> + +<p>"You will come some day and help me +decide what to do, won't you?" Polly +urged. "One's chief difficulty is not alone +that Bobbin won't be adopted, she won't +even let herself be discovered. She is such +a queer, wild little thing."</p> + +<p>Then she watched her companion until +he was entirely out of sight and afterwards +got up and strolled slowly home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">The Way Home</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>NOT a long time afterward Bobbin +must have changed her mind for +some reason or other, for voluntarily +she came to call on Miss O'Neill. +That is, she appeared in the garden and +threw a queer scarlet flower up to the +veranda. Then she waited without trying +to escape when Polly came down to talk to +her. And evidently she must have felt, +somewhere back in the odd recesses of her +mind, that she was to be considered a visitor, +for she had washed her face and hands +and even her hair. Indeed, though it hung +perfectly straight, Polly thought that she +had never seen more splendid hair in her +life, it held such strange bright colors +from being always exposed to the sun and +air; besides, it was long and heavy.</div> + +<p>Moreover, Bobbin wore <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'a nold'">an old</ins> red jacket, +which some one recently had given her, over +the same pitiful calico dress.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>By and by, using all the tact she possessed, +Polly persuaded her visitor out of +the yard and up-stairs to her own rooms. +Of course Marie, the maid, was shocked +and displeased, but after all she was fairly +accustomed to her mistress's eccentricities. +Moreover, after a little while she too +became interested in Bobbin. The first +thing Polly undertook to do was to feed +her visitor. She had an idea that Bobbin +might be hungry, but she did not dream +how hungry. The girl ate like a little +wolf, ravenously, secretly if it had been +possible. Only, fortunately, she had learned +something of table manners from her +occasional training in institutions, so that +she at least understood the use of a knife +and fork, and altogether her hostess was +less horrified than she had expected to be.</p> + +<p>Later on Bobbin and Polly undertook to +have a conversation. This they managed +by acquiring large sheets of paper and +nicely sharpened pencils. But it was astonishing +how easily Bobbin appeared to +understand whatever her new friend said +to her and how readily she seemed to be +willing to accept her suggestions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>The truth is that the half savage little +girl had conceived a sudden, unexplainable +devotion to the strange lady whom she had +discovered asleep on the sands. Perhaps +Bobbin too may have dreamed dreams and +imagined quaint fairy tales, so that Polly's +appearance answered some fancy of her own. +But whatever it was, she had offered her +faithful allegiance to this possible fairy +princess or just ordinary, human woman. +Yet how Bobbin was to keep the faith it was +well that neither she nor Polly knew at the +present time.</p> + +<p>However, by the end of her visit the girl +had promised to go back to the home which +the town had provided for her and to do her +best to learn all she could. As a reward +for this she was to be allowed to make other +visits to Miss O'Neill. She was even to be +allowed to eat from the same blue and +white china and drink tea from the same +blue cup.</p> + +<p>Moreover, before Bobbin's final departure +Marie persuaded her into the bathroom +and half an hour later she came forth beautifully +clean and dressed in a discarded +costume of Polly's, which was too long for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +her, but otherwise served very well. It was +merely a many times washed white silk +shirt waist and blue serge walking skirt and +coat. They made Bobbin appear rather +absurd and old, so that Polly was not sure +she had not liked her best in her rags. +However, both Bobbin and Marie were too +pleased for her to offer criticism; yet, +notwithstanding, Polly made up her mind +that she would try and purchase the girl +more suitable clothes as soon as possible +and that she would write and ask Betty +Graham's and Sylvia's advice in regard to +her.</p> + +<p>For Richard Hunt had not come to see +her since their accidental meeting and +she could hope for no interest from him. +Polly wished she had never laid eyes +upon him, for their little talk had only +served to start a chain of memories she +wished forgotten. Besides, of course, she +felt lonelier than ever, since there is +nothing so depressing as waiting for a +friend who does not come.</p> + +<p>Soon after dinner that evening Polly +undressed and put on a pretty kind of +tea gown of dark red silk, the color she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +had always fancied ever since girlhood. +She was idling about in her sitting room +wondering what she could do to amuse +herself when unexpectedly Mr. Hunt was +announced.</p> + +<p>"Why, Polly," he began on entering, +his manner changed from the coldness of +their first meeting, "do you know what +that gown you are wearing brings back +to me? Our talk in the funny little boarding +house in Boston so many years ago, +when you explained to me that you had +run off and were in hiding in order to try +and learn to be an actress. I wish I +could tell you how proud I am of your +success."</p> + +<p>But Polly did not wish to talk of her +success tonight. So she only shrugged her +shoulders. "Oh, I have always been doing +foolish things for the sake of my acting +and yet I don't seem to amount to +much."</p> + +<p>After this visit Richard Hunt returned +half a dozen times. Polly did not understand +whether he was acting in the West +not far from Colorado Springs or whether +he too was taking a holiday. She asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +the question once, but as her old friend +did not answer her explicitly she let the +matter drop.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless it was quite true that from +the time his visits began she grew steadily +better. Finally, about ten days before +Christmas, Miss O'Neill's physician announced +that she might return to the +New Hampshire hills to complete her +cure at her sister's home.</p> + +<p>Then came the hour of final decision in +regard to Bobbin.</p> + +<p>Of course Polly could not adopt the girl +in the conventional sense. It would have +been impossible to have her travel about +with her or to have kept her constantly +with her. And even if it had been possible +this was not what Bobbin needed. Fortunately +for Polly, Richard Hunt's ideas +on the subject were far more sensible than +her own. Between them it was decided +that Bobbin should travel east with Miss +O'Neill and her maid and spend Christmas +at the big Webster farm. Mollie had +written she would be glad to have her. +Then later Bobbin was to see Sylvia Wharton +and be put into some school where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +she might learn to talk and perhaps acquire +some useful occupation.</p> + +<p>There was no difficulty in persuading +the town authorities to permit the little +girl to follow her new friend. Indeed, the +child had always been a tremendous problem +and they were more than glad to be +rid of the burden. She seemed completely +changed by Miss O'Neill's influence. She +was far quieter and more tractable and +had not run away in several weeks. +Besides this she appeared to be learning +all kinds of things in the most extraordinary +fashion. However, her teacher explained +this to Polly by saying that Bobbin had +always been unusually clever, but that +some wild streak in her nature had kept +her from making any real effort until now.</p> + +<p>Another peculiarity of the girl's which +Polly remembered having seen an example +of on the morning of their first meeting +was that she had absolutely no sensation +of physical fear. Either nothing hurt her +very much or else she was indifferent to +pain. For this reason it had always been +impossible either to punish her or to make +her aware of danger. The thought interested<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +Polly, since she considered herself +something of a coward. She wondered if +some day she and Bobbin might not change +places and the little girl be discovered +taking care of her.</p> + +<p>However, when the three women finally +started east there was nothing unusual in +the appearance of any one of them. For +by this time Polly's protégé was dressed +like any other girl of her age with her +hair neatly braided. There only remained +her peculiar fashion of staring.</p> + +<p>Richard Hunt saw the little party off. +He expected to be in New York later in +the winter and promised to write and +inquire what had become of Bobbin. However, +he did not promise to come to Woodford +to see Miss O'Neill, although Polly +more than once invited him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>"<span class="smcap">A Little Rift Within the Lute</span>"<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"BUT, my dearest sister, what is the +matter with Betty? You were +perfectly right, she isn't one bit +like herself and neither is Anthony. I +don't even believe she was particularly +glad to see me when I stopped over in +Concord with her for a few days."</div> + +<p>Polly O'Neill was in her sister Mollie's +big, sunshiny living room in her splendid +old farm-house near Sunrise Cabin. There +was no specially handsome furniture in the +room, perhaps nothing particularly beautiful +in itself, yet Polly had just announced +that it was the very homiest room in all +the world and for that reason the nicest.</p> + +<p>There were low book-shelves on two +sides <ins title="Transcriber's Note: this word not present in original text">of</ins> the room, for though Mollie never +read anything except at night when her +husband read aloud to her, Billy Webster +kept up with all the latest books, fiction, +history, travel, besides subscribing to most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +of the magazines in the country. Indeed, +although he and Polly often quarreled good-naturedly, +Polly was openly proud of her +brother-in-law, who had turned out to be +a more intelligent and capable man than +she had ever expected.</p> + +<p>But besides Billy's books there were +lots of old chairs, some of them rather +worn, but all delightfully comfortable; a +great big table, now littered with children's +toys; the old-fashioned couch upon which +Polly was reposing; some ornaments belonging +to ancestral Websters and a tall +grandfather's clock, besides half a dozen +engravings and etchings on the walls.</p> + +<p>Mollie was sitting in a low chair dressing +a big china doll. The sunshine lingered +on her dark hair, her plump pink +cheeks and her happy expression. For +she was in a delightful state of content +with the world. Was not her beloved +Polly at home for the Christmas festivities +and were not Billy and the children and +her mother in excellent health and +spirits?</p> + +<p>Yet she looked a little uneasy over her +sister's question. For Betty was nearer to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +her heart than any one outside her own +family.</p> + +<p>"So you noticed it too, Polly?" she +returned, stopping her work for a moment +and gazing out the great glass window. +Outside in the snow her three children +were playing, her little girl, Polly, and +Billy and Dan. Bobbin was standing a +short distance away watching them intently. +Indeed, ever since her arrival at +the farm she seemed to have done almost +nothing except look and look with all her +might and main. The girl seemed scarcely +to wish either to eat or sleep. And at +first this had worried her new friends, until +suddenly Polly had realized what a wonderful +new experience Mollie's home and +family were to this child who had never +seen anything in the least like it in her +whole life.</p> + +<p>But Mollie was not watching the children. +Polly got up and leaned on her +elbow to discover what had attracted her +sister's attention. For only a few moments +before the children had been sent outdoors +to keep them from tiring the aunt whom +they adored.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>No, Mollie's gaze was fastened on a big +man who had just approached wearing a +heavy overcoat and a fur cap and carrying +a great bunch of mistletoe and holly +in his hands, which he was showing with +careful attention to the little girl visitor.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Billy," she explained. +"Perhaps he can tell us."</p> + +<p>Of course Polly laughed. "Gracious, +dear, isn't there anything in the world +you won't let your husband decide? I +should think that even Mr. William Webster +could hardly tell us what is troubling +our beloved Betty. And I don't know +that it is even right to ask him. You +see, old maids are shy about these things."</p> + +<p>But in reply Mollie shook her head +reproachfully. "I was only going to ask +Billy about the difficulty Anthony is having +with his position as Governor," she +explained. "You see, I know there is +some kind of talk. People are saying he +is not being as honest as they expected. +There is a bill which ex-Governor Peyton +and Meg's husband, Jack Emmet, and her +brother, John, are trying to get through +the Legislature. Most people don't think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +the bill is honest and believe Anthony +should come out and say he is opposed +to it. But so far he has not said anything +one way or the other. I thought +maybe Betty was worrying because people +were thinking such hateful things about +Anthony. I simply couldn't stand it if +it were Billy."</p> + +<p>"Wise Mollie!" her sister answered +thoughtfully. "You may be right, but +somehow there seemed to me to be something +else troubling Betty. If it were +only this political trouble, why shouldn't +she have confided in me?"</p> + +<p>But at this instant William Webster +came into the room with a dozen letters +and almost as many newspapers in his +hands. Six of the letters he bestowed on +Polly, who opened five of them and stuck +the sixth inside her dress.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later Billy Webster looked +up from the paper he was reading. "See +here," he said, "I don't like this. This +paper comes pretty near having an insulting +letter in it concerning Anthony Graham. +Of course it does not say anything +outright, but the insinuations are even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +worse. See, the article is headed: 'Is +Our Reform Governor So Honest As We +Supposed?' Then later on the writer suggests +that Anthony may not be above +taking graft himself. Everybody knows +he is a poor man."</p> + +<p>Afterwards there was an unusual silence +in the big room until Billy turned inquiringly +toward his wife and sister-in-law.</p> + +<p>"Don't take my question in the wrong +way, please," he began rather timidly. +"But is Betty Graham a very extravagant +woman? I know she was brought up to +have a great deal of money, and although +she was poor for a little while that may +not have made any difference. You see, +Anthony Graham is absolutely an honest +man, but everybody knows that he adores +his wife——"</p> + +<p>Billy stopped because quite in her old +girlhood fashion Polly had sprung up on +her sofa and her eyes were fairly blazing +at him.</p> + +<p>"What utter nonsense, Billy Webster! +You ought to be ashamed of yourself for +suggesting such a thing. In the first +place, Betty is not extravagant, but even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +if she were she would most certainly rather +be dead than have Anthony do a dishonest +thing on her account. Besides, if Anthony +is your friend and you really believe in +him, you ought not to doubt him under +any possible circumstances." Then Polly +bit her lips and calmed down somewhat, +for Mollie was looking a little frightened +as she always did when her sister and +Billy disagreed. However, her sympathies +this time were assuredly on her sister's +side.</p> + +<p>"If you had only belonged to a Camp +Fire club as we did with Betty Ashton +you would never have doubted her even +for a second, Billy. I know you don't +really," Mollie added, somewhat severely +for her. "Oh, dear, I never shall cease +to be grateful for our club! All the girls +seem almost like sisters to me, and especially +Betty."</p> + +<p>Billy Webster folded up his paper and +glanced first at his wife and then at his +sister-in-law.</p> + +<p>"I beg everybody's pardon," he said +slowly, "and I stand rebuked! Certainly +I did not mean really to doubt either<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +Anthony or Betty for a moment. But +you are right, Mollie dear, that Camp +Fire Club certainly taught you girls loyalty +toward one another. I don't believe people +dare say nowadays that women are not +loyal friends, and perhaps the Camp Fire +clubs have had their influence. But some +day soon I believe I will go up to Concord +and see Anthony. Perhaps he might like +to talk to an old friend."</p> + +<p>"He and Betty and the children are +coming to Woodford for Christmas," Mollie +announced contentedly, whipping away at +the lace on the doll's dress now that peace +was again restored. "Betty says she can't +miss the chance of spending a Christmas +with Polly after all these years. Besides, +she is curious about Bobbin. I hope +Sylvia will come too. She won't promise +to leave her old hospital, but I believe the +desire to see Polly will bring her here. You +know she writes, Polly, that you are positively +not to come to her for the present."</p> + +<p>Her sister nodded, but a few moments +later got up and went up alone to her own +room.</p> + +<p>Their talk had somehow made her feel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +more uncomfortable about Betty than she +had in the beginning. Somehow she had +hoped that Mollie would not be so ready +to agree with her own judgment. Yet +most decidedly she had noticed a change +in Betty during her short visit to her. +Betty was no longer gay and sweet-tempered; +she was nervous and cross, sometimes +with her husband and children, now +and then with the two girls who were spending +the winter with her, Angelique Martins +and Faith Barton. Moreover, she had +gotten a good deal thinner, and though +she was as pretty as ever, sometimes looked +tired and discontented. Besides, she was +living such a society existence, teas, balls, +dinners, receptions almost every hour of +the day and night. No wonder she was +tired! Of course Anthony could not always +go with her; he was far too busy and had +never cared for society. For a moment +Polly wondered when Betty and her husband +managed to see each other when +they were both so occupied with different +interests. Yet when they had married +she had believed them absolutely the most +devoted and congenial of all her friends.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>Well, Betty need not expect finally to +escape confessing her difficulty. Even if +there was no opportunity for an intimate +talk during the Christmas gayeties they +must see each other soon again. Either she +would go to Concord or have Betty come +again to Mollie's.</p> + +<p>Then Polly cast off her worries and settling +herself comfortably in a big leather +chair by the fire took out the letter concealed +inside her dress and began reading it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Suspicion</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"ANGEL, will you go into Anthony's +private office; he told me he +wanted to speak to you," Betty +Graham said carelessly one afternoon in +December. She was dressed for driving in +a long fur coat and small black velvet hat +which brought out the colors in her auburn +hair in the most attractive fashion.</div> + +<p>However, her expression changed as she +saw the girl to whom she had just spoken +turn white and clasp the railing of the banister +as if to keep herself from falling.</p> + +<p>"What on earth is the matter with you, +Angel?" she demanded crossly. "You look +like you were going to faint when I deliver +a perfectly simple message. Surely you +are not afraid of Anthony after living here +with us all this time and working for him +even longer. I suppose he just wants to +speak to you about some business in connection +with the office. He never talks of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +anything else." Then a little ashamed of +her impatience, Betty put her arm on +Angel's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"There has been something on your +mind recently, hasn't there, Angel, something +you have not cared to confide to me?" +She stopped, for her remark was half a +statement and half a question.</p> + +<p>However, Angel nodded agreement.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am sorry, but I don't seem to be +worthy of any one's confidence these days," +Betty continued, trying to speak lightly. +"However, if any one wishes to know +where I have gone, dear, please say that +Meg Emmet and I are driving together and +that we are to have tea with old Professor +Everett." And the next moment Betty +Graham had disappeared down the steps.</p> + +<p>Still Angel stood in the same place and +in the same position.</p> + +<p>Surely Betty was being kept in the dark +if she did not dream of the trouble that had +been hovering over the Governor's office for +several weeks. Several important state +papers had been misplaced, lost or stolen. +No one knew what had become of them, +yet on them a great deal depended. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +were the proof that the Governor required +for exposing certain men whom he believed +dishonest. It was absolutely necessary +that they should be found.</p> + +<p>Summoning her courage, Angel knocked +timidly at the Governor's study door. It +was in front of this same door that she had +watched the guests at the Inaugural Ball +some weeks before. Of course it was +absurd for her to be frightened at the Governor's +having sent for her. She was too +insignificant a person even to be questioned +in regard to the lost papers, as she +was only one of the unimportant stenographers +at the Capitol and was only occasionally +asked to do any of the Governor's +private work.</p> + +<p>Anthony was sitting with his desk littered +with papers when Angel walked timidly +in. She thought he looked rather old +and tired and stern for so young a man. +But he was always very polite and at once +got up and offered her a chair.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to disturb you out of office +hours like this, Angel," he began kindly. +"I know it is Saturday afternoon and a half +holiday, but I thought perhaps we could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +talk something over better here at home +than at the office. One is so constantly +interrupted there."</p> + +<p>Angel made a queer little noise in her +throat which she believed to have sounded +like "Yes."</p> + +<p>Of course the Governor was going to +dismiss her from her position. She was not +a particularly good stenographer, not half +so fast as many of the girls, although she +had tried to be thorough. But then she +had no real talent for office work and of +course there was no reason why she should +continue to hold her position because she +was a friend of the family. Positively +Angel was beginning to feel sorry for the +Governor's embarrassment and already had +made up her mind to try and get some other +kind of work. She would not stay on +and be dependent.</p> + +<p>Anthony was tapping his desk with his +pencil.</p> + +<p>"See here, Angel," he said, "I wonder if +you by any chance have the faintest idea +of what has become of some papers we have +been a good deal worried about at the +office. I know you don't often have anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +to do with my private business, but +I thought by accident you might have seen +them lying around at some time. They +were two or three letters bound around with +a blue paper and a rubber band. Know +anything about them?"</p> + +<p>The girl started. For suddenly the Governor's +manner had changed and he was +looking at her sternly out of his rather cold, +searching eyes. For a man does not win his +way to greatness through all the trials that +Anthony Graham had endured without +having some streak of hardness in him.</p> + +<p>Quietly Angel shook her head, but she +was neither nervous nor offended by the +Governor's questioning. She had heard the +gossip, strictly within the office, of the loss +of these letters and it was most natural that +every member of the force should be investigated +concerning them.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," she answered, her voice +trembling the least little bit in spite of her +efforts, "but I have never at any time seen +anything of the letters you mention. Could +it be possible that one of the servants at the +Capitol realized their importance and stole +them in order to get money for them?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," the Governor answered promptly, +"that is not possible, because the letters +were taken from this study and in this house. +Think again, Angel, have you seen nothing +of them? There is no one else living in the +house here, you know, who works at my +office except you."</p> + +<p>Angel jumped quickly to her feet. "You +don't mean—you can't mean," she began +chokingly. "Oh, I can't bear it! I shall +tell Betty—she will never believe. Why, I +thought you were my best friends, almost +my only friends." For a moment she found +it impossible to go on.</p> + +<p>But the Governor was looking almost as +wretched as she was herself. "My dear, +I don't mean really to accuse you of anything, +remember. I am only asking you +questions. And I particularly beg of you +not to mention this trouble of ours to +Betty. She is not very well at present and +I am afraid she thinks I am too hard on all +her friends. Indeed, I am sure I should +never have dreamed of you in connection +with this matter, but that some one in whom +I have great confidence told me that he had +seen you coming out of my study on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +night on which I believe my papers were +mislaid. We won't talk about the matter +any more for the present, however. Possibly +the letters will yet turn up, and it has +been only my own carelessness that is responsible +for the loss. There, do go up to +your own room and lie down for a while, +Angel. I assure you this conversation has +been as distasteful to me as it has to you. +It was only because the discovery of these +letters is so important that I decided to talk +to you. But don't think I am accusing +you."</p> + +<p>Sympathetically and apologetically the +Governor now smiled at his companion, the +smile that had always changed his face so +completely from a grave sternness to the +utmost kindness and charm.</p> + +<p>But Angel would not be appeased. She +had always a passionate temper inherited +from her Latin ancestors, though she usually +kept it well under control.</p> + +<p>"You mean your private secretary, Kenneth +Helm, has suggested that you question +me," she announced bitterly. "I +knew he disliked me for some reason or +other, but I did not know his dislike was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +as cruel as this. It was he who saw me +sitting out here watching the people down-stairs +the night of your Inaugural Ball, +because I was too shy to go down alone." +For an instant it occurred to Angel to +say that she had seen Kenneth Helm enter +the Governor's private study on this same +evening. But what would have been the +use? The Governor probably knew of it +and certainly he had the utmost faith in +his secretary. It would only look as if +she were trying to be spiteful and turn +the suspicion upon some one else. Besides, +had she not promised Kenneth Helm not +to tell? At least she would not condescend +to break her word.</p> + +<p>Stumbling half blindly, Angel made her +way out of the study. In the hall she +found Bettina waiting for her.</p> + +<p>"You promised to come and play more +secret with me. Will you come now, +Angel? We can go up to the nursery +and lock the door; there is no one to find +us," Tina urged.</p> + +<p>But Angel could only shake her head, +not daring to let the little girl see into +her face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nevertheless, outside her own bedroom +door she had to meet an even greater +strain upon her nerves. For there stood +Faith Barton in a pretty house dress and +with a box of candy in her hands.</p> + +<p>"May I come in and talk to you for a +little while, Angel?" she asked, hesitating +the least little bit. "Kenneth has just +sent me a note and a box of candy, saying +that he cannot keep his engagement with +me tonight. He is so dreadfully busy, +poor fellow! I don't believe Governor +Graham works one-half so hard. So I +thought maybe you would let me stay +with you, as I am rather lonely. Besides, +Angel, there isn't any sense in your treating +me so coldly as you have lately. If +I am doing wrong in keeping my engagement +a secret, I am doing wrong, that's +all. But I don't think you ought to be +unkind to me. If I have been hateful to +you about anything, truly I am sorry. +You know I have always been awfully +fond of you, dear, and wanted to be your +friend ever so much more than you ever +wished to be mine."</p> + +<p>But instead of answering Faith, the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +girl had to push by her almost rudely, +stammering:</p> + +<p>"I can't talk to you now, Faith. I've +got the headache. I'm not very well; +I must lie down."</p> + +<p>Then with Faith standing almost on her +threshold, resolutely Angel closed the door +in her face.</p> + +<p>If there was one person above all others +at this moment with whom she could not +bear to talk it was Faith Barton.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Waiting to Find Out</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>AS the days passed on, the little +French girl did not find her difficulties +grow less. At the office +she continued to hear veiled discussions +of the seriousness of the lost letters. No +one, of course, except a few persons in +the Governor's confidence, knew exactly +what information the letters contained, but +there was no question of their political +importance, for everybody could feel the +atmosphere of strain and suspense. Yet +for one thing at least Angelique Martins +was grateful: no one had in any way +associated her with the lost or stolen +papers. For whatever Kenneth Helm suspected, +or Governor Graham feared, they +had both kept their own counsel. Yet +this did not mean that they both considered +her guiltless.</div> + +<p>Time and time again Angel tried to +summon courage to speak directly to Kenneth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +Helm on the subject. She had frequent +opportunities, for even if there was +danger of notice or interruption at the +office, he came very often to the Governor's +mansion to see Faith or to dine +with the family.</p> + +<p>However, she simply did not know what +to do or say. To go to Kenneth and ask +him why he had accused her seemed to +the girl almost like a confession of wrongdoing. +For oftentimes it appears preposterous +in this world to be forced into +denying an act that one could never have +even dreamed of committing. How can +one suddenly say, "I am <i>not</i> a thief, I +am <i>not</i> a liar," when every thought and +act of their lives has been pure and good?</p> + +<p>Neither could Angel persuade herself to +tell Kenneth Helm that she felt just as +suspicious of him as he could possibly feel +of her. For she had no proof of any kind +except her own dislike and distrust and +the fact that she had seen him coming +out of the Governor's private study on +the same night on which he had suggested +that she might have previously entered it. +For of course the Governor's private secretary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +had a right to his chief's private +papers at almost all times. No, Kenneth +would only consider her accusation an +expression of feeble revenge and be perhaps +more convinced of her guilt in +consequence.</p> + +<p>Therefore there was nothing to do but +wait with the hope that everything would +soon be cleared up and the lost letters +either found or their thief discovered.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Angel was not even to have +the satisfaction of talking the matter over +with Betty, the one person in the world +who could and would have helped her. +For she had the Governor's strict command +against this and did not dare disobey. +Besides, Angel could see that Betty was +unlike herself these days and so should +not be troubled by any one else's trials. +This, of course, was a mistaken point of +view, as nothing would so have helped +Betty Graham at this time as to have +had some one to think about who really +needed her. However, neither her friend +nor her husband could have realized this.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless there was one consolation +that the little French girl enjoyed during<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +these days and that was "the secret" +which she and Bettina had been cherishing +so ardently for weeks. Every spare +hour she had from her work she and +Bettina had spent together in a big room +at the top of the house, which was Bettina's +own private play-room, sacred to her +uses only.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely room with pale gray +walls and warm, rose-colored curtains, and +all about were pictures of girls and boys +who had come straight out of fairyland +and had their photographs taken by such +wonderful fairy artists as Maxfield Parish +and Elizabeth Shippen Greene.</p> + +<p>For you see Angelique was absolutely +attempting to draw one of these fairy +pictures herself, while Bettina was acting +as her model.</p> + +<p>The picture was not to be a portrait, +the artist had scarcely courage to have +undertaken that, but it was to represent +Bettina's favorite heroine, "Snow White +and Rose Red."</p> + +<p>All her life, ever since she was a little +girl of five or six, Angelique Martins had +been drawing and painting whenever she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +had the least chance or excuse. Of course +it was this same artistic gift that had +showed in her clever fingers and sense of +color through all the work which she had +done in the Camp Fire Club. But of her +actual talent as an artist Angelique had +always been extremely shy. You see, she +cared for art so much that she did not +consider that she had any <i>real</i> talent. +But even confessing that she had the +least little ability, of course it would take +years of study and goodness knows how +much money before she could have hoped +to amount to anything.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless there was nothing to forbid +the little lame French girl's amusing +herself with her fancy whenever she had +the chance. And ever since she could +remember, Angel had been drawing pictures +for Bettina. It had been their favorite +amusement as soon as Tina passed beyond +her babyhood, which was sooner than +most children.</p> + +<p>Naturally Angel had drawn hundreds of +pictures with Bettina as her model before, +but never one half so ambitious as this. +However, this last one represented about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +the sixth effort, and it was a great question +even now whether this was to be the +final one. For "Snow White and Rose +Red" was not merely a play picture, one +that had been painted merely for amusement; +it had a most serious intention +behind it.</p> + +<p>Weeks before in a magazine which the +two friends had been looking over together +they had come across an advertisement. +A prize of two hundred dollars was offered +for the best picture illustrating any fairy +story. Moreover, no well-known artist was +to be allowed to enter the competition; the +drawings were all to be made by amateurs +under twenty-five years of age.</p> + +<p>The first suggestion that Angel should +take part in this wonderful contest had +come, of course, from Bettina as soon as +the older girl had read her the amazing +announcement, for Tina's faith in her +friend was without limit. Then just as +naturally Angel first laughed at her suggestion +and afterwards decided to try just +for fun to see what she could do; and +here at last was most furiously in earnest, +although still undecided whether to send<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +her picture to the competition or to throw +it away.</p> + +<p>There were only a few days more before +the time limit expired. Therefore, would it +be possible for her to undertake an entirely +new picture here at the very last?</p> + +<p>With these uncertainties weighing on her +mind Angel was sitting in front of a small +easel with a box of pastels on a table near +by. Closer to the big nursery window +Bettina was curled up in a white armchair, +one foot tucked up under her in a favorite +attitude and in her lap were half a dozen +red roses.</p> + +<p>She was tired, for she had been quiet +an unusually long time while Angel made +slight changes in her work and then stopped +to consider the whole thing disparagingly. +But somehow her weariness made Bettina's +pose even more charming.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 317px;"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a> +<img src="images/i167.png" width="317" height="500" alt="Angel Had Caught Bettina's Attitude Almost Exactly" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Angel Had Caught Bettina's Attitude Almost Exactly</span> +</div> + +<p>Her long yellow-brown hair hung over +her shoulders down into her very lap, her +eyes were wide open and yet were plainly +not looking at any particular object. For +Tina was making up stories to amuse +herself while Angel worked. It was only +in this way that she could manage to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +keep still for so long a time as Angel +needed.</p> + +<p>But this was the picture that Bettina +herself made; what of her friend's drawing +of her? Naturally it was not so graceful +or pretty as the little girl herself.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, by some happy chance +Angel had caught Bettina's attitude almost +exactly. Then too she had drawn a little +girl who did not look exactly like other +children. There was a suggestion of poetry, +almost of mystery, about her fairy tale +girl, in the wide open blue-gray eyes, +dreaming as Tina's so often were, and in +the half uncurled lips.</p> + +<p>Of course the lines of the drawing were +not so firm and clear as an experienced +artist would have made them, yet glancing +at the little picture, you felt something +that made you wish to look at it +again.</p> + +<p>However, Angel sighed so that Bettina +came out of her dream story and stretched +herself in the big chair.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" she inquired. +"May I get up and walk about the room +now?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>The older girl nodded. "Thank you, +dear. This is the last time I am going +to trouble you to sit for this picture. I +have just decided that I can't do any +better by trying it over again, yet I don't +know whether I shall send it to the competition +after all."</p> + +<p>The next moment Angel was startled +by something that sounded almost like a +sob from Tina. Since the little girl was +so seldom cross, she was surprised and a +little frightened.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you are so tired. Why +didn't you tell me?" Angelique demanded.</p> + +<p>Bettina had crossed the nursery and +was standing close beside her picture.</p> + +<p>"It isn't that, it is only that I do want +you to send it so much," Bettina answered. +"You see, I think it is the best picture +anybody ever painted and we have both +worked so hard and it has been such a +nice secret," she said huskily.</p> + +<p>Angel put her arm about her. "Of +course I'll send it, dear, if you feel that +way," she conceded. "But you must not +even dream that I shall get the prize +and you must promise not to be disappointed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +if we never hear of the picture +again."</p> + +<p>Bettina agreed and then there followed +a most unexpected knocking at the locked +nursery door. The two conspirators stared +at each other in consternation.</p> + +<p>"Who is it, please?" Bettina demanded. +"You know Angel and I are having our +secret together and we can't let any one +come in."</p> + +<p>Betty's voice replied: "Yes, I know; +but I thought maybe the secret was over +and you would like me to come and play +too. I am feeling pretty lonesome."</p> + +<p>"Oh," Tina returned, and then she and +Angel whispered together. Finally the +little girl came over toward the closed +door.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would not be lonesome just +now, mother," she murmured, "just when +we are most dreadfully busy. If you +will only go away for a little while and +then come back, why, Angel and I will +love to play with you."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I won't be here after a +while," Betty answered and then walked +slowly away. It was absurd for her to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +feel wounded by such a trifle, and yet +recently it had looked as though Bettina +preferred Angelique's company to hers. +What a useless person she was growing +to be! Well, at least she and Meg were +going to a Suffrage meeting that afternoon! +She had not intended going, but +the baby was asleep and Anthony would +not be home for hours. Perhaps after +the talk ended she might drive by and +get Anthony to return with her. She had +not thought him looking very well that +morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">A Talk That Was Not an Explanation</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE Suffrage meeting was fairly interesting, +but then both Meg and +Betty had been believers in equal +rights for men and women ever since their +Camp Fire days and there were few new +arguments to be heard on the subject.</div> + +<p>When they came out from the crowded +hall, however, it was still too early to call +for Anthony. There could be no hope of +getting hold of him before half-past five +o'clock. So it was Meg Emmet's suggestion +that she and Betty stop by and see her +father for a few moments. Professor +Everett had a slight cold and his daughter +was a little uneasy about him.</p> + +<p>They found the old gentleman in his +library sipping hot tea and re-reading a +letter from his son, Horace, whom Betty +could not ever think of by any more serious +name than "Bumps." She always saw a +vision of the small boy dragging around at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +his sister Meg's heels and tumbling over +every object in their way. However, +"Bumps" had grown up to be a very clever +fellow and had a better record at college +than his brother John ever had. The young +man was to graduate in law at Cornell in +the coming spring. The present letter was +to say, however, that he expected to spend +Christmas in Concord with his father. He +had been doing some tutoring at Cornell and +had earned the money for his trip himself.</p> + +<p>Plainly Professor Everett was much +pleased by this news. He had always been +a devoted father to all his three motherless +children, but Horace was his "Benjamin."</p> + +<p>Moreover, they were still talking of +"Bumps" when unexpectedly John Everett +made his appearance. He was looking +rather fagged, but explained that there +was nothing going on at his office and so he +had quit for the day.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless tea had a reviving effect +upon him, as it had upon both Meg and +Betty, so that Betty was surprised to discover +that it was twenty minutes past five +o'clock when her visit seemed scarcely to +have begun.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was quite dark, however, as it was +toward the middle of December when the +days are short, so that John Everett insisted +upon accompanying his sister and +friend, even though they were in Betty's +carriage.</p> + +<p>Meg's home was nearer. They drove +there first and later John went on to the +Capitol, where Betty sent in to inquire +if the Governor were free to return home +with her.</p> + +<p>There was a little time to wait before the +answer came, so that in the meanwhile +Betty and John continued talking.</p> + +<p>It was Betty who asked the first important +question.</p> + +<p>"I do hope, John, that your new business +is succeeding," she said carelessly, although +of course she felt a friendly interest in John's +success and in that of Meg's husband.</p> + +<p>However, John Everett hesitated a moment +before replying.</p> + +<p>"Oh, our success depends on your Governor +and so perhaps on you," he answered +in a half joking tone. "I don't know +whether you happen to have heard anything +about it, but we are trying to get a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +bill through the Legislature this season +which will give us the chance to build the +new roads in the state of New Hampshire +for the next few years. But we don't know +just yet how the Governor feels about it, +whether he is going to oppose our bill or +work with us. He has a big lot of influence."</p> + +<p>"Oh," Betty replied vaguely. She sincerely +hoped that John Everett was not +going to try persuade her to ask her husband +to assist him for the second time. Surely +if he did she would refuse. For in the first +place she did not wish to confess that she +believed herself to have no real influence +with her husband and in the second she +wouldn't try to interfere in anything so +important as a bill to be gotten through +the Legislature unless she knew everything +about it. Formerly she had taken an +intense interest in all the political affairs +that interested her husband, yet recently +Anthony had not been discussing matters +with her very often. Moreover, she had a +sudden feeling that she did not wish to be +mixed up again with John Everett's concerns.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>So fortunately before Betty had a chance +to reply Anthony came down the length of +stone steps to his wife's carriage.</p> + +<p>He seemed pleased at seeing her, but not +very enthusiastic over her companion.</p> + +<p>However, John Everett said good-bye +and left at once.</p> + +<p>They had only fairly started on the +road toward home when Anthony said +suddenly:</p> + +<p>"I do wish, Betty, that you would not be +seen so often with John Everett. Oh, I +know you don't realize it, but it seems to +me that you are very often with him. I +know he is Meg's brother and that you are +devoted friends, but I tell you I don't like +the fellow. The more I know him, the less +I like him. So I simply won't have my +wife in his society."</p> + +<p>Betty caught her breath and her cheeks +flushed hotly in the darkness. How unkind +Anthony was to her these days! Could it be +possible that he did not love her any more? +He certainly could not be jealous of John +Everett; that idea was too absurd to be +considered. For she never had cared for +any one in her life except her husband and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +he must know it. However, she had no +intention of being bullied.</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly, Anthony," Betty replied +petulantly. "I don't see very much of John +Everett. Besides, if I did what difference +would it make? Of course, if you know +anything actually against him you would +tell me?"</p> + +<p>"So you no longer wish to do things just +because I wish them? I'm sorry, Betty," +Anthony returned. Then they drove the +rest of the way home in silence, both behaving +like sullen children in spite of the fact +that they were entirely grown-up people, +the Governor of the state and his clever +and charming wife.</p> + +<p>For the truth was that Anthony Graham +was jealous of John Everett and yet was +ashamed to speak of it. He would never +have dreamt of such a feeling if only he +and Betty had not been estranged for the +past few weeks. Besides, he was missing +the opportunity to spend as much time +with her as he formerly had before his +election to office. Surely Betty must understand +that. How could he help hating +to have another fellow drinking tea with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +her on any number of afternoons when he +was slaving at his office—especially a +man like John Everett?</p> + +<p>Oh, of course Anthony realized that this +was rather a dog-in-the-manger attitude on +his part and that he ought to laugh over it +with his wife.</p> + +<p>Moreover, if he had, Betty would have +understood and forgiven him. She might +even have been a little pleased, since she +believed that Anthony did not miss the loss +of her society half so much as she had the +loss of his. If he had even told her the +special reason he had for disliking John +Everett doubtless she would have been convinced, +in spite of her natural loyalty to +her old friends.</p> + +<p>But Anthony did not even do this. He +had an idea that he was saving Betty trouble +by not telling her of the loss of the papers by +which he could prove that the bill which +ex-Governor Peyton, Jack Emmet and +John Everett were trying to get through +the Legislature was an effort to cheat the +state.</p> + +<p>Yet in consequence Betty cried herself +into a headache and was therefore unable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +to come down to dinner, while Anthony +decided that she would not come simply +because she was too angry with him.</p> + +<p>So can people in this world manage to +misunderstand each other, even after they +have been married a number of years and +are very deeply and truly in love with each +other.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Christmas</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>STILL unreconciled, Anthony and Betty +went together to spend their Christmas +with Mrs. Ashton in Woodford +in the old Ashton homestead. They took +with them both Bettina and Tony and the +nurse and Faith Barton. However, Faith +was of course to stay with her foster +parents, Doctor and Mrs. Barton.</div> + +<p>Only Angel refused to accompany the +little party. She claimed not to be feeling +well, to have some business that she must +attend to, and indeed made so many excuses +that Betty, seeing that she really did +wish to be left behind, gave up arguing the +matter with her. Moreover, Meg promised +to look after Angel and see that she had her +Christmas dinner with them, so that she +would not be particularly lonely.</p> + +<p>It was in Angel's mind that perhaps +during the family's absence something might +occur which would relieve her from all suspicion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +in the Governor's sight. Yet if she +thought that this would come about through +Kenneth Helm she was mistaken, for Kenneth +departed for Woodford on Christmas +eve to spend the following day with Faith +and her parents.</p> + +<p>Besides seeing her mother and giving her +children the pleasure of a country Christmas +Betty was chiefly looking forward to +being with Polly. Somehow she felt that +Polly would be sure to cheer her up and +make her feel young again. They could +take long walks through the woods and discover +whether little Sunrise Cabin was still +habitable. Billy and Mollie had always +looked after it, carefully attending to whatever +repairs were necessary, so doubtless +it was as good as new.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless it was extremely difficult +after her arrival for Betty and Polly to find +time for the intimate hours that they both +longed to have together, for there were so +many other people about—old friends and +relatives.</p> + +<p>Nan Graham came from Syracuse, where +she had charge of the department of domestic +science in the High School, in order to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +with her brother Anthony, whom she had +not seen since his election.</p> + +<p>Edith Norton with her husband and four +children still lived in Woodford and claimed +the intimacy of their Camp Fire days. Then, +of course, there was Herr Krippen and Mrs. +Krippen and Betty's small stepbrother +to be considered, besides Mr. and Mrs. +Wharton, Eleanor and Frank.</p> + +<p>But perhaps the most important and unexpected +member of the Christmas gathering +was the distinguished and eccentric +Doctor Sylvia Wharton. Certainly it was +Sylvia who kept Betty and Polly from being +alone with each other during her own brief +visit.</p> + +<p>The morning of the day before Christmas +Mollie got a letter from Sylvia, who +had charge of a hospital in Philadelphia, +saying that much as she regretted it she +would be unable to spend Christmas with +them.</p> + +<p>During the late afternoon Polly, who had +escaped from the noise and confusion going +on inside Mollie's big house, was taking a +walk up and down the bare wind-swept +orchard to the left of the house. The ground<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +was covered with hard white snow and the +air stung with a kind of delicious cold +freshness.</p> + +<p>It was a part of Polly's regular duty to +stay out of doors for a certain number of +hours each day, so she now stopped her +walk for a moment and glanced ahead at +some almost blue-black pine trees silhouetted +against the twilight sky.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she became conscious of what +sounded like a masculine step behind her, and +before she could turn around felt her two +arms firmly grasped by a pair of capable +hands and herself swung slowly about.</p> + +<p>She faced a figure not so tall as her own, +but broader, stronger and far more sturdy. +The blue eyes looked at her through a pair +of spectacles, the flaxen hair was parted in +the middle and without the least sign of a +crinkle drawn straight back on either side. +The mouth was firm, but curiously kind. +And just now it actually showed signs of +trembling.</p> + +<p>"Why, Sylvia Wharton!" Polly said and +straightway hid her face in the fur of her +stepsister's long coat. Immediately she +had a feeling of dependence on Sylvia's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +judgment and affection just as she had for +so long a time, although she was several +years the older.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to hide your face from me, +Polly O'Neill. I want to see how you are +looking before you get back into the house +and do your best to deceive me. I can +feel already that you are thin as a rail," +Dr. Sylvia murmured severely. "You see +if I don't straighten you out before you go +back to that wretched work again!"</p> + +<p>"It was good of you to come, Sylvia; I +was so disappointed over your letter this +morning. Only I am not your patient, +dear; I am quite all right. It is 'Bobbin,' +my poor little girl, I want you to look after +and find somebody to help," Polly returned +with unaccustomed meekness. +"Really she is interesting and unusual. +Both Mollie and Billy Webster think so; it +isn't only my foolishness. I suppose you +thought my bringing her east with me was +rather mad, didn't you, Sylvia?"</p> + +<p>Sylvia smiled the slow smile that had +always beautified her plain face. "No, +not mad, only Polly!" she answered dryly. +"But of course I'll look the little girl over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +for you, and then I'll find the best person +to see her and you can send her to me in +Philadelphia. Only don't think you are +going to escape by that method yourself."</p> + +<p>On Christmas Eve all the grown-up members +of the Christmas party dined with Mrs. +Ashton and Betty in the town of Woodford, +since Mollie was to have the tree and Christmas +dinner for them and the children on +the farm the next day.</p> + +<p>It was an amusing change from the past +to find that Anthony Graham and Sylvia +Wharton were really the lions of the evening. +How different it had been in the old +days when Anthony was only an awkward, +shabby, obscure boy and Sylvia the plainest +and most unprepossessing of the Sunrise +Hill Camp Fire girls!</p> + +<p>Polly and Betty too, in spite of her +wounded feelings, were both immensely +pleased and amused by it.</p> + +<p>Of course Sylvia would rather have died +than have mentioned the fact, but quite +by accident Anthony had read the previous +day of Sylvia's election as President of the +American Medical Society, the highest +honor that had ever been paid a woman in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +the medical profession in the United +States.</p> + +<p>Hearing the story at the dinner table, +Sylvia was of course confused by the admiration +and applause it excited, for she was +still as shy and reserved about her own +accomplishments as she had ever been as +a young girl.</p> + +<p>Moreover, it was Polly who recalled +having once predicted that Sylvia Wharton +would become the most distinguished of +the Camp Fire girls and who made a little +speech in her honor, much to the confusion +and disgust of Sylvia.</p> + +<p>Then Billy Webster offered their congratulations +to Anthony, who was almost +equally modest about his own attainments +and insisted that his election as Governor +was due to a happy accident and not to any +possible ability of his own.</p> + +<p>The Christmas day following was even +more crowded with people and excitement. +Actually Mollie and Billy were to have +thirty guests to dine at the farm at two +o'clock and the Christmas tree for the +children was to be given immediately after.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding, Sylvia arranged to +spend an hour alone with Polly and Bobbin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +in a room at the top of the house where there +could be no interruption.</p> + +<p>She appeared to be deeply interested in +Bobbin. She made Polly talk and then saw +how easily Bobbin seemed to be able to +understand. Then she asked questions +herself which now and then the little girl +was able to comprehend.</p> + +<p>Polly explained that perchance Bobbin +understood her better than other people, +because of her training as an actress, which +of course required her to enunciate more +distinctly. However, Dr. Wharton made no +reply and after a time Bobbin was sent +away to watch the children at play.</p> + +<p>Then Polly sat quietly in a big armchair, +while Sylvia strode up and down the room +with her hands clasped behind her. They +were both silent for quite five minutes.</p> + +<p>Afterwards Sylvia spoke first.</p> + +<p>"I am by no means sure your little girl +is entirely deaf, Polly," she remarked +abruptly. "But I am not an expert in the +matter and I don't want to trust my own +judgment. I believe she hears indistinctly +perhaps and so has never learned to talk. +Yet it would not surprise me if a sudden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +shock of some kind might make her hear, +and after that she would learn to talk +easily enough. But I'll discuss her case and +we can see about it later. Now you are to +let me look you over."</p> + +<p>Of course Polly shrugged her shoulders +and objected, insisting that she was entirely +well and that it was absurd to waste Sylvia's +time.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, as usual, Dr. Wharton had +her way and at the end of a half hour's +examination Polly appeared pale and exhausted, +while Sylvia looked more satisfied.</p> + +<p>"You are not to go back on the stage +again this winter, Miss O'Neill," she announced +decisively. "But you really are in +better health than I expected to find you. +If you only would behave with a little more +sense!"</p> + +<p>Polly sighed, waving her accuser away.</p> + +<p>"Do go and let me rest now, please," she +commanded. "You know I have promised +to recite for the children for an hour or so +after dinner. And I do wish my friends +and family would stop asking me to behave +with better sense. How can I if I haven't got +it? Everybody ought to be sorry for me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>Smiling, Sylvia departed. It was like old +times to hear Polly talking in her old aggrieved +fashion when she knew herself to be +really in the wrong. But then Sylvia decided +that she would probably always love +Polly more than any one else in the world, +even if they saw each other so seldom. For +she never expected to marry herself and +doubted now whether Polly ever would. +There had been a scare years before about +a Richard Hunt, but as Polly never mentioned +his name now she must by this time +have forgotten him.</p> + +<p>The Christmas dinner and tree were a +great success. After Polly had made the +children shriek with pleasure by playing a +dozen characters from Mother Goose, and +the older people cry by reciting several +exquisite Christmas poems by Whitcomb +Riley and Eugene Field, the guests then +sang Camp Fire songs until darkness +descended.</p> + +<p>It was a pity, however, that Esther and +Dick and their children were in Boston and +unable to come home for the holidays, for +Esther's beautiful voice was sadly needed +in the music.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>But at six o'clock Sylvia was forced to +leave for Philadelphia, and so the other +guests decided that it was time that the +weary children should be taken home.</p> + +<p>However, for one minute Polly and Betty +did manage to slip over into a corner and +in that moment made an engagement to +spend the whole of the next afternoon +together. Moreover, in order to get away +from every one else they planned to take a +long walk to Sunrise Cabin.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless that same night each of +the two friends lay awake for several hours, +firmly resolving not to tell the other the +trouble that lay nearest their hearts. For +they both decided that they should have +gotten beyond their old girlhood confidences +and that there were certain things +women should keep to themselves.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">The Stupidity of Men</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"BUT, my dear, there isn't the least +use of your denying it. The fact +that you are unhappy is as plain +as the nose on your face. Of course if you +don't want to tell me the reason you need +not, but don't expect me to be so stupid as +not to see it," Polly concluded solemnly.</div> + +<p>Actually the two friends were in the +time-honored old living room in Sunrise +Cabin. With their own hands they had +brought in twigs and logs from outdoors +and lighted an enormous fire in the big +fireplace. Then Polly had produced three +candles from her handbag and had stuck +them into the tarnished brass candlesticks +that were still ornamenting the mantel, +where they were now burning fitfully.</p> + +<p>With their coats off both of the old +Camp Fire girls sat on rickety chairs before +the fire, their chins resting in their hands +and gazing none too happily into the flames.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I tell you, you are mistaken, Polly. +There is nothing the matter with me. Of +course one can't expect to be happy when +one grows older, as in our old irresponsible +Camp Fire days. Maybe it is old age that +is troubling me, for I am a most uninterestingly +healthy person."</p> + +<p>In replying Betty tried to make her tones +as light as possible; nevertheless her companion +only frowned the more unbelievingly.</p> + +<p>"Our Camp Fire days were never irresponsible +ones for me, Betty child," Polly +responded, gazing thoughtfully around the +dear, dismantled room. "Often I feel I +never learned so much at any other time in +my life as I did then. But the fact remains +that you are not happy as I want you to be, +and I wish with all my heart that you loved +me enough to tell me the reason why. +You see, Betty, I am rather a lonely, good-for-nothing +old maid and I can't expect +much for myself. But you have absolutely +everything in the world any woman could +wish. And I think it is positively wicked +of you not to be the same gay, sweet Betty."</p> + +<p>At this Polly got out a small handkerchief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +and began dabbing her Irish blue eyes, that +were shedding tears partly from the smoke +of the fire and partly from a general sense +of discouragement.</p> + +<p>In return Betty stared back at her with +equal severity. "What a perfectly absurd +fashion for you to talk, Polly O'Neill!" +she replied. "You know perfectly well that +if you had chosen to marry you might have +had what I have. Only you didn't want to +marry; you wanted a career and to be famous +and to make money instead. Well, +haven't you succeeded? Is that what you +are crying about?"</p> + +<p>Polly nodded. "I expect there isn't any +law about wanting everything, is there, +Betty Ashton Graham? So long as women +are women, no matter what they may try +to do or be, there will be times when they +cry for nice husbands and babies. But I +wasn't crying about me, it was about you," +she continued ungrammatically and with +her usual logic. "Here you are growing +more beautiful every day you live. Everybody +loves you; you have hundreds of +friends, the two most fascinating children +in the world, except Mollie's, and a husband<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +who is about the best and cleverest man in +the state, and who simply adores you, and +yet you are wretched and cross and unlike +yourself. I watched you yesterday, Betty, +and you never smiled a single time when you +thought no one was looking and you never +once spoke to Anthony. The poor fellow +appeared dreadfully troubled too. Whatever +is the matter, I am much sorrier for +him than I am for you," Polly concluded +somewhat vindictively.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Betty faltered and then was so +silent that Polly humped her stool nearer +until her shoulder touched that of her friend.</p> + +<p>"That last remark wasn't true, of course, +Betty," Polly apologized. "For if Anthony +is really a snake in the grass and treats +you badly when he looks so noble and kind, +why, I shall simply come to Concord and +tell him what I think of him right in the +Governor's mansion. I don't care whether +he puts me into the state prison or not."</p> + +<p>Then, although she had been tremblingly +near tears herself the moment before, +Betty was compelled to laugh. Whoever +could do anything else in Polly O'Neill's +society? The thought of Anthony's thrusting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +a very noisy and protesting Polly into +prison was a picture to dispel almost any +degree of gloom.</p> + +<p>Betty slipped her arm across her friend's +shoulder. "No, dear, you must not think +Anthony is unkind to me; it isn't that," +she responded slowly. "Only I don't believe +he exactly 'adores' me as much as he +used to. Sometimes men get tired of their +wives."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, goose! What put that notion +in your head?" Polly returned lightly, +although she was a little frightened by her +friend's reply.</p> + +<p>Really she had not believed that anything +could have come between Anthony +and Betty. Her suggestion had only been +made in order to induce Betty to deny it. +The next moment she leaned over and put +several fresh logs on the fire.</p> + +<p>"Nothing and no one in this world could +ever persuade me, Betty dearest, that +Anthony does not adore you," Polly then +continued with convincing earnestness. +"You see, he began when you were sixteen +years old and he never knew that any other +girl lived in the world. He does not know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +it now, for he never even glanced at a single +one of us yesterday, if he could help it. But +you see Princess, dear, you are a good deal +spoiled. You always have been ever since +you were a baby, by your family and all +your friends. Even the Camp Fire Club +used to look up to you and be more devoted +to you than any one else. Esther has +always been your slave and now your little +French girl seems to feel about you just +as Esther used to do. Really, Betty, I +expect you need discipline."</p> + +<p>Yet even as she spoke Betty's auburn +hair glistened with such exquisite colors in +the firelight that Polly stroked it softly with +her slender fingers.</p> + +<p>The Governor's wife was thinking too +deeply to notice her.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if things are my fault, Polly. +I almost hope they are," she answered +wistfully. "You see, it has seemed to me +lately that Anthony has been dreadfully +unreasonable. He won't do the things I +ask him to and though he is too busy to be +with me himself, he isn't willing for me to +spend much time even with my oldest +friends."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, ho!" whistled Polly softly. "What +friends, for instance, Princess?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Meg Emmet and—John Everett. +Isn't it absurd? But Anthony has always +felt a prejudice against John ever since we +were boys and girls together here in Woodford," +Betty explained. "I don't care particularly +for John now myself. He has +grown kind of stupid and thinks too much +about what he eats, but it would look +utterly ridiculous of me to cut him for no +reason except that Anthony is absurd."</p> + +<p>Polly dug her chin deeper into the palm +of her hand as she so often did in moments +of abstraction.</p> + +<p>"Seems like a little enough thing to do if +Anthony wishes it and you could do it very +gracefully you know, Princess dear," Polly +replied. "Besides, I am not so sure Anthony +has no reason for his prejudice. I never +liked John Everett a cent myself when we +were all young. He was always trying to +lord it over the rest of us and pretend to +be very rich and grand and superior. Besides, +Betty Graham, I don't believe I +should care to have a husband who would +do every solitary thing I asked him to do.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +Somehow, I think I would like him to have +a little judgment of his own now and then. +So you really wish Anthony to do exactly +as he is told. I wonder if your children are +as obedient? But come along, dear, it is +getting so late Mollie will be having fits +about us. Fortunately you are a more +sensible woman than I am. A perfectly +obedient husband is about the last thing +in this world I require. To what dreadful +end would I bring him!"</p> + +<p>But Betty did not stir from her stool +even when her companion had crossed +over the room and now stood holding out +her long fur coat, waiting for her to put +her arms inside it.</p> + +<p>"Dear, if there is one thing I am more +sure of at this moment than of anything +else, it is that I am not <i>so</i> sensible a +woman as Polly O'Neill. Though goodness +knows I never could have believed +it!" Betty whispered, laughing and yet +profoundly in earnest. "It was a most +excellent sermon and I mean to do my +best to profit by it. Truly I have been +behaving like a spoiled child for weeks. +I know Anthony has a great many things<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +that trouble him and I ought to have been +more considerate. Somehow I expect this +marriage is really more the girl's business +than the man's. He has to make the +living for the family in most cases and +the Camp Fire taught us that home making +was a girl's highest privilege."</p> + +<p>Then Betty got up and slipped on her +beautiful long coat and the two friends +started back toward Mollie's big farm +together.</p> + +<p>In all their girlhood they had never +felt more intimate or more devoted. Yet +neither one of them talked much during +the long walk, just an occasional question +now and then.</p> + +<p>The sun was going down, but there +was an after-glow in the sky and because +of the whiteness of the snow there was +still sufficient light. At least Polly and +Betty could see each other's faces with +perfect distinctness.</p> + +<p>They had nearly reached the farm-house +when Betty suddenly stopped and +put both hands on Polly's shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Look me directly in the eyes, Polly," +she commanded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Polly attempted doing as she was +bid, but her lashes drooped until they +touched her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Have you fallen in love with some one +recently, Polly? Is that why you talked +about yourself in such a discouraged fashion +just now and lectured me so severely?" +Betty inquired.</p> + +<p>Polly shook her head. "I don't know +whether you would call it falling in love +recently, Betty, or whether I have been +in love for the last ten years. But I saw +Richard Hunt again when I was in Colorado +and he was even nicer than he used to be. +He don't care a single thing about me any +more, Betty. He hasn't even sent me +a Christmas card! The letter I had from +him a few days ago was all about Bobbin. +He wasn't even interested enough to inquire +if I was well."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">A Cry in the Night</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>BECAUSE she was tired from her +long walk and her conversation and +from other reasons Polly went up-stairs +to bed sooner than her sister and +brother-in-law.</div> + +<p>As a special privilege the children had +begged that Bobbin should be allowed to +sleep in the nursery with them, and rather +against her will Polly had consented. The +little girl had previously occupied a small +room connected with her own.</p> + +<p>However, she was too weary for argument, +and besides Mollie's babies were +cross and unreasonable. They had been +playing all afternoon with the Christmas +tree which stood in the big back +parlor just under Polly's room. Anything +to get them safely stowed in bed and +the house quiet!</p> + +<p>For Polly had expected to lie awake +for a number of hours, reflecting on many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +things, when in point of fact immediately +after retiring she sank into a deep and +dreamless sleep.</p> + +<p>Moreover, about ten o'clock Mollie and +Billy also decided to follow their sister's +example. And it was Billy himself who +closed up the windows and made the +house ready for the night. Only he failed +to go into the back parlor where the Christmas +tree stood and where the floor was now +littered with discarded toys and games and +the walls hung with dried-out evergreens.</p> + +<p>He was under the impression that the +windows in this room had been closed +and locked when the children departed +to bed. Moreover, locking up at the +farm-house was more of a custom than a +necessity. No one had any real fear of +burglars or tramps. Besides, the windows +in the back parlor were locked and no +danger was to come from the outside.</p> + +<p>But it must have been only about three +hours later when Mollie suddenly awoke +with a scream and start. A hand had +passed lightly over her face.</p> + +<p>The next instant and Billy jumped up +and seized hold of the intruder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>Yet his hands clasped only a slight, +childish form in a white gown. It was +too dark in the room to see who it could +be until Mollie lit the candle which +stood always by their bedside.</p> + +<p>Then they both discovered Bobbin, not +walking in her sleep as they supposed, but +with her face very white and making queer +little movements with her hands and lips.</p> + +<p>"The child is frightened; something +must have to disturbed her," Billy suggested, +still only half awake himself.</p> + +<p>But Mollie had jumped out of bed +and was already on her way to the +nursery. Naturally she presumed that +something had happened to one of the +children and that Bobbin had come to call +her. Poor little girl, she had no other way +of calling than to touch with her hands!</p> + +<p>However, half way down the hall Mollie +turned and ran back into her own bedroom.</p> + +<p>"Get up please, Billy, in a hurry, won't +you? I do believe I smell smoke somewhere +in the house. Something must be +on fire. Of course Bobbin could detect +it before the rest of us; she is sure to +have a keener sense of smell."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>A moment later and Billy had jumped +almost all the way down the long flight +of old-fashioned country stairs.</p> + +<p>"Don't be frightened, dear, but get the +children up and put clothes on them," he +shouted back. "It is too cold for you to +go out in the snow undressed and we are +miles from a neighbor. I will call the men +and we will fight the fire. Don't forget +to waken Polly!"</p> + +<p>With this last injunction in her mind +Mollie stopped to hammer on her sister's +door before she ran on to the nursery.</p> + +<p>She was certain that she heard Polly +answer her. Besides, by this time the +house was filled with an excited tumult, +Mollie's little boys were dancing about +in the hall, half pleased and half frightened +with the excitement, their nurse was scolding +and crying and vainly endeavoring to +dress the small Polly.</p> + +<p>So it was plain enough that for the next few +minutes Mollie had difficulty enough in keeping +her wits about her and in quieting her +family, especially as every now and then she +could hear her husband's voice from below +calling on her to hurry as quickly as possible.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>Only Bobbin at once slipped into a +heavy, long coat and shoes and rushed +back to Polly's room. The door was +locked, but she pounded patiently and +automatically on the outside, unable, of +course, to hear the answering voice from +within.</p> + +<p>Then there came a sudden hoarse shout +from below stairs and in that instant +Mr. Webster, dashing up a flight of steps +almost at one bound, returned with the +baby in his arms, while Mollie led one +of the small boys and the nurse the other.</p> + +<p>"Come on, you and Polly, at once!" +Mollie cried, waving her hands and pointing +toward the great hall to show that +there was no time for further delay.</p> + +<p>But this was evident enough to Bobbin +without being told, for the smoke was +pouring out of the parlor into the hall +and coming up the stairs like a great +advancing army.</p> + +<p>However, Bobbin would not leave her +post. There was not the faintest thought +in her brain of ever stirring from without +that locked door until the one person whom +she loved in the world should come forth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +from it. And she was not conscious of +feeling particularly afraid, only she could +not understand why Miss O'Neill would +not hurry.</p> + +<p>A moment later, however, and Bobbin +found herself outside standing alone in +the snow.</p> + +<p>There had been no possible outcry on +her part, no explanation and no argument, +of course. Only when one of the farm +laborers rushing up-stairs had seen the +little girl loitering in the hall, without +saying by your leave, he had seized her +in his arms and borne her struggling through +the now stifling smoke.</p> + +<p>Outside in the yard Bobbin for a moment +felt weak and confused. For all +at once the place seemed to be swarming +with excited people.</p> + +<p>There were a dozen men and their families +living on the big farm with houses of their +own. And now the ringing of a great +bell had brought them all out with their +wives and children as well.</p> + +<p>The women were swarming about Mollie +with their children, crying, gesticulating, +talking. It was a clear, white night and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +Bobbin could see them easily. The men +were engaged in rushing back and forth +with pails of water, fearing that the water +might freeze on the way.</p> + +<p>But there was nowhere any sign of +Polly!</p> + +<p>Bobbin did not try to attract attention. +In the instant it did not even occur to +her that she might not have been able +to make any one understand. Simply +and without being seen she slipped into +one of the big front windows, opened by +the men as a passage-way, and started +fighting her way again up the black, smoke-laden +steps.</p> + +<p>There seemed to be no more air, it was +all a thick, foggy substance that got into your +throat and made you unable to breathe and +into your eyes so that you could not see. +But Bobbin went resolutely on.</p> + +<p>She clung to the banisters and dragged +herself upward, either too stupid or too +intent on her errand to suffer fear. Nevertheless, +through the smoke she could see +that long tongues of flame were bursting +out of the doors of the back parlor into +the hall beneath her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>Only, once more at Polly's bedroom door +Bobbin lost heart and the only real terror +she ever remembered enduring seized hold +on her. For Polly's door was still locked +and she had no means of making her hear.</p> + +<p>All that she could accomplish by hammering +and kicking she had done before. +Of course, she tried this again, yet the +door did not open and so far as Bobbin +could know there was no movement from +the inside.</p> + +<p>Yet next Miss O'Neill's room there was +her own room and the door of this was +unfastened. With a kind of half-blind +impulse Bobbin staggered into it. She +had no clear or definite idea of what she +intended doing, yet fortunately this room +was only partially filled with smoke so +that she could in a measure see her way +about.</p> + +<p>There in the corner stood an old-fashioned, +heavy wooden chair. Almost +instinctively Bobbin seized hold on it. +She was curiously strong, doubly so to +any other girl of her age, since she had +lived outdoors always like a little barbarian. +Besides, there was nothing else<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +that could be done. She must break down +Miss O'Neill's door.</p> + +<p>With all her force the girl hurled the +heavy chair against the oak door. There +were a few marks on its surface, yet the +door remained absolutely firm, for the +Webster house had been built in the days +when wood had been plentiful in the New +Hampshire hills and homes had been expected +to endure.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Bobbin pounded again and +again, almost automatically her thin arms +seemed to work, and yet all her effort +was without avail.</p> + +<p>During these moments no one can guess +exactly what emotions tore at the girl's +heart. If only she could have cried out +her alarm and her desire, surely she would +have been answered!</p> + +<p>Bobbin's face worked strangely, there +was a kind of throbbing in her ears and her +lips moved. "Polly!" she called in a +hoarse little whisper, and this was the +first word she had ever spoken in her life.</p> + +<p>Inside in her smoke-filled room Polly +O'Neill could not possibly have heard her. +For the past fifteen minutes, during all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +the excitement due to the fire, she had +been lying upon her bed in a stifled condition. +For no one had realized that as +Polly's room was immediately above the +back parlor, where the fire had been +smouldering ever since the children had +gone up-stairs to bed, her room had been +first to be filled with smoke. Yet the +smoke had come so slowly, so gradually +as she lay in a kind of exhausted sleep, +that she had been stupefied rather than +awakened by it.</p> + +<p>Now was it the miracle rather than the +sound of Bobbin's speaking her name that +penetrated slowly to Polly's consciousness, +or was it the noise of the repeated pounding +of the heavy chair against her door? +Whatever the cause, she came back to +the world, choking, blinded, fighting with +her hands to keep off the black substance +that was crowding into her lungs.</p> + +<p>Then somehow she managed to crawl +across her room, remembering that the +smoke would be denser higher up in the +atmosphere. Unlocking the door, she turned +the handle and Bobbin caught her as she +half fell into the hall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>With a quick movement the girl put +her arm about the older woman's waist +and started for the stairway, for the hall +was dense with smoke and now and then +a tongue of flame leaped up from below +and seemed to dance for a moment in the +air about them.</p> + +<p>It was overpowering, unendurable. Polly +was already dazed and exhausted and her +lungs were always delicate. At the top +of the stairs she became a dead weight +on her companion's arms. Besides, by +this time Bobbin too was very weary.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">The Discovery</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>A FEW moments after Bobbin's disappearance +inside the house Mollie +O'Neill had suddenly torn herself +away from the people closed about her in +their effort to hide from her eyes the possible +destruction of her home.</div> + +<p>She looked searchingly around her.</p> + +<p>"Polly!" she called, "Polly!" For the +first moment since the fire started, she +seemed to be losing her self-control. For +all at once it had come to her in a terrifying +flash that she had not caught a glimpse of her +sister since the moment when she had gone +up-stairs at eight o'clock to retire to bed.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Polly must be somewhere +near by. She must have heard her calling +and she had had plenty of time to escape, +more than any one else, as she had no one +else to look after save herself. Yet it was +not like Polly not to have come at once to +her aid with the children!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mollie ran here and there about the yard, +still crying out her sister's name, horror +and conviction growing upon her at every +step.</p> + +<p>At last she caught sight of her husband +directing half a dozen men and caught hold +of his arm.</p> + +<p>"Billy, Polly is still inside the house, +locked in her own room. Don't ask me +how I know it, I do. We have got to go +in and get her." And Mollie started +quickly toward the front porch, until her +husband flung his arms about her.</p> + +<p>"Wait here, Mollie," he said sternly. +"You will do no good, only make things +harder for me. If Polly is inside the house, +as you say, I'll have her out in a jiffy."</p> + +<p>Then he called to one of the men. "Keep +Mrs. Webster here. On no account let +her follow me," he commanded, and glancing +about in every direction as he ran, he too +made for the house.</p> + +<p>Assuredly Mollie was right. Neither +had he gotten even a passing glimpse of +Polly since the alarm of fire. But was it +going to be so simple a matter to rescue her +as he had pretended to his wife? For<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +certainly if Polly had heard nothing of the +tumult and danger surrounding her she +must be already hurt and unconscious.</p> + +<p>Once inside his own hall Billy Webster +squared his great shoulders. The way +ahead of him now looked like a pathway of +flame and yet the smoke was harder to +endure than the heat. Nevertheless go +through it he must, since Polly's room lay +at the head of the stairs.</p> + +<p>She must be saved. Billy had a sudden +vision of Polly from her girlhood until now; +her wilfulness, her charm and her great +talent. How stupidly he had opposed her +desire to be an actress in the days when he +had supposed himself in love with Polly +O'Neill instead of her twin sister! Well, +now they understood each other and were +friends and she should not come to grief +in his house.</p> + +<p>In his pocket there was a wet handkerchief. +Indeed, all his clothes were fortunately +damp from the water that had +been splashed upon him in the work +outdoors. Quickly the man tied the handkerchief +about his mouth. Then he took +a few steps forward and paused. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +was a noise of something falling from above; +possibly some of the timbers of the old +house were beginning to give way. Could +they be under Polly's room?</p> + +<p>But even while he thought, Billy Webster +fought his way deliberately forward until +he at last reached the bottom of the stairs +and then his feet struck something soft and +yielding. Stooping down, he caught up +two figures in his arms, not one!</p> + +<p>For in that moment at the head of the +stairs when Polly had lost consciousness +Bobbin had managed to half carry, half +drag her on a part of the way. Then +realizing that her own strength was failing, +with instinctive good sense and courage she +had flung them both forward, so that they +both slid inertly down to the bottom of +the stairs.</p> + +<p>Instantly and without feeling their weight +the man carried the woman and girl out of +doors.</p> + +<p>Poor Bobbin, whom in these last terrible +moments they had forgotten! Yet she +it was who had remembered better than +them all!</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, although both Polly and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +Bobbin were unconscious, neither of them +was seriously burned. Yet Mollie was +dreadfully disturbed. Polly had come to +visit them on account of her health, and +there was no way of foretelling what effect +this night's experience might have upon her. +Here she was in her night dress, outdoors +in the cold, when the rest of them were +warmly clothed.</p> + +<p>However, in another moment Polly was +comfortably wrapped in a long coat and +carried to the nearest house of one of the +farm assistants. Bobbin too was equally +well looked after, and as soon as she had +been in the fresh air for a few moments +the girl's breath had come back to her and +she was soon almost herself again.</p> + +<p>Yet by this time all the women and +children had grown tired, for there was +nothing that they could do. Five minutes +before, Mollie's two boys and little girl and +nurse had been taken away and put to bed +by one of the farmer's wives. Moreover, +real assistance was arriving at last.</p> + +<p>In the excitement some one had been +intelligent enough to get to the telephone +in the dining room before the fire had crept<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +in that direction. The town of Woodford +had promised to send help. Even now the +volunteer fire department of the village +with an engine and hose carriage was +trampling over the snow-covered lawns of +the old Webster homestead.</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later a physician +appeared and also Betty and Anthony +Graham. Afterwards actually there were +dozens of Mollie's and Billy's friends who +drove out in their motor cars to take the +family home with them, or to do whatever +was possible for their relief and comfort.</p> + +<p>By this time the fire in the old house +had been vanquished and the earth was +filled with the cold grayness of approaching +dawn.</p> + +<p>Mollie would see no one but Betty, who +stayed on with her and the physician in the +room given up to Polly. Mrs. Wharton had +been persuaded not to come, and Anthony +Graham had gone back to town to make +things clear to her.</p> + +<p>"It is just like Polly to be such a ridiculously +long time in coming to herself," +Betty explained to her frightened friend. +"I don't think it means anything in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +least alarming." Yet all the time she was +wishing that the physician who held Polly's +thin wrist, counting her pulse, would not +look so deadly serious.</p> + +<p>However, no matter what she might fear +herself, Mollie must be strengthened and +comforted. Her nerves had given way +under the recent strain and fright. It was +almost impossible for her to keep her teeth +from chattering and she was unable to +stand up. Notwithstanding, nothing would +persuade her to leave her sister's room.</p> + +<p>"For if anything serious is the matter +with Polly, of course if will be my fault and +I shall never forgive myself," she would +repeat over and over. "You see, I forgot +Polly; it was only Bobbin who remembered."</p> + +<p>Finally, however, there was a sign from +the doctor by Polly's bedside which Betty +managed to intercept. Without a word to +Mollie she slipped across the room to find +Polly's eyes wide open and staring in perplexity +at her.</p> + +<p>"What on earth has happened, Betty?" +she demanded impatiently, although her +voice was so faint it was difficult to hear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +"What are you and Mollie and I doing in +a room I never saw before, with me feeling +as if I had been out of the world and then +gotten only half-way back into it again?"</p> + +<p>At the sound of her sister's voice +Mollie had also moved toward the bed. +She was distressingly white, her soft blue +eyes had dark circles around them and +she seemed utterly spent and exhausted.</p> + +<p>Quickly Polly reached out her weak hand.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Mollie Mavourneen?" she +asked nervously, using the name of their +childhood.</p> + +<p>Then before either woman replied: "Oh, +I remember," she said faintly. "There +was a dreadful lot of smoke in my room and +I got to the door somehow. Bobbin was +there and I can't recall anything else."</p> + +<p>This time Polly's fingers clung tightly.</p> + +<p>"Was any one injured? Was your lovely +house burned down?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>But Mollie could only shake her head, +while the tears ran slowly down her soft +cheeks.</p> + +<p>However, Betty spoke reassuringly. "It +is all right, Polly dear. No one is in the +least hurt. We were afraid for a while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +you had been stifled by the smoke, but you +are perfectly well now. And Billy says +the house has been saved. Of course, it +has been a good deal damaged inside, but +that can soon be restored."</p> + +<p>Polly smiled. "Then for goodness sake +do put Mollie to bed! She looks like a +ghost and I am terribly sleepy myself. +I have been ever since eight o'clock last +night and I've no doubt it is now nearly +morning."</p> + +<p>Yet, as her sister and friend were tiptoeing +softly away, Polly beckoned Betty +to come back to her.</p> + +<p>"Bobbin saved my life, didn't she?" she +inquired gently. "I don't think I should +ever have gotten down that dreadful smoke-filled +hall except for her."</p> + +<p>Silently Betty nodded; for the moment +she did not feel able to speak, because the +story of Bobbin's courage and devotion had +touched her very deeply.</p> + +<p>"It is like bread cast upon the waters, +isn't it?" Polly murmured faintly. "It +returns to one buttered."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Once More in Concord</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>BUT as Polly did not immediately +recover from the shock and exposure +of the fire, Betty Graham did not +return home with her family to Concord.</div> + +<p>Anthony took the nurse and children and +Faith Barton accompanied them, in order +to keep Angelique from being lonely, she +explained. However, her real desire, of +course, was to be able to see as much as +possible of Kenneth Helm.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the carrying on of her +romance with the same secrecy as she had +first observed was not so easy now, nor did +it seem to Faith so desirable as in the +beginning. Yet Kenneth still implored +her to say nothing for a short while longer. +In a few weeks perhaps things would be all +right with him, so that he would have +sufficient money not to worry over the +future. Then, of course, they could explain +the reason for their silence. In the meantime,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +however, perhaps they had best be a +little more careful, for people were noticing +their intimacy and beginning to talk. +Indeed, Faith's chief difficulty was that her +foster parents, Rose and Doctor Barton, +had observed her marked interest in +Kenneth Helm during his Christmas visit +with them and had asked Faith if there was +anything between them.</p> + +<p>Naturally this placed the girl in a painfully +trying position. She was devotedly +fond of both Rose and Doctor Barton, who +were in reality not old enough to be her +parents, although they had always treated +her like an adored child, giving in to most +of her whims and wishes. But while Faith +was selfish and considered her own dreams +and desires of the utmost importance, she +was neither ungrateful nor unloving, nor +fond of deceiving the people for whom she +cared. The trouble was that she was too +much under Kenneth Helm's influence, else +she would never have consented to keeping +their engagement a secret.</p> + +<p>Faith was not aware of the fact, but in +reality it was Kenneth who had made the +concealment of their affection for each other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +appear romantic and alluring to her eyes. +Often she had longed to confide the news +to Betty after Angel had proved so unexpectedly +unsympathetic. However, having +given her word to Kenneth, she felt in duty +bound to keep it, and moreover she was the +least bit afraid of him.</p> + +<p>The real truth of the matter was that +Faith Barton was more in love with Kenneth +than he was with her. Not that Faith was +unattractive, but because Kenneth was +incapable of caring a great deal for any one +except himself.</p> + +<p>In the beginning he had been greatly +interested, for Faith was pretty and full +of a great many amusing ideas and ideals. +Moreover, at the time she was a favored +member of Governor Graham's family and +might turn out to be useful. But Kenneth +had no actual desire to marry any one for +the present and had not at first taken their +engagement seriously. Recently, however, +discovering that Faith was desperately in +earnest and that she might at any moment +announce the fact to her family and friends, +the young man had been extremely uncomfortable. +More than once he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +reproached himself for not having made a +friend of Angelique instead of Faith. She +was not nearly so pretty, but she was +cleverer and she might have been more +helpful.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Kenneth rather admired the +fashion in which Angel had kept her word +with him and had not reported the fact +of his presence in the Governor's study on +the night of the Inaugural Ball. Besides +she had never referred to his accusation +against her, so there was no doubt that +the little French girl was a true sport, +whatever else she might be.</p> + +<p>Moreover, when Governor Graham and +his family returned to the Governor's +mansion it was plain enough that Angel +must have enjoyed some good fortune in +their absence. She seemed to have cast +off her embarrassment and chagrin over the +suspicion which had rested upon her, and +no one had ever seen her so happy or so +gay.</p> + +<p>Before little Bettina had been at home +five minutes she and Angelique had vanished +up-stairs together and were soon locked +fast in the big nursery.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Angel straightway drew a large envelope +out of her pocket and began waving +it before Bettina's astonished eyes. Naturally +the little girl had no idea that a letter +could be so very important, not even so +large a one as Angel's.</p> + +<p>An instant later and she was the more +mystified, for her companion had slipped +a long, rather narrow piece of paper, with +queer scrawls written upon it, out of the +envelope and was also holding it up for her +audience to admire.</p> + +<p>Bettina smiled politely although a trifle +wistfully. It was hard luck not being able +to read anything except printed letters +when one was as old as six. However, her +mother and father did not wish her to +become a student too early in life.</p> + +<p>"It is a very nice letter, Angel, if it makes +you so glad," Bettina remarked gently; +"only there does not seem to be a great deal +of writing on it."</p> + +<p>Then the older girl threw her arm about +her little friend's neck and hugged her close.</p> + +<p>"Of course you don't understand, darling, +and it's hateful of me to tease you," she +protested. "But that piece of paper is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +check; it represents two hundred whole +dollars, the most money I have ever had +at once in my life. And do you know how +I got it? Our little picture of 'Snow +White and Rose Red' received the prize +in the magazine contest. I had a letter, +too, saying that though it was not the best +drawing, it was the loveliest little girl. +So you see it was really all because of you, +Bettina, that I got the prize!"</p> + +<p>Then Angel did another mysterious thing. +She made Bettina close her eyes very tight +and while they were closed she clasped +something around her neck which fastened +with a tiny click. Then on opening them +the little girl discovered a shining gold +heart outside her white dress, and in the +center of the heart a small, clear stone that +glittered like a star.</p> + +<p>"I got it for you; it is your Christmas +present from me, Bettina," Angel explained. +"And I want you to try and keep it always +so that you may not forget 'Snow White +and Rose Red.' Only please don't tell +any one of my having gotten the prize until +your mother comes home; I want her to +know first."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + +<p>Naturally Bettina promised and having +promised she was not a child who ever +broke her word. Perhaps the request was +an unfortunate one under the circumstances, +and yet how could Angel ever have imagined +such a possibility?</p> + +<p>A few days later, coming into his wife's +private sitting room, which was next her +bedroom, quite by accident Governor +Graham happened to catch sight of a +beautiful new silver bowl which he did not +recall having seen before. Then besides +its newness it had a card lying inside which +attracted his attention.</p> + +<p>"Some one has sent Betty a Christmas +gift which she probably knows nothing of," +Anthony thought carelessly. "I must +write and tell her of it." Casually he +picked up the card and saw Angelique +Martins' name engraved upon it.</p> + +<p>The next moment he looked at the bowl +more attentively. Of course he knew very +little of these matters, yet this present struck +him as being an exceedingly expensive one +from a girl in Angelique's position. She +received a very small salary for her work +and she must have many needs of her own.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Governor Graham frowned uneasily, +for he had suddenly remembered that +Bettina had exhibited a beautiful little +gold chain and necklace which her adored +Angel had recently given her. How had +the girl acquired so much money all at +once? Really he preferred not to have to +consider such a question, and yet it might +possibly become his duty.</p> + +<p>Sitting down in front of the fire, Anthony +tried to forget his annoyances in smoking +a cigar, but found it impossible.</p> + +<p>The close of the Christmas holidays had +not made his responsibilities less; indeed, +they were crowding more thickly upon him. +The lost papers had not been found and in +another week ex-Governor Peyton, Jack +Emmet and John Everett would have their +bill before the Legislature. They had +many friends and unless he were able to +prove their dishonesty the bill might be +passed in spite of the Governor's objections.</p> + +<p>Finally Anthony glanced toward the +mantel-piece where by chance his eyes +rested upon a photograph of Betty.</p> + +<p>Immediately his expression changed. "I +shall write Betty of this whole business<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +tonight," he announced out loud, in his +determination. "I have been an utter +idiot to have kept the situation from her for +so long a time. I have wondered recently +if perhaps she was not quite so fond of me +because I was taking her less into my +confidence? Goodness knows, that is the +only sensible thing for a man and wife to +do! Besides, Betty seemed more like her +old self when we were in Woodford and so +perhaps I can make her understand how I +hate to seem hard on her old friends. But +in any case this suspicion that Kenneth +Helm has fastened in my mind against +Angel must be looked into by Betty. +Angel is a young girl and Betty has been +like her older sister. Whatever she has +done, I don't know that I would have the +courage to disgrace her, but perhaps Betty +may be able to persuade the child to return +the letters to us if she has taken them. +Heigh-ho! It will be a relief to me at least +to have the Princess take hold of this +situation for me."</p> + +<p>And Governor Graham spent the entire +evening in his sitting room writing to his +wife until after midnight.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Things Are Cleared Up</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>AS Polly was a little better, immediately +upon receipt of her husband's letter +Betty hurried home.</div> + +<p>First she and Anthony had a long talk +together until things were once more quite +clear and happy between them.</p> + +<p>Of course Anthony insisted that he had +been unreasonable and that Betty was a +"Counsel of Perfection" just as he had +always believed her; nevertheless the Princess +was by no means ready to agree with +him; nor was Polly's little sermon in +Sunrise Cabin ever entirely forgotten.</p> + +<p>Naturally Betty was grieved to hear that +Anthony considered her old friend, John +Everett, and also Meg's husband, Jack +Emmet, dishonest; yet when he had carefully +explained all his reasons for thinking +so, she was finally convinced.</p> + +<p>Not for a single instant, however, would +she consider the bare possibility of Angelique<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +Martins' having had anything to do +with the loss of the Governor's important +letters. She had known Angel too long +and too well and trusted her entirely. +Besides, she had been one of her own Camp +Fire girls who had kept the Camp Fire laws +and gained its not easily acquired honors.</p> + +<p>So Betty Graham did the only intelligent +thing in all such difficulties and suspicions—she +went directly to Angel and told her that +she believed in her, but asked that they +might discuss the whole matter. She even +told her that she and Governor Graham had +both wondered at her having a sum of +money which she could scarcely have +earned through her work.</p> + +<p>The woman and the girl were in Betty's +pretty sitting room when they had their +long talk. It was their first meeting without +other people being present since Mrs. +Graham's return. And Angel sat on a +little stool at her friend's feet with her dark +eyes gazing directly into those of her dearest +friend.</p> + +<p>It was good to have this opportunity for +confidences. Angel breathed a sigh of +relief when she learned that the Governor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +had confessed his own suspicion to his +wife. For she had never a moment's fear +that Betty might fail in faith toward her. +Of course, she had never seen the missing +letters and had no idea what could have +become of them.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was curious, yet not even to +the Governor's wife did Angelique during +this interview speak of her own distrust of +Kenneth Helm. She was hardly conscious +of the exact reasons for her reticence, except +she had no possible proof against Kenneth, +and Betty and the Governor were both +fond of him. Moreover, it seemed a disloyalty +to Faith Barton to suspect the +man to whom Faith had given her affection.</p> + +<p>But Angel was very happy to explain +where she had acquired her recent wealth +and Betty was as happy and proud as only +Betty Graham could be of her friends' +good fortunes. She could hardly wait to +see the picture, of course, and registered +an unspoken vow that Angel should have +art lessons when she had so much talent, +no matter how much the girl herself +might oppose the idea. Certainly she and +Anthony would owe this much to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +little friend for even the faintest doubt of +her.</p> + +<p>But Angel had other information which +she was even more shy in confessing. It +did not amount to very much at present, +only she and Horace Everett had taken a +great fancy to each other during Horace's +stay in Concord for the Christmas holidays. +She had seen him nearly every day and +Horace had made no secret of his liking for +her. He had not exactly proposed, but had +told her that he meant to as soon as he had +known her long enough to make it proper.</p> + +<p>It was all very beautiful and unexpected +to Angelique, for she had seldom dreamed +of any one's caring for her in just this +particular way. And that it should be so +splendid a person as Horace Everett made +everything more wonderful. Of course, +Angel could not be so unhappy as she had +been before Christmas; nevertheless, for +Betty's and Governor Graham's sake she +felt that the mystery of the lost letters +must be cleared up within the next few +days.</p> + +<p>There was only one piece of information, +however, which Betty had given her that +offered any possible clue to the enigma.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +Governor Graham believed that whoever +had taken the letters had probably sold +them to the three men who would most +profit by their disappearance.</p> + +<p>Yet Angel had no experience in the work +of a detective and could only hope to be +of use, without the faintest idea of how she +might manage it.</p> + +<p>There was one thing, however, which +Angelique regarded as her absolute duty +after her own talk with Betty Graham. +She simply must endeavor to be better +friends with Faith Barton. For somehow +Betty's faith and affection for her had +served to remind her of her almost forgotten +Camp Fire loyalties.</p> + +<p>Kinder than any one else except Betty, +Faith had certainly been to her long ago, +when she had first come, ill and a stranger, +to Sunrise Cabin. Besides, what had Faith +ever done except be a little selfish and +unreasonable of late, and Angel knew that +she was troubled by her own affairs?</p> + +<p>It was only a few nights after her own +interview with Betty, when one evening +immediately after dinner, Angel went up +alone to Faith's room for the first time since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +their misunderstanding. She did not know +whether Faith would care to see her, but +she meant to try. For Faith had not dined +with the rest of the family; she had sent +down word that she had a headache and +desired to be left alone.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, when she discovered who it +was who was knocking at her door, she +grudgingly said, "Come in."</p> + +<p>The truth was that Faith was unhappy +and needed consolation. She had never had +any trouble in her life before without some +one to comfort her, and now possibly Angel +was the only person who could be of service, +since Angel alone knew her secret.</p> + +<p>Faith was sitting up in bed looking very +pretty in a pale blue cashmere dressing +gown with a cap of white muslin and lace +on her fair hair. Yet she had plainly been +crying, for her eyes and nose were both a +little red. Moreover, she had eaten no +dinner, as a tray of food sat untouched on a +small table close beside her.</p> + +<p>So Angel's first effort was quietly to persuade +Faith to have something to eat. +Then she led her to talking of Woodford +and the Christmas with Rose and Doctor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +Barton. And within a few moments Faith +was again in tears.</p> + +<p>It could not be very wrong, she then +decided, to confide what was worrying her +to so insignificant a person as Angel. +Surely even Kenneth could not resent this!</p> + +<p>So Faith revealed the fact that she had +recently received a letter from Rose Barton +and that Rose had asked her again if she +felt any unusual interest in Kenneth Helm. +Rose had been very kind and had said more +than once that she did not wish to force +Faith's confidence. Only she cared for her +and her happiness so much that she hoped +Faith would keep no secret of this kind +from her.</p> + +<p>And Faith had gone immediately with +this letter to Kenneth Helm, begging him +that she at least be allowed to confess their +engagement to the two friends who had been +almost more than a father and mother to +her.</p> + +<p>However, Kenneth had absolutely and +flatly refused and Faith could not make up +her mind what she should do.</p> + +<p>Without a word or a sign Angelique +heard the entire story through, although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +she was secretly raging with indignation +against Kenneth and wondering how Faith +could possibly be so much under his influence +that she seemed to have no mind +or will of her own.</p> + +<p>Moreover, even after Faith had ended +her story and sat evidently waiting for some +comment from her companion, Angel could +think of nothing to say that would be +sufficiently circumspect. For if she even +so much as breathed a word against Kenneth, +Faith would probably be exceedingly angry +and rally to his defence at once. So the +little French girl sat motionless on the side +of the bed, staring rather stupidly at the +wall opposite her.</p> + +<p>By and by, however, Faith leaned over +and put her arms about her.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Angel, just what you would +do if you were in my place?" the girl pleaded. +"Really, I am so miserable I can't decide."</p> + +<p>Angel looked at her earnestly. "Do you +really mean that?" she queried. And when +Faith bowed her head, she answered decisively:</p> + +<p>"Why, if I were you, I should simply +write to Kenneth Helm tonight and say to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +him that he was either to allow you to tell +Rose and Doctor Barton of your engagement +or else you would consider your +engagement broken."</p> + +<p>Faith caught her breath and then her +cheeks flushed.</p> + +<p>"Would you mind getting me some +paper and the pen and ink out of my desk?" +she returned quietly.</p> + +<p>And Angel, almost dazed by the quickness +with which the other girl had accepted her +suggestion, at once walked over to her desk. +But the drawer of the desk which contained +the paper had stuck and as she had only one +hand (the other held her cane) she had to +tug and tug at it before it would come +loose.</p> + +<p>Then of course it behaved in the usual +fashion. For suddenly the entire drawer +plunged forward and every single thing it +contained scattered over the floor. There +were letters and papers and ribbons and +photographs and pens and pencils and +powder puffs.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 298px;"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a> +<img src="images/i239.png" width="298" height="500" alt="She Sprang Out of Bed Herself the Next Moment" title="" /> +<span class="caption">She Sprang Out of Bed Herself the Next Moment</span> +</div> + +<p>"Oh, I am so sorry, Faith dear! I am +the most awkward person in the whole +world," Angel apologized. "But if you'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +just forgive me I'll clear up in half a +minute."</p> + +<p>Faith smiled a little restlessly as her +friend stooped to her task.</p> + +<p>However, she sprang out of bed herself +the next moment, for Angel had picked up a +package from the floor which had a blue +paper and a rubber band about it and was +also marked with the Governor's official +seal.</p> + +<p>Faith tried to jerk the letters from her +friend's hand.</p> + +<p>"Put those down at once, Angel!" she +commanded angrily. "Why don't you +do as I tell you? Those papers are not +mine; I am keeping them for Kenneth +Helm. He told me they were of the most +private nature possible and that no one was +to be allowed to see them."</p> + +<p>However, even after this stern injunction, +the French girl did not give up the package +of letters. Instead, without Faith's being +aware of her intention, she kept edging +nearer and nearer toward the door which +led into the hall and so farther along to +Betty's and Governor Graham's rooms. +She remembered that they had also gone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +up-stairs together after dinner. And her +hope was that they had not yet left the +house.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly she turned, and running +faster than she ever had since her lameness +she got out of Faith's bedroom and was on +her way to her desired destination.</p> + +<p>Moreover, for the moment Faith made no +effort to follow her, for she believed Angel +to have lost her senses.</p> + +<p>Why should she desire to run away with +Kenneth Helm's private papers? Faith +could even now hear Angel's cane tapping +its way rapidly along the hall.</p> + +<p>Then she ran to the door and stuck her +head out, calling the other girl to return. +She didn't quite dare follow her, for she +had on only her night-dress and dressing +gown and the servants or Governor Graham +might probably see her.</p> + +<p>For another half hour Faith had to +remain in anger and suspense. Of course, +she dressed as quickly as possible and +went to Angel's room, but Angel was not +there, neither could she be discovered in +either of the children's nurseries or in +any room on the ground floor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>At last in desperation Faith knocked on +Mrs. Graham's sitting room door. It was +Betty herself who answered the knock, +although Faith caught a glimpse of Angelique +Martins standing with the Governor +under a rose-colored electric light and +thought they both looked unusually cheerful.</p> + +<p>Moreover, it was Betty and not Angel +who returned to the bedroom with Faith.</p> + +<p>Just as carefully and as kindly as she +could Betty then explained the importance +of Angel's discovery to her guest. She +said that it was very hard indeed for them +to believe that Kenneth Helm had stolen +these letters, since Governor Graham had +felt every confidence in him. However, +if Faith declared that Kenneth had given +her the letters for safe-keeping, there was +nothing else for them to believe. He must +have demanded a larger sum of money for +the papers than the other men were willing +to pay him. Therefore, it had evidently +been his intention to keep them until the +last moment in order to accomplish his end.</p> + +<p>Of course, this statement of Betty +Graham's at the time was only a surmise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +on the part of her husband, notwithstanding +it turned out to be the correct one.</p> + +<p>For Kenneth Helm finally confessed the +truth himself in the face of the evidence +which Governor Graham held against him. +His only excuse was the dangerous and +disastrous one that he had longed to grow +rich sooner than he could with the everyday +grind of a business career.</p> + +<p>So, after all, Faith Barton wrote her letter +on the same evening she had intended. +Betty's and Angel's and Governor Graham's +suspicions of Kenneth, besides the facts +themselves, were more than enough to +convince her judgment, especially when her +heart had been having its own misgivings +for some time past.</p> + +<p>It was in entire meekness of spirit and +yet in thanksgiving that Faith Barton +decided upon breaking off her engagement, +which she was glad never to have acknowledged +to any one save Angelique Martins. +Angel, she knew, would never betray her. +Nevertheless, before Faith had been at +home twenty-four hours she had confessed +the entire story to Rose Barton and together +they had wept over her fortunate escape.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">Finis</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>POLLY O'NEILL was on her sister's +front porch reading a letter from +Doctor Sylvia Wharton. It was now +spring time.</div> + +<p>Sylvia had written that Bobbin was +getting on at school in the most amazing +fashion. Not only could she now pronounce +Polly's name but hundreds of others, +and she could certainly hear better than she +had several months before.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Polly let the letter slide +out of her hand and the tears came to her +eyes. She was not sad, however, only so +extremely glad for Bobbin's sake and +for her own.</p> + +<p>"After all, perhaps I am not so entirely +selfish a human being as some persons +believe me," she announced to herself with +a shrug of her shoulders. "For at least +one little girl in this world does not think +so, and never shall."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Polly closed her eyes and fell to +dreaming. She was not really asleep, only +resting. She had had rather a hard +struggle after Mollie's fire and her own +unfortunate part in it. That wretched cold +she had taken settled on her lungs immediately +afterwards and she was now only +strong enough to lead an ordinary existence. +There was no thought of her acting again +until the next fall.</p> + +<p>She was not yet feeling particularly +vigorous, so now although she plainly +heard the sound of a man's footsteps +approaching the veranda, she made no +effort to open her eyes. It was probably +Billy or one of his farm men. If a question +should be asked of her then would come the +time for answering it.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, she had not expected that +the man would walk deliberately up to her +and then stand in front of her without +saying a word.</p> + +<p>Miss O'Neill felt annoyed and her cheeks +flamed with the two bright spots of color +always characteristic of her. Notwithstanding, +she opened her eyes coldly and +calmly, haughtily she hoped.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>The intruder did not flinch. He merely +continued gazing at her and still without +speaking.</p> + +<p>But Polly's flush burned deeper, although +she also said nothing.</p> + +<p>"I had to come, Miss Polly," Richard +Hunt announced at last.</p> + +<p>Polly motioned to a chair near by. +"You were good—to trouble," she returned +slowly. "It has been four months since +I saw you last and asked you to come; and +since then I have very nearly died."</p> + +<p>Then she smiled and held out her hand +with the utmost friendliness.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," she begged. "I am glad +to see you at any time. I am afraid I am +behaving like the preacher who reproaches +the members of his congregation for not +doing their duty and attending service on the +very Sundays when they have shown up."</p> + +<p>But Richard Hunt would not be frivolous.</p> + +<p>"Have you wanted to see me?" he asked +gravely.</p> + +<p>Polly nodded.</p> + +<p>"Then why didn't you write or have some +one tell me? I would have come across +the world if I had known," he replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> + +<p>In return Polly shrugged her shoulders. +"I did everything I could when we were in +Colorado to persuade you to be friends with +me again. I behaved without the least +pride; I almost begged you to be kind to +me. Of course you were very nice then and +interested in Bobbin, but I could not go on +forever pleading for your friendship. Still +I thought at least when you heard I was ill +that you might be sorry."</p> + +<p>Then to her own complete chagrin Polly +felt her eyes filling with tears.</p> + +<p>How big and strong and restful Richard +Hunt looked! Why had she not had the +sense to have married him in the days when +he had cared for her? Somehow she +believed that her life would have been ever +so much happier and more satisfying. She +could have gone on with her work too, +because no one in the world except Richard +Hunt had ever understood how much of her +heart was wrapped up in it—perhaps +because he was an actor himself and loved +his own art.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding, Polly realized that she +could scarcely cry before her visitor for +his affection, which she had so deliberately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +thrown away a good many years before. +Moreover, what would Mollie think of her +bad manners toward their guest?</p> + +<p>Slowly she got up from her chair.</p> + +<p>"Do come into the house with me and +see my sister, Mr. Hunt?" she said +graciously. "And you must stay and have +lunch with us, or even longer if you will. +I am sure my brother-in-law will be more +than happy to meet you again."</p> + +<p>But Richard Hunt did not stir. "Please +sit down again, Polly," he urged more +gently. "You don't look strong enough +to be walking about alone. I want to +explain to you why I have seemed unappreciative +of your friendliness. You will +have to understand this in the future as +well as now, for possibly after today I shall +not see you again."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Polly exclaimed a little huskily, +and fortunately she could not see how +white her own face had turned. However, +at this moment her companion was not +looking at her.</p> + +<p>"I can't be your friend, because I happen +still to be too much in love with you for +mere friendship," Richard Hunt continued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +in the quiet, self-contained fashion that had +always made so strong an impression upon +his companion. "I know that I have had +many years to get over this feeling for you, +Polly, and that I should not trouble you by +mentioning my love again. Only I want +you to forgive me and to realize why I may +have seemed not to appreciate your wish +to be friends."</p> + +<p>But Polly was now smiling through her +tears and holding out both hands in her +old irrepressible Irish fashion that neither +the years nor circumstances could change.</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to be just friends with +you either, Richard, if you are still willing +for me to be something more after the way +I have behaved," she whispered. "You +see I only pretended I wanted to be your +friend so you would not give me up altogether."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp Fire Girls in After Years, by +Margaret Vandercook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS *** + +***** This file should be named 34926-h.htm or 34926-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/2/34926/ + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Camp Fire Girls in After Years + +Author: Margaret Vandercook + +Release Date: January 12, 2011 [EBook #34926] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: RICHARD HUNT SAT DOWN ON A WAYSIDE BENCH WITH HER] + + + + + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS + +BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK + +Author of "The Ranch Girls Series," etc. + +ILLUSTRATED + + PHILADELPHIA + THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. + PUBLISHERS + + + + + Copyright, 1915, by + THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY + + +STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS + +Six Volumes + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SUNRISE HILL + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AMID THE SNOWS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ACROSS THE SEA + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' CAREERS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. THE INAUGURAL BALL 7 + II. NEW NAMES FOR OLD ACQUAINTANCES 21 + III. IDLE SUSPICION 32 + IV. TIES FROM OTHER DAYS 44 + V. SOMETHING UNEXPECTED 55 + VI. THE FIRST DISILLUSION 66 + VII. A NEW INTEREST 79 + VIII. "BOBBIN" 91 + IX. BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 101 + X. LONELINESS 110 + XI. A MEETING AND AN EXPLANATION 120 + XII. THE WAY HOME 132 + XIII. "A LITTLE RIFT WITHIN THE LUTE" 140 + XIV. SUSPICION 150 + XV. WAITING TO FIND OUT 160 + XVI. A TALK THAT WAS NOT AN EXPLANATION 172 + XVII. CHRISTMAS 180 + XVIII. THE STUPIDITY OF MEN 191 + XIX. A CRY IN THE NIGHT 201 + XX. THE DISCOVERY 212 + XXI. ONCE MORE IN CONCORD 221 + XXII. THINGS ARE CLEARED UP 230 + XXIII. FINIS 244 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + RICHARD HUNT SAT DOWN ON A WAYSIDE BENCH WITH HER _Frontispiece_ + PAGE + HE GLANCED QUICKLY ABOUT HIM AND THEN DISAPPEARED 39 + ANGEL HAD CAUGHT BETTINA'S ATTITUDE ALMOST EXACTLY 167 + SHE SPRANG OUT OF BED HERSELF THE NEXT MOMENT 239 + + + + +The Camp Fire Girls in After Years + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE INAUGURAL BALL + + +FACING the hills, the great house had a wonderful view of the curving +banks of a river. + +Half an hour before sunset a number of workmen hurried away across the +grounds, while a little later from behind the closed blinds glowed +hundreds of softly shaded electric lights. The lawns were strung with +rows and rows of small lamps suspended from one giant tree to the next, +but waiting for actual darkness to descend before shedding forth their +illumination. + +Evidently preparations had been made on a splendid scale, both inside +the house and out, for an entertainment of some kind. Yet curiously +there seemed to be a strange hush over everything, a sense of anxiety +and suspense pervading the very atmosphere. Then, in odd contrast to the +other lights, the room on the third floor to the left was in almost +total darkness save for a single tiny flame no larger than a nurse's +covered candle. + +At about half-past six o'clock suddenly and with almost no noise the +front door of the house opened. The next moment a slight form appeared +upon the flight of broad steps and gazed down the avenue. From behind +her came the mingled fragrance of roses and violets, while before her +arose the even more delicious tang of earth and grass and softly +drifting autumn leaves of the late October evening. + +Nevertheless neither the beauty of the evening nor its perfumes +attracted the girl's attention, for her expression remained grave and +frightened, and without appearing aware of it she sighed several times. + +Small and dark, with an extraordinary quantity of almost blue-black hair +and a thin white face dominated by a pair of unhappy dark eyes, the +girl's figure suggested a child, although she was plainly older. In her +hand she carried a cane upon which she leaned slightly. + +"It does seem too hard for this trouble to have come at this particular +time," she murmured in unconscious earnestness. "If only I could do +something to help, yet there is absolutely nothing, of course, except to +wait. Still, I wish Faith would come home." + +Then, after peering for another moment down the avenue of old elms and +maple trees, she turned and went back into the house, closing the door +behind her and moving almost noiselessly. + +For the present no one else was to be seen, at least in the front part +of the big mansion, except the solitary figure of this young girl, who +looked somewhat incongruous and out of place in her handsome +surroundings. Notwithstanding, she seemed perfectly at home and was +plainly neither awed by nor unfamiliar with them. The hall was decorated +with palms and evergreens and festoons of vines, and adorning the high +walls were portraits, most of them of men of stern countenance and of a +past generation, while here and there stood a marble bust. But without +regarding any of these things with special attention the girl walked +quickly past them and entered the drawing room on the right. Then at +last her face brightened. + +Surely the room was beautiful enough to have attracted any one's +attention, although it was not exactly the kind of room one would see in +a private house, for it happened to be in the Governor's mansion in the +state of New Hampshire. + +In preparation for the evening's entertainment the furniture had been +moved away except for a number of chairs and divans. The two tall marble +mantels were banked with roses and violets and baskets of roses swung +from the two crystal chandeliers. + +With a murmured exclamation the girl dropped down on a low stool in the +corner where the evergreens almost entirely concealed her and where she +appeared more like an elf creature that had come into the house with the +green things surrounding her than an everyday girl. For a quarter of an +hour she must have remained there alone, when she was aroused from her +reverie by some one's entrance. Then, although the girl did not move or +speak, her whole face changed and the sullen, unhappy look disappeared, +while oddly her eyes filled with tears. + +There could have been nothing fairer in the room than the woman who had +just come quietly into it. She must have been about twenty-eight years +old; her hair was a beautiful auburn, like sunshine on certain brown and +red leaves in the woods in late October; her eyes were gray, and she was +of little more than medium height, with slender hips, but a full throat +and chest. At the present moment she was wearing a house gown of light +blue cashmere, and although she looked as if life might always before +have been kind to her, at present her face was pale and there were marks +of sleeplessness about her eyes and mouth. + +Apparently trying to summon an interest in her surroundings which she +scarcely felt, she glanced about the room until her eyes rested on the +silent girl. + +"Why, Angel, what are you doing in here alone, child? How lovely +everything looks, and yet I am afraid I cannot come down to receive +people tonight. All afternoon I have been trying to make up my mind to +attempt it and each moment it seems more impossible." + +Then with a gesture indicating both fatigue and discouragement the woman +sat down, folding her hands in her lap. + +"But the baby isn't any worse, I heard only half an hour ago," the +younger girl interrupted quickly, and in answer to a shake of the head +from her companion went on: "You simply must be present tonight, +Princess. This is the greatest night in your husband's career and you +know the Inaugural Ball would be an entire failure without you! Staying +up-stairs won't do little Tony any good. And think what it would mean to +the Governor to have to manage all alone! You know you promised Anthony +before his election that you would attend to the social side of his +office for him, as he declared he didn't know enough to undertake it. So +you can't desert him at the very beginning." + +Swiftly Angelique Martins crossed the room and seated herself on the arm +of her friend's chair. "I promise you on my honor that I shall sit just +outside little Tony's bedroom the entire evening and if he is even the +tiniest bit worse I shall come down and tell you on the instant." + +There was a moment of silence and then the newly elected Governor's wife +replied: "I suppose you are right, Angel, and I must try to do what you +say, for nothing else is fair to Anthony. Yet I never dreamed of ever +having to choose between my love and duty to my baby and my husband! But +dear me, I am sure I have not the faintest idea how the Governor's Lady +should behave at her first reception, even if I have to make my debut in +the character in the next few hours." + +Then, in a lighter tone than she had yet used in their conversation, +Betty Ashton, who was now Mrs. Governor Graham, smiled, placing her hand +for a moment on that of her companion. + +For the friendship between Betty Ashton and the little French girl whom +she had discovered at the hospital in Boston had never wavered even +after the Betty of the Camp Fire days had become Mrs. Anthony Graham, +wife of the youngest governor ever elected to the highest office in his +state. Moreover, Betty and Anthony now had two children of their own, +the little Tony, a baby of about two years old, who was now dangerously +ill on the top floor of the Governor's mansion, and Bettina, who was +six. + +Angelique Martins was almost like an adoring younger sister. She was +approaching twenty; yet on account of her lameness and shyness she +appeared much younger. But she was one of the odd girls who in some ways +are like children and yet in others are older than people ever dream. +After her mother's death, several years before, she had come to live +with Betty and Anthony and held a position as an assistant stenographer +in the Governor's office. Ordinarily she was strangely silent and +reserved, so that no one, not even her best friend, entirely understood +her. + +"But you must not miss the ball tonight, Angel," Betty now continued +more cheerfully. "You and Faith have been talking of it for weeks, and +so I can't have you sacrifice yourself for me. Besides, one of the +nurses can do what you offered and send me a message if I am needed. +Don't you remember that your dress is even prettier than Faith's? I was +perfectly determined it should be." And Betty smiled, amused at herself. +She was always a little jealous for her protege of Faith Barton. It was +true that since their first meeting at Sunrise Cabin the two girls had +become close friends. But then Betty could seldom fail to see, just as +she had in the beginning, the painful contrast between them. Faith had +grown into a beautiful girl and Dr. Barton and Rose were entirely +devoted to her; and she had also both charm and talent, although still +given to impossible dreams about people and things. + +Angel now shook her head. "You know you would feel safer with me to +stand guard over Tony than if you had only one of the servants," she +argued a little resentfully. Then with her cheeks crimsoning: "Besides, +Princess, you know that I perfectly loathe having to meet strangers. No +one in the world except you could ever have induced me even to think of +it. I am ever so much happier alone with you and the children or pegging +away at my typewriter at the office. I believe people ought to remain +where they belong in this world, and you can't possibly make me look +like Faith by dressing me up in pretty clothes. I should never conceive +of being her rival in anything." + +There was a curious note in the lame girl's voice that passed unnoticed, +for her companion suddenly inquired: "By the way, dear, do you know what +has become of Faith? I passed her room and she was not there. I hope she +is not out alone. I know she has a fashion of loving to go about in the +twilight, dreaming her dreams and composing verse. Still, when she is +here visiting me I would much rather she did not." + +"But Faith isn't alone. She is with the Governor's secretary, Kenneth +Helm," Angel answered. "Mr. Helm came to the house with a message and +Faith asked him to go out with her." + +Betty smiled. Faith Barton scorned conventionalities and felt sure that +she was above certain of them. "Oh, I did not know Kenneth and Faith had +learned to know each other so well in two weeks' time," she replied +carelessly, her attention wandering to the little Tony up-stairs. +"However, Faith is all right if she is with Kenneth. I know Anthony has +the greatest possible trust in him or he would never have selected him +for his secretary in such troublesome political times as these. I don't +believe you seem to like Kenneth as much as you once did. But you must +not be prejudiced against so many people. He used to be very kind to +you." + +Without waiting for Angel's reply Betty walked away. If she could have +seen her expression she might have been surprised or annoyed. + +For sometimes Angel had wondered if it would be wise for her to take her +friend into her confidence. Surely she had reasons for not being so sure +of the Governor's confidence in his secretary. But then what proof had +she to offer against him? Besides, people often considered her +suspicious and unfriendly. Moreover, in this case the French girl did +not altogether trust herself. Was there not some personal reason in her +dislike? It was entirely true that she had not felt like this in the +beginning of their acquaintance. + +With a feeling of irritation against herself, Angel started to leave the +drawing room. This was plainly no time for worrying over the future; she +must go and have something to eat at once so as to be able to help watch +the baby. There was only one regret the girl felt at her own decision. +She was sorry not to see Betty receiving her guests at the Inaugural +Ball tonight. For her friend remained her ideal of what a great lady +should be in the best sense. Moreover, there would be other old friends +whom she had once known at Sunrise Cabin. However, some of them were +guests at the mansion, so she could meet them later. + +Out in the hall the little French girl now discovered Faith and Kenneth +Helm returning from their walk. The Governor's private secretary must +have been about twenty-four or five years old. He was a Yale graduate +and had light-brown hair and eyes of almost the same color. He had the +shoulders of an athlete, a clear, bright complexion, and as Angel +watched them she could not deny that he had a particularly charming +smile. However, he was assuredly not looking at her. It was absurd to +care, of course, yet nevertheless even the humblest person scarcely +likes being wilfully ignored. And Angel was sure that the young man had +seen her, even though he gave no appearance of having done so. + +The next moment, after her companion's departure, Faith Barton turned to +her friend. Faith's cheeks were delicately flushed from her walk in the +autumn air and her pale gold hair was blowing about her face. Her blue +eyes were wide open and clear and she looked curiously innocent of any +wrong or misfortune in the world. Surely there were seldom two girls +offering a more complete contrast than the two who now tiptoed softly +down the long hall together. + +"I am going to rest a little while," Faith said at parting. "But do let +us try to have a long, quiet talk tomorrow. I want to tell you a secret +that no one else in the world must know for the present." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +NEW NAMES FOR OLD ACQUAINTANCES + + +THERE was a shimmer of silver and blue on the stairs and then the man +with his eyes upturned saw his wife moving toward him in a kind of +cloud. + +The next moment with a laugh of mingled embarrassment and pleasure Betty +Graham put up her hand, covering her husband's eyes. + +"You must not look at me like that, Anthony, or you will make me +abominably vain," she whispered. "Wait until the girls and the receiving +party appear and then you will see what an ordinary person the new +'Governor's Lady' is and repent having raised humble Betty Ashton to +such an exalted position." + +Arm in arm the husband and wife now moved toward the drawing room. + +"How little we ever dreamed of this grandeur, dear, in the days when I +had to work so hard to persuade you to marry me." + +"Perhaps if I had known I never should have dared," Betty went on, still +half in earnest. "But I mean to do the best I can to help in our new +position, although I must confess I am dreadfully frightened at having +to receive so many distinguished people tonight. However, nurse says +Tony is really better. And I shall have you to tell me what I ought to +say and do." + +Now under the tall crystal chandelier the young Governor lifted his +wife's hand to his lips with a smile at her absurdity. In spite of his +ordinary origin Anthony Graham had a curious courtliness of manner. It +was amusing to hear Betty talking of being afraid of people. All her +life she had had unusual social charm, winning friends and admiration in +every circle of society almost from her babyhood. Naturally in the years +since her marriage, during her husband's struggle from the position of a +successful young lawyer in a small town to the highest office in the +state, both her charm and self-possession had increased. Indeed, it was +well known that she had been her husband's chief inspiration and aid, +and there were many persons who declared that it had been the wife's +beauty and money that were responsible for the husband's success. +However, this remark was made by the Governor's political enemies and +not his friends and was of course untrue. + +Nevertheless Anthony did look somewhat boyish and insignificant tonight +for his distinguished position. He was of only medium height, and +although his shoulders were broad, he had never lost the thinness of his +boyhood due to hardships and too severe study. Yet there was nothing +weak or immature about his face with its deep-set hazel eyes, the high, +grave forehead with the dark hair pushed carelessly back, and the firm, +almost obstinate, set of his lips. + +Indeed, the young Governor already had gained a reputation for +obstinacy, and once persuaded to a policy or an idea, was difficult to +change. This trait of character had been partly responsible for his +election to office. For there had been serious graft and dishonesty in +the politics of New Hampshire, and led by Anthony Graham the younger +men in the state had been able to defeat the old-time political ring. +Whether or not the good government party would be allowed to remain in +power depended largely on the new Governor. He had promised to stop the +graft and crime in the state and to give positions to no persons who +were not fitted for them. Of course this meant that he must have many +enemies who would do their best to destroy his reputation. Already they +were aware that the young Governor's one weakness was his devotion to +his beautiful wife. + +But Betty used often to be amused at the outside world's opinion of her +husband's character. For never once in their married life so far had he +ever refused any request of hers. Therefore the real test was yet to +come. + +Five minutes later and there was once more the sound of movement and +laughter on the stairway when the re-opening of the drawing room door +admitted six persons, who were to form the first members of the +receiving line. + +First came Doctor and Mrs. Richard Ashton. Already Dick had made a +reputation for himself as a surgeon in Boston, while Esther was one of +the plain girls who so frequently grow handsomer as they grow older. Her +tallness and pallor with her abundant red hair and sweet yet reserved +manner formed tonight as striking a contrast to her sister's grace and +animation as it had in the days when they first learned to know of the +closeness of the tie between them. + +Mr. and Mrs. William Webster had come all the way from Woodford to +Concord, leaving three babies at home, to assist their old friends at +the Inaugural Ball. You must have guessed that Mollie O'Neill, as Mrs. +William Webster, would have grown plumper and prettier during the busy, +happy years of married life with her husband and children on their large +farm. For Mollie now had a small daughter "Polly," named for her beloved +twin sister, and a pair of twin sons, Dan and Billy. She was more than +ever in love with her husband and, many people believed, entirely under +his thumb. Yet there were times when Mollie could and would assert +herself in a surprising fashion just as she had in former days with her +girl friends. + +Tonight she was wearing a white silk which looked just the least bit +countrified and yet was singularly becoming to Mollie's milk-white skin, +pink cheeks and shining black hair. Yet in spite of never having changed +his occupation of farmer, there was little to suggest the countryside in +Billy Webster's appearance, except in his unusual strength and size. For +he had fulfilled the prediction made to Polly O'Neill over a Camp Fire +luncheon many years before. He had remained a farmer and a highly +successful one and yet had seen a good deal of the world and understood +many things besides farming. + +Of the three Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls who had within the last few +moments joined Betty and her husband, the third was the most changed. +For is it not difficult to imagine Meg Everett transformed into a +fashionable society woman, Meg, whose hair never would stay neatly +braided, whose waist and skirt so frequently failed to connect? + +However, after a number of love affairs, to her friends' surprise Meg +had married a man as unlike her in taste and disposition as one could +well imagine. He was a worldly, fashionable man, supposed to be wealthy. +Anyhow, he and Meg lived in a handsome house, owned a motor car and +entertained a great deal. They had no children, and perhaps this was the +reason why Meg did not look altogether happy. Sometimes her old friends +had wondered if there could be other reasons, for Meg had always been a +warm-hearted, impetuous girl, careless of fashions and indifferent to +conventions, and now she was always dressed in clothes of the latest +design and at least appeared like a fashionable woman. + +Nevertheless Meg had always been more easily influenced than any other +of the Camp Fire girls, hating to oppose the wishes of any one near to +her heart. Her husband, Jack Emmet, was an intimate friend of her adored +brother John. He and Meg made an attractive couple, for although Mr. +Emmet was not handsome, he was tall and had a slender, correct figure +and sharply cut features with light blue eyes and brown hair. Meg's +costume was quite as beautiful as Betty's, a soft rose silk and chiffon, +and her golden hair was fastened with a small rope of pearls. + +"You are as lovely tonight as ever, Betty, and I know Anthony is proud +of you," Meg whispered, holding her friend's hand for an instant. +"Remember when you once believed that Anthony was falling in love with +me? Silly child, he never thought of any one except you! But then he and +I have always been special friends since he believed I helped him win +you. I want to tell him how proud I feel of you both tonight." + +As Meg moved away, Mollie's plump arm, which was only partly concealed +by her glove, slipped inside her hostess's. + +"It is nice we can have a few moments to ourselves before the ball +begins," she remarked shyly, glancing toward her husband, who was for +the moment talking with Jack Emmet. The two men did not like each other, +but had been forced into conversation by Meg's moving off with Anthony. + +Betty kissed her friend, quite forgetting the dignity of her position on +the present occasion. + +"Dear old Mollie, it is good of you to have come to help me tonight! I +know you don't like this society business. How I wish we had Polly here +with us! She promised to come if possible, but I had a telegram from her +only this afternoon saying that she is almost on the other side of the +continent. It was dated Denver, I believe." + +The same look of affectionate incomprehension which she had often +directed toward Polly, again crossed Mollie Webster's pretty face. + +"It is just as impossible as ever to keep up with Polly," she explained +half complainingly. "She has been acting through the West all summer, +but promised to come home for a visit this autumn. Now she writes she +won't be here for some time. Dear me, I do wish that Polly would marry +and settle down. Of course I know it is wonderful for her to have become +such a distinguished actress, but I never think she is very happy and I +am always worrying over her." + +Betty laughed and then looked serious. "Polly never will settle down, as +you mean it, Mollie dear, even if she should marry," she argued, +forgetting for the moment the other friends close about her and the +evening's ordeal. For her thoughts had traveled away to Polly O'Neill, +who was to her surprise still Polly O'Neill. For at one time she had +certainly believed that Polly had intended marrying Richard Hunt, the +actor, and just why their engagement had been broken no one had ever +been told. Possibly it was because Polly had wished to devote herself +entirely to her work. She had always said as a girl that marriage should +never be allowed to interfere with her career, and certainly it had not. +For the Polly who had made her first success some ten years before in +the little Irish play was now one of the best known actresses in the +United States. Indeed, she had succeeded to the position once held by +Margaret Adams, since Margaret Adams had married and retired. + +However, for the present there was no further opportunity for mutual +confidences, since in the interval Faith Barton had appeared and with +her the Governor's new secretary, besides a dozen other persons, most of +them political friends, who were to assist in opening the Inaugural +Ball. + +As Anthony joined her, Betty felt her cheeks flush and her knees tremble +for an instant. Moving toward them, accompanied by his wife, was the man +whom Anthony had defeated in the election for Governor. To save her life +Betty could not help recalling at this instant all the hateful things +this man had previously said against her husband. Yet she must not be +childish, nor show ill feeling. Ex-Governor Peyton and his wife were +much older than she and Anthony, and besides they were their guests. + +Betty's manner was perfectly gracious and collected by the time the +visitors reached them. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +IDLE SUSPICION + + +SHE had sat huddled up in a chair outside the baby's room for several +hours. Her self-sacrifice had been entirely unnecessary, as half a dozen +persons had assured her, but Angel was by no means certain that she was +not happier in her present position than if she had been down-stairs in +the crowded ballroom unnoticed and perhaps in the way of the few people +who would try to be kind to her. + +Two or three times she had stolen in to look at Tony. He was sleeping +quietly and peacefully, a big beautiful baby with Betty's soft auburn +hair and Anthony's hazel eyes. But now a clock somewhere was striking +twelve and Angel decided that she must have a look at the guests before +they went away. She had put on the white frock of soft chiffon and lace +that Betty had given her, but somehow it only made her look more +childish and insignificant. Her face was pale now with weariness and her +hair and eyes seemed so dark in comparison as to give her a kind of +uncanny appearance. Perhaps waiting to gain more courage and perhaps for +other reasons, immediately after leaving the nursery Angel, before +starting down-stairs, went into another big room at the end of the hall. + +As the girl leaned over to gaze at a little sleeper a small hand reached +up and touched her face. It was that of Bettina, the "little Princess" +as everybody called her. Nevertheless Bettina was not in the least like +her mother. She had long hair that was gold in some lights and in others +a pale brown, and her eyes were bluer than gray. Indeed, Polly had once +said of her two or three years before, that Tina's eyes had no color +like other people's, for they merely reflected the lights above them +like a clear pool. The little girl was slender and quiet and many +persons believed her shy, which was not altogether true. Possibly the +oddest of her characteristics was her ability to understand what other +people were thinking and feeling without being told. + +Now she whispered: "Why don't you just find a place where you can see, +Angel, without any one's seeing you? I shall want you to tell me +everything tomorrow. Mother won't understand in the way I mean." + +Of course that was just what she should have been doing for these past +two hours, Angelique thought to herself as soon after she slipped away. +But it was like Bettina to have suggested it. Already she knew the exact +place where she might have been in hiding all this time. + +On the second floor toward the rear of the house there was a kind of +square landing which faced a small room that was oddly separated from +the other apartments. For this reason the Governor had chosen it for his +private study. Only one servant was allowed to enter this room and very +rarely any member of the family. For in it were kept a number of +important letters and papers. + +But concealing the entrance tonight were a number of palms and other +tall plants, and by placing a small camp chair behind them one could +see through the railing of the balustrade down into the big hall. The +music was there and many beautifully dressed people were walking up and +down. + +The little French girl stared for ten minutes without moving. She had a +curious, almost passionate love of beautiful people and things, +inherited from some far-off French ancestor, who may have been a great +artist or perchance only carried a great artist's longings in his soul. +Indeed, Angel had real talent of her own and whatever her hands touched +she could make lovely, whether it was designing a dress, decorating a +room or even making a sketch of a scene or a flower, anything that had +appealed to her imagination. Through her Camp Fire training she had +learned to make remarkable use of her hands, especially in the days +before she was able to leave her wheeled chair. Indeed, Betty and all of +her friends had been disappointed when she had failed to follow some +artistic profession. Betty had urged and pleaded with her to become an +artist or designer and had offered to pay her expenses, yet as soon as +she was well enough Angel had insisted upon studying something through +which she could at once make her living. By this time the little French +girl had been brought too close to life's realities not to understand +its difficulties. To make her living as an artist or a designer would +take years and years of study and work before she could hope to succeed. +Besides, Betty, in spite of Judge Maynard's legacy, was not so rich as +she was generous and there were always other people to be thought of. +For the Princess had never ceased her generosities, and even if her +husband had become a distinguished man it would be difficult for him +ever to be a rich one unless something unforeseen happened. Therefore +Angel had been happy enough with her stenography and typewriting and +with her new position in the Governor's office. For in her heart of +hearts it was her philosophy that duty could be done every day and +beauty kept for certain exquisite moments. + +Now, however, she felt that one of these perfect moments had come. Only +she wished that Betty or some one whom she knew might appear within her +range of vision. It was entertaining, of course, to watch the strangers +and to decide whose clothes were prettiest and guess their names. + +Angel drew her chair farther away from the landing so she could peep +squarely through the banisters and was now some distance from the study +door. Moreover, the following moment she had caught a glimpse of a +friend whom she had wished to see almost as much as Betty. There stood a +tall girl with pale gold hair, wearing a frock of white and blue, and +talking to a young man in as absorbed a fashion as if they had been +entirely alone. It was difficult to see her companion and yet the French +girl felt that she might have guessed before she finally discovered him. +For Faith's face wore the same rapt, excited expression it had worn that +afternoon on returning from her walk. What could it mean? Angel +pondered. Surely Faith and Kenneth Helm did not yet know each other well +enough for Faith's secret to have anything to do with him. Their +acquaintance had started only about ten days before. + +[Illustration: HE GLANCED QUICKLY ABOUT HIM AND THEN DISAPPEARED] + +Surely in her absorbed interest Angelique had no thought of spying on +her friend, for two people could not be seriously confidential when +hundreds of others were close about them. Nevertheless the watcher felt +her own cheeks flush guiltily as she saw the young man below her +whispering something in his companion's ear. The next instant, however, +Faith had left the hall with some one else. Then to her intense +consternation Angel observed Kenneth Helm coming alone straight up the +broad stairs. Could it be possible that either one of them had seen her +and that Faith was sending Kenneth to bring her down to the ballroom? +With all her heart Angel hoped not. She would like to have gotten up and +run away to shelter, yet knew it was impossible for her to move without +making a noise. By remaining silent there was just a chance that Kenneth +Helm was on his way to the men's dressing room and would not notice her. +Moreover, if Faith had not sent him to find her probably he would not +even speak to her. + +It was quite true that the girl in hiding need have felt no concern. The +young man certainly did not see her, nor did he pass her by. For some +odd reason he stopped for a moment at the top of the landing, glanced +quickly about him and then disappeared inside the Governor's private +study, opening the door with a key which must have been given him for +the especial purpose. + +"What could Kenneth wish in there tonight?" Angelique wondered idly, +somewhat relieved because his errand plainly had nothing to do with her. +Moreover, there was too much that was absorbing below stairs to give a +great deal of thought to anything else just at present. + +The next instant Angel started, uttering a little gasp of anger and +dismay, as a hand was laid rudely upon her shoulder. + +"Whom are you spying upon now, 'Angel in the House?'" the young man's +voice asked mockingly. "Don't you think that perhaps you are rather an +uncanny person anyhow?" + +The girl flushed and found it impossible to keep her lips from +trembling. When she had first gone to work in Anthony Graham's office, +Kenneth Helm had also been employed there and had been unusually kind to +her. Recently, however, he seemed to have avoided and almost to have +disliked her. This she knew had caused a change in her own attitude, so +perhaps her prejudice against the young man's position as the Governor's +private secretary was largely due to this. Nevertheless she had done +nothing to deserve the change in his treatment of her, and if a human +being is disloyal to one friendship, why not to another? + +However, at the present moment the girl only wished to be left alone, so +she merely shook her head, explaining: "I didn't mean to be spying upon +any one, and I am sorry if you think I am uncanny." Then she glanced +pathetically down toward the cane at her side, and this time her +companion blushed. + +"Oh, I did not mean that, Miss Martins. That is not fair of you," he +remonstrated. "But please don't mention to the Governor or any one that +you saw me go into his private study tonight, will you? You see, I had +forgotten something that I ought to have attended to at the office. My +memory is not so good as yours. Won't you let me take you down-stairs?" + +The lame girl rose slowly, not knowing exactly how to refuse the young +man's offer. Besides, she remembered what Betty had said to her. "She +must not be so suspicious and prejudiced against people." + +"Certainly I won't speak to Mr. Graham of your having gone into his +office. Why should I?" she conceded, laying her hand lightly on her +companion's arm. "Besides, do you think I talk to the Governor about his +affairs just because I live in his house? He is so quiet and stern I am +dreadfully afraid of him. It is Betty, Mrs. Graham, who is my friend. If +it is not too much trouble to you and she is not too busy I would like +to have you take me to her now for a little while. Never in my life have +I seen anything so splendid as this reception tonight!" + +When the little French girl talked she was not half so homely and +unattractive, Kenneth Helm decided as he made his way with her through +the crowd. Moreover, he must not turn her into an enemy, for assuredly +Mrs. Graham was her devoted friend and what his wife desired was law +with the Governor. + +Kenneth Helm intended to succeed in life. This was the keynote of his +character. He wanted money and power and meant to do anything necessary +to attain them. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +TIES FROM OTHER DAYS + + +ONE morning, a few days later, Mrs. Jack Emmet was ushered into Betty's +personal sitting room. Betty was writing notes and Bettina was curled up +in a big chair near the window with a book of fairy tales in her lap. + +Both of them rose at once, Betty kissing her friend affectionately. But +her little girl, who showed her affection differently from other +children, sitting down by Meg's side, slipped her small hand inside +hers. + +Meg was beautifully dressed in a dark blue broadcloth and black fox furs +with a velvet hat and small black feather curled close against her light +hair. Yet the hat was the least bit awry, one lock of hair had come +uncurled and been blown about by the wind, and a single blue button hung +loose on the stylish coat. Noticing these absurd details for some reason +or other, Betty felt oddly pleased. For they brought back the Meg of +old days, whom not all the strenuous years of Camp Fire training had +been able to make as neat as she should have been, although since her +marriage she seemed to have greatly changed. + +Therefore, in observing these unimportant facts of her friend's costume +Betty failed to catch the difference in her expression. They began their +conversation idly enough in discussing the ball of a few nights before, +the Governor's health and just how busy he was and what people were +saying of him in Concord. For, although Mr. and Mrs. Graham had only +been installed in the Governor's mansion a few weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Jack +Emmet had been living in Concord ever since their marriage about five +years before. + +Nevertheless, if Betty had not observed the change in her friend, in +some unaccountable fashion Bettina had. Not that the little girl +realized that Mrs. Emmet had dark circles under her eyes and that +instead of gazing directly at her mother as she talked, her glance +traveled restlessly about the pretty room. Nor did Bettina know that +Meg's cheeks were not a natural pink, but flushed to uncomfortable +redness; no, she only appreciated that "Aunt Meg," for whom she cared a +great deal, was uneasy and unhappy and would perhaps enjoy having her +keep close beside her. + +"You will stay and take lunch with us, won't you, dear?" Betty urged, +moving forward to assist her visitor in removing her wraps. "You see, we +shall probably be all by ourselves. Anthony is too busy to come home, +Angel is at the office and Faith asked to be left alone for the day. The +child is probably scribbling away on some story she desires to write. +Then after lunch we can see little Tony. The baby is well again, only +the nurse wants him kept quiet." + +Affectionately Betty placed her hands on Meg's shoulders and standing +directly beside her now for the first time looked closely into her face. +To her shocked surprise she discovered that unexpected tears had started +to Meg's eyes. + +At once Betty Graham's happy expression clouded. For she was no less +ready with her sympathy than in former days, and the Camp Fire girls of +the old Sunrise Club seemed almost like real sisters. + +"You came to tell me of something that is troubling you and I didn't +dream of it till this minute!" Betty exclaimed, slipping off Meg's coat +and unpinning her hat without waiting for permission. Then, pushing her +friend down into a big, soft armchair, she took a lower one opposite. + +"Isn't it good fortune that we are living in the same place just as we +used to long ago?" She continued talking, of course, to allow her +companion to gain her self-control. Then she glanced toward Bettina, but +Meg only drew the little girl closer, hiding her face for an instant in +her soft hair. + +"I'm absurd to be so nervous, Betty," Meg whispered apologetically. +"Please don't think there is anything serious the matter. Only--only I +have come to ask you a favor and I don't know exactly how to begin. Of +course, we used to be very intimate friends and all that, but now you +are the Governor's wife, and--and----" + +Before she could finish a somewhat hurt voice interposed. "And--and--I +am Betty Ashton Graham still, very much at your service, Sweet Marjoram, +as Polly once named you. Dear me, Meg, don't be absurd. I can't say I +feel particularly exalted by my position as wife of the new Governor, +though of course I am frightfully vain of Anthony. Besides you know if +there is anything I can do that you would like, I shall be happier than +I can say." With a laugh that still had something serious in it, Betty +put her hand over her friend's. "I still insist that I owe Anthony +partly to you," she ended. + +But this time Meg did not trouble to argue the absurd statement. + +She began talking at once as rapidly as possible, as if glad to get the +subject off her mind. + +"It's about John, I came to talk to you, my brother, John Everett, +Betty," Meg explained. "I don't know whether you have seen much of him +lately, but you were devoted friends once and I thought perhaps for the +sake of the past you might be interested." + +"John Everett? For the sake of the past I might be interested! Whatever +are you talking about?" Betty was now frowning in her effort to +understand and looked absurdly like a girl, with her level brows drawn +near together and her lips pouting slightly. "Why, of course I am +interested. I used to like John better than any of the other beaus we +had, when we were girls, except Anthony. Tell me, is John going to be +married at last? I have wondered why he has waited such a long time. But +I suppose he wanted to be rich first. It has been about two years since +we met by accident in a theater in New York, but I thought he had grown +handsomer than ever." This time Betty's laugh was more teasing than +sympathetic. "I wonder why sisters are so jealous of their big brothers +marrying, Mrs. Jack Emmet? You are married yourself--why begrudge John +the good fortune? I don't believe Nan has ever entirely forgiven me for +capturing Anthony. I am convinced she would have preferred any other of +the Camp Fire girls. There is only one of us, however, whom she would +have really liked, and that is Sylvia. Yet who would ever think of +Doctor Sylvia Wharton's marrying?" + +This time Meg's voice was firmer. "But John isn't going to be married, +Betty. It is quite a different thing I wish to talk to you about. +Instead of John's getting rich on Wall Street, as you think, he has +gotten dreadfully poor. And I am afraid it is not just his own money he +has lost, but father's savings. Now Horace will have to give up his +college and I really don't know what will become of father. He is too +old to begin teaching again since his resignation several years ago." + +Her voice broke, but then her friend's face was so bewildered and so +full of a sudden, ardent sympathy, that it was difficult for Meg to keep +her self-control. However, she said nothing more for a minute, but sat +biting her lips and wondering how to go on to the next thing. + +Fortunately Betty helped her. "I expect John will have to come back home +and take care of your father. Horace is too young and it is more John's +place than your husband's. I am sorry, for I'm afraid things will seem +pretty dull for him here after his gay life in New York." + +All at once Betty's face cleared a little and she leaned back in her +chair. "But you remember, Meg, that when you first spoke you said you +wished me to do you a favor. Is there anything in the world I can do? I +am sure I can scarcely imagine what it is, yet if I can in any way help +you out of this trouble----" + +"You can," Meg whispered shyly; "that is, perhaps not you, but Anthony, +and you are almost the same person." + +In answer to this rather surprising statement Betty Graham merely shook +her head quietly. However, this was scarcely the time to argue whether +or not marriage merged two persons into one or simply made each one +bigger and more individual from association with the other. She wanted +to do whatever was possible to assist Meg and John Everett too in this +trying time in their affairs. Besides, as a little girl she had always +been fond of old Professor Everett, whose life had been given to the +wisdom of books rather than to the living world. But most of all, being +a very natural woman, Betty was now keenly curious to know how she could +possibly be expected to be involved in the present situation and what +she could do to help out. + +"You are right. John does mean to come home, or at least he wishes to +return. He says he is tired of New York and all the fret and hurry and +struggle of life there. But you see, Betty dear," and Meg spoke quickly +now that she had finally come to the point of her story, "there is no +use John's returning unless he has something to do. There is where you +and Anthony can help. I didn't think of this myself, but when my husband +and I were talking things over he said that Anthony and you and I were +such old friends and that the new Governor had so many appointments he +could make to all sorts of good positions. So we thought perhaps you +would ask Anthony to help John. I know Anthony does anything you wish." + +"Oh!" Betty replied somewhat blankly. For never had she been more +surprised than by Meg's request. Of course she knew that Anthony was +making a number of changes in positions held by people whom he thought +unworthy of trust throughout the state. Often he talked about what he +felt he should do, but really it had never dawned upon Betty until this +minute that she or her friends could be in any way concerned. Still, why +not? John was a good business man, Betty thought; he was not dishonest +or dishonorable and the Everetts were her old friends. If Anthony could +help them in their present trouble, surely he would be as glad as she +was to have the opportunity. + +Yet Betty hesitated before answering. However, as she did not wish to +make Meg uncomfortable she slipped from her own chair and put her arm +sympathetically about her friend's shoulders, while she endeavored to +think things quietly over. Finally Betty returned: + +"I can't _exactly_ promise what you first asked, Meg dear. You see, I +have always intended not to interfere in the things that did not seem +altogether my affair. But somehow, since you have asked me and for +John's and your father's sakes, who are such old friends, why I don't +feel as I did before. I tell you, I _will_ ask Anthony this very night, +so let's don't worry any more. Tina darling, run and tell the maids we +would like our luncheon up here. Our dining room is so absurdly big." + +As she talked, as if by magic Betty's expression had changed and again +she was her usual gay, light-hearted self. Of course she and Anthony +together would be able to clear away Meg's troubles. Never before had +she entirely realized how fine it was to have power and influence. + +Moreover, Betty's confidence also inspired Meg, and for the first time +in weeks Mrs. Jack Emmet felt like the Meg Everett of the old days in +Woodford, who used to keep house for her father, kiss her small brother +Horace's (surnamed Bump's) wounds and help and encourage her big brother +John in all his ambitions and desires. + +Just as Meg went away, however, she insisted quite seriously: + +"Betty, I often think that even if our old Camp Fire Club did nothing +more for us than to bind our friendships together in the way it has, it +would be dreadful for all girls not to have the same opportunities in +their lives. Talk of college friendships, surely they are not to be +compared with those of Camp Fire clubs!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SOMETHING UNEXPECTED + + +DINNER was tiresomely dull! Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned +that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible. Several times during +the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the +evening without him. For they had been invited to a dinner party and +dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty +had declined without any objection at the time. She had made up her mind +never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband. + +Nevertheless, tonight the young wife of the new Governor felt somewhat +differently. If Anthony was going everlastingly to be kept at his office +must she always sit alone during the evenings? Always as Betty Ashton +she had loved people and gayety and still loved it quite as much as +Betty Graham. Moreover, her only two companions at dinner, Angel and +Faith, were both in extremely bad humor and unwilling to confess the +cause, for Faith looked sulky and annoyed and Angel undeniably cross. Of +course, the two girls must recently have had a quarrel. Their hostess +wondered for a few moments what the trouble could have been. But then +they were so utterly different in their dispositions and tastes, it was +not surprising that they sometimes disagreed. Besides, she decided that +they were both unlike the intimate friends of her youth and far harder +to understand. In fact, though she was scarcely much more than a girl +herself, Mrs. Graham concluded that "girls had changed since her day" +and determined as soon as dinner was over to leave them to themselves. +Naturally, if they had wished her society Betty would have been glad +enough to have remained and received their confidences. However, neither +Angel nor Faith showed the slightest sign of desiring her society. + +In a pale blue silk dinner gown Betty wandered disconsolately about her +big house waiting for her husband. He had promised to come home early +and it seemed not worth while to settle down to any task beforehand. +The babies were asleep and she did not feel like writing letters either +to Esther or her mother. Several times she thought of Polly. But Polly +was so far away out West that she really did not know where to find her +at the present time. Betty wondered if her best friend was happy with no +home or husband or children, nothing intimate in her life but her career +as an artist. She had always been puzzled to understand why Polly and +Richard Hunt had never married after an engagement lasting over several +years. But since neither of them had cared to explain their separation, +it was, of course, useless to conjecture again after all this time. + +The drawing room was too hopelessly big and formal! After Betty had +walked around inside it for half an hour perhaps, sitting down in half a +dozen chairs and then pacing up and down, she grew even more restless. +Surely it was no longer early in the evening, and why did Anthony not +keep his word and come home at the time he had promised? It would be +ever so much more satisfactory to have her talk with him in regard to +giving John Everett a good position, with a comfortable salary, early in +the evening, before they were both tired and wanting to sleep. + +Suddenly, with an impatient stamp of her foot, Mrs. Graham fled from her +state apartment. She was homesick tonight for her old home in Woodford, +where she and Anthony had lived ever since their marriage until his +election as Governor, and where her mother still lived. + +Passing through the hall, more and more did Betty become convinced that +Anthony was not keeping his word, for the tall clock registered quarter +to ten. The upper part of the house looked dark and quiet as if the rest +of the family had already gone to bed. Besides it was lonely enough on +the first floor, for the servants had their sitting room and dining room +in a big old-fashioned basement and were nowhere to be seen. Of course, +one of them would come at once if she desired anything, but Betty could +not think of anything she wished at present except society and +amusement. + +In the library back of the drawing room a few moments later she decided +that things were not so bad. There was a little wood fire in the grate, +kept there for its cheerful influence and not because the steam-heated +house required it; but Betty had not been a Camp Fire girl for half her +lifetime without responding to the cheerful influence of even a grate +fire. + +Sinking down into a comfortable chair, she picked up a magazine and +began reading. The clock in the hall ticked on and on and she was not +conscious of the passing of time. The story was not particularly +interesting--an absurd tale of a husband and wife who had quarreled. It +was, of course, perfectly unnecessary for people who loved each other to +quarrel, Betty Graham insisted to herself, and yet the writer did not +seem convinced of this fact. Toward the close of the story she grew more +interested and excited. + +Then, without actually hearing a sound or seeing a figure, Betty +suddenly looked up, and there in the open doorway of the library stood a +strange man. Like a flash her mind worked. She was alone on the first +floor of a big, rambling old house and uncertain of how late the hour. +Must she at once cry for help, or should she try to get across the floor +and ring the bell furiously?--for that would be more certain to be +heard. Yet for the moment her knees felt absurdly weak and her hands +cold. However, with a stupendous effort Betty now summoned her courage, +of which the shock of the moment had robbed her. For her Camp Fire +training had taught her the proper spirit in which to meet emergencies. +Quietly Mrs. Graham rose up from her chair. + +"What is it you wish? I think you have made some mistake," she remarked +stiffly. For in spite of her terror the man in the doorway did not look +like an ordinary thief. Besides, if he were a thief why did he remain +there staring at her? Why had he not committed his burglary and gotten +away with his spoils without alarming her? + +But he was now advancing a few steps toward her and there was no light +in the library, except from the reading lamp. + +"Anthony!" Betty cried instinctively, although she knew that the +Governor could not be in the house at the time, else he would have come +straight to her. + +Then to her immense amazement, almost to her stupefaction, the intruder +actually smiled. + +"Betty," he answered, "or rather Mrs. Graham, have I startled you? Yes, +I know it is dreadfully informal, my coming upon you in this fashion and +not even allowing your butler to announce me. But I ran down from New +York today to spend the night with Meg and Jack Emmet. A few moments ago +we began talking of you. Well, as I've got to go back to town in the +morning I decided that nothing would give me more pleasure than seeing +the wife of our distinguished new Governor, so here I am!" + +Positively the stranger was holding out his hand. + +Moreover, the next instant Betty had laid her cold fingers inside it. + +"John, John Everett, how ridiculous of me not to have recognized you! +Yet, though I was thinking of you, you were the last person in the world +I expected to see at present. And I confess you frightened me." Betty +made her visitor a little curtsey. "Remember how you boys used to try +to terrify us when we were in camp just to prove the superiority of Boy +Scouts over Camp Fire girls? I would not have been frightened then! But +do let us have more light so that we can really see each other." + +Betty touched the electric button and the room was suddenly aglow. + +Then she again faced her companion. It had been foolish of her not to +have recognized her old friend, John Everett. He did look a good deal +older, but he was a large, handsome man with blond hair, blue eyes and a +charming manner. Moreover, he was undoubtedly returning Betty's glance +with undisguised admiration. + +"You won't mind my saying it, will you, Mrs. Graham, but you are more +stunning than ever. I suppose it sounds a little impertinent of me, but +you know even though I always thought you tremendously pretty as a girl, +really I never believed----" John began. + +Betty shook her head reproachfully and yet perhaps she was a little +pleased, even though she recognized her visitor's compliment as +extravagant. + +Motioning to another chair, she then sat down in her former one. For a +few moments there was a kind of constraint in the atmosphere, such as +one often feels in meeting again an old friend with whom one has been +intimate in former years and not seen in a long time. + +Under her lashes Betty found herself studying her visitor's face. At +first she did not think that he appeared much discouraged by his +misfortunes, but the next moment she was not so sure. + +"I am awfully pleased the world has gone so well with you, Mrs. Graham," +John Everett began, to cover the awkwardness of the silence. "You were a +wise girl to have known that Anthony had so much more in him than the +rest of us fellows. I hear he is making things hum in the state of New +Hampshire." + +Betty looked a little shocked. "Oh, I did not care for Anthony because I +thought him cleverer than other people. I--oh, does one ever know +exactly why one cares? But do tell me about yourself, John. You don't +mind my knowing of your present difficulty? Meg has just told me, but I +am sure things will be all right soon again." + +Half an hour later the young Governor, coming in very tired from his +long day's work, seeing the light burning in the library, walked quickly +toward the door. He was worn out and hungry and wanted nothing so much +as supper and quiet talk with his wife. For Anthony had never gotten +over the pleasure he felt at returning home to find her there to receive +him. Already it seemed ages since he had said good-bye at breakfast. + +However, just before he arrived at the open door he heard the sound of +Betty's laughter and some one answering her. + +Of course it was selfish and absurd of him to feel a sudden sense of +disappointment. He knew that he should have been glad to find Betty +entertained. + +Before entering the library the new Governor managed to assume a more +hospitable expression. He was also surprised at finding John Everett +their caller. But then he too had known him in their boyhood days in +Woodford and was glad to see him. Certainly they had never been friends +as boys. The young Governor could still remember that John had then +seemed to have all the things he had wanted as a boy--good looks, good +family, money enough for a college education. Yet with all these +advantages John had not been able to win Betty. Now was Anthony's chance +to feel sorry for him. Lately he too had heard that John Everett was in +some kind of business trouble. He hoped that this was not true. + +Therefore it was Anthony who insisted that their visitor should remain +with them while they had a little supper party in the library. And Betty +was glad to see that her old friend was making a good impression upon +her husband. For she was now firmly determined to ask Anthony to give +John Everett a fine position at once. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FIRST DISILLUSION + + +"BUT you can't mean, Anthony, that you positively refuse to do what I +ask?" + +It was a little after midnight and Betty and Anthony were up-stairs in +their own apartment. Betty had on a blue dressing gown and her hair was +braided and hung over her shoulders. But her cheeks were flushed, her +gray eyes dark with temper and her voice trembled in spite of her effort +to keep it still. + +Undeniably Anthony appeared both obstinate and worried. Moreover, he was +extremely sleepy and yet somehow Betty must be made to understand before +either of them could rest. Never before had he dreamed that she could be +so unreasonable. + +"I don't think that is exactly a fair way of stating the thing, Betty," +the young Governor answered gently enough. "You see, I have tried to +explain to you, dear, that I can't give positions to friends just as +though running the affairs of the state was my private business. I could +afford to take risks with that if I wished, but you know I promised when +I was elected Governor only to make appointments of the best men I could +find." + +If possible, the Governor's wife looked even more unconvinced. She was +sitting in a big blue chair almost the color of her wrapper, and every +now and then rocked back and forth to express her emotion, or else +tapped the floor mutinously with the toe of her bedroom slipper. + +"You talk as if there was something wrong with John Everett," she +answered argumentatively, "and as if I were asking you to give a +position to a man who was stupid or dishonest. I am perfectly sure John +is none of these things. He has been unfortunate in business lately, of +course, but that might happen to any one. Really, Anthony, would you +mind telling me exactly what you have in your mind against John Everett? +Of course, I remember you never liked him when you were boys, but I +thought you were too big a man----" + +"See here, Betty," the Governor interrupted, "can't we let this subject +drop? I never knew you to be like this before." He had thrown himself +down on a couch, but now reached over and tried to take his wife's +reluctant hand. "I've been explaining to you for the past hour that I +have nothing in the world against John Everett personally, except that +he has no training for the kind of work I need men to do. He has been a +Wall Street broker. Well, that is all right, but what does he know about +prison reform, about building good roads for the state, or anything else +I'm after? Just because he is your friend--our friend, I mean--I can't +thrust him into a good job over the heads of better men. Please look at +this as I do, Betty. I hate desperately to refuse your request and I +know Meg will be hurt with me too and think I'm unfaithful to old times. +Heigh-ho, I wonder if anybody thinks being Governor is a cheerful job? +Good-night, Princess." + +Plainly meaning to end their conversation, Anthony had gotten up from +his sofa. He now stood above Betty, waiting to have her make peace with +him. But Betty looked far from peaceful, more like a spoiled and angry +little girl thwarted in a wish which she had not imagined could be +refused. + +Of course the Princess had always been more or less spoiled all her +life. Her friends in the Camp Fire Club and her family had always +acknowledged this. But she was usually reasonable with the sweetest +possible temper, so that no one really minded. Nevertheless Betty was +not accustomed to having her serious wishes denied, and by her husband +of all people! + +Really she would have liked very much to cry with disappointment and +vexation, except that she was much too proud. Moreover, even now she +could not finally accept the idea that Anthony would not eventually do +as she asked. + +But she drew back coldly from any idea of making friends until then. + +"Good-night," she replied indifferently. "I don't think I shall try to +go to sleep." Her voice trembled now in spite of all her efforts. + +"Really, Anthony, I don't know how I can tell Meg and John that you +have declined to do what I have asked you. I wonder what they will +think? Certainly that I haven't any influence with my own husband! Do +you know, Anthony, perhaps I am wrong, but I thought I had helped you a +little in your election. I've made a good many sacrifices; you have to +leave me alone a greater part of the time because you are too busy to +spend much of your time with me. Well, I have never thought of +complaining, but somehow it does seem to me that I have the right to +have you do just this one thing I ask of you. I'm afraid I don't find +being a Governor's wife so very cheerful either." + +While she was talking Betty had also gotten up and was now standing near +the doorway. As her husband came toward her she moved slowly backward. + +"I say, Betty dear, you are hard on a fellow," Anthony protested. "Of +course I owe my job to you and anything else that is good about me. But +you can't want me to do wrong even for your sake. Maybe you may see +things differently tomorrow." + +However, instead of replying, the Governor's wife slipped outside the +room. In the nursery she lay down by Bettina. But she slept very little +for the rest of the night. + +For in her opinion Anthony had not been fair; he had not even been kind. +A few hours before, when she had assured John and Meg of her sympathy +and aid, she could not have believed this possible. This was the first +time in their married life that her husband had refused her anything of +importance. Surely she had been wrong in suggesting or even thinking for +half a second that his old boyish dislike and jealousy of John Everett +could influence Anthony now! It was an absurd idea, and even a horrid +one; and yet is one ever altogether fair in anger? + +Down-stairs, in spite of his fatigue, Anthony Graham walked up and down +their big room for a quarter of an hour. If he only could have +reconciled it with his conscience to do what Betty asked him, how much +easier and how much more cheerful for both of them! She was right in +saying that he owed something to her. He owed everything. It was not +just that she had helped him since his marriage--most wives do that for +their husbands--but she had helped him from that first hour of their +meeting in the woods so many years before. + +Nevertheless he had given his word to keep his faith as Governor of the +state. He had promised to give no one a position because of pull and +influence. Naturally he had not expected his wife to have any part in +this, but only the politicians and seekers after graft. Yet even with +Betty misunderstanding he must try to keep his word. + +Sighing, the young Governor turned out the lights. He did look too +boyish and delicate for the weight of his responsibilities tonight. For +there had been other troubles in his office which he had wished to +confide to his wife, had she only been willing to listen. However, he +finally fell asleep somewhat comforted. For he was convinced that Betty +was too sensible a woman not finally to see things in the light that he +did. When he had the opportunity and she was neither tired nor vexed +with him he would explain to her all over again. + +An uncomfortable spirit, however, seemed to be brooding over the +Governor's mansion this evening, for in another part of the big house, +there was another argument also lasting far into the night. + +Angel and Faith sat on either side an old-fashioned four-poster bed, +often talking at the same time in the way that only feminine creatures +can. + +In her white cashmere kimono over her gown, with her pale hair unbound, +Faith Barton looked like a little white saint. But alas, and in spite of +her name, the little French girl bore no resemblance to one! + +Angel's dark hair was extraordinarily heavy and curly but not very long, +and now in her uneasiness she had pushed and pulled at it until it was +extremely untidy. Moreover, her black eyes now and then flashed +resentfully at her friend and two bright spots of color burned in her +cheeks. When she was not talking her lips were pressed closely together. + +"Faith, it isn't right of you; you know it isn't. You should not have +made me promise to keep your secret before telling me it. How could I +ever have guessed such a dreadful thing! I simply must, must tell Betty +if you are not going to confide in Mrs. Barton. Then Betty can do what +she thinks best and it will be off my conscience." + +Certainly Angelique Martins was not speaking in an amiable tone, and yet +her companion seemed not in the slightest disturbed. + +Indeed, Faith began quietly brushing her long, straight hair. + +"Don't be a goose, Angel, and don't have so much conscience for other +people. Of course, I am sorry I told you. Kenneth said it would be wiser +not to speak to any one for the present, but I had to have some +confidant. Now you are trying to spoil my first real romance by wanting +me to get up and proclaim it on the housetops. What I like most about +being engaged to Kenneth is that no one knows of it and that we can see +each other without a lot of silly people staring and talking about us. +Of course, when we begin to think about being married I shall tell Rose +everything. Then I know she will understand. But we are not going to be +married for a long, long time, I expect. Kenneth says that nothing would +persuade him to marry me until he could give me everything in the world +I want. Oh, you need not look so superior, Angel; I understand you don't +approve of that sentiment, but I think it is beautiful for a man to feel +that way about a girl. You simply can't appreciate Kenneth." And Faith +looked sufficiently gentle and forgiving to have tried the patience of a +saint. + +"Perhaps not," the other girl answered shortly. "Anyhow, Faith, you are +right in believing I don't approve of the things you have told me. The +idea of your being secretly engaged to a man whom you have only known +about two weeks! It is horrid! Naturally you don't either of you know +whether you are really in love; but then I don't think you ought to be +engaged until you are willing to tell people. Besides, what do you know +about Mr. Helm's real character, Faith? He is the kind of fellow who +makes love to almost every girl he meets." + +Almost under her breath and with her cheeks flaming the little lame +French girl made this last speech. Nevertheless her companion heard +her. Still Faith did not appear angry as most girls would have been +under the circumstances, but perhaps her gentle, pitying expression was +harder to endure. + +"Is that what troubles you, Angel? I am so sorry," Faith returned, +ceasing to brush her hair to smile compassionately at her friend. "You +see, Kenneth warned me that you did not like him very much. He was too +kind to explain exactly the reason, only he said that you seemed to have +misunderstood something about him. I suppose he was kind to you once, +Angel, because of course he would be specially kind to a girl like you. +But, there, you need not look so angry! You have a dreadful temper, +Angel. Even Betty Graham thinks so in spite of being so fond of you." + +With pretended carelessness Faith Barton now glanced away, devoting all +her energy to plaiting her long hair. Really her speech had been more +unkind than she had intended it. But somehow she and Angel were always +having differences of opinion and it seemed to Faith that it was +usually Angel's fault, because she never quarreled with any one else. + +Besides, ever since her first meeting with the little French girl at +Sunrise Cabin she had been the one who had tried to make and keep their +friendship. Angel never seemed to care deeply for any one except her +mother and now Mrs. Graham and her babies, and was always getting into +hot water with other people. + +However, it certainly did not occur to Faith that her own amiability +came partly from a lack of interest in any one except herself and partly +because her own whims were so seldom interfered with. + +Curious that Rose Barton, who had been such a sensible guardian and +friend to her group of Camp Fire girls, had been so indulgent to her +adopted daughter! But very few persons understood Faith Barton. She +seemed to be absolutely gentle and loving and to live always in a world +of beautiful dreams and desires. How could any one guess that she was +often both selfish and self-willed? + +"There is no use talking any more on this subject, Faith, if you think I +wish to interfere because I am jealous of you," Angel declared, and +finding her cane slipped down from the bed. "Besides, you know perfectly +well you are doing wrong without my saying it. Anyhow, I believe that +something will happen to make you sorry enough before you are through." + +With this parting shot Angel marched stiffly out of the room, too proud +to reveal how deeply her friend had wounded her. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A NEW INTEREST + + +IT is a far journey from the New Hampshire hills to the plains of the +West. + +Nevertheless a girl whom we once knew at Sunrise Hill is walking alone +this afternoon on the rim of a desert and facing the western sun. It is +scarcely fair to call her a girl, unless one has the theory that so long +as a woman does not marry she retains her girlhood. Yet glancing at her +as she strolled slowly along, no one could have guessed her to be more +than twenty, though perhaps she was a little nearer the next decade. + +Exquisitely dressed in a long, dark green broadcloth coat with a fur +collar and small hat, she was a little past medium height and unusually +slender. Her hair was so black that it had an almost somber look, and +yet her eyes were vividly blue. Just now, having wandered a good many +miles from the place where she was staying, she looked extremely tired +and depressed. In no possible way did she appear to fit into her present +surroundings, for without a doubt she was a woman of wealth and +distinction. It was self-evident in the clothes she wore, but more so in +the unconsciously proud carriage of her head and in the lines of her +face, which was not beautiful and yet seemed to have some curious charm +more appealing than mere beauty. + +She stopped now for a moment to gaze with an appreciation that was +almost awe at the beauty of the sinking sun. There was a glory of color +in the sky that was almost fantastic; piles of white clouds seemed to +have been flung up against the horizon like mammoth soap bubbles, tinted +with every rainbow shade. With unconscious enthusiasm, the woman clasped +her hands together. + +"Why," she exclaimed aloud, "I was wondering what this scene reminded me +of. It is dear old Sunrise Hill! What would I not give to be there in +the old cabin tonight with Betty and Mollie and the others! But they +must not know what has become of me until things are all right again. +Both Betty and Mollie are too happy with their babies and husbands to +worry over the old maids in the family. Sometimes, though, I feel that I +should like to send for Sylvia." Then the wanderer turned and stared +around her. + +In every direction there were long waving reaches of sand with an +occasional clumping of rocks, while growing near them were strange +varieties of the cactus plant. Some of them had great leaves like +elephants' ears, some were small and thick with queer, stiff hairs and +excrescences, and among them, in spite of the lateness of the season, +were occasional pink and crimson flowers with waxen petals. + +Behind the wayfarer there was a trail which she must have followed from +some nearby village, yet it was growing less and less distinct ahead, +and certainly the hour was far too late for a stranger to be traveling +alone so near a portion of the great Colorado desert. + +Nevertheless the young woman at this moment turned and left her path. +Walking deliberately for a few yards she seated herself on a giant +rock, and leaning forward, rested her chin in her beautifully gloved +hands. + +"So like you, Polly O'Neill, even in your old age to have gotten +yourself entirely used up on the first walk you were allowed to take +alone!" she began aloud, giving a half despairing, half amused shrug of +her thin shoulders. "I am not in the least sure that I know the way back +to my hotel if it grows dark before I arrive there, and assuredly I am +too weary to start for the present. And hungry! Heaven only knows when I +was ever so ravenous! Now if I had only been a Camp Fire girl in the +West instead of the East, doubtless I could at once discover all sorts +of delectable bread fruit and berries growing nearby. But I don't feel I +want to run any further risks at present." + +So for the next half hour in almost perfect quiet Polly O'Neill remained +seated. It would have been impossible for her to have done otherwise, +for suddenly a curious attack of exhaustion had swept over her. It was +not unusual of late, for indeed Miss O'Neill and her maid had +established themselves in a small hotel near Colorado Springs in order +that the well-known actress might recover from an attack of nervous +exhaustion which she had suffered during her successful tour in the +Western states. So Polly was quite accustomed to finding herself all at +once too weary either to move or speak. But quite like the Polly of old +she had just deliberately walked five miles without reflecting on her +lack of strength or the fact that she must return by as long a road as +she had come. + +No, in spite of the fact that Polly O'Neill had in the last ten years +made a great name for herself as one of the leading actresses in the +United States, she was as thoughtless and impetuous as she had been as a +girl. + +Finally, however, with what seemed to require a good deal of effort she +got up and moved, this time toward the east, but all the elasticity had +gone from her. The sand was uncomfortably heavy, so that she dragged one +foot after the other and her slender body seemed to wave like a stalk in +the wind. But the worst of her difficulty was that her breath came in +short, painful gasps. Unconsciously the effort which the business of +walking required made Polly pay less strict attention to the path which +she should have followed. But by and by, realizing that her way was less +plain and that it was now quite dusk, she paused for a moment, put her +hand to her side and then again seemed to be considering her situation. +Whatever her decision, she must have accepted it philosophically, for +this time, more deliberately, she sought another resting place. +Fortunately not far away was a better shelter of rocks, half a dozen of +them forming a kind of semicircular cave. Deliberately Polly crept +toward their shelter and there removed her hat and tied her hair up in a +long automobile veil. Then she lay down in the sand with the stones as a +shield behind her and before her a wonderful view of the night as it +stole softly over the desert. + +Polly was not afraid and not even seriously annoyed. Life to her was but +a series of adventures, some of them good and others less cheerful. She +was not at all sure that she was not going to enjoy this one and she +could not believe that it would do her any especial harm. She was +sleeping outdoors for the benefit of her health in a small porch +attached to her hotel bedroom. Perhaps the sand was less comfortable and +clean than her bed, but then she had never before imagined so much sky +and prairie. Moreover, there was no one to worry over her failure to +appear except Marie, her maid. It was just possible that Marie might +arouse the hotel and a searching party be sent to find her. In that case +Polly knew that she would be glad to return to civilization. However, +she did not intend to worry if no one came. Her hunger and thirst must +be forgotten until morning. + +Somehow, when the stars came out, in spite of the beauty of the night +Polly found she could not manage to keep her eyes open. She was not +exactly sleepy, only tired. For never in years had she had such an +opportunity to think things over. How crowded her life had been, how +full of hard work, of failure and success, yes, and loneliness! She was +willing to confess it tonight to herself. How she would have liked to +have had one of her old Camp Fire friends here in Colorado with her! Yet +they were all too busy and she had not wished any one of her family to +know how ill she had been. How much trouble she had always given all the +people who cared for her ever since she could remember! Polly's +conscience pricked her sharply. Why had she not married and settled down +as her sister Mollie had suggested at least a hundred times? Because she +would not give up her acting? Well, she need not have done this had she +married Richard Hunt. But too many years had passed since their +engagement had been broken for her to recall him. She had not even seen +Mr. Hunt in the past five years, although they had occasionally acted in +the same cities and at the same time. + +Finally, however, when the famous Miss O'Neill actually fell asleep she +was smiling faintly. For a vision had suddenly come to her of how +shocked her sister Mollie and her brother-in-law, Mr. William Webster, +would be if they knew that she was sleeping alone on the edge of a +desert. But she was surely too near the village to be in any danger from +wild animals and no one would undertake such a walk as hers had been at +this hour. + +Nevertheless, wisdom should have prompted an old Camp Fire girl to have +found twigs enough to have started even a miniature camp fire. But the +edge of a desert is scarcely the place where wood abounds and the fact +is, though she had thought of it, Polly had been too tired to make the +necessary effort. For goodness only knows how much farther she need have +wandered before coming to an oasis of shrubbery or trees. + +When at last Miss O'Neill opened her eyes actually it was broad daylight +and standing before her was a figure that almost fitted into her dream. +For the girl was just about the age of the group of friends who had once +lived together in a log house in the woods, and all night she had been +dreaming of Sunrise Cabin. + +Nevertheless her visitor bore no other resemblance to them, so that the +distinguished lady rubbed her eyes, wondering if she were yet awake and +how the girl could have come so close up to her without her hearing. + +A glance explained this, for the intruder was barefooted and her legs +and feet were so brown and hard they appeared totally unfamiliar with +shoes and stockings. + +She was staring so hard at Polly that she seemed scarcely conscious of +anything except her own surprise. + +With an effort Miss O'Neill sat upright. She did not feel tired now in +the least, but gloriously rested and strengthened from her wonderful +night out of doors in the clear, pure air. But of course she must +explain her situation to the little girl before her, although she would +have preferred her discoverer to have explained herself. + +In spite of being about fourteen years old, this child had on only a +thin yellow calico frock, and it was late October. Her hair was +perfectly straight and Polly might have thought her an Indian except +that it was light brown in color, although a good deal stained by wind +and sun. However, the girl's eyes were a kind of greenish gray in shade +and her features were delicately modeled. But she had a peculiar and +not an agreeable expression. + +"I wandered away from my hotel last evening and was not able to return, +so I slept here all night. How did you happen to find me?" Polly began, +feeling that some one must start a conversation in order to persuade her +companion to cease her almost frightened staring. Of course Polly +appreciated that she herself was not looking her best, but there was no +reason why she should excite so much curiosity. + +Notwithstanding she received no answer. With a slight gesture of +annoyance Miss O'Neill stood up. After all, she did not feel as +energetic as she had thought and it was undoubtedly a long walk back to +her hotel. + +"Do you live anywhere near here? I am both hungry and thirsty. If you +could find some one to help me I should be most grateful," Polly said as +politely as if she had been speaking to a friend. For if the girl was +afraid of her she wished her to forget her timidity. + +But instead of replying the strange child stared harder than ever for +half a minute, and then before Polly could speak again or touch her she +was off, running across the sand like a deer, without a backward glance. + +Miss O'Neill watched her for some time until she vanished into what +appeared at this distance to be a clump of trees. Then she deliberately +set out to follow her. The child must have come from some place nearer +than the village where she was staying. In almost any kind of settlement +she would be able to find a horse to take her back to her hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"BOBBIN" + + +ALL her life Polly O'Neill had felt a curious shrinking from physical +cruelty, and growing older had not made the least change in her feeling. +She had never talked about it, but had always been fearful that at heart +she was a coward. The Camp Fire girls used to laugh at her because, of +course, she had learned to do all of the things that their rules +required without feeling any possible nervousness. But then no one of +them understood what physical cruelty might mean and possibly might +never see an exhibition of it. + +Yet nothing was farther from her own mind at the present moment than +this fear. She had come in about fifteen minutes' walk to a clump of +cottonwood trees by a small stream of water, and there in their midst +stood a crude two-room shanty with a bare space of ground in front of it +and a lean dog sitting in a patch of sunshine. + +But the sight that froze Polly's blood and made her stand suddenly so +still that she might have been a wooden image was the figure of a man +with a long whip in his hand, such as one might have used in driving +cattle. And this whip was now whirling and stinging through the air and +twisting itself about the body of the little girl who had been the first +vision that Miss O'Neill's eyes had rested upon on waking that morning. + +But the strangest thing of all was that the child was making no outcry +and showing no effort to run away. Indeed, she stood perfectly still, +hugging half a loaf of bread in her arms. + +Polly made an inarticulate sound which she thought was a loud cry: +"Stop!" But the man had not seen her approach and was too occupied with +his hateful task to hear her, and to her intense shame she felt all at +once desperately afraid of him. She was so far from any one she knew, +she had so little physical strength and this man was so much more brutal +than any one she had ever seen before in her life. Perhaps he would +cease hurting the child this instant. + +Then, without in the least knowing when nor how she had accomplished it, +Polly rushed forward and seizing the man's thick wrist in her own +slender fingers, clung to him desperately, while the thong of the whip +curled and fell in a limp fashion about her own shoulders. + +Too surprised to speak, the man took a step or two backward. In the +course of her stage career Polly had acted a number of tragedy queens; +and notwithstanding her slightly rumpled appearance at this moment, she +had never looked the part better than now. Her thin figure was drawn up +to its fullest height, her Irish blue eyes flashed Celtic lightnings. +She even stamped her foot imperiously. + +"You beast!" she exclaimed. "What do you mean by striking a little girl +in that cruel fashion? I'll have you arrested! I don't care in the least +if you are her father or what she has done, you have no possible right +to be so brutal." + +The man had dropped his whip to the ground and Polly now stooped and +picked it up. It was absurd of her ever to have dreamed she could have +been frightened by mere brute strength. The man was a good deal more +afraid of her for the instant. The sudden apparition of a fashionably +dressed young woman, appearing out of nowhere and springing upon him in +such a surprising fashion, had destroyed his nerve. + +"I wasn't doin' nawthin I hadn't a right ter," he growled. "That young +'un is allers stealin' somethin'. I caught her red-handed running off +with that there loaf of bread." + +For the first time since her arrival on the scene Polly O'Neill turned +toward the girl. She was still staring at her with almost the same +expression she had worn earlier in the day. But somehow something in her +look touched Polly, brought her sudden inspiration. + +"Why," she exclaimed with a break in her voice, "I believe she was +bringing the bread to me. I told her I was hungry just a little while +ago." + +There was no one in the world who could be sweeter or simpler than Polly +O'Neill when her feelings were deeply touched. This had always been +true, even as a young girl, and of course, as she had grown into a +famous woman, her charm had deepened. Now she put her arms about her +new friend's shoulders. "You were going to give the bread to me, I'm +sure. Thank you." Oblivious of the fact that the little girl's dress was +exceedingly dirty and that her face was far from clean, Polly leaned +over and kissed her. + +Then she turned to the man. "If you will get a horse and drive me to my +hotel I will pay you well for it," she explained. + +In reply the man nodded and moved away, so that Polly was once more left +alone with the girl. + +It suddenly occurred to her that the child had never spoken since their +meeting. Could she possibly be deaf and dumb? That might explain her +strange expression. + +"What is your name?" Polly asked gently. + +Still the girl stared. Miss O'Neill repeated her question. + +Then the girl, picking up a stick from the ground, slowly and +laboriously printed in big letters, such as a child of six might have +made, the word "Bobbin." + +"Bobbin?" Polly repeated the name aloud as she read it. What an +extraordinary title! One could scarcely call it a name. + +"Is that the only name you have?" she inquired again, wondering at the +same time how it was possible for the little girl to understand what she +said without being able to reply. But Bobbin bowed her head, showing +that she had understood. In some fashion she must have learned the lip +language. Yet it was curious why if the girl had ever been sent to +school she had learned nothing else. She appeared the veriest little +savage that ever lived so close to wealth and civilization. + +Polly sought in her mind to find out what she could do or say to show +her gratitude. She had a sudden feeling that she could not turn her back +upon the girl and leave her to her wretched fate, and yet of course the +child had no claim upon her. It was something in the expression of +Bobbin's eyes that seemed to haunt one. + +With a slight, unnoticeable shrug of her shoulders, as though giving up +the problem as too much for her, Polly now slipped her hand into her +pocket, drawing out her purse bag. Opening it she found a large silver +dollar, such as one uses in the West. + +"Won't you buy yourself something from me?" she asked, trying to speak +as distinctly as possible. She had not observed that in taking out the +money she had carelessly dropped a handkerchief from her bag. + +With a fleeting expression of pleasure the girl accepted the gift, but +the next instant, when Polly turned to watch the man who was now +approaching her with a lean horse hitched to a cart, she swooped down +toward the ground and picking up the crumpled white object thrust it +secretively inside her dress. + +Five minutes after, when Polly and the man had started for Colorado +Springs, Bobbin remained in the same position, watching them until they +were out of sight. Then she began eating the neglected bread. + +Upon arriving safely at her hotel, Miss O'Neill discovered that the news +of her disappearance had been spread abroad by her frightened maid, and +that a thorough search was being made for her. For although Polly had +been trying to live as quietly as possible in a small, obscure hotel, +the fact of her visit was well known to hundreds of people. You see, at +this time in her life not only was her name celebrated from one part of +the country to the other, but her face was equally familiar. + +Through her maid, Marie, Polly was told that a gentleman, whose name she +had not learned, had been particularly kind and interested in seeking to +find her. So as soon as she rested she had every intention of inquiring +his name and thanking him personally. But by late afternoon, when she +finally dressed, this was impossible. Evidently the man did not wish to +be annoyed by her thanks, for the message brought her was that on +hearing of her safety he had suddenly left the village. + +However, Polly was able to acquire some actual information about the +girl she had seen earlier in the day, for "Bobbin" was apparently a +well-known character in the famous Western resort. She was a little +stray daughter of the place. Years before, the mother had come to +Colorado from some city in the South and had died. Afterwards no one had +ever claimed the child. + +So the town had taken care of her, sent her to school and tried to +teach her to talk. She was perhaps not entirely deaf, although no one +exactly understood her case. But the girl was a hopeless little rebel. +In no place would she stay unless kept there by iron bars. She seemed to +have an unconquerable desire to be always out of doors, and in the +brilliant Colorado climate this was nearly always possible. Recently she +had been living with some gypsy people, who had established themselves +in a temporary shanty at some little distance from the roads usually +followed by sightseers. So Miss O'Neill had certainly wandered from the +beaten track. Nevertheless she need not make herself unnecessarily +unhappy over "Bobbin," for the girl would again be brought back to +school as soon as she could be captured. + +Yes, her name had been Roberta, an old-fashioned Southern name, and then +in some way it had been shortened to Bobbie and now Bobbin. The child +had a last name, of course, but the woman who told the story to Miss +O'Neill had either never heard the mother's name or else had completely +forgotten it. + +Late that night in reflecting over her adventure Polly wished that she +and Betty Graham could have changed places for a week or so. For Betty +would certainly do something for the unfortunate Bobbin to make life +happier for her, as she had a kind of genius for looking after people. +Her Camp Fire training had taught her a beautiful sympathy and +understanding. But Betty must have been made that way in the beginning, +Polly concluded with a sigh and a smile. She had no such gift herself. +The girl's story, fragmentary as it was, interested her, but there could +be no possible point in undertaking to interfere with the child's +future. + +Nevertheless, try as she might, all night it was impossible for the +famous actress to get the half tragic, half stupid figure of Bobbin out +of her vision. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE + + +BETTY was driving alone through one of the less crowded parts of +Concord. She had been into the country and was now on her way home +again. Not very often did she go out alone, but she had not felt in a +mood for company and had purposely gotten away by herself. + +A week had passed since her midnight talk with Anthony and there was +still a coldness between them. Each day Betty had expected her husband +to declare that he had changed his mind in regard to finding a position +for John Everett and would do as she asked. Yet so far he had not even +referred to the subject. + +On her way home Betty considered that she had better stop and tell Meg +how she had failed in influence with her husband, notwithstanding she +could not decide just what she should do or say. Meg would not +understand and might believe that she had made no real effort for +John's sake. Yet she could not be such a coward as to leave her old +friends in suspense. Since Anthony would do nothing to help, it was +better that John Everett should know, so that he might find another +occupation. + +They were passing through a quiet street shaded by magnificent old maple +trees that were now bare except for a few clustering brown leaves, when +Mrs. Graham leaned over to speak to her coachman and the man drew in his +horses. The next moment her attention was attracted by seeing some one +on the sidewalk pause and lift his hat to her. Betty had returned the +bow before she actually recognized John Everett. Then he took two or +three steps forward and held out his hand. + +"I was just going to see Meg," Betty explained, blushing and wishing +that she could escape the confession that lay before her. If John should +question her now she felt she might have a sudden panic of +embarrassment. Of course she could think up some excuse for Anthony's +unkindness; she might even offer the same excuse he had made to her. Yet +the fact that he had declined to do what she so much desired would +remain the same. + +But John Everett was smiling in the most ordinary fashion. + +"I wonder, Mrs. Graham, if you will not let me ride along with you, if +you are going to Meg's. I am on the way home myself." + +Then in a short while Betty had forgotten her worry and was having the +same agreeable talk of old times that she had enjoyed the week before. +Moreover, it was John Everett who relieved her from her chagrin. + +"By the way," he began, just as they were about to arrive at Mrs. Jack +Emmet's house, "please don't worry, Mrs. Graham, or Betty, if I may call +you by the old name, about asking your husband to fix me up with a +position in his office. I know the new Governor is being overwhelmed +with office seekers. I have been lucky enough to secure something to do +with my brother-in-law, Jack Emmet, and ex-Governor Peyton. They have a +new business scheme on hand in which they think I may be useful." + +Of course, Betty could not utter her thanksgiving aloud, although she +repeated it very fervently to herself. So, after all, she need not +confess to other people Anthony's lack of consideration. It was enough +that she should be carrying the hurt feeling about inside her own heart. +Instead, she merely murmured something or other that was not clear, +about the Governor's having been so very busy recently and having some +special annoyance in his affairs. She was by no means certain of just +what she said at the moment nor how she explained the situation, but +fortunately John Everett did not appear to be particularly interested in +the subject. + +Meg was not at home when they arrived, but instead of saying good-bye, +John suggested that he should drive back to her own home with Betty. It +had been years since they had seen each other, except the other evening, +and there was so much to talk about. + +Then John explained that he had taken a small house in Concord and that +his father was soon coming to live with him. Bumps would continue with +his course at Cornell for this winter anyhow. So, after all, there were +uses in this world even for old bachelors, he ended smilingly. + +It was Betty, however, who suggested that they should go and see this +house, although John told her it was a good deal out of her way. Yet it +was a beautiful warm November afternoon and would not be dark for +another hour. Somehow Betty did not feel that she wanted to go home at +once. Faith had gone for a walk with Kenneth Helm, Angel had a half +holiday and was spending the afternoon with the children. She and +Bettina had a wonderful secret game that they played together in a room +by themselves, where no one else had ever been allowed to come. There +was no prospect of Anthony's returning home for some time, so the +Governor's splendid mansion would seem big and empty to the Governor's +wife for an hour or so more at any rate. + +There was a caretaker in the little white house with green shutters, who +was anxious to show Mrs. Graham and Mr. Everett every detail of it. The +house was to be let furnished and yet it seemed to have been peculiarly +fitted for old Professor Everett's needs. It was pleasant for Betty to +imagine the sweet-tempered, learned old man here with John and near his +daughter Meg. He had been living alone in Woodford ever since his +younger son, Horace, departed for college. Somehow Betty felt that it +would be pleasant for her also to have the old gentleman living so near +by. He had been a devoted friend of Mr. Ashton's, whom she had certainly +loved even more than an own father. + +"I shall be running in here very often to see Professor Everett and tell +him the things that trouble me, just as Meg and I used to do when we +were little girls," Betty remarked to her companion. "He was the one +person who never by any possible chance believed that Meg or I could +ever be in fault." + +"I'm sure he will always be overjoyed to see you," John Everett replied. +"Only it is a little difficult for me to imagine Mrs. Anthony Graham +ever having anything to trouble her." + +As the November evenings grew dark so soon, it was almost dusk when +Betty at length entered her own home after saying good-bye to her +friend, who had insisted on walking back to his sister's house instead +of allowing the coachman to drive him. + +Going into her private sitting room, Betty was surprised to find that +Anthony had come home and was sitting there pretending to read. But most +undeniably he looked cross. + +"I thought we were going to have a drive and tea together, Betty," he +remarked reproachfully. "Where in the world have you been? No one seemed +to know. I should think you would leave word where you are going, so +that if anything happened to the children or to me the servants would +know where to find you." + +Actually Anthony was reproaching her in a perfectly unreasonable +fashion! Betty could hardly believe her ears, it was so unlike him. Was +he going to turn into the dictatorial type of husband after all these +years of married life when he had been so altogether different? + +Usually Betty's temper was gracious and sweet. Possibly if Anthony had +approached her in his usual fashion at this moment they might have +gotten over the feeling of estrangement that had come between them for +the first time since their wedding. Moreover, the room was not brightly +lighted, so that Betty did not notice how tired and worried Anthony +looked. Of course, fatigue and worry explain almost any temporary +unreasonableness on the part of human beings. + +Quite casually Betty began to draw off her long gray suede gloves. She +wore a beautiful gray coat and skirt and chinchilla furs and a hat with +a single blue feather. + +"Don't talk as if we lived in England and you were a kind of domestic +tyrant, please, Anthony," she said lightly. "I am sorry, but I had no +possible way of knowing that you were coming home from your office so +much earlier than usual. You should have had some one telephone me. I +have been having a very agreeable drive with John Everett. And, by the +way, it was not worth while for me to have annoyed you by asking you to +do me the favor of giving John something to do. He tells me he is going +into business with Jack Emmet and ex-Governor Peyton." Then as she moved +toward her own bedroom Betty was surprised and annoyed by another +speech from her husband. + +"I don't like the combination very well," he remarked quietly. "Neither +Emmet nor Peyton have very good business reputations. They are going to +try and get a shaky bill through the Legislature in the next month or +so, I hear. But I suppose Everett knows his own affairs best." + +As Betty had now disappeared, she did not hear Anthony's closing speech. + +"I am sorry to have talked like a bear, dear. Won't you forgive me and +let us be friends? I wish I could have fixed up things for Everett for +your sake, but I could not feel that I had the right." + +Moreover, the young Governor's back was unfortunately turned, so he did +not appreciate that Betty had not heard him. He was under the impression +that she had simply refused to pay any attention to his apology. + +Well, he was too tired to discuss the matter any further for the +present. He had several important decisions that must be made before +morning and he and Betty and Faith and Kenneth Helm were to go to some +big reception later in the evening. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +LONELINESS + + +NEVER in her entire career had Polly O'Neill felt more depressed. She +was, of course, accustomed to a very busy life filled with people and +excitement. Nothing else is possible to an actor or actress, although +Miss O'Neill had tried to keep her private life as quiet as possible. + +But here in her little hotel about a mile or more from the celebrated +Colorado Springs she was finding existence duller than she had bargained +for. In the first place, on her arrival she had let it be known that she +desired no callers or acquaintances. Her reason for giving up her work +at the present time was that she was greatly in need of a rest cure, so +visitors to the Springs had taken her at her word and Miss O'Neill had +been left to recover her health unmolested. Now and then some unknown +admirer had appeared at her hotel or sent books and flowers. +Nevertheless, she had so far made no acquaintances. + +However, after several weeks of the wonderful, brilliant air, with +nothing to do except sleep and write an occasional letter, Polly felt a +good deal stronger. Yet she did not feel that she was well enough to +return to Woodford, and today the news from home had been depressing. + +You see, Mollie had never been told that her sister was ill and +considered that if she only required rest it might as well be enjoyed at +her own lovely big farm as among strangers in the West. So this morning +her letter had urged Polly's return home and had also imparted a great +variety of dispiriting reasons. In the first place, Mollie told at great +length that Dan, who was Polly's favorite of her sister's children, was +not in good health and that he was showing certain oddities of +disposition which struck his aunt as very like her own. Indeed, she +believed that neither her sister nor brother-in-law understood the +delicate, difficult little fellow, and she would have liked to have been +near enough to have helped him through a trying time. Then more +disquieting had been Mollie's information about their mother, Mrs. +Wharton, who was beginning to show her age. Moreover, Mr. Wharton seemed +somewhat depressed over his business affairs. Then finally the most +mystifying and in a way disturbing of Mollie's statements had been her +account of Betty Graham. + +For several weeks there had been no line to Polly from her dearest +friend, which in itself had made Polly vaguely uneasy. It was so unlike +Betty ever to fail in her weekly letter which had always followed her +friend to whatever part of the world she happened to be. But now Mollie +announced that Betty had been on a visit to her mother, Mrs. Ashton, in +Woodford, and that she had seemed entirely unlike herself. Instead of +having a great deal to say she had been strangely quiet, almost sad. + +Moreover, the new Governor's enemies were said to be making a tremendous +effort to destroy his reputation and there was a great deal of talk +going on about some matter which Mollie did not claim to understand. +Possibly Anthony's annoyances may have been worrying his wife. + +Polly had been sitting alone on her small, private veranda which +commanded a wonderful view of a rim of hills, when her sister's letter +had been given her along with her other mail. + +Before glancing at the other communications she had eagerly opened this. +But now she sat with the pages fluttering in her lap and her eyes filled +with tears. + +Naturally Mollie had not intended to be so depressing; people seldom do +seem to realize just what effects their letters may produce. Often they +write merely to relieve their own feelings and once having put down all +the gloomy possibilities that worry them at the time, rise up and go +cheerfully about their business with the evils forgotten. + +So naturally it remains for the unfortunate recipient of the letter to +become even more depressed than the writer had been. + +Moreover, Polly really wanted desperately to go home. It had been many +months since she had seen her own people, and though they often +believed her to have less affection than other women, it was not in the +least true. She had given up many things for her art and had sometimes +seemed selfish and cold-blooded. But it wasn't fair that her sister, +Mollie, always seemed to think that she had never desired a home of her +own, babies and some one to care for her supremely, that she had never +grown tired of the wandering life her stage career forced her to lead. + +Finally, however, Polly managed to smile and give a characteristic shrug +over her own self-pity. There was nothing in the world so silly. Like +the rest of us she knew this to be true, yet, like the rest of us, now +and then even this famous, grown-up woman, who had most of the things +that people would give worlds to possess, indulged in attacks of being +sorry for herself. Moreover, the day before she had sent for her doctor +and he had positively refused to consider her leaving Colorado for the +present. + +You may remember that Polly had a certain inherited delicacy that used +to keep her mother uneasy, and lately it had troubled her. It was this +fact she had concealed from her family and friends, so that now, though +she was better, her physician had scouted the idea of a return East. +Once near New York he was sure she would begin to talk business with her +theatrical manager, or even undertake to study a new play. + +No, she must undoubtedly remain at her post a while longer. And yet was +it really necessary to have her post quite so lonely? + +Just as this idea occurred to her, a slight noise attracting her +attention, Polly glanced down into the garden below her veranda. + +There stood Bobbin and the next moment she had flung a poor little +bouquet at her feet. It was a strange offering, all prickly cactus +leaves with a single white flower in their midst. For some absurd reason +it flashed through Polly's mind to wonder if her offering could be in +any way symbolic of the girl who had given it her. Could there be +something beautiful hidden within the child's peculiarities? + +For this was not the first token of affection that Bobbin had presented. +Indeed, many queer, small gifts had been brought to the strange lady +since their first meeting, so that Polly had been curiously touched. For +of course Bobbin's offerings came straight from her heart. In her +pathetic, shut-in world she had no way of knowing anything of the +history of the woman whom she so plainly admired. + +Yet inside Polly O'Neill's sitting room at this moment there were four +or five tokens of affection that must have come from her. They were too +extraordinary for any one else to have sent them and had been laid at +her shrine in too unusual a way. For most of them had been literally +flung on her veranda. A few of them, when she happened to be sitting +outdoors as she was doing at the present moment, and the others when no +one had seen or known of their appearance. + +One of the gifts was a beautiful blue feather that must have fallen from +some unusual bird flying over the western lands, another a stone that +shone like the finest crystal, in the sun, and a third a horseshoe some +small broncho must have shed in trotting across the plains. + +However, never once had Polly been able to thank her new friend for her +gifts. For always at the slightest movement on her part Bobbin had +turned and run away more fleetly than any one else could. For since Miss +O'Neill's report that she had found the girl living with such rough +people Bobbin had been recaptured and brought back to the village to +school. Notwithstanding, she had once more escaped and now either no one +knew just where she had gone or else no one had taken the trouble to +capture her a second time. + +It occurred to Polly at this moment that she would like to try and +influence the girl, or at any rate show her gratitude. Besides, anything +would be better than spending the rest of the day bewailing her own +loneliness. Moreover, it would do her good for a moment to compare her +own loneliness with Bobbin's! + +Without a movement or a sign to the girl to betray that she had even +caught sight of her, Polly at once slipped into her bedroom and put on +her coat and hat. And she was down in her yard and had stretched out her +hand to touch her visitor before the girl became aware of her. + +Yet the very next instant Bobbin started and began running as swiftly as +she had at their first meeting. And this time, even more impetuously and +with less reason, Miss O'Neill pursued her. + +It was ridiculous of Polly and utterly undignified and unbecoming. No +other person in the world in her position would have done such a thing. +Yet she had no more thought of its oddity and the attention that she +might create than if she had been a Camp Fire girl in the New Hampshire +woods nearly fifteen years before. + +Of course the woman could not run half so fast as Bobbin in these days, +but it was only because she was not well, Polly said to herself angrily. +She had been the swiftest runner of all the girls for short distances in +their old Sunrise Hill Club. Of course Sylvia had used to get the better +of her in long distance tests. Still, even now she was managing to keep +Bobbin in sight, although she had a horrid stitch in her side and was +already out of breath. + +Fortunately, however, for Miss Polly O'Neill's reputation she was not +at the present time within the fashionable precincts of Colorado +Springs, else she might possibly have been thought to have gone suddenly +mad. Her hotel was some distance out in the country and there were but +few houses in its neighborhood. Moreover, Bobbin was running away from +the town and not toward it. + +The road was a level, hard one, but all at once Polly felt a queer pain +that took her breath completely away and then a sudden darkness. + +She did not fall, however, because some one who was walking in the +direction of her hotel reached her just in time. + +Then to her amazement Polly heard an exclamation that had in some +unexplainable way a familiar note in it. The next moment when +straightening up and opening her eyes she seemed to be reposing in the +arms of a tall man with dark eyes and gray hair, whom she had once known +extremely well, but had not seen in the past five years. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A MEETING AND AN EXPLANATION + + +"I--I was running," explained Miss O'Neill as soon as she had sufficient +breath to speak. + +Which was such an absurdly unnecessary statement of an apparent fact +that her rescuer smiled against his will. + +He was not pleased at this meeting with Miss Polly O'Neill. It was true +that he had been walking out to her hotel to make inquiries concerning +her health, but he had no thought or desire to see her. Indeed, deep +down in his heart he believed that few women had ever treated a man much +worse than she had treated him and he had never even tried to forgive +her. For several years they had been engaged to be married, only +postponing the wedding because of Polly's youth and because she wanted +to go on with her acting for a few years longer without interruption. +Then when Richard Hunt had insisted that he was not young and could not +wait forever, with characteristic coolness Polly had broken her +engagement. She had written him of her change of mind and heart and he +had accepted her letter as final. Never once since had they met face to +face until this minute. + +Yet now Richard Hunt found himself holding the same young woman in his +arms, rather against his will, of course, but not knowing what else to +do with her since she scarcely looked strong enough to stand alone. + +"I think I would like to sit down for a moment," Polly volunteered +finally and managed to cross over to the opposite side of the road, +where she established herself very comfortably on a carefully cultivated +mound of grass. + +Her rescuer stood over her. "May I do anything for you, Miss O'Neill?" +he inquired formally. "I think it might be well for me to find your +maid." + +He was about to move off when Polly with her usual lack of dignity +fairly clutched the back of his overcoat. + +"Oh, please don't go, Mr. Hunt--Richard," she ended after a slight +hesitation. "Really, I don't understand why you have treated me so +unkindly all these years. I don't see the least reason why we should not +have continued to be friends. Still, you were going to my hotel to call +on me. There isn't any other possible reason why you were marching out +this particular road, which does not lead anywhere else." And at this +Miss O'Neill smiled with open and annoying satisfaction. + +"I hadn't the faintest idea of asking to see you," Richard Hunt +announced firmly, although a little surprised by Polly's friendly +manner. If they had been parted for a matter of five weeks instead of +five years, and if the cause of their separation had been only some +slight disagreement rather than something affecting their whole lives, +she could not have appeared more nonchalant and at the same time more +cordial. But then there never had been any way of accounting for Polly +O'Neill's actions and probably never would be. However, Richard Hunt had +no desire again to subject himself to her moods. He wished very much to +walk on, and yet he could not make up his mind to remove her hand +forcibly from his coat. Moreover, she looked too pale and exhausted to +be left alone. Yet this had always been a well-known method by which +Polly had succeeded in gaining her own point, he remembered. + +"Then what were you going to my hotel for? Didn't you even know I was +staying there?" she demanded, finding breath enough to ask questions, in +spite of her exhaustion of a few moments before. + +If only he had been a less truthful man! For a moment Richard Hunt +contemplated making up some entirely fanciful story, then he put the +temptation aside. + +Notwithstanding, his manner and answer were far more crushing to Miss +Polly O'Neill than if he had told her a lie which she would probably +have seen through at once. + +Always he had commanded more respect from her than any man she had ever +known in her life, which was secretly mingled with a little wholesome +awe. Polly had always put it down to the fact that he was so much older +than she was. But she had had other acquaintances among older men. + +"You misunderstood me, Miss O'Neill, when I said that I was coming to +your hotel without any intention of seeing you. That was true, but I was +coming with the idea of inquiring how you were. You see, I also have +been staying in this part of the country, and not long ago I read in one +of the papers that you were here and seriously ill. Afterwards I learned +that you were alone. Your family and friends have always been so kind to +me that it appeared to me my duty to find out your true condition. I of +course guessed that you had not told them the truth." + +Richard Hunt gazed severely down at the crumpled young woman at his +feet, ending his speech as cruelly as possible. + +"Well, I like that!" Polly returned weakly, falling into slang with +entire unconsciousness. "Here I have been suffering perfect agonies of +loneliness and crying my eyes out every day because I so wanted mother +and Mollie and Betty to come to me. And I only did not let them know I +was ill, to keep them from worrying. Yet you make it sound just as if I +were keeping my tiresome old breakdown a secret from the pure love of +fibbing inherent in my wicked nature. I do think you are--mean!" + +Was there ever such another grown-up woman as Polly O'Neill? Actually +there were tears in her eyes as she ended her speech, relinquishing her +hold on her companion in order to fish about in her pocket for a +handkerchief, which she failed to find. + +With entire gravity Mr. Hunt presented his, and Polly, wiping her eyes +and perspiring forehead, coolly retained the handkerchief. + +"Don't you think you are strong enough now to permit me to take you back +to your hotel, if I may not look for your maid?" the man suggested, +wondering if his companion had any idea of how absurd their position +was, nor of how much he desired to get away from her. + +However, she only sighed comfortably. "Oh, thank you very much, but +don't trouble. I am perfectly all right now. I was only out of breath +because I was running after a little girl who is as fleet as a deer. But +I don't want to go back to my hotel unless you were coming to see me. I +was much too lonely there. I'll just walk along with you and after a +while, if I am tired again, perhaps we may find a bench and you'll sit +down with me. Of course I know you are too dignified to sit on the grass +like I am doing." + +Without the least assistance Polly rose up and stood beside her +companion, smiling at him somewhat wistfully. + +What else could any man do except agree to her wishes? Besides, she had +him cornered either way. For now if he continued his journey toward her +hotel she would assuredly accompany him, and she had also volunteered to +walk the other way. + +Moreover, it would seem too surly and disgruntled to refuse so simple a +courtesy to an old acquaintance. + +So Polly and her former friend walked slowly along in the brilliant +Colorado sunshine in air so clear that it seemed almost dazzling. Beyond +they could see the tops of snow-covered mountains tinted azure by the +sky. It would have been humanly impossible to have felt unfriendly +toward any human being in such circumstances and on such a day. + +Every now and then Polly would glance surreptitiously toward her +companion's face. Gracious, he did look older! His hair was almost +entirely gray and his expression certainly less kind. Polly wondered if +he had really minded their broken engagement. Surely he had never cared +seriously for so unreliable a person! She must have seemed only a +foolish school girl to him, incapable of knowing her own mind. For of +course if he had not felt in this way he would have made some effort to +persuade her to change her decision. How often she used to lie awake +wondering why he did not write or come to her? Well, he was probably +grateful enough for his escape by this time. + +Then without in the least knowing what she was going to say nor why she +said it, Polly inquired suddenly: + +"Richard, do you think Margaret Adams is happy in her marriage? I have +so often wondered. Of course she writes me she is." + +Several years before, Miss Adams had married one of the richest men in +New York City and since then had retired permanently from the stage. +Indeed, many persons considered that Polly had succeeded to her fame and +position. + +Richard Hunt shook his head. "Really, I don't know any more than you do, +Miss Polly," he returned. "But she has a fine son and certainly looks to +me to be happy." + +Polly smiled. At least she had succeeded in persuading her companion to +call her "Miss Polly." That was a step in the right direction, for in +spite of her own boldness in using his first name as she had done years +before, up to this moment she had been addressed as Miss O'Neill. + +But there were so many things to say that she quite forgot in what way +she should say them and talked on every minute of the time. + +She had been so lonely, so depressed until now, that life had seemed to +have lost almost all its former interest. + +When she was plainly too tired to go further Richard Hunt sat down with +her on a wayside bench for ten minutes. Then he resolutely rose and said +good-bye. + +"I am ever so glad to find that you are so much better," he concluded +finally. "I see there is no cause for anxiety." Yet even as he spoke the +man wondered how any human being could manage to be as delicate looking +as Polly O'Neill and yet do all the things she was able to accomplish? +Just now, of course, she did look rather worse than usual for her run; +and then the walk afterwards had used up her strength. Besides, she had +been trying so hard to persuade her old friend again to cherish a little +liking for her and at this moment was convinced of her failure. + +She shook her head. "Thank you," she answered quietly. "It has done me +good to have seen some one of whom I am fond. It hasn't been altogether +cheerful being out here ill and alone. It was kind of you to have cared +enough to inquire about me. I suppose you will soon be going back to +work. Good luck and farewell." + +Polly reached out her slender hand, which was white and small with blue +veins upon it. In her haste on leaving her apartment she had, of course, +forgotten gloves. + +However, instead of shaking her hand quietly, as both of them expected, +Richard Hunt raised her fingers to his lips. + +"I am not going away from Colorado immediately. May I come and see you +soon again?" he inquired. A few minutes before he had not the slightest +intention of ever deliberately trying to see Polly O'Neill alone as long +as they lived. But she did look so forlorn and as lonely as a forsaken +little girl. No one could ever have guessed that this was the celebrated +Miss O'Neill whose acting had charmed many thousands of people during +the last eight or ten years. + +Polly bit her lips. "Then you will come? I was afraid to ask you," she +replied. "I want so much to tell you about a queer little girl whom I +have come across out in these wilds. Her name is Bobbin and she seems to +be deaf and dumb. I feel that I ought to do something for her and don't +know exactly what to do. Perhaps I'll adopt her, although I'm afraid the +family and Betty Graham won't approve. But anyhow, Sylvia, the +well-known Doctor Sylvia Wharton, who is a children's specialist, may be +able to do something for her." + +Naturally this idea of adopting Bobbin had not dawned upon Polly until +the instant of announcing it. But the more she thought of taking the +girl to Sylvia's care the more the idea appealed to her. Besides, +Bobbin perhaps might awaken Mr. Hunt's interest if he could see the +child and hear her tragic story. The little girl might be made +attractive with her queer eyes and sunburned hair, if she were cleaner +and more civilized. + +"You will come some day and help me decide what to do, won't you?" Polly +urged. "One's chief difficulty is not alone that Bobbin won't be +adopted, she won't even let herself be discovered. She is such a queer, +wild little thing." + +Then she watched her companion until he was entirely out of sight and +afterwards got up and strolled slowly home. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE WAY HOME + + +NOT a long time afterward Bobbin must have changed her mind for some +reason or other, for voluntarily she came to call on Miss O'Neill. That +is, she appeared in the garden and threw a queer scarlet flower up to +the veranda. Then she waited without trying to escape when Polly came +down to talk to her. And evidently she must have felt, somewhere back in +the odd recesses of her mind, that she was to be considered a visitor, +for she had washed her face and hands and even her hair. Indeed, though +it hung perfectly straight, Polly thought that she had never seen more +splendid hair in her life, it held such strange bright colors from being +always exposed to the sun and air; besides, it was long and heavy. + +Moreover, Bobbin wore an old red jacket, which some one recently had +given her, over the same pitiful calico dress. + +By and by, using all the tact she possessed, Polly persuaded her visitor +out of the yard and up-stairs to her own rooms. Of course Marie, the +maid, was shocked and displeased, but after all she was fairly +accustomed to her mistress's eccentricities. Moreover, after a little +while she too became interested in Bobbin. The first thing Polly +undertook to do was to feed her visitor. She had an idea that Bobbin +might be hungry, but she did not dream how hungry. The girl ate like a +little wolf, ravenously, secretly if it had been possible. Only, +fortunately, she had learned something of table manners from her +occasional training in institutions, so that she at least understood the +use of a knife and fork, and altogether her hostess was less horrified +than she had expected to be. + +Later on Bobbin and Polly undertook to have a conversation. This they +managed by acquiring large sheets of paper and nicely sharpened pencils. +But it was astonishing how easily Bobbin appeared to understand whatever +her new friend said to her and how readily she seemed to be willing to +accept her suggestions. + +The truth is that the half savage little girl had conceived a sudden, +unexplainable devotion to the strange lady whom she had discovered +asleep on the sands. Perhaps Bobbin too may have dreamed dreams and +imagined quaint fairy tales, so that Polly's appearance answered some +fancy of her own. But whatever it was, she had offered her faithful +allegiance to this possible fairy princess or just ordinary, human +woman. Yet how Bobbin was to keep the faith it was well that neither she +nor Polly knew at the present time. + +However, by the end of her visit the girl had promised to go back to the +home which the town had provided for her and to do her best to learn all +she could. As a reward for this she was to be allowed to make other +visits to Miss O'Neill. She was even to be allowed to eat from the same +blue and white china and drink tea from the same blue cup. + +Moreover, before Bobbin's final departure Marie persuaded her into the +bathroom and half an hour later she came forth beautifully clean and +dressed in a discarded costume of Polly's, which was too long for her, +but otherwise served very well. It was merely a many times washed white +silk shirt waist and blue serge walking skirt and coat. They made Bobbin +appear rather absurd and old, so that Polly was not sure she had not +liked her best in her rags. However, both Bobbin and Marie were too +pleased for her to offer criticism; yet, notwithstanding, Polly made up +her mind that she would try and purchase the girl more suitable clothes +as soon as possible and that she would write and ask Betty Graham's and +Sylvia's advice in regard to her. + +For Richard Hunt had not come to see her since their accidental meeting +and she could hope for no interest from him. Polly wished she had never +laid eyes upon him, for their little talk had only served to start a +chain of memories she wished forgotten. Besides, of course, she felt +lonelier than ever, since there is nothing so depressing as waiting for +a friend who does not come. + +Soon after dinner that evening Polly undressed and put on a pretty kind +of tea gown of dark red silk, the color she had always fancied ever +since girlhood. She was idling about in her sitting room wondering what +she could do to amuse herself when unexpectedly Mr. Hunt was announced. + +"Why, Polly," he began on entering, his manner changed from the coldness +of their first meeting, "do you know what that gown you are wearing +brings back to me? Our talk in the funny little boarding house in Boston +so many years ago, when you explained to me that you had run off and +were in hiding in order to try and learn to be an actress. I wish I +could tell you how proud I am of your success." + +But Polly did not wish to talk of her success tonight. So she only +shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, I have always been doing foolish things for +the sake of my acting and yet I don't seem to amount to much." + +After this visit Richard Hunt returned half a dozen times. Polly did not +understand whether he was acting in the West not far from Colorado +Springs or whether he too was taking a holiday. She asked the question +once, but as her old friend did not answer her explicitly she let the +matter drop. + +Nevertheless it was quite true that from the time his visits began she +grew steadily better. Finally, about ten days before Christmas, Miss +O'Neill's physician announced that she might return to the New Hampshire +hills to complete her cure at her sister's home. + +Then came the hour of final decision in regard to Bobbin. + +Of course Polly could not adopt the girl in the conventional sense. It +would have been impossible to have her travel about with her or to have +kept her constantly with her. And even if it had been possible this was +not what Bobbin needed. Fortunately for Polly, Richard Hunt's ideas on +the subject were far more sensible than her own. Between them it was +decided that Bobbin should travel east with Miss O'Neill and her maid +and spend Christmas at the big Webster farm. Mollie had written she +would be glad to have her. Then later Bobbin was to see Sylvia Wharton +and be put into some school where she might learn to talk and perhaps +acquire some useful occupation. + +There was no difficulty in persuading the town authorities to permit the +little girl to follow her new friend. Indeed, the child had always been +a tremendous problem and they were more than glad to be rid of the +burden. She seemed completely changed by Miss O'Neill's influence. She +was far quieter and more tractable and had not run away in several +weeks. Besides this she appeared to be learning all kinds of things in +the most extraordinary fashion. However, her teacher explained this to +Polly by saying that Bobbin had always been unusually clever, but that +some wild streak in her nature had kept her from making any real effort +until now. + +Another peculiarity of the girl's which Polly remembered having seen an +example of on the morning of their first meeting was that she had +absolutely no sensation of physical fear. Either nothing hurt her very +much or else she was indifferent to pain. For this reason it had always +been impossible either to punish her or to make her aware of danger. The +thought interested Polly, since she considered herself something of a +coward. She wondered if some day she and Bobbin might not change places +and the little girl be discovered taking care of her. + +However, when the three women finally started east there was nothing +unusual in the appearance of any one of them. For by this time Polly's +protege was dressed like any other girl of her age with her hair neatly +braided. There only remained her peculiar fashion of staring. + +Richard Hunt saw the little party off. He expected to be in New York +later in the winter and promised to write and inquire what had become of +Bobbin. However, he did not promise to come to Woodford to see Miss +O'Neill, although Polly more than once invited him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"A LITTLE RIFT WITHIN THE LUTE" + + +"BUT, my dearest sister, what is the matter with Betty? You were +perfectly right, she isn't one bit like herself and neither is Anthony. +I don't even believe she was particularly glad to see me when I stopped +over in Concord with her for a few days." + +Polly O'Neill was in her sister Mollie's big, sunshiny living room in +her splendid old farm-house near Sunrise Cabin. There was no specially +handsome furniture in the room, perhaps nothing particularly beautiful +in itself, yet Polly had just announced that it was the very homiest +room in all the world and for that reason the nicest. + +There were low book-shelves on two sides of the room, for though Mollie +never read anything except at night when her husband read aloud to her, +Billy Webster kept up with all the latest books, fiction, history, +travel, besides subscribing to most of the magazines in the country. +Indeed, although he and Polly often quarreled good-naturedly, Polly was +openly proud of her brother-in-law, who had turned out to be a more +intelligent and capable man than she had ever expected. + +But besides Billy's books there were lots of old chairs, some of them +rather worn, but all delightfully comfortable; a great big table, now +littered with children's toys; the old-fashioned couch upon which Polly +was reposing; some ornaments belonging to ancestral Websters and a tall +grandfather's clock, besides half a dozen engravings and etchings on the +walls. + +Mollie was sitting in a low chair dressing a big china doll. The +sunshine lingered on her dark hair, her plump pink cheeks and her happy +expression. For she was in a delightful state of content with the world. +Was not her beloved Polly at home for the Christmas festivities and were +not Billy and the children and her mother in excellent health and +spirits? + +Yet she looked a little uneasy over her sister's question. For Betty was +nearer to her heart than any one outside her own family. + +"So you noticed it too, Polly?" she returned, stopping her work for a +moment and gazing out the great glass window. Outside in the snow her +three children were playing, her little girl, Polly, and Billy and Dan. +Bobbin was standing a short distance away watching them intently. +Indeed, ever since her arrival at the farm she seemed to have done +almost nothing except look and look with all her might and main. The +girl seemed scarcely to wish either to eat or sleep. And at first this +had worried her new friends, until suddenly Polly had realized what a +wonderful new experience Mollie's home and family were to this child who +had never seen anything in the least like it in her whole life. + +But Mollie was not watching the children. Polly got up and leaned on her +elbow to discover what had attracted her sister's attention. For only a +few moments before the children had been sent outdoors to keep them from +tiring the aunt whom they adored. + +No, Mollie's gaze was fastened on a big man who had just approached +wearing a heavy overcoat and a fur cap and carrying a great bunch of +mistletoe and holly in his hands, which he was showing with careful +attention to the little girl visitor. + +"Here comes Billy," she explained. "Perhaps he can tell us." + +Of course Polly laughed. "Gracious, dear, isn't there anything in the +world you won't let your husband decide? I should think that even Mr. +William Webster could hardly tell us what is troubling our beloved +Betty. And I don't know that it is even right to ask him. You see, old +maids are shy about these things." + +But in reply Mollie shook her head reproachfully. "I was only going to +ask Billy about the difficulty Anthony is having with his position as +Governor," she explained. "You see, I know there is some kind of talk. +People are saying he is not being as honest as they expected. There is a +bill which ex-Governor Peyton and Meg's husband, Jack Emmet, and her +brother, John, are trying to get through the Legislature. Most people +don't think the bill is honest and believe Anthony should come out and +say he is opposed to it. But so far he has not said anything one way or +the other. I thought maybe Betty was worrying because people were +thinking such hateful things about Anthony. I simply couldn't stand it +if it were Billy." + +"Wise Mollie!" her sister answered thoughtfully. "You may be right, but +somehow there seemed to me to be something else troubling Betty. If it +were only this political trouble, why shouldn't she have confided in +me?" + +But at this instant William Webster came into the room with a dozen +letters and almost as many newspapers in his hands. Six of the letters +he bestowed on Polly, who opened five of them and stuck the sixth inside +her dress. + +Ten minutes later Billy Webster looked up from the paper he was reading. +"See here," he said, "I don't like this. This paper comes pretty near +having an insulting letter in it concerning Anthony Graham. Of course it +does not say anything outright, but the insinuations are even worse. +See, the article is headed: 'Is Our Reform Governor So Honest As We +Supposed?' Then later on the writer suggests that Anthony may not be +above taking graft himself. Everybody knows he is a poor man." + +Afterwards there was an unusual silence in the big room until Billy +turned inquiringly toward his wife and sister-in-law. + +"Don't take my question in the wrong way, please," he began rather +timidly. "But is Betty Graham a very extravagant woman? I know she was +brought up to have a great deal of money, and although she was poor for +a little while that may not have made any difference. You see, Anthony +Graham is absolutely an honest man, but everybody knows that he adores +his wife----" + +Billy stopped because quite in her old girlhood fashion Polly had sprung +up on her sofa and her eyes were fairly blazing at him. + +"What utter nonsense, Billy Webster! You ought to be ashamed of yourself +for suggesting such a thing. In the first place, Betty is not +extravagant, but even if she were she would most certainly rather be +dead than have Anthony do a dishonest thing on her account. Besides, if +Anthony is your friend and you really believe in him, you ought not to +doubt him under any possible circumstances." Then Polly bit her lips and +calmed down somewhat, for Mollie was looking a little frightened as she +always did when her sister and Billy disagreed. However, her sympathies +this time were assuredly on her sister's side. + +"If you had only belonged to a Camp Fire club as we did with Betty +Ashton you would never have doubted her even for a second, Billy. I know +you don't really," Mollie added, somewhat severely for her. "Oh, dear, I +never shall cease to be grateful for our club! All the girls seem almost +like sisters to me, and especially Betty." + +Billy Webster folded up his paper and glanced first at his wife and then +at his sister-in-law. + +"I beg everybody's pardon," he said slowly, "and I stand rebuked! +Certainly I did not mean really to doubt either Anthony or Betty for a +moment. But you are right, Mollie dear, that Camp Fire Club certainly +taught you girls loyalty toward one another. I don't believe people dare +say nowadays that women are not loyal friends, and perhaps the Camp Fire +clubs have had their influence. But some day soon I believe I will go up +to Concord and see Anthony. Perhaps he might like to talk to an old +friend." + +"He and Betty and the children are coming to Woodford for Christmas," +Mollie announced contentedly, whipping away at the lace on the doll's +dress now that peace was again restored. "Betty says she can't miss the +chance of spending a Christmas with Polly after all these years. +Besides, she is curious about Bobbin. I hope Sylvia will come too. She +won't promise to leave her old hospital, but I believe the desire to see +Polly will bring her here. You know she writes, Polly, that you are +positively not to come to her for the present." + +Her sister nodded, but a few moments later got up and went up alone to +her own room. + +Their talk had somehow made her feel more uncomfortable about Betty +than she had in the beginning. Somehow she had hoped that Mollie would +not be so ready to agree with her own judgment. Yet most decidedly she +had noticed a change in Betty during her short visit to her. Betty was +no longer gay and sweet-tempered; she was nervous and cross, sometimes +with her husband and children, now and then with the two girls who were +spending the winter with her, Angelique Martins and Faith Barton. +Moreover, she had gotten a good deal thinner, and though she was as +pretty as ever, sometimes looked tired and discontented. Besides, she +was living such a society existence, teas, balls, dinners, receptions +almost every hour of the day and night. No wonder she was tired! Of +course Anthony could not always go with her; he was far too busy and had +never cared for society. For a moment Polly wondered when Betty and her +husband managed to see each other when they were both so occupied with +different interests. Yet when they had married she had believed them +absolutely the most devoted and congenial of all her friends. + +Well, Betty need not expect finally to escape confessing her difficulty. +Even if there was no opportunity for an intimate talk during the +Christmas gayeties they must see each other soon again. Either she would +go to Concord or have Betty come again to Mollie's. + +Then Polly cast off her worries and settling herself comfortably in a +big leather chair by the fire took out the letter concealed inside her +dress and began reading it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SUSPICION + + +"ANGEL, will you go into Anthony's private office; he told me he wanted +to speak to you," Betty Graham said carelessly one afternoon in +December. She was dressed for driving in a long fur coat and small black +velvet hat which brought out the colors in her auburn hair in the most +attractive fashion. + +However, her expression changed as she saw the girl to whom she had just +spoken turn white and clasp the railing of the banister as if to keep +herself from falling. + +"What on earth is the matter with you, Angel?" she demanded crossly. +"You look like you were going to faint when I deliver a perfectly simple +message. Surely you are not afraid of Anthony after living here with us +all this time and working for him even longer. I suppose he just wants +to speak to you about some business in connection with the office. He +never talks of anything else." Then a little ashamed of her impatience, +Betty put her arm on Angel's shoulder. + +"There has been something on your mind recently, hasn't there, Angel, +something you have not cared to confide to me?" She stopped, for her +remark was half a statement and half a question. + +However, Angel nodded agreement. + +"Well, I am sorry, but I don't seem to be worthy of any one's confidence +these days," Betty continued, trying to speak lightly. "However, if any +one wishes to know where I have gone, dear, please say that Meg Emmet +and I are driving together and that we are to have tea with old +Professor Everett." And the next moment Betty Graham had disappeared +down the steps. + +Still Angel stood in the same place and in the same position. + +Surely Betty was being kept in the dark if she did not dream of the +trouble that had been hovering over the Governor's office for several +weeks. Several important state papers had been misplaced, lost or +stolen. No one knew what had become of them, yet on them a great deal +depended. They were the proof that the Governor required for exposing +certain men whom he believed dishonest. It was absolutely necessary that +they should be found. + +Summoning her courage, Angel knocked timidly at the Governor's study +door. It was in front of this same door that she had watched the guests +at the Inaugural Ball some weeks before. Of course it was absurd for her +to be frightened at the Governor's having sent for her. She was too +insignificant a person even to be questioned in regard to the lost +papers, as she was only one of the unimportant stenographers at the +Capitol and was only occasionally asked to do any of the Governor's +private work. + +Anthony was sitting with his desk littered with papers when Angel walked +timidly in. She thought he looked rather old and tired and stern for so +young a man. But he was always very polite and at once got up and +offered her a chair. + +"I am sorry to disturb you out of office hours like this, Angel," he +began kindly. "I know it is Saturday afternoon and a half holiday, but I +thought perhaps we could talk something over better here at home than +at the office. One is so constantly interrupted there." + +Angel made a queer little noise in her throat which she believed to have +sounded like "Yes." + +Of course the Governor was going to dismiss her from her position. She +was not a particularly good stenographer, not half so fast as many of +the girls, although she had tried to be thorough. But then she had no +real talent for office work and of course there was no reason why she +should continue to hold her position because she was a friend of the +family. Positively Angel was beginning to feel sorry for the Governor's +embarrassment and already had made up her mind to try and get some other +kind of work. She would not stay on and be dependent. + +Anthony was tapping his desk with his pencil. + +"See here, Angel," he said, "I wonder if you by any chance have the +faintest idea of what has become of some papers we have been a good deal +worried about at the office. I know you don't often have anything to do +with my private business, but I thought by accident you might have seen +them lying around at some time. They were two or three letters bound +around with a blue paper and a rubber band. Know anything about them?" + +The girl started. For suddenly the Governor's manner had changed and he +was looking at her sternly out of his rather cold, searching eyes. For a +man does not win his way to greatness through all the trials that +Anthony Graham had endured without having some streak of hardness in +him. + +Quietly Angel shook her head, but she was neither nervous nor offended +by the Governor's questioning. She had heard the gossip, strictly within +the office, of the loss of these letters and it was most natural that +every member of the force should be investigated concerning them. + +"I am sorry," she answered, her voice trembling the least little bit in +spite of her efforts, "but I have never at any time seen anything of the +letters you mention. Could it be possible that one of the servants at +the Capitol realized their importance and stole them in order to get +money for them?" + +"No," the Governor answered promptly, "that is not possible, because the +letters were taken from this study and in this house. Think again, +Angel, have you seen nothing of them? There is no one else living in the +house here, you know, who works at my office except you." + +Angel jumped quickly to her feet. "You don't mean--you can't mean," she +began chokingly. "Oh, I can't bear it! I shall tell Betty--she will +never believe. Why, I thought you were my best friends, almost my only +friends." For a moment she found it impossible to go on. + +But the Governor was looking almost as wretched as she was herself. "My +dear, I don't mean really to accuse you of anything, remember. I am only +asking you questions. And I particularly beg of you not to mention this +trouble of ours to Betty. She is not very well at present and I am +afraid she thinks I am too hard on all her friends. Indeed, I am sure I +should never have dreamed of you in connection with this matter, but +that some one in whom I have great confidence told me that he had seen +you coming out of my study on the night on which I believe my papers +were mislaid. We won't talk about the matter any more for the present, +however. Possibly the letters will yet turn up, and it has been only my +own carelessness that is responsible for the loss. There, do go up to +your own room and lie down for a while, Angel. I assure you this +conversation has been as distasteful to me as it has to you. It was only +because the discovery of these letters is so important that I decided to +talk to you. But don't think I am accusing you." + +Sympathetically and apologetically the Governor now smiled at his +companion, the smile that had always changed his face so completely from +a grave sternness to the utmost kindness and charm. + +But Angel would not be appeased. She had always a passionate temper +inherited from her Latin ancestors, though she usually kept it well +under control. + +"You mean your private secretary, Kenneth Helm, has suggested that you +question me," she announced bitterly. "I knew he disliked me for some +reason or other, but I did not know his dislike was as cruel as this. +It was he who saw me sitting out here watching the people down-stairs +the night of your Inaugural Ball, because I was too shy to go down +alone." For an instant it occurred to Angel to say that she had seen +Kenneth Helm enter the Governor's private study on this same evening. +But what would have been the use? The Governor probably knew of it and +certainly he had the utmost faith in his secretary. It would only look +as if she were trying to be spiteful and turn the suspicion upon some +one else. Besides, had she not promised Kenneth Helm not to tell? At +least she would not condescend to break her word. + +Stumbling half blindly, Angel made her way out of the study. In the hall +she found Bettina waiting for her. + +"You promised to come and play more secret with me. Will you come now, +Angel? We can go up to the nursery and lock the door; there is no one to +find us," Tina urged. + +But Angel could only shake her head, not daring to let the little girl +see into her face. + +Nevertheless, outside her own bedroom door she had to meet an even +greater strain upon her nerves. For there stood Faith Barton in a pretty +house dress and with a box of candy in her hands. + +"May I come in and talk to you for a little while, Angel?" she asked, +hesitating the least little bit. "Kenneth has just sent me a note and a +box of candy, saying that he cannot keep his engagement with me tonight. +He is so dreadfully busy, poor fellow! I don't believe Governor Graham +works one-half so hard. So I thought maybe you would let me stay with +you, as I am rather lonely. Besides, Angel, there isn't any sense in +your treating me so coldly as you have lately. If I am doing wrong in +keeping my engagement a secret, I am doing wrong, that's all. But I +don't think you ought to be unkind to me. If I have been hateful to you +about anything, truly I am sorry. You know I have always been awfully +fond of you, dear, and wanted to be your friend ever so much more than +you ever wished to be mine." + +But instead of answering Faith, the other girl had to push by her +almost rudely, stammering: + +"I can't talk to you now, Faith. I've got the headache. I'm not very +well; I must lie down." + +Then with Faith standing almost on her threshold, resolutely Angel +closed the door in her face. + +If there was one person above all others at this moment with whom she +could not bear to talk it was Faith Barton. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +WAITING TO FIND OUT + + +AS the days passed on, the little French girl did not find her +difficulties grow less. At the office she continued to hear veiled +discussions of the seriousness of the lost letters. No one, of course, +except a few persons in the Governor's confidence, knew exactly what +information the letters contained, but there was no question of their +political importance, for everybody could feel the atmosphere of strain +and suspense. Yet for one thing at least Angelique Martins was grateful: +no one had in any way associated her with the lost or stolen papers. For +whatever Kenneth Helm suspected, or Governor Graham feared, they had +both kept their own counsel. Yet this did not mean that they both +considered her guiltless. + +Time and time again Angel tried to summon courage to speak directly to +Kenneth Helm on the subject. She had frequent opportunities, for even +if there was danger of notice or interruption at the office, he came +very often to the Governor's mansion to see Faith or to dine with the +family. + +However, she simply did not know what to do or say. To go to Kenneth and +ask him why he had accused her seemed to the girl almost like a +confession of wrongdoing. For oftentimes it appears preposterous in this +world to be forced into denying an act that one could never have even +dreamed of committing. How can one suddenly say, "I am _not_ a thief, I +am _not_ a liar," when every thought and act of their lives has been +pure and good? + +Neither could Angel persuade herself to tell Kenneth Helm that she felt +just as suspicious of him as he could possibly feel of her. For she had +no proof of any kind except her own dislike and distrust and the fact +that she had seen him coming out of the Governor's private study on the +same night on which he had suggested that she might have previously +entered it. For of course the Governor's private secretary had a right +to his chief's private papers at almost all times. No, Kenneth would +only consider her accusation an expression of feeble revenge and be +perhaps more convinced of her guilt in consequence. + +Therefore there was nothing to do but wait with the hope that everything +would soon be cleared up and the lost letters either found or their +thief discovered. + +Moreover, Angel was not even to have the satisfaction of talking the +matter over with Betty, the one person in the world who could and would +have helped her. For she had the Governor's strict command against this +and did not dare disobey. Besides, Angel could see that Betty was unlike +herself these days and so should not be troubled by any one else's +trials. This, of course, was a mistaken point of view, as nothing would +so have helped Betty Graham at this time as to have had some one to +think about who really needed her. However, neither her friend nor her +husband could have realized this. + +Nevertheless there was one consolation that the little French girl +enjoyed during these days and that was "the secret" which she and +Bettina had been cherishing so ardently for weeks. Every spare hour she +had from her work she and Bettina had spent together in a big room at +the top of the house, which was Bettina's own private play-room, sacred +to her uses only. + +It was a lovely room with pale gray walls and warm, rose-colored +curtains, and all about were pictures of girls and boys who had come +straight out of fairyland and had their photographs taken by such +wonderful fairy artists as Maxfield Parish and Elizabeth Shippen Greene. + +For you see Angelique was absolutely attempting to draw one of these +fairy pictures herself, while Bettina was acting as her model. + +The picture was not to be a portrait, the artist had scarcely courage to +have undertaken that, but it was to represent Bettina's favorite +heroine, "Snow White and Rose Red." + +All her life, ever since she was a little girl of five or six, Angelique +Martins had been drawing and painting whenever she had the least chance +or excuse. Of course it was this same artistic gift that had showed in +her clever fingers and sense of color through all the work which she had +done in the Camp Fire Club. But of her actual talent as an artist +Angelique had always been extremely shy. You see, she cared for art so +much that she did not consider that she had any _real_ talent. But even +confessing that she had the least little ability, of course it would +take years of study and goodness knows how much money before she could +have hoped to amount to anything. + +Nevertheless there was nothing to forbid the little lame French girl's +amusing herself with her fancy whenever she had the chance. And ever +since she could remember, Angel had been drawing pictures for Bettina. +It had been their favorite amusement as soon as Tina passed beyond her +babyhood, which was sooner than most children. + +Naturally Angel had drawn hundreds of pictures with Bettina as her model +before, but never one half so ambitious as this. However, this last one +represented about the sixth effort, and it was a great question even +now whether this was to be the final one. For "Snow White and Rose Red" +was not merely a play picture, one that had been painted merely for +amusement; it had a most serious intention behind it. + +Weeks before in a magazine which the two friends had been looking over +together they had come across an advertisement. A prize of two hundred +dollars was offered for the best picture illustrating any fairy story. +Moreover, no well-known artist was to be allowed to enter the +competition; the drawings were all to be made by amateurs under +twenty-five years of age. + +The first suggestion that Angel should take part in this wonderful +contest had come, of course, from Bettina as soon as the older girl had +read her the amazing announcement, for Tina's faith in her friend was +without limit. Then just as naturally Angel first laughed at her +suggestion and afterwards decided to try just for fun to see what she +could do; and here at last was most furiously in earnest, although still +undecided whether to send her picture to the competition or to throw it +away. + +There were only a few days more before the time limit expired. +Therefore, would it be possible for her to undertake an entirely new +picture here at the very last? + +With these uncertainties weighing on her mind Angel was sitting in front +of a small easel with a box of pastels on a table near by. Closer to the +big nursery window Bettina was curled up in a white armchair, one foot +tucked up under her in a favorite attitude and in her lap were half a +dozen red roses. + +She was tired, for she had been quiet an unusually long time while Angel +made slight changes in her work and then stopped to consider the whole +thing disparagingly. But somehow her weariness made Bettina's pose even +more charming. + +[Illustration: ANGEL HAD CAUGHT BETTINA'S ATTITUDE ALMOST EXACTLY] + +Her long yellow-brown hair hung over her shoulders down into her very +lap, her eyes were wide open and yet were plainly not looking at any +particular object. For Tina was making up stories to amuse herself while +Angel worked. It was only in this way that she could manage to keep +still for so long a time as Angel needed. + +But this was the picture that Bettina herself made; what of her friend's +drawing of her? Naturally it was not so graceful or pretty as the little +girl herself. + +Nevertheless, by some happy chance Angel had caught Bettina's attitude +almost exactly. Then too she had drawn a little girl who did not look +exactly like other children. There was a suggestion of poetry, almost of +mystery, about her fairy tale girl, in the wide open blue-gray eyes, +dreaming as Tina's so often were, and in the half uncurled lips. + +Of course the lines of the drawing were not so firm and clear as an +experienced artist would have made them, yet glancing at the little +picture, you felt something that made you wish to look at it again. + +However, Angel sighed so that Bettina came out of her dream story and +stretched herself in the big chair. + +"What is the matter?" she inquired. "May I get up and walk about the +room now?" + +The older girl nodded. "Thank you, dear. This is the last time I am +going to trouble you to sit for this picture. I have just decided that I +can't do any better by trying it over again, yet I don't know whether I +shall send it to the competition after all." + +The next moment Angel was startled by something that sounded almost like +a sob from Tina. Since the little girl was so seldom cross, she was +surprised and a little frightened. + +"I am sorry you are so tired. Why didn't you tell me?" Angelique +demanded. + +Bettina had crossed the nursery and was standing close beside her +picture. + +"It isn't that, it is only that I do want you to send it so much," +Bettina answered. "You see, I think it is the best picture anybody ever +painted and we have both worked so hard and it has been such a nice +secret," she said huskily. + +Angel put her arm about her. "Of course I'll send it, dear, if you feel +that way," she conceded. "But you must not even dream that I shall get +the prize and you must promise not to be disappointed if we never hear +of the picture again." + +Bettina agreed and then there followed a most unexpected knocking at the +locked nursery door. The two conspirators stared at each other in +consternation. + +"Who is it, please?" Bettina demanded. "You know Angel and I are having +our secret together and we can't let any one come in." + +Betty's voice replied: "Yes, I know; but I thought maybe the secret was +over and you would like me to come and play too. I am feeling pretty +lonesome." + +"Oh," Tina returned, and then she and Angel whispered together. Finally +the little girl came over toward the closed door. + +"I wish you would not be lonesome just now, mother," she murmured, "just +when we are most dreadfully busy. If you will only go away for a little +while and then come back, why, Angel and I will love to play with you." + +"I am afraid I won't be here after a while," Betty answered and then +walked slowly away. It was absurd for her to feel wounded by such a +trifle, and yet recently it had looked as though Bettina preferred +Angelique's company to hers. What a useless person she was growing to +be! Well, at least she and Meg were going to a Suffrage meeting that +afternoon! She had not intended going, but the baby was asleep and +Anthony would not be home for hours. Perhaps after the talk ended she +might drive by and get Anthony to return with her. She had not thought +him looking very well that morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A TALK THAT WAS NOT AN EXPLANATION + + +THE Suffrage meeting was fairly interesting, but then both Meg and Betty +had been believers in equal rights for men and women ever since their +Camp Fire days and there were few new arguments to be heard on the +subject. + +When they came out from the crowded hall, however, it was still too +early to call for Anthony. There could be no hope of getting hold of him +before half-past five o'clock. So it was Meg Emmet's suggestion that she +and Betty stop by and see her father for a few moments. Professor +Everett had a slight cold and his daughter was a little uneasy about +him. + +They found the old gentleman in his library sipping hot tea and +re-reading a letter from his son, Horace, whom Betty could not ever +think of by any more serious name than "Bumps." She always saw a vision +of the small boy dragging around at his sister Meg's heels and tumbling +over every object in their way. However, "Bumps" had grown up to be a +very clever fellow and had a better record at college than his brother +John ever had. The young man was to graduate in law at Cornell in the +coming spring. The present letter was to say, however, that he expected +to spend Christmas in Concord with his father. He had been doing some +tutoring at Cornell and had earned the money for his trip himself. + +Plainly Professor Everett was much pleased by this news. He had always +been a devoted father to all his three motherless children, but Horace +was his "Benjamin." + +Moreover, they were still talking of "Bumps" when unexpectedly John +Everett made his appearance. He was looking rather fagged, but explained +that there was nothing going on at his office and so he had quit for the +day. + +Nevertheless tea had a reviving effect upon him, as it had upon both Meg +and Betty, so that Betty was surprised to discover that it was twenty +minutes past five o'clock when her visit seemed scarcely to have begun. + +It was quite dark, however, as it was toward the middle of December when +the days are short, so that John Everett insisted upon accompanying his +sister and friend, even though they were in Betty's carriage. + +Meg's home was nearer. They drove there first and later John went on to +the Capitol, where Betty sent in to inquire if the Governor were free to +return home with her. + +There was a little time to wait before the answer came, so that in the +meanwhile Betty and John continued talking. + +It was Betty who asked the first important question. + +"I do hope, John, that your new business is succeeding," she said +carelessly, although of course she felt a friendly interest in John's +success and in that of Meg's husband. + +However, John Everett hesitated a moment before replying. + +"Oh, our success depends on your Governor and so perhaps on you," he +answered in a half joking tone. "I don't know whether you happen to have +heard anything about it, but we are trying to get a bill through the +Legislature this season which will give us the chance to build the new +roads in the state of New Hampshire for the next few years. But we don't +know just yet how the Governor feels about it, whether he is going to +oppose our bill or work with us. He has a big lot of influence." + +"Oh," Betty replied vaguely. She sincerely hoped that John Everett was +not going to try persuade her to ask her husband to assist him for the +second time. Surely if he did she would refuse. For in the first place +she did not wish to confess that she believed herself to have no real +influence with her husband and in the second she wouldn't try to +interfere in anything so important as a bill to be gotten through the +Legislature unless she knew everything about it. Formerly she had taken +an intense interest in all the political affairs that interested her +husband, yet recently Anthony had not been discussing matters with her +very often. Moreover, she had a sudden feeling that she did not wish to +be mixed up again with John Everett's concerns. + +So fortunately before Betty had a chance to reply Anthony came down the +length of stone steps to his wife's carriage. + +He seemed pleased at seeing her, but not very enthusiastic over her +companion. + +However, John Everett said good-bye and left at once. + +They had only fairly started on the road toward home when Anthony said +suddenly: + +"I do wish, Betty, that you would not be seen so often with John +Everett. Oh, I know you don't realize it, but it seems to me that you +are very often with him. I know he is Meg's brother and that you are +devoted friends, but I tell you I don't like the fellow. The more I know +him, the less I like him. So I simply won't have my wife in his +society." + +Betty caught her breath and her cheeks flushed hotly in the darkness. +How unkind Anthony was to her these days! Could it be possible that he +did not love her any more? He certainly could not be jealous of John +Everett; that idea was too absurd to be considered. For she never had +cared for any one in her life except her husband and he must know it. +However, she had no intention of being bullied. + +"Don't be silly, Anthony," Betty replied petulantly. "I don't see very +much of John Everett. Besides, if I did what difference would it make? +Of course, if you know anything actually against him you would tell me?" + +"So you no longer wish to do things just because I wish them? I'm sorry, +Betty," Anthony returned. Then they drove the rest of the way home in +silence, both behaving like sullen children in spite of the fact that +they were entirely grown-up people, the Governor of the state and his +clever and charming wife. + +For the truth was that Anthony Graham was jealous of John Everett and +yet was ashamed to speak of it. He would never have dreamt of such a +feeling if only he and Betty had not been estranged for the past few +weeks. Besides, he was missing the opportunity to spend as much time +with her as he formerly had before his election to office. Surely Betty +must understand that. How could he help hating to have another fellow +drinking tea with her on any number of afternoons when he was slaving +at his office--especially a man like John Everett? + +Oh, of course Anthony realized that this was rather a dog-in-the-manger +attitude on his part and that he ought to laugh over it with his wife. + +Moreover, if he had, Betty would have understood and forgiven him. She +might even have been a little pleased, since she believed that Anthony +did not miss the loss of her society half so much as she had the loss of +his. If he had even told her the special reason he had for disliking +John Everett doubtless she would have been convinced, in spite of her +natural loyalty to her old friends. + +But Anthony did not even do this. He had an idea that he was saving +Betty trouble by not telling her of the loss of the papers by which he +could prove that the bill which ex-Governor Peyton, Jack Emmet and John +Everett were trying to get through the Legislature was an effort to +cheat the state. + +Yet in consequence Betty cried herself into a headache and was therefore +unable to come down to dinner, while Anthony decided that she would not +come simply because she was too angry with him. + +So can people in this world manage to misunderstand each other, even +after they have been married a number of years and are very deeply and +truly in love with each other. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +CHRISTMAS + + +STILL unreconciled, Anthony and Betty went together to spend their +Christmas with Mrs. Ashton in Woodford in the old Ashton homestead. They +took with them both Bettina and Tony and the nurse and Faith Barton. +However, Faith was of course to stay with her foster parents, Doctor and +Mrs. Barton. + +Only Angel refused to accompany the little party. She claimed not to be +feeling well, to have some business that she must attend to, and indeed +made so many excuses that Betty, seeing that she really did wish to be +left behind, gave up arguing the matter with her. Moreover, Meg promised +to look after Angel and see that she had her Christmas dinner with them, +so that she would not be particularly lonely. + +It was in Angel's mind that perhaps during the family's absence +something might occur which would relieve her from all suspicion in the +Governor's sight. Yet if she thought that this would come about through +Kenneth Helm she was mistaken, for Kenneth departed for Woodford on +Christmas eve to spend the following day with Faith and her parents. + +Besides seeing her mother and giving her children the pleasure of a +country Christmas Betty was chiefly looking forward to being with Polly. +Somehow she felt that Polly would be sure to cheer her up and make her +feel young again. They could take long walks through the woods and +discover whether little Sunrise Cabin was still habitable. Billy and +Mollie had always looked after it, carefully attending to whatever +repairs were necessary, so doubtless it was as good as new. + +Nevertheless it was extremely difficult after her arrival for Betty and +Polly to find time for the intimate hours that they both longed to have +together, for there were so many other people about--old friends and +relatives. + +Nan Graham came from Syracuse, where she had charge of the department of +domestic science in the High School, in order to be with her brother +Anthony, whom she had not seen since his election. + +Edith Norton with her husband and four children still lived in Woodford +and claimed the intimacy of their Camp Fire days. Then, of course, there +was Herr Krippen and Mrs. Krippen and Betty's small stepbrother to be +considered, besides Mr. and Mrs. Wharton, Eleanor and Frank. + +But perhaps the most important and unexpected member of the Christmas +gathering was the distinguished and eccentric Doctor Sylvia Wharton. +Certainly it was Sylvia who kept Betty and Polly from being alone with +each other during her own brief visit. + +The morning of the day before Christmas Mollie got a letter from Sylvia, +who had charge of a hospital in Philadelphia, saying that much as she +regretted it she would be unable to spend Christmas with them. + +During the late afternoon Polly, who had escaped from the noise and +confusion going on inside Mollie's big house, was taking a walk up and +down the bare wind-swept orchard to the left of the house. The ground +was covered with hard white snow and the air stung with a kind of +delicious cold freshness. + +It was a part of Polly's regular duty to stay out of doors for a certain +number of hours each day, so she now stopped her walk for a moment and +glanced ahead at some almost blue-black pine trees silhouetted against +the twilight sky. + +Suddenly she became conscious of what sounded like a masculine step +behind her, and before she could turn around felt her two arms firmly +grasped by a pair of capable hands and herself swung slowly about. + +She faced a figure not so tall as her own, but broader, stronger and far +more sturdy. The blue eyes looked at her through a pair of spectacles, +the flaxen hair was parted in the middle and without the least sign of a +crinkle drawn straight back on either side. The mouth was firm, but +curiously kind. And just now it actually showed signs of trembling. + +"Why, Sylvia Wharton!" Polly said and straightway hid her face in the +fur of her stepsister's long coat. Immediately she had a feeling of +dependence on Sylvia's judgment and affection just as she had for so +long a time, although she was several years the older. + +"Don't try to hide your face from me, Polly O'Neill. I want to see how +you are looking before you get back into the house and do your best to +deceive me. I can feel already that you are thin as a rail," Dr. Sylvia +murmured severely. "You see if I don't straighten you out before you go +back to that wretched work again!" + +"It was good of you to come, Sylvia; I was so disappointed over your +letter this morning. Only I am not your patient, dear; I am quite all +right. It is 'Bobbin,' my poor little girl, I want you to look after and +find somebody to help," Polly returned with unaccustomed meekness. +"Really she is interesting and unusual. Both Mollie and Billy Webster +think so; it isn't only my foolishness. I suppose you thought my +bringing her east with me was rather mad, didn't you, Sylvia?" + +Sylvia smiled the slow smile that had always beautified her plain face. +"No, not mad, only Polly!" she answered dryly. "But of course I'll look +the little girl over for you, and then I'll find the best person to see +her and you can send her to me in Philadelphia. Only don't think you are +going to escape by that method yourself." + +On Christmas Eve all the grown-up members of the Christmas party dined +with Mrs. Ashton and Betty in the town of Woodford, since Mollie was to +have the tree and Christmas dinner for them and the children on the farm +the next day. + +It was an amusing change from the past to find that Anthony Graham and +Sylvia Wharton were really the lions of the evening. How different it +had been in the old days when Anthony was only an awkward, shabby, +obscure boy and Sylvia the plainest and most unprepossessing of the +Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls! + +Polly and Betty too, in spite of her wounded feelings, were both +immensely pleased and amused by it. + +Of course Sylvia would rather have died than have mentioned the fact, +but quite by accident Anthony had read the previous day of Sylvia's +election as President of the American Medical Society, the highest honor +that had ever been paid a woman in the medical profession in the United +States. + +Hearing the story at the dinner table, Sylvia was of course confused by +the admiration and applause it excited, for she was still as shy and +reserved about her own accomplishments as she had ever been as a young +girl. + +Moreover, it was Polly who recalled having once predicted that Sylvia +Wharton would become the most distinguished of the Camp Fire girls and +who made a little speech in her honor, much to the confusion and disgust +of Sylvia. + +Then Billy Webster offered their congratulations to Anthony, who was +almost equally modest about his own attainments and insisted that his +election as Governor was due to a happy accident and not to any possible +ability of his own. + +The Christmas day following was even more crowded with people and +excitement. Actually Mollie and Billy were to have thirty guests to dine +at the farm at two o'clock and the Christmas tree for the children was +to be given immediately after. + +Notwithstanding, Sylvia arranged to spend an hour alone with Polly and +Bobbin in a room at the top of the house where there could be no +interruption. + +She appeared to be deeply interested in Bobbin. She made Polly talk and +then saw how easily Bobbin seemed to be able to understand. Then she +asked questions herself which now and then the little girl was able to +comprehend. + +Polly explained that perchance Bobbin understood her better than other +people, because of her training as an actress, which of course required +her to enunciate more distinctly. However, Dr. Wharton made no reply and +after a time Bobbin was sent away to watch the children at play. + +Then Polly sat quietly in a big armchair, while Sylvia strode up and +down the room with her hands clasped behind her. They were both silent +for quite five minutes. + +Afterwards Sylvia spoke first. + +"I am by no means sure your little girl is entirely deaf, Polly," she +remarked abruptly. "But I am not an expert in the matter and I don't +want to trust my own judgment. I believe she hears indistinctly perhaps +and so has never learned to talk. Yet it would not surprise me if a +sudden shock of some kind might make her hear, and after that she would +learn to talk easily enough. But I'll discuss her case and we can see +about it later. Now you are to let me look you over." + +Of course Polly shrugged her shoulders and objected, insisting that she +was entirely well and that it was absurd to waste Sylvia's time. + +Nevertheless, as usual, Dr. Wharton had her way and at the end of a half +hour's examination Polly appeared pale and exhausted, while Sylvia +looked more satisfied. + +"You are not to go back on the stage again this winter, Miss O'Neill," +she announced decisively. "But you really are in better health than I +expected to find you. If you only would behave with a little more +sense!" + +Polly sighed, waving her accuser away. + +"Do go and let me rest now, please," she commanded. "You know I have +promised to recite for the children for an hour or so after dinner. And +I do wish my friends and family would stop asking me to behave with +better sense. How can I if I haven't got it? Everybody ought to be sorry +for me." + +Smiling, Sylvia departed. It was like old times to hear Polly talking in +her old aggrieved fashion when she knew herself to be really in the +wrong. But then Sylvia decided that she would probably always love Polly +more than any one else in the world, even if they saw each other so +seldom. For she never expected to marry herself and doubted now whether +Polly ever would. There had been a scare years before about a Richard +Hunt, but as Polly never mentioned his name now she must by this time +have forgotten him. + +The Christmas dinner and tree were a great success. After Polly had made +the children shriek with pleasure by playing a dozen characters from +Mother Goose, and the older people cry by reciting several exquisite +Christmas poems by Whitcomb Riley and Eugene Field, the guests then sang +Camp Fire songs until darkness descended. + +It was a pity, however, that Esther and Dick and their children were in +Boston and unable to come home for the holidays, for Esther's beautiful +voice was sadly needed in the music. + +But at six o'clock Sylvia was forced to leave for Philadelphia, and so +the other guests decided that it was time that the weary children should +be taken home. + +However, for one minute Polly and Betty did manage to slip over into a +corner and in that moment made an engagement to spend the whole of the +next afternoon together. Moreover, in order to get away from every one +else they planned to take a long walk to Sunrise Cabin. + +Nevertheless that same night each of the two friends lay awake for +several hours, firmly resolving not to tell the other the trouble that +lay nearest their hearts. For they both decided that they should have +gotten beyond their old girlhood confidences and that there were certain +things women should keep to themselves. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE STUPIDITY OF MEN + + +"BUT, my dear, there isn't the least use of your denying it. The fact +that you are unhappy is as plain as the nose on your face. Of course if +you don't want to tell me the reason you need not, but don't expect me +to be so stupid as not to see it," Polly concluded solemnly. + +Actually the two friends were in the time-honored old living room in +Sunrise Cabin. With their own hands they had brought in twigs and logs +from outdoors and lighted an enormous fire in the big fireplace. Then +Polly had produced three candles from her handbag and had stuck them +into the tarnished brass candlesticks that were still ornamenting the +mantel, where they were now burning fitfully. + +With their coats off both of the old Camp Fire girls sat on rickety +chairs before the fire, their chins resting in their hands and gazing +none too happily into the flames. + +"But I tell you, you are mistaken, Polly. There is nothing the matter +with me. Of course one can't expect to be happy when one grows older, as +in our old irresponsible Camp Fire days. Maybe it is old age that is +troubling me, for I am a most uninterestingly healthy person." + +In replying Betty tried to make her tones as light as possible; +nevertheless her companion only frowned the more unbelievingly. + +"Our Camp Fire days were never irresponsible ones for me, Betty child," +Polly responded, gazing thoughtfully around the dear, dismantled room. +"Often I feel I never learned so much at any other time in my life as I +did then. But the fact remains that you are not happy as I want you to +be, and I wish with all my heart that you loved me enough to tell me the +reason why. You see, Betty, I am rather a lonely, good-for-nothing old +maid and I can't expect much for myself. But you have absolutely +everything in the world any woman could wish. And I think it is +positively wicked of you not to be the same gay, sweet Betty." + +At this Polly got out a small handkerchief and began dabbing her Irish +blue eyes, that were shedding tears partly from the smoke of the fire +and partly from a general sense of discouragement. + +In return Betty stared back at her with equal severity. "What a +perfectly absurd fashion for you to talk, Polly O'Neill!" she replied. +"You know perfectly well that if you had chosen to marry you might have +had what I have. Only you didn't want to marry; you wanted a career and +to be famous and to make money instead. Well, haven't you succeeded? Is +that what you are crying about?" + +Polly nodded. "I expect there isn't any law about wanting everything, is +there, Betty Ashton Graham? So long as women are women, no matter what +they may try to do or be, there will be times when they cry for nice +husbands and babies. But I wasn't crying about me, it was about you," +she continued ungrammatically and with her usual logic. "Here you are +growing more beautiful every day you live. Everybody loves you; you have +hundreds of friends, the two most fascinating children in the world, +except Mollie's, and a husband who is about the best and cleverest man +in the state, and who simply adores you, and yet you are wretched and +cross and unlike yourself. I watched you yesterday, Betty, and you never +smiled a single time when you thought no one was looking and you never +once spoke to Anthony. The poor fellow appeared dreadfully troubled too. +Whatever is the matter, I am much sorrier for him than I am for you," +Polly concluded somewhat vindictively. + +"Oh!" Betty faltered and then was so silent that Polly humped her stool +nearer until her shoulder touched that of her friend. + +"That last remark wasn't true, of course, Betty," Polly apologized. "For +if Anthony is really a snake in the grass and treats you badly when he +looks so noble and kind, why, I shall simply come to Concord and tell +him what I think of him right in the Governor's mansion. I don't care +whether he puts me into the state prison or not." + +Then, although she had been tremblingly near tears herself the moment +before, Betty was compelled to laugh. Whoever could do anything else in +Polly O'Neill's society? The thought of Anthony's thrusting a very +noisy and protesting Polly into prison was a picture to dispel almost +any degree of gloom. + +Betty slipped her arm across her friend's shoulder. "No, dear, you must +not think Anthony is unkind to me; it isn't that," she responded slowly. +"Only I don't believe he exactly 'adores' me as much as he used to. +Sometimes men get tired of their wives." + +"Nonsense, goose! What put that notion in your head?" Polly returned +lightly, although she was a little frightened by her friend's reply. + +Really she had not believed that anything could have come between +Anthony and Betty. Her suggestion had only been made in order to induce +Betty to deny it. The next moment she leaned over and put several fresh +logs on the fire. + +"Nothing and no one in this world could ever persuade me, Betty dearest, +that Anthony does not adore you," Polly then continued with convincing +earnestness. "You see, he began when you were sixteen years old and he +never knew that any other girl lived in the world. He does not know it +now, for he never even glanced at a single one of us yesterday, if he +could help it. But you see Princess, dear, you are a good deal spoiled. +You always have been ever since you were a baby, by your family and all +your friends. Even the Camp Fire Club used to look up to you and be more +devoted to you than any one else. Esther has always been your slave and +now your little French girl seems to feel about you just as Esther used +to do. Really, Betty, I expect you need discipline." + +Yet even as she spoke Betty's auburn hair glistened with such exquisite +colors in the firelight that Polly stroked it softly with her slender +fingers. + +The Governor's wife was thinking too deeply to notice her. + +"I wonder if things are my fault, Polly. I almost hope they are," she +answered wistfully. "You see, it has seemed to me lately that Anthony +has been dreadfully unreasonable. He won't do the things I ask him to +and though he is too busy to be with me himself, he isn't willing for me +to spend much time even with my oldest friends." + +"Oh, ho!" whistled Polly softly. "What friends, for instance, Princess?" + +"Oh, Meg Emmet and--John Everett. Isn't it absurd? But Anthony has +always felt a prejudice against John ever since we were boys and girls +together here in Woodford," Betty explained. "I don't care particularly +for John now myself. He has grown kind of stupid and thinks too much +about what he eats, but it would look utterly ridiculous of me to cut +him for no reason except that Anthony is absurd." + +Polly dug her chin deeper into the palm of her hand as she so often did +in moments of abstraction. + +"Seems like a little enough thing to do if Anthony wishes it and you +could do it very gracefully you know, Princess dear," Polly replied. +"Besides, I am not so sure Anthony has no reason for his prejudice. I +never liked John Everett a cent myself when we were all young. He was +always trying to lord it over the rest of us and pretend to be very rich +and grand and superior. Besides, Betty Graham, I don't believe I should +care to have a husband who would do every solitary thing I asked him to +do. Somehow, I think I would like him to have a little judgment of his +own now and then. So you really wish Anthony to do exactly as he is +told. I wonder if your children are as obedient? But come along, dear, +it is getting so late Mollie will be having fits about us. Fortunately +you are a more sensible woman than I am. A perfectly obedient husband is +about the last thing in this world I require. To what dreadful end would +I bring him!" + +But Betty did not stir from her stool even when her companion had +crossed over the room and now stood holding out her long fur coat, +waiting for her to put her arms inside it. + +"Dear, if there is one thing I am more sure of at this moment than of +anything else, it is that I am not _so_ sensible a woman as Polly +O'Neill. Though goodness knows I never could have believed it!" Betty +whispered, laughing and yet profoundly in earnest. "It was a most +excellent sermon and I mean to do my best to profit by it. Truly I have +been behaving like a spoiled child for weeks. I know Anthony has a great +many things that trouble him and I ought to have been more considerate. +Somehow I expect this marriage is really more the girl's business than +the man's. He has to make the living for the family in most cases and +the Camp Fire taught us that home making was a girl's highest +privilege." + +Then Betty got up and slipped on her beautiful long coat and the two +friends started back toward Mollie's big farm together. + +In all their girlhood they had never felt more intimate or more devoted. +Yet neither one of them talked much during the long walk, just an +occasional question now and then. + +The sun was going down, but there was an after-glow in the sky and +because of the whiteness of the snow there was still sufficient light. +At least Polly and Betty could see each other's faces with perfect +distinctness. + +They had nearly reached the farm-house when Betty suddenly stopped and +put both hands on Polly's shoulders. + +"Look me directly in the eyes, Polly," she commanded. + +And Polly attempted doing as she was bid, but her lashes drooped until +they touched her cheeks. + +"Have you fallen in love with some one recently, Polly? Is that why you +talked about yourself in such a discouraged fashion just now and +lectured me so severely?" Betty inquired. + +Polly shook her head. "I don't know whether you would call it falling in +love recently, Betty, or whether I have been in love for the last ten +years. But I saw Richard Hunt again when I was in Colorado and he was +even nicer than he used to be. He don't care a single thing about me any +more, Betty. He hasn't even sent me a Christmas card! The letter I had +from him a few days ago was all about Bobbin. He wasn't even interested +enough to inquire if I was well." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A CRY IN THE NIGHT + + +BECAUSE she was tired from her long walk and her conversation and from +other reasons Polly went up-stairs to bed sooner than her sister and +brother-in-law. + +As a special privilege the children had begged that Bobbin should be +allowed to sleep in the nursery with them, and rather against her will +Polly had consented. The little girl had previously occupied a small +room connected with her own. + +However, she was too weary for argument, and besides Mollie's babies +were cross and unreasonable. They had been playing all afternoon with +the Christmas tree which stood in the big back parlor just under Polly's +room. Anything to get them safely stowed in bed and the house quiet! + +For Polly had expected to lie awake for a number of hours, reflecting on +many things, when in point of fact immediately after retiring she sank +into a deep and dreamless sleep. + +Moreover, about ten o'clock Mollie and Billy also decided to follow +their sister's example. And it was Billy himself who closed up the +windows and made the house ready for the night. Only he failed to go +into the back parlor where the Christmas tree stood and where the floor +was now littered with discarded toys and games and the walls hung with +dried-out evergreens. + +He was under the impression that the windows in this room had been +closed and locked when the children departed to bed. Moreover, locking +up at the farm-house was more of a custom than a necessity. No one had +any real fear of burglars or tramps. Besides, the windows in the back +parlor were locked and no danger was to come from the outside. + +But it must have been only about three hours later when Mollie suddenly +awoke with a scream and start. A hand had passed lightly over her face. + +The next instant and Billy jumped up and seized hold of the intruder. + +Yet his hands clasped only a slight, childish form in a white gown. It +was too dark in the room to see who it could be until Mollie lit the +candle which stood always by their bedside. + +Then they both discovered Bobbin, not walking in her sleep as they +supposed, but with her face very white and making queer little movements +with her hands and lips. + +"The child is frightened; something must have to disturbed her," Billy +suggested, still only half awake himself. + +But Mollie had jumped out of bed and was already on her way to the +nursery. Naturally she presumed that something had happened to one of +the children and that Bobbin had come to call her. Poor little girl, she +had no other way of calling than to touch with her hands! + +However, half way down the hall Mollie turned and ran back into her own +bedroom. + +"Get up please, Billy, in a hurry, won't you? I do believe I smell smoke +somewhere in the house. Something must be on fire. Of course Bobbin +could detect it before the rest of us; she is sure to have a keener +sense of smell." + +A moment later and Billy had jumped almost all the way down the long +flight of old-fashioned country stairs. + +"Don't be frightened, dear, but get the children up and put clothes on +them," he shouted back. "It is too cold for you to go out in the snow +undressed and we are miles from a neighbor. I will call the men and we +will fight the fire. Don't forget to waken Polly!" + +With this last injunction in her mind Mollie stopped to hammer on her +sister's door before she ran on to the nursery. + +She was certain that she heard Polly answer her. Besides, by this time +the house was filled with an excited tumult, Mollie's little boys were +dancing about in the hall, half pleased and half frightened with the +excitement, their nurse was scolding and crying and vainly endeavoring +to dress the small Polly. + +So it was plain enough that for the next few minutes Mollie had +difficulty enough in keeping her wits about her and in quieting her +family, especially as every now and then she could hear her husband's +voice from below calling on her to hurry as quickly as possible. + +Only Bobbin at once slipped into a heavy, long coat and shoes and rushed +back to Polly's room. The door was locked, but she pounded patiently and +automatically on the outside, unable, of course, to hear the answering +voice from within. + +Then there came a sudden hoarse shout from below stairs and in that +instant Mr. Webster, dashing up a flight of steps almost at one bound, +returned with the baby in his arms, while Mollie led one of the small +boys and the nurse the other. + +"Come on, you and Polly, at once!" Mollie cried, waving her hands and +pointing toward the great hall to show that there was no time for +further delay. + +But this was evident enough to Bobbin without being told, for the smoke +was pouring out of the parlor into the hall and coming up the stairs +like a great advancing army. + +However, Bobbin would not leave her post. There was not the faintest +thought in her brain of ever stirring from without that locked door +until the one person whom she loved in the world should come forth from +it. And she was not conscious of feeling particularly afraid, only she +could not understand why Miss O'Neill would not hurry. + +A moment later, however, and Bobbin found herself outside standing alone +in the snow. + +There had been no possible outcry on her part, no explanation and no +argument, of course. Only when one of the farm laborers rushing +up-stairs had seen the little girl loitering in the hall, without saying +by your leave, he had seized her in his arms and borne her struggling +through the now stifling smoke. + +Outside in the yard Bobbin for a moment felt weak and confused. For all +at once the place seemed to be swarming with excited people. + +There were a dozen men and their families living on the big farm with +houses of their own. And now the ringing of a great bell had brought +them all out with their wives and children as well. + +The women were swarming about Mollie with their children, crying, +gesticulating, talking. It was a clear, white night and Bobbin could +see them easily. The men were engaged in rushing back and forth with +pails of water, fearing that the water might freeze on the way. + +But there was nowhere any sign of Polly! + +Bobbin did not try to attract attention. In the instant it did not even +occur to her that she might not have been able to make any one +understand. Simply and without being seen she slipped into one of the +big front windows, opened by the men as a passage-way, and started +fighting her way again up the black, smoke-laden steps. + +There seemed to be no more air, it was all a thick, foggy substance that +got into your throat and made you unable to breathe and into your eyes +so that you could not see. But Bobbin went resolutely on. + +She clung to the banisters and dragged herself upward, either too stupid +or too intent on her errand to suffer fear. Nevertheless, through the +smoke she could see that long tongues of flame were bursting out of the +doors of the back parlor into the hall beneath her. + +Only, once more at Polly's bedroom door Bobbin lost heart and the only +real terror she ever remembered enduring seized hold on her. For Polly's +door was still locked and she had no means of making her hear. + +All that she could accomplish by hammering and kicking she had done +before. Of course, she tried this again, yet the door did not open and +so far as Bobbin could know there was no movement from the inside. + +Yet next Miss O'Neill's room there was her own room and the door of this +was unfastened. With a kind of half-blind impulse Bobbin staggered into +it. She had no clear or definite idea of what she intended doing, yet +fortunately this room was only partially filled with smoke so that she +could in a measure see her way about. + +There in the corner stood an old-fashioned, heavy wooden chair. Almost +instinctively Bobbin seized hold on it. She was curiously strong, doubly +so to any other girl of her age, since she had lived outdoors always +like a little barbarian. Besides, there was nothing else that could be +done. She must break down Miss O'Neill's door. + +With all her force the girl hurled the heavy chair against the oak door. +There were a few marks on its surface, yet the door remained absolutely +firm, for the Webster house had been built in the days when wood had +been plentiful in the New Hampshire hills and homes had been expected to +endure. + +Nevertheless Bobbin pounded again and again, almost automatically her +thin arms seemed to work, and yet all her effort was without avail. + +During these moments no one can guess exactly what emotions tore at the +girl's heart. If only she could have cried out her alarm and her desire, +surely she would have been answered! + +Bobbin's face worked strangely, there was a kind of throbbing in her +ears and her lips moved. "Polly!" she called in a hoarse little whisper, +and this was the first word she had ever spoken in her life. + +Inside in her smoke-filled room Polly O'Neill could not possibly have +heard her. For the past fifteen minutes, during all the excitement due +to the fire, she had been lying upon her bed in a stifled condition. For +no one had realized that as Polly's room was immediately above the back +parlor, where the fire had been smouldering ever since the children had +gone up-stairs to bed, her room had been first to be filled with smoke. +Yet the smoke had come so slowly, so gradually as she lay in a kind of +exhausted sleep, that she had been stupefied rather than awakened by it. + +Now was it the miracle rather than the sound of Bobbin's speaking her +name that penetrated slowly to Polly's consciousness, or was it the +noise of the repeated pounding of the heavy chair against her door? +Whatever the cause, she came back to the world, choking, blinded, +fighting with her hands to keep off the black substance that was +crowding into her lungs. + +Then somehow she managed to crawl across her room, remembering that the +smoke would be denser higher up in the atmosphere. Unlocking the door, +she turned the handle and Bobbin caught her as she half fell into the +hall. + +With a quick movement the girl put her arm about the older woman's waist +and started for the stairway, for the hall was dense with smoke and now +and then a tongue of flame leaped up from below and seemed to dance for +a moment in the air about them. + +It was overpowering, unendurable. Polly was already dazed and exhausted +and her lungs were always delicate. At the top of the stairs she became +a dead weight on her companion's arms. Besides, by this time Bobbin too +was very weary. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE DISCOVERY + + +A FEW moments after Bobbin's disappearance inside the house Mollie +O'Neill had suddenly torn herself away from the people closed about her +in their effort to hide from her eyes the possible destruction of her +home. + +She looked searchingly around her. + +"Polly!" she called, "Polly!" For the first moment since the fire +started, she seemed to be losing her self-control. For all at once it +had come to her in a terrifying flash that she had not caught a glimpse +of her sister since the moment when she had gone up-stairs at eight +o'clock to retire to bed. + +Nevertheless Polly must be somewhere near by. She must have heard her +calling and she had had plenty of time to escape, more than any one +else, as she had no one else to look after save herself. Yet it was not +like Polly not to have come at once to her aid with the children! + +Mollie ran here and there about the yard, still crying out her sister's +name, horror and conviction growing upon her at every step. + +At last she caught sight of her husband directing half a dozen men and +caught hold of his arm. + +"Billy, Polly is still inside the house, locked in her own room. Don't +ask me how I know it, I do. We have got to go in and get her." And +Mollie started quickly toward the front porch, until her husband flung +his arms about her. + +"Wait here, Mollie," he said sternly. "You will do no good, only make +things harder for me. If Polly is inside the house, as you say, I'll +have her out in a jiffy." + +Then he called to one of the men. "Keep Mrs. Webster here. On no account +let her follow me," he commanded, and glancing about in every direction +as he ran, he too made for the house. + +Assuredly Mollie was right. Neither had he gotten even a passing glimpse +of Polly since the alarm of fire. But was it going to be so simple a +matter to rescue her as he had pretended to his wife? For certainly if +Polly had heard nothing of the tumult and danger surrounding her she +must be already hurt and unconscious. + +Once inside his own hall Billy Webster squared his great shoulders. The +way ahead of him now looked like a pathway of flame and yet the smoke +was harder to endure than the heat. Nevertheless go through it he must, +since Polly's room lay at the head of the stairs. + +She must be saved. Billy had a sudden vision of Polly from her girlhood +until now; her wilfulness, her charm and her great talent. How stupidly +he had opposed her desire to be an actress in the days when he had +supposed himself in love with Polly O'Neill instead of her twin sister! +Well, now they understood each other and were friends and she should not +come to grief in his house. + +In his pocket there was a wet handkerchief. Indeed, all his clothes were +fortunately damp from the water that had been splashed upon him in the +work outdoors. Quickly the man tied the handkerchief about his mouth. +Then he took a few steps forward and paused. There was a noise of +something falling from above; possibly some of the timbers of the old +house were beginning to give way. Could they be under Polly's room? + +But even while he thought, Billy Webster fought his way deliberately +forward until he at last reached the bottom of the stairs and then his +feet struck something soft and yielding. Stooping down, he caught up two +figures in his arms, not one! + +For in that moment at the head of the stairs when Polly had lost +consciousness Bobbin had managed to half carry, half drag her on a part +of the way. Then realizing that her own strength was failing, with +instinctive good sense and courage she had flung them both forward, so +that they both slid inertly down to the bottom of the stairs. + +Instantly and without feeling their weight the man carried the woman and +girl out of doors. + +Poor Bobbin, whom in these last terrible moments they had forgotten! Yet +she it was who had remembered better than them all! + +Nevertheless, although both Polly and Bobbin were unconscious, neither +of them was seriously burned. Yet Mollie was dreadfully disturbed. Polly +had come to visit them on account of her health, and there was no way of +foretelling what effect this night's experience might have upon her. +Here she was in her night dress, outdoors in the cold, when the rest of +them were warmly clothed. + +However, in another moment Polly was comfortably wrapped in a long coat +and carried to the nearest house of one of the farm assistants. Bobbin +too was equally well looked after, and as soon as she had been in the +fresh air for a few moments the girl's breath had come back to her and +she was soon almost herself again. + +Yet by this time all the women and children had grown tired, for there +was nothing that they could do. Five minutes before, Mollie's two boys +and little girl and nurse had been taken away and put to bed by one of +the farmer's wives. Moreover, real assistance was arriving at last. + +In the excitement some one had been intelligent enough to get to the +telephone in the dining room before the fire had crept in that +direction. The town of Woodford had promised to send help. Even now the +volunteer fire department of the village with an engine and hose +carriage was trampling over the snow-covered lawns of the old Webster +homestead. + +A quarter of an hour later a physician appeared and also Betty and +Anthony Graham. Afterwards actually there were dozens of Mollie's and +Billy's friends who drove out in their motor cars to take the family +home with them, or to do whatever was possible for their relief and +comfort. + +By this time the fire in the old house had been vanquished and the earth +was filled with the cold grayness of approaching dawn. + +Mollie would see no one but Betty, who stayed on with her and the +physician in the room given up to Polly. Mrs. Wharton had been persuaded +not to come, and Anthony Graham had gone back to town to make things +clear to her. + +"It is just like Polly to be such a ridiculously long time in coming to +herself," Betty explained to her frightened friend. "I don't think it +means anything in the least alarming." Yet all the time she was wishing +that the physician who held Polly's thin wrist, counting her pulse, +would not look so deadly serious. + +However, no matter what she might fear herself, Mollie must be +strengthened and comforted. Her nerves had given way under the recent +strain and fright. It was almost impossible for her to keep her teeth +from chattering and she was unable to stand up. Notwithstanding, nothing +would persuade her to leave her sister's room. + +"For if anything serious is the matter with Polly, of course if will be +my fault and I shall never forgive myself," she would repeat over and +over. "You see, I forgot Polly; it was only Bobbin who remembered." + +Finally, however, there was a sign from the doctor by Polly's bedside +which Betty managed to intercept. Without a word to Mollie she slipped +across the room to find Polly's eyes wide open and staring in perplexity +at her. + +"What on earth has happened, Betty?" she demanded impatiently, although +her voice was so faint it was difficult to hear. "What are you and +Mollie and I doing in a room I never saw before, with me feeling as if I +had been out of the world and then gotten only half-way back into it +again?" + +At the sound of her sister's voice Mollie had also moved toward the bed. +She was distressingly white, her soft blue eyes had dark circles around +them and she seemed utterly spent and exhausted. + +Quickly Polly reached out her weak hand. + +"What is it, Mollie Mavourneen?" she asked nervously, using the name of +their childhood. + +Then before either woman replied: "Oh, I remember," she said faintly. +"There was a dreadful lot of smoke in my room and I got to the door +somehow. Bobbin was there and I can't recall anything else." + +This time Polly's fingers clung tightly. + +"Was any one injured? Was your lovely house burned down?" she inquired. + +But Mollie could only shake her head, while the tears ran slowly down +her soft cheeks. + +However, Betty spoke reassuringly. "It is all right, Polly dear. No one +is in the least hurt. We were afraid for a while you had been stifled +by the smoke, but you are perfectly well now. And Billy says the house +has been saved. Of course, it has been a good deal damaged inside, but +that can soon be restored." + +Polly smiled. "Then for goodness sake do put Mollie to bed! She looks +like a ghost and I am terribly sleepy myself. I have been ever since +eight o'clock last night and I've no doubt it is now nearly morning." + +Yet, as her sister and friend were tiptoeing softly away, Polly beckoned +Betty to come back to her. + +"Bobbin saved my life, didn't she?" she inquired gently. "I don't think +I should ever have gotten down that dreadful smoke-filled hall except +for her." + +Silently Betty nodded; for the moment she did not feel able to speak, +because the story of Bobbin's courage and devotion had touched her very +deeply. + +"It is like bread cast upon the waters, isn't it?" Polly murmured +faintly. "It returns to one buttered." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ONCE MORE IN CONCORD + + +BUT as Polly did not immediately recover from the shock and exposure of +the fire, Betty Graham did not return home with her family to Concord. + +Anthony took the nurse and children and Faith Barton accompanied them, +in order to keep Angelique from being lonely, she explained. However, +her real desire, of course, was to be able to see as much as possible of +Kenneth Helm. + +Nevertheless, the carrying on of her romance with the same secrecy as +she had first observed was not so easy now, nor did it seem to Faith so +desirable as in the beginning. Yet Kenneth still implored her to say +nothing for a short while longer. In a few weeks perhaps things would be +all right with him, so that he would have sufficient money not to worry +over the future. Then, of course, they could explain the reason for +their silence. In the meantime, however, perhaps they had best be a +little more careful, for people were noticing their intimacy and +beginning to talk. Indeed, Faith's chief difficulty was that her foster +parents, Rose and Doctor Barton, had observed her marked interest in +Kenneth Helm during his Christmas visit with them and had asked Faith if +there was anything between them. + +Naturally this placed the girl in a painfully trying position. She was +devotedly fond of both Rose and Doctor Barton, who were in reality not +old enough to be her parents, although they had always treated her like +an adored child, giving in to most of her whims and wishes. But while +Faith was selfish and considered her own dreams and desires of the +utmost importance, she was neither ungrateful nor unloving, nor fond of +deceiving the people for whom she cared. The trouble was that she was +too much under Kenneth Helm's influence, else she would never have +consented to keeping their engagement a secret. + +Faith was not aware of the fact, but in reality it was Kenneth who had +made the concealment of their affection for each other appear romantic +and alluring to her eyes. Often she had longed to confide the news to +Betty after Angel had proved so unexpectedly unsympathetic. However, +having given her word to Kenneth, she felt in duty bound to keep it, and +moreover she was the least bit afraid of him. + +The real truth of the matter was that Faith Barton was more in love with +Kenneth than he was with her. Not that Faith was unattractive, but +because Kenneth was incapable of caring a great deal for any one except +himself. + +In the beginning he had been greatly interested, for Faith was pretty +and full of a great many amusing ideas and ideals. Moreover, at the time +she was a favored member of Governor Graham's family and might turn out +to be useful. But Kenneth had no actual desire to marry any one for the +present and had not at first taken their engagement seriously. Recently, +however, discovering that Faith was desperately in earnest and that she +might at any moment announce the fact to her family and friends, the +young man had been extremely uncomfortable. More than once he had +reproached himself for not having made a friend of Angelique instead of +Faith. She was not nearly so pretty, but she was cleverer and she might +have been more helpful. + +Indeed, Kenneth rather admired the fashion in which Angel had kept her +word with him and had not reported the fact of his presence in the +Governor's study on the night of the Inaugural Ball. Besides she had +never referred to his accusation against her, so there was no doubt that +the little French girl was a true sport, whatever else she might be. + +Moreover, when Governor Graham and his family returned to the Governor's +mansion it was plain enough that Angel must have enjoyed some good +fortune in their absence. She seemed to have cast off her embarrassment +and chagrin over the suspicion which had rested upon her, and no one had +ever seen her so happy or so gay. + +Before little Bettina had been at home five minutes she and Angelique +had vanished up-stairs together and were soon locked fast in the big +nursery. + +Then Angel straightway drew a large envelope out of her pocket and began +waving it before Bettina's astonished eyes. Naturally the little girl +had no idea that a letter could be so very important, not even so large +a one as Angel's. + +An instant later and she was the more mystified, for her companion had +slipped a long, rather narrow piece of paper, with queer scrawls written +upon it, out of the envelope and was also holding it up for her audience +to admire. + +Bettina smiled politely although a trifle wistfully. It was hard luck +not being able to read anything except printed letters when one was as +old as six. However, her mother and father did not wish her to become a +student too early in life. + +"It is a very nice letter, Angel, if it makes you so glad," Bettina +remarked gently; "only there does not seem to be a great deal of writing +on it." + +Then the older girl threw her arm about her little friend's neck and +hugged her close. + +"Of course you don't understand, darling, and it's hateful of me to +tease you," she protested. "But that piece of paper is a check; it +represents two hundred whole dollars, the most money I have ever had at +once in my life. And do you know how I got it? Our little picture of +'Snow White and Rose Red' received the prize in the magazine contest. I +had a letter, too, saying that though it was not the best drawing, it +was the loveliest little girl. So you see it was really all because of +you, Bettina, that I got the prize!" + +Then Angel did another mysterious thing. She made Bettina close her eyes +very tight and while they were closed she clasped something around her +neck which fastened with a tiny click. Then on opening them the little +girl discovered a shining gold heart outside her white dress, and in the +center of the heart a small, clear stone that glittered like a star. + +"I got it for you; it is your Christmas present from me, Bettina," Angel +explained. "And I want you to try and keep it always so that you may not +forget 'Snow White and Rose Red.' Only please don't tell any one of my +having gotten the prize until your mother comes home; I want her to know +first." + +Naturally Bettina promised and having promised she was not a child who +ever broke her word. Perhaps the request was an unfortunate one under +the circumstances, and yet how could Angel ever have imagined such a +possibility? + +A few days later, coming into his wife's private sitting room, which was +next her bedroom, quite by accident Governor Graham happened to catch +sight of a beautiful new silver bowl which he did not recall having seen +before. Then besides its newness it had a card lying inside which +attracted his attention. + +"Some one has sent Betty a Christmas gift which she probably knows +nothing of," Anthony thought carelessly. "I must write and tell her of +it." Casually he picked up the card and saw Angelique Martins' name +engraved upon it. + +The next moment he looked at the bowl more attentively. Of course he +knew very little of these matters, yet this present struck him as being +an exceedingly expensive one from a girl in Angelique's position. She +received a very small salary for her work and she must have many needs +of her own. + +Then Governor Graham frowned uneasily, for he had suddenly remembered +that Bettina had exhibited a beautiful little gold chain and necklace +which her adored Angel had recently given her. How had the girl acquired +so much money all at once? Really he preferred not to have to consider +such a question, and yet it might possibly become his duty. + +Sitting down in front of the fire, Anthony tried to forget his +annoyances in smoking a cigar, but found it impossible. + +The close of the Christmas holidays had not made his responsibilities +less; indeed, they were crowding more thickly upon him. The lost papers +had not been found and in another week ex-Governor Peyton, Jack Emmet +and John Everett would have their bill before the Legislature. They had +many friends and unless he were able to prove their dishonesty the bill +might be passed in spite of the Governor's objections. + +Finally Anthony glanced toward the mantel-piece where by chance his eyes +rested upon a photograph of Betty. + +Immediately his expression changed. "I shall write Betty of this whole +business tonight," he announced out loud, in his determination. "I have +been an utter idiot to have kept the situation from her for so long a +time. I have wondered recently if perhaps she was not quite so fond of +me because I was taking her less into my confidence? Goodness knows, +that is the only sensible thing for a man and wife to do! Besides, Betty +seemed more like her old self when we were in Woodford and so perhaps I +can make her understand how I hate to seem hard on her old friends. But +in any case this suspicion that Kenneth Helm has fastened in my mind +against Angel must be looked into by Betty. Angel is a young girl and +Betty has been like her older sister. Whatever she has done, I don't +know that I would have the courage to disgrace her, but perhaps Betty +may be able to persuade the child to return the letters to us if she has +taken them. Heigh-ho! It will be a relief to me at least to have the +Princess take hold of this situation for me." + +And Governor Graham spent the entire evening in his sitting room writing +to his wife until after midnight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THINGS ARE CLEARED UP + + +AS Polly was a little better, immediately upon receipt of her husband's +letter Betty hurried home. + +First she and Anthony had a long talk together until things were once +more quite clear and happy between them. + +Of course Anthony insisted that he had been unreasonable and that Betty +was a "Counsel of Perfection" just as he had always believed her; +nevertheless the Princess was by no means ready to agree with him; nor +was Polly's little sermon in Sunrise Cabin ever entirely forgotten. + +Naturally Betty was grieved to hear that Anthony considered her old +friend, John Everett, and also Meg's husband, Jack Emmet, dishonest; yet +when he had carefully explained all his reasons for thinking so, she was +finally convinced. + +Not for a single instant, however, would she consider the bare +possibility of Angelique Martins' having had anything to do with the +loss of the Governor's important letters. She had known Angel too long +and too well and trusted her entirely. Besides, she had been one of her +own Camp Fire girls who had kept the Camp Fire laws and gained its not +easily acquired honors. + +So Betty Graham did the only intelligent thing in all such difficulties +and suspicions--she went directly to Angel and told her that she +believed in her, but asked that they might discuss the whole matter. She +even told her that she and Governor Graham had both wondered at her +having a sum of money which she could scarcely have earned through her +work. + +The woman and the girl were in Betty's pretty sitting room when they had +their long talk. It was their first meeting without other people being +present since Mrs. Graham's return. And Angel sat on a little stool at +her friend's feet with her dark eyes gazing directly into those of her +dearest friend. + +It was good to have this opportunity for confidences. Angel breathed a +sigh of relief when she learned that the Governor had confessed his own +suspicion to his wife. For she had never a moment's fear that Betty +might fail in faith toward her. Of course, she had never seen the +missing letters and had no idea what could have become of them. + +Perhaps it was curious, yet not even to the Governor's wife did +Angelique during this interview speak of her own distrust of Kenneth +Helm. She was hardly conscious of the exact reasons for her reticence, +except she had no possible proof against Kenneth, and Betty and the +Governor were both fond of him. Moreover, it seemed a disloyalty to +Faith Barton to suspect the man to whom Faith had given her affection. + +But Angel was very happy to explain where she had acquired her recent +wealth and Betty was as happy and proud as only Betty Graham could be of +her friends' good fortunes. She could hardly wait to see the picture, of +course, and registered an unspoken vow that Angel should have art +lessons when she had so much talent, no matter how much the girl herself +might oppose the idea. Certainly she and Anthony would owe this much to +their little friend for even the faintest doubt of her. + +But Angel had other information which she was even more shy in +confessing. It did not amount to very much at present, only she and +Horace Everett had taken a great fancy to each other during Horace's +stay in Concord for the Christmas holidays. She had seen him nearly +every day and Horace had made no secret of his liking for her. He had +not exactly proposed, but had told her that he meant to as soon as he +had known her long enough to make it proper. + +It was all very beautiful and unexpected to Angelique, for she had +seldom dreamed of any one's caring for her in just this particular way. +And that it should be so splendid a person as Horace Everett made +everything more wonderful. Of course, Angel could not be so unhappy as +she had been before Christmas; nevertheless, for Betty's and Governor +Graham's sake she felt that the mystery of the lost letters must be +cleared up within the next few days. + +There was only one piece of information, however, which Betty had given +her that offered any possible clue to the enigma. Governor Graham +believed that whoever had taken the letters had probably sold them to +the three men who would most profit by their disappearance. + +Yet Angel had no experience in the work of a detective and could only +hope to be of use, without the faintest idea of how she might manage it. + +There was one thing, however, which Angelique regarded as her absolute +duty after her own talk with Betty Graham. She simply must endeavor to +be better friends with Faith Barton. For somehow Betty's faith and +affection for her had served to remind her of her almost forgotten Camp +Fire loyalties. + +Kinder than any one else except Betty, Faith had certainly been to her +long ago, when she had first come, ill and a stranger, to Sunrise Cabin. +Besides, what had Faith ever done except be a little selfish and +unreasonable of late, and Angel knew that she was troubled by her own +affairs? + +It was only a few nights after her own interview with Betty, when one +evening immediately after dinner, Angel went up alone to Faith's room +for the first time since their misunderstanding. She did not know +whether Faith would care to see her, but she meant to try. For Faith had +not dined with the rest of the family; she had sent down word that she +had a headache and desired to be left alone. + +Nevertheless, when she discovered who it was who was knocking at her +door, she grudgingly said, "Come in." + +The truth was that Faith was unhappy and needed consolation. She had +never had any trouble in her life before without some one to comfort +her, and now possibly Angel was the only person who could be of service, +since Angel alone knew her secret. + +Faith was sitting up in bed looking very pretty in a pale blue cashmere +dressing gown with a cap of white muslin and lace on her fair hair. Yet +she had plainly been crying, for her eyes and nose were both a little +red. Moreover, she had eaten no dinner, as a tray of food sat untouched +on a small table close beside her. + +So Angel's first effort was quietly to persuade Faith to have something +to eat. Then she led her to talking of Woodford and the Christmas with +Rose and Doctor Barton. And within a few moments Faith was again in +tears. + +It could not be very wrong, she then decided, to confide what was +worrying her to so insignificant a person as Angel. Surely even Kenneth +could not resent this! + +So Faith revealed the fact that she had recently received a letter from +Rose Barton and that Rose had asked her again if she felt any unusual +interest in Kenneth Helm. Rose had been very kind and had said more than +once that she did not wish to force Faith's confidence. Only she cared +for her and her happiness so much that she hoped Faith would keep no +secret of this kind from her. + +And Faith had gone immediately with this letter to Kenneth Helm, begging +him that she at least be allowed to confess their engagement to the two +friends who had been almost more than a father and mother to her. + +However, Kenneth had absolutely and flatly refused and Faith could not +make up her mind what she should do. + +Without a word or a sign Angelique heard the entire story through, +although she was secretly raging with indignation against Kenneth and +wondering how Faith could possibly be so much under his influence that +she seemed to have no mind or will of her own. + +Moreover, even after Faith had ended her story and sat evidently waiting +for some comment from her companion, Angel could think of nothing to say +that would be sufficiently circumspect. For if she even so much as +breathed a word against Kenneth, Faith would probably be exceedingly +angry and rally to his defence at once. So the little French girl sat +motionless on the side of the bed, staring rather stupidly at the wall +opposite her. + +By and by, however, Faith leaned over and put her arms about her. + +"Tell me, Angel, just what you would do if you were in my place?" the +girl pleaded. "Really, I am so miserable I can't decide." + +Angel looked at her earnestly. "Do you really mean that?" she queried. +And when Faith bowed her head, she answered decisively: + +"Why, if I were you, I should simply write to Kenneth Helm tonight and +say to him that he was either to allow you to tell Rose and Doctor +Barton of your engagement or else you would consider your engagement +broken." + +Faith caught her breath and then her cheeks flushed. + +"Would you mind getting me some paper and the pen and ink out of my +desk?" she returned quietly. + +And Angel, almost dazed by the quickness with which the other girl had +accepted her suggestion, at once walked over to her desk. But the drawer +of the desk which contained the paper had stuck and as she had only one +hand (the other held her cane) she had to tug and tug at it before it +would come loose. + +Then of course it behaved in the usual fashion. For suddenly the entire +drawer plunged forward and every single thing it contained scattered +over the floor. There were letters and papers and ribbons and +photographs and pens and pencils and powder puffs. + +[Illustration: SHE SPRANG OUT OF BED HERSELF THE NEXT MOMENT] + +"Oh, I am so sorry, Faith dear! I am the most awkward person in the +whole world," Angel apologized. "But if you'll just forgive me I'll +clear up in half a minute." + +Faith smiled a little restlessly as her friend stooped to her task. + +However, she sprang out of bed herself the next moment, for Angel had +picked up a package from the floor which had a blue paper and a rubber +band about it and was also marked with the Governor's official seal. + +Faith tried to jerk the letters from her friend's hand. + +"Put those down at once, Angel!" she commanded angrily. "Why don't you +do as I tell you? Those papers are not mine; I am keeping them for +Kenneth Helm. He told me they were of the most private nature possible +and that no one was to be allowed to see them." + +However, even after this stern injunction, the French girl did not give +up the package of letters. Instead, without Faith's being aware of her +intention, she kept edging nearer and nearer toward the door which led +into the hall and so farther along to Betty's and Governor Graham's +rooms. She remembered that they had also gone up-stairs together after +dinner. And her hope was that they had not yet left the house. + +Then suddenly she turned, and running faster than she ever had since her +lameness she got out of Faith's bedroom and was on her way to her +desired destination. + +Moreover, for the moment Faith made no effort to follow her, for she +believed Angel to have lost her senses. + +Why should she desire to run away with Kenneth Helm's private papers? +Faith could even now hear Angel's cane tapping its way rapidly along the +hall. + +Then she ran to the door and stuck her head out, calling the other girl +to return. She didn't quite dare follow her, for she had on only her +night-dress and dressing gown and the servants or Governor Graham might +probably see her. + +For another half hour Faith had to remain in anger and suspense. Of +course, she dressed as quickly as possible and went to Angel's room, but +Angel was not there, neither could she be discovered in either of the +children's nurseries or in any room on the ground floor. + +At last in desperation Faith knocked on Mrs. Graham's sitting room door. +It was Betty herself who answered the knock, although Faith caught a +glimpse of Angelique Martins standing with the Governor under a +rose-colored electric light and thought they both looked unusually +cheerful. + +Moreover, it was Betty and not Angel who returned to the bedroom with +Faith. + +Just as carefully and as kindly as she could Betty then explained the +importance of Angel's discovery to her guest. She said that it was very +hard indeed for them to believe that Kenneth Helm had stolen these +letters, since Governor Graham had felt every confidence in him. +However, if Faith declared that Kenneth had given her the letters for +safe-keeping, there was nothing else for them to believe. He must have +demanded a larger sum of money for the papers than the other men were +willing to pay him. Therefore, it had evidently been his intention to +keep them until the last moment in order to accomplish his end. + +Of course, this statement of Betty Graham's at the time was only a +surmise on the part of her husband, notwithstanding it turned out to be +the correct one. + +For Kenneth Helm finally confessed the truth himself in the face of the +evidence which Governor Graham held against him. His only excuse was the +dangerous and disastrous one that he had longed to grow rich sooner than +he could with the everyday grind of a business career. + +So, after all, Faith Barton wrote her letter on the same evening she had +intended. Betty's and Angel's and Governor Graham's suspicions of +Kenneth, besides the facts themselves, were more than enough to convince +her judgment, especially when her heart had been having its own +misgivings for some time past. + +It was in entire meekness of spirit and yet in thanksgiving that Faith +Barton decided upon breaking off her engagement, which she was glad +never to have acknowledged to any one save Angelique Martins. Angel, she +knew, would never betray her. Nevertheless, before Faith had been at +home twenty-four hours she had confessed the entire story to Rose Barton +and together they had wept over her fortunate escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +FINIS + + +POLLY O'NEILL was on her sister's front porch reading a letter from +Doctor Sylvia Wharton. It was now spring time. + +Sylvia had written that Bobbin was getting on at school in the most +amazing fashion. Not only could she now pronounce Polly's name but +hundreds of others, and she could certainly hear better than she had +several months before. + +Nevertheless, Polly let the letter slide out of her hand and the tears +came to her eyes. She was not sad, however, only so extremely glad for +Bobbin's sake and for her own. + +"After all, perhaps I am not so entirely selfish a human being as some +persons believe me," she announced to herself with a shrug of her +shoulders. "For at least one little girl in this world does not think +so, and never shall." + +Then Polly closed her eyes and fell to dreaming. She was not really +asleep, only resting. She had had rather a hard struggle after Mollie's +fire and her own unfortunate part in it. That wretched cold she had +taken settled on her lungs immediately afterwards and she was now only +strong enough to lead an ordinary existence. There was no thought of her +acting again until the next fall. + +She was not yet feeling particularly vigorous, so now although she +plainly heard the sound of a man's footsteps approaching the veranda, +she made no effort to open her eyes. It was probably Billy or one of his +farm men. If a question should be asked of her then would come the time +for answering it. + +Nevertheless, she had not expected that the man would walk deliberately +up to her and then stand in front of her without saying a word. + +Miss O'Neill felt annoyed and her cheeks flamed with the two bright +spots of color always characteristic of her. Notwithstanding, she opened +her eyes coldly and calmly, haughtily she hoped. + +The intruder did not flinch. He merely continued gazing at her and still +without speaking. + +But Polly's flush burned deeper, although she also said nothing. + +"I had to come, Miss Polly," Richard Hunt announced at last. + +Polly motioned to a chair near by. "You were good--to trouble," she +returned slowly. "It has been four months since I saw you last and asked +you to come; and since then I have very nearly died." + +Then she smiled and held out her hand with the utmost friendliness. + +"Forgive me," she begged. "I am glad to see you at any time. I am afraid +I am behaving like the preacher who reproaches the members of his +congregation for not doing their duty and attending service on the very +Sundays when they have shown up." + +But Richard Hunt would not be frivolous. + +"Have you wanted to see me?" he asked gravely. + +Polly nodded. + +"Then why didn't you write or have some one tell me? I would have come +across the world if I had known," he replied. + +In return Polly shrugged her shoulders. "I did everything I could when +we were in Colorado to persuade you to be friends with me again. I +behaved without the least pride; I almost begged you to be kind to me. +Of course you were very nice then and interested in Bobbin, but I could +not go on forever pleading for your friendship. Still I thought at least +when you heard I was ill that you might be sorry." + +Then to her own complete chagrin Polly felt her eyes filling with tears. + +How big and strong and restful Richard Hunt looked! Why had she not had +the sense to have married him in the days when he had cared for her? +Somehow she believed that her life would have been ever so much happier +and more satisfying. She could have gone on with her work too, because +no one in the world except Richard Hunt had ever understood how much of +her heart was wrapped up in it--perhaps because he was an actor himself +and loved his own art. + +Notwithstanding, Polly realized that she could scarcely cry before her +visitor for his affection, which she had so deliberately thrown away a +good many years before. Moreover, what would Mollie think of her bad +manners toward their guest? + +Slowly she got up from her chair. + +"Do come into the house with me and see my sister, Mr. Hunt?" she said +graciously. "And you must stay and have lunch with us, or even longer if +you will. I am sure my brother-in-law will be more than happy to meet +you again." + +But Richard Hunt did not stir. "Please sit down again, Polly," he urged +more gently. "You don't look strong enough to be walking about alone. I +want to explain to you why I have seemed unappreciative of your +friendliness. You will have to understand this in the future as well as +now, for possibly after today I shall not see you again." + +"Oh!" Polly exclaimed a little huskily, and fortunately she could not +see how white her own face had turned. However, at this moment her +companion was not looking at her. + +"I can't be your friend, because I happen still to be too much in love +with you for mere friendship," Richard Hunt continued in the quiet, +self-contained fashion that had always made so strong an impression upon +his companion. "I know that I have had many years to get over this +feeling for you, Polly, and that I should not trouble you by mentioning +my love again. Only I want you to forgive me and to realize why I may +have seemed not to appreciate your wish to be friends." + +But Polly was now smiling through her tears and holding out both hands +in her old irrepressible Irish fashion that neither the years nor +circumstances could change. + +"But I don't want to be just friends with you either, Richard, if you +are still willing for me to be something more after the way I have +behaved," she whispered. "You see I only pretended I wanted to be your +friend so you would not give me up altogether." + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 98, "Westen" changed to "Western" (famous Western resort) + +Page 110, repeated word "at" removed from text. Original read (taken her +at at her word) + +Page 132 "a nold" changed to "an old" (an old red jacket) + +Page 140, "of" added to text (sides of the room) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp Fire Girls in After Years, by +Margaret Vandercook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS *** + +***** This file should be named 34926.txt or 34926.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/2/34926/ + +Produced by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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