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-The Project Gutenberg eBook, Betty Lee, Junior, by Harriet Pyne Grove
-
-
-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
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-
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-
-
-Title: Betty Lee, Junior
-
-
-Author: Harriet Pyne Grove
-
-
-
-Release Date: January 30, 2014  [eBook #44804]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-
-***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, JUNIOR***
-
-
-E-text prepared by Roger Frank and Sue Clark
-
-
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44804 ***
 
 BETTY LEE, JUNIOR
 
@@ -5888,362 +5857,4 @@ some little remembrance for Chet in honor of his graduation, or not?
 She would ask her mother. One more year and she would have a
 diploma, too! But first she had to be Betty Lee, senior.
 
-
-
-***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, JUNIOR***
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+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44804 ***
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+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44804 ***</div>
 <h1 class="nf-center">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Betty Lee, Junior, by Harriet Pyne Grove</h1>
-<p>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 <a
-href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p>
-<p>Title: Betty Lee, Junior</p>
-<p>Author: Harriet Pyne Grove</p>
-<p>Release Date: January 30, 2014  [eBook #44804]</p>
-<p>Language: English</p>
-<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p>
-<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, JUNIOR***</p>
 <p>&nbsp;</p>
-<h3 class="nf-center">E-text prepared by Roger Frank and Sue Clark</h3>
 <p>&nbsp;</p>
 <div class='covernote'>
 <div class="tnotes">
@@ -5382,360 +5371,6 @@ Betty Lee, senior.</p>
 
 <p>&nbsp;</p>
 <p>&nbsp;</p>
-<hr class="full" />
-<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, JUNIOR***</p>
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-The Project Gutenberg eBook, Betty Lee, Junior, by Harriet Pyne Grove
-
-
-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: Betty Lee, Junior
-
-
-Author: Harriet Pyne Grove
-
-
-
-Release Date: January 30, 2014  [eBook #44804]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
-
-
-***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTY LEE, JUNIOR***
-
-
-E-text prepared by Roger Frank and Sue Clark
-
-
-
-BETTY LEE, JUNIOR
-
-by
-
-HARRIET PYNE GROVE
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-The World Syndicate Publishing Co.
-Cleveland, Ohio--New York City
-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-Copyright, 1931
-The World Syndicate Publishing Co.
-
-Printed in the United States of America
-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-                                CONTENTS
-
-                 I A JUNIOR AT "PEP ASSEMBLY"
-                II "GOLDEN BETTY"
-               III LITTLE FLIES IN THE OINTMENT
-                IV BASKETS AND HUMBLE FRIENDS
-                 V LUCIA DRESSES A DOLL
-                VI LUCIA'S CONFIDENCES
-               VII LYON "Y" AND A COUNTESS
-              VIII DORIS NEEDS A SISTER
-                IX MYSTERIES, PREPARATIONS AND A "TRADE-LAST"
-                 X CAROLS
-                XI GIVING UP A PLEASANT HONOR
-               XII COULD BETTY BE STUBBORN?
-              XIII THE FAMILY MAKES REMARKS
-               XIV AN ANNOYING CALL
-                XV THE FATEFUL BIRTHDAY PARTY
-               XVI AN UNHAPPY INTERVIEW
-              XVII CONCLUSIONS
-             XVIII A HAPPY DISCOVERY
-               XIX BETTY SEES "X" SURPRISED
-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-                           BETTY LEE, JUNIOR
-
-                               CHAPTER I
-
-                       A JUNIOR AT "PEP ASSEMBLY"
-
-
-"Clash, Bim-bang!"
-
-"Toot-toot," high! "Toot-toot," low!
-
-"Tooral-looral-loo-oo-oo-oo," up the scale,
-"tooral-looral-loo-oo-oo-oo," down the scale.
-
-"R-r-r-boom!"
-
-Cymbals clashed; horns tooted; scales mounted or fell; bits of popular
-tunes were tried, and drums occasionally rolled; for Lyon High band was
-on the platform, in almost full force. All were in uniform and gathered
-for the greatest Pep Assembly of the year, which would begin when the
-proper gongs were sounded.
-
-Betty Lee, junior, opening the door of the auditorium, smiled broadly at
-the sight. Ordinarily Betty would have been in her home room with the
-rest, waiting for the signals; but she had been sent by her home room
-teacher on an errand to the office. And on her arrival there, the
-principal had appeared from his inner office as her message was being
-delivered to one of the office force.
-
-Looking around for some one who was not busy, he recognized Betty's
-presence with a smile. "Betty," said he--and Betty was proud that he
-knew her well enough to address her by her first name--"will you please
-step to the auditorium and see if the band leader has arrived? If so,
-tell him that I should like to see him a moment before the assembly."
-
-Armed with this authority, Betty Lee was now invading the present domain
-of boydom, while the band gathered and practiced after this noisy and
-irregular fashion. It was fun for everybody and Betty enjoyed her
-unusual privilege. She hesitated inside of the central door, which she
-had entered, then walked forward as far as the back row of seats, while
-she scanned the platform to see if the young man who trained the band
-had yet come in. She could not see him. There were the rows of chairs,
-arranged across the stage, the two central rows facing each other. The
-boys were getting their music in order, putting it upon the standards in
-front of them, or just sitting down to try out their instruments. Betty,
-the assured junior now, knew personally many of the band members, and
-the names of most of the others.
-
-As she waited, not seeing the person she sought, the door behind her
-flew open to admit a hurrying boy, Chet Dorrance, a senior now and still
-a good friend of Betty's. He stopped in his mad haste to speak to her.
-"'Lo, Betty, how's this? Going to lead the band this morning?"
-
-"Of course," laughingly replied Betty. "I'm glad you came along, Chet.
-The principal wants to see the band leader and sent me to tell him--not
-the drum-major, you know, but Mr.--What's-his-name." Betty lifted her
-pretty chin a moment.
-
-"You see I'm all fussed, Chet, over such an errand."
-
-"Yes--you--are!"
-
-"Well, I do hate to go up there to find him, though I thought I might
-get him from the wings. But would you mind telling him for me, if he
-comes in pretty soon? It might be possible that he would stop in the
-office, and I'll go back there to see if it's necessary."
-
-Chet nodded at the explanation. "Sure I'll tell him. There he comes
-now," and Chet indicated a young man who came from the side to the
-center of the platform. Then, on a trot, Chet traversed the length of
-the big auditorium to the steps at its side which led into the wings.
-Betty waited a few moments, to make sure that he really would deliver
-the message. There he was, motioning back to her as he spoke briefly.
-With a high salute Chet grinned back at her and sought his horn, while
-the band leader hurried from the platform, down the side aisle and out
-at the nearest door into the hall.
-
-"Clash, bing, bang, tooral-looral"--how funny it was! And with a
-terrific swing of another of the double doors that admitted pupils and
-teachers into the auditorium, a tall, long-legged senior tore into the
-room, ran on the double-quick up the aisle nearest, buttoning the coat
-of his uniform as he went, crossed the stage at the rear, and in an
-unbelievably short time lugged in the biggest horn of all, shining in
-its brazen glory.
-
-Betty, still grinning at this latest arrival's performances, turned to
-leave just in time to come face to face with another boy, a junior this
-time, Mickey Carlin, who was carrying a cornet.
-
-"You saved yourself by turning around, Betty," said the youth usually
-addressed by the boys as "Irish." "I was just going to set off a few
-gentle blasts behind you to see how much you love real music. Going to
-join the band?"
-
-"Certainly," replied Betty as she threw up her hands in pretended horror
-at Mickey's cornet and statement. "I had to deliver a message for the
-principal--honestly," she added, as Mickey made a face which indicated
-some doubt of her veracity. But Betty was smiling. "I've got to fly now
-before the gong rings."
-
-Betty, too, joined the ranks of the hurried, as she went back to her
-home room to report the result of her errand and to explain the length
-of her absence from the room. The "adorable Miss Heath" was her home
-room teacher this year and she would believe her truthful. It was such a
-comfortable feeling to be under a teacher who trusted you and to whom
-you were "making good." Betty would have been "boiled in oil," she
-declared, before she would take advantage of Miss Heath's confidence.
-She did feel a little guilty, however, because she had not hurried to
-leave the auditorium. Those killing boys! And Betty was proud of the
-Lyon High band, nearly fifty pieces, and "playing like professional
-musicians" under their instructor and leader, as one optimistic article
-in the school paper had declared. She gave a little skip as she thought
-of it, but slowed her step to enter her home room sedately.
-
-Dotty Bradshaw, the same old Dotty, made big eyes at her, pretending to
-look shocked. Carolyn Gwynne, darling, precious Carolyn, still Betty's
-dearest among the girls, scarcely excepting Kathryn Allen, gave Betty a
-demure look as she passed in front of her desk to report to Miss Heath.
-As Betty and Carolyn sat on front seats, across the aisle from each
-other, Carolyn could hear everything that Betty said, though her tone
-was low as she talked to Miss Heath.
-
-"I'd been wondering what had become of you," said Carolyn, when in a few
-minutes the girls of the home room were in semi-order on their way to
-the auditorium.
-
-"It was fine to 'traverse these sacred halls' just like a teacher. O,
-Carolyn, I've something to show you. Don't let me forget it. I brought
-it along so Doris or Dick wouldn't get hold of it. I'm always forgetting
-and leaving things about and I can't blame Dodie for looking at them and
-asking questions. But you do hate to have _everything_ talked over in
-the family! I really suppose you'll have grounds for thinking that I'm
-not in good taste to show it to you but I have to talk it over with
-somebody!"
-
-"How flattering that you choose me!" mischievously remarked Carolyn.
-
-"Shush! You know I always tell you things that I can tell anybody."
-
-"I'm consumed with curiosity. What can it be?"
-
-"Do you remember the Don?"
-
-"Oh, yes. You had him at your house one Thanksgiving--our freshman year.
-Your father had invited him or something."
-
-"Yes. You know that he just disappeared suddenly and nobody knew what
-had become of him after school was out. He was supposed to be going on
-with his education and he was such a wonder all year in athletics.
-Father missed him from the garage, where he worked and inquired, but
-never heard. He had intended to go on with his education. Well, I had a
-letter from him and that is what I want to show you. He doesn't explain
-at all, but he sends regards to his friends and asks if he can
-come--call to see us."
-
-"Ah, Betty, I shall have to look at that letter!"
-
-"Oh, it's all right, a very proper letter. I showed it to Mother and
-Father, of course, for Father was speaking of Ramon Balinsky just the
-other day. I'll tell the girls and boys, some of them, and give Ramon's
-message, but I just can't show the letter, for there's one bit of it
-that's a little personal, written in his foreign way. Would it be all
-right, do you think, if I only said that 'we' heard from the Don and
-that he is all right and sends greetings to all his high school
-friends?"
-
-"Why not? People usually do say 'we,' no matter who got the letter, when
-it is a sort of family friend. You have a terrible conscience, Betty
-Lee."
-
-"No worse than yours, Carolyn Gwynne," returned Betty with a little
-laugh, suited to this private conversation, which was rather hard to
-carry on as they walked. "Anyhow, Mother says that if you can't trust
-people to be truthful, you can't trust them at all."
-
-"True enough. But you don't have to tell _all_ you know to folks that
-are just plain curious! Still, how would it do to tell Kathryn, and have
-her tell Chauncey; and by that time it would be that 'the Lees' had had
-word about Ramon and he was sending his best regards or something to
-everybody that remembered him?"
-
-"Smart girl! I knew you'd think of something!"
-
-Kathryn, coming up behind them, asked at this instant "Why this
-merriment?" but it was a very quiet bit of laughter that she interrupted
-and there they were at the door of the auditorium.
-
-The girls made their way to the junior section, where Betty usually sat
-between Carolyn and Kathryn. The band was playing a lively air by way of
-escort. Some of the pupils were humming a little with the band and
-others were talking, though by general consent manners were such as
-control the usual crowd. They might not have been so good, it is true,
-had the pupils not known that the principal would tolerate no nonsense;
-and no one wanted to miss any assemblies, to pass the time in study, or
-to be sent home.
-
-Lucia Coletti, still in America, still in Lyon High, sat directly in
-front of Betty and next to Peggy Pollard, who, it may be remembered, had
-joined the sorority, the "Kappa Upsilons," to which Carolyn and Betty
-had been invited. Lucia (pronounced Lu-_chee_-a, in Italian fashion),
-looked back, as she pulled down the seat of her chair, and gave the
-girls a salute, very brief, but Dotty Bradshaw, near by, rather daringly
-asked, "is that a Fascisti salute, Lucia?"
-
-"It's a mixture, like me," replied Lucia, not offended, her black eyes
-flashing an amused glance at Betty. "Listen, Betty," she said. "I want
-to see you some time today. I want you to help me out on something."
-
-"All right," said Betty.
-
-But the principal was now standing quietly on the platform, as was his
-custom, his very presence a check upon too vociferous converse. He
-clapped his hands together several times for quiet. Instantly the
-talking began to subside, then stopped as the attention of all was
-secured. All faces turned to the American flag, which stood in silken
-beauty of red, white and blue at the side of the platform. In the daily
-lesson of patriotism, pupils and teachers, led by the principal in
-clear, unhurried accents, repeated the pledge to the flag and country.
-
-Lucia, half American, half Italian, probably born in some other foreign
-country, Betty thought, gave the salute with the rest, "out of
-courtesy," she had told the girls. It was her mother's flag, she said.
-Her father had another, and as for her she was going to _choose_ her
-country!
-
-But Lucia, bright and interesting, very much alive to all the high
-school and city life, was possibly arriving at a better appreciation of
-some phases of America and its opportunities than some of the girls of
-American birth, and from the very difference of environment and customs.
-
-Lucia Coletti was adding to some old-world advantages, and to her early
-education in Europe, what America had to offer. Betty was both surprised
-and pleased with the Lucia Coletti who was a junior. And Lucia, in spite
-of the sorority circle and many other young friends in the circle in
-which her countess mother and wealthy uncle moved, still had a high
-regard for Betty Lee, her first helpful acquaintance; for she considered
-Betty's leadership a safe one, whenever independent Lucia needed or
-wanted any counsel.
-
-"Let us improve the manner of our entrance into the auditorium," the
-principal was saying. "I should like to find it unnecessary to do more
-than lift my hand for attention." A few announcements were made and then
-the meeting was put into the hands of a senior boy, Budd LeRoy, in fact.
-
-At Budd's invitation, after a rousing number played by the band, the
-cheer leaders came running out, to all appearances in terrible
-excitement. But that was their pose. In these days the cheer leaders
-were obliged to "try out" for their position. Betty could remember when
-in her freshman year there was only one. Now there were six, arrayed in
-short sleeved yellow tunics or sweaters of a sort, with a big lion's
-head outlined in black upon each manly breast. Betty grinned broadly
-when she saw Brad Warren wearing the lion. So Brad had won in the
-try-out for some one to take the place of a cheer leader who had left
-school. Chet had wanted to be a cheer leader, but as he could not very
-well be a cheer leader and in the band at the same time, that young
-ambition could not be gratified.
-
-Lyon High was nothing if not up-to-date! And now the yellow-capped cheer
-leaders wildly ran into a "huddle," conferring apparently, like a
-football team, and separating at once. One cried:
-
-"Make it snappy! Just as you're going to root for the team tomorrow!
-Everybody in on it! One-two-three-go!
-
-                    "Yea--Lions! Fight, fight, fight!
-                    Yea--Lions! Fight, fight, fight!
-                    Yea--Lions! Fight, fight, fight!"
-
-"Now the Big Four yell for the team! One, two, three, four!
-
-                         "T--T--T--T
-                         E--E--E--E
-                         A--A--A--A
-                         M!
-
-                         Yea--Team!
-                         Fight, fight, fight!"
-
-A different lad led the school next in one of their rally songs which
-they sang with a will:
-
-                   "What's the matter with Lyon High?
-                     Right, all right!
-                   What's the matter with our team?
-                     Watch them fight!
-
-             "No luck for the Eagles; that came last year.
-             We'll show them a seat in the distant rear!
-             What's the matter with Lions?
-             They're all right!"
-
-As may be gathered, this occasion was the last Pep Assembly before the
-game with the Lions' most competent enemy, the "Eagles," of the rival
-city high school. Again the championship was to be determined. They had
-lost it the year before. This year the team would "do or die" and the
-rooters expected to be out in force. Accustomed as they all were to this
-organized method, of arousing enthusiasm, feeling was not hard to stir
-this morning, from the very facts of the situation. It might do, as the
-boys said, to "get a licking once; but never twice!"
-
-Artistically and athletically the cheer leaders tore about, doing their
-various prepared stunts, rehearsed especially for this occasion. Budd,
-who was announcing the program so easily, had once been timid about
-public appearance, but in the course of three years and more at Lyon
-High, with all its organizations and efforts in the public eye, he had
-gotten bravely over his timidity. Presently he was announcing a speech
-from the assistant principal, Mr. Franklin, who was particularly
-interested in the school athletics and often took part in the
-faculty-versus-student games. His speech was brief and good.
-
-"You need not be afraid that the team will be over-confident," said he,
-among other things. "Last year's experience will be a reminder to those
-who were on the team and to the new material as well. On the other hand,
-neither will they suffer the handicap of being fearful. They have a
-record of success this fall. Be there to boost them with your
-confidence. The new men this year are not without experience. The
-quarterback that came to us from Kentucky ranks along with Freddy Fisher
-or the boy you all knew as the Don." Here the speaker was interrupted
-with loud applause, intended for "Kentucky" and the memories of Freddy
-and Ramon who had led Lyon High to victory more than once.
-
-"I am looking for some spectacular plays, though we shall not ask for
-them. While I am not expecting or desiring the team to 'wring the necks
-of the Eagles,' as someone suggested, I _am_ expecting it to put them to
-flight! I thank you."
-
-Smiling at the vigorous applause which followed his last statement or
-prophecy, Mr. Franklin left the platform, soon to enter the body of the
-auditorium, where he stood, an efficient representative of discipline
-and good order.
-
-As the applause died down, Budd announced speeches by members of the
-team. First came the Kentucky boy of whom Mr. Franklin had spoken. He
-was tall and lank, as Kentuckians are supposed to be but often are not.
-The audience did not know how he had protested against his effort to
-make a speech. He had finally said he would appear but they need not
-expect any speech. "Good mawnin," he said and flushed hotly at the
-ripple of amusement that ran over the audience of his fellow pupils. He
-stood soberly waiting a moment and put his hands in his pockets, to give
-him greater confidence, it might be presumed.
-
-"I nevah made a speech in my life," he continued, "and I am quite suah
-that I can't make one now. But I said I'd get up here and tell you that
-the team is on the job. We're goin' to do the best playin' of the season
-tomorrow--and that's all."
-
-"Kentucky," in the midst of uproarious applause, sauntered off the stage
-without a backward look, thankful, no doubt, that such a public
-appearance was over. It was different on the field. You were further
-away from the crowd and thought about what you were doing.
-
-The next member of the team began a sentence and forgot what he was
-going to say. But the sympathetic if laughing faces of his audience made
-him feel more at home. He was "terribly rattled," as one of the girls
-near Betty whispered, but managed to capture an idea, jerkily expressed
-it and succeeded in getting off the stage without falling over the band,
-as Dotty Bradshaw put it. But if there were anything clever or critical
-to be said Dotty never missed it. It was a pity, for Dotty was otherwise
-so attractive.
-
-The captain of the football team was called upon next. He was somewhat
-more experienced in the line of speeches, or felt the responsibility
-more from his position, perhaps. At any rate his speech was a good one
-and all the more enthusiastically received from being short and to the
-point. At a signal (who could mistake the actions of the cheer leader)
-from the active six, the crowd rose in a body and to the tune of "On
-Wisconsin" sang "On Lions," the Lyon High version:
-
-                  "On, Lions; on, Lions!
-                  Clean up on that team;
-                  Show them that the black and tawny
-                  Ever is supreme.
-                  On Lions; on, Lions,
-                  Fighting for your fame!
-                  Fight fellows, fight, fight, fight,
-                  And win this game."
-
-A few fords and reminders from the principal himself followed this song,
-as his lifted hand quieted the natural slight disturbance of getting
-settled into seats again.
-
-"Remember that you have in your hands the honor and reputation of the
-school and that this honor and reputation are even above winning the
-game. Remember that the other team, the other rooters, are boys and
-girls like yourselves, most of them fine, and both as _worthy_ and as
-_interested_ in their own team's winning. Do not do anything that is
-planned to stir resentment. Continue to show the good sportsmanship for
-which this school stands. Have your fun and songs and root for your
-team, but show your visitors at our stadium the courtesy that is due
-them. And should any of them overstep the bounds of propriety, in their
-loyalty to their team, or their inter-plays parades, keep your own
-self-control and do not retaliate. Remember that Lyon High counts upon
-you."
-
-With this and a few announcements, the principal was through. The band
-struck up the regular Lyon High song, which the audience rose to sing.
-Then Budd dismissed the meeting and the boys and girls departed to
-classes to strains of the latest popular band tune.
-
-"When can you show me the letter, Betty?" asked Carolyn.
-
-"After the Lyon 'Y' meeting this afternoon, Carolyn. I have it with me.
-Here's hoping I haven't lost it. Oh, wouldn't that be _awful_?"
-
-"It depends upon how personal it is," smiled Carolyn.
-
-"Enough for me not to want anybody else to read it."
-
-
-
-
-                               CHAPTER II
-
-                             "GOLDEN BETTY"
-
-
-It was a full day for Betty Lee. Most of her days were full, but Betty
-was well and happy and never worried over her various activities, which
-had increased since her freshman year, so mixed and full of decisions.
-One might as well be doing things, she said. If you didn't do one thing
-you were doing another. So she had concluded. And as long as she kept on
-the honor list no one at home made any objection to the list of her
-interests.
-
-Attractive, friendly, yet independent, showing her clear mind and
-stability in everything she undertook, Betty was in demand and found
-herself very well-known, indeed, at the beginning of her junior year.
-She was considered one of the school's best swimmers, but had not taken
-the life-saving tests as yet. That was to come this year. She was
-working toward it. The hockey season had just closed with Betty
-rejoicing as captain of the champion team. There was every indication
-that Betty again would be captain of the junior basketball team, but
-there were some murmurs at home against this and another junior girl
-wanted the place. Betty loved the excitement and confessed to herself
-alone that she would like to be captain. In the spring she was going to
-take up riding if she could.
-
-Life was a happy proposition for Betty Lee this year. At home she had
-less responsibility. Her father's business relations were apparently
-solid. Amy Lou had started to school. Doris and Dick were freshmen in
-Lyon High this year. Betty often met them in the halls, when they would
-exchange salutes; but Doris particularly wanted no interference from her
-older sister and Betty respected her desire for independence. She had
-been of some help to them at the start, however, and Doris was secretly
-quite proud of her pretty junior sister that "everybody" knew for her
-athletic record and "everything."
-
-Recitation periods were necessarily shortened on account of the Pep
-Assembly, which made the schedule a more hurried one. Betty ran
-downstairs and hopped upstairs, as she went from one to another class,
-planning how to get in her study for the next day as well as marshalling
-her forces for the coming class. She read a hard sentence in Cicero to
-Kathryn as they walked through the hall to Miss Heath's room. "That's
-the way I got it!" cried Kathryn, "but it is so crazy that I wasn't
-sure."
-
-"I may not have it right," said Betty, "but I think that is what it is."
-
-"I'll trust your reading every time," Kathryn declared.
-
-"Better not; but I found an old text of Mother's that has _grand_ notes
-in it and I use it along with my own. I could bring it to school and
-lend it to you in study hall some time."
-
-"Oh, don't bother. I'll ask you about anything too muddly."
-
-"I'm getting used to Cicero now."
-
-"So am I, but it's harder than Caesar because he has a sort of argument,
-you know, that you have to get."
-
-Betty was glad that she had study hall the last period before lunch. It
-was all too short, but she concentrated and lost to all surroundings,
-"crammed" on two lessons. Latin and Math could be acquired that
-evening--no--Chet was coming over! There was a young people's supper and
-party at the church! Oh, well. She'd get it in somehow. And Betty would.
-
-The afternoon went as busily, though the periods were of the usual
-length. How was she going to get to that Lyon "Y" meeting when there was
-orchestra practice? She had not thought of that! But when school was out
-and she had put away her books in her locker, with the exception of what
-she must take home, she ran to the auditorium with her violin only to
-find a notice:
-
-"Orchestra practice postponed until tomorrow. Same hour!"
-
-The violin went back into the locker, for there would be no home
-practice tonight! Arm in arm with Carolyn Gwynne, who had also seen the
-notice and waited for Betty, she ran in fine spirits to the room in
-which the Lyon "Y," or the older high school group of Girl Reserves, was
-to meet. "Got the letter, Betty?" asked Carolyn.
-
-"Yes--but I'd better look to see!" Betty opened her little bag, which
-contained her street car fare and several other things, felt around and
-found the letter from the "Don," folded to come within the compass of
-the bag. "You can read it after the meeting, Carolyn. But don't you know
-I'd forgotten all about the church supper tonight and I'll have to skip
-home to get a lesson or two before dinner."
-
-"Stay here and get out Cicero with me. It won't take us any time because
-she had us do so much sight reading ahead today. There are two or three
-clubs meeting and the building will be open, you know."
-
-"All right. Here's hoping that this meeting will not take too long.
-There's a program, you know, and election of officers. Bess Higgins
-resigned and so they're going to have the whole new group elected and
-let the new president begin right away."
-
-"That's funny. How do you like the idea of different officers for the
-two semesters?"
-
-"I don't know how it will work, but it makes more girls do things and
-that is a good thing. Oh, Carolyn, I wouldn't have missed that Fall
-Retreat at camp for anything! Just one week-end was glorious and Father
-says perhaps I can go there for a week or two next summer after school.
-I wish I could go!"
-
-"Perhaps I can. The family could go on without me and I could go with
-you and on to our own camp later."
-
-"Oh, Carolyn! And stay with me at our house before the Girl Reserve camp
-opens!"
-
-Betty gave a happy skip, but here they were at the door through which
-other girls were entering. A little group was standing at one side near
-a window. Kathryn was among them and beckoned to Carolyn and Betty.
-"This is a caucus," announced Kathryn. "You are not wanted Betty, only
-to say that you will be president if you get elected. We have to know."
-
-"Oh, _do_ you?" laughed Betty. "This is so sudden! Why, I don't care,
-Kathryn. If there's anybody else that wants it, I don't." Then she drew
-Kathryn aside to speak more quietly. "Is this the nominating committee?"
-
-"Yes, and some more of us that heard they were going to nominate a girl
-that wouldn't do _one thing_. She is sweet enough about some things and
-she wants the honor of it. I'd like to have her have it for that, but
-nothing would get put through. Miss Street is new to us and all she
-knows about Clara Lovel is that she is a senior and is a good student."
-
-Miss Street was the new leader of this high school group. Betty told
-Kathryn that there was little use in putting up a junior against a
-senior, and told her to select another senior to run against Clara.
-
-"There isn't anything in your objection that it is customary to have a
-senior for president," Kathryn countered in this little debate. "One of
-the best presidents Lyon 'Y' ever had was a junior. I found out before I
-went into this, Miss Betty Lee!"
-
-"All right, Kathryn. I'll not resign if I'm elected, for Lyon 'Y' is one
-of the best clubs we have and does some good, too. I'm on the committee
-for the Thanksgiving basket. Will you help me if I have to be president,
-too?"
-
-"I'll do anything!" grinned Kathryn, running back to the group of girls.
-"There are more juniors than seniors working in this club," she
-whispered to a junior on the committee. "I bet we get Betty in if you
-put her up."
-
-Surreptitiously Betty did look at one of her lessons, whose book she let
-lie open on her lap during a little of the program. But when the leader
-of the high school groups spoke, she listened attentively, both for the
-lovely ideals of service which were presented and for the practical
-matters which she would have to handle if she were president of this
-group. It would be a "lot of work" and Betty sighed as she thought about
-it; but she had "the girls" to help her through. Carolyn, Kathryn,
-Peggy--perhaps she could get Lucia to join now! Oh, that would be great,
-because if Lucia joined it meant that some of the "society" girls, or
-girls that did not care much for anything of this sort would come in.
-They'd have a membership campaign and she'd appoint Lucia chairman!
-
-Then Betty smiled at herself for planning before her name was even
-suggested!
-
-"What are you grinning about, Betty?" whispered Peggy Pollard, who had
-plumped herself wearily down by Betty at the beginning of the program.
-
-"Oh--things," smiled Betty. There was more or less disorder just now,
-for the girls were distributing ballots. Then the announcement of names
-returned by the nominating committee was made and Betty had the
-experience, not entirely new, of hearing herself named a nominee for
-president. "I'm going to vote and then skip out," she told Peggy. "I've
-got lessons to get, Carolyn and I will be getting Cicero just inside the
-auditorium; so come and tell us how it turned out--like a nice girl!"
-
-"Oh, but we're going to have tea afterwards," objected Peggy.
-
-"Well, call us in time for that, like a dear! I'm hard up for time."
-
-"All right. It will take a while to call off the ballots and tally up
-everything on the board. I'll come when we've everybody else served. You
-don't want to miss those cakes. Our cook made some of them."
-
-"My--have I almost missed those?"
-
-But Betty and Carolyn slipped out as soon as their ballots had been
-handed to the girl that collected them. In two seats near a window in
-the auditorium they sat and read Cicero as fast as possible, deciding to
-let the undecided points go and cover ground at first, getting the
-vocabulary looked up at least. "You aren't the least bit excited over
-running for office, are you, Betty?" asked Carolyn, stopping in the
-middle of a sentence. They had to read sitting close together and in a
-tone, not loud, but such as would not be drowned out by the practicing
-going on upon the platform. This was the mixed chorus, for whose
-practice that of the orchestra had been postponed.
-
-"What's the use?" asked Betty in return. "If I get it, it's lots of
-work. If I don't get it, I think I can stand the disgrace!"
-
-Carolyn joined Betty's laugh, but added that she was chiefly consumed
-with curiosity over that letter she was to read. "I don't believe you'll
-let me read it after all!"
-
-"I have my doubts as to its being the thing to do," returned Betty, "but
-I've got to get this Latin!"
-
-It was wonderful what determined minds could do in a short time, though
-it seemed no time at all until Peggy appeared as the mixed chorus was
-departing. Tea and sandwiches, and more tea and delicious little cakes,
-tasted very good and "reviving," as Betty declared. Peggy would not tell
-Betty who was elected until they reached the room and Betty declared
-that she had lost it of course, or Peggy would not have been afraid that
-Betty might refuse to come in at all, even for the little cakes.
-
-But no sooner had Betty and Carolyn appeared than congratulations began
-and the general leader appointed a time to meet with Miss Street and
-Betty to talk over plans for the present and future. A few days remained
-before the plans for Thanksgiving baskets must be carried out, before
-the Thanksgiving recess or vacation. Betty's head was fairly bewildered,
-she told Carolyn; but she supposed she would "get used to it."
-
-Then the girls found a sequestered spot in an empty recitation room not
-yet locked by the janitor. "There," said Betty, handing Carolyn the
-letter.
-
-Carolyn turned it to see the return address on the envelope. "He expects
-you to answer it, I see, though he gives only street and number."
-
-"I suppose so. He just wants to know if we are alive, of course."
-
-"H'm. Some town in Michigan. I can't make out the postmark."
-
-"He gives the _full_ address inside. It's Detroit."
-
-Carolyn, unhurried, in spite of her calm of being so curious, drew the
-letter from its envelope, remarking that the Don had gotten nice
-stationery for his letter to Betty. It "looked serious," she thought.
-
-"Nonsense," returned Betty. "Hurry up and read it, Carolyn."
-
-No criticism could have been made of the form of this letter, written in
-a firm and flowing hand. After the matter of address and date and the
-more formal beginning, in which Betty was addressed as Miss Lee, the
-letter ran as follows:
-
-  "After so long a time, perhaps you have forgotten me. I was very
-  sorry to leave the city so suddenly, but it was necessary, in regard
-  to my private affairs, which I am not able to confide to my friends.
-  A letter called me away. I packed, arranged with my landlady and the
-  man for whom I worked and left on the next train. I took my books
-  and I am trying to educate myself a little now that I am working
-  here. I read the best that the libraries have to offer. Perhaps I
-  shall be able to go to school some time again, but it is uncertain,
-  like my residence here.
-
-  "So many times I have thought of the kind gentleman, Mr. Lee, whose
-  car I sometimes fixed, of the sweet mother and the golden Betty that
-  made a lonely boy welcome on a holiday. And so I write at last to
-  tell them that I have not forgotten and to ask if I will be welcome
-  to call some day when I can return.
-
-  "I shall be so glad if you can write to tell me how you have passed
-  these long months and if your family is well. I have hesitated to
-  write to your father, who is so busy with important things, but I
-  thought that in your kindness you would be willing to answer this
-  letter.
-
-  "Please give my greetings to any of the high school friends who
-  remember me. It is a very vivid memory of one of the happiest times
-  I ever had that makes me write this at the near approach of the same
-  holiday.
-
-  "With regards to all and gratitude for past kindness, I am,
-
-                                             "Very respectfully yours,
-                                           "RAMON BALINSKY (Sevilla)."
-
-"Why what does he mean by that name in parenthesis!" cried Carolyn.
-"That's funny!"
-
-"I don't know. There's a town in Spain named Seville, isn't there!
-But whether that's a part of his own name or not I can't tell. Ramon
-gets mysteriouser and mysteriouser!"
-
-"Betty Sevilla would sound better than Betty Balinsky, except for
-the alliteration." Carolyn was very sober as she said this.
-
-"Now don't start anything like that, please."
-
-"'The golden Betty,'" quoted Carolyn, still without a smile, but her
-eyes twinkled and she laughed as she repeated it. "'Golden
-Betty,'--my word! Going to answer the letter?"
-
-"Mother says I should, just a little one."
-
-"He writes very 'grown-up,' and the spelling is all right. I don't
-know why I didn't expect it to be, when I saw the clear handwriting
-on the envelope."
-
-"The Don had had training before he ever came here," said Betty. "I
-suppose he gets training from the good English he is reading right
-along. I wish I knew just what to write him."
-
-"To be friendly enough and not too friendly, I suppose."
-
-"Exactly. Still, Carolyn, from what I saw of Ramon, I don't think
-he'd ever presume on any pleasant treatment. I'll have to think it
-out."
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER III
-
-                      LITTLE FLIES IN THE OINTMENT
-
-
-On guard against the dangers of a city, or of doubtful
-companionship, Betty Lee's parents had little to worry over; for
-Betty had a healthy mind and body, wholesome activities to occupy
-her time and girls very like herself for her best friends. The
-matter of attention from the boys Betty seemed to be able to manage
-herself, though Mr. Lee took careful note of who and what the boys
-were.
-
-Betty Lee, junior, was now almost sixteen and attractive. There
-would be problems of love affairs some time, but not yet, it was to
-be hoped, though Betty was mature for her age and had considered
-herself as "going on sixteen" ever since her last birthday. Betty's
-dreams of a Prince Charming were natural enough but not serious and
-never connected with anyone in the flesh, unless a thrilling memory
-of one Hallowe'en and of attention from a college youth on a later
-occasion could be considered as coming in the category of dreams.
-
-Chet Dorrance had recovered from his first attack of being impressed
-with a girl and was less "obvious" in his attentions to Betty. But
-he still preferred her society when he could get it, for picnics,
-class parties and the like, seeing her home or arranging for her
-company. Betty in her turn, had confidence in Chet, who was always
-the gentleman, and felt safely escorted when she was with him. There
-was nothing "thrilling" about the friendship and the girls rarely
-teased Betty about Chet. Very little of what could properly be
-termed social life was permitted by any of the parents who were the
-safe background of Betty and her friends. Contacts were chiefly at
-school and in school activities, all very natural and pleasant.
-Another boy for whom Betty felt a real friendliness was Chauncey
-Allen, Kathryn's brother. Chauncey had taken a sudden upward growth
-till Kathryn looked like a little girl beside him and her vivacious
-ways were in contrast with his quiet though often droll speech and
-action. He was active enough, to be sure, and was to play with the
-basketball team after Christmas. From him, since she and Kathryn
-were together so much, Betty heard all the boy news of the school,
-but Chauncey rarely engaged her society for any event. Indeed,
-Chauncey rarely bothered about girls, though he liked Betty, Kathryn
-said that since Chet fancied Betty, Chauncey would "let it go at
-that."
-
-In regard to Ramon Balinsky, whom Peggy had once thought so
-intriguing as a football hero, Betty was grateful to her father when
-he said that he would write himself, since "the boy might need a
-friend." "Perhaps he has some new trouble," said Mr. Lee that night
-before dinner, when Betty caught him alone and asked what she should
-write. "Write a short friendly note, Betty, and I'll say the rest."
-
-Before the church supper, then, much as Betty needed the time on
-lessons, she spoiled several sheets of good note paper in the
-process of getting the appropriate thing said. The note was written
-and pronounced a "friendly, modest little effort," by the
-censor-in-chief. Betty then dismissed the matter from her mind,
-though occasionally thinking of Ramon's expression, "Golden Betty,"
-when as girls do, she spent some time in arranging her golden locks
-according to the most becoming of the approved high school styles.
-One had to look well in Lyon High!
-
-But as Betty said sometimes to Kathryn or Carolyn, whenever she was
-in danger of being spoiled by thinking she could do well in
-athletics, or looked nice, or felt "set up" about what somebody had
-said, she always "got a good jolt of some sort, to bring her down a
-peg or two." And Kathryn or Carolyn would reply, "Life is like that,
-Betty!"
-
-A little jolt was coming that evening, though Betty, satisfied that
-she could finish her lessons by rising a little earlier than usual
-the next morning, happily started off with Chet, a little late for
-the young people's supper. "Do you have to help any tonight?" asked
-Chet, who knew that Betty was often called on by the committees.
-Chet did not belong to Betty's church, but had a little habit of
-dropping in when something attractive was going on. The turkey
-suppers were usually served by the ladies' committees, but this one
-was entirely in the hands of the younger organizations.
-
-"No, Chet, unless with the games. I'm going to help with the
-Christmas music and the tree and the Sunday school doings and I told
-them I couldn't do anything more this time. Is Ted coming tonight?"
-
-"Yes. He's bringing his latest girl. She's a freshman, too, at the
-University."
-
-Betty made a little sound that might have been termed a giggle.
-Attractive Ted, Chet's brother, the first boy who had claimed
-Betty's admiring attention on her entrance to Lyon High, was
-probably not any more given to social relations with the girls than
-many of the other older boys they knew; but as he had a way of
-charming courtesy toward a young lady and a frank form of speech
-about her, always complimentary, he was considered as being in love
-with one and another in rather rapid succession, a very foolish
-proceeding, as some of the girls said. Betty reserved her opinion.
-Ted was a "nice boy" and was doing well at the university.
-
-"Does Ted keep up his music?" asked Betty.
-
-"No. He hasn't any time for it with his freshman work."
-
-"Would you believe, Chet, that I could be as dumb as I was about
-thinking that I couldn't join the orchestra until I was a junior?"
-
-"Why? Did you think that, Betty? I could have told you."
-
-"Well, little country girl that I was, I believed everything that
-was told me, of course----"
-
-"I haven't any such impression," laughed Chet, who thought Betty
-quite capable of looking after her rights and privileges. He often
-told her that she was "little Miss Independence."
-
-"I almost did, anyhow, Chet; and the summer after my freshman year,
-when I was taking up violin, you know, someone told me that--perhaps
-just to joke me--and while I _thought_ that some of the boys and
-girls I saw in it were freshmen and sophomores, I supposed it was
-just because they were specially gifted that they were allowed to
-play. I wasn't especially gifted and as I was paying attention to
-all sorts of other things, I never found out till the _middle of my
-sophomore year_ that junior orchestra only meant _second_ to the
-senior orchestra, sort of a preparation for it! It was just as well,
-for I needed more lessons and practice."
-
-"Mother says that you play very well, Betty, and that means
-something from her."
-
-"Your mother is a dear. Mine is crazy about her."
-
-Betty's mother would scarcely have used the same terms about her
-feeling toward Mrs. Dorrance, with whom she had become very well
-acquainted, but Chet understood the common parlance of the girls and
-was not likely to assume that Betty's mother was perishing with
-admiration.
-
-They had been walking quite a little distance to catch a car which
-would drop them near the church. Now they swung on and finding a
-seat without trouble, watched the winter landscape as they rode and
-talked. Some other young people whom they knew were on the car and
-quite a crowd came from this and another car just ahead, to swell
-the numbers at the church. But as often happens, though they were a
-little late, the supper, too, was not being served at quite the
-appointed hour and Betty and Chet sat down at the first tables to
-find themselves with many others that they knew. And oh, that good
-turkey and the full plates! "If you want plenty to eat for your
-money, Chet," remarked the boy next to him, "just come to one of the
-suppers here!"
-
-But whom did Betty find next to her but Clara Lovel, the rival
-candidate for president of Lyon "Y"? Both girls felt a little
-self-conscious. Betty and Chet had been seated first and Betty knew
-that Clara, who came with Brad Warren, did not notice at all who was
-near her, when she whipped into a seat as she was joking with two or
-three others. All were pretending to scramble for places. Clara was
-inclined to make herself a little conspicuous as a rule and was now
-rather over-dressed for the occasion, though going out with an
-escort might be considered as demanding special preparation.
-
-As they were served almost at once, it was several minutes before
-Clara noticed Betty. Betty, who was expecting it, observed from
-Clara's expression that her surprise was not an agreeable one, but
-Betty, who was picking up her fork, pleasantly said "good evening,
-Clara. This seems to be a good place to come for supper."
-
-Clara's murmured reply was scarcely audible and she began to talk in
-an animated fashion with Brad, who leaned back in his chair,
-however, to say "how-do-you-do" to Betty and Chet. Supper engaged
-their attention, with the passing of rolls and butter, cream and
-sugar, the big dish of cranberry sauce and one or two other homey
-and appetizing accompaniments of the turkey supper. But Betty did
-wish that she had a chance to tell Clara that she had not worked for
-that office against her. Still, it was probably best not to mention
-it. Clara was quite stiff in her necessary remarks as something must
-be passed, or when Chet, saying something to Brad, drew Clara into
-the conversation.
-
-Impulsively, at last, as they were finishing on pumpkin pie, Betty
-spoke in a low tone, not to be heard in the midst of other
-conversation about them. Chet was talking to the "waitress," who had
-brought him his pie and whom they all knew. She was a junior girl at
-Lyon High. Brad had turned to the boy next to him with some question
-about the coming game.
-
-"Clara," said Betty, "I've been wanting to tell you all evening that
-I didn't do a thing to work for that being president of Lyon 'Y.'
-The whole thing was a surprise to me and it wasn't even mentioned to
-me till just before the election. I imagine that it was the surprise
-of it to everybody that gave me the most votes--or something like
-that."
-
-"The girls who were there wanted you or you would not have been
-elected," stiffly said Clara in reply. "But I really have so many
-things on hand, with my sorority and all we do, and my part in the
-Christmas play, and my music and art, that I could not do justice to
-being president of anything. I really can't approve of a junior's
-being president. I was very much surprised that the leader permitted
-it at all; but I'm sure that you will do very well and I hope that
-you get through with it without any trouble."
-
-Clara's tone was very patronizing indeed, and as she was one of the
-older seniors, Betty claimed afterward that she felt like a worm!
-"I'll do my best," Betty meekly replied, "and I hope that you will
-help out on the music at our programs. You play the piano so
-beautifully. We need some good programs, too."
-
-"Oh, I couldn't possibly act on any program committee," airily and
-decisively said the senior, "but I might play for you some time."
-
-"Thank you," said Betty, feeling that she should never want to ask
-Clara, yet knowing that she should not feel that way. The mention of
-the sorority, of course, was to impress a non-sorority girl. Clara
-was not a Kappa Upsilon, and Betty really did not know to what
-sorority she did belong.
-
-Betty had not noticed that another girl had come up behind Clara,
-evidently in time to hear most of what was said, but now one of
-Clara's senior friends leaned over to say, "Take the last bite of
-that pie, Brad. I want you and Clara to help start one of the
-games."
-
-"After this dinner?" queried Brad, springing up, for Clara had
-risen. And as Betty still sat by Chet, she heard Clara say something
-in a low tone to the senior girl, who said with the evident purpose
-of being heard, "The nerve of her mentioning it at all!"
-
-It was not pleasant to Betty, who wished, indeed, that she had
-employed "more sense." Probably it _was_ "nerve," but she had not
-meant it so. She did not speak of it to Chet and entered the games
-happily enough, having learned a little lesson, however. She had not
-known Clara well enough to bring up the subject; and probably it was
-not best to be so frank except with your best friends. Betty
-wondered about that. Clara probably thought that Betty was
-_gloating_ over being elected! Oh, another thing! Betty had
-forgotten about how the seniors felt about being beaten in
-basketball the year before. That class, so far as the girls were
-concerned, happened not to be so good in athletics. The present
-junior girls usually beat them and Betty was prominent among those
-who played basketball and hockey. Dear, dear, how complicated things
-were sometimes. And it was important for the "good works" of Lyon
-"Y" to have everybody co-operate! "I wonder if I have enough tact to
-be president of _anything_," thought honest Betty to herself, as she
-submitted to having a fool's cap on her head, for some game and
-puled Chet by saying that it was the "most appropriate cap she could
-wear."
-
-"What's the sense to that remark, Betty?" asked Chet.
-
-"None," laughed Betty. "I'm just a little dippy tonight."
-
-There was plenty of real fun and in a good safe place; but Betty
-took cold from getting too warm and then rushing out to look at the
-stars without enough around her. A young university professor
-pointed out some of the constellations to a group of young people.
-It was interesting and Betty did not realize how cold she was until
-Chet said, "You're shivering, Betty Lee. Come right inside. They've
-a one-cent grab-bag and we may draw whistles for tomorrow's game."
-
-"Sure you can afford it, Chet?" laughed Betty as she followed
-obediently.
-
-That Betty missed pneumonia was providential, her mother told her;
-but feeling that she was taking cold, Betty herself took the usual
-preventives and went to bed. It was late, to be sure, and she had
-intended to get up early the next morning. But she forgot to set the
-alarm on the little clock and woke only when her mother called her.
-She set a book before her at the breakfast table and studied on the
-street car as best she could; but what a poor beginning to the day
-it was! There was nothing but the game to anticipate, so far as
-pleasure was concerned. Her throat tickled, but Carolyn, who also
-had a slight cold, had some cough drops. They positively could not
-miss that game!
-
-Betty was not sure of herself in recitation that Friday. She
-stumbled through English, in which she was usually so good that her
-teacher looked surprised, but refrained from comment, as Betty was
-one of her best pupils. Her mind would not work in "Math," but she
-managed to get through with a recitation in that. One bright spot in
-the gloom was that there was no recitation in Latin. Miss Heath was
-ill, the substitute hadn't come, and they had study hall instead.
-
-Betty, who liked Miss Heath, hoped that she was not too ill and
-asked Carolyn if it "wouldn't turn out like that!"
-
-"The one lesson we got, Carolyn, we didn't have to recite and my
-study hall came too late to save me. I just about half recited this
-morning!"
-
-"Well, remember we've our Monday's lesson ahead, Betty."
-
-"Sure enough. Aren't you encouraging?"
-
-Betty and Carolyn shared a steamer rug, brought by Carolyn on some
-previous occasion and kept in her locker. The weather had moderated
-from the little flurry of snow and a cold day or two which they had
-had. But at that the game did not help Betty's cold any. She forgot
-it in the general commotion, enthusiasm, singing and cheering that
-went on, but her handkerchief was needed to catch the sneezes.
-
-A wintry sun shone down on field and stadium. Several hundred boys
-and girls and their elders tensely followed the plays, but oh, at
-last they won! It was by a narrow margin, for the Eagles were
-playing to keep the glory won the year before; but what shouts went
-up from the Lyon High rooters when the last score was made and the
-boys carried "Kentucky" from the field on their shoulders.
-"Kentucky" had made the last touchdown.
-
-"And Kentucky will be on the team next year, too, Carolyn," said
-Betty. "He's a conditioned senior, but they say he isn't going to
-try to make it this year. He's going to take some extra work he
-wants and stay another year!"
-
-"Go home and put that cold to bed, Betty," was Carolyn's last bit of
-advice.
-
-"Oh dear, I suppose I must. I can't afford to get sick with all
-there is to do."
-
-
-
-
-                               CHAPTER IV
-
-                       BASKETS AND HUMBLE FRIENDS
-
-
-Monday brought a Betty "chastened in spirit," she said, to school.
-She had spent Saturday and Sunday in bed for the most part and
-walked to her classes without animation. At lunch the girls, though
-sorry, could not help laughing over her comical remarks. She had had
-nothing to do but "think of her sins of omission and commission,"
-she told them, and worst of all, this morning, at the last minute,
-she and Carolyn remembered that the lesson they "had ahead" was
-Cicero and they always had _prose_ on Monday!
-
-"Was that why your hand didn't go up as usual?" cried Peggy Pollard.
-"I thought it was your cold and that you were half sick!"
-
-"That is what I'm hoping all my teachers thought this morning; but I
-could look over my work in bed, so I didn't ask to be excused from
-reciting. I thought I could get through." Betty sighed. "I never had
-half sympathy enough for girls who aren't strong."
-
-"I'm so glad you've had this lesson," said a plump and rosy Carolyn.
-"I'm so delicate!"
-
-Dotty Bradshaw hooted at this and Mary Emma Howland reminded Betty
-that there was a meeting after school to see about the Thanksgiving
-basket that Lyon "Y" was to send or take. "You can come and preside,
-can't you, Betty?"
-
-"I think so," said Betty, brightening a little, "but I'm only the
-president, not the committee, though I was on it."
-
-"You'll have to appoint a new committee, Betty," said Kathryn, "for
-the chairman of the usual committee is a friend of Clara's and I
-heard her say that the election 'let her out.'"
-
-Betty looked sober. She recalled the disagreeable experience of
-Thursday night, of which she had thought many times during those two
-days of being shut in. The ideals of a Girl Reserve group called for
-a pleasant spirit on the part of its president. "Well, girls, we'll
-just wait and see what happens. Can I count on all of you to help me
-out? I think we don't want a bit of trouble and whatever the girls
-want to do, we'll just accept it, though sorry, you know."
-
-Carolyn nodded her approval and Kathryn said that they would stand
-shoulder to shoulder and "eye to eye!" "By the way, Betty, Chauncey
-said that he would drive us wherever we have to take that basket. He
-said we oughtn't to go to some places without a 'guard' and that he
-would be it."
-
-"That takes a load off my shoulders," replied the new president.
-"Father can't do it and I thought I'd find out from Miss Street how
-they managed it. I wasn't on the committee last year. Miss Hogarth
-is the one who tells us about the families, you know, but Miss
-Street will consult her. Mary Emma, may I appoint you a committee of
-one to see every girl and tell her to be sure to bring what she
-promised--sugar, flour--I have the list somewhere--on Wednesday I'll
-announce it at the meeting but not everybody will be there."
-
-Mary Emma promised and then some one mentioned the other sad
-omission that made it a "blue Monday," the fact that there had been
-no celebration of their victory. "They might have had a nice
-assembly this morning to celebrate," said Dotty.
-
-"Miss Orme said that it was bad enough to have ordinary 'Monday'
-lessons," chuckled Peggy, "without an assembly to ball up the
-program and make things worse; and the principal must have agreed
-with her. Miss Heath said that it would have been pleasant, but she
-didn't seem enthusiastic either."
-
-"We celebrated on the spot," said Kathryn, with a picture of the
-rejoicing stadium in her mind.
-
-Betty said nothing. She was tired. She would have welcomed an
-assembly, but it did not matter. The morning was over. But Mary Emma
-brought up one incident as they left the lunch room side by side. "I
-_thought_ it was funny that you were rejoicing about having your
-Cicero out ahead; but I knew you kept ahead on your schedule
-whenever possible, so it never occurred to me to remind you of
-prose-comp on Monday!"
-
-Betty gave Mary Emma a comical look, but they hurried on to the next
-duty.
-
-At the Lyon "Y" meeting after school, Betty was relieved to find
-that only the chairman of the committee had resigned. She promptly
-appointed the proper one of the committee to take her place and
-filled the vacancy by appointing Kathryn, for the very good reason
-that Chauncey would then be properly available as chauffeur and
-guard. Mary Emma was duly appointed as a special committee of one to
-take charge of reminding and notifying and to help with gathering
-in.
-
-On Wednesday afternoon there was great activity about the room in
-which the committee met. Chauncey, looking like a larger edition of
-Kathryn, stuck his head inside of the door to call to Betty. "Be
-back in a minute, Betty. I've got to get the car, you know. If it
-isn't out there, I'll have to go home for it. Tried to arrange to
-have it brought, but 'Ah dunno!'"
-
-Betty ran from a confusion of girls and bundles to speak to him and
-Kathryn, bending over a basket, looked up to nod brightly at her
-brother. "There isn't the least hurry, Chauncey," said Betty.
-"You'll have plenty of time to go home by street car if you have to.
-So much has been brought in, more than we asked for, that I think
-we'll fix two baskets. We can stop to buy two or three things that
-weren't duplicated."
-
-"Need another basket?" asked Chauncey, looking at the array.
-
-"Oh, yes, Chauncey," called Kathryn. "Get one of ours. You know
-where."
-
-That settled one matter. Betty had thought they would stop at a
-grocery and buy one as they finished their shopping. There were many
-little details to carry out in making up Thanksgiving baskets, Betty
-found. Mary Emma was the one responsible for the extra donations.
-She was now defending herself to a senior member of the committee.
-
-"Well, I know we planned one basket and I saw everybody who was to
-bring the things for that, but when other girls were interested and
-wanted to bring something I couldn't refuse, could I? It was just
-started by some of them when they overheard what I said to
-somebody."
-
-"Why, Mary Emma," said Betty, "somebody will bless you for getting
-more. We've got enough money from what you collected to get the rest
-we need to fill out. The only question is where's it going. Mary
-Emma, please go to find Miss Hogarth. She can't have gone home yet.
-I wonder where Miss Street is."
-
-"She was called home. I forgot to tell you, Betty," said one of the
-girls. "She was all worried about our going all alone and told us to
-see Miss Hogarth. She telephoned from home. Somebody's sick. I told
-her that one of the girls' brother, a senior, was going to drive us
-to the address and she was awfully relieved."
-
-"Then that's that," said Betty, consulting her list to see if
-everything in the one large basket was checked off properly. The
-rest of the bundles they gathered together, after examination, and
-made a list of the articles needed for the second basket. Mary Emma
-returned from seeing Miss Hogarth to say that everybody on Miss
-Hogarth's list had been provided for and that if the girls had so
-much, she'd advise their taking it to the Associated Charities.
-
-Some of the girls liked that idea and others did not. There was a
-brief argument about the matter till Betty suggested that they
-deliver the first basket and then decide about the other. "We might
-see some place where a basket is needed, you know," she said.
-
-They waited a little for Chauncey, who arrived, however, sooner than
-they thought it possible, since it had turned out to be necessary
-for him to go home. Budd LeRoy accompanied him to the door of the
-room where the girls waited, such of them as were ably to accompany
-the expedition. The boys carried the baskets, two of them now, since
-Chauncey had found one at home, and the girls helped with packages
-that were in danger of being dropped off. "Please remember which
-baskets those things came from," Betty reminded them and they
-started, through the halls and down the stairs, to the basement and
-outer door at the rear, in great mirth and spirits.
-
-"Is this the relief corps!" asked Mr. Franklin, whom they met on the
-way, and several gay voices answered him.
-
-When the car finally rolled out of the drive upon the wide
-thoroughfare with its procession of swift machines, there were Budd
-and Chauncey in front, Betty, Kathryn and one senior girl, whom
-Betty knew, though not very well, occupying the back. Mary Emma
-could not go with them and the others, who were either on the
-committee or were helping after bringing in their contributions, had
-scattered.
-
-Betty and the senior, Lilian Norris, a sister of Ted's friend, Harry
-Norris, went into the grocery, at which they stopped, to purchase
-the extra articles. "Let's stick in a little candy," suggested
-Lilian, looking at some tempting supplies in a glass case.
-
-"Yes, let's," assented Betty. "I've some money of my own along."
-
-"So have I," said Lilian. "There are some kiddies in this family."
-
-The car went on, Chauncey quiet and skilful in his driving. He
-avoided the main avenues of traffic in getting through the center of
-the town to a district quite unknown to Betty. There stood old
-houses, once occupied by one family, with first, second and third
-floors and basement. Now every floor housed more than one family,
-who lived in these close quarters because they could not pay a
-higher rent, though many of them paid far too much for having a roof
-over their heads, whatever hardships of living in this way was
-theirs.
-
-The young people hushed their conversation and the car went slowly
-where children played in the street or wagons and trucks blocked the
-way. "It has to be in this square, Chauncey," said Kathryn, looking
-at the address which Betty had handed her. Chauncey and Kathryn knew
-the names of the streets, though from time to time Chauncey glanced
-at the street signs.
-
-Now a shrill siren called and Chauncey drew the Allen car as close
-to the sidewalk as possible, while a car whied by and was followed
-by the dashing fire-trucks. "Oh, poor things," cried Kathryn, "think
-of having a fire in one of those houses!"
-
-They could see smoke at a distance, but no flames. Budd left the car
-to look at the numbers on the doors nearby. "It's on this side of
-the street, by good luck," he reported. "Drive a little farther
-down, Chauncey. It must be near the corner."
-
-Chauncey backed his car from between a truck and an old grocery
-wagon, though Kathryn suggested that he just park the car where he
-was. "Nup," said Chauncey. "I want the car right by where you climb
-to the top of one of these places, maybe. What in the world did Miss
-Hogarth choose a place like this for?"
-
-"Maybe she didn't choose. Perhaps somebody that needs things to eat
-lives here," replied Kathryn.
-
-"I'd say you're right," returned Chauncey. "But I smell cabbage.
-Somebody has that much anyway."
-
-Chauncey remained in the car, after helping Budd lift out the larger
-of the baskets. Lilian jumped out, though saying in a low tone to
-Betty that she "certainly hated to go up that stairway."
-
-"Well," replied Betty, "it would probably be better if there weren't
-too many. You stay with Chauncey and Kathryn, Lilian. I'll go with
-Budd."
-
-"Me, too," said Kathryn, hopping out of the car. "I see a policeman,
-Chauncey. We're all right. He's coming this way."
-
-While the policeman really approached and stopped a moment to chat
-with Chauncey, probably with an idea of protecting the good-looking
-car and its occupants as well as with possible curiosity, Budd led
-the way upstairs to the door on the third floor to which their
-instructions directed them. He set down the basket and knocked.
-
-A dingy little girl answered the knock. "How-do-you-do," said Budd.
-"Is this the place where Mrs. Harry Woods lives?"
-
-"Yes, sir," politely said the little girl, eying the basket.
-
-"Ina," said a voice, "ask them in." A tired-looking but
-pleasant-faced woman came from some room beyond, laid a baby upon a
-large double bed that stood in one corner, and came toward the door.
-She made a gesture toward a pail of suds that stood near the stove.
-A tub balanced upon an upturned chair; and a mop was in the pail.
-"I'm sorry that we aren't cleaned up, and so late in the afternoon;
-but the baby was cross. His teeth bother him."
-
-Budd looked at Betty and stepped back behind her, uncertain whether
-the plan included entering the place or not. Betty, smiling, said,
-"Oh, that's quite all right. There is always so much cleaning to do
-with a family. Miss Hogarth told us where you lived, but we'll not
-come in; we just brought you a little present, a reminder of
-Thanksgiving, you know."
-
-Tears came into the eyes of the woman. "Miss Hogarth--may God bless
-her! She was here once."
-
-Budd was lifting the basket, preparatory to setting it within the
-room, when a clatter of heels on the stairway behind him indicated
-some new arrivals. Three children of various ages ran up behind the
-visitors and as they moved to give them the opportunity, ran into
-the room. "These are my other children," said Mrs. Woods, rather
-proudly. "As soon as _he_ gets work we'll be all right again, but I
-surely thank you for helping out our Thanksgiving."
-
-She started to take the basket from Budd, who remarked that it was
-pretty heavy for her and he would set it inside. Mrs. Woods
-indicated the floor under a table which was full of various
-articles.
-
-The four children, in different attitudes, watched proceedings,
-though their mother had suggested that they go "into the bedroom and
-wash up."
-
-Ina, the oldest one, a serious little thing, as well the oldest
-might be in this family, started to say something, hesitated and
-then remarked, "Sevilla's haven't had anything to eat for two days,
-Ma. Could we give them a bit out of that?" Ina pointed to the
-basket, and Mrs. Woods turned toward her with surprise.
-
-"How do you know that, Ina?" she asked.
-
-"Oh, Rosie sat down on the stairs this morning and when I asked her
-what was the matter she said she guessed she felt weak. I said was
-she sick and she said yes, sick about having to pay out all she had
-in the rent and there wasn't any left for food. She was hurryin' to
-finish some sewin' she was doin' for somebody, she said. I just
-plain asked her when she'd had her last meal and she said night
-before last."
-
-"Oh--how dreadful!" cried Betty. "Who are the Sevillas and where do
-they live? We have an extra basket downstairs and I was going to ask
-you, Mrs. Woods, if you knew anybody that needed it." Where had
-Betty heard that name? "Sevilla" sounded familiar.
-
-Mrs. Woods shook her head. "I know _dozens_ that need it. Why, the
-Sevillas live just below us on the second floor. There's only two of
-them, Rosie and the old lady. They're foreigners and the old lady
-can't speak English. I think they were used to having money in the
-old country. Rosie's got the wreck of a fur coat and the old lady
-fixes up sometimes. If you've another basket--but you'll have to be
-careful how you give it. They're awful proud. I would be myself if
-it wasn't for the children. But I can't see them go hungry, or even
-miss their Thanksgiving and Christmas good times if they are offered
-to them."
-
-"How would it do if you went with us, Mrs. Woods, and fixed it up
-about its being a present--and it is! We had a good time fixing up
-the baskets and we like to share our Thanksgiving, you know."
-
-Betty's voice was very earnest and sweet as she said this. Mrs.
-Woods answered her smile. "Bless you," she said, "I'll do it. Watch
-the baby, Ina, and keep the other children in here while I go down
-to Rosie's."
-
-Throwing her apron over her head, Mrs. Woods led Budd, Betty and
-Kathryn down the rickety, dingy stairway to the second floor, where
-she knocked on a door once shining in its dark wood. But it had been
-painted and the paint had come off in peeling blotches. Budd ran
-down the one flight to get the other basket from the car. They
-waited and Mrs. Woods knocked again. Then there was a stir inside
-and slow steps approached the door. "Rosie's out," whispered Mrs.
-Woods, "and it's a good thing. You just stand back a little and I'll
-take in the basket."
-
-The door opened. A tall old woman with lined face stood there,
-looking soberly at the party. "How-de-do, Mrs. Sevilla," said Mrs.
-Woods. "Here's a basket that I'll tell Rosie about when she comes
-in. It's a present for you for Thanksgiving. I'll just carry it in
-for you."
-
-The dark eyes looked puled and Mrs. Sevilla was probably going to
-make some protest, but Mrs. Woods calmly set the basket inside of
-the door, whose handle she took to close it. "How are you today,
-Mrs. Sevilla?" she asked.
-
-The reply was made in a foreign tongue, but the question was
-evidently understood. With a puled look the apparently aged woman
-regarded the basket; and Mrs. Woods, backing out, gently closed the
-door. "Rosie will come home and find it and then she'll come to see
-me, and it will be too late to give it back; see?"
-
-Betty tried to thank Mrs. Woods, and wishing her a pleasant
-Thanksgiving, the trio hurried away. Betty knew now where she had
-seen the name Sevilla. But it might not mean anything. There were
-probably others of that name among the foreigners of the city. But
-the dark tragic eyes of the old lady haunted her.
-
-Lilian wanted to know what had happened and listened to Kathryn's
-full report, with vivid descriptions. "That certainly was the most
-mysterious old lady I've ever seen," said Kathryn.
-
-"I'll say the most tragic," said Betty.
-
-In her turn Lilian had much to say about what the policeman had told
-Chauncey. "The street where we were," said Lilian as they swiftly
-left the district, "is pretty good, the policeman said, with people
-mostly quiet except all the children; but only one street over and
-it is awful--I don't know how many terrible things have happened
-there this year. He told us not to come that way after night and
-that the daytime was none too safe."
-
-"Oh, he was seeing how much he could scare you," laughed Chauncey,
-but he and Budd exchanged looks.
-
-
-
-
-                               CHAPTER V
-
-                          LUCIA DRESSES A DOLL
-
-
-In all this time Betty had not seen, except casually, Lucia, who had
-said that she had something to tell her. Both had been in a rush the
-next time they met and Lucia said that she would postpone what she
-wanted to talk about. Betty wondered if it were anything important,
-particularly if it had anything to do with Lucia's personal
-problems. From Lucia's manner, she imagined that it had. Lucia's
-life always commanded Betty's interest. It was so "different."
-
-The paper had a long account of festivities at the Murchison mansion
-during the Thanksgiving vacation. Lucia would be busy with all the
-entertaining, though their guests at the house and at the various
-little parties seemed to be adults.
-
-The girls were busy that first Monday morning, but on arriving at
-the home room and running to and from the lockers Lucia and Betty
-exchanged greetings and Lucia said, "Please be my guest at lunch
-today, Betty. We go to first lunch, I believe, and it ought to be
-good, though I suppose you are as fed up on turkey and stuff as I
-am."
-
-"Yes," brightly returned Betty--"turkey and stuff_ing_. But I'd
-never get tired of it and I doubt if we have it this noon."
-
-"No, of course not. I mean that appetite might not be all that it
-sometimes is."
-
-"Watch me," laughed Betty. "I may not want much, but by noon I'm
-always ready to feed the 'inner man.' And thank you, but I think I'd
-better be my own guest."
-
-"Please, Betty," Lucia persuaded. "I've a plan."
-
-"Good. I'll love to hear it. And I want to talk to you about joining
-the Lyon 'Y.' Did you know that they made me president of it? We
-want to have a membership campaign and make it a big group. Please
-think about joining it, won't you?"
-
-"Why yes, I might, if it isn't too much work. What do they do? I've
-never paid much attention to it."
-
-Betty explained, as they sat down in the home room to wait for the
-bell that called them to order. She told about their meetings,
-referring to the time she had been at the camp, and described their
-preparing and delivering the Thanksgiving baskets.
-
-Lucia looked interested and asked Betty why she had not asked her to
-help with the gifts. "I could have done something as well as not,"
-she said.
-
-"There's plenty of time to do something," Betty told her. "We're
-going to dress dolls for Christmas and, I imagine, fill a basket
-again. How would you like to dress a doll?"
-
-Lucia smiled at that. "I've never dressed a doll in my life," said
-she, "but I'll buy one and have it dressed. That would be fun. I'll
-tell you what we'll do. I asked Mother if I might have you for a
-week-end some time, and we'll see to it then--if you'll come. Will
-you?"
-
-"Of course I will!"
-
-"That was what I wanted to plan at Thanksgiving, but I found that I
-could not, on account of all Mother had on hand. I have a few
-worries to talk over with you, if you don't mind, and I'll get one
-of the maids to do most of the sewing. Do you know about doll
-patterns and things like that?"
-
-"I think so; enough, anyhow."
-
-"Perhaps we could have a meeting of the girls at our house and
-everybody dress dolls together."
-
-"That will be wonderful, Lucia! You will join us, then?"
-
-"Yes, Betty. I'm a Lyon 'Y' forever, always provided I don't have to
-do too much."
-
-"I'm not worried about that, Lucia. You see, it doesn't take much
-time for meetings. We just try to live up to a few ideals, and hear
-good talks, and have fun, and do a little sometimes for poor
-people."
-
-"Living up to the ideals will be the worst for me, I'm sure,"
-laughed Lucia. But the last gong rang and the girls were obliged to
-take their own seats, Betty thinking as she often did, how soon
-Lucia had slipped into the ways and spirit of the other girls. She
-was different, too; yet considering how very unlike the life of
-American girls Lucia's had been, it showed "great adaptability," as
-Mrs. Lee had called it, for her to enter into the school life as she
-had.
-
-The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas flew as it always does.
-Betty found that it was not such a task to be a president as she had
-thought. The other officers and committees took an interest and
-programs were easy to plan with all the people they knew who could
-talk to them or "do things." The leader from the "Y. W." and Miss
-Street, the leader of the group, were behind them and had ideas. The
-membership drive was inaugurated and went over well. The girls were
-interested in the doll dressing and when Lucia invited the entire
-group to meet at "her house" one Saturday afternoon, there were
-several more members at once. Mathilde Finn and "her crowd," as
-Carolyn put it, joined at once.
-
-"Finny," said Dotty Bradshaw, "will not be much good to us, I'm
-afraid."
-
-"Oh, yes she will," answered Selma Rardon. "She'll copy Lucia, and
-it will do _her_ good to be in it, Finny, I mean."
-
-"It does all of us good, Selma," said the young president, "and I
-think it is wonderful of Lucia to think of the very thing she can do
-to help us most right now."
-
-In consequence of this plan, two weeks before Christmas or about
-that time, Betty found herself going home with Lucia on Friday
-afternoon. Her father had delivered her at school that morning with
-her over-night bag, which reposed in her locker all day. The
-Murchison car was waiting at the curb when the girls left the school
-grounds and Betty tried hard not to feel any importance as she
-entered it. It was rather pleasant to have Lucia choose her from all
-of her friends for the week-end. But she had been the first friend,
-after all.
-
-Among the crowds of departing pupils, one of the senior girls said
-to Clara Lovel, "If Betty Lee hadn't stuck herself in to be elected
-president of Lyon 'Y,' _you_ would be going home with Lucia, Clara!"
-
-But Marcella Waite, who happened to be with the girls, knew the
-folly of such a statement. "It isn't just a Lyon 'Y' affair, Bess,"
-she said. "Betty's going to stay the week-end. Her father is in the
-Murchison business and he and Betty met the boat the countess came
-in on at New York. Besides, Lucia doesn't need any one to help her
-get ready to entertain. They have all the help they want, butler,
-maids and all the rest of it."
-
-"Well, you may be glad you aren't in the group this year, Marcella,"
-said Clara, "with a _junior_ for president!"
-
-Of this interchange Betty was blissfully unconscious as she was
-whirled away in the same dark crimson or wine-colored car that Betty
-had first entered on the morning when she accompanied the countess
-and her daughter to school, at Lucia's entrance there. Leaning back
-luxuriously in the soft seat, by Lucia, Betty dismissed all cares of
-school and lessons for the time being. It was all planned. She and
-Lucia would finish getting Monday's lesson that night. On Saturday
-morning they would be driven down town for shopping and have lunch.
-They would get anything necessary for the afternoon's meeting and
-return in time for the arrival of the girls.
-
-After the meeting with the girls, who were to be served a lovely
-luncheon, Betty guessed from Lucia's remarks, there would follow the
-visit with Lucia, till Monday morning took them to school again.
-What delights might develop Betty could only guess, but in that
-house a guest would not be neglected she knew.
-
-Lucia was in fine spirits. No hint of any worries which she might
-have could have been gleaned from anything in her expression or
-conversation. They discussed the last school news and looked hastily
-through the copy, just out, of the school paper. The pictures of the
-football team were prominent with a snapshot of "Kentucky" on the
-shoulders of admiring rooters. Prominent seniors were being written
-up and this time Marcella Waite was the choice of the editors. Her
-picture was at the top of the page and below was a brief resume of
-Marcella's character and activities.
-
-"This is good," said Lucia, close to Betty as they read the paper
-together, as well as they could for the motion of the car. "Marcella
-is the finest girl in the Kappa Upsilon sorority."
-
-"Don't you like Peggy?" queried Betty.
-
-"Oh, yes. Peggy's all right, but Marcella is older and very fine."
-
-"I think so, too. I suspect that you see a good deal of Marcella,
-since you have been together in the sorority, you know."
-
-"Not so much. Sometimes Marcella scarcely has time for sorority
-meetings."
-
-So they chatted till they entered the grounds of the Murchison
-place, covered with snow now, the evergreens, heavy-laden, most
-beautiful to behold, and other great trees, tall and bare, outlined
-in black and white with the snow that clung to their branches. Betty
-became rather silent, while Lucia outlined plans and spoke happily
-of the fun that she hoped the girls would have with their sewing and
-visiting.
-
-Betty was not accustomed to being admitted by a butler, but demurely
-followed Lucia up softly carpeted stairs to Lucia's own room, where
-Lucia rang for her maid. Their wraps were first disposed of and
-Lucia followed Betty into the room which was to be hers for the
-short visit. "I thought at first," said Lucia, "that I would rather
-have another bed put in my room, Betty, so that we could talk as
-long as we wanted to. My bed is one of twin beds and this is the
-other one. But then I'm used to sleeping alone, Mother reminded me;
-and she said that probably you were, too, and that we'd better do
-this way. I hope that you will like the room."
-
-"It is a lovely room!" enthusiastically cried Betty, though with her
-voice properly subdued. One could not imagine, Betty thought, that
-any one could come in talking as noisily as the Lee children
-occasionally found themselves doing in the sweet liberty of home.
-Still, their mother would hush too great a tumult, or their father
-would say quietly, "I'm not in Buxton, Dick. I can easily hear an
-ordinary tone!"
-
-The maid unpacked Betty's bag and asked if she should press the
-dress, confined in the bag all day. Knowing that the Murchison house
-was very warm, Betty had packed a thin chiffon dress, while wearing
-a dress to school, as well, that was a little better than common.
-
-"That hangs out easily," said Betty, "but it is just as Lucia says."
-
-"Press it then, Giovanna," said Lucia, and the maid vanished with
-the frock.
-
-The girls did a little temporary grooming, but Lucia said that they
-would just visit until time to dress for dinner. The dinner hour,
-she said, was any time from seven to eight o'clock, according to
-when Mr. Murchison came, or whether or not they had guests, or what
-ideas about it her mother had. The servants had learned to adjust
-themselves to some irregularity. "We have a good class of servants,"
-said Lucia, "and Uncle pays them well, which insures good service as
-a rule. Giovanna has been with me a long time and she is like a bit
-of home."
-
-"Does your maid like it here?"
-
-"I don't think so, though this year she seems more resigned and
-likes to go to the movies. I let her go evenings sometimes and get
-myself to bed."
-
-Betty wondered how it would seem to be waited on like that, but she
-was too busy with her new impressions to do much thinking. "If you
-are not too tired, Lucia, we might get out our Latin or mathematics
-together, since we are likely to have so much time before dinner."
-
-That seemed to be a good plan, but while they made some progress in
-the lessons, they did more talking, especially after Lucia hopped up
-to bring out a very beautiful doll, which was to be her
-contribution. Betty admired quite to Lucia's satisfaction and Betty
-did not tell her that the dolls had been bought, alike, simple but
-pretty, and were to be variously dressed according to the taste of
-the girl who dressed them. At first she thought that she ought to
-give Lucia a hint, but she could not bear to spoil Lucia's interest
-and she was afraid it would. Probably Lucia would not bring out the
-doll anyway until the rest were started and then she could use her
-own judgment. It would turn out all right. Betty was not one to
-worry unnecessarily.
-
-The girls were still translating when Giovanna appeared to lay out
-their clothing for dinner. Each was soon occupied with bath and
-dressing. It was the second one for Betty that day, for she had not
-anticipated this one before dinner. She chuckled to herself in the
-tub and wondered how many Lucia took.
-
-Rosy and fresh, she arrayed herself in clean garments and her best
-frock, hoping that she was "all right" for dinner. Giovanna was busy
-with Lucia and looked surprised when she entered Betty's room to
-find her all dressed. She looked critically at Betty's hair, but
-replied that it was "very good," when Betty asked her if there were
-anything wrong.
-
-"We'll go in to see Mother first," said Lucia, leading the way to
-the sitting room where Betty had been once before, after the famous
-hike. The door was closed and Lucia rapped. Countess Coletti's maid
-opened the door, to tell them that the countess was still in the
-bath and to say that she had suggested, if the girls were ready
-first, a trip upstairs to see "Grandmother."
-
-Lucia nodded without comment and turned away with Betty. She
-hesitated. "Mother thinks I ought to go," she said, "and I suppose
-she must mean that I take you. Our special friends know, Betty, that
-Grandmother Ferris is--queer. She is not my grandmother at all, but
-we call her that. She is the mother of Uncle's wife and she went to
-pieces in an accident a few years ago. The doctor says her mind may
-come back and she's quite harmless. You might not notice anything,
-but I thought I'd better tell you for fear she says some of the
-queer things she does say. She can't bear to go out of these rooms
-of hers on the third floor, though we coax her down to sleep in the
-hot summer days--that is, whoever is here does. Uncle won't insist
-on her going to a sanitarium; and so she has a nurse and a maid too
-and they take turns staying with her. I don't know what is going to
-happen when Uncle marries again, and my mother says that he is sure
-to. That's _one_ worry in this house, Betty."
-
-Betty nodded soberly. She rather dreaded going, but if it was
-Lucia's duty, she surely could go, too. She had never talked to any
-one who was "queer." Perhaps she would not be obliged to say
-anything. Lucia had a second thought, she said, and went to bring
-the new doll. This looked not a little like Lucia herself, with its
-waving black hair and black eyes, though its round cheeks and
-complacent smile were not a reproduction of Lucia, who was a little
-thinner than when she had arrived from Italy.
-
-"It may amuse Grandmother to see it," said Lucia, carrying the box
-which contained the doll.
-
-Up a winding stair they went to a third floor, as imposing as either
-the first or second and with ceilings as high as those of the
-second. "There is a little attic over this floor," Lucia explained,
-"which makes the floor quite comfortable even in the summer. They go
-up to keep a current of air passing in the attic and have to watch
-that floor in storms, of course, for Grandmother's rooms would be
-flooded, perhaps. It's been rather hard for Uncle to get good help
-to look after her properly; but now he has a nurse that used to be
-her maid and likes her."
-
-A door stood open where Lucia stopped. Betty glanced into a
-beautifully furnished sitting room where some one was sitting,
-apparently dozing in her chair, and a keen-looking young woman sat
-sewing nearby. The older woman started up, though the girls had been
-very quiet. "Is that Laura?" she asked.
-
-Betty saw an anxious, lined face, not very old but having large,
-troubled eyes with which she scanned the girls, holding to the arms
-of her chair and ready to rise.
-
-"Not this time, Grandmother," replied Lucia in cheerful tones. "I
-came to show you the doll that I'm going to dress for Christmas.
-Some little girl that doesn't have a doll is going to get it. The
-girls of one of my little clubs are coming here to dress dolls this
-afternoon and this is Betty Lee, one of my friends at school."
-
-The wild expression had passed from the elderly lady's face and she
-held out her hand to Betty with a slight smile. Betty quickly
-crossed the space between them to take the hand offered. Oh, the
-poor, poor lady! Betty knew that Mrs. Murchison's name was Laura. So
-she was expecting her daughter to come. Hadn't they dared to tell
-her that she never would come?
-
-"Let me see the doll, then Lucia," said Mrs. Ferris, as naturally as
-any one, but she added, "I can't see why Laura doesn't come. She
-hasn't been in to see me today. But she told me yesterday that she
-had to go to some club. Do you know what it was, Lucia? But you
-weren't here then, were you?"
-
-Mrs. Ferris looked troubled again, as if she were trying to recall
-events and could not. "Don't you think you'd better call up and see
-if you can find Laura, Bessie? Tell her I want to see her. Oh, I do
-want to see Laura so much."
-
-"Of course," soothingly said the nurse, addressed as Bessie. Mrs.
-Ferris thought her her maid as formerly. "Shall I open the box, Miss
-Lucia?"
-
-But Lucia was already taking the cover from the box and disclosing
-the doll in its tissue wrappings. "See, Grandmother, it hasn't a
-thing to wear. I could have gotten dressed dolls, but I had to dress
-this myself--only I mean Giovanna to do the sewing!" Lucia made a
-comical face at her "grandmother," who laughed. "That is just like
-you, Laura. You were always a hand to get out of work."
-
-Turning to Betty, Mrs. Ferris continued. "You know, Mary, that I
-used to do all the work for Laura and her father and the other
-children. That was before Mr. Ferris made so much money and the
-children died, all but Laura. Why, Laura, let me get some of your
-little brother's things for this baby. Bessie, go to the lower
-drawer in my mahogany highboy and get me something to dress this
-child with! There is a long white dress there that Willie was
-baptized in, and a flannel shirt and bands and embroidered skirts.
-Bring everything there is!"
-
-Lucia looked troubled, but Mrs. Ferris had only a happy expression
-as she cradled the doll in her arms. Bessie, who knew that there
-were no baby clothes in the highboy, also knew where they were to be
-found. "Wait a moment, Mrs. Ferris," said she, as she slipped out
-from the door and flew up to the attic with the key to a trunk. What
-a blessing it would be if this doll would prove a distraction! But
-one never could tell.
-
-Lucia glanced around uneasily, but saw, through a door that stood
-ajar, that the maid was moving about there and was within call. "Do
-you think the doll pretty, Grandmother!" she asked. But Mrs. Ferris
-was now turning the doll over with a puled expression. "Its hair is
-so long," she said.
-
-Then Lucia had a bright idea. "Wait till I get the other doll they
-sent out," she said, "I decided to take this one because I think it
-is prettier. But perhaps you will like the other better. It looks
-like a real baby."
-
-"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Ferris, still puled.
-
-"Lina," called Lucia, "come here a minute, will you?"
-
-The maid who was in the bedroom beyond, entered at once and needed
-no direction as she saw the situation. "I'm going down after another
-doll, Lina," said Lucia. "Just wait, Betty."
-
-"Won't you sit down, Mary?" asked Mrs. Ferris in a moment, politely
-indicating a chair. Lina drew it nearer for Betty, who sat down.
-"How is your mother, Mary?" continued Mrs. Ferris. "I intended to
-get over to see her yesterday, but the weather was so bad. I don't
-like the winter weather."
-
-Betty saw that Mrs. Ferris expected no answer, but she leaned toward
-her with a respectful and sympathetic expression on her face. Lina
-stood quietly by. Then Bessie entered, her arms filled with a large
-pasteboard box, and Lucia was only a moment or two behind Bessie.
-
-"Here are the things, Mrs. Ferris," said Bessie, depositing the box
-on a straight chair that she drew up for the purpose. "Wait,
-Bessie," said the maid, "I'll put up the folding table."
-
-This was done as Lucia exchanged the one doll for the other, Mrs.
-Ferris evidently approving the change. The second doll was a baby
-doll, almost as large as a real baby and with soft golden hair like
-Betty's.
-
-"This is the prettier doll," said Mrs. Ferris quite sensibly. "What
-made you bring those clothes here, Bessie? Oh, yes. I told you to."
-Again Mrs. Ferris looked puled. She considered the doll. "This looks
-like Willie. I believe it is Willie. Poor little thing, with those
-cheap clothes on! How did that happen, Bessie?"
-
-In a low tone Lucia spoke to Lina. "I'll leave this doll with
-Grandmother. Perhaps it will amuse her; shall we go?"
-
-"Slip away without saying anything," Bessie whispered, edging around
-by Lucia. "She will not remember. She is bad today, you see."
-
-It was a great relief to Betty when Lucia drew her toward the door
-and out. "Oh, Lucia!" she said as they passed down the stairway, "I
-am so sorry for her! It was so pitiful!"
-
-"Wasn't it! I never saw her like that. Usually she is just a little
-queer, but her mind was all mixed up today. It just about breaks
-Uncle's heart to see her, even. She was awfully good to him and made
-her will leaving everything to Laura and to him, even in case of her
-daughter's death. So that is one reason that he wants her to be in
-her own apartment as long as possible. He can engage people to take
-care of her, even if she should be difficult to manage and then he
-knows how she is being treated, you see. Mother has an oversight
-now, too; but that and some other things are nearly wearing Mother's
-nerves to pieces. That is why she has so much company and goes so
-much, though of course, all her old friends want to see her, too."
-
-From the sad scene of the third floor Betty was soon transported to
-the large dining room of the Murchison home, where the Countess
-Coletti and a few friends, with Mr. Murchison, the head of the
-house, sat about a beautifully appointed table with its silver, cut
-glass and china, its flowers and fragrance. There was cheerful, even
-clever conversation into which Betty was drawn a little at first, as
-the older guests politely took an interest in the two girls. But
-Lucia and Betty, side by side, carried on a low conversation, as
-they found it proper, or listened with interest to that of their
-elders. Betty was impressed with the grace and social poise of the
-countess, but did not care very much for a handsome blonde who sat
-at Mr. Murchison's right and whom Lucia said was "trying to marry
-Uncle," though that remark had been made before the party went into
-the dining room. Relieved from much necessity of talking to any one,
-Betty had plenty of opportunity to study the people about the table,
-from whose voices and conversation she could gather not a little
-about their personalities. She could also thoroughly enjoy the
-excellent dinner, served in attractive courses.
-
-The countess sat at the proper hostess end of the table and at her
-right was a gentleman who could not, or possibly did not try to
-conceal his rather sentimental interest in the countess. Of him
-Lucia, naturally, had not spoken, but Betty wondered. She knew what
-her father would do if anybody would say such silly things to her
-mother! Did the countess like it? Nobody appeared to pay the least
-bit of attention to it. So Betty decided that she would not be
-shocked. Probably that was the silly way of some people.
-
-She wished she had the recipe of a wonderful pudding that melted in
-your mouth and preceded an ice-cream confection. A smile of
-amusement curled around her mouth at the idea of asking for a recipe
-at this distinguished place; but just then one of the ladies said
-something really funny, a clever reply to the countess, and Betty's
-smile extended into laughter with the rest.
-
-At the close of the meal, Lucia led Betty upstairs again; but they
-were passed by Mr. Murchison, who patted Lucia's shoulder as he went
-up and said to Betty that he hoped she would have a pleasant visit.
-"Make her have a good time, Lucia," said he, starting up the second
-flight.
-
-"I'll try to do so," replied Lucia.
-
-The girls turned into Lucia's room and changed their frocks for
-comfortable kimonos. Had Betty been at home, she would have put on
-her thick bath robe; but she had brought her silk kimono as
-appropriate to this visit. Lucia's negligee was a pretty affair, and
-Lucia apologized for the absence of the maid by saying that she
-would be having her dinner now, she supposed. Lucia tossed her
-clothes on a chair and her bed, for the maid to put away, Betty
-supposed; but Betty carried hers into her own room and hung them
-carefully in a closet, not only because she had been taught to do
-so, for Betty was no angel or averse to letting things go at times,
-but because she wanted her garments to keep on looking well while
-she was here and she did not want to seem to impose upon the service
-offered. Betty did not mind if Lucia thought her a little careful.
-It was natural enough, however, though Lucia had told her to "stay
-and talk," for Betty to take her clothes to her own room. Little
-details are sometimes disturbing things to settle, but Betty tried
-to keep in mind what was most important, when she had them to
-settle.
-
-"Uncle always goes up to see Grandmother Ferris after dinner," said
-Lucia. "He just excuses himself from the company when we have
-guests. He goes up some other times too, but _always_ then, before
-she goes to bed, to see how she is."
-
-Betty quite approved this, and beamed on him with such a warm smile
-when he stopped afterwards at Lucia's door to look in upon them,
-that he thought, "What a nice little girl Lee has." Lucia had opened
-her door because it was too hot in her bedroom; yet to open a window
-would bring cold breezes in, she thought.
-
-"That was a bright idea of yours, Lucia, to show Grandmother that
-doll, or both of them. Bessie was telling me all about it. It seems
-that Grandmother is not like herself at all today and is a little
-feeble, too. Perhaps the 'flu' she had last month is having some
-effect now."
-
-Mr. Murchison stopped to consider a moment, soberly.
-
-"Bessie says that she has had a wonderful time dressing that baby
-doll in the old baby clothes, and Grandmother herself told me to
-speak softly for fear I'd waken 'Willie.' The doll was in her bed!
-She was very happy and sent her love to Laura----"
-
-Here Mr. Murchison broke off and turned away quickly.
-
-Tears came into Lucia's eyes, but she whisked them away with the
-little lace handkerchief which lay by her on the desk to which they
-had drawn their chairs. "Poor Uncle! He couldn't have said another
-word without his voice shaking, I know. But he wanted to tell me.
-Oh, Betty, isn't life hard sometimes! I can't study! Come over here
-on the _chaise longue_ and let me tell you things. I've wanted to
-for a long time."
-
-
-
-
-                               CHAPTER VI
-
-                          LUCIA'S CONFIDENCES
-
-
-There was room for the two girls on the cushions of the silken couch
-that was rather broader than the ordinary _chaise longue_. Golden
-hair and dark hair mingled, after Lucia arranged the cushions and
-settled down herself with her head in the curve of Betty's shoulder
-and neck. She possessed herself of Betty's hand and said, "I hope
-you don't mind these close quarters."
-
-"I'm as comfy as can be," returned Betty, giving a squeeze to the
-slender hand.
-
-"You are such a comfortable person, Betty Lee, and I don't feel that
-you are ready to take up everything a girl says or does to criticize
-it. I've been envying Carolyn and Kathryn for seeing so much of
-you."
-
-"Why, Lucia!" cried Betty, very much surprised. "I have time for
-more than one or two friends!"
-
-"I know it and that is why I want to talk to you about things. By
-the way, Grandmother called you Mary, I noticed. There was a young
-friend of Aunt Laura's, when she was a girl, by that name--Uncle
-said. If Grandmother could go to sleep by 'Willie' and never wake
-up, except in heaven, it would be a blessing. I'm glad I thought of
-taking the dolls to her, though it might have started a good deal of
-trouble, too. But she usually takes everything sweetly. That's the
-advantage of having a good disposition, I suppose, if you lose your
-mind."
-
-"I'm afraid it might not make any difference; but its worth
-cultivating anyhow," suggested sensible Betty.
-
-"'Like sweet bells jangled and out of tune' Uncle says her mind is,
-but not 'harsh,' as Ophelia says of Hamlet. I thought of it when we
-were reading Hamlet in English the other day. But that isn't what I
-want to talk to you about. It is what I am going to do about staying
-in America--and that brings in other things. I hardly know how to
-begin."
-
-Betty said nothing, but laid her cheek over against Lucia's soft
-hair.
-
-"If you only understood Italian, Betty! _Che peccato!_ That means
-'What a pity'--for I'll forget myself and want to drop into my
-natural tongue when I'm telling about home and my father and mother.
-If I forget and say anything that you do not understand, just remind
-me, please."
-
-"I wish I did know Italian. Maybe I could learn to speak it some
-time."
-
-"It's easy, especially when you know Latin and French."
-
-This was the introduction to Lucia's story. She did drop into
-Italian at times, but caught herself. Betty missed nothing
-important.
-
-"You can imagine, Betty, how I dreaded coming to America to stay
-when I tell you that it was at the end of a terrible quarrel between
-my father and mother. I do not mean a loud, awful time, but one of
-those still, quiet stiletto exchanges of opinions and decisions. My
-father accused my mother of not caring for him. Mother set her teeth
-and said that the matter was of no consequence one way or another
-because it was quite clear that he had never cared for her. And,
-Betty, both of them love each other dearly, though I suppose it has
-gone too far for anything but one of those dreadful divorces. This
-last talk was before me, and I tried to say something; but both of
-them told me to keep quiet. It had to be talked through.
-
-"The point was this. My uncle had begged her to come for a while,
-writing her about Aunt Laura's death and Grandmother's condition and
-business worries, and some of her money is in the business, you
-know. Then she wanted to have me in American schools for a while.
-Also she was homesick. School was an excuse.
-
-"That would have been an interesting thing for me if it had not been
-for the trouble between my father and my mother. He was tired of
-trips to America, he said. Oh, one thing led to another and they
-were so far apart it makes me sick to think about it all. Finally I
-think my father told her that if she went to America to stay any
-length of time, that is, to stay with me while I was having what she
-wanted in school for me, she need not come back, so far as he was
-concerned. And she said she never would. Betty, my mother packed up
-and so did my father; and after the next day--I've never seen my
-father since."
-
-Lucia choked a little, stopped and used the little handkerchief
-again.
-
-"Before he married my mother he was interested in travel and hunting
-and all that. So he started right away, for an eastern trip first,
-over into India and other countries, and now he is on an African
-_safari_; he wrote me just before he left Cairo for some other
-point. I've heard from him as often as it was possible for him to
-write. He does not intend to let _me_ go, you know. He said she
-might have her way for a while with the schools, but that he would
-come for me. He never asks how my mother is, or mentions her at all.
-But when I write, I tell him; for I know he wants to know. I tell
-him about how well she is and a little bit about what she is doing.
-In the last letter I said, 'to keep from being too unhappy and
-missing you.'
-
-"I _casually mention_ hearing from my father to my mother and I
-leave the letter where she can read it, pretending to take it for
-granted that she will read it, of course. But Mother wouldn't ask
-for the letters and for a long time I think she didn't read them,
-till one day I wanted to look up something my father said about what
-he was doing and I found several old letters to me lying on Mother's
-desk. Of course she had been called somewhere and had forgotten to
-take them back to my room. It did not matter, to be sure, except to
-keep from me that she wanted to read them. Do you think I am very
-dreadful to tell anybody all this, Betty? You see I want you to tell
-me what else you think I could do."
-
-But Lucia did not wait for Betty's comment. She went on with the
-account.
-
-"I'm not going to put up with it, Betty! I'm going back to my father
-this summer if he wants me! I'm putting by enough money for my fare
-and passage across, though I think I could cash a draft from him
-without their finding it out. Perhaps that would bring Mother! I
-don't know! I've thought and thought about it until I'm most sick
-over it now." Lucia checked a sob.
-
-"You saw that horrid man at the table tonight and heard the silly
-compliments he makes to my mother. She doesn't care a _centime_ for
-him; but she's getting so reckless with all this social stuff that
-I'm most scared for fear she _will_ start divorce proceedings."
-
-"Couldn't you talk to your uncle about it?" asked Betty, who thought
-it a terrible situation indeed. "It doesn't seem to me that it would
-do for you to just go off, even if your father does want you."
-
-"I will if my mother is going to leave him. I almost ran away to
-keep from coming." Lucia's voice was defiant.
-
-"Well, then, why don't you write to your father, tell him that you
-know your mother loves him and tell him just to come over and _get_
-her!"
-
-Lucia laughed then. "The girls would say that you are old-fashioned,
-Betty. Men don't carry their wives off nowadays."
-
-Betty laughed but asserted that they "ought to sometimes." "It's
-their business to take care of their wives and if their wives
-are--mistaken--to prove it to them. My father would say, 'Now, dear,
-this is all a mistake. You come right along home with me and I'll
-explain it to you!'"
-
-"What if she wouldn't go?"
-
-"Then he'd tell her that they must think of the children first and
-that two people who wanted to do the right thing ought to get along
-somehow, even if they didn't love each other. I've heard them both
-say that, about other people."
-
-"You asked me if I couldn't talk to my uncle. I would only that
-Mother did when we first came and told him all the cutting things my
-father had said. Uncle just raved and was for a legal separation
-right away, but my mother saw she had gone too far and told him that
-they would wait. My uncle called him a fortune hunter; and he
-thought that about him anyway, before they were married. They talked
-about it that time in Milan."
-
-Betty could imagine what sharp things must have been said. She was
-quiet, thinking over what Lucia had told her and Lucia stopped to
-wipe her eyes again.
-
-"Well," she said with a sigh, "it's helped clear things up, some
-way, to talk with you, Betty. I believe I _will_ write and tell my
-father to come and 'get her!' I could ask him if neither of them
-cared enough about me to try to make up, and if he wanted to see
-some other man fall in love with my mother and try to win her, all
-for the want of his making love the way he can. Oh, you ought to see
-my father, Betty. Giovanna says that they fell in love at first
-sight because of their looks. And my father is _not_ a fortune
-hunter! He hasn't as much money as my mother has and I suppose that
-is one reason why he was so proud about the whole thing; but he has
-a good home in Milan. You'd love it, Betty, and I hope you'll be in
-it some day. Oh!"
-
-Now, indeed, Lucia cried in earnest and Betty, holding her
-affectionately, let her cry it out.
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER VII
-
-                        LYON "Y" AND A COUNTESS
-
-
-The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in
-stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as
-Betty guessed. Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled
-down in the cushions. But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle,
-the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
-Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped
-her eyes again and stood still to listen. After a sparkling prelude,
-a voice began to sing.
-
-Betty sat up at once. "Oh, that lovely voice, Lucia. Who is it?"
-Betty had in mind the ladies who were around that dinner table. This
-was a clear soprano voice, haunting and full of feeling as the song
-went on.
-
-Lucia turned and softly said, "My Mother." She waited a few moments
-and then ran into her bathroom to bathe her tear-stained face. But
-Betty went over to the door to listen till the song was over. It was
-nothing that she knew--some Italian song, but Betty felt an ache at
-her heart. Who was this that could sing like that? Betty had seen
-the countess in several different moods or phases--that of the
-capable traveler, the efficient mother when Lucia came home after
-her slight injury upon the hike, the pleasant, well-poised, gracious
-hostess--now here was something else.
-
-The song was finished. When Betty heard the voices in conversation
-again, she closed the door and went back to where her books were,
-looking over her lesson till Lucia came back. Lucia was smiling and
-said that it was "all over."
-
-"I'm not going to be silly and cry again, Betty, but I shall
-probably want to talk to you about this some more. Here are some of
-my father's letters. I keep them in my desk, you see. See how fat
-they are? He tells me about the hunts and the going through that
-queer country and everything that he thinks would interest me and
-help me to learn about it. Sometimes he puts in little things that I
-know he thinks my mother may read."
-
-Betty took in her hands a letter that Lucia handed her. It was, of
-course, written in Italian and very "fat," as Lucia said. "I don't
-think that you were silly to cry, Lucia. I don't see how you can
-help feeling as you do. Your father must be a very interesting man
-and your mother is certainly a gifted woman."
-
-"Mother was studying music in Milan when she met my father, you
-know."
-
-Some slight progress had been made in lessons, but the girls retired
-earlier than Betty had supposed they would, for when the maid came
-in after rapping, upon some little errand of Lucia's clothing, Lucia
-told her that she was tired and would go to bed very soon. Betty was
-only too glad to do the same thing and the girls soon said
-goodnight. In a comfortable bed, under white blankets and a silken
-comforter, as Betty noticed, she soon fell to sleep. It _was_ nice
-to have a maid fussing around to do things for you, to open your
-window just the right amount, arranging a little screen of some
-sort, to see that your clothing was placed properly. But maids
-weren't mothers!
-
-Breakfast the girls had alone, as they rose earlier than either the
-countess or Mr. Murchison. Lucia told Betty that it was unusually
-early for her on a Saturday morning, but if they did "Christmas
-shopping," they were wise to have a good start, as the stores would
-be full of people. Moreover, the countess herself would want the
-chauffeur to drive her down later in the day.
-
-"Mother will sleep till noon, I suppose," said Lucia, "because I
-think everybody stayed late last night. Uncle will drive his coupe
-down town, and we can have Horace and the big car all morning."
-
-The plans for shopping were made. Betty informed Lucia that for a
-president of Lyon "Y" she knew little about the usual plans for
-Christmas, but that the committee had asked her to buy certain
-things. Both girls had also personal shopping to do and it was like
-shopping with a fairy godmother to go with Lucia. She insisted on
-paying from her own purse for the materials Betty had been asked to
-buy. She bought half a dozen more dolls because she thought them
-"cute." These were dressed. Betty still felt dubious about what the
-committee would think, but after all wouldn't some "kiddie" love
-them!
-
-It was a rather delirious morning for Betty. If she had not had a
-list, she would have been too excited to think properly, she said.
-When she told Lucia that the Lyon "Y" had adopted a family and
-related the story of the Thanksgiving baskets, Lucia began to buy
-toys "regardless," Betty told her.
-
-"Oh, let's make them think old Santa just had a spill of toys from
-his old sleigh!" said Lucia, as happy as Betty, looking into the
-gayly decked windows, or descending into the store basements where
-the toys were displayed.
-
-Betty had "always" intended to go back to see what was the result
-with the "Sevillas," but there was so much to do at school with
-lessons and tests and other duties and at home in preparation for
-the holidays that she had not "had a minute" to spare, it seemed.
-Her father was unusually busy, too; and when she spoke to him about
-the coincidence of the names and referred to the odd parenthesis in
-Ramon Balinsky's letter, he had only said that it "might be well to
-look into it."
-
-The crimson car was pretty well filled with packages when Lucia had
-finished her shopping, for why should they wait to have things
-delivered when they wanted to see them right away? And Lucia sent
-the car home, telling Betty that her mother might want it and that
-there was no use in keeping Horace waiting around while they had
-lunch down town.
-
-Betty assured Lucia that any arrangement was satisfactory to her, as
-they entered a pretty tea room and lingered over their lunch,
-ordered by Lucia after consultation with Betty. Chicken salad and
-toothsome desserts figured largely in the order and Betty was sure
-that she would want nothing that afternoon; yet Lucia was serving
-such a "complete" afternoon tea! But a few hours make a great
-difference in young appetites.
-
-Clothes bothered Betty a little. She hoped that her frock was proper
-for an "afternoon dress;" but she felt sure that many of the girls
-would not dress elaborately, in spite of their coming to a house
-presided over by a countess. Some of the girls could not, she knew.
-
-When Miss Street and Miss Hogarth arrived in pretty but quiet
-frocks, Betty felt that everybody would be "all right" for clothes.
-Lucia herself must have had ideas on the subject; for she wore a
-dress that she had worn to school. Mathilde and a few of the late
-joiners, who had been largely influenced by Lucia's membership, were
-more or less elaborately dressed; but clothes ceased to have much
-part in Betty's thoughts, as she consulted with Miss Street and Miss
-Hogarth and the committee about the meeting. The countess came in to
-welcome the girls and their leaders most cordially. She well knew
-that the girls would have felt defrauded if they had not had a
-glimpse of her, as Betty gleaned from some little remark she made to
-Lucia. Two sewing machines were in the rear drawing room and
-Giovanna and Lina, in pretty caps and aprons were ready for work.
-
-This arrangement was a surprise to Miss Street and Miss Hogarth, who
-thanked the countess warmly and remarked that they might have
-planned to have something beside clothes for dolls sewed that
-afternoon if they had realized what an opportunity it was. To this
-Countess Coletti replied that she would be glad to furnish machines
-and maids and house room some other time if the girls were sewing
-for the poor. She left the room with pleasant regrets and presently
-Betty heard the car starting to take her to some engagement or a
-shopping tour.
-
-It was a petty scene, with the girls, their bright expressions and
-young figures, their thimbles and sewing bags or boxes, the little
-heaps of bright materials or filmy white or laces, wide or narrow,
-and dolls of all sorts, either in the girls' laps or upon the
-tables. On the walls above them were several fine reproductions of
-famous paintings and an etching or two. Objects of art had largely
-been removed from this room to make place for chairs and folding
-tables and the machines. It seemed a pity to drop any threads or
-scraps upon that "gorgeous" oriental rug.
-
-Betty clapped her hands for order. "While you get ready to begin
-sewing girls, Miss Street and Miss Hogarth will tell you what the
-plans are. The committee, too, may have some information to give
-you, and I'll call on the chairman now to speak of them. I am too
-new as president to know much about what the 'Y. W.' does at
-Christmas time, except a few of the results. I will ask Lilian
-Norris to explain."
-
-Some of the girls were threading needles and beginning to sew on
-edges, or to fit little garments to their dolls, according to the
-state of progress to which the process had arrived.
-
-"I've been talking to Miss Street and Miss Hogarth, girls, and this
-is what we are to do. You know we decided to adopt a family; and as
-the Woods family is such a nice one and needs everything so badly,
-our leader thinks we might as well take them. Please put it to vote,
-Betty, and then I'll tell the rest."
-
-Betty, widely smiling at Lilian's business-like methods, put the
-question, with a unanimous "Aye" as the result.
-
-"That is good," said Lilian. "We filled two baskets as it happened,
-at Thanksgiving, and we were told that both of them 'went to the
-spot.' Miss Hogarth called afterwards, but the Sevillas, who were
-the other people, very proud and not asking for any help, had moved;
-and the Woods lady did not know where they had gone."
-
-At this Betty had a pang. Suppose they _were_ connected with
-Ramon--and she had neither gone to ask them nor written to him! That
-was the way a body perhaps missed a big opportunity.
-
-But Lilian was still speaking. "I think, girls, that we should be
-very careful, too, about what we say about our family. They are like
-us in wanting to be independent and because they haven't the good
-luck we have, there is no need of rubbing it in by telling everybody
-about them or what we do. Let's have a little sympathy and delicacy!
-
-"And now I'll tell about the dolls. As you know, we bought some just
-alike and passed them around to be dressed, each girl paying,
-however, for her own doll. But then we had the membership drive and
-a lot of new members and we decided, that is, the committee did,
-that everybody could select her own doll. And _these_ are not to be
-sent out with baskets, girls. They are to be for the Toy Shop that
-we are going to have at the 'Y,' and sold. There is to be a prize
-given for the best-dressed and the prettiest doll in the show--I
-forgot to say that we're going to have big Christmas doings at the
-'Y' down town--and I do hope that our group gets the prize for the
-prettiest doll and the foxiest booth! The prize is just some
-decoration or something in the way of an honor, you know. I think
-that is all, Madam President."
-
-Betty, who was very glad of this explanation, which corrected her
-own ideas about the dolls, called on the two leaders to ask if they
-had anything to tell the girls. Both of them confirmed Lilian's
-statements and urged the girls to make this the most beautiful
-Christmas they had ever had, for themselves and for others, with
-their thoughts on higher motives than merely what material things
-they could get for themselves. Miss Hogarth asked for the names of
-those who were willing to take part in the carols and those who
-could furnish machines. Lucia's hand went up to both questions and
-Betty felt a little warmth about her heart to see how sweet Lucia's
-face had grown as she listened to Miss Hogarth's brief references to
-the higher ideals. Perhaps trouble was not so bad for Lucia after
-all. And it all _must_ turn out right for her!
-
-The rest of the afternoon was a jumble of visiting and sewing. The
-presence of the maids and the machines called for more efficiency
-than probably would have been shown in an ordinary meeting. Fingers
-flew. The committee and Miss Street measured and cut out little
-garments from the "dearest" little doll patterns, bought that
-morning by Lucia and Betty, who risked sizes and thought that
-Giovanna, at least, could reduce or enlarge when necessary. The
-machines hummed away and the two maids seemed to have as much fun as
-anybody, particularly as Lucia treated them "just like family,"
-according to Mathilde, who was properly shocked. Mathilde, while
-"sweet as sugar" to Lucia, according to Dotty Bradshaw, could say
-some very funny things about her. "_I_ wouldn't care for such a
-friend," said Dotty.
-
-Betty had dropped down by Dotty, who wanted to know whether she
-thought a certain scrap of pretty lace would make a good finish for
-the neck of the doll dress she was making, or whether a little
-embroidered collar would be more suitable to the pattern. Betty gave
-her opinion on this weighty question and then Dotty informed her
-that Mathilde was "going to ask her if Lucia's father and mother
-were going to get a divorce."
-
-"I thought I'd better warn you, Betty," said Dotty, "I thought
-Mathilde chose a funny place to talk about it--Lucia's own house."
-
-Betty smiled. Could Dotty be curious, too? "Thanks, Dotty. Yes, it
-isn't usually done, talking about your hostess--or talking about
-people who have just been entertaining you. If I _knew_, I should
-scarcely give any information to Mathilde or anybody else. I'm
-having such a lovely visit and I'm sure the more we know Lucia the
-better we'll like her. And isn't it great of Countess Coletti to
-take such an interest in 'good works?' Oh, yes, Selma, I'll bring
-you that pattern in just a minute. I think Peggy Pollard is using it
-now."
-
-Betty did not try to do any sewing herself. She would finish her
-doll at home. But Lucia, whose doll had not been brought downstairs,
-came to ask her if she should display it.
-
-"I'm afraid the girls will think I'm trying to show off if I do, but
-several of them have asked me where my doll is and I had to tell
-them I had one. I shouldn't have gotten such an--elaborate one, I
-suppose; but I did not think and I always choose what I think is the
-prettiest. What do you think, Betty?"
-
-"I think that you must decide for yourself, Lucia. It does seem a
-perfect shame that they should not see that pretty thing!"
-
-Lucia looked thoughtful and disappeared from the room for a short
-time. But Betty noted on her return that she was not carrying the
-doll; and at her first opportunity Lucia explained. "I did think
-that perhaps I would bring it down. Giovanna is going to dress it
-for me--or was. But just as I had it out of its box Bessie came
-running down from upstairs and said that Grandmother Ferris had
-asked about it. She had 'Willie' but where did 'Josie' go? Josie was
-another of her children that died. Isn't it _pitiful_? So I just
-sent Bessie back with the other doll and I hope that they are having
-a quiet time putting baby clothes on it. I'll send Lina up as soon
-as we serve. I think it would be nice to have some of the girls
-serve and do it myself, don't you?"
-
-"Yes, I do, Lucia," emphatically answered Betty. "How is the
-grandmother today?"
-
-"Just as quiet and happy as can be most of the time, Bessie says,
-only awfully bewildered. Help me choose the girls, Betty."
-
-Betty shook her head in the negative, and with a smile advised Lucia
-to choose the girls that would care most about it.
-
-Lucia gave Betty a bright glance and laughed. Mathilde and two of
-her friends were among the first asked, Betty saw. She was not
-needed herself and helped to gather up the precious materials and
-scraps, distributing them to one and another of the girls. Thimbles
-were put away and sewing bags laid upon the tables while the
-conversation did not wane. The girls selected by Lucia to help her
-were chiefly for ornament; for Mathilde sat at the decorated table
-in the dining room, to pour chocolate from a silver urn, and the
-other girls passed the first plates and then sat down, with the rest
-about the room, to enjoy their own. The careful butler and several
-maids appeared to do the rest of it, though Lucia and the other
-girls passed cakes from pretty containers on the table, for a second
-time. It was all most delightful and from Lucia's standpoint very
-informal.
-
-The countess came home early and was again gracious enough to appear
-and speed the parting guests, standing by Lucia as the girls thanked
-her for their good time as well as for her help to the group. "We
-are certainly delighted, Lucia," said Lilian Norris, "that you have
-come into Lyon 'Y' and hope you'll not regret it. We'll not ask too
-much of you. This has been wonderful."
-
-"It does not hurt any of us, my dear," said Countess Coletti, "to
-try to help a little."
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER VIII
-
-                          DORIS NEEDS A SISTER
-
-
-It seemed a very natural thing that Betty should accompany Countess
-Coletti and Lucia to church. Mr. Murchison came in later, Horace
-having returned for him, Betty supposed. Like a little mouse Betty
-sat quietly between the countess and Lucia to listen to the service.
-Mathilde Finn, whose church membership was unknown to Betty, sat a
-few seats in the rear and Betty hoped that Mathilde was not too
-jealous or that she herself would not appear too complacent over her
-entertainment. With some of the girls as they were, about notice
-from the "nobility," it was impossible not to feel self-conscious at
-times. But Betty had none of that toadying quality in her and was
-rather inclined to the other extreme, of letting the "society"
-people go more than their half way if they wanted her company. She
-knew the sort of people her father and mother admired and numbered
-among their friends, people who _were_ in character and ideals, and
-it must be confessed that Betty liked "folks that were smart!" By
-that Betty meant those who had certain qualities of mind,
-irrespective of clothes, or money, or, indeed, opportunity; for
-leaders do not always come out of the schools and colleges.
-
-At first Betty could not sing the hymns for listening to the
-countess. But she soon piped away, sweetly, too, in a sort of duet
-with Lucia, whose voice was contralto. "I'll sing with you when we
-go carolling," whispered Lucia, with a bright glance, as she took
-the hymn-book which they had been sharing.
-
-Betty was ashamed to think afterwards how little of the sermon she
-heard, after the first of it. The preacher was a little prosy
-compared to her own pastor; and Betty's thoughts would wander to
-what Lucia had told her, to Count and Countess Coletti, and with a
-remorseful feeling to the "Sevillas," who had moved without her
-knowledge. One moment she felt that it made no difference and that
-they probably were not in the least connected with Ramon; the next
-minute she was sure that they were related and had something to do
-with the mystery that surrounded the "Don."
-
-She thought of various things that Lucia could do, to bring her
-father--and knew that she could do none of them. But finally the
-response and the words of the Scripture, quoted or read by the
-minister, or held in the messages of the Christmas hymns that had
-been chosen, had their effect on Betty. It would all come right. Why
-not take it all to the heavenly Father in prayer, as the preacher
-suggested, and leave it there, so far as worry was concerned?
-
-That afternoon Betty went up with Lucia to see Grandmother Ferris
-again, at Countess Coletti's suggestion. "She asked for 'Mary' this
-morning," said the countess. The girls found Mrs. Ferris in bed, the
-two dolls in a light single bed not far away.
-
-She looked very white and weak, but held out a welcoming hand. Then
-she put her finger to her lips to caution them. "Speak gently," said
-she. "'Willie' and 'Josie' have just gone to sleep." She called
-Betty "Mary" again and spoke of her hair. "Mary, you always had such
-pretty hair!"
-
-The girls remained only a short time and Lucia had tears in her eyes
-as they went out into the hall. "It's a good thing that I happened
-to join the Lyon 'Y,'" said Lucia, "and bought those dolls."
-
-"I wonder if things just 'happen,'" suggested Betty.
-
-The crimson car deposited Betty, with her baggage, at the Lee home,
-late in the afternoon. Doris, in a fine humor, was just helping her
-mother set out their light Sunday evening supper. Betty had wondered
-how Doris would be and had determined not to do any "raving" about
-her good time, for fear Doris might think she was "crowing" or
-"gloating" over it; for Doris was a little difficult at times; and
-it was not unnatural that she should wish to share her elder
-sister's happy times. But Doris herself asked to hear "all about the
-life of the nobility."
-
-"I suppose you had a gorgeous time, Betty," said she.
-
-"Oh, yes, and so many girls came Saturday afternoon and we're having
-the prettiest dolls fixed for the Toy Show. I can scarcely tell you
-fast enough. When we sit down at the table, I can tell all the
-details you'd like to know."
-
-But Doris was full of her own plans and told Betty how her mother
-was letting her "stay all night" with Stacia Barnett, a recent
-friend, whom Doris was admiring at present with all her freshman
-heart. There was to be a freshman party that afternoon, a Christmas
-party, near the Barnett home; so Doris was to go home with Stacia
-and stay that Friday night and perhaps over Sunday, the Sunday
-before Christmas. "I am going carolling, too," said Doris.
-
-"That is fine," said Betty, though she did not admire Stacia
-particularly and wondered at the choice of Doris in being as
-intimate as the two girls were at present. Doris rattled on, to
-Betty's relief, and Betty's experience was put into the background,
-which was just as well.
-
-Later Mrs. Lee came to Betty to ask her what she thought about her
-permitting Doris to go with Stacia for such a visit. "Doris tells me
-that Stacia is such a fine girl; and you were not here to tell me
-anything about her." Mrs. Lee looked thoughtful. "You know I do not
-approve of week-end visits as a rule, except with older girls. But
-Doris was so insistent and reminded me that you were having
-'everything you wanted'--so for the sake of peace I yielded. I
-always want you children to do what you want to do, if it is good
-for you."
-
-"I know you do, and you're the dearest mother in the world!" warmly
-said Betty, giving her mother a hug. They were sitting on the edge
-of Betty's bed for a mother and daughter chat.
-
-"I don't believe there is any harm in letting Doris go, Mother. So
-far as I know, Stacia is all right. She puts a good deal of color on
-her face sometimes; but some nice girls do, and the freshmen have to
-try everything, you know. We can trust Doris to have a little sense,
-I suppose."
-
-"I'm not so sure," smiled Mrs. Lee. "Doris is getting a little heady
-of late. Keep an eye on her at school, Betty. Doris is a lovely
-child and I want her to have helpful companions, not the kind that
-_she_ has to _help_."
-
-Betty laughed at that and went on to tell her mother about
-Grandmother Ferris and the dolls and how good Mr. Murchison was to
-her. "That is something that I thought Father would like to know
-about the head of the firm," finished Betty.
-
-Perhaps it was because Betty had in mind her mother's injunction
-that she happened to see Doris and Stacia in one of the halls at
-school as she passed from one class to another.
-
-Doris, seeing Betty, hastened to turn her face in another direction
-and stepped behind Stacia. But Betty had already seen that the
-bright and attractive face of her younger sister was just a little
-too bright, with a stain of color high on her cheeks and a red on
-her lips that could only be from lipstick.
-
-"Silly little piece!" thought Betty. "She's trying to ape Stacia!"
-And at home that afternoon, she remarked to Doris, "Someone couldn't
-see me in the hall this morning." She gave Doris a meaning look as
-she said this, but her lips were pursed in an amused smile.
-
-Doris flushed. The applied color had been washed from her face
-before her appearance at home. "I saw you taking me in," she pertly
-said. "Don't you tell mother, Betty. There isn't anything wicked
-about 'make-up.'"
-
-"Is that what Stacia calls it?" asked Betty. "No, I don't suppose
-there is anything wrong; Mother never said no. It's Father and Dick
-that say they'll 'wash our faces' if they ever see us with any on.
-All the same, Mother doesn't like it."
-
-"If you didn't have any more natural color than Stacia has, you'd
-use it too, Betty Lee!" cried Doris, still on the defensive, though
-Betty had made no threat whatever.
-
-"I wonder," said Betty. "Honestly, Doris, I always feel that I want
-people to like the real me, not any painted up face. But I'll not
-speak of it to Mother. I know you want to have your week-end and so
-far as I know Stacia is a good enough girl."
-
-This speech seemed to annoy Doris still further.
-
-"Oh, you think you're so smart because you're a junior! Mother has
-promised and I'd have my week-end anyhow. I'd just a little _rather_
-you wouldn't tell Mother. I don't know that I like lipstick myself.
-But it's my own affair!"
-
-"Yes," said Betty, "and those things are between you and Mother,
-Doris. Still, you shouldn't let Mother be in the dark about your
-friends. Have a good time and tell her all about it--is my advice."
-
-"I'm not asking for advice, thank you."
-
-This rebellion and withdrawing from confidence on the part of Doris
-was a surprise to Betty, who realized now that she might have seen
-it coming. Perhaps she had been too much absorbed in her own
-affairs, and with her own friends. She must see more of her at
-school, possibly. Since helping her start her freshman year, she had
-gone on "her own way rejoicing," Betty acknowledged to herself. She
-had Carolyn and Kathryn and she wondered if she had shut Doris out
-too much. That must be changed, provided she _could_ change it now.
-She wasn't going to play the part of mentor. It was for her mother
-to rebuke, or manage, and it would be a delicate proposition to
-carry out her mother's injunction to "keep an eye" on Doris.
-
-Betty was a little puled, but the push and stir of her own life with
-the hard lessons and all the "extras," as she told the family, she
-hardly had time to breathe! She came through some examinations on
-Friday, prepared Monday's lessons on Saturday, went to Sunday school
-and church on Sunday and helped get the family dinner. Then she
-declared that she was a wreck and curled up on her bed, under a warm
-extra blanket, for a nap.
-
-She had scarcely more than dozed off, she thought, though she found
-afterwards that she had been sleeping for two hours, when she heard
-a gay voice and some one coming down the hall; and here was Doris,
-coming in to put Betty's over-night bag, borrowed for the occasion,
-down on the floor with a bump, and a voice none too gracious
-exclaim, "You here, Betty? I thought I was going to get a rest by
-myself!"
-
-"You shall," answered Betty, springing up, thoroughly awake now and
-looking at her watch. "I thought you weren't coming home till
-tonight."
-
-"I wasn't," said Doris, banging the door shut. Betty winced and
-wondered if Mrs. Lee would not reprove Doris for that. But wise Mrs.
-Lee had seen the storm behind the gay manner and jolly greeting with
-which Doris had favored her and her father on her entrance. There
-was a sudden change now.
-
-"I couldn't stand it any longer, Betty," said Doris. "I told Mother
-just now that I had a little headache from too much candy and that
-is the truth, but not all of it. I haven't slept a wink, I do
-believe, and I'm about dead!"
-
-Betty was off the bed by this time, helping Doris take off her coat
-and taking her hat from her hand. "You poor little thing! Let me get
-you into bed! How about some peppermint and soda or some milk of
-magnesia for the indigestion?" Betty half laughed as she asked this,
-and Doris laughed too, but quaveringly, and all at once she put her
-head on Betty's shoulder and sobbed. "Mrs. Barnett gave me an
-aspirin for my head. I hated to take it for I never took one before
-and it made me feel awfully funny for a while. But I had to make
-some excuse for coming home and my head did ache, though not so
-terribly. They were just as kind as could be, or meant to be and
-I'll never tell anybody but you all about it."
-
-Doris said all this in jerks as she sat on the bed, half crying into
-her handkerchief and letting Betty draw off her shoes and stockings.
-Only a week before Betty had had another experience with tears, at
-Lucia's. It made her feel happier than she had been then, to know
-that her prickly little sister was returning to the state of
-confidences.
-
-"I can't imagine, Doris, but the thing for you to do is to get to
-sleep. I'm going to fix something warm for you to drink first."
-
-"No, don't. Get me the peppermint and that will fix me, and don't
-let Mother know that I'm so dead!"
-
-Usually Mother would have been the first to console, but Doris was
-sensitive. When Betty appeared in the living room, Mrs. Lee asked
-how Doris was feeling. "There is something the matter, but I thought
-that you might handle it."
-
-"Doris thinks that she hasn't slept a wink, Mother. She probably
-has, for I thought I hadn't slept and found that I had been asleep
-two hours. Doris says that they were very kind but she seems all
-tired out and I just helped her off with her clothes so that she
-could really go to bed. Don't you worry. If she wakes up and wants
-something to eat in the night, I'll get it for her!"
-
-Mrs. Lee gave Betty an amused look and said, "Good child. I think
-you may have to give Doris a little more of your time, Betty."
-
-"I've just been wondering about that myself, Mother. I'm sorry."
-
-Little by little Doris told Betty about her visit. There had been a
-very pleasant party on Friday to which Doris had gone directly from
-home. Then came the evening with Stacia's family, all kind and
-pleasant, Doris said, but "different." Stacia's mother and big
-sisters smoked cigarettes and Stacia "smoked some" before they went
-to bed and "didn't put up the window; said it was too cold."
-
-"If you think Stacia paints, you ought to see her sisters, and her
-mother, too. They are all what Stacia calls modern, you know. I
-liked it at first and they _are_ good folks, Betty--at least
-Stacia's mother and father are. I don't know about her sisters, or
-her brother.
-
-"Well, the radio went all evening and we had to yell to talk above
-it. I was too polite at first to talk at all, but I had to. It kept
-on going for the late programs and with that and the smoke in the
-whole house and no window up, I couldn't sleep a mite.
-
-"I felt better in the morning and we went down town to do Christmas
-shopping. Stacia showed me a lovely shop and I got something nice
-for Mother. You mustn't look in your bag, yet, though, for there's
-something there for you, too. We had a grand lunch, and then, in the
-afternoon, Stacia had a little party for me. That is why I can never
-say a word about all this. They were so _good_ to me! I'm going to
-give Stacia something nice for Christmas--wouldn't you?"
-
-"Yes, I would," gently said Betty.
-
-"That night at supper, dinner, I mean, they had wine, I'm sure. They
-did not say what it was, but it was in a wine glass and I tasted it
-and it was terribly bitter. I don't see how anybody likes the stuff.
-Jim--that's Stacia's brother and such a handsome, dear sort of boy,
-about eighteen, I imagine--Jim drank a lot of it, till his father
-said real low, 'That's enough, Jim.'
-
-"Then they took me to a moving picture, not down town, but in the
-suburb, you know. And we stayed up awfully late with the radio again
-and this time some more wine, only I didn't take any, only cake.
-Stacia urged me to try one of her sister's cigarettes. I believe
-they don't want Stacia to smoke yet, so she didn't do it until we
-went upstairs. It made me cough just to smell all the smoke, so I
-said 'no, thank you, Stacia,' and got undressed. And then--" Doris
-lowered her voice--"about two o'clock, I think, somebody came
-stumbling up the stairs, and somebody was talking to him, and
-helping him, I think. Stacia woke up and sat up in bed. We could see
-a little, for there was a light in the hall. She saw I was awake and
-I sat up, too.
-
-"Then she said, 'Oh, that's just Jim, coming home drunk as usual.'
-And she lay down again and went right to sleep! My--I'd never go
-right to sleep if it were Dick! And I've already asked Stacia to
-come here some time for a week-end! What shall I do about it?"
-
-"Have her. Mother will like to do it for you. You needn't tell her a
-thing, but Mother will see some things for herself, you know. We'll
-give Stacia our kind of a good time and your debt will be paid. And
-you can keep on being nice to her at school, I should think, Doris.
-It's easy enough to have other friends and stop being intimate
-without dropping anybody with a jolt. That wouldn't be kind."
-
-"My, Betty, I'm glad you are my sister! I was afraid you'd want me
-not to have anything more to do with Stacia, and Stacia likes me."
-
-"Perhaps you can be a good influence, Doris; but it isn't very good
-for you to make such a close friend of Stacia. I'm sure you will
-'use good judgment about it,' as Mother always says."
-
-"My, I'm glad I belong to this family. But Stacia will think us
-'slow.' That's her word."
-
-"We'll have a party for her and do so many nice things that she will
-think being 'slow' is the finest thing in the world! Now let's talk
-about Christmas presents."
-
-
-
-
-                               CHAPTER IX
-
-               MYSTERIES, PREPARATIONS AND A "TRADE-LAST"
-
-
-It was characteristic of Betty's rushing life, a life she loved, by
-the way, that she should be whisked from Lucia's woes and the
-glimpse of life at the Murchison home to the problems of Doris, in
-her own well ordered home, and then to the pushing program of
-school, with the last Christmas preparations. Plenty of sleep at
-night, on which Betty's parents insisted as a rule, gave Betty
-energy for every day's full program.
-
-There is no time so full of joyous anticipations, merriment and
-human kindness as that just before Christmas. Temporarily Betty was
-in charge of a Sunday school class of children, little girls whose
-teacher was ill. These she was teaching Luke's beautiful Christmas
-story and to sing out sweetly "It came upon the midnight clear, That
-glorious song of old," for they were to sing that in their Christmas
-celebration. Betty herself was to be an angel in the Christmas
-pageant at the church and had finally a minor part in the Christmas
-play at the high school.
-
-"Oh, yes, Carolyn," said she one morning at school, "having nothing
-to do, I thought I'd take on a few more things to practice for! But
-how can you refuse when it's all so lovely?"
-
-There were pleasing mysteries at home, packages whisked out of the
-way and a pretense of not knowing what was perfectly obvious. Of
-course, teachers had to give a few last tests to make life more
-complicated, but when Dick and Doris crossly complained of one Mrs.
-Lee called their attention to the fact that after all the main thing
-required of teachers was to have their pupils accomplish the
-required work within certain time limits.
-
-"Oh, I suppose they have to," Doris acknowledged, "but who feels
-like studying now?"
-
-And Betty, who always felt that she was expected to be an example,
-fully sympathized with both Dick and Doris, though her only response
-was a laugh and a few giddy gym steps performed in the dining room
-just before she left it to rush to school.
-
-There was generous giving toward the Christmas baskets in Christmas
-week. The teachers' room, to which contributions this time were
-brought, had a corner full to overflowing with packages and cans.
-The Lyon "Y" basket for the adopted family would have to be a bushel
-basket this time and more than a Christmas dinner would be provided.
-The display itself was a good reminder and advertisement of kind
-things afoot. "Oh, yes; I almost forgot that I was to bring a little
-sack of flour," one girl said; and a boy, who, naturally, did not
-belong to the Lyon "Y" put his hand in his pocket to draw out a
-quarter and say, "Here, Betty Lee; aren't you president of that
-crowd?" as he waved his hand toward the heap of supplies. "Get some
-candy for the kids. Got a quarter, Tom?" And thus Betty added two
-quarters to the little fund of money. But she did not know that the
-boy who gave the first quarter had only ten cents left for his
-lunch. But ten cents would buy something and the feeling of having
-done something for some one else is a warming one.
-
-This time Chet Dorrance, Chauncey Allen, Kathryn Allen and Betty Lee
-were the only ones who were on hand to deliver the Christmas basket.
-"How'll we ever get everything upstairs?" laughingly asked Betty,
-viewing the car after everything was stowed away. "There won't be
-anybody to watch the car, for we'll all have to carry something."
-
-"Don't worry till we get there, Betty," Chet advised. "You just
-leave all the carrying to Chauncey and me."
-
-"Not a bit of it!" cried Kathryn. "We want to see those little Woods
-kiddies. Moreover, cars do lock, Betty."
-
-"We know where to find them this time anyhow," said Betty.
-
-Again the Allen car wound round the Lyon High drives out upon the
-wide thoroughfare, making its way down town and out to the district
-whose buildings and surroundings made it very clear that poverty
-marked its inhabitants.
-
-The hall which the young people reached after climbing the two
-flights of rickety stairs gave some evidence of having been cleaned
-and there was a rush to the door by young feet, they could hear,
-after the knock which Kathryn gave.
-
-The door was flung open and grins of pleasure welcomed the high
-school representatives. "We saw you come and Mother said we could
-open the door," said the eldest, her eyes big at the array of what
-had been brought. "Oh, Mother, come! There's a bushel basket and
-lots of things!"
-
-"Merry Christmas," said Betty, smiling at everybody, as she looked
-past the children at Mrs. Woods, who again appeared with a sleepy
-baby that she placed upon the bed. The room, in expectation of the
-guests, had been cleaned as carefully as possible and Mrs. Woods
-looked as if there was some hope in living now. She was being helped
-over the hard place.
-
-"No, thanks, we can't stay," continued Betty, at the invitation to
-come in. "We have to get back." With this she handed Mrs. Woods the
-small basket she carried and Kathryn put into the hands of the older
-girl a package she was holding. Chet and Chauncey lugged in the
-bushel basket. "Don't let the children see what's in the _little_
-basket till Christmas morning, Mrs. Woods," said Betty with an air
-of mystery; and one of the children jumped up and down at that happy
-suggestion.
-
-Tears came into Mrs. Woods' eyes. "May God bless you all," said she.
-"And there is a chance that _he_ may get work the first of the year,
-steady work, I mean. He's out in one of the suburbs now, putting
-coal in for a man."
-
-"Oh, tell me, Mrs. Woods, about the Sevillas," suddenly said
-Kathryn, more or less embarrassed by Mrs. Woods' fervent thanks, to
-which Betty was responding with the wish that everything would "come
-right" for them.
-
-"Yes,--sure enough. Why the old lady was well pleased to be
-remembered with a Thanksgiving gift and Rosie did not mind as much
-as I thought she would. You see it was too late to do anything about
-it and Rosie was worried about her old mother, too. I guess all they
-needed was something to eat.
-
-"But all at once one morning Rosie came up to say good-bye and they
-were moving. Some way or other they had got a new trunk and that and
-some old grips were all that went out. She brought up a few things
-she was leaving behind. I couldn't make out just where they were
-going from what Rosie said. She didn't seem to want to tell me
-anything. I ran down to tell the old lady good-bye; and when Rosie
-was having the trunk taken out, she said that Rosie was frightened
-and she didn't know where they were going, and Rosie didn't want
-anybody to know. They were going to the station from here, but she
-thought they would stay in the city. Anyhow that was what I made out
-from the bit of English she has finally picked up and her signs with
-her poor old hands.
-
-"I've inquired, though, and Rosie isn't working or sewing for the
-folks she did work for and nobody knows anything. So I suppose they
-did leave town. Only the good Lord knows what will become of them.
-The only thing I can think of is that Rosie got a job in some other
-place, and I hope that's it."
-
-"Did Rosie ever speak of a brother, or cousin, or any relative at
-all?" asked Betty.
-
-"Never a word about any one. I never knew anybody as close-mouthed
-as Rosie. She was asked all sorts of questions by the folks around
-here, of course, but she never let them get well enough acquainted
-to keep it up. I didn't need but a hint myself. I let folks tell
-what they want to. I like to keep my own business to myself if I can
-with all these!" Mrs. Woods nodded at the children as she spoke.
-
-"I wish I'd seen Rosie," thoughtfully said Betty, But it was time to
-say good-bye and go on to the next duty or pleasure; for this had
-been a very "Christmasy" day, the girls declared. There had been the
-last rehearsal for the Christmas play, when the performers were
-"actually" excused from classes if they had any the "last two bells"
-or periods. Tomorrow morning the play would be given in two assembly
-gatherings, in order that the whole school might see it. And that
-night would listen to the carols.
-
-"Why did you ask about Rosie Sevilla's relatives?" asked Kathryn of
-Betty, and Betty for the first time told about the name on the
-letter from Ramon.
-
-"It may not mean anything and again it might," said Betty. "Once in
-a while I feel worried about it. It just seems that I might have
-missed an opportunity. There is some mystery about Ramon and there
-seems to be about these people. That's about the only connection.
-And they're Spanish, of course."
-
-"I wouldn't worry any, Betty," said Chet. "You can't fix up things
-for everybody."
-
-"No," said Betty, "but you can help sometimes, Chet. Oh, isn't it
-getting dark? I'm glad we're out of those streets! Do you think
-we'll have snow? I do want snow for Christmas!"
-
-"We still have a little left, Betty," laughed Kathryn, pointing to a
-narrow stretch of dark snow and ice that edged the streets and
-walks, or spread in patches over lawns.
-
-"Oh, that!" exclaimed Betty. "I mean something soft and white and
-clean."
-
-"You're likely to get your wish," said Chauncey. "There's one of
-those gray snow clouds now from where the wind is blowing."
-
-"Will we go carolling if it snows?" asked Kathryn.
-
-"Of course we shall," replied the president of the Lyon "Y." "We
-have cars and people to drive them and chaperons and everything!"
-
-Another duty was performed. Betty was the first one to be dropped
-from the Allen car, courteously assisted out by Chet, who would
-probably have come in a few moments or lingered at the door to talk,
-if it had not been so near dinner time, and if Chauncey had not
-privately informed him that no "visiting with best girls" was
-allowed this time.
-
-And the next day was the "last day of school!"
-
-That welcome day dawned with a few scattered flakes of snow flying
-in a frosty air. In happy anticipation the Lee children hurried
-their preparations for school, Betty carefully packing her costume
-for the play in a light suitcase, which Dick generously offered to
-carry, provided they "had to take" the street car. It was not always
-convenient for Mr. Lee to drive his children to school.
-
-"If this goes off as well as the Christmas pageant did at the
-church, I'll be satisfied," said Betty, her cheeks pink with the
-exercise and excitement about coming events, as they boarded the
-street car together. The car was packed with boys and girls on their
-way to school. Doris and Betty secured a strap each and hung on
-while they nodded to this one or that one whom they knew. "Remind me
-to tell you a 'trade last,' Betty, when we get off the car," said
-Mary Emma, who happened to be sitting by Betty's strap.
-
-"I'll not forget to do that," said Betty, breezily. "Who said it?"
-
-"Guess."
-
-But Betty would not guess, and there was too much noise for
-conversation; for when large numbers of pupils are together, if
-manners are remembered at all, older passengers are usually
-thankful. But these high school pupils, if a bit noisy at times,
-were an interesting and attractive group that needed only occasional
-reminders from motorman or conductor when too full of spirits.
-
-Arm in arm with Mary Emma, and carrying her suitcase in her free
-hand, Betty traversed the walk to the high school building. "It was
-Budd, Betty," said Mary Emma. "He said that you would have made the
-best angel in the play--your hair and eyes and everything--and that
-it was too bad you hadn't been in the dramatic club longer and that
-they had to let a senior girl have the part anyway."
-
-"Why, wasn't that _nice_ of old Budd!" cried Betty, pleased. "And
-the angel has to say things, so it couldn't be just looks, Budd
-meant."
-
-"Suppose it was--wouldn't that be nice enough?"
-
-"No, Mary Emma. Looks are something you're born with and can't help
-and they're no credit. See?"
-
-"H'm. You're a funny girl! So are people born either with brains or
-without 'em. I don't agree with you. And I'd rather have looks than
-brains."
-
-"Much you would. But as you're pretty well supplied with both you
-needn't worry."
-
-"I thank you," said Mary Emma with mock formality, as they separated
-inside of the door, Mary Emma to seek her locker and home room,
-Betty to report first with her costume, before she also would join
-the other junior girls of her home room.
-
-So old Budd thought she would have made a good angel. That was nice.
-Budd had been at the pageant at the church. He had a part in the
-play to be given this morning. And as Betty happened to meet him in
-the hall on her way to her home room, she gave him such a welcoming
-smile, without realizing it in the least, that Budd was pleasantly
-surprised. He believed he'd get ahead of old Chet and ask Betty way
-ahead for something or other in the party line. Say, why couldn't he
-take her to that big moving picture that was coming in vacation? It
-was a proper one that the Lees would let Betty see. They were almost
-silly about Betty; but perhaps that was what made her sort of
-different--and independent! Gee-whilikers--but Betty was
-independent!
-
-
-
-
-                               CHAPTER X
-
-                                 CAROLS
-
-
-A crystal star over the central entrance of the high school
-building, and within, gave evidence that the school, teachers and
-pupils, were making much of the season. It contained small electric
-bulbs of different colors, harmoniously selected, and gave beauty to
-the large square hall as well as a thrill to some of the pupils. The
-bulbs were glowing this last morning, and beneath their radiance,
-the boys and girls, visitors, parents and friends entered to see the
-play and the last assembly of the year; for before school met in
-session again a new year would be ushered in.
-
-Betty had merely reported at her home room, for the dramatic
-director had urged every one to "hurry into costume," as the play
-would begin at once. There was not a long wait. The older classes
-were admitted to the auditorium first. The rest and the junior high
-would see the second performance. No change of scenery hampered the
-stage directors, for the play was the effective "Why the Chimes
-Bang," with the old but always beautiful motive of the stranger
-entertained who proved to be the Christ-child in disguise.
-
-Carolyn had promised to tell Betty exactly "how everything went off"
-and sat with Kathryn and Mary Emma well toward the front and on the
-junior aisle nearest the middle of the auditorium. But Betty herself
-was peeping from the rear of the auditorium, or just outside one of
-the doors. The senior boy who took the part of the unselfish lad
-that gives up going to the cathedral, in order to welcome and care
-for the unexpected guest, Betty did not know very well, but she
-admired his playing of the part and was horrified when a laugh went
-over the audience at one moment.
-
-"There! I knew they'd do that," said a senior girl beside her. "It's
-only because it's so funny to have Jean almost faint in his arms.
-You see we know everybody! And those bowls they have the porridge in
-look too new!"
-
-But the audience, who had, it must be said, been warned that they
-must be a part of the play, behaved most circumspectly when later
-the walls of the woodchopper's hut parted to reveal a cathedral
-shrine or altar. From the rear of the auditorium, now supposed to be
-the cathedral, came the choir, chanting as the organ notes filled
-the room. Betty was one of the choir.
-
-Up the aisle, up the steps made for the purpose, they went and stood
-in their places singing. One by one, unhurriedly, up the different
-aisles, past the quiet students and visitors, came rich man, rich
-woman, courtier, girl, sage and king, with gifts for the priest to
-offer. The medieval costumes were impressive. Then, from his place
-in the background, the lad, urged by the old woman, went forward
-with his small gift, all he had; and the fabled chimes that had rung
-for no other, rang for him, as the guest disappeared.
-
-As the organ played the chimes and the lovely girl who was the angel
-spoke, Betty saw her mother's handkerchief come out to clear misty
-eyes. There was the hush that meant the success of a message. In a
-few moments the curtains were drawn to again, and the audience was
-dismissed.
-
-But as Betty went back to the rear again, to be in readiness for the
-choir's entrance in the second and last performance, she noticed
-that her mother remained for that performance, too, though she had
-not expressed any such intention, and "lo and behold," as her senior
-friend Lilian said to her, there entered her father, with Mr.
-Murchison and the countess. "Oh, Lucia, look!" cried Betty, leaning
-around a group of costumed players to speak to Lucia, who was in the
-group, as she added her youthful contralto to the choir.
-
-Lucia smiled and nodded. "I knew they were coming," she said.
-
-Perhaps it was due to the inspiration or presence of Countess
-Coletti, but the second performance, according to Mrs. Lee,
-surpassed the first. Restless little junior high pupils appreciated
-the privilege of this assembly and were still at all the proper
-places. No wrongly timed giggles of laughter disturbed the play,
-which went through, without seeming hurried, in a shorter time. It
-was one of the things that one hated to have over, according to
-Betty, though she was glad that she did not have to pose as long as
-did the "angel."
-
-"What are you going to do tonight after the carols, Betty?" asked
-the countess, who had come back to see Lucia a moment after the
-play.
-
-"Just go home," replied Betty, simply. "It's Christmas Eve, you
-know."
-
-"Indeed I do know, Betty," returned the countess gravely. "It is
-going to be a little hard for Lucia tonight. It was last year. I
-thought I would ask your father and mother and the children over, if
-they did not think it would be too late. Will you have to trim your
-Christmas tree at the last minute, or something like that?"
-
-"I don't think so. We still hang up stockings, though chiefly for
-Amy Lou now! and this year we have just a little tree that she is to
-help trim after dinner tonight."
-
-The countess smiled. "I will ask your mother at least. Perhaps I
-ought not. What do you think, Betty?" The Countess Coletti, spoiled
-daughter and wife, but gifted and attractive woman, looked wistfully
-at Betty, whose heart was always warm enough to respond to some
-one's need. In a moment she realized that for some reason the
-countess wanted them there.
-
-"Why, of course, Countess Coletti--if Mother can manage it and you
-want us, she will come."
-
-"If the child should grow sleepy, she could rest as well with us and
-the car is warm--to take her home."
-
-The countess spoke reflectively, but now hurried away with a warm
-smile for Betty, not missed by several of the girls who were
-changing costumes for school dresses.
-
-But there was no time for Betty to think of anything except the
-present. Joy of joys, the teachers did not have regular recitations.
-They played funny games and sang carols. Betty had missed some, but
-in Miss Heath's class they sang Latin hymns and songs, the _Adeste
-Fidelis_, familiar to the Catholic girls in the Latin words, and
-even "Silent Night," put into "not very good Latin" according to
-Miss Heath, but offered for their interest. The board was "covered
-with Latin poetry," said Carolyn.
-
-School was dismissed at twelve-thirty, Carolyn and Betty saying an
-affectionate good-bye, for Carolyn was going away for the vacation.
-"It's a shame you aren't going to _your_ grandmother's," said
-Carolyn. "I may get out to the carols tonight, Betty, but it's more
-than likely that I can't. I think we'll start tonight. Mother wasn't
-sure. Have a good time and don't forget your old Carolyn. Merry
-Christmas!"
-
-The girls exchanged their greetings thus and Betty slipped a small
-package into Carolyn's hand. "Now don't open it till Christmas,
-Carolyn--tomorrow morning! Oh, is it really here?"
-
-"It doesn't seem possible does it? But if we go tonight, mayn't I
-open it? It's Christmas Eve."
-
-"Sure enough. And lots of people have their gifts on Christmas Eve.
-Of course you may. But I have your pretty Christmasy package all
-tucked away, ready to open Christmas morning. I'm sorry to be so
-late with mine; but you see I just finished it."
-
-Carolyn laughed. "How you ever had time to _make anything_, I don't
-see, but I'll appreciate it all the more."
-
-"It isn't much, but I hope you'll like it. Yes, we almost ought to
-be with Grandma tomorrow, but you see she is going away herself.
-She's already gone. They're packing her off to Florida for her own
-good, though some one is with her. Well, Merry Christmas, Carolyn,
-and I'll _never_ forget you. Couldn't if I tried!"
-
-Excited and hungry, the Lee children reached home for a late lunch
-together. Dick and Doris "gabbled" so fast Amy Lou couldn't tell a
-thing, she said, and they had had such a beautiful Christmas morning
-at their school. Amy Lou almost felt hurt that her mother had gone
-to the high school instead, or that she could not have gone with
-her; but Mrs. Lee reminded her that she had visited her school when
-they had their "great Christmas program" and Amy Lou had "spoken a
-piece," for that was what they called it in the old days when _she_
-was a little girl.
-
-"_We_ read things," importantly said Amy Lou, "or have a 'number.'"
-After that she took her dolls into the front room to play school and
-stood up for half an hour singing all about "good Saint Nick" with
-an "Oh, oh, oh, who wouldn't go?" and the rest of it, varied with
-"Jingle Bells," "Holy Night," and songs new and old, learned at
-school and Sunday school, where music made an especial appeal to
-little Amy Lou.
-
-"She is entertained for the next hour," said Mrs. Lee, as she and
-Betty cleared the table after lunch. The little maid, who had been
-baking and cooking all morning, was excused for the afternoon and
-evening, but would come to help with the Christmas dinner.
-
-"And we have an invitation for the evening, Betty. The countess said
-she had spoken to you."
-
-"Yes'm. Are we going?"
-
-"Yes. I scarcely thought at first that I could manage about Amy Lou,
-since Lena ought to have her evening this time; but the countess
-wanted us to bring her and thinks that she 'will enjoy it.' I was
-quite surprised, but the countess said that she would appreciate our
-coming, that it was not like a regular invitation to a party, just a
-sudden wanting to have good friends there. Grandma Ferris is not so
-well, Betty."
-
-"Oh! Will you mind, Mother?"
-
-"No. If I am needed anywhere, that is where I want to be. But be
-sure not to worry, Betty. Christmas Eve must be a beautiful time and
-if Grandmother Ferris should slip away, it will only be a
-homecoming."
-
-"Funny she wants _you_ Mumsy, when she has so many older friends."
-But Betty said this with an affectionate smile. It was not new that
-her mother should be wanted when people were in trouble. Well, Lucia
-wanted _her_; perhaps she could be like her mother some day! But oh,
-what a lovely time Christmas was. And wouldn't Amy Lou love the doll
-they had for her! She was glad Amy Lou liked dolls. She still did
-herself, though she had stopped playing with them--oh, very long
-ago, it seemed.
-
-The dinner was an oven dinner, already prepared for cooking and easy
-to watch while they did something else. The last packages were tied
-up in tissue paper of the newer gay sort, Mrs. Lee helping different
-ones as this one or that one must not see. Amy Lou was allowed to
-help Doris and Betty with packages for their father and mother. Dick
-as usual had disappeared, not to turn up till mealtime. But Mrs. Lee
-knew where he was, safely working on an aeroplane in the heated
-third floor attic of a boy friend. It would probably revolutionize
-aeronautics, Mr. Lee declared; but Dick good-humoredly took the
-teasing.
-
-Then the little tree was brought in and it was decided to trim it
-then and there, instead or waiting till after dinner. Amy Lou was
-much excited when all the trimmings were brought out. But she sighed
-as she recognized some favorite decorations saved from the old days
-in the village. "And I used to think that Santa Claus brought them!"
-she said with some regret.
-
-"Don't you believe in Santa Claus now?" asked Doris.
-
-"No. Do you?"
-
-"Mother says Santa Claus is the 'Spirit of Christmas,'" returned
-Doris.
-
-"Yes. But it would have been so nice if he could have been just
-himself and really, you know, come down the chimneys."
-
-"Oh, well, we'll keep on pretending, and hang up our stockings just
-the same."
-
-"Yes," brightly Amy Lou answered. "It's just as true as it ever was,
-I suppose."
-
-Mrs. Lee and Betty, who were listening, turned aside to hide their
-smiles at Amy Lou's philosophy. "Poor little soul!" whispered Betty.
-"But she will be happy when she sees all we have for her!"
-
-They need not have pitied Amy Lou at all, for her sturdy little soul
-had met her first disillusionment at school, at the hands of some
-other little girls, before whom she would not have shown any deep
-disappointment over finding Santa a myth. She thought it all over
-and accepted it; for she could recall a number of facts that seemed
-to bear out the truth!
-
-And happy they all were that night. No tragedy met them at the
-Murchison home, whither all except Betty drove after dinner and a
-reasonable interval. Betty met Lucia and the other girls, who were
-taking part in the carols, at the big "Y" building.
-
-Lovely, lovely Christmas Eve! So thought Betty as they started in
-the machines for the different points at which they were to sing
-"especially," though the voices rang out all along the way in the
-beautiful Christmas music. It was still snowing by fits and starts,
-though not enough to cover the ground as yet. The lights of the
-city, the soft flakes of snow, and a bright sky above, helped make
-the Christmas atmosphere; for there were only drifting clouds as yet
-and behind them, beyond them, or through them shone the starlight.
-
-They stopped at one place where there was a sanitarium in the poorer
-part of the city. Windows came up a little to make the words and
-music more clear to the listeners, not only where invalids were
-lying in their cots, but in the houses nearby. Betty saw a light
-flash out from a first floor window and glancing in she could see a
-delicate hand manipulating a lamp, adjusting its wick to the proper
-height. No gas or electricity there!
-
-The light outlined clearly the head and face of the young woman who
-was bending over a table, then turning to speak to someone, for
-whom, perhaps, the light was made. Black hair was gathered into a
-low knot. Large black eyes looked toward the window. A gay scarf or
-small shawl of some sort lay on the table. Catching up this, the
-girl came to the window, threw it up, tossed the scarf around her
-head and shoulders, drawing it tightly around her face, and looked
-out.
-
-The glare from a street light fell upon her face for a moment.
-Sober, almost tragic, the big eyes looked out upon the singers.
-
-They had been singing several short carols but were giving the
-Christmas hymn beginning,
-
-"Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown When thou camest
-to earth for me."
-
-And now, as the girl from the rickety lower window of a tall
-tenement looked out, Betty thought how appropriate, some way, was
-the stanza they were singing then, here where the people had so
-little. Lucia's rich contralto joined Betty's sweet voice, as they
-were close to each other, and made the words as distinct as possible
-for a group to make them:
-
-           "The foxes found rest, and the bird their nest
-             In the shade of the forest tree;
-           But thy couch was the sod, O thou Son of God,
-             In the deserts of Galilee.
-           O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
-             There is room in my heart for thee."
-
-Betty felt that she was singing to that girl in the window and
-Lucia, too, was seeing her. But she listened only to the close of
-that stanza then put down the window; and before the young singers
-had finished, the light in the room had been extinguished.
-
-"Did you see that _tr-ragic_ face, Betty?" asked Lucia, rolling her
-"r" in the Italian way, as they were speeding along toward the Y. W.
-C. A. again. It was late and the carols were over.
-
-"Yes. The girl that looked out of the first floor window, you mean?"
-
-"Yes. She was beautiful, too, wasn't she?" And as Betty assented,
-Lucia added, "Oh, Betty, I'm learning things!"
-
-Lucia did not explain, but Betty knew that the sorrows of others
-meant more to Lucia than they ever had meant before. There was
-"room" in her heart, too! And to Betty the sordid poverty of a city
-was new. They had always "helped the poor" at home, but there were
-not so many. The distress could be met. Here it seemed endless Yet
-on this lovely night it seemed that there was hope for every one in
-the greatest of Gifts, of whom they had been singing.
-
-The girls grew gay with the Christmas joy as they chatted with their
-friends. At the "Y" Lucia telephoned. Then they took a car to a
-certain corner where the Murchison car would meet them. Everything
-went as arranged and Betty soon found herself in the midst of the
-prettiest Christmas decoration she had known. A lighted Christmas
-tree with the gayest of colors stood outside under the stars, where
-a little more snow was adding itself to the more artificial burdens
-of the tree. Within were gay holly and mistletoe and bright
-poinsettia plants in bloom.
-
-Mr. Murchison led both girls under the mistletoe which hung from a
-sparkling, old-fashioned chandelier, and laughingly saluted their
-cheeks. "There!" he cried. "For lack of younger cavaliers, I shall
-do my duty!"
-
-Amy Lou had succumbed to sleep, though not without a strong effort
-to keep awake. The countess took Betty by the arm and led her to
-look at her small sister, peacefully sleeping on a divan in what
-Betty called the back parlor. She was covered with a gay steamer rug
-and clasped tightly in her arms a large doll.
-
-"Oh, you gave that to her, Countess Coletti!" exclaimed Betty,
-though in a subdued tone.
-
-"Yes. I never can resist a pretty doll, so I bought one for Amy Lou.
-She seemed to like it."
-
-Smilingly Countess Coletti looked down upon the pretty, sleeping
-child. The countess herself was lovely tonight in a plainly cut
-black velvet evening dress. A diamond clasp was her only ornament in
-the way of jewels, but she wore a few crimson roses that became her
-well. Mrs. Lee did not wear an evening dress, but Betty thought that
-"Mamma" was very pretty in her "stylish" silk frock. Some other
-friends had called up, the countess said, and were coming over. In a
-short time the main drawing room was full of guests and presently a
-delicious light supper was served. It seemed the easiest thing in
-the world in this house for little tables to be arranged and
-everything lovely to appear as if by magic. But when Betty said as
-much to her mother afterward, her mother smiled. "It is good
-planning, Betty, but also competent help, trained to service," she
-said.
-
-Amy Lou woke up and behaved like an angel, according to Doris, who
-did not realize that Amy Lou was now a properly trained little
-school girl, not a baby any longer. Doris, very much impressed with
-her surroundings, had been quietly engaged with some books during
-the first part of the evening. Then the arrival of a friend of the
-countess, with a girl of about the same age and a boy a little older
-than Dick, had put the finishing touch to the visit. There had been
-music and games, while Lucia and Betty had been carolling.
-
-Countess Coletti explained to Mrs. Lee, as Betty learned on the way
-home. "She told me, Betty, that she had felt the need of us as well
-as liking to entertain us on Christmas Eve, but that when she found
-her fears about Mrs. Ferris were unnecessary--she was so much
-better--she decided to make it a gayer occasion than it might have
-been. Friends called up and she took the opportunity to invite them
-in, adding a few others also. It was a very delightful evening for
-everybody, I think."
-
-"Don't you believe, Mother," said Doris, "that Mr. Murchison is
-interested in that pretty widow--I've forgotten her name?"
-
-"I shouldn't be surprised, Doris; but we must not say anything, you
-know."
-
-"Oh, not for worlds!" cried Doris. "With Father's being in the
-business and our knowing them so well----." Doris trailed off her
-sentence unfinished, but was probably taking satisfaction in thought
-induced by that last expression of hers. Betty wanted to laugh, but
-bless her "dear old Doris," she would not.
-
-"I have no doubt that the countess and Lucia are missing the count
-at this season," said Mr. Lee. "I hope that that family will be
-together another Christmas."
-
-It had been a very unusual Christmas Eve for the Lee family, and it
-was followed by an unusual Christmas morning, for Amy Lou announced
-that she "might not get up" as early as usual on Christmas. She
-wanted "to see everything just as much," but she was afraid she
-might sleep too late.
-
-That suggestion was welcomed most heartily by the rest of the
-family. "I'll put your stocking by your bed, dear," said her mother,
-"and everything else; so if you do wake up, you can have them."
-
-Thus it happened that everything was different, but just as happy.
-The turkey had been prepared and went into the oven promptly as soon
-as Mrs. Lee wakened. Breakfast was very, very light, not to spoil
-the dinner which would be on time. Presents were "just what they
-wanted" and the little tree shone with its electric lights, gay
-decorations and little Christmas angel, which Amy Lou and the other
-children remembered from earliest years. Christmas cards and gifts
-from absent friends, including "Grandma," made their hearts warm.
-And that they were all together, well, sheltered, blessed and happy,
-Mr. Lee gave thanks before he carved the turkey.
-
-
-
-
-                               CHAPTER XI
-
-                       GIVING UP A PLEASANT HONOR
-
-
-The delightful but irregular and rather upsetting vacation of the
-Christmas holidays soon became a memory. It must be said that Mrs.
-Lee drew a sigh of relief when the children were all back in
-school and hours became regular again without the parties and
-entertainments, glad as she was to have her children enjoy them.
-They went through these carefree and youthful days but once. If she
-could guide and guard them it was enough.
-
-Betty declared to Lucia that the face at the window haunted her. She
-had "half a notion" to call there and see who was so unhappy. But
-Mrs. Lee was doubtful of the wisdom of such a call and advised Betty
-to find out something about the handsome girl from some social
-worker of the neighborhood. And Betty thought she would take her
-mother's suggestion. Yet when was there "time for anything?"
-
-"Mid-years," the semester examinations, were approaching. Betty was
-glad that she had studied her lessons at the proper time. She
-followed the reviews and "crammed" a little on the side, on lines
-where she was not as sure; but she did not worry as some more
-nervous girls seemed to do. Peggy Pollard said that she was sitting
-up nights on Math, and Mathilde Finn looked worried, which was
-something for Mathilde to do over lessons. Several of the "very
-nicest" junior girls were being tutored and Miss Heath sacrificed
-her time and strength to hold a review class after school for some
-of her pupils who were "shaky," as Miss Heath told Betty.
-
-"Oh, I'd love to come in, Miss Heath, to review. Could I?" asked
-Betty.
-
-"You do not need it, Betty, and you would be wasting time. Besides,
-it is not in Cicero."
-
-That settled the class question. Betty did need time, though there
-was little to do now in the girl reserve work, for the committees
-handled the programs and Betty had little to do except to preside at
-the meetings. Orchestra practice was interesting, if exacting, and
-Betty was "crazy about" the Dramatic Club. Basketball practice was
-going on, but Mr. Lee had asked Betty not to be on the team which
-played the competitive class games.
-
-It was a disappointment to Betty and she argued at some length,
-though respectfully, with her father. Her father was "such a dear"
-and "always let you say anything you wanted to on _your_ side," she
-told Carolyn Gwynne.
-
-"Here I like athletics almost better than anything," said Betty,
-"and want to get honors, and Father won't let me play! It was
-getting hurt that time, Carolyn, that did it. I told him that it was
-only a practice game and that I might get hurt just
-playing--anything. He acknowledged that what I said was so, but I
-know he thinks I won't play so often if I can't be on the regular
-teams. He tells me to continue being his little fish in swimming and
-when I said that I didn't like the expression, he said 'Be a
-mermaid, then--a siren, and lure your cruel father to the rocks.'"
-
-"And what do you think Mother put in? She was listening to our
-argument and hadn't said a word, but now she said, 'financial rocks,
-Father!' And that was because we had been talking about the clothes
-Doris and I need for spring."
-
-Carolyn laughed and asked when Betty was hurt. "I don't seem to
-remember it, Betty."
-
-"It wasn't _anything_! I got knocked down and twisted something or
-other, sort of a sprain, and hobbled around for a week or so. The
-worst was over a week-end and Father had a doctor to look at my
-ankle."
-
-"Oh, yes. I do seem to remember your limping a little one time.
-Well, the girls will be disappointed and I know they're worrying for
-fear Mathilde will be captain."
-
-"How can she, if they don't want her?"
-
-"Mathilde is an awfully good player now and stands in with the
-teacher that has charge this year and she'll work it some way--she
-has influence with some of the girls."
-
-"Yes," thoughtfully Betty returned. "That makes me feel better about
-it, though. I've been too rushed to pay much attention to
-'politics.' And I thought a different girl wanted it."
-
-"How in the world does that make you feel better, Betty?"
-
-"Because I wouldn't want to fight to be captain or anything. Some of
-the girls took it for granted that I would be captain, and I was
-silly enough to believe that perhaps I could be. You noticed what
-the school paper said, didn't you?"
-
-"Yes. You got quite a puff on your athletics, Betty. 'With Betty Lee
-at the head of the junior team, that unusual class is likely to
-carry off the honors in basketball this year.' Aha! No wonder you
-felt like arguing the matter with your father! Can't you persuade
-him? It isn't too late yet."
-
-"Perhaps I could get his consent, Carolyn; but I know that it will
-worry him and after all, it _is_ a strain, though so awfully
-exciting and jolly. If Mathilde wants it, let her have it. The only
-thing about Mathilde is that she isn't fair and will take any
-advantage that she can. We could easily lose games that way,
-Carolyn, even if she is a good player."
-
-"We certainly could, and _crede mihi_, Betty, I'm going to see if we
-can't get somebody else for captain."
-
-"Fine! I'll support you, Carolyn, in anything you start, only I
-can't play on the team myself."
-
-"Worse luck!" But Carolyn laughed. "I 'spect you're safer to do what
-your father wants you to do, and you can't do everything, _crede
-mihi_!"
-
-"_'Crede mihi'_--I can't," laughed Betty. "Do you suppose _'mihi'_
-ought to come before _'crede'_? Oh, yes, imperative first!"
-
-"_'O tempora, o mores!'_" replied Carolyn, grinning. "Yes, don't you
-remember we looked it up in the vocabulary, after we found it
-somewhere and then couldn't find it again? If 'take my word for it'
-isn't enough like 'believe _me_' then I can't read Cicero!"
-
-This conversation took place long before "mid-years," as may be
-gathered from the fact that basketball was in the early stages.
-Betty's special friends had been looking up a few Latin phrases to
-take the place of slang expressions which their English teacher was
-urging her pupils to drop, telling them that they would soon think
-in no other terms. Home influences, however, kept Betty and most of
-these girl from taking on the coarser expressions which they heard
-from some of their acquaintances.
-
-Started in this way, it became fun to take out of Cicero, orations
-or elsewhere, little phrases like _ubi est?_ or _Quid loquor?_
-
-_Quid agis?--O miserabile me!--horribile dictu--age vero--da
-operam_, and other expressions all had possibilities, though
-sometimes, it must be said that the old Romans would not have
-recognized some of the uses to which their language was applied. But
-it was all a part of the very active and happy life led by Betty Lee
-junior at Lyon High.
-
-Mr. Lee had not asked Betty to curtail any of her pleasures without
-good reason. Betty's parents had noted certain effects in the
-previous year which did not seem good, chief of which was a
-temporary suffering of Betty's work during the basketball season and
-her being more or less nervous and under a strain. Then, as Mrs. Lee
-watched several games, she saw the possibility of accident in the
-fast playing, and as Betty thought, the small injury was the final
-argument.
-
-But this curtailment left Betty more free for other lines of work
-and her time was too full for many regrets. It was rather pleasant,
-to be sure, to have certain girls exclaim over her defection and
-prophesy dire results to the team. And Betty was big enough at heart
-to be honestly glad when the juniors under Mathilde played well,
-winning over all the classes except the seniors. There at last came
-their Waterloo. For the seniors had previous defeat to wipe out.
-They had the best team that they had ever had in basketball. The
-girls of that class had never been particularly noted in athletic
-lines, but as Kathryn declared, they had concentrated on basketball
-"to beat _us_." And beat the juniors they did.
-
-The school paper came out with big headlines over the result. The
-seniors chortled. Chet at first avoided any comment when with Betty,
-but his eyes twinkled when she congratulated him as a member of the
-class. "The girls have been very sure they would win over your class
-ever since you refused to be captain, Betty."
-
-"Nice suggestion, Chet, but I didn't refuse to be captain and
-perhaps I couldn't have been even if I hadn't dropped out of the
-games. Besides, Mathilde is as good as I am."
-
-"You go too far to be honest, Betty. Sure I know all about that; but
-it's more than likely that you would have led your girls to victory.
-Our girls had a lot of confidence, besides having practiced like
-mad. Your girls played well, but they lacked that punch to put it
-over when they had a little bad luck. And they didn't trust Mathilde
-as they would have trusted you. It's funny, but there is a lot in
-the psychology of a game. It isn't just good playing."
-
-"My, Chet! Where do you get 'psychology?' Is Ted taking it at the
-University?" Betty was laughing.
-
-"I reckon! But I get it out of the athletics in the paper. I read
-the reports of the big games, you see."
-
-"I suppose so. I only look to see which teams beat. Dick's the one
-at our house who reads the sport page."
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER XII
-
-                        COULD BETTY BE STUBBORN?
-
-
-The independent girl who likes to follow her own opinions and draw
-her own conclusions is likely to make a few errors of judgment.
-These come largely from lack of experience; and that lack of
-experience is the chief reason for the safety to young people in
-following the direction of their elders in important matters.
-
-On the other hand, as girls and boys grow older, they must be thrown
-upon their own responsibility in many matters and learn wisdom
-thereby. The holding of high ideals and the testing of action,
-conduct and people by them is the greatest safeguard a girl or boy
-can have. And when it comes to people, most important relation of
-all, while friendliness and confidence are fine, indeed, and a
-suspicious attitude to be deeply deplored, when it comes to being
-led by others, or to being drawn from those high ideals or even
-minor convictions, a fine reserve is very necessary. Sometimes it is
-best to withdraw altogether from a friendship rather than be drawn
-into what is either doubtful or wrong.
-
-Betty Lee's independence was not of the aggressive variety, but she
-did like to come to her own conclusions, for which she always
-thought she had grounds in the facts. Betty was a keen little
-observer and thought about many things, a very good habit. It was
-usually quite safe to be "easy-going" and friendly, and as Betty had
-the background of a safe home life and a circle of friends of her
-own sort, there was very little in social relations to trouble her,
-and oh, what good times there were! These were connected with the
-school affairs or with her friends and were sandwiched in between
-much hard study and her fondness for athletics, with its varied
-interests.
-
-The friendship which had so distressed Doris had been adjusted
-without much difficulty, Doris finally taking her mother into her
-confidence. As Betty had suggested, Stacia was invited for a visit
-and made much of, with the friendliness, if dignified, which was
-characteristic of that home. If Stacia found the entertainment dull,
-she showed no evidence of it and told Doris privately that she
-thought her mother and father "wonderful."
-
-But as there was no real community of interests between the girls,
-by spring Stacia's devotion to Doris had waned. Another girl
-received Stacia's confidences, to the great relief of Doris, who
-meanwhile had been adding other friends to her list. And it had all
-come about naturally without any necessity for any coolness or
-unkindness on the part of Doris.
-
-Doris herself was taking on little grown-up airs and was very fussy
-at this stage about what she wore and how she looked. Dick's still
-careless boyishness annoyed her and her remarks about his table
-manners or general state of oblivion about the state of his collar
-or tie were having more effect than any reminders on the part of his
-mother. Dick cared what his twin thought; and if Doris, too, thought
-he must spruce up, he supposed he'd have to. All this was not lost
-on Betty and her mother, but aside from some natural amusement over
-remarks exchanged by the twins; they gave no sign of their interest.
-
-Betty, it was true, was almost too full of her own affairs to think
-much about her family except at mealtime. Every evening there were
-lessons, whatever could not be managed in the school study hours.
-Time after school was taken with meetings or practice or some
-athletic line. Betty usually put in one half-hour of violin practice
-before the evening dinner, for the orchestra was working on the big
-things for their great concert, given by all the musical
-organizations.
-
-Life was very interesting just now. The birds were singing again.
-Hikes had begun. And a new member of the junior class was very much
-interested in Betty. Just at this time senior affairs were absorbing
-Chet and some of the other boys that Betty knew best and meanwhile
-this new lad was introduced to Betty by Lucia Coletti one day after
-class.
-
-"Betty," said Lucia, "I want you to know our new classmate, Jack
-Huxley. You heard him recite in Latin and Math, didn't you?"
-
-"I'm glad to meet you," murmured Betty, as Jack courteously said
-"Miss Lee" and bowed. "Yes, Lucia; I noticed that. Are you finishing
-the junior year with us?"
-
-"Yes. My parents have recently moved here. I have been to school in
-the East, but that is too far away, my mother thinks, since we came
-here."
-
-Betty moved along between Lucia and Jack for a few moments of
-conversation; then they separated. This was the beginning of the
-acquaintance. Jack was a fine-looking boy with dark eyes, a pleasant
-mouth, a quantity of very dark brown hair which he wore in the
-prevailing style back from his forehead. Betty was rather impressed
-by his courteous manners, though Carolyn did not fancy him and said
-that he was too sure of himself. But he was a good student and Betty
-found herself defending him to several of the girls who were a
-little critical after a time. But perhaps that was because he made
-no effort to be friendly. Betty did not know. The boy with whom he
-seemed to chum was "wild," Mary Emma Howland said.
-
-Lucia, in telling how she came to know him, said that his mother
-used to be a friend of her mother's at school. "They are being
-invited everywhere," said Lucia, "and Jack is, too. They live in a
-hotel now, but are moving soon into one of those fine houses that
-are being finished."
-
-From this Betty concluded that the Huxleys moved in what was known
-as "society" and her first social meeting with Jack was at a little
-party at Lucia's, one quite "informal" and hastily planned, Lucia
-said. There Jack paid rather particular attention to Betty and after
-that she met him so often at school, when he would fall in beside
-her after class, or be at the entrance of the grounds to accompany
-her to the door; or join her after school, that she knew it was no
-accident.
-
-Once Chet dashed out of the auditorium door after practice of the
-junior and senior orchestras together, to find Jack and Betty in
-conversation just outside in the hall. "Say, Betty, I have to see
-you," began Chet. "Oh, excuse me. I don't want to interrupt, but I
-have a message." Chet looked at Jack and Jack looked at him. What in
-the world was that new junior doing? Was he hanging around Betty?
-"Hello, Jack," Chet finished.
-
-"There is nothing important, Chet," sweetly replied Betty, turning
-in friendly fashion to Chet. She was quite aware of the instant
-antagonism between the boys. But Chet needn't think that he owned
-her! She _liked_ Jack.
-
-"I'll be waiting outside, Betty," said Jack with cool politeness in
-his attitude. "The message may be private."
-
-"What's that chap around for?" queried Chet looking after Jack, who
-was sauntering toward the entrance door. "He doesn't belong to
-either orchestra, band or glee club."
-
-As no reply could be expected, Betty said nothing but continued to
-look pleasantly at Chet and wait. He lost no time but went on at
-once to explain.
-
-"Say, Betty, it's Mother that wants you to help her out. There's
-going to be doings at our church, some sort of a spring festival or
-something, and Mother says she hadn't any more sense than to say
-she'd be responsible for a booth. So she's hunting up a few pretty
-girls she knows--that's Mother's expression, not mine--and wanted me
-to ask you if you would help her out. It won't be hard, just to
-dress up in some sort of a costume, I guess."
-
-"That's terribly clear, Chet," laughingly said Betty, "but tell your
-mother that I'll do anything she wants me too."
-
-"Good for you. I knew you would, and she wants you to come out for
-dinner tomorrow. Of course I'll hate that a lot! We'll drive around
-after you, Ted and I, most likely. Is that O.K.?"
-
-"Yes. I'll get my lessons ahead, so I can spare the time."
-
-"Count on the whole evening, Betty. We'll do something or other. Now
-have you a regular date with that chap? I rather expected to put you
-on the car myself."
-
-"I haven't any date at all, Chet, but it would be awkward, wouldn't
-it, since Jack said he was waiting?"
-
-"I suppose it would. So long, then Betty. Say, Betty----," Chet
-turned back hesitatingly. "I'd go a little slow with Jack Huxley.
-What little I know about him isn't so good."
-
-"What is it, Chet? He's smart and a perfect gentleman whenever I see
-him."
-
-"Oh, I don't suppose there's much out of the way. He runs with a
-pretty wild crowd, though, and he hasn't been here long."
-
-"Well, I scarcely think that he would be invited by the countess to
-a party for Lucia if he weren't all right." Betty spoke with some
-decision and Chet looked at her soberly.
-
-"Don't you think so? Maybe not. Did you meet him there?"
-
-"Yes. Good-bye, Chet. I'll be ready tomorrow night and tell your
-mother that I'd love to dress up and be in a booth."
-
-Betty, who rather regretted a bit of steel that she had put into her
-tone before, made this farewell as friendly as possible. But Chet's
-answering smile could scarcely be called one and he hurried down the
-hall to another exit, in order to avoid Jack, Betty supposed. Oh,
-well, she couldn't help it. Jack _must_ be all right! Why, he was a
-perfect dear, as Mathilde called him. Not that Mathilde's opinion of
-any one would be a recommendation, however. He did have some
-different ideas of things and they had had a few discussions, not
-about anything very important, but about social life and kinds of
-girls and boys and the "puritanic ideas" of some parents. That was
-Jack's expression, and Betty had wondered if her own parents _could_
-be a little too strict sometimes.
-
-Anyhow, Jack was a nice friend. He had invited her to his birthday
-party at the Huxley new home and she certainly was going with him
-when he invited her. Chet need not think that he could tell her what
-society to choose. She had been to things with Budd and Brad and
-Chauncey through the year and she simply was not going to let Chet
-take her to every party the way it had been for a while. This would
-be an interesting party, for Jack had just told her that he was not
-inviting many from the high school. "It will be mostly from the old
-families that Mother knows," he had said, "and you will receive a
-note from her. But I wanted you to be sure to save the date."
-
-Jack was waiting for her on the steps and joined her with a touch of
-his cap and that attentive way of bending over her that was so nice.
-Jack seemed to be considerably older than some of the junior boys.
-He must be all right! That story about his having been dismissed
-from the eastern school was all nonsense. Of course his mother
-wanted him near her!
-
-Betty was so put out that when Jack asked her, as he had before, if
-she couldn't ride down town with him and have something good, she
-recklessly told him "she'd love to," though she knew that her mother
-was expecting her home at a certain time, or at least expecting to
-know where she was. It _was_ nonsense. She would go home when she
-got ready. But she _would_ telephone her mother from wherever they
-went.
-
-"All right, Jack, I feel in the humor to do something. I can't
-telephone Mother from here now, but I can down town, can't I?"
-
-"Of course, if you want to. But it's foolish in my opinion. My
-mother doesn't expect to keep track of me."
-
-"Oh, well, my father says it's safer nowadays. If I don't turn up,
-they want to know where to start looking for me, you know."
-
-Betty laughed and so did Jack, taking with light hearts the
-conditions that we are now providing for the younger generations.
-Jack said something about turning out the police or calling up the
-hospitals and conducted Betty to where, on a side street, he had
-parked a small but shining little roadster. "Isn't this a dandy
-now?" asked Jack as he helped Betty into the car. "It's a new one.
-I'm not supposed to take it to school much, but I was going to get
-you into it if I could!"
-
-"Are you a safe driver?" laughed Betty, settling back. She was glad
-that she did not have her books along this time.
-
-"I'm a wonder," said Jack, in the same light tone. "I'm also
-old enough to drive. What would you do, Betty? I'd like to get
-into business pretty soon, as my education has been more or
-less--um--interrupted. Yet college would be fun. I didn't like that
-preparatory school and the old fellow at the head of it didn't like
-me much, either. I'll put in another year in high school, then
-decide."
-
-"If you can go to the university or to some college, Jack, I think
-you'd be almost foolish not to do it. It isn't as if you were a poor
-student. You've brains."
-
-"Thanks, Betty." Jack went a little faster than Betty really
-enjoyed, but he seemed to have perfect control of his machine and
-was skilful in traffic. "Are you going to the university?"
-
-"I don't know. Mother talks about sending me away for a year or two,
-to give me the experience, but that is only talk so far. Perhaps
-they can't do it."
-
-"Go to the university and then I will. I'll show you some good
-times." Then Jack gave an impatient exclamation and shot around a
-car that was impeding progress. "See me get through that, Betty?"
-
-"I think you took a chance, Jack."
-
-"A good driver can afford to take chances, and what's life without a
-few chances?"
-
-Betty felt exhilarated in the present but she knew that Jack's
-philosophy was not a good one, and none of the boys she knew would
-have used in her presence the exclamation which Jack had employed.
-He did not apologize for it, either.
-
-But Betty and Jack had much in common after all, for both were
-gifted mentally and there was much in school life to discuss. Jack
-took her to one of the most attractive tea rooms in the city and
-there Betty met another boy and girl whom Jack knew. They sat at the
-same table and had all sorts of delectable things of a variety that
-only school boys and girls, hungry from their last mental efforts,
-would choose. There was no good opportunity to telephone. Betty
-decided to let it go. Probably her mother would not worry, since she
-knew of the orchestra practice and other things that sometimes
-detained Betty.
-
-She felt hesitant about ordering at Jack's expense, but Jack
-insisted on a certain choice of the different possibilities. An
-immense club sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate "went to the spot,"
-the other girl said and Betty agreed with her, though she was more
-reserved in her speech. Only with Carolyn and her girl friends did
-Betty speak impulsively. But this girl was as free with both the
-boys and kept them all laughing with bright if not altogether
-refined speeches. Yet she was quite evidently from a home of wealth
-and intelligence, from the correct language she used, as well as
-from her gay dress.
-
-"No, I'm out of school right now," said Mabel Randall in answer to a
-polite question from Betty. "Yes, Tommy, angel that you are, I could
-eat another sandwich with you, very small, you know. I'll have a
-Swiss chocolate sundae for dessert. That is pos-i-tive-ly all!"
-
-Both boys bought a box of candy each as they escorted the girls to
-their respective machines. Tommy gave his immediately to Mabel, who
-carelessly murmured thanks, but Jack kept his under his arm till
-Betty was in the roadster, when he tossed it into her lap with a
-"There now, how's that for a nibble or two? I'm going to give you a
-whirl through the parks before I take you home."
-
-"Oh, that would be lovely, Jack," said Betty. "Everything is so
-pretty now; but really I can't this time. Look at your watch and see
-how near dinner time it is, and Mother _will_ be worried if I am
-late for that. I tell you what you do, Jack. I think Father will be
-ready to start home about now. Suppose you take me around to his
-office and drop me there." Betty was thinking that she really
-preferred not to go through the late afternoon traffic with Jack, at
-the rate he drove. This was a great idea.
-
-Jack demurred, but said that if she really wanted to go to the
-office he would take her there. "But I'll not leave you unless your
-dad is actually there."
-
-That was a nice bit of thoughtfulness, Betty told him; and when they
-reached the office building after finding a convenient place to
-park, Jack took the elevator with her and in a few minutes was
-introduced to Betty's father. That Jack made a good impression upon
-him was quite evident, though it was Mr. Lee's custom to be cordial
-to Betty's friends.
-
-"If it isn't according to rules for Betty not to report at home
-right after school, Mr. Lee, blame me. I persuaded her that she was
-tired enough of school and practice to take a ride down town in my
-new roadster. She couldn't resist it when she saw it--could you,
-Betty?"
-
-"It is certainly a little beauty, and I did want to get away from
-books and everything. I left my violin at school, Father. We have
-another practice, right in the middle of schooltime!"
-
-"I am glad to meet you," said Mr. Lee to Jack, "and I thank you for
-taking care of my girl and delivering her safely. I hope to see you
-again."
-
-Jack, who was standing with his cap in his hand, gave Mr. Lee a
-comical smile. "I suspect you'll be seeing a good deal of me sooner
-or later, sir."
-
-Then the lad left the office after shaking hands again with the
-older man who had offered his hand. "Now what, I wonder, did your
-friend mean by that!" queried Mr. Lee of Betty in a teasing pretense
-of not understanding.
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER XIII
-
-                        THE FAMILY MAKES REMARKS
-
-
-Mr. Lee telephoned his wife that Betty would arrive when he did.
-Tired after a day of much thought upon business affairs and some
-conferences in the office, he listened to Betty's account, after
-having asked her how she happened to be with "this young man." Betty
-gave him a full account, with a happy appreciation of the fun they
-had had.
-
-"I'm not sure that you would approve of Mabel, Papa," she said, "but
-she's the funny sort and it was all very nice. Jack seems to like
-me--lately, and he did his best to make me have a good time. I hope
-Mother won't mind. I just couldn't resist going and I was late
-anyhow, with all that going over and over of the parts we don't get
-just right. You ought to hear the leader scold us. He makes us work,
-I tell you.
-
-"Oh, I meant to telephone to Mother, but there wasn't any good
-chance."
-
-"I think that she will not mind, daughter," kindly said Mr. Lee. "Of
-course, we prefer to know where you are, as you know. Tell me about
-this lad. He is new to the school, you say?"
-
-Betty explained. "And oh, I hope I may accept his invitation to his
-birthday party his mother's giving for him. I'm to get an
-invitation, but Jack said that he wanted me to save the date."
-
-"He must think that you are popular," smiled Mr. Lee. "I presume
-that you may go. He seemed rather an engaging youth. I liked him. As
-a rule, though, I don't want you to go driving with the boys yet."
-
-"Yes, sir."
-
-Dinner was being put on the table as the car was driven into the
-garage and Betty and her father hastened to make themselves ready
-for the meal. As her father picked up the carving fork and attacked
-the steaming veal roast, he quietly remarked, "Betty seems to have a
-new boy friend."
-
-Nothing could have been more startling than that remark, it seemed
-to Betty. She flushed in her surprise; Mrs. Lee turned a wondering
-look upon her husband, and Dick chortled. Doris sat up straight with
-a wide grin. Then, drawing her lips together and frowning slightly
-she remarked, "I'm surprised, Mr. Lee, to hear such an expression
-from the head of the family. 'Boy friend' indeed! Papa, you're
-getting quite too modern!"
-
-An amused smile played about Mr. Lee's lips as he put a generous
-helping of mashed potato by the slice of meat he was offering first.
-"Modern, is it? Yes, I believe it is and I like it better than the
-old expressions. It does not seem to mean as much. But by the way,
-the true head of the family is opposite me. My dear, is the spinach
-to be put on the plates or served in dishes? I am never quite sure
-how some of these additions go."
-
-"Served separately, I think," replied Mrs. Lee, with a twinkle of
-her eyes to match those of her husband. "I am quite interested in
-your news, though. Will Betty mind if you explain?"
-
-"I could explain," said Doris decidedly.
-
-Betty looked surprised again. Had Jack been with her so much that
-Doris could notice? She felt quite annoyed, but it would call
-attention to the fact if she said anything. She smiled as her father
-offered her the second plate, after serving her mother. "Fix that
-for Amy Lou, Daddy," she said. "And when you serve my plate,
-remember that I had a big lunch."
-
-"Oh, you _did_!" exclaimed Doris. "Tell us about it, Betty; did Jack
-Huxley treat you this afternoon?" Doris was very courteous in her
-manner at this question.
-
-"Yes, Dory. That was all there was of it. And Papa met him, you
-know--so he feels facetious about it. Isn't that so, _mon cher
-papa_?"
-
-"She's talking French now," groaned Dick. "There must be something
-in it!"
-
-"Don't be silly, Dick," said Betty. "If you'll all have some
-sense--I don't mean my respected parents, but you--you monkeys, Dick
-and Doris.
-
-"And me," put in Amy Lou. "Is that the name of Betty's boy friend,
-Doris?"
-
-"Now, Father, see what you've done!"
-
-"Betty, I apologize," said Mr. Lee with a wave of his carving knife.
-"I was just in fun, Amy Lou. Is that the way you like your potato,
-with a valley in it full of gravy?"
-
-Amy Louise gravely nodded, while Mr. Lee heaped Dick's plate next.
-Whether Dick had had any lunch or cookies from the jar or not, it
-would make no difference in his appetite for dinner. Betty was the
-last served and while she waited she gave a rather brief but
-satisfactory account of her little "lark," as she called it.
-
-"Father said he thought it might be all right for once, Mother; and
-as Jack had just asked me to his birthday party, I wanted to do what
-he wanted me to do. And oh, the suggestion of a sundae made my mouth
-water! But we had much more than that."
-
-After dinner Doris came into the bedroom where Betty was laying off
-her school dress. "I wouldn't say a word before the family, Betty,"
-said she, "but I've heard about Jack and of course I've seen you
-with him. Some of the girls think he's wonderful even if he doesn't
-pay any attention to anybody but you. And then I heard one of the
-boys say that he runs with a _wild set_ of the _society bunch_! What
-do you think about it, Betty?"
-
-"I don't know a thing against him, Doris, and I don't think a person
-ought to believe anything bad without giving a friend a chance, do
-you?"
-
-"You could see that Father liked him," returned Doris. "I should
-imagine you could be friends with Jack Huxley and not hurt anything
-at all. He has such nice manners; and when he is with you he is as
-polite as can be."
-
-"Yes, always, Doris."
-
-"There's something about you, Betty, that makes the boys do that.
-They never get fresh or act silly as they do with some of the
-girls."
-
-"I don't like that expression, Doris--but I think boys know the kind
-of girls they're with; and besides, the kind of boys I like aren't
-that sort. I like fun, Dorry--you know that, but I like to talk
-sense, too. That is one thing about Jack. You would laugh at some of
-his clever remarks; and then he can tell me about something just as
-if he were grown up and explaining, like Father."
-
-"Do you like him better than Chet?"
-
-"Don't _ask_ me, Doris. I don't like any of them as well as I do
-Carolyn!"
-
-"Then you're safe for a while," laughed Doris.
-
-"I'm always going to be safe," laughed Betty. "Imagine getting
-engaged in high school and then finding somebody you liked much
-better when you went to college! But Doris, I'm not going to pay any
-attention to gossip about Jack. I'm sure he's a nice boy. He's
-different and I know he thinks some ideas that our people have are
-'old fogy,' but people can't be all alike and I believe in letting
-other folks--well, they have the same right to their opinions that
-we have."
-
-There was no one to remind Betty that opinions and action based upon
-them are very likely to agree. Doris saw Betty's firmly set lips and
-nodded her head in assent to her sister's opinion. "Anyhow," said
-Doris, "having Jack Huxley for a friend is going to give you some
-good times and maybe Chet won't think he owns you."
-
-Betty nodded. "Still, Doris," she said, honestly, "Chet has been a
-very good friend to me and I can't say that he's tried not to have
-me accept any invitations from Budd or Brad or anybody--unless it
-was Ted." Betty laughed and Doris, who remembered Ted's limited
-period of invitation, was pleased that Betty should confide in her.
-"He doesn't like Jack, though--but please don't say a word to the
-girls about any of my doings, Doris."
-
-"I won't and I think it's good of you to tell me about things.
-Didn't you say that you are going out to take dinner with Mrs.
-Dorrance and the boys tomorrow?"
-
-"Yes--but there will be some other girls there, too, I think. How
-would you like it, if Mrs. Dorrance needs any more, to dress up and
-help in the booths, too!"
-
-"Oh, Betty! I'd adore it!" Doris clasped her hands together as she
-spoke enthusiastically. "Would she _let_ me, do you suppose?"
-
-"Don't be too disappointed if nothing happens, but if there is a
-chance I'll not forget. Oh, Doris! Jack gave me a big, two pound box
-of candy and I left it in our car. Ask Dick if he won't go out and
-get it and we'll all have a treat!"
-
-Doris lifted two expressive hands at that speech. "Will I ask Dick?
-I will. And I'm Jack's friend for life!"
-
-"Silly," laughed Betty, "run along!"
-
-Doris stopped, holding to the door frame as she peeped back. "Only
-grown up boys do that for their best girls. You certainly are
-lucky!"
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER XIV
-
-                            AN ANNOYING CALL
-
-
-The occasional entertainment at the home of Mrs. Dorrance was always
-welcome to Betty. The next day at school went rapidly and beyond a
-short business meeting of Lyon "Y" there was nothing to detain her
-after school. Jack saw her in the halls and walked a few steps with
-her once or twice, but he evidently had important business with the
-boys. Chet was as usual, but merely saluted her once in the passage
-from classes and said: "You won't forget to come out tonight," while
-Betty replied, "No, indeed."
-
-She dressed carefully and watched the time at home, for she wanted
-to arrive early enough and no too early. For some reason she had
-forgotten that Chet had said they would call for her. Perhaps it was
-Chet's remark about _not forgetting_ that misled her! She was
-dressed, however, when a jolly load drove up and Chet ran up the Lee
-steps to ring the bell. Ted, Chet and several girls were in the car,
-Ted driving, and they added Betty to their number, when she came
-running along by Chet. There was quiet merriment afoot and Ted
-called back, "Can you add another blossom to our bouquet of beauty,
-Chet?"
-
-"Listen," said Betty, climbing in. "I can sit on somebody's lap back
-here."
-
-"Spoil the ruffles, Betty--wait till I turn down that seat. There
-you are! You are the last."
-
-The dinner was good and Mrs. Dorrance seemed to enjoy her young
-guests. Betty supposed that one of the older girls must be some
-special friend of Ted's, his latest inamorata, but there was nothing
-to indicate it. Ted was his happy self and host to all of them
-alike. In all, there were four girls, Mrs. Dorrance, Ted and Chet.
-The time after dinner, indeed, during the meal, was partly taken in
-explanation of what Mrs. Dorrance wanted the girls to do and a
-discussion of what costume should be worn. A display of nations was
-one of the features of the festival and the girls all decided that
-since they might have their choice among several nations they would
-represent Holland.
-
-"Do you have to sell just Dutch things?" asked one.
-
-"No, indeed," said Mrs. Dorrance, "but we'll have some Dutch
-specialties in the line of things to eat, you know, if there are
-any----"
-
-Mrs. Dorrance stopped to think and one of the girls spoke
-quickly--"Oh, and some china with windmills on it, and wooden shoes
-and little things like that, to give a Dutch atmosphere."
-
-"I speak to buy some 'Old Dutch Cleanser,'" gravely said Ted and
-raised a laugh, though Mrs. Dorrance said that a few boxes of that
-"well-advertised commodity" would probably be a funny feature and
-sell, at that.
-
-"I'll paint a china cup and saucer with a Dutch design," said a girl
-that Betty hoped was Ted's friend, for she was so sweet. "I'm doing
-that sort of thing in art now, and I'll just make that little
-contribution."
-
-"We ought to have a little girl or two, to clatter around in wooden
-shoes," remarked Mrs. Dorrance. "Betty, you have two sisters. Would
-they like to do it, or would it be too much trouble for your mother?
-Our old down town church is short of children that I can ask, or
-that could assist without a good deal of help on my part."
-
-"Mrs. Dorrance, my sisters would think it a great privilege to dress
-up and be in the picture, so to speak. I can help them get ready.
-And Dick does some carving at school. Could he make a few little
-tiny shoes? Oh, how would a few fixed up with little pin-cushions
-inside do?"
-
-"Fine, Betty!" said Chet. "Mother, with all these girls, I think you
-can fold your hands. They'll have so many ideas that all you will
-need to do will be to engage a policeman to manage the crowds around
-the booth. Put your prices low enough and the ten cent store can go
-out of business!"
-
-Betty and Chet exchanged glances, merry ones. Chet was a dear, and
-getting to be as funny as Ted! It was all fixed up about Doris, and
-Amy Lou, too! How she would love it!
-
-It was another extra, to take time, of course, but Mrs. Lee was
-interested and promised to help with the costumes. There was plenty
-of time, for it was to be an outdoor affair, if possible, though
-that plan might change if there were a rainy week or so, as
-sometimes happened.
-
-The birthday party, too, was three weeks away from the day Jack
-asked Betty to attend. That was something to anticipate. Meantime
-there was a "junior picnic" on a bright spring day. The athletes of
-the group employed that as a hike, to count on their points, but it
-was a limited party this time, gotten up by about twenty junior
-boys, with as many girls as their guests. Jack invited Betty; and
-one of the teachers of athletics among the girls went along as
-chaperon.
-
-As none of the senior boys Betty knew could attend this picnic,
-there was no embarrassment for her in Jack's friendly attentions.
-That young man, too, seemed to realize that he must change his
-attitude and be friendly to the other girls as well. He "could not
-have been nicer," Betty reported to Doris at home when she told
-about their fun and the camp fire and the boating on the river. "'No
-canoes,' Doris, our chaperon said, but we went to that picnic place,
-you know where they have a little launch. So if there _was_ a pretty
-good current in the river, we were safe enough. I'm glad it's
-Friday, for I'm simply dead after all the walking we did. It wasn't
-so far from the street car, but we tramped around in the woods,
-hunting flowers and listening to the birds. It was a wonderful day
-for birds. Jack doesn't care for hiking, he told me, especially
-since he has his new roadster; and he says that on the 'next picnic'
-he's going to take me in it, though I'm sure that I'd rather go with
-a whole machine full, to be jollier and not to let Jack think it's
-very--special, you know, Doris. But he was great today, just as nice
-as can be to all the girls. I think they will have a different
-opinion of him now. Lucia's being so pleasant to him makes a
-difference, too. She said when a lot of us were sitting around
-eating lunch, that her mother used to know Jack's mother when they
-were girls, just what she told me. And she did the introducing to
-several girls instead of me, as it happened."
-
-So the busy days whirled by. There was a girls' swimming meet for
-which Betty had been preparing, though that was only fun. And it
-happened that Mr. Lee's "little fish" or "mermaid" won more honors
-for her school, attempting more difficult feats than in her
-sophomore year. Betty was working now, also, on the life-saving
-tests, of practical importance, her father told her, though she must
-be "fit" and ready for them.
-
-One more occurrence that deeply interested Betty Lee happened before
-the birthday party. It was on Saturday afternoon, when Mr. Lee had
-come home from the closed office and sat at his desk, for which
-there was no good place except the living room. He was figuring away
-at something and looked annoyed when the bell rang. "Mother, I
-simply must have another spot for his desk," he said whimsically, as
-with a resigned expression he jumped up and answered the bell
-himself.
-
-"You shall, my dear," replied his wife, as he disappeared into the
-hallway. Betty and Mrs. Lee were in the dining room, a little back
-from the double doors, or rather draped opening which separated the
-living room from the dining room. The dining table was spread with
-papers and covered with scraps from the "rag-bag" except where half
-a dozen tiny wooden shoes stood ready to be filled with the small
-pin-cushions which Mrs. Lee and Betty were making. Betty was
-enjoying it. It was so nice to have an afternoon at home just to
-"fiddle around" and do what you felt like doing. This wasn't work!
-
-But from where Betty sat, she had a good look at a gentleman whom
-her father was ushering into the front room. Or was he a gentleman?
-Betty had a momentary impression of a very ordinary looking man,
-dark, fairly well-dressed but not well set up, as Betty thought. His
-shoulders were a little stooped and he gave a furtive look through
-the curtains that fell at the side of the open doorway.
-
-But he began to speak in a suave way, "oily," Betty called it
-afterwards:
-
-"I'm not here to take much of your time, Mr. Lee, but I was directed
-to you by some one who thought you could tell me about where I could
-find a boy that was going here by the name of Ramon Balinsky."
-
-"Yes?" returned Mr. Lee, waiting for more explanation. Betty dropped
-the little cushion she was making and leaned forward, exchanging a
-glance with her mother.
-
-The man hesitated, expecting a more enthusiastic reply, it might be
-presumed. But Betty could imagine the calm but cool expression with
-which her father was regarding the stranger, having courteously and
-kindly brought him in.
-
-"Do you know him, Mr. Lee?"
-
-"Yes, I know to whom you refer. He was a nice lad, looked after my
-car for me at times."
-
-"Yes. I found the garage where he worked and found that he went to
-school here for awhile. Well, do you know where he is now?"
-
-"That might be hard to say. Perhaps you will explain your interest
-in him."
-
-Betty, tense, hoped that her father would not tell about the letter.
-Perhaps this was somebody that wanted to hurt Ramon! There was that
-story that Ramon was running away from some one, or that he was
-after somebody himself. Mrs. Lee made a little gesture and smiled at
-Betty. It meant, "Calm yourself, little daughter," and Betty leaned
-back in her chair with a soft sigh. Good for her father. He wasn't
-going to tell everything he knew unless he was sure that it was all
-right.
-
-"I have good news for him. Some of his mother's Spanish property has
-been recovered, that is, certain papers found. I was a lawyer, you
-call it, for the Sevillas."
-
-Betty made a comical face and looked at her mother. This man did not
-look like much of a lawyer. But perhaps he had fallen upon difficult
-times.
-
-"Sevillas?" asked Mr. Lee.
-
-"Yes," the man replied, rather fiercely, Betty thought. "That boy is
-not all that you might think. He has run away because he stole a
-parcel of jewelry that belonged to a very noble family in Spain.
-Consequently he has taken a name that belongs to his father's
-family. But I traced him in spite of it!"
-
-"Well, do you intend to let the 'noble family' prosecute him if you
-find him?"
-
-"By no means," and the man's voice changed, as he realized that he
-had let a bit of vindictive feeling creep into his tone. "No, I have
-arranged that. If he will return what he has left of the jewels and
-let me know if he has found his mother and sister, all will be
-forgiven. It is a long case and can't be hastily explained. I must
-find Ramon first. He did not tell you then that his true name was
-Sevilla?"
-
-"He said nothing to me about it," returned Mr. Lee. "Instead, he
-told some one of the family that he was guarding against injury at
-the hands of some one who was an enemy. Do you know of any one who
-would injure Ramon?"
-
-There was a moment's hesitation. "There is, of course, the matter of
-the jewels, Mr. Lee. Probably he had that in mind and thought that
-he was to be brought to justice. But I can prevent that. Now I went
-out to the school and made some inquiries, Mr. Lee. At the office no
-one knew what had become of Ramon. I attended a baseball game Friday
-afternoon and asked some of the boys to direct me to any who knew
-Ramon best. The coach did not know his whereabouts, but there was
-one boy who was listening that said you had heard from him
-recently."
-
-It was just as well that the visitor could not see Betty's changes
-of countenance as she listened to the conversation, perfectly sure
-that in her role of listener she was quite justified. At the name
-"Sevillas" Betty's eyes opened more widely and her mouth formed an
-"Oh," as she looked sharply at her mother. Two deep frowns came
-between her blue eyes now at the mention of the letter. What would
-her father say to that?
-
-"Yes," he was replying, "we heard from Ramon just once, some time
-ago. It was chiefly a letter of courtesy, as we had entertained him
-and he remembered us pleasantly."
-
-"Could I see the letter?" eagerly asked the man.
-
-"It has probably been destroyed," said Mr. Lee, and Betty rolled
-dark blue eyes at her mother, who knew she had kept it.
-
-"I could probably recall enough of it to satisfy you, though it
-contained no information that was valuable, I judge. It said nothing
-of any mother or sister and this is the first that I have heard of
-them."
-
-"Very good," said the man in a satisfied tone. "Where was he?" he
-then asked sharply. Betty frowned again. _Could_ her father tell
-him? Then the man would find Ramon and maybe kill him, for all Betty
-knew. Horrors! Her father was telling!
-
-"When he wrote us he was in Detroit, but he gave no house address
-whatever."
-
-"Are you sure that no member of your family has heard again?"
-
-"Quite sure, sir." Mr. Lee spoke in that quiet, final way that
-usually closed matters in his office. Betty heard his chair pushed
-back and knew that he had risen. "Here's your hat, what's your
-hurry?" she quoted in a school-girl fashion to her mother in a low
-whisper. They sat quietly till the final good afternoon was said and
-her father closed the front screen door. Then Betty jumped up and
-ran into the front room to meet him.
-
-"Oh, Father, you _told_ him! And I know he's the 'villain!'"
-
-Mr. Lee grinned, much as Dick was accustomed to do, and approached
-his daughter with his fists closed and the favorite gestures of
-small boys about to engage in a fisticuff. That made Betty laugh,
-too, and she caught at his threatening arms to hold him.
-
-The arms went around her and then he drew her toward where his wife
-was now standing, questioning with her eyes. "As my son would put
-it, you think I've spilled the beans, don't you? Well, I haven't,
-kiddie." Mr. Lee dropped his voice to a stage whisper.
-
-"Ramon Balinsky Sevilla is not _in_ Detroit!"
-
-"Oh, goody! But how do you know. Didn't you tell the man that you
-hadn't heard from him again!"
-
-"Do you not think I would be justified in a false statement under
-the circumstances?"
-
-"Oh, Papa, you just want to get up an argument! I know you! No, I
-think you could have handled it some way and I don't believe you
-told a story."
-
-"Right. Go to the head of the class in diplomacy or whatever it is.
-No, I have not heard from Ramon, but I heard from some one who has
-seen him and Ramon sent us a message, from Detroit, my dear, and he
-was leaving there. In fact, he was at the station when my friend met
-him. _Now_ are you satisfied?"
-
-"No," said Betty, grinning and drawing her father's arm still
-farther over her shoulder. "I want to know what the message was and
-why you haven't given it before."
-
-"The message was his regards, and I merely forgot all about it."
-
-"One thing, Father, I wondered about. You said Ramon did not give a
-house address."
-
-"It was not a house address, Betty. If you will look up the letter I
-will show you. I'm pretty sure that was his business address. Does
-anybody love me?"
-
-"I'll say," slangily answered Betty Lee, junior, offering a warm
-embrace.
-
-
-
-
-                               CHAPTER XV
-
-                       THE FATEFUL BIRTHDAY PARTY
-
-
-In the due course of events, the night of the birthday party at the
-Huxley home had arrived. Betty was in high spirits as she dressed.
-Doris took great interest in her donning of a new dress, "_so_
-becoming," she said. "Betty, I never saw you look so pretty. And you
-don't need rouge, either."
-
-"I should hope not," laughed Betty, looking at her own image in the
-mirror. "My cheeks are so hot and I'm so excited over this--I wonder
-why. I've been with Jack enough before."
-
-Doris was going to a party herself, and wished that her new dress,
-something promised, were ready. But it was not a big party like
-Betty's. "Papa's calling you, Betty," said she, taking her place at
-the mirror which they shared.
-
-Mr. Lee, who had been bringing out his car in order to take Doris
-around to the house of one of the freshman girls, was waiting for
-Betty in the living room. "Just a word, Betty, before any one comes
-for you. This is a large party, I believe?"
-
-"Jack said so."
-
-"Will there be dancing?"
-
-"I hadn't thought about it. Very likely."
-
-"Well, as you know, Betty, we do not forbid dancing and I have no
-doubt that this place where you are going is all right. I intended
-to inquire more about the people, but it slipped my mind. I have
-several things to think about, you know."
-
-"Yes sir. Let's sit down, Father. I'm all ready but my wraps."
-
-Mr. Lee sat down and Betty perched on the arm of his chair.
-
-"As I said," Mr. Lee resumed, "we do not forbid the proper sort of
-dancing. I suppose it is natural for youngsters to like to move to
-music. And yet it is true that so many evils are connected with the
-dance--well, our church does not forbid it, but it frowns on all
-sorts of looseness in manners and company. The chief thing is to
-keep oneself with the best type of people, I suppose." Mr. Lee
-looked off reflectively.
-
-"I scarcely know how to warn you, Betty. But I suppose your mother
-has told you that there is a certain reserve, a certain distance to
-be maintained by a nice girl when girls and boys mingle?"
-
-"Yes, sir."
-
-"It is a part of charm and attraction and the delicacy that we want
-our sweet girls to have. Loudness and boldness and familiarity are
-just the opposites; and I have no fear that my Betty girl will ever
-have those qualities. But look out for it in others, and _have a
-care_, Betty. That is all, my child. How pretty you look. Have a
-good time."
-
-"Oh, I'm going to, I know. Thanks for the warning, my daddy. I'll
-try to be good!"
-
-In a few minutes Betty was off. Mr. Lee was just drawing his own car
-from the curb when a handsome car drew up behind his. He was glad to
-see that it was full of young people. The lad had not come for Betty
-in his roadster. Oh, to put off the special pairing and above all,
-love-making, as long as possible! But after all, his girl would have
-to handle it herself.
-
-In the car Betty found herself with several persons whom she did not
-know. Mathilde was there, and Jack informed Betty that this was the
-"inner circle" of guests. Jack was as easily polite as ever, but his
-eyes were bright and he talked a great deal, excited, too, over his
-birthday and wanting to play the host.
-
-A chauffeur drove, which was just as well, and after this group was
-deposited, drove off again. With the rest, Betty was conducted into
-the handsome new house, of brick and stone, and introduced to Jack's
-mother, who was receiving with him. A very pretty girl, black-eyed
-and looking not a little like Jack, was his first cousin, as
-introduced, vivacious and pleasant.
-
-A maid in newly furnished upstairs rooms had helped the girls off
-with their light wraps and scarfs, but Betty was more interested in
-seeing Jack's relatives than the house. "Oh, Dad!" called Jack as he
-showed his guests to seats, "come in for a minute."
-
-A tall, heavily built man with a very red face came in from a room
-which Betty supposed was their library from a glimpse she had of
-some bookcases. He shook hands with the arrivals, made a few jovial
-remarks and gave Betty a special look over his glasses. "So this is
-Miss Betty. I have heard of you. You may imagine where. Jack is a
-good picker of--friends."
-
-Betty blushed a little, to her disgust, but smiled warmly at Jack's
-father. Perhaps he was nicer than he looked. Anyhow, it was pleasant
-to be liked. The rooms were furnished with taste. A baby grand piano
-and the very latest in radios were part of the equipment. Oriental
-rugs were on the floor. Betty appreciated all that since she had
-learned about values and beauty in such things. A few of them, in
-her own simple home, however, satisfied Betty Lee.
-
-One after another the young guests arrived. This was to be a real
-dinner party, many as there were to be served. Dinner at the Lees
-had long since been over, but dinner here was served at eight
-o'clock--and such a dinner! Betty enjoyed it thoroughly, especially
-as she was Jack's companion, though Jack's cousin from away was the
-guest of honor. Dainty courses and more substantial food, prepared
-in the most appetizing way, were offered. But Betty noticed wine
-glasses by their plates and wondered. Would wine be used at Jack's?
-
-But in the midst of conversation and consumption of food Betty did
-not disturb herself over what the future might bring. Nevertheless,
-she was disturbed when the butler filled the glasses. She would be
-polite, and said nothing. Immediately, however, some of the boys
-grew a little hilarious, talking about their "prohibition beer."
-Jack nodded to the butler, who went around putting something else in
-some of the glasses.
-
-Betty gave a questioning look toward Jack, who turned to her at that
-moment. "That won't hurt you, Betty," said he. But he pulled
-something from his pocket and laughingly, teasingly, poured some
-sort of liquid into the glass of his cousin.
-
-"Any good, Jack?" asked she.
-
-"The best my bootlegger can get," laughed he in return.
-
-Betty felt sick at the thought. Perhaps he was only joking. He must
-be. But other boys were doing the same thing, adding something from
-odd bottles around the table. There were scarcely any boys and girls
-that she had known in school, though she had met some of them at
-Lucia's. Perhaps it was a good thing that Lucia had not been able to
-come. Mathilde, Betty saw, was enjoying herself thoroughly and did
-not refuse any of the liquor. Jack turning away from his cousin
-again, told Betty that she was just a "little prude, but a very
-sweet one," "You'll get over it, Betty. Try a little, just to please
-me."
-
-"I'm sorry, Jack, but I can't," said Betty. "I'm wishing you just as
-many happy returns, you know."
-
-"All right this time," returned Jack, for he was in a happy mood and
-the stimulating drink made him only more affable so far. It was not
-the first that day.
-
-This was the beginning. No one seemed to be the worse for anything
-at dinner. There were some games and then the dancing began _a la_
-victrola, though Jack apologized for not having an orchestra.
-"Nobody could come," said he--"previous engagements. It was my fault
-for letting it go until too late."
-
-Betty never did relate the details of what occurred later in the
-evening, other than to say that matters grew worse, that both boys
-and girls drank from flasks and that Mr. and Mrs. Huxley had left
-with some guests soon after dinner, which they had had privately.
-She had enjoyed the fun at first and forgot about the wine
-till forced to notice it when the flasks came out, not very
-surreptitiously. But at last she came to the conclusion that it was
-no place for her. She looked for Jack and saw that he was more than
-half intoxicated. One boy asked her to dance and began to embrace
-her as he asked, hot, liquor-laden breath indicating his state at
-this time. It was Jack's chum.
-
-Betty slipped from his arms with an apology. "I've a headache, Will,
-and I'm going to the dressing room to the maid a moment."
-
-That was satisfactory to the befuddled lad, and Betty, troubled and
-disgusted, and wondering how she was going to get home, flew
-upstairs. The maid was not in the dressing room where Betty had left
-her wrap and the scarf she wore around her head at her mother's
-suggestion. She was glad of that. If she had to get home by street
-car it would not be so bad. But she had worn her light satin
-slippers and oh--it was raining! They would be ruined. Where was the
-telephone? She could call her father, though he might be in bed. It
-was midnight by this time, Betty supposed.
-
-She wondered where the maid was and timidly wandered down the hall,
-peeping into rooms evidently used, or intended to be used, by any
-guest. Then the maid came hurrying from somewhere, too intent on
-whatever her errand was to notice Betty. But Betty asked, "Where is
-Mrs. Huxley, please?"
-
-"Oh, dem folks is gwine off somewhere. Dey tells me to look afteh
-the young folks, an' it's too big a job foh one pusson. I done tol'
-her so, but she'd had too much o' dat bootleggeh stuff hehse'f at
-dinneh. Ah's goin' down afteh de cook. Dat young lady in dere's done
-_passed out_! An' de butleh--he gone, too."
-
-The colored woman waved her dark hand indefinitely.
-
-"Mercy! You don't mean anybody's dead!"
-
-"No, honey, not daid. No, you jus' _keep out_. Ain' nuffin yo' kin
-do only git yo'se'f into trubble." This addition was because Betty
-was evidently about to offer help, as she turned uncertainly in the
-direction from which the colored maid had come. With this, the maid
-disappeared down the stairs from which the sounds of revelry still
-rose. Betty went back to get her wraps. Did she have any car fare?
-Well if she didn't, she'd get on anyhow, one of those cars where you
-didn't have to pay till you got off. She'd give the conductor her
-name and address or give him the ring from her finger or--anything!
-Betty was getting panicky by this time. She _could_ not go down
-stairs with her wrap, and run the risk of being discovered. Probably
-there was a back stairway. There was, as Betty discovered by looking
-along the upper halls. Dear me, she would know the way around _this_
-house again. She wondered why the maid had not gone down to the
-kitchen that way, but supposed that the cook was to be found
-somewhere else. It had stopped raining, after only a shower.
-
-It was a lovely night, indeed, with a moon, which helped her around
-the house, through beautiful old trees and some newly planted
-shrubbery. There were cars parked along the drive, but the big car
-in which Betty had been brought was not to be seen. Of course, the
-chauffeur was driving the older Huxleys, or waiting somewhere for
-them. Betty knew that there were plays at the theatres and other
-entertainments going on.
-
-With her scarf held tightly under her chin and her wrap gathered
-about her, Betty lightly flew to the drive and followed it around,
-not feeling so lonely where she could see a few of the rear lights.
-The walk looked spooky! She was almost lost in this neighborhood,
-but as she emerged upon a sidewalk, she could see at some distance
-the lights of a street car passing. Then it was not so late that the
-cars were off! Of course not--was she crazy? A few automobiles
-passed, but this was off from the main arteries of traffic. Like a
-slim ghost Betty hurried along, stopping once for breath and to see
-if her pretty bag contained any street car tickets. Had she had any
-idea of walking, she could have worn shoes and carried her satin
-slippers. But they were ruined. That rain had been a light shower,
-indeed, leaving the night as bright as before. It must have stopped
-almost as soon as she looked out to see it; but one little puddle,
-stepped in by the back exit, had been sufficient.
-
-And now she had reached the street car line. She was safe, or hoped
-so. She hailed a car, and took comfort in the fact that there was an
-elderly woman also waiting for it. The woman scanned her slippers
-and said "You got caught in the rain, didn't you!"
-
-Betty had half a notion to ask her for the fare, but concluded that
-it would be easier to arrange with the conductor. To be real honest,
-she made her way straight to the conductor and sat down close to
-where he stood by the box into which one dropped tickets.
-Fortunately, there were only a few people on this car.
-
-As soon as the woman had paid her fare and gone back to a seat in
-the after part of the car, Betty spoke to the conductor.
-
-"Can you tell me how to get to this street?" she asked, naming the
-street and suburb.
-
-The conductor began to punch a transfer, stopping a moment when
-Betty added that she hadn't a ticket, but she was scared and wanted
-to get home and she could give him her father's address and he would
-pay her fare. "What's your father's business?" asked the conductor.
-
-Betty told him, as the conductor took in Betty's appearance and the
-flying, pretty hair from which the scarf had become disarranged.
-"I'll take a chance on you, young lady," said the man with a half
-smile, "and pay your fare myself. So you got scared, did you? Better
-not be out alone so late."
-
-"Oh, never again! Never again," gasped Betty. "Thank you, so much!
-Please what is your name, so we can pay you?"
-
-The conductor hesitated, but evidently concluded that it was best to
-let the affair be settled that way. He told her, slowly.
-
-Again Betty flew along the way home from the street car half an hour
-later. And oh, how good it was to see a light at home! Yes, Mother,
-_Mother_, was still up!
-
-Several short rings did Betty give and when her mother opened the
-door, she began to cry and laugh a little so hysterically that her
-mother was alarmed. "What is it, my child? and who brought you home
-like this?"
-
-Betty hastened to tell her mother that she was not hurt, "only all
-upset, Mamma," but she had to have a little cry before she could
-tell all about it. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed more than once.
-"Poor Jack! And Mathilde didn't know what she was doing the last
-time I spoke to her!"
-
-"Come; you can tell me more tomorrow. I'm going to give you a little
-quieting medicine, Betty, and put you into bed. I am thankful that
-you are safe at home. Think about being snug in your own bed and
-forget the rest till morning."
-
-"But how'll I ever explain, Mother--about leaving and everything?"
-
-"That can be the least of your worries, Betty. Your father and I are
-the ones to ask for an explanation."
-
-"Oh." Betty was thoughtful. "But you wouldn't make a big trouble
-over it, would you?"
-
-"Do you think that would be like us?"
-
-"No. All right. It's your affair, Mamma. It's too much for me!" and
-Betty took the hot drink her mother offered her, instead of the
-medicine she had first suggested, and went to bed.
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER XVI
-
-                          AN UNHAPPY INTERVIEW
-
-
-Then there _was_ something in the remarks that had been made about
-Jack Huxley. Betty woke early after a few hours' sleep, recalling
-the sound of low voices, those of her father and mother, talking
-over the matter, of course. Careful not to waken Doris, Betty
-presently gathered up her school clothes and went to the bathroom to
-dress; but she was not the first one up. She could hear some one,
-presumably her mother, moving about in the other part of the
-apartment.
-
-Before Betty combed her tousled golden head, she hurried into the
-kitchen and found her mother fixing grape fruit for breakfast. It
-was during a sad but short interval without the little maid. Mrs.
-Lee looked at Betty with a whimsical smile and asked, "How's the
-'wreck of the Hesperus?'"--for that was Betty's favorite expression
-when she was tired.
-
-Betty, rather white this morning, laughed a little. "How well you
-understand, Mother," she said. "It doesn't seem quite so tragic this
-morning, that is, for me. I've been thinking. Wouldn't it be better
-for me not to tell about this and just to say what a good dinner it
-was and how much trouble they went to to give Jack a big party, if
-the girls ask about it?"
-
-"Decidedly so, Betty, for the sake of everybody concerned. You were
-caught in a group about whose doings we've heard. We'll find out
-more again before you accept an invitation. But there was no
-intention on the part of any one to annoy or injure you, though
-there was not the proper chaperonage; and of course the whole
-setting was as different as possible from what we approve. But you
-don't mean that you would continue a special friendship with Jack,
-do you?"
-
-"Oh, no!" Betty looked rather distressed at the thought of Jack. "If
-I hadn't been so stubborn, I might have known. There were little
-things--and then his ideas--and a few things said. But Jack is
-really a dear boy, Mother."
-
-"Yes. So your father said. We talked a good part of the night."
-
-"I suppose so. I'm sorry, Mother. Well, I'll handle it the best I
-can, and I decided that I'd not act offended about it to Jack, but
-just tell him frankly all about how I felt. I wish I could say
-something to make him see how it is, but I suppose there isn't much
-use trying."
-
-Mrs. Lee smiled. "It is to Jack's credit that he has been attracted
-to the sort of a girl you are, Betty. There is certainly no
-advantage in being unkind; but you must be firm about such
-associations. No, I suppose with his parents' ideas, his environment
-and possible heritage, it would be a difficult thing to pull Jack
-away from that sort of thing; and I should not like to have my
-daughter run the risk that much association there would bring.
-
-"Your father and I felt very indignant at first. We do yet in a way.
-But you escaped harm, providentially. No good will be achieved by
-your adding to the gossip that there will probably be about it. The
-effect of 'public opinion' is sometimes a deterrent, but in the case
-of young people, your father and I always think private correction
-is the best. Just keep as still as you can Betty, and see what
-happens. Surely Jack will make some inquiry in regard to how you got
-home."
-
-Betty shook her head doubtfully. "Perhaps he got to be like the girl
-the colored maid said had 'passed out.' I was so scared for a
-minute, thinking that she meant really dead! If he did, he wouldn't
-know a thing about it. It's very queer. I suppose his father and
-mother really didn't expect it to go so far. When they came back in
-the car, it was to be used to take us home, I suppose."
-
-"Not much use in supposing. Think out what you want to say at school
-about it Betty, and we shall see what happens. I have in mind what I
-want to say to Jack's mother some time. Run along and finish
-dressing, and awaken Doris, please. You will feel better when you
-have breakfast. Think about your lessons now, if you can."
-
-"I can all right," replied Betty with a toss of her head and the
-ghost of a smile at her mother, as she followed directions.
-
-The full program at school was a blessing that day. "Have a good
-time at your party?" asked several of the girls who knew about it,
-putting the question in various ways and at different times. And
-Betty brightly replied that there was a "wonderful dinner" and
-"quite a crowd." Neither Jack nor Mathilde was at school, which
-lessened Betty's embarrassment. She really dreaded to meet Jack
-Huxley. Lunch she hurried through and fortunately there was no
-practice in anything after school. She hung from a strap in the
-crowded street car and escaped any prolonged conversation with any
-one.
-
-"There has been no telephone message from Jack," her mother said,
-upon Betty's inquiry. "I thought he _might_ call up to see if I had
-gotten home all right, but of course he'd hate to say why he didn't
-come himself. I have half a notion to call up Mathilde."
-
-But Betty thought better of this. She would not make the first move.
-And she certainly would never apologize for leaving that party! "Was
-everyone intoxicated, Betty?" asked her father as he had an
-opportunity to talk with her privately.
-
-"Oh, no. But almost all the boys and girls had taken a little of
-whatever it was and were more--lively, you know, or silly, and there
-were a few, like me, that didn't know what to do with the silly
-ones, at least they looked as if they were not enjoying it, and it
-was sort of loud and noisy--oh, I can't tell you all the little
-things that made me feel I didn't have to stay and stand it. If Mrs.
-Huxley had been there, I would have gone to speak to her. I thought
-of leaving a note for her, but I didn't have any paper or pencil.
-But I'm not sure that she would have thought it as horrid as I did."
-
-"We shall see that you do not have such an experience again, Betty,"
-said her father. "You will have to have a talk with Jack, of course.
-That is inevitable. But I am sure that you are able to meet the
-situation."
-
-Betty was not quite sure just _how_ she could meet it, but the very
-distance from the party was helpful now, in point of time and
-reflection upon it. Two days went by. No Jack at school. Mathilde
-was there, but carefully keeping away from Betty as Betty was
-keeping away from her. Then came the week-end and Monday again. Jack
-was in his classes. Lucia Coletti was back having had a touch of
-tonsillitis. Betty saw her and overheard her saying to Jack that she
-was "so sorry" she missed his party.
-
-But some little echo of affairs had reached the school. The junior
-reporter of the school paper came to Betty with a puled look upon
-her face. "Betty, tell me about Jack Huxley's birthday party. We
-were going to make a note of it, mostly something nice about Jack,
-if we could, though it wasn't a junior party, of course, and I heard
-that they were mostly outsiders. How about it?"
-
-"There was a notice of it in the newspaper. Did you see that? In the
-junior society doings?"
-
-"No."
-
-"There was a list of names given, the more prominent ones, at least,
-though I was omitted by some terrible mistake." Betty was laughing
-as she said this. She had been thankful enough when she saw that the
-list was not complete.
-
-"Well, I missed that. But Betty--one of the boys handed me something
-intended for a joke on Jack, perhaps, but I've heard something else,
-too--that it was a wild party and that they had flasks and
-drank--but you wouldn't have been to one, would you?"
-
-"Not if I could help it," laughed Betty, speaking quite honestly at
-that. "What was the joke on Jack?"
-
-The girl looked through some notes she had. "I haven't brought it, I
-guess. Why, it wanted to know why Jack wasn't able to come to school
-the next day after his party, and some more like that."
-
-"I don't believe I'd put that in," said Betty. "Jack hasn't been
-here very long; and besides, if there _is_ any gossip, it would only
-make it worse. I'll hunt up the account in the paper, if you like,
-and bring it to school tomorrow. You might just copy it and add
-something like congratulations to Jack on his birthday. Mrs. Huxley
-certainly made a great dinner for Jack, served by their butler and
-other servants, and the house is beautiful, new, you know. Yes, the
-crowd was mostly older than we juniors are. Mathilde was the only
-one I really knew, though I believe there were two or three senior
-girls there."
-
-"Thanks, Betty. I thought you would know. I believe I'll do what you
-suggest and if you'll bring that account tomorrow it will be in
-plenty of time. All the copy has to go in tomorrow afternoon."
-
-The young "reporter" ran away satisfied and Betty turned, to come
-face to face with Jack. She flushed and her heart beat a little
-faster than usual. How she dreaded the interview which must occur
-sooner or later!
-
-Jack was as sober as she ever saw him look, and she did not realize
-how thoughtful and serious a face she raised to him. Brown and blue
-eyes regarded each other for a moment. "Betty," said he, "I've got
-to talk to you. When can I see you?"
-
-"Would you like to come out to the house?" inquired Betty.
-
-"I should say not!" Jack seemed more startled at the idea than rude.
-"Can't I see you after school? I've got my roadster."
-
-Betty shook her head negatively at that suggestion.
-
-"If you don't want to ride with me, Betty, I'll take you to the
-nearest park or tea room, where we can talk. I wouldn't mind having
-you seen with me today, after what I understand they're telling,
-about the party, in school. Would you do it? What was that girl
-asking you--if you don't mind telling? I heard you say 'Jack,' as I
-came up and stopped to wait."
-
-"That was the reporter for the paper, Jack. I think I fixed that for
-you."
-
-"Thanks. I just found out, Betty, that you went home by yourself. I
-was mad about it at first, but I got over that and I think I owe you
-an apology."
-
-"Yes. I think you do, Jack. But it might be just as well if you'd
-stay mad. Still, we must talk it over. We'll be late to our classes
-now, Jack. See me after school. I'll meet you in front and we'll
-decide then where to go."
-
-Betty hurried off, but it was a gym class this time and with the
-changing of shoes, or the donning of bathing suits for the pool,
-there was often some irregularity in appearance at the exact time.
-As Betty cut the water like the goldfish her father sometimes called
-her, she wondered what in the world she would say to Jack. Yes, she
-would let him drive her to the small park not far away. There was
-the chaperonage of people coming and going, and yet they could talk
-uninterrupted. If it would do him any good in the eyes of the school
-to have her seem to be as friendly as ever, she would be glad. Under
-the circumstances, it could not hurt her and their future dropping
-of contact was no more than often happened anyway. But Betty did not
-take lightly what had happened. She would tell Jack just how she
-felt about it. Yet, dear me, the more you thought about it the worse
-it was; and who could tell beforehand what she was going to say?
-Usually it was something entirely different from what you had
-thought up!
-
-Chet Dorrance and Chauncey Allen, racing to the street car together,
-saw Betty walking toward the side street with Jack. "I wonder if
-Betty's folks would like to have her go around with Jack Huxley if
-they knew all about him," Chauncey was looking after Betty, as they
-stopped to let a few machines pass before crossing to take their car
-or wait for it.
-
-"I suppose that party must have been all right," said Chet, "in
-spite of what they say, or Betty wouldn't be with him now."
-
-"You never can tell about a girl," replied Chauncey. "I'm sorry to
-say it, Chet, but maybe she likes him."
-
-"Don't mind me, Chauncey," facetiously said Chet, with a grin.
-"Maybe she does, but I'd rather see Betty pick out some other sort
-of a boy."
-
-Meanwhile Betty was settling herself in the gay roadster and Jack
-was starting.
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER XVII
-
-                              CONCLUSIONS
-
-
-The next scene in this little drama of conflicting ideas and their
-results takes us to a small park where Jack led Betty to a bench and
-sat down beside her. Neither wore any hats and the late afternoon
-sunshine fell upon Betty's gold locks and Jack's dark ones through
-the Maytime green of boughs above them. They had talked of
-incidental school matters on the short ride, when Betty had
-preferred the park to being entertained at a tea room.
-
-At once Jack had began to tell Betty how he had just heard about her
-going home, through the colored maid who had looked from a
-downstairs window and had seen Betty outside, "flyin' along as if de
-ol' Nick hise'f was afteh her!" Jack's mouth showed some mirth as he
-quoted the dialect.
-
-"That was the way I felt, Jack. Honestly this is no joke. I was
-frightened about going home, but I was more scared to stay, Jack.
-I've no doubt but you intended to have me taken home safely. I went
-to speak to you about matters but I saw that you were in no
-condition, or mood, for that matter. Why, Jack, I never was where
-anybody was intoxicated before, and I think it was _terrible_!"
-
-"Oh, Betty, it wasn't as bad as that. You're just a little goose
-about it. You'll get used to it."
-
-"Never. Do you think I'd risk having my senses half gone, or all
-gone, and not know, scarcely, what was happening?--besides getting
-so you have to have it! And how did it happen that you didn't know I
-was gone? Just because _you_ didn't know what _was_ happening."
-
-"Ye-ah. That's the reason I wouldn't come out to your house. I
-thought your father might meet me with a gun."
-
-"Please don't joke about it."
-
-Betty went on to explain that if there had been any older people
-there at the time, she would have asked to be sent home and made
-"proper leave-takings." She described briefly her trip home, her
-satin slippers muddy from the "April shower in May," her talk with
-her mother, and what her parents thought about the matter.
-
-"You see, Jack, in the little town we came from there was a nice boy
-next door that we just _saw_ going to pieces little by little and
-having his life ruined and breaking his mother's heart--losing his
-jobs--I imagine you see more what drinking does to people in a
-country town where you know everybody. Why, I'd be the most thankful
-friend you've got, Jack, if I thought you'd let it alone!"
-
-"Honestly, Betty, I don't know whether I could or not." Jack was
-serious enough as Betty summed up the situation from her viewpoint.
-He folded his arms and looked down at the grass where a little
-chipping sparrow was hopping about. Then suddenly his mood changed.
-"Aw, Betty, come now. It isn't as bad as you think. Why, we've
-always had liquor of some sort around. Father's had it all his life
-and it never hurt him. (Oh, hasn't it? Betty thought.)
-
-"I was just celebrating my birthday a little too much--that was all.
-Let's forget it. I'll make it up to you. Mother's provoked about it
-and I think she was going to call up your mother today; but whatever
-our folks think we can be friends, can't we?"
-
-"Jack, as I told you when we began to talk about this, I looked
-forward to that party, and I did and do appreciate all that your
-mother and father did to make everything lovely for all of us. It
-was a wonderful entertainment, dinner, the pretty house, everything,
-and I don't for a minute think you are responsible for what the
-other boys brought in in their flasks, or for the way some of them
-behaved. And you can count upon me, Jack, not to tell about those
-things at school, or anywhere else, for that matter.
-
-"But to be special friends or see much of each other--we just can't,
-that's all. We are too different. You think things are all right
-that I--well, you see how hard it is for us even to talk about
-them." Betty stopped, for Jack was frowning.
-
-"How about that picnic that we fixed up that night at dinner? You
-said you'd go. I promise you that I'll not have a drop of anything
-with me."
-
-Betty had all she could do to keep steady. Jack did like her, and
-his eyes were so distressed. "Oh, I'd love to say it was all right,
-Jack, because you've been such a good friend; but even if I could
-tell you that I would go, Mother and Father would never let me go
-anywhere with that crowd again."
-
-"How about me alone, with a different crowd?"
-
-"The same, Jack--I'm sorry." Betty, too, looked distressed.
-
-"I don't think you care very much, Betty." Jack jumped up. "I'll
-drive you home unless you think that your parents will think you
-quite contaminated by the ride!"
-
-"Would you rather drive me home, or not, Jack? We could easily say
-good-bye here. The street car line, only a block away, takes me
-right out home." Betty would really have preferred to take the
-street car, but Jack vetoed that.
-
-"I'm sore enough over all this," said he, "but I'd rather take you
-home. I'm not a perfect bounder, and if you like I'll go into the
-house and talk to your mother."
-
-"I wish you would," said Betty, dreading it, however.
-
-But when the roadster drew up before the Lee home, Jack courteously
-accompanied Betty to the front door, but said that he had changed
-his mind about coming in. "I may do it some other time," said he.
-
-Betty, just inside the hall door, turned to see Jack hurrying out to
-his car, starting it and rolling off with never a look backwards.
-She sighed, shut the door and went to ask her mother if Mrs. Huxley
-had telephoned. She had not. "It's all over, Mother, my talk with
-Jack. Did you see him bring me home in his roadster? It's the last
-time, of course, but I can't tell you about what we said just now."
-To Betty's own surprise her voice shook and at her mother's
-sympathetic look the tears came.
-
-"I think I've got to go off and cry," she said in a squeaky tone and
-as she fled toward her room she heard her mother say that she would
-keep Doris away if she came home too soon. One lovely thing about
-Mother was that she wasn't curious! She could wait until her
-children felt like telling her things.
-
-Betty, however, had some repentant thoughts. It would have been
-better, perhaps, to have braved the opposition, or criticism, or
-disagreeable circumstances at the party, as her father had
-suggested, to telephone to him at home, rather than to have risked
-coming home so late and alone. A city was no place for that. But if
-she wrote an apology to her hostess it might "mess things up worse
-than ever," she concluded. Hereafter she would try to "keep her
-head," but also never to get caught in such a situation.
-
-
-
-
-                             CHAPTER XVIII
-
-                           A HAPPY DISCOVERY
-
-
-Early in May the concert given by the combined musical organizations
-was given. That was the next great interest for Betty and her
-musical friends. A close study of good music had been made under the
-direction of the leader, and the result was an entertainment of
-which Lyon High was not ashamed.
-
-Betty, pretty and excited, in her light dress, gracefully
-manipulated a bow in the orchestra. Chet was also prominent, tooting
-away at the proper time. Lucia sang with the combined glee clubs.
-Ted Dorrance and his mother sat near enough for Ted to salute Betty
-with hand and head. The entire Lee family attended; and the
-countess, with Mr. Murchison and some other friends, sat in the
-middle of the balcony. The orchestra was one organization where
-favoritism was seldom shown. You played well or you didn't and were
-ranked accordingly. You came to practice or were dropped. You
-behaved or you were sent to "D. T.," the common expression for
-"detention" or staying after school in a sort of study hall.
-
-But it was good fun and you met other boys and girls who liked
-music, some of them with fine gifts in the line. And dear me, how
-wide Betty's acquaintance had grown to be in these three years at
-Lyon High! Hikes and picnics with the G. A. A. or the class or a few
-friends; a party here, a meeting there; the Dramatic Club, the Latin
-Club, the Girl Reserves and Y. W. affairs. Betty needed a private
-directory, she declared, not to forget "who was who and where she
-had met them." Some were more interesting than others, and among
-those who were interesting she counted the "Pirate of Penzance,"
-Marcia Waite's brother, from whom she occasionally heard through
-Marcia, or Lucia, who was in Marcia's sorority. Once she had a very
-friendly letter from him and at Christmas time he had sent her a
-card. He always addressed her as "Titania" in remembrance of their
-first meeting on Hallowe'en. It was his face that she had seen in
-the mirror. Wouldn't it be funny if, after all--but what nonsense!
-
-Carolyn and Kathryn were taking a great interest in swimming in this
-junior year and now all three were working hard at the life-saving
-tests. Betty longed to have some riding lessons to ride "properly,"
-with Lucia, for from little things that Lucia said from time to
-time, she fancied this to be Lucia's last year at Lyon High. But
-Betty could not do everything. Riding would be just as good another
-year, her mother said.
-
-And now, one lovely week-end, Mrs. Murchison sent for Mrs. Lee. The
-poor bewildered old lady in the suite upstairs was slipping quietly
-over the border from life here to life eternal. Betty went over to
-stay with Lucia, who had told Betty before how they had put the
-dolls away when Grandmother Ferris had seemed to come to herself for
-a while, though weak, sleeping a great deal and finally falling
-asleep not to waken.
-
-"This takes away one reason for Mother's staying here," said Lucia
-to Betty after the funeral, when Betty came after school to stay all
-night again. "This is what I wanted to talk over with you, Betty. I
-wrote everything to my father, Betty, and I wrote again to Italy
-where he is now. I haven't had a word from him in reply to all I
-said, or about coming, just cards about where he was and how soon he
-would reach Italy and how he was having the _palao_ opened in Milan.
-Now _that_ may mean something. I left the letter where mother would
-find it. And Betty, when your mother was here, my mother broke down
-a little over grandmother's going, and I heard her say, 'Oh, I'm so
-_lonely_, Mrs. Lee!' And your mother asked her right away if her
-'husband' would not soon return from his African trip. Evidently you
-hadn't told your mother a word."
-
-"Oh, no, Lucia! Of course not!"
-
-"Mother said she hoped that he'd get back safely, and your mother
-said that the hardest thing in the world was for families to be
-separated. Probably she has heard some talk about Mother's staying
-here so long, but anyhow she saw this sort of thing is all wrong,
-whether I get educated in America or not. I'd stay here another year
-alone if I could get mother to go back to my father!"
-
-"_Would_ you, Lucia? I wish you would stay. I hate to lose you for a
-friend."
-
-"You're never going to lose me, Betty Lee! I need you. Don't you
-think it would be nice to have a real old Italian _palao_ to come to
-when you 'go abroad,' as they say here."
-
-"It isn't possible," grinned Betty. "That, Lucia, is a fairy story!"
-
-This conversation took place at the scene of previous confidences,
-Lucia's own room. And when the girls started to the drawing room a
-little later, they passed a room in which Betty heard the sound of a
-machine. "Peep in a moment, Betty," Lucia suggested, stopping Betty
-as she would have gone more rapidly.
-
-Betty looked in at the open door. There sat Giovanna at the machine,
-and there in a chair beside her sat a dark-haired girl, simply but
-neatly dressed, and weaving a needle in and out in the meshes of
-some beautiful lace. As the girls paused, the needle stopped and the
-girl turned her head in their direction, to smile at Lucia.
-
-"You saw us in the mirror, didn't you?" Lucia asked, stepping within
-the room. "Betty, see how wonderfully this lace is being mended. She
-is practically making lace where it is torn. This is my friend Betty
-Lee, Rose. Betty--" but the Countess Coletti was at the door and
-spoke.
-
-"Girls, run right down, please. Uncle wants to see you, Lucia."
-
-With a smile at the "Rose," who was about to be more fully
-introduced to her, she supposed, Betty followed Lucia downstairs,
-while the countess went into the sewing room. "I thought I'd
-surprise you, Betty, though I almost forgot it," said Lucia.
-
-"You certainly did! That is the face that we saw at the window when
-we went carolling?"
-
-"Yes. It was just accidental we found the girl, though. Mother has
-some lace to be mended, as you saw; and when she inquired a little,
-one of her friends told her about discovering this girl that does
-such fine work."
-
-"What is her name?"
-
-"Rose Seville, I believe."
-
-"Seville! That is a place in Spain, isn't it? First class in
-geography stand up, as Mother says! And it's awfully like Sevilla,
-too!"
-
-Lucia looked puled, then saw her uncle, who came from the drawing
-room into the hall as the girls reached the foot of the stairs. He
-was ready to leave the house, they saw. Nodding to Betty, whom he
-had seen before since her arrival, he detained Lucia for some
-message; Betty did not hear what it was and would not have listened.
-She went on into the drawing room and walked to one of the windows
-that looked out upon the lawns, now lovely with flowers.
-
-Betty was thinking about the girl upstairs. Rose, like the "Rosie"
-of Mrs. Woods account. Seville, like Sevilla, and that man had
-called them the Sevillas. At least _he_ had not found them; and if
-this were Ramon's sister, she must have found enough work to get
-along. She would ask Lucia if she might talk to this Rose Seville.
-
-Betty had not long to wait and when Lucia came into the room to find
-her she told her that she had a "mystery to solve," a statement that
-interested Lucia exceedingly. They sat down together on the soft
-cushions of a handsome davenport while Betty told Lucia "all about
-it." With a bit of her mother's energy and direct efficiency, Lucia
-jumped up and declared that they would find out at once. Two eager
-girls ran up the stairs to the sewing room, which the countess was
-just leaving.
-
-"Wait a minute, Mother, please," asked Lucia. "Betty wants to speak
-to Rose and I think you will be interested."
-
-Smilingly, and with her usual poise, the countess waited, Lucia
-slipping her hand into that of her mother and standing back a
-little, near the door, while Betty stepped closer to the girl that
-raised such surprised but beautiful eyes to her.
-
-"Excuse me, Miss Seville," said Betty, "but your name reminds me of
-some one that I do not know, but--that I may have some good news
-for." Betty spoke rather stumblingly, in her effort not to startle
-the girl if she were the lost "Rosie."
-
-"I have been wanting to find a lady and her daughter named Sevilla
-ever since a Mrs. Woods told me about them." Betty stopped, for the
-girl before her turned pale and started to rise hastily.
-
-"But you know I said I have good news for them!" exclaimed Betty,
-certain now.
-
-"Oh!" exclaimed the girl, dropping back. The countess drew a little
-nearer and spoke reassuringly. "Rose, this young girl is perfectly
-safe with any secret you may have, and so are we. Nothing can harm
-you here."
-
-"Oh!" exclaimed the girl, softly, again. "I--yes. I am the one they
-called Rosie Sevilla there."
-
-"And have you a brother called Ramon? Because we know a very nice
-boy that was known as Ramon Balinsky here; but he went away and we
-had a letter from him, and it's very likely that he will come back
-to see us some time."
-
-Now the girl was all eager interest. The countess drew the lace from
-her hands and lap and sat down herself, in Giovanna's vacant chair,
-to listen while Betty told all she knew and Rose acknowledged that
-they had been looking for Ramon. "Some time I can tell you all," she
-said in her soft English with the foreign accent. "Ramon is a good
-boy. The jewels are our own. That man has been deceiving us first
-and then doing us all the harm he could. When we at last found out
-more about him, we tried to escape him and find Ramon. Then he must
-be looking for us, too. We went away from the rooms we had because I
-had seen that evil man upon the street here and I knew he would find
-us. Then a friend we have told us that he had gone and we came back
-because I could have work here and knew some good people like the
-countess here. The pretty Italian signorina here told me that she
-had seen me when the pretty carols were sung. I listened, but my
-mother, who is old and sick, wanted me to put down the window."
-
-Rose stopped, but looked troubled. "When did the man come to see
-your father? He has come back again!"
-
-"It was some time ago," answered Betty, "and Father thought that he
-would probably go to Detroit to look for Ramon."
-
-"He has money--our money, and he will kill Ramon, I think."
-
-"Perhaps he's been just scaring you," suggested Betty. "He did not
-look so terrible as that."
-
-"He is a serpent," said Rose. "Some time I may tell you more, if you
-care about it."
-
-The countess, listening, had not much relished having Lucia called
-the "Italian signorina," however flatteringly, as Lucia herself had
-noted by her mother's expression. Oh, yes, Countess Coletti was
-making an American out of her daughter--_perhaps_, Lucia thought.
-But the countess had an idea.
-
-"Rose," she said, "how would you like to bring your mother here and
-help me for a while? You would be safe, I think, and especially if
-we arrange for another of your names to be used. I suppose you have
-a string of them, like most of the noble families in the old world."
-
-"Yes. That has been our mistake--but we wanted Ramon to be able to
-find us if he were still alive."
-
-"Poor child!" cried the countess. "There are those rooms on the
-third floor since Grandmother Ferris has gone. They are in a wing,
-by themselves. I will speak to my brother about it. The nurse and
-maid who took care of Madam Ferris both wanted to leave. There is
-much to be done, with her private possessions all to be looked over;
-and some way I can not bear to do it, or let careless people do it.
-I could use you in many ways, Rose and we would pay you well. Will
-you come?"
-
-"Can you mean that?" Rose Sevilla was eagerly leaning forward,
-almost afraid to believe the countess. Rich people sometimes had
-kind impulses and then forgot!
-
-"I mean it," smiled Countess Coletti. "Finish the lace now. Come
-tomorrow and by that time I will have consulted our new housekeeper
-and considered the matter of furniture and just what rooms shall be
-cleared for you and your mother. There is every arrangement for
-cooking light meals there, since it was often necessary."
-
-"Mother is more sick with worry than anything," said Rosie. "This
-news will make her happy--and to be safe! She is old and has been
-through so much that it will be like heaven here! I will do
-everything. No work is too hard for me."
-
-The countess smiled. "You shall do enough to earn the way of both of
-you, never fear, though I shall want to know some time what daughter
-of Spanish nobles is living on our third floor."
-
-Rose smiled at that. "You shall know all, perhaps, some day. I thank
-you for _trusting_ me!"
-
-At last the trail was laid to bring Ramon and his mother and sister
-together. Betty felt satisfied. Her neglect or carelessness earlier
-in the steps of identification had not been fatal to the final
-outcome. And it was Lucia and the carolling that were finally
-responsible, as she told Lucia.
-
-"Yes, and who got me to join the Girl Reserves?" asked Lucia. "Now
-bring my father over here, Betty, and you _will_ fix us all up!"
-
-"That is beyond little me," laughed Betty. "That is quite your job,
-Signorina Coletti!"
-
-
-
-
-                              CHAPTER XIX
-
-                        BETTY SEES "X" SURPRISED
-
-
-The weeks went by. Father's little goldfish had passed the
-life-saving tests! She could also do some more diving "stunts" and
-in "endurance tests" was growing proficient. She was a candidate for
-more G. A. A. honors at the final award of honors. Hikes you would
-do anyway, of course. She tramped ten miles one day with a Lyon "Y"
-group whose leader became rather mixed as to route and the five-mile
-hike became ten. Oh, well, Betty said, it would count just that much
-more toward your points. But she had gotten some gravel in her shoes
-and limped for the rest of the week-end. Life was not always free
-from drawbacks!
-
-School was nearly out. Betty Lee, junior, would soon be Betty Lee,
-senior. As usual, the girls "couldn't realize it." Some of them were
-going to attend summer school. Betty, still keeping on the honor
-roll, knew that there would be no necessity for her doing it; still
-if you were in the city, there might be something interesting to
-take. Yet there was always her violin to practice. She wanted to be
-a member of the "senior orchestra" next year as well as in the
-senior class, and that you won by ability, not by rank.
-
-Of Jack Huxley she saw little. He was courteous enough to speak when
-they met and if they were unavoidably in a junior group together he
-was as friendly to Betty as to any one. But there was no waiting
-after school to see her. There were no invitations. And other
-matters occupied Betty's thoughts.
-
-"I don't want to be inquisitive, or curious, Carolyn," said Peggy
-Pollard one day to Carolyn Gwynne, "but don't you imagine there must
-have been something in all that gossip about Jack Huxley's party? I
-notice Betty and he haven't been together any since. Did Betty ever
-tell you anything? Or isn't it any of my affair?"
-
-"Betty's never said anything much about the party to me, Peggy, only
-that it was a big one and they had it all very 'spuy' there, dinner
-with lots of courses and everything. I really can't remember what
-she did say. And was it after that Jack stopped being with Betty?
-He's been around with Mathilde some, I know; but I thought it was
-because old Chet has been rushing Betty a lot. She was in that
-pretty Holland booth Mrs. Dorrance was running and you know we girls
-were all invited out there for a fete they had on her big lawn. But
-Peggy, I think it's just as well for Betty to stick with the old
-crowd. Chet, too, will be in the university next year. He has to
-make hay while the sun shines. I feel sorry for Chet if Betty
-doesn't like him as much as he likes her."
-
-"Don't worry about Chet, Carolyn. Likely enough he'll meet some girl
-at the university and Betty will be the one to miss our senior boys.
-I think I know one or two juniors, though, that won't' be so sorry
-when that bunch of boys has gone."
-
-"Of course. If they didn't go, then we wouldn't be seniors. I hope
-the teams won't suffer."
-
-Baseball, the "senior exams," the excitement of the approaching
-commencement, little social affairs of clubs and groups, more
-elaborate entertainments, assemblies in the auditorium that no one
-wanted to miss--all these and more filled the days.
-
-There was a general rejoicing and excitement one day when great
-loads of handsome books were delivered at the school and a rush
-occurred at all possible moments to get a copy of the annual Lyon
-High _Star_. It was the custom to order the books in advance, as
-they were too expensive to have any copies left over. Not all felt
-that they could buy one, but those who did were generous with them
-and it was not unusual to see a group gathered around, peering over
-shoulders to look at the pictures of groups or individuals, taken
-some time back, when the camera men came out to the school.
-
-Betty and Carolyn secured their copies among the first and plumped
-down in seats in the auditorium at the close of school to look at
-them. Mary Emma and Selma were standing behind them, bending over
-with interest; and not far away Chet and Budd were chuckling over a
-copy. Naturally, their own individual pictures with their class were
-of first interest. "Oh, Betty!" cried Mary Emma, "that isn't half as
-pretty as you are, but it's pretty good after all! And look at
-mine--there--on the same page. Isn't that awful! I'm just smirking!
-Somebody had made me laugh and I was trying to get over it and just
-smile a little."
-
-"Wait till you see mine," said Carolyn, "before you shed tears. I'm
-the crossest girl you ever saw, so far as mere looks are concerned."
-
-"Why, Caroline, you just look serious. Of course, you usually don't,
-but what is a little thing like that?" This was Betty.
-
-Exclamations and some laughter were the order of the next few
-minutes. Some of the teachers looked "wonderful" and others "you
-wouldn't know at all." But the book as a whole was eminently
-satisfactory, with its individual recognitions and personal history
-as well as the account of the year's progress and activities. Betty
-would add hers to the other two reposing at home. One more would
-complete her high school record.
-
-While they still looked at the book, Lucia Coletti opened the
-central auditorium door and looked in searchingly. "Oh, here you
-are, Betty. Peggy said that she thought you hadn't left the building
-yet. I've something important to tell you, Betty. Can you come out
-to dinner with me? I can telephone home for you if you will. I can
-get the telephone in the office now. They said I could."
-
-Lucia's voice was trembling with suppressed excitement, but the
-girls, still engaged in the pages Betty was turning, did not notice.
-Selma was talking to Mary Emma and some of the art work by the
-students themselves was being commented upon.
-
-Betty handed the book to Selma. "You can finish looking at it,
-girls, and I'll be in the hall as soon as I go to my locker a
-minute. All right, Lucia. Telephone, or get Mother on the line for
-me, if you like. I'd love to come."
-
-Betty fancied that there might be some development relative to the
-Sevillas, now comfortably settled. But she was mistaken. As the two
-girls left the high school building, Betty with her _Star_ under her
-arm, Lucia in the lowest tones told her that she had received a
-telegram.
-
-"It was telephoned out to school, addressed to me at Lyon High, and
-the office telephoned to the home room, you know, to have me stop
-after school. It isn't signed by anything but an initial, but it is
-from my father. It was sent from New York. Here it is. You can read
-it in the car, but don't say a word before the chauffeur."
-
-"Then your father is coming!" said Betty in a surprised whisper.
-
-"Yes. I want you, because Mother has been sick all day, just worn
-out with all sorts of things, chiefly late hours and all the things
-that are going on. She is really better than she was yesterday,
-though. Now she might want me with her, and I must have somebody
-there that knows, so that one of us can be ready to--oh, well, with
-just the butler there he might send in a card and Mother wouldn't
-see him or something. And she's _got_ to!"
-
-Betty laughed a little at Lucia's determination. But it was a matter
-of the most importance to her friend. "Good for you, Lucia. And I
-imagine if they once see each other----"
-
-Betty broke off, for they had reached the waiting car which so often
-called for Lucia. She unfolded the piece of paper on which the
-telegram had been copied down as dictated over the telephone.
-"Coming. Beach house about six. Surprise. X." The periods were
-represented by the customary "stop."
-
-"I can't imagine a certain person's arriving anywhere that early in
-the morning," said Lucia, "so it's tonight."
-
-"In that case, Lucia, I may not stay to dinner. I'd be a fifth
-wheel, but oh, I'm so glad."
-
-It was no time before the girls were at the Murchison door. Betty
-made herself at home in Lucia's room while Lucia went to see her
-mother, the "X" of the telegram, who was to be surprised. Doubtless
-that was only intended as a public caution, designed to prevent the
-telegram's being relayed home.
-
-Lucia came back in high spirits. "You ought to see my mother," said
-she. "She's up and in the most adorable negligee you can imagine.
-She may dress for dinner. Uncle is to be late. It couldn't happen
-better. Now if the 'long-absent' Count Coletti is only on time!
-Mother was so mad at that in the paper once."
-
-Lucia's dark eyes sparkled and her cheeks were hot. Betty said a
-little prayer in her heart that her friend might not be disappointed
-with the result. "Mother's been desperately lonely and restless
-lately and has been on the go nearly all the time," continued Lucia.
-"Come on; we'll go downstairs and wait. You must be right there and
-don't stop keeping an ear open for the door, if I'm called to Mother
-or for anything else. Sometimes the housekeeper wants to see me if
-she can't disturb Mother."
-
-This was all very thrilling. Lucia could not keep still or very far
-away from the front window. At the sound of an automobile on the
-drive, both girls went to the window. It might be Mr. Murchison, of
-course, or almost anybody. But no. "It's a taxi," Lucia tensely
-whispered.
-
-On it came, stopping before the entrance. The driver descended from
-his seat and opened the door. There was a little delay as the
-passenger was paying before leaving the taxi. The driver was
-receiving a bill, which must have included a good tip, from the
-impressive manner and extreme courtesy which followed on the part of
-the driver. He took out two grips and stood aside to let a slight,
-distinguished-looking man pass him and go up the steps. He followed,
-but Betty saw that the butler had opened the door to go out.
-
-Lucia had waited only to see who stepped from the taxi. She was out
-into the hall, down the steps and in the arms of a surprised father
-before one would have thought she could reach him. The butler, too,
-was smiling and welcoming the count. "Why, he was probably here when
-they were married," thought Betty. "Of course, but Lucia had never
-thought of it!"
-
-Invited to have a share in this arrival, Betty felt quite justified
-as she happily watched from the window seat, having a good view from
-the windows that projected in a sort of rectangular recess at the
-part of the room nearest the hall.
-
-The door into the hall stood open, but Betty did not come into sight
-as they entered from without. She wondered if there would be any
-delay. Would the count go straight to his wife's room? What would
-happen? She could hear the rapid Italian in which Lucia and her
-father were speaking. The butler spoke in his accustomed low tones,
-but with some excitement, too. It was being explained to him. Then
-up the stairs Lucia and her father went, the butler following with
-the grips. It was probably the intention to take the count to the
-proper guest room first, but a door opened and the Countess Coletti
-asked, "Lucia, who came?" as Lucia was in the lead of the silently
-coming party.
-
-Then the countess caught sight of her husband. "Oh, my dear, my
-dear!" And the rest was in Italian. In the tenderest of tones the
-count was addressing his wife.
-
-Lucia came rushing down the stairs to throw herself upon Betty and
-cry. "Oh, I can't help it, Betty!" she cried between little sobs.
-"It is all right at last! She was glad to see him and he just
-gathered her up in his arms! I think she is crying, too!"
-
-It took Lucia only a few minutes to gain her self-possession and
-explain further. "My father says he has come to 'get us,' as you
-said, Betty, but he will stay a while if it is all right with Uncle
-to let me finish my school. He told me that right away. But the main
-thing was to find out whether Mother would receive him or not. Of
-course, we could not mention _that_ before the butler. He knew my
-father. Wasn't that nice?"
-
-Betty was merely a happy spectator, but Lucia would not let her go,
-and when at last, after she had been called to her mother's room for
-a small family reunion and had come back to Betty a thoroughly happy
-girl again, she ran to meet her uncle, who came in just then. "Oh
-Uncle!" she cried, "my father, the Count Coletti, is here!" How
-proudly Lucia spoke, and there was a little of question in her
-voice.
-
-"Thank heaven!" replied her uncle, of whose reception of her father
-she had been so doubtful. "It is high time! I hope he can manage
-her. It's beyond me." But Betty knew that Mr. Murchison was laughing
-as he spoke. "Tell him that we'll kill the fatted calf. Have you
-told the housekeeper?"
-
-"I never thought of it, but the butler knows and he does everything
-or sees to it, you know."
-
-And at dinner, when Betty had met the count and he had told her that
-he already knew her as his daughter's best friend, one little speech
-of the countess amused her very much.
-
-"Think, Buddy," she said using the old term of her childhood for her
-brother, "think, Buddy, what a social asset he'll be while we stay!"
-And with perfect understanding now, Count Coletti looked at his wife
-and smiled with the rest.
-
-In the course of the conversation, which consisted chiefly in
-drawing out details of Count Coletti's African experiences, it was
-hinted that Lucia might return after a summer in Switzerland to
-finish her course in the American high school. Betty modestly
-expressed herself as hoping that she would, and the countess said,
-"We shall see."
-
-Truly life was full of thrills to Betty Lee. There was still school
-to be completed. Chet would get his diploma; and should she have
-some little remembrance for Chet in honor of his graduation, or not?
-She would ask her mother. One more year and she would have a
-diploma, too! But first she had to be Betty Lee, senior.
-
-
-
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