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- float: left; - margin-right: 1em } - -.align-right { clear: right; - float: right; - margin-left: 1em } - -.align-center { margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto } - -div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } - -/* SECTIONS */ - -body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } - -/* compact list items containing just one p */ -li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } - -.first { margin-top: 0 !important; - text-indent: 0 !important } -.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } - -span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } -img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } -span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } - -.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } - -/* PAGINATION */ - -.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.toc-pageref { float: right } - -@media screen { - .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage - { margin: 10% 0; } - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -/* DIV */ -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } -</style> -<title>LARKSPUR</title> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2015-05-31" /> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1919" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="Larkspur" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="49098" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Jane D. Abbott" /> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="Larkspur" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta name="DCTERMS.title" content="Larkspur" /> -<meta name="DCTERMS.source" content="/home/ajhaines/larkspur/larkspur.rst" /> -<meta name="DCTERMS.language" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" content="en" /> -<meta name="DCTERMS.modified" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" content="2015-05-31T18:14:17.679085+00:00" /> -<meta name="DCTERMS.publisher" content="Project Gutenberg" /> -<meta name="DCTERMS.rights" content="Public Domain in the USA." /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49098" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta name="DCTERMS.creator" content="Jane D. Abbott" /> -<meta name="DCTERMS.created" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" content="2015-05-31" /> -<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" /> -<meta name="generator" content="Ebookmaker 0.4.0a5 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" /> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="larkspur"> -<h1 class="center document-title level-1 pfirst title"><span class="x-large">LARKSPUR</span></h1> - -<!-- this is the default PG-RST stylesheet --> -<!-- figure and image styles for non-image formats --> -<!-- default transition --> -<!-- default attribution --> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States -and most other parts of the world 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 </span><a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a><span> included with -this ebook or online at </span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a><span>. If you -are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws -of the country where you are located before using this ebook.</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>Title: Larkspur -<br /> -<br />Author: Jane D. Abbott -<br /> -<br />Release Date: May 31, 2015 [EBook #49098] -<br /> -<br />Language: English -<br /> -<br />Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line"><span>*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>LARKSPUR</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container titlepage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold xx-large">LARKSPUR</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">BY</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">JANE D. ABBOTT</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">AUTHOR OF -<br />HAPPY HOUSE, -<br />KEINETH, ETC.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">GROSSET & DUNLAP -<br />PUBLISHERS NEW YORK</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">Made in the United States of America</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container verso"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container dedication"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">TO THE FLOWERS OF MY OWN -<br />GARDEN I DEDICATE THIS STORY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CONTENTS</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span></p> -<ol class="upperroman simple"> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#an-october-day">An October Day</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-captain-s-story">The Captain's Story</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#renee-finds-a-home">Renée Finds a Home</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#gardens">Gardens</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#first-aid">First Aid</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#eagles-and-golden-eaglets">Eagles and Golden Eaglets</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#aunt-pen-plans">Aunt Pen Plans</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#breadwinners">Breadwinners</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-new-lodger">The New Lodger</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-scout-s-honor">A Scout's Honor</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#young-wings">Young Wings</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-game">The Game</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-christmas-party">The Christmas Party</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#hill-top">Hill-top</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#pat-s-pride-and-its-fall">Pat's Pride and Its Fall</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#good-turns">Good Turns</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#angeline">Angeline</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#for-his-country">For His Country</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-letter-from-france">A Letter From France</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-lost-baby">The Lost Baby</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#renee-s-box">Renée's Box</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#surprises">Surprises</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-best-of-all">The Best of All</a></p> -</li> -</ol> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="an-october-day"><span class="bold x-large">LARKSPUR</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER I</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">AN OCTOBER DAY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>On an October day--a sunny day, and except -for the yellow leaves that quivered on rapidly -bearing branches, very like spring--Patricia Everett, -from the window of her home, watched an -automobile drive out of sight, carrying her mother and -sister away to Florida, and confided to the empty -room that she was the very unhappiest girl in the -whole world!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Conflicting emotions tormented the soul of the -little lady. She disliked very much seeing anyone -depart from anywhere without her! Then, too, so -hurried had been the departure that nothing in the -shape of candy, books or toys had been left behind -to comfort her! And saddest of all, at the last -moment her mother had decided that she must not -return to Miss Prindle's because of an epidemic of -measles!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The curious quiet that had fallen upon the house -after the bustle of departure added to Patricia's -loneliness. With a heart bursting with pity for -herself, she wandered up the stairs to her room--a -pretty room, its windows hung in flowered chintz, -a bird singing from a cage hanging in the sunshine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When his little mistress walked into the room -Peter Pan trilled more gayly than before--it was as -though he bade her come to the window and look -across the way!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If she had looked she would have seen in the -kitchen window of the shabby brick house, across the -intersecting street, Mrs. Mary Quinn and her -daughter Sheila rocking in one another's arms and -laughing like two children!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Quinn's house was old and shabby, its fences -tumbling down; hard times often knocked at her -door, but with it all her smile was always as bright -as the gay geraniums blooming on the spotless sill -of the kitchen window that faced the Everett house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Fortune had come to the Quinns that day in -the guise of a new lodger. He had taken the second -floor bedroom which stretched across the back of -the house. Because this room was very big and -had a queer, rickety stairway leading to it from the -outside of the house, it had never been rented. But -with the other lodgers who lived in the front rooms -and the tiny side bedroom and the parlor, which had -been converted into a "light housekeeping suite," -Mrs. Quinn managed to keep her little family most -comfortably and to have a bit left over for such -luxuries as the flowers, a few books, pretty pictures -and crisp muslin curtains.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith, Sheila," she had cried, coming into the -kitchen where her daughter was preparing apples -for the oven. "It's just as though Dame Fortune -knew it was your birthday! Now you shall have -your music!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, mother!" cried the girl, dropping her -paring knife. "How wonderful!" Then, hesitating: -"But maybe I hadn't ought to! That much each -week would make things easier if----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Mrs. Quinn snatched bowl, apples and knife -from her daughter's hands. "Don't let's be -worrying over what's ahead, sweetness! We'll just take -what comes! Didn't I have my bit of music when -I was a girl and don't I know the longings that -are in you to have things that other girls have, -lassie? It's a good daughter you are to me and it's -you that has always made the hard things easier----" She -stopped suddenly as though something in her -throat choked the words. For answer Sheila caught -the rough hands that knew only work now and kissed -them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then these two, arms around one another, the -bowl tipping dangerously between them, laughed -together as though there had never been a single -hardship in the world.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We're two sillies--that's what we are! Now -we must be about our work or the gentleman will -come and the room won't be ready!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who is he, mother?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure, child, and I scarcely asked him! His -name is Marks and he said he was employed at the -Everett Works. I only thought of you, dearie! -After supper you run over and see Miss Sheehan -about the lessons; two a week--and we'll have a man -come to tune up the old piano and we'll just pull -it out here where it will be warm and where I can -listen to you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So their work--and there was much for their -quick fingers to do before the room could be put in -readiness for the new tenant and the supper prepared -for the younger Quinns, would be made lighter by -their happy plans!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Patricia was too miserable to even glance -across at the window where the pink geraniums -bloomed. She did not want to think that there was -anyone happy anywhere in the world.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sighing deeply she curled herself on her bed, -drew from underneath her pillow her beloved diary -and wrote upon its open page:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is such a cruel, sad moment in my life -that I must write about it although it is too bad to -put it in my nice diary." (Monthly she and Angeline -Snow, her dearest friend at Miss Prindle's, -exchanged diaries.) "I have been left alone here -by a fond but heartless mother and sister who thinks -only of herself and her troubles and my father is -here at home and he is left, too, only of course my -father is a man and he has his business. But the -very worst of all because they are afraid of measles -and Cis says my hair will come out and that it will -never be thick like hers anyway though I remember -you and I said that we hated thick hair when it was -yellow like hers they will not let me go back to my -dear Prindles and so I am a prisoner in a gilded cage. -My Aunt Pen is coming to live with us while my -mother is away and I love her and she always lets me -do everything I want to do but she is not like you -or the other girls at school. And though I have -lived here many summers as the poets say, I have no -friends because there are only the children I used -to meet at silly parties and my mother's friends -who are polite and stupid and I shall pine with -loneliness. It is all Celia's fault though mother says she -is very ill and that she has worn herself out doing -war work and she looked very pail and interesting -and I guess maybe she worried when Lieut Chauncey -Merideth fell out of his airplane but I guess he'll -be more careful next time. You remember I never -liked him though when he comes back from war -though he is only in Texas I guess he'll treat me -a little different for he will realise I am almost -fourteen if he comes back in time and does not fall -out again. I do love my mother but she has been -most heartless leaving me sad and lonely and with -nothing to do. But as old English Sparrow says -there is always work for idle hands to do and I shall -find something so as to write to you all about it. I -am too old to spend my hours repining. I remember -the words of E. Sparrow how we are captains of our -souls and I shall keep saying that in my loneliness. -I guess now I will go down and order the dessert for -dinner----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This sudden thought so comforted Patricia that -she closed her diary quickly, put it back under the -pillow, slipped off the bed and ran downstairs to -the kitchen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She found that Melodia, the cook, had already -prepared mince tarts for dinner. They were spread -temptingly upon a shelf. Patricia tasted one and -immediately ordered Melodia to make nothing but -mince tarts for dessert during her mother's absence! -Perched on a stool Patricia asked several questions -concerning the pleasant odors that came from the big -oven. But Melodia seemed to be very indifferent -as to the importance of her presence in the kitchen; -Patricia was glad to remember that she had promised -her mother to carry a report to the Red Cross -Headquarters that very afternoon. So, slipping off her -stool she stalked majestically away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now almost at the same moment that Sheila and -Mrs. Quinn were laughing in their kitchen over their -wonderful fortune and lonely Patricia was cheering -her heart by tasting mince tarts, kind-hearted -Mrs. Atherton, the official in charge at the Red Cross -Headquarters on this October day, was wrinkling -her pretty brows over an unusual situation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before her, watching her face anxiously, stood a -man in the uniform of a captain of the United States Army.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps I acted too hastily--bringing the child -here, to leave on your hands, but--you can see how -it happened; I'd given my word to that boy to take -care of his little sister. If you could have known -him! Why, there wasn't a fellow in my company -that wouldn't have given up his life for him! They -didn't need to--he did it first!" Capt. Allan's -voice broke. "I got my orders back to the States -and I just had time to go and find Renée."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wouldn't it have been better if you had left her -somewhere in Paris?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You see you don't know the whole story, -madam. This Emile LaDue was in the French -uniform but he was sort of an American. And that -was my promise--that I'd bring her back to -America--somewhere. He didn't have time to say anything -more--he gave me the address when we were in a -shell hole waiting until it was dark enough to creep -over to the enemy lines. We went out a few seconds -afterwards--crawling along on our stomachs, he -one way, I another. I--never saw him again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Atherton openly wiped her eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The soldier went on: "I'd keep the little girl--just -because I loved Emile LaDue, but I haven't any -folks or any place to leave her and I have to report -back over there! When I'm home for good----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If Mrs. Everett was here I am sure we could -arrange something, but she is out of town."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was at that moment that Patricia walked past -the open door on her way from the Secretary's office -where she had left her mother's report. Mrs. Atherton's -rather high-pitched voice reached her ear. She -stood quite still.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The child would make any home happy--she's -a dear little thing! Has plenty of clothes, I guess, -but right now more than anything else she needs -friends and love--quite a bit of that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A baby!" thought Patricia excitedly; "a war -orphan!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia's mother had already adopted six French -orphans; Patricia and her classmates at school were -supporting several Belgian families and Celia was -a godmother to ever so many disabled French -soldiers. That all meant only sending money away just -so often, but this was quite different--the baby was -right here! Patricia had no time to think just what -her mother might do in such a case! There was an -offended tone in the man's voice as though he might -take his war-orphan and go away and not come back! -So she walked straight into the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mrs. Atherton, I will take this child immediately."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Both Mrs. Atherton and the captain gasped at -the sudden appearance of Patricia. Patricia, seeing -doubt in Mrs. Atherton's eyes, turned to the soldier.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My mother is away, but if you will bring -the--the baby to my home I will ask my father, and I -know he will let her stay!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Atherton hurriedly explained. "This is -Miss Patricia Everett, the daughter of the lady of -whom I was speaking. Perhaps----" she hesitated. -She was thinking rapidly--something, of course, -must be done with the child! "This might solve our -problem--until you return and wish to make other -arrangements."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh </span><em class="italics">please</em><span> bring her," cried Patricia in quite -her natural manner. "I can't go back to school -because of the measles there and I'd lose my hair -and I am dreadfully lonesome, and I should </span><em class="italics">love</em><span> -a baby! We'll go home and I'll send Watkins after -Daddy and then we'll tell him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It sounded so logical that even Mrs. Atherton -nodded approvingly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is she?" asked Patricia, looking around -the room as though some corner might conceal a -bundle that would prove to be the little war-orphan.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I left her outside, in the taxi. I wanted to -find out what could be done."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, let's hurry!" commanded Patricia, turning -toward the door. "I know Daddy'll say yes, for -you see my mother and sister have ever so many -orphans and this will be mine and Daddy's." She -was running eagerly ahead of Capt. Allan out of the -door and down the long flight of steps.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can she walk yet?" she whispered excitedly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should say so!" he laughed, throwing open -the door of the taxicab.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And within Patricia beheld staring gravely at -her from a corner of the automobile, her small hands -clasped tightly in her lap, her pale face framed by -a wealth of golden hair that hung in soft curls over -her shabby coat--not the war-orphan she had -pictured, but a little girl of her own age!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss Renée LaDue," the Captain said with a -sweeping gesture. "And this young lady----" he -hesitated a moment, as though the name Mrs. Atherton -had spoken had slipped his mind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia, almost too astonished and too delighted -to make a sound, stammered:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm Patricia Everett, but please, just call me Pat!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-captain-s-story"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER II</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE CAPTAIN'S STORY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Certain that some serious catastrophe must have -happened, Thomas Everett ran up the steps of his -house with the speed of a schoolboy. Watkins, the -chauffeur, had found him at his office.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss Pat, sir, says you are to hurry home at -once--that it is awfully important." He had -repeated her exact words and even imitated her -imperative tone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Mr. Everett had anxiously asked him -"what had happened," he had shaken his head and -had said: "I don't know, sir, what it is, sir, but I'm -sure it is something because I've never seen Miss Pat -so excited!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia was awaiting her father in the hall. -There were not many things that she had ever wanted -that he had refused her--but then this was very -different and he might say "No!" She greeted him -with a violent hug and, talking so fast that he could -not make out one word that she was saying, she -dragged him toward the library door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They're in there, Daddy, and oh, </span><em class="italics">please</em><span> do let -her stay!" she whispered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Within the room Mr. Everett found a tall soldier -holding a shy little girl by the hand. The officer -introduced himself with a word or two, and with the -same directness he had used in telling his story to -Mrs. Atherton, he now plunged straight to the point.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have brought this little girl from France. -She is one of--those many--who has lost everyone -and everything--through this war!" He was trying -to choose his words carefully so as to spare the little -girl as much as he could.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Realizing his embarrassment Mr. Everett interrupted -him. "Pat, dear, take the little girl and show -her the birds." Patricia, rather reluctantly led the -little stranger off to the small conservatory beyond -the dining-room where, in beautiful cages, many -different kinds of birds sang joyously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thanks, sir," the officer drew a breath. "Taking -care of this small lady has been the most difficult -thing I ever attempted. I'll tell you the story, sir, -so that you can understand. About six months ago -a young French officer was attached to our company. -He directed the scouting. There were six of us -picked out to work with him. I was one of them. -We did some mighty ticklish work, sir--for a few -weeks there." Almost involuntarily the man's -fingers went to the small cross of honor he wore on -his tunic. "And we fellows get pretty well -acquainted, you know--just lying hours in a shell -hole next to another man is like knowing him for -years and years back home. It was like that with this -Emile LaDue and me. I found out that his father -and mother had been born in America--they were -both dead, for one night he told me that if anything -happened to him--and there was plenty of chance -for something to happen any minute--it would leave -his little sister all alone in the world. He never talked -much about himself--back in the lines he was the -bravest, cheeriest one in the crowd, laughing at every -sort of hardship, but when we'd get out he'd get quiet -and I knew what was on his mind. He'd tell little -things at different times. It seems he'd made a -promise to his mother that he'd bring the little girl -to America to live--and he'd kept putting it off, and -then the war came along and he thought it might be -too late! That bothered him more than anything -else. The last night I was with him we were hiding -in a dirty hole--four of us--almost covered with -mud and water. He and I lay close together; we -could only whisper, for some of the Boche had seen -us and we had to keep low until it was darker. We'd -been there for hours, not more'n just breathing when -he whispered suddenly in my ear: 'Allan, I may -not come out of this--and you may. Will you----' You -know some of the boys over there have premonitions -and they're pretty nearly always true and I -suppose he had one! I knew what he wanted to say, -and he'd been the bravest and best pal a man could -ever find and we'd faced death a hundred times, side -by side, and he'd never flunked once, so I whispered: -'Don't you worry--just tell me where I can find -your little sister.' He twisted around until he could -get a hand into his pocket. He gave me a card. -He said: 'She's all alone in the world! Take her -back to America--I didn't make good! All her life -my mother planned that and when she died I promised -to do it!' He tried to tell me something about -a box, but a star shell burst right next to us and we -had to dig down into the mud and we scarcely -breathed for fear the Boche snipers would hear -us!" Capt. Allan's voice, halting through the story as -though it hurt him to recall the bitter memories, -suddenly broke.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just after that we crawled out--we had to do -our job and get back with the stuff the Colonel -wanted to know! We divided up--two of us went -one way and two the other. I got over and through -and back to our lines with the information and I -won this"--touching his cross--"and got a sniper's -bullet in the shoulder. I was put out of business -then--for three weeks." He stopped again--it was -very hard for him to tell his tale. Mr. Everett was -giving occasional nods of sympathy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When I got back to my company they told me -the Jerries had caught LaDue! He had almost -gotten away when he was killed by a hand grenade. The -other man with him was made a prisoner. The boys -found LaDue when they advanced--they buried him -out there with a lot of others! That was always -the worst, sir--these good pals that you'd messed -with and bunked with under the same muddy blankets -and lived with through hours and hours of waiting -for no one ever knew what--and then--just flesh and -bones out in that desolation and buried--any old -place----" He pulled himself together. "Excuse -me, sir--I loved the boy--I'd have liked to have -just said--oh, good luck, old chap--or something -like that! Well, I asked for a furlough to hunt up -the little sister and what did they do but order me -back to the States on a special mission to the -Intelligence Department. I had just twenty-four hours to -find the child. I had no trouble, though--she was -at the address out in St. Cloud, living with a queer -old couple--the man was a veteran of the Franco-Prussian -war and the wife raises flowers--only no -one in France is buying flowers now! I suppose -they were all living on what Emile was sending to -them. They didn't want to let the child go--I think -they were truly fond of her, but when I told them -what I had promised Emile they never said another -word. I had to break it to them that he had been -killed! I was afraid of Renée crying and wondering -how I'd comfort her and then I wished that she -</span><em class="italics">would</em><span> cry! She was such a pathetic little thing--all -she'd say was 'He told me it would be for -America and France!' I tell you, sir, even the little -ones are as brave as any!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, old Susette packed her clothes and I -started back with her, though I hadn't the ghost of -an idea where to take her! I haven't a home or any -folks of my own, sir, but I said to myself--there's -the Red Cross, they'll tell me! I had come to this -town first, sir, so I just brought her along with me -and--here we are!" He laughed ruefully. "I -guess I didn't think the thing out very much! Over -there, you know, homes are smashed up in a twinkling, -and so many kiddies--like this little one--are -left along by the wayside, that you don't stop to think -but just gather 'em in! Our boys can't stand seeing -the children suffer, sir--why, I've watched many -a one just turn his whole mess right over to a bunch -of kids--they're so hungry looking." He paused -for a moment. "That's all, sir, and if you can find -a place for Renée to live where she'll be safe -and--happy, I'll gladly give half my pay and take her -when I come back!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The story of Renée LaDue finished, the officer -stood very straight and looked anxiously at his -listener.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Often during the story Mr. Everett had brushed -something suspiciously like tears from his eyes. He -rose quickly now and held out his hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"With what you boys are doing--and giving up--there -isn't anything we who have to stay at home -could refuse to do! Renée shall be taken care of--I -promise you that! Nothing must be said about -money. When the war is over and you return--then -you shall come and claim her if you wish!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The soldier's face beamed with pleasure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, sir, that is splendid! You can't imagine -how responsible I feel about my promise to -Emile--or what a fine chap he was!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Everett took a notebook and a pencil from -his pocket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Please give me some of the facts concerning -this child," he said in a business-like manner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Capt. Allan repeated them he entered each in -the little book.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you know nothing more concerning Emile's family?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only a little more--back in the hospital I talked -with a French surgeon who had known Emile's -father. He said he had been a sculptor--until he -grew blind. I imagine they were very poor. The -doctor said that Emile had been studying, too--in -Paris. I remembered he had said something once to -me that had made me think he was just waiting to -finish his studies to keep his promise to his -mother--to come to America to live!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thomas Everett shook his head. "Oh, what this -war has done! The boy was doubtless gifted!" He -sighed deeply. "When it is possible go to Paris -and, for the child's sake, find out all you can of her -family. In the meantime----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But at this point Patricia, too impatient to longer -await her father's decision, burst into the room!</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="renee-finds-a-home"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER III</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">RENÉE FINDS A HOME</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>At her first introduction in the taxi-cab Patricia -had undertaken to converse with Miss Renée in the -stilted French she had learned at Miss Prindle's. -But Renée had answered in perfect English.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, with the singing of the birds to tune their -voices to a happy note, with the pretty flowers -bringing a smile to Renée's sad little face, it was easy to -bridge over the formality of "getting acquainted." Renée -exclaimed in delight over the birds and the -flowers and Pat rattled on like a small magpie, though -all the while straining her ears to catch a single -word or tone of her father's voice from the library.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She had her own way--sometimes a rather -naughty way--of getting what she wanted from -her family, but this was so different, and she wanted -it so very much that she felt very anxious and -uncertain! So after she had waited what seemed -to her a very long time she abruptly led Renée back -to the library. As they entered the room her father -held out both hands. One took one of hers, with the -other he drew Renée close to him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear little girl, Capt. Allan is going to -leave you with us for a little while! And I have -given him my promise that you shall be as safe and -happy as it is possible for us to make you----" He -wanted to say a great deal more to make Renée feel -at home but Patricia interrupted him with a -tempestuous hug that almost swept him from his feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, you dear, dear Daddy!" Then she threw -her arms around Renée's neck. "Oh, I am so -happy!" she was crying over and over, as though -she had been the homeless one and Renée had taken -her in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't forget me, Miss Everett," the soldier -put in so comically that Patricia almost embraced -him, too! Instead she shook both his hands delightedly. -As Renée turned to Capt. Allan her lips -trembled a little, for she had learned to love and trust -him and already looked upon him as her guardian.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just you be brave and happy, little sister!" he -said softly to her, "and as soon as I can I will come -back!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he shook hands with each one of them and -Renée shyly kissed him. Mr. Everett went with him -to the door. Patricia, knowing how hard the parting -was for her little guest, seized her hand and dragged -her toward a door at the end of the big hall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's go and find Melodia! I know something -she's got!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Only a few moments before Melodia had been -telling the butler and the upstairs maid about "that -Miss Pat's giving her orders so comical" and they -were all laughing merrily over it when Miss Pat -burst in upon them, leading Renée by the hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Melodia, I have a guest only she's going to -live with us! Please make lots of tarts, and can't -Renée have just a little one now? Jasper, carry -Miss Renée's trunk to my room--it's in the front -hall! Maggie, please get a cot from the storeroom -and put it right next to my bed." She turned toward -the pantry. "I'll take some tarts now, Melodia, for -Miss Renée is hungry! Don't all stand and stare -like that, but please do as I tell you!" She helped -herself as she spoke to two of the juiciest of the -tempting tarts.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I never!" Jasper and Maggie and Melodia -all exclaimed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia turned with dignity. "Miss Renée has -come from France. She is a--a----" She was -going to say "war-orphan" but suddenly it occurred -to her that that might make Renée unhappy. So she -finished: "Her brother has died for us in France and -left her all alone!" Patricia used an expression she -had heard often. "You three and Daddy and me -have a debt to pay--and we are going to pay it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The three servants were deeply impressed by the -grandness of Patricia's words and manner; and, -too, Renée's sad little face won their hearts in an -instant. Jasper coughed violently and hurried away -to find the trunk. Melodia wiped her eye with the -corner of her apron.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The dear little thing! Well, we'll just make -you happy and put flesh on your bones, bless your -heart, missy!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia, satisfied that she had properly established -Renée in the household, then led her upstairs -to her own room. Renée, accustomed to the tiny -chamber under the gable at St. Cloud, exclaimed with -admiration when Patricia opened the door. Already -Jasper had put down the queer old trunk and was -busily engaged unfastening its buckles and straps. -Maggie was watching, much disturbed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss Pat, I wish your mother was home! I -know she wouldn't want me to bring a cot in here -a-cluttering up the tidiness of your room when there's -the blue room and the violet room empty and that -room on the third floor----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Alarmed that Maggie might separate them, -Patricia exclaimed quickly: "I don't--</span><em class="italics">care</em><span>! We -</span><em class="italics">won't</em><span> make things untidy! I </span><em class="italics">want</em><span> her in here!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's all this about?" interrupted Mr. Everett, -coming at that moment to the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia, Renée, Jasper and Maggie all turned to -him. But Patricia, catching his coat, pulled him to -her so that, by reaching on tip-toe, she could -whisper in his ear:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You see, Daddy, I want her right in here! -Maggie says that it will make things untidy but we -can't let her get homesick or--or unhappy, and -she might if she's left all alone in the blue room or -the vi'let room----" Patricia rubbed her cheek -coaxingly against her father's shoulder, then added -solemnly: "I guess </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> know what it is to be lonesome, -for I have been lots and lots of times--just because -everyone was so grownup and I hadn't anyone to -be with like a little sister, and now--please, Daddy, -we will keep the room as neat as can be!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée's eyes echoed Patricia's pleadings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, well, Maggie, we'll have to let them -decide things, I guess," he laughed, "at least until -Miss Penelope comes!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In all the excitement Patricia had quite forgotten -the approaching arrival of Aunt Pen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Aunty Pen, Aunty Pen," she cried, catching -Renée's hands and, swinging her around. "I'd -just clean forgotten she was coming! You'll </span><em class="italics">love</em><span> her!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Certainly little Renée had not time to be unhappy--each -moment seemed to bring something new! -While Patricia was explaining all about Aunty Pen -and why she was coming, and her story had, of -course, to include Celia and even the Lieut. Chauncey -Meredith and his fall from his airplane, Maggie, -scolding a little under her breath, was spreading -snowy sheets over a bed-lounge which Patricia had -drawn up close to her own little bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the next moment, Aunt Pen again forgotten, -Patricia was tumbling her own possessions from one -of the drawers of the mahogany chest to make room -for the contents of Renée's little trunk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll just share everything," she cried. "We'll -have just the same halves! And let's hang up your -dresses now!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Poor Renée did not need the generous space of -one-half of Patricia's wardrobe for her shabby -dresses--they were only four in number and sadly -worn! But she hung them away proudly, telling -Patricia that no one in France now wore new things!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poor Susette used to spend hours mending my -clothes, trying to make them hold together," laughed -Renée, tenderly recalling her good old friend at -St. Cloud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell me all about her!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So, sitting cross-legged on the floor beside the -almost empty trunk, Renée described Susette and the -cottage at St. Cloud and the wonderful flowers that -had used to sell so well before the war, and the -school where she had gone after her mother had died; -how she and Emile always talked in English because -her mother had made them promise, and how in the -long, anxious, lonely days after Emile had gone, she -had used to teach simple English words to Susette -as they sat together among the flowers that nobody -wanted to buy!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From the bottom of the trunk Renée drew a box -covered with worn leather, tooled and colored like -the binding of a beautiful book. So old was it that -the colors blended and looked all blue and gold and -green. Renée lifted it tenderly, as though it was -precious!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, how queer and how be-</span><em class="italics">ut</em><span>-iful!" cried -Patricia, all admiration and curiosity. "What do -you keep in it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée held the box very close to her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know! It was my mother's and now -it's Emile's and mine, or"--she carefully corrected -herself--"I suppose it's just mine. But we don't -know what is in it for we never had the key! My -mother died before she could tell Emile where it was! -And Emile made me promise before he went away -that I would keep the box and never let anyone open it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you haven't even the teeniest idea what is -in it? Didn't you ever just shake it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, lots of times!" confessed Renée. "But -nothing makes any noise. And of course I would -keep my promise to Emile."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia rocked back and forth on her heels in joy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, what a </span><em class="italics">spliffy</em><span> mystery! I can't wait to -write to the girls!" Then she laughed at Renée's -bewilderment. "Spliffy is a word we learned at -Miss Prindle's and it means scrumptious or delicious -or grand! Don't you </span><em class="italics">love</em><span> a mystery? And isn't -it the lov-li-est box?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Emile said it must have been made by some -Italian master years and years ago. I have this -queer locket, too--it was my mother's," and from -a little bag, wrapped in folds and folds of tissue -paper, Renée drew a curious gold locket. "It is -much too big to wear but I am very careful of -it--it is all I have! I pretend that the box and the -locket both once upon a time belonged to some royal -prince in Venice! Once, when I was little, mother -took Emile and me to Venice--she had been sick and -she had to go where the sun was warm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia, who had always considered herself an -experienced and much traveled young lady, -suddenly felt very small and young compared to Renée -and all that she had done!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is Venice like the pictures--all colors like shells -and funny boats and people singing?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Renée had no chance to answer. The doorbell -clanged and in a moment they heard a cheery -voice answering Mr. Everett's greeting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's Aunt Pen--</span><em class="italics">come</em><span> on!" cried Patricia, -rushing headlong down the stairs.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="gardens"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">GARDENS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"I'm certainly very glad you've come, Penelope; -my family, which has so suddenly increased, is going -to need a guiding hand!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Penelope Everett, called by some a "strong-minded -woman" because she had, since her college -days, worn low-heeled shoes, boyish coats, comfortable -hats and simple dresses, was Thomas Everett's -favorite sister. Though many years younger than -he, there was a directness about her, a something in -the way she carried her head, poised squarely, that -made him feel he could put anything upon her -shoulders.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She gave a cheery laugh now in response to the -seriousness of his manner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia and Renée had long since gone to bed, -side by side. Renée had cuddled down under the soft -coverings with a little sigh of content. Very tired -with long days of travel she had dropped off to sleep -quickly, while Patricia's voice, pitched to a low tone, -had gone on in an endless account of "what we'll do -to-morrow!" Aunt Pen, tiptoeing in a little later, -had found Patricia's hand clasping Renée's tightly -under the covers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She recalled that now as she sat with her brother -before the library fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know, Thomas, you've done the most -wonderful thing in the world for Pat?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's father stared at her. He had thought she -meant to praise him for taking in the lonely little -girl from France!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why--what do you mean?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just this--Pat's going to have something now -that she's never had before--true comradeship!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thomas Everett nodded his head. "That is so! -Pat said something queer to me, about being lonely -lots of times!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course she's been lonely--often! She's -almost a stranger in her own home! You whisk her -from school to the seashore or some such place and -then back--to another school! And everything on -earth is done for her, she doesn't have to think of -anything for herself, let alone for anyone else!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's father laughed. "Why, I thought we were -bringing her up along the most model lines! But -perhaps you have some new fads now!" He liked -to tease Penelope.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poor Pat has been the victim of too many fads -already! I tell you, brother, this war has shown -us a whole lot of silly mistakes we were making -in our living!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Before you go one bit further, Penelope dear, -do promise to speak in words of one syllable! I -know all about steel but I must admit I'm very stupid -about girls!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thomas, you're not stupid--you just don't -think about them and yet your two girls are more -precious to you than the whole steel market! And -what are you doing with them? Look at Celia--how -has she stood the trials of this wartime? Goodness -knows, you've spent enough money on her to have -made a strong woman of her!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But she's young, Pen----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Celia's twenty-one--that's the age they've been -drafting the boys to go and fight for us! She's a -few years older than some who have died over in -France. And now she's had a nervous breakdown! -Why in the world should Celia have any nerves at all?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're right, Pen, but----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This draft we have had in this country has been -a wonderful thing; it has sorted out our manhood. -But I'm sorry the women couldn't have had it, too, -I wonder how many would have measured up to the -standards, and why not? Because we older ones -make mistakes with the girls--like Pat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Penelope was standing now, very straight, before -the fire, her eyes bright in her earnestness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I tell you we've reached a wonderful day, -brother--we can see things as we never saw them -before! Silly old prejudices and habits and notions -have been swept aside. Do you know one thing -we've learned? That it is something even greater -than love for one's country that has made men go -out and fight--to victory; it's a love for right and -justice! And in one of John Randolph's books he -tells us that it is that love for right and justice -that will make the real brotherhood of men and -nations! Who is going to carry on this ideal as -we have found it? Why, our boys and girls--girls -like Pat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pen, your eloquence makes me feel as though -I had never known the real meaning of the word duty!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, it isn't half so much--duty, Tom, as it is -plain common sense. I've often thought that raising -girls and boys is something like a garden! If you -were planning a garden and wanted to grow something -beautiful--oh, say larkspur, for I don't think -any garden is perfect without it and no flower is -harder to get started--wouldn't you want to know -that you were putting in seed that would grow into -hardy blossoms, blooming year after year, keeping -your garden lovely and the world richer for their -beauty?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Penelope paused long enough to draw a deep breath.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There at Miss Prindle's Pat is learning to speak -French and Latin and how to use her hands and feet -and walk out of a room properly and a dinner-table-speaking -acquaintance with art and the masters and -ancient history--and that's all very well, but how -much will she know of the problems she must face -by and by unless she begins to mingle with the sort -of people that make up this world? And above all -else--unless you build up for her a strong body that -will mean a brave heart and a clear head, what -service, I ask you, can she give to her fellowmen and -her country?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're certainly right, Pen! And now, if -you've finished a very good sermon, let's get down to -business. I take it you want to--raise larkspur! -I don't know much about 'em, even in gardens! I've -left these things to the children's mother!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Penelope dropped into a chair with a little, -ashamed laugh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My sermon does sound as though I was criticizing -Caroline dreadfully! I know she is devoted to -the girls. And so am I--and so are you. She's -bringing them up just the way she was brought up!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what shall </span><em class="italics">we</em><span> do?" asked Pat's father -with the tone of a conspirator.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You've started doing right now the very best -thing in the world--bringing that poor little girl -into the family! Patricia loves her already and she'll -learn for the first time to consider another child -before herself. She's never had to do it before! -Why, to-night I found her carefully dividing her -clothes so that Renée might have just as many things -as she had."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Does Renée need clothes? I'll----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now don't spoil it all by buying new things--let -Patricia give up some of her own! It is making -her very happy. Through Renée she is going to -know something of the trials that come to others and -she is going to learn to want to be helpful. She has -gone to sleep now holding Renée's hand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Both their minds turned to Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A curious tragedy--this, that has brought this -child into our circle! Caroline might have made -some other arrangement, but Pat's heart was set upon -keeping her--and she </span><em class="italics">will</em><span> have her own way!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pat's mother is too absorbed now in Celia to -think much about it and when she returns Renée -will win her love with her little face! What a -story the child's life makes with just what we know! -The family must have been American--evidently -exiled; they loved this country, else why would the -mother have made the brother promise to come back? -I hope sometime we will know more about them!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Capt. Allan has promised to look them up as -soon as he can!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Captain Allan----" Penelope breathed, her -face flaming, then turning white. When her brother -had told her Renée's story, so intent had she been -upon the tragedy of little Renée and the poor Emile -that she had not heeded the name of the American -officer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can it be the same?" she thought now, a wild -fluttering at her heart. Then she sternly admonished -herself. "Of course not! Don't be silly! There -are hundreds of Allans and I don't even know that -he joined the army!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She said aloud, very calmly: "Love has given -to Renée what money couldn't--she has been well -educated, I believe! Her mother taught her, she -says, and after her mother's death she went to a -communal school near St. Cloud. She will help -our Pat a great deal!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I'm very glad we have her with us! And -now, Pen, I'll put you in command--head gardener, -or whatever you want to call yourself! Raise your -larkspur--only let a mere father be of what help -he can! Things are pressing pretty hard at the -Works--I can't help but fear that the winter may -bring serious problems of unemployment and we -must be ready to solve them! A few weeks will see -the end of this war--it is in sight now! By the way, -we are just completing the formula for a new -explosive--more powerful than any the world has ever -known! If the enemy knew it the war would end -to-morrow!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Penelope shuddered. "Why do we need it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear, that little formula alone, scrap of -paper as it is, will be a safeguard against future -wars! The government is sending on experts to -go over the experiments and the formulas. And, if -they are satisfied, it will be my gift--the gift of my -men--to our country!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Penelope listened with divided attention, her -mind not so much upon the wonders of shot and -shell as upon the problems of the two little girls -upstairs. She stared into the crackling flames.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you think Miss Pat will fall into your plans, -sister? Remember she is sadly spoiled!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pen laughed. "She'll never know we're making -plans--wait and see! The first thing we must do is -to make Renée feel that this is home and then--well, -we must fill their days with sunshine--flowers and -children grow better with that, you know! And -I promise you, Thomas, that after a few months--if -I'm let alone that long--you'll agree that my hobbies -are commonsense things after all!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're generally right, sister--I've found that -out from long, sad experience! Grow your larkspur -and I'll help! And now I move that we call the plot -finished and go to bed--you've worn me out!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With two fingers he tipped her face toward him -and kissed her good-night. Each was very fond of -the other--it was this affection that bound Penelope's -heart so closely to her brother's children.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Long after he had gone she sat alone before -the fire, her elbows on her knees, her chin dropped -into the palms of her hands. And as she mused -over her plans, between her and the flames danced -pictures of what she would like to do to help Pat, and -now Renée, grow into "hardy blossoms, blooming -year after year, keeping the garden lovely and the -world richer for their beauty!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="first-aid"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER V</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">FIRST AID</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Renée wakened to find the sun streaming -through the pink-flowered curtains and Patricia -sitting bolt upright in bed, staring at her. She had -been dreaming of Susette and Gabriel; she had to -rub her eyes once or twice before she could -remember that this was America and her new home!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thought you'd </span><em class="italics">never</em><span> wake up! I was just -sitting here thinking how nice it is to have you here. -Miss Prindle would never let any of us have a -room-mate. Let's dress fast--there's </span><em class="italics">so</em><span> much I want to -show you! I'll ring for Maggie."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As she spoke Patricia sprang from her bed and -ran barefooted across the floor to the bell. With the -sunshine and Pat's enthusiasm, the little homesick -feeling that had begun to ache its way into Renée's -heart disappeared in an instant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen answered the bell instead of Maggie.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lazy girlies!" she cried cheerily. "I have been -waiting an hour to eat breakfast with you! Melodia -has a touch of her "rheumtics" and I've told -Maggie that she may stay downstairs and help her. You -and Renée can put away your things and make your -beds." She was throwing back the bedclothes as she -spoke and did not notice the surprise that flashed -across Pat's face. Pat did not guess that this was -one of Aunt Pen's "plans" because she did not -know, yet, that Aunt Pen was "planning"; she had -never made a bed in her life, nor had she ever had -to hang away her clothes! But already Renée was -neatly tucking into a corner of the wardrobe her -warm, comfy slippers and was hanging her nightgown -upon a hook, so, although Patricia had opened -her lips to utter a protest, she closed them, suddenly ashamed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Over their breakfast Aunt Pen and Pat made the -plans for the day. It must be like a holiday to -celebrate Renée's coming! She must be taken about the -city and shown every spot of interest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It will seem stupid to you after Paris," declared Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée smiled. "Oh, it couldn't! Paris is beautiful -but--this is America! Always my mother told -us stories of America. She loved it and she wanted -us to love it, too! She used to say that America -was like a splendid, growing boy! I think she meant -that everything here is young and over there in -France it is so old! But I love France!" The -child's eyes grew dark with feeling. "Only I feel -so sorry for France! She's like poor Susette and -her flowers!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's Susette's cheery, brave soul that you love, -my dear--as we love the cheery, brave soul of -France," finished Aunt Pen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, maybe France has a soul but does she -have pancakes like these?" put in Pat, for she felt -that Renée and Aunt Pen were growing far too -serious for such a glorious morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day was full of interest for them both; for -Patricia, because she suddenly found a new pride in -showing to her little guest the various things in her -home city of which she was justly proud. Then -Aunt Pen gave bits of historical information that -added to everything they saw. Pat had not known -that over the stretch of pretty park near her home -the early settlers had once fought with the Indians; -that the huge boulder in the park, shadowed by old -elms, marked the grave where some unknown soldiers, -who had given their lives in the war of 1812, -were buried. Aunt Pen also pointed out the street, -thronged now with trucks, wagons and street-cars, -that had once been the trail through the forest over -which, when the Indians had burned the village, -Patricia's great-great grandmother had escaped, -hidden under sacking and straw in the back of the old -farm wagon, drawn by oxen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, how thrilling!" cried Pat with a little -shiver of delight. "What fun it would be to have to -escape now! Only we'd just go in this car with -Watkins driving about fifty miles an hour!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Later in the day Patricia begged that she might -take Renée again along the river road, past the old -fort that had once leveled its wooden cannon toward -the shore of Canada, past the huge factories with -their countless chimneys belching forth flame and -smoke. Aunt Pen had let them go alone and the -ride had been one of endless interest. They were -returning swiftly along the maple-shaded street that -led toward home when the car swerved sideways, -Watkins gave a quick laugh, and the air was pierced -by the sharp cry of a dog in pain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Watkins--it was a dog!" cried Patricia.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know it. He'll be more careful next time!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée had covered her eyes. Pat sprang from -her seat and leaned toward the chauffeur.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Stop!</em><span>" she cried so commandingly that he -ground on the brake. "I think you're--you're </span><em class="italics">awful</em><span> -to go on and leave the poor dog!" Tears threatened -her voice. She opened the door and sprang out, -followed by Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But another little girl had gone to the dog's -rescue. Sheila Quinn, walking homeward from -school, had seen the accident. She had run out into -the street and had gathered the dog into her arms. -When Pat and Renée had reached the spot she had -laid Mr. Dog upon the grass and was examining him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is he dead?" cried Pat and Renée in one voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no! See him try to lick my hand! He -knows we want to help him! I guess he's more scared -than hurt! Here, it is his leg. See, it is broken."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How can you tell?" asked Pat, filled with -admiration at the quick careful way Sheila had -examined their patient.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Run your hand gently over his body; see, it -doesn't hurt him! But look at his leg--how it hangs! -And watch him, he'll wince if I just move as though -to touch it! We won't hurt you, doggie dear, just -keep quiet and we'll fix you up all nice."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What will we do?" asked Pat anxiously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must put it in a splint and bandage it," -promptly answered Sheila, looking around her as -though to find the necessary things.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know--I know! There's the white stuff Aunt -Pen got at the Red Cross, we can use that! She -forgot it--it's in the car."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That will be just the thing!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Get it, Renée! And here are some sticks--won't -they do for splints?" asked Patricia eagerly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It ought to be something firmer, at least until -the bone is set." Sheila was straightening out the -poor little leg with so gentle a touch that the dog -only whimpered. "If you'd let me use your scarf -we could make a sort of pillow----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For answer Pat snatched the woolen scarf from -her shoulders. Sheila, rolled it tightly into a firm -pillow. Renée had returned with Aunt Pen's package -and she and Patricia commenced tearing it into -strips. Their fingers, eager though they were, made -awkward work of it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let </span><em class="italics">me</em><span> do it! You hold his leg," exclaimed -Sheila. She tore off strips two inches wide. Then -she neatly covered the woolen scarf with a wider -piece. Renée and Pat, deeply concerned, leaned over -the dog and watched. Pat held the injured leg and -Renée gently stroked the dog's head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Isn't he a darling?" cried Pat. "I just </span><em class="italics">hate</em><span> -Watkins for hurting him!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It wasn't Watkin's fault--he might have saved -the dog and had a serious accident and hurt--you -girls! The dog ran out in front of the car! This -will be a lesson to him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The splint ready Sheila gently placed it under the -dog's leg and instructed Pat how to hold it in place. -She wound the bandage around and around, careful -to avoid the break, but firmly, so as to hold the splint -securely in place. Then she straightened up from -her kneeling position with a long breath.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There, now--that will do nicely, until someone -can set it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think you're wonderful--the way you can -do things!" cried Pat, always generous in her praise. -"Where did you ever learn? And oh, I forgot, we -don't know your name and we'd like to----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The three girls, grouped about the injured dog -who lay very contentedly with his head pillowed on -Renée's lap, presented striking contrasts. Pat, like -a picture in a fashion book in her trim green -broadcloth coat and turban set jauntily on her smooth dark -hair, had a frankness and sunniness in her face that -was invariably winning despite a slight imperiousness -of manner; Renée, small for her thirteen years, -her delicate face, framed in golden curls, touched -by the shadow of the sorrows she had known, seemed -like a fragile flower. And Sheila Quinn, a head taller -than even Pat, her black hair neatly braided in two -tight pigtails reaching almost to her waist, her face -and form showing the vigor gained from healthy -exercise and simple living, had something both of -Patricia's winsomeness, Renée's quiet poise and a -happy contentment all of her own which came from -the Quinn philosophy of "just make the best of -everything, sweetness, there's sure to be some -sunshine somewhere!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila laughed. "Which question shall I answer -first? I'm Sheila Quinn! I know you are Patricia -Everett, but----" she hesitated as she glanced toward -Renée. Patricia added:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is Renée LaDue who has come way from -France to live with us!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, how nice!" Sheila glanced with friendly -curiosity up and down the little figure. "And I -learned bandaging and all that at the scout meetings. -I was highest in my first-aid test," she -concluded proudly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Scouts----" queried Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Girl Scouts," explained Sheila. "I belong to -Troop Six and it's the best troop in the city!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Les Eclaireuses!" cried Renée. "There were -some in the School of St. Cloud. I loved them--they -used to bring the soldier's coats and socks to Susette -for us to mend! They were like little girl soldiers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again Patricia felt small and insignificant before -the greater experience of Renée and now, Sheila! -But her nature was too sunny to show the moment's -sting of pride. Besides, she was immensely curious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you have to do to be a Girl Scout?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, just want to join! I mean just want to -be all that a scout must be and then put in your -name. I wish you'd join Troop Six--it's the best -and everyone just loves Captain Ricky--she's the -scout captain."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you have to want to want to be a -scout?" asked Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila squared her shoulders. "This is what -you have to want," and she repeated with dignity, -for she was leader of her patrol and felt the -responsibility of her position, "to do my duty to God and -my country, to help other people at all times, to -obey the scout law. There are lots of laws but they're -the kind you just </span><em class="italics">like</em><span> to obey. Captain Ricky says -the real meaning of scouting for girls like us is -service to God and our country; that it helps each one -of us to build strong characters that anyone can -depend upon! And when girls are scouts why, we -don't stop to think that one, maybe, is rich and -another poor and one's black and one's white or one's -a Jew and one's a--a Baptist--we're just all scouts -and loyal! Oh, I love it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Renée, </span><em class="italics">let's</em><span> be scouts!" cried Pat. "Let's -tell Daddy we want to join Troop Six--it's the best -in the city!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Dog, his patience exhausted, had commenced -to stir restlessly and lick his bandaged leg. The -three girls exclaimed in dismay:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We've forgotten the dog!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What shall we do with him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd better take him home. I am sure my mother -can set his leg and then we'll put it in a stronger -splint," said Sheila.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat and Renée could not dispute Sheila's claim -to the interesting patient.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then we'll come over to-morrow to see him. -I think he's a nice dog because he looks just like -Miss Prindle's General who has all kinds of prizes, -only dirty!" Patricia motioned to Watkins who, -resigned to waiting, had become more concerned in -the afternoon newspaper than in the fate of the dog.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He looked a little angry now when Pat explained -that they intended to carry the dog in the automobile -to the Quinn home, but there was something in -Pat's face that stilled the protest on his lips.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat exclaimed with delight when she found that -Sheila lived in the old brick house whose windows -were in sight of her own. With Renée and now -Sheila, the world that had seemed only the day -before to be so lonely, now seemed full of friends. -Sheila did not tell Pat that she had often watched her -come and go from the house that was so like a palace -compared to her own. Sheila knew that there had -been just a little envy in her heart at times and she -was ashamed of it. For, after all, not for worlds -would she exchange her dearest mother and the -three small brothers for the wealth of the Everetts!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's have lots of good times together," Pat -called in parting, "and we'll come over first thing -to-morrow to see the dog!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So much had Pat and Renée to tell of their day -that Mr. Everett quite forgot an after-dinner -engagement he had made with a business acquaintance. -All four of them, Aunt Pen and Daddy, Pat -and Renée sat before the fire. Pat, with a diplomacy -not suspected by her innocent family, led up very -carefully to what she wanted "more than anything -else in the world!" That was always the way she put -it. She used the very words now as she told of -Troop Six--the best in the whole city!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless Pat!" cried her father, using Melodia's -favorite expression, "</span><em class="italics">I</em><span> can't keep up with you! -Yesterday it was one thing and to-day it's another, -and it's always what you want more than anything -else in the world!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Daddy--</span><em class="italics">this</em><span> is!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A Girl Scout----" he glanced over the children's -heads at Penelope and his brows lifted as -much as to say, "Well, this is </span><em class="italics">your</em><span> garden--what -have you to say?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen answered his look.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know, Thomas, I think it's just the -thing! It will bring the girls in touch with joys -and responsibilities they've not known before!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It makes us build up--oh, something about -character!" In her excitement Pat could not remember -Sheila's grand words. "Renée says that in Paris -they are like girl soldiers. And Sheila says we'll -love the girls in the troop; there's Keineth Randolph -and Peggy Lee and True Scott and a lot of -others----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know Mrs. Lee, and if Peggy is like her -mother she is a fine girl," added Aunt Pen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Keineth is John Randolph's girl," put in Pat's father.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then we may?" Pat asked anxiously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may," laughingly answered Mr. Everett -and Aunt Pen in one voice, covering their ears that -they might not be deafened by Pat's boisterous -"hurrah!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Upstairs Pat chattered on, although Renée's -eyes were almost shut with sleep. They opened their -beds and each laid out her nightgown and slippers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You know I'm glad Maggie's downstairs now--we -ought to take care of things ourselves; we'll -</span><em class="italics">have</em><span> to, if we make good scouts! Oh, good -gracious!" Pat whirled a stocking in midair. "We'll -have to try exams and I'm always scared to death. -But you'll help me, won't you, Renée?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And little Renée, her heart overflowing with -gratitude, glad to do the smallest service within her -power, answered heartily, though sleepily, "'Deed -I will!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="eagles-and-golden-eaglets"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">EAGLES AND GOLDEN EAGLETS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"A bun fell on my kitten,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>She died where she was sittin'----"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>sang Sheila, holding up for inspection the blouse -she had just finished ironing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The front doorbell rang, its rusty tone resounding -through the house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Goodness gracious," exclaimed Mrs. Quinn, -smoothing out her apron. Few came to the sombre -front door of the old house; somehow instinct seemed -always to lead visitors along the flagged walk to the -door leading into the cheery kitchen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila, flying to the door, had guessed in an -instant who the callers were! She led Pat and Renée -back through the long hall and the injured dog, -comfortably established in a basket near the stove, set up -a vigorous barking by way of welcome.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's all right, or will be as soon as the break -mends, mother says! This is my mother, Pat," and -Patricia turned from the dog to Mrs. Quinn, who -greeted the girls with her cheery smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The children would have him here and I guess -the poor dog is glad enough to find a home," she -explained, nodding toward the basket which the -younger Quinns, with scraps of old carpeting, had -made most comfortable.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother says he's an Irish terrier, so let's call -him Paddy!" And Paddy, as though he liked and -accepted the name, barked and wagged his stump of -a tail and tried to jump out of his basket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With little effort to conceal their curiosity -Patricia and Renée were staring about them. Patricia -had never seen a kitchen like this before! She could -not tell just what made it so different--it might be -the neat rows of pretty china dishes on the shelves -of the open cupboard, or the shiny tins and pots and -pans in the stove corner, or the bright rag rugs on -the spotless floor, or the gay patterned cloth across -the table at the window, or the blooming plants on -the sills framed by crisply ruffled muslin curtains! -And Mrs. Quinn, a pink bow at her neck brightening -her faded dress and heightening the color of her -thin cheeks, looked as though she belonged there -with the geraniums and the bright rugs and the -spotless dishes! Patricia was thinking that it was just -the sort of a room one felt like staying in--and -anyone could feel sure that--if there was any sunshine -anywhere--it would be slanting across that floor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée was standing with her hands quaintly -clasped.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is like home," she cried. She caught sight -of a little wooden stool and exclaimed: "Oh--like -Susette's!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila had told Mrs. Quinn that Renée had come -way from France. The motherly woman now drew -the child to her and let her tell of Susette and -the cheery kitchen at St. Cloud so that the tiny -shadow of homesickness might pass from her heart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia was joyously announcing that her Daddy -and Aunt Pen had said they might join Troop-Six!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I saw Captain Ricky and she told me to -bring you girls to-day! Scout meeting is at three -o'clock at Lincoln School," Sheila added.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Renée--do you hear that? Goodness, I'm -scared! What do we have to do first?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Form in patrols for inspection. I hope you can -come into the Eagle Patrol with Keineth Randolph -and Peggy Lee and myself!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Patricia had innumerable questions to ask. She -and Renée sat upon the floor, one on each side of -Paddy's basket which had been drawn out into the -middle of the room. Sheila resumed her ironing, -explaining that it must be done before she could do -anything else. Mrs. Quinn commenced a vigorous -beating and stirring that promised goodies of some -kind, joining now and then in the merry chatter. -This was the beginning of many such pleasant hours -in the kitchen of the old brick house!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the girls were going home Patricia said -suddenly to Renée, speaking out of a moment of deep -thought: "What was it made it so jolly--there? I -believe it was the piano! Who'd ever think of having -a piano in the kitchen?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No!" declared Renée. "It was the rocking -chair and the piece-work cushions and the stool!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the scout meeting Renée, unused to large -groups of children, felt a wave of shyness grip her. -She was grateful for Pat's vivacity--no one would -notice how quiet she was! At first there seemed -to be a great many girls and as though they were -all talking at once, but soon she made out through -Sheila's rather offhand introductions that the girl -with the nice eyes and jolly smile was Peggy Lee, that -the smaller one with the golden hair was Keineth -Randolph and that these two with the three girls -standing near Pat made up the Eagle patrol.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Capt. Ricky, who was really Miss Fredericka -Grimball, only no one ever called her anything but -Capt. Ricky, greeted warmly the new recruits. She -was a tall young woman, her fine face made beautiful -by beauty of character rather than feature and with -a personality that won her girls' liking and at the -same time their respect.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She whispered to Sheila that she would place -Pat and Renée in the Eagle Patrol! A shout went -up in answer which was quieted by Capt. Ricky's -whistle and her command to "fall in!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat felt delightfully like a soldier as she drew -up her slender five feet of body between Renée and -True Scott. But she was an absurdly awkward -soldier as she obeyed the commands and her pride -met a sad fall when upon inspection she had to hold -out ink-stained fingers!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After a brief drill the Captain gave the command -to the Color Guard to form. From the ranks three -girls stepped forward and with military precision -brought from its place at one end of the room the -Troop flag. Every scout's hand went instantly to -the forehead in salute! Together they repeated:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the country</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>for which it stands;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>One nation indivisible, with liberty and justice</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>for all!"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Renée could not follow their words, but in a clear, -sweet voice she sang with them the "Star Spangled -Banner," and as the words rang out, "Then conquer -we must when our cause it is just," there was an -added brightness in her eyes, for she had come closer -than the others to "war's desolation."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In Sheila's kitchen the girls had studied the scout -laws; they repeated them now, carefully. To Pat, -whose life so far had had few "laws" or "rules" -of any kind, they seemed to mean more, now, as she -repeated them in chorus, and she wondered deep -within her heart if she could really keep them all! -But just at that moment she caught a glance and a -smile from Capt. Ricky that put courage in her heart -where the faintness had been! It would be well -worth trying!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A business meeting followed. The business on -hand to be discussed ranged in character from reports -on "war savings," "thrift kitchen work," "city -beautiful plans," a "back-to-school" campaign, -knitting and sewing, to a noisy argument over a -coming hike. The girls all tried to talk at once, and -but for Capt. Ricky's whistle might have succeeded; -nevertheless, out of the jumble of words Pat and -Renée caught the impression that these merry girls -were really doing a great deal of earnest work as -well as play! In these khaki clad youngsters strong -characters were in the building, "that anyone could -depend upon" as Sheila had put it!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sheila, I know something un-us-u-al is going -to happen!" whispered Peggy Lee, leaning across -Pat and Renée. The Eagle patrol had grouped -together, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "When -Capt. Ricky looks like that she's got some grand -surprise----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Maybe it's an overnight hike! We take our -ponchos and blankets and dog-tents and sleep -outdoors!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's too cold for that now, Ken! Perhaps it's a -real party like the one we had last spring!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But none of them had guessed right! Capt. Ricky -had a surprise for them but it was even better -than the overnight hike or the "real party!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the business of the meeting was over she -stepped before them, her hands clasped behind her -back in a most mysterious manner. She began:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Scouts, I have been given a great privilege--and -you shall all share it with me! An honor has -come to Troop Six!" She had to wait, then, for a -moment; loud cheers interrupted her! She did not -seem in the least disturbed. "But like all the honors -that have come to Troop Six this has been won -through merit, earnest effort and hard work. We -may well be proud of her who has brought us this -honor; we can all follow her example and seek the -standard she has attained! We can hail her as a -leader among us! Sheila Quinn, please step -forward!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A ripple of "oh-h-h" ran through the girls! -Sheila's face turned crimson. Peggy and Keineth -excitedly pushed her forward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Capt. Ricky's left hand clasped Sheila's and with -her right she held up a glittering badge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sheila, it is my happy privilege, upon the -recommendation of the National Commissioner, to -award to you the Golden Eaglet, the highest honor -that can be won by a Girl Scout!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A din of cheering drowned out anything more -that Capt. Ricky might have wanted to say. Peggy -and True Scott were capering about like jumping-jacks. -There were shouts of "What's the matter -with Sheila! She's all right," "Three cheers for -Troop Six," "Now a tiger for the Eagle Patrol," -and through it all Capt. Ricky stood smiling, clasping -Sheila's hand, and Sheila, the color of a red poppy, -looked wildly about as though seeking some corner -that might swallow her up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Someone called "speech"; Peggy took it up, -then it came from every corner! Capt. Ricky nodded -to Sheila. Sheila swallowed hard to clear her voice -of the tight band that seemed to choke it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm awfully glad I won--just for the sake of -the Troop! It was hard work at first but afterwards -one thing helped another. I hope you'll all be -Golden Eaglets and I'll help anyone that wants to -work for it and--Oh, I can't say another word!" -and poor Sheila made a dash for the corner where -the Eagle patrol awaited her with eager arms.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were "eats," then, for it was of course -a great occasion, and Peggy insisted that Sheila must -eat six of the raisin cookies that were served. Pat, -feeling now as though she had always belonged to -Troop Six, asked, humbly, "if plain Eagles might -not have just five?" and helped herself as she spoke!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The girls walked home together, a merry troop! -Peggy Lee and Keineth Randolph turned after a -few blocks; as Pat, Renée and Sheila went on Pat -slipped her hand through Sheila's arm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She had been deeply impressed by Sheila's -modesty of manner. She was certain if she had been -awarded such high honor she would have strutted -like a peacock!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Doesn't it feel grand to be a Golden Eaglet?" -she asked Sheila solemnly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila hesitated. "I--don't--know! It makes -me sort of--scared! I must live up to it, you see, -and sometimes--it's awfully hard!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a few paces the girls walked along in silence. -Serious thoughts had crossed each mind. An honor -won was not enough--it must be lived up to!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat, who could not be still for very long, was the -first to break the silence. She gave a merry chuckle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I guess Pat Everett has a long way to -go before she can be a Golden Eaglet! I've got to -learn to be just a good scout first and you can believe -that the next time I go to a scout meeting--I'll wash -my hands before I go!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="aunt-pen-plans"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">AUNT PEN PLANS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The Everett family was holding a "pow-wow." That -was what Pat called the after-dinner hour -when they gathered about the library fire. Renée -thought it quite the jolliest time of the day; almost -always Mr. Everett had so many funny or exciting -things to tell and he and Aunt Pen never shut the -girls out of their conversation; when sometimes their -talk became serious and of problems which the girls -could not understand, then either Mr. Everett or -Aunt Pen carefully explained. And in turn Aunt -Pen and Pat's father would listen with deep interest -to the girls' account of their day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's not nearly as jolly when Celia's home," Pat -had confided to Renée, "'cause she always talks -and won't pay any attention to me!" Although -Aunt Pen, overhearing her, had laughed and said, -with a world of meaning: "Poor chatterbox!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Letters had come from the south that day. They -read them over now as they sat in the "pow-wow." In -her letter to Pat's father Mrs. Everett had told -him how glad she was they had taken Renée and -how eagerly she looked forward to knowing the little -girl! As Mr. Everett read this Pat squeezed -Renée's hand and Aunt Pen patted the fair head. -To Pat her mother had enclosed a little note.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span class="small">* * * Be a dear good child and help your Aunt Pen by doing -whatever she wishes you to do. Keep your father from being -lonely without us, and remember that sometimes he is very tired -when he comes home at night and likes to have some one read -to him! And be very considerate of the little stranger you have -taken into your circle. * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Mother needn't worry! I'll just like to do all -of those three things, you'll see!" cried Pat, folding -her precious note and tucking it away in her pocket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Aunt Pen's letter was the one that claimed -their deep attention!</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span class="small">* * * If everything goes along all right at home--and -I know it will with you there, dear Pen--we may stay until -spring. We are very comfortable, the hotel is quiet and the -food is good. Celia seems brighter and is quite contented. -Chauncey is out of danger, too, and in a short time we may -go to the hospital and see him. * * * It was very hard for -me to make up my mind to leave home just now, but I could -not hesitate when I knew that it was for Celia's good. And -you, dear girl, made it easier for me by taking my place. -* * * I am worried about Pat's school. I really don't think -she ought to go back to Miss Prindle's at all--there is so much -sickness everywhere, and I simply cannot stand any more -worry. I think I'd rather she stayed right at home. But she -ought to have some work--dear Pen, please plan this out for -me! I feel so helpless way down here! I will leave it all to -you, knowing that whatever you do will be for Pat's good. * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Read that last again," broke in Pat's father -with a twinkle in his eyes. Pat was looking rather -anxiously at Aunt Pen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Penelope read it again and then folded the letter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's just exactly what I wanted Caroline to say!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Daddy, I don't care--now--about not -going back to Miss Prindle's, but I'd hate a tutor -or anything like that!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All play and no work----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But I do work! Ask Aunt Pen if I haven't -made my bed every morning!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have some plans," Aunt Pen began slowly, -"the girls ought to have some studies and----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And a tutor, Aunt Pen?" Aunt Pen nodded. -"Not that awful Miss Gray--please, Aunt Pen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, not Miss Gray! I think I know someone -whom you'll like--or at least you are very fond of -her now!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Amused at the real distress in Pat's face her -father broke in:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Aunt Pen says she has some plans! Her plans -are generally very interesting," with a sidelong -glance at his sister, "though I admit that sometimes -she is very heartless! Let's hear them! Then if you -don't like them, why----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, then," cried Pat resignedly, "let's hear -them!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée was listening with deep interest. She had -never gone to school except for the three years -following her mother's death when she had on pleasant -days gone to the communal school at St. Cloud. -Before that her mother had taught her; she had -stored away, too, in her mind valuable knowledge -from the books which had been always about her. -Now the thought of going to an American school -filled her with terror!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen assumed a comically serious air. "I -will tell the girls my plans and they shall decide, for -unless they go into the work with all their hearts it -will do them little good! First, each day must be -divided into periods, the first to begin at eight o'clock. -Between eight and nine there will be instruction in -household arts"--she could not resist a sly wink at -Pat's father--"that includes making beds without -wrinkles and tidying the corners; of the room, -especially behind the wardrobe where things collect--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Aunt Pen, you are </span><em class="italics">just</em><span> joking!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, my dear! I never was more serious in my -life! To my thinking accuracy in such work is as -important as accuracy in algebra or geometry! And -I am sure you did not get it at Miss Prindle's!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What then?" cried Pat and her father.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An hour of out-of-door exercise in the morning -and one in the afternoon, or at least two hours -out-of-doors each day, regardless of weather!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I </span><em class="italics">like that</em><span>!" interrupted Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen continued severely: "And that does -not mean riding with Watkins! That leaves six -hours for study, classes and indoor recreation."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Study what?" demanded Pat, still suspicious -that there must be something unpleasant somewhere.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, different things for each of you. Besides -the classes in bed-making, sweeping and dusting, -cooking and home-nursing, I think you should study -Algebra and spelling, Renée may study English and -she will help you with your French, and you will -both have Latin. Then in the evening you may read -American history from books selected by your -tutor----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did ever anyone hear of a school like that?" -cried Pat, clapping her hands. "I love it, Aunt Pen, -and I'll work hard--honest! Oh----" her face fell. -"Who will be the tutor?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where can you find anyone who can make bread -and teach Latin infinitives?" put in Mr. Everett -mischievously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," Aunt Pen tried to look modest, "how -would I do?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You!" cried Pat incredulously, certain now -that the whole plan was only a joke. "You--really, -truly?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really, truly, my dear! I will dearly love to -teach you and help you both!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat threw both arms about her neck in a strangling -hug. "Oh, Aunt Pen, it will be such fun and -I'll really, truly try to learn Latin and I won't stuff -things behind the wardrobe any more--that was my -half of the room, you know! And maybe, with -Renée to help me, I can soon speak French as well -as Celia!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I'll offer a prize for the best loaf of bread -that one of my girls makes!" added Mr. Everett.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, there shall be no prizes in this school! If -one of the girls can do something better than the -other then she is going to help the other! More -than all the French and Latin, in the world I want -my pupils to learn unselfishness! And we will keep -reports and the reward will come when Pat and -Renée show these reports to Pat's mother."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you think about it, Mouse?" That -was the name Mr. Everett had given Renée. Her -eyes were shining with delight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I will like it very much! And there is so -much I want to learn if I am to live in America and -I will try so hard! I was afraid to go to school!" -she confessed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is very natural that you should have dreaded -it, my dear! After a little that shyness will wear -off and you will find many staunch friends and -playmates."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I want to learn to iron as nicely as Sheila -can," announced Pat with her accustomed -enthusiasm. "And cook, too--make tarts and things! -Why, Aunt Pen, all that is what we'll need to be -second-class scouts!" The thought suddenly -brought concern to her face. "Will we have time, -Aunt Pen, to study for the tenderfoot test? Peggy -Lee and Keineth Randolph are going to teach us to -tie knots and, you know," she added hastily, "that -is important! Everybody should be able to tie all -sorts of knots--it's very useful, lots of times!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen nodded. "Of course! You shall have -a chance to learn all that!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Peggy says her brother will teach us how to -semaphore, too! Oh, we'll be </span><em class="italics">so</em><span> busy, Renée! I -think I'll write to Angeline all about it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She ran to the spinnet desk across the room and -pulled out paper and pen. Her head was whirling -with Aunt Pen's delightful plans! She wrote -furiously for a few moments, with a loud scratching of -her point. But as she wrote into her mind slowly -crept a vivid picture of the girls at Miss Prindle's -and of the life there! With the page half written -she stopped. Then she caught up the paper and tore -it across, dropping the pieces one by one into the -waste-basket. From the divan before the fire Aunt -Pen was watching her, wondering at the fleeting -shadow that had crossed the brightness of her face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it, Pat?" she asked gently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat hesitated. "Oh--nothing!" There was a -note of defiance in her voice. She did not add that -into her heart had suddenly come the illuminating -conviction that the girls she had known at Miss -Prindle's would laugh at Aunt Pen's "school!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was just so much to write about that I -couldn't seem to begin!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="breadwinners"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">BREADWINNERS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>A perplexing problem confronted Pat. Her -scout uniform must be bought out of money she had -earned herself. And she had never earned a penny -in her life!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I earned my money knitting mittens and selling -them and True Scott crocheted tam-o'-shanters. -They were awfully pretty and all the girls ordered -them. Peggy Lee worked on Saturdays in a grocery -store--taking telephone orders," Sheila explained.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't knit well enough or crochet or do -anything," Pat wailed afterwards, in gloomy -consultation with Renée and Sheila.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then at Sheila's suggestion the girls studied the -"Help Wanted" column of the newspaper. They -spread it out upon the floor and knelt around it; -Renée reading off each advertisement and Sheila -and Pat passing upon its possibilities. After -considerable discussion it was decided that on the next -afternoon Pat should go to a certain office address -where, as the advertisement read, any refined lady, -young or old, would be told how to make ten dollars -a week, in pleasant occupation, in her spare hours!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That will be just right for me!" Pat declared -enthusiastically. "It won't interfere with 'school.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen's "school" was well started. At first -Pat had been inclined to treat rather lightly the -schedule of "household arts," but she realized very -soon that Aunt Pen was in earnest and that she -intended to demand the same thoroughness and -accuracy in the simple tasks about the house that -were necessary in the sums in Algebra! At the -beginning Pat had detested what Melodia called -"the upstairs work," but under Aunt Pen's pleasant -instruction and with Renée's cheerful company--that -little lady was a true housewife and her hands flew -eagerly about her work--Pat began to feel more -interest and to try very hard to do everything just -right! And at the end of the first week Aunt Pen -had allowed the girls to make apple pies which -Mr. Everett had declared were better than any apple pies -he had ever tasted!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And ten dollars a week!" Pat went on, "I will -be rich very soon! Now we must find something for -Renée!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps I might earn a little arranging flowers -in shop windows; often I helped Colette Voisin, -who had a stall at St. Cloud, and I loved it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just the thing!" cried Pat, delighted with -anything out of the ordinary. "Most of the flower -shops look hideous and they'd probably pay you -well! While I go for my position to-morrow -afternoon, you and Sheila can stop at each one of the -florists and offer to trim their windows!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fortune-seekers spent an excited hour -preparing for their adventure. Aunt Pen had gone out -for the afternoon, so they were undisturbed. Pat -insisted upon fastening her hair tightly back from -her face so as to give to herself an appearance of -mature severity! At the last moment she donned -a long coat of Aunt Pen's which concealed her own -kilted skirt and then for a finishing touch added -Celia's last year's sable furs!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There--I'm sure anyone would take me easily -for twenty-one!" she declared, surveying herself -with satisfaction. And to Pat twenty-one seemed old -enough to suit the most exacting employer!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They had arranged to meet Sheila at her gate. -Renée was frightened to death, and as the three girls -trudged on toward the business section of the city -she repeated over and over, after Pat, just what -she must say upon entering each florist's shop!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Be sure to tell them that you used to fix that -flower stall in France!" warned Pat as they parted. -She waved her hand, calling "good luck," and -walked on with a brave step. Sheila was to stay -with Renée because Renée was not acquainted with -the city streets.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But two hours later it was a crestfallen trio who -met--as they had agreed to do--in Sheila's kitchen. -Pat, in spite of her ridiculous make-up, looked like an -unhappy, thwarted child! She had waited over an -hour in a stuffy office, packed in with dozens of -other "refined lady" applicants who had--although -Pat would not tell this even to Sheila or -Renée--openly laughed at her!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And by the time it was my turn to go in I was -so tired waiting that I got all sort of scared and -couldn't say a word," she explained in deep disgust. -"Anyway, it was to sell "Beauty Packages" at -people's houses--things that'd make straight hair -curly and remove freckles and everything else and -you had to deposit twenty-five dollars before they'd -even let you begin!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And all the flower shops said they had experts -to decorate their windows--they would not even let -me tell of Colette's stall! I think they thought I was -too little," sighed Renée; "often they laughed!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," Pat tossed her head, "we just mustn't -get discouraged but try, try again!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée shuddered. "Oh, I can't--not like that!" -she cried vehemently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Would you rather not be a scout?" demanded -Pat. "You never get anything without trying for -it and I guess I'm not going to let one failure -discourage me!" In the pleasant shelter of the Quinn -kitchen she felt very brave! But a threat of tears in -Renée's eyes softened her. "Don't worry, Ren, we'll -find something! Maybe," she hesitated, "maybe -we'd better consult Aunt Pen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I wish you would!" Renée cried eagerly. -Pat's adventurous spirit frightened her a little.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll think about it and maybe to-morrow----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For Pat was not quite sure, in her own mind, just -what Aunt Pen might think of the borrowed coat and -Celia's furs!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By countless little signs Aunt Pen knew that her -girls had something on their minds! Hurrying down -to dinner she had caught a glimpse, as she had passed -Pat's door, of her own coat and Celia's furs thrown -on Pat's bed; the girls had been unusually silent -during the evening meal and she had twice -intercepted an appealing glance from Renée to Pat which -had drawn a nod of assurance from Pat in answer! -Pat's room work the next morning had been sadly -careless and her Latin recitation had found her -abstracted! Aunt Pen was too sensible to force a -confidence--she was sure that it was only a matter -of a little time before Pat would bring to her -anything that troubled!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So she was not surprised when after the morning's -work was over Pat came to her door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Renée and I want to talk to you, Aunt Pen!" -she said so seriously that for a moment Penelope -was startled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two stood before her, Pat with her hands -clasped behind her as she had often seen her father -stand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You see it's like this, Aunt Pen--Renée and -I have got to earn some money to buy our uniforms! -We can't just use allowances! It's about six dollars -and a half apiece! We can't knit well enough to -sell things and Peggy Lee worked in a grocery store, -but it was where her mother traded and they were -nice about it! But we--can't--find--any work!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then you've tried?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat colored. "Yes--we tried yesterday!" Without -going too much into detail and carefully -giving their experience as much dignity as possible, -she recounted the efforts of the afternoon before to -find employment. Aunt Pen was suddenly seized -with a violent coughing fit which left her tearful!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I </span><em class="italics">hope</em><span> you're not laughing," Pat ended with -some wrath in her voice. "I'm sure we're old enough -to earn money--</span><em class="italics">boys</em><span> do at our age! And I am not in -the </span><em class="italics">least</em><span> discouraged!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is right, Pat," cried Aunt Pen admiringly. -"But perhaps you have not gone about it the right -way! Let's sit down now and go over the whole -thing!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Afterwards Pat told Sheila that one thing she -always liked about Aunt Pen was that she treated -a person as though that person </span><em class="italics">knew</em><span> something!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Pat never dreamed that it was not her own -mental processes that, after a few words, arrived at -the conclusion that she and Renée must content -themselves with just trying to do what they were qualified -to do!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Renée is too young to be employed even for -any part of a day in a store--we have a law that -forbids it! And you, Pat, could scarcely sell enough -Beauty Packages in what spare time you have to -replace the shoe leather you'd wear out!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But what </span><em class="italics">will</em><span> we do?" cried Pat, humble now.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen thought for a long time. Pat's -earnestness was a very precious thing--she must -guard it!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly she clapped her hands with the -girlishness that made her such an understanding companion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have a brilliant idea! You remember the box -of apples that came last week from my farm? We -must have at least fifty bushels of them! My farmer -said he was going to take them to market next week. -Instead, you and Renée may go around and take -orders! You can sell them for a dollar and -seventy-five cents a bushel--even then it'll be under the -grocer's price--and you will pay the farmer a dollar -and a half, which is all he'd get wholesale, anyway."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then we'll make a quarter a bushel?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. If you sell the whole lot, you'll have -twelve dollars and a half to divide between you, -besides lots of exercise and some experience! And -you can take orders for potatoes, too, up to twenty -bushels."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, great!" cried Pat. She danced around -Indian-fashion. "May we begin this afternoon? -And may I take some of the apples that came here -around in a basket to show people?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is a good idea! I think you'll find it -pleasanter than selling Beauty Packages! Then other -ways of earning money may turn up. You know one -thing you can learn, even when you are little girls, -that will help you all through life is to know and -grasp opportunities when they come."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know what we'd do without you, Aunt -Pen! I'll keep accounts in a little book, for I love -putting down and adding figures. Let's call -ourselves 'LaDue and Everett, Agents.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée, whose face reflected her pleasure and -approval of the new plan and her relief that the -afternoon need not bring further search for -employment, spoke now, shyly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I want so much to earn some money so as to -send a little to Susette and Gabriel. I have so much -here and they may need many things! Do you think -I could sell Christmas cards?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What kind, child?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée told, then, of the little cards she had -painted and sold in St. Cloud. She ran to her room -to bring a few that she had. Penelope exclaimed -with real admiration over them:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, my dear, they are beautiful! Of course -you can sell them! And you must make more! And -dinner cards, too!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then valentines!" cried Pat. "And I'll sell -them, 'cause you see I am bigger! We can buy your -paints and cardboard out of our apple money and--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What a business woman you have suddenly -become!" Aunt Pen declared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll need a great big account book and an -office----" Pat stopped suddenly and clapped her -hands to her head, a motion which always indicated -that she had an idea!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, spliffy! Renée--come on! I've the </span><em class="italics">best</em><span> -plan!" That it was to be a secret was certain! She -caught Renée's two hands and dragged her from -the room, leaving Aunt Pen convulsed with laughter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There ensued, then, from the third floor, between -the lunch hour and the afternoon study period, a -rumbling like thunder, mingled with pounding and -scraping and bursts of laughter. To add to the -mystery Pat rushed downstairs to return shortly with -broom and dustpan and a mob cap over her dark head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not until the next afternoon was the secret -revealed! Then with much ceremony Pat and Renée -escorted Aunt Pen to the third floor. For years the -low-gabled room stretching across the east wing of -the house had served as a sewing room where the -Archer sisters had worked stitching frocks for Celia -and Pat and mending the household linen. The Archer -sisters--Pat had always thought they looked like -gnomes---were dead now and Mrs. Everett had the -girls' dresses made by a downtown dressmaker. The -room had not been used for a long time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now upon its door had been nailed an imposing -and elaborately decorated sign which read: "</span><em class="italics">Eagles' -Eyrie</em><span>." And beneath that, emphasizing its warning -with a skull and crossbones, was another sign: "</span><em class="italics">No Admittance</em><span>."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Three knocks and then a quick one is the -signal," explained Pat mysteriously; "and you and -Sheila and Peggy and Keineth and True Scott are -the only ones that will know it--except, of course, -Ren and me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat was unlocking the door as she spoke. She -threw it open proudly. "This isn't going to be any -silly club!" she explained. "Everyone that comes -here must work! That desk over there is mine -and Renée has this table because she can paint on -it and the light's good. And that big table is for the -other girls, only we have to keep it against the wall -'cause one leg's off!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A few hours' work had utterly transformed the -room and had removed all traces of the patient -Archer sisters and their livelihood. The floor, very -dusty in spots, was covered with strips of an old hall -carpeting which, when hardwood floors had been -laid, had been stored away. Pat had also resurrected -from the storeroom the antiquated desk and tables -and a dilapidated assortment of chairs. Over one of -these, to add a note of elegance to the room, she -had thrown an old Bagdad lounge cover and across -the windows the girls had hung pieces of faded -velour, replaced a few years before in the living -rooms below. The air was heavy with the smell -of camphor and dust; the three-legged table had a -pathetically helpless look, a corner of the wall was -stained from a leak in the roof, but to Pat and Renée -it was an inspiring retreat!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My account books are there in my desk, and -I'll have you know, Aunt Pen, that 'LaDue and -Everett' have gotten orders for ten bushels of apples -which wasn't bad for one afternoon's work and for -girls, too!" declared Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, that reminds me!" Aunt Pen's voice was -as enthusiastic as that of the junior member of the -firm. "I have an order for LaDue and Everett! -Miss Higgins will take twelve of the Christmas -cards! I showed her one this morning. She is going -to put them on sale in her tea room. She may order -more! You must decide as to your prices, Renée."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée was too delighted to answer. Pat fairly -bubbled with excitement. She caught Aunt Pen and -Renée in a whirling step that almost completely -demolished an ancient chair that lay in her mad path.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hurrah for the Eagles' Eyrie! And won't we -just have fun? You, know"--she quieted -suddenly--"the day mother and Celia went away I -was awfully miserable and I wrote the silliest things -in my diary! But that was before I found Renée! -And now we've got Sheila and you and our jolly -school and our business and I'm glad's can be they -left me home and I didn't go back to Prindle's!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen, for lack of breath and a chair had -sunk down upon the floor. She looked up laughing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd hate to have to analyze that sentence of -yours, Patsy! But even if your English is -constructed badly your heart is gold and I say--good -luck to you and your Eagles' Eyrie!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-new-lodger"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE NEW LODGER</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Whatever in the world are all those whistles -blowing for?" asked Pat, springing from her bed -and running to her window. "Something's -happening--I know!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The girls listened. The early morning air was -filled with incessant sound; the shriek of sirens, -shriller blasts, the heavy tones of boats' whistles -from the harbor, intoning bells.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It makes you shiver!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's dress quickly!" Pat reached out for a -stocking. "Maybe it's peace!" she declared -suddenly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh-h!" was all Renée answered, but there was -a world of meaning in the single sound. "Listen! -There are more bells! Aren't they beautiful? -Perhaps they are ringing all over the world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Downstairs they found everyone wildly excited. -Even Jasper, who had not been over from England -for so many years that he had forgotten his relatives -there, was talking volubly to Aunt Pen and passing -her sugar for her boiled egg!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it, Aunt Pen?" cried Pat and Renée -in one voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dears--the fighting has stopped--at last!" -Mr. Everett answered. He seemed too moved to -say more.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know whether I feel more like praying -or shouting," laughed Aunt Pen with two tears -rolling down her cheeks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From the extra which Jasper had brought in -Mr. Everett read to them all the terms of the -armistice to which Germany had agreed. Melodia and -Maggie listened from the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I feel all queer inside!" announced Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée's breakfast lay before her, untouched. -Aunt Pen, seeing the real distress on the child's face, -divined the ache that lay in her heart. So that when -Renée, unable to control herself longer, rushed -toward the door she felt two quick arms fold about -her and draw her close to a friendly shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dearie, tell us! Don't grieve by yourself!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then poor Renée buried her face; it was several -moments before she could speak.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish I was--there! Home, I mean--poor -Susette is old--and has--only Gabriel! We worked -so hard--we made a flag, Susette and I, and we tried -to make it just like your Stars and Stripes; we put -in the thirteen bars, 'cause I had counted--but -not--nearly--enough stars! We'd promised Emile when -peace came--he said that the Germans </span><em class="italics">would</em><span> be -beaten--we'd hang it from the corner of the roof, -'long side of Gabriel's old French flag! And"--the -head went back against Penelope's shoulder--"I'm -'fraid Susette--will forget--and it--will not--be -there!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She will remember, Renée, because right at -this moment I know her heart and her mind are full -of thoughts of you, just as you are homesick for -her and the little cottage!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Everett, who had been deeply moved by -Renée's story, interposed some practical comfort.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Renée, will you let me--by way of celebrating -this day--send a money order to Susette in your -name? Remember, child, how little we have -suffered as compared to you and Susette and countless -others--over there! You shall write her a little -letter to go with it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I will </span><em class="italics">like that</em><span>! And then Susette will -surely know that I am with kind, generous friends!" The -child's eyes were bright again. "And I will -remind her where we put the flag and she can hang -it out, for I think now there will be flags flying in -France for a long time!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This must, of course, be a holiday," declared -Aunt Pen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And let's just do things we've never done -before," cried Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment Mr. Everett was called to the -telephone. He returned greatly excited.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Burns telephones from the Works that the men -are forming a monster parade! They've got a band -and helped themselves to every flag in the place! -The city's gone mad! I must hurry away. Take -the girls downtown! This November eleventh must -be a day we will never forget--as long as we live!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And as he hurried off he said to Renée in parting:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have that letter ready, my dear, and I will -send the money order home at noon-time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The girls rushed away to put on their wraps.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"May we stop for Sheila?" called Pat over the -banister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course!" assented Penelope, glad that Pat -wanted to share all her joys with her friends.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By the time they reached the downtown section -the walks were thronged with people and the streets -had been cleared of traffic for the marching hosts. -The girls found a place on the curb. It seemed to -them as though everyone had gone mad all at once -and that they were as mad as anyone else! At every -corner processions were forming, headed by any sort -of a makeshift band and where not even a drum could -be commandeered, tin pans and pails had been pressed -into service! And through it all the incessant, -deafening tumult of whistles!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Everyone was smiling! The sun had burst -through the accumulated clouds of long years of war!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A group of men and girls from a shipyard -marched by. Some of them were drawing a huckster's -wagon they had seized and upon its load of -potatoes and apples and cabbages they had placed a -big ship's bell! One of their number rode on the -wagon and with a huge sledge pounded the bell at -regular intervals. They were all carrying flags, big -and small, and one grimy man had a baby in his -arms! The crowd on the curb cheered wildly and -the man held the baby high in the air!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The marchers had to halt and while the man -with the bell rested, they sang the Star Spangled -Banner. Others took it up--it was carried down -block after block, a rising wave of sound, a chorus -of triumph! Pat and Sheila and Renée sang lustily -and as they sang Pat felt her hand suddenly caught -in a warm, tight clasp! It was her neighbor, a little -bent woman with the dark eyes of the Italian race -and a worn shawl over her head and shoulders. Her -eyes were brimming with tears, but through them she -was smiling like the others! Pat was too young to -guess the tragedy of sacrifice that might lie behind -those tears, but she was not too young to sense the -common joy and thankfulness and privilege they -shared! So she squeezed the worn fingers and -smiled back into the little old woman's face!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here come the men from the Works!" cried -Aunt Pen, standing on tiptoe to look over the crowd. -The shipbuilders had passed on. Along surged the -approaching host, fifteen thousand strong, men and -women! They had stripped the works of flags and -carried them now high in the air with arms that could -not tire! The discordant blasts of their band was -heavenly music to their ears! Old men stepped along -like boys; scattered through the lines were hundreds -of girls in their working overalls and caps.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée was puzzled. These men, many of them, -did not look like the Americans she had seen! One -of them shouted out in a strange tongue, but he -carried a banner that said "We are for the -U.S.A." Perhaps, like herself, he had come to America for -refuge and was giving now of his strength and -loyalty to the mother country he had sought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can't we march, too, Aunt Pen?" cried Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some one from the lines shouted to them to come -in! They made a place in the ranks for them and -even the little old woman with the shawl joined the -procession. A voice from behind hailed them and -Pat saw her father marching with his men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Could a day be more wonderful? But I am as -hungry as a bear," declared Pat at luncheon. "And, -oh joy, chicken and biscuits! What shall we do this -afternoon, Aunt Pen?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dear me, Pat, do you think as fast as you -talk? For the sake of your digestion I shall keep -the plans for this afternoon a secret until you are -through luncheon! But it is going to be something -you'll </span><em class="italics">just</em><span> love!" and Aunt Pen imitated -perfectly Pat's characteristically enthusiastic tone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Aunt Pen, I'll choke if you don't tell even a -</span><em class="italics">teeny</em><span> word! Let us guess!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Aunt Pen was firm, and not until the last -crumb of luncheon had been eaten would she say -one word!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then: "Your father says we may all go through -the Works!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All--Sheila and Keineth and Peggy?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. And we will start in half an hour. That -will give Renée a chance to write her letter to -Susette." For Renée had found on her plate an -envelope containing a money order for one hundred -dollars!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Because of the day's celebration the Works were -almost deserted and for the first time in months the -great wheels were still and the furnaces smouldering. -Mr. Everett met the girls and took them himself -from building to building, explaining carefully -every process of manufacture. Peggy and Sheila -were intent listeners; Keineth, more imaginative than -the others, thought that the wheels were like great -giants, harmless now as they slumbered! And Renée -loved the empty, dusty spaces, the gleaming metals -of the engines and dull glow of the furnaces! Pat's -most lasting impression was pride that her father -should know so much!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila became particularly absorbed in the pattern -shop. She had lingered behind the others to examine -more closely a series of beltings. Of an inquiring -and inventive mind, she was always deeply interested -in the putting together of any piece of mechanism. -Suddenly she realized that she was alone and hurried -out of the building to overtake the others. They -had gone on through a long, enclosed alleyway to -the main shop. She could still hear Mr. Everett's -voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As she rushed through the passage she ran -headlong into a man who appeared suddenly from a -doorway letting into the passage. He was as startled -as she! "</span><em class="italics">Du verdamte dumkopf!</em><span>" he snarled, -under his breath, hurrying on. Sheila stood -motionless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That was </span><em class="italics">German</em><span>!" she thought. She turned -quickly. The man was disappearing at the end of -the passage. And in a flash she recognized him as -her mother's new lodger!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's voice came to her from the other direction.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Shei-la! Come along!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A multitude of thoughts were whirling in Sheila's -head! She did not hear one word of the light -chatter about her, for the exploring party had ended now -in Mr. Everett's office. That man had certainly -cursed in German and there had been an evil look -in his face; she had frightened him so that he had -lost control of himself for an instant! And what -could he have been doing there--like that--when -all the other men were off celebrating?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Down deep in her heart a voice told her that she -ought to tell Mr. Everett immediately! But another -voice warned her that that would surely mean the -man would be discharged and her mother would lose -her lodger! The back room would be empty again--and -the music! She had begun her lessons and Miss -Sheehan had said she "was learning quickly!" It -had been a precious dream come true--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She listened to the second voice--it was very -coaxing! "Perhaps he is a German who has become -a loyal citizen of the United States," it told her, and -that sounded very reasonable! She had startled him -and he had spoken in the old, forgotten language! -And the evil look she had caught in his eyes might -have been imagined--for she had been startled, too! -Besides, had the fighting not ended this very day? -What harm could an enemy do now! If she told -Mr. Everett and he laughed she would feel very -foolish! Mr. Everett was placing them in the -automobile and instructing Watkins to take them to -Huyler's where they would have chocolate and cakes -to end the great day. She could not tell him now!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the doubt in her heart made her sweets taste -bitter, and while the others chattered merrily Sheila -sat silent and absorbed. She had listened within -herself to the pleasanter voice, but in her ears still rang -that muttered "</span><em class="italics">Du verdamte dumkopf</em><span>," and she was -haunted by the gleam of evil eyes.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-scout-s-honor"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER X</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A SCOUT'S HONOR</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>That night Sheila dreamed all the great wheels -she had seen in the Everett Works were rolling down -the street after her and, though she ran as fast as -she could, they advanced more quickly and came -nearer and nearer; then they began to roar and to -wave arms of hot metal towards her! The nearest -reached out and caught at her with fiery fingers and -just as she felt them close about her, she wakened!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Paddy was barking furiously, running from her -bed to the door and back, as though to implore her -to come!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her fingers clutched at the bedclothes--with terrified -eyes she peered into the darkness of the room! -It had been a dream--she was safe in her bed!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Woof! Woof!" growled Paddy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila crept out of bed, scolding Paddy in -whispers, that she might not waken her mother who slept -in the next room. Barefooted she stole down the -stairs to the kitchen, Paddy leaping on ahead of her. -The kitchen was dark; it was a moment or two -before Sheila's eyes could make out the familiar -objects. Paddy growled and barked again! A -sound outside startled Sheila so that she had to clap -her hand over her mouth to still a scream! Then -she realized it was the lodger going up the outside -stairway! Each step creaked under his foot; she -heard the door above close and a key turn in the -lock!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Paddy was not satisfied! He did not bark -again, for Sheila had soundly rapped his nose, but -he ran to the window, and placing his fore-paws -on the sill, looked out and whined. Sheila, following -him, peeped through the curtains. A light snow -had covered the ground in the small backyard; it was -still falling. Not an object was visible except the -bare lilac bush in the sorrier.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I s'pose it's a cat--you bad dog!" Sheila -muttered crossly. "Come right upstairs, now, and be -quiet!" So the two scampered back to Sheila's -room and Sheila cuddled down under the bedclothes, -pulling them well up over her face. Paddy jumped -upon the bed and laid down very close to her feet and, -though Sheila knew this was against the Quinn -rules, she was grateful for his company and did not -drive him away!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the morning Sheila was not her cheerful self; -she helped prepare the breakfast, clear it away and -get the three small brothers ready for school in an -abstracted manner. Her mother watched her start -off herself with an anxious heart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Land o' goodness, what's got into my sweetness -this morning?" she thought. "Never mind--if it's -anything wrong she'll be telling her mother!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Which was exactly what, at noon-time, Sheila ran -all the way home from school to do. Not for a -moment longer could she bear the self-reproach and -doubt that was tormenting her! And her mother -gave her the counsel she expected!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You go just as straight to Mr. Everett as you -can, dearie! And don't worry!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila found the Everett family in a state of -intense excitement. She needed only to glance once -at Mr. Everett's stern face to know that something -terrible had happened! And with incredible instinct, -born of remorse, something within her told her what -it was! She stood quite still and looked from one -face to another down the length of the table upon -which the day's luncheon had been spread.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Sheila, somebody has stolen some dreadfully -important formulas from the Works----" -began Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No--no--no!" cried Sheila, as though her -protest must stop the truth! Then she realized that -they were staring at her in amazement! She clutched -the back of a chair and tried to speak but not a sound -would come.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is true," explained Mr. Everett in a tired -voice. "It must have been the work of a very clever -band of spies! All three copies of the formula have -been taken! Each one had been put in a place we -considered absolutely safe! We had just completed -them and were ready to turn them over for the -examination of the government experts!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And think of it, Sheila, Daddy says that it -was for an explosive so dreadfully powerful that -just having the formula and knowing how to make -it would help prevent wars! Isn't that what he -said, Aunt Pen?" Pat was greatly excited.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To keep the secret in our country will certainly -help to prevent future wars! There is no doubt but -that the theft is the work of German agents," -Mr. Everett answered. "And I did not know that we -had a man we could not trust!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Sheila swallowed hard. As she began to -speak she felt as though her voice was coming from -a great way off--that it did not belong to her at all! -Everything in the room began to whirl around her -excepting Mr. Everett.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In broken words she told her little story. And -at the end she burst out, tears choking her voice: -"I just hate myself for not having told you right -then and there!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It seemed to Sheila that long minutes of silence -followed her outburst and as though every face in -the room was turned upon her in condemnation. Her -own eyes were fixed on the rug at her feet. But -presently Mr. Everett's voice answered with a -hopeful ring it had not had before and, gaining courage, -Sheila looked up to find Aunt Pen nodding in -approval and Pat regarding her with open envy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear girl," exclaimed Mr. Everett, "I -believe you've given us an important clue! I'll call -up the secret service detectives and will ask you to -repeat your story to them--if you will wait!" He -quickly left the room as he spoke.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sheila Quinn, you're just like a real detective! -Isn't it grand and exciting? I'd never have thought -a thing about that awful man!" Pat cried.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Aunt Pen was solicitous that Sheila should -have some hot luncheon immediately!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From that moment on everything happened with -exciting rapidity. Sheila repeated her story to the -two detectives who came at Mr. Everett's call. It -was too late to return to school, so, hurrying home, -she went grimly about various little household tasks, -constantly listening for a knock at the door, starting -at every sound!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know, Sheila," her mother whispered, -"I'm as nervous as can be! I'm sure I heard -Mr. Marx go upstairs the front way! He's never done -that before! I believe he just doesn't want a body to -know he's in the house! Hark!" Holding hands -tightly they listened; a soft pad-pad overhead made -them certain someone was moving about in the room -above.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish they'd hurry and come and arrest him," -Sheila groaned. And scarcely had the words left her -lips when the front doorbell gave out its rusty clang.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Quinn met three men at the door who -briefly explained that they came with a warrant for -the arrest of one Mr. John Marx who they thought -might be found in her house. With a nodding of the -head that set awry all sorts of little gray curls, -Mrs. Quinn made it known that she was very certain the -gentleman was at that moment right up in her back -room! She started up the stairs with two of the -men while the third lingered uncertainly in the hall -below.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quick--come and watch these stairs outside," -cried Sheila running to him. She led him back to -the kitchen. They reached there just in time to hear -the outside door above close quietly and quick steps -on the rickety stairs. Not quick enough, though, for -as Mr. John Marx opened the door at the foot of -the stairs he faced the muzzle of a revolver!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila, frightened and unnerved, shrank to a -corner of the kitchen. She heard quick, angry voices, -a sharp command, a click of metal as of a lock -snapping shut! Her mother and the two other officers -had come into the kitchen. Then the one man and -his prisoner went away and the others returned to -the room above to search its contents.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dear me, I feel almost as though we'd done -something ourselves," sighed Mrs. Quinn, worn out -with excitement. "And he was a nice appearing -man, too, with always a pleasant word when he -brought me the----" she stopped. For the first -time it came to her that she had lost her lodger!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And as though the same thought tormented -Sheila the girl dropped her work and went to the old -piano. It had been tuned and polished and -Mrs. Quinn had draped a linen and lace square over one -end of it. Sheila sat down and slowly, with a -lingering touch, ran her fingers up and down the scale. -Then she rose abruptly and closed the cover over -the keys with a resolute bang.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's not half the punishment I deserve--but I -did want to learn!" and bursting into tears she, -rushed off to her room to fight out by herself the -disappointment she must face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And as though the day had not brought enough to -"just clean tucker one out," as poor Mrs. Quinn put -it, that evening, after the boys had gone to bed, -Mr. Everett and Pat came to the door! Mrs. Quinn's -hospitable soul was greatly distressed that she could -not invite her guest into the parlor--occupied now -by old Mr. Judkins at twenty-five dollars a month--but -Mr. Everett declared that he could not ask for -a more comfortable chair than the old rocker nor for -a more cosy room! With his usual tact he made -Mrs. Quinn feel that they were old acquaintances.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He told them--keeping Pat's voice out of the -story with difficulty--how the arrest of John Marx -had led to the rounding up of the entire band; -how they had been quickly proven to be Germans and -paid agents of the German government and -how--although as yet the formulas had not been found and -their whereabouts remained a deep mystery, it must -be only a short time before they </span><em class="italics">would</em><span> be discovered, -as some of the best secret service men in the United -States were working on the case!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Everett's face looked worn and worried. -Nevertheless he spoke cheerfully, as though to relieve -Sheila's concern.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And now, my dear," he concluded, "you have -helped us so much in this matter I want you to tell -me frankly--is there not some way in which I can -show my appreciation? Is there not something you -want to do? Girls like you and my Pat here have -so many air castles and I would like----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, </span><em class="italics">please</em><span> stop!" Sheila sprang to her feet, -her face burning. "I just can't </span><em class="italics">bear</em><span> it! If I had -done what I knew, right then, I </span><em class="italics">ought</em><span> to do--and -told you, there at the Works--they might have been -stopped--in time! But I didn't! I waited! The -only way I can bear thinking about it is knowing -that--I'm being punished!" Her shame-faced -glance went from the piano to her mother's face. -"So please don't say anything to me about----" -she stopped, held by a sudden thought, and drew -from the pocket of her blouse a small, flat package of -tissue paper. With trembling fingers she unwrapped -it and held up to view her badge of the Golden Eagle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I didn't live up to it! I didn't keep my Scout's -honor! Mr. Everett, please, will you take it and -keep it for me--until the formulas are found? I -cannot wear it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no doubting the resolution in Sheila's -face. The man marveled at the courage with which -this mere girl inflicted upon herself the punishment -she thought she deserved! In spite of a half-smothered -exclamation from Pat, he took the badge, carefully -re-wrapped it, and put it away in his pocket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sheila, you are evidently determined not to -forget this lesson! Many of us make mistakes often -by hesitating to heed the voice of our conscience, -but I know one girl that isn't going to let it happen -again!" He patted her affectionately upon her -shoulder. "I don't know," he added, enigmatically, -"but that this all may not be worth more than the -formulas--for us all!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he shook Mrs. Quinn's hand warmly in parting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I congratulate you, madam." And though Mrs. Quinn -was too flustered to know what in the world -for, nevertheless she beamed with pleased pride!</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="young-wings"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">YOUNG WINGS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Tat! Tat! Tat! T-tat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The mystic door of the Eagles' Eyrie opened -wide enough to admit Peggy Lee and Keineth -Randolph.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All sorts of greetings assailed them. "Hello, -Eagles!" "We were afraid you wouldn't come!" -"A half-holiday and such a storm," regretfully from Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'd come through flood and fire!" cried -Peggy, with magnificent expression. "We are the -bearers of good tidings!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What? What? What?" came at once from -three throats.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The Wasps have challenged us to another game, -and if we don't beat the pigskin right off of -'em--I'll resign as captain of the team!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Peg--you talk more and more like Billy!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Garrett, if you please," and Peggy struck a fine -pose! "Now that he has come into the dignity of -long trousers, my dear brother desires to be called -Garrett! Billy is far too childish for him and -William would confuse him with his respected father -who is also my dear daddy----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Garrett, then," Keineth laughed, "only -I heard you promise your mother you would not use -any more slang!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So I did, and I am trying, and what I really -mean is that if my dear little Yellowbirds do not play -an exquisitely nice game and defeat the Wasps I -shall be prostrated with chagrin and shall send in -my----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, for goodness sake, Peg!" they begged.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Peggy now became very earnest. The Wasps, -Troop Nine's basketball team, was the only scout -team that Troop Six had not been able to beat. Now -the Yellowbirds were going to have another chance! -For the next two weeks they must practice as they -had never practiced before! They </span><em class="italics">must</em><span> uphold the -honor of Troop Six!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's face, as she listened to the plans, wore a -wistful look. She wanted so much to make the -Troop team! No one of the scrubs worked harder -at practice! And Peggy had told her, too, that she -was beginning to play a good game. Of course it was -wicked to wish that anything might happen to any of -the valiant Yellowbirds, however--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée interrupted the plans of the young athletes -by abruptly pushing back the one sound chair in the -room which she had been occupying.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's too dark to work!" she declared, shutting -her paint box.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's just sit around and talk," suggested Pat -"I feel lazy! Anyway, Ren, you work too hard! I -heard Aunt Pen say so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Against the windows of the Eyrie the storm beat -relentlessly--rain and hail; gusts of wind, sounding -like witches' voices around the gable. The girls -stretched out on the floor. Sheila shut the book she -had been reading. Pat pulled Keineth's head into -her lap that she might "play," as she called it, with -the bright curls escaping from the band that held -them back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You'd almost think there were fairies around! -Listen!" Keineth held up her hand. "It makes me -think of a story poor Tante used to tell me about -the kind fairies who came to whisper to the princess -what she should do when she had been shut in the -tower of the castle by the wicked prince. Tante used -to try and make me understand how one could learn -something from all those fairy tales--the wicked -prince was our own selfish natures, the beautiful -princess was, of course, our bestest selves that we'd -shut away in the prison tower and the fairy voices -that whispered and sang 'round the tower were the -voices of Opportunity! But, dear me, I used to -think it was more fun just to believe that the princess -was a real princess!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish a fairy would come right now and tell -me what </span><em class="italics">would</em><span> rhyme with "long" besides "song!" -sighed Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> wish a fairy would just guide my fingers -for me," put in little Renée from her corner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's all tell what we want to be," cried Peggy. -"I've always said I was going to be an actress! I -was in a play once and did awfully well! But -Barbara met Ethel Barrymore when she visited college -and she told the girls that only a few of the women -who go on the stage are really happy or become -famous! I don't believe Barb told her about me -but Barb got the idea that she sort of--meant me! -And Billy--or Garrett--says my feet are too big, -anyway, and I guess he's right! So now I'm trying -to decide whether to be a chemist or a doctor! I love -to fuss with the cunning little dishes and mix up all -sorts of things, and if I don't blow myself up Dad -says I'll be all right. But I'd like to be a doctor, -too!" Poor Peggy's forehead wrinkled in a deep -frown over the perplexing problem of her future.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My father says that after four more years of -school he will take me abroad to study my music -from great masters! And I will learn to play and -to write beautiful music!" said Keineth softly, -looking as though off in the shadows of the room she -could see her dearest dreams come true.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your turn, Ren!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée blushed under the serious glances turned -toward her. "I've wanted ever since I was a little -girl, to make things out of clay and marble, like my -father used to make--and Emile. Emile had -promised to teach me when I was older. My mother could -never bear to see the clay and tools around, it made -her very sad, I think because it made her think of -my poor father. One summer mother and Emile -and I went to the sea, and when we'd sit on the -beach Emile would help me make rabbits and cats and -birds out of the wet sand. I love to draw and paint, -but when I am older I shall learn to carve, too!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Sheila!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila laughed. "Goodness, girls, I've never had -a moment to make nice dreams like yours! I </span><em class="italics">did</em><span> -want to learn to play the piano----" she stopped -short; the hurt of disappointment and the smart of -remorse had not healed in her heart. "But I never -could have earned any money--with it! I just want -to hurry through school as fast as I can so that I -do something that will help the boys and mother -along! They'll want, maybe, to go to college! I -think I'd like sometime to be a nurse! I'm awfully -big and strong, you see, and mother has taught me -a lot of sensible things!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You be a nurse and I'll be a doctor!" exclaimed -Peggy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We've all told but you, Pat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What are you going to be?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat looked around the circle of earnest faces. It -was a moment of noble thoughts, of precious -confidences!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Girls, I'll tell you all a secret if you'll </span><em class="italics">promise</em><span> -not to tell!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll promise!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Cross your hearts?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Cross our hearts and on our scout's honor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well"--Pat hitched along to the center of the -circle--"I'm going to be a poet! And I'm writing -a ballad--</span><em class="italics">right now</em><span>," she mysteriously tapped her -pocket from which protruded a long pencil and a -corner of paper. "And it's about Aunt Pen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Aunt Pen!" cried Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes--</span><em class="italics">that's</em><span> the secret! You think she's happy -but she has a secret sorrow and </span><em class="italics">I found it out</em><span>!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, tell us! What is it? </span><em class="italics">Do</em><span> hurry, Pat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's voice dropped to a fittingly sorrowful note. -"It was a disappointed love, I think! That silly -malady even attacked poor Aunt Pen, though she -isn't like lots of people and doesn't go round with -a broken heart within her bosom and sighing and -weeping like they do in stories! I guessed it when -she asked me so many questions about Captain -Allan, Renée's guardian, you know, and she looked -so funny and red when she was asking them just -like I do when I'm saying one thing but really -wanting to say another! Then she wanted to see a letter -he had written to Renée and Renée brought it, and -I watched her face </span><em class="italics">and then I knew</em><span>! It turned fiery -red and then white and she did the </span><em class="italics">queerest</em><span> thing--she -</span><em class="italics">kissed</em><span> that letter, real quick--just a plain letter -he'd written to Renée! I couldn't believe my eyes -that it was Aunt Pen! She </span><em class="italics">knew</em><span> I saw her and she -began to laugh and then to sort of cry! She told -us that she was </span><em class="italics">sure</em><span> it was a Mr. Allan she had known -her senior year in college! I begged her to tell more -but she just said 'there isn't any more to tell!' and -we couldn't get another word out of her! Of course -Aunt Pen has a right to hide her own secret sorrow -away but she can't stop my putting it into a ballad! -Only I can't think of anything to rhyme with -'long'--except 'song' and I've used that!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Go right through the alphabet, Pat! Bong, -cong, dong----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now </span><em class="italics">don't</em><span> you girls tell a </span><em class="italics">soul</em><span> that I'm going to -be a poet!" Pat admonished.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Peggy sprang to her feet. "Girls--let's make a -solemn pledge to stick to our ambitions and not let a -single thing stop us! And we'll help one another!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must have a pass-word! Let's have it -'Steadfast!'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We ought to have a motto, too!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know a Latin one, 'Labor omnia vincit!' -How's that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Spliffy! Now to do this right, girls, we must -have a ceremony! Stand up--in a circle! Hold -hands--thumbs in--like this! Now all say the motto -together! What was it, Keineth?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Keineth repeated, "Labor omnia vincit!" and the -girls said it with her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, altogether--'Steadfast'--so we'll get -used to it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Steadfast!" in hissing whispers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila was so thrilled that she was moved to -oratory! "Girls, I know some day we're all going to be -</span><em class="italics">great</em><span>! I just </span><em class="italics">feel</em><span> it! And we'll look back to this -afternoon in our youth and say----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Steadfast!" giggled Peggy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tat! Tat! Tat! Tat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sh-h! It's Aunt Pen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen, deserted below, had blackened her face -and put on her head a bright yellow turban, to look -as nearly as possible like Aunt Jemima of pancake -fame! Now on a huge tray she bore a plate of -doughnuts and a pitcher of cider. A noisy greeting -welcomed her into the Eyrie!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That night Renée was wakened by Pat's insistent -call in her ear. The lights were burning and Pat was -standing over her, tragedy written in every line of -her face. Alarmed, Renée sat bolt upright, her eyes -wide.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sh-h! Don't be frightened! It's just--I've -</span><em class="italics">lost</em><span> my ballad!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée thought she must be dreaming--or was -Pat stark crazy?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I couldn't sleep and I was thinking I'd change -that 'long' for 'carry,' 'cause there'r so many words -rhyme with that--and I looked in my pocket and it -was gone!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée was aghast at the seriousness of the loss! -Putting on their slippers they stole down the stairs -and made a thorough search. But they could find -no trace of the missing ballad! At last Renée -persuaded the disconsolate Pat to go back to bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'll </span><em class="italics">just</em><span> have to write it again!" she -sighed, digging her tired head into the pillow. -"Maybe this time I'll write it in prose 'cause it's -</span><em class="italics">such</em><span> a bother making words rhyme! Only, poets -are </span><em class="italics">so</em><span> much nicer than just authors, don't you think -so, Renée? Renée----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But for the first time Renée failed to meet her -friend with sympathetic understanding--she -soundly sleeping!</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-game"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE GAME</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Renée! Aunt Pen! Guess!" Pat climbed -the stairs two steps at a time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd guess that you had been running every inch -of the way home," laughed Aunt Pen, for Pat's -cheeks were scarlet from the outdoor air and her -hair was tumbling down about her ears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should say I had! Such </span><em class="italics">good</em><span> luck! Or"--she -attempted to correct herself--"of course it isn't -exactly </span><em class="italics">good</em><span> luck, only--True Scott sprained her -ankle and I'm to play guard in the game tomorrow!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Pat, I'm so glad! I </span><em class="italics">know</em><span> you'll win!" -and Renée looked as though she believed that the -Yellowbirds needed only Pat as one of their guards -to rout the Wasps in an overwhelming defeat!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm glad you've been chosen to substitute, for -you have practiced so faithfully," declared Aunt Pen. -"It is hard on True, though!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Peggy says that maybe it's a kind Providence -that sprained her ankle, 'cause True didn't play as -well in the last game! Of course, as Peg says, when -you're captain of a team you can't let friendship make -a </span><em class="italics">bit</em><span> of difference! And she says if I play all right -in this game she thinks I'll be put on the team! You -can just know I'm going to </span><em class="italics">try</em><span> my best!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen had decided that Renée was not strong -enough as yet for the basketball practice. Sometimes -she went with Pat to the gymnasium, carefully -keeping out of the way of the players but watching with -interest Pat's progress in the game; more often she -spent the hours when Pat was at practice, in painting, -working out new designs for her cards, reading or -walking with Aunt Pen. Each day found the little -girl happier, more contented in her new home and -more passionately devoted to her new friends who -had brought into her life a wealth of affection and -interests she had never dreamed could exist. Day -by day Aunt Pen saw the fragile body develop into -girlish strength and the timid spirit gain in courage -and confidence. The shadow of her sorrows would -never completely leave her, but it had helped in -moulding and maturing the young mind and strengthening -it to meet whatever the future held for her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen had found a fascination in Renée's -quiet company.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One gets the impression that never a word -passes her lips quickly! Sometimes she makes me -feel ashamed of my impulsiveness!" Penelope told -her brother one evening. They had been talking -of her work with the girls. Mr. Everett had asked:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well--is our larkspur budding?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen, taking his question very seriously, -had answered modestly: "I don't know about the -Latin and Algebra but I </span><em class="italics">do</em><span> know that Pat is a -healthier, happier girl than she has ever been before, -and we may feel very proud of Renée when we turn -her over to Captain Allan!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat was not there to see the color flood Aunt -Pen's face as she said these last words.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We ought to hear from him soon! I hope he -has been able to find out more concerning the child. -I do not like to question her too closely--I can see -that it makes her unhappy and homesick."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Penelope would have liked to have asked her -brother more concerning Renée's guardian but he -began to talk of something else. Often, as she and -Renée sat or walked together, she allowed to creep -into her thoughts a rosy day-dream of that time when -the officer would come to claim his ward!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat upset her entire family with her preparations -for the all-important game! She must have her -dinner early in order that a sufficient time for proper -digestion might elapse before her bed hour! As -authority on this point she quoted rules which seemed -to have been laid down by their tyrannical captain. -She must have eggs, too; for her supper, and could -not dream of eating the steam pudding, rich with -dates and raisins, which Melodia had prepared. It -would surely lie heavily in her stomach, make her -restless all night and stupid and sluggish the next -day! A nice custard--Pat detested custards--she -must have!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then for ten minutes early the next morning the -chandeliers of the house rattled in their brackets and -the pictures danced on the walls--not an earthquake, -only Pat, guard of the Yellowbirds, "just loosening -her muscles" in a process of gymnastics that included -everything she had ever heard of!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the hour of the game approached the gymnasium -of the Lincoln School was a-flutter with color -and noisy with life. Enthusiastic rooters from -Troop Nine, gaily decked with the green, gold and -black colors of the Wasps, were packed solidly against -one side of the room. Equally brilliant and -boisterous were the upholders of the Yellowbirds! As -they sang their troop songs they waved small yellow -flags and strands of ribbon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>An older girl from Troop Nine acted as umpire -and Captain Ricky as referee. Peggy's face was a -comical mixture of sternness and entreaty as she -whispered a few last commands to her team. Pat, -outwardly proud and calm, was inwardly quaking! -What if she should fail at any moment! As the -game began she was seized with a terrible giddiness--the -room swam about her, she saw only a ridiculous -composite of eyes and noses and mouths and color -against the dancing walls! Her feet were heavy like -lead and a long way from her!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Afterwards Pat could not have told at what -time or why this curious sensation left her! She only -knew that suddenly everything cleared and she felt -that the only thing in the whole wide world that -mattered was keeping the alert forward, whom she -was guarding, from throwing a basket! And the -faces and colors that had whirled a moment before -faded and left these two alone, in deadly combat!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The cheering that had been constant suddenly -ceased; the circle of spectators sat with bated breath -while the ball passed backward and forward, now a -basket thrown for the Wasps, in another moment -one for the Yellowbirds. Occasionally a particularly -good play would bring forth a loud shout only -to have it hushed immediately in the suspense of -watching. Renée and Aunt Pen sat side by side. -Aunt Pen had played basketball in her college days; -now she watched eagerly, admiring the splendid -guarding of the Wasps as generously as Peggy's -swift center work. Renée just sat very still, saying -over and over to herself: "Oh--oh--oh!" with her -eyes fastened upon Pat's every move!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the end of the first half the score stood -twenty-four to twenty-six in favor of the Wasps. -Peggy had a whispered word with Keineth who was -playing forward. Her guard was a girl a head taller -than she; a little overwhelmed by this Keineth had -been slow in one or two of her plays!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The second half went on with quick, even play, -that now and then drew forth shouts of approval -from the spectators. The Yellowbirds scored four -baskets only to have the Wasps, with brilliant team -work, recover their lead with four baskets! The -Wasps' center shot the ball with a low throw to her -forward. As she caught it the linekeeper sharply -pounded the floor with an Indian club. "Over the -line," the referee declared. "Yellowbirds have an -unguarded throw!" Patricia was given the ball. -Renée shut her eyes--she could not watch! But she -knew when Aunt Pen sprang to her feet that her Pat -had not failed. With a movement quick as lightning -she had passed the ball to the other guard who in -turn had shot it back to center! And while Aunt -Pen was still on her feet Peggy had thrown it to -Keineth who, with a low, lithe movement of her body, -ducked the wildly waving arms of her guard and -threw a basket!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A tie! </span><em class="italics">Now</em><span> for the test!" whispered Aunt -Pen, clutching Renée's hand so hard that it hurt.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For the next few minutes the ball passed swiftly -backward and forward, the guards and forwards -leaped and ran! Each player, keyed to the utmost -effort, was everywhere at once, arms waving, eyes -alert to the slightest advantage or weakness in -defense! A dreadful stillness held the room broken -only by the occasional low, sharp exclamations--like -pistol shots--of the players. Peggy's face was pale; -again and again Keineth eluded her guard only to -find her, in a second, again towering before her!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The ball passed toward the Wasps' basket; -Patricia caught it and threw it toward the center; -Sheila, playing side-center, with a swift leap, gripped -it and threw it to Keineth. But Keineth's guard -sent it hurtling back to the Wasps' center! While -the spectators, conscious that this was the last and -crucial moment, rose to their feet in a body, the -Wasps' forward caught it and, swift as lightning, -threw it backward over her head straight down -through the basket! The referee's whistle ended the -game--the Wasps had won!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was always customary, following the Troop -games, to have a spread for the contesting teams. -Almost always the players laid aside immediately -all joy of victory, sting of defeat and bitterness of -contest and threw themselves heart and soul into a -general frolic! But this afternoon the atmosphere -was charged with resentment! While the triumphant -Wasps gathered noisily in their corner the -Yellowbirds sulked in another part of the room. Captain -Ricky and her assistants had gone to prepare the -goodies. There was no one to check the rapidly -rising tide of complaint and criticism!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She </span><em class="italics">did</em><span> only have one hand on the ball--I -could swear now!" "The line watchers </span><em class="italics">weren't</em><span> -fair, I </span><em class="italics">saw</em><span> her foot go over!" and "She just shoved -me!" "Who'd </span><em class="italics">ever</em><span> expect her to throw over her -head!" and "I </span><em class="italics">saw</em><span> that center walk </span><em class="italics">three whole -steps</em><span> with the ball and the umpire </span><em class="italics">never</em><span> called a -foul!" The mutterings grew louder and the word -"cheat" penetrated to the corner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Captain Ricky, coming into the room, heard it, -too. She guessed in a moment, by the expression of -the girls' faces, what had been happening! She -drew them close about her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Girls! Girls!</em><span>" They had never heard just that -tone in their captain's voice. "What is this spirit -you are showing! I have </span><em class="italics">always</em><span> been so proud of -you--so </span><em class="italics">sure</em><span> of you! And I was very proud to-day! -You played a brilliant game! You were only -defeated because the other team played even a better -game! If each one of you feels that she played -her very best, then there is not a complaint that can -be made! You were outplayed--and just because -you are the good players you have shown yourselves -to be--why, you should be quick and generous in -your praise of the better work of the other team! -I am disappointed, my scouts! I want you to remember -always that I'd lots rather have you good losers--if -you've done your best--than winners! If you will -learn that it will help you years from now when you -are playing more serious and difficult games than -basket-ball! And it will teach you to turn defeat -into a real blessing!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Yellowbirds had stood with drooping -plumage while their leader spoke. Each one was -ashamed. Peggy was the first to speak. Throwing -back her dark head she stalked across the room to -where Cora Simmons, who had played center for the -Wasps, stood in a group of Troop Nine scouts.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm </span><em class="italics">just</em><span> ashamed of myself!" she cried, -"'cause I didn't shake hands with you the moment -the game was over and tell you how well you -played!" There was no questioning the sincere ring -in Peggy's voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The other Yellowbirds followed her example, -and soon there was a babble of voices going over -in most friendly discussion the crucial moments of -the game. Now the defeated players were determined -that there should be no stint to their praise -of the work of the Troop Nine girls!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's have a cheer-ring!" cried Peggy, and -immediately each Yellowbird caught a Wasp by the -shoulder and formed a close circle. The room rang -with their cheers; Troop Six cheered for Troop Nine -and Troop Nine cheered for Troop Six, and then, -they all cheered for the Girl Scouts!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat, wanting to free her soul before her whole -world of whatever guilt might lie between it and -Captain Ricky's approval, loudly clapped her hands -and demanded that they all listen while she confessed -to them that she was sure she had once even pinched -the forward she was guarding and that "she had -been a perfect </span><em class="italics">peach</em><span> not to tell!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's declaration caused peals of laughter which -quickly burst into shouts of delight when Captain -Ricky's lieutenant called loudly from the doorway, -"</span><em class="italics">Eats!</em><span>" And the afternoon ended with the happiness -and contentment found in good fellowship!</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-christmas-party"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE CHRISTMAS PARTY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Christmas was drawing near with all its promise -of joy. And the world wrapped for so long in the -gloom of war, took on a new gladness; weeks before -the holiday, doors and windows were hung with -holly, stores spread out a fascinating array of -giftwares; a new light shone in smiling faces as though -"Peace on earth" was ringing through the souls of -the people!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's head was bursting with plans for the blessed -holiday. It must be a different Christmas from any -Renée had ever known! For days they had busied -themselves preparing the box that had gone to -St. Cloud--a dress for Susette and some aprons that -Renée herself had made, tobacco for Gabriel and -warm slippers and shoes for them both; sugar, coffee, -and canned goods and dried fruits until Renée was -sure Susette's neat shelves would groan under their -weight. And in a heart-shaped silver frame a -picture of Renée!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat declared that they must have a Christmas -tree, for Renée had never had one! And even though -they were quite grown-up they must also hang up -their stockings! Aunt Pen and Daddy promised to -hang theirs, too, so that Pat and Renée spent many -an afternoon in secret shopping tours, returning with -mysterious packages which were carefully hidden -away in the Eyrie.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then a letter from the south, whose usual cheery -tone was tinged with a little homesickness, made -Mr. Everett decide to join his wife for the holiday season. -At first Pat rebelled stormily, lamenting that his -going would spoil everything; then for days she -sulked like a naughty child until Aunt Pen came to -the rescue! From spending the afternoon with -Peggy Lee's mother, Aunt Pen returned, with a "secret!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it, Aunt Pen? </span><em class="italics">Can</em><span> we know?" the -girls asked eagerly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, you will be </span><em class="italics">in</em><span> the "secret!" It's a--</span><em class="italics">real</em><span> -Christmas party! And it will be different from any -you've ever heard of before! I'll tell you the plans -we discussed and then we'll get your father's -permission. I know when you hear all about it you'll -smile again, Miss Pat, and declare that this </span><em class="italics">is</em><span> going -to be the best Christmas you've ever had--even with -Daddy away!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will the party be here?" asked Pat, recalling -on the instant some very lovely parties given for her -sister which she, because she was too little to go -downstairs, had had to watch over the stair banister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I don't believe the house would be big -enough for this one," and Penelope laughed at the -mystified expression on Pat's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Aunt Pen unfolded the plans she and Mrs. Lee -had made. The girls of the Troop would be the -hostesses of this party and the guests would be the -men, women and children in the neighborhood of the -Works. There must, of course, be a tree, and the -girls could arrange tableaux and then everyone could -sing and dance! And there would be sandwiches -and coffee and ice cream and cake and a gift for -each one.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gradually into Pat's face crept a deep interest -so that when the last small detail had been explained -the smile that Aunt Pen had prophesied came back -once more. It would be a </span><em class="italics">wonderful</em><span> party, and could -they begin planning the tableaux right away and -couldn't they run over this very minute and tell -Sheila?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So that Mr. Everett's going made scarcely a break -in the exciting preparations, the rehearsals, the -arranging of costumes, the planning of the party -"supper" and the gifts for the guests. In -desperation Aunt Pen declared that the holidays might as -well begin at once as it was impossible to hold Pat -down to any lessons! And Renée, too, was working -feverishly, completing a rush order for Christmas -cards that had come to "LaDue and Everett" from -Miss Higgin's tea room!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On Christmas Eve the Eyrie was emptied of the -treasures it had held, the stockings hanging over -the library fireplace were filled and little piles of -tissue paper packages of all sizes were made for -Jasper, Melodia and Maggie. The rooms were filled -with a spicy odor of hemlock; holly hung over -window and door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, isn't it fun?" laughed Pat, stepping back -to survey the bulging stockings. "Can you </span><em class="italics">guess</em><span> -what's in anything, Ren? And don't you wish you -were little again and really truly believed in Santa -Claus?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Susette used to tell me stories of the real -St. Nicholas--she said he was the patron saint of -children!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> like to think of him as a jolly old fellow -driving his reindeers faster'n Watkins can drive the -car--and lots of jingling bells! I think about it and -then I can most hear them!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée had gone to one of the windows at the -end of the room to peer out into the darkness. Snow -had fallen which dulled the sounds of the city to a -musical tone not unlike distant bells of the good -Santa. Suddenly she called to Pat:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come and look--over at Sheila's!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There on the strip of lawn before the old brick -house was a Christmas tree, hung with tinsel and -twinkling with lighted candles that swayed and -blinked in the darkness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was Mrs. Quinn's merry Christmas! She -and the children had hung ropes of tinsel, red and -gold balls, sparkling hearts and rings and little -candles out on the old spruce that grew in the corner -of the yard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To give to any poor body going by that maybe -hasn't any Christmas just a bit of the brightness!" -she had explained.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée, watching from between the library curtains, -thought it very beautiful! It was like a fairy -tree, placed there in the darkness by spirit hands, -breathing from its fragrant brightness a joy that all -could share! Even at that moment they could see -a bent old man, leading a little boy by the hand, -lingering to stare at the twinkling lights!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Many years before this the Everett Works had -been moved from the modest factory not far from -the Everett home, where it had had its beginning, to -the great pile of steel and concrete buildings -distantly removed from the business center of the city. -Immediately there sprang up on the stretches of -fields intervening between the smoky walls of the new -plant and the quiet shaded streets where the Lees and -the Everetts and the Randolphs lived, a community -of small, shapeless houses, one exactly like the other, -divided by half-paved streets with their rows of -sickly infant elms and maples; with muddy backyards -barricaded by miles and miles of clothes-line, -and thousands of window-panes blackened by the -incessant rain of soot from the belching chimneys. -Though the suburb had the beautiful name of Riverview, -suggestive of cool breezes and open spaces, it -was always and more fittingly known as "The -Neighborhood."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To the hundreds of little dingy homes had come -men, women and children from every land of the -globe--here Liberty offered them asylum and the -Everett Works an honest living. In the center of the -community the Works had erected a splendid -schoolhouse and had presented it to the city. Although -its outer walls were soon stained and blackened like -the rows of houses, its interior was as fresh and -attractive as clean paint, pictures and many growing -plants could make it! Here the children of the -foreign-speaking parents were taught to be true -Americans. And in its big assembly room, whose windows -looked out over the rows and rows of railroad tracks -with their solid wall of motionless freight cars, to the -river and open fields beyond, the girls of Troop Six -held their Christmas party.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Even before the last holly wreath had been -fastened in place the guests began to come--whole -families at a time, in holiday attire that to Pat made them -look like pictures in some fairy-tales; old men and old -women, younger men with hands still grimy from -their work, younger women with tired faces and -babies in their arms; some eager, some a little shy, all -smiling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat, peeping out from behind the curtain, -declared that there were hundreds there and that -they were talking in every language known--except -Latin! But when some one at the piano began to -play "America," in some way or other the strange -words melted into a common tongue--the high treble -of the children carrying the song along!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A hush fell on the audience when the curtains -of the stage slowly parted to show the first of the -tableaux. Briefly John Randolph, Keineth's father, -told in Polish the story of the landing of the -Pilgrims on "the stern and rockbound coast" while -on the stage the Pilgrims, with painfully suppressed -laughter, struggled to keep the </span><em class="italics">Mayflower</em><span>, made -out of old canvas and chairs, from falling to pieces!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next picture showed the early colonists -making treaties with the Indians. Sheila, grave and -dignified in Puritan collar and hat, was holding out -strings of gay beads to an Indian chief, resplendent -in paint and feathers, who carried over his arm the -hides that the colonists needed. Then in simple -words Mr. Randolph explained how the first -purchases of land in the United States came about.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Peggy made an impressive George Washington -at Valley Forge, while Garrett Lee and some of his -friends sat about a smouldering camp-fire. Again -she appeared with Betsey Ross, who was stitching -on the first American flag, which part Keineth played. -But Washington's dignified manner was sadly spoiled -when his wig suddenly slipped to one side, so that -poor Betsey had to bite her lips very hard to keep -from giggling at his rakish appearance! Nevertheless -the audience--especially the children who recognized -in the picture a favorite school story--clapped -loudly with genuine enthusiasm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The last tableau, everyone declared, was the best -of all! Captain Ricky was America, standing in -white robes against a big American flag, her arms -outstretched to the eager pilgrims who approached -her! And these were dressed in the national -costumes of almost every country on the globe; some -had approached, apparently, with brave step, heads -high and shoulders straight, others had come wearily; -some were old and some were young; many had been -carrying heavy burdens which they had cast aside. -And from the wrists of each hung the broken links -of the shackles that had bound them!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The tableau told its own story! For a moment -there was a hushed silence, then a mighty applause -shook the room. And Captain Ricky, as though she -indeed embodied the gracious spirit of America, -smiled back from the stage at the men and women -who, like the pilgrims in the picture, had come to this -land of freedom!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After this tableau the curtains at the back of -the stage were drawn back, displaying a beautiful -Christmas tree, trimmed only by the many lights -half-concealed in its branches and by a huge, gleaming -star at its top. Some of the scouts at one corner -of the stage began a simple Christmas carol--the -guests took it up, humming where they could not -speak the words. A group of young men broke -into a Polish song; other songs followed--songs that -these people had brought with them across the sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are more beautiful than ours!" cried -Keineth to her father.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then, under Captain Ricky's direction, the -trimming of the tree began. This was a surprise even -to the girls of the Troop, who sat with bright eyes -watching. For each one in the room who had had -a son, a brother, a husband or a father in the service -of the country, was given a silver star to hang upon -the branches of the tree. One by one they went -up--at first shyly, then proudly; bent old men with -uncertain step, young wives, blushing, with children -tugging at their skirts; old women, scarcely understanding -it all but eager to hang their symbol, until the tree -was a-twinkle with the gleaming stars!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From long tables in one of the classrooms adjoining -steaming, fragrant coffee in big cups and turkey -and chicken sandwiches were served, then ice cream -and cake. Everyone talked at once--the children -ran round in complete abandonment to the joy of -the moment; some of the guests, too excited to eat, -had already begun the dancing!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Mrs. Lee and Aunt Pen were busy distributing -among them all the small silk American flags -which were the gifts of the evening!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's the </span><em class="italics">best</em><span> party </span><em class="italics">ever</em><span>," Pat stopped long -enough in a whirling dance to whisper to Aunt Pen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where's Renée?" Aunt Pen answered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After a moment's search she found her alone -behind the big tree. She was fastening upon one -of the branches her silver star! Tears dampened -her cheeks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh--</span><em class="italics">my dear</em><span>!" cried Aunt Pen. Over her -swept the realization of what Renée had given that -"peace might come upon this world!" She caught -the small hand and held it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not </span><em class="italics">there</em><span>," she whispered, "but </span><em class="italics">here</em><span>!" and -taking the star she hung it close to the big Star at -the top.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He gave his Son for us, too," she added softly.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="hill-top"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HILL-TOP</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Picnics," explained Peggy, with a conviction -born of experience, "are just as much fun in the -winter as they are in the summer, 'specially when -they are at Hill-top!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For the four days following Christmas snow had -fallen steadily. Each moment of the holiday time -had been filled with out-of-door fun: now Mrs. Lee -had suggested that--as a sort of climax--the Eagle -Patrol have a picnic at Hill-top!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat had never heard of a picnic in the middle of -the winter!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Peggy's enthusiasm was contagious! Hilltop--Pat -had never been there--was a very old farmhouse -ten miles from the city, back in the hills near -Camp Wichita, where Captain Ricky took her girls -in the summer-time. It belonged to an old man and -his wife who had been friends of Mrs. Lee's father. -During the winter months they preferred to move -into a more sheltered cottage nearer the barns. The -house--a short walk from the lake on which the -young people skated in the winter and canoed in the -summer--had great square rooms and many of them, -warmed by fire-places like caverns that consumed -whole logs at a time. Often Mrs. Lee, who found -real recreation in such little excursions with her -young people--had taken the girls and boys there -for week-end picnics!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother says we may stay three whole days this -time! We can skate and coast and have all kinds of -fun! Garrett has a new bob that he made and he -says he'll bet anything it can beat all the others."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do the boys go, too?" broke in Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes, mother likes to have them go! They -help a lot, you see, and she says it wouldn't be nearly -as much fun if they weren't along. Jim Archer -and Bob Slocum and Ted Scott and maybe Wynne -Meade will go--and Garrett! They're </span><em class="italics">sort</em><span> of fun!" -for Peggy read disappointment in Pat's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">I</em><span> think boys are a nuisance!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila came promptly to the defense. -"Perhaps--sometimes! But brothers are nice!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's experience had been limited to the bashful -young brothers, miserable with too much scrubbing -and stiff collars, who had occasionally visited the -other girls at school.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Peggy thought it a decided waste of time to be -bothering over such a point when there was so much -to plan and do! So, with a conviction intended to -end the discussion, she said: "Well, they carry the -logs and the water and go out and open the house -and I guess we'll find them mighty useful!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And, indeed, Pat </span><em class="italics">was</em><span> to find one of the boys -more than useful before the picnic was over!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A few hours' well-organized activity put everything -in readiness for the house-party. Garrett Lee -appointed himself chief of the commissary and flew -tirelessly between his home and the grocery store -until he had assembled enough cans of soup, bacon, -weiners and other eatables peculiar to scouts' -appetites to feed a regiment! Sheila and Mrs. Lee, after -a brief consultation, added to the equipment many -little necessities that Garrett in his masculine -ignorance had overlooked. Two of the other girls -collected the necessary kitchen utensils and a simple -first-aid kit. Loaded down with all these and with -extra blankets and the bobs, the boys and Mrs. Lee -went on out to Hill-top a day in advance to open -the house and prepare it for the others.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat, inspired by the activities of the others and -not having been pressed into troop service, busied -herself by packing and repacking almost every -garment that she and Renée possessed!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Patsy, dear, you </span><em class="italics">won't</em><span> need all those things," -Aunt Pen had laughed, pointing to the bulging -suitcase.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat admitted this. "Well, it's fun packing 'em -and I just had to do something," she confessed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next day eight merry girls boarded the funny -little train that puffed off slowly toward the hills. -To Renée the picnic was the most exciting of -adventures! She had seen little snow--never in her life -anything like the great piles, snowy white, through -which the train was snorting its way! She had never -had on a pair of skates in her life, nor had she ever -coasted down a hill! And as Peggy told of Garrett's -new bob, "Madcap," and its lightning speed, she -shivered with an ecstasy of fear and wondered--if -they made her ride on it--what it would feel like to -fly over the snow and whether she might not just -die outright of terror!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys, in rollicking spirits and muffled to the -tips of their noses, met them at the station; together -they trudged back through the snow to the -farmhouse. Logs were crackling merrily in the big -fireplaces and a table had been spread ready for an early -supper. The girls fell to unpacking the equipment -and spreading their blankets over the funny old beds -and the cots which had been brought up from the -nearby camp. Sheila, who had been appointed -officer-in-charge, promptly, in accordance with the -custom of scout outings, posted in a conspicuous -place, the "standing rules."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, they're the kind of rules any good scout'll -keep," Peggy exclaimed to Pat, who was regarding -the slip of paper in amazement with a look on her -face that said plainly "this is the funniest picnic -I ever knew!" "Come on and find the others!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For supper they ate many baked potatoes and -weiners and hot biscuits, which Mrs. Lee had mixed -and baked by magic--"just to have a nice -beginning!" At the table the boys announced the schedule -for the skating and coasting races which they had -planned for the next day and fell to arguing with -friendly violence over the speed of their different -bobs! Garrett then insisted that the four who had -grabbed the last of the biscuits should make up the -Kitchen Police, whose duty it would be to clear -away the supper dishes! And to the accompaniment -of a mighty rattle of china plates and cups the others -gathered around the blazing fire and sang.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat and Renée slept together in a huge four-posted -bed. Gradually the big house had grown -very quiet. "Isn't it fun?" Pat giggled into Renée's -ear. "I've never been in the country in the -winter-time before! And doesn't it feel </span><em class="italics">queer</em><span> sleeping -without sheets?" Then she sighed. "I wish I -could skate well!" She was thinking of the races -planned for the morrow. Renée was apprehensive, -too. "Do you suppose they'll make me go down -on one of those dreadful bobs?" and she shuddered -at the very thought!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Poor Pat, her pride--cropping up now and -then--was her besetting sin! And the next morning, -when she should have been gloriously happy, it -mastered her! She </span><em class="italics">hated</em><span> the races, because she was -always lagging along in the rear! She declared to -herself that the boys were silly, tiresome stupids, -because they made </span><em class="italics">such</em><span> a fuss when Peggy beat -them all in a race down the lake and back! Finally, -disgusted, she took off the hateful skates and joined -Renée near the bank.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think they're </span><em class="italics">stupid</em><span>," she grumbled, digging -her heel into the ice and not explaining whether she -meant the boys, or the skates or the races!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The coasting in the afternoon comforted her a -little! Jim Archer let her steer his "Gypsy!" They -beat Garrett's "Madcap" and Pat secretly rejoiced -at Garrett's chagrin!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée, from the top of the long hill, had watched -the flight of the bobs with trembling fascination.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come along on Madcap," Garrett had called -out. The three girls on it waved entreatingly to her. -She had not the courage to refuse! White with -terror she slipped in between Garrett and Peggy. -The others shouted wildly as the bob began to move -slowly down the hill but poor Renée's breath caught -in her throat. As it went faster and faster she hid -her face against Garrett's wooly back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hang on!" cried Peggy behind her. Renée -was certain they were flying! But just as she felt she -</span><em class="italics">must</em><span> die with terror a wild "hurrah" went up, she -opened her eyes--they were sliding over the ice at the -bottom of the hill and the Madcap had won!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And to Renée's utter amazement she wanted to -go down again--</span><em class="italics">right away</em><span>!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Afterwards Garrett let her steer the bob, and -although they ended in a snowdrift and were almost -buried in the soft snow, it did not in any way dampen -her enthusiasm over the new sport she had learned!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, it was </span><em class="italics">wonderful</em><span>!" she exclaimed to Pat -as they walked with the others toward Hill-top. -"I thought I'd be so frightened and I wasn't!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jim Archer's bob is much the best," Pat -answered in such a disagreeable voice that Renée -looked at her in hurt astonishment! How </span><em class="italics">could</em><span> -there be enough difference in two bobs to make Pat -speak to her in that tone!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>However, hot oyster soup and pancakes scattered -for a time the little cloud that threatened and through -the meal Pat's voice was as merry as the merriest. -After supper, leaving the Kitchen Police to their sad -lot, the others again donned caps, sweaters and -mittens and fell to building in front of the old -farmhouse door two great snow forts, between which, in -the morning, a mighty battle would be waged!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Jim Archer, one of the self-appointed generals, -asked Pat--before he asked any of the others--to -be on his side!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This was balm to Pat's hurt vanity. Perhaps -she couldn't skate as well as the others, but she -guessed Jim Archer knew she could throw a snowball -as straight and as hard as any boy! Anyway, -Garrett Lee was too conceited! So that night, as she -slept cuddled down in the big four-posted bed, she -dreamed that she stood alone on the frosty -breastwork of the fort she had helped build and by an -onslaught of snowballs, thrown with unerring aim, -drove Garrett Lee and his army to complete and -ignominious surrender!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Poor Pat--the next day was to bring to her pride -a sad fall!</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="pat-s-pride-and-its-fall"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">PAT'S PRIDE AND ITS FALL</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The next morning a bright sun peeped up over -the hills touching field and lake, trees and -house-tops with a frost of diamonds. At an early hour -hungry boys and girls were demanding their breakfast -"quick" and were hurling orders over the banister -at the sleepy Kitchen Police, toiling below.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The snow-ball fight ended in a complete rout -of Garrett's army, which put Pat in high spirits, -and, although it had not been quite like her dream -of the night before, Jim Archer </span><em class="italics">had</em><span> said to her, -to her secret joy:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, you throw as good as a boy!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The remainder of the morning was spent playing -hockey and coasting; the boys allowing the girls to -race the bobs down the hill. Renée, quite by herself, -steered the beautiful Madcap twice to victory! -Perhaps never in her life had she felt so keenly alive -or so happy! She stood looking over the little lake -and the surrounding hills and drawing in long -breaths of the frosty air. Its keenness made her -cheeks and fingertips tingle, put a ringing note in the -youthful voices around her and an added brightness -into happy eyes!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's all just skate this afternoon--no races -or anything like that!" declared Peggy at luncheon -and the suggestion met with instant approval.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, </span><em class="italics">don't</em><span> you wish we were just coming? Did -you ever know days to go by so fast?" lamented one -of the others.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This hasn't gone by yet! To-night we're going -to toast marshmallows!" put in Bob Slocum.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And have a good sing! We always end a -picnic that way!" explained Peggy to Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And breakfast bright and early to-morrow, so -that we will be all packed in time for the----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lightning mail train!" Garrett added to his -mother's injunction.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Lee was never happier than when she was -with her "boys and girls!" She loved each and -every one of them as though they had all been hers -from babyhood. She watched them now as they -trooped away toward the lake, skates jingling over -their arms. Something within her quivered with -pardonable pride as her eyes rested for a moment on -Garrett's manly young figure striding on ahead of -the others. And when Peggy's voice, always boyishly -loud, reached her ears as she shouted back to -one of the other girls, her mother shook her head -and laughed: "Oh, Peggy child, what a tomboy!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For Pat the skating was much more fun, now, -when there were no races! More accustomed to her -skates she managed to get over the ice in better -and easier fashion than she had on the day before. -She was pleasantly conscious, too, that she made a -rather pretty picture in her scarlet sweater and -tam-o'-shanter--several of the girls had declared that -they were going to immediately make red tams.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's have a turn, Pat!" and Garrett Lee -extended two warmly mittened hands in genial -invitation. So Pat linked her arms with his and together -they flew over the glittering stretch. With her -balance supported by Garrett's strong grasp she skated -easily; as they sped along down the length of the -lake the wind whipped her breath and sent the blood -bounding through her veins!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the end of the lake they stopped "to take in -air," as Garrett put it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's skate down there," cried Pat, pointing to -the Inlet just beyond. There a narrow gorge, -cutting deeply through the hillsides, let into the lake. -Garrett knew that, because of its steep banks, its -changing depths of water and strong eddies, the -ice there was very unsafe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no, it's dangerous there! We never go -into the Inlet, even in the summer! That's a rule!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Poor Pat--she fancied Garrett was treating her -like a little child! So she answered with a toss of -her head:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I haven't bothered to read the rules! I'm not -afraid--if you are!" and she turned toward the -Inlet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pat--don't! It </span><em class="italics">isn't</em><span> safe--honest!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The more earnest and concerned Garrett grew -the more headstrong Pat! She started toward the -Inlet, calling over her shoulder: "Oh, you're just -a 'fraidy-cat'!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Garrett watched her for a moment. There was -no doubting her intention! He started after her -and at the mouth of the Inlet overtook her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pat," he begged, "mother'll be angry! I tell -you it's one of the rules!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Pat simply shrugged her shoulders.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Dare</em><span> you to come with me, little boy!" she -laughed teasingly. The Inlet, its banks rising steeply -on each side, filled with dancing shadows made by -the sun through the bare branches meeting overhead, -looked very inviting! Thrilled with a sense of -adventure, Pat skated with short strokes into the -narrow opening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Garrett had no choice but to follow her! Deeply -alarmed, he again begged her to turn back! Now -she pretended not to hear him!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But in a few moments she suddenly screamed and -wildly waved her arms! At a bend in the narrow -gorge the ice had cracked under her weight!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Garrett!" she cried, turning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Go on! Keep moving!</em><span>" he shouted. But Pat, -terror-stricken, stood still, stretching out her arms -imploringly. Garrett reached her just as the ice -with a sharp crackle broke into pieces, dropping -them both into the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Its iciness for a moment stunned Pat. Then -she slowly realized that Garrett was supporting her -with one arm and begging her to cling to the thin -edge of the ice, to which he was holding with his -other hand. His steady voice gave her courage! -She tried to say something but her teeth only -chattered together.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll get out all right!" Garrett said, -hopefully. "Hold on as lightly as you can!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, don't let go of me--don't let go of me!" -implored Pat, wanting to cry.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I won't! Keep up your nerve!" And Garrett -strengthened his hold under Pat's arm. He looked -about him. From a tree growing out of the bank -stretched a bare limb just a little way out of reach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll work along slowly until you can reach -that branch! Take it easy, Pat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He began moving his grasp on the edge of the -ice, slowly, cautiously, for sometimes it cracked, -sending terror to Pat's soul! She recalled hearing -someone tell how very deep the water was in the Inlet! -And it was </span><em class="italics">so</em><span> black and cold!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come on! We'll make it!" he called out -cheerily. They drew nearer and nearer the branch; -soon Pat could reach it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now let go of the ice and grab it! I'll hold you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh no, no!" implored Pat, clinging tighter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You've </span><em class="italics">got</em><span> to, Pat! It's our only chance!" Summoning -all the strength he had in his fine young -body he lifted her as he spoke! The effort made -great veins swell on his forehead. With a gasp of -terror she caught and clung with both arms to the -branch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Get your legs around it, too," directed Garrett. -"Now work yourself along! </span><em class="italics">Hurry</em><span>, Pat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Stung into effort Pat with feverish haste did as -he told her. Securing her hold on the branch by -locking her strong legs about it she gradually swung -around until she was astride it. Then it was but -a moment's work to edge along to the bank. Grasping -the strong roots of the undergrowth she pulled -herself to the top. She wanted dreadfully then to -throw herself down upon the ground and cry, but -a sharp noise below made her turn suddenly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Garrett had attempted to lift himself upon the -branch. Strained by Pat's weight, under his it -snapped off, dropping him back into the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Garrett!" screamed Pat. In agony she watched -for his head to reappear at the surface of the water. -As he came up he again caught the edge of the ice, -but his face was gray and drawn as though by sharp -pain and his breath came and went in short gasps. -She called him vainly over and over but he could not -seem to muster enough strength to answer! She -fancied, in her terror, that his fingers were slipping -in their hold of the ice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was </span><em class="italics">her</em><span> turn to direct!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Garrett, move down! See, the tree's across the -ice! Maybe it'll hold! Oh, Garrett, </span><em class="italics">try</em><span>!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a slow, cramped movement he worked -along the edge of the rapidly enlarging hole until -he could grasp the broken branch which stretched -now across the dark water, one end firmly held in a -crack of the ice where it had buckled near the bank. -Strengthened by desperation, Garrett managed to -crawl along it until he reached the bank. As, -numbed by exposure, he struggled to lift himself -up the steep side of the gorge, clinging for support, -as Pat had done, to roots and branches, repeatedly -slipping back, it seemed to Pat as though he could -not make it! At last her own frantic hands dragged -him over the top to safety, only to have him drop -in an unconscious heap at her feet!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All Pat knew was that whatever she had to do -she must do quickly! Loosening the straps of her -skates she threw them from her! Then she attempted -to lift him. He was too heavy--she could not stagger -a step with his weight in her arms. So as gently -as she could she dragged him over the soft snow to a -higher point of open ground from which she could -see the lake and the skaters and the farmhouse!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Girls! Girls! Jim!" she called frantically. -They could not hear--only the echo of her own voice -answered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What </span><em class="italics">will</em><span> I do?" she cried. She tore off her -bright tam-o'-shanter and waved it high in the air! -Suddenly she saw one of the girls detach herself! -from a group of skaters and wave back!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>An inspiration seized Pat! The semaphore code -she had learned! Oh, could she remember it quickly -enough? And poor Garrett himself had taught her! -Snatching off her sweater she waved that in one -hand and her tam in the other and slowly signaled:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Accident--bring bobs--blankets--quick!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It seemed to Pat as though they would </span><em class="italics">never</em><span> -answer! She waved her message again--more -slowly! Then one of the boys waved back: -"Coming."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Now</em><span> Pat began to cry--tears that left cold -streaks on her own cheeks and splashed in a warm -shower on Garrett's face as she knelt over him. He -slowly opened his eyes and whispered, "All right, -Pat?" Then, as though very tired, he closed them -again and lapsed back into unconsciousness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no more merriment at Hill-top! The -boys brought Garrett, wrapped in blankets, on one of -the bobs to the door of the farmhouse where his -mother, warned of the accident, awaited him. No -one would let poor Pat tell her story--there was too -much to be done! While Mrs. Lee and Sheila cared -for Garrett, the girls gave Pat a hot bath and a -vigorous rub and put her to bed. And Jim Archer -flew to the nearest telephone to summon a doctor and -nurse from the city.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Garrett was very, very ill! Weakened by the -exposure and strain he quickly developed pneumonia. -The doctor would not let him be moved, he must -remain at Hill-top! Mrs. Lee, brave with all her -anxiety, begged the boys and girls to go back to the -city quietly, not to worry, but to hope for Garrett's -quick recovery! Sheila and Jim Archer she kept -with her to help her. At the earliest possible moment -came Mr. Lee with a trained nurse.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat, none the worse for her icy bath of the day -before, lingered behind the others and miserably -begged for a parting word with Mrs. Lee.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was </span><em class="italics">all</em><span> my fault," she whispered, bursting -into tears. "I called him a fraidy-cat and went on, -just so's he'd follow----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Though Mrs. Lee took the girl in her arms, her -face was very grave. But she guessed the suffering -in Pat's heart, so she spoke kindly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Child, I am glad he </span><em class="italics">didn't</em><span> leave you! You -must help us fight for him now and--well, he just -</span><em class="italics">must</em><span> get well!" For a moment she could not keep -her own tears back; then she resolutely wiped them -away as much as to say, "</span><em class="italics">this</em><span> isn't fighting!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Anxious days followed. Every morning and -every evening Jim Archer telephoned to the Everett -home from Hill-top a report of Garrett's condition. -Sometimes there would be a word of encouragement--then -he would be a degree worse! Pat, pale as a -ghost, scarcely speaking to anyone, trembling at -every sound, in spite of all Aunt Pen's and Renée's -efforts, refused to be cheered or comforted! She -spent almost all her time in the Eyrie with the door -locked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm downright worried!" Aunt Pen said to -Pat's father, who fortunately had returned in the -midst of the trouble and anxiety. "</span><em class="italics">Whatever</em><span> does -the child do in that room all by herself?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No one would ever know! In the most shadowy -corner of the Eyrie Pat had crept and there she -had found strength to bear the suspense! Kneeling -before one of the old broken chairs, she repeated -over and over a little prayer she had made:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Please God, make Garrett well! He was so -brave and I was so wicked! I'm the one you ought -to punish! Please make him well and I'll never, -never be wicked again!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sometimes she would vary the wording of her -little prayer and once, thinking that perhaps her -clumsy sentences might not reach the Father's ear, -she carried a prayer-book to the Eyrie and slowly, -with great emphasis, repeated the prayer for the -sick that she had often heard in church.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Going downstairs from one of these vigils in the -Eyrie she heard Sheila's voice. Her heart stopped -beating with an instant's fear! She rushed into the -room where Sheila was talking to Aunt Pen and her -Daddy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is----" She could not make herself ask -the question.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila turned. Her tired face was bright with -joy. "Garrett's better! He will get well! We -didn't telephone because I wanted to tell you! I had -to come home, for mother needed me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really, truly?" Pat could scarcely believe that -the black shadow was lifted from her. Sheila -nodded laughingly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really, truly! The doctor says he has a wonderful -constitution! And we're all so glad, because -we love Mrs. Lee so much!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With quivering lips Pat turned and threw -herself into her father's arms. There was so much -she wanted to tell--of her silly vanity, her wicked -recklessness, her leading another into danger, but the -words would not come!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll always remember--how he looked--up on -the bank!" she shuddered, her face hidden against -her father's coat. "I asked God to make him well -and He did, and I guess I'll remember never--to -be--wicked again!" And as though he understood how -truly repentant poor Pat was, her dear Daddy patted -her shoulder and held her very close.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="good-turns"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">GOOD TURNS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The winter days passed quickly in the Everett -household. Each moment was filled with work or -play. And so delightfully intermingled was the play -with the work that the girls found themselves tackling -their Latin verbs with the same zest they threw -into their outdoor recreation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In spite of the holidays and the suspense of -Garrett Lee's illness the routine of Aunt Pen's -"school" had been renewed with little difficulty. -Pat, who always before had been very indifferent -to the report system followed at Miss Prindle's, -suddenly developed deep concern and pride in the reports -that Aunt Pen carefully prepared at the end of each -week to show Daddy and then tucked away in the -spinnet desk to wait mother's return. She was -improving in her Latin and her French; she could -write a letter now with only one or two misspelled -words; she tackled the difficult problems in Algebra -in a fine fighting spirit, and with great pride--after -many mortifying failures--was able to set before her -father three beautifully browned loaves of bread!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Daddy had declared that such triumph must have -its reward and had carried them all--pupils and -teacher--off to the theatre to see "Penrod."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Eaglets still gathered in the Eyrie. How -much nearer each was coming to her ambitions no -one of them could tell--that they were still -steadfastly true to their pledge to help one another was -certain; unconsciously perhaps, they did it by the -strength of their friendship.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"LaDue and Everett" had developed a thriving -business. Pat, quite all by herself, had gone to -Brown Brothers, the leading bookstore in the city, -and had sought and obtained an order for -hand-painted valentines. This had given her courage to -approach Miss Higgins and a nearby Gift-shop. -Very proudly she presented the three orders to the -senior member of the firm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There, I guess </span><em class="italics">that'll</em><span> make us work!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At first Renée was aghast at the amount of work, -but with Pat to help her and by steady -application--although Aunt Pen was firm in her command that -the work must not interfere with the outdoor play--she -was able to complete the orders by the first of -February. And so beautifully had the little -valentines been made that Brown Brothers immediately -ordered ten dozen dinner cards!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rush of business set Pat at the company's -books which had gotten into such a muddle that -they had to be taken to Daddy to be straightened out. -Pat's figures were like a Chinese puzzle running up -and down the pages of her imposing ledger. Poor -Mr. Everett had a knotty problem putting them into -proper shape and Pat had a lesson in accounting!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Altogether, after all expenses had been paid, there -was left to the account of the youthful firm a sum -of eighteen dollars and fifty cents. Two-thirds of -this, Pat declared, must be Renée's, because the -responsibility of the work fell upon her--"though -I'll just say it isn't any fun getting up your nerve -to go in and ask for an order! They always treat -you like a kid!" she explained, indignantly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were many demands upon their earnings. -The scout uniforms had been bought; the girls each -pledged six dollars to the Victory Army; there was -the Red Cross, too, and the French Babies and the -Vacation Fund for the tots at home--innumerable -other good causes, worthy of their help.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It makes me feel so grown-up to sign my -name to all these pledges and things and pay for it -out of my </span><em class="italics">very</em><span> own money!" And Pat assumed a -comically mature air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat was a real "Yellowbird" now and Renée -was a "scrub." The girls had joined a swimming -class, too; Pat, having spent many summers at the -seashore was like a fish in the water, and helped -Renée, who had to overcome a physical terror at the -very thought of slipping over into the tank!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Early in February Garrett Lee was brought back -to the city from Hill-top. Pat, with Aunt Pen, had -immediately gone to see him and his mother. -Mrs. Lee's kind welcome drove away the fear that had -teen in Pat's heart; impulsively she threw her arms -about Mrs. Lee's neck and, because Mrs. Lee could -always see straight into the hearts of her boys and -girls, she knew what prompted the caress and gave -an affectionate hug in return.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Garrett doesn't want one single word ever said -about it all," she whispered in Pat's ear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After that Pat went almost daily to the Lee -house--sometimes with a book, or a basket of fruit or some -home-made candy. At first she was a little shy in her -friendly devotion, but after a while, so truly grateful -did Garrett seem for her company and the things -she brought to relieve the monotony of his convalescence, -she simply rang the bell and ran straight up -to his room. When these frequent visits interfered -with lessons Aunt Pen said not a word, for she knew -Pat was trying to make up in some small way for -the harm she had wrought!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Garrett grew stronger the young people -deserted the Eyrie for the pleasant Lee living-room. -"It does him more good than a trip to Florida!" -his mother declared, looking with satisfaction at her -patient. And the boys and girls were learning -thoughtfulness and considerateness. When Peggy, -of her own will, suddenly lowered her voice, and -Jim Archer, without a word, shoved a pillow back of -Garrett's head as he sat on the old divan, Mrs. Lee -had thought--hard as it had been--Garrett's illness -had brought some good.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat had never known before the wholesomeness -of jolly comradeship with a large circle of boys and -girls; she found it now in these pleasant gatherings -at the Lees. Bob Slocum and Peggy could think of -so many games; Jim Archer--all in one afternoon--had -composed, staged, and produced a melodrama, -"Heinie the Hun," although, because Pat could not -control her giggling, the irate author-manager had -made her play the drum to mark the dramatic -climaxes. There were endless and lively discussions -over everything under sun and earth; jolly songs -with Mrs. Lee at the piano, and always some careful -eye to notice when Garrett showed signs of fatigue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And to Pat the best of all was when Garrett, one -afternoon, had confided to her that he was planning -an airship with a new kind of stabilizer; showed her -his drawings and explained how, for days since his -illness, he had been studying a housefly which he had -caught and imprisoned in the old fish bowl. Pat -wanted very much to tell the others what great -things Garrett was going to do but he had made her -promise on her scout's honor to keep his secret, so she -carried it faithfully locked away in her heart, proud -that Garrett should have honored her with his -confidence after the unhappy accident at Hill-top!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We're </span><em class="italics">pals</em><span>--just's if I was a boy," she said to -herself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the weeks slipped by Renée, to Aunt Pen's -delight, was rapidly developing a fascinating and -forceful personality. With so many true friends and -playmates the shyness had gradually disappeared -from her manner; contrasted with Pat's dynamic -spirits Renée would always seem quiet, but her will -was strong and often, in her gentle way, she was a -leader among the young people. With a character -that had been moulded and guarded by a simple life, -she had in her a rare beauty and purity of thought -that seemed to shine in her pretty face and clear eyes. -Happiness and healthy living were dispelling the -shadows from her young life; she could talk of -Susette and the old cottage without a quivering of the -lips; she often drew for Pat, as though she enjoyed it, -a vivid description of how splendid Emile had looked -in his uniform as he had marched away with the -others--a rose she had given him stuck jauntily in -his belt!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The cessation of the fighting and the approaching -peace had brought many problems. Wounded -men were coming home, employment was uncertain, -living expenses soaring higher and higher; actual -want stalked in many homes. And to add to it all -a terrible epidemic had raged through the city, -leaving in its wake untold misery and suffering.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was serious work for everyone to do. -There were countless ways in which the Girl Scouts -helped. "Good turns," they called it and they held -themselves always ready for the command of any -organization, never counting one moment of sacrifice, -tireless and faithful.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you think now?" Pat burst in upon -her family from a special meeting of the troop. -"The Scouts are going to adopt families!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This astonishing announcement caused Mr. Everett -to throw up his hands in mock dismay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good gracious, Pat, black or white?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm really very serious, Daddy, and Mrs. Townsend -from the Red Cross says we can make it a -beautiful work! One family is assigned to each of -us. We give as much time as we can spare and do -everything we can--amuse the children, take 'em -out, make things easier for the mothers so's they can -rest and get strong again! You see these are families -that have been sick. Mine is Mrs. K-a-s-u-b-o-w-s-k-i," -she read from a card.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat had, in her way, expressed the scout orders. -To each of the older scouts had been assigned a -family that had suffered from the epidemic. Each girl -was to work under the direction of the District -Nurse and in coöperation with the Red Cross. She -was to give brief reports of each visit. And knowing -that these girls could, in the homes to which they -were sent, win trust where older women often met -suspicion and unfriendliness, the Red Cross hoped -to build up through their services, a sympathy and -understanding that would benefit everyone and draw -more closely the bonds of common interest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In her youthful mind Pat did not sense any such -vision; she only knew that her scout orders directed -her to go and do all she could for a family whose -name she simply could not pronounce; that her card -stated that there was a Rosa, aged seven, a Josef, age -six, a Stephanie, aged three and a baby Peter; -that everyone of them had been desperately ill, -including the father and mother; that only within -the last two or three weeks had the father been able -to go back to work and that upon the poor mother, -still weak from the ravages of fever, had fallen the -burden of making the meagre savings tide them over.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat called them all her "Kewpies." Her first -two visits left her discouraged, the children were -dirty and quarrelsome, the mother unfriendly. But, -gradually, armed with picture books and toys, Pat -won the liking of the little ones; at the next visit -she gave them cakes of soap which Renée had carved -to resemble dogs and pigs and promised them more -if they would use these "all up"; warm sunshine -permitted a long walk and outdoor play and -Mrs. Kewpie, gratefully realizing that for an hour she -was absolutely without chick or child, caught a -much-needed moment of rest!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée had not been given a family by the Red -Cross. At first she was disappointed, then, -wholeheartedly, she fell to helping Pat. Aunt Pen and -Daddy, too, were deeply interested. Almost every -evening the "Kewpies" were discussed at the -"pow-wow." Aunt Pen was aghast that Mrs. Kewpie -could speak only a word or two of English!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How can she be expected to bring up good -American citizens--let alone be one herself?" she -asked heatedly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Through Rosa Pat learned that poor Mrs. Kewpie -would really like to talk and read English. Her -husband had learned it at his shop, the older children -were learning it at school; less and less they were -talking the only language she had ever known! She -felt, with the quick instinct of her mother's heart, -that they were growing away from her into a world -of interests where she could not follow. No one -had ever offered to teach her this new, strange -tongue! She was afraid of the teachers in Rosa's -school! She misunderstood and resented the -approaches of the few English-speaking women she -had met; proud herself, she had thought them -patronizing and officious! But Pat was just a girl!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Pat, quite unconsciously, began making a -good American citizen out of Mrs. Kewpie. She -found that the picture books she brought the children -interested the mother, too--not because of the -pictures alone but because the mother could make out, -through them, the meaning of the words beneath -them. When Pat told of this at home Aunt Pen -thought of the beautiful plan of making for -Mrs. Kewpie a primer out of pictures. Every evening, -for a week, the entire Everett family worked industriously -with scissors and paste, compiling what Aunt -Pen laughingly called: "Everett's First Lessons in -the American Language."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She'll know all about this country of ours when -she's graduated from </span><em class="italics">this</em><span> book," declared -Mr. Everett, proudly smoothing down a colored picture -of the Capitol at Washington.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And for everything I teach her in English I'm -going to ask her to teach me a word in Polish! It's -such a funny looking language and then it </span><em class="italics">sounds</em><span> -like music! They have lots of awfully exciting -stories in their history--Keineth Randolph told us -some that her father had told her! And in the next -book, let's have pictures of flowers and mountains -and water and things like the country, 'cause I guess -poor Mrs. Kewpie thinks there </span><em class="italics">aren't</em><span> such things!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Prompted by this thought on her next visit Pat -carried to the Kewpie kitchen a pink geranium plant. -Then she conceived the idea of making the untidy -kitchen look as much like Mrs. Quinn's as possible! -So interested did she grow in her work that for two -afternoons she completely forgot basketball practice, -thereby bringing down upon her head the fury of the -Captain of the Yellowbirds!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And when Baby Peter fell sick with some -digestive disorder, Pat, with the help of the District -Nurse, was able to persuade Mrs. Kewpie that a -daily bath would reduce the slight fever and to -substitute the sweet, fresh milk that the nurse had -brought in the place of the coffee she was accustomed -to feed the baby.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Renée, to her delight, was given an opportunity -to share the "good turns."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One afternoon Mrs. Lee, always an angel of -kindness and of wide charity, had sought Renée's -help. She explained to Renée, as they walked along -together, that this was a "case" of her own, and -that she was taking her to this house because she -thought she might bring a little sunshine into a very -lonely life there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poor Mrs. Forrester is very cross and very -queer, my dear! No one ever goes to see her now -and she lives all alone with a servant almost as old -as she is! I thought that if you would go there -once in awhile and read to her you might help her -pass the long hours."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Lee did not add that she hoped the child's -quiet, sympathetic manner might waken some -tenderness in a heart as cold and dead as stone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Forrester lived in a very old house in an -out-of-the-way street. Standing almost concealed -by trees and overgrown shrubbery, it looked like -some forgotten corner of the big, growing city. The -door creaked on its hinges as the untidy old servant -grudgingly opened it just far enough to permit them -to enter. The rooms were dark, dusty and -absolutely bare of any furnishings except a few worn -chairs. Not a picture, not a book, not one spot of -color was to be seen! There were no curtains at -the windows and the cracked dingy-brown shades -had been pulled close to the sill as though to forbid -one tiny gleam of sunlight filtering through.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée thought it the most horrid house she had -ever seen and wondered how Mrs. Lee could step into -it so cheerfully!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But always tender with old people, she immediately -felt sorry for the queer old woman propped -up against a pile of pillows in a great, ugly bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It isn't that she's so very old--or sick! I -believe she just </span><em class="italics">won't</em><span> stir! Mrs. Lee says she has -had a very unhappy life," Renée explained at home. -Now Mrs. Forrester and the ugly old stone house -shared the interest of the pow-wow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Another time Renée told, with much amusement, -how she had insisted upon raising the shade -at the bedroom window so that Mrs. Forrester -might see how spring-like the sun made everything -look and how the old lady had promptly hopped out -of bed and had pulled it down with such a snap that -it fell to the floor!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But she just </span><em class="italics">had</em><span> to go back to bed and leave it -there and I went on reading's though nothing had -happened and I know she really loved the sunshine -because she lay there as quiet as could be, staring -at the window!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But one afternoon Renée returned, deeply -excited, with a secret that she kept for Pat's ears and -the seclusion of the Eyrie.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was reading something awfully stupid for I -thought she might go to sleep and I know she wasn't -listening at all, and finally I heard her say, "If I -could find my baby--I'd be ready to die!" Now -I wasn't reading a </span><em class="italics">thing</em><span> about dying or a baby and -she frightened me dreadfully! I suppose she had -forgotten I was there. Then when I went on reading -she said it again--real plain! Now, Pat, isn't that -exciting? Where </span><em class="italics">do</em><span> you suppose her baby is and -</span><em class="italics">how'd</em><span> she ever lose it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>None of Pat's experiences could equal this for -mystery! Pat stared at Renée and Renée stared -back; in the quiet of the Eyrie they thought up all -sorts of explanations and stories--tragic, all of -them! Pat fairly shivered with delight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Aren't you </span><em class="italics">lucky</em><span>, Renée--to have such a spliffy -mystery! It's just </span><em class="italics">spooky</em><span>! I'm going to write a -story about that! You get her to talk more--read -a lot about babies and listen hard! And talk to that -old Crosspatch, maybe she'll tell you something. -That's the way they always do in detective stories. -Something dreadful </span><em class="italics">must</em><span> have happened to make -her live like that, in that ugly old house! Oh, -rapture, I </span><em class="italics">know</em><span> I'm going to be famous! This goes -way ahead of Aunt Pen's story! Of course," she -added, hastily, "I don't know </span><em class="italics">all</em><span> Aunt Pen's secret -sorrow yet and she doesn't stay in bed and act queer! -I think I'll call this "The Lost Baby!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So that evening, armed with several newly-sharpened -pencils and much of Daddy's writing -paper, Pat began her first chapter. However, its -progress met with a serious setback when Aunt Pen -laid in her hands a letter from Angeline Snow. Pat -opened it eagerly; she had not heard from any of -her old schoolmates at Miss Prindle's for a long time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She read it quickly. Miss Angeline, in a few -breezy sentences, informed Pat that she would come -immediately to make her a visit!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"... You were </span><em class="italics">such</em><span> a dear to ask me -(Pat read that twice, thoughtfully)--and the doctor -says I need a teeny rest. Mama is in California -and of course I cannot go to her! But we'll have -a perfectly sweet time together and I'm just dying -to see you again. We've missed you dreadfully here! -I have </span><em class="italics">bushels</em><span> to tell you--just you. (About the -girls and things--you'll </span><em class="italics">die</em><span> when you hear it all!) I'll -come on the Empire on Thursday, so please meet -me. I have a stunning new hat, henna and turquoise -blue and a feather you'll want to </span><em class="italics">eat</em><span>. Bye-bye, your -Angeline."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So intent was Pat upon examining the gold crest -on the paper that she did not see the curious look that -flashed over Aunt Pen's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good gracious," she exclaimed, suddenly, -"that's to-morrow!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," Aunt Pen answered quietly, "and we -must do everything we can to make her visit -pleasant!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="angeline"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">ANGELINE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>At a first glimpse, from the crown of her glossy -black head to the patent tip of her smart little shoe, -Angeline Snow, arriving the day following, was like -a stranger to Pat!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat had left her at the close of that last term of -school, after parting embraces and repeated pledges -of undying friendship, a girl, long of leg and short -of skirt like herself; now she beheld a fascinating -young creature whose slim body was robed in a dress -of the most stylish fabric and cut, its clinging skirts -reaching quite to the tops of the little patent leather -shoes, and the hair that Pat had always loved to -braid and unbraid was pinned in curious puffs and -waves close to the small head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>However, in the transformation, Angeline had -lost none of the fascination that had made of Pat, -in the old days at Miss Prindle's, a sort of adoring -slave. She was amazingly pretty, her black hair -made her white skin dazzling, the faintest of -rose-pink flushed her cheeks and the tip of her pointed -chin; her eyes set deep under long black lashes were -as blue as a June sky; her mouth alone marred the -perfection of her face--when the lips were not -twisted into an affected smile, acquired after faithful -study before the mirror, they glaringly betrayed -the girl's little weaknesses.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There might well be some doubt in anyone's mind -as to why a doctor had prescribed a rest for the young -lady! From the moment when, clasping her -Pekinese under her arm and followed by a porter with -two huge shiny leather suitcases she stepped down -from the train, she fairly bubbled with spirits!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Quickly Pat fell under the old charm! Because -Renée had developed a light attack of influenza which -confined her to her bed and kept Aunt Pen in close -attendance, lessons were suspended and the two girls -were left very much to themselves. At Aunt Pen's -suggestion Pat moved into Celia's room, which -adjoined the room assigned to Angeline. A door -opened from one to another and every night and -morning Pat crept in under Angeline's covers for a -little while and listened breathlessly while Angeline -told the "secrets" of the school. Almost always -there was a box of chocolates under Angeline's pillow -so that at regular intervals the stories were -interrupted while the two girls munched on the candies.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The very most exciting thing of all--and don't -you </span><em class="italics">dare</em><span> breathe it to a soul"--and Angeline sat -bolt upright and clasped her arms about her knees--"is -the </span><em class="italics">awful</em><span> scrape that Jule Kale and I got into -and that's </span><em class="italics">really</em><span> why I'm here!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jule Kale had been a Junior when Pat had been -at Miss Prindle's. Pat remembered her as a daring -young lady whose adventures had more than once -thrilled her and the other girls in the school.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You know she'd been writing to a French soldier -for over a year, even after Prin said we couldn't -and what </span><em class="italics">do</em><span> you think! He </span><em class="italics">came</em><span> to New York! -He was the handsomest thing--the girls were all -crazy about him, when we described him! He wrote -to Jule right away and asked her to meet him at the -Waldorf and she went real often and took me with -her. I used to take a book and pretend to read, but -I watched every minute so's I could tell the other -girls. Once he bought me some chocolate, too, when -Jule told why I was sitting there. He said there -were some more Frenchmen coming over and he'd -introduce them to us! Oh, the girls were </span><em class="italics">wild</em><span> with -excitement! Then one afternoon Jule went to a -tea-room and danced with him and she didn't take me -and some one saw her there and told Prin and Jule -was awfully scared, 'cause you remember Prin had -told her that the next scrape she was in she'd have -to leave the school! And what does Jule do but tell -Prin that he was her </span><em class="italics">cousin</em><span> who had been in the -French flying service! And Prin </span><em class="italics">insisted</em><span> that she -invite him up to school for dinner like we always do -our relatives and have him give a talk about the war -and Jule had the </span><em class="italics">worst</em><span> time explaining how he had -to go away and couldn't come! And we knew all -the while that Prin was sniffing around the way she -does for more information so Jule thought I'd better -go away for awhile so's she couldn't question me! -I pretended to faint one day--I can do it awfully -well now--and Prin never said a word when I -told her I wanted to come here for a visit. But -wasn't that all exciting and wouldn't it be </span><em class="italics">funny</em><span> -if some day Jule married the French soldier? His -name is Henri Dupres. Only Jule says his teeth are -all filled with gold and he shows 'em </span><em class="italics">all</em><span> the time as -if he was proud of them!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Contrasted to these exciting revelations Pat felt -that the telling of her little experiences--the happy -school with Aunt Pen, the Eyrie and its secrets, the -jolly hours at the Lee's, the basketball games, the -Scout work and play, would be stupid to Angeline!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen had bade Pat do everything she could -to entertain her guest; Pat found that Angeline was -easily entertained. Indeed, the young lady never -failed to indicate with daring frankness just what -she wanted to do and what she did </span><em class="italics">not</em><span> want to do. -And to Pat's dismay none of Angeline's desires -included any of the other girls! Angeline stated very -plainly that she considered Peggy "stupid," -Keineth "a kid," and Sheila--"downright common."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, do you mean she lives in that tumble-down -house and her mother keeps </span><em class="italics">lodgers</em><span>?" she -had asked with scorn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat had opened her lips to answer and then closed -them quickly. Something within her told her that -nothing she could say would win Angeline's approval -of Sheila--she, too, months ago, when she was at -Miss Prindle's, might have thought the same thing!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Angeline, with pretty condescension, found -Renée interesting. "Poor little refugee!" she said -when Pat told Renée's story.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two girls divided their time in the moving-picture -theatres, the chocolate shops and the stores. -Angeline never tired of hanging over counters and -showcases; because she was smartly dressed and -possessed a fund of information as to styles, she -commanded respect and attention from the clerks. -Each day Pat grew more and more envious and -impressed by Angeline's "grown-upness."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Under Angeline's influence Pat began to feel -ashamed of her own simple garments and to contrast -them unhappily with the finery Angeline spread out -over the bed for her inspection. She turned the -henna and turquoise creation over and over while -Angeline told that it had cost twenty-five whole -dollars! "That's more than Renée and I earned -all winter," Pat thought. And Angeline put into her -hands a pair of pumps, gleefully remarking that -"they were sixteen and I got them for -twelve--</span><em class="italics">wasn't</em><span> that a great bargain?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In her rude way, which Angeline considered -pretty frankness, she made Pat understand, too, that -she was "simply amazed" to find that Pat lived in -such a plain old house!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course it's nice and roomy and all that--and -a long time ago it must have been fashionable, -but you just </span><em class="italics">ought</em><span> to see Brenda Chisholm's father's -new house on the Drive--why, it's like a </span><em class="italics">palace</em><span>!" She -enlarged, then, upon its grandeur until Pat felt -deep chagrin that her father had preferred to live on -in the old homestead rather than to move into a -newer part of the city.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat knew that she loved the old library with its -deep fireplace and the rows of book shelves reaching -to the ceiling and the long, deep windows overlooking -the slope of lawn between her house and Sheila's, -the old paintings on the walls and the softly colored -rugs; she knew that her own room, over the library, -held all her memories of nursery days; that she loved -the way the morning sun, streaming in through the -little conservatory where the birds sang among the -flowers, turned to gold the dark oak panels of the -dining-room. However, it must seem shabby to -Angeline after she had visited Brenda's new home! -She looked at the more modern houses they were -passing, great piles of stone and marble surrounded -by well-kept lawns, and resolved to urge her Daddy -to move immediately!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One morning, a week after Angelina's arrival, the -girls found themselves with nothing to do. Aunt -Pen had taken Renée out for a walk in the Park. -The sun was shining warmly, buds were appearing -on the lilac bushes, everywhere was the hint of spring. -Aunt Pen had declared she had heard an oriole, she -and Renée had started in search of the songster's -nest. Pat had watched them depart with a little -longing in her heart and a hurt that they had not -even asked her and Angeline to go with them! Yet -she knew how Angeline would have scoffed at the -suggestion of a walk in the Park!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Angeline now was arranging and rearranging -her hair before the mirror. Pat was crossly -wishing she'd stop--she'd been fussing there for ages! -"What'll we do?" she asked, as Renée's and -Aunt Pen's figures disappeared up the street.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, let's go out somewhere for lunch. Then -we can shop. You know, I think it's a </span><em class="italics">shame</em><span> your -aunt doesn't buy you some decent things! If </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> -were you I'd just go and get them myself! My -goodness, you're too old to be dressed like a little -kid. How the girls at school will laugh when I tell -them!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's face flushed crimson. Angeline went on in -her persuasive voice; "If you don't just show -your independence </span><em class="italics">sometime</em><span> they'll go on treating -you like a child! Of course it's none of my business, -but you're my dearest friend and I </span><em class="italics">do</em><span> feel sorry -for you! And I can help you pick out--oh, just a -few things!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat gave her head a little toss! "Shall we walk -or ride?" she asked, mutely yielding to Angeline's -tempting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, dear me, ride, of course! I couldn't walk -a </span><em class="italics">block</em><span> in those heels!" and Angeline extended one -of the bargain pumps for a loving inspection.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was necessary, before they started forth, for -Pat to open her treasure box in the Eyrie and take -from it the crisp six dollar bills which she had ready -for her Victory pledge, due on April first. This, with -her week's allowance, seemed a great deal of money -and would surely meet the expenses of their outing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they whirled along the street toward the shopping -section of the city Pat caught Angeline's gay -mood. With a little thrill she told herself that they -were embarked upon an adventure! At Angeline's -suggestion they lunched at a fashionable restaurant, -always thronged at the noon-hour. Emboldened by -Angeline's composed manner, Pat gradually lost her -own awkward consciousness and enjoyed to the fullest -the gay bustle and confusion, the clatter of china, -the music rising discordantly above the endless -chatter at the tables.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">This</em><span> is more like what we girls do at school," -declared Angeline, dipping her pink finger-tips into -the glass bowl before her. "And now let's go to the -stores and find some things for you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Under Angeline's direction this was an absorbing -process. She recalled a love of a taffeta dress they -had seen in a window. Of course it could be -charged--everyone must know who Miss Everett was! -Fortunately for the success of their shopping they found -a clerk who had often sold dresses to both -Mrs. Everett and Celia. Anxious to make a sale, she -assured Pat that the dress would look beautiful on -her! She shook out its flounces temptingly as she -said it. Angeline added that the flame-colored -chiffon collar was "chic--everyone's wearing them -in New York!" Pat was promptly thrilled with a -mental picture of herself in the stylish gown!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course your aunt will look cross for a -moment," Angeline whispered, "but it's really none -of her business is it? I know </span><em class="italics">my</em><span> mother likes to -have </span><em class="italics">me</em><span> look after myself!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Pat bought the dress, gave the address, and -carried it away with her in a box. They then made -other purchases; a silk and lace petticoat that -Angeline declared a "love," some chiffon ties, a velvet -bag with a jeweled top, a vanity case and a box of -face powder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What </span><em class="italics">fun</em><span>!" cried Angeline, seizing some of -the precious packages. "Now I tell you what let's -do! Let's stop at that Madame Ranier's place and -let her curl your hair and do it up! Then you'll -look just peachy! </span><em class="italics">All</em><span> the girls are wearing their -hair up now--truly, Pat! Why, you'd be ridiculous -in New York!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They found Madame Ranier's and Pat spent an -uncomfortable hour before the mirror while a -yellow-haired young woman curled her pretty hair with -long, hot irons. Angeline hovered over them both, -giving suggestions from time to time and exclaiming -over the transformation. The hairpins hurt cruelly -and Pat had a feeling that she could never move -her head again; however, in spite of all this, she was -secretly satisfied, as was Angeline and Madame and -the young woman, that the result was most -becoming and that she looked quite "grown-up!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Angeline caught her arm. "Now, silly, -just stand still </span><em class="italics">one</em><span> moment and I'll have you looking -</span><em class="italics">really</em><span> like something," and to complete her afternoon's -work, she dabbed at Pat's nose with the tiny -powder puff she carried in her bag.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they marched forth Pat tried to assume an -airiness of manner she did not feel. Between their -luncheon and Madame Ranier she had spent almost -all of her money; the purchases she had had charged -began to trouble her soul. Angeline stopped -suddenly at Brown's window--she saw a book there -that she declared she must have! All the girls were -reading it! She ran in without another word and -Pat could do nothing but follow her. The book, -"All on a Summer's Day," was purchased and Pat -paid for it out of what remained of her money.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Prin said we younger girls couldn't read it, -but guess she can't say anything to me now!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now to wind up this jolly day, Pat--</span><em class="italics">I'll</em><span> treat," -Angeline said, edging toward a chocolate shop.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they sat down at one of the little tables Pat -saw across the room Garrett and Peggy Lee and -Keineth Randolph. Her first thought was to join -them but something in their faces stopped her. In -that moment's exchange of glances, though the girls -had nodded pleasantly enough, Pat read surprise, -disgust, and outright amusement!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A deep crimson dyed her face, in funny contrast -to the powdery whiteness of her nose. Trying to -assume an indifferent air she turned her back on the -others and devoted herself to Angeline; her pride -and satisfaction had fled, though, leaving her deeply -hurt, not so much because of the girls' suppressed -ridicule as by the thought that they had not invited -her and Angeline to join them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Garrett added the last drop to her humiliation! -As they trooped out, giving a passing smile -to Pat and her guest, Garrett slyly poked Pat in the -back and, leaning over, whispered: "Where'd you -lose your ears, Miss Everett?" Involuntarily Pat -clapped her hands to the curly puffs that were pinned -carefully over her ears and threw Garrett a wrathful -look!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But her adventure was ending most dismally! -Reaching home she threw her boxes and bags and the -book on her bed and fiercely shook out the miserable -hairpins! For ten minutes she brushed the offending -curls and then braided them into a tight pigtail. -If Aunt Pen noticed the work of Madame Ranier's -young woman, or the daub of powder still decorating -the bridge of Pat's nose, she said nothing; neither -did she question Pat concerning her absence at -luncheon. She and Renée were in high good humor, -they had had a happy afternoon and Renée was -herself again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pat, dear, don't you think--Renée is all -better now--we might have some sort of a party in -honor of Angeline?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Angeline's expressive face brightened. She was -always prettily agreeable when with the family. She -clapped her hands to express her delight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's have a dinner dance," she cried; then--"oh, -how </span><em class="italics">dreadful</em><span> of me to speak right out--like -that!" and she affected deep embarrassment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I had in mind a picnic at Hill-top on Saturday. -The roads are open and we can all motor out, have -lunch and then go to the sugar camp. The sap is -running well, Mrs. Lee says."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen kept her eyes on her knitting and did -not see the blank look of astonishment that crossed -Angeline's face. Pat had exclaimed eagerly over -the suggestion:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've never seen a sugar camp, have you, Renée?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I will tell Mrs. Lee that we will all go, -Sheila and Peggy and Keineth, and Garrett may -ask some of the boys. Garrett can drive their car -too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next morning Angeline stayed locked in her -room until after eleven o'clock. Then, hearing Pat -in the adjoining room, she suddenly threw open the -door and appeared fully dressed, even to the henna -hat. To Pat's exclamation of astonishment she -answered:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm going back on the Empire! Will you tell -Watkins? Now </span><em class="italics">don't</em><span> be a silly and make a fuss, -Pat--just tell your aunt that I had a telegram! Jule -wrote that everything was smoothed over and that I -was missing some fun! So you </span><em class="italics">don't</em><span> think I'm -going to stay any longer in </span><em class="italics">this</em><span> dead hole!" She -snuggled her face in the Pekinese. "You've been a -</span><em class="italics">dear</em><span> to keep me, Pat, but, you poor child, couldn't -you see I was just bored to </span><em class="italics">death</em><span>? And a sugar-party! -Oh, la, la--</span><em class="italics">won't</em><span> the girls laugh? Why, I -wouldn't be seen </span><em class="italics">dead</em><span> at one!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Slowly Pat stiffened until she stood as though -made of stone. Her lips tried to frame the tumult -of wrath that raged within her, but she only -managed to say lamely: "I'll tell Watkins--if you've -really--got to go!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Angeline and her dog and her bags of finery -departed and ten minutes later, the rage in Pat's soul -bursting all bounds, she presented herself at Aunt -Pen's door, her arms filled with the hateful purchases -of the day before, her face red with the effort -to choke back her tears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen had just come in. So she was amazed -when Pat burst out: "She's gone and I'm glad of it! -I just </span><em class="italics">hate</em><span> her! She said we were stupid and that -Sheila was common--and she was--bored to death -and we--we weren't fashionable--and--and she -wouldn't be seen </span><em class="italics">dead</em><span> at a sugar-party! As if -anyone wanted her, anyway!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pat, dear, one thing at a time! Who's gone? -Angeline?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat dumped her boxes on the floor and sitting -like a little girl on Aunt Pen's lap told of Angeline's -dramatic departure. She could not see the smile that -stole over Aunt Pen's face; she could not know that -the sugar-party had been planned to bring about just -what had happened! Wise Aunt Pen had decided -that Pat had had just about as much of Angeline's -company as was good for her! She listened to the -tale of the shopping, glanced at each purchase, then -patted the hair that was still curly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poor Patsy, what a time you've had!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But I hate her, Aunt Pen, and I hate myself -for ever having let her say Sheila was common! -Dear old Sheila!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, dear, you've learned something in values--all -around! Sheila, even though her life is a continual -sacrifice of all the pleasures and luxuries most -girls have, is a finer girl and a more worth-while -friend than poor Angeline--and I think the </span><em class="italics">next</em><span> -time you'll stand up for her, won't you, my dear? -Now, for the book--</span><em class="italics">that's</em><span> the place for that," -aiming it at the waste-basket, "and if you want some -novels I'll find you some that are more thrilling and -better brain-food. Your curls"--she fondled the -dark head--"they </span><em class="italics">are</em><span> pretty, Pat--it's too bad we -aren't all born with curly hair and there's no -particular harm in having it curled, only--it does take -</span><em class="italics">so</em><span> much time that could be spent in some much -better way! And after a few years you can do up these -braids and be a young lady, but for awhile longer -we want our Pat a girl that can romp and play and -get all the joy that youth alone offers!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Aunt Pen, you make me feel as if I'd been -so silly! But what on </span><em class="italics">earth</em><span> will I do with all these -things!" and Pat kicked at the offending boxes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," Aunt Pen glanced appraisingly over the -spilled contents. "You can give the bag to Melodia -and the vanity case to Maggie and we'll just go back -with the other things and ask the store manager to -exchange them for--what do you say to shoes for all -the Kewpies?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, joy! For Easter! Oh, you're </span><em class="italics">such</em><span> a comfort, -Aunt Pen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Seriously, Pat, do you feel that you really need -a dress? Perhaps I have neglected you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, gracious no, I don't want to fuss with any -more clothes! That's all Angeline talked about! -Let's take this truck back right after luncheon!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pat, dear, just a moment," Aunt Pen still had a -little sermon tucked away in her mind. "You -mustn't hate Angeline--when you think all this -over you'll realize she has taught you a valuable -lesson--perhaps you, too, have given her something in -return! Each one of us has within us much that -we give all unknowingly to others, that helps them. -Think how much little Renée has taught you with -her unselfish companionship and Sheila, who is so -brave and cheerful and honest, and Peggy and all -the others! And you must think that you, too, in -turn, through your friendship, give them something -of what is good in you! Can you understand what -I mean? So let Angeline go away with grateful -thoughts in your heart--she is silly now but some -day she may outgrow all that and be a fine girl!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's face reflected Aunt Pen's seriousness. "I -just ought to feel sorry for her 'cause she hasn't a -mother and a daddy and an Aunt Pen like I have! -But, oh, I don't want to ever look another piece of -chocolate candy in the face again! And I'm as -broke as broke can be and have spent even my -Victory money and I'll have to draw more from 'LaDue -and Everett' to meet my pledge and save all this -month to pay it back," with a groan. "But, Aunt -Pen, will we have the sugar-camp picnic just the -same?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We surely will," smiled Aunt Pen, folding the -dress back into its box, "and a good time, too!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Pat quickly forgot Angeline's insults, her -abused stomach and her empty pocketbook in a happy -anticipation of the day in the woods at Hill-top with -the boys and girls who were her "really worth-while -friends."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="for-his-country"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">FOR HIS COUNTRY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Paddy! Pad-dy Quinn! You get </span><em class="italics">right straight</em><span> -out of there!" The cry came from Sheila. Returning -from school she had spied, as she turned into her -walk, Paddy digging among her mother's precious -tulips.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila threw her books inside the kitchen door, -taking pains to notice that the room was empty, and -then went back to punish the culprit. Paddy lay -crouched on the ground watching her with bright -eyes and wagging his stub of a tail in a way that -was anything but repentant!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Perhaps the only thing that Mrs. Quinn loved -more than Paddy, except of course her Sheila and -her Denny and her Matt and her Dare, were the -bulbs that grew each spring in the little border bed -along the old fence. Her tulips always put their -tiny green leaves up through the earth long before -any other tulips; they were always bigger and -brighter and seemed almost human, the way they -nodded on their silvery green stalks and leaned -toward one another as though repeating, like old -gossips the stories the robins sang over their heads. -Each fall Mrs. Quinn carefully covered them over -and each spring, at the first feel of warmth in the -sunshine, she watched daily for the tiny green tips, -as a mother might watch for the return of a long -absent son.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The children shared her interest, too--they could -not be her children if they did not love the flowers -and birds and sunshine that made their living joyous! -The fairy stories she had taught them in their -babyhood, as she had rocked them in her loving arms, had -made the familiar things about them have a magic of -their own; the old clock in the corner was not ugly -because elves lived in it by day and pranced from -its old case at night; a fairy princess had her -fairy-palace in the nearby tree tops, a prince hid in the -wood box, the nodding posies that always budded -and grew wherever Mrs. Quinn lived, were the souls -of sprites and at night danced about under the -star-light; the dew that could be found on the blades of -grass in the early morning were the jewels that they -dropped in their haste to flee back to hiding from -the approaching dawn!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Trouble had been a frequent visitor in this magic -household but the only mark it ever left was an added -line in the corner of Mrs. Quinn's smiling lips, made -by long night struggles over the dilapidated book -which contained the family accounts. Even when -left a widow with four children to bring up, she did -not lose one bit of the optimism that, years before, -had made the whole world her Denny's and hers for -the conquering! Her Denny had been taken from -her before any one of the dreams they had dreamed -had come true; still, for her, he lived on in her Sheila -and the three small boys who had red hair and blue -eyes like the father, and she still dreamed the old -dreams for them. "There was no cloud so dark but -that it had its bright lining somewhere" was the -brave philosophy with which she directed her -household, and the meals that were often frugal she made -cheery with some loving nonsense. The sacrifices -Sheila had to make as she grew older were nothing -because she knew her mother made them, too, and -there was comfort in the sense of sharing. The -summer before Mrs. Quinn had taken the old brick -house, fashionable in its day, comfortable now, even -in its shabbiness, and had rented its rooms to lodgers. -With careful economy this slender income would -keep them comfortable until the day, to which Sheila -always looked forward, when she herself could earn -money and give to the boys the advantages of education -that she would not ask for herself. To her her -own little ambitions were as nothing compared to -the big things that must be done for the boys so that -they would grow into great men!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Paddy had become, immediately upon his -adoption, a favored member of the family. He had -privileges, too, and these increased as he willed -because, from the mother down, not one of them -could speak crossly to what little Dare called "the -orphing dog." He slept in a box near the stove when -he was not stretched across the foot of one of the -boy's beds; he ate from a plate under the chair in the -corner, a spot of his own choosing, from which he -could watch the course of the family meal and ask -for a second helping when he wished. He shared the -rise and fall of the family fortunes--a bit of liver -when the rest had chicken, a good bone on a holiday, -a new collar when Matt found, on the walk before -the house, a crisp five-dollar bill that had no owner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Though, as a dog--especially an "orphing" dog -Paddy measured in good manners up to the average, -he had occasionally, during the winter, fallen -into deep disgrace. Time and again he had been -found digging vigorously in the back yard. Both -Mrs. Quinn and Sheila had protested violently! The -bulbs were there and, too, it was Sheila's precious -war-garden--the best in the troop! Paddy had been -punished--severely for the Quinns; in spite of this -he was found again and again at his mischief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, dear, he'll ruin everything," Sheila had -cried, eying the havoc Paddy had worked. The more -the snow melted from the ground the more determined -Paddy seemed to dig his way straight through -to China!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Mrs. Quinn had made the ultimatum! The -children heard it with worried faces; Paddy listened, -disturbed, from the stove behind which, after a -chastisement, he had taken refuge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If we find him at it </span><em class="italics">once more</em><span> he'll go straight -to the pound! I'm </span><em class="italics">not going</em><span> to have my bulbs -ruined!" And Mrs. Quinn had turned resolutely -away from the dismay and grief she saw in four -young faces.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sheila knew that her mother had meant what she -said. That was why, on this day, she had peeped -into the kitchen before she went back to Paddy. If -no one had seen him then he might have just one -more chance!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're a </span><em class="italics">bad, bad</em><span> dog!" she said, advancing -threateningly upon the culprit.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Paddy barked protestingly. His whole -manner seemed to say: "I'm through now. See what -I've found!" And between his paws he held a small -tin tube, badly discolored from long contact with -the earth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Sheila leaned over he jumped upon her, then -pawed the ground where the tube lay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What have you got? Don't you dare bury that -in the tulip bed!" But he barked so hard in protest -that Sheila gingerly picked up his treasure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Under her fingers it came apart and from it -dropped three folded slips of paper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For goodness sake!" cried Sheila, almost -frightened. She smoothed them out; except for a -slightly mouldy smell they were in good condition -and the writing upon them could be easily read.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were the lost formulas!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Mother! Mother! Mother!</em><span>" With one bound -Sheila was in the house confronting her mother who -had come up from the cellar, panting with alarm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Paddy's found 'em! Paddy's found 'em!</em><span>" And -she threw her arms about her mother's neck in a -hug that swept the two of them straight into the big -rocker!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sheila Quinn, are you </span><em class="italics">loony</em><span>? What </span><em class="italics">have</em><span> you -got? And </span><em class="italics">do</em><span> stop that dog's barking!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, mumsey, it's the lost formulas--they were -buried in the tulip bed! </span><em class="italics">That's</em><span> what Paddy's been -digging for--all this time!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two spread the papers out on the table and -read them over and over.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't they sound </span><em class="italics">dreadful</em><span>! Just's if they'd -explode all by themselves!" whispered Sheila, -recalling what Mr. Everett had said about the formulas.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So giving Paddy a warm hug by way of tribute -Sheila put the formulas back in the tin tube and -started forth to find Mr. Everett, to tell him the -whole story. All through the winter the loss of the -formulas had worried Mr. Everett. His experts had -been working over the experiments again and in -time would, of course, have made new formulas; -it was the fear, however, that some other government -already possessed the secret that had troubled, not -only the officials of the Everett Works, but the -United States government as well. So that when -Sheila, with Aunt Pen, Pat and Renée, burst into -the office with the wonderful news, Mr. Everett felt -as though a great load was rolling off his shoulders!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A curious gathering inspected the dirty tube and -listened to the story; Mr. Everett and his staff, some -secret service men, two chemists from the experimental -laboratory, in their long white coats, some -workmen who were passing the door and had been -attracted by the exclamations--and the girls. -Mr. Everett questioned Sheila closely. She recalled that -Paddy had--all winter long--barked a great deal at -night, so much so that after awhile the family grew -accustomed to it and did not notice it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Marx buried it--intending to go later and dig -it up! The man was smart enough to know that if -they'd been found on his possession nothing could -have saved him. It was a lucky thing they kept him -locked up so long! Your dog has done good work, -Miss Sheila!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Everett then, turning the tube over and over -in his hands, said to one of the others in a low tone:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"After all--perhaps the best service we could -do for our country and the world would be to bury it -again--where it would lie forever and ever!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That night, for the second time, Mr. Everett, -with Pat, came to the Quinn kitchen. But this time -he was accompanied by Aunt Pen and Renée, too. -They made a very loud noise at the doorstep, as -though dragging to the door some heavy object. -Mr. Everett insisted that the three small Quinns -must stay up and to make it certain drew little Dare -to his knee.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We're going to have a regular ceremony," -declared Pat so solemnly that Mrs. Quinn nervously -fell to lighting more gas jets and Sheila sent Matt -off to the sink to wash the jam from his face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must decorate Mr. Paddy Quinn for distinguished -service," Pat finished. So the boys with -shouts dragged Paddy from his basket--for Paddy -believed in an early bed-hour--and set him in the -centre of the merry circle. Thereupon Mr. Everett -produced a handsome collar decorated with a red, -white and blue bow and allowed Dare to fasten it -about the shaggy neck. Everyone laughed at the -comical picture Paddy made in his gay decoration! -Then a knock came at the door and in trooped Peggy -and Keineth, trying to look as though they had not -known what had been happening!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Everett rose with much seriousness. "And -now that everyone is here I want to present </span><em class="italics">another</em><span> -badge of honor, that has been left in my -keeping!" Sheila guessed what was coming! She threw one -wildly happy look toward her mother and then stood -quite still, blushing. Mr. Everett drew from his -pocket the flat tissue-paper package, unwrapped it, -and held up the badge of the Golden Eaglet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It gives me profound pleasure to return this to -Miss Sheila Quinn! May she always keep and give -to others, too, her sense of a true scout's honor! It -is one of the strongest weapons we can carry!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His voice was so earnest and the eyes he fixed -on Sheila so full of sincere respect and admiration -that the laughter in the room suddenly died. As Pat -said afterwards: "It was just as though Sheila was -a knight and was starting out on some crusade!" -And Mrs. Quinn, who knew something of the -weapons one needed to fight the battles of life, -choked down a catch in her throat and Aunt Pen -whispered something under her breath with a look -that was like a caress for Sheila!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the girls opened the door and revealed a -tub of ice cream on the threshold; while two of -them were lifting it out of the ice Pat brought in -and opened a big box full of dewy-wet pink roses.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Keineth went to the piano and played so that "the -fairies danced," and then everyone sang--Dare, -holding tightly to one of Mr. Everett's hands, almost -splitting his throat in his effort to express his joy!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Such</em><span> an evening!" said Mrs. Quinn as she -closed the door behind the last guest. "And who'd -have ever thought of it at six o'clock and you, Matty, -with your elbow out of your sleeve! Well, well, I -guess </span><em class="italics">those</em><span> good folks don't mind a thing like that!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Mother--look!</em><span>" Sheila had gone to the roses -and had leaned over them to whisper good-night -into the fragrant petals. And there, hidden among -the leaves, she had found a small envelope addressed -to "Miss Sheila Quinn."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She opened it quickly. "Oh, </span><em class="italics">Mumsey</em><span>!" she -cried. For before her amazed eyes she unfolded a -check for two hundred dollars!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And with it was just one short line.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"As a small token of appreciation for Paddy's -services I present this to his mistress, begging her to -do with it whatever she wants most in the world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mumsey--the music!" Sheila ran to the piano, -which had been scarcely touched during the long -winter. With ecstatic fingers she ran up and down -the scale.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Mrs. Quinn, watching her girl with happy, -misty eyes, seeing in the young face a look of the -father who had gone on, and the glow of the rosy -dreams she had used to dream in her own girlhood, -thought it the most beautiful music in the world!</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-letter-from-france"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A LETTER FROM FRANCE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"A letter for you, Miss Renée!" and Jasper -laid down at Renée's elbow a square, bluish envelope -with a foreign postmark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From time to time Renée and Mr. Everett had -received cards from Renée's guardian--but this was -a fat envelope! Aunt Pen reached eagerly for it -and turned it over and over in her fingers. Whereupon -Pat nodded to Renée, as much as to say: "The -plot thickens! The mystery clears!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What fun to have it come on a nasty, rainy day -like this!" she declared aloud. "Let's take it to the -Eyrie and read it very slowly so's to make it last a -</span><em class="italics">long</em><span> time!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Renée may want to read her own letter by herself, -Pat," laughed Aunt Pen, looking as happy as -though the letter had come straight to her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, </span><em class="italics">no</em><span>, please! Let's do what Pat says! And -</span><em class="italics">you</em><span> read it, aloud, Aunt Pen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So the fat envelope was carried to the Eyrie and -Aunt Pen sat down in the one sound chair while Pat -and Renée stretched out on the floor at her feet. And -as Aunt Pen began to read no one minded the rain -beating in torrents against the Eyrie windows!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear little girl and all her good friends, -the Everetts," the letter began. "Because I am -confined by an inconsiderate doctor to a very small bed in -a very big room in what, in the sixteenth century, -used to be a monastery and is now one of the best -of the American base hospitals--though I wish the -window was bigger so it could let in a little more -sunshine to warm these ancient walls--I have time at -last to write to you a real letter. Since I returned -from God's country I have been continually on the -jump. I got back to the boys just in time to fire one -last shot at the Jerrys, though it was a waste of good -honest steel, for they were running faster than even -a bullet could go. After the armistice they sent us -almost directly up to the Rhine. Somehow, now that -I've got the time to write, and a fairly good pen, -I can't seem to find the words that will describe to -you just how we men felt when we knew we were -there--at the old Rhine--the way we'd talked and -sung about back in the training camp. Things were -not tedious--not for a moment--and we were as -busy as ever and constantly on the alert that Jerry -didn't slip anything over us. And then just when -I was getting used to the eternal rain and mud and -the Germanness of everything--and good honest, -sheets, too, on a regular old grandmother's feather -bed--I was ordered back with a detachment to Le Mans.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And now, Renée, I must tell you a little story. -It is about a poor French soldier I found in one of the -many small villages not far from Valenciennes. We -were going back in lorries, one had broken down and -that held us up for a couple of hours. Some of us -were prowling around for souvenirs. (By the way -I am sending a German helmet to you by mail. Turn -it upside down, fill it with earth and plant flowers in -it--that'll redeem it.) To go back to my story--I -happened upon a very old man digging in a strip of -a back yard that looked the way one of our streets -home look when they're paving it and putting sewers -through--it was back of what had been a cottage -only the roof and two of the walls were gone. I -asked him for a drink and he took me to the one -room that was whole to give me some of the wine -which--he told me proudly--he had hidden months -before, and there I found his very old wife and a -young French soldier. The Frenchman would not -talk to me at all, just stared and shrank away as -though he was frightened. I shall never forget how -the poor fellow looked, a bag of bones, hollowed -eyes that burned in his white face and an empty -sleeve. The old man told me the boy's story, then, -and with the knowledge of French I have picked -up I was able to put it together. He had been -released from a German prison, he had had to walk -back with other French prisoners, but because he had -had his arm amputated in the prison and had had a -long run of fever and was half starved he had -not been able to keep up with the others and -had dropped behind. The old peasant had found him -lying by the road, raving in delirium. There had -been a nasty wound on his forehead, too, as though -back in the prison camp some Jerry had struck -him over the head. The old couple had taken him -in and for weeks and weeks had nursed him as best -they could, keeping him alive with their precious -wine. His fever had gone, the wound had healed, -his strength had begun to slowly return, but he could -not remember one single thing of what had -happened nor tell who he was--that blow had wiped -everything out of his mind! He was like a little -child. But the shock of seeing me started -something working in his brain; he stared and stared, -after a little he got up his courage to feel of my -face and of my uniform--and then of his own -uniform--or the rags and tatters of what had been -a good French uniform, and I think at that moment -blessed memory began to return!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To make a long story short I just took him along -on the lorry to Paris and put him in a hospital there -under expert care and now he's as sane as he ever -was and says he can remember the German doctor -who struck him and wants to go back and find him! -But I told him that a higher Justice was going to -settle all those scores and that he was going back to -America with me--when I go. That is why I am -telling you the story; I know your kind little heart -that is part French will find pity and affection for this -poor fellow who has suffered so much that little -girls like you might go on living happy safe lives in -a good world, and you will be kind to him when I -bring him home with me.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Home--Renée, it seems so funny for me to think -of a home! I used to dream of having one but I -have found out some dreams don't come true, and -since then I've just wandered from one country to -another building bridges and railroads and such -things. But I feel tired now and I think when I -go back I'll fix over an old house I own in a little -town up in the Adirondack mountains, and we'll go -there and we'll be happy, or at least I promise I'll -see that you are happy. And we'll keep the French -soldier I've adopted as long as he will stay, won't we?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When I was in Paris I went down and spent a -whole day with Susette and Gabriel. They are well, -Gabriel's rheumatism is better, and he declares it -is the slippers you sent him--he wears them all the -time. They are happy getting their garden ready, -and the florists in Paris are placing more orders for -violets than before the war. Prosperity shines in -every wrinkle in Susette's face. She pointed out to -me where she has hung the Stars and Stripes -alongside of the Tri-color and told me that I must tell -you. Your picture was in a place of honor on the -shelf under the Madonna and there was over it a tiny -wreath of waxed snowdrops which Susette says she -made herself. I looked at the picture and I said -to myself: 'Bill Allan, that big girl with the very -nice eyes is your ward, given into your care by the -bravest lad you ever knew--see that you live up -to the charge with the best that's in you!' That -was the vow I made in front of your picture, Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Some day when we've saved enough money we'll -go back and visit Susette. But she's happy, Renée--the -way we're all happy over here--the fighting is over!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You and I can never thank the Everetts for all -they have done for us. I bless the Fate that brought -that very lively Miss Pat into the Red Cross office -for I'll admit right at that moment I didn't know -what to do with you! I think that in a few weeks I'll -be sent back to America and then I will try to tell -them how grateful we are..."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The letter concluded with a brief description of -the hospital and its beautiful, cloistered grounds -where, long before, monks had found rest from the -world's strife. But not one of the three listened; -Aunt Pen's thoughts, even while her lips went on -framing the words of the letter, were back, repeating -over and over--"I used to dream of having a home -but I found out some dreams can't come true!" -and, as she finished and folded the letter, her eyes, -staring out over the wet housetops, saw vividly again -the college campus and the old stone bench under a -spreading elm where she and another had talked -about that very house in the Adirondacks!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It </span><em class="italics">is</em><span> my Will!" she murmured almost aloud. -But for once Pat was too concerned with her own -worry to notice her Aunt Pen's absorption!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think it's just </span><em class="italics">mean</em><span> in him to say he's coming -over here and take Renée away to some old place--we -</span><em class="italics">won't</em><span> let her go!" she exploded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A little dread of this same thing was disturbing -Renée! Though she had in the long trip across the -sea learned to respect and trust her new guardian, -and, because Emile had placed her under his care, -would always feel a strong loyalty for him, she -shrank a little from the thought of leaving these -kind friends and going to a strange home. Aunt -Pen, coming with an effort back from her own -dreams, read what was passing in both Pat's and -Renée's minds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's not worry, girlies! I know everything is -going to turn out just the way that will make -everyone happy--when Capt. Allan returns!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Pat suddenly grew suspicious!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You speak </span><em class="italics">just as though</em><span> you knew something -we didn't know, Penelope Everett! What </span><em class="italics">is</em><span> it? -</span><em class="italics">Did</em><span> you know Renée's guardian before? You've </span><em class="italics">got</em><span> -to tell us every thing!" And Pat, a vision in her mind -of romance and mystery unfolded at last, knelt -before Aunt Pen and rested her elbows upon Aunt -Pen's knees with an air that said: "I'm ready now -to hear the whole story!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Aunt Pen's face, rosy red, did not suggest -the secret sorrow that Pat had liked to imagine! She -laughingly pushed Pat away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What an old teaser you are! Yes, this </span><em class="italics">is</em><span> the -same Will Allan I knew! He used to tell me, -sometimes, of the old house in the mountains which an -aunt had left him. Then he went to South America -to build a bridge or something! There's nothing -more to tell!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat was visibly disappointed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, anyway, will you promise to keep him -from separating Ren and me?" she begged.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen slipped the letter back into its envelope.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll promise to do my best to keep him -from--separating you--very far! If he remembers me," -she added with sudden alarm! Such a thought had -not occurred to her! Now it brought a tiny droop -in the corner of her lips. "Anyway, Pat, much as -we love Renée we must not forget that Capt. Allan -has the first claim, though I am sure he will be -anxious to do whatever will make her the most -happy! He may let Renée decide."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, that would be </span><em class="italics">dreadful</em><span>!" cried Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the thought satisfied Pat. She stood up with -sudden resolution. "Well, then, </span><em class="italics">I'm</em><span> going to begin -right now teasing Renée </span><em class="italics">every minute</em><span> to choose -us! I'm glad the letter came! Everything was so -dull and now it's exciting again! And that poor -Frenchman--let's go over to Peggy's, Ren, and tell -her all about him! As if we minded rain, anyway!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-lost-baby"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE LOST BABY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Ren, you look as though you'd stepped out of -a picture book!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée did, indeed! With odds and ends from the -scrap-bag and the store-room upstairs she and Pat -had put together an Alsatian costume. Pat, perched -cross-legged in the middle of the bed with a book -on Historical Costumes stretched across her knees, -proclaimed her satisfaction with their handiwork -while Renée turned and turned before the long -mirror, stopping to spread out the full short skirt or -perk up the enormous bow that adorned her head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Keineth Randolph was going to give a party. -It was to be a costume party; there was to be dancing -as well as games; all the boys and girls of the -Randolph's acquaintance had been invited. They always -loved to go to the Randolph's home; the house, -though small, seemed to have been built for the sole -purpose of giving young people room for a good -time; John Randolph, himself, could be as young as -the youngest and Keineth, always good-humored, -was a hospitable little hostess. Add real musicians, -tucked off on the landing of the stair, a table in the -corner of the dining-room laden with goodies dear to -young folks, witches and goblins, lords and ladies -of past kingdoms, monks, fairies, clowns and elves -to make merry--well, "it will be one grand party!" -Pat had declared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She herself had been torn in mind as to what she -wanted to be. She pictured herself as Jeanne d'Arc, -glorious in silver armor and lance in hand; she -considered Mary, Queen of Scots; then her romantic -fancy favored Cinderella! But learning from Peggy -that Garrett was going as the brave Powhatan, the -Indian Chief, she promptly decided to tease Garrett -by appearing as Pocahontas! Aunt Pen was shopping -at that very moment trying to find the gayest -feather duster in the city with which to decorate her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pat, I'll wear my locket!" cried Renée, -turning from the mirror.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She ran to her drawer as she spoke and drew -from it the little case. Pat watched her approvingly -as she fastened the bright red band about her throat. -It added a piquant spot of color to the quaint -costume and the curious old locket looked as though it -might have been fashioned by some old artisan for a -royal lady in the days when feudal lords reigned -over France!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's </span><em class="italics">perfect</em><span>!" Pat gave a leap over the low -footboard of her bed to examine more closely Renée's -entire appearance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're going to be the best thing there," she -declared conclusively. "I know everyone will be -crazy over you! </span><em class="italics">Won't</em><span> it be fun? I can't wait until -Thursday comes! Only then it'll be over so soon!" And -Pat sighed deeply, as millions of others have -sighed over the rapid flight of time!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Maggie tapped at the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's a queer old woman downstairs a-asking -for you, Miss Renée!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For me?" Renée turned, startled. Then a -sudden thought enlightened her. "It must be -Elsbeth!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She ran quickly down the stairs to the door followed -by Pat. It was Elsbeth, the queer old servant -who lived with Mrs. Forrester. At sight of Renée -she turned a face white with distress.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Miss Renny, Miss Renny, she's took again! -Mis' Lee sent me to fetch you! You must come!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean, Elsbeth--Mrs. Forrester? -I'll go with you at once!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think that's </span><em class="italics">mean</em><span>, Renée! We were going to -plan my costume--you </span><em class="italics">know</em><span> it!" protested Pat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, </span><em class="italics">Pat</em><span>!" Renée's voice pleaded from the -depths of the hall closet where she was hunting -for her warm coat. "Oh, Pat--you wouldn't want -me not to go! The poor thing!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat was a little ashamed; however she did not -want to show it--she cast an accusing look at old -Elsbeth as though she was to blame.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I don't believe I'd leave you for any -of the Kewpies, but I'll get along somehow!" and -assuming the air of a martyr she started slowly -back up the stairs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll get back as quickly as I can, truly, Patsy, -so wait for me!" Pat paused in her ascent. "You're -never going in </span><em class="italics">that</em><span> costume, are you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée had completely forgotten what she had on! -However, she only laughed and buttoned the coat -up closely about her throat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, it won't make any difference! I'm ready, -Elsbeth--let's hurry!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She was took last night with one of her spells -and cried and wouldn't take her powders! And -to-day she's still like she was dead," the old servant -explained to Renée as they almost ran through the -streets. They made a curious pair--the young girl's -scarlet skirts swinging out below the coat, the gilded -cardboard with which she had covered her slippers -flopping about her ankles and the ends of the big -black bow peeping out from under the soft hat she -had clapped upon her head; Elsbeth, hobbling in her -effort to keep up with the younger feet, her loosened -ends of stringy gray hair flying in every direction, -and her hands rolled in the apron she tried vainly -to conceal under the short, shabby jacket she wore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The Lord sent Mis' Lee," she gasped, panting -for breath, "and she sez--go fetch Miss Renny! -An' I come!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She'll be better, I know, with Mrs. Lee there! -Don't worry, Elsbeth," and Renée, heedless of the -panting breath beside her, quickened her pace so that -in a very few minutes she was tapping at the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Lee opened it and drew Renée into the dingy -parlor. She went to one of the windows and raised -the shade to the very top, letting in a flood of warm -sunshine. Then she whispered to Renée:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The doctor is with her now. It is the first time -since I have known her that we could get her to see -a doctor! Take off your coat, my dear! Oh----" -she stared for a moment, puzzled, then laughed: -"you were trying on your costume for Keineth's -party! You are a picture, my dear!" She hesitated, -as though something in Renée's face suddenly held -her attention.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just for a moment you made me think of -someone, but I can't tell who! Perhaps it is that you -so thoroughly look the part of a little Maid of -Alsace! I thought, while we were waiting, I might -tell you a little more of poor Mrs. Forrester's story. -Then you will understand why she suffers as she -does! She was not always alone as she is now--she -once had a beautiful young daughter----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh," broke in Renée, excitedly, "was that the lost baby?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, though she was twenty years old! Now -the mother always thinks of her as a baby."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did she die?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No--to Mrs. Forrester then it was worse than -death. The two of them seemed to have been quite -alone in the world; the mother cared for nothing -but the little girl. Every luxury that money could -buy she heaped upon her with a lavish hand. One -might think that the child would have been dreadfully -spoiled but those who knew them say she was sweet -and gentle, pretty as a flower. When she was a little -older the mother took her away--she must have the -best schooling that money could obtain. They -traveled a great deal, too. And all the while, as the -young girl grew toward womanhood, the proud -mother was building plans for the wonderful future -her child must have! I do not know of just what -greatness she dreamed--whether it was of some -Duchess Somebody or even a prince's title--I only -know that she held money and high social position -as the greatest gifts with which a Kindly Providence -could endow her flower and lost sight of what makes -real happiness in this world!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It sounds like a fairy tale, my dear! While the -proud mother was dreaming her golden dreams, the -young girl met and fell in love with a poor artist--a -boy, for he was only twenty-two, whose family was -quite unknown and who had nothing in the wide -world but a profound belief in his own great talent. -The young girl went proudly and joyously with him -to the mother to tell of their happiness. The mother -would only believe that the boy was an adventurer--a -fortune seeker; she saw an end to the plans of her -whole lifetime, an obscure future for the girl she had -so carefully educated. She sent the young man away -and forbade his communicating in any way with her -daughter. For weeks the girl pleaded vainly, the -mother would not listen; in a fury of disappointment -she even locked her for days in her room, thinking -to break the young will! But there is an old saying -that true love will find a way--the day came when -the young girl slipped away, joined her lover and -a few hours later returned to tell the mother that -they had been married. Then it was that anger and -baffled pride drove out all love and justice from the -mother's heart; heaping curses upon the frightened -girl she drove her from her, bidding her never cross -her path again! The girl and boy went away and -from that day to this the unhappy woman has never -laid eyes upon them. Her rage brought about a spell -not unlike what she is having now; for days and -days she lay in her bed refusing to let anyone near -her. Then, finally, as the weeks grew into months, -slowly into her heart crept the realization of what -she had done. Remorse began eating at her soul. -She tried vainly to find some trace of the daughter; -with only Elsbeth she wandered for month after -month over every country of the globe, seeking -everywhere! She spent almost a fortune on her search. -But there was never a sign. It was as if the world -had swallowed them. And, finally, broken by her -sorrow, unhappy and discouraged, without any -friends and with only a little of her former wealth -left, she came back to this city and to this old house. -It looked then just the way it does now. She threw -out anything in it that might make it even a little -cheerful and then settled down to die! But life, -cruelly enough, has hung on and on! I have learned -her story from things she has told me; for some -strange reason she has seemed to want to confide in -me. And Elsbeth, too, has sometimes softened a -little and talked about the old days! That is her -sad story, my dear! I know, now, how tender you -will always be with her and I have often thought -that perhaps you may remind her--a little--of the--lost -baby, because you are young and like a flower, too!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two bright spots of color burned in Renée's -cheeks. To herself she was saying: "</span><em class="italics">Wait</em><span> until I -tell Pat!" The thrill of the secret of the lost baby -held her more than any sympathy for the old lady; -perhaps deep in her heart some sense of justice told -her that the proud mother had had just the -punishment she deserved.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Lee had turned toward the door. "The -doctor is going! Wait here, Renée, until I call you. -He may have some directions to give."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée looked about the room. What a horrible -place! Even the gold of the sunlight dimmed to a -cold lustre as it lay across the dusty surface of the -shabby furniture! Everything was so unspeakably -ugly and so still! She suddenly felt very lonely. -A moment's wild impulse tempted her to run back -to Pat as fast as her feet could fly! They had been -having such fun fixing the costumes; the -pink-curtained room had been so cheery, Peter Pan had been -singing so lustily--why should she stay here?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Except for the low murmur of voices from the -hall where Mrs. Lee was talking to the doctor, the -only sound to break the awful stillness was the loud -ticking of old Elsbeth's clock in the kitchen. It -had a mournfully resentful tick as much as to say -to its unhappy listeners: "No matter how wretched -you feel, I go on--I go on--I go on!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The door going into the room where Mrs. Forrester -lay was closed. As she thought of crossing -its threshold little Renée shuddered. A fear she -could not explain gripped her! After all, she was -only a little girl; she had never seen anyone -suffer--except Gabriel when he was tortured with his -rheumatism; she had never seen anyone die--her own -dear mother had seemed to just go to sleep! And -what if Mrs. Forrester should die? If she wanted -to go back home, surely Mrs. Lee would let her go!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And then, as she waited, bits of the story -Mrs. Lee had told her flashed back across her thoughts -and held her. Now her sympathy was not so much -for the girl bride as for the poor, lonely mother, -wandering broken-hearted, over the world!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The poor thing!" she said aloud, and then -jumped at the sound of her own voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A door closed behind the doctor; Mrs. Lee came -into the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She is quiet now. The doctor says there is no -danger. It is all her nerves. Only--women her -age can't indulge in hysterics without serious results! -What a picture you are in all this gloom, child! It's -a strange coincidence that you should have had this -dress on! Perhaps it will rouse her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Somehow, now, Renée did not feel a bit like -asking to go home. She was not even very much -afraid. With Mrs. Lee she stepped softly down the -dim hall toward the closed door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Anything, Renée, that will make her forget -herself will help her," whispered Mrs. Lee. "Tell -her about Keineth's party--anything!" They -walked into the room. The doctor had raised one -of the cracked shades so that the sun was slanting -in. Mrs. Lee had put some extra pillows under the -patient's head; she was half-sitting, a pathetically -little figure in the great ugly bed. Her face was -turned toward the wall. She lay perfectly still; -Renée might have thought that, like her mother, she -was sleeping, except that her thin fingers twitched at -the edge of the bedspread.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have brought Renée," Mrs. Lee said softly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no answer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps you would like to have her stay with -you for a little while!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh--go away--</span><em class="italics">all</em><span> of you!" came pettishly. -"Can't you let an old woman die in peace? Will -it ever come?" she moaned into her pillow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée felt so indignant that anyone should be -praying like this to die that she stepped to the side -of the bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But the doctor says you are </span><em class="italics">not</em><span> going to die," -she answered quickly, with a stubborn note in her -sweet voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The moment she had spoken she was very frightened -but she could not have said anything that would -have so quickly roused the old lady. It roused her -because it angered her; she jerked her head around. -However, what she might have retorted in answer -was checked by her utter amazement at seeing the -strange, quaint little figure by her bedside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who are you?" she demanded angrily. "Who -let you in here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The child stepped closer. "I'm Renée!" she -answered gently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You that little Renée? Come here!" Mrs. Forrester -commanded stretching out a thin hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée stepped close to the head of the bed and -leaned over. Mrs. Forrester touched her cheek and -her hair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So it is! So it is!" and her voice softened. -Then a gleam of sunlight from the unshaded window -struck across the curious old locket. Suddenly the -sick woman sat bolt upright in bed and clutched -with both hands at the red band.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">That--that----</em><span>" she screamed. "Where did -you get it?" She tore at the velvet band until it -hurt Renée cruelly. Her voice rose to a shriek. -"</span><em class="italics">It is hers! My baby!</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As her fingers fumbled over the face of the locket -a part of it suddenly opened and from a hiding place -within dropped a tiny gold key! The old lady cried -loudly and held it up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">I knew it! I knew it!</em><span>" Then she sank back -among the pillows, turned slowly to Renée and -whispered hoarsely:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But who are you?"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="renee-s-box"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">RENÉE'S BOX</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Who are you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Of course they all thought Mrs. Forrester was -having a spell! Renée was terribly frightened--the -more so because now one of the thin hands was -gripping her arm so that it hurt.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Elsbeth, more wild and disheveled than ever, -pushed at Renée and leaned over the bed, a tumbler -in one hand, some powders in the other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mis' Forrester! </span><em class="italics">Please</em><span>, Mis' Forrester!" she -pleaded, tears running down her wrinkled cheeks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Mrs. Forrester struck angrily at the hand -holding the powders and sent them in a tiny cloud of -dust all over the covers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Go away, you old fool!" she cried, "can't you -see I've found my baby? No one else anywhere in -the world had a locket like that!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Lee suddenly remembered who it was that -Renée had looked like! It was the faded picture -Elsbeth had once shown her of the young daughter -of Mrs. Forrester! She stepped forward now and -answered for Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She is Renée LaDue, but I think--I believe--she -</span><em class="italics">must</em><span> be your grandchild!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Forrester was sitting bolt upright and the -pillows had fallen all about her. Two bright spots -of red burned on her cheeks and her eyes, as they -stared through and through Renée, were alight with -life. She was a different creature from the one who -had lain limply on the ugly bed, her face turned -toward the wall! Only her voice still sounded weak -and shrill.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your mother--answer, child!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then, more than anything else in the world, -Renée wanted to run away! But the hand on her -arm held her tight. And, too, who was this old -lady who had known that the key was in the locket -when she and Emile had not known it?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My mother's name was Amy----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My baby!" Now the old lady sank back among -the pillows; she commenced to sob--dry, heart-breaking -sobs, "My baby! You are her little girl! -I have found her!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And then a strange thing happened! For suddenly -Renée lost all her fear and over her swept a joy -that she had found someone--someone to really, truly -belong to! So very shyly she reached out and took -one of the thin hands in her own.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Lee gently told the old woman as much of -Renée as she knew; how the mother had died five -years before, how she had made the brother promise -to some day bring the little girl back to America to -live, how the brother had given his life for France, -the country of his mother's adoption, and an American -officer had fulfilled the promise. As she listened -Mrs. Forrester kept her eyes fastened on Renée's -face and Renée held tightly to the trembling hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Mrs. Lee had finished Mrs. Forrester lay -still for a long time. Then she said softly: "God -has been good to a wicked old woman because my -flower had gone to Heaven and pleaded for me! I -am forgiven." And she closed her eyes as though -at last a peace of soul had come upon her!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is--is the key--a key to a box?" Renée asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her grandmother roused suddenly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes--yes! A leather box--have you got it? -My grandmother gave it to my darling--with the -locket--when she was fifteen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My mother gave it to Emile just before--she -died! She never told him about the key but she -made him promise to let no one break it open. And -of course we never would!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Shall I go and get it?" asked Mrs. Lee. She -felt that for a little while it might be better to leave -the old lady and the child alone. Renée made a move -as though to go, too, but Mrs. Lee motioned her back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Aunt Pen will tell me where I can find it! You -stay here, my dear," and she hurried away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Elsbeth had been watching the unusual happenings -with a suspicious, jealous eye. She loved her -strange old mistress better than anything on earth; -she resented these strangers usurping her place!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Missus had best lay down now and keep quiet," -she said, coming forward with an authoritative air. -"If ye'll jes' take a powder----" But she got no -further; Mrs. Forrester burst into a laugh! And -Elsbeth was so startled that her knees knocked -together, for, not for many years, had she heard her -mistress laugh--and such a laugh!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Elsbeth, stupid, can't you see I'm a well woman? -That I am happy again? None of your powders -any more! Go about your business--ransack your -pantry and find some food for my pretty one here! -My flower--my baby!" And with a look that transformed -her thin face she lifted her arms and closed -them about little Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell me," she whispered, as though it must be -a secret between them, "was she ever unhappy?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée answered very slowly because she was -thinking very hard. She tried to make the mother -know that her own dear mother had been always -cheerful, always singing and telling beautiful stories -and playing with her among the flowers--and was -only unhappy when Emile brought out the father's -tools.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That was because he had been blind, and I heard -her tell Emile once that his heart had broken because -he could not do his work! For a long time she -guided his fingers for him! She herself used to take -the things they made to Paris to sell, and, when she -couldn't sell them, she and Susette used to hide them -so he couldn't know--Susette told me all that! I -think we were very, very poor, but my mother -always seemed happy. She used to sew sometimes, -until she was very tired. We never had anything but -the flowers to play with and the games she used to -make up. And she always talked of the time when -she would bring us both to America! 'It was my -country and it must be yours,' she used to tell us -over and over!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did she--did she--ever tell you--about me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée hesitated. She knew that what she must -say would hurt the old lady deeply. But before she -could speak Mrs. Forrester answered herself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course she would not! I had forbidden it!" -and in her voice was the bitterness of remorse.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Renée told her of the cottage at St. Cloud -where, since as far back as she could remember, they -had lived with Susette and Gabriel. She told, too, -of Emile and the days when he had gone to Paris to -study with an old sculptor, and how bravely he had -gone away to war with a company from St. Cloud!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Forrester pushed Renée's hair back and -looked intently at her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can see it now! You are like her--a little! -But your eyes are like--your father's."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were voices in the hall and in a moment -Mrs. Lee and Aunt Pen walked into the room. Aunt -Pen was greatly excited and came straight to Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am so glad, my dear," she whispered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But no one had eyes for anything but the queer -old box which Mrs. Lee had placed upon the bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How old it looks," sighed Mrs. Forrester, -caressing for a moment the worn leather. Her fingers -trembled so that she could not hold the tiny key and -it was Renée who fitted it into the lock and turned -it. It turned slowly and the lid fell back, revealing -packages of papers and letters, tied neatly together.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Although not knowing exactly what she had -always imagined was in the box, Renée was vaguely -disappointed! But Mrs. Forrester fell to eagerly -sorting over the packages. Lying loose among them -was a folded sheet, addressed to herself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Her writing!" she cried, holding it close to -her eyes. "Read it for me--I cannot."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dearest of mothers," Renée read. The writing -showed that the letter had been written under stress -of deep emotion. "It was only because he needed -me so much, for the doctors had told him his eyesight -was slowly going, that I could hurt you by acting -against your wishes. And sometime you may know -that I have always loved you dearly and that I -forgive you as I pray you will forgive me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, my darling," and a flood of tears dropped -on the sheet of paper. "It is as though she was -speaking to me!" she whispered, kissing the lines. -And indeed a great stillness held the room as though -each of those in it felt, too, the spirit of Renée's -young mother among them!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Forrester, her eyes still dim with tears, -spread out the other papers and she and Mrs. Lee -and Aunt Pen fell to examining them, while Renée -watched, feeling as though it was all a dream.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They found an old journal whose contents -explained how John LaDue, who before his -marriage with Amy Forrester had been John Tellers, -had gone with his young bride to Paris where they -had taken the name of LaDue. Living as they did -in simple obscurity, and because John Tellers had -been born and brought up among the French-speaking -people of New Orleans, it was very easy for them -to pass as a young French sculptor and his wife. -And the friends they made were other young artists, -struggling along like themselves, who could know -nothing about the proud, unhappy woman who was -traveling all over the world, seeking her daughter!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The journal stopped abruptly at the record of -Renée's birth. Renée remembered Susette telling her -that it was when she had been a tiny baby that her -father had become totally blind and they had moved -to St. Cloud that he might have the benefit of the -pure air and the sunshine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen discovered a package of papers that -proved to be United States government bonds. They -had been given to Renée's mother on her twentieth -birthday, six months before her marriage. They -had not been touched. Penelope exclaimed:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A small fortune! And they are Renée's!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Many thoughts were shaping in poor Renée's -sadly bewildered little head. She had now, what -Peggy always called "folks"--a grandmother and -Elsbeth; even though it was an ugly old house she'd -have a real, real home all of her own! She would -</span><em class="italics">not</em><span> have to go to the mountain place with her -guardian and the strange French soldier! And yet that -disturbed her a little. Emile had, in a way, given -her into the guardian's keeping and not to a strange -old woman! So, even though belonging to so many, -Renée felt torn and unhappy. And she looked almost -scornfully at the packet which Aunt Pen held up as -though precious--how </span><em class="italics">could</em><span> just plain papers like -that be a fortune!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Forrester, who looked less and less like a -sick woman, commenced to slowly gather up the -papers and place them back neatly in the leather box. -When she shut down the lid she turned to Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thank God that He has shown me His mercy! -I have not deserved to find my darling. But I have -been punished! No one knows how I have suffered! -And maybe, even now, I am not fit to have you. I -am an ugly old woman who has cast everything -beautiful out of her life! Perhaps I have no right to -keep you! You have good friends--go back to -them, only keep in your heart a kind thought for an -old woman----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I'll </span><em class="italics">stay</em><span>--I'd rather!" and Renée was quite -startled that she could decide so quickly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You mean it? Oh, my baby--my pretty -flower!" Then a sudden resolution lighted the old -woman's face. "It will be as though that motherhood -I sacrificed by my wicked pride was given back -to me! Oh, I </span><em class="italics">know</em><span> how wicked and wrong I was -and how I wanted for my precious one only the -things that my own pride clamored for! But you -shall not stay now--my pretty flower would wither -and fade in these ugly walls. I am well, again--and -Elsbeth and I will clean out this place! It shall be -made bright and pretty for my little one! You must -go now, back with your good friends, then after a -little----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Every one thought that was best. Elsbeth came -in with a tray of sandwiches and some cocoa. Every -one was hungry because the dinner hour was long -past and, in the excitement, had been forgotten. And -as they ate, Mrs. Forrester, like a new creature, began -energetically to give Elsbeth orders as to what she -must do on the morrow to begin the work of transforming -the ugly old house into a beautiful home for -her "pretty flower."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then, one by one, they said good-night to -Mrs. Forrester, and Renée, leaning over, kissed her and -whispered shyly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-night, grandmother! Very soon I will -come back--to stay."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="surprises"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">SURPRISES</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Dinner is served, Miss Pat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, Aunt Pen and Renée are not here," cried -Pat, looking up from a book.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Miss Everett said that dinner should not wait! -It is a quarter past seven."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But my father----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Everett is dining out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I never!" Pat threw down her book -crossly. Drawing herself to her full height, she -stalked down the length of the room on into the -dining-room, where, at the end of the long table, -alight with the sparkle of silver, glass and china, -one lonely place had been set.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She wanted very much to throw a plate at Jasper -who was biting his lip to keep from laughing at her -aggrieved air. Instead she tossed her head higher -and, in her haughtiest manner, ordered:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jasper, will you see at once what Melodia has -made for dessert and, </span><em class="italics">whatever</em><span> it is, tell her that I -want two extra big helpings!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">So there!</em><span>" she muttered to his retreating back -and felt much better!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat had really had a very bad afternoon. She -had not liked one bit having Renée rush away in the -midst of all their fun fixing their costumes! She -had helped Renée and Renée had left her to fix -her own. She had felt decidedly aggrieved. Of -course she was sorry for the sick old lady, but didn't -Renée love her more than anyone else? Or didn't she?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When a little girl begins to ponder in such a -fashion she can soon work herself into a sad state -of blues. That was what Pat did! So that when -Aunt Pen returned with a feather duster made of -the biggest, brightest feathers that had ever grown -to grace a young Indian princess, Pat didn't care -whether or not she even went to Keineth's party!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the climax of her unhappiness was reached -after Mrs. Lee rushed in with the story of the locket -and the key. Aunt Pen and Pat had listened with -eyes wide with astonishment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, it's </span><em class="italics">just</em><span> like a fairy story!" Pat had cried.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dear Renée! It will mean a home of her own -for the child! I will get the box at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat was startled--a home of Renée's own! She -had felt that they might coax the soldier-guardian to -leave Renée with them forever and ever, but here -was a new and much stronger claim! A real -grandmother--even if it was a terrible old lady who had -had a mystery!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen came back wearing her coat and hat. -Pat jumped to her feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wait for me, Aunt Pen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, no, my dear! Too many of us may embarrass -Mrs. Forrester! You must stay here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"As if </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> hadn't found Renée in the first place," -thought Pat resentfully as they went away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Even the thought that the mystery of the "lost -baby" had been solved--and solved in such an -amazing way, brought no comfort--rather a sense of -envy! All the others had had </span><em class="italics">such</em><span> exciting things -happen to them! Sheila had had the lost formulas. -And now Renée had the excitement of finding a -grandmother! Nothing at all ever happened to her! -To console herself she scornfully tore to bits the -first four chapters of her story. She'd never try to -be a famous author--she'd just grow up and do -silly things like Celia always did--they were fun, -anyway! And Aunt Pen and Renée, when they -realized that she was never, never going to write any -more stories, would feel </span><em class="italics">very</em><span> sorry!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was Pat's state of mind when she sat down -to eat her lonely dinner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the doorbell rang. Pat heard a man's voice -talking to Jasper. She heard Jasper step toward the -library. She was immensely curious--for even a -very unhappy person can be curious! Daddy was -not at home--it was too early in the evening for -callers--who could it be? She pushed her chair back -and tip-toed toward the hall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>An hour later Aunt Pen and Renée, returning -home, were met at the door by a wildly-excited Pat. -Her blues had disappeared like magic--the expression -of her face, every motion of her body indicated -that she had a secret! She held her fingers to her -lips to forbid a sound. Then seizing them both by -the elbows she whispered into their amazed ears:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, the </span><em class="italics">bestest, grandest</em><span> surprise you ever, </span><em class="italics">ever</em><span> -knew!" And Pat danced up and down and giggled -deep in her throat to make them know that -grandmothers and lost babies were as nothing compared -to the surprise she had for them within the house!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pat Everett, are you </span><em class="italics">crazy</em><span>?" whispered Aunt -Pen back. "Aren't you going to let us in?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course!" answered Pat with importance. -"You may walk in and go at </span><em class="italics">once</em><span> into the library! -But you must shut your eyes </span><em class="italics">tight</em><span> and promise not -to peek until I count----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's your mother!" declared Penelope, eagerly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nopey--it's a bigger surprise than that! No -fair guessing, only you couldn't anyway! Now come -in and shut your eyes!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So they had to do just what Pat told them to do! -And Pat, happier than she had ever been in her life, -dancing rather than stepping, led them into the -library. She had no chance to count--a sudden, -quick exclamation made them both open their eyes!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For some one had said: "Pen--Everett!" But -Renée's sharp cry drowned out the sound. She saw, -standing a little behind Capt. Allan, thin in his shabby -French uniform, the empty sleeve pinned to his tunic, -Emile--her beloved Emile!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In an instant she was in the tight clasp of his -arm--they were both crying--poor little Renée's -heart could stand no more! And as she clung to -him her fingers were feeling across his face and -through his hair and over the cloth of his uniform -as though to tell her it was </span><em class="italics">not</em><span> a dream but </span><em class="italics">true</em><span>!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat was so happy for Renée that she found her -own eyes wet and turned away to keep back the tears. -And there was Aunt Pen, the color of a red poppy, -slipping out of Capt. Allan's arm!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I might have known, Miss Pat, that you and I -were old friends--because I used to think I had a -sort of solid claim on this aunt of yours--only I -didn't know she was your aunt!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a triumphant look Pat tried to tell Aunt -Pen that she had guessed it all a long time ago but -Aunt Pen, as radiant as a school girl, was beaming -upon Capt. Allan and Capt. Allan was shaking Pat's -hands as though he had to do something violent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Aunt Pen went to Renée and kissed Emile--for, -in spite of the deep lines that his suffering had -carved on his face--he looked like a boy!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is just as though God was working miracles," -she whispered to Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was so much to tell that no one knew -just where to begin! They all knew, now, that -Capt. Allan's French soldier, whom he had found in the -old peasant's cottage, was Emile. Then Emile, still -holding Renée in the circle of his arm as though -he could not bear to let her go for one little moment, -told how he and the private who had been left by the -scouting party, had had to separate in order to get -back to their line.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I had a presentiment that I was going to be -killed--I gave him my wallet with all my papers and -the sketches I had made. That was why they thought -it was I who had been killed!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No one wanted to spoil the joy of the evening -by asking Emile to tell of his experiences in the -German prison. It was enough that he was there -with Renée once more--in America! Everyone's -eyes were very bright and every now and then everyone -was very still, as though the happiness was too -great to be spoken in mere words!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Mr. Everett came in and the surprise was a -surprise all over again, and Pat, because it had been -her surprise, was allowed to tell him all about it. -He shook hands very warmly with Capt. Allan and -Emile, and laid his arm tenderly over the boy's -shoulder as though to express things he could not say!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They laughed at Capt. Allan because they caught -him so often staring at Renée!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What </span><em class="italics">have</em><span> you done to her? It's hard to -believe she's the same little girl I picked up at -St. Cloud!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's Penelope's work," answered Mr. Everett; -"she's been doing some experimenting!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée, indeed, was a different child. She had -grown taller, sturdier, her face had lost its delicacy -of line and color; now she had, too, in her step and -look the spirit and vigor that only healthy, happy -living can give.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly Aunt Pen exclaimed: "Goodness me, -Renée, we've forgotten to tell about----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">The Lost Baby!</em><span>" cried Pat</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So there were new surprises all around! It -seemed more like a fairy story than ever--to find, -in a few hours, a grandmother and a brother! Emile -was deeply interested; he listened gravely. He knew -perhaps more of his mother's sacrifices and hardships -than Renée had known; for a moment, deep in his -heart, he found it hard to feel kindly toward the -proud woman who had made his mother unhappy. -Then as Aunt Pen described her lonely life in the -old house, the dreary days shut in with her grief and -her remorse, just as Renée had, he felt a wave of -tenderness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She is going to begin right away making the -old house bright and pretty and nice to live in! -And think how happy she'll be to know Emile has -come back!" cried Renée.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it looks as though </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> was the one who had -lost out all around," broke in Capt. Allan, although -he did not look one bit unhappy as he said it. In fact, -his eyes were fastened on Aunt Pen's face with a sort -of eager questioning in them that kept the blushes -coming and going on her cheeks. "I thought I had -gotten together a nice little family! However, I shall -go on with my plan of fixing up that old place in the -mountains and maybe, sometime, I can induce my -ward and her brother and her grandmother to make -a poor, lonely ex-guardian a visit!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And me!" put in Pat, eagerly, for she was -certain he was in earnest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And me!" laughed Aunt Pen with a look that -seemed to flash back an answer to Capt. Allan.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think you girlies had better go to -bed!" Mr. Everett had noticed that Renée's eyes were -looking very tired. She had had a most exciting -day. And on the morrow she must go again to the -grandmother's with Emile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat consented to go to bed only when Capt. Allan -and Emile promised to spend the night with them!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She and Renée whispered together for a long -time. Pat must hear just how Renée felt the moment -she knew the cross old lady was her </span><em class="italics">very own</em><span> grandmother!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't believe she'll be cross when she's happy," -confided Renée. "She laughed and it sounded real -jolly! And even Elsbeth looked different after that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And wasn't it </span><em class="italics">wonderful</em><span> to have a brother come back?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't mind his losing his arm," Renée whispered, -"for I love him so much I want to do things -for him and now he'll have to let me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Long after Renée had fallen asleep Pat lay wide -awake. There was so much to think about she was -sure she could not ever shut her eyes again. And -she could hear the steady murmur of voices -downstairs--she wished she knew what they were talking -about! Then a queer little disturbing thought -commenced to eat at her heart. Renée, alone in the -world, had been very close to her. She had seemed -to feel that, because she had found Renée, Renée -belonged to her--was something even closer than a -friend or a sister! And now Renée had suddenly -acquired a family and a home! As the tiny thought -grew bigger and bigger and into a real Fear she sat -up very straight and leaning across to Renée's bed, -shook her violently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ren! Ren!" and her voice rang tragically. -"Promise me, on your scout's honor, that you'll -</span><em class="italics">always</em><span> love me more'n--everybody--except Emile!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée thought she was dreaming but she promised -sleepily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course--I'll love you--more'n everybody--'cept -Emile--on my scout's honor!" and just as, on -that other night, months before, when Aunt Pen had -tip-toed into their room to see that the little stranger -was comfortable, they fell asleep, clasping hands.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-best-of-all"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE BEST OF ALL</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>To Pat it seemed as though everything exciting -was happening at once! For the next morning's -mail brought a letter from Mother saying that she -and Celia would start north in a day or two.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat and Renée had wakened very early. The -first thought in each mind was to know if it was all -true--that Emile had come back--or was it a dream?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Outside of their window a friendly robin was -trilling a gay song as though the joy of the spring-time -was bursting his proud little throat. Through -the window the sun shone with added brightness and -warmth and delicious earthy smells greeted the girls.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, isn't it just </span><em class="italics">grand</em><span> to be alive? Let's dress -fast and be the first ones down!" And Pat, because -the sun and the birds and the spring freshness made -her very happy, also burst into a gay snatch of song. -Aunt Pen and Capt. Allan were late for breakfast. -When the others had almost finished they came in -from a brisk walk through the park, with red cheeks -and amazing appetites.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen, dropping into the chair next to Pat, -slipped a roll of paper into her hand and whispered:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's something that belongs to you, Patsy! -I'm ashamed that I didn't return it before. But now -you can write the last verse!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat, immensely curious, peeped at the paper. It -was the lost ballad! And what </span><em class="italics">did</em><span> Aunt Pen mean -about the last verse? Both Aunt Pen and Capt. Allan -were looking at her with eyes full of laughter. -Pat felt her color creeping to her eyebrows and -crushed the innocent verses in her hand. But Aunt -Pen checked her rising indignation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Patsy, dear, I found 'The Secret Sorrow' on -the floor of the library one night after we had had a -pow-wow. I recognized the heroine--by a guilty -conscience, I guess--my hair is not exactly 'of raven -hue' or my eyes 'pellucid blue'! But I loved it, my -dear, and I tucked it away, for I couldn't bear to -have you write the sad ending that was coming! -</span><em class="italics">What</em><span> if you had made her thrust a steel dagger into -her breast! Or have had her leap from one of those -mighty crags over which the knight, her brother -hunted!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Capt. Allan had been furiously scribbling some -words on the back of an envelope. Now he looked -up, very seriously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will you forgive Aunt Pen if I write the last -verse for you?" he asked, and then, not waiting for -an answer, read with dramatic emphasis:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Back came the lover, wise and bold,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>To snatch his lady, grown cross and old,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>To a mountain cave he'll carry his prey,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>And there they'll be happy for ever and aye!"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Everyone laughed at Pat's disgust.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">I</em><span> think that's very silly and Aunt Pen </span><em class="italics">isn't</em><span> -cross and old a bit and----" she stopped suddenly. -"Do you mean that's </span><em class="italics">true</em><span>?" she demanded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Aunt Pen now who grew very red. But -she nodded and turned toward her brother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">We</em><span> have a surprise! A long time ago Will -and I were engaged--my last year in college! Then -we let foolish things come between us and we have -lost a good many years of happiness, but----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now we're going to make up for it!" put in -Capt. Allan. "And I won't be lonely in that place -in the mountains, after all!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Aunt Pen, I'm so glad!" and Pat threw -two strong young arms around Penelope's neck. -Everyone talked at once. Renée, looking at Emile -and then at the other happy faces about her, thought -that all the joy in the world must have crowded there -within the four walls of the sunny dining-room!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It'll be just as though we were really related," -she put in, shyly. "For I'll always feel that -Capt. Allan </span><em class="italics">is</em><span> my guardian and Emile belongs to me and -Pat belongs to Aunt Pen!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't leave </span><em class="italics">me</em><span> out, Mouse!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, no!" and Renée's contrition was tragic. -"For you are the very best man in the world and -belong to all of us!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat, who had been performing a sort of ceremonial -dance among them all, stopped in dismay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Aunt Pen, </span><em class="italics">what</em><span> about school?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then you will be sorry to lose your teacher, -Patsy? But it is almost the first of May and with a -little home study you girls can get along. Anyway, -mother will be here to decide what is best."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat's face was serious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am glad mother's coming home! And Celia, -too! But I </span><em class="italics">have</em><span> loved our school, Aunt Pen! You've -made me just like to study all sorts of things! When -mother comes I'm going to tease her to let us go -next fall to the Lincoln school with Peggy and -Sheila and the other girls--and then go to college."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aunt Pen nodded toward Pat's father. Pat, of -course, didn't know that she was trying to say: -"There--</span><em class="italics">that's</em><span> a real girl talking--who wants to be -of some service, some day, in this world!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Pat insisted that Capt. Allan tell them more -about the old house in the Adirondacks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Somehow, I can't imagine him keeping you up -there very long, Penelope," laughed her brother. -"He doesn't know you as well as I do!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Capt. Allan described to them the old rambling -house built half way up the wooded slope of Cobble -Mountain. From its many windows, he remembered, -a wonderful view could be had of a sweep of valley, -river and surrounding slopes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will has promised me that I may go on with -all my experiments and fads just the same! There'll -be lots of room there!" she retorted to her brother. -"And some day I shall turn Cobble House into a -school for girls."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Like </span><em class="italics">our</em><span> school, Aunt Pen?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, and I hope that all my girls there will -work as faithfully as you have, Pat!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I'll be the man-of-all-work around the -place and chief executioner, when you need one!" -declared Capt. Allan, mischievously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Everett shook hands gravely with his sister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All I say is success to you--my dear, whatever -you try to do!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There seemed to be so much to talk about that no -one wanted to break up the little circle. However, -the hands of the old clock over the fireplace were -climbing rapidly toward noon and Renée was eager -to take Emile to the grandmother's. Pat begged to -go, too. As they started away, Renée holding tightly -to Emile's hand, Aunt Pen, watching the boy, wiped -a suspicion of a tear from her eye.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Capt. Allan saw it and answered the thought that -was in her mind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's a brave boy and has a strong will--he'll -learn to do his work with his one arm! But before -anything else he must stay in the open until he has -built up his strength and wiped from his mind -forever the horror of all he has gone through!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old stone house did not look at all ugly and -gloomy in the bright morning sunshine! And for -Renée and Emile it took on a new interest--it was -to be their home! There were signs of life, too, -about the place. The windows had been opened -and from the back of the house came sounds of -vigorous beating. As they walked slowly up the -brick path Renée suddenly darted in among the wild -honeysuckle growing close on either side of the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Emile--</span><em class="italics">see</em><span>! A daffodil!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There it was--lifting its bright head through -the tangle of undergrowth as though it knew that -sunshine and happiness had come to the neglected -home! And there were more, too, and Renée, hunting -eagerly, found hundreds of tiny blades of bright -green grass and beyond a rose vine climbing toward -the old stone wall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, it </span><em class="italics">is</em><span> going to be nice!" she cried to Emile. -"We can have a garden like Susette's."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Emile, with the soul of an artist, was already -mentally transforming the entire house and garden. -It would be very pleasant to do nothing for awhile -but work out among the growing things with Renée! -Mrs. Forrester, eager to see again her "little -flower," had roused Elsbeth very early in the morning -that she might be in readiness. She had insisted -upon putting on her old black silk dress; she had -folded a soft net fichu around her neck and had -fastened it with a lavender ribbon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now </span><em class="italics">don't</em><span> stand and stare at me like that -silly," she had rebuked the old servant. "Can't you -understand that I'm not sick any more? Watch -me!" and holding her head very high she walked -slowly across the room out into the hall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So it was in the living room they found her. -God had given back to her so much that she was not -even startled when Renée very simply told of -Emile's coming. She could not speak a word as she -reached up her arms to embrace the boy, for he -looked so much like his mother that it brought a -choking sob to her throat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And if in Emile's heart there had lingered any -hardness toward the grandmother it disappeared -when he saw her! She looked so little and fragile, -sitting in the big walnut chair, that it roused all the -chivalry in the boy's soul. He kissed her tenderly -on each wrinkled cheek.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Pat was introduced; Renée had to tell, too, -of finding the daffodils. Elsbeth, her face twisted -into a comical expression of bewilderment, listened -in the doorway, and from all parts of the house there -was a rumble of furniture and the tread of feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In a very little time this place will all be changed," -Mrs. Forrester said, patting Renée's hand. "We will -have flowers growing all around us--and we will be -very happy, we three!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a very busy day! Emile must be admitted -to the secrets of the Eyrie; he was shown the account -book of LaDue and Everett and some of Renée's -work. Then he had to hear the story of Paddy and -the lost formulas, of Sheila and Peggy and Garrett -and Hill-top, of Troop Six and the scout work, and -of Keineth and the coming party! Surely never in -the world did a tongue wag faster that Pat's nor -did eyes shine more brightly than Renée's as Emile -was made acquainted with all that had brought so -much happiness into her life during the past winter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Downstairs Aunt Pen, Capt. Allan and Daddy -were talking, too. Pat with her remarkable instinct -for sensing "when plans were in the making" -exclaimed, as she entered the room:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Daddy Everett, you look </span><em class="italics">just</em><span> as though you had -a secret!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her Daddy assumed a very important air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have! I have a surprise! You've all had one -but me! And I am sure you will think that </span><em class="italics">mine</em><span> -is best of all! And I thought of it all myself!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, what </span><em class="italics">is</em><span> it? If much more happens I'll be -walking on my </span><em class="italics">head</em><span>! What </span><em class="italics">can</em><span> it be!" Pat looked -from one to another. "Aunt Pen, you're giggling -so silly I believe it's something about your wedding! -It is! </span><em class="italics">It is</em><span>! May Ren and I be bridesmaids, Aunt -Pen, and wear gauzy dresses and big hats and carry -bouquets?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're warm, Pat!" teased her father.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Please</em><span>, Aunt Pen!" implored Pat in an agony -of curiosity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother has suggested in a note to me that your -Aunt Pen and I bring you and Renée to Atlantic City -and meet them there----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But </span><em class="italics">I'm</em><span> determined to make Aunt Pen marry -me right away, you see; I can't even wait for gauzy -hats and big dresses--we've wasted so much -happiness, already!" cut in Capt. Allan.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> said let's </span><em class="italics">all</em><span> go and meet Mother, and we -can have the wedding down there where the breaking -waves dash high----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, </span><em class="italics">Daddy, Daddy</em><span>, that's the </span><em class="italics">bestest, grandest</em><span> -surprise of all! A </span><em class="italics">wedding</em><span> in Atlantic City! Only -the waves can't dash very high--'cause there's no -stern and rock-bound coast--only sand! But we'll -trim the room with flowers----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you and Renée </span><em class="italics">shall</em><span> be my bridesmaids, no -matter what dresses you wear!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And Emile shall be my best man!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And, oh, </span><em class="italics">won't</em><span> mother and Celia be surprised? -You see </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> had guessed all about Capt. Allan because -Aunt Pen acted so funny when we spoke of him, -but Mother doesn't know a single thing! Was there -ever such a nice, jolly wedding planned before?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Renée's face was a little clouded. It would be -wonderful to go to the sea, but ought she and Emile -to leave the little grandmother?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless you, she shall come, too! Ocean air will -finish up the good work that her happiness has -started! I can't have my plan spoiled--not even if -we have to charter a whole train!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pat wanted to begin packing immediately.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When will we go, Daddy?" she cried.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Day after to-morrow," he answered with the -promptness of decision that was characteristic.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm glad that you give me </span><em class="italics">that</em><span> much time! -I'll have to get 'something old and something new, -something borrowed and something blue,'" laughed -the bride-to-be.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And we can go to Keineth's party and tell them -all about it!" Pat was silent for a moment. Then -going to her Daddy she laid her cheek coaxingly -against his arm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Daddy, as long as there are so many going--and -weddings are jollier when there are a lot of -people--can't we take Sheila, too? She's never been -any further from the city than Hill-top and she's -always so contented and happy and's never teasing -for things the way I am! Just </span><em class="italics">think</em><span> how she'd look -when she saw the ocean! I have so much more fun -than she does, Daddy, I'd just as soon stay home -if she could go in my place!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Pat, thinking how Sheila's face </span><em class="italics">would</em><span> look -when she first beheld the great sweep of deep, blue -sea, was very much in earnest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Everett patted the pleading face. He did -not smile for he had been deeply touched by Pat's -generosity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, daughter, Sheila shall go, too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Daddy, you </span><em class="italics">are</em><span> the best daddy in the -world! Let's run straight over and tell her, Ren! -</span><em class="italics">Think</em><span> how happy she'll be!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From the library window Aunt Pen and Mr. Everett -watched the two girls, arms interlocked, -swing down the walk that led from the Everett house -to the street. There was pride in Aunt Pen's face -as she watched. Her girls had learned generosity -and unselfishness as well as Latin and Algebra! -And they had found, too, the joy of fellowship! -They were hurrying now to share their happiness!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Everett was thinking the same thoughts as -his sister, but looking slyly at her from the corner -of his eye, he repeated teasingly:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Silver bells and cockle shells----"</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Aunt Pen laughingly interrupted: "And larkspur -all in a row! But won't this world's garden be -richer and more beautiful for healthy, happy girls like -ours, Daddy Everett?"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">THE SUNNY BOY SERIES</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">By RAMY ALLISON WHITE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Children! Meet Sunny Boy, a little fellow with big eyes -and an inquiring disposition who finds the world at large -a wonderful place to live in. There is always something -doing when Sunny Boy is around.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the first book of the series he visits his grandfather -in the country and learns of many marvelous things on a -farm, and in the other books listed below he has many -exciting adventures which every child will enjoy reading -about.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>SUNNY BOY IN THE COUNTRY -<br />SUNNY BOY AT THE SEASHORE -<br />SUNNY BOY IN THE BIG CITY -<br />SUNNY BOY IN SCHOOL AND OUT -<br />SUNNY BOY AND HIS SCHOOLMATES -<br />SONNY BOY AND HIS GAMES -<br />SUNNY BOY IN THE FAR WEST -<br />SUNNY BOY ON THE OCEAN -<br />SUNNY BOY WITH THE CIRCUS -<br />SUNNY BOY AND HIS BIG DOG -<br />SUNNY BOY IN THE SNOW -<br />SUNNY BOY AT WILLOW FARM -<br />SUNNY BOY AND HIS CAVE -<br />SUNNY BOY AT RAINBOW LAKE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold medium">GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 6em"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="backmatter"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="pg-end-line"><span>*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>LARKSPUR</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="cleardoublepage"> -</div> -<div class="language-en level-2 pgfooter section" id="a-word-from-project-gutenberg" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<span id="pg-footer"></span><h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span>A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h2> -<p class="pfirst"><span>We will update this book if we find any errors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This book can be found under: </span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49098"><span>http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49098</span></a></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. -Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this -license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works to protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and -trademark. 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