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diff --git a/old/51692-0.txt b/old/51692-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 74ddbdc..0000000 --- a/old/51692-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7023 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Ann Crosses a Secret Trail, by Harriet Pyne Grove - -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 Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. 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. - -Title: Ann Crosses a Secret Trail - Ann Sterling Series #4 - -Author: Harriet Pyne Grove - -Release Date: April 8, 2016 [EBook #51692] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANN CROSSES A SECRET TRAIL *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: It was cool enough for a wrap on deck. - - (_Page 212_) (“_Ann Crosses a Secret Trail_”)] - - - - -ANN CROSSES A SECRET TRAIL - -By HARRIET PYNE GROVE - - AUTHOR OF - “Ann Sterling,” “The Courage of Ann,” “Ann and the - Jolly Six,” “The Greycliff Girls Series,” etc. - - [Illustration] - - A. L. BURT COMPANY - - Publishers New York - -Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -ANN STERLING SERIES - - A SERIES FOR GIRLS 12 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE - By HARRIET PYNE GROVE - - ANN STERLING - THE COURAGE OF ANN - ANN AND THE JOLLY SIX - ANN CROSSES A SECRET TRAIL - -Copyright, 1926 - -By A. L. BURT COMPANY - -ANN CROSSES A SECRET TRAIL - -Made in “U. S. A.” - - - - -Ann Crosses A Secret Trail - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE SURFACE - - -After the members of the Jolly Six had departed from Sterling Ranch -for their respective homes, Ann Sterling suffered the usual reaction. -It had been “such a wonderful house party,” she told her mother. The -presence of her aunt at the ranch depressed Ann, though after talking -matters over with her father, she decided once more not to worry. -Little things, however, irritated her, and she had to force herself to -be polite and kind and not to let it seem that she avoided her aunt. -This was the easier to manage because Suzanne was there. She and her -cousin enjoyed a few quiet visits with Marjorie and Clifford Hart and -rode out somewhere every morning, for the good of themselves and their -horses. Kendall Gordon, Clifford’s college friend, had gone and the -other boys were making up for lost time on the summer’s work, though -Herman Olson once brought his sister Hilda, who had been away all -summer and had not seen Ann at all. - -The beautiful little lodge among the peaks, Ann’s “very own,” was -visited once more before Suzanne went East with her mother. Mr. -Sterling risked his new car, to take Madam LeRoy and Mrs. Tyson there, -with Ann, Suzanne and Mrs. Sterling. They drove very slowly, reaching -the lodge without accident; but Madam LeRoy insisted that the slow -pace was for the sake of the car, not for her, “though I can enjoy the -scenery twice as well because of it,” she said. “I do not wonder, Ann,” -she added, “that you love your mountains.” - -Mrs. Tyson frequently asked her mother if the altitude affected her, -though the elevation was not particularly great at “Sterling Heights.” -But they heard no more from her about “Mother’s mind failing,” and as -Madam LeRoy openly expressed her irritation at being warned about her -heart, Aunt Sue desisted. On the surface, everything was pleasant and -happy. - -Ann’s grandmother walked about with Ann and Suzanne, admiring the -falls, the rushing river, the emerald lake, the peaks with their snow, -and the floating clouds. “I am glad that I decided to come up,” she -said. “I would not have missed this beautiful picture, to take back -East with me. Then, girls, if you are here some time without me, as you -will be, of course, I shall know how to imagine what you are doing.” - -“And it will be much more delightful, Grandmother, since you have been -here,” promptly spoke Ann. “We shall have you to associate with all -this. By the way, Grandmother, we want your picture, too.” - -On the porch, with the background of the logs; on the lake shore, with -a background of peaks and clouds; in various nooks among the trees, the -girls snapped not only Madam LeRoy, but the rest of the family, alone -or in groups. “These are for my family album,” laughed Ann. “I’m going -to have a special album for Sterling Heights Lodge.” - -“Is that what you are going to call it?” inquired Mr. Sterling. - -“I think so, though I may change my mind again. I wish that I could put -the beauty of the place into a name that would be appropriate.” - -Madam LeRoy thought of several more improvements that she asked the -privilege of helping to make another season, talking with Mrs. Ault, -who promised to take care of the rugs and furniture, making things snug -for the winter before she and Mr. Ault left the place. The Sterling -party stayed over one night only. - -Then, “at last,” Nancy said to Ann privately, as Mrs. Tyson, Suzanne, -Felice and the chauffeur rolled away in the Tyson car, intending to -pick up Maurice Tyson further East, when he should leave the young men -with whom he was camping. - -Everybody, including Grandmother, drew a sigh of relief. There would -be no more living on the surface, trying not to express what they felt. -There would be no more listening to little poisoned barbs of speech -implying criticism, expressing a feigned anxiety about Madam LeRoy, in -the guise of virtue and devotion. - -Rita came right out one day soon after the departure and asked Ann what -she thought of her aunt. “Nothing here suited her,” said Rita. “You -could feel how superior she felt to us all. You would have thought that -your mother had kidnaped your grandmother by the way she shook her -head to me once and said that they ran a terrible risk by bringing her -mother away from the sanitarium where she put her. - -“I spoke right up and said, ‘From what I hear there are others that -have taken worse risks than that in regard to their mother.’ Of course -I meant her, and I went right out of the room with my dust cloth, for -fear I might say something else. Nancy told me a lot, you see, and I -thought I’d better ask you if it was true.” - -“What Nancy told you is probably true in the main, though I suppose -that there is a lot of gossip among Grandmother’s servants that may not -be true.” - -“She,--I mean Mrs. Tyson--was not going to let you folks have her -mother and her mother’s money, I suppose. That is what Nancy said. But -it was a queer performance, in my opinion, to come right here, after -what Nancy says she has done to your mother. It put you in a funny -position, too. You couldn’t turn her out, though I think, myself, that -that’s what ought to have been done!” - -“We couldn’t do that, Rita,” laughed Ann. “People can’t act like -‘fish-wives’ in a fight. Can you imagine Mother’s doing anything of the -sort?” - -“Indeed I could not! And to be taken advantage of that way! If anything -happens, we know what we know out here about the Sterling family!” - -“I hope that it’s good, Rita.” - -“It most certainly is!” - -“Nothing is going to ‘happen,’ Rita. Grandmother knows us by this time. -But you see, Rita, Aunt Sue is Grandmother’s daughter and Mother’s own -sister. So it would make Mother feel bad to have any gossip about it -out here.” - -“You are right, Ann, and you need not warn me. I’ll not say a word -outside of the family. And yet, Ann, Mrs. Tyson can’t say and do the -things she does and have it all kept a secret!” - -“I suppose not,” thoughtfully said Ann. - -“We all liked that boy of hers, though, who stopped here on his way to -your place in the mountains. My, but he is a handsome chap, and with -such pleasant ways! Suzanne, too, is a pretty girl and pleasant for the -way she’s been spoiled.” - -Ann supposed that the spoiling of Suzanne had also been revealed by -Nancy, from whom Rita had had so much information about the LeRoy -establishment in the East. - -It was characteristic of Mrs. Sterling’s reserve that she had not told -Ann what took place when her sister first made her appearance at the -ranch. “What did you say to her, Daddy?” Ann had asked her father, -but her father passed the matter over lightly. “Very politely, Ann,” -he replied, “I said to her frankly what your mother could not say, in -regard to the openness of future relations and our regret that things -had been misrepresented in the past, with the hope that such methods -would not be used again. Then I made her welcome at the ranch and got -out as quickly as I could!” - - * * * * * - -Time was all too short for all that had to be done before Ann started -in on her sophomore year at school. Mrs. Sterling was tired with the -strain which she had been under while her sister was there. “Never -mind, Ann,” she said. “Leave all the traps that need mending behind. -Perhaps we’ll have more time another summer. Your frocks are in pretty -good condition and we shall have time to buy what is necessary in the -East before school begins.” - -“Am I going with you to Grandmother’s before school begins?” Ann -joyously asked. - -“Indeed you are. I would not appear there without you for anything,” -her mother replied with a whimsical smile. “I need your courage to -sustain me, little daughter, since your father is not going East with -us. Just think, Ann, how many years it has been!” Mrs. Sterling looked -away toward the distant mountains with a sad expression. - -“See here, Mother, you are to be happy, not sad, to think about going -back. Suppose Aunt Sue is there to spoil it a little. She hasn’t a bit -more right there than you. I’m afraid that you have what Katherine -says her father calls an ‘inferiority complex,’ when you think of your -older sister. Don’t let her browbeat you, little mudder! She thinks -that she is always right, or pretends to think it, and wants to run the -universe. I believe that you _do_ need your little old Ann to keep up -your spirits!” - -“Indeed I do, ‘Gentle Hands,’ but I am not without some spirit, my -little daughter. Nobody there shall know what I feel.” - -“Good. And don’t feel that you are ‘company’ there, Mother. Since Aunt -Sue runs it all, I have always felt that way, but now it seems as if -things ought to be different, don’t you think so?” - -“We shall be Mother’s guests, of course. Yet, Ann, things cannot be -changed all in a minute,--even if my mother were a younger woman, you -know, able to take charge of a big establishment like that. I shall -most certainly not place myself in opposition to my sister in regard -to household affairs. They are not of enough importance. Mother is -thinking matters over. Unless your Aunt Sue persists in making trouble, -and I think that she has had a lesson in that respect, there will -be little change, unless it is as regards financial affairs. Mother -intends to look into that, she says. If they are not straight, it may -make a difference.” - -“I see,” said Ann. “Whatever happens, Mother, you can count on me -not to embarrass you by making any trouble. I’ll be peaceful unless -attacked!” Ann was laughing now. - -“No aggressive warfare?” - -“Exactly, Mother, and yet I am ready to defend you and Grandmother to -the last gasp!” - -“My Montana heroine!” laughed her mother, falling into Ann’s -melodramatic mood. “Very good. I told you that I would not go without -you, you see.” - - - - -CHAPTER II - -WHISK!--NEW ENGLAND AGAIN - - -How differently Ann felt this time as she approached the now dear home -of her Grandmother on her trip from the West, no one but Ann herself -could have told. Then, the mystery of her Grandmother’s attitude toward -her mother was to be solved; now, her mother and grandmother were with -her, peacefully talking of their plan to go South after Christmas, her -mother showing nothing of any strong feeling which may have at times -possessed her when she thought of it all. Then, Ann was wondering who -would meet her, how her aunt’s family would regard her; now, she was -returning and would count upon a warm welcome from Roy and Madge, -Maurice, Suzanne, and perhaps her Uncle Tyson, though she was not sure -but he might consider her responsible for any new attitude of her -grandmother in respect to finances. Uncle Tyson was next to the throne, -thought Ann, the throne as expressed in Aunt Sue. - -Ann was eager to have her mother once inside of the old home and -watched her lovingly from time to time. - -“No,” her grandmother was saying, “I was not interested in Sue’s plan -to go abroad. I do not want to go myself, and I did not feel like -sacrificing myself this time, probably financing the whole thing. It -will be much better to have a Christmas reunion here, if William can -come on from Montana, as we hope; then we can spend the rest of the -season in Florida. I have not been there for years.” - -Ann wondered who would go, the older folks, of course, with, perhaps, -Madge and Roy. - -“What do you think of the place?” asked Madam LeRoy, as the chauffeur -drove them into the drive. - -“Beautiful,” said Mrs. Sterling, a smile on her face, as she looked -at the familiar grounds, changed a little, to be sure, but the same, -with the great trees, the old lilac and syringa bushes, the flower -beds in much the same places. “There is more shrubbery and some of the -young trees have grown into large ones,” Mrs. Sterling continued. “But -there is the old arbor,--oh, it is good to see it again, Mother!” Mrs. -Sterling’s eyes filled as she looked, and without apology she drew out -her dainty handkerchief to wipe them. - -Madam LeRoy looked at her daughter with some tenderness. “All this -absence and misunderstanding was needless. I hope that I may remember -that, to keep me strong enough in dealing with Sue.” This she said in a -low tone, not to be overheard by the chauffeur. - -Mrs. Tyson had had the good taste not to go to the station to meet -them, nor was she outside, nor in the hall. A beaming Munson was at -the door with a man and a maid or two to take the luggage and orders -from the travelers. “Mrs. Tyson was called to the village, Madam,” said -Munson, “on a matter of business. She left her apologies and said that -she would be back before dinner.” - -“Thank you. You may send Rose to me, please. I left Nancy at her -friend’s in the village. Attend to her baggage, also, and did you see -to engaging a maid for Mrs. Sterling?” - -So Grandmother was going to have a maid for Mother, too! Would wonders -never cease! Ann looked on with interest, while the butler indicated -one of the maids at hand as the one recently engaged for Mrs. Sterling. -If Mrs. Sterling were as surprised as Ann, she did not show it, and -after all, it is not so difficult to fall into ways to which you have -once been accustomed. - -Everything was done in a matter of fact way, quiet, rather formal, yet -Ann was conscious of a new feeling and atmosphere, of approval in the -glances directed toward her pretty mother, so sweet, so dear, as Ann -thought. Then there came an interruption. Roy, unabashed, slid straight -down the stairs upon the “sacred bannister,” as Ann said afterward. - -“Hello, Gramma! Awful glad to see you back. It’s been a terribly long -time,--and Ann, I howled and yelled when I found out that they had gone -and started for Montana without me! Old Maurice, too!” - -Ann wondered if Roy were in for a rebuke from Madam LeRoy, but none was -forthcoming. She bent over the little boy to kiss him. “Glad to see -‘Gramma’ back, are you, dear? Well, that is good. Gramma is glad to see -you, too. And I have a real wild West suit for you in my trunk.” - -“Oh, goody! You’re a good sport, Gramma,” he added, to the horror -of Munson. But Madam LeRoy only laughed. “As soon as the trunks are -brought up, Roy, come to my room. I have to rest and get ready for -dinner now.” - -“All right. I’ll watch for the trunks.” - -Rose, who had given Ann a welcoming smile, in remembrance of one trying -day when she had served Ann to a lunch, eaten in worried loneliness, so -far as the family was concerned, respectfully followed the travelers -upstairs and showed Mrs. Sterling, with her new maid, the room that was -to be hers. It was next to Ann’s, who was told that her mother’s maid -would also serve her. “I’ll not be much bother to you, Adeline,” said -Ann. “Take good care of Mother, for she is worn out.” - -This was luxury. Her own room, her own bath, a maid when she needed -one,--and Mother next door! “I wonder,” thought Ann, “if it is the -room she used to have.” It was, as Ann found a little later. - -Suzanne was away with Madeline for a week end visit in Boston, it -seemed. Maurice had driven his mother to the village. Madge, thinner -than ever, and much taller, waited for Ann, sitting outside her door, -as Ann found when she started out after dressing. “Why, Madge, dear -child! Why didn’t you knock?” - -“I promised I wouldn’t. But I was going to be right here, just the -same!” - -Ann embraced the child and accompanied her, down the stairs and out -to the lawn, where they wandered around the walks a little while, -Madge picking a few flowers for Ann. “You have grown so, Madge,” said -the surprised Ann. “I have not seen you, though, for almost a year. I -missed seeing you at the spring vacation.” - -“Yes; why didn’t you stay, then, Ann? Miss White said that she saw you -when you were leaving. Was it because Grandmother wasn’t here? Don’t -you care for the rest of us? I asked Mother about your coming, and -she wouldn’t tell. ‘Run along, Madge, and be a good girl,’ she said. -And then they went out to your ranch and did not take us! But then, -we ought to be used to that, I suppose. Mother does not like to be -bothered with us.” - -All Madge’s grievances came out at once. Ann’s quick sympathy went out -to the little girl who had so little real mothering. - -“There was a good reason for my not staying, Madge, that time I came -for such a short stay. Yes, I care a great deal for Grandmother, and -there was a reason why I had to see her, Madge; but I do care very much -for you and Roy and I was sorry not to see you. Some day, Madge, I hope -that you may come with me out West and see our ranch and the lovely -place in the mountains that my father gave me. But after all, it is -not good for little girls to travel so much. I could not when I was as -young as you are.” - -“Couldn’t you? But then I think that your mother stayed with you, -didn’t she?” - -“Yes. Mother and Father taught me my lessons.” - -Madge thought a little before she spoke. “Well, I’m rather glad that -Mother does not teach me. I suppose that she knows a lot, but we -couldn’t tease her the way we tease Miss White and our other teachers.” - -“It doesn’t seem to me, Madge, that it is a very good thing to tease -your governess. She can not teach you so much.” - -“Oh, it’s all so stupid anyhow. I learn more when I read in the library -the things I want to read.” - -Ann said nothing to this, realizing that Madge’s teaching must be poor -indeed, or Madge unusually hard to interest, if such were the case. - -As they walked along the hedge of shrubbery at the far side of the -lawn, Mrs. Tyson’s small car, Maurice driving, came in and up to the -manor. Maurice saw Ann, though she was at some distance from the drive, -and saluted as he swept by. Mrs. Tyson looked out and bowed, as Maurice -mentioned the fact that Ann was there. “So they came,” she said. - -“As they telegraphed they would,” dryly remarked her son. He opened the -door for his mother, assisted her out of the car and carried several -packages up the steps, handing them to the butler. Then he rapidly left -the verandah, crossed the lawn, and made his way to where Ann and his -little sister were standing. - -“I would have met you, Ann, if Mother had not insisted on my driving -her to the bank. This is fine--having you here again.” It was a -charming Maurice that met Ann without the familiarity that had -embarrassed her before, yet with a real warmth of feeling that Ann -enjoyed. He, at least, was glad to see her. Always clean and spotless -of attire, the fresh tints of youth were good to look upon in Maurice. -This was not the Maurice it seemed, that said goodbye with such daring -and impertinence upon the mountain heights! - -“We were well taken care of, Maurice. Yes, I am glad to be here again. -I love this place, and it seems different now that Mother is here, too.” - -“I am glad that she is,” soberly said Maurice. “I want to get -acquainted with my aunt Elizabeth. I see no reason why this should not -be a happy visit, do you, Ann?” - -Ann hesitated a moment. “Suppose that we try our best to make it so, -Maurice?” - -“It is a bargain. Madge, will you be good, too?” Maurice rumpled -Madge’s short locks with a brotherly hand. - -“Depends upon what you mean by being good. I find that the different -members of the family have different notions about that. If you mean by -my being good that I’m to let you and Ann visit, and go away, then I’m -not going to do it!” - -“Why Madge, do you think that your brother would be so impolite?” -mockingly said Maurice. But he let Madge put her two arms through his -and lean on him, as they strolled along, and Ann liked him for it. - -“Do you remember that night when you and Ann and Roy and I played -Go-Bang and things?” inquired Madge. - -“_Do_ I? How could I forget it? Do you remember it, Ann?” - -“Yes, indeed,” laughingly said Ann. “There was a game of hide and seek -on.” - -“Yes, and Maddy and Suzanne never found you either.” - -“No,” said Maurice. “But it would be safer if you would forget that, -Madge.” - -Madge looked at Maurice with understanding, when she replied, “I’ll not -mention it to the wrong people, Maury. But Suzanne is nicer than she -was. I don’t think that she is as crazy about Maddy, either.” - -“Is that so? Pretty good thing, then, don’t you think so?” - -“M-hm. Oh, bother,--there’s Miss White calling me!” - -Madge waited as long as she dared, then ran toward the house to join -her governess. - -“What have you been doing, Ann, since I saw you last?” asked Maurice. -They had reached the little arbor among the evergreens by that time -and Maurice flicked away some leaves and twigs from the seat with his -handkerchief. “Sit down a bit, sweet cousin,--‘Gentle Hands,’ is it?” - -“So Never-Run called me; but you could hardly accuse that old Indian of -sentiment, could you?” - -“It is not misplaced this time,” said Maurice, sitting down beside Ann -and leaning back against the lattice, hands over his head. “Is that a -new frock you have on?” - -“Same old one. I’ve had no time this summer to think of frocks.” - -“I don’t believe that you spend much time thinking of them anyhow.” - -“I wonder how I ought to take that, Maurice. A girl that doesn’t think -of them at all is likely to be what the girls call ‘dowdy,’ and a girl -that thinks about them too much is usually frivolous.” - -“You are neither dowdy nor frivolous, Ann, and have so many good looks -that you need never worry.” - -“Thanks, kind cousin,” said Ann rather laconically, “this is so good of -you! But what have you been doing yourself?” - -“You have not answered my question,” answered Maurice, “but I rather -got you off the subject by my remarks, so unresponsively received! Why, -I finished up the camping trip, joined Mother, came home and have hung -around more or less ever since. Oh, yes, I went down to New York with -Ron on his yacht, but we were not gone long.” - -“That must have been fun. You mean Ronald Bentley?” - -“Yes, none other.” - -“I liked Ronald, as well as Jack Hudson; but ‘Beano’ Bates!” - -Maurice laughed. “Oh, Beano is a pretty good scout. He hasn’t a lot of -brains, but he can spend his money.” Maurice looked teasingly at Ann. -He had not known Ann this long without learning how to provoke her. - -“A noble thing to like him for!” - -“Your ideals, my dear cousin, are a wonderful thing in this world of -get and grab, but they won’t work in every day life, I am afraid.” - -“Mine have worked so far, Maury.” - -“But you have never had to dig for the simoleons.” - -“Have you, that you know so much?” - -“I can’t say that I have, and frankly, sweet Ann, I don’t want to.” - -Ann was a pretty picture as she sat looking at Maurice, thoughtfully -considering what he was saying. - -“I can see, Maurice, that it must be terribly hard not to have what -makes one comfortable. And it would be awful to have somebody you -love working too hard, or not having the necessities, or even the -opportunities! But I just know, Maury, inside of me, that it doesn’t do -people any good to put so much stress on having a lot of money and--oh, -‘slashing around,’ as Rita says, and trying to live at the top notch, -better than anybody else.” - -“That is a fine theory, but how about yourself? Don’t you like pretty -clothes and traveling and having fun with the girls at school?” - -“Yes. And that is one trouble here, Maurice. I’m afraid that I’ll get -to liking to have a maid and not doing anything useful and wanting as -pretty things as Suzanne has and getting lazy about school work and -everything.” - -“That last remark has no ‘pussonal’ application, has it, Ann?” Maurice -was looking at Ann with amusement. - -“I wasn’t thinking of anybody but myself in making it, Maurice. But -you can’t believe how I hate to get to studying sometimes. Still, I’d -hate to fall behind the rest, so I guess pride will keep me going this -year, if nothing else does.” - -“Some have one sort of pride and some have another, Ann. If I ‘get by’ -at college, it’s enough for me. You haven’t any use for that kind of a -student, have you?” - -“I might be very _fond_ of one,” laughed Ann, “but I couldn’t admire -the attitude!” - -“Maybe I’ll turn over a new leaf this year, Ann, if I can, at this -late day. It _would_ be sort of a disgrace, wouldn’t it, if I found I -couldn’t get by?” - -“I’d be sorry for your father if you missed graduating.” - -“You wouldn’t care yourself, any?” - -“Certainly I would,” but Ann felt guilty at the thought of how little -interest she had taken the previous year in what Maurice did. He was a -kind, agreeable cousin, in a family where she was having a hard time; -that was all. - -“Ann, I have been wanting to apologize to you, ever since I came home, -for the way I embarrassed you in saying goodbye. We boys had been -kidding each other about different things and were in wild spirits, -more or less, and like an idiot I spoke impulsively, as usual, and -spoiled it all. What are you smiling at?” - -“The ‘as usual.’ But Maurice, I think it good of you to explain. It -did annoy me, more than you can imagine; but I concluded that you did -not mean to hurt me, for you have been lovely to me always. I haven’t -been holding it against you.” - -“I don’t believe that you would hold it against me, Ann, but I was -sorry,--not for what I said, but for the time and manner of it. And ‘as -usual’ did not refer to a habit of proposing to girls, which is what I -suppose you smiled at?” - -“You are too much of a mind reader, Maury,” laughed Ann. “I told you -then that you were crazy, and I still think it a crazy idea, suggested -by your mother, perhaps, as you said,----” - -“Mother did not suggest it, Ann,” Maurice quickly interrupted Ann. “It -was on the way out. I was expressing myself to Mother, in no uncertain -terms, on visiting your mother and father at the ranch. I told her that -I would have nothing to do with it, and that after certain things that -I knew about had happened, she would show a good deal of ‘nerve’ to -walk in on you there. - -“Mother was icy and cool, and told me what she thought of my opinion, -and went on, as she does, about not deserting her dear mother, who -needed her and all that! I may as well tell you, Ann, because you have -seen it. Mother has her fine points, but when it comes to putting it -over us children, as she used to, it simply can’t be done any more!” - -“Don’t, Maurice!” said Ann, her hand up to stop him, for well as she -knew what he said was true, she could not bear to have him say it. “She -is your mother, at least.” - -“One thing that I like about you, Ann, is that you are so sincere. I -can’t imagine your deliberately trying to deceive me.” - -“Thank you, Maury. I never will.” - -“You might think that because we are her children we will try the same -sort of thing. But some times it works the other way. Our Dad isn’t -happy,--you can tell that. He has talked to me, Ann. I’m not much for -him to be proud of, but I’m square, Ann; and since I smashed that car I -have tried to be easier on Dad.” - -Ann’s brows were knit as she listened. It was one thing to think what -she thought of Aunt Sue and matters among the Tysons, and another thing -to listen to Maurice tell about it. It jarred Ann’s feeling of fitness, -if nothing else. Maurice went on. - -“Not that I’m trying to make myself out anything but an extravagant -fellow. I like to have a good time all right. But I started to tell -you where you came into the conversation with Mother. When she started -talking about Grandmother, I let her ‘rave on,’ and then I declared -what I thought where you were concerned, that you had just as much -right as the rest of us to have a share in Grandmother’s affections -and money. It isn’t only the money, Ann, with Mother. She’s jealous. -I don’t know what started it (Ann could have told him) but that is -a fact. Then I said a few things about you and added that if you -were not my cousin I’d like to marry you some day. Mother took it up -too quickly! She said that the relationship between us need make no -difference, and that she thought it an excellent idea. I wanted to -clear up your notion that it was Mother’s first thought. Nobody can -help loving you, Ann. Look at Clifford Hart and that Gordon man, and -you should have heard Jack go on about you. That is why I wanted to get -a word in.” - -“Well, Maurice, if it is of any satisfaction to you to know it, I will -say,” laughed Ann, “that your amazing suggestion at the lodge was my -first proposal!” - -“It will not be the last, and that is why I wanted your promise.” - -“So you said. But Maury, look here. It is going to be ages before I get -out of school and finish what I am going to do. Why, Daddy and Mother -think that I am not anywhere near grown up yet. And I am going to be -one of the world’s greatest pianists and have to study and play six -hours a day, after a while, and go abroad and everything!” - -“Go abroad with me after we are married. You can do the whole thing -just as well then. Let’s see. I finish this year. Then I’ll get my -father to give me some sort of an easy job. I’ll tell you; I’ll handle -the foreign end of it. That is the very thing!” Maurice slapped his -hand upon his right knee with emphasis. “You will be through school, if -you must finish it, in two years, though that is too long,--I mean in -two years after I am out of school. By that time, with a fat check from -Grandmother, we ought to get along.” Maurice looked at Ann with what -Madeline would have found an irresistible smile, as he leaned forward, -in his earnestness, to take Ann’s hand. - -Ann patted her cousin’s hand with her free one, then withdrew both. -“You are looking too far ahead, Maurice. Neither of us knows a thing -about real love. It is going to worry me too much to think about this. -_Please_, Maury, don’t!” - -Maurice straightened up and leaned back against the lattice again. “Now -isn’t she flattering? The prospect is so terrible that she begins to -beg for mercy!” - -“Not that, Maury,--oh, what shall I say to you!” - -Maurice saw that he was really distressing Ann and like the gentleman -that he was he hastened to reassure her. “Well, Ann, if this really -worries you, I will not talk about it. You understand what I think, at -any rate. Think it over, but do _not_ let it spoil your good time. I’ll -not remind you of it for some time,--unless some one of the boys gets -too deeply interested in you. I’m glad that you are going to a girls’ -school, anyhow.” - -“Meanwhile, you will find the _right_ girl, Maurice.” - -Maurice smiled. “We’ll go back to the old cousinly relation, if you -like,” said he, “but I claim all the privileges of affection.” Rising, -he held out his hands to Ann, who put her own in them, letting him draw -her to her feet. Then he took her arm lightly and led her along the -walks again, approaching the house. They talked of other things, but -when Ann left Maurice at the foot of the stairs, he said. “Perhaps, -after all, I’m not too closely related.” - -“The proverbial infant, changed in its cradle?” laughed Ann. - -“Something like that, perhaps.” - -Ann did not think that Maurice had any such idea, but still, when she -entered the drawing room and found no one but her mother present, she -asked, “Isn’t Maurice Aunt Sue’s son?” - -“Certainly.” - -“And isn’t Aunt Sue your own sister?” - -“Of course; why?” - -“I was just wondering.” - -At this moment Madam LeRoy and her daughter, Mrs. Tyson, entered, and -with profuse apologies on the part of Aunt Sue, who had purposely -delayed, Mrs. Sterling was welcomed by her older sister. But the effect -had been the opposite to that which was intended. Elizabeth Sterling -was feeling very much at home in the familiar rooms of the old house. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -MADAM LEROY “AT HOME” - - -If Mrs. Tyson did not offer a particularly warm welcome to her sister, -upon her return after so many years to the old home, Madam LeRoy spared -no pains to show her pleasure at the presence of her younger daughter. -Her attitude was reflected in the deference shown by the servants and -in the interest of a few callers, notified by Madam LeRoy of Mrs. -Sterling’s presence. - -Perhaps Ann’s greatest interest, in spite of her claims at not being -“frivolous,” was in her mother’s pretty clothes, purchased, for the -most part, the previous spring, when she and Grandmother were away -together. But two or three gowns in the very latest style arrived for -Mrs. Sterling, who was both amused and pleased at Ann’s delight. “You -are the prettiest thing, Mother,” she said. “Why didn’t you give me -your eyes and hair and fairness? If Dad could only see you now.” - -This was one evening when Ann was watching her mother’s being arrayed -for dinner. Two former school-mates of her mother’s, who had married -and lived in the neighborhood, were to be dinner guests. The husbands, -too, were coming and Mrs. Sterling had been expressing her regret that -her own husband was so far away. “Never mind, Ann; your father will be -here for our first real ‘family reunion’ since our marriage.” - -“Yes, at Christmas time,” sighed Ann, “so far away!” - -“It is a long time,” said her mother soberly. “If it were not for -Mother, nothing could induce me to be separated so long. But this year -I must try to do what Mother wants and be with her, here and in the -South.” - -“Now, Mrs. Sterling, just a touch of rouge and you will be complete,” -said Adeline, giving a last pat to Mrs. Sterling’s hair, and looking -coaxingly down into Mrs. Sterling’s face. - -“Not at this late day, Adeline,” smiled Mrs. Sterling. “I have gotten -along thus far without paint and I think that I can make my appearance -without it. The Indians wear it sometimes, out where I came from.” - -“Just as you say, madam,” sighed Adeline, with regret. She saw nothing -amusing in being denied those final touches of “complexion,” as Ann -called it. But Mrs. Sterling’s face was so fine without it, that she -took some pride after all, in the results of her handiwork, and smiled -at the two, who went out into the hall and downstairs like two girls -together, arm in arm. - -“Isn’t it funny,” said Ann, “that Ronald Bentley’s mother should turn -out to be one of your old chums?” - -“Why ‘funny,’ Ann?” - -“Oh, I don’t know, only that I should know him pretty well and not know -about how intimate you and she used to be.” - -The Bentleys had arrived when Ann and her mother went into the long -and beautiful sun parlor, or glassed porch, which was a comparatively -recent addition to Madam LeRoy’s mansion. Prettily furnished, it was so -attractive that it was a favorite spot now for both family and guests. - -“Elizabeth LeRoy!” exclaimed Mrs. Bentley, warmly embracing Ann’s -mother. “How glad I am to see you after all these years. I hope that I -was not the one to stop writing.” - -“It was probably I, Grace,” said Mrs. Sterling, “for I was going about -and doing many things in those first years of my married life.” - -Mrs. Bentley was a sprightly little woman of about Mrs. Sterling’s age, -too thin for beauty, but with an expressive, interesting face. From -her it was evident, Ronald inherited his heavy eyebrows and deep-set -grey eyes. Mr. Bentley was expansive and much at home with Mr. Tyson, -with whom he was associated in the business in which the larger part -of Madam LeRoy’s fortune consisted. Ronald had been included in the -invitation, for the sake of the young people, who betook themselves -to a corner of the porch where cozy seats and a small table looked -inviting. It was a warm, September evening and every one was pleased -when Munson the dignified, himself brought out iced lemonade and -delicate glasses. - -This done, he hastened to the hall, for another car came rolling in to -bring the other guests, a Judge and Mrs. Hays. In them Ann was not so -much interested, though it may have been largely because they had no -young and fascinating son! Ann was not so much different from other -girls of her age, after all. She and Suzanne, Maurice and Ronald were -having a merry time of it, while the older folk renewed acquaintance. - -“Say, Maury, if the girls go to Florida, as you suggested, we’ll take a -run down in the old boat, or the yacht, in the Christmas vacation.” - -“Sure thing.” - -“But Father is coming at Christmas time, Maury,” Ann objected. “I’d -love to go to Florida, but I haven’t the faintest notion that I can.” - -“Ann,” said Suzanne, “if you and I don’t go with our respective parents -to the land of flowers, I’ll give you the biggest box of chocolates -that Maurice can find for me,----” - -“And pay for,” added her brother, knowingly. - -“Of course. What are brothers for?” - -“Do you really think so?” dubiously queried Ann. “How could it be -managed, with school, and father’s coming, and all?” - -“Oh, school!” exclaimed Suzanne. “That could be fixed, and as far as -your father is concerned, I overheard Grandmother say to Mother that -she thought Uncle Sterling would go too. Perhaps you’d better not say -anything about it, Ann. Maybe they mean to surprise you. I didn’t think -of that.” - -“I’ll be surprised still,” said Ann, “but I hope that it is so. -Florida, land of alligators and cypress swamps,----” - -“You will love it, Miss Ann,” Ronald declared, as Ann hesitated. “Think -of more agreeable things than alligators,--blue skies, for instance, -and bluer waters and sitting on the deck of my yacht as we sit here, -going down the inland waterway.” - -“Is your yacht strong enough to go out into the real ocean?” - -“Yes, but when it is rough or stormy, you know, it takes a large vessel -to keep the passengers from feeling the swell and waves too much.” - -“I see. I have never been out on the ocean.” - -“Why, Ann!” Suzanne exclaimed. “Then I was on your mountains before you -have been on my adorable ocean.” - -Ann nodded and smiled. “Do you like the sea the way I like my -mountains?” - -“Indeed I do! But you must have the ocean this winter. We’ll go in -bathing and have more fun!” - -“Count us in on that,” Maurice added. “We can do a good deal in two or -three weeks’ vacation, can’t we, Ronald?” - -“Yes. Dad and Mother will take the yacht down when they go, perhaps, -and we can get there more quickly by train, then take the girls -yachting after we get there. We’ll get up a party. There are always a -lot of our friends going, you know.” - -Maurice assented, though the Tysons had not gone to Florida for a long -time. Maurice, however, had enjoyed a recent trip with Ronald on such a -vacation. - -“Do you dare come back before spring after you once go down?” asked Ann. - -“Yes; we do,” replied Ronald. “My father goes back and forth, two or -three times during the season. He is careful, you know. But don’t you -remember how suddenly the temperature changes, even up here, warm one -minute, and cold as Greenland the next!” - -“True,” said Ann, “like the Chinooks that we have, warm winds that melt -the snow off in a jiffy. Then comes a blizzard!” - -“I’ve never been in your country, Miss Ann. Why didn’t I go with you -fellows this summer, Maury?” asked Ronald, with some regret. - -“Beano said that he coaxed you to go along,” said Maurice. - -“You forget that Ron doesn’t like Beano,” Suzanne reminded her brother. - -“It wasn’t that so much,” protested Ronald, “but the boys had fixed -the car for sleeping and I thought that three would be one too many.” - -“It wasn’t when I was along,” said Maurice. “I refused to go, too, -at first, for the same reason, but they had a tent and all the -appurtenances thereto; so I concluded to join them.” - -“But you were with them such a short time. It didn’t appeal to me for -all summer, not with Beano, I will confess.” - -“I can’t blame you,” said Ann, and Ronald looked at her with some -approval in his deep eyes. “He was kind and pleasant, but did not make -what you would call a hit, Maury, with our Western boys and girls.” - -“Conceit is Beano’s middle name,” said Maurice, laughing. - - * * * * * - -The next affair at the LeRoy house for Mrs. Sterling’s benefit was a -reception, one of those “pink teas,” according to Maurice, who said -that he would carefully keep out of the way. It was a day-time “at -home,” so planned for the benefit of the older folks who might not -care to come to an evening gathering, and only the adult friends were -invited. Ann was in the room one morning when she heard her grandmother -and Mrs. Tyson discussing the list. - -“You aren’t going to invite _her_, Mother, are you?” asked Mrs. Tyson, -pointing to a name. “She is the worst gossip in six towns!” - -“That is the reason I am inviting her,” calmly said Grandmother, to -Ann’s great amusement. “She will talk anyhow, and is a great deal more -likely to be friendly if we invite her. She has a somewhat privileged -position, in spite of her terrible tongue.” Then Grandmother noticed -that Ann was listening, and turned smiling eyes upon her. “Let this -lady be a warning, Ann, not an example. And remember what the epistle -of James says about the tongue, ‘a restless evil’ and ‘full of deadly -poison!’” - -“I can not see any necessity for inviting her, Mother,” repeated Mrs. -Tyson. “It only gives her a better opportunity to talk. She is no -friend of Elizabeth’s; why should we have her?” - -“Why all this discussion, Sue? You well know that I have always -included her in any general gathering like this. She would be offended, -and then the vials of her wrath would descend indeed!” - -“Do you want Suzanne and me to dress up and be around, or may we stay -away?” - -“Do you not want to be with us, Ann?” asked Grandmother in surprise. - -“Oh, yes, if we can do anything to help entertain.” - -“You can. I want a pretty group of girls to serve the guests. Wear your -prettiest frock and do your mother honor.” - -“I’ll do my best, Grandmother.” - -Ann was being constantly surprised at her grandmother’s energy, not -knowing that it had been her natural way before the illness which had -made her withdraw for some time, both because of her own weakness at -first, and later because of her daughter’s insistence. It was so much -easier to yield to Sue than to oppose her. Sue always had insisted -on her own way, but it had never taken the form of interfering so -much with her mother’s plans and life, she thought; at least she -_had_ thought so until the revelation came of her engineering the -misunderstanding between Elizabeth and herself. Well, well,--that was -past. - -The second week of Ann’s stay with her mother was closing when this -reception took place. Ann and Suzanne were full of their plans for -returning to school and the group of girls, including Madeline, had -much to discuss. The rooms were prettily decorated with flowers. Ann’s -mother looked distinguished in a filmy summer gown and shared the -entertaining with her mother and sister. A host of handsomely gowned -ladies came in shining limousines with attentive chauffeurs. There was -the usual buzz of conversation. - -The girls did not make their appearance until time to serve, in the -beautiful room devoted to that purpose. There the table was a shining -center of costly linen, bright silver and cut glass, which glittered -under the artificial lights. A mass of crimson roses gave fragrance. - -“Is this Madam LeRoy’s grand-daughter from the West?” impressively -inquired a large, rather strong-featured woman, expensively and -expansively gowned, whose hands flashed with diamonds, as she accepted -the plate of ice-cream which Ann offered. “No; no coffee, thank you. -Unfortunately, it keeps me awake, no matter when I drink it. Sit down, -won’t you, a minute, to get acquainted?” - -There was no one on either side of this guest, for it was now late in -the afternoon and most of the guests had been served. A few ladies, -in twos and threes were scattered about the room. Mrs. Bentley, who -was pouring coffee, had little to do and was chatting with one of the -guests, who stood by the table to talk to her. - -Glancing around to see if she were needed anywhere, Ann sank her silken -slimness upon the chair next to the friendly lady. - -“Yes, Mrs. Lewis,” said Ann, who had caught the name from Madeline when -she had offered coffee. “I shall be glad to sit down a minute. Almost -every one is served, I think.” - -“I could scarcely find time to come,” returned Mrs. Lewis. “There were -so many friends to visit; and I only now consented to come. I came with -my daughter, who has been served.” - -“Aha,” thought Ann, gravely listening and clasping her hands loosely in -front of her. “She is not fond of food, but yet----.” - -“They tell me that you are quite an expert in Western ways, riding, -hunting, racing, breaking broncos and all. Ever had any encounters with -the Indians?” - -“Our Indians are all very peaceful, Mrs. Lewis. I ride a little, catch -a few trout occasionally and can hit a mark when I shoot, but I never -race and I would not know how to break horses or broncos.” - -“Why I understood that your horse won a race at a fair.” - -Now who had told her that? Ann felt decidedly annoyed. “He did,” she -calmly replied, “but he was entered and ridden without our knowledge by -a young man who worked for my father.” - -“Of all things! How things can get twisted in the gossip one hears! -But I suppose that it is true about the large fortune left you by the -Indian whose life you saved?” - -“Scarcely that, Mrs. Lewis, but I happened to be the one to tie up -a wounded Indian and he sent me a rather valuable gift. He is still -living. See, the stones in this little ring, and this odd bracelet, -that I scarcely ever wear.” Ann was wearing the snake bracelet, which -had been beautifully polished and worked over by a jeweler recently. - -“Curious, indeed,” said Mrs. Lewis, bending over to examine the -bracelet. “It must have been young Bates who told me about the Indian’s -leaving you a fortune; but perhaps I misunderstood him. I thought that -it would make you quite independent; but I suppose that now you will -have a share in your grandmother’s estate.” Mrs. Lewis took no warning -from the surprised look with which Ann openly regarded her. What sort -of a woman was this? And how did she know about Grandmother’s affairs? - -A volley of questions followed, all delivered in that easy, smooth, -glowing way of which Mrs. Lewis was capable. Ann replied as best she -could, poor, sincere Ann, who did not know how to get out of it. - -“How does your mother like coming back to us after her long neglect -of her mother and friends?” So ran on this human radio, thinking with -her tongue, as Ann afterward told her mother. But frank Ann must have -inherited some of her mother’s and grandmother’s nature, for she -immediately froze, and after a second’s pause, turned lifted brows upon -the inquirer, repeating, “‘Neglect?’ That is scarcely the word, is it?” - -“Your aunt certainly felt it; for she has remarked to more than one -friend how much she regretted that Elizabeth saw fit to break away -from the close family circle. But she is looking very lovely and your -grandmother seems delighted to have her back.” - -Ann’s ire was mounting, but how could she say anything discourteous -to one so much older, and a guest, however she might be transgressing -the laws of courtesy. But Ann had little opportunity to say anything, -in fact, without interrupting, and an amusing thought came to Ann -which almost made her laugh out,--if she could only turn the dial or -press the button to shut off this disagreeable broadcasting of family -affairs! But the “loud speaker” kept on. - -“Madeline is a pretty girl, though rather wild, they say. It seems that -she was engaged to Maurice before he went to college, but that she -broke off the engagement when she heard that he is not Mrs. Tyson’s -son.” - -Ann had been thinking of an excuse to break away, but just as Mrs. -Lewis started this last remark, one of the girls brought her a plate -of ice-cream and heaped it with a variety of the cakes. They looked -good and Ann began to dip her shining spoon into the frozen ice, giving -attention to the words which Mrs. Lewis repeated for her benefit, as -soon as the young lady was out of hearing. She could scarcely refrain -from giving Mrs. Lewis another look of amazement, but kept her face -calm and broke off a piece of pink frosting. “You must be mistaken, -Mrs. Lewis,” she said. Ann knew that if Madeline had ever had the -opportunity to be engaged to Maurice it would scarcely be she who broke -it off, and what in the world was that last suggestion? - -“I forgot that being a stranger here, you scarcely would have heard the -gossip about Maurice. I should probably not have mentioned it,--but -of course, if it is true, he would have no share in your grandmother’s -money, and I do not think that the facts should be concealed. Some -other girls may fall in love with him,----” - -“For Grandmother’s money, do you mean?” Ann did manage to get in this -comment. - -Mrs. Lewis laughed. “Well, you know how the girls are nowadays. It -takes plenty of money to keep them.” - -“I see, but Mrs. Lewis,----” Ann had no chance! - -“At the home of one of our Boston friends a lady was visiting who -had been in Paris at the time when Sue LeRoy married Mr. Tyson. She -said that there was a rumor after the marriage that Mr. Tyson was a -young widower with an infant son, and that your aunt was so angry when -she found it out, that rather than have it known,--yes, thank you, -Madeline, those are delicious little cakes.” - -“Your mother wants you, Ann,--excuse her, please, Mrs. Lewis. Bring -along your cream, Ann; I’ll put it somewhere for you.” Suzanne, with an -expression of amused horror, which Ann had caught across the room, had -hastily come to the rescue. - -Mrs. Lewis, who was just about to ask Ann if the gossip were known in -the family, saw her victim depart with real regret. - -“I knew how you must have been suffering, Ann,” laughed Suzanne, as -the two girls walked away. “Come out in the back hall and finish your -cream. Your mother does want you, but there isn’t any hurry.” - -“I--I never saw, I mean, heard, such a person! She must have been the -one that your mother didn’t want Grandmother to invite because she was -such a gossip.” - -“Grandmother didn’t want to offend her, I guess.” - -“That is what she said.” - -“What did she get out of you, Ann?” - -“Mercy, I don’t know. I felt like a mouse, being played with by the -cat.” - -“Cat is what she is, Ann. What she doesn’t know, she makes up.” - -“She certainly has imagination!” - -Mrs. Lewis had succeeded in annoying Ann thoroughly. Values in the -neighborhood went down for Ann immediately. “I’m glad I don’t have -to live around here,” she thought, for at present, under the spell -of an insincere member of the community, she had no thought for the -true friends. The suggestion about Maurice was too absurd! Had not her -mother just told her to the contrary? However, she wished that since -Mrs. Lewis had told her that much, she had had opportunity to finish, -if for nothing more than for Ann to tell her that it was not so. - -Several of the girls came out and stood around Ann, some of them, like -her, finishing their own little lunch. “I oughtn’t to have eaten a bit -of ice-cream,” said one of them, a pretty brunette of about Ann’s age. -“Your mother wants me to sing pretty soon and I never can sing so well -if I have eaten it.” - -“Take a cup of hot coffee, Lou, to warm up your throat,” Suzanne -suggested. - -“That would be the other extreme.” - -“You are to play her accompaniment, Ann,” announced Suzanne. “That is -what your mother wanted you for.” - -“I hope that it is an easy one,” said Ann, putting the last bit of soft -frosting in her mouth. - -“It is,” Louise assured her. - -When Ann went into the drawing room, she found her mother surrounded -by a group of old and new friends. There was a comparatively small -number of the company left, which fact consoled Ann, rather dreading -to play before them. But she loved her grandmother’s big grand piano -and touched it with affectionate fingers as she played the prelude to -the song. In spite of the ice-cream, Louise Stanton sang well, her -voice girlish, but fresh and sweet. Afterward, Mrs. Sterling proudly -introduced Ann to her friends, who looked with kindly eyes upon -Elizabeth LeRoy Sterling’s daughter. There were “lovely” people here, -after all, and Mrs. Lewis had not remained upon the scene. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -BACK TO THE JOLLY SIX - - -Ann did not think best to trouble her mother with any of the gossip -with which she had been afflicted through Mrs. Lewis. What was the use? -Through Suzanne, however, Grandmother heard that Ann had been engaged -in a long conversation with the lady, and she spoke of it the next -morning, as she was taking her outing among the flowers. Ann had joined -her and under her direction was picking some of her grandmother’s -favorites. - -“Suzanne tells me that our friend Mrs. Lewis was entertaining you, or -demanding entertainment of you, yesterday.” - -“Yes, Grandmother. Isn’t she an awful woman?” - -“Did you wonder that I quoted what I did in description?” - -“No. Her tongue is poisonous all right. But it was such a surprise. She -was so pleasant, indeed, all the way through, you would have thought -that she was telling pleasant things. Do you suppose that she meant to -be----.” Ann paused for a fitting word. - -“Malicious?” Grandmother supplied. - -“That is the word. Thank you.” - -“I do not suppose so. I scarcely know. But her conversation always -consists in comments upon other people. She has no other subject, and -unfortunately she likes best the unhappy phases, something to make -people exclaim. But do not let anything she may have said trouble you, -Ann. Whatever of criticism or innuendo she may have given you,--let -it go. She ought to be a warning to us all,--to let the doings of our -neighbors alone.” - -“That is so, Grandmother. We have enough to do, I guess, to look after -ourselves.” - -“We surely have. How would you like, Ann, to go to Florida with us?” - -“O Grandmother!” Ann stopped plucking a posy and straightened up to -look at Madam LeRoy with shining eyes. “Could I--without hurting -anything?” - -Madam LeRoy laughed. “You mean school, I presume?” - -“Yes, of course, Grandmother!” - -“I think that it could be managed, not to have you fall behind in your -studies.” - -“Study a little there, you mean?” - -“Just that. Will you be thinking happy thoughts about it, Ann?” -Grandmother was looking at her with eyes that were half sad, half -amused. Such a combination is possible. - -“_Won’t_ I?” asked Ann. “I’ll want to think about it so much that I -won’t want to study.” - -“I’ll risk you on that,” said Grandmother. “Don’t forget that I have -never had reason to be anything but proud of you. Please keep up the -record, child.” - -“I will try, Grandmother,” said Ann with earnestness. “You are so good -to me!” - - * * * * * - -Ah, it was not the freshman cottage, or hall, any more! When Ann, -Suzanne and Madeline, with several more girls whom they had met on -the train, arrived within the Forest Hill grounds, they saw many -improvements added during the summer. Greetings from youth to youth, -taxis full of jolly old girls and subdued new ones, trucks of trunks -and bags and boxes,--all the usual sights of a girls’ school in -the throes of opening were to be seen. Busy teachers, a small host -of assistants in different lines, janitors and assistant janitors, -truck-men, grocery wagons and express wagons, bringing supplies, -contributed to the general air of enterprise. - -There was not a sign of any one among Ann’s particular friends of the -Jolly Six at the administration building, where Ann’s party went first. -The girls had left their names and application for admittance to the -new sophomore cottage, which was to add to the provisions for the -sophomore girls. The school was growing and Ann’s class was one of the -largest freshman classes they had had. - -“Wouldn’t it be awful if there is any mistake and we don’t get our -rooms?” asked Madeline, suddenly taking a panic. - -“Don’t worry, Maddy,” said Suzanne. “They won’t turn us out. For some -reason or other, I’m not so particular this year, though I would like -to get in the new cottage. The old girls had the first chance if they -wanted it; but some of them wanted to go in the old one anyhow, because -of ‘tradition’ they said.” - -“Tradition doesn’t appeal to me,” Madeline announced, “though there -is something in those high and airy halls, and the rooms with high -ceilings. But they are hard to heat in the winter, Mother says. She -wants me to be in the new building.” - -“Let me see, young ladies,” said the teacher who was helping assign -girls to their rooms. There was a crowd in the office, girls waiting -their turn, for different purposes. The list was consulted. “Miss Tyson -and Miss Birch go to the new cottage, suite number 29, with Miss Frost -and Miss Simpson, I think.” There seemed to be some difficulty in -making out the names right there. Something had been written in. - -“Miss Sterling goes to the Castle, with Miss Ward, Miss Frost and Miss -Robson,--some mistake there, Miss Frost’s name in both places. Well, -I suppose that it does not matter. She came several days ago and has -doubtless found her place.” - -“So you won’t even be in the building with us, Ann,” said Suzanne, -quite regretful this time. A year ago she would have been relieved and -delighted. - -“I’d just as lief be in the other building but for that, Suzanne,” said -Ann. “But if we go to Florida at Christmas time, it will not make much -difference.” - -“Oh, are you going to Florida, Suzanne?” cried Madeline. “Why haven’t I -heard a word about it?” - -“I guess I didn’t think of it when I was with you, Maddy. Besides -they were only talking of it. Ann says that Grandmother spoke to her, -though, as if it were all settled.” - -“I must ask Mother if I can’t go, too,” said Madeline, “but I know that -they have other plans.” - -If Madeline hoped to be invited to go with the LeRoy-Tyson-Sterling -party, she was disappointed. Neither of the girls felt free to give the -invitation, for one thing, and Suzanne had been thinking for some time -that Madeline was very cool and exacting at times. - -“It will be fine if your people can go,” said kind Ann. “Have you ever -been there?” - -“Oh, yes,” said Madeline, with a toss of her head. “Mother used to go -to Palm Beach every winter.” - - * * * * * - -As Ann rapidly rounded the administration building to reach the walk -which led to the “Castle,” she almost ran into Marta Ward, who greeted -her with enthusiasm. “Why it’s Ann!” she exclaimed. “When did you get -in?” The girls embraced and Ann explained that she had only just -arrived and had been directed to the Castle. - -“Yes,” cried Marta, “are you disappointed that you did not get into the -new cottage? We were next on the list, I think, but the girls who have -been here longer got the first chance and then Madeline and Suzanne -were to be with Genevieve, and--say, Ann, whom do you think we have in -our suite, for they have put four of us together?” - -“I could make a good guess, I think, Marta, from somebody’s name that -was down in two places. But I am astonished, just the same.” - -“Yes, it’s Frostie herself,” laughed Marta. “Will wonders never cease!” - -“Honestly? How did it happen?” - -“I don’t know exactly, but Aline says that Eleanor and Genevieve had a -serious quarrel or misunderstanding or something, and besides, Eleanor -can’t endure Madeline. So it seems that when she found out how things -had been arranged, without consulting her, she claims, she went up in -the air and went to Miss Tudor; and finally, Miss Tudor arranged for us -to be together. She thinks a great deal of you and Aline, and I am a -necessary evil, I guess.” - -“Not much. Eleanor need not get snippy, or I’ll do some going up in the -air,” Ann laughed. - -“Really, Ann, Eleanor is just as nice as she can be about things. If I -had not known that bunch of girls last year, I would not suppose that -Eleanor belonged.” - -“What in the world will Suzanne and Madeline think about it?” queried -Ann, a little worried. “They just went over there. I wonder who is in -Eleanor’s place.” - -“I haven’t the least idea. You know that the Sig-Eps wanted to have a -cottage of their own and took steps about it, didn’t you?” - -“No.” - -“Well, they did; and they wanted this new cottage. But Miss Tudor -told them that if they wanted a cottage, perhaps they could get some -of their alumnae to help them build one. Otherwise, the school would -continue to be divided according to ‘age and status of scholarship or -rank!’ This new hall is too large for a sorority hall any way. The -girls said that afterwards, and also said that they would want a chapel -or small auditorium for their meetings and entertainments.” - -“That wouldn’t be a bad idea for the ‘Bats,’ would it?” - -“No; let’s start working for it. It would be a good way for the school -to get new dorms, and the girls would love their houses.” - -“The only objection I can see is that it makes things still more -clannish, and they are too much so already. We’d better talk it over -with Miss Tudor before we do anything.” - -“But she really suggested it.” - -“That is so; but perhaps it was on an impulse. Even teachers are known -to do that occasionally, and change their minds afterwards.” - -“I will go back with you,” said Marta, laughing over Ann’s last remark. -“Both the other girls are there, and the rest of the Jolly Six have -their suite there, too, a few doors away. We’ll have to take in Eleanor -and Aline and make it the Jolly Eight.” - -“You don’t imagine that Eleanor would ever be intimate with our crowd, -do you?” - -“Stranger things have happened. How can she resist us, tell me that?” - -“Of course, I had not thought of how irresistible we are! Have a -chocolate, Marta. Maurice gave Suzanne and me each a box when we -started. Madeline was disappointed that she was not remembered, too, -but Maury did not come to the station. His train, in fact, left before -ours. How did you like Maurice, Marta?” - -“He has the making of a fine man,--if he is not spoiled. His gay -temperament is very taking, but I imagine that it is a source of -danger, too.” - -“You talk like an old lady, Marta,” laughed Ann, who had been guilty of -similar thoughts, however, in regard to her cousin. - -“I thought about him,” said Marta simply. “He watched you so much and I -got to thinking.” - -“It is not wise to think too much, fair room-mate; and by the way, I -may run off at Christmas time for quite a stay.” - -“How is that?” - -“Grandmother plans to have me and Suzanne--Suzanne and me, I mean,--go -to Florida with them. I don’t know how long I shall be gone, but I’ll -do some studying there, Mother thinks.” - -“It will be fine for you, though I shall certainly miss you.” - -“I hate to go, with you not along, but I couldn’t miss it.” - -“I should think not!” - -“When did you get in, Marta?” - -“Only yesterday evening. I have been unpacking. I gave Aline and -Eleanor the choice of rooms; was that all right?” - -“Certainly it was. You mean of the bedrooms, I suppose.” - -“Yes. There wasn’t much choice, but I suggested that since both were -there, they select the one they preferred. Both the girls were very -pleasant about it and demurred a little, but selected their room and -went ahead. You will find us pretty well fixed up, Miss Sterling!” - -“Good. Let’s stop first and see Katherine and Dots and the others. My -luggage hasn’t been sent up yet, has it?” - -“No.” - -Warm welcome waited at the Katherine-Dots-Ethel-Lucile headquarters. -“Oh, is it _Ann_!” exclaimed Dorothy. “Come right in and see our -studio,--latest effects in tapestry, water colors and oils.” - -Ann saw nothing but new curtains and Lucile’s paints, but expressed her -admiration and returned the embraces of her chums. “Last time I saw you -girls we were in the ‘Western Wilds,’” she said. - -“Yes, and what a grand time we had!” Katherine exclaimed. “Say, Ann, I -heard from Beano Bates,--what do you think of that!” - -“And I have had a letter from your faithful Edgar. Quick, girls, get me -a fan,” Lucile added, as Ann pretended to be overcome. - -“Little did I think,” said Ann, “when I urged you girls to come out to -Montana, what an effect you would have upon our men!” - -“Seriously, Ann, Edgar wrote a bright, interesting letter. I’ll let -you read it.” Lucile laughed again at Ann’s lugubrious aspect, which -she threw off at once, however, forgetting the pose in the things that -the rest had to relate. Lucile Early and Ethel Johns had been at their -homes in New York, enjoying their native city and incidentally shopping -for school. Dorothy Horton, in Maine, had visited a girls’ camp for a -week, before her mother returned from her trip. Katherine Neville, in -Ohio, had spent the time, she said, in “domestic pursuits,” cooking for -the family and trying to reproduce some of Rita’s fine concoctions. -“Mother ran off for a little rest,” she said. - -“You have a new family, or, rather are a new family in your suite, I -hear,” said Dots. “Are you surprised, Ann?” - -“Very much so, but it is all right. Marta and I are used to being by -ourselves, but we can get along and it will be fun to have more in the -family. We used to envy you girls last year, didn’t we, Marta?” - -“We can call our suite a studio, too,” Marta added, “a musical one, for -Eleanor sings, Aline plays the violin, and our accomplishments you well -know!” - -“Sure enough,” laughed Katherine. “Well, let the musical studio join -ours tonight and have a good old fudge or something reunion. Ask -Eleanor and Aline, won’t you, for us? If they have any doings planned -with the Sig-Eps, all right.” - -“Thanks,--we’ll come. You won’t have to make fudge. I’ll bring my -chocolates.” But at this the girls laughed, for the box, passed around -several times, was much depleted, and Ann waved it away, when Katherine -held it out to her. “Put it somewhere till the appointed hour, then. -I’ll not want it. Now to join the family.” - -Ann gathered up her wraps and umbrella and took her departure, Marta -leading the way. Before opening the door, however, Marta turned and -gave Ann a whimsical look, as if to say,--“it’s a risk, but here we -are.” - -No one was in the little sitting room, which looked cosy with bright -cushions, pennants and pictures already in place; but Eleanor looked -out from the other bedroom, as Ann went into hers. “Is that Ann?” she -asked. Ann placed her things in the inner room and went out to meet -Eleanor, and in a moment, Aline. “Glad to see you,” said Eleanor. “I -imagine that you are surprised to see us in your family. But it is a -fine old suite and I think it lucky for us to get it. It is larger than -most of them, and I like being on the second floor.” - -Ann, still holding Eleanor’s hand, for Eleanor had taken hold of her -arm, looked around at the large windows, the comfortable couch, the -window seat with drawers below, to which Eleanor pointed, and expressed -her enthusiasm. “Sit down,” said Eleanor, still the hostess. “I suppose -Marta told you how this happened?” - -“As much as I knew about it,” said Marta, stretching out on the couch. - -“Yes. I couldn’t say much, could I?” - -“Not if you were wise,” laughed Marta. - -“Well, I had a good reason for not rooming with Genevieve anyhow, and -the whole arrangement was made before I knew much about it. I was to -blame a little; for it was suggested to me last spring and I didn’t say -nay exactly, too lazy to have the trouble of refusing. Then with my -accustomed habit of putting everything off, I did not even write about -it this summer; only Mother wrote, asking Miss Tudor to do as well -by me as she could, it seems, and did not ask for a new room-mate, -as I wanted her to. _She_ didn’t want to get into trouble either. -Then we both forgot about it. We had a lovely trip to Alaska this -summer,--neither of us had ever been there. So it went. My real trouble -with Genevieve was about another matter, and of course I’d rather not -speak of that.” - -“Of course not,” said Ann, “and I’m sure you need not have explained -anyway. As you say, we are lucky to have this suite, and if we can get -through the rushing season without coming to blows over the Sig-Eps -and the Bats, I have no doubt but we can be the best of friends.” So, -laughingly said Ann; and Marta cried, “Hear, hear!” - -“One thing that will be of great advantage to me,” smiled Eleanor, -“is having all my accompanists in the suite. You can’t get away from -me, girls. Promise me, both of you, that if one is sick the other -will play,--and poor Aline will have to do it all the time. I adore -violin accompaniments, and it will be good practice for her in public -appearances!” - -“If I were only a contralto singer,” said Marta, “you would have a -world-renowned quartet. Too bad that you have two pianists!” - -“Suits me,” laughed Eleanor. “I’ll never have to worry.” - -“It will be easy to arrange practice hours, too,” said Ann. “Dear me, -no practice to speak of all summer, but oh, such a glorious time!” - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE DISTRESSED DAMSEL - - -Ann did not see Suzanne at dinner, and heard afterward that she, -Madeline and Genevieve had gone to town for their dinner, to “Polly’s.” -Ann’s trunk had been sent to the suite and Ann was busy unpacking, when -Marta came running up the stairs, not far from the open door. “You’re -wanted, Ann,” said she, out of breath. “Suzanne is downstairs and wants -to see you.” - -“Why doesn’t she come up?” - -Marta lifted her brows and nodded toward Eleanor’s door, through which -Eleanor, writing a letter, could be seen. - -“Sakes!” softly said Ann. “I’m right in the middle of this! And it -is going to be a pretty state of things if Suzanne won’t come where -Eleanor is!” But Ann picked up her scarf and started out. - -Suzanne was strolling up and down the lower hall while she waited for -Ann, rather avoiding the stairway, for she did not want to run into -Eleanor or Aline. “Hello, Ann,” said she, “come out for a little walk -with me. I want to see you.” - -“I wish that you would come upstairs, Suzanne,” said Ann. “I’m just -in the midst of unpacking and the room is a sight. Still, Marta -won’t mind, and we’ll not go to bed for ages. I have to study like -everything.” - -“I wouldn’t go to your suite tonight for a thousand dollars! The idea -of Eleanor’s doing that way! That is what I want to talk about.” - -The girls walked out of the hall and out upon the campus to one of the -benches, under a beautiful elm. Girls were scattered everywhere over -the green lawns, but this seat was empty. - -Ann felt from Suzanne’s manner that she was in for something -disagreeable, but calmly waited for the explosion, if explosion there -was to be. - -Suzanne came to the point immediately, sitting down and leaning toward -Ann, her hands tightly clasped. “Did you know anything about this, Ann?” - -“What do you mean? Did I know _beforehand_, you mean, about rooming -arrangements? Indeed I did not. Did you?” Ann asked this question as -keenly as Suzanne, though without the feeling behind it. - -“Genevieve wrote Madeline a few days before we came that she had asked -for a suite for us all. She was counting on rooming with Eleanor, and -Eleanor has played her a mean trick! I did not say anything about it -to you, Ann, because it was uncertain about our getting the suite, and -I did not suppose that you would care; you were planning to room with -Marta, weren’t you?” - -“Certainly. We did not even ask to be in a suite, though we had -expressed a preference for one, to Miss Tudor, one time. This was one -great surprise to me, Suzanne.” - -“I suppose so, but I wanted to make sure. And I can’t tell you, Ann, -how I feel about Eleanor’s turning us down this way!” Suzanne’s eyes -filled with tears. She started to speak again and could not. Finally -she put her head down on Ann’s shoulder, shaking all over in the effort -to control herself and keep from breaking into a storm of tears. - -Ann took her hands and squeezed them, without saying a word. With a sob -and a sigh, Suzanne presently raised her head. “Were any girls looking -at us?” she asked. - -“No,--not a soul around. Never mind, Suzanne. It isn’t worth feeling so -bad about it.” - -“Yes, it is, too, Ann. You don’t know what it means among our crowd -of girls to be in with Eleanor.” There it was again! Ann’s sympathy -received a jolt. It wasn’t that Suzanne cared so much for Eleanor, -after all! - -“So I have been wondering if something can’t be done about it. Would -you and Marta care, if Eleanor and Aline should room with Maddy and -me?” - -“Not a bit, but could you plan a thing like that, Suzanne? Where -would Genevieve come in? And wasn’t she the one who arranged for that -particular suite?” - -“Yes, but it’s her fault that she is out with Eleanor. Couldn’t you ask -Eleanor about it?” - -“Not I, Suzanne. You girls will have to fix it up among yourselves.” -Ann spoke very decidedly. - -“But you could find out whether she dislikes me or not, couldn’t you?” - -“Probably. I don’t believe that Eleanor has anything against you. -Marta said that it was Genevieve, and then, that Eleanor does not like -Madeline.” - -“Then don’t you suppose that I could room with you?” - -“And turn Marta out? Why, Suzanne!” - -“Well, she might not care much. Besides, Grandmother would much rather -have me room with you. She did not like it a bit last year, Mother -said, when she found out that I was rooming with Madeline instead of -you. But Mother persuaded her, told her that Maddy and I had been -friends so long and that you did not care.” - -“Grandmother never mentioned it to me. I had expected to room with you, -Suzanne; but I knew Marta as well as I knew you, of course, and we have -become fast friends. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Marta for worlds!” - -“It could be fixed up through our parents, you know.” - -Ann wanted to tell Suzanne that she was a “selfish little pig” and the -words were on the tip of her tongue,--but she refrained. It would not -do. Here was a bit of scheming that would be worthy of Aunt Sue. What -Suzanne could not get in one way she would get in another! - -“If you won’t do anything about it, I’m going to ask Marta myself,” -Suzanne continued. - -“For pity’s sake, Suzanne! Don’t do anything of the kind!” - -Suzanne set her lips together. How much her profile looked like Aunt -Sue. - -“Would you and Marta care, then, if it were arranged for Maddy and me -to come with Eleanor and Aline? That would give Genevieve the old suite -in the new cottage, and she’d get over being mad about it!” - -“So far as I am concerned, if you can arrange to room with Eleanor and -Aline, it is all right. I don’t think that Marta would care, though -it certainly would be a bother, after getting settled. But how about -Eleanor’s not liking Madeline?” - -“Maybe I can get some other Sig-Ep girl that she _does_ like.” - -“If you can fix it up, Suzanne, I’ll not stand in your way. This was a -surprise, and it really does not make any difference to me,--just till -the Christmas vacation. Do you think that it is important enough to -stir things up so?” - -“Yes. If I could room with Eleanor this year, it would probably mean -for the junior and senior years, too. Maybe Eleanor is going South, -too, with her mother.” - -“I see. All right, Suzanne; do anything you want to, but don’t expect -me to take a hand. You will have to see Eleanor yourself.” - -“That is what I hate to do. I believe that I’ll talk to Miss Tudor -first, tell her that I am not satisfied. She’ll want to keep in with -Mother.” - -“Perhaps,” dryly said Ann. - -That ended the interview and the girls separated, Suzanne to join some -other girls, after being assured by Ann that all traces of tears were -removed, and Ann to resume her interrupted task of unpacking. She was -both annoyed and troubled. Marta noticed her abstraction but made no -comment. Both girls studied busily, chiefly in their bedroom this time, -for Eleanor and Aline were talking in their common study. - - * * * * * - -Ann was too busy the next day to think of anything but lessons, though -she wondered if Suzanne would go to work “upsetting things.” - -The worst arrangement suggested was the one whereby she and Suzanne -would room in the suite with Eleanor and Aline. Not that she did -not like them all, but she wanted Marta or some one of the Jolly -Six, her very own congenial friends, with much of the same interests -and purposes. But she told herself, as she had in wakeful hours of -the previous night, that they all would have to be consulted anyhow -about the matter and it would be handled by headquarters in final -arrangements. “No use to worry,” she thought. The best plan, if change -was to be made, was for Suzanne and some one of the “Sig-Eps” to move -in with Eleanor and Aline. That would be much better for Suzanne, Ann -thought, than continuing to room with Madeline. Perhaps she _ought_ to -do something about it! It _would_ be a shame for Suzanne to be with -both Genevieve and Madeline! - -At dinner, for the girls were at present sitting where they pleased at -table, Suzanne joined Ann and afterward almost dissolved into tears -again telling Ann about matters at their suite. “Miss Tudor has put a -new girl in with us, temporarily, she said, and she is awful. Genevieve -is tearing her hair, figuratively speaking, and we are all upset. I am -to see Miss Tudor pretty soon.” - -Poor Ann wondered what her duty was in the matter, and hoped that she -need have nothing to do with it. Ought she to give her consent to -taking Suzanne in place of Marta, if Miss Tudor suggested it? What -would Marta think? Perhaps she and Suzanne could take a room or a two -room suite together, and let Marta get a new room-mate, staying with -Eleanor and Aline. There! _That_ was what she would suggest, if she had -anything to say about it. That would fulfill her duty to her cousin and -not turn anybody out. Of course, that would not suit Suzanne. Ann felt -fairly dizzy with the different plans that suggested themselves. What a -bother! - -No wandering about the campus that evening. “Bunny” had announced a -theme, the assignment in Math looked hard, and there were pages and -pages of new and more difficult French to prepare. Ann got out her -books and went to work at the table in the study, where Eleanor and -Aline found her later. Marta was still out with the girls. - -“Got a wonderful song, Ann,” said Eleanor, waving some sheets of music. -“I borrowed it from the girl who owns it. It has an exquisite violin -obligato and I want you to do the accompanying, if you will. I’m -sending for copies. We were just trying it over in the parlor. Sara -played the piano part.” - -Ann stopped work long enough to look at the music “I’d like to go right -down and try it over, but I can’t,--got to study.” - -“I have to, too,” said Eleanor. “Aline and I have a miserable harmony -lesson to work out. Will it bother you if we do it together?” - -“I’ll not even hear you,” laughed Ann. - -The girls had scarcely started on the harmony lesson, when there came a -knock. One of the girls acknowledged Eleanor’s “Come in” by poking her -head inside the door and saying, “Miss Tudor wants to see you, Eleanor.” - -Ann, busy with a problem, heard it as in a dream, but waked up -sufficiently to her surroundings to hear Aline say, as Eleanor hurried -out, “It’s about the suite, Eleanor!” And Eleanor answered, shortly, -“That’s all settled!” - -Aline disappeared from the room a little later, and soon, who should -appear but Suzanne, in some excitement. “I saw that Eleanor went over -to the administration building, and that Aline was outside, so I ran up -a minute. I saw Miss Tudor and talked with her,--all about it. She did -not say much, but said that she would see me again after she had talked -to the other girls. So she is going to do something!” - -Suzanne was feeling some confidence about the affair, Ann could see. -“You’d better not put on your kimono, Ann, for she may send for you. Do -your best for me, cousin,” said artful Suzanne. - -“I will,” said Ann, “though I don’t know what is ‘best.’ I fancy that -Miss Tudor will do the settling of it, don’t you?” - -“She can be _influenced_,” replied Suzanne. - -Ann did not believe this, in the sense in which Suzanne meant it, and -thought that Suzanne exaggerated her own importance and that of her -family. “She thinks that the Huntington-LeRoys are the whole thing!” -thought Ann. “And to get her own way and be with Eleanor, for the sake -of I don’t know what, she’d do anything and turn anybody out!” Ann was -thoroughly disgusted. She laid aside her “math,” decided that she could -not think up a theme while her mind was so distracted, and picked up -the new French text, rather technical and difficult, but she could more -easily read along and look up the new words in her dictionary than do -anything else. She went into her bedroom, looked in the glass to see if -her hair were in condition to appear before the dean, and sat down by -the window with her book. If Eleanor came in and did not want to speak -to her about where she had been, it would be simpler for her to be out -of the way. She shut the bedroom door, as this occurred to her. - -But it was not long before Aline and Eleanor came in, talking, as Ann -thought, in some excitement, though their voices were low. “Ann!” -called Eleanor, rapping sharply upon the bedroom door. - -“Come in,” called Ann in reply. - -Both girls came in and sat down on the bed, looking at Ann and each -other. “You tell her, Eleanor,” said Aline, clasping the head of the -bed with one arm, crossing her small slippered feet and cupping her -pointed, poetic chin with her free hand. - -“Surely I will,” replied the efficient Eleanor, her eyes flashing. -“Are you satisfied with this arrangement, Ann, or would you like to get -out of it?” she asked directly. - -“I should prefer to leave things as they are,” promptly replied Ann. - -“From what I know of you,” said Eleanor, “I judge that you are telling -the truth.” - -“I am,” said Ann. - -“Did you see Suzanne and know that she was going to see Miss Tudor -about this rooming business?” - -“Yes. Suzanne was very much upset, and hurt, because she thought that -perhaps you did not want to room with her. She says that she is just -sick over it. She wanted me to talk to you about it, but I told her -that I would not get into it.” - -Eleanor looked thoughtful. “I like Suzanne,” she said, “but I can’t -bear Maddy, nor Genevieve, now. Of course you know that Miss Tudor -has been talking to me about it. She gave me a good lecture, too, on -not having consideration for other people, and upsetting plans and so -forth. I certainly am _mad_ about it!” Eleanor’s eyes flashed fire -again; then she looked at Ann, and they both laughed, Aline joining. - -“I suppose you think, Ann, that it is a tempest in a tea-pot; but these -things make a lot of difference.” - -“Yes, they do,” answered Ann, sobering again. “It _is_ important whom -you room with. I can’t say that I am very anxious to have Suzanne stay -with Genevieve and Madeline--both pretty reckless about some things.” - -Eleanor nodded. “Say, Ann, I’ve always wanted to explain about that -time when you came on us and we had the cigarettes. I don’t do that -sort of thing, but we were in high spirits and Gen dared us. She and -Maddy think that it’s smart, and that is one of the reasons that I -don’t want to room with Genevieve,--but please don’t say anything about -it. I couldn’t tell Miss Tudor that.” - -“What is Miss Tudor going to do?” asked Ann. - -“Mercy, I don’t know! She’s talking to Genevieve and Madeline now. -Probably she will send for you next. That is why I wanted to talk with -you. Miss Tudor asked me if I would object to having Suzanne room here -with you,--of course, she gave me to understand that I hadn’t much to -say about it, but still, she wants a good arrangement for everybody. I -told her that it would be all right with me, but that I thought it mean -to turn Marta out. Then I didn’t know how you would like it, I said. I -was so mad because of the good scolding I had, that I talked right up -to her!” - -Ann laughed. “Lots of good it will do, Eleanor.” - -“Exactly. But it was some consolation to me.” - -“I’d have a great time with three Sig-Eps in the suite with me, -wouldn’t I?” laughed Ann. She did not mind giving this hint. - -“I thought of that, but it would only be two, at that. I can’t get -Aline into the Sigs. Her mother was a Bat.” - -A direct look was exchanged between Ann and Eleanor. “Thanks,” said -Ann, storing away the knowledge, as Eleanor meant her to do. The Bats -would be after Aline now. They had thought it useless before, as she -and Eleanor were so intimate. But they had wondered why they did not -hear of her initiation as a Sig-Ep. Eleanor was a “pretty good scout” -after all. - -“I don’t like it of Suzanne, if this is her scheme, to leave Maddy out -in the cold; but if she wants to room with you it would be much better -for her. I don’t see why she didn’t do it last year,--yes, I do, too. -She and Maddy are more congenial in many ways. That is nothing against -you, either.” Eleanor was surely frank, Ann thought. Probably Eleanor -had learned some things during her freshman year, as they all had. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE DEAN SENDS FOR ANN - - -“Miss Tudor blames me for the whole thing,” continued Eleanor, “but I -said that I’d leave school before I’d go back with the girls, Gen and -Maddy. ‘Now, now, Miss Frost,’ she said, ‘don’t say anything that you -would regret.’” Eleanor raised her finger warningly in imitation of -Miss Tudor’s manner. “And Miss Tudor _would_ let me go, too, rather -than have any of the girls tell _her_ what to do!” - -“Do you blame her?” laughed Ann. - -“Not a bit of it,” said the amusing Eleanor. She had come out of her -reserve with a vengeance. “Well, what are we going to do about it?” - -“Take what comes,” said Ann. - -“She may ask you to suggest.” - -“I hope not. Is there any other Sig-Ep girl, or one that isn’t, that -you would like to be with Suzanne, in case Marta and I give up our -share in the suite and take a single room?” - -Eleanor eyed Ann suspiciously. “I bet that is what you’d rather do!” - -“No; as I told you, I’d rather let things alone. Yet it does worry me, -the more I think about Suzanne. And I could not bear to turn Marta -out, you see. Marta is the kind that would do it in a minute, and I -hope she doesn’t even hear about it! Let me tell you, girls, I’m not -going to suggest _any_ plan to Miss Tudor, but I’ll tell her what I -think if she asks me.” - -As Ann spoke there came another rap, this time on their outer door. -“For me, I suppose,” said Ann, rising to admit the caller. - -Ann did some rapid thinking as she crossed the campus. While it would -spoil Suzanne considerably to have her own way about rooming with -Eleanor, any arrangement which would take her out of Madeline’s close -intimacy would be good. But Ann felt rather disgusted by this time with -the whole affair and the fact that she had to be drawn into it. - -She had been told that she was to go to Miss Tudor’s private rooms and -thither she directed her way, rapping gently. Some way, although she -knew that she was not to be corrected for any fault, the very idea of -being sent for by the dean made Ann nervous. She felt worried over the -affair, and when she was admitted, sitting down to wait for Miss Tudor, -she found that her hands were cold and felt her face grow flushed at -the thought of the coming interview. - -“Good evening, Miss Sterling,” said Miss Tudor, entering from a door -behind Ann. Ann immediately rose, as she replied to the greeting, and -was waved back to her chair as Miss Tudor sat down. She came right to -the point. - -“You know, I presume, the matter about which I want to talk to you?” - -“Yes, Miss Tudor. Suzanne, Eleanor and Aline have told me.” - -“Do you want to room with your cousin?” - -Ann hesitated. “I want to do what is the square thing, Miss Tudor. It -does not seem fair to turn Marta out. I think a great deal of her, -besides. But it would be better for Suzanne not to room with Madeline -and Genevieve.” - -Miss Tudor nodded. “If I could make suitable arrangements for the other -girls, would you and Marta together be willing to give up the suite -that you have now with Eleanor and Aline?” - -“So far as I am concerned, yes, Miss Tudor. Marta and I were both -surprised at this arrangement, but we like the girls. Eleanor has been -real fair and we are very fond of Aline.” - -“I am glad to hear you say so. That is all, then, Miss Sterling.” - -What a relief to be outside the door. Had she said the right thing? -Was it mean to imply what she did about Genevieve and Madeline? Would -Miss Tudor think that she, Ann, was one of those “goody-goody” girls -that Suzanne talked about with such contempt? “I don’t care,” she told -herself. “I have to make good here, and I’ve something else to do -besides run around with them. Dear me! If Suzanne rooms with me, I’ll -have to do most of my studying in the library, I guess!” - -Crossing the campus again, she met Marta hurrying in the direction from -which she had just come. “Say, Ann,” she cried, before she reached -Ann’s near neighborhood, “what’s all this? Miss Tudor sent for me, and -Eleanor says that you are,--have been there. What’s up?” - -“Didn’t Eleanor tell you?” - -“No; she wouldn’t, just laughed; and I thought that she seemed a bit -embarrassed.” - -“I can’t imagine Eleanor’s losing her way of carrying things off! But -I’ll let Miss Tudor explain what is on hand,--largely because I want -you to remember what she does say. Will you?” - -“I’ll try,” laughed Marta. - -“And Marta! I don’t know what Miss Tudor is going to do about the -matter that has come up, but promise me that you will come to me right -afterwards and hear what I have to say about it.” - -“I promise,” cried Marta, running on. - -But Ann was troubled. “Let the old lessons go!” she thought. “I’m -going to be right there when Marta comes out. She might think that I -am in with the girls in wanting to room with Suzanne, or something!” -Whereupon, Ann retraced her steps and chose a quiet spot upon the -broad porch of the administration building. Ordinarily, she would be -supposed to be in her room, as study hours had long since commenced. -But she thought that she would be able to explain her presence if -questioned. - -She had scarcely seated herself, behind one of the pillars, when Miss -Bunn, or “Bunny”, came out of the building and looked around before -descending the steps. Ann immediately felt like a transgressor. - -Seeing some one behind the pillar, “Bunny” came around to see who it -was. “Why, Miss Sterling,” she said, “I am surprised! Do you not know -that study hours have begun?” - -“Yes, Miss Bunn,” said Ann, rising, “but my room-mate is in Miss -Tudor’s room and I have just come from the same place. I thought that I -would wait a few minutes for Marta.” - -Miss Bunn’s nose gave the familiar twist. “It is very irregular for you -to be here. It will be quite dark in a few minutes.” - -“Yes, Miss Bunn,” replied Ann, having a bright thought. “Don’t you -think that it really would be better for me to wait for Marta, so we -can go across the campus together?” - -“Perhaps it would,” said Miss Bunn, somewhat doubtfully. “But if Marta -should be detained some time, do not wait,--not more than a _very few -minutes_, Miss Sterling. Otherwise I shall have to report you as out of -your room in study hours.” - -“Very well, Miss Bunn,” respectfully said Ann, for the first time -feeling like being impertinent to a teacher. She remained standing -while Miss Bunn, still with the attitude of disapproval, slowly walked -down the steps and around the walk. - -“Fussy old thing,” thought impatient Ann. “She just wanted to show her -authority!” But Ann did not realize how Miss Tudor had impressed all -her staff with the importance of looking after these girls, many of -them accustomed to very little restraint at home, much less than would -have been good for them. The trouble with poor, conscientious Miss Bunn -was that her manner with the girls prejudiced them against her, with -the result that even the obedient ones resented her authority. - -Time went slowly, especially since Ann felt out of place. She thought -that at least fifteen minutes must have gone by when she looked at her -watch, barely to be seen in the fading light, to find that only five -minutes had passed since she last consulted it. And here came Marta. - -“Well!” exclaimed the surprised Marta, “that you, Ann? She didn’t keep -me long, did she?” - -“It seemed ages. I was worried for fear she would say something that -you would not understand about what I thought, and then, with the girls -in the suite, perhaps there would not be a good chance to tell you -all about everything. Bunny came by and reminded me that it was study -hours; but this was too important, so I stayed.” - -“Come on over to my practice room. It may not be my room, of course, -for our practice hours may be changed; but it will be a good place to -talk. Nobody will mind. I think that Bunny was ahead of time about -study hours. We’ll not be supposed to keep them tonight,--oh, of -course, to stay off the campus. But there go some girls now. There will -have to be a lot of going back and forth. Come on.” - -The girls went to the building in which both had practiced on their -respective instruments the previous year. It was dark, and when they -tried the doors they were locked. “I might have known!” exclaimed -Marta, in disgust. “Idiot!--I am referring to myself, Miss Sterling!” - -“Your explanation is accepted,” laughed Ann, “but I might have had a -brain or two about _me_! We’ll just sit down a few minutes on these -steps to unburden our souls.” - -“I’ve precious little to unburden,” said Marta. “Miss Tudor began as if -it were a social call. She asked me about what sort of a summer I had -had, then seemed very much interested in my description of your home -and the lovely mountain cabin, lodge, I mean. She asked me how you and -I became acquainted, how we got along together, if we belonged to the -same sorority with Eleanor and Suzanne, and who my special friends in -the school were.” - -“Foxy Miss Tudor!” Ann remarked. - -“Yes; I began to smell a mouse when she began to inquire about my -friends. It was something about rooming, of course. Then she asked me -if I would be willing to make a change to some other suite or a room, -if the present arrangement did not seem best. She said, too, before -I answered, that you ‘expressed yourself as willing to give up the -suite.’” - -“Aha!--angelic Miss Tudor!” - -Marta peered through the gathering darkness to see if Ann were losing -her mind. “Why all this enthusiasm about our dean?” she inquired. - -“I may tell you some time,” replied Ann. - -“That was all. I told her that I did not care much, and if it were -easier all around for her to change us, I did not mind.” - -“Marta, you are an old dear, and I shall not worry a mite about what -Miss Tudor is going to do. Let’s go home, look over our lessons and go -to bed. I think that it was a shame to post lessons and send us to our -teachers the opening day. They never did that before. They must have a -new system and are speeding up. We do lose a lot of time; and they had -all our books ready.” - -“Just the same, I don’t believe that we shall recite, on account of the -new students in all the classes. But Ann, _why_ did you want me to come -right to you after seeing Miss Tudor? What has been going on?” - -“If you don’t mind, Marta, I’ll wait, until whatever is to be done is -done, and then tell you.” - -“All right. As you say, ‘curiosity killed the cat,’ and I’m sleepy.” - -The girls talked of other things as they sped toward their new home. -There they found the suite empty, as Ann had hoped. She did wish that -no explanations would be necessary tonight. No telling what idea of -self-sacrifice Marta might get,--and spoil it all. Both girls were -sleepy after a full day. It was bath and bed, trusting to luck and -early rising for the lessons of the morrow. - -Ann felt comfortable as she drifted off to sleep. She hoped that she -had not been hypocritical in what she had said to Eleanor. She really -would have preferred no change. But if there must be one, it was -pleasant to think that she and Marta were not to be separated. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -SETTLED AT LAST - - -“It was really too easy,” said Ann afterwards, “the way things were -fixed up. Nothing like having somebody who can decide for you. Catch me -trying to fuss myself with school arrangements! I’m certainly glad that -I did not take up Suzanne’s suggestion and go ahead to change things.” - -The next morning there was a mad scramble to get ready in time, to get -lessons, which, it was warned, would be expected; to have breakfast, do -a thousand things, more or less, and reach classes on time. Not much -thought could be given to affairs in the rooms and suites. Eleanor and -Aline rushed over to the conservatory building; Marta had both matters -musical and matters literary to engage her attention; and Ann, last -but not least, reading Latin and French at an early hour, went over to -breakfast without a belt which covered some shirring on her dress, and -would have gone to class unmindful of her beltless condition, had not -Marta noticed that the dress looked “different” and discovered what was -lacking. “This is the life,” laughed Ann, hastily fastening her belt, -as she flew out of the room to make the early class. - -“I like it,” said Marta, coming abreast of Ann and wishing that she -could slide down the bannisters. “Are we going to be late?” - -“Hope not,” said Ann, who had spent too long a time in looking over -another lesson. - -So the day went, with the usual fun and the usual worries, hoping that -one would be called on for the part best learned, or easiest to do -impromptu; but the teachers were merciful to the recent comers and the -mountains and impassable streams of learning became level plains to -young feet. - -At dinner there were the customary special announcements. Then a list -of names was read, while every one listened intently for her own name. - -“The following persons,” read Miss Montgomery for Miss Tudor, “will -see the dean about special matters relating to changes in rooming or -studies. This must receive immediate attention. The young ladies will -go to the library and will be sent for in the order desired.” - -The names were then read, in alphabetical order; and they included, Ann -noted, the names of all in her own suite and those in the new cottage -suite occupied by her cousin and her friends. - -A bevy of girls, some wondering for what reason they had been called, -all talking, laughing, or exchanging confidences in low tones, reached -the library after dinner. At the table Ann had caught a look from -Eleanor, who whispered to her, as they were on their way, “Do you know -what is to be done?” - -“I do not,” said Ann, “though from something Marta said, I fancy -that she and I are not to be separated. Marta does not know all the -proceedings.” - -Eleanor nodded, and just then Aline joined her. In the library, -Genevieve and Madeline were careful to keep at some distance from -Eleanor but Suzanne did not join them. She came in later, with two -other girls of her “set.” - -One or two new girls were sent for first. Then Eleanor and Ann were -asked to come together. Miss Tudor looked worn with the efforts of the -first days, but was as energetic as ever, holding in her hand a paper, -evidently a list of what was to be done. - -“I wanted you to come together, girls, for one reason, that the -pleasant relations between you might not be disturbed. Eleanor, Ann did -not ask for the arrangement that I am going to make. She only said that -she did not think it fair, if any change were made, for Marta to suffer -in the case.” - -Miss Tudor paused a moment, and Eleanor said, “Yes, Miss Tudor. Ann -said the same thing to me when we talked about it.” - -“Very well. I am making very few explanations about this and shall ask -you both to keep your own council. The girls in the other suite are -going to be offended. Genevieve, at least, deserves it, and I am not so -sure, Eleanor that I am doing right in making it so easy for you, when -you upset the whole thing.” - -“Yes’m,” meekly said Eleanor. - -“But it seems best to break up that arrangement. I am going to put -Suzanne, with Lora Collier, in the suite with you, in the place of -Marta and Ann. Both of them told me that they were willing to change, -if it seemed best to me; and Miss Sterling, (Miss Tudor regained her -formality), I think that you will not be displeased with the suite in -which I am placing you and Miss Ward. This is the slip, with number and -names.” - -Miss Tudor handed each girl a slip and rose, dismissing them by that -simple act. But Eleanor hesitated. “Excuse me, Miss Tudor, but I -understood that Lora was not coming back.” - -Miss Tudor smiled. “So did I, until last night, when we received a -wire, asking that I place her with some of her friends. Do you think -that you two singers can get along without jealousy?” - -“I should think we can!” exclaimed Eleanor, “and Miss Tudor, I want -to apologize for the way in which I spoke to you the first time I was -here. You have certainly poured coals of fire on my unworthy head.” - -Again Miss Tudor smiled. “I accept the apology, Eleanor. See that you -are a good girl!” - -“The best I can be!” exclaimed Eleanor, as the two girls walked out of -the door. - -“Ann, the very idea! I’m awfully sorry that you girls are not to be -with us, but since the change is to be,--Lora! Hurrah!” - -“I say so too, Eleanor,” said Ann, taking Eleanor’s arm. “Lora will be -a good room-mate for Suzanne, and you will all be Sig-Eps but Aline. I -may as well warn you now that we’ll get her into the Bats, if she will -come.” - -“I want you to. I’ve exhausted all my arguments on Aline. Her mother -died not so very long ago, and she was a Bat, so it is hopeless. Let’s -see your slip, Ann; who is with you?” - -“There aren’t any other names. Isn’t it funny?” - -“She is giving you a suite by yourselves till she has to put somebody -in it. There aren’t enough sophomores to fill the two halls; So I -shouldn’t be surprised but you’d have it all to yourselves.” - -“Unless there are too many freshmen and they have to put a few over -here.” - -“That is not likely. They enlarged the freshman hall two years ago. -See,--here is my slip, all four names on it. What is your number? -Second floor, isn’t it? I hope that it isn’t too far away. I’m coming -around once in a while if you have no objections.” - -“Objections! What an idea. I have a lot of studying to do, for I have -to make good for my Dad. But I’m the most ‘gregarious’ being you ever -saw. So he says!” - -“All right. Now let me tell you something, Ann. It’s another -confession, like the apology I just gave Miss Tudor. But one some way -just can’t imagine your taking a superior air and saying, ‘that’s just -what I thought of Eleanor Frost’.” - -Ann was laughing at this, and wondered what was coming. “When I first -asked you to play for me, it was partly because I knew you could do it -and partly because I was mad at Suzanne for refusing. Then the girls -wanted me to be president of the sophs this year and I said I would, -so I started out to be a politician. I thought that you had a lot of -influence in your crowd,----” - -Here Ann gasped, stopped in the middle of the walk and looked at -Eleanor, who laughed and continued. - -“And if I got you to liking me you wouldn’t fight me perhaps. The funny -thing was that I got to liking you, on your own account, and I adore -your grandmother, to say nothing of your mother. And while I still will -not refuse the presidency, please punish me by putting up somebody else -and voting for her.” - -“Of _all_ things!” exclaimed Ann. “What on earth makes you tell me -this?” - -“I don’t know myself; only I thought that I’d feel better. I’d like to -be a _real_ friend of yours, and I am ashamed of the way it began.” - -Ann held out her hand. “Shake hands on it, Eleanor. I’m glad to have -as strong a girl as you are for my friend. I’ll have to confess -that I was too much influenced by that ‘forest fire’ conflagration, -and haven’t known until lately how fine you are. I don’t wonder that -Suzanne felt ‘killed’ over your withdrawing from her suite.” - -The girls clasped hands, Eleanor saying that it was too bad not to -be able to exchange sorority “grips”. They walked along after that, -talking of everything else but the recent revelation and the affair -of the suite. “I’ll remember the number, Ann,” said Eleanor, as she -reached their present location and went in, while Ann went on to find -her new quarters. - -“You can help us move,” saucily said Ann, while Eleanor, like Suzanne, -accustomed to a maid at home, lifted her brows and remarked, “Mayhap I -will.” - - * * * * * - -The suite, for whose number Ann was looking, was at the end of another -corridor, which ran at right angles to that on which The Jolly Six -had their quarters. The outside door was unlocked, the key in it, and -there were evidences of fresh dusting and cleaning. Ann ran first to -the window to see what the view might be and found that she looked -out toward the hillside, the little stream and the rustic bridge. “O -lovely, lovely!” she cried, and started back, intending to bring over -an armful of clothes at once. At the door she almost ran into Marta who -was on a similar errand, and remarked that at every turn she ran into -her room-mate. - -“Look here, Marta, isn’t this prodigious?--and splendiferous?” Ann drew -Marta to the window to see the same picturesque hillside. “See that -baby cottontail,--right down under the window,--in those bushes!--now -he’s gone!” - -Marta drew out her slip and pointed to the two names. “Are we really -going to be by ourselves for a bit?” - -The girls exchanged glances and smiles. “It will be easier to study, -but it would have been fun to be in a suite with other girls.” - -“That may happen yet;” said Marta. “Come on, let’s get moved as quickly -as possible. I’m going for an armful of books.” - -“Noble girl! I was thinking of clothes.” - -“What’s the difference? Both of ’em have to come.” - -At Eleanor’s suite there was an excited and happy group of girls. “I -hired one of the chambermaids to pack my trunk and things,” Suzanne was -saying. “Madeline won’t speak to me and I hate to go over there. Ann, -won’t you go over and see that the things in the bureau drawers get in?” - -“Why should I run into trouble, if you do not want to go yourself, my -dear?” asked Ann, delving into her closet and coming out with dresses -and coats. - -“Isn’t she mean?” complained Suzanne, half in earnest. - -“Gracious me, Suzanne,” said Eleanor. “Brace up and go over after your -jewelry and little things. If the girls won’t speak to you, go ahead -anyway. The sooner it’s over the better. _Look_ at Ann!” - -Ann’s load was arranged for her departure on the first trip. One hat, -back to the front, was on her head. In each hand she carried several -shoes, precariously held together, and draped over shoulders and arms -were as many frocks and coats as she could manage. - -“You’ll muss ’em, Ann,” Suzanne suggested. - -“I would be grateful for assistance,” was Ann’s suggestion in return. -“No, not these,” she said, refusing to unload, as Eleanor and Aline ran -to her assistance. “There are others in the closet, friends!” - -Laughingly the girls, even Suzanne, selected a load from those garments -of Marta and Ann which remained in the closet, and the parade down -two corridors began. Other girls, from suites on the way, heard the -laughter and came to look and join in the merriment, or to pick up a -shoe or two, dropped along the way. - -“Oh, isn’t this a ducky suite?” said Suzanne. “See what a pretty rug -there is in the study. I’m glad, Ann, for I feel guilty, turning you -and Marta out in this fashion!” - -“Yes,” said Aline, who had brought the hangers and was trying to help -Marta hang up the frocks. “This looks like the ‘ejections’ you read -about, where people are turned out with all their household furniture -and clothing. We haven’t gotten to the furniture yet!” - -Once started, the girls were having such a good time over it that they -helped with more clothes and the books, until in a short time nearly -everything was carried over, leaving the little things of the “top -drawers” to be packed more leisurely in the suit-cases. - -Ann, who repented of her careless reply to Suzanne, for she saw that -her cousin was really distressed over her own moving, offered to go -over with her, to help pack and oversee the maid, who would need -telling about what clothes to select. She was rewarded by Suzanne’s -gratitude. “O Ann, _will_ you?” she cried. “I shan’t mind so much if -you are with me! Anyhow, I think that Maddy thinks I’m going to room -with you.” - -“It is just as well,” said Ann. “Did you set any time for the maid to -come over?” - -“Yes.” Suzanne looked at her watch. “She could come in about half an -hour. Maybe Genevieve and Maddy are not in the suite yet. _Will_ you -come?” - -They were in Ann’s suite now and Ann looked at the books to be -arranged, thinking, too, of the lessons to be learned. “It’s a mess to -leave you with, Marta,” she said. - -“Go right along,” replied Marta. “I don’t blame Suzanne for not wanting -to go over alone.” - -Fortunately for Suzanne, neither Genevieve nor Madeline were as yet -at home. “They are probably telling the whole school about it,” said -Suzanne resentfully. - -“I can’t blame Madeline much, can you?” remarked Ann. - -“N-no, maybe not,” Suzanne acknowledged. “Nobody knows a thing about -Lora’s coming, I guess.” - -Rapidly the girls packed and placed everything out in plain sight which -was to go in the trunk. The maid arrived and was given directions while -the girls started away, with the smaller articles in Suzanne’s bag and -a suit-case which Ann carried. The trunk might not be sent over until -morning. But after Suzanne and Ann were half way across the intervening -distance, Ann bethought herself of a box which she had forgotten. “I’m -not sure where I left it, Suzanne, so I’d better go right back and get -it. It is the one with some of your treasures,--you remember--that you -packed and gave to me to put in the suit-case. I said I would, and laid -it down while I got something else.” - -“Oh, yes! If you will get it, Ann,--it’s a shame, though.” - -Ann ran back and by the “irony of fate,” as she told Marta afterwards, -had to meet Madeline at the door. “Excuse me, Madeline,” she said. “I -have been helping Suzanne pack up and forgot to get one box.” - -Madeline stepped back, with exaggerated politeness. Ann, who procured -the box as rapidly as possible, thought at first that Madeline was -refusing to speak to her; but as she left the door, Madeline looked -after her and said, “I hope that you are satisfied at last, to get -Suzanne away from me!” - -Ann stopped, surprised, yet knowing how Madeline must feel about it. It -made all the difference possible in the tone of her reply. “Suzanne is -not going to room with me, Madeline.” - -Proceeding on her way down the stairs and out upon the campus, Ann -reproached herself, however for the statement. After all, she _had_ -been glad to “get Suzanne away” from Madeline, though not for the -reason that Madeline supposed. Then she thought of Suzanne’s remark to -Marta about feeling guilty for turning Marta out. Was that sincere, or -for making an impression on Eleanor? Such had been her thought. “Look -here, young lady,” she said to herself, “it’s lots easier to judge -other people than to be perfectly sincere yourself!” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -“RUSHING” ALINE FOR THE “BATS” - - -It was at rather a late hour that evening when Ann and Marta attacked -what Suzanne called “the everlasting lessons”. The Jolly Six had -gathered in to see the new headquarters, and even after study hours had -commenced, Suzanne or Eleanor would whisk around, to say something, -or to bring some little forgotten article. Lora Collier was arriving -late, and according to Suzanne, nobody in the suite could study for the -excitement. “The reputation of the family rests with you, as usual,” -teased Suzanne, a new Suzanne, it seemed, so happy, in spite of a few -twinges of conscience in regard to Madeline. Suzanne’s conscience was -waking up a little. - -“Say, Ann, tell me honestly now,” said Marta, “wouldn’t you have -preferred to stay in the suite with Suzanne?” - -“Who’s been talking to you, Marta Ward?” asked Ann in return. - -“Suzanne and Eleanor made a few remarks that informed me of something -back of all this.” - -“I may as well tell you the whole story now, then,” said Ann, “and -first of all, let me say that while I liked being with Eleanor and -Aline, as long as you were with me, and while I like Suzanne, I should -have been much troubled _about_ you, had Miss Tudor arranged it that -way, and homesick _for_ you, Marta Ward.” - -With this introduction, Arm told Marta all that had happened, from -Suzanne’s first coming to her about Eleanor’s leaving the suite, to -the events of the evening. “And I believe that we are the best off of -all, Marta,” she concluded. “Isn’t this restful and fine? Why, we can -each have a bedroom if we want to,--and all this closet room! The girls -don’t think that we’ll have anybody put in with us at all, though you -will want some one after I go to Florida, as I suppose I shall. Perhaps -you could change then, and room with Lora in Suzanne’s place.” - -“Time enough to think of that later. I’m glad that everybody is so -happy. It is too bad about Madeline, though.” - -“She likes Genevieve. They are really more congenial, and you’ll see -her getting over this,--if for no other reason than that Suzanne is -sister to a very handsome brother.” - -“Why, Ann!” - -“That is rather terrible for me to say, isn’t it? But ‘mark my -words’,--and it will make Suzanne feel better. Trust Miss Tudor, too, -to do something to fix Genevieve and Madeline. For all Madeline said -what she did to me, she wasn’t the least bit cast down.” - -“We are going to have a lot of company here, Ann.” - -“Indeed we are. We’ll have to _plan_, to get all our lessons in, -because of the rushing, and we’ll begin with Aline!” - -“_Aline?_ You haven’t suddenly taken leave of your senses, have you, my -dear room-mate?” - -“Not yet, Marta. Aline’s mother was a Beta Alpha Tau. Her mother died -not so very long ago, it seems, and Aline won’t hear to going into -the Sig-Eps. Naturally, she hasn’t offered herself to the Bats, and I -wondered why in the world the Sig-Eps hadn’t initiated her long ago. -Eleanor herself told me!” - -At that astonishing statement, Marta almost gasped. “It behooves us to -get right at it, then,” she said, “and we must find out about the other -new girls right away. There was a fine looking girl at dinner with -Genevieve. She was rather over-dressed, but looked like a girl of some -force, and Genevieve was being too nice to her for words.” - -Ann nodded assent “I saw her,” she said. “But we’ll get in touch with -the senior girls tomorrow and ask what they know and what they want us -to do. I know that they will want Aline, as much as if we had had a -meeting.” - -“By the way, did you hear Katherine tell me that a meeting is called -for tomorrow afternoon, right after lessons, after last hour, and that -meanwhile we are to find out all we can about the new girls. We can’t -take many in this year, you know, because our number is so nearly -filled.” - -“But we must not miss any especially fine girls,” said Ann. “The others -will be just as anxious as we are, so we must arrange to meet them.” - -“What do you think about our numbers?” - -“It always seems to me, Marta, that a sorority that has a comparatively -large number of members in the chapter stands a chance of not being -so ‘exclusive’, which is the main criticism, Mother says, upon the -sororities. However, let the authorities concern themselves about it. -As long as they have ’em, and especially one as ‘chawming’ as the Bats, -and I belong to it, I’m not worrying. At the same time, I can’t think -it all there is of school life, like some of the girls, can you, Marta?” - -“I should say not! But it is lots of fun. Hurrah for the Beta Alpha -Taus!” - - * * * * * - -On the following afternoon, a group of merry girls were arranging -themselves upon the hillside for a meeting. Some had brought cushions. -Others found convenient stone or rock; and still others sat down upon -the green hill itself, with its grass, weeds and vines. - -“Look out there, Kit,” warned Lucile Early. “There is some poison ivy -near that bush.” - -“It never poisons me,” replied Katherine Neville, pulling aside some -sticks from the place she had chosen. - -“Where is poison ivy?” asked Ethel Johns, jumping up. “It poisons me -all right. That summer I went to camp I spent two weeks in the little -hospital room from being poisoned by it.” - -Lucile moved over to the other side of what was forming itself into a -circle and sat down by Dorothy Horton. The Jolly Six was out in force, -for here came the other two members, Ann Sterling and Marta Ward. “Ho -there, Dots,” laughed Ann, “may I sit down by you?” - -“Come right along,” Dorothy invited, and Ann threw a cushion down, -then dropped upon it, leaning over to engage in a low conversation -with Dorothy. There were many secrets in the air now. Exchange of -experiences or of facts was going on around the circle. The senior -girls carried the greatest responsibility. The junior girls came next, -in dignities and consultation; then, the new sophomores, eager to help -with the important activities on hand. It was wonderful not to be a -freshman any longer. A whole year of experience made a Forest Hill girl -something more than a mere initiate. Her feet were founded upon the -rock of residence, familiarity and enthusiasm. It was her school home, -beloved, dearest of colleges! - -Ann had no thought of any trouble in persuading the girls that Aline -would make a desirable member. The only contingency that might arise -was one of numbers, in case the older girls had those in the upper -classes whom they wanted to add to the sorority. - -Sorority meetings and sorority affairs are shrouded in much secrecy. -One would scarcely dare describe one of the official meetings, so to -speak. And as for those prescribing the duties of faithful members -or the rites of initiation, what dire consequences might follow one -shudders to consider! But this meeting was an ordinary, informal -gathering, designed only to consider ways and means in the important -provision for handing the Beta Alpha Taus down to future ages. - -There were several preliminary interruptions, due to the difficulty of -getting settled. “All ready, Alice?” asked the secretary, who had come -without any paper and had just secured an old envelope from the sweater -pocket of a friend. From another she borrowed a short pencil. - -“You’re a great secretary, Jean,” remarked the one who surrendered the -pencil. “I suppose that I’ll never see that again, either.” This was -said laughingly, with no intent to wound. - -“I hadn’t a minute to get ready. Alice called me and told me to come -right over, that we would be late. Yes, perhaps I _can_ remember to -hand back your precious pencil. You must have had it last year, I -think, and when was it sharpened last?” - -“I found it, in the table drawer of my new suite,” laughed the lender. - -“Ow,--girls!” A girl on the opposite side of the circle jumped up with -what Virgil would have termed a feminine shriek. “Look out! There he -goes!” - -Half the girls were on their feet by this time, but Ann and Dots, who -had seen the dire monster glide in a different direction from their -position, sat laughing. - -“What on earth!” - -“What is it!” - -“I nearly sat _down_ on it!” - -“A garter snake, girls,” announced Alice, who was Alice Mann, the -present head of the “Bats”. “Hurry up, please, and get in order. We -haven’t much time before dinner. Come to order at once, please.” Alice -was clapping her hands; and several other girls, who were quietly -sitting and ready, softly seconded her clapping. In a moment all was -quiet, though several girls still nervously looked about them, to make -sure that none of the hated species was near. - -“We shall come right to the point, and I want to hear from those who -have names to propose for our consideration. We shall not elect, I -suppose. Then I want to know how we shall arrange for our first -informal banquet and whom we shall invite. We’ll have to do what we are -going to do right away, if we get our bids in first with several, who -know nothing about our sororities and will go with the jolliest or most -attentive crowd.” - -“Madam President.” - -“Miss Price.” - -“I propose that inasmuch as we took in a larger number of freshmen than -usual last year, we bring in a number of upper classmen, some juniors -and seniors that made good last year and did not enter a sorority, and -also look up a few juniors that have just come in. Then, of course, -we’d better add a few freshmen. We have enough in the present sophomore -class.” - -Ann looked at Dorothy in dismay. “We’ll vote against that,” she -whispered. “What’s the _matter_ with her?” - -“Have you a list of girls that you think eligible?” asked Alice Mann. - -“Yes; shall I read it?” - -“If you please.” - -“That is all set up,” whispered Dorothy, “but I suppose they had to -have some idea.” - -The girls listened while the list was read, and when it was finished -its reader sat down, several girls were on their feet at once. The -president recognized one of them. - -“Madam President, is there a motion before the house?” - -“Miss Price, did you offer that list or your suggestion as a motion?” - -“Yes,--if you want one to start on.” - -“Very well, Miss Price moves that we elect from the juniors, seniors -and freshmen,--is that right?” - -“Madam President,----” - -“In a moment. Is there a second to that motion?” - -“I second it.” - -“Very well. The motion has been moved and seconded that we elect from -the seniors, juniors and freshmen. Any remark? Now, girls a motion -is before the house and I suppose that you can talk about it all you -please.” - -The girls who had first risen were still standing and were recognized -in turn. - -“Madam President, I suppose that it is not necessary to talk about -the motion, is it? In Congress they talk about everything on earth -sometimes, so my father says.” - -Alice laughed a little. “If you follow the example of Congress, I’m -afraid we’ll not get anywhere this afternoon. It is not necessary to be -too formal anyhow. Get to work!” - -Katherine was standing now. “Madam President, as a sophomore, I do not -like to have my class discriminated against. Suppose that we fail to -pass that motion and substitute one that merely suggests the offering -of suitable names from any class. We can use our judgment afterwards in -selection.” - -A little further discussion followed. Then the president put the -“crazy” motion--this was Dots’ term for it,--and it was lost. Katherine -was permitted to put a different motion. The list was read again. One -or two other girls presented additional names and then Ann was on her -feet. - -“As one of the sophomore members I feel a little timid about presenting -names, particularly since it has been suggested that we have enough -sophomores. I acknowledge, too, that we have; but there is one fine -girl that I am sure none of you know, or knew last year, would be -eligible. The Sig-Eps have done their best to get her,--of that I was -told by a loyal Sig-Ep--but this girl’s mother was a Bat, which we did -not know, though I suppose it is in the records.” - -The girls were listening intently. Who could it be that had been rushed -by the Sig-Eps and wouldn’t join? - -Ann avoided telling the name a little longer. “It isn’t so very long -since her mother died and that makes her all the more ready to join -her mother’s society, I think. Now, Madam President, do you think that -you could consider her name if I should give it? Indeed I am ready to -propose her at once, for she is gifted in several different ways and a -lovely girl that everybody likes, so far as I know.” - -“Who is it, Ann? Who is it?” came from several sources, sophomore as -well; for in the rush of events, Ann had not had time to talk privately -with any of the Jolly Six or her other friends. - -“I am sure that we are all anxious, Miss Sterling, to know who the girl -is,” said Alice, again clapping her hands for order. - -“I haven’t even had time to talk it over with anybody except my -room-mate since I found out. This girl, too, has made no effort, I -assure you, to let it be known that she favors the Bats. I understood -that her room-mate found it out accidentally. She is Aline Robson.” - -“Aline!” - -“Why, I supposed that she was already a Sig!” - -“Let’s not miss Aline,--it will make a sensation all right!” - -“Let’s have her in right away and give her a big initiation to impress -the natives!” - -“What is your pleasure, ladies?” laughed Alice, who was as surprised as -any one. Aline, small, reserved, but gifted and industrious, had made -an impression upon her schoolmates in the one year that she had been -with them. “Miss Price,” Alice continued, recognizing that young woman, -one of the seniors. - -“I want to withdraw what I said about our having enough sophomores. -Honestly, girls, I believe that it will make a stir and a good -impression for us if we get Aline in instanter. Madam President, -I move that we waive all rules and put it through now, sending Ann -Sterling to present Aline with our invitation and bid to the greatest -sorority in Forest Hill college!” - -“Hear, hear!” - -There was no objection and presently the deed was done. Ann was to see -Aline at the close of the meeting. But there were other interesting -matters. The girls began to talk about other desirable members. - -“This girl, fellow Bats,” said one of the juniors, “comes from another -school, with all kinds of honors, for one thing; and while I do not -like to speak of such a mundane matter, she also has plenty of money, -which would help like everything in getting our new cottage that has -recently been suggested.” - -“Fie, fie,” jokingly said Dots. - -“Well, I know the Bats are not a ‘society’ crowd, but we are not blind -to the fact that if those who are fine girls anyhow are able to help us -out financially, it is no drawback. I’m one of the practical sort!” - -“The ‘root of all evil’, Jane!” - -“You have it wrong,--it’s the _love_ of money that’s the ‘root of all -evil’!” - -So it went. One girl was good and interesting, but would not “fit in” -with the rest. Another pleased everybody. A committee was appointed to -find out more about these girls and others before a second meeting to -be held that evening after dinner. “It is too soon, girls,” said one -distressed member of the committee. “It’s nearly dinner time now!” - -“Very well,” said the president of the meeting. “Come around to our -suite when the bell rings for the close of study hours,--and come ‘tout -de suite’, too.” - -“Listen to Alice’s French, and punning, too!” - -“Wait a minute, Ann,” called Alice, as Ann, happy in the thought of -Aline, was about to leave, with Katherine and Lucile, it happened. - -Ann waited for Alice, who put her arm over Ann’s shoulder as they -walked toward the buildings. “You know, don’t you, Ann, that it is best -not to be too precipitate in a thing of this sort?” - -Ann looked inquiringly at Alice. “You mean not to take it for granted -that Aline is ready to fall into our arms at once?” - -“Yes. The girls, of course, will not do or say one thing till they get -the report from you.” - -“I have been wondering how to manage it,” said Ann. “I know Aline -pretty well by this time, especially since we came very near to being -suite-mates. Still, the Bats haven’t paid her any particular attention -since the first of last year.” - -“We did then, didn’t we? That makes it a little better.” - -“Yes, but then we thought that it was not best to bid her,--she was so -surrounded with the Sig-Eps and so intimate with Eleanor, though they -didn’t room together. Of course I did not know about it then, but I -heard Katherine and Dots talk about it.” - -Alice walked along without saying anything further for a few moments. -“How would it do, Ann, if after dinner we get hold of Aline, some of -our crowd, maybe go outdoors, or bring her around to our suite, as it -happens; and then when you go back to your building, I will stroll -along with you and perhaps say something about our having found out -that she had not joined the Sig-Eps, and being glad of it, or something -like that--you never can tell what is best to say until the times -comes.” - -“That is one reason why you are at the head of the Betas, Alice,” said -Ann. “You always _do_ know just the nice thing to say!” - -“Thanks, Ann. You are a loyal Beta Alpha Tau. I’m certainly glad that -we got you in! Well, now, after what I am going to say has been said, -and of course Aline will know anyhow, having been here a year, what we -Bats are after,--then the way will be paved for you to have a serious -little talk with her. Just tell her the facts, Ann, for they are -certainly complimentary, the interest the girls took and how they want -her. But I want a lot of our girls to meet her beforehand, anyhow, for -the ‘psychological effect’.” - -“I’m so glad, Alice, that you thought of this, because while we do -want to hurry it up, it ought to be done in the right way. Goodbye. -I’ll tag on to Aline and tell her that I want to see her about -something, if I can’t get her away from her crowd in any other way.” - -“Very well, Ann, goodbye till after dinner! The rushing season for -Aline will be short I hope.” - -“Yes; and I’m so glad that you think we’ll have a special feast to -celebrate her coming in,--if she does, and I’m pretty sure of it, on -account of her mother you know.” - -Ann ran happily over to her suite, to hug Marta in the excess of her -emotions, and to tell her about the plan of attack. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -AT “POLLY’S” ONCE MORE - - -How hard it was to study these first days, when so much of importance -to the Beta Alpha Taus and the other sororities was “hanging in the -balance”! Marta and Ann scored success in their work only by early -rising. It was fortunate for Ann that her heaviest work had been done -in her first year. She still had a few extra hours to make up, but they -were divided between the first and second semesters and were in studies -which were not particularly hard for Ann. She concentrated her powers -during regular study hours, rose an hour early, and spent the rest of -the time, those happy hours between lessons and meals, in the service -of the Beta Alpha Taus and the “Owls”, her literary society. It was -great fun to “cast dull care away”, as she told Marta, and have a good -time with the girls. Walks, rowing, canoeing, swimming, climbing the -hills, usually with some new girls in tow,--everything took on a new -pleasure and excitement. The “rushing season” was decidedly thrilling. - -But alas for “best-laid plans” again! The desired hurrying of Aline -into the ranks of Beta Alpha Tau was not so easily accomplished. That -evening, after dinner, Aline responded pleasantly to the overture of -the Bats. It was natural enough that Ann should be with her, and some -of the other members of the Jolly Six; but she naturally noticed the -fact that attention was being paid her by the senior and junior girls -of the sorority. Not for nothing had Aline spent a year in a girls’ -school. - -When, noticing that all the girls, with the exception of two new girls, -were Betas, she was about to refuse an invitation to Alice’s suite and -slip away, Alice informed her that she was particularly desired. “You -do not know my especial brand of fudge,” she said, and Ann joined in, -with the remark that no one who ever tasted it was known to refuse a -second invitation. “Come on, Aline. We won’t stay but a minute if you -have anything important to do. I’ve got to get to work, too.” - -Aline yielded, and had as fine a time as anybody. Alice’s fudge was -all that had been claimed for it, and the study bell rang before the -gay conversation ceased. The girls hastily brought their visiting to -a close and started out, Ann slipping her arm through Aline’s and not -hurrying. Alice followed and strolled a little beyond the door of the -senior cottage, where she and her suite-mates occupied a first floor -suite. Over the campus, girls were making their way to cottages or to -the music rooms. - -“I must go back, girls,” said Alice, turning to Aline, and taking both -her hands. “We Betas, Aline, have only _just discovered_ that you did -not join the Sigs! ‘Animus meminisse horret’! I can hardly forgive the -Sigs for letting the impression get out that you were theirs,--Ann, you -tell her about it, and humbly recommend your Beta sisters!” - -With this, Alice smilingly left the girls, turning back at the door for -a last glimpse. - -“Well!” exclaimed Aline. “Alice is your president, or ‘chief,’ or head -executioner, or whatever you call it, isn’t she?” - -“Yes.” - -“Her quotation from the pious Aeneas was cute. I am wondering what all -this means, of course; but I don’t know whether I want you to talk to -me about it or not, as she suggested.” - -Ann was a little surprised. “I’ll not, if you do not want me to, Aline, -but I have some things that I would like to say to you. It is perfectly -true that we have just found out that you are not a Sig-Ep; and we know -that it is by no fault of _theirs_ that you are not. Are you pledged to -some other sorority, Aline?” - -“No. I didn’t mean that, Ann, but I hate the ‘rushing’. It always seems -so insincere to me, and when I noticed the older girls in the crowd, I -felt embarrassed. I don’t mean, Ann,” Aline added, noticing that Ann -seemed a little subdued, “that I thought anything insincere tonight. -I enjoyed the fun. Isn’t Dots a case?--and that Jane Price!” Aline -laughed in recollection. - -“Well, Aline, I don’t want to urge you to anything you do not want to -do. We’ll start out on that basis. You know most of the Beta Alpha Taus -and what sort of girls they are, so it is not necessary to recommend -them, even ‘humbly’, as Alice said. You are perfectly able to make -up your mind on that without assistance! What I want to tell you is -in regard to how bad we want you to join us and what happened this -afternoon. I’ll ask you to remember that you had a little rushing from -the Bats last year, till they thought it of no use. My! It makes me -sick to think of it,--but maybe you wouldn’t have joined us anyway.” - -Aline made no reply to this. - -“This was our first meeting this afternoon, Aline, to plan the -campaign. Various girls were brought up,--their names, I mean,--as -desirable to consider, but there was no thought of bidding any one -to-day, until your name was suggested and the fact was made known that -you were not a Sig. I wish you could have heard the girls! They surely -will feel bad if you turn us down, for I am authorized to invite you to -join the Betas and as soon as possible. It was unusual, Aline, just as -it is unusual for me to tell about one of our meetings.” - -There was a pause. Then Aline replied, “Ann, I--but thank you and the -rest of the Betas very, very much, I don’t know. Last year, I suspect -I might have joined you. Mother was a member of your sorority. But now, -so many of my friends are Sigs,--” - -“But you aren’t joining the sorority, are you? I happen to know that -they want you as much as ever.” - -“No, on account of Mother; and, well, I don’t care for all of them, you -know, girls like Genevieve and Madeline.” - -“Are there any of the Betas that you object to?” - -“Oh, no!” - -Ann did not know what else to say. They had stopped in the lower hall -of the Castle to finish their private conversation and were in constant -danger of being interrupted. “Well, Aline,” she finally said, “think -it over. I hope that you can tell me tomorrow. You will receive a more -formal notice and note from Alice, through the secretary, tomorrow -anyhow. But the girls wanted me to tell you tonight and they hope very -earnestly that you will see your way clear to join us.” - -“You are a dear, Ann,” said Aline, “I will----” - -But here came Eleanor from one of the downstairs suites. “Here you are, -Aline, I wondered what was keeping you. I’ve stayed over time. We’d -better get to work, if Bunny does not get us and give us a black mark.” - -“I want to see you about something tomorrow, Eleanor,” said Ann. “Keep -a date for me, will you?” - -Laughingly Eleanor said that she would and went up the stairs with -Aline, Ann behind them. - - * * * * * - -No one had thought of the fact that the girls were not supposed to -leave their own halls after the bell for the close of study hours -had rung. The Betas would scarcely want to antagonize or deceive the -authorities for their meeting, Marta said, when she and Ann thought -about it, and this conclusion was confirmed when a rap on the door -came just before the bell rang. It was Alice, who stood just inside -the door, closing it, to tell them that the meeting was “off”, and to -ask what Aline had told Ann. Alice shook her head doubtfully when Ann -told her of the conversation. “I hope we get her, but I don’t know,” -said she. “We’ll have a short meeting tomorrow noon, before lunch,--at -the rustic bridge. If it rains, we’ll meet on the big porch of the -senior cottage, or in my suite, if there are too many around. Please -tell the other girls, Ann, and I’ll not take the time to go there. -Bunny challenged me, to give the countersign, in the hall; but I had -permission!” - -“What is the countersign, Alice?” laughed Marta, but Alice only flung -up her hand in a salute and disappeared down the corridor. - -“She’s an awfully nice girl,” said Marta. “I’ll be sorry to have the -senior group go out of Forest Hill this year.” - -“Yes, won’t you?” - -The next day was Ann’s busiest day. She had no opportunity to talk -with any of her friends if she had her lessons, except bits of chat on -the way to and from class; and then, indeed, Ann’s mind was full of the -coming lessons. - -The noon meeting was what Marta called short and sweet. It was decided -to have a “spread” at Polly’s, whether Aline joined then or not. They -would make it a guest affair, inviting Aline and the few other girls, -whom they wanted to meet the Beta Alpha Taus _en masse_, in the hope of -interesting them. - -“We’ll make it an afternoon tea, girls,” said Jane, “if you approve; -and we’ll have darling little invitations, hand painted, with parrots -in one corner. Who paints? You do, Lucile, and Alice,----” Jane looked -around for more artists, and several hands went up. - -“Good. There won’t be many to do, of course, so it will take very -little time.” - -“How about place cards?” Alice inquired. The group must have presented -an odd appearance, for they all stood close, arms about each other, or -peering over shoulders at Alice and Jane, who were in the center. - -“Sure enough. Well, we’ll make them much like the invitations and do it -all at the same time. Put the motion, Alice, please.” - -The gong rang for lunch as the “Bats” passed their resolution to have -the Saturday afternoon spread at Polly’s, if permitted. Alice was to -see about that. - -In the evening after dinner, Eleanor joined Ann in the parlors, where -a group of girls were singing to Ann’s playing. Eleanor sang with -them, and, with Lora, made such attractive music that even Bunny, who, -the girls said, hated music and was fit for “treason, stratagem and -spoils”, put her head in at the hall door, and stepped in at last to -listen. - -But the little group presently began to break up, for the outdoors -called them. Eleanor leaned over Ann and asked, “What did you want to -see me about, Ann? Was it Aline?” - -“Yes. How did you guess?” - -“Because you were with Aline, did not tell _her_ what you wanted to see -me about, and she had been off with a lot of you Bats.” - -“Smart girl. Yes, that is it. You were good enough to let me know that -she would not join the Sigs, so I thought that I would ask your advice -on how to get her with us. She hesitates on your account, I think. -Wouldn’t the Sigs all understand that Aline would join us because it is -her mother’s sorority?” - -“_I_ would,” replied Eleanor, “but I don’t know. You know how funny -some girls are.” - -“Yes, but suppose it runs on and Aline does not join _any_ sorority. -I think that she will be sorry not to have had the fun of it and the -pleasant friendships. It isn’t as if we were all at swords’ points -with each other. Miss Tudor has certainly kept her word about having a -lot of them! We compete in the rushing season, of course, and sometimes -mean things are said; but after all, nobody takes it so very seriously. -Don’t you agree with me?” - -“To a certain extent. Your sorority in a way does determine your more -intimate friendships. You are with that group of girls more, and some -of the girls are pretty snobbish about it.” - -Now Ann had thought that Eleanor belonged to that type. It was -interesting to hear Eleanor herself mention snobbery and, in a sense, -disclaim it. - -“I will talk with Aline,” continued Eleanor, “if I have a good -opportunity, at least to let her know that I will not stand in her way. -We can be just as good friends, though I _very much regret_ not having -her in the same sorority, and, Ann, I’ll ask her once more, finally, if -she will not come with us!” - -“You have a perfect right to do that, Eleanor. If Aline joins us, I -want it to be because she wants to, as well as for the reason that her -mother was a member. That is, I don’t want her to feel forced to come -in,--well, you know what I mean.” - -“Yes. I’ll talk to Aline tonight. After that, go ahead. Aline may come -to you herself. Perhaps she’d rather. I suppose that she was to answer -your proposition, if you made one?” - -“I did; and she said that she would think it over. Say, Eleanor, you -will not talk this over with any of the other Sigs, will you? I did -not give the source of my information on Aline’s not having joined the -Sigs.” - -“This is between Aline and me,” said Eleanor. - - * * * * * - -It was on Friday night, the one before the Saturday tea at Polly’s, -when Aline came around to Ann’s suite and found her alone. Aline -carried in her hand the pretty card of invitation with its gay little -parrot. It bore the letters “R.S.V.P.” upon it and Aline had already -accepted, to Marta’s and Ann’s delight. But for a moment Ann felt -startled. Could it be, after all, that Aline would not come, that there -was not a bit of hope for the “Bats”? But she welcomed Aline and made -her sit in the best rocker, where the view was prettiest. - -“‘The shades of night are falling fast,’ Aline, but you can see my -favorite hilltop and a few pink and lavender streaks from the sunset. -Going to society meeting?” - -“Yes; aren’t you?” - -“Oh, yes. I have too many lessons for next week to do it, but I have -tried staying home from the meeting and could not accomplish anything.” - -“So have I. I work better, anyhow, when the pressure is on and I -haven’t time to get what I’m getting!” - -“Me, too!” - -“Well, Ann,--I suspect that you think I’ve taken my time about deciding -whether to join the Bats or not.” - -Ann’s heart was in her mouth,--so she afterward declared. “Better be -slow than come to a wrong decision,” she said. “And you have to get -acquainted with our girls, too,--the ones in the upper classes, at -least. You accepted our invitation to the tea at Polly’s tomorrow, -didn’t you?” - -“Yes,” replied Aline, “but,----” - -Ann’s heart sank again. - -“I felt some way, Ann, that,--well, I’d rather decide before I went to -your social gathering, and so I came around to tell you that I have -decided to be a Bat!” - -“Oh, oh, oh,--how wonderful that is,--you dear old Aline! Why, I was -simply scared to death when you began that way! Did you realize how my -heart was going down into my toes? Aline! You _mean_ it and will _join_ -us!” - -“I certainly do; but why, what did I say that made you think I was -going to refuse?” - -“Why, your hesitation. ‘Yes,’ you had accepted the invitation, -‘but,’--wait till I call Marta and the girls, _please_,” for Aline, -rather embarrassed, was rising to go. - -“All right, I’ll stay, then.” Aline sat down, while Ann flew up the -corridor, knocked and opened the door with sad lack of propriety, -calling, “Kit, Dots,--everybody, come around to our suite and meet a -new Bat!” - -Dorothy came hurrying toward Ann with extended arms. “Is it Aline?” - -“Aline it is,” said Ann, rapturously returning Dorothy’s hug, and -turning to meet the happy looks of the other girls, who rushed up to -ask her how and wherefore. “I’ll answer all questions another time,” -said she. “Come around now to welcome her! Isn’t it fine?” - -In a trice the entire Jolly Six surrounded Aline with affectionate and -sincere greetings. Aline herself was happy, now that the deed was done -and there was no retreat. It had been regrets in regard to Eleanor that -had been the chief obstacle. Those Eleanor’s generosity had removed, -for Aline’s sake. Ann felt like giving her the entire credit, but -it was a thing that could not be mentioned without spoiling it all. -Together they all went to the literary society meeting, as “Owls,” -happily anticipating the banquet of the morrow. It would, in spite of -the former uncertainty, celebrate Aline’s decision! - - * * * * * - -“Polly’s” was decorated in attractive style, for the Beta Alpha Tau tea -was not the only one given upon that Saturday afternoon. “Polly” had -taken over other rooms, in the same building and on the same floor, -which were made to connect, but offered some privacy for separate -parties. Ann well remembered her first lunch in that popular place, -when she saw Suzanne, decked in all her glory, proudly accompanying the -Sigma Epsilons in a similar feast. For some reason the Sigs were not in -the number of guests at the Polly Inn that Saturday. There were rumors, -too, of a split in the ranks and trouble over the type of girls that -were to be “bid.” Genevieve and Madeline were said to lead one faction; -Eleanor, and girls who made her list of particular friends, another. - -There was much going back and forth between suites, with many -consultations and queries as to what would be suitable to wear. A -junior girl, one who had been considered by the Bats as most desirable, -asked Ann what she should wear and begged her to come to the junior -cottage, to help her select. Ann was surprised to be regarded as -authority on clothes, but readily consented. “You are dressed in such -good taste, I notice,” said the junior, “and I want to wear what is -customary here. I’d know what to put on at home.” - -In pretty afternoon dresses, with hats and gloves, the girls made the -’buses that took them to town look like moving rainbows, and they -fluttered into “Polly’s” with happy faces. Ann, as one of the old girls -now, had no more wonderings as to whether she should fit this or that -occasion. Her background was established. Ann’s distinctly interesting -personality, her independence of character, the high quality of her -work and the charm of her pleasant ways and sincerity had made her -known, not only in her own class but in the school. Her chief delight -at present was that Aline had accepted the Betas’ bid and that she was -present as not merely a guest but a prospective initiate. - -“Now, if we can only get the other girls that we want,” she thought, as -she looked around the long table and noted with what care Alice and the -senior girls in charge had seated the guests, their place cards next -those girls who were good entertainers and especially attractive. “It’s -certainly no harm to put our best foot foremost,” she thought, and said -as much to Lucile, who happened to sit on the other side of her. - -Lucile nodded and gave her a meaning look, or what was intended to be -one. “Do your best,” she whispered, with a glance at the junior who had -turned out to be in Ann’s charge, with a junior “Bat” on the other side -of her. - -With so much information about the school to be given and received, -and with the natural excitement and pleasure incident to the beginning -of a new school year, subjects of conversation were not lacking. The -new girls could scarcely help enjoying the atmosphere of fun and good -humor which prevailed, the stories of funny events, school delights and -calamities, and the very presence of the prettily dressed, merry girls. -Last but not least, as more than one of the Bats said, Polly’s “eats” -were neither to be despised nor easily forgotten! - - - - -CHAPTER X - -CONSIDERING VARIOUS THINGS - - -In the whirl of events it is not to be supposed that Ann forgot home -affairs. Sometimes, when lights were out and she composed herself for -the night, she had a sudden pang of homesickness. Once some noise -wakened her in the middle of the night and she blushed in the darkness -to think of how prudishly she had talked to Maurice on one occasion. -“What must he think of me!” she thought. Yet there was an impulsiveness -about Maurice that warranted caution. She did like him very, very much, -and had appreciated the real affection with which he had received -her into the family circle. As she lay awake, unable to fall asleep -again for some time, she fancied them all there at her grandmother’s -home. How was her mother enjoying it? It was not likely that she would -let Ann know details, if they were annoying. How were Grandmother’s -business affairs coming on? Would Aunt Sue and Uncle Tyson really take -advantage of her confidence? Grandmother was pretty wide awake about -things now. - -Then she pictured her father in Montana,--so far, far away! It was -hard on him to have Mother gone. She wondered if she would ever hear -again from the old Indian, Never-Run, and her hand stole under her -pillow to a small silk bag which her mother had made her. In this, -unless she forgot it, she put the curious bracelet Never-Run had given -her, together with certain precious mementos, the pretty jewelry that -she had received from her grandmother at different times, and often -what cash she had on hand. It was convenient for burglars, but also -handy to swing on her arm during fire drill, which might or might not -be the real thing. Her little ruby and diamond ring she usually wore, -as well as her wrist watch. “It must be nearly morning,” she thought -at last, after tossing for what seemed hours; but she had forgotten -to put her flashlight under her pillow and was afraid to waken Marta -by getting up. Finally she began to doze, and after a wild dream in -which she and Maurice were dashing along a narrow mountain road, with -Clifford on “Clipper” after them and calling to them to stop, she fell -sound asleep. - - * * * * * - -The Beta Alpha Taus were pretty well satisfied with the results of -their “rushing” season. There were a few disappointments, to be sure, -for other sororities were after some of the same girls. But they added -a small number of desirable and attractive Forest Hill girls, including -the new junior that liked Ann. Alice said, with some satisfaction, -that they “had enough” and their share. The Owls, too, employed their -activities in securing new members. Ann said that they scarcely had -time to work at what they were supposed to come to school for, until -sorority and society matters were settled. Fortunately, that was always -done early; then the girls settled down to work with a better grace. - -Ann and Marta congratulated themselves on their own good opportunity; -for while their suite was often full of girls and gradually was -becoming a central meeting place for Owls and Bats, according to -Eleanor, who was herself an Owl, their study hours were quiet. They -spread out their belongings all over the suite, till Marta said she -hardly knew how they would “condense,” in case Miss Tudor sent some one -to share it with them. But the weeks flew on to the middle of the term -and they had not been disturbed. - -Meanwhile, Madeline and Suzanne had effected a truce, spoke to each -other and were able to meet in functions of the Sigma Epsilons without -indulging in any side flings of unpleasantness. Genevieve, also, -was able to acknowledge Eleanor’s presence by cool bows. This state -of things had been brought about through sister Sigs, who told both -Madeline and Genevieve that it would not do, and urged Suzanne and -Eleanor to apologize. This Ann learned through Aline and Eleanor. It -helped the situation marvelously, said Aline, that Miss Tudor had -removed the temporary suite-mate whom Genevieve and Madeline did not -like, and filled the suite by placing there two new girls, a “wee bit” -flashy in appearance, but more sensible than Genevieve or Madeline. -One of the girls was the daughter of a millionaire, by report, and -Genevieve, with superior airs, let it be understood that the personnel -of the suite was perfectly satisfactory and much superior to what it -would have been had Eleanor and Suzanne remained. This, of course, was -not put in so many words, merely implied. But it reached Eleanor, who -shrugged her shoulders and passed it on to Suzanne, always delighted -to have the least of confidences from Eleanor. The new girls with -Genevieve and Madeline were taken into the same sorority, though late -in the term. - -In spite of Ann’s best efforts, she could not get in any extra practice -hours, as she had intended. The literary work, which she was too proud -to neglect, took up the greater part of her time. Outside of her -regular practice period, however, there were occasions on which she -accompanied the girls, either Eleanor or Lora, or found a few minutes -in between to practice on some solo for a society meeting. Her teacher -said that she was advancing, which was encouraging, but it did not -satisfy Ann’s ambition. She almost envied Marta, who was making the -music course her particular object; but she knew that her parents -would not hear to her dropping out of the regular course. - -“The trouble with me, Marta,” she said, “is that I am too divided up. I -can’t pursue one thing, like you.” - -“Don’t worry, Ann. You will have a fine foundation for ’most anything -later on and your fingers are gifted. I’ve got to get something as -quickly as possible, for I’m going to make most of my income when I get -out of college. So I propose to make it doing what I like best.” - -Mr. Sterling wrote to his daughter occasionally, from Montana, where he -was, as usual, busily employed with ranch affairs and other matters. -But it was from her mother that Ann learned the most about her father’s -doings. - -Maurice wrote one gay letter toward the beginning of the term, with -no reference to anything discussed between them. He signed himself, -however, “Yours, in spite of discouragements.” - -Clifford Hart wrote several interesting letters, chiefly about school -matters, though he urged her to take good care of herself and not to -forget her Montana friends or the good old days. From Kendall Gordon, -who took such a fancy to Ann during the summer, she received more -than one carefully written message, more formal than those from Cliff -and Maurice, yet expressing considerable interest in Ann and her -surroundings. Ann was grown up, she thought sometimes. She heard from -Inga and Hilda, her two partly Swedish girl friends. Greta was too busy -to write, she supposed. Inga was going to school again. Poor Inga, so -gifted, so tied! Grandmother had expressed an interest in Inga. Ann -wondered if Grandmother could not have done something for Inga. But -home and duty came first, she supposed. Perhaps some day Inga would -have an opportunity to develop that wonderful voice. - -One afternoon her thoughts had been turned upon home affairs, as she -lay resting upon their couch in the central study. Marta was away -practicing. Ann had just returned from her last class after a full day. -There was plenty of time to get ready for dinner and she was too lazy -to study before that. Stretched out, she almost dozed off, when Eleanor -tapped and came in. - -“For once!” exclaimed Eleanor. “For once, I do not find you -studying--are you sick?” - -Ann laughed and rubbed her eyes. “Not a bit of it! ‘Sick’ because I -was not studying? I didn’t know that I had such a terrible reputation -as that. But I have had to dig in a good deal between times of society -rushing, banquets, feasts, and one thing or another. How do you like -being president of the sophomore class?” - -“It is not a very hard duty,--but I am surprised over it.” - -“Reward of merit,” laughed Ann. - -“I think that you had a hand in it, in spite of what I said to you.” - -“Maybe I did; but, of course, if we could have elected a Bat,----” Ann -lifted her brows and left it there. - -“I didn’t work for it, Ann.” - -“I know you didn’t, but some of the rest of us did. We had had a Bat -the freshman year, and it was only fair, besides, we wanted a girl like -you, and so it happened. Honestly, Eleanor, I wouldn’t have believed -the first of last year that you and I would ever be friends like this; -would you?” - -“No, Ann, but we are never going to stop being friends, I hope.” - -“Not a bit of it. You’ll come out to Montana next summer, won’t you?” - -“I will if I can. Couldn’t you and Suzanne come to our place this year -some time, say the spring vacation?” - -“It would be lovely, Eleanor, but I suppose that our plans are too -indefinite to make any definite ones for me.” - -“By the way, what I came in for was to bring you a letter from your -mother, I suppose. The mail was just being put in our boxes as I came -away and Marta gave me this for you. She said that she was going off -somewhere, I’ve forgotten where, with Ethel Johns, and would not be -back till just before dinner.” Eleanor opened one of two books which -she had been carrying and took out the letter, which she handed to Ann. - -“Thanks, Eleanor,--but you are not going, are you? I’m in no hurry to -read the letter.” - -“I can’t stay this time. Take another nap. I’m afraid I wakened you.” - -After Eleanor left, Ann raised the curtain a little and stretched out -again, tearing open the end of the letter. It was a good fat one, such -as she loved to get from her mother. - -“Dearest Daughter,” she read. “Forgive me for making you wait a little -longer than usual for your letter from me. There have been so many -things going on, and you know that Mother wants me with her a great -deal. We are making up for lost time. I think that Mother has rather -overdone the having company for me. She is tired and Sue gloats a -little over the fact, I think,--not that I would accuse her of wanting -Mother to be ill, but it proves, you see, that her pretended concern -about Mother’s health is right.” - -Ann was surprised at her mother’s plain speaking, but since the -denouement in regard to many things at Grandmother’s, her mother had -broken over her long reserve with Ann. Rapidly Ann read on. - -“We have about finished entertaining the ‘country-side,’ village and -town, I think, and I am glad. To be sure, we shall be entertained in -turn and have already received many invitations. But Mother need not -go unless she desires. Sue goes right along with me and so far as I can -see, has accepted the situation. She seems to have recovered from her -chagrin at the failure of her plans and matters move as usual. I told -you, I think, that Mother lets her continue to direct the household. - -“There are some arguments between her and Mother, who is then tired, -indeed. Sue is disappointed at not being able to persuade Mother to the -trip abroad and is putting obstacles in the way of the Florida trip. -Why this should be so I can not see; for she would enjoy the trip. -Mother tells me privately that if there is much more of it, she will -simply arrange to go with your father and me, and let the rest do what -they please and entirely at their own expense. In that case, my dear, -you will not be too much disappointed, I hope, if you do not accompany -us, after our Christmas all together at your grandmother’s. Oh, -yes,--Sue wants to take the whole party, maids and all, to one of the -most expensive hotels at Palm Beach. Mother thinks that the business -this year scarcely warrants that expense and prefers a more quiet spot, -perhaps an apartment, though she is willing to take a house somewhere, -close this one except for one or two servants, and take the whole -outfit down. Privately, I think that this would entail as much expense -as the other. But I am out of the way of many things that once I would -have felt were natural enough. - -“I tell you this that you may understand the situation. What Mother -decides I do not much care, just so she is not worn out with argument, -which is worse than entertaining. I see clearly why Mother let so much -slip into your Aunt Sue’s hands. It was easier than the continual -fretting. Your Uncle Tyson looks worried, except in the presence of -Mother. Maurice has made a flying trip home and back to school again. -I do not know what brought him, perhaps nothing special, but he had -several conversations with his father which were rather argumentative, -I thought, not being able to get beyond the sound of their voices as we -sat in the drawing room. - -“Do not think from all this that I am leading a worried existence -myself. As was the case with you last year, I am trying to grasp the -situation the best I can, in the hope of being able to protect Mother -from any unhappiness. I have enjoyed meeting my old friends, and the -most of the time passes pleasantly. The Bentleys are over often, and -from Maurice I understand that he and Ronald are intimate, which is a -good thing for Maurice, I judge. Maurice is very much of a gentleman -with his ‘long-lost aunt,’ as he calls me. I like the boy very much and -hope that he will finish his senior year with some honors, though I -fear me that he is not much of a student. - -“Madge and Roy talk of you a good deal. I see them every day for a -time. Mother, indeed, asked me to take a little interest there, if I -could without offending or interfering with Sue. The governess has -little control and is far from being a good person to be in charge.” - -This was all of the letter which pertained to the LeRoy family. With a -little Montana news and private messages for Ann, the letter closed. - -“Hum,” said Ann. “I wonder if I’d better tell Suzanne that Florida may -be only a bright dream for us. No,--I’d better not bring Suzanne’s -possible complaints into it.” - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -A WELCOME GUEST AND MORE FAMILY HISTORY - - -The busy weeks sped on. Ann Sterling, well and happy, looked forward -to the Christmas reunion. Suzanne was planning a trip home at -Thanksgiving; but in order to have any visit at home, she also planned -to miss two or three days of school. “I’m starting a day early,” said -Suzanne, “and if I can persuade Mother to let me, or if she will only -forget about sending me back, you’ll not see me till the middle of the -next week!” - -It was a temptation to Ann, for Suzanne suggested that Ann go, too, -and surprise her mother. But Ann well knew how hard it was to make up -work. It was much easier to keep right on, especially since Christmas -was not so far away. On the other hand, it had been such a long, -long time since the fall term opened! So it seemed, at least, in the -light of Suzanne’s going home. Many of the girls who lived within -easy traveling distance were going. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have -Thanksgiving dinner with her mother? So Ann was thinking the first of -Thanksgiving week. She could leave with Suzanne a day early without -much difficulty, but come back on time. Thursday to Monday with Mother! - -Marta came running into the suite with great excitement on Tuesday. -“Say, Ann, would you mind if I abandoned you shamelessly and vamosed -with some of the girls?” - -Ann, who was running ribbon through the top of a slip, raised big -dark eyes to give Marta a pretended glare. “What do you mean, -varlet,--slave? Desert me in this evil hour?” - -“It is a shame, but it is only for a few days, Ann,” laughed Marta. “I -was hoping that the girls would invite you, too, and so they would, if -they did not know you were going home if anywhere.” - -“Who is it, Marta?” - -“Ethel and Lucile. I’m to be divided up, it seems, between them.” - -“Horrible thought!” - -“Silly Ann! I mean, of course, that I am to spend part of the time with -Ethel and part with Lucile. They are quarreling over which is to have -me for Thanksgiving dinner and which for Sunday dinner!” Marta was -pleased and happy over the prospect, Ann could see. How fine it was. -Marta had not had many breaks in the long school year. Ann had longed -to take her to her grandmother’s, but dared not, largely on account of -Suzanne. - -“You will have a glorious time! Think of it! In New York at -Thanksgiving,--or any other time, for that matter! I’ll get along all -rightee. I’ll read up French and Latin ahead, read for my big semester -theme,--time will just fly! Besides, I may go to Grandmother’s yet.” - -“I wish you would, Ann. It will be lonesome here.” - -“With all the girls that have to stay?” - -“Yes, it will. I know by sad experience.” - -“I guess I could stand it for once, Marta. Don’t think of it. I _could_ -go, so it is my own fault if I don’t. See? What clothes are you going -to take?” Ann thought that this was the best way to get Marta’s -thoughts off her regrets. - -“Sure enough; what _would_ you take?” - -Marta was immediately concerned about the usual question, what to wear. -She began to look out what she would take with her and Ann offered to -help mend, if necessary. - -Wednesday came and the last recitations, from which Marta and Suzanne -were excused. Suzanne, indeed, had left the night before. Ann had one -“flighty moment,” as she said afterward, intending a pun, when she ran -to her closet and dragged out her suitcase. Should she pack and go or -shouldn’t she? Then she laughed at herself, thrust back the suitcase, -and hung up her coat, which she had thrown over her arm. “You are a -double-minded, unstable creature, Ann Sterling,” said she aloud. “I’ll -not let you be so silly!” - -Recitations were over. Ann concluded that she would run over to the -administration building, to see if there was any mail, and put on her -wraps for the walk. There had been a fresh snow early that afternoon, -to make lovely the campus and the evergreens, which bent under the -weight of the soft, white masses that clung to them. The janitors, who -very likely did not appreciate the beauty of the scene as much as Ann, -were sweeping the walks and the steps of the different buildings. - -Cars and ‘buses were coming and going. Ann felt lonely and decided -that she would hunt up some companions in “misery,” as soon as she -saw whether or not she had any letters. As she tripped up the steps, -in her sky-blue sweater and cap with white trimming, her dress a soft -white wool that she had donned with the thought of the approaching -dinner-time, somebody “nice” in one of the taxis thought that she was a -pretty part of the winter scene. “The Sophomore Hall, please,” said the -visitor. - -“The new one or the ‘Castle?’” inquired the taxi man, who had brought -many and many a girl and visitor to the Forest Hill buildings. - -“The Castle, please.” - -Ann, unaware of any appraising eyes, went to look after her mail and -was disappointed in not hearing from her mother or father. There was -a fat letter from Marjorie, however, and Ann sat right down by a warm -radiator in the hall, where a cushioned bench looked inviting, and -read it through, with all its news of winter days in Montana. Marjorie -was spending the winter at home. “Your mountains are beautiful, -Ann, to-day,” wrote Marjorie. “There was a big snow last night and -everything is dazzling in the sun this morning. Your father was over -yesterday. He looks as well as can be and according to Rita, has his -grip packed for New England already!” - -It was a good letter, Ann thought, and she looked out upon the wintry -New York landscape, imagining other scenes back in the Rockies. She had -half a mind to go to the library, since she was here, and read until -dinner time. No, she would not begin work so soon. Besides, she had -forgotten the pin which this frock needed to set it off, and where was -her “hanky?” - -Slowly Ann strolled along the walks, looking off at the hills, with -their white slopes where there were no trees, or the forested portions -with their snow-laden trees and bushes. After all, she thought, it -would be pleasant to be here a few days, unhurried by lessons and -recitations. - -At the top of the stairs in the Castle, Ann caught a glimpse of Aline, -who had almost reached her own door. “Hoo-hoo, Aline,” she called. -“Come on around, can’t you?” - -“Not just this minute, Ann,” replied Aline, turning, with her hand on -the knob of the door. “You have a caller, though. We saw you coming -and she went on in.” - -Unsuspectingly, Ann went on to the other corridor and hummed a little -tune as she opened the door, expecting to find one of the girls. There, -in the rocking chair, facing the door with a smile and loving eyes, sat -her mother! - -“Mother! Mother!” - -Ann rushed across the room and her mother rose, to meet Ann’s -enthusiastic greeting with a warm embrace. “Are you glad to see me, -then?” - -“Glad! Suppose I had started with Suzanne, as I wanted to! Why, Mother, -I came the _nearest_ to passing you on the way! Better not risk -surprising me, Mums. Suppose I had missed you!” - -“I never thought of it, for you wrote that you would not come. I, too, -thought that for such a short time it would scarcely pay you, and you -wanted to get ahead on your work, you said.” - -“You never can tell about girls, though, Mother! But it has turned out -all right. Are you going to stay over Sunday and all?” - -“Yes. We’ll have one good visit; and when you have to work on your -lessons, I will keep as still as a mouse.” Mrs. Sterling dropped her -voice to a stage whisper and opened wide eyes, as if awed at the vision -of Ann’s lessons. - -Ann gave her mother another hug and laughingly reminded her that there -were many years of training by the same Mrs. Sterling, when Ann -studied many an hour in her mother’s presence. “There isn’t anything -so very important, anyhow, Mother, only my lessons for next week as -usual. I was planning more, because I could keep from being lonesome -that way. But I’d waste a lot of time with the other girls, you know, -‘gossiping’ or playing popular songs for them, or doing this or that. -How is Grandmother, by the way?” - -“She is herself again, sorry not to see you this time, but she approved -of my coming and said that she would spare me this long, since it would -be an opportunity for us to have a quiet visit together.” - -“It will be wonderful. We’ll have the suite all to ourselves, for Marta -has gone to New York with Ethel and Lucile. Why, we’ll be just like two -girls. You look like one yourself.” - -“Scarcely,” said Mrs. Sterling. “But that reminds me. I must get -dressed for dinner. I did not like to start my toilet for fear that you -would come before I finished. I thought, by the way, that you would -never come. When I saw you strolling along toward this building, I -tried to concentrate and will you to hurry, but it did not work! You -were going up the steps of the administration building when my taxi -rolled in, too far away for me to call, and then I thought that it -would be fun to surprise you. You used to like surprises.” - -“I do, and I have had a lot of nice ones, too. The last one at home -was my cabin in the mountains. But this is a fine one. It’s funny. I -took my time to things. You must have been waiting quite a while.” - -“I have; but Aline Robson was with me. What were you doing?” - -“I was lonesome and went over to see if there were a letter from you or -Father. I was disappointed, but had a long letter from Marj. I’ll let -you read it. She says that Dad looks fine.” - -“That is good to hear. I shall enjoy the letter after I get ready.” - -How good it was to have mother around! Ann helped her hang up her wraps -and extra garments, brought in one good-sized grip. She flew around to -straighten the room, patting up the pillows on the couch, putting the -books on the shelves and clearing the table, whisking the cover off -from the dresser and putting on a fresh one before her mother should be -ready to fix her hair, dusting the table and the rounds of the chairs, -neglected for several busy days. - -“How do you think you can get along, Mrs. Sterling, without a maid?” -asked Ann, when her mother at last began to loosen her long thick hair -ready for its combing. - -“Never having been without one,” replied Mrs. Sterling, “it _will_ -be difficult! Perhaps I can’t quite equal the style of Adeline’s -coiffures, but I think that I can manage.” - -“How does it seem, Mother? I didn’t dare ask you at Grandmother’s, -but does it seem natural there, or have you been away so long that it -is hard to fall into the ways again? You seemed perfectly at home, and -I would have thought that you had always had Adeline from your manner -with her.” - -“It was strange at first, Ann, though one naturally knows what to do in -the home where she has lived so many years. And since your father and -you have been away, I could almost fancy that it had all been a dream. -That was one reason that I came. I wanted to see you so much. I don’t -want it a dream, you see!” - -“I’m no dream, Mother, and I’m glad that you feel that way about -us,--though I must say that I have never been worried about losing your -affection.” - -“That could not happen, my child, under any circumstances.” - -“No matter what I did?” - -“No matter what you do. But I hope that you will always choose to do -right!” - -“I ought to, with the mother and father I have. But don’t expect me to -be perfect.” - -“Take perfection for your ideal, Ann, though you will not find it in -either of your parents. When is your dinner hour, Ann? Will I be ready -in time?” - -“Yes; take your time, Mother. Does Miss Tudor know that you are here?” - -“No; I was not sure of coming. That was one reason that I did not -write. Then I knew that there was plenty of room in the suite, even if -Marta were here.” - - * * * * * - -Proudly Ann guided her mother through the halls, over to the dining -room, and seated her in Marta’s place. Miss Tudor recognized Mrs. -Sterling’s presence by a bow and smile. There had not been time for Ann -to take her mother to Miss Tudor’s rooms before the gong rang. At the -table were Katherine, Dorothy and Aline, the only girls left beside Ann -out of the two suites. Permissions were freely given that evening for -changes to be made at table, and as they all stood behind chairs a few -minutes, while the girls gathered, the three girls had hurried over to -Ann and Mrs. Sterling, invited by a gesture from Ann. - -“You are a lucky girl, Ann!” Katherine exclaimed, after grace. “If all -the mothers could only come!” - -“I am lucky, but I’ll share mine a little. All of you come around to -our suite after dinner, that is, after we have seen Miss Tudor. There -won’t be any study hours, will there?” - -“I think that the bell will ring and we’ll be supposed to stay in the -buildings, as usual,--that’s all,” said Dorothy. “But isn’t your mother -too tired?” - -“No, indeed,” declared Mrs. Sterling. “I need a good dose of _girls_ -more than anything else!” - -“You have come to the right place for it, then, Mrs. Sterling,” said -Aline, looking rather wistfully at Ann and her mother. Aline missed her -mother more than she ever let any one know. - -Ann had a faint idea of this and made sure that, after the meal was -over, Aline, who had happened to be the one to greet Mrs. Sterling -first, should accompany them from the table. They met Miss Tudor on -the way out of the dining-room; rather, she joined them, and cordially -welcomed Mrs. Sterling, who said that she would call to see her -“tomorrow.” - -“Good, Mother!” said Ann, after Miss Tudor had gone on with one of the -teachers. “I was so afraid that we would have to waste to-night by -calling.” - -“Miss Tudor would not feel flattered if she heard that remark,” said -Mrs. Sterling. - -“I like Miss Tudor, but I can see her every day,” replied Ann. “Do you -blame me, Aline?” - -“Not a bit.” - -The evening would not have been properly begun without music, but the -girls passed by the parlors of the administration building and went -on to their own building, where Aline secured her violin; and in the -Castle’s drawing room, a dozen or more girls gathered around the piano, -to sing for Mrs. Sterling, surprised and pleased to have her join in -the Forest Hill songs and others. Then Aline, Katherine, Dorothy and -Ann escorted her to Ann’s suite for a good visit before bedtime. Mrs. -Sterling had not been a girl herself for nothing. In her bag was an -immense box of candy and she promised the girls to call them in when -another “Thanksgiving box” arrived. “I had to send it,” she said, “but -it should be here in the morning at the latest.” - -“What is it, Mother?” asked Ann. - -“Wait and see, little Ann,” laughed her mother. “It is another -surprise.” - -“Do we have turkey tomorrow?” asked Ann. - -“We always do,” said Katherine, “and I saw some fowls arrive, -dressed,--they looked to me too big for chickens.” - -“Your mother must have loved you, Ann,” said Dorothy, “to forego the -kind of a Thanksgiving dinner that I imagine they will have at your -grandmother’s to-morrow.” - -“Mother does love me better than turkey or anything, don’t you, -Mother?” Ann affected a childish tone which amused the girls, and the -smiling Mrs. Sterling nodded an affirmative. - -“But goose, Ann, is considered a Christmas bird,” Dorothy suggested. - -“Listen to that, now!” cried Ann. “Do you suppose that Dots means -anything personal, Katherine?” - -“Have a bon-bon, Ann,” said Katherine in soothing tones. - -That night, in spite of the bon-bons, Ann sank into a dreamless sleep. -Everything was always safe when Mother was around. - - * * * * * - -Thanksgiving was a perfect day, cold, to be sure, but crisp, sunny, -an occasional icicle forming over the porch in the middle of the day. -The big turkey dinner was at two o’clock, breakfast at a late hour -beforehand. It was so “delicious,” Ann said, “not to have to get up for -lessons.” Her mother, too, was tired, and had many things, practical -and otherwise, to talk over with her daughter. They were invited to sit -at Miss Tudor’s table for dinner. This was an honor, but Ann would have -enjoyed it far better with the girls at her own table. However, she had -her mother and that was sufficient. The dinner was worthy of the day, -the girls in high spirits, for there were to be some winter sports and -a sled ride later in the day. - -For the sports Ann did not care now. She would have plenty of that -sort of thing at Christmas time. These days with Mother were a -welcome rest Ann was well, but had not realized how tired she was -until the necessity for keeping on was over. She took a long nap in -the afternoon, while her mother, after a short one, investigated the -condition of Ann’s clothes and was sitting with her thimble on, sewing, -when Ann wakened. - -“Isn’t that good, to see you with your thimble on ‘as of yore,’” Ann -said sleepily, as she still lay on the couch where she had fallen -asleep. - -Mrs. Sterling looked up and smiled. “You were sleeping so soundly that -I did not think I would waken you by looking over things.” - -“It is good of you. I neglect my clothes shamefully, I know.” - -“I am well aware, daughter, that you have other important things to do.” - -“Tell me some more about Grandmother and everybody,” Ann suggested. -“Did you say that Maury calls you his ‘long-lost’ aunt?” - -“Yes. Maurice and I are great friends. By the way, he is not smoking -those miserable cigarettes now, says that he hears they are bad for -brains and he has to get his lessons this year.” Mrs. Sterling smiled -in amused remembrance. “He was out of sorts about something when he -came home, just before I left, but whatever it was seemed to be fixed -up with his father.” - -“Do you like Maury better than Cliff, Mother?” - -“Why the comparison, Ann?” - -“Well, Cliff was always around out home, and here it is Maury.” - -“I see. It is hard to compare the two boys. They are so different. -Clifford is the more reliable, I suppose, but still, Maurice has his -strong points. He has been pretty well spoiled in some ways, but seems -to be waking up a little. After all, there is good blood in him.” - -“Not being proud of our family at all, you will admit that!” joked Ann. - -“I think that Maurice is more sincere than Suzanne, though I am fond of -Suzanne.” - -“Do you think that Maurice has been,--well, what people call ‘wild?’” - -“He has been gay and has spent too much money. Your uncle was talking -to me one day about Maurice. Maurice was defending himself, it seems, -from charges his father made against him, and said to his father that -he might be thankful it was not worse,--that anyhow he ‘wasn’t into -anything to be a disgrace,’ like ‘Beano’ and some of them. That seemed -to comfort your uncle. Your Uncle Tyson is a very sensible man, Ann. -I can not believe that he is engaged in any plan to defraud your -grandmother.” - -“You never can tell, Mother,” wisely commented Ann. “I’ve heard that -very good appearing men can carry through some dreadfully crooked -things.” - -Ann’s worldly wisdom seemed to amuse Mrs. Sterling very much. “That is -very true, Ann,” said she, “but one must not be too suspicious.” - -“What became of Grandmother’s bonds, then?” asked Ann. - -“Perhaps he knew nothing about them.” - -“Then you think that Aunt Sue,----” - -“Sh-sh,--Ann, we do not know.” - -“I know what Grandmother told me. But I’m glad to hear that you think -Uncle Tyson may be all right.” - -“Your Aunt Sue, you know, always did think that everything at home -belonged to her.” - -“Yes; isn’t it funny? I couldn’t be that way, even about our dear home. -How old is Maurice, Mother?” - -“Let me see. You are in your eighteenth year, aren’t you?” - -“Yes’m,--your daughter is getting on in years, madam.” - -“Very old, indeed! I was thinking of the difference in your ages. I -have always understood that there were two years between Maurice and -Suzanne, and Suzanne is about six months older than you. Sue had two -babies when she came home from abroad. I judge that Maurice is about -twenty now, possibly twenty-one by the time he graduates.” - -“You were married before Aunt Sue, weren’t you?” - -“Yes, and that year Mother and Sue went abroad. Sue was married in -Paris and she remained there for some time. Then Mother came home, -and Sue went around the world with her husband. Maurice was born, I -believe, in some unheard of place,--I declare I have forgotten. Mother -wrote me about it after she had forgiven me for marrying your father. -Suzanne was born in France, I believe.” - -“Did Nancy or any one ever tell you that Aunt Sue was in love with Dad?” - -Mrs. Sterling looked up in surprise. “No. What an idea! Of course--your -father came out to see Sue in the first place, before he met me there, -but,----” - -“Listen, Mother; this is what the old gardener told me; rather, he -referred to you as the daughter who married ‘the man that the other one -wanted.’ I told Dad about it one time, and I supposed that he might -tell you.” - -“Your father is too modest a man for that. I am surprised; but it would -account for many things.” Mrs. Sterling looked off into space and let -her sewing drop into her lap. - -Ann respected her mother’s thoughts and kept quiet. - -“Poor Sue!” her mother said at last. “I wonder if she really were in -love with your father!” - -“Now, Mother, don’t go to pitying Aunt Sue! Think how awful it would -have been for Father if she had married him. How lucky it was that he -did meet you before Aunt Sue’s wiles got him!” - -Ann was half laughing as she spoke, but she meant what she was saying. - -“I see. The inference is, I take it, that he did not do so badly in -getting me!” - -“You have it, Mother mine. And Aunt Sue had a lot of beaus, I -understand. The chances are that she did not care at all for Father, -but just hated it that you were the one he fell in love with. Do you -really suppose that Aunt Sue has ever loved anybody but herself?” - -“Take care, Ann. You are too hard on her.” - -“And you, dear Mother, are so good and unselfish that you think -everybody else is, too. I have too vivid a memory of how you worried, -for _years_, ever to trust anybody’s happiness in the hands of Aunt -Sue!” - -“It is best to forget it, if you can, Ann. You must not harbor bitter -feelings, Ann. It hurts you more than any one.” - -“I know that, Mother, because I’ve felt it. All the same, while I am -going to be as respectful to Aunt Sue as I can possibly be, I think -that it would be foolish ever to give her a chance again to hurt you. -When people prove what they are,----” - -“Don’t be so fierce, little one. Suppose that our heavenly Father would -treat us according to what He has found out we are.” - -“Now, Mother,--you know I can’t argue with you about that!” - -“When all is said, Ann, Sue is my sister. I’d rather not get worked up -over anything again.” - -“That is so, Mother. Forgive me for stirring it all up. Say, Mums, was -there any of that candy left?” - -Mrs. Sterling reached to the bureau for the big box and handed it to -Ann. “The girls were quite conservative, I should say,” she replied, -“but how you can eat anything after that dinner I can’t see.” - -“That was hours ago, Mother! Besides we had no candy for dinner. I love -your selection. I will now eat a big fat chocolate with a nut on it, -and--yes,--that green bon-bon looks good,--and a yellow one. Please -have one with me, Mother.” - -Mrs. Sterling shook her head. “No thank you, daughter. I’ll wait a -while.” - -“It is never safe to wait about candy. But if this goes, we’ll make you -some fudge. There is always that possibility, you know.” - -“How glad I am to know that. I shall be saved from starvation at least.” - -“Now, Mother!” - -Ann would not tell her mother, she thought, about the gossip which she -had heard at her grandmother’s. She had been half tempted to do so when -they were talking about Maurice, but this was not the time. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE SCRIBBLERS’ CLUB ORGANIZES - - -The box which Mrs. Sterling had sent to Ann was full of fruit, with -some other things which the girls could enjoy after Mrs. Sterling had -gone. The janitor of the Castle opened it for Ann and the fruit was -separated, to be put in one of the closets as the coolest place; for -the rooms were kept comfortably heated. But Ann did not investigate the -other packages while her mother remained, for there was much going on, -and Ann read her French to her mother, a pleasant way of studying it. -Mrs. Sterling made a fine French dictionary, Ann said, for all but some -technical terms which she had forgotten. At Mrs. Sterling’s bidding, -Ann also studied her other lessons on Friday evening, looking up once -in a while to “gloat” over her mother’s being there, and expressing her -feelings in that fashion. - -“I shall never be able to complain about not being appreciated, Ann,” -said her mother. - -“Indeed not, and wait till poor Dad arrives! He is just merely existing -till Christmas, I know.” - -The girls, at Miss Tudor’s suggestion, hastily put together a little -entertainment for Saturday night. There were some other visitors for -the Thanksgiving week end, for whom the girls wanted to do something. -Among so many organizations it was not hard to find something to do. -One of the senior girls had written a clever one act play for her -English class. To be sure it must be committed by the actors in record -time, but what could not be remembered in the way of the speeches could -be what the girls called “faked,” by bright girls who knew the point of -their remarks. It had been done before and this was not Shakespeare, -whose lines must be just right! - -Aline rushed in Saturday morning to call for Ann’s help. “Ann, _would_ -your mother mind if you play for the orchestra? We’ve simply got to -have you. Our regular pianist, you know, is away, also the substitute, -and there isn’t a girl who can do it as you can!” - -“Do not hesitate on my account, Ann,” promptly said Mrs. Sterling. “I -shall be glad to have you help.” - -“All right, then, Aline,” Ann promised. “I am only too thankful not to -be called on to help with the play. Thank fortune there are plenty of -girls for that.” - -“Don’t be too sure, Ann,” joked Aline. “I’ll remember you if they need -any one!” - -“Just remember, too, please,” laughed Ann, “that I could scarcely be -in the orchestra and on the platform at the same time.” - -“Will you mind, Mother?” Ann asked after Aline had gone. - -“Not a bit. To tell the truth, Ann, I enjoy all this. We used to do all -sorts of things when I was in school. I remember the fun and excitement -of it all. It was different in those days, but this takes me back to -pleasant memories. Then, too, these girls are so attractive and do such -clever things that I expect to enjoy the whole thing thoroughly.” - -“I think that it is Jane Price who has written the play, and if it is, -it will be too funny for words! Jane is a dear, though, and very smart!” - -“Will you have anything but the play?” - -“Yes; Dots showed me the program when I was around there. She is -the sophomore on the committee. First there will be an orchestral -number,--ahem! They will probably choose something hard for me to play. -Then the glee club will sing. Next comes the play, and we shall play an -‘overture.’ The girls want us to ‘jazz’ one of the real overtures to -light opera if we can, and we are to play appropriately during part of -the play it seems.” - -“Soft suggestions in music,” inserted Mrs. Sterling. - -“That is it,” said Ann. “We burst into melody between scenes, too, and -the Glee Club will sing again, and I think that Aline is to have a -violin solo. If we can get one of the senior girls to sing, she has a -lovely thing, with orchestral accompaniment, from one of the operas. -But she has a cold and we don’t know whether she will be equal to it -or not. There will be plenty to fill in with, I’m sure. And we’ll all -dress up in our spuzziest clothes. You will think that you are in the -Metropolitan, I know!” - -“I expect to enjoy it as much,” laughed Mrs. Sterling. - -“Now I wonder how she means that,” said Ann, looking off into space, a -twinkle in her eyes. “With all the practicing, I’m afraid that I shall -have to leave you a good deal to-day, Mother.” - -“I will finish fixing up your clothes, child. Then I want to talk -with Miss Tudor about arranging for your studies, in case we do take -you with us to Florida. I feel sure that if your father goes, he will -refuse to go without you.” - -“Good for Dad! But what a change from the stern mentor who says that -lessons must go on!” - -“If you stay for any length of time, your lessons will go on. If you -are there only a short time, however, we are to let you get the benefit -of the Florida experience.” - -“Well, that is pretty nice for me. I supposed that you and Father would -have our part of the affair thought out.” - -“Yes,--as usual. What Aunt Sue’s family does remains to be seen. But we -have not been discussing that lately. I think that it will all turn -out for the best.” - -“Bless your heart, Mother, you always say that!” - -“And doesn’t it?” - -“Certainly, but it takes some ‘turning,’ on our part.” - -“Of course it does. ‘Even so faith apart from works is dead.’ What I -should have done, Ann, instead of worrying myself sick, during those -years, was to go to Mother and have everything explained. Instead, I -waited for my dear daughter to show me what could be accomplished in -the line of ‘works.’” - -Surprised and pleased by her mother’s appreciation of her efforts and -success in uncovering the reasons for Grandmother’s misunderstanding, -Ann was rendered speechless for a moment. “Why, aren’t you nice, -Mother, to say this to me?” she finally said. “And aren’t we having a -good visit?” - -“_I_ am. Come here and give me a good hug and then run off to your -practicing!” - - * * * * * - -All too soon the Thanksgiving vacation ended. The absent girls came -back; the places at table were all full again; Ann’s mother went home; -Suzanne, who was unable to persuade her mother to a longer visit, -appeared with the rest of the girls, and, for a wonder, in the best -of spirits. In a few days lessons and school work had assumed their -proper place and everything was in full swing. Only the weather was -depressing. It had turned a little warmer, with rain, which melted the -snow into a miserable slush. This was immediately cleaned from the -walks, but not without an interval during which careless girls without -overshoes acquired wet feet and sore throats. Ann, sad to say, was -among these. She escaped tonsilitis and going to the little hospital -which was full for a few days; but she gargled and took medicine and -had her throat swabbed, to her great disgust. One week end she spent a -great part of her time in bed and had her meals sent over. - -“You never are sorry enough for people that are sick, Marta,” she -philosophized one evening, when she was sitting in her bath robe by -their table studying. “Not until you are sick yourself. And then, as -soon as you are well, you forget it! I don’t think much of human nature -myself.” - -“Neither do I,” Marta agreed. - -“Still, you do find out how many friends you have, and how kind people -can be. Maybe human nature isn’t so bad after all.” - -“I’m sure it isn’t,” said Marta. - -“Marta Ward! You would agree with anything! I believe that you don’t -know what I’m talking about!” - -Marta looked at her dreamily, raising her eyes from her book. -“Something about human nature, wasn’t it?” - -Ann threw back her head and laughed. “Never mind. You wanted to be -polite, but your room-mate would persist in talking about her own -experiences while you were studying. Now you will never know the wise -philosophy you have missed. Go on back, Marta. Where were you?” - -“In London,” said Marta, who was reading history. - -“It’s almost time for the bell. Let’s investigate the packages in that -box when you get through with your history. I don’t know what I would -have done without those oranges while I was sick. They were all I -wanted.” - -“Let me finish this chapter, Ann. Then we’ll drag out the box.” - -Ann, who was through with lessons, or all that she felt equal to doing, -threw her tired head back against the rocking chair in which she -sat and closed her eyes. She knew now how girls felt when they were -not strong, and she wondered if she had ever really appreciated her -health. She was feeling well now, except for a little weakness and a -“scratchy” throat. She opened her eyes a little to look at Marta, who -was concentrating on that last chapter of her lesson. Her blue eyes -were glued to the page of the book, which she held in one of the strong -hands that could do so much with the piano keys. - -Finally Marta closed the book with a bang and laid it on the table. -“There!” she exclaimed. “I guess that is in my cranium, long enough to -recite it at least. I never _could_ remember history!” She ran her -fingers through her already much ruffled brown locks. “Have an orange, -Ann?” - -“Thanks, Marta; I can wait on myself now, though. If you are ever sick, -Marta, I’ll show my gratitude!” - -“I shall not get sick for the benefit of your gratitude, Miss Sterling.” - -“I hope not, Marta. I’ll have to show it in some other way.” - -“Haven’t I eaten as many oranges as you, besides all the good desserts -that they sent and you couldn’t eat?” - -“I don’t know about that, Marta.” - -“But I do. Please ‘say no more’ about gratitude. But, Ann, there is too -much in this box to drag it out without spoiling the floor or the rug -or something.” Marta was in one of the closets now. - -“All right,--we’ll investigate, then.” - -Ann rose and joined her room-mate, who was ready to “stagger out,” as -she said, with an arm full of bundles. “I didn’t realize myself that -there was so much. Mother said that she put in some sugar for fudge and -some other things.” - -The bell was ringing for the close of study hours as the girls piled -the bundles on the table and searched, through the papers and other -material with which the articles had been packed, for any other -packages. And still those “dulcet sounds” filled the air when a series -of knocks came at their door, beating a tattoo which stopped at Ann’s, -“Come right in.” - -Their guests proved to be Eleanor and Aline, now as frequent visitors -as any of the Jolly Six. “What in the world?” inquired Eleanor, as she -viewed the table covered with packages. - -“That is just what we are saying,” said Ann. “We took a notion to find -out what else was in the box that mother brought, or had sent, rather. -She said that there was some sugar for fudge, and if all that is sugar -we’ll have enough for the rest of the year, I take it.” - -“Those big square packages are sugar, I suspect,” said Marta, “but that -is all. Why so much conjecture? Let’s open up. Sit down, ladies, and -make yourselves at home. I strongly suspect, from the feel thereof, -that _this_ big package contains nuts.” - -Eleanor and Aline sat down in the chairs that Marta and Ann had vacated -and watched while the packages were opened. - -“Nuts they are,” said Ann, untying the large paper sack. “Georgia paper -shell pecans! Yum-yum!” - -A large paper box, opened, disclosed English walnuts, almonds, filberts -and Brazil nuts, and a flat package within contained a nut-cracker and -nut picks. These Ann immediately passed around and offered both box and -paper sack to the guests. - -“Wait till I pass around the silver dishes, Ann,” warned Marta. “They -will have to hold the nuts in something, for the shells at least.” -Hastily Marta selected clean papers, from those which had been used in -packing, and handed them, as the “silver dishes,” to the guests. “We -have some plates in the closet somewhere,” she said, “but I am sure -that they are dusty from disuse.” - -“We haven’t had a feast for some time, have we?” queried Eleanor, -cracking a huge pecan. - -“Scarcely since you girls were all rushing for the sororities and the -Owls.” This was Aline, who remembered several delicious feasts at that -gay time. - -“That makes me think of what I came to see you about, girls,” said -Eleanor. “Ann, how would you like to be a famous authoress?” - -“I hadn’t thought about it, Eleanor,” said Ann, who was struggling -with a refractory cork in a bottle of olives, contents of another -interesting package. One more tug and it was out. Ann flew to the -lavatory to get rid of the liquid and was back to answer Eleanor’s -question. - -“Have an olive, Eleanor. No, I confess I hadn’t thought of entering the -field of literature. But no telling what any of us may do under Bunny’s -training. I’ll try ’most anything, Eleanor, to become famous. What is -the immediate danger?” - -“Joining the Scribblers’ Club. Ever heard of such a thing?” - -“No; not at Forest Hill.” - -“There isn’t any; but I thought that we might organize one. Honestly, -Ann, I’d like to have one. Scribbling is the only thing outside of -singing that I really like to do.” - -“You do write fine themes, Eleanor. I was quite envious when Bunny had -you read the last one and praised it so before the class.” - -“You never have any reason to be envious, Ann. That is one reason that -I thought you would be a good one to start it. Getting praised for -what I’ve written, though, is what started me to liking composition, I -guess. Nothing like a little encouragement once in a while, is there?” - -“No,--yes--what is the right answer to that? And it’s precious little -encouragement that Bunny ever gives. She never praised anything of -mine.” - -“She probably thought that I needed it.” - -“No, Eleanor. That theme deserved it.” - -“And I never wrote anything so quickly. I liked the subject and -happened to know something about it. I wrote it right off, just in the -order that came to me, and then, boiled it down and corrected it and -copied it. Well, what do you say, girls, do we have a scribblers’ club -or don’t we?” - -“With the Owls and the Bats,” said Marta dubiously, “I don’t see that I -have much more time for outside things.” - -“But you take English, don’t you?” - -“Yes, Eleanor; I have several studies this year outside of my music.” - -“Very well, then. If you’d like to belong, you can offer anything that -you have ever written for English. Those things go for the Owls, and -the Scribblers’ Club, too. I’ll tell you more about our plans when--and -if--we organize.” - -Ann was doing some quick thinking. It would be an encouraging thing -for Eleanor, who was taking a new interest in her work, if this went -through. It would also be good for any one who took part. If the things -one had to write in class could be used, well and good. - -“I’ll join, Eleanor,” said Ann, “if you will be content with my feeble -efforts in the literary line. Suppose we have the organization here -tomorrow some time. I’ll make some nut fudge to celebrate, or we can -have whatever else there is here.” Ann, who had stopped unwrapping to -eat nuts, now investigated a heavy rectangular package. “Hurrah! Boxes -of sardines! Imagine, _Mother_! But Mother is thinking of the days of -her youth!” - -“I’ll bring the bread, Ann,” Eleanor offered, “and we’ll have -sandwiches.” - -“Butter, also, is necessary,” Aline reminded Eleanor, who added that to -her charge. - -“You have some baker’s chocolate there, Ann,” said Marta, pointing to -where torn paper revealed the edges of several cakes. “I will sacrifice -myself to the occasion and make chocolate for the crowd. What is the -hour, Eleanor?” - -“I’m free after my practice hour, which ends at three.” - -“I have a last hour class,” said Ann. - -“Say four o’clock, then. We are always starved at that hour and never -can wait for dinner. Let me take the sardines, then, Ann, and I’ll have -the sandwiches made by the time you come from class. It won’t take long -to make the fudge and chocolate.” - -“All right, Eleanor.” Ann handed over the boxes of sardines, while -Marta, who would be at the suite before Ann, said that she would have -the fudge made without waiting for her. - -“Then we’ll all be here at four sharp, or as near to that as possible?” -queried Eleanor. - -“Oh, yes, Eleanor,” called Marta, “how many shall we prepare for?” - -“Six or eight, I think.” - - * * * * * - -On the following afternoon, Ann was delighted when her teacher -dismissed the last class a little early. She hurried to the Castle and -her suite, where she found Marta busy, having the fudge done and the -materials for the chocolate ready. “I’ll go to make that while you are -talking over everything,” said Marta. “Eleanor has made a dandy lot of -sandwiches. She got some cold boiled ham, too, for some, and I made -a few peanut butter sandwiches out of that jar that we found in the -box. If you will crack a dish of nuts, I think that the feast will be -complete.” - -“I wish that there were some of those grapes left.” - -“They would not have kept, even if we had not eaten them.” - -Scarcely had Marta said this when with a warning rap, Aline appeared -bearing a china dish heaped with white and red grapes. This she -deposited upon the table and sat down to help Ann with the nuts; for -there were both the nut-cracker and the little hammer that accompanied -the wooden nut bowl in which Ann was putting the nuts. - -“The organization of the Scribblers’ Club,” said Aline, “will be quite -eclipsed by the celebration.” - -“We shall be able to give our minds to it much better for not being -starved,” said Ann. “Don’t those grapes look delicious! Where did -Eleanor get them?” - -“She ordered the things sent out, bread and butter and ham and grapes.” - -“Let’s make her the president of it.” - -“She ought to be. She has splendid ideas for it. I saw her a little -while at noon.” - -“Here they come!” Ann rose, looked around to see that there were enough -chairs and that the cushions were properly beautiful upon the couch. -From the hall came sounds of talking and laughter from several girls -who were approaching the suite. Marta threw open the door as they -reached it, saying, “Welcome to the Sterling-Ward.” - -“Sterling ward, indeed?” queried Jane Price, senior, who was in the -lead. “Is this where they welcome the insane followers of the pen?” - -“No,” said Ann, “this is the convalescent ward, where they serve all -the delicacies of the season.” - -There were several more girls than Ann had thought might come. It was -evident, then, that Eleanor had been able to interest the older girls. -Having borrowed chairs from the other Jolly Six suite, there were -places for all to sit, and they settled down with gay chat as usual. - -“This looks more like a spread,” said Jane, “than the literary -atmosphere we were led to expect.” - -“Our guests this afternoon, supply the literary atmosphere,” Ann -replied, bowing to Jane in mock dignity, her hand on her heart. Ann had -grown well acquainted with Jane in sorority affairs this year. - -“I’m so glad to hear that,” laughed Jane, looking around the circle. - -Katherine Neville was the only one of the other Jolly Six suite -present. Eleanor and Aline represented their suite, making five -sophomores in all. Jane Price and a bright “Sig-Ep,” called Betty -Howard, were seniors whom Eleanor had interested, and two juniors, Alys -Little and Natalie Perkins completed the number. - -It is curious how little girls think of some of the enterprises which -they launch, and yet, of how much influence upon them they often prove -to exert, either as organizations, or because of the friendships formed -in them. This new Scribblers’ Club was to become quite an important -part of Ann Sterling’s school life, existing apart from any social ties -like those of the sororities, and based upon ability, in its functions. - -“If you girls think that business matters can proceed just as well,” -said Ann, “I think that we are all quite ready for a little lunch to -tide us over that barren period between classes and dinner.” Ann stood -by the table and looked around inquiringly, to find out how the girls -felt about it. - -“I am sure that I don’t know when anything has looked so good to me as -that table,” sighed Jane, clasping her hands and looking at the nuts -and fudge. Marta had disappeared at once upon the arrival of the girls -and Ann knew that the chocolate was in process of preparation. - -“By your leave, then,” said Ann, “we will serve at once. Eleanor was -good enough to make us some sandwiches. Marta is making the chocolate; -so will you help me, Aline?” - -Ann passed a little tray, from which each girl took a paper napkin, a -plate, a spoon and a nutpick. The sandwiches were passed next, and it -was not long before Marta came in with the chocolate. - -Steaming hot, a cup of chocolate on each plate made the first course -complete and sandwiches were passed more than once. The weather had -suddenly changed to icy blasts, which made the walks a glare of ice and -started the Forest Hill girls to planning for skating, when the lake -should at last freeze over. It was pleasant to sip the hot chocolate -and look out upon the wintry landscape. - -Not until the dessert, of nuts, grapes and fudge, was offered, did the -girls begin upon the main issue. Then it was put through quickly. - -“Who shall be the chairman of this meeting?” asked Eleanor. “I nominate -Jane Price.” - -Unanimously Jane was put into the chair. Without preface, she asked -Eleanor to present her proposition, the organization of a literary club -called the Scribblers’ Club. “Please tell how it is to differ from a -society like the Owls or the Addisons,” Jane requested. - -“There are similar clubs in different schools,” said Eleanor, “and -it was because I heard about one of them that I wanted one for us. -The idea is that only people especially interested shall belong and -that each one shall present some good piece of writing, passed on by -a committee or the officers of the club, to make her eligible for -membership. It may be something written for class or not. Many of us -have little time to write outside of what we do for English, so I -thought that it would be fair to accept anything original that is -considered worthy. It should at least draw a B from Bunny!” - -The girls laughed at that. “I’m not so sure,” said Jane. “I presented a -gem of literature to Bunny, in my sophomore year, that carries a C, and -I know that she begrudged that. Suppose that we leave acceptance to the -officers of the society, irrespective of what the teachers think?” - -“That is what I say,” said Katherine, “verses, for instance. Any -verse handed in to Bunny would be graded according to the standard of -Tennyson or Browning,----” - -“Oh, no, Kit,” said Aline. “Browning never would get by Bunny. She -could find flaws in any of ’em!” - -This conclusion seemed to be unanimous, laughingly conceded by the -present or former pupils of Miss Bunn, the unpopular English teacher. - -Eleanor went on to explain that it would be best, in all probability, -to have most of the officers from the two upper classes and that after -this, sophomores could only enter after the first semester, when it -would be supposed that they could produce something worthy of admitting -them. They were to be encouraged to apply. - -After some discussion, following a motion to organize, Eleanor, with -the two seniors and the two juniors, were appointed as a committee to -draw up a constitution and select a list of officers to be presented -at the next meeting. When these girls asked for instructions, it -was generally agreed that a senior should be president and that the -committee to pass on members should be composed of juniors and seniors. -“And sorority or society matters are never to be considered!” added Ann. - -“We can make that clear in the constitution,” said Eleanor, “that -nothing but merit and interest counts.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -A SONG IN THE AIR - - -The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is like no other. It may -bring its problems, as we keep the anniversary, but there is a certain -pleasure and anticipation in the very atmosphere, especially among the -young. “Do you realize it?” Marta would ask, “--only three weeks now -till Christmas?” Next it was only two weeks, then only one and time to -pack up. - -Ann saw a great deal of Suzanne, for they consulted over gifts for -this one and that one at home. Suzanne was good in suggestion for her -family, which fact helped Ann not a little. The girls had so little -time to shop. But some things were passed over to Ann’s mother to do -for her, after the list of what she thought appropriate for each one -was made out. For their grandmother and mothers, Suzanne and Ann were -doing a little embroidery, that they might offer something of their own. - -The music and services at school treated of Christmas and the girls -went around humming carols. “It came upon the midnight clear,” “O -little town of Bethlehem,” “While shepherds watched their flocks by -night,” “There’s a song in the air. There’s a star in the sky,” or -“Holy Night” were favorite hymns at Chapel. And when on that last -meeting of the society, Eleanor sang “Thou didst leave thy throne and -thy kingly crown, When thou camest to earth for me,” she sang with such -expression and feeling that Ann received a new impression of a sober -and earnest Eleanor, who cared about the higher things. Impressionable -Ann was thrilled at her rendering of the last stanza, and poor little -Aline, whose mother had so recently joined those heavenly choirs, -clutched Ann’s hand and bit her lip to keep back the tears. Aline was -going home with Eleanor for the Holidays. It was, however, the second -Christmas since the home had been broken up. - -Marta was going back to New York with Ethel and Lucile, having added so -much to the good time of everybody at Thanksgiving that both families -wanted her. Ann was delighted, for she could not bear to leave Marta -again at Christmas time. It was with a very happy heart that Ann said -her goodbyes at school and rolled away in the ’bus to take the train. -This time she and Suzanne were traveling together, in the most amicable -way in the world. “O Ann, don’t you _hope_ that we go to Florida?” was -a frequent question, put in one form or another, as they drew nearer -home. It was home now to Ann, for her dearest and nearest were there -now. A jolly telegram from her father had informed her of his arrival. - -It kept growing colder, the girls thought, and even in the train they -wore their coats, Suzanne’s a fur one. At the village station who -should be there but Maurice, handsome in a big fur coat and pulling off -gloves, to greet Ann and draw her furs up to her ears. “Got the big -sleigh that was Grand-Dad’s, Ann. Thought that I’d give you a real New -England welcome!” - -Ann was delighted. “Is it really Grandfather’s sleigh, Maurice?” she -asked. “It looks perfectly new to me, so pretty, Maurice!” - -“The real, sure enough article, Ann. Of course, it has been freshly -painted.” - -“Give me a warm, closed car for mine,” said Suzanne, shivering. - -“No good, Suzanne. Every car we own has something the matter with it; -besides, these roads are made for sleighing. It melted, then it froze, -slippery as could be,--then the snow; and it is pretty well packed by -now. How does it compare with Montana, Ann?” - -“‘Comparisons are odious,’ Maurice. This is perfect and nothing can -exceed perfection, you know.” - -Maurice had put Ann in the front seat, tucking Suzanne in behind with -robes galore. Climbing in beside Ann, he made sure that she had the -robes well up around her before he started his stamping team. “Look -here, Ann,” said he. “I found an old buffalo robe up in the attic, and -pleased Grandmother almost to death by bringing it down. It was all -done up in moth-balls and things,--what makes you laugh?” - -“Its being ‘done up in’ moth-balls.” - -“You are too recently in the thralls of some English class, Ann!” - -“Bunny, you know!” - -“Ah, yes; I’ve heard of her, I believe.” - -Ann patted the robe, which was on top of the others. “Think what good -times Grandfather and Grandmother had riding around with this!” - -“Yes, and I hope that we shall have just as good times.” - -Maurice did not look at Ann as he said this, but he drew the robes -around her, with an unnecessary care, and gave rein to the pretty -blacks. - -“I adore black horses,” said Ann. “That is the only drawback to Zep. -But Zep’s character makes up for his lacking the ‘coal-black’ color I -wanted. You can’t have everything at once.” - -“Alas, how true,” remarked Maurice, holding a tight rein. “These -fellows want to run. They are feeling their oats to-day.” - -“I never saw you drive anything but a car, Maury.” - -“Didn’t you? When I was a kid I used to ride everything on the place, -with or without a saddle. A boy brought up in the country has a pretty -good chance for a fine time.” - -“Some way I never thought of you as brought up in the country.” - -“I would call ours a country place, wouldn’t you?” - -“I suppose so; but you are so close to villages and towns. It isn’t -like our ranches.” - -“No, that’s so; but I like it all the better. Suzanne, are your feet -warm with that little heater?” - -“I’m all right, Maury; but my breath freezes when I talk! Please step -on the gas!” - -Ann laughed at Suzanne’s comical tone. This was just what Ann liked, -though she felt of her nose occasionally, from habit, she told Maurice. - -“I suppose that you do have it a good deal colder than this in Montana.” - -“Yes; but it’s dry, you know.” - -“So they always say. I’m going out there some time and see if it is -true.” - -“Isn’t that nice of you to doubt my word!” - -“I wouldn’t put it that way, Ann. I just make allowances for local -pride. The first winter that you spend out there I’m coming.” Maurice -gave Ann a swift look, then let the horses go a little faster. “How do -you like the tone of our sleigh-bells, Ann? They are the old ones, from -‘time immemorial,’ Grandmother says.” - -“It’s just too Christmasy for words! Please take me out again while I’m -here.” - -“As often as you want to go. Ron says that we are going to get up a -sled party some night, a regular old-fashioned jaunt, you know.” - -“That will suit me, Maurice. But where is my wandering father? Why -didn’t he care enough for his daughter to come after her?” - -“Say, Ann--that is hard on me. Not content with her gay cavalier, she -is crying for Papa! Suzanne, do you realize that the thermometer has -dropped at least ten degrees? Git-ap!” - -“Honestly, Maurice? How do you know?” called Suzanne, above the -jangling bells. - -“He is just joking me, Suzanne. Don’t pay any attention!” - -“Well said, Ann. I won’t.” - -“Your father, Miss Sterling, when I last saw him, was sitting before -a rousing fire in Grandmother’s biggest fire-place. I begged him to -accompany me, but saying that he was not accustomed to such severe -weather in Montana, he refused and continued to talk politics with Dad.” - -“I’ll find out the truth yet, Maurice Tyson,” laughed Ann. “Oh, here we -are! How beautiful everything looks! I do love this place!” - -“I’m glad that you have gotten that far, at least.” - -The LeRoy place was worthy of Ann’s exclamation. She had last seen -it with its waving foliage on the tall old trees, and the flowers, -carefully tended, along the walks or in beds upon the lawn. Now the -trees, as on the campus at Forest Hill, were laden with snow, the -evergreens bending to the ground where the broad spruce branches spread -their beauty. The shrubbery along the curving drive bore also the white -wintry blossoms from the snow drifts. The walks had been cleared and -the entrance was free from snow. - -Maurice fairly lifted Ann from the sleigh and turned to help Suzanne -out of her nest of blankets. But Ann had gone on to meet a big man, -who came out upon the veranda to find his little girl and take her in -a fatherly embrace. “You shouldn’t have come out without a hat, Daddy. -Maurice says that you are not used to cold, so couldn’t come to meet -me.” - -“I’ll have to have it out with Maurice,” said Mr. Sterling. “But it was -comfortable before the fire this morning; and as I saw that Maurice -preferred to meet you himself, I let him do it. Does he make love to -you very seriously?” Mr. Sterling, Ann saw, was in joking mood. - -“Not so very, Daddy. I’ll not have to call on you to send him away yet.” - -And here was Mother, sweet and happy, all her precious family together -at last, under Grandmother’s roof. Ann had a glimpse of Aunt Sue and -Uncle Tyson, as she passed the door on her way to the stairs; but they -waited until the travelers should come downstairs to greet them. Aunt -Sue, Ann thought, would not care for embraces from cold arms. Adeline -was waiting for Ann, to take her wraps and make her comfortable, while -Felice performed a like service for Suzanne. The house was warm and -Adeline brought Ann a hot cup of chocolate with some wafers. - -“You knew that I liked chocolate better than tea, didn’t you, Adeline?” -said Ann, as she sipped the hot drink. - -“Your mother reminded me, Miss Ann.” - -As soon as Ann’s toilet was properly made, according to Adeline’s -notion rather than to Ann’s, she hurried to her grandmother’s room and -rapped. Nancy, smiling broadly, opened the door, and beyond were the -open arms of Grandmother. - -“Dear child, dear child! How glad I am to see you! Your Grandmother is -getting so she can scarcely spare you any more!” - -“Good, Grandmother! It is fine to hear that. I hope that we can -be together except in school time, and we might even manage that -sometimes, if you would come oftener.” - -“When you go to Paris to study, I’ll go with you,” laughed Grandmother. -She waved Ann to a seat near her and asked to hear the latest -school news. How glad Ann was that there were no more things to be -explained, no more uncertain strivings to find and destroy the cause of -misunderstanding. “Your father seems to be having a pleasant visit,” -said Madam LeRoy proudly. - -“I never saw Dad look happier,” agreed Ann. “We are all happy,--I -hope.” Ann added that, for she wondered about Aunt Sue. “It will be a -wonderful Christmas time. Why, Maury brought us home in the ‘family -sleigh,’ so pretty, with its curves and fine fittings!” - -“Did you like it? That old sleigh has quite a history. I will tell -you some of it this vacation, when there is an opportunity. But tell -me more about those girls,--the Jolly Six, is it, or have you more in -numbers, as you had in Montana last summer?” - -“The Jolly Six still exists, but they are not all of my friends, by any -means. We have had a wonderful time, rushing girls for the ‘Bats’ and -‘Owls,’ and Suzanne is so much happier and better off in the new suite.” - -“I never liked her friendship with Madeline Birch,” said Madam LeRoy, -“but I did not like to insist on her rooming with you last year, after -Sue explained the arrangement, though it was largely for your sake that -I let it alone. Although you and Suzanne are cousins, and Suzanne is -a dear child, it does not necessarily follow that relationship makes -people congenial. So it was that I did not interfere.” - -“I was perfectly willing to room with Suzanne, this year; but after -the arrangements had been made, it scarcely seemed fair to Marta. Miss -Tudor arranged it very sensibly, I thought.” - -“What did Madeline think of the new arrangement?” - -“She would not speak to Suzanne; but what with the Sig-Eps saying that -it would not do to keep mad, and Miss Tudor’s putting just the right -girls with Madeline and Genevieve, it all blew over. Suzanne told me -that Madeline will be at her Christmas party!” Ann’s bright face looked -up into the amused face so like her own in expression, at times. - -“We have a new club now, the ‘Scribblers’ Club.’ Eleanor asked me if I -did not want to be a famous authoress, so I am considering the matter! -I haven’t written the great composition as yet, the one that will -entitle me to membership, but I am hoping to get an inspiration this -vacation.” - -“Write about your mountains, Ann, or something in Florida, when you get -there.” - -“Am I really going, Grandmother?” - -“Of course you are. I would not go without you. Your mother and father -would not have so good a time and we would all of us be saying, ‘How I -wish Ann were here.’” - -Grandmother, with her head on one side, was looking at Ann with a -quizzical smile; but Ann knew that she meant what she was saying at -that. - -“It is fine to be of so much importance,” returned Ann. - -“My elder daughter and I have about come to an agreement in regard to -where and how we go, which is high time, since we start as soon after -Christmas day as possible.” - -“I just can scarcely believe it, Grandmother. What is Florida like?” - -“Like no place else in the United States and worth seeing, at least -once. I think that I will buy a place there this time, if we find what -we want. You can help me select it. How would you like that?” - -“I’m afraid that I would not know enough about it. But if there are no -mountains in Florida, let’s get a place near the ocean. I’ve never even -seen it, you know.” - -“Is that so, child? You will see it shortly, then, and the Gulf, too, -if you would like. It is likely that your father will want to take some -auto trips over the state. You can see it better in that way, if the -roads are good.” - -“The Gulf of Mexico, I suppose you mean. Have you an atlas, -Grandmother? I don’t know a thing about Florida, except the outline of -it that I used to draw with the map of the United States. There is Lake -Okeechobee, I remember, and the Everglades are there.” - -“There ought to be atlases enough for your purpose in the library, Ann. -It is not a bad idea to have some idea of the geography before you go. -But have you had a visit with your father yet, Ann? I heard the bells -that accompanied you not very long ago, it seems to me.” - -“No,--I haven’t visited with any one yet; but I saw Daddy a few minutes -before I went upstairs. I came around here as soon as Adeline was -through with me.” - -“That was good of you, my child. Come; I will go with you, and we will -join the family. Nancy has been fixing a dress for me. You do not need -me any more, do you, Nancy?” - -“No ma’am. I know what you want done now.” - -They met Mrs. Sterling on the stairs. She was going up to see what -detained her daughter, though she had surmised that Ann would see her -grandmother as soon as she dressed. Mr. Sterling made room for Ann -beside him on the davenport, in front of the fire, though not too -close. His strong arm went around her and Ann leaned against him, safe -with Daddy once more. Mrs. Tyson had met Ann cordially when she entered -the room and Uncle Tyson had welcomed her with his usual courtesy. -Suzanne had not yet come down, nor was Maurice present; but Ann had not -listened long to the conversation of her elders when he appeared and -drew Ann away from her father to talk to him. - -Looking out of the window as they stood by a little table near it, -Maurice pointed to a red-coated little figure struggling through the -deep snow between walk and drive, and dragging a sled after him. -“Aren’t kids funny?” asked Maurice. “Roy would rather go through the -snow than go around by the walk. I used to think it fun myself. He’ll -come in all wet, and with ice-cold feet, and say that he has had a -great time!” - -“Bless him!” murmured Ann. “I’ll go out and see him.” With Maurice, Ann -went through the devious passages of the old house to the kitchen and -the back porch, where Roy, as commanded of him, would make his first -appearance. Madge, who had been reading in the library and had not -even heard the bells which announced the arrival, came out into the -hall, just in time to meet Ann and welcome her with more enthusiasm -than Madge was ordinarily known to show. She made the third bound -kitchenward. - -Roy, stamping off the snow on the back porch and boisterously entering, -was quite surprised to see members of the family waiting. “What’s the -matter?” he asked. “Oh, yes; hello Ann. When did you get in?” - -“Do you mean to say that you did not see us coming in the sleigh, -literally ‘with bells on,’ as Maurice says?” - -“I was slidin’ down hill over in the hollow. Never heard a thing. Yes, -you can kiss me, if you want to; I don’t usually let ’em any more. I’m -getting too big.” - -This was a new phase in Roy. “I’ll do it for you, if you like,” offered -Maurice with a very sober expression. - -“She might not like it,” as soberly replied Roy, offering his cold -cheek to Ann, who patted his shoulder as she bestowed her salute. “You -are my friend, Roy, aren’t you?” said she. - -“I’m your cousin, and so is Maurice,” said Roy. - -“Then I have some rights, haven’t I, Roy?” inquired Maurice. - -“Better be careful. Girls are funny,” replied Roy. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS - - -Ann did not mind Maurice’s joking ways. How serious he was she -had no means of knowing, but his manner was perfectly respectful -and courteous, nor did he presume on the relationship. She began, -nevertheless, to have more than one thought about the future. Kendall -Gordon’s letters came with great regularity, whether she wrote in reply -or had postponed it in the multiplicity of school duties. Clifford, -too, began to write oftener and to give Ann more of a glimpse of the -“real Cliff” than she had ever had. He wrote of school, the home people -and of his plans for the future. It would almost seem that Clifford was -trying to keep her in remembrance of her home and of what they had in -common. “Do you remember”--this or that?--he would write, or “When you -come home next summer, we can do”--this or that. - -Suppose Maurice were not Aunt Sue’s son, what then? And if not, what -reason had there been for bringing him up not to know it? If Aunt Sue -had been “mad” or jealous of the first wife, the more natural thing -would have been to take it out on Maurice, instead of bringing him up -as her own. Ah, but Grandmother’s money! Maurice would not be entitled -to any if he were not Aunt Sue’s son! Could that be the reason? Did -Aunt Sue think of that so long ago? Well, it was a puzzle. But probably -there was nothing in what Mrs. Lewis had told her. Yet there would be -no counting on what Aunt Sue would do in any case. She was the funniest -woman! So Ann turned over matters in her young mind. She began to -notice Maurice and Aunt Sue, looking to see if Maurice looked like -her. He did not look much like his father. She had considered that -he was like Aunt Sue because in general he was fair. But was he? His -blond hair had grown a little darker since Ann first saw him. His eyes -were not like Aunt Sue’s, a dark grey, or blue-grey, she guessed, with -dark lashes, while Aunt Sue’s were blue, or had been. Maurice had a -distinguished profile. So had Aunt Sue and Grandmother, but Maurice’s -features were like those of neither. Well, well! “‘All of which goes to -prove that music is both elevating and refining,’ as Cliff likes to say -when something proves nothing!” - -The next day Madeline came to call, happening to arrive at the same -time as Ronald Bentley and Jack Hudson, who came to plan the week’s -festivities. This meeting did not cause Madeline any pain, as Maurice -wickedly whispered to Ann when he had a good chance. But Madeline and -Suzanne rather absorbed the attention of Maurice and Jack, leaving Ann -to Ronald, who entertained Ann with pictures of Florida life and what -they would do when the Bentleys had their yacht ready for the “briny.” - -“It does not look much like ocean travel here,” said Ann. “The wind -just howled last night and I can’t associate December with any balmy -days such as you describe.” - -“It’s probably a little uncomfortable in the sun to-day in Miami,” said -Ronald. “I don’t expect you to believe me, though. But I’ll prove it to -you. We’re off the day after Christmas. When do you start?” - -“Uncle Tyson said that we would spend New Year’s in Florida, so I -suppose they mean to start soon after Christmas.” - -“We start when the Bentleys do,” said Maurice, who had overheard. “We -school folks would not have much time there, if we didn’t get off -early. Luckily there is some sort of an educational meeting, which -gives us an extra week of vacation. Come on, folks, let’s go into the -library and plan our campaign.” - -There were other callers in the drawing room and that was the reason -for Maurice’s suggestion. The six young people immediately repaired to -the library, where Maurice drew up chairs to the table. - -“This is a Pan-American or Pan-Something conference,” said Maurice, -opening a drawer for paper and taking out his fountain pen. “First, -what do we do next?” - -“Take the girls bob-sledding down the hill beyond the mills, tonight,” -answered Ronald Bentley. - -“Good,” said Maurice, writing it down, with the date. “Will you accept -the proposition, young ladies?” - -“_Avec beaucoup de plaisir, messieurs_,” simpered Madeline, while the -other girls gave assent by smiles and nods to Maurice, as he looked at -each in turn. - -“That will be fun,” declared Ann. - -“What next?” Maurice balanced his pen on his finger and looked -inquiringly at the other boys for suggestions. The girls, as those to -be invited, had no suggestions to offer. - -“Old-fashioned sled party, oysters at the hotel, wherever we happen to -go.” This was Ronald again. - -“Still good, if the ladies approve.” As no dissenting voice was heard, -Maurice made a second note. “Next?” - -“The next night is the reception at Ron’s, Maury,” said Jack. - -“Sure enough; and the next night we have our own Christmas Eve doings.” - -“We can go somewhere afternoons, can’t we?” inquired Jack. - -“If we get home early enough,” said Suzanne. - -“We’ll do that, if you say so. Either afternoon tea somewhere or -dinner, as you like. Two afternoon sleighing parties, then, Maury. Put -’em down! Now somebody will have to telephone the other folks. Make out -a list, girls, for the whole thing.” - -“The evening receptions are already planned and invitations out,” -suggested Suzanne. - -“Certainly. I meant our little private performances. Want anybody else -to-night?” - -“Too much bother, Jack,” said Maurice, to the delight of Madeline, who -feared a change of escorts. “But we’ll get some of the other young -folks for the sled ride and the sleighing parties.” - -“Not too many, Maury,” said Suzanne. - -“The list is entirely in your hands, my dear sister.” Maurice thought -of one more possible amusement, but did not mention it because he -wanted Ann’s company, not Madeline’s. This was skating, for two or -three hours in the morning. He would tell Jack to ask Suzanne, if he -wanted to. How would he put it? Yes, he would be taking Ann to the -“pond,” wouldn’t Jack like to come along with somebody? - -Suzanne and Madeline bent their heads together to consider whom to -ask. It did not take long to select several couples among their good -friends, and Suzanne handed the list to Maurice, who read it aloud. -“If there are no objections, I withdraw, with great regret, to the -telephone!” - -“I’ll do it for you, Maury,” said Madeline, “if you will hold the list -and look up the numbers.” - -“Self-sacrificing girl!” exclaimed Maurice. “I would be too fluttered -to look up the numbers, if any of you ladies were present.” Maurice, -with this, escaped. - -“Ridiculous boy!” Suzanne exclaimed. “Let him alone. He will be through -the quicker, Madeline.” Suzanne had no particular desire to hurry, -but Maurice had given her foot a nudge with his own under the table, -and well she knew how he would suffer under Madeline’s flirtatious -management of the telephoning. Besides, he would most likely, when -Madeline was telephoning, summon her away from congenial society, to -assist Madeline, claiming some problem or other. Maurice had been -expert in escaping from Madeline even in the old days, when she and -Madeline were such friends. - - * * * * * - -Jack was ready to make the fourth in the morning’s skating. There was -a pair of skates for Ann, left over from last year, when they had been -procured for her. The “pond,” as they called it, had been blown clear -of snow, and following the partial melting and the following hard -freeze, was as smooth as glass. - -“Do I skate as well as Clifford Hart?” asked Maurice, while he and Ann -sped down the length of the small body of water, now frozen so hard. - -Rosy-cheeked Ann looked up at her escort in surprise. “Of course you -do. Why?” - -“No reason, except that I should prefer to do so. Cliff is such an -example, you know.” - -“Now when did I ever tell you that?” - -“Never. You would not be so impolite, sweet cousin. I merely gathered -it this summer, among the Montana wild flowers, as it were.” - -“Please don’t make fun of Clifford. He does not pretend to be a saint, -and I don’t like to hear you speak in that way of him!” - -“I admire Mr. Hart very much.” - -“Maurice! I didn’t think that you were like ‘Beano!’” - -“Gracious! How to please her!” - -“Some way I didn’t like your tone when you spoke of Clifford. But I’m -wrong to take it up so. Please forgive me, Maurice. Maybe you can’t -help it if you don’t like Clifford.” - -“I never said that I didn’t like him, sweet cousin; but he likes you -too well, and I fear me that you like him. See? Plain jealousy.” - -“Nonsense. There are a lot of interesting young men. I’m not in love -with any one.” - -“Some consolation, Ann. Ann, I heard a bit of gossip again yesterday. -It is something that I heard last summer from one of the boys and -worried over, then thought that I had traced it to a person who makes -up anything, I’m told, out of whole cloth. But it came from another -source this time, and I’m going to Father with it, how soon I haven’t -made up my mind.” - -“Is it about yourself, Maurice?” - -“Yes; have you heard it?” - -“I heard something, but it came from an unreliable source. It seems so -unbelievable, too. It is nothing to your discredit, Maurice.” - -Ann added the last statement, for she thought that Maurice might refer -to some other report, about some college escapade or affairs among the -young folks. - -Maurice was silent and they glided along without a word for some -distance. - -“Who told you and what was said?” he finally asked. - -“It was Mrs. Lewis, that woman who, I am told, is such an indefatigable -gossip; but I’d rather not speak of the matter first.” - -“She seizes on an unpleasant report and holds on to it like a dog to a -bone!” said Maurice. “I heard it first through her, when I came back -from the West this summer, not from her directly, though. It is going -to make considerable difference to me, Ann, whether it is true or not.” - -“Yes, and yet----” - -“It would explain some things that I remember, too. And Ann, we would -not be related, you know, though I think it would be all right for us -to marry anyhow.” - -“Let’s not talk of that, Maury, _please_!” - -“All right, but you will admit that I like to think of some -consolation!” - -“I haven’t an idea that it is true, Maury. Why worry? When you think -best, report it to your father, as you said you would. That is my way. -I’d go to headquarters.” - -“Do you suppose that I can believe headquarters?” - -“Did your father ever deceive you?” - -“No,--I can’t say that Dad ever did. Mother, though, can get around -anything.” - -“I have found that out.” - -“I want to get hold of Dad when Mother is not around. Perhaps this trip -would be a good time.” - -“Perhaps it would. You want to get it off your mind, Maury. I’m awfully -sorry that you are worried.” - -“I believe that you are, Ann. Because you are you, must be why I am -bothering you with my worries.” - -“I don’t consider it ‘bothering.’ Please enjoy your vacation, Maurice.” - -“I will, Ann. You are a good adviser. And I suppose that if I were glum -and worried it would spoil your good time, too.” - -“It most certainly would! O Maurice, I’m having such a good time now, -and think of going to Florida in just a few days! I can’t believe it!” - -“Let me see you enjoy it, then. That is all I ask.” - -“Oh, we’ll all have a wonderful time together. Suzanne is almost as -crazy as I am about it. I wish that Jack were going. She likes him, I -think.” - -“Do you?” laughed Maurice. “Then she will be happy, for Jack is going -with Ron. He told me this morning. We’ll all sing ‘Begone dull care’ -and make a playtime of it. I’ll promise you not to worry. Of course, I -can’t help thinking of it sometimes.” - -“I suppose not. When you do, come around and I’ll try to make you -laugh. But if it is going to be on your mind, you’d better see your -father right away.” - -“I’ll see. It is rather a delicate matter to broach, Ann, and we have -not been in the habit of being as free with our parents as you are with -your father. Your relation with your parents seems ideal to me.” - -“I take all my problems to Dad,” said Ann. “Mother is lovely, too, but -we try to spare her a little, he and I.” - - * * * * * - -Mr. Sterling declared that the young people of the family would be such -wrecks after all the going of Christmas week that they would not be -able to go to Florida when the time came, but Ann told him that he did -not realize what constitutions they had. “We thrive on sleigh rides and -parties,” she asserted. - -“Time will tell,” replied Mr. Sterling, shaking his head with what was -intended to be a mournful expression but rather failed of effect. - -Rides, little talks, feasting and visiting, the exciting event at -the Bentleys, where Suzanne and Ann appeared in all the glory of new -frocks, and last, the grand finale at the LeRoy mansion, on Christmas -eve, made up the tale of the days before Christmas. Christmas day would -be quiet, a welcome rest, even with its excitement of gift giving and -receiving. But the older part of the family had arranged most of that. -Most of the packing for departure, too, had been done before the girls -and Maurice came home from college. Ann had selected her clothes, when -she came home, with a view to Florida, bringing what her mother had -directed. - -The family slept late on Christmas morning, with the exception of Madge -and Roy, who had their own Christmas tree in the nursery. There was -usually a big tree for all; but when it was decided to have this last -Christmas Eve entertainment, the plan was changed. Other gifts, beside -those of the children, were to be found in various places, Ann’s on a -chair by her bedside, where she could examine them before she rose. It -was strange to her, though she enjoyed her gifts, for their beauty and -for their givers. But always before she had had some one with whom to -share the fun. Last year, to be sure, she was away from home, but there -was the tree. She would not disturb her mother and father, who were, -without doubt, sleeping the sleep of the just. How quiet the house -was! Later they would all go to church in the village, then have their -family dinner. - -One present from Maurice pleased her, a handsomely bound book of -verse, an anthology, in which he had marked some poems, not for their -sentimental meaning, Ann discovered, with the exception of one. She -would take that book to read on the way. Ann had not known that Maurice -was at all inclined to verse, or, indeed, to any sort of literature. -While she lay among her soft pillows she thought of many things, among -them, how easy it was to misjudge people. On that lovely winter morning -with its message of good will, it was easy to think kind thoughts, even -toward Aunt Sue, who was, in truth, the head of a very successful and -comfortable home. - -Ann decided to take one more nap, after she had finished looking -over her gifts; nor did she waken till Adeline rapped. “Here is your -breakfast, Miss Ann,” she said, “and your mother says that you will -just about have time to eat it and get ready for church.” - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -ANN VISITS A NEW CLIME - - -It was a lesson to Ann with how little confusion the exodus was -accomplished. It came partly, she decided, from the excellent -self-control which Grandmother, her mother and her aunt always exerted, -with good plans and management. On the other hand, it was partly due -to the fact that there was plenty of help in every line, each servant -knowing the particular line of service he was expected to give. But -Aunt Sue made a good general, Ann admitted. - -Part of the family were going straight through, to Palm Beach, where -Mrs. Tyson had finally persuaded her mother to engage suites at a -fashionable hotel. But Mr. Sterling wanted to see something of the -state in general. Accordingly, he and Mrs. Sterling, with Ann, Suzanne -and Maurice, were stopping at Jacksonville for a few days. From that -center they would visit the interior towns and the West Coast on a -motor trip that Ann anticipated with great delight, and would also -make a short stay at St. Augustine. Weather and whatever seemed the -best order of things would be determined after their arrival at -Jacksonville. - -It was interesting to travel, Ann thought, with every comfort that -money could procure for them. Ann was sure that her father would be -bankrupt, keeping up with the Tyson and the LeRoy style of doing -things. But when she said as much to her father, he only laughed and -said that he had been getting ready for some years to be extravagant -when Ann should go to school, and that he had lately “struck oil” in -more ways than one. - -Just what her father meant by that Ann did not know, except that her -mother had mentioned an oil investment as having turned out well, -a result which is quite likely not to occur. At any rate, Ann, who -remembered their more careful days and the simple way of living, felt -assured that financial matters were secure. The three young people -were in the highest spirits to start and Ann thought that Maurice must -have laid aside his worry. And if the truth were told, Maurice had -little trouble in doing it. With the sweetest girl in the world, on an -interesting trip,--surely anything else could wait. But purposes were -forming in Maurice which would make him a far stronger man than if -he had remained the careless boy which Ann first met. He had already -spoken to his father about a “job” in the mills, as soon as he should -receive his diploma, to Mr. Tyson’s surprise and pleasure. Plans for a -summer out West with Ann had gone glimmering. - -Suzanne was more interested in a good story or two and the chocolates -with which Maurice had furnished the girls. But Ann, always alert for -new things along the way, listened to Maurice and looked with both her -eager eyes when the scenery began to grow a little tropical. “Those are -mostly palmettos,” Maurice told her, when she began to exclaim over -“palms”. “Wait till we get further south for the beautiful palms,” he -said. - -“Just look at all the buzzards!” exclaimed Ann, as they passed a wood -where many turkey vultures were circling. - -“You’ll see a lot of them in Florida,” said Maurice. “Watch for the -black vultures. They are different and show some white on their wings.” - -“I thought that you said you knew nothing about birds!” - -“I know a few,” said Maurice, “but last summer what did I know about -your Montana birds?” - -“You are too modest.” - -“That is the first time I ever was accused of that,” sighed Maurice. -“Tell me some more nice things.” - -Ann, leaning back in the seat beside him and next to the window, looked -at Maurice keenly. “I’ve discovered that your gay ways cover a lot of -things, Maury. I imagine, for all you say, that your record at college, -for instance, is not so bad.” - -“It might be worse,” laughed Maurice, “but all the same, Ann, I have -not covered the family with glory, or worked hard, as I should. I have -tried to redeem the record a little this year, that’s all. But school -was something that had to be put through; that was all it meant to me. -And it means about the same now, Ann, though I appreciate the culture -of the old profs, and I see that I have absorbed _something_ from them.” - -“I am too much the other way, Maurice. I’m inclined to think that -school is everything; and when girls do not work at their lessons I put -too low an estimate on them. I did with Eleanor, for one.” - -“You are more nearly right, Ann. I’ll admit it; because if you do not -do your best at whatever you work at, you lose out in habits of--what -shall I call it?” - -“Industry,” suggested Ann. - -“Right. Look, Ann. We’re passing these southern pines, you see, where -they are getting the turpentine. See the little receptacles fastened -on?” - -“Yes. How curious. They look like little flower pots at this distance.” - -“They have different sorts in different places. See them, Madge?” - -Madge had edged on the arm of the seat and was looking curiously at the -pines, which appeared to fly past. Maurice made room for the slim child -between him and Ann, and talked to her about the changing scenes. “I -wish that I was going along with Aunt Elizabeth and Ann on your motor -trip,” regretfully said Madge. - -“You will do it some day, Madge,” her brother assured her. “We’ll take -you around some when we get back. Your Uncle Sterling is going to buy a -car.” - -“Honestly, Maurice?” inquired Ann. “I did not know that.” - -“He is going to get one for this trip. I heard him tell Father that he -sold his car that he had last summer and would buy a new one here.” - -“Of all things! Dear me,--that was such a good car!” - -“But not a particle of use for it until next summer, Ann.” - -“True enough. It is sensible, I will admit. He will enjoy getting -another. Men like such things.” - -“How about women?” - -“We like them, too, don’t we, Ann?” Madge queried. - -“I guess we do, Madge.” - - * * * * * - -At Jacksonville the separation of the parties occurred. The Sterling -party made headquarters at one of the hotels, while Mr. Sterling -enjoyed the thrills, or anxieties of selecting a new car. In this -Maurice, too, took an interest and accompanied him to give him the -benefit of his young judgment. Yet Maurice could not waste all the -time in even this interesting employment, but took the girls and Mrs. -Sterling to see the sights in taxis. “It would not do for you to miss -the alligator farm, Ann,” said he, “such a romantic spot!” - -Ann found it far from romantic, but very interesting, with its -alligators of all sizes and ages. “Funny place to call a ‘farm’,” said -she. - -“It is a place where they raise stock, Ann,” said Suzanne. - -“If you call alligators stock,” Ann replied, looking at the big pen -where the larger ones were kept together. “Imagine any one’s wanting to -go in there! Look at that sign, Maurice!” - -“What sign?” inquired Suzanne. - -“There,” pointed her brother, “telling you that you enter at your own -risk.” - -“Do you suppose that we shall really see any alligators in the wild?” - -“We shall, indeed, though we may have to go to special places, Ann.” - - * * * * * - -From Jacksonville they went on down the coast, staying several days at -St Augustine, where the girls were especially interested in the old -fort, Fort Marion. They began to feel that their vacation was flying -and hoped that they would get to Palm Beach early enough to give -Maurice some time with them, and Ronald’s fascinating yacht. But it was -not possible to hurry Mr. Sterling, nor would they let him know that -they were anxious to speed on their way. However, after they left St -Augustine, Mr. Sterling himself came to the conclusion that he had -planned too much to be accomplished in the limited time. He decided -to take them on down the East Coast to Palm Beach with no delay. From -that point he could make short excursions, with the girls and Maurice, -for their entertainment. The general trips over the state could wait -until the young folks had gone back to school. It was his judgment that -this should happen, so far as Ann was concerned. Ann, too, felt better -content, to know that her work would not have to be made up to so great -an extent. What Suzanne did was not for them to decide. - -The rest of the family were much surprised to see the travelers so -soon, but approved the move. Ann was delighted with the beautiful -surroundings. “This is well named ‘Palm’ Beach,” she said. “I did not -know that we could have such wonderful palm trees in the United States! -Daddy, buy me one of these houses with a crimson bougainvillea vine!” - -“Certainly, my daughter,” responded Mr. Sterling, who was driving Ann -and Maurice toward the causeway and down one of the palm lined avenues. -“Just pick out the one you want. I’ve no doubt that I shall be able to -induce the owner to part with it!” - -“For a nice fat price,” murmured Maurice. - -“Don’t think of such an unimportant detail as money, Maurice. Why, -Daddy, I want that one we passed, the one with just the right shade of -cream stucco, on the tan order, not yellow, smooth stucco, with no -horrible splotches of color. The crimson vine over the door just suited -it. I don’t know what I’m going to do about having a scarlet hibiscus. -I want one, but it will not harmonize with the crimson bougainvillea!” - -“Put it in the rear of your villa, Ann,” suggested Maurice. “Have the -back a different color scheme.” - -“Good idea. But I have discovered so many things that it will really be -quite a problem to work out!” - -“I’ll take up landscape gardening and architecture, Ann, if you would -like to have me do it. No; for one villa and its grounds, it would be -cheaper to hire it done.” - -“I have to decide where I want it. Oh, the beautiful ocean, Maury! No -wonder that Suzanne loves it! I thought that I should never get through -looking, this morning from the beach. I loved the bathing, too; but -isn’t it funny how the sand runs away from under your feet? It almost -made me dizzy at first.” - -“Was that it?” asked Maurice. “I noticed that you hesitated a little. -But when you began to swim you were all right.” - -“I loved the Indian River drive,” said Ann, “but the real ocean!” - -Maurice “loved” Ann’s enthusiasm, never noisily expressed; but in -comparison with some of the girls he knew, Ann, with her honest -interest in life, was refreshing. Madeline would pretend a knowledge -that she did not possess. Suzanne was often bored, except about certain -things. Ann was glad of what she knew, but eager to learn more about -the world and everything in it that contained a bit of inspiration. - -“What did I do with that list Suzanne gave me?” asked Maurice, -searching his pockets. “I honestly believe that she is going to start -some sort of embroidery or tatting!” - -“Somebody at the hotel showed her a new pattern of crochet, that’s -all,” said Ann, laughing at the disgust in Maurice’s tone. “She wants -to take it off. Suzanne will not miss any of the outdoors, Maury.” - -“I should hope not. But I’m afraid she will.” - -They were bound for West Palm Beach, just over the causeway, where they -accomplished their shopping, took lunch at a good cafeteria, where it -was great fun to select guava jelly, avocado pear salad, grape fruit -in the land where it was grown, and such other Florida products as -offered. Then they drove back, to find that Ronald and Jade had arrived -from Daytona with the yacht. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -A TASTE OF “THE SEASON” - - -The Bentleys were living on their yacht at present. Jack Hudson was -with them and they straightway invited Suzanne, Ann and Maurice to join -them. But as the Sterlings were driving to Miami for a short stay, it -was arranged to meet at Fort Lauderdale, twenty-five miles north of -Miami, where the Bentleys expected to “park” their yacht, as Jack said. -Mr. Sterling would have the young folks there, on the drive back to -Palm Beach. The youngsters, as Mr. Sterling called them, were to have -their chance first at all the trips, because of their limited stay. -Their elders, with the exception of Mr. Sterling, would remain until -May. Mr. Sterling, indeed, could prolong his stay as long as he chose, -or thought best. - -It was fun to shop in Miami, full of tourists as it was. They drove to -the beaches, for they were obliged to try out the winter bathing, they -said, at every place, if only to prove that they could. Ann was deeply -interested in the variety of people that they saw, people of every -degree of culture, or its entire lack, occasionally. There were “lovely -people”, she told her father, and some with hard faces, who did not -seem to be happy in spite of the money which they evidently possessed. -Wherever he could, Mr. Sterling drove on the roads by the sea, where -they all filled eyes and hearts with the beauty of the southern waters -and sky. - -“Don’t you hope that Grandmother will buy a home down here somewhere?” -said Suzanne, as they were on their way back to join the Bentleys. - -“Oh, yes!” exclaimed Ann. “Do you really suppose that she will? What do -you think, Mother?” - -“I should not be surprised,” answered Mrs. Sterling. “Mother begins to -feel the winters very much. She would enjoy escaping the worst part of -them, the long stretch from the first of January, say. Where would you -choose the place for her, children?” - -“Either Palm Beach or Miami,” declared Suzanne at once. - -“I would rather be a little farther away from so many people,” said -Ann. “I loved the looks of Fort Lauderdale as I went through. All those -yachts and launches on New River were so wonderful. I like some of the -other places that we passed through, too. In the northern places there -were those immense old live oaks; down here are the palms. I wouldn’t -know which to choose!” - -“Probably you couldn’t get Mother to settle north of Palm Beach. You -haven’t said where you are going to put your vote, Maurice.” - -“Me? Oh, I’m going to have a river front place on New River, so I can -dock my yacht at my own front yard.” Maurice gave a smiling look at Ann -as he said this. “Don’t you think, Ann, that my plan is good?” - -“Very good, if you know where the yacht is coming from.” Ann said this -gaily, as usual, but wished that she had not, for Maurice’s face fell -and he looked sober for some time. - -“Now he is worrying again,” she thought. “It seems that I can not have -any sense!” - - * * * * * - -The new car sped along the Dixie highway from Miami in fine shape. -Maurice drove for Mr. Sterling and Ann sat by him, at his suggestion. -They drove into Wyldewood to look at the “two million dollar” banyan -tree and other things; but that did not take long. It seemed a short -ride, compared to those which they had been taking, when they crossed -the bridge at Fort Lauderdale and turned down the street by the river, -where they saw the pennants of the Bentley yacht. - -Mrs. Bentley saw them and beckoned from the yacht. A young fellow in -sailor costume came to help them aboard. “Isn’t it great?” whispered -Suzanne to Ann. “I did not know that they had so fine a yacht, nor one -so big as this. It is a good thing the river is so deep, for these -large boats.” - -The wood seemed to be mahogany, shining and clean, as everything -was, indeed. On the deck there were comfortable seats, mostly wicker -furniture. It was the first time that Ann had ever been on a yacht, an -occasion to be remembered. - -“I am all alone,” said Mrs. Bentley, when her guests were seated on -deck. “My men all went deep sea fishing this morning. Ron promised to -bring me a whale and Jack said that he might catch a shark. Mr. Bentley -made no promises.” - -Ann wondered if this were fun or earnest, probably fun, she thought. -Whaling, she knew, was an undertaking by itself. But she did not -pretend to know what they did catch in “deep sea fishing,” so kept -still and listened. - -“They thought that you would not get here so early, though I really -expected them before this.” - -“You are ready, are you, to undertake the addition to your family?” Mr. -Sterling asked. - -“Indeed I am. We have all been anticipating the fun. I wish that you -and Mrs. Sterling might join us, too.” - -“Thank you, Mrs. Bentley,” replied Mrs. Sterling, “we are sorry not to -see Mr. Bentley, but I promised Mother to reach Palm Beach early. We’d -better not wait.” - -“Then you must see our yacht, at least,” said Mrs. Bentley, rising. -“After the young folks go back to school, perhaps we can persuade you -to a little cruise with us.” - -“It would not take any persuading in our case, would it, Ann?” remarked -Suzanne, as they followed the rest on a tour of the yacht. - -“I don’t know how good a sailor I’ll be,” said Ann, “but I wouldn’t -miss this for a good deal!” - -Not long after the Sterlings’ departure, a small launch came past, -carrying the fishermen and their catch. They had gone out with friends -in the early morning. - -A little further along the docks the launch found a place to dock. Here -came the boys, followed by Mr. Bentley and another of his small “crew” -that ran the boat for him. “We’re leaving our catch, Mother,” said Ron, -“to be attended to at the launch. I’m going to have the sail-fish I -caught mounted!” - -“Ronald! Where will you put it?” - -“Haven’t thought that far yet, Mom!” - -The fishermen boarded the yacht and made many excuses for their -somewhat disreputable appearance. Jack looked rather pale. Deep -sea fishing had been a trifle strenuous for him, but he disclaimed -seasickness. With more excuses, they withdrew, to appear some time -later in the garb of civilization, as they said, though not evening -dress by any means. Mrs. Bentley had told the girls that it was not -necessary to change their costume, though they had brought suitable -frocks. “We shall be very informal tonight,” she said. “Indeed, I think -that we shall take our evening meal ashore at some pleasant place.” - -It was like living in a house, Ann thought, so convenient to -everything. “I always did think that I would like to live in a -house-boat,” she confided to Suzanne, to receive a well-bred stare. -Suzanne had never thought house-boats had anything to do with her! - -“You do say the funniest things sometimes, Ann,” she said. - -As the boys had planned it, the young people went off to a moving -picture after their rather early dinner, Ronald calling for a young -friend on a neighboring yacht, which gave each lad a lass. This young -lady was one they had met several seasons at Daytona, where the -Bentleys often stayed. Quite accidentally the girls found that she -knew Eleanor Frost and lived not far from her home on the Hudson. -This was enough of a recommendation for Suzanne, who was friendly -at once. Ann liked the appearance of Ronald’s friend, Louise Duncan -by name, who had met Maurice before and remembered him. It was a -“happy-go-lucky” affair, not planned except for the movie, which was -rather disappointing. They left before it was over and drifted into an -ice-cream parlor, where they sat to visit as much as to eat the cool -refreshments. Ann could not get over its being winter. “Someway, I keep -thinking that I have the dates all wrong,” she said to Maurice, who -remained her special cavalier. “I started to put June on a letter I -began to Marta this morning.” - -“You are not the only one who gets mixed in Florida. ‘It is always June -in Miami’ is a favorite saying down here, you know.” - -“We’ll all go up on our deck,” announced Ronald, “and we’ll get out our -little banjos for some music.” - -There was no dissenting voice. In a short time Ann was sitting with a -light wrap around her shoulders, as in summer time at home, listening -to the music of guitar, mandolin and banjo, the instruments that the -boys happened to play. Theirs was not the only yacht that boasted -music. Voices and instruments mingled their sounds over the river’s -reflections. Stars and moon were bright. An occasional boat passed. -Strains from a band concert in the park reached them occasionally, till -the boys said that there was too much competition and stopped. “Wait -till we get out upon the bounding billow, girls,” said Ronald. - -“Then we shall show what we can do!” added Jack. “Tomorrow we are -going to take you up New River, though, and perhaps around ‘Alligator -Circle’.” - -“What is ‘Alligator Circle’?” asked Ann. “Do you mean that we may -really see some alligators?” - -“If it is a sunny day, I think that you may see quite a number on the -banks. We are going in Dick Bell’s launch, provided that you young -ladies will accept our plan.” - -“We are in for any fun that you suggest,” declared Suzanne. - -Ronald took Louise home to her floating mansion, which was conveniently -located on the same side of the river. Mrs. Bentley, who, if the truth -were told, had been yawning for some time, as she and her husband sat -forward and listened to the various harmonies, showed Suzanne and Ann -to their quarters. From the deck came the strains of “Good Night, -Ladies,” the college song immemorial. - -The girls looked at each other with smiles as they listened, but had -no way of acknowledging the message. “Isn’t this a cutey cabin, Ann?” -asked Suzanne as she surveyed the little stateroom. - -“Not only cutey, but ducky. I’m rather glad that my first experience is -on a stationary boat. With all the fun we’ve had, and the candy we ate, -I’m afraid that I’m due for dreams tonight.” - -“May they be pleasant ones,” said her cousin. “I’ve had such a glorious -time that mine ought to be. Jack is such a dear! Do you know that he -and Maurice are both planning to get a position in the mills after they -graduate? Jack told me tonight. Father has said that he will start them -in, though they may not get what they want at first. I think that he -and Grandmother both want Maury to learn the business from the ground -up.” - -“Maurice told me that he was planning to begin there, but you don’t -suppose that they will handle the machinery, do you?” - -“No. They would not be of much help there, I suppose, though Maurice -likes that sort of thing. He was always taking everything to pieces -when he was little. And till he smashed his car he had a lot of fun -doing almost the same thing with that.” - - * * * * * - -Morning brought sunshine and lovely clouds drifting over from the -ocean. Ann looked out upon islands of water hyacinth, floating past -the yacht on their way to the sound and the sea. The tide was going -out. Some of the yachts and launches were already moving, for the day, -perhaps, or to other shores. It was cool enough for a wrap on deck, but -Maurice told the girls that it would warm up as soon as the sun “got -into action.” - -It was about nine o’clock when the party left the yacht to go along the -docks and across the bridge to where the little launch lazily rocked -and waited for them. Louise had joined them and told Suzanne that there -was a bit of pleasant news for her. “I’ll tell you when we get on the -launch,--if it is necessary,” she mysteriously added. - -Several young people were standing on the dock near the launch as they -approached. “Why, there’s Eleanor!” Suzanne exclaimed. “Where in the -world did you come from, Eleanor?” - -“Ann, this is our host, Dick Bell,” Maurice was saying. “This is the -cousin I told you about, Dick.” - -For a few moments introductions were in order. Then Eleanor had time -to answer Suzanne’s question. “Mother and I are staying at Miami,” she -said. “I wrote to your address, Suzanne, to let you and Ann know that -we had suddenly decided to come. But you must have started before the -letter reached you. We ran across Dick yesterday, down town, and he -told me about this little trip. I came up on the ’bus a few minutes -ago. We decided to surprise you, though Dick told the boys, I guess.” - -Besides Eleanor and Richard Bell, there were two other young friends, -Richard’s chum, Fred Hall, and his sister, Lois Bell. It bid fair to -prove a congenial party, but it would have been thrilling enough to Ann -even without the fun. It was all so different, she told Eleanor. There -were tall, feathery Australian pines and cocoanut palms along the river -bank. In the gardens of the homes near by, the vines and shrubs were of -those varieties with which she was just becoming familiar. - -“Wait till we get up toward the Everglades,” said Eleanor. “Then you -will think it ‘different’.” - -Ann had never heard of New River till she reached Florida. It was not -like her dashing mountain rivers, but had a beauty of its own. “How -dark the water is,” she said to Maurice, who sat beside her as they -moved up the river, under the two drawbridges, which stood open for -them and some taller boats. - -“Yes. I don’t know why, unless there is something about the soil or -what grows along the banks. It is a sluggish river, but the tide comes -up every day to quite a distance.” - -“There are some compensations for its not being rapid. I love the -reflections in the water. See how that palmetto is reflected, with -scarcely a ripple to show that it is water!” - -The launch chugged along to the accompaniment of light laughter and -conversation. Rounding the curves, they advanced up stream, passing -some beautiful homes on the river front, then reaching the wilder -regions, where there were tangles of beautiful trees and shrubs in the -swamps. As it was yet early in the season, the water birds were not -wary. Herons of all sorts flew ahead of them. A fish hawk crossed the -stream overhead. An American bittern, all streaked with brown, flew -close enough to be distinguished without a glass. - -“There!” called Dick. “There, folks, is your alligator! See him?” - -But Ann, who had been following the bittern’s course, saw nothing but -the splash with which the alligator took the water and disappeared -from view. “What a shame!” she cried. “Do you suppose that we’ll see -another, Maury?” she asked. - -“Certainly we shall. Watch the shores, especially any place where they -would be likely to lie out in the sun.” - -“It’s like a circus with several rings, isn’t it? While you watch one -thing, you miss something else!” - -But Ann saw the immense tarpon that leaped out of the water and back. -Smaller fishes also disported for their benefit. Finally Ann saw a -dark scaly body, curved around on a little hillock where the sun shone -between two masses of growth on the shore. “Is that an alligator -there?” she asked, pointing to the spot. - -“’Tis the very reptile,” replied Ronald, and Dick made the launch move -more slowly, to let every one have a good look. Sleeping peacefully, -his long, hideous mouth in a “grim smile”, as Eleanor had it, the -immense alligator was not disturbed by the passing launch. The deed was -done. Ann had seen an “alligator in the wild”! But after that there -were perhaps a dozen more of various sizes that they saw, one swimming -in the river not far from the launch. - -Up the canal at some distance, they stopped at a small place where the -larger boat that takes tourists on this ride always makes a stop. There -they visited an orange grove that Dick told them about, coming back to -the launch laden with the sweet, yellow fruit. - -“How do you say we go back, boys?” asked Dick. - -“Take the cut-off and go around by the sound and Lake Mabel,” said -Ronald. - -“That will give the girls a chance to see more,” seconded Maurice. - -“Around the canal we go,” said Dick. “The canal scenery is nothing -remarkable, girls, but when we get along further, there will be a view -worth seeing.” - -On the dry slopes of the canal more alligators were sunning themselves. -But these were all shy of being seen. One scarcely saw them, Ann -thought, before they were in the river and out of sight entirely. “The -Indians hunt them, you know,” Dick explained. “But there are not so -many to get any more, they say. A man who has been coming here for -the last twenty-five years told me that there used to be thousands of -alligators where there are only a few now.” - -“So far as I am concerned,” said Ann, “there are enough.” This remark -brought a laugh from the boys and similar sentiments from the girls. - -“Don’t worry, Ann,” said Ronald. “There aren’t any around the towns.” - -But just then, something was the matter with the engine, which finally -stopped, to the inward distress of at least the feminine portion of -the passengers. To their credit it may be said, however, that nobody -screamed. - -“Steady, folks,” said Dick, working away. “I’ll get her to going in a -minute.” - -The boat swung around, without direction, and Ann thought that they -were going to bump into the bank. Would they upset? So far as she knew, -everybody could swim. But how about the alligators? - -“Take that pole, Ron,” called Dick, nodding toward where a long pole -was fastened. “If we swing around to the bank, hold her there, if you -can. I can’t find out what is the matter with this double-jointed and -twisted old engine!” - -“I bet I can, Dick,” offered Maurice, who gave a look at Ann to see -if she were frightened and rising, made his way to the engine. How -handsome Maurice looked in his white flannels, Ann thought. - -“Scared, Suzanne?” asked Eleanor, noticing that Suzanne looked pale. -Suzanne shook her head in the negative. - -“Maury will fix it,” said Suzanne. “Still, I imagine that nobody feels -real comfortable. It was a mighty big alligator that splashed in last!” - -“Sh-sh! Don’t mention it, Suzy. The boys would get us to shore with -that pole.” - -“Chug! Chug-chug!” - -“Good for you, Maurice, you’ve got it!” - -But no; the chugging stopped. Both Dick and Maurice were working away -at the engine. “For pity’s sake, Lois,” said Dick Bell in a low tone -to his sister, “get ’em to doing something besides watching us. It’s -getting on my nerves!” - -Maurice, whose white flannels were not quite so white by this time, -laughed as he worked and started up the old round, “Row, row, row your -boat, lightly down the stream.” - -With some laughter, the rest joined in. “Better change it to ‘Pole your -boat,’ as the Seminoles do, if we don’t get this thing started pretty -soon,” growled Dick, who was nervous from his responsibility. - -“Easy, Dicky,” said Maurice. “I think that I have found out what is the -matter. There! hand me that oil can, Dick.” - -In a few minutes the engine was going merrily, while Ann declared that -its sound was the best music she had heard in some time. - -“Fie, cousin,” said Maurice, climbing around to his seat by Ann again, -“better than those dulcet strains I started you all with a while ago?” - -“Your voice was all right, Maury,” laughed Ann, “but starting the -engine was better yet. Did you find the trouble, or may we have a -repetition of the act?” - -“I found it, and unless something else goes wrong we’ll be home as -usual!” - -It was worth the trying time in “Alligator Circle” to see the exquisite -sky and water of sound, ocean and the little body of water known as -Lake Mabel. Then came the windings of the New River, past Tarpon Bend -and into the passage between the well-known shores where the Bentley -yacht was docked. - -Owing to the long delay in the canal, they were late for lunch and -not even the juicy oranges had dulled the edges of their youthful -appetites. The boys took them to the best hotel this time, where -they were served at a table of their own, decorated with flowers -for the occasion, with special favors of hibiscus blossoms at each -plate, a hurried order, telephoned after their arrival, but eminently -satisfactory to all the girls. - -They were just finishing when Mr. Tyson entered the dining-room and -came over to the table, whereupon all the young gentlemen rose at once. -“Sit down, boys,” said Mr. Tyson. “Don’t let me interrupt you. I just -want to tell Maurice that I want him to accompany me on a little trip -after lunch, if he can excuse himself. Have you any special plans, -Maurice, that will be upset?” - -“None at all, Father. I think that there was some plan about going to -the beach this afternoon,--Las Olas Beach. I can be spared as well as -not.” - -“I stopped at the yacht and Mrs. Bentley told me where you are. I have -had my lunch and will wait for you in the lobby. Mother wants me to -look up a little property for her.” - -When Mr. Tyson walked away, as he did immediately, with a salute to -all, the boys sat down again to finish dessert. “It will be a good -chance, Ann,” said Maurice in a low tone to his cousin. He did not -explain what sort of chance he meant, but Ann understood. - -“I think so, too, Maury. Good luck.” - -Maurice thought that it was a very sweet look with which he was -favored, as Ann looked up at him to wish him good luck. They walked to -the lobby together, with the rest of the party; then Maurice joined his -father and they drove away at once. - -“I wonder where the property is that Grandmother wants Dad to look up,” -said Suzanne. - -“I don’t know,” replied Ann, much preoccupied. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -MOONLIGHT ON THE SECRET TRAIL - - -It was a seven passenger car, but eight could and did ride in it that -afternoon, on the trip to Las Olas beach. Maurice was gone and Eleanor -had promised to go back to Miami early in the afternoon. That left Dick -and Lois Bell, Fred Hall, Louise Duncan, Ronald Bentley, Suzanne Tyson, -Ann Sterling and Jack Hudson. They drove first to the Seminole camp, -just west of town. Ronald had mentioned it and both Suzanne and Ann -felt anxious to see it. They had noticed the gayly dressed Indians on -the streets and Ann was delighted to see one poling his way across the -New River in one of the cypress trunk canoes. - -Fred, who drove his father’s car, had a great time finding the road, -but finally got started in the right direction, a matter of a short -time to reach the camp once the right road was found. They were nearly -stuck in the sand once or twice, but they lightened the load by jumping -out and pulled out safely. - -“What an Indian camp!” thought Ann. Here were no tepees, nor -moccasin-wearing Indians. Little that she had learned in the West -about Indians would apply here, so far as what she had expected to -see was concerned, with the exception of bad housekeeping! The camp -site was littered with a nondescript collection of tin cans, chicken -feathers, bones and old utensils. - -As ever, Ann felt hesitant about disturbing the native dwellers; but -Ronald walked boldly up to several children who were standing about and -asked to take their pictures, offering a silver piece at the same time. -The children drew back, casting looks at their visitors, and behind -them at the queer thatched lodges which were their dwellings. On the -floor of one near by, a floor raised several feet from the ground so -that it looked more like a low shelf than a floor, there sat a stolid -old woman, who glanced at visitors and children with keen black eyes. -As Ann and Ronald came nearer, they saw that she was stringing beads of -bright colors. - -By signs, pointing at the camera, they tried to indicate what they -wanted. At last the old woman, whose neck was wound with countless -strands of beads, descended to earth and spoke briefly to the children, -who then posed for a picture. Several cameras clicked, as the sun -shone more brightly for a time and the positions of the Indians were -favorable. - -“They say,” said Dick, as the party went back to the car, leaving -pleasant reminders, in the form of loose change, in the hand of the -old woman, “that the more beads they wear, the higher their station -among the Indians,--social position, you know.” - -“This woman is the mother of a chief,” said Ronald. “How about it, -folks? Is it ‘Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll’? Ready now -for a swim?” - -“It is,” declared Suzanne. “We are. Don’t you think, Ann, that these -bright costumes are prettier than those of the Western Indians?” - -“They are more picturesque in some ways,” said Ann, “those full, long -dresses of different colors, the stripes running around, are surely -startling; but it seems funny that the children wear them. They are all -barefooted, aren’t they? Don’t they need moccasins down here?” - -“I should think that they would, with the snakes,” remarked Louise. - -“Anyhow,” said Ann, “I think that our Indians wear more sensible -clothes.” - -“You will be loyal at any cost, won’t you, Miss Ann?” queried Jack -Hudson. “But remember that down here the climate makes light clothing -necessary.” - -The sea was just rough enough to be exciting. The bathers did not go -out far, but plunged and dived or floated to their hearts’ content. -Through all the afternoon’s pleasure, and Ann was interested in all of -it, she was thinking of Maurice, wondering if he had yet learned the -truth and what that truth was. She could scarcely wait to see him, her -gallant young cousin! What a way he had of carrying off a situation -with the best of humor, as in working with that engine! - -Ronald paid Ann rather especial attention that afternoon. She was, -to be sure, his guest and his mother’s; but he made one remark which -indicated that Ann was not without interest to him. “I’m almost glad -that old Maury was called away for a while,” said he. “Some of the rest -of us can get within three feet of you now, and have you alone for five -minutes or so.” - -Ann looked up laughing, somewhat surprised. “Maurice is not trying to -keep any one away from his cousin, I’m sure.” - -“Oh, is that _so_?” queried Ronald in sarcasm. - - * * * * * - -It was nearly seven o’clock when Maurice returned, having come in on -one of the ’buses, for his father had gone on back to Palm Beach from -Delray, where they were last. Maurice seemed to be in good spirits, -joking with the rest as usual, but he gave no special sign to Ann, and -seemed rather to avoid any betrayal of what had passed between his -father and himself. “Perhaps he could not come to the point, after -all,” thought Ann. - -Maurice had had his dinner before he came to the yacht. The yacht party -was just finishing that meal, when Mr. Bentley suggested that they -take a moonlight ride out to the sound and beyond. “It was a little -rough early this afternoon,” said he, “but the wind has died down and I -think that we shall find it calm and delightful riding. Have you ever -been out on the ocean, Ann?” - -“Not yet, Mr. Bentley.” - -The boys carried the instruments of the “orchestra” to the deck, and -arranged enough seats for all the party; for they were taking Dick and -Lois Bell, as well as Louise Duncan, on this evening “cruise”. - -What a full day it had been! Among the alligators in the morning, now -going out to the sharks tonight! It all depended on how you looked at -it, however, whether you saw sharks and alligators, or beautiful waters -and blue sky! - -Music started early. Louise brought her guitar and Dick added his -ukulele to the orchestral supply. Ann enjoyed the singing and joined -her voice to those of the rest; but she sat near the railing, not to -miss seeing the waters and sky, and to know when first they reached the -real sea. Stars were out, shining and clear. An occasional cloud that -drifted across the moon only made its setting more beautiful. - -“Come over here, Ann,” called Maurice after a little, when the singing -had stopped. They were a little tired, those active young people. A -whole day of going had made this soothing motion upon the waves the -most restful entertainment that Mr. Bentley could have provided. -Maurice stepped around one or two of his friends, to hold a hand to Ann -and lead her to the seat which, he said, he had “just reserved”. “You -have seen alligators and Indians, Ann, you tell me,--now come and show -me the constellations.” - -“‘Constellations’,” repeated Jack to Suzanne. “Did it ever strike you -that Maurice is pretty well interested in his cousin?” - -“Yes. He is crazy about her, and has been ever since she first came to -our house.” - -“What do you think of it?” - -“Mother seems to think it all right. First cousins do marry, you know. -Of course, Maury never said anything to me about it. But I can’t help -noticing lately, and Mother made a little remark that surprised me the -other day. One would have thought that she _hoped_ Maury would fall in -love with Ann.” - -“Doesn’t she like Ann?” - -Suzanne was not quite ready to tell Jack her mother’s attitude toward -Ann, so she managed an evasive reply to this question. - - * * * * * - -Meanwhile Maurice and Ann occupied a wicker seat made for two. “I’m not -sure that I remember much about the winter sky,” Ann began. - -“And I could not think of constellations to save my neck,” replied -Maurice. “That was just an excuse to get you here, Ann. It deceived no -one, either, if you are anxious to have me truthful. Jack gave me a -look that I understood. I want to tell you about my talk with Father. -It was certainly surprising.” - -“Oh,” said Ann, “I have been so anxious all afternoon!” - -“Have you, dear? Excuse me, Ann,--but whether you ever learn to care -for me or not, you are the dearest, sweetest, most wonderful girl that -ever gave her sympathy to a good-for-nothing college boy, who has -wasted half of his opportunities!” - -“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Maury,” said Ann, as soon as she could -get breath to speak, after hearing the first part of Maurice’s remark. -“There is a good deal to that same college boy.” - -“I’m glad to hear you say so, but I’m pretty well discouraged tonight. -It was hard to keep going with the fun, but I don’t want to appear -different.” - -“It was,--it was true, then?” - -“It was,--and more. I am simply dazed, Ann. The only happy thing about -it is that I am not your cousin at all. I am holding on to that. I -feel like throwing up the whole thing, college and all. How can I ever -finish the year?” - -“O Maury, please! You will always regret it if you give up when you are -so nearly through. _Please_,--for me, if you like me a little!” - -“A little! Hard luck, isn’t it?--to fall desperately in love just when -the very foundations slip from under your feet, like the sand on the -shore!” - -“But surely it isn’t so bad as all that, Maury. Uncle Tyson cares -about you and will help you start out just the same, won’t he? I don’t -understand. You did not have any trouble, did you?” - -“No, indeed. And I am asked not to talk about it openly in the family -yet. I can’t refuse, under the circumstances. But promise me, Ann, if -anything comes up, any reason why Grandmother ought to be told, you -will tell her from me. I don’t want her to go on thinking,--well, I’d -better tell you the whole story first. But let me tell you one thing, -Ann. There will never be any deceiving of any one to _my_ record, if I -keep my mind!” - -Maurice then began with the history of the drive and related how, after -the business for Madam LeRoy had been explained, and they had driven -for some little time, Maurice introduced the subject by saying that -there was something which he wanted to talk over with his father. He -then referred to the gossip that he had heard and asked if Mr. Tyson -had any explanation. Whatever was the truth, Maurice wanted to know it -and felt that he had a right to ask, though he had no desire to trouble -his father. - -Mr. Tyson seemed surprised. They drove along in silence for a few -minutes, Mr. Tyson very sober, Maurice more and more certain that there -was some story back of it. Then Mr. Tyson acknowledged that there was -truth in the gossip, though he could not see how it was started. - -“So it began, Ann,” said Maurice. “Then Father exploded the bomb-shell! -You could never guess it. For a long time father thought that I was -his son, but he discovered a few years ago that I am not even that! -Curiously enough, my name is Huntington, like your grandmother’s, and -my parents were American, for which I am thankful!” - -Ann drew a long breath. “_Your_ grandmother’s,” Maurice had said! Poor -Maury! No real share in the family relationships! No wonder he was -upset! - -Maurice proceeded with the story which Mr. Tyson had given him. It -seemed that Mr. Tyson, traveling around the world with plenty of money, -had met two American girls, orphans, without any family connections -so far as he ever knew. One was about to marry a man named Maurice -Huntington, whom she had known in America, and with the other one, a -beautiful girl, Mr. Tyson had fallen desperately in love. They had met -in Japan, and from that time saw more or less of each other till they -arrived in Greece, where there was a double wedding. Both young men -were interested in archaeology and in art. Happy, and with plenty of -means, they decided to take a house in one of the Grecian cities, to -remain there as long as it pleased them. There a boy was born to each -of the sisters, Mrs. Tyson’s about three months the elder, and they -had the same English nurse to take care of both babies. - -When the Tyson baby was about five months old, its mother died -suddenly, and Mr. Tyson, leaving the boy in charge of the nurse and his -sister-in-law, went to France to get away from his trouble. In Paris, -attracted at first by a fancied resemblance to his wife, Mr. Tyson fell -in love again and after a very short courtship married Ann’s aunt. - -To Maurice, Mr. Tyson explained that he did not tell Mrs. Tyson of his -first marriage for two reasons: first, a remark that she made during -the courtship about second marriages; second, the short time which had -elapsed between the death of his first wife and the second marriage. -He thought that he could explain after their marriage, but found that -she was very unhappy about it. (Ann thought that she could imagine the -time Uncle Tyson had had over the matter, no excuses of having been so -desperately in love with Aunt Sue serving to placate her.) - -It was her proposition that they ignore the matter so far as their -friends were concerned. Why explain? It would be several years very -likely, before they returned to America. They were going to explore -out-of-the-way places. They would be in Greece some time. Let the child -be considered hers. It was so young that it would be better for it to -regard her as its mother. - -Mr. Tyson was only too glad to have the matter amicably settled and -left it in his wife’s hands to manage. No harm could be done, he -thought. It was no one’s affair, he reasoned. - -When at last they returned to Greece, they found no one in the house -which the Huntington’s and the Tysons had taken but the English woman -and one of the babies. Several weeks before, she told them, the -Huntingtons and their baby had been drowned while they were on a little -excursion by themselves. She was thankful to see them, for funds were -lacking. She had written and did not understand why she did not hear. -Mr. Huntington had naturally handled the funds. She had only her own -savings to use. Mrs. Tyson was upset and wanted to leave the next day. -Accordingly she and the nurse, with the baby, packed and left at once, -leaving him to settle matters and sell the house. He did not think of -making any special inquiries into the story of the nurse, though one -of the friends whom he consulted in regard to the sale of the house -had remarked that he thought the baby had died before, and another -expressed himself as very sorry that he had lost the baby as well as -his wife. But Mr. Tyson was hurried and had made no intimate friends -there. He and Mr. Huntington had been concerned with their explorations -and study. Only one thing he remembered as seeming strange to him. The -baby had not been named when his wife died, and the nurse now told him -that the Huntingtons called it Maurice. That seemed strange, for he -had been under the impression that his sister-in-law had been about to -name her baby for its father. But his memory was hazy. The babies had -not seemed of much importance then. - -But Mr. Tyson understood the whole matter when, several years before, -he had received a letter from the English nurse, who informed him that -the baby was the child of the Huntingtons and that she was sorry for -the deception. “I did not know what your wife would do about it, and I -wanted the Huntington baby to have a home. I will tell no one else.” - -“So,” said Maurice, as he quoted the nurse’s words, “the Huntington -baby has had a home! I suppose that I should be very grateful! Indeed, -I am grateful. You should have seen poor old Dad when he was telling -me. He asked me to keep on calling him father and added that he -thought a great deal of his worthless son. I wondered that when he -was dealing with me for my extravagance at college he did not tell me -this. He didn’t have the heart, he said, and it was too late for him to -feel that I was not his own son. That was pretty nice of Dad! And he -wouldn’t give it away to Mother, either. - -“I shall have to keep calling her that, of course. I haven’t so many -compunctions in regard to her. Yet she has been good to me. I have had -as much mothering as my kid brother. Say,--it’s going to be hard to -realize that he isn’t my brother! - -“When it comes to Grandmother,--she must not leave me any money because -she thinks I am her grandson. I don’t know what to do about that. Dad -made me promise not to do anything right now. Promise me, Ann, that you -will tell her privately any time you think she ought to know.” - -“I couldn’t do that, Maury. It will occur to you what should be done -about all this. In the whole story, Maurice, there isn’t one thing for -you to be ashamed of! It was just the peculiar set of circumstances. -And I’m sure I’m glad that English nurse did what she did. Well, I -suppose I ought not to say that, for doing what isn’t square is never -right. But she repented anyhow. And suppose that we’d never had you in -the family!” - -Ann almost regretted her impulsive words when she saw the effect they -had. But was not it her duty to do what she could to cheer him up in -his whirl of discouragement? - -“That is dear of you to say, little one,” said Maurice, taking Ann’s -hand in his cold one. It had cost Maurice something to go over this. -“I’ll never forget your sympathy, Ann, and when I make good, I’m going -to ask you to be another Ann Huntington.” - -“Maury,” called Suzanne, “got enough of constellations yet? I want you -to come and start for the boys that crazy college song you sang last -night.” - -Ann and Maurice walked the short distance to the central group, where -Maurice accepted the guitar that Louise handed him and led off. Ann, -watching him, came to the conclusion that however much he might be -upset, Maurice was now more or less relieved, knowing the truth, and -having told Ann. - -When the song, a wild ditty in dialect, was over, the girls gave hearty -applause. “You’d think that Maurice was the real thing from the way he -reels off that foreign dialect,” said Dick Bell. “Say, Maury, where -were you born anyhow?” - -Suzanne, laughing, answered for Maurice, “In Greece,” she said. “That’s -where he gets his Grecian nose!” - -It was late when the young people separated. Long since the yacht had -left the sea and found its way to the dock in New River. Dick and his -sister accompanied Louise Duncan to her own yacht. The river was very -still, a cool wind blowing from the ocean, when Ann, creeping into her -berth, heard the boys on deck begin to serenade them again in the soft -old college tunes used by generations. Suzanne sat up in her berth to -listen. But sleepy Ann lay back on her pillow with a pleased smile. -“Maurice is showing me that he can ‘carry on’,” she thought, and her -mind began to go over what he had told her. “‘Ann Huntington’! Wouldn’t -it be odd if----?” - - -THE END. - - - - -_SAVE THE WRAPPER!_ - -_If_ you have enjoyed reading about the adventures of the new friends -you have made in this book and would like to read more clean, wholesome -stories of their entertaining experiences, turn to the book jacket--on -the inside of it, a comprehensive list of Burt’s fine series of -carefully selected books for young people has been placed for your -convenience. - -_Orders for these books, placed with your bookstore or sent to the -Publishers, will receive prompt attention._ - - - - -The Ann Sterling Series - -[Illustration] - - By HARRIET PYNE GROVE - - Stories of Ranch and College Life - For Girls 12 to 16 Years - - _Handsome Cloth Binding with - Attractive Jackets in Color_ - - ANN STERLING - - The strange gift of Old Never-Run, an Indian whom she has - befriended, brings exciting events into Ann’s life. - - THE COURAGE OF ANN - - Ann makes many new, worthwhile friends during her first year at - Forest Hill College. - - ANN AND THE JOLLY SIX - - At the close of their Freshman year Ann and the Jolly Six enjoy a - house party at the Sterling’s mountain ranch. - - ANN CROSSES A SECRET TRAIL - - The Sterling family, with a group of friends, spend a thrilling - vacation under the southern Pines of Florida. - - ANN’S SEARCH REWARDED - - In solving the disappearance of her father, Ann finds exciting - adventures, Indians and bandits in the West. - - ANN’S AMBITIONS - - The end of her Senior year at Forest Hill brings a whirl of new - events into the career of “Ann of the Singing Fingers.” - - ANN’S STERLING HEART - - Ann returns home, after completing a busy year of musical study - abroad. - - A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers, - 114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK - - - - -Princess Polly Series - -[Illustration] - - By AMY BROOKS - - Author of “Dorothy Dainty” series, Etc. - Stories of Sweet-Tempered, Sunny, - Lovable Little “Princess Polly.” - For girls 12 to 16 years. - Each Volume Illustrated. - - Cloth Bound - _With Individual Jackets in Colors._ - PRICE, 75 CENTS EACH - POSTAGE 10c. EXTRA - - PRINCESS POLLY - PRINCESS POLLY’S PLAYMATES - PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL - PRINCESS POLLY BY THE SEA - PRINCESS POLLY’S GAY WINTER - PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY - PRINCESS POLLY AT CLIFFMORE - - For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the - Publishers - A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK - - - - -The Camp Fire Girls Series - -[Illustration] - - By HILDEGARD G. FREY - - A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years. - All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles - - PRICE 50 CENTS EACH - Postage 10c. Extra. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The Winnebagos go - Camping. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The Wohelo Weavers. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, The Magic Garden. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along the Road That Leads - the Way. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS’ LARKS AND PRANKS; or, The House of the Open - Door. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN’S ISLE; or, The Trail of the Seven - Cedars. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; or, Glorify Work. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over the Top with the - Winnebagos. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or, The Christmas Adventure - at Carver House. - - THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; or, Down Paddles. - - For sale by all booksellers, or sent on receipt of price by the - Publishers - A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK - - - - -THE MERRY LYNN SERIES - - By HARRIET PYNE GROVE - - Cloth Bound. Jackets in Colors. - - The charm of school and camp life, out-door sports and European - travel is found in these winning tales of Merilyn and her friends - at boarding school and college. These realistic stories of the - everyday life, the fun, frolic and special adventures of the - Beechwood girls will be enjoyed by all girls of high school age. - - MERILYN ENTERS BEECHWOLD - MERILYN AT CAMP MEENAHGA - MERILYN TESTS LOYALTY - MERILYN’S NEW ADVENTURE - MERILYN FORRESTER, CO-ED. - THE “MERRY LYNN” MINE - - A. L. BURT COMPANY, _Publishers_ - 114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK - - - - -Books for Girls - -[Illustration] - - By GRACE MAY NORTH - - Author of - THE VIRGINIA DAVIS SERIES - - All Clothbound. Copyright Titles. - - _With Individual Jackets in Colors_ - - MEG OF MYSTERY MOUNTAIN - - This story tells of the summer vacation some young people spent - in the mountains and how they cleared up the mystery of the lost - cabin at Crazy Creek Mine. - - RILLA OF THE LIGHTHOUSE - - “Rilla” had lived all her life with only her grandfather and - “Uncle Barney” as companions, but finally, at High Cliff - Seminary, her great test came and the lovable girl from Windy - Island Lighthouse met it brilliantly. - - NAN OF THE GYPSIES - - In this tale of a wandering gypsy band, Nan, who has spent her - childhood with the gypsies, is adopted by a woman of wealth, and - by her love and loyalty to her, she proves her fine character and - true worth. - - SISTERS - - The personal characteristics and incidents in the lives of - two girls--one thoughtless and proud, the other devoted and - self-sacrificing--are vividly described in this story, told as it - is with sympathy and understanding for both. - - A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers, - 114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK - - - - -Transcriber’s Note: - - Page 5 - said to Ann privately, Mrs. Tyson _changed to_ - said to Ann privately, as Mrs. Tyson - - Page 6 - have taken worse risks that that _changed to_ - have taken worse risks than that - - Page 205 - they evidently possesssed _changed to_ - they evidently possessed - - Page 206 - loked sober for some time _changed to_ - looked sober for some time - - Page 215 - shone betwen two masses of growth _changed to_ - shone between two masses of growth - - Page 225 - to miss seing the waters and sky _changed to_ - to miss seeing the waters and sky - - Page 232 - Mr. Tyson undersood the whole matter _changed to_ - Mr. Tyson understood the whole matter - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Ann Crosses a Secret Trail, by Harriet Pyne Grove - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANN CROSSES A SECRET TRAIL *** - -***** This file should be named 51692-0.txt or 51692-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/6/9/51692/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -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. 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