Girl Pioneer

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25. Good-By To Eagle Lake



After Miss Dummy had been disposed of there was a return to the cheer fire circle, where the Sport performed the unusual feat of lighting three fires with one match. The giving out of merit badges and stars for the work performed during camp life and for the day's sports now took place. These rewards of merit were each accompanied by camp gifts, the work of the girls done afternoons at their "trial by needle" hour, as some of the girls called it, when raffia and bead work, candle making, sewing, and many other crafts had occupied the Pioneers' busy fingers, while some expert read of heroic deeds, or the girls chatted pleasantly of the pleasures that were, or that were to be.

Pioneer and Scout, each in turn, now told of some special good that had come to them from the life in the open, which Mrs. Morrow said would be food for thought on their return to the city. A rhyming contest made no end of merriment, as well as the games of menagerie, gossip, animal, blind man's buff, and others of like character. The scout orchestra now varied the entertainment with a few musical selections which started the girls and boys dancing around the fire again, this time with the graceful swing and motions of the modern dances.

But they tired at last, and, some one starting a song, they all fell in and sang to their heart's content one song after the other, rendering the old-remembered one of "Juanita" with undue emphasis, in honor to Miss Anita Van Vorst.

After Dr. Homer, with the assistance of a few scouts, had made a deal of laughter by his comic shadowgraphs, done by a flash-lamp placed in the rear of one of the big tents with the flaps closed, the time came to say good-by. A few protested that it was still early, but when reminded by Mrs. Morrow that they had already been allowed an hour longer than usual and that they would have a lot of work to do in the morning as they were to break camp to return to the city, the protests ended, and the good-nights were said.

The last day was a busy one, any number of camp rules were broken but the squads were lenient-they were still sleepy-so no reports were made, and the work of pulling down tents, packing the camp equipment, and making everything as clean and orderly as possible progressed.

In the midst of this confusion Carol, who had made her last trip to the post-office, came rushing up to Nathalie with a letter. "Oh, it's from Dick!" cried the delighted girl as she tore it open.

"Oh, Helen," she exclaimed in a moment to that young lady who was down on her knees packing the big box, "it's the funniest letter. Dick says he's having the time of his life-the jolliest ever-why, where can he be?" stopping to glance at the envelope.

"Why, he must be in New York, or I wonder-yes," she nodded in answer to Helen's inquiry, "he says Mamma is fine-says they have had a glorious three weeks-well, I like that," she grumbled with rueful face, "it looks as if they had not missed me a bit and-" But the sound of voices at this moment caused both of the girls to go to the tent door, to see Miss Carol hurriedly heading a procession of men and women towards the tent. She was screaming excitedly as she came, "Oh, Nathalie, where are you?"

Nathalie, somewhat alarmed by all this appearance of excitement, cried quickly, "Oh, what is it, Carol? What is it?"

"Oh, Nathalie," the girl screamed, "the baby's mother has come!"

"The baby's mother!" echoed the dazed girl with wide eyes. "Why, what does she mean?" turning to Helen, who at that moment had picked up Miss Camphelia, who had just awakened from a nap on one of the cots.

By this time the party of country folk, breathless and somewhat moist from undue haste, with expectancy and delight beaming from every feature, had arrived in front of the tent. Nathalie gave one glance at the many faces, and then with a sudden cry rushed to the defense of what she had come to consider as her own, and the next minute was seated on the cot holding on to Miss Camphelia with a gripping clutch. She stared defiantly at the intruders as they pushed and jostled one another in their haste to enter the tent.

But a moment later her arms relaxed, as a faded-looking, worried-faced little woman, with eyes as blue as the sea, and hair like corn-silk, gave an inarticulate cry as she caught sight of the baby on the girl's lap. Dropping on her knees with outstretched arms she cried, "Oh, my baby! My precious baby!"

Well, after that Nathalie could hold out no longer, especially when she saw that the baby's sweet smile and dimpling cheeks were counterparts of those of the woman who claimed her as her own.

Then it was all explained. The child had been stolen by the gypsy woman who, evidently, after a day or so of tramping from house to house begging for money to reach the Gypsy settlement some distance from the neighboring town, had decided to abandon it. Unfortunately the notice that had been sent to be put up in the post-office had failed to reach its destination, and if it had not been for Dr. McGill, the physician who had been summoned by Edith when Camphelia was ill, the baby would never have been found.

Dr. MCGill had been puzzled by the baby's resemblance to some one he knew, but supposing the little one belonged to some of the ladies at camp he had thought no more about it. Afterwards, however, on accidentally learning from Dr. Homer that it was a lost baby, he had sent the mother to reclaim it.

Of course there were pangs of disappointment to be endured, but, as Nathalie said, no one could be anything but glad to give the baby up after witnessing the mother's joy. After the mother had thanked them all, from Mrs. Van Vorst down to Ellen, for their kindness and the care they had given her baby, hoping that each one of the girls would some day have one of her own to caress and fondle, they all kissed Camphelia good-by, and the camp baby departed to return to its own home.

After a dirge had been composed by Jessie, who had bloomed into quite a poetess, and any number of farewell letters and wishes had been written for the good luck of the next campers at the Lake, these were buried in the ground under a cairn of stones with a tiny American flag fastened at the top. This was the girls' memorial to the good times they had had, as well as an expression of the sadness they felt on leaving the place where they had spent three such happy weeks.

The sadness of parting with the friends they had made in Mrs. Van Vorst's household-not the least being our friend Jimmie-was somewhat lessened when they learned that their hostess and her daughter were to accompany them to New York to spend a day or so with Mrs. Morrow.

Going down in the car, although surrounded by a merry, chattering crowd, Nathalie and Helen became unusually silent. Helen, perhaps, was thinking of the new position she was to enter on her return to Westport, and Nathalie,-well, she could not have told why, but soon she became aware that her thoughts had jumped backward and she was reviewing her first meeting with Helen and the Pioneers.

She half smiled as each one in turn presented herself to her as she first appeared; Barbara, with her queer staring eyes, absent-minded manner, and her frumpish clothes that always made Nathalie think of a five-and-ten-cent store. How often she had been tempted to laugh until she learned of the meanness of Barbara's grandfather, for although he was a rich man Barbara had to scrimp and haggle to get enough to eat, to say nothing of clothes to cover her back. The tears came into her eyes when she realized the kind heart that beat so loyally beneath the despised apparel. After all, what were one's clothes, mere externals necessary of course, but in reality only of face value, for surely they would never gain one an entrance into Heaven. And Helen, what would her life have been in her new home without this neighbor friend-who had taught her to master herself by helping her to overcome the many problems that had confronted her when she had become a Pioneer?

Then she smiled again as she thought of Lillie Bell, with her thrillers and dramatic poses. She had learned that they were but the frosting to the solid worth beneath. Indeed, the thrillers in a way had proved an incentive in the telling of her stories to Rosy, the opening wedge into the good things that had followed, meeting Nita, making the money for Dick, Mrs. Van Vorst's asking the Pioneers to Eagle Lake, and so on. Why, when she came to think of it, there was not a girl in her bird group who had not helped her in some way, even Edith, who had taught her to guard her tongue.

And from the Pioneer industries and crafts she had learned to be useful. She thought of the first time she had tried to darn a stocking at the Rally. Yes, and they had helped her to be happy, for they had given her a purpose in life. As for the sports and activities, they had brought her in closer touch with nature, giving her a keener interest in things that had never appealed to her before. And the rules and laws, even the good old-timey women had all done their share in making definite those qualities which she now saw were necessary in order to be a success in life.

She realized, but dimly, perhaps, that she had gotten nearer the hearts of these people of the workaday world, not only Helen, but Edith and Jessie, who were all to be wage-earners that fall, thus opening up to her a new avenue of hopes and desires. Wasn't it strange how she used to dread the thought of having to earn her own living, and now she was worrying as to how she could earn more money to add to what she had earned already for Dick! Then a sudden thought jarred, oh, suppose Mrs. Van Vorst, now that Nita had become so different with her sunburned cheeks and merry ways from what she had been before she met the Pioneers, should not want her any more! Oh, well, if that should be-ah, they were getting into New York! She stooped and had begun to gather up her belongings when some one spoke to her.

It was Mrs. Van Vorst, who, with her gracious little smile-how changed she seemed from on that morning when Nathalie had handed her the card in front of the library-said, "Nathalie, Nita and I are going to take a run up to St. Luke's Hospital to visit that sick friend-you know the one I told you about, who just had an operation performed-and Nita wants you to go with us."

"Oh, but Mother will be waiting to see me!" exclaimed the girl blankly. O dear, she didn't want to go, for she was in such a hurry to see her mother and Dick.

"Oh, that will be all right," nodded her friend quickly. "Mrs. Morrow will stop at the door, and you can tell her you will be along in the next train, for we shall not be long at the hospital."

Twenty minutes later the three ladies, each with a big bouquet which Nita had insisted upon their taking, were entering a large, bare-looking reception room. "Now, girls," said Mrs. Van Vorst, "I will hurry up in the elevator and see how the patient is, and then perhaps you can both come and see him-her-" Mrs. Van Vorst's face grew strangely red-she turned abruptly and hurried from the room.

It was but a few moments when she was back again, and with a bright little nod cried, "Come, Nathalie, my friend is fine this morning, and very anxious to see visitors, so come along!"

"I wonder why the patient wants to see me," soliloquized the girl in puzzled query. "Isn't Nita coming?" she cried aloud, seeing the girl standing by the window with an odd little smile on her face.

"Oh, yes, later; only one at a time at present," was the quick reply.

Nathalie was still thinking how strange it seemed and how smiling Mrs. Van Vorst appeared, when they came to a halt in front of a door in an upper corridor. "Here we are," said her companion, "now run in and see my friend!" She threw open the door as she spoke.

Nathalie took a step forward, stared a minute with puzzled brows, and then with a loud cry flung herself with outstretched arms upon a figure standing in the center of the room, for it was Dick!

"Oh, how did you get here and-" but the rest was lost, for Dick was hugging her and kissing her in a way that more than astonished the girl, for he had always declared he hated to kiss people. And then he held her off and with shining eyes surveyed the suntanned cheeks of Nathalie approvingly, as he cried, "So you're back, Blue Robin-and-great guns, as fat as a porpoise, too!"

"But what are you doing here?" inquired the still dazed girl slowly-"are you the lady?"

"Lady!" echoed Dick. "I, a lady? Not on your life! What have you got into your head now?" he quizzed teasingly.

"But Mrs. Van Vorst said I was to meet a lady-"

"Oh, she was just bluffing you, that's all," jeered Dick. "She wanted to surprise you, for-" then Nathalie gave a loud scream, for Dick had begun to walk towards the bureau, slowly, to be sure, for his muscles were stiff, but he was straight as an arrow.

"Oh-why, Dick, where is your cane? You'll fall-" and then something must have whispered to the girl,-perhaps it was intuition for in a flash she seemed to know.

"Dick," she gasped, "you've had the operation, and you're all right?" This last was in a tense whisper.

"You bet I am," returned Dick cheerily, "and in good shape, too. The doctor says I can go home in a week."

"But where did you get the money?" asked the girl, her eyes big with wonder.

"From a check sent by Mrs. Van Vorst as a tribute to her little friend and adviser, Nathalie Page," read Dick slowly from a letter which he had suddenly slipped from his pocket. As he glanced down at the girl and saw her staring eyes he flicked the letter before them, laughing as if to recall her to herself. Nathalie blinked, stepped back, and then a sudden light flashed into her eyes, and with a swoop of her hand she snatched the letter from her brother, crying, "Oh, Dick, isn't she just the dearest! Oh, I'm not worth so much money, I-" Then her eyes swept the page before her.

"No, I don't believe you are, Blue Robin," teased Dick smilingly. And then his voice grew more earnest, as he added, "Nathalie Page, you're the blood, all right. You captured her heart on sight, and this is the result." He started to walk slowly towards the bed, but the girl was at his side, for she saw that he was beginning to feel a little tired.

"To be sure," he cried apologetically as he leaned on her a little heavily. "I'm not a speeder just yet, but wait a bit and you'll see me do a twenty-mile dash in no time.

"Yes," explained Dick, after he was resting on the bed again, and Mrs. Van Vorst's kindness had been rehearsed in detail; "Mrs. Van Vorst sent a letter to Mother expressing her love, admiration, and all the rest of it, for you, and then begged to be allowed to give you this surprise. She said we could consider the money a loan and pay it back when we liked."

"Oh, was that the letter that came just before I went away, that you wouldn't tell me about?"

Dick nodded, and then went on, "I was brought here the day after you left for the Lake; operated on the day after, and have had the jolliest time ever since. The nurses here are O. K. I have only been permitted to stand on my feet the last few days, but the doctor says I'll soon be walking all right. But Blue Robin, how goes it with you? I hear you're a great sport since you left."

But Nathalie's thoughts were elsewhere. "Oh, Dick," she exclaimed presently, "when do you think we can pay Mrs. Van Vorst the money back? I have some, you know-" her eyes grew bright-"fifty dollars, in the bank!"

"And I have, well, I guess I have more than that," said the boy proudly, "from the various jobs I did. Oh, Nathalie, did I tell you I wrote a little skit and sold it to 'Life' for fifty dollars?"

"You did?" ejaculated the girl. "Oh, I'm so glad! I always said you could write funny things. Well, that will make-" but at this moment she heard the door open. Oh, it was Mrs. Van Vorst-what should she say to thank her?

But the question faded from her mind as with a cry of delight she sprang into the outstretched arms of her mother.

Well, it seemed as if the three would never get through going over this great joy that had come into their lives! Then, too, they were all anxious to pay back as soon as possible Mrs. Van Vorst's kind loan.

"Well," said Nathalie at length, "I am sure if we all work hard we can do it pretty soon. How much did you say it cost?"

But before Dick could answer Mrs. Page cried, taking a hand of each as she spoke, "It will take time to be sure, but Mother is going to do her share, for, children, the bonds are all right, I received my interest yesterday, the usual six per cent."

"Oh, isn't that just too lovely!" exclaimed Nathalie. But before she could say more the door opened and Mrs. Van Vorst and Nita entered, Nita all shyness again as she bowed stiffly to Dick, whom she had always been anxious to meet. And then the unexpected happened, for as Nathalie turned to thank her kind benefactor she burst into tears and cried as if her heart would break, to the dismay of every one present. Oh, what a fool she did make of herself, she afterwards confessed with shamed eyes to Helen.

But Mrs. Van Vorst had been a girl herself once, and so she understood just how her young friend felt. She comforted Nathalie so sweetly that the girl fell in love with her over again, her tears dried, and she was soon her happy self.

In a short space the good-bys were said to Dick, and the four ladies hurried to the taxi that was to whirl them to Westport. Of course there was so much to tell and talk over during the journey that it was not until Nathalie was undressing for bed that she heard that as soon as Dick was able he and her mother were to spend two weeks at Eagle Lake with Mrs. Van Vorst. Nathalie received this news with unfeigned joy, for now her mother would have a change, and then she and Dick could see what a lovely place the Lake was.

There had been so many unexpected bits of brightness to make Nathalie happy that day that when she finally got into bed, although she was terribly tired, her brain was in such a whirl she was sure she would never go to sleep. But at last, with a drowsy sigh, she snuggled down on her pillow with the happy thought that she was so glad she had found that nest-of blue birds-and had become-a Girl Pioneer!

THE END