Part 23 (2/2)
”You just believe I am,” cried Nathalie. ”But, oh, Mother, I have had such an adventurous day! Do let me have something to eat, for I'm just about starved, but, O dear, where's Fred Tyson; he came home with me?”
Fred was all right, having the cosiest of chats with Lucille-whom all men adored from youth to old age-as they walked up the path to the veranda. Would he come in and have supper? Why, he guessed he would, for he hadn't had a mouthful since noon.
”By the Lord Harry, is that you, Blue Robin?” spoke a voice from the couch as Nathalie ushered Fred into the hall. ”Gee, but you are as black as a colored 'pusson,'” quoth d.i.c.k, as he rose from the couch and hobbled towards her.
It was a most exciting supper, eagerly devoured by Fred and Nathalie, as between bites, with glowing eyes, each one told of her or his experience. Nathalie told of the ringing of the fire bell, the exploits of the Sport, and how she did duty at the pump.
”Oh, Mother, it has just been a regular red-letter day!” she cried at length, ”and I'm never again going to despise Edith Whiton for being sporty, for if it hadn't been for her, I just believe the whole town would have burned down!”
The second day after the fire was a Pioneer Rally day, a Camp Fund day it had been called, for it was at this meeting that the Pioneers were to decide upon the entertainments they proposed having in order to raise the money to pay the cost of two or three weeks at camp that summer. One or two affairs had been held during the winter and spring, so that a small nucleus had been banked, but if this was not increased the hearts of the Pioneers would be ”wrung with woe,” as the Sport had put it.
After the usual formalities of the Rally were over, Mrs. Morrow called the names of those who for some meritorious act or word were to receive badges of merit. To Nathalie's astonishment her name was called, and at a shove from Helen the dazed girl went forward, and received three white stars, one for suggesting the search-party and sticking to her colors in the face of discouragement, another for telling stories to Rosy, and the last for planning and getting up the Story Club. She received the stars, Mrs. Morrow explained, as badges of merit were not given until a Pioneer had pa.s.sed all tests and was a member of the first order.
The Sport received two badges-being a first cla.s.s Pioneer-one for winning a contest in wigwagging, and another for ringing the bell for the church fire. Helen was also the recipient of a badge for her planning and excellent supervision of the Flower hike, while the Scribe received one for her skill in editing the ”Pioneer,” which had come to be a journal not only of news, but of information.
”And now,” cried their Director, as she finished distributing the badges, ”I am going to talk about the Camping Fund. As you all know, we must have one or two entertainments to raise money for that purpose.
Several ideas have been submitted in compliance with my request for suggestions from the girls, but unfortunately, while a number are very good, only a few will suit our purpose. There is one, however, that is both patriotic and colonial, but it would require a large lawn and I am at a loss what to say about it. I think you all understand that the Pioneer who suggests the best entertainment, although her name is to be kept secret until the end of the season, is to receive some kind of a reward.”
”Could we not ask Mrs. Van Vorst again if she would let us have her grounds?” ventured Louise Gaynor somewhat timidly, realizing that the lady in question was not in favor with the Pioneers because of her rather eccentric ways.
”Well, I should say not!” broke in Edith. ”She has refused two or three times already, and if there is an insane person there-” She stopped abruptly, rebuked by a warning look from Mrs. Morrow.
”No, I do not think I would bother Mrs. Van Vorst again,” said that lady. ”But suppose I name a committee to see if they cannot scour the town and find a lawn.” Helen, Louise, and Nathalie were then named to perform this duty.
During this discussion Nathalie's eyes had sparkled with suppressed emotion as she remembered her visit to the gray house, accompanied by an overwhelming desire to tell what she knew. Oh, wouldn't it create a sensation? But she had given her word, and like the Spartan boy, although desire was gnawing at her vitals, she kept still and smiled in evident ease.
”There is another entertainment that has been suggested,” continued the Director. ”It is an excellent idea for it will put you all to work thinking. It is to be called Pioneer Stunts, which means that each one of you is to be responsible for a recitation, a tableau, a song, a playlet, in fact anything that is colonial or pioneer in character. Each Pioneer is to work out her own idea, and all ideas are to be kept secret until after the performance, when a vote will be taken as to the best stunt-that is, the best idea, and the stunt acted the best-and then the name of the author will be revealed.”
The girls received this notice with applause, and each one immediately began to suggest one thing and another until warned by Mrs. Morrow again that the ideas were to remain secrets. After some further discussion it was decided to have the Pioneer Stunts the first part of June, at Seton Hall, Mrs. Morrow suggesting that the girls make it a Rose party and serve ice-cream and strawberries on the lawn.
Nathalie came home very enthusiastic about the Pioneer Stunt entertainment, and immediately set to work to jot down the idea that had come to her at the Rally. In the midst of writing her mother joined her and sat down to sew.
”Oh, Mother,” exclaimed the girl happily, ”I'm awfully busy.”
”And working very hard, I see,” interposed Mrs. Page, smiling at her daughter's animated face, as she patted the sunburned arm resting on the table.
”Yes,” replied Nathalie, ”I have an awful lot to do.” And then she told about the entertainment, and what she was planning. With a long drawn sigh she cried, ”Oh, Mumsie, I'm learning a terrible lot of useful things.”
”I see you are,” a.s.sented her mother, ”and I am proud of you.”
”Oh, but they have not been a bit easy!” The girl's face grew grave.
”Sometimes I have thought I would have to give right up, but I haven't,”
she added with an emphatic little nod. And then for the first time she told her mother about the motto, ”I Can,” and what a great help she had found it.
”Yes, Daughter, every little thing Miss I Can has helped you to do has been an overcome.”
”Indeed they have been overcomes,” a.s.sented the girl with another emphatic shake of her brown head. ”Was.h.i.+ng dishes-oh, how I used to hate that job-now I don't mind it so much; cooking, telling stories to Rosy, going to the fire, yes, and even getting up the Story Club. I have just braced up, and then the first thing I knew, presto! the job was done!
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