The at the Seashore Part 11 (2/2)

”Then, if you'll withdraw the charge of kidnapping, Eleanor, he can go.”

And the next moment Holmes, free but disgraced, slunk away, and out of the lives of those he had so cruelly wronged.

Sunset of that day found them all back at Plum Beach, where the Camp Fire Girls, who had been almost frantic at their long absence, greeted them with delight. The story of Bessie's restoration to her parents, and of the good fortune that was soon to be Zara's, seemed to delight the other girls as much as if they themselves were the lucky ones, and Gladys Cooper, completely restored to health, was the first to kiss Bessie and wish her joy.

And after dinner Eleanor, blus.h.i.+ng, rose to make a little speech.

”You know, girls,” she said, ”Margery Burton is to be a Torch-Bearer as soon as we get back to the city. And you are going to need a new Guardian soon. She will be chosen--and she will make a better one than I have been, I think.”

There was a chorus of astonished cries.

”But why are you going to stop being Guardian, Miss Eleanor?” asked Margery.

”Because--because--”

”I'll tell you why,” said Billy Trenwith, leaping up and standing beside her. ”It's because she's going to be married to me!”

There was a moment of astonished silence. And then, from every girl there burst out, with out signal, the words of the Camp Fire song: ”Wo-he-lo--wo-he-lo--wo-he-lo--Wo-he-lo for Love!”

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