Edith Lavell

“ She tripped around from one group to another, introducing people, talking to everybody, sometimes taking Griffith with her, sometimes leaving him with Doris Sands or Mae Van Horn or Lily—wherever there seemed to be an interesting group. She had no time for strolls in the moonlight between dances, or intimate little tete-a-tetes on the porch; she used every minute of her evening for somebody else. ”

“ Marjorie’s having too good a time to care for letters from me.”
“That’s just where you’re mistaken, John,” said Mrs. Hadley, kindly. “If I were you I’d write. Girls love to get letters when they are far away from home.”
“But Marjorie has always seemed rather indifferent. I guess it’s because she’s so sure of me. If I could only make her jealous by being interested in some other girl! But it just seems as if I can’t!”
“Well, you have plenty of time, John, so I wouldn’t worry if I were you,” answered his mother, consolingly. “But I would write to her once in a while.” ”

“ And so she abandoned her idea of writing to John and gave her whole-hearted attention to the life she was living. To her great joy, a pack trip had been planned for the following day, a pack trip that would last five whole days, and take them up into the mountains. At last the scouts were to have a taste of real Western out-door life; they would ride all day long, make camp in the afternoon, and sleep under the stars at night.
To most of the girls, who were at the age when every new experience brings delight, the prospect was thrilling. ”

“ She loved to be with people who were contented.
“Is horseback-riding really so wonderful?” asked Doris, who was still a little doubtful about the pleasures of a whole summer on the ranch. She had been eager to be with the girls once more during the vacation, but, had she been consulted, she would have chosen some more civilized resort.
“It isn’t entirely the exercise!” laughed Maud. “Irene has other reasons for being so crazy about the place.”
“Maud!” said her older sister, reprovingly.
“Oh, do tell us the rest!” cried Alice. “It isn’t fair to stop in the middle of something interesting.” ”

“ Everyone was hungry; except for some chocolate and crackers, the girls had not tasted food since breakfast.
Later in the day the whole party except Mr. Hilton and Arthur walked up to a higher level to see the sunset and the surrounding country. To the scouts, who were used to such entirely different scenery in the East, it was a magnificent spectacle. They could see for miles in almost every direction. The flowers too were wonderful, so bright and so beautiful, seeming to grow right up against the snow drifts.
Marjorie and Daisy stood together with linked arms. ”

“ The woman eyed her critically, with a scowl on her face.
“You the Girl Scouts?” she asked, in a shrill, unpleasant voice. “I’m Miss Proctor, your new lieutenant.”
The other girls had all pressed into the compartment, and stood with wide open eyes, listening with horror to the woman’s announcement. Doris continued as spokesman for the party.
“Yes,” she said, “Mrs. Remington wrote that we might expect you.”
“Well, here I am! And look here—you’re all going to walk the chalk-line! No more foolin’ with boys, as long as I’m your boss! And no card-playing! To bed every night at nine o’clock!” ”

“ The interest in the radio was temporarily set aside by the imminence of the Yellowstone trip. Everyone on the ranch was planning to go, so the talk at supper was of little else.
“You’re quite sure no bears will attack us?” asked Doris for perhaps the fifth time.
“No, I’m not sure,” replied Mr. Hilton. “You may be very much annoyed by some tame bears who try to steal your food.”
“I’d let them have it,” said the girl, laughingly.
“You won’t be the boss!” returned Arthur. “You see, on this trip we don’t do our own cooking; we stop at regular organized camps for our food and beds.” ”

“ Long rides over the mountains, swimming, camp fires and restful evenings in the big cabin with the other members of the ranch family. The girls felt perfectly at home; even Daisy put aside her worries and entered into the full enjoyment like the rest.
After the day of the canoe picnic, Kirk Smith had not paid the slightest attention to Marjorie, or in fact to any of the girls, in spite of Irene Judson’s repeated efforts to draw his interest to herself. ”

“ Marjorie decided that she could not have given this up for a whole summer with John Hadley at a poky little seashore or mountain resort.
As they rode along, the girls kept their eyes alert to see everything. The elevation of the land, the clearness of the atmosphere, and the absence of trees made it possible for them to get a good view of the country for miles around. The vastness of it all impressed them, as nothing had ever done in the East.
“We’ll ride out and encircle the farthest horse,” explained Bob, “and gradually drive them towards the ranch.” ”

“ While the girls were dressing she told them of her intention.
“Please set aside Friday evening for scouts,” she said, as she dived into the bottom of her trunk for her scout book. “And I want the whole evening, too.”
“But what can we do with a whole evening?” asked Mae, who hated to sacrifice bridge, even for one time.
“I’m not sure—but something!” replied Marjorie. “I can tell you better after this afternoon. Two hours didn’t used to seem too long for you!”
“Ah, but there was no Tom Melville then!” teased Alice.
“Marj,” said Mae, “you ought to get a bad crush on some man. ”

“ They were counting on a long climb with a rather late supper that night, and for this reason, the cook had prepared an especially large meal for the middle of the day. Ethel, Alice and Florence sat down to it rather reluctantly, for they hated to think of Marjorie and Daisy missing it, and sharing only a frugal repast with the Melville boys.
They were just finishing their usual dessert of stewed fruit, when they heard welcome pistol shots in the distance. The wanderers were coming back, and there was plenty of good, substantial dinner left for them to make up for their slim rations. ”

“ Marjorie seemed hurt at his words; he was accusing her of being cold and unfeeling.
“I don’t know what you mean!” she returned, sharply. “Do you imply that I care more for things like that than for people? That I like horseback-riding 40 and hiking better than mother and father and Lily—”
“No, no! I didn’t mean that. Of course I know your family and Lily come first. But men, for instance? It seems to me you’d always rather go off with a pack of girls on some escapade than see any of your men friends.” ”

“ Upstairs in the dormitories, confusion reigned everywhere. Trunks, half-packed, their lids wide open and their trays on the floor, lined the hallways; dresses were lying about in profusion on chairs and beds; great bunches of flowers filled the vases and pitchers; and rooms were bereft of their hangings and furnishings. Girls, girls everywhere! In party dresses or kimonos they rushed about their rooms or bent over their trunks in the hall. Everybody seemed in mad haste to accomplish the impossible.
4 Marjorie Wilkinson and Lily Andrews were no less excited than the other seniors. ”

“ Hilton they were fortunate in securing places from which they could command a view of the entire arena; and each scout—even Doris—had the determined air of intending not to miss a thing. While waiting for the fun to begin, they watched with interest the ever-increasing crowd of spectators, a happy, care-free crowd, over which the spirit of holiday-making seemed to prevail.
The show started by all the participants riding about the big arena in a procession. They were mostly cowboys, ranchers, and cavalrymen of the United States Army ”

“ John knew that Marjorie had invited Griffith Hunter to the senior dance. Griffith Hunter, a college man of wealth and position, with everything that a young girl might wish to find in her future husband! What a contrast to himself!
He was working in Philadelphia now, and spending the week-ends with his mother at Cape May. She was not well enough to be in the hot city during the summer, so he had obtained a comfortable little cottage where she could keep house and entertain her old friends modestly.
After the week-end at Atlantic City with the Wilkinsons, the days seemed interminable to John. ”

“ Who wants me for a partner?”
“I’d be charmed,” said Florence, laughingly.
“Good work!” commented Marjorie. “Now there will be only one extra girl, and I will be that one, and play chaperone.”
“Oh, everybody will dance with everybody else!” said Doris, lightly. “Even Alice needn’t think she’ll be able to keep the men away by wearing trousers!”
“Marj!” said Alice, abruptly, “what does Kirk have to say about the radio. Oh, if it doesn’t come, I’ll never forgive him!”
“But it wouldn’t be his fault!” protested Daisy, who made it a point to defend the young man. “He certainly did his part.” ”

“ Naturally, the girls all felt anxious to do as Marjorie suggested, and all signed the enrollment paper to be returned to headquarters.
“Maybe Irene and Maud would like to take it too,” suggested Alice.
“Not they!” returned Ethel. “They’re too glad of a chance to get rid of us, so they can have the boys to themselves!”
Marjorie laughed; Ethel always saw through people, fearlessly pointing out their weaknesses. Still she was equally fair in crediting them with their virtues. ”

“ To the delight of everyone, it came soon—a weather report from Denver. After that there was a most entertaining concert.
“It certainly is nice that more than one person can hear at one time,” remarked Arthur. “It was clever of you Girl Scouts to think of ordering this kind.”
“Clever of Kirk!” corrected Marjorie, always desirous of giving credit where credit was due.
John glanced hastily at the young man whom Marjorie had praised, trying to ascertain whether he cared much about the tribute. But apparently Kirk had paid little or no attention to it, for he was explaining something to Arthur. ”

“ I know there isn’t much chance around the ranch to do the daily good-turn, but I wish you would all keep it in mind. That really isn’t child’s play, you know, but a principle we ought to practice all our lives. You know how seriously Mrs. Remington always regarded it—well, I think we should think just as much about it as if she were with us to remind us of it. And, along with this same idea is the troop good-turn. Wouldn’t it be great if the whole patrol could do something like the sort of thing we did for Frieda Hammer? ”

“ For some time Marjorie had been watching the business-like manner of a tall, black-haired young man with very long legs, who sat as limp as a rag in the saddle and appeared able to ride anything. Though hot, flushed, and covered with dust from his exertions, his boyish face looked familiar to the girl, and she turned to inquire about him of Mr. Hilton, who had also been watching him intently.
“You’ve picked the prize-winner this time, Marjorie,” replied the man. “Of course you remember him; he is Jonnie Owens, a professional horse-breaker107 who works on my ranch. ”

“ Marjorie put her arm around the timid girl; she honestly felt sorry for her, for she knew that she could not overcome her fears.
“Doris, don’t you worry—Bob Hilton will take care of you. He’s used to the mountains, and sleeping out, and wild animals, and everything like that. But if you really don’t like the idea, why don’t you stay home with the Judson girls, and Mrs. Hilton’s sister? They’d probably be only too delighted to have more company.” ”

“ At the end, after a wild steer was led forth, saddled, and ridden for the amusement of everybody, Marjorie had an opportunity to gratify her desire to see real bronco-busting, or the riding of horses which had never been broken. This was not done by the gradual method followed in breaking highly-bred animals; the broncos were simply roped, saddled and mounted. Of course, to make the contest more exciting, the most vicious horses procurable had been obtained; and many would not submit to being saddled until they were thrown and blindfolded. ”

“ I thought we might live in tents, and wouldn’t want anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary.”
“Well, let’s look at every girl we see, every time the train slows down. And we can go in the diner in relays tomorrow, and look over everybody on the train!” said Alice.
“Now Alice, that’s too foolish!” cried practical Florence Evans. “Imagine finding her right on this train! You sound like a dime novel!”
“But she must be somewhere!” persisted Alice, stubbornly.
This discussion was interrupted by Marjorie’s asking Daisy what she was planning to do next year. ”

“ Mrs. Hilton thrust some bread and dried fruit into their hands, and they were gone. The others turned their attention to supper.
“I do believe Kirk is crazy about Marjorie!” remarked Bob Hilton, when the canoe was out of sight.
“No, I think it’s Daisy,” said his mother. “Marjorie has just got the best of him, and he wants to conquer her.”
“Well, anyway,” concluded Tom Melville, “he takes more interest in those two girls than in anything or anybody since he’s been out here. ”

“ Of course we do have horse-thieves here, just the same as anywhere else.”
“What I’d like to see,” said Marjorie, after a few minutes of silence, “is some genuine horse-breaking. Just imagine making animals that have never been used to anything like that, learn to obey the reins!”
“That is an interesting sight,” said Bob; “and you’ll surely see some of it before you go home.”
The girls stayed out until after eight o’clock, enjoying the exercise and the novelty of the adventure exceedingly. If it had not been for their ever increasing hunger, they would willingly have kept on riding all morning. ”

“ While the girls busied themselves in the cabin, Kirk went to look after the horses, and to find himself a place for the night. The ground was still wet, but he felt that with the protection of his poncho he could manage for one night.
“It does seem selfish to keep this cabin,” remarked Marjorie, when they were alone, “when the ground will be so wet for Kirk. Still, there are two of us, and only one of him. And,” she added, “besides, we’re girls.”
“I don’t really think Kirk minds,” said Daisy. “He isn’t one bit selfish.” ”