Margaret Penrose

“ I always hate initiation night. I just think we ought to stop them. Seems to me girls have queer ideas of fun lately,” declared Cologne.
It was only ten minutes until bed time, so the chocolate had to be partaken of hurriedly.
“It does taste splendid,” approved Dorothy, as she sipped the steaming beverage.
“I like it very much. You are so kind,” said Miette, as tears still welled into her dark eyes.
“Glad you think I can make chocolate,” answered Rose-Mary. “Ned and Tavia declare I’m too stingy with the stuff, and that I only let the pot look at the sugar. ”

“ Dorothy and Rose-Mary followed Miette, leaving the others in consternation.
“How dare you do such a thing, Nita Brandt?” exclaimed Tavia, as masks and gowns were immediately discarded.
“Do what?” asked Nita, her face blazing, and her voice trembling.
“Pry into that girl’s affairs. You were told as well as the rest of us that we were to be most careful of her feelings. She does not understand American boarding schools,” said Tavia, with a sarcastic emphasis on the “boarding schools.”
“Is she any better than the rest of us?” fired back Nita.
“Better than some of us, surely,” fought Tavia. ”

“ So the first afternoon at Glenwood had slipped by, and now the new girls, as well as the old, realized they were away from home, and must miss all the little fireside loves as well as the after-dinner nonsense that youth is accustomed to indulge in among the dear ones at home. ”

“ She rubbed her hands together and shrugged her shoulders, just as she did the night of the “crash” during the initiation.
“Now you must be calm,” suggested Dorothy. “You know we can never do anything important when we are excited. Just sit down again and we will talk it all over quietly.”
140 “There is not much to talk over,” declared Miette, dropping down beside Dorothy. “I simply wrote a note to Marie—she worked in the store—”
She stopped as if she had bitten her tongue! Her cheeks burned more scarlet than before. She glared at Dorothy as if the latter had actually stolen her secret. ”

“ Over in a grassy corner Dorothy was feeding from her hands the bantams. She looked like a “living picture,” for a pretty girl feeding chicks always looks like something else, a page from fairy tales, or a colored plate from Mother Goose.
Tavia had always complained that Dorothy “didn’t have to do” her hair, she only had to “undo it,” for the blonde waves had a way of nestling in very close at night, only to be shaken out the next morning. ”

“ In the little lunch basket Dorothy had placed the cups of the automobile lunch set, and with these in her hands she ran over to the rock by the hillside. Major Dale helped lay out the things. It was delightful to be out there in the woods, to hear the birds sing a welcome, and to feel the cool breezes of the autumn air brushing his cheeks.
“I hardly blame the gypsies,” he said to himself. “The outdoor life is the only life, after all.” ”

“ This remark surprised Tavia, but she did not look at Miette to question the sincerity of her words.
“I hope we have something hot for tea,” said Tavia, as they entered the hall. “I am starved for a good hot feed of indigestible buns or biscuits,—or even muffins would answer.”
“I am thankful if I have hot chocolate,” replied Miette, lightly.
“Hot chocolate,” repeated Tavia, “what an incorrigible you are on that drink! I suppose that is why you have such lovely red cheeks.” ”

“ THE REAL MIETTE
“And now, my dears,” said Mrs. White, a day or two after the trip to New York, “you must soon be thinking of returning to Glenwood. You have had quite a vacation, and it is too early in the season to lay aside school work.”
“Yes, and I will have plenty to do to pull up,” replied Dorothy. “I am working for a prize this year.”
“I shall feel more like doing my part now,” spoke Miette, in whose cheeks the tint of health was beginning to show itself. “And I do believe I shall be very glad to see the girls, also,” she said. ”

“ This order fell upon the English class like a threat—how in the world were the girls to get along without ever writing a note? There are times when a girl feels something will happen if she cannot tell some one about the joke she sees, the chance for some fun later, or ask some one for the particular word that has deserted her and has to be found. ”

“ You are to carry Miette off to North Birchland, and then you are to fix it up for the queer boy. Why, my dear, I do not see why you take other people’s troubles so seriously,” and Mrs. Pangborn gave her a reassuring glance. “But I must not forget,” she hurried to add, “that it was I who imposed Miette’s worries upon you.”
“I am sure it was no trouble at all,” declared Dorothy, “and I love to do what I can—”
“Exactly. It is a case of willing hands. Well, my dear, if you really must go to North Birchland, I can’t see but the trip would serve to—straighten out Miette. ”

“ But just across the hall in a very small room, eighteen by number, little Miette lay with eyes wide open in the darkness. She was beginning to feel that the wonderful joys of school girl life might have their accompanying sorrows. Never,102 since her own dear mother had last kissed her good-night, had Miette felt that life held any further blessings for her, until she came to Glenwood. Then it seemed that the happy young girls and their unlimited resources for fun-making, would be something after all. ”

“ There is really no cause for alarm. She may be hiding, just to give us a scare.”
“Oh, Dorothy would never do that,” sighed Tavia. “I can’t imagine what could become of her. And Urania is gone, too. They must be together.”
“You take that path and I will work through the bushes,” said Nat to Ned. “This swamp must open out somewhere, and I’ll bet we find the girls in that ‘open.’”
Tavia called and whistled, while the boys hunted and yelled. The “yodle” (a familiar call used always by the boys, Dorothy and Tavia) , was given so often the very woods seemed to repeat the call. ”

“ Dorothy naturally disliked such compliments, and always maintained she had done nothing more than any other girl would have done under the circumstances. This might have been almost true, or true in a sense, but when men like Lawyer Pierce are initiated into the girl realm, and discover that the members of that realm are not all “silly, giggling school girls,” surprise is natural as well as excusable. ”

“ Rose-Mary was chosen server, and as she stood with her racket gripped firmly ready to serve the ball, and incidentally put it out of the reach of Tavia, who was her opponent, Dorothy and Rose-Mary being partners and Tavia playing with Edna, she looked every inch an athlete.
To begin well was ever interpreted to mean “good luck” with the Glenwoods, and when Rose-Mary delivered the ball and Tavia in her anxiety to make a good return, vollied it back a shout for Rose-Mary’s side went up from the lookers-on. ”

“ And not knowing the real circumstances, Dorothy could do as little “in the dark” as a lawyer might be expected to do when a client refuses confidence.
But in spite of this Dorothy felt that it was Miette who needed her now, and Miette whom she must assist in some way, although the mystery surrounding the little stranger seemed as deep to-day as it was the day she entered Glenwood.
The note that Nita Brandt picked up from the floor in the class room and gave to Miss Bylow was in the hands of Mrs. Pangborn, but that lady had not thought of such a thing as reading the child’s scrawl. ”

“ Seems to me school days get harder every twenty-four hours,” and she turned away, without any apparent worry, in spite of her declaration of “too much to do.”
But Dorothy did not turn over to rest. Instead, she lay wide awake, the “Hunter’s Moon” shining full in her window, and making queer pictures on the light-tinted walls.
To take Miette—and to take Urania (for my readers must have guessed that the “queer boy” was none other than the gypsy girl) , now seemed to Dorothy something more than a mere matter of going from Glenwood to North Birchland. ”

“ There are Dorothy Dales in almost every home—but we have not written their story yet. The “Home Girl” is one of the great unwritten volumes that writers hold so sacred in their hearts, scarcely is pen or paper deemed worthy to make the picture.
But we are telling one Dorothy’s story, that those who read may see the others by reflection.
In the library at the Cedars sat the group—Major Dale and his sister, Mrs. White, Lawyer Pierce, and Dorothy with Miette. They were now to learn the story of the real Miette—from the lips of her attorney. ”

“ Promptly as the word had been passed along, the girls raced to the campus, and were soon engrossed in the sport.
But Dorothy and Tavia were not with their companions. Instead, they were walking with the strange boy along the quiet path, that was separated from the school grounds by a row of close cedars. Dorothy was urging, and so was Tavia.
“But if you go away from here, and out into the woods again,” said Dorothy, “you will run a greater risk. Why not stay around, and help with the outside work, as Mrs. Pangborn had proposed, until we can hear from Aunt Winnie. ”

“ Miss Bylow glanced at some written words.
“To whom does it belong?” she asked. Cologne felt obliged to make her way out of the room, so she heard no more of the conversation. But she noticed that all the recreation period had elapsed before Nita came out of the classroom.
“That’s queer,” Rose-Mary told herself, “but I’d like to wager the note has to do either with Dorothy or Miette. Strange that the very nicest girls always are picked out for trouble. I must see Dorothy before the initiation to-night.” ”

“ After you have the bird, you may turn on the swipsy swampy swipping.”
“Couldn’t I go with you, Doro?” asked Tavia, “you might need some protection. There’s no telling what our friends may want to steal next.”
“Oh, I’m not a bit afraid,” replied Dorothy. “I know the folks at the camp.”
“But just the same,” cautioned Ned, “it might be more prudent to take Tavia along. I have heard there are other gypsies about than those in the camp. And two girls are better than one, if it is only a case of yell.”
“But if Urania sees any one with me she is sure to hide,” protested Dorothy. ”

“ I’m a regular officer, and I will take good care of you.”
“Oh!” screamed Urania, “I will not go! I won’t be arrested!”
“Hush!” exclaimed Dorothy, “You are not going to be arrested, but you must be quiet or they may think we—think something is wrong. Sir,” she said, looking up at the big man with the slouch hat, “I will not go with you unless I know who you are.”
“That’s easy settled,” he replied, pulling back his coat and displaying a badge, “I’m head constable of North Birchland.”
“And what do you want of us?” asked Dorothy, bravely. ”

“ It was true, as the gypsy girl said, the men taken into custody were the men she had seen enter the cave, and those who were seen later in the swamp were members of the same gang, but were strangers to the cave and the hidden property. Just how Urania came into possession of the facts was not altogether plain, but likely her habit of sleeping under trees, at some distance from the tents, made it possible for her to hear queer conversations, when all in the dense wood was supposed to be wrapt in the mantle of night. ”

“ Miette was willing to go to her, herself, but I think it may be best for me to speak to Mrs. Pangborn first.”
“What on earth would Glenwood girls do without you?” asked Tavia, laughing. “You are a regular adjustment bureau.”
“Some one has to do it,” replied Dorothy simply.
“Why don’t you let them, then?” asked Tavia, just to tease her friend.
“A natural inclination to meddle,” remarked Dorothy, “keeps me going. I suppose I really should not monopolize the interesting work.”
“Oh, you’re welcome. I don’t happen to know any one who objects.” ”

“ Tavia’s pretty brown dress was then brought out. Over fresh underskirts (a perfect delight to Urania) , the gown was arranged on the gypsy girl. It fit her “perfect” the gardener’s wife declared, and Dorothy was pleased, too, that the clothes went on so nicely.
How wonderfully Urania was changed! And how pretty she really looked.
“Guess you ain’t used to good things,” said the gardener’s wife, kindly. “It’s a pity you don’t give up the gypsy life and be like these girls. See how becoming it all is?” ”

“ A STRANGE GIRL
“Now that it’s all over, and we can think without a guide,” said Dorothy, coming out from the luncheon table, “we really ought to consider Urania—we ought to consult Aunt Winnie about her, and see what would be best to do. She must not run away and be left out in the world alone.”
“My sentiments exactly,” spoke up Ned, who had taken from the table a few crackers just to show the pigeons he was glad to have them home again. ”

“ Auntie said I should not let anyone know I was in a store,” said Miette.
“A remarkable case,” said Major Dale.
“Very,” assented the lawyer. “Of course, we have cases with queer phases, but this has been, as you say, Major, remarkable. To think that we should have a client in our own city whom we were never able to see personally. The aunt insisted the child was at boarding school, and it was very likely a fear of detection that prompted her to send the girl to Glenwood finally.” ”

“ But you see I have been at Glenwood School several terms and I know most of the girls and have some influence with them. If you could only tell me about it—I mean the note—”
“Have you not heard? Did not that girl tell every one?” asked Miette, in a scornful voice.
“Why no, of course not. Our girls are not babies,” replied Dorothy with some feeling. ”