CHAPTER XV
THE FATEFUL BIRTHDAY PARTY
In the due course of events, the night of the birthday party at theHuxley home had arrived. Betty was in high spirits as she dressed.Doris took great interest in her donning of a new dress, "_so_becoming," she said. "Betty, I never saw you look so pretty. And youdon't need rouge, either."
"I should hope not," laughed Betty, looking at her own image in themirror. "My cheeks are so hot and I'm so excited over this--I wonderwhy. I've been with Jack enough before."
Doris was going to a party herself, and wished that her new dress,something promised, were ready. But it was not a big party likeBetty's. "Papa's calling you, Betty," said she, taking her place atthe mirror which they shared.
Mr. Lee, who had been bringing out his car in order to take Dorisaround to the house of one of the freshman girls, was waiting forBetty in the living room. "Just a word, Betty, before any one comesfor you. This is a large party, I believe?"
"Jack said so."
"Will there be dancing?"
"I hadn't thought about it. Very likely."
"Well, as you know, Betty, we do not forbid dancing and I have nodoubt that this place where you are going is all right. I intendedto inquire more about the people, but it slipped my mind. I haveseveral things to think about, you know."
"Yes sir. Let's sit down, Father. I'm all ready but my wraps."
Mr. Lee sat down and Betty perched on the arm of his chair.
"As I said," Mr. Lee resumed, "we do not forbid the proper sort ofdancing. I suppose it is natural for youngsters to like to move tomusic. And yet it is true that so many evils are connected with thedance--well, our church does not forbid it, but it frowns on allsorts of looseness in manners and company. The chief thing is tokeep oneself with the best type of people, I suppose." Mr. Leelooked off reflectively.
"I scarcely know how to warn you, Betty. But I suppose your motherhas told you that there is a certain reserve, a certain distance tobe maintained by a nice girl when girls and boys mingle?"
"Yes, sir."
"It is a part of charm and attraction and the delicacy that we wantour sweet girls to have. Loudness and boldness and familiarity arejust the opposites; and I have no fear that my Betty girl will everhave those qualities. But look out for it in others, and _have acare_, Betty. That is all, my child. How pretty you look. Have agood time."
"Oh, I'm going to, I know. Thanks for the warning, my daddy. I'lltry to be good!"
In a few minutes Betty was off. Mr. Lee was just drawing his own carfrom the curb when a handsome car drew up behind his. He was glad tosee that it was full of young people. The lad had not come for Bettyin his roadster. Oh, to put off the special pairing and above all,love-making, as long as possible! But after all, his girl would haveto handle it herself.
In the car Betty found herself with several persons whom she did notknow. Mathilde was there, and Jack informed Betty that this was the"inner circle" of guests. Jack was as easily polite as ever, but hiseyes were bright and he talked a great deal, excited, too, over hisbirthday and wanting to play the host.
A chauffeur drove, which was just as well, and after this group wasdeposited, drove off again. With the rest, Betty was conducted intothe handsome new house, of brick and stone, and introduced to Jack'smother, who was receiving with him. A very pretty girl, black-eyedand looking not a little like Jack, was his first cousin, asintroduced, vivacious and pleasant.
A maid in newly furnished upstairs rooms had helped the girls offwith their light wraps and scarfs, but Betty was more interested inseeing Jack's relatives than the house. "Oh, Dad!" called Jack as heshowed his guests to seats, "come in for a minute."
A tall, heavily built man with a very red face came in from a roomwhich Betty supposed was their library from a glimpse she had ofsome bookcases. He shook hands with the arrivals, made a few jovialremarks and gave Betty a special look over his glasses. "So this isMiss Betty. I have heard of you. You may imagine where. Jack is agood picker of--friends."
Betty blushed a little, to her disgust, but smiled warmly at Jack'sfather. Perhaps he was nicer than he looked. Anyhow, it was pleasantto be liked. The rooms were furnished with taste. A baby grand pianoand the very latest in radios were part of the equipment. Orientalrugs were on the floor. Betty appreciated all that since she hadlearned about values and beauty in such things. A few of them, inher own simple home, however, satisfied Betty Lee.
One after another the young guests arrived. This was to be a realdinner party, many as there were to be served. Dinner at the Leeshad long since been over, but dinner here was served at eighto'clock--and such a dinner! Betty enjoyed it thoroughly, especiallyas she was Jack's companion, though Jack's cousin from away was theguest of honor. Dainty courses and more substantial food, preparedin the most appetizing way, were offered. But Betty noticed wineglasses by their plates and wondered. Would wine be used at Jack's?
But in the midst of conversation and consumption of food Betty didnot disturb herself over what the future might bring. Nevertheless,she was disturbed when the butler filled the glasses. She would bepolite, and said nothing. Immediately, however, some of the boysgrew a little hilarious, talking about their "prohibition beer."Jack nodded to the butler, who went around putting something else insome of the glasses.
Betty gave a questioning look toward Jack, who turned to her at thatmoment. "That won't hurt you, Betty," said he. But he pulledsomething from his pocket and laughingly, teasingly, poured somesort of liquid into the glass of his cousin.
"Any good, Jack?" asked she.
"The best my bootlegger can get," laughed he in return.
Betty felt sick at the thought. Perhaps he was only joking. He mustbe. But other boys were doing the same thing, adding something fromodd bottles around the table. There were scarcely any boys and girlsthat she had known in school, though she had met some of them atLucia's. Perhaps it was a good thing that Lucia had not been able tocome. Mathilde, Betty saw, was enjoying herself thoroughly and didnot refuse any of the liquor. Jack turning away from his cousinagain, told Betty that she was just a "little prude, but a verysweet one," "You'll get over it, Betty. Try a little, just to pleaseme."
"I'm sorry, Jack, but I can't," said Betty. "I'm wishing you just asmany happy returns, you know."
"All right this time," returned Jack, for he was in a happy mood andthe stimulating drink made him only more affable so far. It was notthe first that day.
This was the beginning. No one seemed to be the worse for anythingat dinner. There were some games and then the dancing began _a la_victrola, though Jack apologized for not having an orchestra."Nobody could come," said he--"previous engagements. It was my faultfor letting it go until too late."
Betty never did relate the details of what occurred later in theevening, other than to say that matters grew worse, that both boysand girls drank from flasks and that Mr. and Mrs. Huxley had leftwith some guests soon after dinner, which they had had privately.She had enjoyed the fun at first and forgot about the winetill forced to notice it when the flasks came out, not verysurreptitiously. But at last she came to the conclusion that it wasno place for her. She looked for Jack and saw that he was more thanhalf intoxicated. One boy asked her to dance and began to embraceher as he asked, hot, liquor-laden breath indicating his state atthis time. It was Jack's chum.
Betty slipped from his arms with an apology. "I've a headache, Will,and I'm going to the dressing room to the maid a moment."
That was satisfactory to the befuddled lad, and Betty, troubled anddisgusted, and wondering how she was going to get home, flewupstairs. The maid was not in the dressing room where Betty had lefther wrap and the scarf she wore around her head at her mother'ssuggestion. She was glad of that. If she had to get home by streetcar it would not be so bad. But she had worn her light satinslippers and oh--it was raining! They would be ruined. Where was thetelephone? She could call her father, though he might be in bed. Itwas midnigh
t by this time, Betty supposed.
She wondered where the maid was and timidly wandered down the hall,peeping into rooms evidently used, or intended to be used, by anyguest. Then the maid came hurrying from somewhere, too intent onwhatever her errand was to notice Betty. But Betty asked, "Where isMrs. Huxley, please?"
"Oh, dem folks is gwine off somewhere. Dey tells me to look aftehthe young folks, an' it's too big a job foh one pusson. I done tol'her so, but she'd had too much o' dat bootleggeh stuff hehse'f atdinneh. Ah's goin' down afteh de cook. Dat young lady in dere's done_passed out_! An' de butleh--he gone, too."
The colored woman waved her dark hand indefinitely.
"Mercy! You don't mean anybody's dead!"
"No, honey, not daid. No, you jus' _keep out_. Ain' nuffin yo' kindo only git yo'se'f into trubble." This addition was because Bettywas evidently about to offer help, as she turned uncertainly in thedirection from which the colored maid had come. With this, the maiddisappeared down the stairs from which the sounds of revelry stillrose. Betty went back to get her wraps. Did she have any car fare?Well if she didn't, she'd get on anyhow, one of those cars where youdidn't have to pay till you got off. She'd give the conductor hername and address or give him the ring from her finger or--anything!Betty was getting panicky by this time. She _could_ not go downstairs with her wrap, and run the risk of being discovered. Probablythere was a back stairway. There was, as Betty discovered by lookingalong the upper halls. Dear me, she would know the way around _this_house again. She wondered why the maid had not gone down to thekitchen that way, but supposed that the cook was to be foundsomewhere else. It had stopped raining, after only a shower.
It was a lovely night, indeed, with a moon, which helped her aroundthe house, through beautiful old trees and some newly plantedshrubbery. There were cars parked along the drive, but the big carin which Betty had been brought was not to be seen. Of course, thechauffeur was driving the older Huxleys, or waiting somewhere forthem. Betty knew that there were plays at the theatres and otherentertainments going on.
With her scarf held tightly under her chin and her wrap gatheredabout her, Betty lightly flew to the drive and followed it around,not feeling so lonely where she could see a few of the rear lights.The walk looked spooky! She was almost lost in this neighborhood,but as she emerged upon a sidewalk, she could see at some distancethe lights of a street car passing. Then it was not so late that thecars were off! Of course not--was she crazy? A few automobilespassed, but this was off from the main arteries of traffic. Like aslim ghost Betty hurried along, stopping once for breath and to seeif her pretty bag contained any street car tickets. Had she had anyidea of walking, she could have worn shoes and carried her satinslippers. But they were ruined. That rain had been a light shower,indeed, leaving the night as bright as before. It must have stoppedalmost as soon as she looked out to see it; but one little puddle,stepped in by the back exit, had been sufficient.
And now she had reached the street car line. She was safe, or hopedso. She hailed a car, and took comfort in the fact that there was anelderly woman also waiting for it. The woman scanned her slippersand said "You got caught in the rain, didn't you!"
Betty had half a notion to ask her for the fare, but concluded thatit would be easier to arrange with the conductor. To be real honest,she made her way straight to the conductor and sat down close towhere he stood by the box into which one dropped tickets.Fortunately, there were only a few people on this car.
As soon as the woman had paid her fare and gone back to a seat inthe after part of the car, Betty spoke to the conductor.
"Can you tell me how to get to this street?" she asked, naming thestreet and suburb.
The conductor began to punch a transfer, stopping a moment whenBetty added that she hadn't a ticket, but she was scared and wantedto get home and she could give him her father's address and he wouldpay her fare. "What's your father's business?" asked the conductor.
Betty told him, as the conductor took in Betty's appearance and theflying, pretty hair from which the scarf had become disarranged."I'll take a chance on you, young lady," said the man with a halfsmile, "and pay your fare myself. So you got scared, did you? Betternot be out alone so late."
"Oh, never again! Never again," gasped Betty. "Thank you, so much!Please what is your name, so we can pay you?"
The conductor hesitated, but evidently concluded that it was best tolet the affair be settled that way. He told her, slowly.
Again Betty flew along the way home from the street car half an hourlater. And oh, how good it was to see a light at home! Yes, Mother,_Mother_, was still up!
Several short rings did Betty give and when her mother opened thedoor, she began to cry and laugh a little so hysterically that hermother was alarmed. "What is it, my child? and who brought you homelike this?"
Betty hastened to tell her mother that she was not hurt, "only allupset, Mamma," but she had to have a little cry before she couldtell all about it. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed more than once."Poor Jack! And Mathilde didn't know what she was doing the lasttime I spoke to her!"
"Come; you can tell me more tomorrow. I'm going to give you a littlequieting medicine, Betty, and put you into bed. I am thankful thatyou are safe at home. Think about being snug in your own bed andforget the rest till morning."
"But how'll I ever explain, Mother--about leaving and everything?"
"That can be the least of your worries, Betty. Your father and I arethe ones to ask for an explanation."
"Oh." Betty was thoughtful. "But you wouldn't make a big troubleover it, would you?"
"Do you think that would be like us?"
"No. All right. It's your affair, Mamma. It's too much for me!" andBetty took the hot drink her mother offered her, instead of themedicine she had first suggested, and went to bed.