CHAPTER XI--THE PRINCESS IN THE TOWER
"Do something for you? Oh, Doctor, I should just love to!" Surprise andpleasure caused Nathalie's eyes to light expectantly. And then, "Do tellme what it is; perhaps it is something I can't do!" she said doubtfully.
"Oh, you can do it all right," asserted the doctor confidently."Remember the old adage, 'Where there's a will, there's a way.'" Hiseyes twinkled humorously as he watched the girl's face. "But let's getat the beginning of things. The other day as I was hastening to mylittle African friend, Rosy, I heard some one talking to her. I stoodstill, for it was some one telling the fairy tale of Jack and the BeanStalk.
"Now when I was a wee laddie," continued the doctor, "that fairy talewas the star one to me, so I plead guilty, I was tempted and listened.And then when I discovered that the Story Lady, as Rosy says, was asometime friend of mine, I found that old tale doubly interesting. A fewdays ago, when talking to a patient, I happened to relate this littleincident in connection with something else I was telling, and then mytroubles began."
The doctor pretended dismay. "That lady has a crippled child who rarelygoes out, never meets children of her own age, but is compelled a goodpart of the time to lie on a couch suffering more or less pain. Thislittle girl was injured in an accident which her mother, poor creature,believes was her fault."
"Oh, how dreadfully she must suffer!" burst from Nathalie involuntarily.
"Yes, I sometimes think the poor mother suffers more than the child. Nowthis mother, from a mistaken idea, believes it best to keep her childsecluded, thinking that the comments of strangers would hurt the child'sfeelings and cause more suffering. So you see what a miserable life thelittle one leads. Well, I must cut my tale short--" taking out his watchand glancing at it; "perhaps it was something I said, I don't know, butthis lady asked me if I thought the young lady who was so good atstory-telling would be willing to come and amuse her child with stories.You see I was in for it, but all I could do was to say I would ask her,"the doctor's eyes sobered, "for I believe that this Story Lady girl isnot only a worth while girl--is that the way my wife puts it when shelectures you?" the doctor's face had wrinkled into a smile again, "butthat she has one of the kindest hearts in the world."
"Oh, Doctor, Mrs. Morrow never lectures," answered Nathalieenthusiastically; "she just talks to us in the sweetest way; we justlove to hear her. But, Doctor, why did you not tell the lady I would beonly too glad to tell her little girl stories, but if she suffers somuch it might tire her." This was all said in one breath.
"Not so fast, Blue Robin. No, I did not tell her you would, for I didnot know how it would strike you," rejoined the doctor gravely. "I onlytold her what you could do."
"Oh," exclaimed his companion; "well then, please tell her the firsttime you see her that I shall be delighted to do all I can for herlittle girl."
"When I see her--well, I'm going to see her now." The doctor looked downat Nathalie keenly. "If you are willing to give this pleasure supposeyou begin to-day?"
"To-day--you mean now--this morning?" exclaimed surprised Nathalie.
The doctor nodded gravely.
"Why, well, yes, I suppose I could go this morning." Nathalie wrinkledher brows; she was wondering about dinner. "All right," she said in amoment, "I'll tell Mother and get my hat!" She started for the door.
"Just wait a moment!" commanded the doctor suddenly, taking Nathalie bythe arm and peering down into her face with intent eyes. "I forgotsomething, for amusing this little girl means that you will have topromise two things."
"What are they?" asked the girl curiously.
"The first one is that you will have to promise--as a Girl Pioneer--" thedoctor's eyes gleamed again "not to betray to a living soul that you aretelling stories to this child; there is a reason."
"Oh, that is easy," nodded Nathalie; "that is, if you except Mamma, forI always tell everything to her."
"Well, we'll trust Mrs. Page as to secrecy, and the next thing--this is abig promise, for it will not be so easy to keep--is that when you go tothis lady's house you will consent to be blindfolded." The doctor lookedrelieved.
"Blindfolded?" repeated puzzled Nathalie. "Why, do you mean that I willhave to have my eyes covered up so I can't see?"
Dr. Morrow nodded, his keen eyes watching the girl's face intently.
There was a pause. "Am I to go with you?" inquired Nathalie. Thedoctor's gray head jerked again.
"Why, yes, I'm willing to be blinded--as long as you're with me to leadme about--but what a strange idea!"
"Yes, it is a strange idea, and I tried to reason the lady out of it. Ieven refused at first--and again yesterday--to ask you to do thisridiculous thing, but after thinking it over I have ventured. You know,there is the little girl to be considered, and you will?"
"Of course I will!" was the quick reply. "It is a funny thing to do,makes me think of the heroine of some detective tale. Blindfolded! Oh,it will be fun, a real adventure, I do wish I could tell Helen about it,I know she won't tell."
"No, not yet," said the doctor, "just wait and see what happens. I'llpredict that after you tell one or two of your exciting tales theblindfold act will be out of it. Now get your hat."
It was a glorious morning and Nathalie, in a merry chat with the doctoras they glided down one street and up another, forgot to wonder wherethey were going. But when they suddenly slowed up on a lonely road, thedoctor peered cautiously about and then with a flourish drew forth a bigblack handkerchief, she remembered. She did indeed feel somewhat queeras the doctor laughingly tied the black cap, as he called it, over hereyes, and then, after seeing that it was not pressing too tightly,started his car again.
This time the car went so swiftly that Nathalie caught her breath. Odear, she was beginning to feel nervous. "It really seems as if you werekidnaping me!" she cried, with an attempt at merriment.
"So I am," replied the doctor glumly. Evidently this blindfoldingbusiness was not to his liking.
As the car came to a standstill the doctor cried, "Now, Blue Robin, weare about to perform the first act in our little drama, so get up yournerve."
"I hope you won't let me fall!" exclaimed Nathalie cheerily. "I don'twant to break my nose or anything just yet."
What a weird feeling it gave her to be led along a stone walk, then up afew steps guided by her companion's strong arm, then evidently into ahall, as Nathalie surmised by the polished floor covered with heavyrugs. After being led stumblingly up the stairway--which she thoughtwould never come to an end--they crept slowly along for some distance;she could not tell whether it was a hall or a room, and felt verytrembly as she afterwards told her mother, and she was brought to asudden halt by hearing, "Oh, Mamma, here she is!"
The voice did not belong to a small child and Nathalie, surprised, stoodstill in embarrassed silence wondering what was coming next.
"Oh, Doctor, how kind you are!" cried another voice. "I had given youup, how obstinate you must think me!" The voice faltered, and thenNathalie felt a soft touch on her arm as it continued, "Oh, it was verykind of you to consent to come and entertain my daughter, and to beobliged to come this way, too. I feel guilty; I know how unpleasant itmust be to have something over your eyes."
"Well, don't worry over that now," was the doctor's terse admonition. "Ihave complied with your requests--on second thought, and my young girlfriend has been most kind in agreeing to your wishes, for the present atleast. Later, I hope, you will change your mind about these blinders."
"Please don't scold," cried the voice again, "I know it is foolish ofme. I will lead you to a chair!" the owner of the voice exclaimed as thegirl gropingly put out her hand as if afraid of falling. Then the samesoft touch led the blinded one across the room. "No, you are not goingto fall; there you are all right now," she said, as Nathalie with asense of relief sank back in a chair.
"Now," continued the voice, "I am going to be your eyes and tell youwhat is before you."
"That will be very nice," interposed embarrassed N
athalie, feelingsomewhat foolish at having to sit in this queer way before people. Shewas at a loss what to say, but had time to collect herself as the ladywent on talking rapidly. She described the room with its hangings, thepictures on the wall, told where the doors and windows were, and--"Oh,here is the couch--" she hesitated slightly, "and on it is my daughter,her name is--"
"Oh, Mamma, if you don't want the young lady to know my name, tell herI'm the Princess in the Tower!" exclaimed the same sweet voice that hadcalled out when Nathalie first entered the room.
"That will be just the thing, 'the Princess in the Tower,'" laughed thelady lightly. "Now, Princess, I am going to leave you to entertainMiss--"
"Nathalie Page," interposed the girl quickly, who, reassured by thelaughing tone of the young girl on the couch, had begun to recover fromthe awkwardness of her plight. Somehow the situation appealed to thegirl's imagination and she began to enjoy it. "Oh, I ought to be the onein the tower," she merrily asserted, "for I feel as if I were a prisonerwith this funny thing over my eyes."
"It is too bad," cried her companion sympathetically, "but you know itis a whim of Mamma's. You see," she explained, "I had an accident when Iwas a child, and it has made me deformed--" there was a pathetic note inher voice. "Mamma is so sensitive, she is afraid that if people see methey will make unkind remarks."
"Oh, how could any one be unkind?" exclaimed horrified Nathalie.
"Well, they are sometimes. I used to be sensitive myself, too, but I'mgetting used to it. I tell Mamma if I don't mind she ought not to. Yes,"she ended sadly, "I am indeed a prisoner shut up in these big graywalls."
"How hard it must be!" answered Nathalie. "But do you never go out?"
"Sometimes I go in the garden. I used to drive, but the people in thistown are so curious; they stare so. I believe they are worse than in thecity, where I suppose people are used to all kinds of strange sights.But there, I'm doing all the talking, please tell me about yourself! I'mso glad to know some one who comes from New York. The doctor told me youwere a New Yorker; he told me, too, that you were very clever, and thatyou told stories beautifully."
"Nonsense," exclaimed Nathalie. "The doctor is a dear, but he nattersme; I am not clever, I wish I were. I studied hard at school and amready to enter college this fall, and as I am only sixteen people thinkit very clever for a girl to accomplish, but I don't see why a girlcan't do it as well as a boy. But now I'm not going to have a chance toshow people whether I am really clever or not," and then she brieflytold about her disappointment in having to give up college.
"But what are you going to do if you do not go to college? Please tellme!" said the princess, as Nathalie hesitated. "I just love the sound ofyour voice!" burst from the girl impulsively.
Nathalie laughed at this extravagant praise, wondering for a moment ifthe young girl were not making fun of her. Loath to believe that shecould be so rude, however, she went on and told of her city life, herschoolmates, about Dick's accident, and how they came to settle inWestport, and then she stopped. She had been on the verge of tellingabout the Pioneers when she recollected that the doctor had said she wasto tell the child stories. "Oh, I must stop talking--I was to tell youstories--what will your mother think of me?"
"That is all right," promptly returned the girl, "you are here toentertain me; that's what she told the doctor, and if I would ratherhave you talk than tell stories, it will be as I say."
"Are you sure of that?" questioned conscience-stricken Nathalie. "Thedoctor told me I was to tell you stories."
"Of course he did, but because he said a thing doesn't make it so; Mammatold him that, I guess, but you are really to do as I say."
There was a note of decision in the girl's voice, which was anintimation that she was used to having her own way. Nathalie somehowfelt awkward and uncertain as to what course to pursue, and becamesuddenly silent, inwardly racking her brains, trying to think of somestory that would please a young girl of about the age she judged hercompanion to be.
"Oh, aren't you going to tell me about the Girl Pioneers?" was thequestion that suddenly interrupted Nathalie's train of thought.
"The Girl Pioneers!" echoed Nathalie, wondering how her companion cameto know about that organization.
"I want to tell you a secret," the princess whispered at that moment.Nathalie felt a slim hand touch her with a clinging pressure on the arm."Do you know the doctor and I are great friends, we have lots of jollytalks together. Oh, I just love to hear his step; don't tell, butsometimes I make believe I'm suffering terribly so Mamma will send forhim!"
"But you shouldn't do that!" cried Nathalie, rather shocked at the ideaof simulating pain, suddenly remembering a story she had heard of ayoung girl who had finally come to suffer from the very disease she hadfeigned.
"Oh, what difference does it make as long as it brings him?" retortedthe princess. "You see he tells me of the outside world, and makes melaugh when I have pain, for I do have lots of it sometimes. One day whenI was having an awful time with my back he almost made me forget thepain by telling me some of the funny things that have happened to theBoy Scouts and to the Girl Pioneers.
"He told me all about you, too, how you sprained your foot and aboutyour brother Dick, and about your finding the blue robin's nest in theold cedar. He said you were pretty, too. I like pretty people. I wishyou didn't have that horrible thing on your eyes, I want to see them.Mother said I would have been pretty, too, if I had not had thisterrible hump--oh," she cried abruptly, "I was not to tell you anythingabout myself, for I'm a horrible thing to look at now."
"Oh, no, you can't be," exclaimed Nathalie involuntarily, for by thistime the sweet girlish voice and soft clinging hand had stirred herimagination, and the pictures presented had made the make-believeprincess a most beautiful creature.
"Oh, but I am," persisted the girl in a resigned voice. "But then, dotell me about the Pioneers!" Then noting Nathalie's reluctance, shecalled out in a high, shrill voice, "Mamma, come here, I want you!"
"What is it, darling?" answered her mother coming hastily from theadjoining room, where she had been conversing with the doctor. "Whatdoes my princess want?" remembering the role the girl had assumed.
"The princess wants to be obeyed," answered that personage imperiously."Miss Page refuses to talk about herself or to tell me anything, becauseshe says you ordered her to tell me only stories."
Nathalie's face reddened under her black mask, "Oh, no," she interposedswiftly, "I did not say it that way. I said the doctor had asked me tocome here and tell you stories, but then I supposed you were a littlegirl."
"No, I am not a little girl," replied the princess, "I am fourteen."
"Miss Page, if you do not mind I shall be glad if you will do asNi--as--the princess desires," said her mother pleadingly. "She is aninvalid, you know, and, I am afraid, sadly spoiled."
"Very well," rejoined Nathalie briefly, feeling somewhat relieved tothink she could talk about the Pioneers and not to have to think up astory. Yet it did seem strange to ask her to come there and tell storiesand then ask her not to do so.
"Now that you have permission, please go right ahead and tell meeverything you know about the Pioneers!"
"That will be delightfully easy, I can assure you," exclaimed Nathalie."Although I am a new Pioneer, I am beginning to be very enthusiastic. Ican't tell you much about the hikes for I have never been on a long hikeyet. We were going on a bird hike the other day--" then she rememberedthe search party and its results, and in a few words told about Rosebudand the morning spent in searching for her.
"Oh, that was just fine of you," cried the princess as Nathalie came tothe part where the Pioneers had acted as if they did not want to huntfor the little girl. "And those girls! I think they were very selfish,but go on and tell me some more about the Pioneers!"
Nathalie, thus pressed, told of the Pilgrim Rally, the coming of the BoyScouts, the Pioneer dance, and then lastly how she had accepted Miss ICan, the motto of the organization, as a very dear friend, and h
ow shewas trying to live up to it. The girl could not account for the feelingthat made her sacrifice her usual reserve in regard to her inner life,and tell this make-believe princess about what she was trying to do. Inthinking it over when by herself, she concluded that perhaps it was thelesson in this little motto that she had intuitively felt might help thelittle prisoner in the tower.
"Oh, I wish you would get up a story club for me!" exclaimed the bloodroyal, as Nathalie finally ended her Pioneer recital by telling aboutthe story club the girls had formed to tell stories to the littlechildren in the colored settlement.
"Wouldn't it be just lovely! And they would all be real live girls, too,not story-book people, for oh, Miss Page, I get so tired of book folks!I want to meet just real every-day girls. That is why I coaxed my motherto get the doctor to have you come here and tell me stories, but don'tsay another word about telling me stories," she lowered her voice, "forthat was just a trick to get Mother to consent. When I want a thing Ijust keep plaguing her and then she lets me have my way."
"Oh, but you ought to tell your mother everything," exclaimed her newfriend, somewhat repelled by this frank admission of deceit. "I alwaystell my mother everything, why I could not sleep at night if I thought Ihad deceived her."
"Everything is fair in love and war, that's what my governess used tosay, but she was a horrid thing," the princess confessed candidly; "Ijust hated her. She had a beau and I used to steal his letters andpretend I had read them, just for the fun of seeing her get in a rage.But go on, and tell me more about those girls."
The last word had barely left her lips when a shriek, shrill andterrifying, rang through the room. Nathalie jumped up in a spasm ofterror, but before she could ascertain what it was, another one, evenshriller and more prolonged than the first one, as it seemed to thefrightened girl, sounded right in her very ear. Her heart leaped to herthroat, a stifled cry escaped her as she dropped back in her chaircowering with fear. Then came another cry, followed by weird, demoniacallaughter. Nathalie put her hands up to her face determined to tear offher bandage, for that blood-curdling shriek, that hideous laugh, she hadheard before--and then she remembered--oh, she was in the house of theMystic!