CHAPTER XXIII
IN SOCIAL ELEMENTS
Dorothy wore her "heavenly" blue dress, while Tavia "blazed out" in hersunset costume. As Dorothy had predicted Mrs. White was radiant in herbeautiful amethyst chiffon, so that the elementary evening "panned out"exactly as scheduled.
Mrs. White was a handsome woman. As Ruth Dale, youngest sister of MajorDale, she had been a belle, and now as Mrs. Winthrop White she wasacknowledged a social leader and a favorite.
Her hair had the same brightness that made Dorothy's so attractive,except that years had tarnished that of Mrs. White, while her niece hadseen only sunshine in life to polish the golden warp that beauty lovesto spin. There were many features in both that marked relationship, andit was always declared that Dorothy was a Dale both in character andfeatures.
The broad veranda at the Cedars was lighted with a flood of summermoonbeams, and there was seated on the lounging chairs a gay party ofyoung persons and a few "grown ups."
Tavia and Dorothy, Ned and Nat, besides Rosabel Glen, the young girlwho lived in the pretty cottage next the Cedars, were there, and withMrs. White were Mrs. Theodore Glen and a visitor from Toledo, a MissBattin.
In meeting Rosabel Glen the girls from Dalton were both conscious ofmaking the acquaintance of a society girl, one who though still in herteens, knew exactly what to say to be polite, and precisely what to doto show off to the very best possible advantage. She had called at theCedars in the afternoon and remained just fifteen minutes, which timeMrs. White informed the girls after her departure was the social limitfor a first call.
"But we were talking of something that could not possibly be finishedin that time," Dorothy had complained.
"All the better chance for Rosabel to show off her manners," said Mrs.White with a laugh, for she had never agreed that young girls shouldenter society on stilts.
But the evening was different, informal and almost jolly. (The "almost"belonged to Miss Rosabel while the "jolly" was looked after by Ned andNat, Dorothy and Tavia feeling like an appreciative audience.) Allsorts of topics were introduced by the unhappy boys, who never had agood time when the Glens were present, but all resulted in the samefailure to make a general conversation of firmer consistency thanmonosyllables.
"But you must come out to camp," said Nat in desperation. "We have thejolliest quarters, on a high knoll, just off the lake front and not toofar from the hotel--a hotel is not bad to have around when a good blowtakes the roof off your head at midnight."
"Oh, my!" exclaimed Rosabel, "you do not mean to say that your tentsblow away in the night?"
"Not a bit particular as to time--night or day," went on the young man,"so long as they get away. Last time Ned clung to the ropes and thecampers missed something for it was awfully dark."
"And you really were carried up by the force of the wind?" gasped thepolite girl.
"And let down by it," admitted Ned, "I have a souvenir yet," rubbinghis left arm.
"And girls camp!" gasped the one from the other cottage.
"Heaps of them. They're the best neighbors we've got. There's Camp Deb(all debutants you know), and I tell you their social guardians knowhow to fix them up for the season. They make a fellow think of the wayfowls are treated before holiday time?"
"Oh," almost shrieked Rosabel, "Please don't!"
"But you ought to look into the treatment. I tell you those girls arebeauts. They get fun, exercise, fresh air and have the last good timethey ever expect to have in this world. Poor dears, they must all beengaged next season, you know."
Dorothy and Tavia were enjoying this, Rosabel had seemed to forgettheir presence, she at once became so absorbed in the society talk.
"I would like to visit camp," she ventured.
"Come along then," said Nat good naturedly, "Our girls are coming outto-morrow."
Tavia gave a significant sigh. Who could have any fun "with thatdoor-bell floral piece tagging on," she thought.
Mrs. Glen was appealed to and it was finally arranged that she, Mrs.White, and the younger set should go on the following afternoon tovisit Camp Hard Tack.
When the nine o'clock bell rang the visitors promptly rose to go, norwere they detained by any overwhelming entreaties to prolong their stay.
"Of all the sticks," began Ned, when they were at a safe distance.
"Hush, Neddie, Rosabel is being properly brought up," interrupted Mrs.White with more smiles than frowns.
"Properly! Save the mark! And if I had been a girl would you have donethat to me? I did hope that Dorothy might be made comfortable here forsome time, but if that is contagious I'll take her home myself. A caselike that must be fatal," and Ned shook his head seriously.
"And her cheeks?" asked Nat, "what do you call that?"
"The very best," replied Tavia, "I know that kind is two dollars anounce. I saw it in Rochester."
"Then we'll fix her out at camp," decided Nat. "We will put up somekind of a game that calls for a face wash and a forfeit. If Rosyobjects I'll get the boys to wash it for her."
"Oh, that would be rude," insisted Dorothy.
"Not for campers," insisted the unquenchable Nat, "It might be forministers, but not for campers."
It was not late enough to leave the porch, so the talk drifted toDalton matters.
"Now Dot," began Ned, "I'd like to hear more of the 'chaser' business.I am sure we have all heard the wrong story of it, and even at that Imust admit it is not so slow--rather interesting. Give us the rightversion."
"Let Tavia tell it," Dorothy begged off.
"Well, who did the fellow turn out to be?" asked Ned.
"He hasn't turned out yet," replied Tavia. "The last we heard of him hetried to throw Dorothy over the falls--"
"Scamp," interrupted Ned. "Pity there's no fellows in Dalton big enoughto lick a fellow like that."
"Oh, there are plenty of them," declared Dorothy, at once up in armsfor the Dalton boys. "But he is such a coward he never appears exceptwhen he is sure we are alone."
"The entire boys' school hunted for him that day in the woods," addedTavia, "but he got away."
"What on earth is he after?" went on Ned.
"The Burlock money," promptly replied Dorothy. "At first we did notknow that, but there is no doubt of it now. When he grabbed me hehissed into my ear, 'Did Miles Burlock leave his money with yourfather?' Oh!" exclaimed Dorothy, "I can't bear to think of it yet."
"Excuse me, coz," spoke up Ned, "perhaps I should not have made youthink of it."
"Indeed, I scarcely ever get it out of my mind. It just haunts me."
"That's why she left school," Tavia reminded them, "And I left to keepher company," she finished with a merry laugh at the idea, and itsevident consequences.
"A blessing all around," said Nat. "What would we have done if neitherof you left and we got left--for this good time. I hope mom will kidnapDorothy."
"Indeed you cannot have her," declared Tavia. "I should pine away anddie at Dalton without her."
"Then stay at Birchland," suggested Ned. "Plenty of room."
"But what does the fellow want with the Burlock money?" asked Nat,getting back to the interesting affair that still remained so much of amystery.
"It's a long story," began Dorothy, "and it has not all been told yet.Burlock was, in some way, in Anderson's power. I was with father whenpoor Mr. Burlock told us about it. He declared it was all the result oftoo much liberty in youth and bad company?"
"Be warned, Nat, my boy," interrupted Ned, jokingly. "I must have themater cut you down. 'And he rambled till the mater cut him down,'"hummed the brother, paraphrasing the butcher song.
"Spare the allowance and cut anything else down you like," answeredNat. "But please do not interrupt again."
"Then it seems," went on Dorothy, "Mr. Burlock had a lot of money lefthim. From that time on this Anderson followed Mr. Burlock and evensucceeded in separating him from his family."
"But how did Burlock hold on to the cash all that time?" asked Ned.
/> "Oh, that was kept for him. He only had the interest of it. But latelya Mrs. Douglass, of Dalton, died; she had charge of the money becauseMr. Burlock was not considered capable of taking care of it himself."
"And now," said Ned, "the major has it, and Anderson is trying to getit away by means of information he hopes to get from the major'sdaughter? Easy as a, b, c. But to whom is the money left?"
"To an unknown or unfound daughter," said Dorothy. "Her name is Nellieor Helen Burlock, and it was in hopes of locating her, upon a falseclew which Anderson sent, that poor Mr. Burlock met his death."
"But Dorothy had him all fixed for heaven," said Tavia. "Yes, if ever aman died, hoping to be forgiven, it was Miles Burlock. Those who werewith him said so, and it was all Dorothy's doings. I must admit I didjoke her about it," Tavia said earnestly, "but she had done so manythings girls never do, and she was not strong enough to keep it up, sowe all had to try to discourage it. But you will have to come to Daltonto hear her praises sung. She is a regular home missionary--the kindthey tell about in meetings, but who are too busy to come and talkabout themselves."
"I am sure Dorothy is an angel," said Nat, putting his armaffectionately around his cousin. "I only hope she will save some ofher goodness for me--I do need a mission."
"Indeed," answered Dorothy, "joking aside, you boys are very good andso attentive to your mother. She told me so herself."
"Oh," gasped Nat, "when did she say that? Is it too late to make astrike now? I am horribly short--shore dinner this week you know."
"And there's Nellie," resumed Ned, determined to get at the bottom ofthe Burlock story. "Now she's to have money. What do you say, Nat, ifwe get on the case? Nellie might make it all right, you know."
"Great scheme, boy," said Nat, "you do the finding and I will act asyour attorney."
"Isn't there any clue?" asked Ned.
"Yes, father is working on one, and I am so anxious to hear theresult," said Dorothy. "Of course he will not write about it. I expectthere will be lots of news when we get back to Dalton."
Tavia had been silent for some time. The boys had failed to "wake upher jokes," as they expressed it.
"Look here," said Ned tipping her chair back in a perilous way. "Youcan't claim to be sleepy for your eyes are just like stars. Nor needyou pretend to be weeping inwardly for the coil of taffy we all forgotto bring back from Mikes' (if anything happens to that hair I'll havehis license revoked), so now own up, what are you moping about?"
Dorothy was at Tavia's side instantly.
"You are tired, dear," she said. "Perhaps you are weak from shock.Let's go in."
"Indeed I'm all right--" stammered Tavia, but a hot tear fell onDorothy's hand, and told a different story.
"Homesick!" whispered Ned as he kissed Dorothy good night. "She'll beall right to-morrow."