CHAPTER XV
WHEN THE TRAIN CAME IN
In a very dark corner of the station Tavia found a broken washbowl,and from the water pail she carried two cups full of water, with whichto refresh her worn and haggard face.
Sam Dixon had brought her word that she might ride back to hisboarding house with him, and share his coffee, but she was to say thatshe was his niece, and that she was on her way to her grandmother's,"like little red riding hood," chuckled Sam, when he disclosed hisplan.
Tavia cared little for coffee, but she was weak, and the fear of beingagain left in the station alone prompted her to accept the well-meantinvitation. In fact, she had in her hours of desolation become quitefond of the little old man with the blackthorn cane.
"Yes, I'll go gladly," she answered, and his pleasure could not bedoubted.
Accordingly, when the milk train had pulled out, and the station wasagain locked, Tavia jumped into the narrow carriage beside the oldman, and, asking if he would not like to have her drive, she pulled upthe reins, and they started off.
Here was a new experience. If only now she could forget the agony thatDorothy must be experiencing, it would not be so dreadful to go atthis early morning hour, over the dewy roads, in the ramshackle buggywith her benefactor at her side.
"At any rate," she thought to herself, "I'll have a good story to tellwhen I _do_ get back to camp."
"Is your place far?" she asked of Sam, more for the sake of talkingthan of asking.
"Not so very. You see, it has always been rather rough out thisway--lumbermen and the like always puttin' up at Dobson's. That's whyI thought you was better off in the station, than to try to make yourway about last night. And some of them rough fellows stop at myplace--that's Dobson's--so while they're out now is your chance to geta hot drink."
As he spoke, a rough man, indeed, passed the carriage in which Taviaand Sam were riding! Wasn't he rough! Tavia instinctively shrugged upcloser to the old man beside her.
"Uncle Sam, was that a--woodman?"
Tavia fell in quite naturally to calling the station agent Uncle Sam.
"Yep, he's one of the sort," taking care to keep his smile focussed onthe man, who although he was going in the opposite direction was ableto keep his eye on Tavia. "You see they are the most suspiciousset--takes a man a lifetime to know them, a woman an eternity, andthen she has to depend upon their good nature."
Tavia smiled, and hurried the old horse until his ears "sassed herback." They jogged along--every moment nature was getting more andmore wideawake, until Tavia feared she would really wake up to themagnitude of her own personal offence, everything else seemed sostraightforward and so upright!
Why in the world had she ever listened to the ravings of that man withthe soft hat and the hard smile?
After all, Dorothy must be right--and she, Tavia, was wrong. Yes, itwas indisputably wrong to do the things that had seemed so smartbefore--things that Dorothy could never laugh at.
She sighed heavily. Sam heard it.
"What's wrong?" he asked, looking over his glasses, and under hiswrinkles.
"Oh, nothing," Tavia sighed further. "Only I am wondering what myfriends are thinking--of--me--about me."
"Well, there's scarcely any doubt about that think," he replied. "Likeas not they think you are drowned--no good friend would ever think youwere--stranded!"
Sam's logic was irresistible. Tavia had not thought of thiscontingency; they might think her drowned!
"I must hurry to get back," she said suddenly. "I wonder could I doany little work, at your boarding house, to earn the price ofmy--ticket?"
"You couldn't manage to stay over until the afternoon, do you think? Ihave some mending I'd be mighty glad to get done--and then I couldgive you a ticket," said Sam.
"Oh, that would be splendid!" exclaimed Tavia. "I would willingly waitover even if I had a chance to go sooner, for you have been so good tome, Uncle Sam," she said warmly. "I shouldn't want to go until I haddone something for you."
"Then it's a bargain. While you're eatin' your coffee, I'll grab upthe things, and you kin mend over in the station. We'll stick to thestory that you are my niece, and you kin come inside the office andmend all you like, and it ain't nobody's business. You see, sisterdied last year, and I ain't had nobody to fix up the things for mesince."
"I'll be very glad to do what I can," said Tavia, "but I never wasmuch good at sewing. However, I'll do the very best I can, Uncle Sam."
"Sure you will, and that'll be all right. Here we are. Now, you justwait while I get the horse's oats, and then we'll get ours."
The house before which he drew up was of the old Colonial type--theposts had been white, and imposing at some time, but they were nowneither white nor any other true color. Also, they threatened totopple over on the vines, that so kindly did their part in trying tomake the old place look alive.
An old man sat on the porch, smoking his pipe. Sam Dixon spoke to himas he passed around the house to get the horse his breakfast.Presently a woman, enveloped in gingham dress, and lost in a ginghamsunbonnet, came out and stood in wonderment, looking at Tavia. Sheglared at her for a moment or two, and then, without speaking a word,entered the house again. This was not a very cordial welcome forTavia, but she patted the horse, and pretended not to notice theslight. Then Sam came limping along with the oats in a nose bag forMajor.
"Now eat," ordered Sam, "and----" Then it struck him that he had notfixed on a name for his "niece." Tavia saw his embarrassment, butbefore she could suggest a name, he added, "Betsy, you and me's hungrytoo, I reckon. Let's see what Sarah has to eat in the kitchen."
"All right, Uncle Sam," replied "Betsy," with a smile, "I am hungry."
They entered the house, and soon were seated on the old-fashionedhickory chairs, before some steaming cakes, and equally steamingcoffee. Tavia was indeed hungry, and she "fell to," as did Sam,without any unnecessary ceremony.
How strange it was! But what if the folks at camp thought her drowned?At any rate she must earn her ticket back.
What an eternity it seemed since she stole away to that littlebridge--she could not bear to think of it now! And what would Dorothythink. Ah, how little Tavia knew what poor Dorothy was thinking atthat very moment!
"Now, when you're ready, we'll hop along," said Sam as Sarah came inthe room, and looked to see if her guests would take more coffee."How's things to-day, Sarah?"
"Ain't you heard?" she replied ambiguously.
"No, what?" pressed Sam.
"Why, a girl has 'scaped from the hospital. 'Tain't very safe fer astrange girl to be around here now. It might be her," and she shot anunmistakable threat at Tavia. "Ain't never heard you speak, before, ofBetsy, Sam. Where's she bin?"
"Say, Sarah. Is there any money up fer findin' the girl?" he asked,and there was no mistaking _his_ meaning. "'Cause it ain't no use feryou to--speculate on Betsy. She's no house-pital breakaway."
But Sarah looked at Tavia with unveiled suspicion. Tavia felt it--andthe thought that she was a stranger, and might be mistaken for theescaped girl, made her most uncomfortable.
It was a relief when Sam returned from up-stairs, his articles thatneeded mending done up in a clumsy bundle, and his hat cocked on hishead with the army badge over the back of his neck.