One afternoon Archibald Hollister came home early and ran right into the"Pink Tea" crowd. Old Mrs. Hollister, tastefully gowned in black andwhite, sat in the library where the maids brought up refreshments toher. A young musician whose mother had been a schoolmate of Mrs.Hollister's, and who was poor, played the piano from four to seven forthe small sum of three dollars. Everything went off pleasantly. Themaids acted as though they were really fixtures in the house. Therefreshments were excellent. No wonder with the line of autos before thedoor people considered the Hollisters wealthy, "but plain and solid withno airs, etc."
Old Mrs. Hollister enjoyed young people's society, and they all votedher a dear. She'd invite their confidences, and before leaving each girlwould come up to the library for a chat with Grandmother.
"Oh, Mrs. Hollister," said Lottie Owen, a girl of Ethel's age, "have youheard about the 'turkey trot?' We can't dance it any more,--it's beensuppressed."
"How does it go?" asked the old lady. "I've read something of it."
"Well, just wait,--I'll get Nannie Bigelow and we'll dance it for you."
Thereupon the two girls would show Grandmother Hollister the steps.
"That's something like the 'Boston Dip,'" responded she very muchexcited. "Why, when I was a girl my mother took me away from a cotillionone night because they danced it," and she grew pretty as she excitedlytold of her younger days.
"I bet you were lovely, Mrs. Hollister," said Nannie. "Ethel will neverbe as pretty as you were. We were looking at your portrait in thedrawing room. You must have been fascinating, and as for Mr.Hollister--your husband--well, he was just a dear."
The old lady blushed. Here Lottie spoke up:
"Yes, and people say you were such a belle. Old Mr. Tupper was at ourhouse and met Ethel, and he told us a lot about you. But here's Mr.Hollister," and they rushed forward to greet her son.
"Well, well!" he exclaimed gallantly, "I didn't expect to get into sucha garden of roses. And you, too, Mother--why, you've actually grownyounger."
"That's just what we tell her," said Nannie. "We've been dancing the'turkey trot' for her," they whispered, slyly kissing her goodbye.
These were happy afternoons for Grandmother, after which she and her sonwould sit and chat.
"It sort of livens things up to have young people about, doesn't it,Mother?" he said, taking a cup of tea and a sandwich.
"Yes, Archie, it certainly does; but you look tired."
"I am, Mother," replied the man, "I wish Ethel was finished with herschool and happily married. This strain is telling on me and I supposepoor Bella suffers from it even as I do."
"It's too bad, Archie. I don't like this sailing under false colors.People imagine Ethel a wealthy girl. Probably they think she'll inheritmy money. Of course, they never dream that I'm penniless and that youhave a salary of only three thousand a year; but so long as we keep outof debt I don't know as we are doing wrong."
"Has Kate gone?" he asked.
"Yes, she left this morning. Bella took her to the train. She's gone tovisit her mother's people in Tarrytown. Kate's a nice girl."
"She's a sensible girl. I only hope that Ethel will grow into as good awoman as Kate Hollister," said Archibald.
"You see, Kate has a new fad," began Grandmother--"not a fad either; itspurpose is too earnest to call it that. She is the head of a Company ofgirls called 'Camp Fire Girls.' They are something like the 'Boy ScoutOrganization.' The object is to make girls healthy. It gives themknowledge; it causes them to work and learn to love it; it makes themtrustworthy; they begin to search for beauty in Nature and they'reperfectly happy. I remember that much, but the sum and substance of itis that it teaches a girl everything that is useful. Kate is theGuardian of one Camp Fire section. They meet weekly and from what shetells me it must be a great thing. Kate spoke of it to Bella but sheridiculed it and forbade her to speak of it to Ethel. She declares it islike the Salvation Army, etc., and Kate promised not to, I think shehad hoped to secure Ethel for one of the girls next summer."
"Well, there's no need of us trying to oppose Bella," said her son. "Sheis determined that Ethel shall make a brilliant match and in her eyesthis would be a waste of time. No, Mother, the best thing for you and meto do is to travel along the lines of the least resistance.Come,--dinner is ready. I'll help you down."
CHAPTER V
AN INVITATION TO AUNT SUSAN
One afternoon Mrs. Hollister called Ethel into her room. After closingthe door she said, "Ethel, I have written to your father's Aunt Susan,who lives in Akron, to come here and make us a visit. You know she'sGrandmother's only sister, and I think it will do them both good to seeeach other. Grandmother is delighted and I expect that Aunt Susan willaccept," and Mrs. Hollister calmly drew on her gloves.
Now, as her mother was not in the habit of considering her grandmother'scomfort, and as the two women were seldom of one accord, Ethel looked ather furtively and with a puzzled expression of countenance, but thatlady acted not the least embarrassed. It seemed strange to Ethel thatall at once she should wish to cheer up her mother-in-law by invitingher country sister to visit them, but the girl simply said:
"That's lovely, Mamma," and went up to her room to study.
Although she disliked to credit her mother with such artifices, shefinally hit upon a solution of the object of the invitation. It must bethat it was Aunt Susan's money she was after, and why? Suddenly, it allcame to the girl--it was to get Aunt Susan to like her (Ethel, hergrand-niece) and make her her heiress, if not to all at least to a partof her fortune.
Ethel sat and gazed at the pretty room in which Mrs. Hollister had spentso much time decorating and making attractive. In her heart there was adesire to denounce her mother. Then, when she realized that it was allbeing done to benefit herself, she could feel nothing but pity for thewoman whose one thought in life was for her daughter. She thought: "Shewill even tell people that I am Aunt Susan's heiress, and I must sit byand know that it is untrue. Everything is untrue in this house. Oh, howI wish I could get away from it all!" But to her grandmother she toldher suspicions.
"Never mind, my lamb," said the old lady. "I know Susan well enough tosay that she will love you for yourself, and probably she does intend toleave you and Kate half of her fortune at least. If it serves to helpyour mother socially, why Susan wouldn't care--she'd only laugh. Susan'svery keen and sharp, my child. No one can make her do what she doesn'tcare to. Now don't you worry over anything. When she comes just be kindand polite to her and help make her visit pleasant."
"But, Grandmamma, I should die of mortification if she even conceived theidea that mother had that in her mind when she asked her here for avisit. Oh, I couldn't endure it. Please never let her know what Isuspect. Will you promise, or I cannot look into her face."
"Your Aunt Susan shall never suspect such a thing from me. I promise,"replied Grandmamma Hollister. "I am only too glad to see her once more. Icould almost forgive your mother for any duplicity in it so long as shecan come, for Susan and I are growing old and it will not be many yearsbefore one of us goes. But, Ethel, don't expect to see any style. AuntSusan is a plain country woman. It may be a trial for you to have to goout with her."
"Oh, never, if she's like you, Grandmother," said the girl, kissing her,"and she is your own sister. She must be like you. But there's NannieBigelow and Grace McAllister. I wonder what they want."
"Hello! Ethel," called two young voices, "we're coming up. Your mothersaid we might."
"All right, girls; I'm in Grandmamma's room," replied Ethel, "come inhere."
After greeting the old lady affectionately they began: "What do you knowabout it?" said Grace--"here Dorothy Kip has joined a new Society calledthe 'Camp Fire Girls,' and from the first day of vacation--Mayfifteenth--until October she's going to live in the woods and camp out."
"Yes," broke in Nannie Bigelow, "I'm just crazy to belong but Mammawon't let me because she heard that two of the girls who are to be inthe Company live in the Bronx in a small flat an
d go to public school.But Connie Westcott's aunt is to be the head or 'Guardian,' and thesegirls are in her Sunday School class. She likes them and insists upontheir becoming members. Isn't it ridiculous, Mrs. Hollister, that justbecause these girls are poor they're not considered fit to associatewith us by some mothers, and I mean mine. As if I was half as good asthey. Why, my great-grandfather was a shoemaker. Papa told me all aboutit, and he was a dandy good shoemaker, too; but Mother gets furious whenI refer to it," and Nannie threw herself in a chair before the open firethat Grandmother Hollister always kept lighted save in warm weather.
"I know my mother wouldn't let me join," said Ethel. "Why, KateHollister is the Guardian of a Company in Columbus, Ohio, and Motherwouldn't allow her to speak of it even. She says it's like the SalvationArmy, and such ridiculous nonsense. Oh, dear! all the mothers are alike,I'm afraid. We'll never have real fun until after we're married orbecome old maids."
Just then they were interrupted by the arrival of Connie Westcott,Dorothy Kip, and two or three more of Ethel's young friends, to whomthey explained the subject under discussion.
"Well, my mother will let me join," said Connie, "and Dorothy's hasallowed her."
"Yes," broke in Dorothy, "I was sure Mother would allow me to if MissWestcott was to be the Guardian."
"It must be a fine organization," said Mrs. Hollister, knitting steadilywith the yellow lace falling over her still pretty hands. "I wish we hadknown of something like that in my young day. Why, it must be like onecontinuous picnic."
"I'll tell you what they do," said Sara Judson, "they first learn how toput out a fire. Supposing one's clothes should catch; they could saveone's life. Then, in summer, or through the ice in winter, they rescuedrowning people who have never learned to swim. They know what to do foran open cut; for fainting; how to bandage and use surgeon's plaster.They can cook at least two meals, mend stockings, sew, etc., and keepone's self free from colds and illness. They sleep in the open, and my!what fine health it gives a girl, and it makes a perfect athlete of her.She can cook and bake, market, and know just how to choose meats andvegetables. She can become a fine housekeeper as well, and learn how tomake lovely gardens. Why, I'll bring you a book, Mrs. Hollister. Icouldn't begin to tell you how wonderful it is. If a girl lives up toall the rules and can learn everything that is taught she's a wonder,that's all. So I hope some day Ethel can join, even if later."
"Oh, I'll never be allowed to join, girls. I'm to be a parlor ornament,"and Ethel's eyes filled with tears.
"Never mind," said Constance White, "how desolate the home furnishingswould be without lovely bric-a-brac."
"Yes," replied Grandmother Hollister, "whatever position a girl occupiesif she fills it creditably she will have done her duty."
"I know that Ethel will be the head of a large and magnificentestablishment," said Nannie Bigelow. "She's just the style of a girl."
Ethel half laughed and dried her eyes on her Grandmother's handkerchief.
"I don't care," she faltered, "think of living out in a camp and sittingaround the fire telling stories. And I shall never be allowed to do it."
"Now you buck up, old girl," said Dorothy Kip abruptly. "Oh, excuse me,Mrs. Hollister, but sometimes I just love to use slang. You go ahead andwish hard for what you want and you'll get it. I always do. Say, don'tyou know that you can influence others to think exactly as you do? Bywishing with all your might you can will it to be done."
Everyone laughed. Dorothy was an odd roly poly pretty girl of fifteen.She was the only sister and idol of four brothers whom she copied inevery way. The newest slang was invariably on her tongue, and the familylaughed at and petted her. In their eyes everything she did was perfect.She was a general favorite at school, but Madame La Rue declared that shewould never become a perfect lady while her brothers lived at home; butshe was kind-hearted and generous. Mrs. Hollister, Senior, liked herimmensely. She always called her "Grandma."
"Do you know what I'm going in for?" she asked of the old lady. "Well,I'll tell you--it's babies!" Everyone laughed.
"You needn't laugh. Next year I'm going to take all of my spending moneyexcepting ten dollars and hire two rooms and a kitchenette. Dad gives mesixty dollars per. I'm going to take thirty-five for rent and the boyswill help me furnish. Then I'm going to beg my friends for contributionsand open a Day Nursery. Of course, I'll have to get a woman for fifteendollars a month to take care of the babies, and the mothers can pay fourcents a day for each child."
"Why, Dorothy Kip," exclaimed the girls. "You couldn't get any servantfor fifteen dollars a month."
"I can, and don't you forget it. Old Susan Conner, who used to be mybrother Tom's nurse, has offered to come for fifteen dollars. She likesme and she's willing to help me in this charity. We've talked it allover. Susan is some class now and has her two-room-and-bath apartment.She's old and hasn't much to do and she has enough to live on, so she'soffered to come; and I'm going to spend just ten dollars on myself eachmonth in place of sixty for candy and soda and such nonsense. No oneknows of it but Susan and I. I'm going to beg for oatmeal and rice andbread of the grocers with whom we've traded for years, and if theyrefuse I'll influence Mother to leave them. Then I think Dad will helpme out on milk and anything needed. I'll confide in him."
"That's a fine and magnificent idea, Dorothy," said Mrs. Hollister, "andyou'll become a public benefactor."
"Well, you see, Mrs. Hollister, I like the little kids and I've seensuch pitiful faces on some where the sisters have had to take care ofthem while the mothers worked. So I made up my mind I could take tenlittle ones anyway. Then the mothers' four cents will be forty cents aday. That will pay for some, of the food. Oh! I'm going to become abeggar and ask every friend to help me. Maybe it will fail but I cantry. The boys will give, I'm sure."
"Yes, Dorothy, and I bet you'll succeed," said the girls. "We'll help,too."
Then each girl pledged herself for what she could afford to give.
"Well, you're awfully good, I'm sure," said Dorothy. "I never dreamedyou'd all come forward. You're certainly sports, every one of you, andI'm obliged more than I can tell you."
"Who knows," said Grandmother Hollister, "but when you're grown up,you'll have a large house, and it may be called 'The Kip Day Nursery'and each of you girls here may be lady managers. They all grow fromsmall beginnings. And, Dorothy, you may put me down for ten dollars,"said Mrs. Hollister.
"Oh, say, you're a thoroughbred, you are," and the girl kissed herimpulsively several times.
Now Grandmother Hollister had been saving that particular ten for a newlace scarf. It had been sent to her on her birthday by her son John,but she couldn't resist giving it. She could do without the scarf, andten dollars would buy a couple or more warm rugs for the babies to siton, for little ones like to sit on the floor.
The girls stayed in her room and chatted until dusk. They talked asfreely before the old lady as before one another.
That evening Ethel asked her grandmother if there wasn't some way bywhich she could get away that summer and go to visit Cousin Kate.
"I'll think it over," replied Grandmother; "you certainly need thecountry. You look thin and peaked."
"Yes, and Mamma will take me to Newport or Narragansett, and I hate it.Why, it's just like New York. You meet the very same people and I nevercared for the water as I care for inland or mountains. Do think out away, Grandmamma. You always manage to do everything just right."
"I'll try," replied Mrs. Hollister.
CHAPTER VI
AUNT SUSAN ARRIVES
The next morning there came a letter of acceptance from Aunt Susan. Shewould arrive on Friday. This was Thursday. Grandmother Hollister hummeda little song as she went up stairs.
"It will do Mother lots of good," ejaculated Mr. Hollister. "It was kindof you, Bella, to think of that."
Mrs. Hollister blushed. Ethel watched her as she slowly sipped hercoffee. Mrs. Hollister was a peculiar woman. She was truthful and frankwhen she wished to be. Now she realize
d that her husband trusted and hadfaith in her and that Ethel was furtively watching her, so she said:"Well, Archie, perhaps I was a little selfish in asking Aunt Susan.Perhaps I did it to help Ethel a bit as well as to please Mother. AuntSusan is wealthy. Now why shouldn't Ethel come in for some of her moneyas well as that adopted boy?"
"Why, Bella," said her husband, "is it possible that you had only thatidea in your head when you invited my aunt here?"
"No, not entirely. I knew that it would please your mother, and I couldkill two birds with one stone. That's why."
Ethel saw a peculiar look come upon her father's face. She had noticedit when he brought home his disreputable looking friends to dine andwhen her mother objected. He turned to his daughter.
"Ethel," he said, "I wish you to help and make your Aunt Susan's visitvery pleasant. I would like you to take her out and show her everything,and Grandmother must go along also. You will be doing me a great favorif you will."
"Papa, I'll do my best to make it pleasant," replied the girl, kissinghim.
Then, without looking at his wife, Mr. Hollister left the room, followedby his daughter.
"So that was her object!" he exclaimed, as Ethel helped him on with hiscoat. "What would Aunt Susan think were she to know? Your mother wishesyou to ingratiate yourself with my aunt so that she'll leave you thelion's share of her money. Why, she'd probably leave my brother John andme a remembrance anyway, and you and Kate would benefit by it. Well,this is a strange world, my child. I wish your mother was less politic,but I presume it is done for you, Ethel, so we mustn't be too hard onher. She's a good mother to you, my dear, and has great ambition foryou. I only hope that you'll be happy. Never marry for moneyalone--that's a sin--remember."