CHAPTER XIII
THE GIRL IN THE STORM
Ruth Fielding was quite as eager for fun between lessons as either Helenor Jennie, and the prospect of skating on such a large lake as Remonadelighted her. The second day following the incident in the chorusclass, the ice which had bound Lake Remona was officially pronouncedsafe.
Gymnasium athletics lost their charm for those girls who were trulyactive and could skate. There were luxurious damsels who preferred to bepushed about in ice-chairs by more active girls or by hired attendants;but our trio of friends did not look upon that as enjoyment.
Even Jennie Stone was a vigorous skater. After a day or two on the ice,when their ankles had become strong enough, the three made a circuit ofBliss Island--and that was "some skate," to quote Jennie.
The island was more than a mile from the boathouse, and it was five orsix miles in circumference. Therefore, the task was quite all of aneight-mile jaunt.
"But 'do or die' is our motto," remarked Helen, as they set forth onthis determined journey. "Let's show these pussy girls what it means tohave trained at Briarwood."
"That's all right! that's all right!" grumbled Jennie. "But your mottois altogether too grim and significant. Let's limit it. I want to _do_if I can; but mercy me! I don't want to _die_ yet. You girls have got tostop and rest when I say so, or I won't go at all."
Ruth and Helen agreed. That is why it took them until almost dinner-timeto encircle the island. Jennie Stone was determined to rest upon theleast provocation.
"We'll be starved to death before we get back," Helen began to complainwhile they were upon the south side of the island. "I should think youwould feel the pinch of privation, Heavy."
"I do," admitted the other hollowly.
"Well, why didn't you escape it by refusing to come, or else by bringinga lunch?" demanded the black-eyed girl.
"No. This is a part of the system," groaned Jennie.
"What system, I'd like to know?" Ruth asked, in surprise.
"System of martyrdom, I guess," sniffed Helen.
"You've said it," agreed the plump girl. "That is the truest word yetspoken. Martyrdom! that is what it means for me."
"What means to you?" snapped Helen, exasperated because she could notunderstand.
"This dieting and exercising," Jennie said more cheerfully. "Ideliberately came so far and without food to see if I couldn't reallylose some weight. Do you know, girls, I am so hollow and so tired rightnow, that I believe I must have lost a few ounces, anyway."
"You ridiculous thing!" laughed Helen, recovering her good nature.
"Should we sacrifice ourselves for your benefit, do you think, Jennie?"Ruth asked.
"Why not? 'Love thy neighbor as thyself,' only more so. I need theinspiration of you girls to help me," Jennie declared. "Do you know,sometimes I am almost discouraged?"
"About what?" asked Helen.
"About my weight. I watch the bathroom scales with eagle eye. Butinstead of coming down by pounds, I only fall by ounces. It is awfullydiscouraging. And then," added the fleshy girl, "the other day when wehad such a scrumptuous dinner--was it Columbus Day? I believe so--I wastempted to eat one of my old-time 'full and plenty' meals, and what doyou think?"
"You had the nightmare," said Helen.
"Not a chance! But I went up _two pounds and a half_--or else the scaleswere crazy!"
"Girls!" exclaimed Ruth, suddenly. "Do you know it is snowing?"
"My! I never expected that," cried Helen, as a feathery flake lit uponthe very point of her pretty nose. "Ow!"
"Well, we'd better go on, I guess," Ruth observed. "Put your best footforward, please, Miss Jennie."
"I don't know which is my best foot now," complained the heavy girl."They are both getting lame."
"We'll just have to make you sit down on the ice while we drag you,"announced Helen, increasing the length of her stroke.
"Not much you won't!" exclaimed Jennie Stone, "I'm cold enough as itis."
"Shall we take off our skates and walk over the island, girls?"suggested Ruth. "That will save some time and more than a little workfor Heavy."
"Don't worry about me," put in Jennie. "I need the exercise. And walkingwould be worse than skating, I do believe."
It was snowing quite thickly now; but the shore of the island was notfar away. The trio hugged it closely in encircling the wooded and hillypiece of land.
"Say!" Helen cried, "we're not the only girls out here to-day."
"Huh?" grunted Jennie, head down and skating doggedly.
"See there, Ruth!" called the black-eyed girl.
Ruth turned her face to one side and looked under the shade of her hand,which she held above her eyes. There was a figure moving along the shoreof Bliss Island just abreast of them.
"It's a girl," she said. "But she's not skating."
"Who is it? A freshie?" asked Jennie, but little interested.
Ruth did not reply. She seemed wonderfully interested by the appearanceof the girl on shore. She fell behind her mates while she watched thefigure.
The snow was increasing; and that with the abruptly rising island,furnished a background for the strange girl which threw her into relief.
At first Ruth was attracted only by her figure. She could not see herface.
"Who can she be? Not one of the girls at Dare Hall----"
This idea spun to nothingness very quickly. No! The figure ashorereminded Ruth Fielding of nobody whom she had seen recently. Thefeeling, however, that she knew the person grew.
The snow blew sharply into the faces of the skating girls; but she onshore was somewhat sheltered from the gale. The wind was out of thenorth and west and the highland of the island broke the zest of the galefor the strange girl.
"And yet she isn't strange--I _know_ she isn't," murmured Ruth Fielding,casting another glance back at the figure on the shore.
"Come on, Ruth! _Do_ hurry!" cried Helen, looking back. "Even Heavy isbeating you."
Ruth quickened her efforts. The strange girl disappeared, mounting apath it seemed toward the center of the island. Ruth, head bent and lipstightly closed, skated on intent upon her mystifying thoughts.
The trio rounded the island at last. They got the wind somewhat at theirbacks and on a long slant made for the boathouse landing. It was growingdusk, but there was a fire at the landing that beckoned them on.
"Glad it isn't any farther," Helen panted. "This snow is gathering sofast it clogs one's skates."
"Oh, I must be losing pounds!" puffed Jennie Stone. "I bet none of myclothes will fit me to-morrow. I shall have to throw them all away."
"Oh, Heavy!" giggled Helen. "That lovely new silk?"
"Oh--well--I shall take _that_ in!" drawled Jennie.
"I've got it!" exclaimed Ruth, in a most startling way.
"Goodness me! are you hurt?" demanded Helen.
"What you got? A cramp?" asked Jennie, quite as solicitous.
"I know now who that girl looked like," declared Ruth.
"What girl?" rejoined Helen Cameron. "The one over yonder, on the otherside of the island?"
"Yes. She looks just like that Maggie who came to the mill, Helen. Youremember, don't you? The girl I left to help Aunt Alvirah when I came tocollege."
"Well, for the land's sake!" said Jennie Stone. "If she's up there atthe Red Mill, how can she possibly be down here, too? You're talking outof order, Miss Fielding. Sit down!"