CHAPTER II White Roses
The new camping site was by far the most beautiful the Sunrise Camp Fireclub had ever occupied, even bearing in mind all its former history.
With wagons and their burros the girls, Mrs. Burton, and their guide hadfollowed a trail leading from the old site near the Painted Desert to thenew. They had preferred the long trek, although the nearby railroad wouldhave covered the distance in a few hours.
Yet in this part of the country how easy it is to forget moderncivilization if one will, since half a century ago the Grand Canyonitself was still unexplored.
Here their tents were pitched in a portion of the world's garden, whileonly a short distance away was the most gigantic wonder in stone.
In less than three-quarters of an hour the little party of seven, who hadbeen drinking tea, arrived at their present home, involuntarily stoppinga few yards from the tents for the purpose of enjoying the picture beforethem. They had come through half a mile of pine forest after leaving theneighborhood of the cliffs and now found themselves encircled by pines onall sides. In only a few places was there a clearing through which onecould get a vista of the far horizon, but in one of these clearings thenew Sunrise camp had pitched their white tents.
In front of the tents the grass was soft and thick and of a deep bluishgreen. To the left a miniature hill was broken by a narrow fissure downwhich a tiny, clear stream trickled into a small lake below that was onlya little larger than a big circular mirror. As a matter of course thepool had been christened the "Wishing Well." The name is indeed timehonored, but then wishing is perhaps the oldest and at the same time theyoungest occupation in the world.
A few scrub trees and bushes grew along the ground between the pines, yetthe air was altogether filled with the pine tang and fragrance. In manynearby places there were the brilliant early autumn flowers of thewestern plateaus.
As a beacon light to the home-comers, as well as for domestic reasons, alarge fire was burning at a safe distance from the tents. Through thetrees the sunset colors turned the scene to rose and gold.
For the moment there chanced to be no one in sight save Marie Papin, Mrs.Burton's maid, and Mr. Jefferson Simpson, the Camp Fire guide.
So near the fire were they standing and so absorbed in their conversationthat, although they must have noticed the return of the little party,neither turned to speak to any one of them.
In the reflection of the firelight the two figures made an interestingand not an ordinary picture. The contrast between them was striking. Foronce Marie had discarded her conventional maid's costume of black and waswearing a white muslin dress as only a French woman can wear white,changing it from simplicity to coquetry.
Moreover, the rough-and-ready outdoor costume, ordinarily adhered to byMr. Simpson, had been set aside for a conventional attire, or possiblythis was his impression. Yet Mr. Simpson did not appear conventional.
As they reached their own tents Polly Burton nodded significantly toPeggy and Bettina. Then she waited outside when they disappeared inside.
"I wonder if Tante's surprise, which we were to hear on our return, hadanything to do with Marie and Mr. Simpson?" Peggy demanded, as she beganchanging her costume for the more ceremonial one worn at dinner. She waslooking reflective and at the same time a little annoyed--an expressioncharacteristic of Peggy Webster under some conditions. She did not enjoyromantic problems.
Bettina laughed. She knew that Peggy had an instinctive prejudice againstthe romantic in any and all its forms. Not only Bettina, but Peggy'sfamily and many of her friends often wondered why Peggy should be sodifferent in this from other girls. Moreover, how would she ever meet herown romance when her hour came, if she had so intense a shyness at itsvery suggestion among other people?
A number of times Bettina had been aware that their Camp Fire guide feltmore than an ordinary interest in Marie. Yet the thought of an affairbetween the young French woman with her ideas of life and the biguncultured miner had seemed impossible. They were farther apart than thetwo poles, since, in the end, the poles being reached bear manyresemblances. If Mr. Simpson had been rich, there might have been anotherstory. However, some theory had to be worked out to explain Mr. Simpson'swish to continue as the Sunrise Camp Fire guide.
True, he was a soldier of fortune who, according to his own story, hadplayed many parts. However, each member of the Camp Fire club appreciatedhis superiority to the task he had undertaken of being their courier,guide, man of all work, doing a hundred and one tasks for a group ofsomething less than a dozen women. Even if he had fallen upon evil daysand accepted the work as a temporary occupation or amusement--for heappeared to consider his tasks more amusing than laborious--there weremany other more dignified and lucrative occupations in which he couldhave engaged.
So Bettina reflected, as she followed Peggy's example in getting dressed.
They had not finished when a slim figure slipped in to their tentuninvited.
Her expression was slightly apologetic as she seated herself upon theedge of a cot, drawing one foot up under her and flinging her hat aside,as a girl frequently does when beginning a confidence.
However, the newcomer was not a girl. Instead she was the Camp Fireguardian and hostess of the Sunrise club in Arizona at the present time,and also in their recent camping experience upon the edge of the PaintedDesert, Mrs. Richard Burton, the famous actress, known to the public asPolly O'Neill Burton.
"Sorry my surprise for this evening has not developed, or rather that ithas developed in an unexpected fashion," she began, speakingenigmatically and shrugging her shoulders, half chagrined and halfpleased.
"Perhaps you girls know from experience that I am more nervous overplaying chaperon than any other Camp Fire guardian duty. But I mustconfess I never expected to be troubled by Marie! She and I have traveledtogether for years without Marie's having a single love affair so far asI have been told. And then appears Mr. Simpson, the last person to besuspected in the light of a lover."
Mrs. Burton's lips twitched and her eyes shone with an amused light.
"I like Mr. Simpson very much. Really I am afraid Marie is not goodenough for him as she is behaving so absurdly," she ended inconclusively.
"Tante, what are you talking about? Certainly you never betray your pointat the beginning of a story as so many people do," Peggy demanded, stillfrowning, but approaching nearer the lady on the cot.
Mrs. Burton laughed.
"Sorry, Peg, but, perhaps, remembering your prejudice against loveaffairs, I forbore to tell you several days ago that Marie and Mr.Simpson became engaged on the last night of our journey to camp. You mayrecall that Mr. Simpson took a number of you girls out for a walk afterwe had pitched tents for the night and after Marie had me safely storedaway in bed. I was surprised at the time at her wishing to go with you,as Marie and outdoor exercise are not enamored of each other. Then Mariecame in late, after you girls had gone to bed, and told me her news. Wewere planning to have a party tonight and announce the engagement. I senthundreds of miles for a cake and white roses," Mrs. Burton concludedmournfully.
Bettina Graham was twisting her yellow-brown hair into a single braidabout her small head--a difficult performance before a six-inch handmirror which she held in one hand while twisting with the other.
Nevertheless she stopped.
"Well," she inquired, "didn't the roses arrive?"
Mrs. Burton nodded. "Oh yes, but Marie has broken her engagement. Mr.Simpson confided to me that he thinks it is on account of his newclothes. He insists that Marie thought he would look like one of herBroadway heroes as soon as he discarded his western outfit. Assuredly hedoes not. Funny that he gave me this information quite good-naturedly,with an amused twinkle in his eyes! Of course Marie declared this untrue.She now announces that she could not make up her mind to leave me;besides life in the West could never satisfy her. She believes she musthave been unduly influenced by the September moon at the time of hera
cceptance of Mr. Simpson." Mrs. Burton shook her head in reflection."The laws of attraction between human beings are perhaps the strangest ofall laws. Remember my oracular speech, children; you may find it useful."
At this moment she got up stiffly, as persons do after sitting in anawkward position for any length of time.
Peggy had continued frowning.
"How silly Marie is! I do think she has behaved abominably. I simplycan't understand how people can be so 'changy' about serious matters,"Peggy concluded, her cheeks again coloring with annoyance.
Remembering her own uncertainties on this same subject and concerning theacceptance of the husband whom she now adored, Mrs. Burton suddenly feltless vexed with Marie than she had a few moments before.
"All people are not alike, Peggy dear, for which we should be thankful.Anyhow there are at least two widely different varieties, the'Sentimental Tommies' and the 'Grizels' of this world. One had a goodmany minds inside of one mind and they all have to be pleased. Then thereare fortunate people like you and Grizel dear, who have only onebeautiful clear mind to make up without doubts and backslidings.
"Now I must depart to get ready for dinner. At least we have theconsolation of the cake and the roses. Mr. Simpson insists that he willappear at his engagement party, even if there is no engagement and nobride. But Marie, of course, has retired in tears."