CHAPTER XXV
CHRISTMAS JOYS
They were gathered about a big fire on the hearth in the largestcabin--the outdoor girls, the boys, Mr. Ford and others. The cracklingblaze leaped up the broad-throated chimney--it snapped with the energyof Fourth of July pyrotechnics, and threw a ruddy glow on happy faces.Betty sang:
"Merry, merry Christmas, everywhere, Cheerily it ringeth through the air. Christmas bells, Christmas trees, Christmas odors on the breeze. Merry, merry Christmas, everywhere, Cheerily it ringeth through the air!"
The others joined in, and then, clasping hands they circled around theroom, their shadows flickering in fantastic and gigantic shapes on thewall as the fire danced with them.
"It's going to be the best Christmas ever--the very best ever!"murmured Amy, shyly, as she sat beside her--brother.
"That's right, little girl," he said, patting her arm, the one torn bythe lynx. But he took good care to pat above the scratch, which had beenbandaged.
For there was now no doubt that Amy and Mr. Blackford were brother andsister. Following the strange revelation to him of the red mark on hershoulder, the young business man had caused careful inquiries to bemade. There was no mistake this time. The baby picked up in the floodhad the red mark--Mr. Blackford's missing sister had the red mark, andso had Amy. They were one and the same. This was sufficiently proved.
And if other identification was needed, it was in the scar near Amy'selbow--a scar which at one time she hoped would prove a means ofidentifying her. And it did in a measure.
For the mark was that made by the hot point of a flatiron. One hadfallen on her when she was a baby, making a bad burn that had healedover in the course of time. This fact regarding Amy was learned from theold diary found with her on the raft in the flood. And from another andindependent source it was learned that Mr. Blackford's missing sisterhad a similar scar, caused by a like accident. Though years had almostobliterated it, still it was sufficiently plain.
"They can't get you away from me now, Amy," said Mr. Blackford, proudly.
"I won't let them," added Amy, moving closer to him.
"Pass the chocolates, Sis," ordered Will. "What is Christmas withoutcandy?"
"Oh! to think of all the good luck we've had since we came to the wintercamp!" cried Grace, as she complied. "Papa gets his land back----"
"Because you girls were lucky enough to discover the missing witness,"interrupted Mr. Ford.
"Then Amy finds her brother," Grace went on, "and----"
"All because a lynx happened to jump down out of a tree to bite her!"cried Will, gaily.
"And then--and then----" mused Grace.
"Oh, here is a package that came by express for you to-day!" broke inMollie. "It's marked chocolates, but----"
"Please give it to me!" cried Grace. "I was wondering what had become ofit."
"That will keep her quiet for a while," said Will.
It was three days after the sensational developments related in thepreceding chapter. Mr. Blackford, recognizing the peculiar mark onAmy's arm, tentatively decided she was his long-missing sister, and areference to the documents, as well as a communication with Mr. and Mrs.Stonington, bore this out. Amy was not the relative of the DeepdaleStoningtons. There had been a mix-up in the babies rescued from theflood, and, as far as could be learned on hasty inquiry, the child ofMrs. Stonington's relative had disappeared.
"But I've got folks at last--real folks, even if it is only one," saidAmy, with a loving look at her brother, who regarded her affectionately.
"You are a lucky girl," whispered Mollie, with a look at Mr.Blackford--Henry they all called him now, since he was found to berelated to one of the outdoor girls.
"And my name is Blackford--not Stonington," Amy went on. "I will feelstrange at first, but I can get used to it."
"And to-morrow we'll go home for Christmas," said Betty, after a pause."Well, of course it will be nice in Deepdale, but we have had someglorious times here; haven't we, girls?"
"We have!" they all chorused--boys included.
They had indulged in their last skating race at camp, and taken a finaltrip in the ice boat, the boys had voted to go home in the odd motorcraft, but the girls were to go by train, starting in the morning.
"And now, one last song," suggested Betty. "All has ended well andhappily from the finding of Amy's brother to the regaining of Mr. Ford'sland. One last song!"
They sang a Christmas carol, and then, in order to be up early, theywent to bed soon afterward.
"Well, I wonder what will be next?" asked Mollie, as she bade Bettygood-night. "Can you imagine anything else happening to us?"
"I don't know," answered Betty, reflectively. "There are many morethings that _might_ happen."
And what they were will be related in the next volume of this series,which will be entitled: "The Outdoor Girls in Florida; Or, Wintering inthe Sunny South." There we shall meet our old friends again in the landof oranges and magnolias, and learn how they saw unusual sights in thewilds of the interior.
"You must wake and call me early, call me early, Mollie dear, for soonit will be Christmas, the best time of all the year." Thus chanted Willnext morning under the window of the cabin occupied by the outdoorgirls. But the girls were already up, and packing.
Ted Franklin was to be left in charge of the camp, and the valuabletimber strip so fortunately restored to Mr. Ford. Paddy Malone was to beforeman of the new cutting gang, many of Mr. Jallow's employes hiringout to Grace's father. The Jallows had gone back to Deepdale, as I havesaid, the case against Mr. Jallow being dropped.
"See you later!" called the girls to the boys, as the latter prepared togo home in the auto ice boat. And as good-byes were called, the eyes ofAmy rested longest on the face of her newly-found brother. There was tobe a new life before her--she felt sure. A new and more happy life.
And now that matters have turned out so well, we will take leave of theOutdoor Girls.
THE END