CHAPTER TWELVE
NITA'S ESCAPADE AND REFORMATION
The following morning the campers were awakened by Wickee, who jumpedabout, barking at the birds that sat on the boughs of the trees nearby. Doubtless, the denizens of the forest wondered what strangecreatures were reclining on the spruce beds on the plateau.
As one girl after the other sat up and rubbed her eyes, she lookedabout in bewilderment at first, then smiled as the novelty of thenight's experience appealed to her.
"My! I slept like a log!" ventured Elena.
"I never slept so fine in my life," added Jane.
"I'll never want to sleep in a city house again, after this summer,"affirmed Zan, as she rolled out on the grass.
"All I can say is that I've no kick coming about these beds. I wish wecould lug them back to the Bluff to use every night," came from Hilda.
"There goes some more slang! I haven't my pad here but I won't forgetit," reminded the Tally Keeper.
"Oh, bother your pad on such a wonderful morning! Better look forbreakfast instead of corrections over my slang!" retorted Hilda, atrifle peeved at being caught napping in her manner of speech.
"Come, girls--we have to have water from the spring," called MissMiller at this juncture, from the small fire-place she had built.
At that, the girls jumped up and hurried to attend to their severalduties; soon after, breakfast was ready.
The top of the mountain was so delightful that the Band delayed theirreturn to Camp until nearly noon. Meantime, Nita grew nervous andwanted to start back before the others were inclined to go. Severaltimes she asked Miss Miller the time, and was irritable and impatient.The Guide kept close watch of her peculiar actions and waited to seethe outcome.
At last Cheokee was started on the homeward road and Nita calmeddown. She was very quiet but when the girls took the road that led tothe house instead of the one that passed Bill Sherwood's house, Nitaobjected.
"Well, then let me get out here and walk to the Bluff," she said,pettishly, when Zan reminded her that Cheokee had to be put up in hisshed and some vegetables gathered for dinner.
Miss Miller did not want to compel the girl to do anything she reallydid not want to do, so she suggested that Nita get out at the LittleBridge and stop at Mrs. Sherwood's for the meat that Miss Miller hadasked the farmer's wife to buy for them.
Nita eagerly consented to this, and jumped out, running down the roadthat went past Sherwood's.
The girls, puzzled, watched her for a moment or two, then Zan drove onto the barn.
Nita was nowhere in sight when the girls reached the Bluff although shehad had quite half an hour in which to get the meat and carry it tocamp.
"She must be down at the cottage being entertained by Mrs. Sherwood.Shall I run down and see if the meat is heavy?" said Zan to the Guide.
"We'll wait a few minutes longer, then you may start and offer yourassistance in carrying the packages up," replied Miss Miller, wonderingif it would be wise to have Zan go after Nita. Then, realising that herconcern over the girl made her magnify everything, she decided to stopworrying about it.
Shortly after this, Mrs. Sherwood came up the slope puffing rapidly atthe ascent. She had a large brown paper parcel that she deposited assoon as she reached the Bluff.
"That meat don't feel heavy when you hold it at the wagon, but it growsheavier every step you take comin' up the hill," declared she, sittingdown on a stone and wiping her brow with a large handkerchief.
"Why didn't Nita carry it up--she offered to do so," asked Zan,impatient at the girl's avoidance of a task.
"That yaller-haired miss! Oh, she was too busy keepin' an eye on JackEverton's horses to bother about the butcher. The young scape-grace hada tandem this mornin' an' the girl looked just a bit fearsome from theway she hung to the side of the seat."
"Why, Mrs. Sherwood, you don't mean----" Zan started to say, when theGuide, who was standing directly back of her, gave her a warning pinch.
"Yes, I mean that good-for-nothing! What his grandmother ever has himdown here for I'm sure I don't know! She's a nice quiet sort of a lady,but that rascal! Well!" said Mrs. Sherwood, misunderstanding Zan'shalf-completed speech.
Their visitor turned to Miss Miller and continued, "If I had a girl totake care of I'm mighty sure I wouldn't let her go gallivantin' 'roundthe country with that young sport! But I s'pose you know best. Did hermother say anything in her letter about her?"
"Whose mother?" asked Miss Miller, amazed.
"Isn't that girl's name Brampton?" asked Mrs. Sherwood.
"Yes,--Anita Brampton. Why?"
"Then that letter yesterday mornin' what had Mrs. Brampton's name andaddress up in the left corner was her mother!" returned the visitor,with a look that said, "You can't fool me!"
"Oh, that letter Nita received was from her mother, Zan, not as youthought, from a post-office nearby!" exclaimed Miss Miller with relief.
"No, it wasn't! I read the post-mark as plain as day! And I know Mrs.Brampton's hand-writing well enough to recognise it! That writing was aschool-boy's hand--most likely from this Jack!" retorted Zan.
"An' that letter was addressed to you, Miss Miller--not for the girl!"added Mrs. Sherwood.
"Why, I never got any letter, except from the doctor!"
"And I don't remember bringing one up, either, Mrs. Sherwood. Maybe youleft it down in your house," added Zan.
"No, ma'am, I didn't 'cause I never took them _in_ the house. When Iwent to the mail-box to get the mail I had Bill toot for you immejitly.And you come runnin'!"
Every one looked perplexed and Miss Miller added, "Zan, it may bepossible that it was dropped when you took them from Mrs. Sherwood,or on your way up the slope. Run down and look carefully along thepathway."
"It hain't anywhere about where I gave them to Miss Zan, an' I shouldthink some of you or me would have seen it if it had dropped along theway," explained Mrs. Sherwood.
"We've been up and down, you know, Miss Miller, and Nita has been overthe ground yesterday noon, and nothing was found!"
Suddenly, the Guide remembered her suspicion of Nita and how shewatched her take a letter down to post in the box. She remembered thegirl's stooping and picking something up from the pathway, looking backto see if anybody saw the action.
"I think I can find it--we won't say anything more about it at present,but you're _quite_ sure the letter was addressed to me, Mrs. Sherwood?"said Miss Miller, calmly.
"Sure I do! I looked over every one good, an' I says to Bill, MissMiller's goin' to have plenty of letter writin' to do this summer ifshe answers all them things these mothers and fathers of the girls willbe wantin' to know about their children! And Bill knows the doctor'swritin' at a glance--he gets so many from him, and the other had thename, as I said afore!"
Mrs. Sherwood returned home shortly after her valuable information hadbeen given, and the Guide continued a lesson on cookery just as if Nitawere present and most obedient. But that didn't prevent the girls fromthinking and wondering what would happen to Nita!
Immediately after dinner the Guide said, "Girls, I am going to thehouse alone, for I have an important matter to attend to; you can sewon your Woodcraft costumes during my absence."
Zan stood in deep thought for a moment after the Guide left them, thenran after her and called. Miss Miller turned about and waited for thegirl to reach her.
"Miss Miller, our telephone number is 2345 Hudson Park, and Dad will bein his office from two to three."
The Guide could not control a flash of admiration at the rapidity withwhich Zan used her thought and common sense. She looked at her watchand remarked, "Thank you, Zan; I'll walk slowly and just about reachthe house by two."
The cost of the long-distance telephone never entered the Guide's head,for it was well worth the money to have the doctor advise her in thismost deplorable incident.
She was so relieved at the doctor's suggestions that she felt likesinging on the way back to camp. She would have hesitated to keep Nita
at camp on her own initiative but having Dr. Baker's permission to riskhis girl's morals by association with the girl for the sake of winningher over eventually, was like a tonic.
"I don't know but that Nita's very behaviour will have a salutaryeffect on the other girls, for they will see how despicable a thing itis, and surely they will not care to emulate Nita's manners!" said theGuide to herself.
The girls left alone to work, sewed industriously for a short time,each avoiding the subject that was uppermost in their thoughts.Finally, Jane tried to change her thoughts from the disagreeable ideaof Nita's escapade and shared the secret Elena and she cherished.
"Girls, you all wondered what came in that package from the city,didn't you? Well, it was a birthday present for Miss Miller!"
"Oh, Jane! When is her birthday?" cried Hilda.
"I forgot all about it--it is the last of this month, isn't it?" askedZan, turning to Jane.
"Huh, huh! Now try and guess what Elena and I are making," smiled Jane,exultantly.
Many were the wild guesses made but not one came near the reality. So,Elena, taking pity, told the others.
Zan looked amazed at the lovely plan and immediately turned to Hildaand said, "We can't afford to let them get the best of us--now let'stry and think of something novel, too!"
Many, many ideas were suggested only to be refused by one or theother. Suddenly, Hilda noticed the bead-trimming she was sewing on hercostume. It gave her an inspiration.
"Zan, let's build her a bead-loom and after it is sand-papered smoothwe will decorate it with pyrography work!"
"Great! But, Hilda, who's got any pyrography tools?" asked Zan.
"I have a complete set at home, Zan--let's write a note to mother andhave them expressed down at once!" cried Elena.
So the letter was written and sent down to the box before the Guidereturned. From that time on there seemed to be much pleasant secrecyamong the girls but Miss Miller never dreamed it concerned herbirthday, though convinced it boded no ill.
When the Guide joined the circle of busy workers on the Bluff, shesaid, "I never saw a place where there were so many bees! I have beenwatching a swarm over by the buckwheat field and an idea came to me.What do you say to our using some of the money in our treasury forbee-hives?"
"Bee-hives! Mercy me, Miss Miller, what for?" laughed Jane.
"We may just as well keep bees as any one else! And just think of allthe fun we will have watching and caring for them. Wickee and Cheokeewere valuable additions to our Band, but I believe bees will add justas much value."
"Well, if you say so, I'm perfectly willing to get stung!" laughed Zan,making a perfectly legitimate use of slang.
"Bees won't sting if you don't annoy them! We won't tease them, andafter we have some swarms in our hives the bees will get to know eachone of us by sound and smell," explained the Guide.
"Why, I never knew a bee recognised any one!" cried Elena.
"Indeed they do! Some bees are so intelligent that their owners waitfor them to advise about harvesting and haying," said Miss Miller.
"Now, Miss Miller! Stop stringing us!" Zan said, in a doubtful tone.
"But I'm not, Zan. I am in earnest!" replied Miss Miller, laughing atthe quizzical faces about her.
"Then let's order the hives at once. Maybe we can have honey before wego back home!" exclaimed Jane.
"Hardly! But we will be well on the way there," returned the Guide, asshe went to the tent for pen and paper.
The letter was written and Zan shouted for the postman to wait as shesaw him driving up to Sherwoods' mail-box. She ran down with it and,just as she handed it up to the man, a tandem turned from the main-roadthat went over the Big Bridge and stopped at the side road that wentpast the farm. Nita jumped out and stood talking to the young man whodrove, so Zan ran swiftly back to the Bluff, for she did not wish Nitato think any one had been spying on her.
Miss Miller was called to one side and hurriedly informed of theculprit's return. The Guide looked at her watch and found that the girlhad been absent more than three hours!
She walked away from the girls pondering what would be the best step totake with the mistaken child. She hesitated to do any rash thing thatmight spoil all the impressions that may have caused the girl to thinkseriously now and then. At the same time, Miss Miller realised thatthe time had come for stern and definite action on her part, or createa sense of incompetency in the minds of her charges. That would neverdo, as she would lose any control she had held in school or at camp.She decided finally to have it out with Nita, but alone with her. Shereturned to the group on the Bluff just as Nita turned in from the roadthat went past the cottage.
"Girls, would you mind taking a tramp up the ravine? Here's my watch,Zan, do not return for half an hour, or more."
The Guide anxiously waited until they were out of sight on the trailleading to the Indian cave, then turned and waited for Nita.
"Where's everybody?" called Nita, with an air of bravado.
"On a tramp. I waited to have a talk with you, Nita."
"Well, talk doesn't hurt any one, so talk away!" said the girl,insultingly.
"Did you never hear that any one wantonly tampering with the UnitedStates mail was considered a criminal and the offence merited a State'sPrison Sentence?" said Miss Miller, severely.
The air of braggadocio suddenly left Nita's eyes and her face blanched.She stood looking like a trapped thief. After a long silence, MissMiller continued.
"I returned from the telephone a short time ago. I was speaking over along-distance wire concerning you. I had received word previously thata letter to me from your mother was not delivered, and I believe youcan explain the cause."
"Me! I didn't get the mail!" retorted Nan, trying to regain her nerveby showing a false front in speaking.
"No, but you went down over the path after Zan brought the mail here.I _saw_ you stoop and pick up what evidently did not belong to you--ifactions are to be considered."
Nita pondered and said nothing.
"Nita, I am not reviewing these matters for the sake of humiliatingyou, but I want, with all my heart, to lift you above temptation. Younever had a fair start in life, but I want to prove to you that thereare many, many better and far more interesting pleasures for you toenjoy than corresponding with or clandestinely meeting a young man whois not fit to associate with Woodcraft girls. If you will but trust me,you will find what a friend I can be! Even your mother says she canfeel perfectly at ease knowing that you are with me!"
"Mother, pooh! What does she know about me! She never takes the timeto talk with me about anything but clothes, beauty and company! It'strue, she has nagged this past year about my always telling stories andmaking excuses, but doesn't she do the same with father? Why should Ibe different when I see it succeed every day in avoiding a scene aboutbridge games or women he doesn't want coming to his home?"
Miss Miller felt still deeper sympathy for the poor misguided girl andher voice was more loving as she said, "Where is my letter, Nita?"
"How should I know?" shrilled Nita.
"I am not your mother, Nita, and you do not have to make excuses toget out of a scene. The truth will be the only way with me to end anunpleasant interview."
Nita looked seriously at the Guide for a few moments. Evidently whatshe saw had a softening effect. She stood with her fingers twisting ahandkerchief for a time, then said, "I buried it!"
"Can you find it readily?"
"If I want to. I know the spot well enough!"
"Then you will go for it when we are through with our talk, but I thinkit is time to tell you a few things that I am quite sure you neverheard before. From all I hear, your mother would avoid speaking to youon this subject, but I have always maintained that it is a mother'ssacred duty and privilege to advise a daughter so that she cannotpossibly take a wrong step during her years of character-forming."
Nita looked about nervously as if she wished to run away, but the Guidedrew her down to a log and sat with an a
rm over her shoulder. She beganin an interesting way to tell the girl about her own maidenhood andwhat a wonderful mother she was blessed with. She attributed all of herpresent success and happiness to the warnings and advice of that finewoman. Then, she said, "I have no idea of marrying or having childrenof my own, so I consider it my privilege to help other girls who do nothave the homes where they can seek knowledge for future guidance.
"Nita, dear, I know more than you think I do, of your need of just suchknowledge, and a friend who is eager to help. You have been travellingthe wrong trail all of your life, and it may be that you are nowselected by the Great Spirit to show the mistakes in your home life,and introduce a new order of things."
After a long talk of past errors, her present misunderstanding of thelife of a Woodcraft girl, and the bright future open to her for mereacceptance, the Guide concluded, saying, "Nita, you must not rebel atwhat I am now going to say."
The girl had listened with surprise at the Guide's first sentences,which showed that she was acquainted with certain conditions of theBrampton's home habits. But the poor child had never had any oneexplain so simply and conclusively the awful evil finally resultingfrom a life such as she was beginning. She saw the entire mistakenview her parents took and wondered that they could be so blinded toher well-being. She heard with trembling, of the results of indulgencein wine and promiscuous fellowship. And Nita wept and was thoroughlyshaken as the kind voice continued showing pictures of what is sure tocome to one who is irregardless of morals and the conscience within usgiven by the Great Spirit for the leading along the pathway from earthto heaven.
When Miss Miller made her final request, Nita was so plastic that shecould mould her into any future.
"Would you mind telling me how this meeting took place to-day?"
"He wrote a letter yesterday asking me to meet him again on the BigBridge this morning. When I heard you were all going to night-camp Iknew I wouldn't be back in time, so I sent a letter to say I wouldmeet him at noon. That's why I was in such a hurry to get back tocamp," sobbed Nita.
"Is he all you would choose in a friend or brother?"
"Mercy, no! Oh, Miss Miller, he is horrid, but he seems to make me dojust as he says when he looks at me with a queer glint in his eyes. Hehas money, and when his grand-mother dies he will inherit all of herfortune, too. Mother says I must marry a rich man when I grow up--shesays it will never do for me to be as poor as father is. And I don'twant to be poor, either!" cried Nita.
Miss Miller gasped at the revelation of the foolish mother's advice."Why, Nita, dear, you are only fourteen! You mustn't even think of ahusband yet!"
"But every one says I _seem_ much older; even this Jack Everton lookedsurprised when he asked me my age."
"Poor, poor child! What a joy and blessing you have missed by being soold while still so young! Now, we will remedy this loss and show youhow to really enjoy youth!" Miss Miller had tears in her eyes as shespoke.
Nita looked at her for a moment, then obeyed the impulse to hug thewoman who had been fearless enough to show her the light on the way.
They sat quietly holding each other for a short time, until the voicesof merry girls reached them from the ravine.
"There, dear, run down and find the letter for me. When you returnyour face will be cool and natural again."
Nita hurried away and Miss Miller ran into her tent and threw herselfbeside her cot. "Oh, thank you, God! thank you, thank you! I am sohappy over this one lamb found on the steep mountain-side! Safe in thefold, she will grow to love purity and truth better than evil."
The girls were bubbling with delight over their walk--the bugs, thebirds, and even a snake, had been watched and admired.
"Didn't Nita come back yet?" asked Zan, after a short interval, and nosign of the girl was to be seen.
"Oh, yes, Nita and I have had a long talk and we are going to be thebest of pals after this," replied Miss Miller. But her tone gave thegirls to understand that not a word of the girl's escapade would everbe mentioned again.
Nita returned and took the dirty letter to the Guide's tent, leaving iton the cot.
Later in the afternoon, Miss Miller took the letter and read it withdeepest pity for the girl.
"To think that she read this! No wonder the girl cried that day!"
The letter said that Mrs. Brampton had had her whole life filled withworry and disappointment over her only child's waywardness. That sheintended trying a different method of training. She knew how Nitacontinually lied to her, and that the past year she feared that she wasactually meeting young men slyly when she should be visiting friends,or at home practising music and studying school lessons.
Mrs. Brampton said she herself had so many social engagements tokeep that she could not be expected to stay home to watch a waywarddaughter. But she had at last decided to do something her dearestfriend had suggested. Nita would be sent to a reform school--a veryselect and expensive place, but a reform school, all the same. Ofcourse, she would have to meet other girls there, perhaps much worsethan she, but at least Mrs. Brampton would not have to bother about herchild's running about the streets.
As long as Miss Miller kept Nita on the farm, it would be all right,as far as she (the mother) was concerned, but the moment Nita was senthome, she would be packed off to a safe place.
"No wonder the poor child displays the weaknesses she does. It isour duty to train her for a better life than the one her mother canaspire to. I think I would have buried this letter, too, had I been thedaughter of such a mother!"
The letter was destroyed and Nita saw the Guide throw the tiny piecesin the fire when supper was started.
That night the camp sat about the fire telling stories and recallingfunny things of school-life. It was an atmosphere of unity, and MissMiller felt for the first time since they started the Camp that shewould be fully repaid by the improvement of the members, and thewomanhood they would eventually reach after striving for ideals, onejust a bit higher than the other, year after year, until the goalappeared.
Finally, Zan exclaimed, "Oh, we forgot the Thermos bottle with theindigestion in it!"
Every one laughed, and Miss Miller hurried to her tent to get thebottle. It was brought over to the fire and the Guide lit a candle toenable the girls to see with ease the thing she was about to show andexplain to them.
The two tubes were taken from the warm water in which Miss Millerplunged a thermometer to assure the girls that the temperature was thesame as the evening before.
"This is the tube in which we put a little whiskey--see the effect thealcohol has had on the egg? It is shrivelled and even harder than whenit was first placed in the tube, although it has had the same advantageof digestive fluids and acids that the other tube and our stomachs have.
"Now look at this other tube in which nothing but digestive juices wereleft. This uniform pasty mass at the bottom of the tube is the digestedegg. This ought to prove infallibly what a drink of any alcoholicliquid will do to your digestion, and after a time, to your wholephysical system."
The girls stared with amazement at the result of the test on thecontents of the two tubes, and then looked up at the Guide with anexpression that plainly said, "No alcoholic drink for us, no matter howalluring or in what company it is presented."