Ann Crosses a Secret Trail Page 10

  CHAPTER X

  CONSIDERING VARIOUS THINGS

  In the whirl of events it is not to be supposed that Ann forgot homeaffairs. Sometimes, when lights were out and she composed herself forthe night, she had a sudden pang of homesickness. Once some noisewakened her in the middle of the night and she blushed in the darknessto think of how prudishly she had talked to Maurice on one occasion.“What must he think of me!” she thought. Yet there was an impulsivenessabout Maurice that warranted caution. She did like him very, very much,and had appreciated the real affection with which he had receivedher into the family circle. As she lay awake, unable to fall asleepagain for some time, she fancied them all there at her grandmother’shome. How was her mother enjoying it? It was not likely that she wouldlet Ann know details, if they were annoying. How were Grandmother’sbusiness affairs coming on? Would Aunt Sue and Uncle Tyson really takeadvantage of her confidence? Grandmother was pretty wide awake aboutthings now.

  Then she pictured her father in Montana,--so far, far away! It washard on him to have Mother gone. She wondered if she would ever hearagain from the old Indian, Never-Run, and her hand stole under herpillow to a small silk bag which her mother had made her. In this,unless she forgot it, she put the curious bracelet Never-Run had givenher, together with certain precious mementos, the pretty jewelry thatshe had received from her grandmother at different times, and oftenwhat cash she had on hand. It was convenient for burglars, but alsohandy to swing on her arm during fire drill, which might or might notbe the real thing. Her little ruby and diamond ring she usually wore,as well as her wrist watch. “It must be nearly morning,” she thoughtat last, after tossing for what seemed hours; but she had forgottento put her flashlight under her pillow and was afraid to waken Martaby getting up. Finally she began to doze, and after a wild dream inwhich she and Maurice were dashing along a narrow mountain road, withClifford on “Clipper” after them and calling to them to stop, she fellsound asleep.

  * * * * *

  The Beta Alpha Taus were pretty well satisfied with the results oftheir “rushing” season. There were a few disappointments, to be sure,for other sororities were after some of the same girls. But they addeda small number of desirable and attractive Forest Hill girls, includingthe new junior that liked Ann. Alice said, with some satisfaction,that they “had enough” and their share. The Owls, too, employed theiractivities in securing new members. Ann said that they scarcely hadtime to work at what they were supposed to come to school for, untilsorority and society matters were settled. Fortunately, that was alwaysdone early; then the girls settled down to work with a better grace.

  Ann and Marta congratulated themselves on their own good opportunity;for while their suite was often full of girls and gradually wasbecoming a central meeting place for Owls and Bats, according toEleanor, who was herself an Owl, their study hours were quiet. Theyspread out their belongings all over the suite, till Marta said shehardly knew how they would “condense,” in case Miss Tudor sent some oneto share it with them. But the weeks flew on to the middle of the termand they had not been disturbed.

  Meanwhile, Madeline and Suzanne had effected a truce, spoke to eachother and were able to meet in functions of the Sigma Epsilons withoutindulging in any side flings of unpleasantness. Genevieve, also,was able to acknowledge Eleanor’s presence by cool bows. This stateof things had been brought about through sister Sigs, who told bothMadeline and Genevieve that it would not do, and urged Suzanne andEleanor to apologize. This Ann learned through Aline and Eleanor. Ithelped the situation marvelously, said Aline, that Miss Tudor hadremoved the temporary suite-mate whom Genevieve and Madeline did notlike, and filled the suite by placing there two new girls, a “wee bit”flashy in appearance, but more sensible than Genevieve or Madeline.One of the girls was the daughter of a millionaire, by report, andGenevieve, with superior airs, let it be understood that the personnelof the suite was perfectly satisfactory and much superior to what itwould have been had Eleanor and Suzanne remained. This, of course, wasnot put in so many words, merely implied. But it reached Eleanor, whoshrugged her shoulders and passed it on to Suzanne, always delightedto have the least of confidences from Eleanor. The new girls withGenevieve and Madeline were taken into the same sorority, though latein the term.

  In spite of Ann’s best efforts, she could not get in any extra practicehours, as she had intended. The literary work, which she was too proudto neglect, took up the greater part of her time. Outside of herregular practice period, however, there were occasions on which sheaccompanied the girls, either Eleanor or Lora, or found a few minutesin between to practice on some solo for a society meeting. Her teachersaid that she was advancing, which was encouraging, but it did notsatisfy Ann’s ambition. She almost envied Marta, who was making themusic course her particular object; but she knew that her parentswould not hear to her dropping out of the regular course.

  “The trouble with me, Marta,” she said, “is that I am too divided up. Ican’t pursue one thing, like you.”

  “Don’t worry, Ann. You will have a fine foundation for ’most anythinglater on and your fingers are gifted. I’ve got to get something asquickly as possible, for I’m going to make most of my income when I getout of college. So I propose to make it doing what I like best.”

  Mr. Sterling wrote to his daughter occasionally, from Montana, where hewas, as usual, busily employed with ranch affairs and other matters.But it was from her mother that Ann learned the most about her father’sdoings.

  Maurice wrote one gay letter toward the beginning of the term, withno reference to anything discussed between them. He signed himself,however, “Yours, in spite of discouragements.”

  Clifford Hart wrote several interesting letters, chiefly about schoolmatters, though he urged her to take good care of herself and not toforget her Montana friends or the good old days. From Kendall Gordon,who took such a fancy to Ann during the summer, she received morethan one carefully written message, more formal than those from Cliffand Maurice, yet expressing considerable interest in Ann and hersurroundings. Ann was grown up, she thought sometimes. She heard fromInga and Hilda, her two partly Swedish girl friends. Greta was too busyto write, she supposed. Inga was going to school again. Poor Inga, sogifted, so tied! Grandmother had expressed an interest in Inga. Annwondered if Grandmother could not have done something for Inga. Buthome and duty came first, she supposed. Perhaps some day Inga wouldhave an opportunity to develop that wonderful voice.

  One afternoon her thoughts had been turned upon home affairs, as shelay resting upon their couch in the central study. Marta was awaypracticing. Ann had just returned from her last class after a full day.There was plenty of time to get ready for dinner and she was too lazyto study before that. Stretched out, she almost dozed off, when Eleanortapped and came in.

  “For once!” exclaimed Eleanor. “For once, I do not find youstudying--are you sick?”

  Ann laughed and rubbed her eyes. “Not a bit of it! ‘Sick’ because Iwas not studying? I didn’t know that I had such a terrible reputationas that. But I have had to dig in a good deal between times of societyrushing, banquets, feasts, and one thing or another. How do you likebeing president of the sophomore class?”

  “It is not a very hard duty,--but I am surprised over it.”

  “Reward of merit,” laughed Ann.

  “I think that you had a hand in it, in spite of what I said to you.”

  “Maybe I did; but, of course, if we could have elected a Bat,----” Annlifted her brows and left it there.

  “I didn’t work for it, Ann.”

  “I know you didn’t, but some of the rest of us did. We had had a Batthe freshman year, and it was only fair, besides, we wanted a girl likeyou, and so it happened. Honestly, Eleanor, I wouldn’t have believedthe first of last year that you and I would ever be friends like this;would you?”

  “No, Ann, but we are never going to stop being friends, I hope.”

  “Not a bit of it. You’ll come out to Montana n
ext summer, won’t you?”

  “I will if I can. Couldn’t you and Suzanne come to our place this yearsome time, say the spring vacation?”

  “It would be lovely, Eleanor, but I suppose that our plans are tooindefinite to make any definite ones for me.”

  “By the way, what I came in for was to bring you a letter from yourmother, I suppose. The mail was just being put in our boxes as I cameaway and Marta gave me this for you. She said that she was going offsomewhere, I’ve forgotten where, with Ethel Johns, and would not beback till just before dinner.” Eleanor opened one of two books whichshe had been carrying and took out the letter, which she handed to Ann.

  “Thanks, Eleanor,--but you are not going, are you? I’m in no hurry toread the letter.”

  “I can’t stay this time. Take another nap. I’m afraid I wakened you.”

  After Eleanor left, Ann raised the curtain a little and stretched outagain, tearing open the end of the letter. It was a good fat one, suchas she loved to get from her mother.

  “Dearest Daughter,” she read. “Forgive me for making you wait a littlelonger than usual for your letter from me. There have been so manythings going on, and you know that Mother wants me with her a greatdeal. We are making up for lost time. I think that Mother has ratheroverdone the having company for me. She is tired and Sue gloats alittle over the fact, I think,--not that I would accuse her of wantingMother to be ill, but it proves, you see, that her pretended concernabout Mother’s health is right.”

  Ann was surprised at her mother’s plain speaking, but since thedenouement in regard to many things at Grandmother’s, her mother hadbroken over her long reserve with Ann. Rapidly Ann read on.

  “We have about finished entertaining the ‘country-side,’ village andtown, I think, and I am glad. To be sure, we shall be entertained inturn and have already received many invitations. But Mother need notgo unless she desires. Sue goes right along with me and so far as I cansee, has accepted the situation. She seems to have recovered from herchagrin at the failure of her plans and matters move as usual. I toldyou, I think, that Mother lets her continue to direct the household.

  “There are some arguments between her and Mother, who is then tired,indeed. Sue is disappointed at not being able to persuade Mother to thetrip abroad and is putting obstacles in the way of the Florida trip.Why this should be so I can not see; for she would enjoy the trip.Mother tells me privately that if there is much more of it, she willsimply arrange to go with your father and me, and let the rest do whatthey please and entirely at their own expense. In that case, my dear,you will not be too much disappointed, I hope, if you do not accompanyus, after our Christmas all together at your grandmother’s. Oh,yes,--Sue wants to take the whole party, maids and all, to one of themost expensive hotels at Palm Beach. Mother thinks that the businessthis year scarcely warrants that expense and prefers a more quiet spot,perhaps an apartment, though she is willing to take a house somewhere,close this one except for one or two servants, and take the wholeoutfit down. Privately, I think that this would entail as much expenseas the other. But I am out of the way of many things that once I wouldhave felt were natural enough.

  “I tell you this that you may understand the situation. What Motherdecides I do not much care, just so she is not worn out with argument,which is worse than entertaining. I see clearly why Mother let so muchslip into your Aunt Sue’s hands. It was easier than the continualfretting. Your Uncle Tyson looks worried, except in the presence ofMother. Maurice has made a flying trip home and back to school again.I do not know what brought him, perhaps nothing special, but he hadseveral conversations with his father which were rather argumentative,I thought, not being able to get beyond the sound of their voices as wesat in the drawing room.

  “Do not think from all this that I am leading a worried existencemyself. As was the case with you last year, I am trying to grasp thesituation the best I can, in the hope of being able to protect Motherfrom any unhappiness. I have enjoyed meeting my old friends, and themost of the time passes pleasantly. The Bentleys are over often, andfrom Maurice I understand that he and Ronald are intimate, which is agood thing for Maurice, I judge. Maurice is very much of a gentlemanwith his ‘long-lost aunt,’ as he calls me. I like the boy very much andhope that he will finish his senior year with some honors, though Ifear me that he is not much of a student.

  “Madge and Roy talk of you a good deal. I see them every day for atime. Mother, indeed, asked me to take a little interest there, if Icould without offending or interfering with Sue. The governess haslittle control and is far from being a good person to be in charge.”

  This was all of the letter which pertained to the LeRoy family. With alittle Montana news and private messages for Ann, the letter closed.

  “Hum,” said Ann. “I wonder if I’d better tell Suzanne that Florida maybe only a bright dream for us. No,--I’d better not bring Suzanne’spossible complaints into it.”