THE VICTORY
Serenely oblivious of all the excitement that had been caused at Pebbly
Pit by the accident, Tom Latimer drove Mr. Maynard and the happy
betrothed pair back to the ranch. John and Anne sat on the back seat
while Mr. Maynard sat beside Tom. Finding that John and his fiancee
needed no assistance from him in entertaining themselves, Tom gave his
full attention to the banker from Chicago.
Hence, by the time they reached Rainbow Cliffs, Mr. Maynard was like the
blood-hound when he scents a new trail--he was more than anxious to join
these energetic men in financing the vast projects so well described by
young Latimer.
At the Cliffs Mr. Maynard placed a hand on the lines in order to stop
the horses. He gazed and gazed, as if he saw the great walls covered
with gold dollars instead of colored stones. Then he sighed and smiled
at Tom.
"This promises to be the luckiest thing I ever did--sending Nolla to
Pebbly Pit for her health!"
"And wait until you see Nolla! My, but she is rosy and roly now. And
besides, Mr. Maynard, she is a born financier. I _love_ to listen to her
plan and then see her work out her own schemes. She has one on the
carpet at present, and I verily believe she will pull it off!" exclaimed
Tom, very much interested in his subject.
"Yes, that girl of mine is worth more to me than any gold-mine or other
treasure in the world."
"Oh, really! Well, this time 'listening fools heard some good of
themselves'," laughed a merry voice from a crevice in the wall, and
immediately afterwards, Eleanor sprang out, with Polly close upon her
heels.
The horses were stopped until Eleanor and her father had done with their
hugging, and then she remembered to introduce him to Polly.
"The very best chum in the world, Daddy, and so we have sworn never to
be separated--not even for money, business, or love!" cried the happy
girl, maternally patting Polly on the head as she spoke.
Eleanor sat upon her father's knee and Polly sat upon the floor of the
wagon, as they proceeded on their way, but when John called to his
sister and asked what had been doing in his absence, she jumped up
suddenly and exclaimed.
"Oh! we forgot all about the two men who came this morning and fell over
the edge of the gulch!"
Then followed an excited and graphic description of the two New York
lawyers who came to Pebbly Pit to buy the Cliffs. When John heard the
names, he whistled and looked at Tom.
"Well, even providence is on your side, Polly, for those two men are the
rascals who tried to steal Evans' patent rights in the little machine
that cuts the jewels. So this is the way they were received at Pebbly
Pit, eh?" Tom mused silently after that, but John and Mr. Maynard asked
all sorts of questions until they reached the house.
In these isolated mountain ranches, almost every intelligent man can set
broken bones, and take care of minor troubles; a doctor living in a town
ten to twenty miles away, needs plenty of time to reach a ranch, in
cases of illness, and during that time a patient must suffer agonies or
be helped by home-aid. Thus, Mr. Ratzger had his bones set by Mr.
Brewster and his assistants, and was left neatly bandaged upon a cot in
the harness-room. But the other patient seemed past the simple aid from
the ranchers, so Jeb had to ride to Oak Creek for a doctor to come and
try to save this life.
With all the sudden advent of excitement and work, the thought of Anne's
engagement ring had not entered into any one's mind, but once the
household had quieted down again, and Mr. Brewster could sit on the
porch and mop his weary brow, John smiled knowingly at his fiancee.
Mrs. Brewster caught the look and interpreted it instantly: "Oh, Anne,
dear! We never asked you to show us the symbol!"
"Yes, yes, Anne! Let me look!" cried Eleanor, jumping up from the grass
where Polly and she had thrown themselves.
Anne, with an embarrassed laugh, held forth her left hand and displayed
a beautiful solitaire. "Ahhs!" and "Ohs" and other exclamations of
admiration pleased John and Anne mightly, and both felt that this
mundane life was really a Paradise.
With one accord it had been agreed to postpone the talk of Rainbow
Cliffs and Choko's Find until after supper that evening. By that time
the doctor would have arrived and expressed an opinion about the injured
Riggley, and see if Ratzger was doing nicely under the home-treatment
given him.
"Because it makes me feel rather guilty to talk over our future plans
about this big combination, when we know that not far off are two men so
fearfully injured on account of this very fortune," added Mrs.
Brewster, when she heard the business talk would not take place at once.
"As long as I am here and having such a wonderful rest, I would just as
soon wait for Latimer and Evans to put in an appearance, before we
discuss finances," said Mr. Maynard.
"We'll have enough talk left over to warm up for them," remarked Tom,
whimsically.
"And we want to get you first, Dad, and see how much money you will put
in. When there are too many men about to talk to at once, the force of
our arguments will be scattered," declared Eleanor, nodding her head
wisely.
Every one laughed--the first hearty laugh since the accident on the
shale-fields. And every one felt much better for that laugh.
"I tell you what, boys, isn't this girl of mine a born business-brain?"
added Mr. Maynard fondly patting Eleanor on the head.
"Sure! That's why I am going to run the business end of Polly's and my
company, while she supplies all the ideals and plans for the work,"
asserted Eleanor.
"What's this? Something new on your old Dad?" asked her father.
"Not _very_ new; only since I came here and met Polly." Eleanor
squirmed away from Polly's warning nip on the arm, and added: "You see,
Dad, I am bound to go with Anne when she starts for New York to
school--that has all been settled between us, hasn't it?"
Mr. Maynard smiled indulgently as if to concede any proposition to this
child, and Eleanor continued with more assurance:
"And Polly, having all her hopes of attending school in Denver blasted
by Anne and her mother going on to New York, now has decided that the
only thing for her to do is to go with us to New York. It is a wonderful
opportunity for her, too, as she is as determined to take up Interior
Decorating for a profession, as I am. And where on earth can one find
such store-houses of valuable lore on the subject, as right in New
York!"
Mr. Brewster cleared his throat preparatory to an objection but Eleanor
kept right on talking fast and loud in order to down him.
"After figuring the whole plan out, Polly and I find that we need a few
years more of regular school under Anne's tuition; then a few years of a
special course of decorating in a first-rate school in New York--then,
if we are not _too_ old, we will go abroad for a visit to the art
galleries in Europe. But we may have to give that delightful trip up
and turn right into work, as we must not wait until old age cripples our
abilities. So you see----"
"Nolla, let me say a word, won't you?" began Polly, seeing her father's
expression.
"No, Poll, not now! I have said all I want to tell Dad about our future
business connections, and it may influence him somewhat in going into
our mine company. But now that he knows just what I shall do from now
on, we can leave them to discuss matters while we go in and look over
your wardrobe and see what you will need before going to New York."
So saying, Eleanor dragged Polly up from her seat on the grass and, by
dint of winks and tugs, made her understand that it was best for all
concerned if they were well out of hearing.
Tom, John, and Mr. Maynard laughed heartily at Eleanor's speech and
manner of getting Polly away from an evident discussion. Mrs. Brewster
and Anne exchanged concerned glances, but Sam Brewster moodily stared
for a few minutes away at Rainbow Cliffs. Then quite suddenly, and to
the great amazement of every one present, he laughed and said, "To think
the new woman has acquired such power that centuries of accepted habit
is set aside and the male has to fall in line _in the rear_. Look at me!
I have been the Great Mogul in this family and in all Oak Creek, too,
until my baby girl begins to talk plainly and then she quietly pushes me
out of my place and steps into it.
"And look at Eleanor Maynard! Talks like an experienced business
potentate of forty--yet she is only fourteen. Oh, I tell you what,
friends, we are living in a strange time!" And Sam Brewster laughed
again, a queer-sounding laugh this. Every one sat still and dreaded to
say a word. In a few moments, he continued:
"Here's a wonderful freak of nature, been standing over there for ages
untold; and I settle down beside those Cliffs because I can see there
will be something in them for my children in days to come. But then,
without warning, my baby grows suddenly up and rears her head, and
declares 'Those Cliffs must furnish me with money to go away from here.
I am of the new order of things, and I must be well prepared to meet my
fate!' So she packs her kit and scampers off to New York to imbibe the
higher education for women.
"Meantime, her poor lonesome father remains behind in Pebbly Pit and
takes charge of the complete blasting of his precious Rainbow Hopes. Ah
well! Ah trust Polly will never regret going to New York with you-all!"
As Sam Brewster sighed and got up to walk away, his wife remarked
quietly: "Any one would think, Sam, that Polly was your very own
personal property. If you could but remember that she has a mother who
loves her devotedly and is silently breaking her heart right now, so
that the child may follow her own life-line without foolish barriers
placed in her pathway!"
Mr. Brewster sent a startled glance at his wife and then hurried away to
the barns. But Mr. Maynard said fervently: "There spoke the true mother,
Mrs. Brewster. That is what we are parents for, I firmly believe--that
we may help the next generation to a higher and firmer foot-hold on
progress. If only there were more mothers like you!"
Then John crept over and flung his arm over his mother's shoulders.
"Yes, Mr. Maynard--she is great. And we shall live to call her
'blessed,' for this temporary parting from Polly will soon be a dream of
the past, and both father and mother will laugh at this talk!"
Drawing Polly into the house, Eleanor whispered: "I know just what you
are going to say, Goody-good! You were ready to explode because you had
not told me any such things as I pretended you had. But, don't you see,
I had to take lots of things for granted to put the plan over in a few
seconds? Suppose I had started out with turning to you every few moments
for approval, where would we have ended."
"That's what _you_ think, Nolla, but let me tell you this much right
here"--and Polly planted her feet firmly and lifted her head upon her
proud neck, until Eleanor stood admiring her independence--"I can talk
for myself, every time! Don't ever quote me again in any thing that I
ever said or did. You may think it is all right because you win out on
those grounds, and simply because you never have been taught properly by
your mother. But _I_ know better and I won't accept any victory won on
any other basis than a clear conscience. Ask Anne Stewart whether she
does not agree with me on this point. Now let me tell you, that much as
I had yearned to go to New York with you-all I cannot go because you
took my personal rights from me. I love you and I was crazy to leave
home to go to school, but I will never consent to have any one say or
act for me, in any way, when I am perfectly able to do so for myself."
"Oh, Poll! I don't mean it that way--don't you know I only did it to
help you out?" cried Eleanor aghast at the turn in events.
"Who asked you to help me out?" demanded Polly, her blue eyes emitting
sparks of fire.
"Why--wh--y--you see I had to win your father over!"
"But _who_ told you so? You know very well that it was your own pride in
your ability to _talk_ that made you take the bit between your teeth.
But you will learn now, that I intend driving my own steed, and will not
allow others to whip my mount!"
Eleanor was silenced as she began to review the very recent talk she had
given out on the terrace. Polly was right!
"It hurts me to tell you this, Nolla, but it is best that we have a
clean slate from this night on. You are awfully clever and witty, too,
but you do exaggerate something terrible! I cannot sit tamely by and
accept all the things you say of me and our plans. Why, we scarcely said
a dozen words about college and Europe!"
"But I did it all for your sake," was all Eleanor could offer in
self-defense.
"That's just it! I _will not_ have any one say they had to tell lies to
help me along. If I can't paddle my own canoe through the rapids, I can
go ashore. But I will balk every time another tries to turn me from the
course I know to be my true one. So there!"
"Polly dearest! Do you mean that after all I have done to get Dad here
and win your father's consent to your going, that you refuse to leave
home--just because I colored my words a bit too vividly?"
"You can color your words as rashly and with as vivid colors as you
choose, Nolla, but I say that when you begin to infer that the coloring
is of _my_ choosing and that I am in hearty sympathy with the way you
win out in matters, then I will balk and if necessary, deny it in the
future. I _hate_ color when it is daubed on falsely!"
Eleanor stood self-conscious of her mistakes, and Polly sent her one
sorry look and then walked into her room. Eleanor did not dare follow as
she was too awed by her friend's honest speech. And she admired Polly
all the more for daring to tell her the unvarnished truth about her
proclivity to prevaricate.
"It always was my weak spot," grumbled Eleanor to herself, as she walked
slowly to the kitchen to see if Sary was there to keep her company. But
the big cool kitchen was empty, so the girl sat down in the wooden chair
and thought.
[Illustration: "WHO ASKED YOU TO HELP ME OUT?" DEMANDED POLLY.
_Polly and Eleanor_ _Page 257_]
"If I had had a different training maybe I wouldn't be so ready to lie,"
murmured Eleanor. Then, suddenly sneering at herself she added: "Poor
fish! Can't even accept what you know is a fact without trying to blame
it on some one else. You've scorned Bob for being such a fool, but here
you are, ten times worse, because you have wits enough yet you pervert
the use of them. Eleanor Maynard, I just feel as if I wanted to give you
the biggest hiding you ever heard of!"
As she knew of no way in which to inflict this punishment upon herself,
she cried instead. From a prolonged sniffle that caused her to wipe her
eyes on her dimity sleeves, she began to weep freely. And finally,
heart-broken sobs shook her slender frame. By this time her eyes and
nose were rivers of salt-water and the poor girl had no handkerchief.
Just when she felt compelled to turn up her skirt to use the ruffle of
her white petticoat, Anne came in.
"Why, Nolla! What has happened?"
"Oo-h, Anne--I lost my handkerchief!"
"Is that all, darling! Here use mine--It's clean. But don't cry over a
trifle like that. It is sure to be somewhere about the place."
Before Anne could dry the flooded eyes and hold the bit of white linen
at Eleanor's nose, the girl broke into a merry laugh--so close were
tears and laughter in Eleanor's makeup.
"Oh, oh--Anne! I didn't mean _that_ that was what made me _cry_! But I
am so disgusted with myself--that is why I am weeping. If some one would
only whip me soundly, I would feel _so_ much better!"
"Oh, I see! you're crying because you are so selfish, eh?"
Eleanor looked up astonished. "Selfish--no, I want to be thrashed, you
know."
"And because you cannot get what you think you want, you sit out here
and weep! Oh come, Nolla! come out on the terrace and let your Dad see
how happy you are!"
The very illumination that came with Anne's unexpected words choked the
sobs in Eleanor's throat, and she meekly followed Anne to the pump where
cold water was dashed upon her red eye-lids. As she dried her face on a
clean towel that hung back of the door, she thought: "Yes, sir! Even in
howling for a licking I was fooling myself into believing I was doing
the right thing! Oh, Nolla, Nolla! how much you have to change your old
ways of thinking and talking before you can feel as honest and wise as
Anne Stewart or Polly!"