"My Own Will Come to Me"
Whether consciously or unconsciously, the thing we most desire in this
world will come to us in the end.
Rather precipitately Sally and Gerry climbed down the side of the cliff
to the beach. The way was steep and now and then Sally had to be
encouraged and assisted until both girls finally arrived on the sands a
little out of breath.
The beach stretched on further than one could see, a pale golden carpet
now that the mists were clearing. It was divided at this point by a
narrow gully. On one side of the gully were uneven platforms of rocks
and between these rocks ran little streams of salt water from the ocean,
creating tiny tidal lakes and rivulets.
Up and down these rocks, sometimes disappearing inside the water, at
others clinging perilously above its edge, or hiding behind sprays of
sea lichen or fern, were innumerable small sea monsters. At times the
sides of the rocks were alive with hundreds, even thousands, of tiny
crabs; then one single unexpected noise and off they scuttled like an
army, not in dignified retreat but in utter rout.
The girls having descended the cliff, rested for a few moments and then
wandered along these ledges. They were not of a dangerous character, for
most of the stones were flat and not too far apart to be safely crossed.
Yet they walked slowly. Occasionally they stopped to watch two fishermen
at work. The men were Japanese divers, and it was fascinating to see
them swim with quiet, even strokes out into the deep water and then dive
down heads first to remain under a terrifying length of time. Yet as
each man rose again usually he had secured one or more of the large
abalone shells.
In spite of their interest, Sally Ashton pleaded that they remain at a
safe distance from the two men. As a matter of fact, Sally frequently
suffered from the small timidities which belonged to her particular
type of intensely feminine character. Although not in the least timid
herself, Gerry agreed, it being a wise custom of hers to give way to her
companion in unimportant matters. Moreover, she really intended working
seriously for a few hours. Now that she and Sally were both weary, this
sheltered place along the beach would be as suitable as any other to
begin her painting.
Finding a comfortable surface of clean sand on a broad ledge of rock,
with other rocks in the background, Gerry sat down. Here there was less
wind than in other places and sufficient room for Sally to lie close
beside her.
At about the correct distance away, a small boat moored to some hidden
anchor moved back and forth with the movement of the waves.
This boat appeared a suitable subject to Gerry for her sketch. She had
no idea of making a success of so ambitious a subject, but since all
that Mrs. Burton asked of her was industry and not high artistry, Gerry
was willing to work now and then. She really did wish to please her Camp
Fire guardian, and if her motives were a little mixed and not all of
them of the noblest character, well, there are others of us in this
world who have mixed motives beside Gerry Williams!
After the first few moments of settling down to her task, Gerry began to
feel mildly interested in her effort.
Her surroundings were in themselves an inspiration.
Nearby, and using her friend's crimson sweater as a pillow, Sally Ashton
had curled herself up in the sunshine. She was wearing her own blue one
for warmth. There was but little breeze stirring and the sun had grown
suddenly hot, but Sally had a passionate affection for warmth. She had
also an endless capacity for sleeping when there was nothing of interest
in life to make wakefulness worth while.
For a few moments she watched Gerry at work, thinking she had never seen
her look so pretty or labor so industriously. Then Sally viewed the
small boat whose continuous movement impressed her like the sleepy
swaying of a cradle. Afterwards she fell into a state of semi-conscious
dreaming.
But Gerry kept on with her sketching certainly for more than an hour.
By the end of that time she was surprised to find what a lovely sketch
she had made. In spite of the fact that her boat was out of drawing, the
color in her sky line was beautiful and the waves of the sea suggested
real water and a real ocean.
After gazing at her painting with wholly unexpected admiration, Gerry
put it carefully away in her sketch book. She was feeling a little
tired, but her act was inspired more by discretion than weariness. To
work upon her sketch any longer would probably destroy the value it at
present possessed and Mrs. Burton would be pleased by her success.
Believing Sally to be fast asleep and not wishing to disturb her for a
time, Gerry, leaning forward and resting her chin on her two folded
hands, fell to dreaming.
For the past ten days or more, ever since her arrival in southern
California, it seemed to Gerry Williams that never had her dreams and
her desires been so insistent. She did not know that this was the
influence of the semi-tropical climate upon her physical and spiritual
development.
In truth, Gerry's past life had been a trying one and there was no
reason why she should have been content with it, or why she should not
hope for a happier future.
These summers in Arcady with Mrs. Burton--for they had been as summers
in Arcady to the Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls--had been the fairest
experiences in Gerry's history. Yet she professed no ardent love for the
outdoors as the other girls did. Neither was she so young as some of
them, since within a few weeks she would be eighteen.
There would be other summers to come, Gerry realized, when she would not
be Mrs. Burton's guest. Indeed, the Camp Fire guardian had frankly
stated that if the war continued they would not be able to have their
holidays together. In the future she must devote her money, her time and
her energy to war service.
So today, looking out over the water, but now that her sketching was
over, no longer interested in the view, Gerry faced what seemed to her
an interminable number of lonely summers and winters and springs and
autumns. In her earlier acquaintance with Mrs. Burton, when the great
lady had revealed an unexpected interest in her, Gerry, as she had
lately confessed to Sally Ashton, had dreamed impossible dreams. In
those days she had imagined herself as Mrs. Burton's ward, living in her
home, or traveling about with her over the world meeting rich and famous
people.
Then at the last Gerry's vision had always been a wealthy marriage. A
foolish dream perhaps, and yet not original or uncommon!
She did not think of her marriage as bringing her love or spiritual
happiness, only wealth and social prominence. But at this time in her
life Gerry of course believed that the last two possessions represented
the character of happiness she sought.
Having awakened to reality with regard to Mrs. Burton's attitude,
appreciating that she felt for her only a kindly interest and a moderate
affection, Gerry was the more intent upon discovering some immediate
solution for her own future.
From this summer in California she had hoped a great deal. She had
thought through Mrs. Burton's prominence that it might be possible to
make wealthy and worth-while friends. Now it appeared that the Camp Fire
guardian intended to have her group of girls spend a secluded summer,
deriving their entertainment from their life together outdoors in this
beautiful place.
In consequence Gerry was deeply disappointed. Today she felt that the
prospect ahead was dreary and dissatisfying. Mrs. Burton expected her to
work and had no notion of assisting her toward any other fate. She had
made her own way in the world and believed that work brought one the
finest satisfaction. But Gerry recognized her own commonplaceness and
understood that unconsciously Mrs. Burton was not altogether fair. Of
course, if one possessed great talent, then work lifted you above
dullness and routine, brought you beauty and joy. Yet she could only
picture herself pursuing some stupid task, since she had neither
education nor especial ability in any direction. Her only gifts,
prettiness and her desire for the refinements of life which always had
been denied her, little in truth to offer when there was no one to
help!
Then, intending to banish her attack of blues, Gerry jumped up
hurriedly. As she did so she noticed the two Japanese divers. They had
left their work and had come softly over the sands until at the present
moment they were only a few feet off. They were talking in excited
voices, holding up the deep-bowled abalone shells, now polished and
shining, and evidently trying to attract attention.
For an instant Gerry was puzzled. Then, before she could speak or even
stir again, Sally, startled from sleep, also leaped to her feet. She may
have been frightened by Gerry's sudden movement and now, catching sight
of the Japanese fishermen, may have been under the impression that they
had frightened Gerry. Whatever the cause, with an exclamation of terror,
she started running, uttering funny little cries of alarm.
First Gerry merely called out reassuringly, then, perceiving that Sally
would not stop, she ran after her.
Sally was awkward; she kept stumbling and sliding over the ledges of
rock, making no effort to be sure of her foothold or to choose the
easiest way. In the beginning Gerry was amused, then she grew a little
nervous. Sally was always the least athletic of the Camp Fire girls.
"Do be careful; the men are only trying to sell us their shells. They
have no idea of frightening you," Gerry expostulated.
She expected to reach Sally in time to keep her from injuring herself.
But suddenly Sally gave an exclamation both of fright and pain; having
made a false estimate of the space between two ledges of rock, she found
herself falling into a small ravine.
The ravine was not deep; nevertheless Sally's rescue was not simple,
since she would not help herself. Finally Gerry had to summon to her
assistance the two Japanese, who had innocently caused the catastrophe.
At last a bruised and tearful Sally was deposited upon a comfortable
resting place. But here Sally declared she must remain indefinitely, as
she was "far too seriously hurt ever to walk again."
The situation was trying, and Gerry was at her wits' end till one small
inspiration came to her. Since food had ever a reviving effect upon
Sally, they could have their luncheon and perhaps afterwards she would
feel stronger.
But although her appetite remained unaffected by her accident, the
afternoon wore on with Sally still insisting that she could not stir one
step. Moreover, any suggestion of Gerry's leaving to find help always
reduced her to tears.
Yet something must be done!
Long ago the little Japanese fishermen had returned to their tasks.
Sitting cross-legged on the sand at some distance off, Gerry could see
them patiently at work cleaning and polishing their shells. She
remembered that they had seemed to understand what she had said,
although speaking only a few English words.
Walking over to them Gerry as simply as possible presented their
predicament.
When she had finished speaking the small bright-eyed men glanced at each
other and nodded.
"Alle-ight," one of them answered for both.
Then off they trotted, this time disappearing inside their small hut.
Next moment they returned carrying on their shoulders a flat straw
basket set upon two long poles. It was scarcely a basket, so much as a
woven straw mat, which the divers probably used at odd times for
transporting their sea merchandise.
Ultimately Sally was persuaded to allow herself to be hoisted upon this
mat, which was fairly strong since it suffered her weight. Then the two
little men bore her off, swinging easily between them. They ran lightly
from rock to rock until climbing up the cliff they reached the road at
the summit, with Gerry following as swiftly as possible.
They had arranged not to attempt to carry Sally to camp but to some
place nearer at hand, where she could receive aid.
Originally when they had made this plan it appeared to Gerry as a
reasonable one and not one to cause anxiety. Now as she pursued the two
strange little men, who were carrying Sally with such ease and quickness
to a perfectly unknown destination she had a curious sensation more of
bewilderment than fear.
However, one had to keep moving so rapidly that there was small
opportunity for clear thinking.
Leaving the main road, the little men struck into another, which went
first up a bare brown hill and then down again. The second hill was
green with a crop of the ever-present beans.
Finally they climbed to the top of a mesa and brought Sally to a resting
place before a clump of dusty, gray-green pepper trees.
On their left was a hedge of untrimmed shrubs and in front an open
court. Beyond stood an old Spanish ranch house.
After whispering together, one of the little men rang a bell, which hung
on a stand outside this court.
A few moments later a Japanese servant appeared and the three men spoke
to one another in Japanese. Then the servant turned away.
It was all very unusual and puzzling. Before Sally and Gerry could be
overwhelmed by uneasiness, to their relief they observed an older man
and two young men approaching. They were obviously gentlemen, and one of
them Gerry thought the most attractive fellow she had ever seen in her
life. Yet he did not look like an American, but what her imagination had
pictured as a Spaniard. He must have been about twenty-two or three and
possessed unusually dark hair and eyes and skin.
When Gerry had explained their difficulty and apologized for their
intrusion, their host led the way through the outer court into the
enclosed one.
[Illustration: Their Host Led the Way Through the Outer Court into the
Enclosed One]
Sally continued to be borne aloft like a foreign princess upon the
shoulders of her faithful Caryatids.
The inside court was a miniature fairyland.
Like all really old Spanish ranch houses, this house was built in the
form of a square with the garden in the center. It was of one story with
the veranda also on the inside and running the entire length of the
house.
In days long past this veranda would have been filled with people, for
when the Spanish ranch houses were the center of California's social
life all the play and work of the Spanish families, their friends and
servants took place outdoors.
Now the two Camp Fire girls saw no one save their hosts and the one man
servant; there was no faintest suggestion of the presence of a woman.
The place looked old and ramshackle, as if its owners had preferred to
enjoy life rather than to improve their estate. Even the enclosed
garden, notwithstanding it was a sheer glory of flowers, showed neglect.
A bougainvillea vine had been allowed to grow so large that it covered
one-third of the veranda, hanging like a flowery canopy above one
portion of the garden. Along the paths oleanders were set out in
unpainted wooden tubs and the rose bushes had gone so long untrimmed
that they were now of great size and covered with tiny white and yellow
flowers.
Once this garden had been carefully planned and cared for, yet, perhaps,
at present it held an even deeper charm.
Naturally, soon after their arrival their host, Mr. Philip Morris, had
introduced himself and his younger companions, and Gerry Williams had
given her own and Sally's name. Gerry also had explained the
circumstances of Sally's accident and the fact that they were members of
a camping party who were spending the summer on the California coast.
The young man who had originally attracted her attention proved to be
the son of Mr. Morris. In introducing him the father accorded the
Spanish pronunciation to his name, "Felipe," which he had not used with
his own.
Later it developed that Felipe's mother had been Spanish and the old
ranch the property of her family from the days when California was a
province of Spain. But as she was dead it was true that at present no
woman was a member of their household.
The other young fellow, Merton Anderson, was the son of a neighbor and a
guest. As he had ridden over to the Morris ranch on horseback he offered
to take back any message Sally and Gerry might care to send their
friends, for Mr. Morris insisted that Sally must not be moved again
until she had seen a physician.
At last Gerry wrote a note to Mrs. Burton explaining what had occurred
and asking advice. If it were possible would she not drive over to the
ranch in her automobile and bear Sally safely back to camp?