CONCLUSION
"Miss Burrell, can you come to my tent?" asked Mrs. Livingston as Harriet
was seen slowly returning to camp.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Livingston, I want to come. I must speak with you." There
was an agony of appeal in her voice. "I deceived you. You must know that I
did," she burst out after they had reached the Chief Guardian's quarters.
"Sit down, my dear. I know something is wrong. I felt sure you would come
to me and tell me all about it. Now calm yourself, and tell me why you are
so unhappy."
Harriet did so, explaining as clearly as she could that she had deceived
the Chief Guardian that morning in leading her to believe that Cora was in
her tent when she was not there at all. Little by little Mrs. Livingston
drew from the penitent Harriet her reasons for having led them to believe
that Cora was in her tent taking a morning rest after the indisposition of
the previous evening. But when the Guardian asked where Cora had been,
Harriet begged so piteously to be excused from answering that Mrs.
Livingston did not press the question further.
"I will speak with Miss Kidder," she said. "But, my dear, what do you
think I should do in your case? You have done very wrong."
"Do with me, Mrs. Livingston. Why--why, there is only one thing to
do--send me away! I am not worthy of your consideration. Oh, to think that
I could do such a thing."
"My poor, dear girl!" said the Guardian tenderly. "You have done wrong,
very wrong, but that wrong is tempered with a nobility of soul that is
rare, indeed. I suspect more than you think. I have suspected from little
things that have developed in my investigation that Miss Kidder and Miss
Scott might explain something of the mysterious happenings here that I
have no need to mention. I have believed all along that you at least
suspected. Am I right, Harriet?"
"Two nights ago I learned something that set me to thinking," answered
Harriet weakly. "Oh, you are so good to me! But I couldn't tell you. I
just couldn't," moaned Harriet.
"I understand, my dear. I forgive you for your shortcomings. Sometimes one
is ennobled by being tried by fire. I shall take this matter up
immediately and act promptly."
Harriet left the Chief Guardian's headquarters with a full heart. It was
all she could do to keep the tears back So engrossed was she with her own
thoughts that she did not observe Cora Bidder at the entrance to the tent.
Cora tried to slip in without being seen by any one, but there were too
many keen eyes in Camp Wau-Wau to miss anything that promised excitement
They saw Harriet too, saw that she was unhappy. Crazy Jane smiled as she
noted Cora's entrance to the Chief Guardian's tent.
Cora Kidder remained closeted with Mrs. Livingston for more than an hour.
She was weeping when she emerged. Instead of going to her tent she hurried
out into the forest, in order to be away from the prying eyes and the
questioning of her companions. They saw Patricia summoned to the
Guardian's tent, then shortly afterwards they were amazed to see Jasper
carrying Miss Scott's belongings up the path that led to the log road.
Patricia, with lowered head and downcast eyes, was following a short
distance behind him. What could it all mean? There was no answer to their
eager questioning. Hazel, Margery and Tommy were searching anxiously for
Harriet. They found her just as she was returning to her tent.
"Oh, what is it? What is it?" begged Margery.
"I can't tell you, dears," answered Harriet.
"I have been unhappy, but now I am so happy and so sad. Don't ask me,
please don't."
They did not press her further, but they clung closely to her, walking
beside her, Tommy clinging to a hand on one side, Margery and Hazel on the
other as the four Meadow-Brook Girls walked slowly toward the cook tent.
An oppressive silence hovered over the ordinarily merry party as they
seated themselves at the tables. Cora sat pale and motionless. Patricia's
place was vacant. No sooner had grace been said than Cora rose.
"May I speak, Mrs. Livingston?"
"Yes, my dear."
"Girls," began Cora. "I have a confession to make. I have been a
despicable creature." Her voice faltered. For a few seconds she threatened
to break down entirely, "I have proven myself unfit to associate with good
girls like yourselves. I might never have known what a miserable
contemptible girl I was had it not been for one girl who by her beautiful
spirit of forgiveness showed me to myself in my true light. It was I who
hazed Miss Burrell and Miss Thompson, or who was one of the leaders in
that hazing; it was I who spoiled the soup and tucked the soap into the
cooking kit of Miss Burrell. Then worse than all I deceived Mrs.
Livingston by going to 'The Pines' to the dance last night with Mr.
Collier and his sister One girl knew I had gone. She had every reason to
hate me as I thought I hated her. But she did not speak. Instead, she
protected me. She got herself into difficulties in trying to do so. I
might never have known what she had done for me, for she was too noble to
speak of it to me, had not Jane McCarthy come to me and told me the whole
miserable truth. It was then that I saw my real self for the first time in
my life. I went to Mrs. Livingston and told her all. Another girl was sent
from the camp, sent home disgraced. I was told that I might stay. I don't
know why, for I also deserve to be sent away. I now wish you girls to say
whether or not I shall go. If, after Mrs. Livingston has told you all that
I cannot tell, you think I ought to go, as I feel I should, I will do so,
knowing that you are right."
Mrs. Livingston rapped sharply on the table.
"Miss Kidder wishes an expression from her companions," she said in the
matter of fact tone of a presiding officer. "Any who believe that she
should be dismissed, will please rise."
Not a girl moved, scarcely a breath was heard.
"All in favor of her remaining will please rise."
Every girl in the room sprang to her feet. Mrs. Livingston smiled, a
smile of happy satisfaction. Cora Kidder stood pale and trembling. She
stepped forward until she was facing Harriet Burrell, whose face was as
pale as her own.
"Ha-arriet! Can you forgive me?"
"I--I think I forgave you long ago, Cora, for I knew that it was not
yourself. I, too, was at fault. I think my fault was the greater of the
two," answered Harriet steadily, sweeping the tense faces of her
companions in a slow glance. "Shall we agree to let 'bygones be bygones'
and be friends."
A moment later the two girls' hands met in a firm clasp.
"Come, girls!" admonished the voice of the Chief Guardian. "Our dinner is
getting cold."
A new era in Camp Wau-Wau dated from that moment. The following days were
the happiest that the Chief Guardian and the Camp Girls remembered to have
passed in camp. The Meadow-Brook Girls were not the only ones to profit by
their experiences there, and they will be heard from again in the next
volume entitled: "THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY; Or, The Exciting
Tramp of the Young Pathfinders." It is a splendid narrative of the doings
and the adventures of these wide-awake girls.
THE END.
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY'S
CATALOGUE OF
The Best and Least Expensive
Books for Real Boys
and Girls
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Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price
Henry Altemus Company
507-513 Cherry Street, Philadelphia
The Motor Boat Club Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully
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1 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THE KENNEBEC; Or, The Secret of Smugglers'
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2 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET; Or, The Mystery of the Dunstan Heir.
3 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND; Or, A Daring Marine Game at Racing
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4 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS; Or, The Dot, Dash and Dare Cruise.
5 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; Or, Laying the Ghost of Alligator Swamp.
6 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT THE GOLDEN GATE; Or, A Thrilling Capture in the
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7 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES; Or, The Flying Dutchman of the
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Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
The Range and Grange Hustlers By FRANK GEE PATCHIN
Have you any idea of the excitements, the glories of life on great ranches
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1 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH;
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2 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS' GREATEST
ROUND-UP; Or, Pitting Their Wits Against a Packers'
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3 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE PLAINS;
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4 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS AT CHICAGO;
Or, The Conspiracy of the Wheat Pit.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
Submarine Boys Series
By VICTOR G. DURHAM
These splendid books for boys and girls deal with life aboard submarine
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1 THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; Or, Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat.
2 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' TRIAL TRIP; Or, "Making Good" as Young Experts.
3 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; Or, The Prize Detail at Annapolis.
4 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; Or, Dodging the Sharks of the Deep.
5 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' LIGHTNING CRUISE; Or, The Young Kings of the Deep.
6 THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; Or, Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam.
7 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; Or, Breaking Up the New Jersey
Customs Frauds.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
The Square Dollar Boys Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
The reading boy will be a voter within a few years; these books are bound
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1 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS WAKE UP; Or, Fighting the Trolley Franchise
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2 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SMASH THE RING; Or, In the Lists Against the
Crooked Land Deal.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
Ben Lightbody Series
By WALTER BENHAM
1 BEN LIGHTBODY, SPECIAL; Or, Seizing His First Chance to Make Good.
2 BEN LIGHTBODY'S BIGGEST PUZZLE; Or, Running the Double Ghost to Earth.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
Pony Rider Boys Series
By FRANK GEE PATCHIN
These tales may be aptly described as those of a new Cooper. In every
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1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or, The Secret of the Lost Claim.
2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains.
3 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or, The Mystery of the Old Custer Trail.
4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE OZARKS; Or, The Secret of Ruby Mountain.
5 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; Or, Finding a Key to the Desert Maze.
6 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO; Or, The End of the Silver Trail.
7 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or, The Mystery of Bright Angel
Gulch.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
The Boys of Steel Series
By JAMES R. MEARS
The author has made of these volumes a series of romances with scenes laid
in the iron and steel world. Each book presents a vivid picture of some
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above all, each story is full of adventure and fascination.
1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the Bottom of the Shaft.
2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; Or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift.
3 THE IRON BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing It on the Great Lakes.
4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; Or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
West Point Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young Americans
whose doings will inspire all boy readers.
1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet
Gray.
2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Finding the Glory of the
Soldier's Life.
3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Standing Firm for Flag and
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4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Ready to Drop the Gray
for Shoulder Straps.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
Annapolis Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted in
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1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Plebe Midshipmen at the
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2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval
Academy "Youngsters."
3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Leaders of the Second Class
Midshipmen.
4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Headed for Graduation and
the Big Cruise.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
The Young Engineers Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School Boys
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all the traditions of Dick & Co.
1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or, At Railroad Building in Earnest.
2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or, Laying Tracks on the "Man-Killer"
Quicksand.
3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a
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4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or, Fighting the Mine Swindlers.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
Boys of the Army Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army of
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1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or, Two Recruits in the United States
Army.
2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or, Winning Corporal's Chevrons.
3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or, Handling Their First Real Commands.
4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or, Following the Flag Against the
Moros.
(Other volumes to follow rapidly.)
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
Battleship Boys Series
By FRANK GEE PATCHIN
These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day's huge drab
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1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy.
2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or, Winning Their Grades as Petty
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3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or, Earning New Ratings in
European Seas.
4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or, Upholding the American Flag in a
Honduras Revolution.
(Other volumes to follow rapidly.)
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
The Meadow-Brook Girls Series
By JANET ALDRIDGE
Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor life.
1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS; Or, Fun and Frolic in the Summer
Camp.
2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY; Or, The Young Pathfinders on a
Summer Hike.
3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT; Or, The Stormy Cruise of the Red Rover.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
High School Boys Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck. Boys of
every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating volumes.
1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Shorts.
2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond.
3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football
Gridiron.
4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic
Vanguard.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
Grammar School Boys Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
This series of stones, based on the actual doings of grammar school boys,
comes near to the heart of the average American boy.
1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick & Co. Start Things Moving.
2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports.
3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and
Knowledge.
4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS;
Or, Dick & Co. Make Their Fame Secure. Cloth, Illustrated Price, per
Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
High School Boys' Vacation Series
By H. IRVING HANCOCK
"Give us more Dick Prescott books!"
This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the country
over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers,
making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, and
the other members of Dick & Co. are the most popular high school boys in
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1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; Or, Dick & Co.'s Rivals on Lake
Pleasant.
2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or, The Dick Prescott Six Training
for the Gridley Eleven.
3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; Or, Dick & Co. in the Wilderness.
4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; Or, Dick & Co. Making Themselves
"Hard as Nails."
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
The Circus Boys Series
By EDGAR B.P. DARLINGTON
Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intensely
interesting and exciting life.
1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making the Start in the Sawdust
Life.
2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning New Laurels on the
Tanbark.
3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny
South.
4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on the
Big River.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
The High School Girls Series
By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M.
These breezy stories of the American High School Girl take the reader
fairly by storm.
1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Merry Doings of the
Oakdale Freshman Girls.
2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Record of the
Girl Chums in Work and Athletics.
3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, Fast Friends in the
Sororities.
4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Parting of the Ways.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.
* * * * *
The Automobile Girls Series
By LAURA DENT CRANE
No girl's library--no family book-case can be considered at all complete
unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books.
1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching the Summer Parade.
2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost of Lost Man's
Trail.
3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or, Fighting Fire in Sleepy
Hollow.
4 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy Odds.
5 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under
Southern Skies.
Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.