A DISCOVERY
One morning Patty and Ethel started for a walk. They were to climb a
small mountain. On their way they came across a pocket handkerchief. It
was a girl's handkerchief, and on it was the initial "H."
"This isn't Cousin's Kate's I know," said Ethel. "She carried one
certain kind with a tiny 'H' worked in the corner. This looks like a
cheap one that might be purchased for a dime. Whose can it be? Are there
any 'H's' in the Columbus Camp Fires?"
They recalled every name--not an "H."
"Then as it isn't Kate's nor mine it must belong to Mattie Hastings."
"Yes," replied Patty. "She often walks up here alone."
"I wish I could get over my feeling of dislike for that girl," said
Ethel, "but I can not. It grows on me. I shall be glad to go home to
get rid of looking at her. I can never like Nora Casey either, although
I have tried very hard. But I positively shrink from that girl. I don't
trust her."
"I feel the same, and so do all the girls," replied Patty, "but she
seems to have gotten around Miss Hollister. She is invariably hanging on
her."
"Cousin Kate is so kind and good-hearted," said Ethel. "She's always
ready to make the best of people, but I feel like pulling Mattie
Hastings away when I see her around here."
"Look--quick! speak of angels--that was she looking out through those
trees," exclaimed Patty. "Now I wonder what she is doing up here and
alone. My! but it's warm in the sun, isn't it?" and Patty opened the
neck of her waist and removed her hat. "Let's call and see if she
answers us."
So Patty Sands called loudly:
"Mattie Hastings--Mattie--we have seen you--don't hide!"
Someone started to run through the brush. They heard a fall and a
piercing shriek.
"She's tripped," said Ethel. "Let's go and see."
Quickly they picked their way over fallen trees and dead leaves until
they came to the prostrate body of Mattie whom they so disliked.
"What have you done?" asked Patty. "Have you hurt yourself?"
No answer.
"She's fainted!" ejaculated Ethel. "She's been walking in the sun and
exposed to great heat. It's heat exhaustion. See, her face is pale and
she isn't entirely unconscious as in a sunstroke. First we must loosen
her clothing and let her lie down quietly. I wonder if there is any
water about."
"Yes," said Patty, "we passed a watering trough on the road."
While Ethel unbuttoned the girl's waist, Patty ran for water.
"It's lucky I have my drinking cup with me," she called. "I have a long
head. I never take a walk without it."
Ethel made no reply. She unhooked the girl's corset. Then when Patty
returned, together they lifted her to a shady place. Ethel's face was
pale.
"What is the matter?" asked Patty. "You look as though you had seen a
ghost."
Ethel pointed to a chain on Mattie's neck. It was a small silver chain,
and suspended from it were two diamond rings. One was the small cluster
lost by Ethel, while the other was a solitaire. Patty gasped and caught
Ethel by the arm.
"That's your ring."
Ethel nodded.
"And the other belongs to Nora Casey. She lost it a few days ago. She
didn't want to make a fuss about it on account of you having lost yours,
but I think she suspected this girl and determined to get it before she
left camp. Isn't it awful?" and Patty shook her head. "You'd better take
the chain off before she comes to."
Ethel made no reply but lifted Mattie's head and put the drinking cup to
her lips. After a moment the girl took a swallow, then another, until
she had taken it all.
"Don't give her any more now," said Ethel. "'First Aid' says, 'sip
slowly in heat prostrations and give stimulants,' but we have none."
"Take them off, Ethel," said Patty, "she might get up and run." But
Ethel only looked.
Suddenly Mattie Hastings opened her eyes, gazed at the two girls, and at
her shirt waist beside her; then she raised herself and put her hand to
her neck. A scarlet flame surged across her face.
"You've had a sort of fainting spell," said Ethel. "You fell, and the
heat and all made you unconscious for a while. Why did you run from us
when we called?"
With her hands upon her chain the girl looked like a frightened animal.
Something stirred Ethel's pity.
"Don't be frightened," she said, "just tell us all."
Whereupon Mattie Hastings burst into tears.
"First hand me my ring," said Ethel, "and then tell us everything."
The girl tried to unfasten the chain.
"Shall I?" asked Ethel.
Mattie nodded. Then Ethel took the ring.
"To whom does this belong?" she asked.
"Nora," faltered the girl. "Keep it please; I shall never go back. I
shall kill myself," she sobbed.
"That's silly," broke in practical Patty.
"Your father--Judge Sands--he will sentence me to prison," she sobbed,
"and I did it for Mollie. She's my sister. Her spine is broken and the
doctor said she needed food--good nourishing food. She's only eleven,
and he told father that with care she might outgrow it, especially if
she could get in some Institution for Cripples, where she could have
good attention," and the girl threw herself on her face and sobbed
brokenly.
"Now, see here," said Ethel, sitting down beside her and lefting her up,
while Patty and she supported her back.
"You tell us everything; don't keep even a tiny bit back."
"Yes," broke in Patty, "we're Camp Fire Girls and we must 'Give
Service.' Perhaps we can help you if you'll confide in us."
"Before God I will; and I'll tell you all," said Mattie.