A JUNE HOLIDAY
The wedding night brought no recall of the negative answer which
Miss Sniffen had given to Juanita Sterling, although the little
woman hoped until the last moment for some sign of relenting.
But Polly was on hand to braid the thick, soft hair into a becoming
coronet, and to assert that she knew the bride wouldn't look half
so pretty.
Several days after, Polly danced in, her face full of the morning.
"You feel pretty well, don't you?" she began in her most coaxing
way.
"A little better than usual," Miss Sterling laughed. "What do you
want me to do?"
"You know David and Leonora and I went down to Fern Brook last
week," Polly began deliberately, seating herself in the rocker
which Miss Sterling did not like, "and ever since then I've been
wishing it would come a lovely day for you and me to have a little
picnic all by ourselves. Or we might ask one or two others, if you
like. Will you, Miss Nita? You'll break my heart if you say no--I
see it coming! Just say, 'I should be de-e-lighted to go!'"
"Oh, I'd love to, but--"
"No, there isn't a 'but' or an 'if' or anything! We're going! Who
else do you want?"
"You crazy child! I'm afraid it will use me up. I don't dare risk
it. We'll have to take the trolley--and the walk across lots--oh,
I can't, Polly!"
"Yes, you're going! I've made up my mind! The trolley ride won't
hurt you; you'll have nothing to do but to sit still, and the walk
isn't long."
"Remember, I haven't been off the grounds, except for the wedding,
in months."
"I don't forget, and it's awful. You felt better the day after the
wedding."
"Ye-s, but--"
"We're going! It's decided!" Polly jumped up. "Say quick who
we'll invite, and then I'll run down and beg permission to go on a
picnic--unless you'd rather."
"Mercy--no! I guess that's one reason why I haven't been away; I
haven't had life enough to want to unwind red tape."
"I shall love it," laughed Polly. "Shall we ask Mrs. Albright?
She's nice."
"Yes, and how would you like Mrs. Adlerfeld? I think she's pretty
lonely."
"First-rate! She is sweet, and she talks the dearest way. Hurry
up now, and get ready! I'll be back in no time with the passports."
"Why, I don't know," Miss Sniffen hesitated, "How far is it, do you
say?"
"We take the trolley out to Grafton Street," Polly explained
slowly, "and then we go 'cross lots just a little way to the
dearest grove and a lovely little brook that tumbles over the
stones--oh, it's beautiful! Can't you go with us, Miss Sniffen?"
cried Polly in a burst of generosity, shivering the next minute for
fear her invitation would be accepted!
"No, thank you," actually smiled the superintendent; "my business
doesn't include picnics, and I doubt whether it would be wise for
Miss Sterling to go so far away from the Home. It might cause
trouble--and unnecessary expense; the others may go if they wish."
"Oh, Miss Sniffen, please let Miss Sterling go! That's one reason
why I want it, because I think it will do her good," wheedled
Polly, adding tactfully, "Father says it often makes the nerves
better to get the muscles tired."
"Yes, I think that myself. Of course, it would do her no real
harm, if you could manage to keep her from getting wrought up and
having one of her tantrums."
"Oh, I promise you I'll bring her home as good as new!" declared
Polly recklessly. And with profuse thanks she darted softly away.
The four walked sedately down the long stairs in repressed glee,
the three ladies waiting on the piazza while Polly registered their
names, destination, time of starting, and expected return, in the
daybook on the secretary's desk.
"Red tape all wound up!" she finally announced in a whisper, and
the quartette proceeded to the corner below, to be in readiness for
the car.
Juanita Sterling appeared to have lost her weak nerves somewhere on
the way, as the four left the road behind them and made a path
through the clover into the distance.
"I want to sit right down and enjoy it!" she exclaimed, dropping
among the blossoms. "Hear that bird! It's a bobolink--it is! Oh,
me! Oh, my! I haven't heard a bobolink for--I'm not going to
bother to think how long. It is glorious!"
"This isn't anything compared to the woods and the brook," asserted
Polly.
She put down her lunch-basket and snipped off some clover heads.
"Those are full of honey, Miss Nita,--taste! They aren't buggy a
mite."
Like bees they sipped and sipped, and laughed and said foolish
things like children at a merry-making.
Suddenly Miss Sterling sprang to her feet.
"The day is going," she cried, "and we must get there quick! Come!"
The "just a little way" of Polly's lengthened on and on until the
three who were not accustomed to country fields looked in dismay
toward the long line of trees which seemed so very far off.
"Are you fearfully tired?" Polly would reiterate, and "Not a bit!"
Miss Sterling would lie with complacency, while Mrs. Albright grew
wondrously jolly in her effort to keep everybody from realizing the
truth.
When, finally, they stepped into the dim, cool wood, melodious with
the gurgle and splash of hurrying water and the lilting of unseen
birds, nobody remembered the hot, weary way she had come.
Miss Sterling, stretched upon a bed of vines and moss, announced
that she was in "heaven."
Little Mrs. Adlerfeld looked across in answering sympathy.
"It makes me so glad and happy, it hurts," she said, her hand upon
her breast.
"I knew you'd love it!" exulted Polly, dropping lightly between the
two and laying a hand upon each. "Let's come out here every week!"
Nobody objected. Mrs. Albright wagged an approving smile, Mrs.
Adlerfeld continued her dreamy gaze into the brook, the invalid was
too drowsy to speak.
"Go to sleep, all of you!" Polly commanded gayly. "I'll have a
red-and-green luncheon for you when you wake up!"
She bounded off along the slippery pine-needled path and
disappeared behind a curtain of foliage.
Miss Sterling awoke with a start--where was she? Then the events
of the morning flashed into view, and she smiled contentedly.
Mrs. Adlerfeld, leaning back against a stone, was peacefully
nodding, and a gentle snore from the other of the trio told that
Polly's order had been obeyed.
Where was Polly? Miss Sterling looked around, but she was not in
sight. Even with the springing of a sudden fear she caught the
sound of distant talking--a man's voice! She rose to her feet and
stood irresolute, listening. Then she smiled. That was Polly's
laugh' In a moment two figures rounded a clump of young pines.
Juanita Sterling caught her breath--the man walking beside Polly
was Mr. Randolph!
The president of the June Holiday Home found a welcoming hand as he
strode up the piney path.
"Weren't you surprised. Miss Nita?" cried Polly. "He's going to
have us arrested for trespassing on his land!"--with a roguish
glance toward the owner.
"Then we shall have to invite him to luncheon, shan't we?" Miss
Sterling's blue eyes held pleasant twinkles. "It is too pleasant
to-day to go to jail!"
The gentleman chuckled.
"Oh! will you stay?" begged Polly.
"You'd better!" urged Miss Sterling. "There are Banbury turnovers
and chicken sandwiches!"
"It is hard to refuse--" he began. "Oh, I knew you couldn't say no
when Miss Nita asked you!" sang Polly delightedly. "Nobody can!
Except Miss Sniffen!" she added conscientiously.
"Miss Sniffen" appeared to pass unnoticed. Polly suddenly
remembered her handful of wintergreen sprigs and berries, and the
sleepers awoke to join the merriment and the little pungent feast.
"I came up," Mr. Randolph explained, "to look over some trees that
a man wants, and I rather think I ought to go directly back; but,"
he went on with a whimsical laugh, "I guess business won't know it
if I steal this June holiday. It is a good while since I had one."
His face grew instantly grave.
"You have to catch June holidays quick," smiled Mrs. Adlerfeld
wistfully. "They don't stay!"
"No, they don't stay," Mr. Randolph agreed gravely. "But," he
brightened, "you of June Holiday Home have them all the year
round." He looked from one face to another.
Mrs. Albright smiled a wordless response, the swift color flushed
Miss Sterling's face, while fun played about Polly's mouth.
"You have a pretty good time there, don't you?" he persisted.
His eyes were bent on Miss Sterling; yet Mrs. Albright kindly
interposed with the safe assertion, "It is a beautiful place."
"Yes, it is beautiful," he replied, scanning the cheery, wrinkled
face. "Any town should consider it a great privilege to have such
an institution within its borders. Mrs. Milworth--or June Holiday,
as she preferred to be called--was a wonderful woman. I am glad to
be in a position to help in the carrying-out of her plans."
Miss Sterling smiled a little queerly. Polly opened her lips, then
shut them tight, and finally announced quite irrelevantly that she
was hungry.
One of Mrs. Dudley's prettiest tablecloths was spread on a little
piney level close to the brook, and Polly set out the paper plates
and cups and the boxes of food.
"Which do you like best, Mr. Randolph, coffee or chocolate?" Polly
queried anxiously.
"I will answer as a little boy of my acquaintance did,--'Whichever
you have the most of.'"
"Well, you see, we have only one, and I do hope you don't like
coffee best."
"I don't!" he declared. "I always drink chocolate when I can get
it."
"I'm glad I brought it, then!" cried Polly. "You cut the cake,
please, Miss Nita. I'm afraid I couldn't do it straight."
The little feast was ready at last, appetites were found to be of
the keenest sort, and everything went merrily.
"I have never had the pleasure of a meal at the Home,"--Mr.
Randolph was eating a Banbury turnover with plain enjoyment. "I
suppose you ladies are treated to this sort of thing every day."
"We have a pretty good cook," answered Miss Sterling discreetly;
"but these pies are of Mrs. Dudley's make. Polly brought the
lunch."
"Oh!" The man's eyebrows raised themselves a little. "Then I
should say, Mrs. Dudley is an excellent Banbury pie-ist."
"I shall have to tell her that," laughed Polly. "It will please
her very much."
"Nothing delights a woman more than to have her cooking praised,"
laughed Mrs. Albright.
"I learned that years ago." Mr. Randolph smiled reminiscently.
"When I was first married, I think I must have been a rather
notional man to cook for. My wife seldom did much in the kitchen,
but one day she made a salad. As it did not exactly appeal to my
appetite, after one taste I remarked that I was not very hungry.
To my dismay she burst into tears. It was her favorite salad, and
she had made it with unusual care, never dreaming that I would not
like it as well as she did. Ever afterwards I ate the whole bill
of fare straight through."
"It sometimes takes courage to do that," smiled Mrs. Albright. "I
hope you had a good cook. How much people think of eating! I
don't blame 'em either. Nobody enjoys anything better than--for
instance, a lunch like this."
"Robert Louis Stevenson did," spoke up Mrs. Adlerfeld. "I read in
my day-to-day book this morning--I can't quite 'remember--yes, this
is it: 'After a good woman, and a good book, and tobacco, there is
nothing so agreeable on earth as a river.' I did not think then I
should be eating my dinner right on the bank of a little river!"
She gazed down lovingly on the water swirling and, foaming among
the stones.
"Stevenson ought to know," said Mr. Randolph with a pleased smile.
"So he is one of your favorites as well as mine!"
"Yes, I like him very." Her little sunny face beamed with
pleasure. "His book is more educating as many things said by a
teacher."
"He is a good teacher."
"I wish he had not put in tobacco," scowled Mrs. Adlerfeld. "There
are a many things better as tobacco."
"You have not tried it," he returned. "Stevenson knew because he
had tried it."
The little woman shook her head decidedly. "I have been suffered a
many times by tobacco." Then a smile broke mischievously. "You
may smoke after dinner, Mr. Randolph."
The man laughed. "I was not pleading for myself," he protested.
"This is sufficiently soothing--" His hand made a comprehensive
sweep. "Tobacco would be superfluous."
Miss Sterling had risen and gone over to the lunch-box, where she
was trying to open a second thermos bottle.
"Let me do that for you!" He sprang to help her.
She stepped back heedlessly, her foot slipped, and with a sharp cry
she fell on the smooth slope.
Polly and Mr. Randolph reached her together.
"Are you hurt?" Polly's voice was distressed.
"Any damage done?" The man's tone was cheery, yet concerned.
She laughed bravely.
"Oh, no!" taking the proffered hands and trying to rise. Then she
sank back, catching her breath hard.
"It's just my ankle--but it isn't hurt!" she declared fiercely.
"Let me try it again."
She stood on her feet. "I guess I'm all here," she laughed; yet
even with the words her face grew white.
Mr. Randolph caught her, and she drooped limply against him.
He laid her down gently, and at once she opened her eyes.
Mrs. Albright was rubbing her hands. "You will be all right in a
minute," she said cheerily.
"I am all right now," Miss Sterling maintained. "How stupid of me
to faint! I won't have a sprained ankle--so there!"
The rest laughed, though a little uncertainly.
Polly, like a true doctor's daughter, was examining the injury.
"It doesn't swell, so it can't be sprained," she decided positively.
Miss Sterling sat up and supplemented Polly's inspection. "Merely
a strain. I'll be able to walk in a little while."
"You'd better not tax it," Mr. Randolph advised. "I am glad my car
is so near. I drove in as far as the road was good."
"Oh!" Miss Sterling's voice was grateful. "I was wondering how I
could ever walk over to the trolley."
"You would not have had to do that in any case, but my car is ready
whenever you care to return."
"The ride will be a lovely ending to the day," Miss Sterling
assured him, "and, if it won't hinder you, suppose we don't go any
sooner on my account."
Four o'clock found the picnickers leaving the wood, the injured one
assisted on either side by Polly and Nelson Randolph.
The way was not long, but time after time it took all the pluck of
which Juanita Sterling was mistress not to stop in the path and cry
out that she could not go a step farther.
Her escorts were solicitous.
"Lean on me more, Miss Nita," Polly would urge. "I'm awfully
strong. Favor your foot all you can."
"Hadn't I better carry you the rest of the way?" asked Mr. Randolph
when she could no longer hide her pain.
Her thanks were gracefully given, but she refused to proceed except
upon her own feet.
"It is nothing," she insisted. "I shall be all right in a moment."
Never did hospitable inn look more inviting to a weary traveler
than did the waiting car to Juanita Sterling.
"You sit in front," advised Polly, "it will be much easier for you."
"Certainly!" the man exclaimed, throwing open the other door.
But before Polly could stay her she had stepped to the
running-board--and was on the back seat!
"You are naughty!" Polly pouted.
Miss Sterling laughed softly.
The man said nothing, only helped Mrs. Adlerfeld to a place beside
him.
The cooling, sunlit air was delightful. It was long since Miss
Sterling had been in an automobile, and the car rode as easy as a
rocking-chair. She drew deep breaths, and half forgot that her
ankle was still throbbing from its recent effort.
"Feel equal to a little longer ride?" suddenly inquired the driver,
throwing the query toward Miss Sterling.
"Equal to anything!" was the happy reply.
"Oh, that will be nice!" cried Polly, squeezing her friend's arm,
and beaming on her right-hand neighbor.
"Am I going too fast for you?" was the next question.
"Not a bit!"--"It is lovely!"--"The faster the better!" came in
merry succession from the back seat.
They spun along the smooth road with greater speed, and the
freshness of the country was brought to them in one steady sweep.
"This is glorious!" breathed Miss Sterling.
"I never rode in one of these cars before," confessed Mrs.
Adlerfeld blithely.
"Indeed!" a pleasant light flashed in the driver's eyes. "And how
do you like it?"
"Oh, I like it very!" The wrinkled face was radiant. "It makes me
so glad and happy!"
"We will have another ride some day," was the unexpected response,
which made the little Swedish woman fairly gasp in delight.
The gayety of the party came to a sudden end when Mr. Randolph
drove into the Home grounds.
"Please, not a word to anybody about my fall," said Miss Sterling
in a low voice, as she was helped from the car.
"Is that wise?" It was asked in a surprised tone.
"Extremely wise," was the smiling response. "I might wish to go
picnicking again, you know." Her twinkling eyes met his puzzled
face.
"As you will," he promised gravely.
There was time for no more. The others were waiting.
Polly kept beside Miss Sterling who walked without a limp and gave
no sign of the torture she was undergoing.
"Go right upstairs!" whispered Polly. "I'll report for all of you
when I come down."
"You needn't go up, the rail will be sufficient."
But Polly would not relinquish her charge until she saw her safe in
her room.
"How came you to be riding with the president of the Home?" Miss
Sniffen looked down sternly on Polly.
"Oh! did you see us come? Wasn't it lucky--nice that Mr. Randolph
had his car? And wasn't he good to bring us?"
"Was the meeting by arrangement?" questioned Miss Sniffen severely.
"Oh, no! I was so surprised! We all were! He happened to go over
there to see about some trees, and so stayed to luncheon. We had a
lovely time! Wasn't it queer it happened to be his land?"
Miss Sniffen's thin lips drew themselves into a sarcastic line.
"'Happened!' There seems to have been a number of _happenings_."
"I know it," Polly agreed demurely, looking at her watch to make
sure of the time. "We came in about five minutes ago, Miss
Sniffen. It was twenty minutes of six just before we got here."
"What time did you leave the picnic grounds?"
"I think it was four o'clock."
"Did you come directly back?" Miss Sniffen's hard eyes fastened on
Polly's face.
"Oh, no! We had a beautiful ride! We went way out on the Flaxton
road, along by the river. Don't you think Mr. Randolph is a very
lovable man?"
"I think it was entirely out of place for you to spend the day in
the woods with an unmarried man. I shall look into it."
Polly's brown eyes grew big and wondering. "Why, Miss Sniffen, I
don't see what harm there was! We had the loveliest time!"
The superintendent did not reply. She turned deliberately and
walked down the great hall.
Polly watched her a moment, the wondering look still in her eyes.
Then she sped swiftly toward home. She hoped Miss Sniffen would
not find out about Miss Nita's ankle.