Elsie's Birthday
For a week Elsie Meyers had been talking about her coming
birthday, and half wishing that she could be discharged early
enough to allow its celebration at home.
"Mamma always makes a cake for our birthdays," she told the
children, plaintively. "Last year mine was choc'late, and year
before that, jelly. Mamma said next time she'd have it orange,
same's she did Ida's. Now I can't have no cake or nothin', 'count
o' this old hip!" and she pouted discontentedly.
"But your arm is 'most well," suggested Polly. "That's one good
thing!"
"Yes," admitted Elsie.
"And it's nice that you can be all around, instead of having to
lie abed," Polly went on, hunting for happy birthday accompaniments.
"Bet you 't is!" smiled Elsie. "Ying' a-bed ain't much fun,
'specially when you ache anywhere."
"If Miss Lucy was here, maybe she'd have a cake for you," put in
Leonora.
"But she ain't," responded Cornelius unnecessarily.
"She ain't," echoed Otto Kriloff, his face reflecting his
thought.
"When do you s'pose she'll come back?" queried Maggie O'Donnell.
NOby could answer.
"Maybe she never will," said Elsie gloomily,--"anyway till we
all get gone."
"Oh, Elsie!" protested Polly.
"Well," was the outing retort, "if High Price stays here much
longer--"
"She!" hushed Cornelius, "she's comin'!" For light steps
sounded along the corridor.
The children cast furtive, half-frightened glances towards the
hall door; but it was not Miss Hortensia Price that smilingly
opened it.
"Miss Lucy! Miss Lucy!" they shouted; and with a rush they were
upon her, embracing, pulling, squeezing, until she dropped into a
chair, laughing and breathless.
"Have yer come to stay?" queried Maggie anxiously.
"For the present," she nodded.
A big, squealing, "O-o-h!" of joy rang through the ward, while
Polly silently clung to one hand, as if she would never let it go.
"What's all this rumpus about?" came growlingly from the
entrance; and the children turned to see Dr. Dudley surveying
them, his eyes a-twinkle with fun.
Polly giggled. The rest looked a bit disconcerted.
"Accept my congratulations," he said, extending his hand to the
nurse.
Polly reluctantly relinquished her hold of Muss Lucy, that the
physician's greeting might be properly responded to, while the
young lady blushed with pleasure.
"I'm jealous," the Doctor went on, looking around on the little
group. "You never make such a fuss over me when I come."
"Do you want us to?" ventured Cornelius.
The Doctor laughed. "Well," he responded, "I'll excuse you from
giving me such an ovation every day. How is that back of yours,
Cornelius?" And he proceeded on his accustomed rounds.
One by one the children sidled back to Miss Lucy.
"It's my birthday to-day," announced Elsie, proceeding with her
usual information regarding the home birthday cakes.
The nurse received the news with all the interest that any little
girl could desire, even going so far as to "wonder" if a tea
party would n't make a pleasant ending for the afternoon. That
set Elsie into a flutter of blissful anticipations, so that when
she overheard the Doctor telling Polly the auto got to wish she,
to, could have a drive.
"Did you ever go to ride with Dr. Dudley?" queried Polly, as
Miss Lucy buttoned her into a fresh frock.
"Oh, no!"
"Did n't he ever invite you?" she persisted.
"Of course not! Now, turn round, and let me see if you are all
right."
"Well, he ought to! It is n't fair for me to have all the rides.
He's lovely to go with!"
Miss Lucy did not answer, but her cheeks were almost as pink as
Polly's dress, while she pulled out the neck ruffle and retied the
ribbon that caught up the bright curls.
Polly was starting off without a word.
"Good-bye, dear! I hope you will have just as good a time as you
always do." And Miss Lucy detained her long enough to leave a
kiss on the red lips.
A gay little laugh was the only reply. Then Polly ran out of the
dressing-room and across the ward. The children heard her
tripping down the stairs, and hurried over to the windows to see
her go. But nobody appeared outside, and presently Polly
returned.
"Put on your hat quick, Miss Lucy!" she cried gleefully. "You're
going, 'stead o' me! Dr. Dudley says he shall feel very much
honored to have your company! May I get your hat?"
"Polly May!" the young woman exclaimed, in a flutter of
astonishment, "what have you been telling him?"
"OH, nothing much!" laughed Polly. "He wants you--so go right
along!"
"Yes, do!" the children chimed in.
"Do!" echoed Elsie. "'Cause it's my birthday!"
Of course Miss Lucy insisted that she could not, would not, go.
She pleaded lack of time and unsuitable dress. She summoned to
her aid every excuse at command. But in the end she did exactly
as the children wished, and they had the delight of seeing her
drive away with the Doctor, while they chorused merry good-byes to
the frantic waving of handkerchiefs.
When the automobile was out of sight, Polly thoughtfully began to
paint the picture for those who had been shut off from a peep of
it.
"They looked just lovely together, Miss Lucy in her pretty gray
suit, with the pink rose on her hat! She waved her hand, and Dr.
Dudley waved his!"
"Wonder how long they'll be gone," put in Elsie.
"I don't know--oh, say, let's clean up the dressing-room, and dust
everywhere, so Miss Lucy won't have it to do when she gets back!"
And Poly, assured of followers, skipped away for the dust-cloths.
Of course Polly did most of the little tasks; that was to be
expected, since she had no lame back or twisted leg or crutches in
the way. But everybody that was on his feet had some share in the
general service, and was therefore free to appropriate a part of
the praise with which Miss Lucy showered them.
Yes, she had had a charming ride, she told them, and they felt it
must be so, since they had never seen her in a gayer mood.
"Run up to my room if you can slip away," she whispered to Polly.
"I shall be there changing my gown."
After Miss Lucy had gone, the attention of the rest was attracted
by a horseback party on the street, and Polly darted away as she
had been bidden.
"Dear child!" said Miss Lucy, taking the little face in both her
hands. "You have given me a great pleasure."
"It was n't I," laughed Polly. "It was Dr. Dudley. Are n't you
glad now that you went?"
"Yes," she smiled. "Because if I had n't, Elsie might not have
had this birthday present. Come, see what Doctor and I bought for
her."
She opened a small package, disclosing a tiny box. In the box was
a little gold signet ring with and Old English "E" engraved upon
it.
"Oh," admired Polly, "is n't that lovelicious! I'm so glad for
Elsie!"
"Yes," Miss Lucy went on, "I think she will like it. We wanted
to give her something that she would keep to remember the day by,
and we could n't think of anything better. She has a poor little
home, though her mother works hard and does all she can to make
the children happy. But Elsie can't have had many bright things
in her life, so we're going to try to make her birthday as
pleasant as possible."
"I should think this would please anybody, it is so beautiful!"
and Polly laid it gently back in its little case.
Presently she was downstairs again, happy in the knowledge of
sharing a secret with Miss Lucy and Dr. Dudley.
After dinner she read to the children from her new book of fairy
tales, and the Miss Lucy taught them some new games that they
could all play--even those who were still in bed.
They were just finishing one of these, when the strains of an old
song suddenly sounded near by.
"Oh, a hand-organ!" somebody shouted, and they flocked to the
windows.
"And he's got a monkey!" squealed Brida.
"Oh, that's 'count o' my birthday!" cried the happy Elsie. "I do
wish he'd come up here!"
Her words floated down to the organ grinder, and at once he
allowed the monkey more length of cord. The little animal began
to climb the wisteria vine, and presently was doffing his tiny red
cap to the children, who shrieked with delight.
"Here's a penny for him, Elsie," said Dr. Dudley, who had come
up behind them unnoticed.
The little birthday girl joyfully took the bright coin, and
dropped it into the monkey's outstretched paw, receiving from him
a characteristic "thank you," which caused more glee.
Again and again the little gay-coated messenger made trips up and
down the wisteria, transferring the pennies from the children's
hands to his master's pocket, until the yellow coins finally gave
out, and the Doctor was obliged to say, "No more!"
Even then the man smilingly played on, and when at last he and the
monkey bade their patrons good-bye, Elsie thought that no little
girl ever had so "splendid" a birthday as she was having.
The party tea was served precisely at half-past five o'clock, and
such a tea! Little biscuits scarcely bigger than silver dollars,
small tarts filled with fig marmalade, great berries that the
children agreed were super-bondonjical, tiny nut cookies, a
frosted cake decorated with nine pink candles, chocolate in pretty
cups, and--to top off the feast--ice cream in the shape of
chickens!
Miss Lucy and Polly and Dr. Dudley served those little people who
could not be at the table, and nobody--not even the birthday
girl herself--enjoyed it all better than did Polly May.
Polly was eagerly anticipating the time when Elsie should be
presented with the signet ring, and followed Miss Lucy's movements
with watchful eyes. At last the nurse left the ward, and
disappeared in the direction of her own room. The moment must be
close at hand!
Dr. Dudley told funny stories, and Polly laughed with the rest;
but her eyes were on the doorway, and her heart in a flutter of
excitement. The moments piled up, and Miss Lucy did not come
back. Polly grew anxious. Even Dr. Dudley looked at his watch,
and glanced towards the door.
When, after a good quarter of an hour, the nurse returned, Polly
knew that something was wrong. Dr. Dudley knew it, too; and soon
he and Miss Lucy were talking together in low tones beyond the
reach of Polly's ears. Had something befallen the ring? What
could be the matter? The children gleefully discussing the
Doctor's last story; but Polly's thoughts were at the other end of
the room. When Miss Lucy and Dr. Dudley came back to them,
however, both faces were so bright, Polly decided that she must
have been mistaken, and looked for the ring to appear. But it was
not so much as mentioned. The Doctor bade Elsie and the others
good-bye, and Miss Lucy accompanied him into the hall.
After a while the suspense became unbearable, and Polly started
for Miss Lucy's room. It was around the corner, on another
corridor, and as Polly reached the turn she heard voices.
Involuntarily she halted.
"It's the strangest thing," Miss Lucy was saying. "I remember
laying it on the dresser after showing it to you, and then I was
called away, and I can't recollect putting it in the box. I know
I locked the door when I went out--I don't understand it!"
"And you say nobody but Polly has been in the room since?"
The voice belonged to Miss Curtis, one of Miss Lucy's closest
friends.
"Unless it was entered with a skeleton key."
"Well, there's only one solution to the musterd, it seems to
me," Miss Curtis replied.
"I won't, I won't believe it!" Miss Lucy burst out. "Polly is
honesty itself. She would n't do such a thing any more than--
you or I would. If it were some children--but Polly!"
"You might question her anyway; ask her if she noticed the ring
when she came in after those napkins."
"I--can't! She'd see through it at once. Polly is bright. It
would break her heart to know we had such a thought. I believe it
got knocked off the dresser some way and will be found sooner or
later; but I wanted to give it to Elsie to-day. I'm all upset
about it!"
"Well, I can't help thinking--"
Polly, weak and wretched, shrank away, and went softly back
through the long corridor. At the door of the ward she met Dr.
Dudley.
"I was looking for you," he said. "Don't you want to take that
ride you missed this morning? I have a call to go down to
Linwood, and it is just cool enough now to be pleasant. Better
put on your coat; your dress is thin."
"Could n't you--take Elsie?" faltered Polly faintly.
"Elsie? Well, Thistledown, I feel hurt! Twice in one day! Have
you sworn off from auto riding?"
Usually this would have brought out a happy laugh, but now Polly
merely answered, "No," very soberly.
"I should n't dare to risk a ride for Elsie until her hip is
better," the Doctor resumed. "I'll try to taker her some day,
when she is a little further along. Now, run and get you hat.
I'll wait for you."
Polly never quite forgot that ride. The fresh, twilight air,
fragrant with dewy blossoms; the exhilarating motion; the Doctor's
merry speeches;--these would have been sufficient at any other
time to fill her with joy. Now she was but half conscious of them
all; the dreadful ache in her heart over-powered everything else.
She wondered if Dr. Dudley felt as Miss Lucy did. Or did he, with
Miss Curtis, suspect her to be--a thief! She longed to cry
out, "Oh, I did n't! I did n't! I did n'!" But, instead, she
silently stared out on the dusky road, and wished herself at home,
in her own little bed where she could let the tears come, and not
have to push them back.
She was glad, in a vague kind of way, when the auto slowed up at
the hospital entrance, and the Doctor lifted her out. They walked
up the flagging, hand in hand, the physician as silent as she.
She would have gone directly upstairs, but he drew her into his
office.
"Now, what is it, Thistledown?" he asked gently, taking her in
his arms.
She hid her face on his shoulder, and began to sob.
He let the tears have their way for a time, resting his cheek
lightly on her curls. Finally he spoke again.
"Is it about the ring, dear?"
She nodded.
"What have they been saying to you?" he questioned savagely.
"N-nothing to me," she replied. "I--heard--Miss Curtis--
and Miss Lucy--talking. Miss Curtis--she thinks I--oh,
dear!--she thinks I--took it! You don't think--I--took--"
"_No!_" thundered the Doctor in so tremendous a voice that it
Polly had n't been in such depths of misery she would have laughed
outright.
As it was, she caught his hand to her lips, and kissed it, saying,
"You scared me!"
"Well, I'm sorry," he smiled; "but you must n't ask me such
questions about my Thistledown, if you don't want to hear me
roar."
A wee giggle delighted his ears.
"Now that's something like it!" he said. "Don't let's bother any
more about that ring. Probably we'll find it to-morrow. If we
don't, I'll buy Elsie another."
A faint, uncertain rapping made the physician set Polly gently on
her feet, while he opened the door. Nobody was in sight, and he
kept on to the main entrance.
A man stood outside, who deferentially removed his hat.
"You b'long-a?" he asked.
"Yes, I belong here. I am Dr. Dudley. Whom do you wish to
see?"
"I play out-a here--af'-a-noon-a," with a sweep of his hand
towards the left. "Monkee--him ba-ad-a monkee! Him take-a--
yours?" and he held out the missing ring.
"Oh, yes, that is ours!" the Doctor exclaimed. "We have been
trying to find it.--Polly! Polly! Come here!"
Polly obeyed, though slowly, because of her tears; but when she
recognized the organ grinder curiosity hastened her steps.
Dr. Dudley put the ring in her hand.
"Why--ee!" she cried joyously. "Elsie's ring! Oh, I'm so
glad!"
"Him ba'ad-a monkee!" grinned the man. "Him go up-a, up-a--
window op'n--him go in-a. I see nobodee--I pull-a so! Him
no come. I pull-a _so!_" and the man tugged hard on the imaginary
cord. "Him come. Him got-a ring-a in leetle han'--I no see!
I take-a pennees--so," and he went over a handful of invisible
coins,--"I see!" pointing to the ring. "Where get-a?" He
stared wildly around, to show how great had been his amazement.
"Ah-h!--him ba-ad-a monkee!--him get-a up-a beeg house--
beeg seeck-house--yours!" He ended with a delighted grin,
which signified his pleasure in having his surmises come true.
"We thank you very much indeed," responded Dr. Dudley earnestly,
putting his hand in his pocket. "Accept this for your trouble."
And he held out a quarter.
"Ah-h, no! Him ba-ad-a monkee!" He waved his hands gracefully.
He went away, however, carrying the coin, and grinning his
"Good-bye."
"Was n't he funny?" laughed Polly, when the door was shut. "He
called this a sick-house!"
"Why not a sick-house as well as a sick-bed?" the Doctor smiled.
But Polly only laughed, gazing down happily on the little ring.
"I'm so glad," she breathed. "Now Miss Curtis will know!"
"Miss Lucy and I knew before," was the instant reply. "Better
run upstairs and let Elsie have it while it is still her
birthday."
"Will you come, too?"
"No; I'll let you and Miss Lucy do the honors. There are some
people I must see, and it is getting along towards sleep time.
Good-night, Thistledown!" He stooped for a kiss, and she clung to
him for a moment.
"It is so nice that you did n't think I did!" she whispered.
She tripled lightly upstairs, and across the ward to Miss Lucy's
side. She slipped the ring into her hand.
The nurse stared her amazement.
"The monkey went in at your window, and took it!" beamed Polly.
"The man's just brought it back! He never knew it till he
counted his money! OH, he told it so funny!"
"Well!" ejaculated the nurse. Then the echoed Polly's own
words, "I'm so glad!"
The children were pressing near, eager to know what was exciting
Miss Lucy and Polly.
"Let's see if it fits your finger, Elsie!" taking the hand of
the astonished child. "Perfectly! It is a birthday present from
Dr. Dudley and me. We were going to give it to you directly after
tea; but when I looked for it, it was gone. Polly will tell you
the rest."
And Polly did, imitating the organ grinder's words and gestures,
till her listeners were shaking with laughter.
Elsie was too overpowered with joy to want to go to bed at all.
"When the lights are out I can't see my ring!" she cried in
sudden dismay.
"But you can feel it," returned Polly.
"Oh! May I keep it on my finger all night long?" she asked
incredulously.
"Certainly, dear," the nurse replied.
That was enough. Without another word she allowed herself to be
undressed.
The ward had been dark and quiet for at least two minutes when a
voice piped out, "Miss Lucy! OH, Miss Lucy!"
"What is it, Elsie?" came the quick answer.
"I just happened to think--you and Dr. Dudley and Polly and
the organ man and the monkey and everybody have been living such a
splendid story for my birthday! I did n't thank you half
enough!"
"You have done just right, dear. All the thanks we wanted were
in your happy face. Now pleasant dreams!"
With a glad good-night, Elsie settled back contentedly on her
pillow, the ring finger pressed against her cheek. And, at last,
the hush of sleep brooded over the convalescent ward.