THE ODYSSEY
Tory took the book into her own hands. Sitting down on the ground, she
opened the leaves carefully.
Nothing to suggest an olive branch met her gaze, not a pressed leaf or
a flower which might have served as a symbol.
Seated beside her, Lance's thin face, with its tanned skin and
humorous brown eyes, peered eagerly over her shoulder.
Tory shook her head.
"Explain yourself again, Lance. What has this book, the story of the
wanderings of the Greek hero, Odysseus, after the Trojan war, to do
with ending the feud between your troop of Boy Scouts and our own of
girls?" Tory patiently inquired. "I know you have some idea in mind,
but it takes a cleverer person than I to fathom it."
Gently Lance removed his book from the girl's clasp.
"Listen, Tory, for a few moments while I read to you. Then I'll tell
you what I mean and ask for your help if you are willing to give it.
You look tired and it may rest you."
Gladly Tory submitted. Clasping her hands together in her lap, she let
her eyes wander from their first glance at the little log cabin with
its bright covering of evergreens on and away into the deeper green of
Beechwood Forest, now shadowy with the approach of evening.
Lance could be agreeable when he liked. The winter before, when first
she had been introduced to Dorothy McClain's six brothers, she had
liked Lance better than the others. She even had preferred him to Don,
his twin brother, whom people in Westhaven insisted was the handsomest
member of the family.
During an illness of Lance's she had been able to save him from being
seriously burned. Afterwards, curiously, they became less friendly. In
any case Tory knew that she at present preferred Don. Not only was he
handsomer and stronger and more straightforward, he showed a sincerer
liking for her.
"So there the stout-hearted Odysseus lay and slept, worn out with all
his toil. But meanwhile Athena went to the Sea-Kings' city, up to the
palace of their ruler, the wise Alcinous and into the beautiful
chamber where his daughter lay asleep, the young princess, Nausicaa,
fair as the Immortals. On either side of the threshold two maidens
were sleeping, as lovely as the Graces, and the glittering doors were
shut. But the Goddess floated through them like a breath of wind up to
the head of the couch, and spoke to Nausicaa in a dream. She seemed to
her one of her dear companions, the daughter of Dymas, the sailor."
As Lance continued reading Tory did not listen attentively. He had a
pleasant, quiet voice that shed a restful influence upon her as he had
hoped.
Tory was not especially fond of reading, not to the extent that her
uncle, Mr. Richard Fenton would have liked. He spent the greater part
of his time in his library at the old Fenton house in Westhaven.
Miss Frean in her own little House in the Woods gently reproached Tory
now and then for her lack of interest in books. Perhaps neither one of
them could understand that pictures were what she cared for intensely.
The pictures need not of necessity be of the character that hang upon
walls. Tory was seeing pictures at this moment which were affording
her the deepest pleasure.
If only she had her neglected sketch book in her hands!
Bent over his book Lance's head would have made an interesting sketch
even if she were unable to obtain a satisfactory likeness.
Then Tory forgot Lance and the outward objects surrounding her. The
words he was reading aloud were creating a beautiful image in her
mind. She seemed able to see "The Princess Nausicaa, fair as the
Immortals."
Her companion read on:
"So the night passed away, and the young dawn appeared on her glorious
throne and awakened the princess."
With a bang Lance closed his book.
"Stop dreaming, Tory Drew. You scarcely know I am present and I want
you to be particularly sensible and attentive to what I am going to
say. I suppose you know I have been reading the story of the Odyssey,
since you told me Miss Frean had read it to you early in the summer."
Tory laughed. For all his quietness and apparent gentleness Lance's
nature was more domineering than most persons appreciated. Their
friends believed that Don ruled in the intimate friendship between the
two brothers. More often than not they were mistaken.
"We have been having a great time at our Scout camp, Tory. Hope you
girls have had as good! I have enjoyed the summer a lot better than I
expected. I know I have improved in the drilling and a few other
things. Lucky for me that I am fond of a few outdoor sports; keeps up
my end in the Scout proficiency tests!"
"All right, Lance, but why don't you come to the point? I know it is
hard for you to have to give your time and energy to so many things
and never be allowed to study the music you love. But then, of course,
your father knows best. I can understand his not wishing you to be a
musician," Tory added hastily, fearing she might appear to be
criticising the doctor whom she loved and admired. "I can appreciate
your father saying that with six sons and a daughter and he only a
small town physician, he never could afford to let you have the
musical education you would require."
"All right, Tory, no use going into that subject now. I have heard all
that a good many times. What we were talking about was the Scout
organizations, yours and mine. I think they are specially good for us;
for you, because you are an only girl and kind of spoiled by pretty
nearly everybody. Good for me because I am a selfish fellow who likes
to be alone unless I can hang around with Don. We get the combination
of freedom and discipline we both need.
"At first this summer I thought the other fellows were not going to
have much use for my queer notions. I thought they stood for me
because Don is very nearly the most popular Scout in camp. I was kind
of pleased when they chose me to come over to camp and extend the
olive branch to you Girl Scouts."
The thin, brown face was now eager and glowing, but Tory remained as
completely mystified.
"Remember the tableaux your troop of Girl Scouts gave in Westhaven
this spring? They were a great success and I, for one, shall never
forget how you looked as Joan of Arc.
"Ever since our Boy Scout Troop has been trying to get up something as
good. This summer we decided would be our best chance with all the
fellows together and our officers and several members of our Scout
Council staying at camp."
"Yes," Tory replied, beginning to be anxious to go back to Kara and
wishing Lance would finish what he was endeavoring to say.
The other Girl Scouts might come back to camp at any moment. She did
not wish to be discovered seated under a beech tree conversing with
Lance McClain, whose presence at their camp was neither invited nor
desired. Later she would be able to explain, but for the moment she
would not enjoy the position.
Lance smiled.
"I appreciate you are in a hurry, Tory, as well as the other things
you are thinking. You need not believe I wish to be discovered here
until you have had a chance to make things clear to Miss Mason and the
Girl Scouts. But I want to put my proposition to you before you have
your outdoor meeting to-night to decide whether you wish to make
friends once more."
Again Tory was puzzled to understand how Lance could know so much of
their daily program. His next suggestion drove all other thoughts from
her mind.
"To get to the point: After a lot of reading and discussion we have
concluded to close our summer holiday with an outdoor pageant. I
suppose one should call it a pageant. We are not going to do exactly
what other people have been doing all summer. We don't intend to
present New England history. After the big pageant at Plymouth Rock,
it would take a good deal of nerve to try to imitate it. So we have
decided to present the 'Wanderings of Odysseus.' We are not sure as to
details. Our plan is to have a series of Greek tableaux that will tell
the story and have some one person read certain of the lines aloud."
Tory leaned forward.
She appeared interested but doubtful.
"That is a pretty big idea, Lance. Do you feel you will be equal to
it? Presenting an American pageant is one thing, but gracious! who
knows what Greek pictures should be like?
"Of course, I am sure the girls will be delighted if there is anything
we can do to be useful. You were awfully kind about helping us," Tory
continued, feeling she had not appeared as enthusiastic as Lance might
have hoped. "But where is the olive branch I am to offer the girls
to-night when we have our meeting to decide whether we are willing to
make friends?"
Lance flushed and looked uncomfortable.
"The olive branch is what I have been talking about, Tory. The Boy
Scouts want you girls to take part in our Greek pageant. We want you
to take the feminine roles. Now, don't say no, right off, Tory, and
don't be so discouraging as you seem to feel. I confess I am counting
on your influence in more ways than one. The truth is the suggestion
came from me, and I have had a hard enough time trying to make the
other fellows see the thing as I do. Suppose we don't accomplish
anything remarkable, it is fun to have had a try. And it is worth
while trying to make people see things and think things that have had
to do with other nations at other times in the world's history. I want
you to talk to your uncle, Mr. Fenton, and to ask his advice before we
go much further. I suppose you know he is a Greek scholar."
During Lance's speech Tory's expression had become more sympathetic
and convinced.
"Perhaps the idea is possible, Lance. In any case, I am delighted to
help all I can by talking to Uncle Richard and using whatever
influence I have with the girls. Only one thing, you must not count on
my taking part. I could not give up the time from being with Kara."
"I understand, Tory; we'll see how it works out. I was thinking of
Kara as I came over here to talk to you. A lot better than a good many
other people I believe I can understand Kara's present state of mind.
You see, I have been sick myself. Kara will brace up once she gets
hold of herself. Don't you take anything she says or does too
seriously."
Lance and Tory got up and began walking back toward the evergreen
cabin.
"You know if this thing goes through I believe it may be a help to
Kara. She isn't strong enough for a lot of excitement, but it will
give her an outside interest. Right now she needs to think of
something beside herself.
"I suppose I ought to have strength of character enough not to mention
it. But there are days when the fact that I am never going to have a
chance to be a great musician gets hold of me, and I know there is
nobody on earth then who is as disagreeable as I can be. I don't see
why Kara cannot play some part in the tableaux. She could be seated in
her chair as if it were a kind of throne," Lance concluded.
The girl looked at him gravely.
"You can be a comfort when you wish to be, Lance, and you are right,
you can be dreadfully disagreeable. Only you are not very often.
"Would your telling me how you know what we are doing at our Girl
Scout camp involve some one else?"
Lance nodded.
"Yes, so I decline to mention names. Now, don't be stupid and think I
mean anything serious. If two people meet they have a right to speak
to each other. Good-by, I must be off. I think I hear the Girl Scouts
returning. Do the best you can for us."