UNDER THE STARS
Following Winnie’s advice Joanne hunted up her grandfather as soon as
she went in the house. She found him, where he usually was at this
hour, in the library reading the evening paper.
“Well, Pickings,” he said looking up, “what’s the good word this
evening?”
“Stars,” returned Joanne.
“Has something struck you and made you see stars?”
“No, Grad, but it has struck me that I want to see stars. We girls,
Winnie Merryman and Claudia Price and I have decided to study the
heavens every Friday that it is clear enough, and I’m going to begin a
star map right away. You know how it is done? You take an old umbrella
and a lot of little paper stars which you stick on the inside of the
umbrella in the forms of the constellations. Then when you have learned
the constellations you draw them from memory so that in time you learn
them all, and can recognize them when you look up.”
“Fine! I’m glad you are beginning to take an interest in the stars.
They have kept me company many a night at sea, and seem like real
friends. I was wondering what you were going to do with that finder.
I’m glad you can make use of it.”
“I think it would really be better than the umbrella, but I’ll start
in with that, for I think in sticking them on I’ll get to know the
stars better; after a while I can discard it. The Prices have such a
perfectly dandy place to look from, that cupola, you know. Clausie
wants me to come out and spend Friday nights with her; Win’s going to.
Don’t you think it will be all right?”
“Why, I don’t see why not. You’d better ask your grandmother, however.”
“Oh, but, Grad, you know how fussy Gradda is. She has never let me
spend the night with any of my girl friends, never, never. I don’t know
what she is afraid of, germs or what, but anyway, she has some sort
of idea that I’ll come home with the measles or that the house will
burn down or that they’ll kidnap me or something; I don’t know what.
Do please, like a darling, say I can go, and I shall have that much to
depend upon.”
“But suppose she declares that you can’t, what then?”
“Then you and I will have to join forces. You wouldn’t go back on your
word, of course, and you’ll help me argue her into saying yes. Please,
most wise and sapient seignor, say I may go.” Joanne dropped on her
knees before her grandfather and held up her hands in supplication.
“You won’t, oh, I know you won’t afflict me so sorely as to deny your
consent, and send me down to the depths of despair. Sweet sir, do not
deny me here a suppliant for your favor.”
“You ridiculous child, get up. State precisely what you want me to do.”
Joanne settled herself upon her grandfather’s knee and began to toy
with the locks of hair which touched his forehead. “I want you to say
up and down, cross my heart, ‘Yes, Joanne, you may go.’ Then if Gradda
objects you must gird on your armor and do battle for me.”
“It strikes me that you are very capable of doing battle for yourself.”
“But what can one poor weak maid do alone? I need your valorous
assistance to bring her around to our point of view. Do you promise?”
She took her grandfather’s face between her hands. “I feel a fountain
of tears ready to gush forth at the very thought that you may desert me
in my hour of need.”
“Turn off the water works, and let us have no gushing of fountains.
I’ll promise to do my best.”
“Oh, you cunning, precious thing!” ejaculated Joanne giving him an
ardent kiss. Then she sat back and looked at him wistfully. “But you do
approve, don’t you? You’re not saying it because I cajoled you into it?”
Her grandfather laughed. “Don’t question me too closely.”
“Grad!” The tears were actually dimming her eyes.
“There, there, dear child,” he said patting her arm. “I do approve of
anything which makes you happy and in which I see no harm. There is no
reason in the world, which I can see, why you should not combine study
with pleasure when it comes about in this way.”
“Then come on, let’s get it over with.” Joanne jumped up, held out her
hand and together they went to find Mrs. Selden.
As was to be expected, there were objections raised at the outset, but
these were finally overcome in a measure when Joanne’s most telling
argument was launched. “Tell me, honest Injun, Gradda,” she said, “did
you never spend the night with your girl friends when you were my age?
When did you begin to do it?”
Mrs. Selden reflected. “I think I was about your age,” she admitted
at last, “but,” she added hastily, “it was not a custom. I went very
seldom, certainly not once a week as you propose to do.”
“But it won’t be every week,” argued Joanne. “If the weather is bad or
if any of us have some other thing we must do, we’ll call it off.”
Mrs. Selden counted the stitches in the piece of fancy work she was
doing before she answered. “Well,” she said finally, “I think you may
be permitted to go once at least; after that we will see.”
With this much of a triumph Joanne had to be satisfied. At least she
had neither whined nor wept, as she would have done in the old days.
Her grandfather had stood by her valiantly, putting in a word now and
then to help her cause, and she felt that she could let the future take
care of itself.
To the delight of all three girls the next Friday night was a
clear one, and, bearing wraps, lanterns, old umbrellas and other
paraphernalia, they climbed to the cupola after dinner amid much
laughter and many animated remarks. They found it rather chilly, but
they bundled up and managed to stick it out till ten o’clock.
“I really feel that we have accomplished something,” declared Claudia
as she led the way with her lantern down the first flight of stairs.
“It is everything to have made a beginning.”
“I am sure I shall always know Capella now,” said Joanne; “she is such
a nice Mother Goat watching her three little kids. I think I like her
better than any other star.”
“My favorite is Vega,” announced Winnie; “she is such a wonderful blue
star, but the trouble is that the stars rise and set at different times
according to the season and you can’t always find them in the same
place.”
“You can if you just spot Orion and take him as a guide,” said Claudia;
“at least you can find your star, though not in the same place.”
“I always pick out the Great Dipper as my guide,” said Joanne, “for I
can always find the North Star then.”
“It certainly is mighty interesting,” remarked Winnie with satisfaction
as they reached the second floor. “I hardly realized how the time
passed. If we keep on we’ll be sitting up all night to watch the stars.
I could scarcely believe it when you said it was ten o’clock.”
They passed on to Claudia’s room where they compared umbrellas and then
prepared for bed, rather a long process since there was much running
back and forth from the room Claudia and Winnie occupied together to
the one which Joanne had to herself, and when they settled down for the
night, it would be surprising if one at least did not dream of stars.
After this many a night did Joanne spend with Claudia, for having given
her consent in the first instance, Mrs. Selden had little excuse to
withhold it thereafter. By spring all three of the girls knew the “Song
of the Fifty Stars,” and had placed them on their maps. They knew, too,
the principal constellations, and felt that their Friday nights had not
been spent in vain.
The winter slipped away rapidly and all of a sudden spring was at hand.
Joanne gave a little tea to her school friends to celebrate the first
day of her acquaintance with them; then the Sunflower Troop gave her a
tea to celebrate her coming into their midst.
“You are our star member, you know,” said Winnie. “You have won more
badges in a year than any girl in the troop.”
“Still I’m not a Golden Eaglet,” replied Joanne, “and I thought I could
be in a year.”
“You expect too much, child,” returned Winnie. “Rome was not built in
a day, as I frequently remind you. You are on the high road to Golden
Eagletism, but you mustn’t try to fly too high or you’ll get lost in
the clouds.”
“But Clausie has reached her goal.”
“She’s been longer at it than you. Do you know I think you’re a wee bit
too ambitious.”
“But aren’t you working to the same end?”
“Yes, but I am not crazy to get there at one jump. I don’t want to use
up all my enthusiasm at one fell swoop. I want to keep something ahead.”
“I don’t seem to be built that way. I like to plunge in boldly and get
through with it, then do something else.”
“What next?”
“Oh, I don’t know; there will be something. Besides, knowing enough to
pass a test doesn’t mean that you have exhausted a subject.”
“There is something in that,” returned Winnie thoughtfully.
“Well, there’s one thing certain,” remarked Joanne, “I am glad I know
as much about the stars as I do; I may need them to guide me some
night.”
“That sounds just like you,” laughed Winnie. “I haven’t a doubt but
you have imagined a situation and revelled in it.”
Joanne looked a little confused. “Well, maybe I have, but it doesn’t
hurt to imagine what you would do under certain circumstances, then you
are prepared, and ‘Be prepared’ is our motto.”
“I’m floored,” cried Winnie. “I’ve nothing to say to that argument.”
A few days after this talk Joanne was called to the ’phone by her
Cousin Sue. “Want to go after trailing arbutus?” inquired Mrs. Pattison.
“I’ll say I do,” quickly replied Joanne with a little giggle.
“Bad child, I’ve a mind to leave you behind.”
“But you won’t, will you? Just change your mind back to your original
intention. When, where and how are you going?”
“We’re going this afternoon, early, up to the lodge. Ned will take us.
It is such a perfect spring day and I am wild to get into the woods.
Can you go?”
“I don’t see why not, but I’ll ask Gradda.”
“You go along and get ready and I’ll ask her. Tell her I want to speak
to her over the ’phone. Wear your rubbers and take a sweater, Joanne;
it will be cool coming back.”
Fortunately it was Saturday and there would be a long afternoon before
them, Joanne considered as she made her preparations. She had not been
up to the farm since that winter day when they had gone for Christmas
greens, and she longed to see Chico again; Pablo, too.
She rushed around gathering up rubbers and sweater which she thrust
into the little bag which she carried to Claudia’s for her Friday night
visits; it was just possible, she thought, that they might stay over
night and it was as well to be prepared.
The journey over the familiar road was soon made. Silver of river,
misty green of shores gladdened their way. An open fire was burning on
the hearth at the lodge, Unc’ Aaron had seen to that; the little house,
swept and garnished, looked none the worse for its silent wintering.
“We mustn’t lose any time,” said Mrs. Pattison. “While Ned is talking
things over with Mr. Clover we’ll off to the woods to find arbutus. I
know where there should be some.”
They climbed the high cliff behind the lodge, picking their way over
the rough winding path, then down to a little glen the other side. Mrs.
Pattison was the first to pounce upon a patch of the delicate waxen
flowers hidden under their blanket of brown leaves.
“That’s yours by right of discovery,” declared Joanne. “I’ll go hunt
for myself.”
“You must be on the watch for the green leaves peeping out of a cover
of brown,” her cousin counseled her.
“I see,” returned Joanne. “It’s lucky we wore our rubbers, for there
are ever so many tiny rivulets trying to find their way down the hill.
One has to go quite a circuitous route to get a crossing sometimes.”
She started off, pretty soon coming upon a modest plot of the arbutus.
“I’ve found some,” she called back.
Mrs. Pattison waved a reply and Joanne went on, soon becoming absorbed
in her search, while her cousin, equally busy, was presently out of
range of her voice.
Finding scant growth on this side the hill, Joanne climbed to the top
and disappeared down the other side while Mrs. Pattison continued on in
the direction she had started. It was such fascinating employment that
neither thought of much else, so Joanne went on and on more absorbed as
she found a greater abundance of the flowers the farther she went. In
course of time the little basket she carried was full. She arose from
her crouching position and looked around. She could not see the river
nor the canal, but shining between the trunks of the trees she saw a
pink-flecked sky.
“Dear me, how far I must have wandered,” said Joanne to herself. “It is
getting late, too. I must hurry back. Let me see.” She looked around
to get her bearings. “That is the sunset, of course. The sun sets up
the river, so I must go in a westerly direction, of course.” She stood
still and took a survey of her surroundings. “It doesn’t seem to me
that I came over that hill, but it must be the one, for I am confident
that I must travel west.”
She trudged along, after a while coming to a rough road through the
woods. It looked as if it had been used by teamsters. “I don’t remember
this,” said Joanne, “but probably it leads the right way, so I’ll
follow it.” She kept on for some time. The light faded. The woods
became dark. A little quiver of anxiety passed over Joanne. “If I could
only get out into the open,” she said, “I could tell exactly which way
to go. The sun must set in the west; it can’t help it. I’ll keep on
going.”
Again she took up her line of march and after a while she came to a
little open place where she could see a slender line of light on one
side and the pink clouds changing to purple on the other. She was
aghast. “I believe I am wrong after all,” she exclaimed. “Who could
tell that it was only the sunset’s reflection that I saw? I know that
sometimes the sky is more brilliant in the east at sundown than it is
in the west. I am all twisted up. I don’t know which way to go.” She
looked back into the gloomy shadows of the woods from which she had
just come. They seemed rather fearsome now, and the girl hesitated to
go back. “This road must lead somewhere,” she murmured. “It couldn’t
just happen. If I could only reach a point where I could see the river
I would know which way to go.”
Again she pressed ahead. It grew darker and darker. The road led
directly through the woods, and soon it became indistinct before
her, but at last she reached a clearing where stumps of trees stood
ghostily around her. She looked up. The stars were coming out. “Now I
can find my way,” she said exultantly. “Once I locate the North Star I
shall get my points.”
She suddenly realized that she was very tired. She sat down on a stump
and looked up at the heavens where the stars were growing brighter and
brighter. One after another she could distinguish them, and so learned
the direction she should go in order to reach the farm. She must
retrace her steps. At the thought of going through the dark woods alone
she shuddered. There might be more dangers there than in mere darkness.
She felt weary and faint. She had eaten nothing since the early lunch.
She dropped her head into her hands while the tears trickled between
her fingers.
“Why was I so silly as to wander off from Cousin Sue?” she said to
herself. “How worried they will be. I had no business to be such a
stupid creature.” She sat so for a few minutes, then jumped up with an
air of determination. “There’s no use in being a coward,” she went on.
“I don’t mean to sit here all night. Now shall I keep on following this
road or shall I go back?”
She stood still trying to make up her mind when suddenly she saw a
flicker of flame ahead. She walked on a few paces and then stopped. A
short distance away she saw two figures bending over a camp fire, then
she discovered the outlines of a small building. A habitation at last,
though it appeared to be only a rough log cabin. “If there are women
there it will be all right,” she told herself.
She crept closer, and stealthily regarded the two figures. Presently
one of them stood erect and she saw that he wore the uniform of a Boy
Scout!
With a little cry of joy she ran forward calling, “Boys! Boys!”
The boys quickly turned, to be astonished by the apparition of a slim
girl in a blue serge frock and sweater, a basket of flowers on her arm,
her hair dishevelled, her hands stained. “Ye gods and little fishes!”
exclaimed one of the boys.
The other one regarded her closely as she came nearer, then rushing
toward her with outstretched hands he cried, “By the living Jingo, if
it isn’t Joanne Selden!”
“Bob! Bob Marriott! how in the world did you get here?” said Joanne
half laughing, half crying.
“How did you get here? That’s more to the point,” said Bob, shaking her
hands vigorously.
“I lost my way,” admitted Joanne. “I don’t see how I did it, but I
mistook east for west and didn’t discover my mistake till the stars
came out.”
“But where did you start from? I thought you were in Washington.”
“I was this morning. I came up with Cousin Ned Pattison and his wife.
Cousin Sue and I went off to gather arbutus and I got separated from
her. Cousin Ned’s farm is somewhere hereabouts. In my present state of
mind I can’t tell you where, but it is where I should be this minute
and where I must be as soon as I can get there. They’ll be worried to
death, and probably are scouring the woods for me by now.”
“Mr. Pattison’s place, did you say?” said Bob’s friend, coming forward.
“Mr. Ned Pattison’s, yes; he is my cousin.”
“Oh, I know where that is all right,” said the boy.
“By the way,” interrupted Bob, “this is my friend, Jack Barry. This
is Joanne Selden, Jack. You’ve grown so, Joanne, it is a wonder I
recognized you.”
“Have you had any supper?” inquired Jack.
“No-o,” admitted Joanne.
“Then you must be mighty hungry. We’ll all have something to eat and
then we will escort you back.”
Joanne gave a deep sigh of relief. She was cold, hungry and weary, and
the prospect that all her needs would be supplied made her very willing
to sit down before the crackling blaze and accept the food offered. A
steaming cup of cocoa, bacon and eggs, bread and butter heartened her
completely, although she felt worried because of the anxiety she knew
her cousins must be feeling.
However the three comrades chatted happily over their supper and Joanne
learned that Bob had come to visit Jack Barry for the Easter holidays,
that Jack’s uncle owned the ground upon which they were, and that the
two boys had walked up from Washington.
“You see,” said Jack, “my uncle sold the timber from this piece of
forest, and they have just finished cutting. They had a sawmill set up
and that little shack is where the woodcutters lived. The road you came
over is the one that was used for the teams that hauled the timber.
They have cut out the big timber and have left only that which isn’t
fit for cutting. Uncle Phil said we boys could use the shack if we
wanted to, and we think it is a great scheme.”
“We’ve been busy getting it cleaned up,” Bob said, “for of course it
was left in a pretty bad state.”
Joanne peeped into the little cabin when Bob went to get two lanterns
and Jack extinguished the fire. It was a rough-looking place with bunks
at one side, a clumsy table, a couple of benches and a few shelves,
but, as Bob said, it served.
In a few minutes the three started off, Joanne feeling very safe under
the escort of the two Boy Scouts. Mr. Pattison’s farm adjoined that
owned by Jack’s uncle, and soon they were in sight of the river. A
little further on they heard some one calling, then the clatter of
hoofs, and presently appeared a horse and rider dashing toward them.
“It’s Pablo and Chico!” cried Joanne stopping short.
The little pony whinnied and came to a standstill. Pablo swung himself
to the ground, dropped on his knees and cried: “_Gracias a Dios!_ it
is the señorita!”
“Quite safe and sound,” declared Joanne. “Here are my two rescuers,
Pablo. One of them is an old friend. Do you remember him?”
“Why, hello, Pablo,” exclaimed Bob, “do you remember me?”
Pablo stared. “It is _mi amigo_ Roberto,” he exclaimed.
“We are getting surprises all around,” said Bob. “I certainly am glad
to see you again. I have often wondered where you were, Pablo. You
never told us when you were writing to mother,” he said in an aside to
Joanne.
“Oh, dear, no; I always had so much else to tell her, about the Girl
Scouts and school and all that.”
“The señorita must return on Chico,” said Pablo. “Unc’ Aaron have a
horse to ride the roads, the cousin of you, Mr. Pattison, another. Who
is find you make a signal of fire from the hilltop.”
“You’ll come too, to keep me in countenance, won’t you?” said Joanne to
the other two boys, as she mounted the pony.
“I suppose we may as well see the adventure to a finish.” Bob looked at
Jack.
“I’m with you,” replied Jack.
So the rescued maiden, on her palfrey and with her body-guard,
proceeded safely through the dark forest.