FOUR CELEBRATIONS
Next morning at breakfast, each of the four girls found a note at her
plate. The notes were all alike, and they read:
Mr. Jefferson Forbes, because of his great delight over the discovery
of his lost piece of property, invites you to a celebration occasion,
to-morrow, Thursday evening. Mr. Forbes would say, also, that he has
obtained the consent of all interested parents, that you may stay till
Saturday. Mr. Jefferson Forbes will be glad of suggestions as to what
form said celebration shall assume.
They all laughed at the formal style and stilted language of the notes,
and were amazed at the information that they were to make a longer
visit than they had thought.
Mrs. Berry smiled at the shower of questions that followed the reading
of the notes, but she only said, "Don't ask me, my dears. After
breakfast, Mr. Forbes will meet you in the reception room and discuss
it."
So a merry group of four awaited the coming of their host in the pretty
little reception room.
"Good morning," he said, cheerily, as he entered, "What an attractive
bunch of humanity! Four smiling faces and eight bright eyes! I greet
you all."
With an old-fashioned bow, he took a seat near them, and asked, "Did
you receive certain important documents?"
"We did," replied Bernice. "May we have further enlightenment?"
"You may, and first I will remove that anxious look from Dolly's face,
by saying that her mother is perfectly willing that she should stay
here the rest of the week."
"Oh, goody!" cried Dolly. "How did you ask her? By telephone?"
"Yes. So pleased was I over the developments of last evening, that I
telephoned all the powers that be, and arranged for an extension to our
house party. Are you glad?"
"Indeed we are," chorused the girls, and Uncle Jeff went on.
"Now, our celebration is to be just whatever you want. And if you don't
all want the same thing, you can all have different things. So just
state your preferences."
"I know mine," said Alicia, "it is to go to Muriel Brown's party on
Friday night. She asked us, and I'd love to go."
"That's one," said her uncle. "Of course you can all go to the party.
Now, Bernice, what do you choose?"
"I'd like to go to the opera," said Bernice. "Grand opera, I mean. I've
never been but once, and I'd love to go."
"Good! We'll go to-night. If you all agree?"
They certainly did agree to that, and then Mr. Forbes asked the two D's
to choose.
"I want to go to the Metropolitan Museum,--with you!" said Dolly, half
afraid to ask such a boon. But Mr. Forbes seemed pleased, and declared
he would be delighted to go with her, and explain the exhibits and the
others could go or not, as they liked. All decided in favour of going,
and then Dotty was asked to choose.
"Don't laugh at me," said Dotty, "but I'd like to have a party. Only,
not a big one. Just us four girls, and the four boys, that we know the
best; Geordie, Ted, Marly Turner and Sam Graves. I like that sort of a
party better than the big, dressy ones."
"Why, Dot Rose!" exclaimed Alicia, "I thought you liked the big dances."
"So I do, if I knew the people. But I think it would be lots of fun to
have a few, and have a less formal party. I'd like to ask Muriel Brown,
and two or three of those girls we met with her, the other day, and
then, have a few more boys; but not a hundred, like Muriel had."
"A good plan," said Mr. Forbes, "because you couldn't invite a large
party on such short notice. So, make out your list, Dotty, and invite
them by telephone at once. Mrs. Berry will help you, and will arrange
all details. Let me see, you can have that party to-morrow night; go to
the opera to-night; go to Muriel's party on Friday night, and go home
on Saturday. The museum we can visit any afternoon. I thank you for
your kind attention."
"Oh, Uncle Jeff, we thank YOU for your kindness, all of it," cried
Alicia. "You have been so very good to us, and now you are doing a lot
more for our pleasure."
"Have you enjoyed it all, so far, Alicia?" and her uncle looked at her
inquiringly.
"Oh, yes, sir, indeed I have! I was troubled about the lost earring,
but that was not your fault."
"Nor the fault of any of you girls," said Mr. Forbes. "As I have hinted
to you, I have a reason for this visit you are making me, beside a
desire to give you pleasure. I am considering a serious matter and this
stay of yours in my house is helping me to a decision."
"What can it be, Uncle?" cried Bernice. "Tell us, so we can help you
more, and more intelligently."
"I will tell you Saturday morning," he returned with a smile. "Perhaps
in that time other developments may occur that will alter my final
decision in the matter."
"It sounds most mysterious," laughed Dolly, "can't we guess what it's
all about?"
"You may guess, if you like, but I don't promise to tell you if you
guess correctly. And I don't mind adding, that I feel pretty sure you
couldn't guess correctly, if you tried!"
"No use trying, then!" said Alicia, gaily. "Oh, I'm so glad we're going
to stay longer. I want to do a lot of things beside the celebrations
we've just planned. I do think you're the best and kindest uncle in the
whole world! I've got a secret, too, and some day I'm going to tell it
to you all."
"Secrets seem to be the order of the day," laughed Dolly; "we'll have
to scrape up one, Dot."
"Well, it's no secret that we're having one grand, glorious, good
time!" said Dotty. "What's on for this morning?"
Mr. Forbes went off to his own room then, and the girls planned out all
they should do for the rest of their stay in the city.
There was some shopping, some sight-seeing and some errands yet undone
but they at last agreed on a programme that would suit everybody.
Dotty's party, as they called it, took place on Thursday night, and she
had her way about having it a small gathering. There were about twenty
in all, and according to Dotty's wishes it was not only a dancing
party. There were games as well as dances, for Dotty loved games.
Some of the city young people were at first inclined to laugh at the
idea of games, but when they began to take part in these that Dotty had
planned they became exceedingly interested.
One was an "Observation Test," up in Mr. Forbes' museum.
At Dotty's request, he had allowed the collection rooms to be opened to
the guests, and this very special dispensation was so appreciated by
all that they were most exceedingly careful not to handle the rare
specimens or touch the exhibits.
This state of things lent itself beautifully to the game. Each player
was asked to walk about for half an hour and look at the curios and
treasures, and at the expiration of the time, to return to the drawing
room, and spend ten minutes writing down the names of such objects as
could be remembered.
This game, most of them had played before, with a table full of less
interesting exhibits. But in the wonderful museum rooms of Mr. Forbes
it was quite another story.
So eagerly did the young people observe and examine the things, that
the half hour allotted for that purpose slipped away all too soon.
And then they sat down to write their lists, and that too proved an
absorbing occupation.
Our four girls wrote lists, just for fun, but did not compete for the
prizes, as, knowing the exhibit so well, that would not have been fair.
Muriel Brown took the first prize, and the hostesses were glad of it
for it was pleasant to have Muriel so honoured.
The prize was a gold penholder, and the boys' prize, which Marly Turner
won, was a similar gift.
After it was over, another game was played. This was ribbon cutting.
Girls and boys, stood at either end of the long drawing-room. To each
girl was given the end of a piece of long, narrow ribbon, and a pair of
scissors. The other end of each ribbon was held by a boy, who likewise
had a pair of scissors.
At a signal, each player started cutting the ribbon straight through
the middle. If the scissors slipped and cut through the selvage, the
player was out of the game. It was not easy, for the ribbon was narrow,
and there was a strong impulse to hurry, which made for crooked
cutting. The middle of each piece of ribbon was marked by a knot, and
whoever reached the knot first, was the winner of that pair. The one
who finished first of all, received a special prize.
The game caused great laughter and sport, and the city young people
declared they enjoyed it quite as much as dancing.
Then the feast was served, and very beautiful and elaborate it was. The
celebration, Mr. Forbes had said, was to be especially for the two D's,
as it was Dotty's choice, and Dolly's choice of a visit to the museum
provided little opportunity for gaiety.
The table showed two great floral D's, one at either end. Dotty's was
made of red roses, and Dolly's of pink roses. Every guest had as a
souvenir, some pretty and valuable little trinket, and at every place
was a small D made of flowers.
Cakes, ices, jellies, and all such things as could be so shaped, were
cut in the form of D's, and our two girls felt greatly honoured to see
their initial so prominently and beautifully displayed.
In the centre of the table was a huge French Doll, of the finest type.
It was dressed in silk covered with polka dots, and its hat and parasol
were of silk to match.
Everybody laughed when Mr. Forbes pointed out that it was Dotty Dolly!
And all agreed it was a most clever and appropriate symbol.
After supper there was dancing, and a fine orchestra furnished the
music. Our girls liked dancing pretty well, but often they sat out a
dance talking to one or another of their guests.
Once, as Dolly passed along the hall, chatting with Geordie Knapp, they
heard rather loud voices behind the closed door of the little reception
room.
Rather surprised that the door should be shut at all, that evening,
Dolly paused involuntarily, and Geordie stood by her side. They had no
intention of eavesdropping; indeed, Geordie thought perhaps some new
game was about to be announced.
But to Dolly's amazement, she heard Alicia's voice saying, "Oh, I
cannot! I dare not!"
The tones were quivering with emotion, and Dolly couldn't help
listening for the next words. She feared Alicia was troubled about
something; indeed, she didn't know what she feared.
And, next came a voice that was unmistakably; Marly Turner's, saying,
"Do, dear! Oh, TRUST me,--_I_ will take care of you!"
"But it is a desperate step!" exclaimed Alicia, "if I should ever
regret it!"
"You will not regret it, dearest," Marly said, "I will never LET you
regret it! Your own mother eloped; it is fitting you should do so, too."
Dolly looked at Geordie, her face white with horror.
Alicia, planning an elopement! And with Marly Turner! She laid her hand
on the knob of the door.
"Don't!" said Geordie, "don't you get mixed up in a thing like that! Is
Alicia Steele that sort of a girl?"
"I don't know," faltered Dolly. "I heard Bernice hint once that
Alicia's mother did elope with her father,--but, Alicia! Why, she isn't
seventeen, yet!"
"Well, that's old enough to know what she's about. I advise you, Dolly,
not to go in there. Tell Mr. Forbes, if you like."
"Oh, I couldn't tell on Alicia!"
And, then, as they still stood there, too fascinated to move away,
Alicia said, "Yes, to-morrow night. I will steal out after the house is
quiet,--oh, my hero! my idol!"
"My angel!" exclaimed Marly, in a deep, thrilled voice, and Dolly
turned away, sick at heart.
"I don't know what to do!" she said to Geordie, as they went on to the
drawing room, where the dancers were.
"Don't do anything," he advised. "It's none of your business. That
Steele girl isn't like you, she's a different type. If she wants to cut
up such didoes, don't you mix in it. Let her alone. I knew Marly liked
her,--he said so,--but I didn't suppose he'd do such a thing as that!
But I shan't say a word to him. We're good friends, but not chums.
Marly's a good chap, but he's awfully anxious to act grown up, and my
stars! he's doing so! Elope with the Steele girl! Jiminy!" "I can't
bear to tell on Alicia," said Dolly, "and yet, I can't think I ought to
let her go ahead and do this thing. She's so fond of romance, and
excitement, she doesn't realise what she's doing."
Later on, Dolly saw Alicia and young Turner emerge from the reception
room, and saunter toward the drawing room. They were talking earnestly,
in whispers. Alicia's cheeks were pink, and her manner a little
excited. Marly looked important, and bore himself with a more grown up
air than usual. Dolly and Geordie looked at each other, and shook their
heads. It was only too evident that the two were planning some secret
doings. They went off by themselves and sat on a davenport in a corner
of the room, and continued to converse in whispers, oblivious to all
about them.
Dolly and Geordie purposely walked past the other pair, and distinctly
heard Marly say something about a rope ladder.
"It's part of the performance," he urged, as Alicia seemed to demur.
Then she smiled sweetly at him, and said, "All right, then, just as you
say."
"It's perfectly awful!" said Dolly, as they walked on. "I've simply got
to tell Dotty, anyway."
"Oh, I wouldn't," expostulated Geordie; "I don't believe they'll pull
it off. Somebody will catch on and put a stop to it."
"Maybe and maybe not," said Dolly, dubiously. "Alicia is awfully
clever, and if she sets out to do a thing, she generally carries it
through. And her head is full of crazy, romantic thoughts. She'd rather
elope than to go back to school, I know she would. She told me she'd do
anything to get out of going back to school."
"That makes it look serious," agreed Geordie. "Still I don't think you
ought to mix yourself up in it, unless you just tell the whole story to
Mr. Forbes."
"I hate to be a tattle-tale," and Dolly looked scornful. "But if it's
for Alicia's good, maybe I ought to."
"Look at them now! Their heads close together, and whispering like
everything!"
"Yes, they're planning for their getaway!"
During the rest of the evening, Dolly watched Alicia, feeling mean to
do it, and yet unable to keep herself from it.
At last the guests went home, one and all exclaiming at the good time
they had had. Marly Turner bade Dolly good night, with a smiling face.
"I've had the time of my life!" he declared.
"I've not seen much of you," said Dolly, pointedly.
"I know it. Too bad! I wanted to dance with you oftener, but the time
was so short."
"And you found another charmer?"
"Well, Alicia sure is a wonder, isn't she? You know she is!"
"Yes, she is," said Dolly, and for the life of her, she couldn't frown
on the happy-hearted youth.
Marly went off, and the others followed.
"I'm not going to talk things over to-night," said Dolly, when the four
were alone. "I'm tired, and I'm going straight to bed."