TWO LETTERS
Shortly after Grace returned to her room Emma joined her.
"Where did you go? You are not the only one whose correspondents rose
nobly to the occasion," she exulted, holding up several letters. "You
haven't read yours yet, have you. Let's get ready for bed, put on our
dressing gowns, and have a letter reading orgy."
"All right," agreed Grace. "I've already opened one of mine. It was from
Anne. She sends her love to you, and what do you think, Emma?" Grace
lowered her voice. "She has secured a New York engagement for Evelyn
Ward. I saw Miss Ward to-night, but something is troubling her. When I
went to the door to tell her what Anne had done she began to cry. I
couldn't find out what ailed her, and the more I talked the harder she
cried. She said, however, that she couldn't accept Anne's offer. She
thinks she won't come back to Overton."
"Happy Overton," commented Emma unsympathetically. "Now hurry into your
dressing gown and let's begin our letters."
Evelyn appeared at breakfast the next morning looking weary and haggard.
Her face was very pale and her eyes were heavy. By night, however, she
seemed to have regained something of her old poise. Covertly watching
her, Grace noticed that for some unknown reason she was much subdued.
Several days afterward she came to Grace and finally refused Anne's
offer. "But are you quite certain that you are acting wisely, Miss
Ward?" Grace asked in perplexed amazement. "Last winter you were anxious
to go into dramatic work."
"I have changed my mind," was Evelyn's sole reply.
Grace wrote to Anne advising her of Evelyn's refusal, but adding that
she wished Anne would keep Evelyn in mind. "I can't help feeling that
she is acting against her real desires and that later she will realize
her mistake."
The little that was left of April passed quickly. Life went on placidly
enough at Harlowe House, although Grace found few idle moments. With the
first of June she began a detailed report of her year's work to be
presented to the faculty and to Mrs. Gray. This report had not been
required of her. She was making it merely for her own satisfaction. With
her it was a matter of pride in having been a faithful steward. She had
tried to safeguard not only the interests of the girls under her roof,
but Mrs. Gray's interests as well.
"I hope I've been a good house mother," she murmured wistfully, as,
seated in her office one bright Friday afternoon, she worked on her
report. The ring of the postman caused her to lay down her pen and hurry
into the hall. To her surprise she saw Evelyn Ward had forestalled her.
She had opened the door for the postman, and now stood rapidly going
over the pile of letters in her hand. Grace saw her separate two letters
from the pile. At this instant Evelyn glanced up. She uttered a sharp
exclamation of surprise when she saw Grace standing beside her. Two
letters fell from her hands.
Grace stooped to pick them up. "Did I startle you, Miss Ward? I did not
mean to. I did not know you were in the house. I thought the girls had
gone to their classes."
[Illustration: "Did I Startle You, Miss Ward?"]
"I--I--am late," stammered Evelyn. "I'm going to my botany recitation in
a minute. I--expected a letter. Here is the mail." She thrust the
letters she had been holding into Grace's hand, and, turning, almost ran
up the stairs.
For an instant Grace's eyes followed Evelyn's disappearing figure, then
she turned her attention to the letters. She still held the two she had
picked up from the floor in her one hand. Glancing at them she saw that
they were both addressed to her. No doubt Evelyn had intended to leave
them on her desk. Rapidly sorting the other letters she found another
for herself in Anne's handwriting. Placing the letters for the various
members of the household in the bulletin board Grace retired to her
office to read Anne's letter.
"DEAREST GRACE:
"Just a line to tell you that the part in 'The Reckoning' is still
open. Mr. Forest cannot find the type of girl he wishes for the
part. She must be dazzlingly, but naturally, blonde and very
beautiful. I am sure if he were to see Miss Ward he would engage
her at once, even though she has had no dramatic experience. Why
not let her read this note? Perhaps she may change her mind. She
will never have a better opportunity. I am ready and willing to
help her. Am writing in a rush. It is almost time for me to go on.
With much love. Will write more fully later.
"Yours as ever, ANNE."
Grace laid down the letter with a slight frown. Since Evelyn's first
refusal to consider Anne's proposal Grace had held little communication
with her. Of late Evelyn had gone about her affairs with a curious air
of repression, which reminded Grace of the terrible calm that so often
precedes a storm.
"I'll watch for her when she comes in from her classes and give her
Anne's letter," said Grace, half aloud. She picked up the next envelope
and looked curiously at the unfamiliar writing. The postmark was all but
obliterated. Tearing the envelope she drew forth the letter, unfolded it
and read:
"DEAR MISS HARLOWE:
"More than once I have planned to write and thank you for your
goodness to Evelyn, but I have been so very busy that the time has
slipped by faster than I realized. Fortunately, for Evelyn and me,
I have had a great deal of work to do and have been in
exceptionally good health, so that it has been easier than I
thought to raise the money to pay her college fees. I will enclose
the second payment of her fee in a letter which I am writing to
her. I have mentioned in my letter to her that I have written to
you. I thank you many times for your goodness to my little sister
and trust that she has been truly appreciative of your kindness to
her. Trusting that you have been well and that you have met with
the greatest success in your year's work. With grateful thanks and
best wishes.
"Yours sincerely,
"IDA WARD."
Grace read the letter through three times. When she raised her eyes from
it her face wore an expression of mingled horrified suspicion and
unbelief. Surely it could not be possible, and yet--before her mental
eyes flashed the vision of that wet January afternoon when she had come
back to Harlowe House from her Christmas vacation and had been greeted
by the sound of Evelyn's sobs as she passed her door. How she had gone
to Evelyn's room and there heard the pitiful story of Ida Ward's illness
and her failure to send Evelyn's college fees, and of how, through the
Semper Fidelis Fund, she had come forward and bridged Evelyn's
difficulty.
What did it mean? "She must have--" muttered Grace. In her agitation she
spoke aloud. Then she stopped abruptly. She would not condemn Evelyn
without a hearing, but Evelyn would have to explain, if explanation were
possible. She laid the letter on her desk and turning away from it tore
open the last envelope, which bore the name of a business house in one
corner. It contained a bill from Hanford's, the largest department store
in Overton. At the bottom was written. "This account is long overdue.
Please remit at once." Grace had a charge account at Hanford's on which,
occasionally, she allowed certain girls in the house to buy goods,
merely as a matter of accommodation to them. Her gaze traveled down the
list of items in bewilderment.
"Why!" she exclaimed. "I never bought a gown there that cost
seventy-five dollars, or silk stockings or a scarf. There must be some
mistake. I know that none of the girls have either. I haven't bought
anything since February. Let me see. It's only three o'clock. I think
I'll walk down to Hanford's and have the matter adjusted. I must see
Evelyn too, as soon as she comes in."
Grace went upstairs for her hat and was soon on her way to the business
center of Overton. Her impatience to learn the truth received its first
check with the indifferent assurance of the clerk that Mr. Anderson, the
man in charge of the department of accounts, was busy upstairs.
"Then I'll wait for him." With a sigh of resignation she sat down on the
oak seat just outside the office window to wait.
It was twenty minutes past four when Mr. Anderson appeared.
"I can't let you know about this at once," was the accountant's
discouraging response when Grace laid the matter before him. "We'll take
it up with the saleswoman, then write you."
"Very well. I shall expect to hear from you within the next three days."
Grace turned away, far from satisfied. Yet there was nothing else to do.
Long since she had learned that the system employe of a department store
is a law unto himself, and as unchangeable in his methods as the most
stubborn Mede or Persian ever dreamed of being.
And now for her interview with Evelyn. How could she best approach the
girl whom she suspected of having first shamefully betrayed her sister's
confidence, then purposely misrepresented matters to her? And what had
Evelyn done with the money? These and similar painful questions occupied
her thoughts so fully that she did not realize that she had reached
Harlowe House until she found herself ascending the front steps.
Without giving herself time to consider delaying the disagreeable
interview, Grace hurried up the stairs. To her surprise Evelyn's door
stood partially open. She peered into the room, but it was empty of an
occupant. Stepping inside she glanced about her. Evelyn's hat was gone.
She had come in from her classes and gone out again.
Grace went slowly downstairs. She was sorry that she had not been able
to have her talk with Evelyn before the others came in from their day's
recitations. She decided to wait until after dinner. When Evelyn went to
her room she would follow her there. The longer she delayed facing
Evelyn with her sister's letter the harder the task would become. But at
dinner time Evelyn's place was vacant.
At ten o'clock that night she had not come in.
Becoming alarmed Grace telephoned to Althea Parker to know if Evelyn
were with her. In reply to her anxious inquiry Althea declared she had
not seen Evelyn for two days. Uncertain as to the wisest course to
pursue Grace concluded to wait until Emma came in from an evening's
visit with Patience Eliot.
It was almost eleven o'clock when Emma returned.
"I'm so glad you've come," greeted Grace as her friend entered their
room. "Evelyn Ward hasn't come in yet and I'm worried about her. I saw
her this afternoon, but she hasn't been here since then."
"Very likely she is with Miss Parker." Emma spoke in an unconcerned
tone.
"No she isn't. I telephoned Miss Parker. She hasn't seen Evelyn for two
days."
"She hasn't?" Emma glanced at Grace in surprise. The ring of anxiety in
Grace's voice had not been lost upon her. "What's happened, Gracious!"
she asked.
For answer Grace handed Ida Ward's letter to Emma. "Read it," she
commanded.
Emma read the letter. "Do you think--" she began.
"What do _you_ think?" interrupted Grace. "What can one think? Evelyn
received her letter from Ida Ward before I received this. She knew that
this letter was on the way. This afternoon I found her at the door
sorting the mail. She had two letters in one hand, which she had
separated from the others. When she saw me she dropped the two. I
stooped to pick them up. Both of them were for me. I said, 'Did I
startle you, Miss Ward?' and she stammered something about expecting a
letter. She shoved the other letters into my hands and ran upstairs. I
haven't seen her since."
"Who was the other letter from that she had picked out?"
"Oh, it was a bill from Hanford's. I--" Grace stopped short and stared
at Emma. A horrible suspicion had seized her. She was afraid that she
now understood the meaning of the bill she had received. In one of those
curious, illumining flashes, which sometimes reveal in an instant what
seems hopelessly obscure, she had hit upon the truth.
Briefly she outlined the situation to Emma, who had long been her
confidante.
"You'd better let matters rest till to-morrow," advised Emma. "It's too
late to try to find her to-night. We would only create comment and
arouse suspicion if we telephone to the houses where her friends live.
It wouldn't surprise me if she had left Overton for good and all."
"We must find her," declared Grace with decision.
"What will you do with her if you do find her?"
"I don't know. That will depend entirely upon her. You are right,
though, about waiting until morning. We must protect her from the
consequences of her own foolishness. For she isn't wicked, Emma. She has
been carried away by vanity and love of dress. Perhaps if we gave her
another chance she would live all this down and be a different girl."
"Perhaps," Emma's tone was skeptical. "For the sake of the community at
large let us hope for this much-to-be-desired metamorphosis."
But the next morning brought news of Evelyn in the shape of a letter
addressed to Grace, which came on the first delivery of the mail for the
day. With eager fingers Grace opened it. A slip of blue paper fluttered
to the floor as she unfolded it. Picking it up she saw it was a money
order made payable to Evelyn Ward, then she read:
"DEAR MISS HARLOWE:
"When you receive this letter I shall be far away from Harlowe
House. I have done dreadful things and I cannot face you. All I can
do is to go away where no one knows me, and begin over again. I
used the money Ida sent me in the fall for my college fees to buy
an evening dress. Then I told you that she was ill. I cried
purposely to gain your sympathy because I knew about the Semper
Fidelis Fund and was sure you would help me. I meant to pay it all
back to you, and so I am going to New York to get work and do it,
even though it takes me a long, long time.
"But there is something still more dreadful to tell you. I wanted
another new evening gown to wear to the Willston dance. I had paid
my college fees for the year, so I thought I could take the money
that Ida sent me for my payment and buy a gown and other things
which I wanted. But Ida wrote and said she couldn't send the money
just then, so I went to Hanford's department store and bought the
things. I had them charged to your account. When the bill came I
was terribly frightened. I thought they wouldn't send it for a long
time. I just happened to see it in the bulletin board, so I took it
out and tore it up.
"Then I went to Mary Reynolds and tried to get her to lend me some
of the treasury money until my money came, but she wouldn't do it.
That is why she cried so often. When the first of May came I
watched the bulletin board and took the bill again. It had
Hanford's address in one corner so I knew it. All the time I kept
hoping that Ida would send my money before it was too late.
Yesterday morning it came, but in her letter she said she had
written to you and told you how well she had been and about her
work. I knew it would be dreadful for me if you received her
letter, but I did not know when it would come, so I stayed away
from my classes and watched the mail. I had the letter from Ida and
the bill from the store in my hands when you surprised me this
afternoon. You picked them up before I had a chance to do so. Then
I knew that there was just one thing to do and that was to go away.
"Please take the money order and pay the bill at the store. I will
pay Semper Fidelis as soon as I can. I will write Ida and tell her
how badly I have behaved, and when I go to work in New York I will
send for my trunk. It is packed and ready to be shipped.
"Forgive me if you can. I am sorry for everything. I wish I had been
different. Good-bye and thank you for your great kindness to me. I
did not deserve it. Please don't try to find me.
"Penitently,
"EVELYN WARD."
For a time Grace sat at her desk with the letter in her hand. Then she
stood up with the air of one who has come to a definite decision. "I'll
go to New York City to-day to look for her," she said half aloud. "I
believe she will try to get work at one of the theaters. Mr. Southard
and Anne will help me find her. She must come back to Overton. I feel
sure that she has suffered enough over this trouble to have learned her
lesson."
Grace ran upstairs and burst into her room with, "Emma, Evelyn has gone
to New York! I'm going to take the next train there. Read this letter.
It will tell you everything. I haven't time. I must make that 9.15
train."
Grace was in the middle of a hasty toilet when a knock sounded on the
door.
Emma answered it.
"Here's a telegram for Miss Harlowe." The maid held out a yellow
envelope.
Grace tore it open. One glance at the telegram and she began a joyful
dance about the room, waving it over her head. "Hurrah for Kathleen
West! She found Evelyn! Read it."
She held the telegram before Emma's eyes.
"Evelyn with me. Return Overton Sunday. All well
"KATHLEEN."
read Emma aloud. Turning to Grace she quoted with whimsical tenderness,
"To Kathleen West, girls, drink her down." Then with twinkling eyes she
added, "There's only one thing that I can say to express my sentiments,
and, with my sincerest apologies to the august faculty which trustfully
engaged me to teach English, I say it with heartfelt fervor, 'Can you
beat it?'"