HEADQUARTERS
"Well, lads and lassies--or lassies and lads, it's due you to hear all
I've found out concerning Ananias and Sapphira. I don't believe that
those are their real names but I've heard no other. The curious old
man who left them here is, presumably, insane on the subject of
religion. He appeared on the mountain early in the summer, with these
little ones, and preempted that tumble-down cottage over the bluff
beyond our gates. Most of you know it by sight; eh?"
"Yes, indeed! It looks as if it had been thrown over the edge of the
road, just there where it's so steep. Old Griselda, the lodge-keeper's
wife I live with claims it's haunted, and always has been. Hans says
not, except by tramps and such," answered James Barlow.
"Tramps? Are tramps on this mountain? Oh! I don't like that. I'd have
been afraid to come if I'd known that!" protested Molly Breckenridge
with a little shiver.
Of course they all laughed at her and Monty valiantly assured her:
"Don't you worry. I'm here." Then added as an after-thought, "and so
are the other boys."
Laughter came easily that Monday morning and it was Monty's turn to
get his share of it, and he accepted it with great good nature. They
were such a happy company with almost a whole week of unknown
enjoyment before them, and the gravity of Mr. Seth's face did not
affect their own hilarity. Dorothy had confided to Alfaretta that she
had written to Mrs. Calvert for "another hundred dollars" and the
matter was a "secret" between these two.
"You, Alfy dear, because you never had, and likely never will have, a
hundred dollars of your own, may have the privilege of planning what
we will do with mine. That's to prove I love you; and if you plan nice
things--real nice ones, Alfy--I'll spend it just as you want."
Sensible, but not too-sensitive, Alfaretta shook her head, and asked:
"Do you know how to make a hare pie?"
"Why, of course not. How should I? I'm not a cook!"
"First catch your hare! You haven't got your money yet and I shan't
wear my brains out, plannin' no plans--yet. You couldn't get up nicer
times'n the Master does, and he hasn't spent a cent on this House
Party, so far forth as I know, savin' what he put in the collection
plate to church, yesterday. Come on; he promised to tell all he'd
found out about the twinses and all the rest of us is listenin' to him
now."
So Dorothy had followed to the wide piazza where the young people had
grouped themselves affectionately about their beloved Master; who now
repeated for the newcomers' information:
"The old man is the children's grandfather, on their father's side.
The twins are orphans, whom the mother's family repudiate, and he has
cared for them, off and on, ever since their father died, as their
mother did when they were born."
"Oh! the poor little creatures!" cried Helena Montaigne, and snuggled
a twin to her side; while there were tears in Molly Breckenridge's
eyes as she caressed the other.
"I said 'off and on.' The off times are when the old man is seized by
the desire to preach to anyone who will listen. Then he wanders away,
sleeps where the night finds him, and eats what charity bestows.
Ordinarily, he does not so much as place the babies anywhere; just
leaves them to chance. When they are with him he is very stern with
them, punishing them severely if they disobey his least command; and
they are greatly afraid of him. Well, here they are! I've tried to
place them elsewhere, in a legitimate home; but I hesitate about an
Orphanage until--Time sometimes softens hard hearts!" with this
curious ending Mr. Winters relapsed into a profound reverie and
nobody presumed to disturb him.
Until Mabel Bruce suddenly demanded:
"Where's their other clothes?"
The farrier laughed. Mabel was an interesting study to him. He had
never seen a little girl just like her; and he answered promptly:
"That's what neither Norah nor I can find out. Only from the
appearance of some ashes in the fireplace of the hut I fear they have
been burned. I took Norah down there early this morning, for a woman
sees more than a man, but even she was disappointed. However, that's
easily remedied. One of the Headquarters we shall visit is in
Newburgh, where are also many shops. Some of you girls must take the
little tackers to one of these places and outfit them with what is
actually needed. Nothing more; and I will pay the bill."
"Beg pardon, Mr. Seth, but you will not! I will pay myself," cried
Dorothy, eagerly.
"With what, Dolly dear? I thought you were the most impecunious young
person of the lot."
"I am--just now; but I shan't be long," answered the young hostess,
with a confident wink in Alfaretta's direction. To which that
matter-of-fact maid replied by a contemptuous toss of her head and the
enigmatical words:
"Hare pie!"
"Wagons all ready, Mr. Winters!" announced a stable boy, appearing
around the house corner.
"Passengers all ready!" shouted Danny Smith, perhaps the very happiest
member of that happy Party. Never in his short, hard-worked life had
he recreated for a whole week, with no chores to do, no reprimands to
hear, and no solitude in distant corn-fields where the only sound he
heard was the whack-whack of his own hoe. A week of idleness, jolly
companionship, feasting and luxury--Danny had to rub his eyes,
sometimes, to see if he were really awake.
"All ready, all?"
"All ready!"
Much in the order of their Sunday's division they settled themselves
for the drive to Newburgh, where the first stop was to be made, except
that Molly Breckenridge declared she must ride beside Dorothy, having
something most important to discuss with her friend. Also, she
insisted that the twins ride with them, on the wagon-bottom between
their feet.
"They can't fall out that way, and it's about them--I'll tell
everybody later."
It was an hour when nobody wished to dash the pleasure of anybody
else, so Mr. Seth nodded compliance; saying:
"Then I'll take this other little lady alongside myself!" and lifted
Luna to the place.
This time she showed neither fear nor hesitation. She accepted the
situation with that blankly smiling countenance she wore when she was
physically comfortable, and the horses had not traveled far before her
head drooped against the Master's shoulder, as it had against
Dorothy's, and she fell asleep.
"Poor thing! She has so little strength. She looks well but the least
exertion exhausts her. Like one who has been imprisoned till he has
lost the use of his limbs. I wonder who she is! I wonder, are we doing
right not to advertise her!" thought the farrier; then contented
himself with his former arguments against the advertising and the fact
that Mrs. Calvert would soon be coming home and would decide the
matter at once.
"Cousin Betty can solve many a riddle, and will this one. Meanwhile,
the waif is well cared for and as happy as she can ever be, I fancy.
Best not to disturb her yet."
When the wagon stopped at the door of the old stone Headquarters on
the outskirts of Newburgh city, Helena said:
"It will save time, Mr. Winters, if some of us drive on to the
business streets and do the shopping for these twins. I'm familiar
with this old house--have often brought our guests to see it; so I
could help in the errands."
"And I!" "And I!" cried Molly and Dolly, together. "Our school used
to come here to study history, sometimes, right from the very things
themselves. Besides--" Here Molly gave her chum such a pinch on the
arm that Dolly ended her explanation with a squeal.
So it was quickly settled. Mr. Winters handed Helena his purse, which
she at first politely declined to take--having designs herself in that
line. But when he as courteously and firmly insisted, she took it and
said no more. Helena Montaigne would never carry her own wishes to the
point of rudeness; yet in her heart she was longing to clothe the
really pretty children after a fancy of her own. However, she put this
wish aside, and the three girls with the orphans were swiftly driven
to the best department stores the city afforded.
Here trouble awaited. At the statement that one was a girl and one a
boy--which her own perception would not have taught her--the
saleswoman produced garments suitable for the two sexes.
"Now which shall I fit first?" she asked smiling at the close
resemblance of the pair.
"Why, ladies first, I suppose!" laughed Helena and moved one child
forward. The other immediately placed itself alongside, and Molly
exclaimed:
"Now, I don't know which is which! Anybody got a ribbon? or anything
will answer to tie upon one and so distinguish them. Baby, which are
_you_?"
The twin she had clasped smiled at her seraphically but made no reply;
merely cocked its flaxen head aside and thrust its finger in mouth. At
once its mate did likewise, and Helena tossed her hands in comical
dismay.
"Oh! Get the ribbon, please! Then we'll make them _spell_ themselves
and tie the mark on before we forget."
So they did; and the attendant listened in amusement to the
performance; till finding themselves of so much interest to others the
midgets began again glibly to spell and--both together. Prancing and
giggling, fully realizing their own mischievousness, the babies made
that hour of shopping one which all concerned--save themselves--long
remembered. Also, if there were the slightest difference between the
garments selected for them they set up such a violent protest that
peace could only be restored by clothing them alike.
So they emerged from the establishment clad in snowy little suits that
seemed as fitting for a girl as for a boy, with pretty hats which they
elected to wear upon their backs, and sandals on their stubby
feet--the nearest approach to shoes to which they would submit. A big
box of suitable underwear was put into the wagon and they were lifted
in after it, while Molly begged to walk a block or two till she found
a confectioner's.
Here she expended all her pocket-money, and climbing back beside
Dorothy politely opened her big box and offered it to her friends.
Incidentally, to the twins; who stared, tasted, and stared again!
"My heart! I don't believe they have ever tasted candy! They don't
know what it means!" cried Molly, laughing.
They soon found out. In a flash they had seized the pasteboard box and
snuggled it between them. Then with it securely wedged beneath their
knees they proceeded to empty it at lightning speed.
"Why! I never saw anything eat like that, not even a dog! You can't
see them swallow!" said Helena, amazed. "They're getting themselves
all daubed with that chocolate, too--The pity!"
"Give it back to me, at once!" commanded Molly sternly, but she spoke
to unhearing ears. Then she tried to snatch it away, but they were too
strong for her, as anybody who has ever thus contested with sturdy
five-year-olds can guess.
"They'll make themselves ill! and they'll ruin their new clothes. What
will Mr. Winters say? Molly, how could you!" wailed Dorothy. "I wish
we'd never brought them. I mean, I wish you hadn't thought of candy. I
wish----"
"You'd hold your tongue!" snapped Molly, so viciously that her friends
both stared and Dolly said no more. "I don't mean to be so horrid,
girls, but it is so vexatious! I'd spent all I had and meant it to be
such an addition to our picnic dinner in the woods. I'm
ashamed--course--and I apologize. Though I remember Miss Penelope says
that apologies and explanations are almost worse than useless.
Besides----"
Here Molly paused and looked at Dorothy most meaningly; but whatever
she meant to say further Dolly stopped by a shake of her head, adding:
"Now it's my turn to apologize, Helena dear, but there's something we
two have in mind that we want to spring on the whole lot of you at
once. Will you forgive and wait?"
"Surely. But--those children! I hope we'll get back to the others soon
and that Mr. Winters will have more influence with them than we've
had."
It proved that he had. One glance and word from him and the twins
cowered as if they expected cruel blows, and without the slightest
resistance permitted him to take away the nearly empty box.
"Doesn't look very tempting now, I think. Best throw it away,
especially as I had already provided sweeties for the crowd. Now,
lads, westward ho! It's nearly dinner time again, and I believe it's
being with so many other hungry youngsters makes me one too!" cried
the Master, stepping to his place and saying with an air of authority
which nobody disputed: "Hand over the twins. I'll take them under my
care for the rest of this day!"
The Headquarters which they were next to visit, and on whose grounds
they were to picnic, was bordered by a stream that just there widened
into a little lake. As they approached the place, cramped by their
long ride, most of the lads left the wagons to finish the distance on
foot.
"Ever hear the story of General Lafayette and this creek, Melvin?"
asked Herbert. "Good enough to tell and not against your side either."
"Go on," said Melvin, resignedly. "I fancy I can match any yarn of
yours with one of my own, don't you know."
"Can't beat this. In those days there was no bridge here, not even a
footbridge. One had to ford the stream. The General was going to a
party at that very house yonder and was in his best togs. Course, he
didn't want to get his pumps wet so he hired an Irishman--more likely
a Britisher--to carry him over. Half way over--a little slip--not
intentional, of course!--and down goes my General, ker-splash! Just
this way it was! Only it's turn and turn about, now. Young America
totes old England and----"
"Lads, lads! That footbridge is unsafe! See! The plank's gone in the
middle--Oh! the careless fellows!"
Having been a boy himself the farrier was prepared for pranks; and the
good-natured badinage between Herbert and the young Canadian had
aroused no anxiety till now. He had been near enough to hear Herbert's
recital of the Lafayette incident but had merely been amused.
Now--Oh! why didn't they keep to the wide, safe bridge, that wagons
used!
Already it was too late even for his warning. Herbert had only meant
to catch up the slighter Melvin, scare him by pretending to drop him,
but in reality carry him pick-a-pack safely to the further shore. He
considered himself an athlete and wished to show "young England how
they do things in Yankeeland," and with a shout he darted forward.
Headlong he came to the spot above the water where no foothold was--a
space too wide for even his long legs to cover, and all the watchers
shivered in fear.
But from his elevation on Herbert's back, Melvin had already seen the
chasm and as if he had been shot from a catapult--he cleared it!
"Hip, hip, hooray! England forever!" yelled Frazer Moore and every
other lad in the company added his cheers.
Then Melvin, from his side the chasm, doffed his cap and bowed his
graceful acknowledgments for his country's sake. And at sight of that
the girls cheered, too, for Herbert had already regained his feet in
that shallow stream and they could see that he had taken no hurt
beyond a slight wetting.
"Never mind that. He'll dry off, same as the twins did," laughed Molly
Breckenridge. Which he did, for the sun was warm and his plunge had
been a brief one; and in fact this "little international episode," as
Monty called it, but served to increase the jollity of that day.
Such a day it proved; without cloud or untoward incident to mar its
happiness; and as they wandered here and there, inspecting for the
last time the historical spot which had given them hospitable shelter,
none dreamed of any mishap to come. Even the twins were tired enough
to behave with uncommon docility, beyond continually removing from one
another the ribbon which should have designated Ananias from Sapphira.
"They've changed it so often I've really forgotten which is which, but
I'm sure--that is I think--I'm really positive--that the hair with a
kink belongs to Sapphira! After all, that isn't such a dreadful name
when you say it softly," said Molly.
"I think this is the loveliest old house I ever saw. I'd just like to
stay here forever, seems if. The funny roof, so high up in front and
away down, low almost as the ground behind. The great chimney--think
of standing in a chimney so big you can look straight up, clear
through to the sky!" murmured studious Jane Potter.
"'Tisn't as big as the Newburgh one, and they haven't any such Hessian
boots, though it does have a secret staircase and chamber," answered
Jim who, also, was greatly interested in the ancient building. "But
come on, Janie; they're getting ready to leave."
"In just a minute. Just one single minute, 'cause I shan't ever likely
come here again, even if I do live so near it as our mountain."
Home through the twilight they drove, for kindly Seth couldn't abridge
for his beloved young folks that long, delightful day; and they were
ready to declare, most of them, that even the circus to come could
hardly be more enjoyable than this day's "Headquartering" had been.
It was then, on that happy return, that Dorothy had found the telegram
awaiting, and had caught it up with a loving thought of her indulgent
Aunt Betty. Then her happiness dashed as by cold water she had flown
out of the room and shut herself in her pretty chamber to cry and feel
herself the most unhappy girl in all the world.
Twice had Norah come to her door to summon her to supper before she
felt composed enough to go below among her guests.
Over and over she assured herself that none of them should ever know
how badly she had been treated. Nobody, of course, except Alfaretta,
and the first thing that girl would be sure to ask would be:
"Have you caught your hare?" In other words: "Did she send the money?"
But in this she did poor Alfy great injustice. It had needed but one
glance to tell her--being in the secret--what sort of an answer had
come to Dorothy by way of that unexplained yellow envelope. Well, it
was too bad! After all, Mrs. Betty Calvert must be a terribly stingy
old woman not to give all the money she wanted to her new-found, or
new-acknowledged great niece! Huh! She was awful sorry for Dolly
Doodles, to have to belong to just--great aunts! She'd rather have Ma
Babcock, a thousand times over, than a rich old creature like Dolly
had to live with. She would so!
Therefore it was not at all of news from town that warm-hearted
Alfaretta inquired, as Dorothy at last appeared in the supper room,
but with an indifferent glance around:
"Why, where's Jane Potter?"