Dorothy Dale's Camping Days

by Margaret Penrose

  CHAPTER III

  THE DISASTROUS DRAG

  "It was perfectly delicious!"

  "I'm glad you think so, Tavia. No, I am not, either; I am very sorry."

  Dorothy put aside her notes, and sighed the last sigh for onenight--that sort of content signal with which young girls usually putthe final period to labor.

  "Oh, Dorothy!" and Tavia flung herself down directly upon her friend'snicely pressed robe. "You always want to put the damper on. What's theuse of being girls if we can't be----"

  "Idiots!" added Dorothy, and she wondered why she so strongly opposedTavia. "I'll tell you, Tavia, this business of chatting with strangeyoung men is nothing less than foolish. I can't see where it becomesfunny."

  "It begins," said Tavia, balancing her pencil on her third finger, "atthe point where Dorothy Dale turns preacher. A poor sermon isabsolutely--funny."

  "Thank you," returned Dorothy, without recovering her good nature,"but you must remember, Tavia, that we are leaving Glenwood in twodays."

  "I may leave to-night if you keep on," declared Tavia. "Dorothy, Inever knew you to be so obstinate."

  "Nor have I ever known you to be so foolish. Tavia, that young manis--queer. He is mysterious, and I have a feeling that he means harm."

  "Pure jealousy, Doro," and Tavia jumped up and flung herself almostupon the girl who sat in the shade of the study lamp. "I am so sorryhe did not take the notion to you."

  Dorothy was accustomed to these outbreaks, and they merely meant agesture, or whatever fling came with the speech; the words indicatedabsolutely nothing. She gave Tavia an answering smile. "Well, dear, wewon't quarrel, at least this time. But see that it doesn't happenagain."

  "When shall we go home? Dear me! It does seem a long time betweenholidays," and Tavia tumbled down in the most nondescript heap.

  "I shall be glad to see dear old Dalton," replied Dorothy. "Father andthe boys are going with me to settle things up there. Then we will goto Aunt Winnie's. I hope you and I will be able to spend ourvacations together. You know I am going to camp with Cologne, and shehas included you in the invitation."

  "As Dorothy's paper-weight--no, it can't be that--I could never keepanything down--it must have been Dorothy's watch-charm," interruptedTavia, with a slight show of sarcasm.

  "Rose-Mary was particularly anxious that you should come, Tavia,"declared Dorothy, with emphasis, "and she has the reputation of nevergiving an insincere invitation. She likes you, and wants to enjoy you,as well as to have you enjoy yourself."

  "Three cheers for the enjoys," retorted Tavia, "and may their shadownever grow less. But say, Dorothy, how did you get out of the scrape?I was a traitor to run, but somehow I couldn't stand for Higley'slook. When she puts her alleged features at half mast, and soundstaps, I have to quit."

  "But we had to stand. I can't see any good reason for telling youabout it--making a report to the deserter."

  "Now, Doro," and Tavia fairly melted into sweetness, "I simply cannotslumber until I have heard. Did Nita peach?"

  "There was nothing to hide in our part of the--comedy," declaredDorothy. "Of course, we skipped the man part, and left out the haycart dump, besides omitting the sheep act, and forgetting the farmer'swhip----"

  "Hip! Hip!" threatened Tavia. "Couldn't have done better myself. Andno one ordered to the guard house?"

  "You have not yet been accounted for," said Dorothy, with well-aimedmeaning. "Miss Higley said she would see to your account herself."

  "Will, eh? Not if I see her first. Did any one say I was there? Ishould think, with such remarkable skill at omitting, that you mighthave had the good taste to omit me."

  "Tavia, does it strike you that this is packing-up night? Thatto-morrow we make all our bouquets of remembrance, more or lessartificial, and that the day following----"

  "We flit the flutter! And good riddance! I just abhor school--noticehow I have improved? Last year I 'hated' it."

  "And I must admit you have improved otherwise than in yourvocabulary," said Dorothy. "Seems to me you have grown almost tall."

  "Thanks, pretty maiden. Any more in stock like that?" and Tavia jumpedup to get a look in the glass. "Tell me, before I shrink--in youropinion," she begged, making queer passes before the mirror. "But say,Doro, do you ever take a look at yourself? I have to say you aresimply splendid, and that's putting it mild. The Dalton youths will besuiciding on account of the returned Calla--that lily is the one thatstands beings boxed up without food or--atmosphere--for half the year,I believe, hence my comparison: you have withstood Glenwood, and comeout of the ring more beautiful than when you entered. Oh, you need notprotest! Everybody admits that you are a perfect Dresden, animated, ofcourse," and Tavia gazed with unstinted admiration at the girl underthe study lamp.

  "Well, I hope I have not actually grown homely," conceded Dorothy,"for Aunt Winnie is so fond of a good appearance."

  "Your hair is darker--that is, on the ripe corn shade. I like thatbetter than the fourteen karat variety. I only wish mine would turnmahogany. I have a mind to turn it."

  "I wonder the thoughts do not poison the roots--the idea of you sayinga word against your hair! Why, it's simply wonderful! Edna says itsings in the sunshine."

  "Oh, Ned pities me I suppose--she has such a fine crop herself. But Iwould--love--to--be handsome!"

  "Suppose you start in to drag down some of that stuff you insist ontaking home, Tavia," said Dorothy, indicating the decorations thathung on Tavia's side of the room. "Then it will be handsome is as----"

  "Handsome didn't," misquoted Tavia. "I don't mind dragging it down,but I have a mind to get some one to help me. I might give out that wewere having a 'doings' and so entice Ned Ebony, and a couple of theothers."

  "You compendium of laziness! You proverbial prolonger! There, I haveused up more energy in giving expression to those expressions----"

  "Than I should have used up in expressing the whole art gallery _via_the Amalgamated Express Company. Now, Doro, I am going to give adragging-down evening. If you have anything you value, that might getin the drag, take notice," and she left the room, to gather in theinnocent victims of her plot.

  Dorothy laughed. She did love Tavia, and once more they wereseparating from the days and nights spent together at dear oldGlenwood. The girls had occupied room "nineteen" in spite of the factthat their advance in class entitled them to other quarters, but eachloved the apartment, and they had "grown into it," as Tavia remarked.

  "I believe I had better rescue my things," mused Dorothy, "for thereis no telling where the dragging may end," and, suiting her act to thewords, she promptly put a pile of cushions on the highest chair, andbegan to take from her side of the room such trinkets as areinconceivably dear to the heart of every schoolgirl.

  How differently her division of the room was decorated! Tavia hadactually drawn a line--clothes line--straight across the room, markingout the territory of each. Dorothy had put up pictures, birds' nests,flags and the home colors, while Tavia had revelled in collapsedfootballs, moth-eaten slouch hats, shot through and through, andmarked with all sorts of labels, of the college lad variety. Then shehad a broken bicycle wheel, in and out of which were laced her hairribbons and neckties, this contrivance being resorted to in order tosave the junk from the regulation pile--it being thus marked as auseful article. There were pictures, too, on Tavia's side of the room,but how they got there one could never guess from a birds-eyeview--for the hanging indicated a sudden storm on "art day," withoutpaper-weights. This same blow included the mottoes, and wise sayings;trophies of certain victories in the way of narrow escapes fromdismissals, or such mementos as suspicious games outside the schoolgrounds.

  "No wonder Tavia wants help," thought Dorothy, as she hurried to gether own things safely put in the box that stood ready. "I declare, shehas the queerest taste--if such things are included in the tastefaculty."

  A shuffle and hum at the portal indicated the arrival of Tavia'sguests.

  "Enter!" called Tavia, as she threw ope
n the door, "and with the kindpermission of the fair hostess, proceed to drag. 'Drag if you mustthis good old bed, but spare my sister's rags, she said,'" and shedeliberately kicked Dorothy's box across the room, while Edna, or Ned,proceeded to "shoot up" everything she could reach or at which shecould lunge. Cologne, being Dorothy's friend, did the same thing onTavia's side, Molly Richards, known as Dick, was not particular onwhich side she dragged, just so long as she got a hold on something.

  "Oh, girls, do be careful!" pleaded Dorothy. "I have a tea set here Iam so fond of--"

  But the warning came too late, for at that very moment Ned had throwna picture, frame and all, into the box that Dorothy had started topack the tea set in. There was a crash, and even the reckless girlspaused, for the sound of broken china is as abhorrent to any girl asis the bell for class to the Glenwoods.

  Tavia dropped the pop gun she had been holding. "Doro, I am so sorry,"she said. "I know you valued that set so highly. Take mine for it."

  "Oh, no, indeed," replied Dorothy, her voice strained, for the set hadbeen a gift from her little brother Roger, and he had used the firstmoney he ever earned to buy it. "Perhaps I can have it mended."

  Cologne, Edna, and Tavia put their heads together. Presently theyapologized to Dorothy and left the room.

  "Wonder what's up now?" Dorothy asked herself. She did feelbadly--that tea set of all the things in her room!

  She recalled how Roger had written that he had a surprise for her;then the arrival of the blue cups and saucers, and the note sayingthat the boy had sold lemonade, and thus earned his first money. Then,that he had spent the money for that set. And to think that it wasruined, for the crash told the woeful story of many pieces!

  Dorothy did not feel like finishing her packing. She felt more likehaving a good cry. She was thinking of home, of her father, the major,then of her brother Joe, older than Roger, and lastly of dear,impetuous Roger himself.

  Soon she would be home to them again! Was she not their mother eversince she could remember? For her own darling mother had been calledaway from her little ones so early in a promising life!

  Sounds of voices in the hall roused her from her reverie.

  Tavia entered first. But her following! Girl after girl crowded intothe small room, until its very capacity was taxed beyond itspossibilities.

  "We've come!" announced Cologne.

  "So I see," replied Dorothy, all confusion.

  "To make amends for our damage," continued Cologne. "Every girl on thefloor has contributed to the collection and we venture to present toyou the most unique tea set that has ever gone in or out of Glenwood.Here," and she set her contribution down, "is my prettiest piece."

  "And here is mine," followed Edna, placing on the table a realgold-and-white creamer.

  "And mine--with my love," whispered Nita, putting down an egg-shellcup and saucer.

  "Oh!" gasped Dorothy. "How lovely!"

  "And, Doro, dear," added Lena Berg, "I brought my tankard. It was thebest piece, and nothing else would satisfy the committee."

  "I am sure----" began Dorothy.

  "Not too sure," interrupted Dick, or Molly Richards. "For here ismine--it came all the way from Holland!"

  "Girls! How can I take all these beautiful things? I am sure you mustwant them your own selves----"

  "Not half as much as we want you to have them," declared Cologne. "Thefact is, we were just waiting for such a chance as this. We are allgone--soft to-night. Take care we don't kiss you, Doro."

  Tears were in Dorothy's eyes. She loved her school friends, and thiswas an affecting parting.

  Tavia snatched up the banjo. She sang:

  "Good night! Good night! Good night! Good night! Good night again; God bless you. And, oh, until we meet again, Good night! Good night! God bless you!"

  The strain swelled into a splendid chorus, and, while they sang, thegirls wrapped up the china pieces, putting each safely in the boxbeside the damaged ones.

  "Speech! Speech!" came the demand from Tavia's corner, and withoutfurther ceremony Dorothy was lifted bodily up on the table andcompelled to make a speech. It was a dangerous, undertaking, for thesofa pillows that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere put in somuch punctuation that the address might have been put down as a seriesof stops. However, Dorothy did manage to say something, for whicheffort she was roundly applauded.

  The night bell called them to the sense of school duties stillunfinished.

  "Oh, that old bell!" complained Nita, pouting.

  Cologne drew Dorothy over in the corner. "Ask Tavia about the man onthe horse," she whispered. "She got a letter from him!"