The Ranch Girls at Home Again

by Margaret Vandercook

  CHAPTER XXI

  MAIDS AND MEN

  "I WOULD give a great deal to have my people see you tonight, Jack,"Frank Kent whispered several hours later.

  "YOU WOULD HAVE MARRIED ME ANYHOW"]

  True to her promise Jacqueline had dressed before the others and comedown for a few moments alone with Frank. And it was small wonder thatthe young man was proud of her. She had on a pure white tulle dress madeover silk and no ornament except the string of pearls and diamonds abouther throat. For she had persuaded Frank to let her wait until aftertheir marriage before wearing the more conspicuous jewels. Somehow shefelt that the tiara would look out of taste and inappropriate among herold friends and neighbors. The bouquet of jasmine flowers with theirdarkly shining green leaves were resting in her lap.

  "Your people will see enough of me, Frank, before very long," sheanswered. "How glad I am that they already know me and that they donot object very seriously to our marriage! Of course they must havepreferred your caring for one of your own countrywomen, but----"

  "You would have married me anyhow, wouldn't you, dear, even if they_had_ objected?" Frank asked and then laughed at himself. "That's adreadfully unfilial speech, but I expect every man likes to feel thatthe girl he cares for would have stuck to him through every kind ofobstacle--poverty, obscurity, the world's misunderstanding. Not that Ihave much doubt of you, Jack. You are giving up more than most peoplerealize in turning your back on the dear old ranch and your belovedfamily. But we'll come back as often as possible and have them come tous, and after a while Ruth must let Frieda be with you for a year or so.She is my little sister, and honestly I don't quite like her intimacywith this fellow, Russell--he is much too cranky and old." Frank hadtaken Jack's hand and was touching it to his lips when she made a quickthough silent signal. She and Frank were sitting in the bay windowalmost hidden by evergreens and at this moment Ruth and Jim, the otherthree girls and their guests were entering the ball room.

  Olive wore a yellow crepe dress and carried the yellow roses. Jean wasin deep pink, her costume of shimmering satin and lace, and had one ofFrank's flowers in her dark brown hair. Her bouquet was not the samethat it had been two hours before, when she had first removed it fromits wrappings; for now encircled by Frank's roses were a dozen purpleorchids.

  "Do you think, Frank, that Jean intends--" Jack whispered softly,inclining her head toward her cousin to indicate what she meant to say.Then when her companion made no reply, fearing to be overheard, shecontinued. "It is Jean I am most worried about. How can she make up hermind to marry a foreigner instead of an American? Just look at thePrince and then at Jim or Ralph Merrit. He is so little and so dark andso kind of different. Even that scar on his face from a duel he oncefought makes me have almost a dislike for him, though I know it isfoolish of me."

  "But Jean isn't really going to marry him!" Frank protested.

  This time Jack nodded uneasily. "I am afraid so; indeed she almost toldme that she intended to accept him; and I suppose she means to do itthis evening. I wish I could have said something to influence her, but Idid not dare. Besides, it would have done no good. You know Jean mighthave said that I too was marrying a foreigner and had no right to sayanything to her. Only the difference is that Jean does not loveGiovanni--and then an Englishman isn't the same and--"

  Frank was now smiling over Jack's effort at an apology and explanation.She had slipped her hand into his and was holding it fast. At thismoment a splendidly handsome figure marched across the floor withsurprising swiftness and now stood looking down upon the girl and manwith an expression that was a combination of wrath, sympathy anddevotion.

  "Jacqueline Ralston," Jim began so unexpectedly that to save her lifeJack could not restrain a guilty start, "have I not told you and FrankKent at least a dozen times that I would not have any stealing off byyourselves or any spooning until you were safely away from the RainbowRanch? It is bad enough, Kent, when I think of your taking my 'partner'from me and leaving me to look after this great place without her. But Itell you I can't stand _looking_ at you doing it."

  And Jim gave a mournful sigh that was part pretense and part reality.

  Its effect was to make Jack at once jump to her feet and throw her armsabout him, regardless of his immaculate shirt. Then she ran forprotection to Ruth.

  Happiness had made Ruth grow a year younger each month, her husband hadstoutly declared, and though this statement was not strictly true, shedid look very little older than the four Ranch girls as she stoodwaiting to receive their guests tonight. For the girls and Jim hadinsisted that she discard her nun-like fondness for gray and drab colorsat least for this one evening and wear white. So Ruth's costume of heavywhite corded silk with silver trimming was both youthful and becoming.

  On one side of the hostess stood Miss Katherine Winthrop, lookingsingularly handsome and imposing in a gray satin evening gown trimmedwith duchess lace and with a bunch of Frieda's violets at her waist.Olive was next in line, and then Jean, while on Ruth's other side thePrincess Colonna was made more radiantly fair by a wonderful black gownand a diamond star in her hair. Jack stood beside her, and then Frieda.

  The Princess seemed far more at ease and better able to appreciate andmake herself popular with the hundred or more visitors than MissWinthrop. For the Princess appeared almost to have forgotten, for thetime at least, the years spent in the formal society of Rome and to beremembering only her own early girlhood in this same western country. Alarge number of the guests were traveled and cultured persons, theowners of large ranches and estates; but Jim had asked that all of theirold acquaintances be invited regardless of wealth and position, so thatthere were many interesting figures who appeared as "western types" toMiss Winthrop, but whom the Princess immediately understood and enjoyed.

  Indeed during the evening Jim Colter, who had never liked the PrincessColonna nor felt entirely comfortable in her presence, confided to RalphMerrit that maybe a Princess could after all be a real live woman,though he hoped to the Lord that Jean Bruce was not going to undertakethe job. Ralph had little comfort to offer either to Jim or to himselfin return for this confidence. For everybody in the ball room who hadheard the gossip concerning Jean and the young Prince had no doubt ofits ultimate outcome. And naturally they marveled over two of theRainbow Ranch girls making such distinguished marriages.

  Perhaps Jean was not altogether displeased with this gossip, for shecertainly danced with the young Prince most of the earlier part of theevening. The exact number of her dances Ralph Merrit could have told,although he was not conscious of having counted them. For except fordancing once with each one of the four Ranch girls and once with Ruth,he had spent the rest of the evening watching the dancers from a safecorner. For some reason or other he seemed not to feel sufficient energyfor anything else.

  It was a few moments after eleven o'clock that same evening when thePrincess Colonna, feeling a hand laid lightly on her arm and turning,discovered Jean Bruce alone. The girl seemed to have grown suddenlytired and pale.

  Fortunately the older woman's companion suggested at this moment thatshe might like him to get her an ice, so that she and Jean wereuninterrupted for a moment.

  "I wonder if you could come somewhere with me for a little while, wherewe could talk without any one else seeing us?" Jean pleaded. "I know youwill think it strange of me, Princess, but all of a sudden it seemed tome that you were the only person in the world whom I could ask a certainquestion. And I must ask it of you before another hour has passed."

  Jean spoke quietly and with entire self-possession; yet there was nodoubting the girl's earnestness or her necessity.

  Instantly the Princess slipped her arm through Jean's with theaffectionate intimacy which she had always felt for her and the womanand girl together left the room. Providentially for their opportunity tobe alone, the greater number of guests were now in the supper room. Sowithout much effort Jean found two chairs at the end of a long verandawhich had been enclosed for the evening's use and made into a kin
d ofconservatory. There they appeared to be quite free from interruption.

  The older woman sat in the shadow, but could see the girl's faceplainly. And though she could hardly guess what question Jean mightwish to ask her, she was not altogether uncertain of the subjectuppermost in the girl's thoughts, so thoroughly had her nephew taken herinto his confidence.

  "Princess," Jean began, but she was not looking at her friend. Her eyeswere seeing nothing, she was so deeply engrossed. "I wonder if you willtell me if you were happy in your married life? Oh, yes, I know thatsounds like an impertinence; but I do not believe that you will think ofit in that light. You understand I would ask you for no such reason. ThePrince was a great deal older than you, but then you were very goodfriends and you had a splendid title and people everywhere looked up toyou and were proud to meet you. I remember how dreadfully impressed wegirls were when we first saw you on board the steamship. It did not seemto us then that a Princess could be like other people. And none of usever dreamed of knowing you as an intimate friend. Those days when I wasvisiting you in Rome it seemed so wonderful to me that you, an Americanwoman and a western girl like me, could be a leader in Europeansociety!" Jean drew a long breath. "Of course it never occurred to methen that any such chance could ever come to me. It sounds like a fairytale and yet my own family don't understand how I can care so much forposition and a title and all that it must mean."

  "I _understand_," the Princess finally replied when Jean had given heropportunity to speak, "but there is one thing or at least one personwhom you have not mentioned, my nephew, Giovanni. Do you care for him,Jean?"

  In answer the girl, whose clear pallor was one of her noticeablecharacteristics, flushed hotly. "I like him very much, he is most kind,he----"

  "You mean that Giovanni is entirely devoted to you and that you regardhim as a friend. I see," the Princess finished softly. "And you thinkthat after you marry him you will learn to care more for him because youwould most enjoy his title and all it could do for you. I wonder justwhat Giovanni would receive in exchange for all he has to give?"

  For a moment the older woman took the girl's cold fingers in her own.

  "I don't mean to hurt your feelings, dear, or to seem unkind. But youhave asked me to talk to you tonight because you believe that betterthan any one else I can understand and appreciate your ambition and youremotions. And you are entirely right. I know just what you are thinking,just what you have been saying to yourself over and over ever since Iasked your guardian to permit you to marry my nephew. I know because Ihave passed through almost exactly the same experience. So I am going totalk frankly about my marriage to you tonight, Jean, though I never haveand probably never will again to any one else as long as I live. Yousee, I, too, was a Western girl, only I was a great deal poorer in thebeginning of my life than you have ever been. And then my father andmother were plainer people. But one day when I was about twelve yearsold my father began making a great fortune, and when I was fourteen, asis the way in this western country, he was many times a millionaire. Inthose days the West was not what it is now, so as my mother wasambitious for me and believed I was going to be a pretty woman I wassent East to school. Later on I went to Paris and studied there, andthen to Italy, so that I might learn several languages. Now and then Iused to see my father and mother, but not often. They did not enjoyEurope and I seemed to have so much to learn there was little time tostay at home. One or two wonderful summers I spent here in the West withthem, loving this country and its people almost as your cousin Jackdoes. But by and by, when I was traveling in Italy with some richAmerican friends, I met the Prince Colonna. He asked me to marry him andI--well, I thought about things pretty much as you are doing, dear. Iwanted to be a Princess; I thought it the most romantic, wonderful fatepossible for a plain American girl with nothing but some prettiness andher money to exchange for fairyland. True, my Prince was old, but Iliked him and I thought we would be better friends after we married. Ibelieve we were. But, dear, I was not happy. I have missed the mostwonderful thing that can come into one's life, for by and by I foundthat the people with titles were nothing but ordinary human beings. Thepeople who count most, or at least who count most to me, are the peoplewho do things for themselves, who have made their own way and their ownpositions, like so many of our big American men. Often I was very lonelyand sad and often sorry for a decision I made years ago when I was evenyounger than you are tonight."

  The Princess let go Jean's hand which she had been holding.

  "Isn't there any one here in your own country, Jean, whom you likebetter than you do Giovanni, whom you would a great deal rather marry ifhe had the same position to offer?" she inquired.

  For a moment the girl made no answer. Then she said faintly: "Yes,Princess, there is, though I have never confessed it to anybody in theworld except you, and scarcely to myself. For you see it is not only theother man's lack of money and position that comes between us, but Ralphdoes not even care for me. Some time ago he did, I think, but I was notvery kind to him then, and now for months and months he has been nothingmore to me than a friend. So I can see that his feelings have changedentirely. I thought if I went away with Giovanni I too would forget. Itis hard to be right here on the ranch and have to pretend and pretendall the time that I feel toward him just as I used to when I was alittle girl."

  "Jean," the older woman's voice had quite changed and was now both coldand stern, "I wonder what kind of a partnership you think marriage is?Do you think that when men go into business together that one bringseverything to the firm and the other nothing? For that is what you wishto do with Giovanni. You must play fair, child. Why do you consider thatan Italian is different from other men? Giovanni is young; he is notunattractive. Unless you loved him, you would soon learn to hate eachother. For his sake if not for yours I could never approve of yourmarriage."

  But before Jean could reply the Princess had laid a restraining touchupon her. "Some one is coming toward us--a stranger, I think. We hadbest talk of this another time."

  CHAPTER XXII

  OLD FRIENDS AND SOMETHING MORE

  JEAN did not recognize the newcomer at once. Then she held out her hand,trying to speak naturally.

  "Mr. Parker, I am so glad to see you. I was afraid you were not comingback at all. Princess, Mr. Parker built our new house. Mr. Parker, thisis our friend and guest, the Princess Colonna."

  The tall man bowed politely. "I was told to bring you and the PrincessColonna back to the ball room if you would consent to come," hereturned.

  From out of the shadow the slender, blond woman rose quietly, taking afew steps forward. "I shall be most happy to go back with you, Mr.Parker," she replied. And then standing within a few feet of her newacquaintance she stared at him curiously.

  "Theodore Parker, it isn't fair of you after all these years to have merecognize you when you have forgotten me. It makes me think that I mustlook a great deal the older!"

  But with a laugh the woman held out both hands, and now standing in thelight that fell from a yellow shaded lantern the Princess' face andfigure were in plain view.

  "Beatrice, the Princess Colonna! Why of course I have known your namealways. How stupid of me not to have thought! But I could never havedreamed of meeting you out here in Wyoming. The Prince, your husband?"

  "He is dead," the woman answered. And then turning to Jean: "It is odd,dear, but Mr. Parker and I have known each other a very long time. Itgives me great happiness to see him again and makes me think of thatgirl I have been telling you about. Won't you come back to Mrs. Colterwith us?"

  But Jean shook her head and the man and woman moved away, leaving heralone.

  It was in this same place that Ralph Merrit, also trying to steal awayfrom the guests, found her ten minutes later.

  Left to herself, Jean had been crying softly, although she could notexactly have explained the cause. Life was such a jumble--one wanted somuch and had so little! Then often the very thing that had seemed fairand desirable turned to bitterness and r
egret! Well, to one thing shehad at least made up her mind--she would not marry Giovanni. Yet she hadpromised to give him an answer within the hour.

  Hearing Ralph's step she started nervously. And then with thefamiliarity of old acquaintance she frowned upon him.

  "I thought you were the Prince Colonna," she began crossly.

  Ralph stiffened. "I am sorry that I am not. I had no idea of disturbingyou. But I'll go and find your Prince if you like."

  "He is not my Prince; don't be stupid, Ralph, and do please sit down. Idon't see why you feel it so necessary to avoid me recently."

  "Don't you?" Ralph answered. Then for several moments he said nothingmore. However, though he did not appear to be looking, he had a clearenough vision of Jean's face, her dark eyes swimming in unshed tears,her heavy lids and the pallor of her cheeks.

  "Jean," Ralph swung himself around swiftly and Jean saw the firmness ofhis lips, the decisive outline of his jaw and his high, almost nobleforehead, "if there is any one in this world, I don't care who or whathe is, who has done anything or said anything to make you unhappy, whyif I can, won't you let me help to straighten things out. You said justnow that the Prince Colonna was not your Prince. Perhaps you were onlyangry at my tactless way of expressing things, but if there is anytrouble between you--" the young man hesitated.

  "But there isn't--not the slightest," Jean replied with the familiarshrug of her shoulders and that demure expression about the corners ofher mouth and in her brown eyes that her old friend remembered so well."The truth is, Ralph, that I am tired of your and of other people'spretending that you believe the Prince Colonna and I are engaged to eachother. Because we are not, and never will be." This was as unreasonableand inconsistent a speech as any girl could well manage to make.

  "Thank the Lord!" Ralph replied, so unconsciously and so sincerely that,as he was not looking toward her at the moment, the girl allowed herselfto smile.

  "I don't see why you should be so glad, Ralph?" she murmured.

  "Oh, don't you?" Ralph answered between his teeth. "Then to the best ofmy ability I'll tell you, Jean Bruce. I love you, I always have lovedyou from the hour I saw you drying your hair by that brook in thewilderness, say a thousand years ago! So now if you are not going tomarry this Italian youth, why it gives me a longer chance to keep onworking and working until I have something to offer you that you wish,money, position."

  Swiftly the girl rose, laying her fingers gently against the young man'slips.

  "Don't say those last words to me again, Ralph. I feel tonight that Inever, never wish to hear them again. You have the thing already I wantmost in the world if you are willing to give it to me. Why haven't youunderstood in these last few months? I couldn't exactly propose to you,could I, dear?" Jean questioned demurely.

  Ten minutes afterwards Jean, with a rose-colored shawl wrapped about hershoulders, arm in arm with Ralph, was walking about outdoors, forgetfulof the autumn coldness, of the guests who were asking for her, ofeverything in the whole world except her own happiness. Finally she wassurprised by seeing two other figures approaching them who were equallyoblivious.

  With a low laugh Jean drew herself and her companion into the shadow.

  "Jack and Frank!" she whispered. Then, as the other girl and man werenearly opposite them, "I thought you both promised Jim not to do thissort of thing, at least not tonight, Jack Ralston," Jean beganunexpectedly. "Yet I am glad to have found you alone, because I want totell you first that I am very happy. I don't want other people to knowit just yet, but I too am going to be married."

  There was a note in Jacqueline Ralston's voice as she replied that tosave her life she could not conceal.

  "I am very glad for your sake, Jean darling," Jack answered. "You knowhow much I shall hope for your and Giovanni's happiness."

  "Giovanni's?" Jean's manner now suggested unutterable reproach. RalphMerrit stepped forward and stood close beside Jean.

  "Hasn't any member of my beloved family sense enough to guess that Ihave always cared for Ralph, or at least I have always cared for him inthe past six months," Jean protested. "It is only that I have had to dodesperate deeds to make him care for me."

  But the girl's next words were smothered in Jack's embrace, while Frankwas giving Ralph's hand such a squeeze that though it was considerablyhardened from labor, it was difficult for him not to wince.

  Then the four young people were so interested in one another that theypaid no attention to two other persons who were seen coming toward them,until they finally discovered one of them to be Frieda. She was lookingmore ethereal than ever in a long pale blue silk coat with a chiffonscarf about her blond head, and was accompanied by the Professor.

  "Whatever are you doing out here? It seems very rude to our guests,"Frieda murmured reproachfully. "I am sure Jim and Ruth will think itvery rude of you."

  "But, Frieda, baby," Jack protested, "aren't you and Professor Russellalso out here, as you call it? I can't see that we are much more toblame than you."

  Frieda gazed upward at the serious young man, who returned her glancewith such solemn gravity that Jack felt a shiver of apprehension, whileJean stared at the new-comers closely, as if trying to solve a puzzle.

  "Oh, no, it is not the same with us," Frieda answered serenely. "You seeRalph and Jean are not engaged at all, and you and Frank have beenengaged such a long time, Jack, so you ought to be used to it by now.But Henry and I, why we just become engaged half an hour ago, so ofcourse we like to be out in the moonlight together," Frieda endedconclusively.

  * * * * *

  Five years have passed away and Jacqueline Ralston is now "Lady Kent"with a small son of her own to inherit the title, while Frank is awell-known Liberal member of Parliament. But they still make frequenttrips back to the old Rainbow Ranch, which Jack, in spite of heraffection for her new home, has never ceased to love better than anyother place on earth.

  And these home-comings of Lord and Lady Kent and the small "James ColterKent" are usually the signal for a foregathering of all the four Ranchgirls with their husbands and families under the great sheltering roofof "Rainbow Castle."

  For no one of the girls now lives continuously at the Ranch, which isstill left to Jim's devoted management. As much as possible of theirtime Jean and Ralph and their small daughter, Jacqueline, spend withthem--partly in order that Ralph may continue to supervise the workingof the Rainbow Mine which has not yet failed in its output of gold.Ralph Merrit has recently become one of the best known mining experts inthe United States, so that his advice is constantly being asked both inthis country and abroad. And wherever he travels Jean and her littlegirl accompany him, for Jean has become one of the most devoted andabsorbed of wives.

  After the entirely surprising announcement of Frieda Ralston'sengagement to Professor Russell on the night of their ball at the ranch,Jack, Ruth and Jim Colter seriously opposed her marriage. In the firstplace, Frieda was too young to know her own mind; Professor Russell wasmore than ten years her senior and they had not a single taste incommon. So by and by Frieda was brought to consent to having herengagement postponed. Afterwards she spent one whole year in Englandwith Jack, seeing as much of society and young men as her sister couldarrange for her. Nevertheless, to everybody's surprise, Frieda stuck toher original choice and two years after her engagement became Mrs.Russell. She is exceedingly happy.

  So far Frieda has no children, but lives with her husband's parents, andas he is an only child, they continue to spoil and adore her. Also thegrave young professor, who has never outgrown his first impression ofFrieda as a glorified doll, still treats her as if the least harshnesswould utterly destroy her.

  Olive Van Mater is unmarried and already insists upon calling herself anold maid. She is not devoting her life to teaching the Indians, althoughshe has partly fulfilled her old dream. At the close of the year, whenher grandmother's final will was read, to the immense surprise of everyone, Olive inherited one-half her large fortune, the other half beingd
ivided among the Harmon family. For the will announced that if any girlwas able to show such self-will and such disregard of wealth as Olivehad shown, should she fail in the interim to marry Donald, thattherefore she alone deserved her grandmother's inheritance. As thismoney was far more than Olive wanted or needed, she was thus enabled tofound an agricultural school among the Indians, which was to teach themto combine their old knowledge with the new discoveries of science andso to make life happier, if possible, for a misunderstood race.

  Yet Olive was to marry in the end an artist whom she finally met whilevisiting Jack and Frank at Kent House. The young man was poor andunknown then, but his first success was won with a painting of the headof his beautiful wife and daughter.

  Possibly Jim and Ruth might have been lonely now and then at the oldranch, except for the fact that in the course of time they had fourdaughters of their own besides Jimmikins and each one bore the name ofone of the former Ranch girls.

  * * * * *

  Transcriber's Notes:

  Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

  Page 26, "contenance" changed to "countenance" (and gentle countenance)

  Page 31, "one" added to text (no one else was)

  Page 73, "frienship" changed to "friendship" (old friendship was)

  Page 80, "you'r" changed to "you're" (way you're running)

  Page 82, "he" added to text (he had recently)

  Page 106, "to day" changed to "today" (today hunting for)

  Page 166, "dreadully" changed to "dreadfully" (you so dreadfully)

  Page 181, "petulence" changed to "petulance" (and of petulance)