The Camp Fire Girls in After Years

by Margaret Vandercook

  CHAPTER VI

  THE FIRST DISILLUSION

  "BUT you can't mean, Anthony, that you positively refuse to do what Iask?"

  It was a little after midnight and Betty and Anthony were up-stairs intheir own apartment. Betty had on a blue dressing gown and her hair wasbraided and hung over her shoulders. But her cheeks were flushed, hergray eyes dark with temper and her voice trembled in spite of her effortto keep it still.

  Undeniably Anthony appeared both obstinate and worried. Moreover, he wasextremely sleepy and yet somehow Betty must be made to understand beforeeither of them could rest. Never before had he dreamed that she could beso unreasonable.

  "I don't think that is exactly a fair way of stating the thing, Betty,"the young Governor answered gently enough. "You see, I have tried toexplain to you, dear, that I can't give positions to friends just asthough running the affairs of the state was my private business. I couldafford to take risks with that if I wished, but you know I promised whenI was elected Governor only to make appointments of the best men I couldfind."

  If possible, the Governor's wife looked even more unconvinced. She wassitting in a big blue chair almost the color of her wrapper, and everynow and then rocked back and forth to express her emotion, or elsetapped the floor mutinously with the toe of her bedroom slipper.

  "You talk as if there was something wrong with John Everett," sheanswered argumentatively, "and as if I were asking you to give aposition to a man who was stupid or dishonest. I am perfectly sure Johnis none of these things. He has been unfortunate in business lately, ofcourse, but that might happen to any one. Really, Anthony, would youmind telling me exactly what you have in your mind against John Everett?Of course, I remember you never liked him when you were boys, but Ithought you were too big a man----"

  "See here, Betty," the Governor interrupted, "can't we let this subjectdrop? I never knew you to be like this before." He had thrown himselfdown on a couch, but now reached over and tried to take his wife'sreluctant hand. "I've been explaining to you for the past hour that Ihave nothing in the world against John Everett personally, except thathe has no training for the kind of work I need men to do. He has been aWall Street broker. Well, that is all right, but what does he know aboutprison reform, about building good roads for the state, or anything elseI'm after? Just because he is your friend--our friend, I mean--I can'tthrust him into a good job over the heads of better men. Please look atthis as I do, Betty. I hate desperately to refuse your request and Iknow Meg will be hurt with me too and think I'm unfaithful to old times.Heigh-ho, I wonder if anybody thinks being Governor is a cheerful job?Good-night, Princess."

  Plainly meaning to end their conversation, Anthony had gotten up fromhis sofa. He now stood above Betty, waiting to have her make peace withhim. But Betty looked far from peaceful, more like a spoiled and angrylittle girl thwarted in a wish which she had not imagined could berefused.

  Of course the Princess had always been more or less spoiled all herlife. Her friends in the Camp Fire Club and her family had alwaysacknowledged this. But she was usually reasonable with the sweetestpossible temper, so that no one really minded. Nevertheless Betty wasnot accustomed to having her serious wishes denied, and by her husbandof all people!

  Really she would have liked very much to cry with disappointment andvexation, except that she was much too proud. Moreover, even now shecould not finally accept the idea that Anthony would not eventually doas she asked.

  But she drew back coldly from any idea of making friends until then.

  "Good-night," she replied indifferently. "I don't think I shall try togo to sleep." Her voice trembled now in spite of all her efforts.

  "Really, Anthony, I don't know how I can tell Meg and John that youhave declined to do what I have asked you. I wonder what they willthink? Certainly that I haven't any influence with my own husband! Doyou know, Anthony, perhaps I am wrong, but I thought I had helped you alittle in your election. I've made a good many sacrifices; you have toleave me alone a greater part of the time because you are too busy tospend much of your time with me. Well, I have never thought ofcomplaining, but somehow it does seem to me that I have the right tohave you do just this one thing I ask of you. I'm afraid I don't findbeing a Governor's wife so very cheerful either."

  While she was talking Betty had also gotten up and was now standing nearthe doorway. As her husband came toward her she moved slowly backward.

  "I say, Betty dear, you are hard on a fellow," Anthony protested. "Ofcourse I owe my job to you and anything else that is good about me. Butyou can't want me to do wrong even for your sake. Maybe you may seethings differently tomorrow."

  However, instead of replying, the Governor's wife slipped outside theroom. In the nursery she lay down by Bettina. But she slept very littlefor the rest of the night.

  For in her opinion Anthony had not been fair; he had not even been kind.A few hours before, when she had assured John and Meg of her sympathyand aid, she could not have believed this possible. This was the firsttime in their married life that her husband had refused her anything ofimportance. Surely she had been wrong in suggesting or even thinking forhalf a second that his old boyish dislike and jealousy of John Everettcould influence Anthony now! It was an absurd idea, and even a horridone; and yet is one ever altogether fair in anger?

  Down-stairs, in spite of his fatigue, Anthony Graham walked up and downtheir big room for a quarter of an hour. If he only could havereconciled it with his conscience to do what Betty asked him, how mucheasier and how much more cheerful for both of them! She was right insaying that he owed something to her. He owed everything. It was notjust that she had helped him since his marriage--most wives do that fortheir husbands--but she had helped him from that first hour of theirmeeting in the woods so many years before.

  Nevertheless he had given his word to keep his faith as Governor of thestate. He had promised to give no one a position because of pull andinfluence. Naturally he had not expected his wife to have any part inthis, but only the politicians and seekers after graft. Yet even withBetty misunderstanding he must try to keep his word.

  Sighing, the young Governor turned out the lights. He did look tooboyish and delicate for the weight of his responsibilities tonight. Forthere had been other troubles in his office which he had wished toconfide to his wife, had she only been willing to listen. However, hefinally fell asleep somewhat comforted. For he was convinced that Bettywas too sensible a woman not finally to see things in the light that hedid. When he had the opportunity and she was neither tired nor vexedwith him he would explain to her all over again.

  An uncomfortable spirit, however, seemed to be brooding over theGovernor's mansion this evening, for in another part of the big house,there was another argument also lasting far into the night.

  Angel and Faith sat on either side an old-fashioned four-poster bed,often talking at the same time in the way that only feminine creaturescan.

  In her white cashmere kimono over her gown, with her pale hair unbound,Faith Barton looked like a little white saint. But alas, and in spite ofher name, the little French girl bore no resemblance to one!

  Angel's dark hair was extraordinarily heavy and curly but not very long,and now in her uneasiness she had pushed and pulled at it until it wasextremely untidy. Moreover, her black eyes now and then flashedresentfully at her friend and two bright spots of color burned in hercheeks. When she was not talking her lips were pressed closely together.

  "Faith, it isn't right of you; you know it isn't. You should not havemade me promise to keep your secret before telling me it. How could Iever have guessed such a dreadful thing! I simply must, must tell Bettyif you are not going to confide in Mrs. Barton. Then Betty can do whatshe thinks best and it will be off my conscience."

  Certainly Angelique Martins was not speaking in an amiable tone, and yether companion seemed not in the slightest disturbed.

  Indeed, Faith began quietly brushing her long, straight hair.

  "Don't be a goose, Angel, and don't h
ave so much conscience for otherpeople. Of course, I am sorry I told you. Kenneth said it would be wisernot to speak to any one for the present, but I had to have someconfidant. Now you are trying to spoil my first real romance by wantingme to get up and proclaim it on the housetops. What I like most aboutbeing engaged to Kenneth is that no one knows of it and that we can seeeach other without a lot of silly people staring and talking about us.Of course, when we begin to think about being married I shall tell Roseeverything. Then I know she will understand. But we are not going to bemarried for a long, long time, I expect. Kenneth says that nothing wouldpersuade him to marry me until he could give me everything in the worldI want. Oh, you need not look so superior, Angel; I understand you don'tapprove of that sentiment, but I think it is beautiful for a man to feelthat way about a girl. You simply can't appreciate Kenneth." And Faithlooked sufficiently gentle and forgiving to have tried the patience of asaint.

  "Perhaps not," the other girl answered shortly. "Anyhow, Faith, you areright in believing I don't approve of the things you have told me. Theidea of your being secretly engaged to a man whom you have only knownabout two weeks! It is horrid! Naturally you don't either of you knowwhether you are really in love; but then I don't think you ought to beengaged until you are willing to tell people. Besides, what do you knowabout Mr. Helm's real character, Faith? He is the kind of fellow whomakes love to almost every girl he meets."

  Almost under her breath and with her cheeks flaming the little lameFrench girl made this last speech. Nevertheless her companion heardher. Still Faith did not appear angry as most girls would have beenunder the circumstances, but perhaps her gentle, pitying expression washarder to endure.

  "Is that what troubles you, Angel? I am so sorry," Faith returned,ceasing to brush her hair to smile compassionately at her friend. "Yousee, Kenneth warned me that you did not like him very much. He was tookind to explain exactly the reason, only he said that you seemed to havemisunderstood something about him. I suppose he was kind to you once,Angel, because of course he would be specially kind to a girl like you.But, there, you need not look so angry! You have a dreadful temper,Angel. Even Betty Graham thinks so in spite of being so fond of you."

  With pretended carelessness Faith Barton now glanced away, devoting allher energy to plaiting her long hair. Really her speech had been moreunkind than she had intended it. But somehow she and Angel were alwayshaving differences of opinion and it seemed to Faith that it wasusually Angel's fault, because she never quarreled with any one else.

  Besides, ever since her first meeting with the little French girl atSunrise Cabin she had been the one who had tried to make and keep theirfriendship. Angel never seemed to care deeply for any one except hermother and now Mrs. Graham and her babies, and was always getting intohot water with other people.

  However, it certainly did not occur to Faith that her own amiabilitycame partly from a lack of interest in any one except herself and partlybecause her own whims were so seldom interfered with.

  Curious that Rose Barton, who had been such a sensible guardian andfriend to her group of Camp Fire girls, had been so indulgent to heradopted daughter! But very few persons understood Faith Barton. Sheseemed to be absolutely gentle and loving and to live always in a worldof beautiful dreams and desires. How could any one guess that she wasoften both selfish and self-willed?

  "There is no use talking any more on this subject, Faith, if you think Iwish to interfere because I am jealous of you," Angel declared, andfinding her cane slipped down from the bed. "Besides, you know perfectlywell you are doing wrong without my saying it. Anyhow, I believe thatsomething will happen to make you sorry enough before you are through."

  With this parting shot Angel marched stiffly out of the room, too proudto reveal how deeply her friend had wounded her.