The Girl Scout's Triumph; or, Rosanna's Sacrifice

by Burt L. Standish

  CHAPTER XI

  Rosanna gave a little cry of sympathy and pain, but she did not speakand Rosanna simply held her close and patted her back, whispering,"There, there!" over and over until at last the cries subsided, andClaire, spent and tired, lay quite still.

  "Are they _sure_ they can't cure her?" Rosanna whispered finally.

  "There is no hope," said Claire. "She seems to get worse all the time.She scarcely knows daddy now, and doesn't seem to care whether he comesto see her or not. For a long time she wanted to see him."

  "Did she know what the matter was?" asked Rosanna.

  "No, not that we know, only she is so sad, when she is herself, thatdaddy thinks she knows."

  "Oh, I do feel _sure_ that she will get well!" said Rosanna.

  Claire sadly shook her head.

  "There is no hope," she repeated. "We have had doctor after doctor, allthe big specialists, and they can't do a _thing_. And oh, Rosanna, shewas _so_ pretty and so bright! We were _so_ happy!"

  "How did you find out about it?"

  "She commenced to have headaches," said Claire, then added haltingly,as though she could not bear to tell even Rosanna about it, "and shegrew so angry about everything: awfully angry, so daddy was afraid shemight hurt me. She did once or twice, but I never told. She just hit mewith things, you know. Then the doctors said she must go away, mypretty, pretty, loving mother, who used to love me so! Why, she was_never_ happy for a single minute unless daddy or I was with her. Andshe used to be so full of fun and tricks, just like a little girl. Andoh, Rosanna, now I have to think of my mother in a sanitarium, with justnurses to look after her. Daddy's heart has broken and so has mine. And,Rosanna, that is not all. I am going insane, too."

  After a stupefied pause, Rosanna bounced violently up on her knees andshook Claire roughly.

  "Claire, _what_ a thing to say!" she exclaimed. "How _can_ you sayanything like that? Never, NEVER say it again."

  "It doesn't matter whether I say it or not," said Claire, "it is goingto happen, and it will kill daddy. Why, Rosanna, I have the most awfultempers you ever dreamed of and when they come on I don't know or carewhat I do or say. I feel too awfully afterwards, of course, but I gointo a sort of frenzy and can't control myself. I hate to tell you allthis, Rosanna; you will not understand it perhaps, but if I do not tellsomeone, I shall die! I cannot bear it alone any longer. We have keptit so quiet about mother. No one in the Army suspects. We always say shehas had a nervous breakdown."

  "Well, I can never tell you, Claire, dear, how dreadfully I feel aboutit all," said Rosanna, kissing her friend's wet cheek. "But I am gladyou have told me. We will bear it together, and I am sure that will makeit easier for you. And as far as you are concerned, I am perfectly surethat is nothing at all but imagination." She slid down and once moretook Claire's head on her loving little arm. "You are so tired, dear,"she said. "Let us rest awhile, and then when you feel better, I willtell you about _my_ mother and father. Wouldn't you like to hear aboutthem?"

  "I would love to," said Claire. "Oh, it _is_ easier to bear now that youare sharing it with me," she murmured.

  "Rest," said Rosanna softly, catching a sleepy note in the tired voice.Then suddenly, "Where is your mother now?"

  "At a place called Laurel Hill Home, just outside of Cincinnati," saidClaire, and in two minutes her regular heavy breathing told Rosanna thatshe was sound asleep.

  And in about two minutes more two girls, cuddled close, were dreamlesslysleeping.

  When they woke the following morning they found the blinds drawn sothere was a soft twilight in the room, but on the pavement outside theycould hear the shuffle and patter of many feet going to the ChristianScience temple near by.

  Claire rubbed her sleepy eyes, then leaned over and patted Rosanna.

  "Will you ever forgive me for keeping you awake all night?" she askedwistfully. "What a _selfish_ girl I am!"

  "Indeed, you are not!" declared Rosanna. "Goodness me, what time is it?Do I hear people going past to church?"

  "You do," laughed Claire.

  "Well, I was sure we put up all the shades before we went to bed."

  "We did, but daddy closed them before he went up to Camp. He always doesthat if he thinks I had better sleep late, and leaves a letter for me.He is _so_ good, Rosanna. I wish he had a nicer child."

  "Well, I suppose one can be almost any way one _wants_ to me," repliedRosanna. "I was so bad and ungrateful once that I'm sure anyone whowants to try can change themselves. I am not so very good yet, but Ican't help knowing that I am much nicer than I was." Both girls laughed.

  "Yes, I am sure you are very nice, indeed," said Claire. "I could neverbe as nice as you are."

  "Don't make fun of me," pouted Rosanna, her eyes twinkling. "Let's hurryup and go to church. The Christian Science Church has service an hoursooner than the others, so we will have time if we rush."

  They _did_ rush, and a brisk walk brought them to the arched door of theold ivy-covered church just as the long line of choir boys walked slowlydown the aisle.

  Rosanna heard nothing of the very excellent sermon. It was the firsttime she had had to think quietly of what Claire had told her in thenight. She went over it all carefully, her tender heart aching for thepoor girl beside her. If there was only _something_ she could do. Shewanted to help. But what could anyone do in a case like this? If allthose wise doctors said that there was no help for poor Mrs. Maslin,surely there was nothing for a poor little Girl Scout to do.

  Finally she closed her eyes tight, very tight, and a fervent littleprayer for guidance squeezed itself out of her heavy heart.

  "Please, _please_ show me what to do!" she begged, and at once, rightthen, the rector spoke loudly:

  "What have _you_ done?" he demanded. "Have _you_ made an honest effortto solve your problems, to unravel your tangles, or have you supinelyleft it all with your Creator? Believe me, you must make an honesteffort yourself. Ask yourself if you are really trying to do what thereis for you to do."

  Rosanna was so startled that she grew red and sat up very straight. Thenshe reflected that it was a good thing that she had heard that much ofthe sermon. She had prayed for help, and she must be awake and ready toreceive it when it came. Moreover, she herself must look for a way.

  All the way back to Claire's she pondered, and was so silent duringdinner that the Colonel accused her of being sleepy. After dinner theColonel said he had some letters to write, but later he would take themto the Country Club for supper. So the girls decided to write also, andsettled themselves on either side of the big library table.

  Claire was soon busy writing to a schoolmate in Honolulu, but Rosannadawdled over her paper.

  Then all at once it came to her. Bright as day, clear as a bell, sheknew what she wanted to do and how to do it. Her thoughts flew back tothe time when Doctor Branshaw, over there in Cincinnati, had operated onpoor little lame Gwenny and had made her well; actually well. Shewondered if people with hurt or lame brains could not be operated on.And that was another thought. Had Mrs. Maslin ever been hurt, or had shejust--well, just gone so naturally?

  "I have been thinking about your mother," she said suddenly,interrupting Claire. "What do you suppose made her so--I mean the wayshe is? Did she ever get hurt?"

  "Not enough to harm her," said Claire, starting. "No, never! She had anawful fall with her horse once, that stunned her for half an hour. Iwas with her and I was frightened almost to death. But she was allright again in no time, and it did not hurt her at all except where shebumped her head. She would not let me tell daddy because he alwaysworried over things. Her hair was so thick that it didn't cut her, butit was a hard blow and she had an awful headache for days, but that wasall. No, she was never hurt."

  "I wondered," said Rosanna, and commenced to write. And this is what shesaid:

  "_Dear Doctor Branshaw_:

  "You said to the Girl Scouts of our Troop once that we must be sure to tell you if ever we found another Gwenny. Do you remember? And
we all promised that we would.

  "Well, I have. But this girl is not a bit like Gwenny. She is beautiful, and has loads and loads of money, and is perfectly well. But oh, Doctor Branshaw, she is really sadder than Gwenny, because she has no brothers and sisters, but a lovely father whose heart is broken and her mother is insane. The doctors say she will never be any better, but just go on getting worse and worse always. But I prayed about it, and I know that you can cure her. You would be glad to if you could see this girl. Her name is Claire Maslin, and her father is a colonel in the Army and is stationed here. She is not like a girl at all except once in awhile when she forgets, and she thinks she is going to go insane too, when she gets older. She feels it coming on, but I am sure she is mistaken. But every girl needs her mother, don't you think so? And so please cure Mrs. Maslin. She is at a place right there in Cincinnati, and the address is on the slip of paper pinned to the top sheet.

  "I know that you are very busy, but it will make you feel as good as you did about Gwenny when you have cured Claire's mother, because I feel as though she needs her very, very badly. Although Colonel Maslin is truly lovely, of course he can't really be a mother.

  "So _please_ do this, Doctor, as soon as you can possibly get the time.

  "Your loving little friend,

  "ROSANNA HORTON.

  "P. S. Claire is a Girl Scout."

  Rosanna sealed the letter and addressed it and leaned back with a sighof relief. Claire glanced up, and seeing that Rosanna was through herwriting said slowly:

  "Rosanna, if you were with me, I don't believe I would ever have anotherof those awful spells. I feel so different when I am with you. You makeme feel so brave and quiet. Dad says he wants me to go to the seashorethis summer and I want you to come with me."

  It was on Rosanna's lips to say that she was going on a wonderful voyageacross the sea, but she remembered her promise to Uncle Bob andstammered, "Oh, that would be lovely, Claire, but I would have to seegrandmother about it."

  "Oh, _make_ them say yes!" begged Claire. "I _need_ you, Rosanna. Itruly do! Of course, if there is something else you want to do, it isall right, but I do want you awfully, dear Rosanna, and I am sure wewill have a good time."

  "I know it would be perfectly splendid," said Rosanna, wondering whyeverything had to happen at the same time. "I will ask about ittonight, and then I can tell you tomorrow."

  "Good," said Claire. "And I will go to dad's study right now and tellhim that he must beg your family to let you come."

  "All right," laughed Rosanna, "and while you are telling him, I will goand change my dress."

  She ran lightly upstairs and Claire, humming a little tune in her newhappiness, skipped to her father's private office and opened the door.What she saw stopped her like a blow. Her father sat at his desk, hishead buried in his arms. His wife's picture was clasped in one hand. Hisshoulders shook with sobs.

  Rosanna looked up with a smile as Claire entered, but Claire did notreturn it. She closed the door carefully, almost as though she thoughtit might break, then leaning against it, stood looking into space.

  "What did he say?" asked Rosanna.

  "Nothing; that is, I didn't speak to him," said Claire. Then with arush, "Rosanna, I can't invite you to the seashore after all. I shallnot go. I shall stay with dad. He is down there with mother's picture inhis hand, _crying_. I never saw him cry, Rosanna. It's awful! He isalways so brave. I never saw him cry. I cry enough, but somehow it'sawful for _dad_ to cry. You see I can't leave him, can I, Rosanna?"

  "No," said Rosanna, "you can't leave him."

  "He is always so cheerful and bright that I never thought about hisfeeling it like this. Oh, how selfish I have been! I do not deserve tobe a Girl Scout at all. I came to the place in the Manual the other day,where it tells about loyalty to parents, and I wouldn't read it at all,I was so sorry for myself. I just don't deserve my badge. I shall tellthe Captain to deprive me of it."

  "Nothing of the sort!" said Rosanna firmly. "You will simply dodifferently, that's all."

  "Indeed I will! My darling daddy! I didn't know what to do, Rosanna, soI just came out. I shall not let him know a thing, but I shall tell himthat I mean to stay here with him. And I can be near you, Rosanna, andyou will help me."

  The two girls looked at each other. Claire's eyes were pleading andwistful, her mouth trembled and she breathed as though she had beenrunning. Rosanna stared until Claire went out in a sort of a mist likethe fade-outs in the movies. And in her place Rosanna saw the tumblingwaters and the white sails of all the ports of the world! And her heartwent down, and down, and down! Then she saw Claire again, and she wassaying, "You _will_ help me, won't you, Rosanna?"

  And Rosanna's heart came up, and up, and up. It was filled with splendidsacrifice and high resolve, and loving kindness; but she only said,"Yes, Claire, I will be here, and I will help you."

  Rosanna had made her choice.