CHAPTER XIV
A day or so after this memorable meeting of the Girl Scouts thingscommenced to happen so rapidly that Rosanna was fairly dizzy.
Uncle Bob's affairs straightened out and the family set off for NewYork, where they were to take passage for France, their first stoppingplace. Rosanna, with a heartache that she could not control, went overwith her modest little trunk to stay with Claire. It was a tremendoussacrifice for the little girl to give up this marvelous journey, and allher fine generosity and tenderheartedness failed to save her a few deeppangs. But if ever a girl was repaid, it was enough to pay _anyone_ tosee the wordless gratitude of Claire.
When Claire found that the Hortons were going abroad and that Rosannaintended to remain with the Maslins, it was necessary to tell hersomething of the reason why, for of course she could not understand thecommon sense of Rosanna remaining with her. So Colonel Maslin explainedthat a new doctor was going to try the effect of an operation on hermother. Doctor Branshaw did not want to operate until he was sure thathis patient was in good condition, so he insisted on waiting for awhileand to Claire this waiting would be the greatest strain of all. So muchdepended on the operation. Her mother, her beautiful, gay, young motherrestored almost from the dead, or else.... Claire stopped there. She didnot feel herself strong enough to think of anything but her mothergetting well.
The doctor and Colonel Maslin agreed that it would not do to worryClaire, and so the wistful and frightened girl was thrown more and moreon the kindness of Rosanna. Claire was frightened. It dawned on her thatperhaps her mother might die in this terrible operation that was coming.Rosanna did not fail her. She carried Claire out of her despairing moodsby her own cheerful, hopeful presence and, thanks to her, the timepassed quickly.
School ended and vacation commenced. The summer heat beat on Louisville,and even the shady byways and lanes running through the beautiful parkswere breathless. Colonel Maslin begged the girls to go into the countrybut Claire refused to leave him.
The Troop of Girl Scouts went off for a week's camping, but as Clairewould not leave her father, Rosanna decided not to go. The girlsreturned, sunbrowned and bubbling with funny accounts of the trip. Everyevening a row of them came and sat on the Maslin porch, and told newstories.
Claire and Rosanna almost felt as though they had been present. WhenJane and Estella and Elise and Helen came, all talking at once, it washard to figure out just what _had_ happened.
But the funniest one of all was Mabel Brewster. Whether it was herexperiences on the staff of the _Times-Leader_ or her evident happinessin her return to her home, it was hard to say; but she had become a finestory-teller and was the life of the party. She always saw the funnyside of things and could tell a joke on a girl without being bitter.
There came at last hot and stifling days when the thunderheads piledhigh in the west and the leaves hung sagging on the branches. The girlskept within doors in a desperate effort to keep out of the worst of theheat. At noon Colonel Maslin came in, looking troubled and worn. He satdown on a wicker chair near the girls, who were flat on the floorpropped on their elbows, trying to read.
"Claire, I have just had a telephone call from the doctor," he said. "Hewants to see me. Will you come? I think you had better."
"Of course, daddy!" said Claire at once. She got up. "At what time doesour train go?"
"I thought we might drive over," said the Colonel. "It would be so hoton a train a day like this. Will you come too, Rosanna?"
"I would love to," answered Rosanna.
"Just tell Chang to get ready, will you, dear?" asked the Colonel of hisdaughter. She left the room, and they heard her calling to Chang in thedistance.
"Rosanna, the time has come," said the Colonel in a voice which shook alittle. "We won't tell Claire until we reach Cincinnati, but thisweather is undoing all the weeks of preparation, and the doctor says theoperation must take place immediately. Mrs. Maslin has been feeling sowell that he is very anxious to try the experiment when she is at herstrongest and best. He promises nothing. It may result in her death, butwe must try it, Rosanna, if only for Claire's sake."
"Does she--Mrs. Maslin know about it?" asked Rosanna.
"She knows nothing, my dear," said the Colonel sadly. "Just sits andlooks into space all day long. And she was the gayest, brightest,happiest creature. They called her the most popular woman in the Army. Ican't tell you what she was to us." He bent his fine head and a sighthat was nearly a sob shook his shoulders. "We may lose her," hewhispered.
"No, indeed!" said Rosanna. "I know Dr. Branshaw is going to make herperfectly well again. _I_ don't feel worried at all. I feel so happy Idon't know what to do. So _glad_! Oh, Colonel, just think! Claire willhave her mother again. You can't think how a person wants her mother. Itdoesn't matter how many other people are good to you no one is like amother. I am sure this is so, because you know _my_ mother is dead, andI feel so lonely and empty, even when I have my grandmother and Citaand Uncle Bob. Somehow nobody's shoulder feels the same as a mother's.My mother died when I was a baby, but I know it, just the same."
Tears started to Colonel Maslin's eyes as he listened to the brave,uncomplaining little girl.
"You are quite right, my dear," he said. "And I pray that your doctorwill give Claire's mother back to her. If she is cured, it will be yourgift. Not one of the specialists we have had ever discovered the pieceof bone pressing on her brain."
"She will be well," declared Rosanna. "I wish the operation was all overwith."
She wished it more than ever the next day when they swallowed a heavyapology for a breakfast and drove to the hospital where Mrs. Maslin hadbeen taken. Rosanna will never to the end of her days be able to look atcertain magazines without a shudder. The two girls sat or walkedrestlessly around the bare waiting-room, turned over the pages of theperiodicals on the prim table, or gazed silently out of the window wherethey could see the usually impassive and unmoved Chang pacing restlesslyup and down beside the limousine.
Occasionally Colonel Maslin came in, made a brief comment, and dashedout again. Each time he left Claire whispered, "Poor father!" littleguessing that her father, rushing back to the operating-room, waswhispering to himself, "Poor Claire! My poor baby!"
Somehow or other time dragged on, the anxiety growing with every momentuntil at last, looking more haggard than ever, Colonel Maslin enteredand took his daughter in his arms.
"It is over, darling," he said huskily. "It was very bad. She may notlive. You must be brave. She is coming out of the ether, and the doctorwants us to be with her when she becomes conscious. Can you be _quite_calm and natural?"
"You know that I can," said Claire quietly. "Come, dad!"
They left the room and Rosanna, forgotten, clasped her handspassionately. "Oh, _please_ save her! _Please_ make her well! Claire_needs_ her mother," she prayed over and over.
In the silent room upstairs Claire caught a blurred impression ofwhiteness and watchfulness. Her mother's bloodless hand lay on thecounterpane and a doctor watched the fluttering pulse. Another doctorstood ready to administer an injection in case the feeble heart shouldfail. A couple of nurses moved swiftly but noiselessly here and there.They made way for the man and girl and beckoned them close to the bed.Colonel Maslin dropped on one knee and standing with her arm around hisneck, Claire looked at her mother whom she had not seen for so long.
Her head was closely bandaged, but oh, how beautiful and how dear shewas! After what seemed an endless time there was a flutter of the whiteeye-lids, and they lifted slowly. For a moment the beautiful eyesstared blankly. Hope died in Claire's heart. Then the weary eyes foundthem, looked at the Colonel, studied Claire in a curious way, and thenseemed to embrace them both. A faint smile flickered across the face,and a faint whisper trembled on the air.
"My two sweethearts!" Mrs. Maslin said, and as though even that was toogreat a tax drifted off into unconsciousness again.
"She is all right," said Doctor Branshaw. "Better go now, Maslin. I willsee you
downstairs."
Tears were pouring down the Colonel's face as he rose and with a long,adoring look at his wife, left the room, Claire clinging to his hand.But out in the long corridor, the door safely closed behind them, Clairegave a deep sigh and quietly fainted.
The Colonel picked his daughter up, turned into the first unoccupiedroom and laid her on the bed. Then he hurried after a nurse. When Clairecame to herself, Rosanna, rather pale, was holding her hand. She wastrying to swallow something bitter, and her father stood near her,looking as though he was to blame.
"Oh, I am _so_ sorry, daddy!" she said as soon as she could speak. "Ifeel all right. What a silly thing for me to do! How is mother?"
"If you are going to behave yourself now, dear, I will go and see," saidColonel Maslin. He kissed her and hurried off. Claire, feelingstrangely weak but so happy, turned to Rosanna.
"She knew us!" she said. "She knew us both, and now, even if she dies, Iwill always have that to remember."
"She will not die!" Rosanna declared for the hundredth time.
"There are worse cases than your mother's," said the nurse comfortingly."If she stands the shock, she will be all right, and I am sure she will.Don't you worry or think she is not going to be well. You want to sendthoughts of courage and strength to her instead of thinking that shemust die."
"That sounds like some of the new religions," said Rosanna.
"It is not," said the nurse. "It is just plain common sense. Just youtry it!"
"I don't need to," said Rosanna. "I know Mrs. Maslin will get well, andClaire will know so, too, when she gets over being frightened."
Claire did get over being frightened, although for many days hermother's life hung by a thread. They stayed at the nearest hotel, and asColonel Maslin had been given leave of absence they had the comfort ofhis presence.
As time went on and it became a certainty that Mrs. Maslin would liveand be her own self again, Claire was allowed to see her mother. Atfirst her visits were limited to a skimpy five minutes once a day,spent under the eyes of a stern nurse who watched the time and put herout without mercy. But as the days wore by and the invalid grewstronger, Claire was allowed to spend many happy hours with her mother.
Came a day when the Colonel was obliged to return to duty. And after atalk with her mother Claire went with him, Rosanna of courseaccompanying them. Rosanna had had a good time after the first period ofworry, during which she never left Claire for a half hour. And Clairewas grateful. Rosanna did not guess how grateful. She did not guess howoften Claire talked to her mother and father about the Girl Scout'sloyalty and devotion. And Claire was naturally so quiet that it was hardfor her to tell Rosanna just what she thought about it all. But Rosannadid not mind. She knew without words what her companionship had meant toClaire during her time of trial.
Rosanna knew from that strange inner source that tells us so much andleads us so unerringly that she had done right to give up the chance tosee the Ports of the World. And she was glad. Her sacrifice had provedto her, at least, that being a Girl Scout meant more than the happycompanionship along the woodland ways in summer, or the friendlystriving for merits in winter.
One little thing worried her: her task was to be finished sooner thanshe had thought. When Claire's mother came home, Rosanna did not wantto be there. For one thing, she wisely felt that Mrs. Maslin would wantClaire all to herself, and she knew that Claire would have no time orthought to give anyone else, even a friend as well loved as Rosanna knewherself to be.
Rosanna did not know where to go. The Hargraves had gone down to the oldhome in Lexington; Mrs. Culver and Helen were visiting in Akron, Ohio.Rosanna thought harder and harder as the days passed, and the bulletinsfrom the hospital grew better and more encouraging. At last the doctoractually set a date. In three days Claire could have her mother. She wasto come home slowly and carefully in the limousine. And there must beweeks and weeks of unbroken rest in her own home, with her devotedhusband and loving child and the adoring Chang to anticipate every wish.
Then Rosanna had an inspiration. Her old nurse and maid, Minnie, wasmarried and living with her nice, hard-working young husband in arose-covered cottage in the Highlands. Rosanna knew that they would bothbe perfectly delighted to receive her.
She closed the book she was reading and went to the telephone. As shereached it, the bell jingled.
"Hello!" she said listlessly.
A voice vaguely familiar answered, "Is Miss Rosanna Horton there?"
"This is Rosanna," said she.
There was a slight pause, then the voice said in a queer _mincy_ way,"Oh, yes, Miss Rosanna Horton. Well, can you tell me, please, where Mr.Robert Horton is?"
"He is in France," said Rosanna.
"Are you _sure_?" said the voice. "I heard that he had returned to thiscountry on business and was here in Louisville. I heard he had come tosee a niece of his."
Rosanna had heard enough. She commenced to jump up and down.
"Oh, Uncle Robert, Uncle Bobby, where are you? Oh, hurry, hurry!"
"All right, sweetness," said Uncle Bob in his own voice. "I am rightbehind the house in the garage. I thought I would let you down easy."
Rosanna did not hear anything after "garage." She dropped the receiver,went through the house like a whirlwind, and was clasped in UncleRobert's arms, where it must be confessed she shed some real andcomforting tears.
Rosanna's sacrifice had not been so very easy, you know.
The Girl Scout's Triumph; or, Rosanna's Sacrifice Page 14
