New Horizons

by Lois Gladys Leppard

  The artist was a beautiful young woman whose name was Victoria. She was busily painting when they entered the shop, and even as she talked to them she kept right on. Mandie and Celia watched her in fascination.

  As the painting took on a life of its own, Mandie exclaimed, “You are painting a white cat, just like Snowball, my cat back home!”

  The girl paused to look at Mandie, and with a sorrowful face, she said, “You are correct. This is going to be a portrait of a cat I owned several years ago, who died one day while chasing a dog.”

  “Oh, I am so sorry.” Mandie offered the artist her sympathies.

  “Will that painting be for sale?” Mrs. Taft asked as the artist continued her work.

  “No, madam, this is for myself,” the artist replied.

  “Do you suppose, then, that you could make another painting of a white cat? It really does look just like my granddaughter’s,” Mrs. Taft explained.

  The artist stopped painting again, looked at her with a half smile, and replied, “I would be happy to. I can have it ready in two weeks.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Mandie exclaimed.

  “Now we must look at what you have for sale today and see if the girls would like any of those for their room at the college,” Mrs. Taft told Victoria.

  Victoria waved her hand toward the other side of the shop and said, “Anything you find over there is for sale today.” Then she continued painting.

  Mrs. Taft crossed to the other side of the shop, and the others followed. Victoria had paintings of many different subjects covering the wall and some standing down on the floor.

  “Celia, you get to choose because I am getting the cat,” Mandie told her.

  “Here is a horse,” Celia said, indicating one sitting on the floor. Turning to her mother she said, “Doesn’t that remind you of our Frisky back home?”

  “Yes, it does. It is the same kind of horse,” Jane Hamilton agreed. “Would you like that one, dear?”

  “Yes, ma’am, please,” Celia said, smiling at her mother. “It would look nice hanging over one of those big chairs in our room, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, I believe so,” her mother replied.

  Mrs. Hamilton bought the painting for Celia, and they took it with them. Mrs. Taft promised the artist that Mandie would be back in two weeks to pick up the cat painting.

  Mr. Donovan saw the ladies coming out of the shop with the painting, and he hurried to take it from Mrs. Taft to carry it to the carriage for them. The ladies looked through a few more shops, and then Mrs. Taft decided it was time to go back to the hotel and get ready for the evening meal.

  “Time certainly does fly,” Mrs. Taft remarked as they stood on the road by Mr. Donovan’s carriage. Turning to the driver, she asked, “Are you quite sure that you will not sell me your carriage, Mr. Donovan?”

  “I regret, madam, that I cannot part with it,” Mr. Donovan told her.

  “Then I suppose we must stay over a day or two longer, Jane, and go down to the carriage factory and buy one,” Mrs. Taft said to Mrs. Hamilton.

  “If that’s what you really wish to do,” Mrs. Hamilton replied.

  Mrs. Taft turned to the girls and said, “You girls only have to report for assignments tomorrow morning and will be free in the afternoon, so we will go then and see what the carriage factory has to offer. Mrs. Hamilton and I will stay as long as necessary to get this problem solved.”

  Mandie had been hoping her grandmother would go home the next day so she and Celia could be on their own and do whatever they wished. But she knew her grandmother would never leave until she had the carriage problem solved, so she might as well go along with everything and not protest. “Yes, Grandmother,” Mandie replied.

  Everyone boarded the carriage and went back to the hotel.

  Mandie and Celia quickly looked around the lobby as they walked through the big doors. There seemed to be dozens of girls and their families or friends who must have come from the college.

  “More people came in while we were gone,” Mandie remarked.

  “Look!” Celia pointed. “I do believe that is April Snow talking to someone over there in the corner.”

  Mandie looked and said, “So she finally got here. But I still haven’t seen Polly Cornwallis yet.”

  “Maybe she didn’t come down here after all and went to some other college,” Celia wished aloud.

  “I hope so,” Mandie said, as she and Celia continued to the elevator behind Mrs. Taft and Mrs. Hamilton. “Having April Snow around here will be exciting enough. I’m anxious to see if she will become friends with any of the girls who have been rude to me,” Mandie said as they came to the elevator.

  “We must get changed in a hurry because there seems to be a dining room full of people already,” Mrs. Taft told the girls as they went up in the elevator.

  Mandie didn’t like elevators. They made her stomach “turn over,” she claimed, and she wished she could have gone up the stairs, but their rooms were on the third floor and there was no way she could persuade her grandmother to let her go alone.

  Once inside their room, as they changed into fresh dresses for the evening, Mandie talked in a low voice so her grandmother could not hear in the next room. “I don’t know what we are going to do with our very own carriage. It’s going to turn out to be a nuisance, I think.”

  “I agree. I suppose we could just park it somewhere and forget about it,” Celia suggested. “I’d much prefer walking, if our destination is not too far.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Mandie replied. She turned and grinned at her friend and added, “We’ll just find out where we can leave it as soon as Grandmother leaves.”

  They both giggled and Celia said, “I really feel guilty, since your grandmother will have spent so much time and money getting a carriage for us.”

  “I don’t,” Mandie replied. “It’s time I start taking control of my life. I’m too old for Grandmother to make all the decisions.”

  Celia quickly turned to look at Mandie and said, “You aren’t going to say that to your grandmother, are you?”

  “No, of course not! I’ll just be silent and let her think she’s still the boss,” Mandie replied with a big grin.

  Mrs. Taft came through the connecting door with Mrs. Hamilton right behind her.

  “I see you young ladies are all ready for supper now,” Mrs. Taft said with an agreeable smile. “Let’s go down and see what they are serving tonight.”

  As Mandie followed her grandmother and Mrs. Hamilton out the door, she turned to whisper to Celia, “I just hope those fellows are not seated anywhere near us.”

  “So do I,” Celia agreed.

  “Maybe they’ll become interested in April Snow,” Mandie said.

  Mandie was hoping she would make other friends at the college and could ignore April Snow. April had always been the troublemaker at the Misses Heathwood’s School for Girls.

  chapter 3

  The next morning Mandie and Celia received their schedule and instructions for the coming semester. Looking around the chapel to see who else was there, Mandie spotted Mary Lou Dunnigan hurrying in the side door. Their eyes met and they nodded with a smile.

  “There’s Mary Lou,” Mandie whispered to Celia.

  Celia quickly turned to look. “She’s running a little late.”

  Mandie nodded and turned her attention to the woman at the podium who was giving basic information to the newcomers. “You are required to sign in and out every time you leave or enter the dormitory, no matter the reason. This is for security purposes mainly, but we are also in charge of your comings and goings since your parents have left you all in our care.” She straightened her thin shoulders and added, “And we will not tolerate any variance of our rules. Once you violate any of our standards, you will be reprimanded and you will lose points on your grades. You will be expelled should you have a second offense. We are here to teach you and you are here to learn. Please remember that at all times.”

>   Mandie fidgeted in her seat, wishing the woman would hurry up and finish. She wanted to talk to Mary Lou when they left the chapel. It had been a while since she and Celia had seen her, and she wanted to catch up before classes started.

  But the minute the woman at the podium dismissed them, Mandie saw Mary Lou quickly walk out the door.

  “Oh, shucks!” Mandie said to Celia. “Evidently Mary Lou is in a big hurry. We could never catch up with her in this slow-moving crowd.” She followed the other students toward the door.

  “Well, at least we know she is here,” Celia replied.

  When they finally were able to step out into the corridor, Mandie glanced around but saw no sign of Mary Lou.

  “Come on, Mandie,” Celia told her. “Your grandmother and my mother are waiting for us in the sitting room.”

  “I know,” Mandie replied as she and Celia made their way through the crowd.

  Mrs. Taft had arranged for Mr. Donovan to take them down to the carriage factory. He knew the factory owner and introduced Mrs. Taft and Mrs. Hamilton.

  “Good day, Mr. McGrady. Mrs. Taft and Mrs. Hamilton have come to buy one of your carriages,” he explained to the tall dark man in the office.

  “How do you do, ladies,” Mr. McGrady said as he rose from his seat at a long table covered with various carriage parts and stacks of papers.

  “Fine, thank you, Mr. McGrady. We would like to see what you have to offer in small carriages,” Mrs. Taft replied, looking around the huge building.

  “Ah, now, you are lucky today, Mrs. Taft,” Mr. McGrady replied. “Please come this way. I have just had an order cancelled for a small carriage because the customer preferred we make a larger one.” He led the way on into the back of the building.

  Mandie and Celia followed the ladies and watched as Mr. McGrady stopped before a carriage every bit as beautiful as Mr. Donovan’s, but much smaller.

  “Yes, indeed, we may be lucky. That is a beautiful piece of work,” Mrs. Taft told the man. “And I do believe we would be interested in discussing it with you.” She walked around the carriage. The girls stood watching and whispering.

  “Why, I could drive that myself. It’s not nearly as large as some wagons we had on my father’s farm,” Mandie whispered to Celia.

  Celia giggled and quietly said, “I’m sure you wouldn’t be permitted to do so. It would not be proper for a young lady to do such a thing.”

  “But my grandmother will have to find a driver for it,” Mandie whispered back. She waited and listened as her grandmother continued her conversation with the carriage factory owner.

  “Yes, sir, I think this would be appropriate for the girls. But now we will need a driver. Do you happen to know of anyone we could hire?” Mrs. Taft asked the man.

  “Yes, indeed, ma’am,” Mr. McGrady replied. “In fact, I can put you in touch with Mr. Ryland, who was supposed to have worked for the owner of this carriage. Mr. Ryland has his own horse, which you will also need.”

  Mrs. Taft turned to Mr. Donovan, who was standing nearby. “Do you happen to know the man he is talking about? Would you recommend him?”

  “As a matter of fact, I would certainly recommend Mr. Ryland,” Mr. Donovan replied. “He is an older fellow with much experience, and since the customer cancelled the order for this carriage, he is looking for other work to do.”

  Turning back to Mr. McGrady, Mrs. Taft said, “Then shall we close the deal on this carriage? And if you could arrange to send Mr. Ryland with the carriage to the hotel tomorrow morning, we would be most grateful.”

  “Of course, madam,” Mr. McGrady replied. “If you would please join me in my office, we will draw up the necessary bill of sale. This way, please.”

  As the girls followed them into the office, Mandie quietly groaned and whispered to Celia, “This means Grandmother will not leave until at least the day after tomorrow.”

  “You’re right,” Celia agreed.

  As soon as the negotiations were finished, Mrs. Taft had Mr. Donovan drive them back to the hotel for the noon meal.

  “We need to freshen up a little before we can go into the dining room,” Mrs. Taft told the girls.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Mandie and Celia said together.

  Then Mandie caught a glimpse of Mary Lou sitting on the far side of the reception area. “Grandmother, do you mind if I stop to speak to Mary Lou?” She motioned toward her friend across the room. “I won’t be long.”

  Mrs. Taft replied, “Well, all right, but please make it short. We don’t want to have to stand in line for our meal.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Mandie said.

  Mrs. Hamilton told Celia, “You may go with Mandie, but remember what Mrs. Taft said. Don’t be very long about it.”

  “Thank you, Mother,” Celia said, rushing to join Mandie as she hurried toward May Lou.

  “Mary Lou!” Mandie exclaimed. “I’m so glad to see you.”

  “I’m glad to see y’all, too! Sit down here,” Mary Lou said, motioning to the settee next to her chair. “I was late checking in, so I haven’t had time to look for anyone from the Heathwoods’ school.”

  “We saw April Snow,” Mandie replied as she and Celia sat down. “Why were you late?”

  “Well,” Mary Lou replied, “I had applied for a scholarship, but at the last minute I found out I was too late because there was a long list ahead of me when I reported to the registrar last week, so I went home. But that same afternoon the registrar sent a lady from her office out to my house to say I had been considered for another scholarship, so I should come back with her.” She paused and grinned. “And I got it! Otherwise my parents could not afford to send me here.”

  “I’m so glad for you, Mary Lou,” Celia told her.

  “Yes, so am I,” Mandie added. “What are the two scholarships?”

  “The first one is in memory of Mr. Robert Haynesworth,” Mary Lou replied, “and the second is in memory of a girl named Rosemary Worthington. She was a student here but was killed by a runaway horse, bless her soul.”

  “Oh, that’s horrible. But I’m so glad you got the scholarship. It will be nice to be together this school year.” Mandie stopped and stood up. “I’m sorry, but we have to go now. My grandmother and Celia’s mother have rooms upstairs, and we have to freshen up before dinner. Can you sit with us in the dining room? We’ll be going there to eat shortly.”

  Mary Lou also rose. “No, thank you. I’m waiting for my parents to take me home. You see, since I live here in Charleston, I’ll only be a day student,” she replied.

  “Then let’s get together when you are at school,” Mandie said.

  “I’ll be checking into classes next Monday,” Mary Lou said.

  “All right, we’ll look for you then,” Mandie replied as she turned to leave.

  “And I’ll look for you,” Mary Lou said. “Since everyone has to go to chapel every morning, I’ll probably see y’all there Monday morning at nine.”

  “We’ll see you then,” Celia said as she waved good-bye.

  As Mandie and Celia hurried toward the elevator, Mandie stopped suddenly and said, “Let’s go up the stairs.”

  Celia smiled and said, “All right.”

  As they rushed up the marble staircase and came to the second floor, Mandie spotted April Snow sitting in an alcove with a young man. “Don’t look now, but there is our old enemy, and she’s with a fellow.”

  Celia turned her head slightly to look. April Snow was deep in conversation with the young man and did not seem to notice Celia or Mandie as they passed on down the hallway toward the flight of stairs to the third floor.

  When the girls opened the door to their room, Mrs. Taft was sitting there waiting for them.

  “Let’s hurry, Amanda, so we will be able to get a table in a decent section of the dining room,” she said as Mrs. Hamilton came through the door from the adjoining room.

  “Yes, Celia, please do get a move on,” Mrs. Hamilton said.

  The girls quickly freshened up a
nd were ready to go downstairs.

  “Too bad we can’t walk down the staircase,” Mandie whispered to Celia as Mrs. Taft led the way toward the elevator.

  “Maybe April will go on down to the dining room,” Celia replied.

  But there was no sign of April Snow in the dining room.

  During the noonday meal Mrs. Taft decided she would rest for the afternoon. “This humidity has just got to me. I believe I will relax in our room for the afternoon,” Mrs. Taft told Mrs. Hamilton.

  “That is a good idea,” Mrs. Hamilton agreed. “I am not up to getting outside either during the hot afternoon.” She turned to Celia and asked, “Would you like to stay in this afternoon also, dear?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Celia replied. “There is nothing going on at the college this afternoon, so we don’t have to go out.”

  “I don’t want to take a nap because I won’t sleep tonight if I do, but it would be nice to just stay here in the hotel until suppertime, and then after that we could all go for a walk or something,” Mandie suggested, looking to her grandmother.

  “That’s fine. Just don’t go wandering off somewhere by yourself,” Mrs. Taft told her. “There are shops in the basement of this hotel. You might want to go look around down there.”

  “Or y’all may run into some of your friends who are probably staying here until classes start next Monday,” Mrs. Hamilton told the girls.

  “Maybe we’ll just sit in the lobby and watch the people come in and out,” Mandie said.

  The two girls decided to explore the shops in the basement, but they found nothing of interest, so they didn’t stay down there long. As they came back up into the lobby, Mandie spotted Polly Cornwallis sitting in the far corner talking to another girl whom they didn’t know.

  Polly lived next door to Mandie back home and was forever chasing Joe when he came to visit the Shaws. When Mrs. Taft had given Mandie and her friends a trip to Europe as a graduation gift, Polly had been invited to join them. Mandie was surprised at how well-behaved the girl had been, but after all, she was more interested in getting acquainted with boys than in seeing Europe.