The Girls at Mount Morris by Amanda Minnie Douglas (rooftoppers .txt) 📖

mean to have a jolly good time with plenty of lovers and dances and fun and get married. I'm not going to be a sighing, whimsical old maid, borrowing trouble."

"Oh, dear!" and she fell to sobbing again.

"Now, Louie, let me give you some ammonia and you lie here on my bed while I finish this exercise. Get asleep if you can."

"Oh, how good you are in real trouble, Phil."

"Humph! You don't know what real trouble is. To be smashed up in a railroad accident or run over by a trolley or bitten by a mad dog, such things might make your hair turn white. There now, don't let me hear another word out of you."

She settled Louie on her bed and covered her over with a shawl, listening every few moments. The sighing breath became more regular, there were two or three gentle snores. Phillipa rose presently, went cautiously to the door and placed the key on the outside, then locked it softly. Louie might sleep half an hour.

Just as she turned Zay ran into her arms. "Oh Phil--we've just had word. The steamer will be in this evening. Aunt Kate has sent over and I am to be dismissed. We go to New York tomorrow morning. Oh, it seems too blessed to be true, but mother hasn't lost any ground. What a lovely Christmas we shall have!"

"And I'm glad enough for your sake, Zay. I've teased you about looking like that Boyd girl, and I dragged you off into danger, but if anything should happen to you I never could forgive myself."

"I don't believe we were in any great danger. I hunted up father's big medico-something and read about scarlet fever. You don't take it very easily, but oh, wasn't it dreadful for the poor woman! Only I think she oughtn't have let us in. The town authorities are going to send them away as soon as they can. Oh, good-by--but I'll see you when we come back."

"I'll keep tab on Louie. We must just hold together. It won't do for the thing to leak out. I was a ninny to propose such a thing." They kissed each other and walked down stairs together. Most of the girls were in the school room discussing the newspaper account. The town was clean and in excellent shape, there were no fears of an epidemic and even now Dr. Lewis was not quite sure but it's origin was measles, since the little girl had a decided case. The strictest watch would be kept. The clothes and some rubbish had been burned. The clairvoyant's knowledge of the future was held up to withering ridicule.

Louie Howe had a long, refreshing nap and woke up in much better heart. The short day ended by a little gymnasium practice but all the girls were rather nervous over the affair.

"Why, I had the scarlet fever once," announced Miss Nevins, "and mamma would have three doctors!"

"And you lived through all that?" laughed some one. "Then scarlet fever can't be dangerous."

"I don't remember being very sick, and then father sent us to Bermuda. It was when the lilies were in bloom. It's such a lovely place!"

"Young ladies," began Mrs. Barrington as they rose from the table, "as our work is about done I have decided to dismiss school. Some of your parents may see this sensational account, and everything does get so exaggerated. There is not the slightest fear of an epidemic, but you will all be glad of a little longer holiday. I hope you will all return in good health and the resolve to do your best towards finishing your year in the best possible manner."

"You believe there isn't real danger?" asked Miss Kingsland.

"There have been no cases about the town to indicate an epidemic. The little girl's case seems to be not very serious as her fever is abating. Oh, I think we at least need not feel the slightest alarm. We have no slums to foster contagion."

Still, the two sudden deaths had created a frightened sort of impression. The girls kept discussing them until Phillipa protested.

"Who is going home tomorrow?" she asked. "After all it is only a day sooner, and who has their Christmas gifts done up? Must we save our jolliness until we get home? We are all coming back in a fortnight, and spring comes so soon after the holidays, and there's pegging away at everything and finally graduation."

Some began to hunt up trains, others went to packing. Phillipa kept Louie near her and made funny unsentimental speeches until the old feeling seemed quite restored. Some gifts were exchanged, some guesses as to what home presents would be and they said good-night in the best of spirits.

"Now, Louie," began Phil, escorting her to her door, "if you get a granny fit in the night and see horrible things, you just come to my room and hop into bed with me, and think what a gay time you'll be having tomorrow night this time, much gayer than Miss Nevins with all her money and her three party frocks with no place to display them."

Louie laughed. "Oh, Phil, you're such a comfort," she said with an extravagant hug, "but aren't you going home tomorrow?"

"No, not until Friday. I want to see Zay before I go, and I'm not afraid of unlucky Friday either," laughing.

Louie slept soundly and was in very good spirits. The girls were all eager for the morning paper. The scare was pretty well over. The boys had been buried, the little girl was no worse and if fever did not develop it would simply be a case of measles.

Then most of the girls said good-by, wishing each other a merry Christmas. The others huddled together and bewailed their hard lot, missing Miss Boyd very much. Her mother was quite poorly, which was given as her excuse. Mrs. Dane insisted upon a rigorous exclusion until all danger of contagion was over.

Quite late in the afternoon Phillipa walked over to Crawford House and sent up her card to Zaidee with a penciled message. The girl came flying through the hall, more beautiful than ever Phil thought, in her soft red cashmere with white lace garnishings.

"Oh, Phil dear, I'm so glad to see you! I was afraid you would go home before I had a glimpse of you. We've been so busy and so full of joy! Oh, you can't think what it is to see mother walking around with no crutches and the wheel chair set aside, and she's in such splendid spirits. Vincent will be allowed to come home as a special favor to papa, getting here early Monday morning and returning that night. We're just going to have a family dinner with a very few dear friends, but New Year's night I am to have a party. Oh, can't you come back a little sooner. I'd like so to have you."

"I don't believe I can, and you know there are the lovers and the diamond ring"--laughing.

"Oh, dear! _Can_ you believe any of it? And the surprise that I'm not going to be pleased with. It isn't that Willard has fallen in love, he is going to have his three years' cruise first. Oh, were you _much_ frightened, Phil? It was dreadful, and no one can tell where the boys took the disease. I can't help feeling sorry for the poor mother if she is a humbug, it is such a sad Christmas for her, and was Louie much frightened?"

"Oh, she almost went into hysterics and I was afraid she'd give us all away, but I did manage to get her off safely, and bound her by the most solemn promises not to mention the escapade at home. It wasn't the right thing for us to do of course, but mischief always looks so tempting to you and if we keep silence no harm will be done. It wasn't as bad as they thought."

A shudder went over Zay's slight figure.

"And I am so glad you didn't worry yourself ill," Phillipa rejoined with real feeling.

"Phil, can't you stay to dinner and see mother? She's lying down now--there have been so many calls. Father brought home the German nurse, who measures off her time in a very funny manner, and he escorts mother down stairs and up again as if he was a young lover."

"No, dear, thank you. When I come back the rush will be over and we will have a good time. I've twenty things to do and start at nine tomorrow. Good-by and have just the most splendid time, as I shall have. So good luck for a fortnight," and they kissed each other warmly.


CHAPTER VIII

A STRANGE CONFESSION

The girl who had been wrongfully accused was not so light hearted. Mrs. Dane still preserved her suspicious aspect, and of course the whole school was eager for every bit of news. Lilian said nothing to her mother about the talk, she seemed rather fretful and uneasy, as if she was annoyed by the girl's presence.

So on Thursday afternoon she went out for a walk. Just beyond the gate she saw Edith Trenham coming toward her.

"Oh, were you going out? Let us walk together, then. I have so much to say to you? Did you think it queer?"

"I know now," said Lilian. "It was dreadful!"

"I had to go home for some important school papers, and just slipped in and out again when you saw me. Of course I did not want it spoken of. Mother has been very careful keeping the windows on that side of the house closed. Claire has never had any of the infantile diseases. The woman thought it measles at first, but they are so particular in the schools, now. We closed today. Mother is going to shut up the house for awhile and board at Mrs. Lane's while they fumigate and burn up. The authorities have ordered the old house torn down. I think not a great many people visited her, though they did at first. I only hope the little girl will not die. Mother spoke to the oldest one that morning and she said her brothers were very ill and that her mother thought she would have a doctor, but it was too late when he came. Oh, I hope there will not be any more cases."

"It would be terrible if they died like that. Our classes are dismissed as well, I believe there was a great fright among the girls, and just at Christmas time, too."

"Will you go down with me tomorrow and have a look at the stores? This has upset our plans. I wanted you and your mother to come and take Christmas dinner with us."

"Mother doesn't seem at all well. I doubt if she could go out, and I couldn't leave her for pleasure."

"Well, some other time; and how are you getting along? I suppose you have vacation as well?"

"Oh yes. Madame thinks I shall acquire French easily. She reads French verses so splendidly, and I am doing well in Latin, but oh, there are such stores of reading! It is a hardship to tear myself away, and poetry just enchants me--well, when it is high and fine. I have begun 'The Idylls of the King.' Oh it must be just glorious to write such poetry!"

"It is a rare gift, and it is something to be able to read and appreciate."

"I sometimes envy the girls who have so