Polly of Lady Gay Cottage Part 31

The next day, returning to her apartment for a light wrap, after the evening meal, Mrs. Illingworth pa.s.sed her dressing-table, and stared in amazement. The girls, in their room, heard her peremptory call.

"Patty, have you been meddling with my jewel cases again?"

"No, mamma, I haven't touched them," she answered comfortably.

"Are you sure? Think! Come here quick!"

Patricia sprang to obey. Her mother's voice was tense and sharp. More than once she had made free to appropriate necklaces and bracelets for her own adornment in plays with the children, but this time she was quite innocent of any misbehavior.

"Why!--why!" she gasped, gazing, big-eyed, at the beautiful empty cases, "where are all your jewels? I haven't taken a single thing!

Have I, Polly? We were playing tennis early, and then we went to ride, you know. Why, what could--"

But Mrs. Illingworth waited for no more; dashing from the room, she hurried to the office to report her loss.

She was only one of many. While supper was in progress the rooms of the guests had been rifled of money and jewelry to the amount of thousands of dollars. The thief had entered the apartments by means of a skeleton key, for most of the doors had been locked.

"Oh, I wonder if he took my lovely coral bracelet!" cried Patricia, who had followed her mother downstairs.

The girls scampered back, to find their fears true. Patricia's pretty bits of jewelry, as well as Polly's pansy pin, were gone. They were distressed over their loss, but their excitement was a small part of that throughout the hotel.

The authorities were not long in placing the charge. The men who had accompanied Harold from the railway wreck had vanished, and although they were traced to a neighboring town, there they seemed to be utterly lost.

Perhaps n.o.body grieved more than did Polly.

"And the man was so pleasant to me!" she mourned. "To think he should go and steal my pretty pin--Chris's present!"

The occurrence actually made her homesick, and she longed for the day when her month should be up. It had been arranged for her to travel in company with an elderly gentleman who must pa.s.s through Fair Harbor on his way home, and she would have hoped that his business would hasten his going, only that she had promised the entire month in return for the fifty dollars.

The day was finally set, but nothing was said about the price of her visit, and Polly grew anxious and perturbed. What if Patricia had forgotten! What if she should not get the money after all! To be sure, the month had been for the most part pleasant, still the loss of her precious pin was enough to make her hate the name of Midvale Springs.

Now if she had gained not even the amount of the coal bill by coming!

By the last night Polly was in a fever; she could not sleep, while her irresponsible bedfellow lay beside her like a little log.

Shortly before breakfast, Polly, dressed for her journey, appeared in Mrs. Illingworth's room, and with a pleasant good-morning was on her way to the hall, when the lady stopped her.

"Wait a moment, dear!"

Polly turned, to see Patricia's mother opening her purse. Her heart leaped in sudden joy. She had been blaming Patricia for neglect, but now she silently begged her pardon.

"Run and get your hand-bag," Mrs. Illingworth smiled, "I want to put something into it."

Polly fetched it gladly.

"There is fifty dollars, a little present from Patty and me, and I hope you will have as much pleasure in spending it as we have in giving."

Polly thanked her, and then added:--

"I wouldn't take it, as I told Patricia before I came, only that I want the money for a very special purpose."

Mrs. Illingworth's eyes narrowed, as was their habit in surprise, and she started to speak; but Polly was going innocently on, and the lady glanced keenly at her daughter, who was standing transfixed in the door of her room.

"I was wishing I could earn some," Polly was saying, "when Patty offered this if I would come for a month; so it happened just right. I thank you ever so much, and for my lovely visit beside."

It is doubtful if either the mother or daughter heard much of Polly's grateful little speech. Patricia's face burned with shame at her forgetfulness, and she wondered what her mother would say as soon as Polly was out of hearing.

As for Polly she went blithely on her way, never dreaming that by fortunate chance Mrs. Illingworth's gift came to cover up a bit of negligence.

Fair Harbor was not reached until evening. To Polly's surprise, her father was not at the station. Her letter, she reasoned, could not have been received. But the road was well-known and the hour was not late, so she took the way to Lady Gay Cottage with a light heart.

The house was dark. Neither father nor mother was on the piazza, as Polly had hoped they would be. She was eager to feel their arms around her. She pushed the bell-b.u.t.ton again and again, but there was no answer. It was dismally dark at Colonel Gresham's, too, and not the murmur of a voice came to her as she listened.

"They are all out riding, probably," she explained to herself discouragedly. It was a lonesome home-coming indeed. She walked slowly over to the hammock, and dropped into it. Anyway she was at home--that was a comfort.

"And they'll come pretty soon," she thought gladly. "They never stay out late."

She was tired, after her long day on the hot, dusty train. She leaned wearily back among the soft cushions. Yes, home was the best place in the whole world.

Two hours later an automobile stopped at Lady Gay Cottage. Dr. Dudley and his wife stepped out, there were good-nights, then the two went up to the house together.

"Going in?" queried the Doctor. "Guess I'll stay out here awhile, it is too pleasant to go to bed."

He unlocked the door, and then, left to himself, went over to the dark corner where the hammock swung. There he suddenly stopped, with a soft e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n.

The sleeper did not stir.

Putting his hand gently under her neck, he thought to take her in his arms. How surprised she would be when she awoke! But she spoiled his plan by suddenly opening her eyes.

With a glad cry she nestled her head on his shoulder. How dear it was to be home again! Mother heard the voices, and came out, which meant more kisses and happy greetings.

Polly was talking fast and eagerly about the exciting events of her visit, when she thought of the money in her purse.

"Oh, I forgot!" she broke off, and dived into her little hand-bag.

"There," she said, her voice low and tense, "is the money to pay the coal bill! Mrs. Illingworth--I mean Patricia--gave it to me for going with her."

"But, Thistledown," objected the Doctor whimsically, "that coal bill was paid long ago,--besides--"

"Oh, dear," she broke in, "I wanted to pay it myself! I wanted to help you!" She hid her face against his coat. "I wouldn't have gone only for that. Patty said she'd give me fifty dollars if I would."

In a flash Dr. Dudley saw it all,--her sudden turn regarding the summer trip, her brave fight with homesickness. Involuntarily his arms tightened around her. Must he make her feel that her sacrifice had been in vain?

"You say that Patricia gave you the money when you came away?"

"No, father, it was Mrs. Illingworth that gave it to me--this morning.

She said it was a present from both of them. But Patty had promised it to me."

"I understand. Well, there are other ways, Thistledown, where your money can help, if you wish. You know we have not used our 'wedding'

car for a good while, because I haven't been able to spare enough for a needed tire. Now, if you like, you shall buy the new tire, and then we will have some rides. How will that do?"