CHAPTER XXXV. JANE AND JEAN
Meanwhile the three girls in the kitchen were preparing the evening mealwith much nonsensical chatter, but Jane was finding the strain almostmore than she could bear. She felt that she might overcome her desire togo to her room and sob her heart out, if only she could get away byherself for a few moments, and so she suddenly, exclaimed, "The one thingneeded for our table is a bouquet. I saw a clump of the prettiest wildflowers yesterday, and if you girls will excuse me I'll go and get them."Merry at once saw through the ruse. Jane's flushed cheeks, quivering lipsand tear-brimmed eyes told the story, and so she urged, "Do go, Jane,before it is dark. The cool mountain air will do you good." She did notoffer to accompany her friend, realizing that she wanted to be alone.
Jane left the cabin, and after crossing the brook, she hurried toward thecleft in a rock where she had seen the flowers of which she had spoken,but instead of gathering them, she threw herself down on a wide, flatboulder and sobbed bitterly. She did not hear footsteps hurrying towardher, but suddenly she was conscious that someone had taken her hand andwas holding it with great tenderness. "Of course it is Dan," she thought,without glancing up. Dear old Dan who always understood. But in anothersecond, when the someone spoke, Jane knew that it was Jean Willoughby andnot her brother. Instantly she was on her feet, her cheeks flaming, herhand pressed over her pounding heart. There was a wild, frightenedexpression in her eyes and she was about to run, but she could not, fortwo strong arms caught and held her, as the lad implored, "Jane, dear,dear Jane, don't spurn me any longer. Don't you understand that I loveyou? The very fact that you could write that letter to me reveals thetrue nobility of your soul. I don't blame you in the least for finding ithard, at first, to adjust yourself to the changed conditions, but when itcame to the testing, you would have told your father to do just what hedid." Then, putting a hand over her quivering lips, he begged, "Don'tlet's talk about that subject now. There's something ever so much moreinteresting that I want to say. Jane, can you care enough for me topromise to be my wife?"
The sudden change from misery to joy had been so great that the girlcould hardly believe that it was real, and she gazed uncomprehendinglyinto the eager, handsome face of the lad. Then slowly she read in hisglowing eyes the truth of all he had said, and she smiled tremulously. Itwas enough for Jean Willoughby. Joyfully he cried, "You _do_ care, Jane!"Then taking from his pocket a ring, he added (and there was infinitetenderness in his voice), "That last summer on the coast of Maine, whenlittle mother and I were alone together, she gave me this for _you_,dearest girl."
Again there were sudden tears in the dark eyes that were lifted to his."Not for _me_, Jean. Your mother would have chosen a girl who could douseful things; pare potatoes, sew and darn."
The lad laughed happily, and catching the slim left hand, he slipped thering on the finger for which it was intended. Then he kissed each of thefive finger tips as he confessed, "It may seem inconsistent, but I wantthese lovely hands kept stainless. We will have a Chinaman to pare andcook." Then slowly they walked toward the cabin.
Meg and Dan had returned and with Merry and Julie were standing on therustic front porch wondering where Jane had wandered, and why sheremained away so long. When they saw the two coming toward them, hand inhand, their faces, even in the dusk, that had so quickly fallen,revealing their secret, there was joy in the hearts of Merry and Dan.Jane would no longer be unhappy. When they had entered the lightedliving-room of the cabin, Merry exclaimed as she held out her left hand,"I also am to be congratulated. I am to be married to Jean's brother onthe first day of September." "Let's make it a double wedding, Jane, can'twe?" her fiance implored.
"I'd like to!" The radiant girl glanced at Dan, then added, "If my bigbrother will give his consent." "Indeed you have it, Jane," that lad saidheartily. "I know that I am voicing our father's sentiments-to-be, when Isay that I am proud to welcome Jean Willoughby into our family."
Of their own secret Meg and Dan had decided to say nothing.
Then remembering the commonplaces, Jane said: "We're waiting supper forthe boys. Where did they go and why?" She looked at both Julie and Dan."You two surely know, since you were with them. It is nearly seven andgetting dark rapidly. Aren't you anxious about them, Dan?"
"I shall be if they do not soon return," the lad replied. "Perhaps we hadbetter have the good supper you have prepared. There is no need to spoilit for all."
"I'm not a bit hungry," Jane said and Merry teased: "Why, Janey, you mustbe in love."
The table had been placed in the middle of the cabin living-room. Over ithung a drop lamp with a crimson shade and, as there was a log burning onthe hearth, the room presented a most festive appearance. It was withsincere regret that the six young people seated themselves, leaving twochairs vacant. All during the meal, at intervals, they paused to listen,hoping that they would hear the halloos of the returning boys.
Dan was becoming thoroughly alarmed and, at last, after a consultationwith Meg, he turned to the others and said: "We have decided to tell youthe mission on which the boys started out so hurriedly."
Of course Jane and Merry had surmised that they had gone in quest of thehidden box, but they knew nothing of the finding of the pick, shovel andcarved name, and they were much interested.
At eight o'clock Jean Willoughby rose. "I had better be going," he said."I have a long hike ahead of me." But Dan protested. "Indeed you shallnot go tonight. Mr. Packard will not be worried if you remain with us,will he? I may need your help to locate the boys if they do not soonreturn."
That settled the matter, for Jean had not wished to leave. Another hourpassed, and Dan, who had really become very anxious, arose, but before hecould get his coat and cap, the halloos for which they had long listenedwere heard.
Leaping to the door, Dan threw it open and a welcoming light streamed outinto the darkness.
Bob and Gerry, looking almost exhausted, staggered into the room(although Dan well knew that it was for effect) and sank down on thevacant chairs. "Say, talk about a climb! We certainly had a steep one!"Bob gasped.
The young people at once noted that neither boy was carrying a box and sothey decided that it had not been found. "It isn't such a terrible steepclimb to Crazy Creek Camp," Dan commented. "Half of the way is downgrade."
The two younger boys exchanged glances that were hard for the watchers tointerpret. Then Bob sprang up, exclaiming: "Come on, kid. Let's wash andhave some of the good grub."
"You must be nearly starved," Jane said, also rising and going toward thekitchen. "We are keeping your share of the party warm."
When they were gone, Dan said softly: "I'm inclined to believe that theboys have something of a surprising nature to tell us, but after Gerry'susual fashion he wants to keep us guessing for a time."
The two mountain climbers were indeed hungry and they ate heartily,talking aggravatingly of everything but the matter which they knew wasuppermost in the minds of their companions. When they declared thatanother bite could not be taken, the table was cleared, magazines andbooks again spread upon it, and then Dan, feeling it unfair to Meg tokeep her longer in suspense, exclaimed, "Now, boys, tell us youradventures."