CHAPTER XXV--PRETTY FROCKS
But Polly Haddon had not died. One very seldom does--of happiness. Someway the girls managed to get her inside the Hall and administer hotdrinks and hot food and in a surprisingly short time she was herselfagain.
Not quite herself, for she was beautified and transfigured withhappiness into a very different Polly Haddon from the one the girls hadknown.
Miss Walters was summoned and made her come into her own private rooms.Of course the girls went also, and while Mrs. Haddon was stretchedluxuriously on a couch in Miss Walters' sitting-room, Billie told howshe had frightened the simpleton into confessing his guilt and restoringthe stolen goods.
Billie was so modest about her leading part in the affair that Laura wasforced to interrupt occasionally, and, disregarding Billie's frowns, adda bit of explanation here and there that enabled her audience tovisualize the thing just as it had happened.
The machinery model had been brought inside and deposited in one of thestudy halls, and now Miss Walters asked Mrs. Haddon what she wished donewith it.
"We can keep it here for you, in the big school safe," she suggested,"or we can have it carried over to your house, just as you wish."
"Oh no, leave it here," said Polly Haddon quickly. "I will notify thatPhiladelphia knitting company that the invention has been recovered, andif they still wish to buy it, it probably will not remain here long. Oh,how can I thank you all----" her voice broke, and for a little while allof them felt a bit uncomfortable while Polly Haddon sobbed out herhappiness and gratitude.
It was over at last, however, and the girls were free to go back totheir dormitory and the curiosity of their friends.
Here, perched on the bed with Connie and Vi, Laura gave a graphicaccount of everything just as it had happened to a sympathetic audienceof some twenty girls.
She rang Billie's praises to such an extent that the poor girl tried tohide herself in an inconspicuous corner, only to be dragged forth intothe limelight again by a couple of laughing and heartless maidens.
"You get up there where you belong," cried one of them, shoving Billieup into the center of the bed which was already over-crowded withgiggling girls. "Don't you know that you're a real, honest-to-goodnessheroine?"
"And for the second time to-day," drawled Rose Belser, her eyes fixed alittle enviously upon Billie's pretty, flushed face. "Wasn't it enoughto win the prize, without going and getting yourself in the limelight_again_?"
Laura and Vi flushed angrily, for there was a little malice under thequestion. But Billie took it all good-naturedly.
"Well, I didn't do it on purpose--not the last part, anyway," she said.
"We know you didn't, honey," said Connie, ruffling Billie's dark curlsfondly. "You're just naturally talented."
"By the way," asked Laura, after an interval of skylarking, "doesanybody know what happened to Amanda?"
"She was suspended," replied one of the girls.
"And I thought it was a pity she wasn't expelled," spoke up another.
"Poor Eliza!" drawled Rose. "I wonder what she will do without hermaster."
"Does anybody know who won the second prize?" asked Laura carelessly.
"What a queer question to ask," said Caroline Brant, who had beendreaming about the thesis she was going to write and had hardly heard aword of the conversation. "_You_ did, of course!"
It took a little time for this to sink in, for Laura had long ago givenup hope of winning a prize for herself. But when it did finally beat itsway into her mind she straightway proceeded to turn the place upsidedown in her hilarity.
She found Billie's sewing basket, dumped out its contents, and turned itupside down on her head for a crown.
Then she draped a bedspread about her shoulders, queen fashion, and twoof her classmates caught up the dangling ends that formed a train.
Then they marched through the halls crying, "Way for the queen!" andgathering a crowd of giggling girls as they went.
"What's it all about?"
"Queen indeed! Just look at her with that workbasket on her head!"
"They are having the sport because Laura took the second prize in thatcomposition contest."
"Oh, that's it, is it? Well, I'm glad they showed up Amanda--and BillieBradley certainly deserved the first prize."
The merriment grew louder, and presently the crowd made Laura mount astand and deliver what they called "an oration."
"Tell us about making linen dusters for the Laplanders," suggested onegirl.
"Or overcoats for the heathens in Africa," suggested another.
"Or how to make sponge cake from live sponges."
"Or why Washington didn't use submarines when his army crossed theDelaware."
"I can talk but I can't make a speech," declared Laura. "In other words,I could say something if I could only frame my speech, properly--thatis----"
"If she could only get her tongue to working," broke in Vi, and at thisthe assembled girls roared.
It was only when rumor said that Miss Walters was coming their way thatthe hilarious party broke up and scurried for home and safety.
"Take off that ridiculous thing," cried Billie, jerking at thebedspread, herself weak from laughing. "And give me back my work basket,woman, before Miss Walters catches you and sends you after Amanda."
"Goodness," said Laura, meekly handing Billie her property, "do youthink she would? It may suit Amanda fine to be suspended, but I'm morecomfortable the way I am."
And so the time wore on with studies and lessons and fun until the girlswoke up one day to find that the summer holidays were almost upon them.
Mrs. Haddon had sold the knitting machinery model to the Philadelphiaconcern at a price that was a fortune to her.
The little white cottage had been remodeled and furnished prettily, andPolly Haddon had grown prosperous and handsome and oh, so happy.
But the most remarkable thing to the girls was the change in Mary andIsabel and Peter Haddon. The children, who had been such sorry littlewaifs in their poverty, had grown almost beautiful in the days of theirprosperity. Polly Haddon's pride in them and their pretty clothes wasalmost pathetic.
The North Bend girls and Connie were often visitors at the littlecottage, and sometimes the boys went with them on their visits and weretreated to a dinner of waffles and maple syrup that, to quote Chet,"would make an Indian's hair curl."
And now, as the girls realized how fast the time was flying, theyconceived the idea of giving a party. Not a small party, but a real onewith cake and ice-cream and snappers and everything.
"I wonder," breathed Vi daringly, "if Miss Walters would mind if weshould ask a few of the boys--just a very few, you know."
"There would have to be enough to go around," interposed Billie.
"I should say so!" said Connie with emphasis. "Especially as Billie issure to have at least two of them. I want to dance with Teddy and PaulMartinson once or twice myself, my dear," she said, eyeing the laughingBillie sternly.
"And I'm quite sure dear Rose will, too--especially Teddy," murmuredLaura, maliciously.
They found that Miss Walters was quite willing to let them have theparty and the boys, too--provided the latter did not stay too late--andthen the plans began in earnest.
They sent invitations to about twenty of the boys at the Academy and theinvitations were accepted promptly and eagerly.
About two days before the great event, the girls decorated the two bigsitting-rooms on the ground floor which Miss Walters had said they coulduse, and when they had finished no ballroom ever looked prettier--eventhe girls said so.
Then at last came the morning of the great day, then the afternoon andthen--the evening--and time for the girls to dress.
They had brought out their best party frocks for the occasion and theclosest chums had compared colors carefully so that they would be surenot to "clash." Billie was to wear pale green net with a touch of pink,Laura light blue, Connie had chosen a lovely rose pink that went wellwith her fluffy
fairness, and Vi had decided on golden yellow that madeher look like a queen. Rose Belser was dressed in an expensive blackfrock that was far too old for her but that set off her dark prettinessadmirably.
There was Nellie Bane in white, and a number of other girls were inpretty frocks of varied hues. All were flushed and laughing and excited,and their happiness made every one of them pretty.
"Oh, aren't I beautiful?" cried Laura with engaging frankness as shepirouetted before the mirror. Then she turned to Billie and hugged herrapturously. "And you're gorgeous, honey," she cried. "I see where wedon't get even a boy apiece to-night."
The boys arrived early. It was lucky that Billie could dance with onlyone boy at a time--or there might not have been "enough to go around."
"I say, Billie," Teddy cried once, waltzing her over into a corner andgazing at her wonderingly, "I never knew you could look like that. Whatis it, anyway? This green and pink thing?" lifting a piece of filmy netgingerly between his thumb and finger.
Billie looked up impishly in his face while one foot kept time with themusic.
"Don't ask _me_," she said. "It's because I'm so happy, I guess. Oh,come on, Teddy, let's dance!"
It was some time later that the three classmates happened to findthemselves together and alone.
"Desoited!" cried Laura dramatically. "Where's yours, Billie?"
"Gone to get me some ice-cream," said Billie.
"Wonderful," cried Laura. "So has mine!"
"And mine!" added Vi.
They giggled happily for a minute and then Billie reached out and put anarm about each of her chums. She hugged them close, regardless of prettyfrocks.
"Girls," she said contentedly, "I think I'm the very happiest girl inthe world."
"Except me," said Laura.
"And me!" echoed Vi. "And to think----" she added, after they hadcontentedly watched the happy crowd for a few moments. "To think that ina few short weeks vacation will be here."
"Well," said Laura decidedly, "if we have any more fun this summer thanwe've had this winter, we'll have to go _some_!"
"We shall indeed," said Billie, happily.
THE END.