CHAPTER II TAVIA HAS PLANS
Dorothy threw her arms about Tavia, and, for a few moments the two girlswere locked in each other's embrace. The reaction, following their luckyescape from almost certain death, had unnerved them. Nor were the twoboys altogether free from a shaky feeling, as they carefully looked overthe car to see if it had suffered any further damage than the leakyradiator.
"Think she'll do?" asked Nat.
"Guess so," replied his brother. "My, but that was as close a call as Ihave ever had."
"Me too. I guess we'd better take a breathing spell before we go on."
The boys sat down on a grassy bank, and the girls followed their example.They looked back over the bridge, and at the two broken planks that hadnearly proved their undoing. Through the spaces, where the flooring wastorn up, the black, swirling waters could be seen.
While the auto party are resting until they have somewhat gotten over thefright caused by their narrow escape, let me tell something of Dorothyand her friends. As set forth in the first book of this series, "DorothyDale; A Girl of To-Day," the girl was the daughter of Major Frank Dale, aveteran of the Civil War. He ran a weekly newspaper, called _The Bugle_in Dalton, a small town in New York state. Dorothy's mother had died someyears previous. The girl had two brothers, younger than herself, namedJoe and Roger.
Dorothy took part in a temperance crusade in Dalton and had much to do inunraveling the mystery of an unfortunate man given to drink. He left asmall fortune to his daughter, whose whereabouts were unknown, andDorothy succeeded in finding her. In her work the girl was much hamperedby a man named Anderson, who sought to do her bodily harm, and who was atthe bottom of the mystery concerning the daughter of the unfortunate man.
Dorothy proved herself a brave girl, and, with the help of Tavia, whobecame her especial chum, did much to aid several persons in Dalton.
In the second volume, "Dorothy Dale at Glenwood School" there I relatedhow Dorothy and her father came upon better days. Major Dale fell heir toquite a sum of money, and could give up the newspaper.
Dorothy was sent to Glenwood School, where Tavia accompanied her. The twogirls had many exciting times there, and Dorothy was suspected ofsomething for which she was not to blame, suffering much in consequenceof her desire to shield another girl. There was much fun at the school,in spite of this, however including a queer walking match and a strangeinitiation.
Dorothy and her father moved to North Birchland, the home of Mrs.Winthrop White, Mr. Dale's sister. Anderson, the man who had causedDorothy so much trouble turned up again, but was eventually sent to jail.
After the holidays Dorothy and Tavia returned to school, where we findthem at the opening of this story. They had become friends of nearly allthe students, though, as is natural, had made some enemies, as what girldoes not?
Now the party on the roadside prepared to start off again.
"I can't forgive myself for not remembering about the dangerous state ofthe bridge," went on Tavia, when Ned and Nat had announced that the autowas fit to continue its journey.
"Of course it wasn't your fault," said Dorothy.
"Yes it was," insisted Tavia. "You wouldn't have forgotten it, Doro,dear!"
And, to give Dorothy credit, she would not have been so thoughtless. Butshe was a different type of girl from Tavia. It was the way she had beenbrought up, as much as her own character, that caused this difference.Good breeding is not a virtue, it is a blessing: hence in consideringsuch a gift we admire the fortunate possessor, just as we esteem thebeauty of the cultured rose, and, naturally compare it favorably whenplaced next to some coarse untrained wild flower.
So it was with our two friends, Dorothy and Tavia. Dorothy was well bred,and could always be relied upon, for the good breeding was nicely coupledwith a kindness of heart that composed a charming character. ThoughDorothy had no mother her aunt, Mrs. Winthrop White almost filled thatplace in the girl's heart.
The White family, with whom Dorothy, her father and two brothers had goneto live, since the advent of the legacy, consisted of Mrs. White and hertwo sons, Nat and Ned. Mr. White had died some years ago, while engagedin a scientific expedition.
Not having a daughter of her own Dorothy's Aunt Winnie was especiallyfond of her pretty niece, and, as the girl could barely remember her ownmother, she lavished her affection on her father's sister.
Dorothy's affection, love and devotion to her father was of a differenttype from that given to any other living creature, not excepting her owndarling brothers, Joe and Roger, and Roger had almost grown up in hissister's arms, for he had been a tiny baby when his mother was calledaway.
It was in Dalton that Dorothy had met and learned to love Tavia. TheTravers family, of whom Tavia was the most interesting member, lived notfar from the Dale homestead. Tavia had grown up with Dorothy, as her mostintimate friend and companion, and it was Dorothy's love for Tavia thathad wrought miracles for the girl who lacked proper home training, forher parents were of that class generally designated as improvident.
Tavia always ignored the saving rules of correct society, and, beingnaturally bright, and strangely pretty was, now that she was in herfifteenth year, in a fair way to be spoiled by those who delighted tohear her witty nonsense, and who looked upon her frolics as entertainingin an otherwise stupid old world.
"Well, shall we go along now?" asked Ned, as he again took his place atthe steering wheel.
"Yes, but go slow," begged Tavia. "We can go home by a different road. Wehave lots of time, before we have to be back to Glenwood School for tea."
"Slow it is," replied Ned, not at all sorry that he could take it easyafter the strenuous time. Dorothy had many questions to ask hercousins--all about her father's rheumatism--whether the electrictreatment was doing him as much good as the doctors had promised--how herbrothers were getting on at school--how strange it seemed to have Rogerat school!--and scores of other things. But she always came back to herfather or the boys--to Roger--she could scarcely imagine her baby brotherrunning home to Aunt Winnie with his book under his arm.
While Ned and Dorothy were thus busy with family affairs, Nat and Tavia,seated on the rear seat, were discussing purely personal matters. Nattold of the tour he and his brother had made from North Birchland, thetrip being undertaken with other members of a club, which was holding ameet not far from Glenwood School. Tavia found plenty of smallinteresting talk to "give and take" with Nat.
"Dorothy," she asked suddenly, "do you think we could get off all dayto-morrow and take a run out to where the auto meet is being held? Itwould be all sorts of fun and--"
"To-morrow?" echoed Dorothy. "Why you know we have our English exams. andour geometry to make up. Besides, Mrs. Pangborn would never allow us togo to a boys' camp."
"Allow us! Just as if we were in the kindergarten! Let's make up someexcuse and go! Now, Doro, don't look so shocked! Surely you have theright to go out with your own cousins?"
"Tavia, don't talk such nonsense!" exclaimed Dorothy severely. "You knowperfectly well we are under the school rules, and that we are in honorbound not to violate them. As if any sensible girl would risk her goodstanding for such an escapade!"
"What's the 'standing' at Glenwood compared to the 'sitting' in the FireBird?" asked Tavia flippantly. "Besides, just think of all the jollyfellows we would meet; wouldn't we, Nat?"
"There's a great collection of wild ducks out there at the auto camp,"Nat answered rather reluctantly, for he plainly saw that Tavia'ssurprising proposition had caused Dorothy serious annoyance.
"Well, I've a mind to go myself. Will you come for me, boys? I coulddisappear at class hour, when all the 'tattle-tales' will be sure to bebusy, scheming out of their work. Then I could get back in time to havemy head tied up at lunch hour--head-ache all the morning, you know.Simplest thing in the world."
Even the boys scarcely smiled as Tavia unfolded a possible plan todeceive her teachers, and to dishonor her own name. Her frien
ds were wellaccustomed to her pranks and prattle, and usually regarded her nonsenseas mere babble. But, somehow, Tavia, was "growing up," lately, and itseemed quite time for her to take life more seriously.
"Tavia," spoke up Dorothy finally, "you came to Glenwood upon my aunt'srecommendation, and under my--"
"Wing!" broke in Tavia, throwing her arms out toward the slender form ofthe girl seated ahead of her in the auto.
"At any rate," finished Dorothy, "I'm perfectly sure that my cousins willnever take part in any such nonsense."
"Oh, Mr. Flea, you've bitten me, and you must die!" sang Tavia, making aseries of melo-dramatic gestures, that caused the boys to laugh and evenmade Dorothy smile in forgiveness.
"Thus are my social ambitions nipped in the bud--extinguished in theirfirst, faint gleaming," went on Tavia, assuming a tone of tragedy. "Well,my fairy-godmother, Dorothy Dale Glenwood, when that day comes that I amforced to spurn the lines of the Social Swim, and you find me beyond theropes, clinging helplessly to the tail-end of my former prestige, carriedout with the great, surging tide of struggling humanity, then you willremember that I had attempted a correct debut, and it ended in a splashof Dale indignation!"
Somehow Tavia's nonsense had a ring of reality to-day. Perhaps it was thenarrow escape at the bridge that had tinted her pictures with such aserious tone--she seemed preoccupied, and gave her chatter in wordscontradicted by her voice and manner. It was some minutes before any onespoke. All appeared to be enjoying the "valedictory," and presentlyTavia, promising to "turn over a new leaf," made a grab for a branch of atree the auto just then passed under, and swished the foliage shecaptured until every leaf showed its silvery under-side against the deepblue sky. She laughed at her joke.
"Of course you know," said Ned, as he swung the car into a cross-roadthat led to Glenwood, "mother expects you to come to North Birchland,with Dorothy, this summer, Tavia. We'll try to make youcomfortable--ahem! Nat has a brand new tandem, besides white duck duds toburn--"
"Nixy! To wear," corrected his brother. "Mother says white ducks areeconomical for man--and beast."
"Of course you'll come with me, Tavia," said Dorothy, noting instantlythat her chum had not responded to the kind invitation that Nat haddelivered for his mother.
"Perhaps," replied Tavia, vaguely.
"Are you going to spend all your time at Dalton?" continued Dorothy, muchpuzzled at Tavia's manner.
"Oh, no indeed," answered Tavia, promptly this time, showing plainly,that she had other plans than those connected with her home town.
"I hope you'll come," said Nat aside, in pardonable earnestness, for hisgood times, with the "little bronze beauty" of Dalton, were cherishedamong his very best memories. Tavia was certainly a jolly girl, and Natliked her--why should he not--like her?
"Oh, I'll be sure to see you," Tavia answered Nat.
Sure to see him? Yes, but she little dreamed then how very glad she wouldbe to see him--and what serious happenings were to take place before thatmeeting.