Sisters

  CHAPTER XXXII. THREE GIRLS

  Gwynette, dressed in a corn-yellow linen with tailored lines and wearinga very becoming sport hat of the same material and color, trimmed withold blue and orange, sauntered out to the cliff. She had intended toremain there on a rustic bench to watch the boys sail to and fro, hoping,though scarcely believing, that they would eventually land at the smallpier at their boathouse. Another thought prompted: "They are far more aptto land nearer the Point of Rocks. Charles will want to be with hissister, and Harold cares much more for that--that----" She hesitated, foreven in her thought she did not like to connect her brother's name withthe granddaughter of her mother's servants.

  Rising, and without definite decision to do so, she sauntered along thecliff in the direction of the rocky point. She saw the two girls seatedon the highest rock, and just at that moment they were waving seaward,and so Gwyn decided that the sailboat must be nearing the shore. Alow-growing old pine hid the water from her view. When she had passed it,she glanced quickly out at the gleaming, dancing waves, and there,turning for a tack, was the boat she sought. Charles, at the rudder, sawher at once and waved his hat. She flushed. He would know that she wasgoing over to the point to be with the other girls. Half angry withherself, when she realized that she was doing it merely to please him,and not in the least because it was her own desire, she actually paused,determining to turn back, but before she had done so, Jenny, havingglanced around, saw her, and so it was too late to retreat even if shehad really wished to do so. Remembering her promise to Harold, Jennycalled in her most friendly manner, "Oh, Miss Poindexter-Jones, won't youcome over on the Reviewing Rocks, as Harold calls them? We have awonderful view of the boat from here."

  Gwynette went, and if her smile was faint, it was at least a smile, andJenny felt encouraged. She gave up her own position. "Do sit here," shesaid, "this seat is really as comfortable as a rock can be. I would offerto go to the house for a cushion, but Lenora has the only two that we ownand she needs them both."

  "Indeed, I do not." The seated girl protested, and she was about to drawout the one against which she was leaning, but Gwyn had the good grace toat once declare that her gown washed nicely and she did not in the leastmind sitting on the rocks. Then they turned to watch the antics of thesailboat.

  "Charles is in his element now." It was evident from her tone that Lenorawas very proud of her brother. "When we were at Tahoe the daughters ofthe wealthy cottagers and guests at Tahoe Inn were always eager to havehim accompany them, not only sailing but everywhere." With a little laughshe concluded, "As you may guess, I have a very popular brother." Then,more seriously, as she recalled why they had been at the lake, far-famedfor its beauty: "But Charles refused nearly all invitations that he mightremain with our dear mother, who was frail. In fact, the only ones heaccepted were those that Mother and I insisted that he should not refuse.But, oftenest of all, Charles would take me with him for a sunrise sailbefore Mother would need us, and I shall never, never forget the beautyof the awakening day on that mountain-circled lake." All this was told toJenny, who had seated herself on another rock a little apart from theothers.

  Gwyn found herself thinking it strange that ranchers from Dakota shouldhave the entree to Tahoe Inn, which she knew to be exclusive. Then shehad to confess that she, herself, had always associated with only thefirst families, and yet she now was seated on the rocks with two girlsfar beneath her socially. She flushed as she had to acknowledge that shewas there just to please Charles Gale. He probably had attracted thegirls who had been at Tahoe Inn as he did her. Her lips, though she didnot know it, were taking on the customary scornful lines, when Jennystood up.

  "They're coming in close this time. Harold wants to tell us something.Everyone listen hard."

  The lad, making a trumpet of his hands, was shouting: "We'll land nexttack. Have some lemonade for us, will you?"

  The standing girl nodded her head: then, holding out a hand to Lenora,said: "That command shall be obeyed."

  More formally, though in a tone of friendliness, Jenny turned to theother girl: "You will go with us, will you not, Miss Poindexter-Jones?I'll gather some fresh lemons and----" her face brightened as she added:"Let's set the rustic table out under the trees near the hammock, andserve some of those little cakes Grandma made this morning, and we mighteven have strawberries. I gathered many more than we'll need for theshortcake for dinner."

  "Oh! That will be jolly fun!" Jenny's enthusiasm was contagious as far asLenora was concerned, and so all three girls walked toward the house, twoof them eagerly, but one reluctantly. Why didn't she have the courage tosay that she must go to her own home? What excuse could she give thatwould be the truth, for, strangely enough, Gwynette scorned falsehood.She had been angry with herself ever since she had made the excuse of thedress, knowing that it had not been true. Though they did not know it,that high sense of honesty these two girls had inherited from theirmissionary father.

  While she was struggling with her desire to be one of the party whenCharles should have landed, and her disinclination at being with girlsfar beneath her socially, Jenny, who was a little in the lead, turned andsmilingly addressed her:

  "Miss Poindexter-Jones, what would you prefer doing--hullingstrawberries, making the lemonade or setting the table under the trees?"

  Lenora, who was bringing up the rear of the little procession, smiled toherself. Jenny surely was daring, for, as they both well knew, Gwynettewould not _prefer_ to do anything at all. Surely she would now find someexcuse for hasty retreat. She might go home and read to her mother if shehad awakened. This Gwyn decided to tell them, but when she did hear herown voice it was saying: "If I may choose, I prefer to set the table."

  "Good!" Jenny turned to Lenora: "Dearie, shall you mind staining yourfingers rosy red?"

  "Strawberry red, you mean, don't you?" Lenora dropped down on the topstep of the front porch, adding with an upward smile: "Sister Jenny,bring the fruit and I will hull with pleasure."

  "All right-o." Then to the other girl, who stood stiffly erect, Jennysaid very sweetly: "If you will come with me, I'll show you whereGrandmother Sue keeps her best china. I know that she will let us use itfor this gala occasion." Then pointing: "See over there, by the hammock,is the little rustic table. There are five of us. I'll bring out fivechairs."

  "Don't!" Lenora put in. "I'd far rather luxuriate in the hammock. Anyway,four chairs even up the table better."

  Gwyn removed her hat, and followed Jenny toward the kitchen, where in anold-fashioned china closet there were some very pretty dishes. The warewas thin and the fern pattern was attractive, and suitable for anout-of-door tea party.

  For the next fifteen minutes these three girls were busy, and toGwynette's surprise she was actually enjoying her share of thepreparations. After setting the table with a lunch cloth and the prettydishes, she gathered a cluster of pink wild roses for the center.

  "I love those single roses!" Jenny exclaimed when she brought out a largeglass pitcher of lemonade on which were floating strips of peel. "Theyare so simple and--well--just what they really are, not pretendinganything."

  Lenora appeared with a glass dish heaped with luscious strawberries.Their hostess was surely in an appreciative mood. "O-o-h! Don't they looksimply luscious under all that powdered sugar? Those sailors don't knowthe treat that's in store for them."

  "And for us!" It was Gwyn's first impulsive remark. "I didn't know that Iwas hungry, but I feel now as though I were famished."

  "So are we!" A hearty voice behind caused them all to turn, and therewere the two boys who had stolen up quietly on purpose to surprise thegirls. "We landed at the cabin, so we are all washed up and ready for the'eats'."

  And it truly was a feast of merriment. Gwyn was surprised to find herselflaughing with the others.

  Lenora, half reclining in the hammock, was more an observer than apartaker of the active merriment. From her position she could see theprofiles of the two gir
ls at the table. They were both dressed in yellow,for Jenny had on her favorite muslin. The shade was somewhat differentfrom Gwyn's corn-colored linen, but the effect was startlingly similar.They had both removed their hats and their hair was exactly the same softwaving light brown, with gold glints in it. Indeed, it might have beenhair on one head. Charles and Harold, of course, had also noted this atan earlier period, but it was Lenora's first opportunity to study the twogirls. What _could_ it mean? _It_ was too decided a likeness to be merelya coincident. She determined to ask Charles.

  That lad was devoting his time and thought to drawing Gwyn out of theformal stiffness which had been evident when the little party started.This he did, for Gwyn had had years of practice at clever repartee, andso also had Charles, for, as she knew, he had associated with thedaughters of cultured families and also, of course, with the sons.

  Jenny and Harold, seated opposite each other, now and then exchangedglances that ranged from amusement to gratification. They were bothdecidedly pleased that the difficult guest was being entertained.

  When at last the strawberries, cakes and lemonade had disappeared, Haroldsprang up, announcing that, since the young ladies had prepared theparty, the young gentlemen would do the doing that was to follow. Charlesinstantly began to pile dishes high, saying in a gay tone, directly toGwyn, "I suppose you hadn't heard that I am 'hasher' now and then at ourfrat 'feeds'."

  The girl shuddered. "No, I had not." Her reply was so cold and her manneragain so formal that Lenora put in rebukingly: "Charles, why do you saythat? Of course I think it is splendid of boys who have to work their waythrough college to do anything at all that they can, but father insistedthat you pay your way, that you might have your entire time forstudying."

  "I know, Sis, dear, but it's the truth, nevertheless, that we all taketurns helping out when there is need of it, and so I have learned theknack and I'm glad to have it. One can't learn too many things in thisold world of ours."

  Gwyn rose, saying not without a hint of her old disdainful hauteur, "I amgoing now. Mother may be awake and wishing me to read to her."

  "That's right, she may," Harold put in. "Otherwise I would remind youthat it is not mannerly to eat and run."

  His sister flushed, and Charles, suspecting that an angry reply was onthe tip of her tongue, hurried to suggest: "Miss Gwyn, if you will waituntil I have finished helping clear up, I'll sail you home, with Harold'spermission. We left the boat at the cabin dock."

  "Suppose you go at once," the other lad remarked, "I'd a whole lot ratherhave Jenny wipe the dishes while I wash them."

  "Good! Then I can take a nap in this comfy hammock," Lenora put in. "Thisis the most dissipating I've done since I was first taken ill."

  Charles was at once solicitous and Jenny half rebukeful. "Oh, Lenora. Ido hope you aren't overtired," they both said in different ways.

  Lenora curled down among the pillows that she always had with her."Indeed not! I'll be well enough to travel home one week from today," sheassured her brother. "Now do go, everybody, and let me sleep." And so,after bidding good-bye to Jenny and Lenora in a far more friendly mannerthan her wont, Gwyn, her heart again singing a joyous song she could notunderstand, walked along the cliff trail, a young giant at her side."He's only the son of a Dakota rancher," a thought tried to whisper toGwyn. "What care I?" was her retort as she flashed a smile of goodcomradeship up at the young man, who, she found, was watching her withunmistakable admiration in his eyes.

  "It's good to be alive this beautiful day, isn't it?" was all that hesaid.

  When Charles returned to the farm, he found Lenora still in the hammockawakening from a most refreshing nap. She held out a hand and took itlovingly as he sat on one of the chairs that had been about the rustictable. Lenora spoke in a low voice. "Jenny isn't near, is she, brother?"she inquired.

  "Nowhere in sight Why? Shall I call her?"

  The girl shook her head. "I wanted to ask you a question and I didn'twish her to hear." Charles was puzzled; then troubled to know how toanswer when he heard Lenora's question: "Have you noticed the closeresemblance between Jenny and Harold's sister? They might almost be twinsif Gwynette were not two years the older. I think it is simply amazing.Their profiles are startlingly similar."

  "Yes, I think I noticed the resemblance at once." Charles was glad to beable to add, "Here comes Harold!" Excusing himself, he ran lightly acrossthe grass to meet his friend. In a low voice he explained that his sisterhad discovered the resemblance and was amazed at it. His listener said:"Suppose we let her into the secret. Perhaps she can help us to induceGwyn and Jenny at least to like each other." Harold was sure that hismother would not mind, as she had said she would trust everything to hisjudgment. "I will carry the chairs in. That will leave you alone toexplain as you think best," he concluded after a merry greeting to thegirl in the hammock. Harold took three of the chairs and went back to thekitchen. Charles sat again in the fourth chair and took his sister'shand. "Dear girl," he said, "I have received permission from Harold toshare with you a secret which is of a very serious nature." Lenoraglanced up puzzled and interested.

  Then, very simply, Charles told the whole story. The girl's first commentwas, "Poor Gwyn! She has had a most unfortunate bringing up, and, if shewere now to learn the truth, it would crush her. She might run away anddo something desperate."

  "That is just what Harold fears, and so he has asked his mother to permithim to have two weeks to think over what would be best to do. He feelsencouraged for Gwynette has twice been over here quite of her own freewill."

  But Lenora shook her head. "There is nothing really encouraging aboutthat, for she did not come to be with Jenny. She came because she likesyou."

  Charles smiled and surprised Lenora by replying, "And I like Gwynette.She's nicer, really, than she knows." Again there was an interruption.This time both Jenny and Harold appeared. "It's time to milk the cow,"the younger lad announced with the broadest smile. "Charles, it's yourturn tonight."

  "You are both too late," Jenny told them, "for Grandpa Si took the pailout of the milkroom ten minutes ago and by this time it is brimming, I amsure."

  Charles rose. "Well, I'm rather glad, as I wish to take a swim beforearraying myself for the ball." Noting his sister's questioningexpression, he informed her that Gwynette and he were going to a dance atthe Yacht Club House that night. "Why don't you go with them, Harold?" Itwas Jenny inquiring. "I have often heard you say that you like to dance."

  "So I do. If you and Lenora will accompany me, I'll go only too gladly."

  Lenora shook her head. "I'll be asleep before it would be time to start,"she said. "Why don't you go with him, Jenny?"

  That pretty maid's laughter was amused and merry. "Would I wear my yellowmuslin or my white with the pink sprig? Lenora Gale, you know that Ihaven't a party dress, nor do I know how to dance."

  Harold put in: "We'll not go tonight, but if Grandma Sue has no religiousscruples, I'll come over after dinner and give you a first lesson inmodern dancing." Then the two boys went cabin-ward for their afternoonswim.