The Camp Fire Girls in After Years

  CHAPTER III

  IDLE SUSPICION

  SHE had sat huddled up in a chair outside the baby's room for severalhours. Her self-sacrifice had been entirely unnecessary, as half a dozenpersons had assured her, but Angel was by no means certain that she wasnot happier in her present position than if she had been down-stairs inthe crowded ballroom unnoticed and perhaps in the way of the few peoplewho would try to be kind to her.

  Two or three times she had stolen in to look at Tony. He was sleepingquietly and peacefully, a big beautiful baby with Betty's soft auburnhair and Anthony's hazel eyes. But now a clock somewhere was strikingtwelve and Angel decided that she must have a look at the guests beforethey went away. She had put on the white frock of soft chiffon and lacethat Betty had given her, but somehow it only made her look morechildish and insignificant. Her face was pale now with weariness and herhair and eyes seemed so dark in comparison as to give her a kind ofuncanny appearance. Perhaps waiting to gain more courage and perhaps forother reasons, immediately after leaving the nursery Angel, beforestarting down-stairs, went into another big room at the end of the hall.

  As the girl leaned over to gaze at a little sleeper a small hand reachedup and touched her face. It was that of Bettina, the "little Princess"as everybody called her. Nevertheless Bettina was not in the least likeher mother. She had long hair that was gold in some lights and in othersa pale brown, and her eyes were bluer than gray. Indeed, Polly had oncesaid of her two or three years before, that Tina's eyes had no colorlike other people's, for they merely reflected the lights above themlike a clear pool. The little girl was slender and quiet and manypersons believed her shy, which was not altogether true. Possibly theoddest of her characteristics was her ability to understand what otherpeople were thinking and feeling without being told.

  Now she whispered: "Why don't you just find a place where you can see,Angel, without any one's seeing you? I shall want you to tell meeverything tomorrow. Mother won't understand in the way I mean."

  Of course that was just what she should have been doing for these pasttwo hours, Angelique thought to herself as soon after she slipped away.But it was like Bettina to have suggested it. Already she knew the exactplace where she might have been in hiding all this time.

  On the second floor toward the rear of the house there was a kind ofsquare landing which faced a small room that was oddly separated fromthe other apartments. For this reason the Governor had chosen it for hisprivate study. Only one servant was allowed to enter this room and veryrarely any member of the family. For in it were kept a number ofimportant letters and papers.

  But concealing the entrance tonight were a number of palms and othertall plants, and by placing a small camp chair behind them one couldsee through the railing of the balustrade down into the big hall. Themusic was there and many beautifully dressed people were walking up anddown.

  The little French girl stared for ten minutes without moving. She had acurious, almost passionate love of beautiful people and things,inherited from some far-off French ancestor, who may have been a greatartist or perchance only carried a great artist's longings in his soul.Indeed, Angel had real talent of her own and whatever her hands touchedshe could make lovely, whether it was designing a dress, decorating aroom or even making a sketch of a scene or a flower, anything that hadappealed to her imagination. Through her Camp Fire training she hadlearned to make remarkable use of her hands, especially in the daysbefore she was able to leave her wheeled chair. Indeed, Betty and all ofher friends had been disappointed when she had failed to follow someartistic profession. Betty had urged and pleaded with her to become anartist or designer and had offered to pay her expenses, yet as soon asshe was well enough Angel had insisted upon studying something throughwhich she could at once make her living. By this time the little Frenchgirl had been brought too close to life's realities not to understandits difficulties. To make her living as an artist or a designer wouldtake years and years of study and work before she could hope to succeed.Besides, Betty, in spite of Judge Maynard's legacy, was not so rich asshe was generous and there were always other people to be thought of.For the Princess had never ceased her generosities, and even if herhusband had become a distinguished man it would be difficult for himever to be a rich one unless something unforeseen happened. ThereforeAngel had been happy enough with her stenography and typewriting andwith her new position in the Governor's office. For in her heart ofhearts it was her philosophy that duty could be done every day andbeauty kept for certain exquisite moments.

  Now, however, she felt that one of these perfect moments had come. Onlyshe wished that Betty or some one whom she knew might appear within herrange of vision. It was entertaining, of course, to watch the strangersand to decide whose clothes were prettiest and guess their names.

  Angel drew her chair farther away from the landing so she could peepsquarely through the banisters and was now some distance from the studydoor. Moreover, the following moment she had caught a glimpse of afriend whom she had wished to see almost as much as Betty. There stood atall girl with pale gold hair, wearing a frock of white and blue, andtalking to a young man in as absorbed a fashion as if they had beenentirely alone. It was difficult to see her companion and yet the Frenchgirl felt that she might have guessed before she finally discovered him.For Faith's face wore the same rapt, excited expression it had worn thatafternoon on returning from her walk. What could it mean? Angelpondered. Surely Faith and Kenneth Helm did not yet know each other wellenough for Faith's secret to have anything to do with him. Theiracquaintance had started only about ten days before.

  HE GLANCED QUICKLY ABOUT HIM AND THEN DISAPPEARED]

  Surely in her absorbed interest Angelique had no thought of spying onher friend, for two people could not be seriously confidential whenhundreds of others were close about them. Nevertheless the watcher felther own cheeks flush guiltily as she saw the young man below herwhispering something in his companion's ear. The next instant, however,Faith had left the hall with some one else. Then to her intenseconsternation Angel observed Kenneth Helm coming alone straight up thebroad stairs. Could it be possible that either one of them had seen herand that Faith was sending Kenneth to bring her down to the ballroom?With all her heart Angel hoped not. She would like to have gotten up andrun away to shelter, yet knew it was impossible for her to move withoutmaking a noise. By remaining silent there was just a chance that KennethHelm was on his way to the men's dressing room and would not notice her.Moreover, if Faith had not sent him to find her probably he would noteven speak to her.

  It was quite true that the girl in hiding need have felt no concern. Theyoung man certainly did not see her, nor did he pass her by. For someodd reason he stopped for a moment at the top of the landing, glancedquickly about him and then disappeared inside the Governor's privatestudy, opening the door with a key which must have been given him forthe especial purpose.

  "What could Kenneth wish in there tonight?" Angelique wondered idly,somewhat relieved because his errand plainly had nothing to do with her.Moreover, there was too much that was absorbing below stairs to give agreat deal of thought to anything else just at present.

  The next instant Angel started, uttering a little gasp of anger anddismay, as a hand was laid rudely upon her shoulder.

  "Whom are you spying upon now, 'Angel in the House?'" the young man'svoice asked mockingly. "Don't you think that perhaps you are rather anuncanny person anyhow?"

  The girl flushed and found it impossible to keep her lips fromtrembling. When she had first gone to work in Anthony Graham's office,Kenneth Helm had also been employed there and had been unusually kind toher. Recently, however, he seemed to have avoided and almost to havedisliked her. This she knew had caused a change in her own attitude, soperhaps her prejudice against the young man's position as the Governor'sprivate secretary was largely due to this. Nevertheless she had donenothing to deserve the change in his treatment of her, and if a humanbeing is disloyal to one friendship, why not to another?

  Ho
wever, at the present moment the girl only wished to be left alone, soshe merely shook her head, explaining: "I didn't mean to be spying uponany one, and I am sorry if you think I am uncanny." Then she glancedpathetically down toward the cane at her side, and this time hercompanion blushed.

  "Oh, I did not mean that, Miss Martins. That is not fair of you," heremonstrated. "But please don't mention to the Governor or any one thatyou saw me go into his private study tonight, will you? You see, I hadforgotten something that I ought to have attended to at the office. Mymemory is not so good as yours. Won't you let me take you down-stairs?"

  The lame girl rose slowly, not knowing exactly how to refuse the youngman's offer. Besides, she remembered what Betty had said to her. "Shemust not be so suspicious and prejudiced against people."

  "Certainly I won't speak to Mr. Graham of your having gone into hisoffice. Why should I?" she conceded, laying her hand lightly on hercompanion's arm. "Besides, do you think I talk to the Governor about hisaffairs just because I live in his house? He is so quiet and stern I amdreadfully afraid of him. It is Betty, Mrs. Graham, who is my friend. Ifit is not too much trouble to you and she is not too busy I would liketo have you take me to her now for a little while. Never in my life haveI seen anything so splendid as this reception tonight!"

  When the little French girl talked she was not half so homely andunattractive, Kenneth Helm decided as he made his way with her throughthe crowd. Moreover, he must not turn her into an enemy, for assuredlyMrs. Graham was her devoted friend and what his wife desired was lawwith the Governor.

  Kenneth Helm intended to succeed in life. This was the keynote of hischaracter. He wanted money and power and meant to do anything necessaryto attain them.