Brenda's Ward

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE MISSING TRUNK

  It was the Thursday before Class Day, a clear morning, almost cool, withjust a suggestion of coming warmth in the air. Martine sank into a chairby the open window, and gazed over the tops of the trees at the longvista of the Avenue. Not for a moment would she have admitted that shewas tired, and yet there was a trace of weariness in the sigh with whichshe sank back in the comfortable easy chair.

  As a matter of fact she had been working with a degree of energy thatshe had seldom shown before. Martine had never been accused of laziness,even in her idler days, yet her energy had never been expended in theprosaic realm of household work. But now the situation was changed, andfor the past week she had worked unremittingly, packing, clearing, doingall kinds of little things that would simplify the departure for York aweek later. Angelina, it is true, had helped her to the best of herability, and had even succeeded in subduing some of her own naturalflightiness. She was proud of her present position as sole assistant inthe little household, and the prospect of continued hard work during thesummer in no way troubled her.

  If Martine was weary on this particular morning, her weariness wastempered with satisfaction. Everything had gone so smoothly that shewould be able to enjoy Class Day without disagreeable remembrances ofthings left undone.

  While she sat by the window, thoroughly enjoying her well-earned rest,she was startled for a moment by feeling two soft hands clasped over hereyes. Before she had had time to wonder long, a soft laugh told her whothe newcomer was.

  "Why, Elinor Naylor, where in the world--"

  "Straight from Bar Harbor," said Elinor, answering the unfinishedquestion, "that is, we arrived early last evening, and I've come heredirectly from the hotel. Kate Starkweather's brother has a large spreadto-morrow, and though I had not intended to come, mamma thinks I oughtto see at least one Harvard Class Day--and so here I am."

  For a few moments the two talked as rapidly as friends will who have notseen each other for weeks. Elinor told her Class Day plans, and tried toarrange to meet Martine after the statue exercises.

  "I do not expect to see very much of Class Day," said Martine, "it wouldbe different if Lucian were here. I am going with Amy to Fritz Tomkins'spread, and to the Pudding because Hazen Andrews is in it. His mother isone of mamma's friends in Chicago. Mrs. Blair thinks I ought to waituntil I am eighteen before going at all. But mamma is not soconventional, and she said I might."

  "I suppose you are very busy," said Elinor, as she rose to go. "So Ihesitate to ask a favor."

  "Ask it," cried Martine. "I am not half as busy as I was yesterday. I amsure you won't ask anything I cannot do."

  "It's only this," continued Elinor. "My trunk hadn't come this morning,and we could get no information when we telephoned. It would be simplyawful if it shouldn't arrive in time for me to go to the Senior spread.Kate and I put our things into the one trunk, and I can't understand whyit hasn't come. We gave our checks to an expressman at the station. Ifonly I knew the city a little better, I'd go down town, and find outwhat has happened to it."

  "There," exclaimed Martine, laughing, "Your favor is a very simple one.You would like me to pilot you about--with the greatest pleasure."

  "I feared you might be too busy," and Elinor glanced around the room,with its half-filled boxes, and books piled on tables, waiting to bepacked.

  "I should do little more to-day. My mother is staying with friends inBrookline over Sunday. Angelina is out just now, but I'll leave wordwith the elevator-boy that I'll be back by one."

  Martine was soon ready, and after one more vain effort to learnsomething by telephone about the trunk, the two set out for the downtownexpress office. There they were equally unsuccessful, and so continuedtheir journey to the great North Station.

  The baggage-master was a trifle impatient. It was a warm day, and a busyseason, but the two young girls and their evident anxiety appealed tohim.

  "It's up to the Express Company," he said at last, "to give you yourtrunk. I have made a careful search, and no trunk with the number onyour claim-check is here. You will find it probably at the hotel. Iwould advise you to go back."

  "You are sure it isn't here?" asked Martine.

  "Perfectly sure."

  "I know it isn't at the hotel. But of course I can ask again," saidElinor. "I am awfully sorry to have brought you on this wild-goosechase, Martine, we might as well turn about now. The whole thing is veryqueer."

  It seemed queerer when no search, no enquiries produced the missingtrunk. One thing only was clear. There was a record that it had beentaken from the station. It was perfectly evident that it had not beendelivered at the hotel, where, strangely enough, the trunk belonging toKate's aunt had arrived safely.

  "It was a large steamer trunk," said Elinor with a sigh, "but smallenough for thieves to carry away. I suppose they took it from the backof the wagon. You shouldn't have thieves in Boston."

  "Probably they came from some other city. Philadelphia possibly,"retorted Martine. Then, as quickly, "Excuse me Elinor, I did not reallymean that. What a pity you and I are not the same size. I would gladlylend you anything of mine you could wear."

  "Oh--no--" responded Elinor, "I am sure nothing of yours would fit me.You are so much taller and thinner. Short and dumpy people like me nevercan wear other people's clothes. It won't be so bad for Kate, when Ibreak the news to her."

  "But what will you do?"

  "We must go out at once and buy gowns and hats. I begrudge the moneyjust now. Kate won't mind, nor her aunt. They love to spend money forclothes, and can afford anything. I have to be more careful; but aftercoming so far--I can't be cheated out of Class Day, and this grey gownand dark hat would be utterly out of place."

  "Not so very long ago I should have thought it great fun to buy a wholeoutfit on the spur of the moment," responded Martine, "but the past fewweeks I have grown so economical that it seems extravagant to buyanything one doesn't need."

  "But I certainly need a muslin gown and a hat, a fan, a parasol, lightshoes--"

  "There, there, let me lend you a parasol, fan, and some of the otherthings that don't have to be made to order. Also I have a lovely hatthat would fit you like the paper on the wall, if you would borrow it.Please say yes."

  With some protests Elinor accepted Martine's offer, and after luncheon,accompanied by Kate and her aunt, they set out for the most fashionableoutfitter's. Kate, with Mrs. Starkweather's approval, unrestricted inthe matter of money, soon chose a costume complete in every detail.Elinor, wishing to spend less, had greater difficulty in suitingherself.

  "By six o'clock surely," said the obliging saleswoman, "everything shallbe ready. Two or three workwomen will at once be set on the alterations.This is a special case, and we are glad to do all we can to oblige you."

  "Now Elinor, come back with me," urged Martine, "we have half theafternoon before us, and we might as well have a good long talk."

  "That will suit me very well. Mrs. Starkweather and Kate have to stay into see callers. You will not care," she concluded turning to herfriends, "if I stay with Martine until five. She is going to lend me ahat, and fan, and other things."

  "Provided you return to the hotel by five, you may go with Martine now.We are greatly obliged for your assistance," and Mrs. Starkweather shookhands cordially with the young girl.

  The apartment seemed cool and pleasant to the two friends, as theyentered it, and Martine sank down in a little willow chair with a sighof relief.

  "Angelina," she called, "Angelina!"

  In a moment Angelina stood before her.

  "Bring me the large hat-box from my closet, please."

  "Certainly, Miss Martine."

  "It's handsomer than my own," exclaimed Elinor, as Martine lifted thelarge white hat from the box, and set it on her friend's head.

  "It suits you perfectly. I am so glad I have it!"

  Martine did not explain that this was the hat she had herself meant towear Class Day, and that her secon
d best was not nearly as becoming.Martine was not vain, and it really pleased her that she had somethingto offer Elinor. The fan, parasol, and other little accessories werequickly chosen from Martine's abundant store, and then the two girls satdown for the promised long talk.

  "I know you'll like York," said Elinor. "Every one does."

  "Oh,--I dare say,--I remember Peggy Pratt at school was always talkingabout it. But of course I am not going for fun, and we are to live inthe littlest bit of a house, with only Angelina for maid, and I shallhardly have a cent to spend."

  "I know, I know," responded Elinor gently, "but spending money is noteverything, you can enjoy so many things without it."

  "Oh, I dare say, but money helps. You and Kate would have had to give upyour Class Day, or wear unsuitable clothes, if you hadn't had money tobuy new outfits to-day. Still, I like the idea of the little cottage,and helping mother, and if father only comes back safely, I sha'n't careif we haven't a penny in the world."

  "You must have had rather hard work packing up," said Elinorsympathetically; "I suppose Angelina has been more hindrance than help."

  "Oh, no--she has surprised us all by taking a real interest. I asked herif she wouldn't rather have a different kind of place for the summer.'What an idea!' she replied. 'I love hard work when I can get all thecredit for it. Wild horses wouldn't keep me away from York. Besides,your mother has got so used to my Spanish flavoring that her healthwould suffer if I should leave.'"

  "She's a case," commented Elinor, "but tell me, is it true that youmight have visited Mrs. Stanley at Bar Harbor this summer?"

  "Oh, she's papa's cousin," rejoined Martine, "and she _did_ invite me.But of course I had no intention of leaving mamma, even if I had been inthe mood for a gay place like Mt. Desert. She has been growing paler andthinner, all the spring, and though she might have boarded in some quietspot, she just couldn't have got along without me."

  "Of course not."

  "She thought I could accept the invitation for August, but this was outof the question. I doubt that I should have gone out to Cambridgeto-morrow, if I hadn't seen that mother would be disappointed if I gavethat up. There will be other Class Days, and I can wait. But it isn't asif I had to buy anything--a muslin that I had made in the winter is justthe thing, and I haven't had to bother."

  "You are very sweet, Martine, about everything, and so different fromwhat I thought of you that day we ran into each other at the car. Didn'tI seem a little hateful when we were first introduced at Mrs. Weston'sluncheon?"

  "Oh--no--only a little stiff, but that was natural, when you think ofour first meeting," and Martine laughed at the remembrance. "I can'timagine you out of temper, since I have really known you."

  "Not even to-day?"

  "To-day?"

  "Why, I have been feeling particularly savage about my trunk. You musthave noticed how I spoke to the man in the express office."

  "He deserved it, but really I didn't notice anything of that kind. Youwere really polite, considering you had lost a trunk."

  "It is really a loss," responded Elinor, "even to Kate, and I wish thatsome one could explain what happened to it."

  "It may simply be mislaid. Ten to one it may turn up to-morrow."

  "Oh, I hope not. That would be exasperating, after all the trouble wehave had to-day. I would almost rather that the trunk should stay lost.Then we could bring suit for damages."

  "You can generally get only a hundred dollars on a single trunk, atleast I remember hearing papa say that was all railroads would pay,"said Martine sagely, "and what would that be among two?"

  "You shouldn't have put all your eggs in one basket."

  Elinor and Martine started at the sound of a strange voice, but lookingup they saw Angelina standing at the door leading toward thedining-room. She had used a curious falsetto with which at times sheliked to experiment.

  "I just meant to remind you it's half-past four, and I heard Miss Elinorsay she must be back at the hotel by five. You've just barely time, andif you please I'll carry the boxes for you."

  Thus Angelina turned aside the reproof that might have been given herfor listening at the door.