The Camp Fire Girls Behind the Lines

by Margaret Vandercook

  CHAPTER XIX

  Plans for the Future

  In a large hotel sitting-room a number of girls were grouped in variousattitudes, discussing a question which evidently interested them.

  "Does any one know _why_ we are _not_ to start east tomorrow as weplanned?" Marta Clark inquired, glancing up from a city map which shehad been studying.

  "Why, no, not exactly," Bettina Graham answered her. "Tante did not tellus definitely. She merely said that something had occurred which madeher feel it would be wiser for her to remain in California a few dayslonger, unless we were compelled to leave for home at once. Personally Icannot imagine what is keeping her here, as I know she is anxious to gohome, now that our Camp Fire summer is over and Peggy and Aunt Mollieand Dan Webster have gone. I think it was wonderfully good of her tocontinue with our camping party after Billy's death, when she must havewished to leave with the others."

  "I think _I_ know why she seemed to change her mind so unexpectedlyyesterday and canceled all our reservations for berths," Sally Ashtonannounced in the mysterious manner which Sally often assumed to theannoyance of the other girls. Since her arrival in the city, Sallytemporarily had forsworn her war and Camp Fire abstinence and was atthis moment engaged in eating chocolates which had just arrived byparcel post from Merton Anderson.

  "How absurd you are, Sally! You know no more than the rest of us!" AliceAshton argued with sisterly frankness.

  Instead of replying, sanctimoniously tightening her lips, Sally addednothing to her original statement.

  "Nevertheless, won't you _please_ tell us what you think, Sally?" VeraLagerloff requested, and because it was Vera who made the request Sallyagreed.

  Since Billy's death the Camp Fire girls had been as unobtrusively kindto Vera as they knew how to be. In a measure they appreciated what hisloss must mean to her, although it was out of the question that theycould fully understand the extent of Vera's loneliness, the feeling ofemptiness which the future now seemed to offer her.

  Vera's long and devoted friendship with Billy had separated her from theusual intimacy with other girls, nevertheless she was a generalfavorite. For a good many years Billy had required whatever time andthought she could spare from her ordinary duties and affections.

  "I think, Vera, that Tante recently has heard some unexpected news ofGerry," Sally finally announced with the proper degree of solemnity andwith a due sense of dramatic values.

  At least she was a dramatic success to the extent of surprising heraudience.

  "What authority have you for such a statement, Sally?" Alice Ashtondemanded in the superior voice and manner which Alice now and thenaffected.

  Sally shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't any authority, I have a'hunch'," she returned, appreciating how painfully her slang would annoyher intellectual sister.

  "But how is it possible that Gerry could have written? Don't you thinkshe and Felipe are still hiding in Mexico? We know that much from whatMr. Morris has told us! If Gerry should write to Mrs. Burton she mightbetray her own and Felipe's secret and she would not do that," MartaClark protested.

  "I did not say Gerry had written, I only said that I believed Tante hadreceived some information concerning her," Sally answered, undisturbedby criticism.

  In response to this speech the expressions on the faces of the fourother girls became curiously alike.

  "I don't believe if I were Mrs. Burton I should ever take an interest inGerry again," Marta Clark announced. "Perhaps I am more in a position tosay this than any of the rest of you, because all of you have some pastassociation with Mrs. Burton; she was an intimate friend of yourmothers. She simply chose to be kind to me and to invite me to spendthis summer with her Camp Fire group without any especial reason, justas she has been good to Gerry. If I should repay her kindness as Gerryhas done, I should never dare make the effort to see her again, or toask her forgiveness, no matter how greatly I might desire it."

  "I feel just as you do, Marta," Bettina Graham agreed.

  But Sally gave a little protesting cough, holding a chocolate dropsuspended in the air for an instant.

  "Judge not, lest ye be judged," she declared sententiously, and thenwith a somewhat less self-righteous expression, "Was that quotation fromthe Bible or Shakespeare and did I quote correctly? The truth is I wishthat all of you would not be so hard upon Gerry. I know you think itsilly and impossible for a girl not yet eighteen to be _really_ in love,but just the same Gerry is in love with Felipe. As she is in love withhim and he has been a coward and is now a fugitive from his own country,I don't suppose Gerry is so happy that all of you need be disagreeableabout her. Personally I am perfectly sure that if Gerry wishes Tante'ssympathy and help again, Tante would be sure to do whatever she could tohelp her."

  "Hats off to Sally!" Bettina Graham remarked and no one disputed thesuggestion. "Still of course, Sally dear, it is impossible that any newscould have been received from Gerry, since she and Felipe must remainout of the country until the war is over and the whole circumstance ofFelipe is forgotten," Bettina continued. "But suppose when Tante returnswe inquire why we are to wait over in Los Angeles a few days more? Ipresume she would not object to explaining. I believe no one asked herthe direct question."

  "Yes, but she would have volunteered to tell had she wished us to know,"Alice Ashton argued.

  Vera Lagerloff, who had been sitting by an open window looking outtoward a circle of hills which were like giant amethysts in theafternoon light, turned toward the other girls.

  "Suppose if we have no other plans we spend tomorrow on Mount Lowe andgive Mrs. Burton the opportunity to be alone," she suggested. "We havebeen at the seashore so long I am anxious for a day among the hills."

  Then she addressed Marta Clark.

  "You are mistaken, Marta, if you think all of us here, aside from you,have some past association with Mrs. Burton. I have none except thatBilly and I always have been friends and he asked his aunt to take aninterest in me. Now Mrs. Burton is going to do something for me whichseems more wonderful than anything she has ever done for any one else,although I know she has been a fairy godmother to a good many people.But she is to pay my expenses and allow me to go to France to work inthe devastated country which has lately been cleared of the Germans.'The Field of Honor' is the name for this part of France which I likebest. I hope to work among the homeless children. But in any case I havebeen brought up on a farm and can do farming work, which I have heard isespecially needed. I am to study in New York City before I sail. Coursesof study are being given there under the auspices of the French Huguenotsocieties."

  An unusual silence followed Vera's long speech and then it was SallyAshton who spoke first.

  "For your sake, Vera, I am so glad, for I know the new life and the newwork will mean a great deal to you just now. I only wish I were goingwith you."

  "But you, Sally, what on earth could you do that would be useful inFrance?" Alice remonstrated, not because she wished to be disagreeablebut to relieve the little tension which Vera's confidence had wrought.

  "At least I can cook, which is a more useful accomplishment than any youcan offer, Alice," Sally returned with such ridiculous spitefulness thatthe other girls laughed.

  "I believe I am also envious of you, Vera," Bettina remarked. "Allsummer I have been feeling that we were not doing enough to help withthe war merely by economizing and sewing and knitting, all the hundredand one small things we have tried to do. If we were boys we would begoing through at least a little military training and in a few yearswould be able to volunteer. It is simply amazing what the girls andwomen are doing in England. So far we have not nearly approached theirefforts. Do you know there is a 'Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps' alreadyin France working directly behind the lines. I believe the Tommies callthem 'The Tommy-waacs.' We have been talking about being behind thelines this summer, but I wish we could be more directly there."

  "But what is the exact work the English girls are doing?" Alicedemanded, as if she were seriously weighing a problem
in her mind. "I amsure we can do the same things if they become necessary."

  "I don't know all the varieties of war work of course, Alice," Bettinareturned. "In Great Britain women and girls have taken the places of themen in more departments of labor than we can imagine. Of course we knowthey are working in munition shops and aeroplane factories and in shipbuilding, and are telephone and telegraph operators. Now they are alsoworking among the blind, being specially trained for the work, ofcourse, and are actually driving ambulances and motor trucks near thefighting line. But I will bore you if I go on enumerating even thelittle I know. Personally I agree with, Vera, I should prefer to workamong the children. Madame Montessori, the great Italian teacher, hasbeen in the United States this summer trying to establish what she callsthe order of the 'White Cross.' The members of the White Cross are todevote themselves to the care of the children who have suffered from thewar. She says there is no hope of their growing into healthy and normalmen and women unless they receive special care."

  "Is there an organization anything like our own Camp Fire girls inFrance?" Sally Ashton demanded unexpectedly. "I know there is in Englandwhere they call themselves the 'Girl Scouts.' But I should think thatyoung girls living and working together in France as we have been tryingto do, might help each other and be useful to other people as well."

  "I quite agree with you, Sally," Bettina returned. "Odd, that no one ofus can answer your question! But as soon as we return East I mean tomake it my business to find out if there is a French Camp Fire. At leastwe could write to the French Camp Fire girls if they exist."

  At this instant the girls' conversation was interrupted by the suddenopening of a door and Mrs. Burton's entrance.

  She was not in mourning but was wearing a black dress and hat which wereunbecoming and made her look older.

  "Why is everybody so serious?" she instantly demanded.

  Before any one else could reply Sally Ashton answered:

  "We are serious because we are thinking that some day we may ask you totake us to France to form Camp Fire clubs over there and to do whateverwe can to help. Oh, of course I know we must learn more of what will berequired of us and be prepared to make all kinds of sacrifices."

  Flinging her hat on the bed with as great carelessness as if she were agirl and also as if she were pleased to be rid of it, Mrs. Burtonreplied:

  "You are an amazing child, Sally. Even if I had the courage for such anundertaking, which I have not, do you suppose I would have sufficientinfluence with the parents of any one of you to persuade them to allowyou to stir one foot away from your own land at a time like this? But Iunderstand you have been hearing Vera's news. The circumstances withVera are exceptional. Wait here another moment, there is something Ihave to tell you."

  Then Mrs. Burton disappeared into her bedroom which adjoined their hotelsitting-room. Their hotel was not in the center of the city but in asuburb a few miles out.

  A few moments later she returned wearing a lavender crepe dressing gownand looking younger and more attractive.

  For some reason she sat down next to Sally and put her arm about Sally'sshoulders.

  "I hope my information may interest you," she began with a slightsuggestion of appeal in her voice, glancing from one of the girls to theother.

  "Two days ago I received a letter from Mr. Morris telling me that Felipehad been arrested by the United States authorities. He had crossed overinto California for the day in order to attend to some private business.I believe he wished to get some money from his father. He trusted, ofcourse, in not being discovered, but was arrested within an hour."

  "I suppose I ought to say I am sorry, if that is what you wish, Tante?But really I cannot. It seems to me exactly the fate that Felipe Morrisdeserves," Bettina Graham answered coldly.

  "What will be done to Felipe as a punishment for having tried to escapethe draft?" asked Alice Ashton. "I believe the punishment is verysevere, is it not?"

  "His father is afraid he will receive three years' imprisonment," Mrs.Burton replied without comment.

  Then she heard a little horrified exclamation from the girl nearest herand Sally's face had whitened and her expression changed.

  "But Gerry! What is to become of Gerry?" she demanded. "I know that shebehaved very badly and that she ought to have persuaded Felipe to do hisduty, instead of helping him to run away from it. But Gerry wasdreadfully under Felipe's influence, and, anyhow, I don't care, I _am_terribly sorry for her," Sally ended incoherently, hiding her brown eyesbehind her hand.

  "I also am very sorry, Sally," Mrs. Burton added. "The fact of havingdone a wrong has never yet made any human being's punishment easier tobear. But I can tell you one thing about Gerry, Sally dear, since youalone seem interested. She is in California and is coming to see metomorrow. She returned to California as soon as she received word ofFelipe's arrest. She has been with Mr. Morris, and they of course willdo whatever is in their power to have Felipe's sentence made as light aspossible. I am afraid they cannot do very much. In all probability anexample will be made of him."

  CHAPTER XX

  Bitter Waters

  Following Vera's suggestion, the next morning the five girls decidedthat they would spend the day in making the journey up the famous MountLowe, a few miles away. Afterwards they intended taking one of the longtrail trips over the mountain, so that it would be impossible for themto return to their hotel until late afternoon.

  For many reasons it seemed best that Mrs. Burton should be alone whenshe received the visit from Gerry. Surely Gerry would wish to have atleast this first interview without interruption!

  Believing it impossible that her guest could arrive before noon, Mrs.Burton spent the early hours of the morning in writing letters to herhusband and sister, including several business notes as well. She wouldnot confess it to herself; nevertheless she felt nervous over her firstmeeting with Gerry, for although only a few weeks had passed they hadbeen crowded so tragically close with events in Gerry's life and in herown. There had been the unexpected tragedy of Billy's death, Billy whohad been so unlike other boys in his life and in his final beautifulsurrender of life.

  Therefore when a knock came at her sitting-room door at some timebetween half-past ten and eleven, presuming one of the hotel servantswas outside, Mrs. Burton said, "Come in," without raising her eyes fromthe paper upon which she was writing.

  Afterwards the door opened softly and the next instant some one hadentered the room, but instead of attending to whatever duty had made theintrusion necessary, the figure stood hesitating just inside thethreshold.

  After a little while, becoming vaguely conscious of this fact, Mrs.Burton glanced up.

  "Gerry, you poor child!" she exclaimed with such sudden, warm sympathyand with such an utter lack of criticism or reproach that any humanbeing would have been moved to gratitude and remorse.

  Gerry stumbled forward. Poor Gerry, who had changed so completely in thepast few weeks that even her delicate prettiness seemed to have vanishedforever! She was so white and worn looking, so thin and unhappy.

  "Then you forgive me?" she began.

  Mrs. Burton took both her hands.

  "We are not going to talk about forgiveness. You had your own life tolive, Gerry, and it was natural that you should do the thing yousupposed to be for your happiness without thinking of your gratitude orobligation to me. If it had been for your happiness I should not haveexpected you to think of me, although it would have been kinder of you.But of course, dear, when girls do reckless things, the reason olderpersons are grieved and angry is because of the consequences they aresure to bring upon themselves. Being young you cannot understand this!Yet it seems to me that you are having to pay rather more than otherpeople. Do sit down, dear; the other girls have gone away for the day sowe shall be entirely alone."

  As if she were really too tired to stand, Gerry sank into the nearestchair.

  "I am sorry; I have not been able to sleep since Felipe was arrested. Iam told he keeps asking for me and I
am not allowed to see him. Hethinks he has done me a great injustice, but that is not true andbesides I do not care."

  Gerry spoke with entire self-forgetfulness.

  "Mrs. Burton, I don't think you or perhaps anyone can understand,although I have tried to make Mr. Morris see. But Felipe and I have beenperfectly miserable ever since we were married. Oh, it is not because wedo not care for each other, because we do care very, very deeply! Onlyneither Felipe nor I seemed to realize the weakness and wrong of what wewere doing until we were safely out of our own country and had time toface the truth. Then Felipe confessed to me he had been a coward. Heseemed to think that no matter what happened in our future together, Imust always think of him as a coward and compare him with other men whohad done their duty. I don't know why he did not think of all thisbefore. But Felipe has written me that he is almost glad he has beenarrested. Anything which may happen to him will be better than having tolive as a fugitive until the war is over. Besides, even afterwards, hecould never look another American fellow in the face, remembering hisown weakness! Can you understand how anyone could change a point of viewso quickly, Mrs. Burton?" Gerry inquired wistfully. "It is hard even forme, and yet I realize that Felipe and I simply woke up from our selfishdream of happiness to realizing we had been traitors and cowards."

  "I can understand almost any weakness and almost any strength in humanbeings, Gerry dear, after the years I have lived and the men and women Ihave known," Mrs. Burton answered, forgetting for the moment Gerry'syouth. But the bitter waters of experience and regret having passed overGerry, she was no longer young.

  Suddenly Mrs. Burton got up and began walking up and down the room withthe graceful impatience which was ever characteristic of her.

  For a moment, watching her, Gerry felt her old charm so deeply thattemporarily she forgot her own sorrow. The peculiar shining qualitywhich Polly O'Neill had revealed as a girl in times of keen emotion shehad never lost.

  "I declare, Gerry, I cannot endure the thought that you and Felipe haveso spoiled your lives at the age when you should have been happiest. Ifanything happens, if Felipe is kept in prison for a time, what do youintend to do?"

  Gerry glanced down apparently at her hands which were lightly claspedtogether in her lap.

  When she looked up at her companion she was smiling, even if somewhattremulously.

  "I am going to _work_, Mrs. Burton, although it may be difficult for youto believe after the effort I have made to escape even the thought ofwork. But I think at last I have found something which will interest me.Mr. Morris is very kind; of course he must dislike me under thecircumstances and feel I influenced Felipe, nevertheless he has asked meto live with him at the ranch indefinitely. But I won't do that, notafter Felipe's trial is over. I shall do some kind of war work and Idon't care now how menial or how humble it is. After a time perhaps Imay learn to be useful. Felipe and I have talked things over and we wantto do whatever is possible to atone for our mistake. If we only had itall to do over again! But then, of course, I realize what a foolishthing that is to say!"

  "It may be foolish, Gerry, but it is universal."

  After this remark Mrs. Burton did not sit down, nor did she speak againfor several moments. Instead she stood, frowning and looking peculiarlydetermined and intense.

  "Gerry, if Felipe were released from prison, do you think he would bewilling to go into the army and do whatever he could to make himself agood soldier? I don't believe Felipe is a physical coward, he was merelya spiritual one. He is rash and impetuous and in a moment of actualfighting no one would be braver or perhaps more reckless. What hedreaded was the discipline, the _thought_ of war, the having torelinquish the ease and beauty and pleasure of his daily life. Well,there must have been other boys like him, boys who fought with their owndisinclination more gallantly than Felipe! Yet it would be foolish forthe United States to lose a soldier for her army in order to gain aprisoner. Don't you think Mr. Morris and you also, Gerry, can persuadeFelipe's judges to view the situation in this light? Let him acceptwhatever punishment they see fit to bestow, only they must not spoil hisone chance of redeeming his mistake by fighting for his country."

  Mrs. Burton might have been pleading with a court instead of addressingthe solitary figure of one unhappy girl. However, she was merelythinking aloud.

  "Mr. Morris is to make that plea for Felipe, although he has very littlehope," Gerry answered. "Felipe would be willing to give even his lifenow to blot out the past."

  Mrs. Burton walked over and placed her hands on Gerry's shoulders.

  "My dear," she said, "I am going to stay here in California with youfor a time at least and see what I can do to help. I may not have muchinfluence, but I shall do my best. The girls can go home alone; they donot require me to chaperon them. I have no doubt they will have morepleasure in traveling without me. Besides, it seems to me that no one atpresent has the same need for me that you have, Gerry!"

  Slowly in these past few weeks Gerry's soul had been coming to thelight. The revelation of it now shone through her eyes, yet she made noeffort to express her thanks in words.

  "When the time arrives and Felipe _is_ allowed to go to France to fight,perhaps I shall have learned to be useful. Do you think they will everallow American girls to work behind the lines?"

  Mrs. Burton shook her head.

  "I don't know. Yet the call of France rings in all our ears and all ourhearts today, Gerry. We can only answer the call when our opportunityarises."

  * * * * *

  The next volume in the Camp Fire series will deal with the work of theCamp Fire girls in France. They will establish Camp Fires among theyoung French girls. The old care-free days having passed away, they willalso devote their energies to aiding the children of France and to doing"their bit" toward the restoration of that land of our affection,France, where, in the future as in the past, Beauty and Liberty mustwalk hand in hand. The title will be "The Camp Fire Girls on the Fieldof Honor."

  STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS

  The Camp Fire Girls at Sunrise Hill The Camp Fire Girls Amid the Snows The Camp Fire Girls in the Outside World The Camp Fire Girls Across the Sea The Camp Fire Girls' Careers The Camp Fire Girls in After Years The Camp Fire Girls at the Edge of the Desert The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail The Camp Fire Girls Behind the Lines The Camp Fire Girls on the Field of Honor