Dorothy's House Party

For a moment he stared at her as if he did not understand; then all that gloom which had so changed him vanished from his face and he answered with that promise which to a Quaker is better than an oath:

“I would. I will! If thee can bring her!”

A moment later Leah’s hand was in her brother’s and Dorothy had left them alone, and thus the House Party neared its end, to become but a happy memory to its soon to be homeward speeding guests. The thoughts of the young hostess were even now turning wholly to the future, her brain teeming with marvelous plans. What these were and how fulfilled in “Dorothy in California,” to those interested, the story will be told.

CHAPTER XVIII

CONCLUSION

“Friday! And to-morrow we part!” said Molly Breckenridge, with more of sadness on her sunny face than was often seen there. “It’s been such a perfectly enchanting Week of Days, and this is the last one left! Oh! dear! Oh! I do hate good-bys. Saying that and packing one’s trunk are two just unbearable things and make one wish, almost, that the nice times had never begun.”

“Yes, beginnings are grand; but endings – Hmm. I agree with you, Miss Molly,” echoed a boyish voice so close to her elbow that the girl wheeled briskly about to see who spoke.

“Why, Melvin Cook! Are you down in the dumps, too? I didn’t know boys had – had feelings, don’t you know.”

He ignored her mockery and answered gravely:

“They do feel a deal more than they get credit for. A boy daren’t cry and be silly like a girl – ”

“Thanks, awfully!”

“He just has to keep everything bottled up. That’s why he acts rude sometimes. I fancy that’s what’s amiss with the two Smiths yonder. They’ve been literally punching each other’s heads because Danny happened to remark that Littlejohn would have to work the harder when he got home, to make up for this week’s idleness. And – ”

“Here comes the Master and he doesn’t look at all like crying! Why he’s holding his hands above his head and – yes, he’s clapping them! Call all the others with that new bugle of yours, and let’s go meet him! Toot-te-toot-te-toot!”

Melvin obediently raised the handsome instrument which Dorothy had given him the night before, and which Mrs. Calvert had bought for him in the hill-city. It had not come from the County Fair but from the best establishment for such ware and Melvin was delighted with it. There had been a “keepsake” for each and all. For Jane Potter her “unabridged”; for Alfaretta, who had never minded rain nor snow, a long desired umbrella; for Jim a Greek lexicon; for Mabel Bruce an exquisite fan; and after the tastes of all something they would always prize. In fact, Mrs. Calvert had early left the Fair and spent her time in shopping; and Seth knew, if the younger ones did not, that far more than the equivalent of the famous one hundred dollars had been expended to give these young folks pleasure.

“Oh! what is it, Master! What is it? Have you settled on the play? Will you assign the characters and let us get to studying, so we can make a success of it to-night?” cried Helena, rather anxiously.

“I have settled on the play. Rather it has been settled for me. As for characters they will need no study, since each and all are to appear in this most marvelous drama in their own original selves.”

“Why, Mr. Seth, what do you mean? You look so happy and yet as if something had made you feel bad, too;” said Dorothy, slipping her hand into his as he dropped it to his side.

“Oh! I tell you I am happy! So will many another be, ‘up-mounting’ on this auspicious day. Talk about partings – there are going to be meetings, meetings galore. In short, I won’t mystify you any longer though I am half-mystified myself. Attention! Leah Sands will give a House Party this afternoon at Heartsease Farm and we and all who’ll accept are bidden to attend at three o’clock sharp.”

“Leah – that’s Luna? How can she do a thing like that?”

“Well, it can be done in her name, I reckon. Just as this was Dorothy’s and somebody else managed it; eh, lassie? The Friends speak when the Spirit moves. At last, by the power of grief and remorse, by the power of Love, the Spirit of unselfishness and humility has moved upon the heart of Oliver Sands. One is never too old to learn; and, thank God, some are never too old to acknowledge their ignorance! He isn’t, and to prove it he is doing this thing. His messengers are speeding everywhere. Caterers from Newburgh have had hurry-up orders to provide a bountiful feast and old Heartsease Farm is to be the scene of an ‘Infair’ that will beat Dorothy’s to – smithereens! I mean, begging her ladyship’s pardon, in point of size. Leah is to be the guest of honor, since she cannot preside; but be sure she’ll not disgrace her proud brother since at Dorothy’s Party she has learned how harmless are even strangers. Yes, I can safely say that Leah made her debut with us. Now, who’ll accept? Don’t all speak at once!”

But they did. So joyfully, so earnestly, that the Master clapped hands over ears and, laughing, hurried away, while Mrs. Calvert beamed upon them all, the dearest hostess who had ever lived – so one and all declared.

The scene at Heartsease? It is useless even to try to depict that. Sufficient to say it was a marvelous Party; and he who marveled most was the giver of the Party himself. Because where he might easily have expected absences and “regrets” came hastening guests to shake him by the hand, to forgive hard dealings, to rejoice with him that she who had been lost, in every sense, had been found.

And when, at last, the young folks from Deerhurst tore themselves away and walked homeward over the moonlit road, it was with the feeling that this last outing of their Week of Days had been the dearest and the best.

Partings? They had to come; but when on the Saturday morning the last guest had disappeared and Dorothy stood alone beside Aunt Betty on the broad piazza, there might be tears in her brown eyes, but there was no real heaviness in her heart.

God had given her a home. He had given her this dear old lady to love and serve, and the girl had already learned that there is joy only in Loving Service.

THE END