Dorothy Dale: A Girl of To-Day Read online

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  DOROTHY DALE A GIRL OF TO-DAY

  BY MARGARET PENROSE AUTHOR OF "DOROTHY DALE AT GLENWOOD SCHOOL," ETC

  ILLUSTRATED

  THE DOROTHY DALE SERIES BY MARGARET PENROSE

  DOROTHY DALE: A GIRL OF TO-DAY DOROTHY DALE AT GLENWOOD SCHOOL (Othervolumes in preparation)

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I. DOROTHY II. DOROTHY AT THE OFFICE III. A STRANGEADVENTURE IV. A CLEW V. MILES BURLOCK VI. AT THE SWING VII.WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ORCHARD VIII. SQUIRE SANDERS AT SCHOOL IX. THEAFTERMATH X. APPLE BLOSSOM MAGIC XI. A SOLDIER'S DAUGHTER XII.AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK XIII. A QUEER PICNIC XIV. THE SECRET XV.DOROTHY IN POLITICS XVI. THE GIRLS HAVE IT XVII. A GIRL'S WEAPONXVIII. DOROTHY IN DANGER XIX. A SURPRISE TRIP XX. AN EVENTFULJOURNEY XXI. AT AUNT WINNIE'S XXII. THE PRICE OF TAVIA'S TRESSESXXIII. IN SOCIAL ELEMENTS XXIV. THE PAINTED FACE XXV. AN EMERGENCYCASE XXVI. DOROTHY'S COURAGE XXVII. THE LITTLE CAPTAIN--CONCLUSION

  CHAPTER I

  DOROTHY

  The day of days had come at last: Dorothy would be the Daughter of theRegiment.

  "Lucky you don't have to curl your hair, Doro, for the fog is likerain, and that's the worst kind for made curls," said Tavia.

  "Oh, I do hope it is not going to rain!"

  "No, it surely won't. But come, don't let's be late."

  "There's heaps of time, Tavia. Oh, just see Briggs' new flag! Isn't itglorious?" cried Dorothy Dale.

  "Not half as glorious as your old Betsy Ross. I'd be too proud to marchif I had a real, truly Betsy. I think, anyway, it's prettier with thestar of stars than with the regular daisy field of them," and Taviatied her scarf just once more, that being the fourth time she hadsmoothed it out and knotted it over.

  "I think red, white and blue look lovely over a white dress," commentedDorothy. "Your scarf is perfect."

  "But you are like a live Columbia," insisted Tavia. "No one could lookas pretty as you," and her companion fairly beamed with admiration.

  "Come now, gather up the stuffs. Button your cloak all the way down,for we don't want folks to see how we're dressed," and Dorothy madesure that her own water-proof covered her skirts to the very edge.

  It was Decoration Day, and the girls were to take part in the Veterans'procession.

  Dorothy was the only daughter of Major Frank Dale, one of the prominentveterans of Dalton, a small town in New York state. Dorothy was in herfourteenth year, but since her mother was dead, and she was the eldestof the small family (the other members being Joe, age ten, and Rogerjust seven), she seemed older, and was really very sensible for heryears.

  The major always called her his Little Captain, and she showed such apractical interest in his business, that of running the only newspaperin Dalton, The Bugle, that few, if any boys could have made betterpartners in the work.

  At housekeeping Dorothy was relieved of the real drudgery by Mrs.Martin, who had been with the major's children since the day when babyRoger was taken from his mother's side; and while the housekeeper wasthe soul of love for the motherless ones, it was Dorothy who feltresponsible for the real management of the home, for Aunt Libby, as thechildren called Mrs. Martin, was fast growing old, and faster growingqueer, in spite of a really good-natured disposition.

  "It seems to me, Dorothy," the old lady would say, "Libby can't suityou any more. And Joe, too--he's mighty fussy about his victuals. Onlymy baby Roger loves the old woman!" and she would press the younger boyto her breast with a world of love in the caress.

  Not far from Dorothy lived Octavia Travers, or Tavia as all the girlsin Dalton called her, She had the reputation of being wild; that is shecared little for school, and less for study, but she loved her brotherJohnnie and she loved Dorothy. She also had some love left for thewoods; but like many another child of nature, she was misunderstood,and she was considered an idler by every one but her own father andDorothy.

  "Tavia is a rough diamond," Dorothy would tell the major, "and you neednot be afraid of Aunt Libby's dreadful ideas about her. She's as goodas gold. Lots of girls, who turn up their noses at her, might learncharity from the Tiger Lily, as they call her, just because she has afew freckles around her eyes. I think they make her eyes prettier, theyare so brown--her eyes you know. And Daddy, no other girl in Daltonloves soldiers, dead or alive, as truly as Tavia does."

  This last argument never failed to convince Major Dale, for a patrioticgirl could no more go astray than could a star fall from the flag, hedeclared; so the Little Captain might go with Tavia if she desired.

  So it was that Dorothy and Tavia were companions on Decoration Day. Forweeks they had been getting ready--Tavia picking out the patches ofdaisies that would surely be in bloom in time, and Dorothy makingcertain that Mrs. Travers would not disappoint Tavia with her whitethings, as well as keeping track of Aunt Libby, who had Dorothy's owncostume in hand. The dress was too short and had to be let down a wholeinch, and of course, it could not be done up until after thealterations were finished.

  There was always a big time in Dalton on Memorial Day, but this year itwas to be made more memorable than ever before. The Grand Army of theRepublic men were to come in from Rochester, the firemen were to turnout, and the school children were to have a place in the ranks, withDorothy Dale as their leader. Besides this, the Dalton Drum and FifeCorps would make their first public appearance on this occasion, and areal review was to be given the procession, in the little squareopposite the school, not very far from the cemetery where the soldiers'graves would be decorated.

  No wonder, then, that Dorothy and Tavia were anxious about theirappearance. Every school girl was expected to wear white, of course,and the bunting stripes of red, white and blue were bought inRochester, by the school teacher, Miss Ellis, and sold to the childrenat actual cost--ten cents for each scarf.

  One thing was certain, no other girls would have such flowers asDorothy and Tavia had. Such syringias and such daisies! And the fernsthat Tavia had growing back of the well for weeks!

  Tavia had taken charge of the flowers for Dorothy, had made the bigbouquet and had covered it with wet paper so it would keep fresh. TheLittle Captain had made certain that her companion would not bedisappointed about her white dress, and although Tavia had to stay fromschool to wash it the day before, Dorothy went over to help her withthe ironing, for Mrs. Travers managed somehow, to have an excuse forher failure in getting her daughter ready--she was that kind ofhelpless, shiftless person, who rarely had things ready for herchildren, especially in the matter of Tavia's clothes.

  "Your dress looks real pretty," declared Dorothy, as the girls hurriedalong to the school.

  "Thanks to you for ironing it," responded Tavia, with gratitude in hervoice.

  "I only helped, you did the skirt."

  "That was plain, but the waist and sleeves--I never could have evensmoothed them, to say nothing of making them look this way," and shestraightened up to show the beauty of the garment.

  At the school everything was in commotion. Some girls wanted theirscarfs tied, others wanted to carry flags, some insisted they could notgo out without hats, while Miss Ellis, always strict, seemed more sternthan ever.

  "Those who were here yesterday afternoon raise their hands," shecommanded. Every girl but Tavia raised her hand.

  "Those who were not here to rehearsal," went on the teacher, "cannot bein the ranks. You know I told you all to be here, or not to expect togo blundering along the roads, disgracing the school. Now, Miss TaviaTravers, please step back."

  All the commotion ceased. Tavia the patriotic girl--she who had beensearching for flowers in all sorts of dangerous and lonely
places--notto march?

  "Teacher," spoke up Dorothy, her cheeks aflame and her voice quivering."It was not Tavia's fault. She--"

  "Silence, Dorothy, or you will also lose your place."

  "But teacher--" insisted the girl, with commendable courage, "I knowTavia--"

  "Leave the ranks!" called Miss Ellis and Dorothy stepped down--andslipped into a seat alongside her weeping friend. "Sarah Ford, you maylead."

  This announcement caused no less surprise than did the punishment ofDorothy. To think that Sarah Ford, a stranger in Dalton, whose fatherwas not even a firemen, let alone a soldier, should take first place!

  It must be admitted that not every girl cared when Tavia left theranks, for she was not a general favorite: but Dorothy! Major Dale'sdaughter! and he the head marshal!

  With a conceited toss of her head Sarah Ford stepped to the front.

  "She's mean," was whispered around. "Perhaps teacher knows only themeanest girl would ever take Doro's place."

  Meanwhile two very miserable girls were crying their eyes sore in theback seat.

  "Oh, Doro!" sobbed Tavia, "to think you lost it on my account."

  "It was not on your account," wailed Dorothy, "but on account of anunreasonable teacher."

  "Hush! She'll hear you."

  "Hope she does," went on the crying girl. "I would just like her toknow what I think of her. I don't care if I never come in this oldschool again."

  "I never will," whispered Tavia.

  The ranks were formed now, and the girls marched out. An unpardonableexpression covered the face of Sarah Ford as she passed the tearfulones.

  "There," hissed Tavia, sticking out her tongue at the unpopular leader."Sneak!" she hissed again, and made the most unmistakable face ofcontempt and defiance at the haughty Sarah.

  Many looked sadly at Dorothy and with pity at Tavia. Certainly thesetwo girls deserved to march. Dorothy had done so much to help, in factsome of the girls knew she had helped the major with all the letterwriting, inviting the Rochester men, and sending instructions to thefiremen. And to think that now, at the last moment, she should bedebarred!

  And Tavia too, had been so happy at the prospect of the parade. PoorTavia! Everybody knew she had a hard time of it, anyway, only forDorothy, who always helped her out.

  "Now, young ladies," said Miss Ellis, as the last girl passed out, "youmay fall in at the end."

  "I don't care to," Dorothy spoke up, wiping her eyes.

  "But I say you must!"

  "Do," whispered Tavia, "we can see them anyway."

  This was enough for Dorothy. Both girls stood up, straightened outtheir crushed dresses, patted their red eyes with their handkerchiefs,and fell in at the end of the line.

  "I don't care a bit," said Dorothy smiling. "I would just as soon bewith you any way. And besides, we will be right next to the Veterans."

  "Oh, good," answered her companion, "I would rather be there than upfront. Only, of course, you should lead."

  The Dalton Drum and Fife Corps was playing loudly. There seemedsomething very solemn about the lively tune in honor of the "Boys" whohad answered their last roll call. Tavia's eyes were swimming, and nota freckle was to be seen beneath the deep red color that framed them.

  Dorothy could not talk. It was so sad--that soldiers had to die justlike other persons. She prayed her "Daddy" would not be called foryears and years.

  At the corner of the street the school children were joined by the maincolumn. The veterans fell in--back of Dorothy and Tavia!

  Major Dale was grand marshal, and of course came first. He lookedsurprised at seeing his daughter--his Little Captain, last in line withthe children.

  Then he glanced at Tavia. It was certainly something for which she wasresponsible he was sure, for Dorothy had told him she had remained awayfrom school and missed the last rehearsal. "Halt," called the major,and his men stood still.

  At a signal the entire ranks waited. Miss Ellis stepped up to themarshal smiling. She had evidently forgotten his daughter had lost herplace.

  "I need two girls to carry the end flags," he began. "These old menhave all they can do to travel. The flags are not heavy--here, the twolast girls will do nicely!"

  Dorothy and Tavia stepped to the sides and gracefully took the flagsfrom the hands of the aged soldiers.

  The only girls who could carry real army flags! And walk on either sideof the marshal leading the Veterans!

  "If I only could stick my tongue out just once more at Sarah,"whispered Tavia, as she crossed back of the marshal to her place.

  "We have both got Betsy Ross flags now," said Dorothy, and in all thatprocession there were no prettier figures than those of Dorothy andTavia, as they marched alongside the veterans, with the real army flagswaving above their heads, stepping with feet and hearts in perfectaccord to the music of the Dalton Drum and Fife Corps' "Star SpangledBanner."