Before Nathalie could answer another cry, more piercing and, if could be, more blood-curdling than the first, came echoing down the hall, followed by a demoniacal laugh which a.s.sured Nathalie that the terror was something more human than an old Chinese idol. Grace, with a frantic scream of terror that almost equaled in its intensity the one that they had heard sprang into the hall and rushed frenziedly toward the door!

Nathalie stood a moment in indecision, utterly at a loss to determine whence came the horrible shrieks, but in another instant, as another one rent the air with the same frenzied note of merriment, she hesitated no longer. As fast as her fear-tied feet would allow her, she flew into the hall, through the door that Grace had flung wide open, and with terror-winged feet and thumping heart rushed pell-mell down the wide steps and along the path after Grace!

CHAPTER VI-WORKING INTO HARNESS

A half-hour later the two girls stood on Mrs. Morrow's veranda, and with Fred's mocking laughter still ringing in their ears told of their hasty exit from the gray house. With shame-mantled face and downcast eyes Grace handed Mrs. Morrow her note.

In answer to that lady's surprised inquiries the story was told at length, a few extra flourishes unconsciously added to plead for the unexpected finale to their errand. But Mrs. Morrow was most kind, not at all like Fred, and did not laugh at them for being "scare-babies" as he had expressed it. She voiced her sympathy most generously, saying she did not wonder they were frightened, as she was sure at their age she would have done the same.

"I cannot imagine what it could have been," she pondered, in much perplexity. "I will ask the doctor. If he does not know he will probably hear about it, if it was really anything serious."

She smiled in a way that made Nathalie, whose intuitions were keen, exclaim hastily, "Oh, indeed, Mrs. Morrow, we did not imagine it at all.

I am sure if you could have heard that terrible shriek-and that laugh!

Oh, I can hear it still!" Her brown eyes emphasized her words as they darkened with the haunting terror that caused her to rush pell-mell after Grace.

"But I do hope," remarked Mrs. Morrow, "that Mrs. Van Vorst will never know that the young girls who took such sudden flight from her house were Pioneers, as Pioneers are supposed to be very courageous." There was a twinkle in her eyes as she spoke that partly atoned for the implication as to the girls' lack of courage.

They made no reply for a moment, and then Grace, as if to atone for her delinquency, exclaimed contritely, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mrs. Morrow, I was frightened-but if you want me to-" her voice faltered, "I will take it to her again."

"No, indeed," quickly rejoined that lady, "I could not be so cruel as to send you there again, for no matter if the shriek was nothing, you were really frightened. I did not mean to rebuke you; I only wanted to seize this opportunity to show you what an important thing courage is-and how we should cultivate it, even in small things. As for the note, I will get the doctor to take it or send it by post. I will have to confess, however, that I am disappointed, for I was so anxious to have Mrs. Van Vorst see what well-behaved and pleasing young girls belonged to the organization."

"And you sent me!" wailed Grace. "Oh, thank you, Mrs. Morrow, but what an arrant coward I have proved-and Nathalie of course would not have run if I had not!" The tears welled up piteously in her blue eyes.

"Oh, no, Grace," interposed Nathalie loyally, "I was just on the verge of running away myself!" And then she told them about the mandarin with the grinning mouth, and sinister, bead-like eyes, that she was sure had blinked at her. This caused a laugh and cleared the atmosphere of the unpleasantness that had been created by the morning's adventure.

The Sat.u.r.day of the Pilgrim Rally-the day that was to make Nathalie a Pioneer-arrived. At an early hour of the morning the Pioneers of the three bird groups-each one with a package-began to file into Seton Hall, the little stone building used by the town for important meetings and often for social functions. Out of deference to Nathalie the girls had decided to bring their Pilgrim costumes with them-hence the mysterious packages-and not don them until she had been admitted to the organization.

With interested eyes Nathalie heard the Pioneers recite their pledge, give the sign, the salute,-the three movements of the closed hand, signifying a brave heart, an honest mind, and a resourceful hand,-and give the rousing Girl Pioneer cheer. She felt a trifle shaky, she confided to Helen who was seated next to her, dreading the ordeal of being made prominent as most girls do, but she regained her nerve somewhat as the Director arose and with a smiling nod of welcome began to call the names.

Certainly it was a pretty fancy to have each member respond to her name by giving the bird call of her group. The quick clear note of Bob White, the "Chip! chip!" of the meadow sparrow, and the oriole's greeting were all inspiring, but it was the melodious "Tru-al-lee!" of the bluebird group that held her with its sweet, low trill.

As Nathalie heard her name called when it came time to perform the initiative ceremony of making her a Pioneer, her head began to whirl, but setting her teeth determinedly, with squared shoulders and head erect, she walked down the aisle, faced the Director, and in a clear voice repeated her pledge. In answer to the question, would she remember that the honor of a world-wide organization had been placed in her hands, and that henceforth whatever she said or did was not done simply as Nathalie Page, but as a Girl Pioneer, she answered gravely, "I will!"

The second question was now asked, if she would try to live in such a way that through and by her example the words Girl Pioneer should come to mean all that was honest, highest, best, and most efficient in the girlhood of her country, she again replied with the solemn, "I will."

The Director now stepped to her side, and taking her by the hand said, "Nathalie Page, in the name of the Girl Pioneers of America, and by the authority vested in me as a Director, I receive you into our organization. You are now a Girl Pioneer of America. May you be a worthy successor of those women, brave, honest, resourceful, from whom our name is taken, and who in the early days of the country, standing side by side with the men, faced hardships, privations, and dangers, and helped to make possible the United States of America!"

Mrs. Morrow paused a moment, and then with one of her ready smiles took Nathalie's hand in hers and gave her a cordial welcome. Then turning toward the Pioneers she said, "Let us welcome our new member."

The girls sprang quickly but noiselessly on their feet, crying:

"Whom have we here?

A new Pioneer!

Come give a cheer Girl Pi-o-neer Nathalie Page!"

The new Pioneer unconsciously heaved a deep sigh when the ceremony was over and she was allowed to return to her seat. She was tempted to smile at her palpitating heart when going through such a simple ceremony as the initiation to an organization of girls; and yet she was vaguely conscious that it was a momentous episode in her life, and she firmly resolved that her vow should be a binding one, and that she would try her best to become a worth-while Pioneer and a Blue Robin.

The seriousness of her act became even more apparent as she listened with keen interest to Mrs. Morrow's little talk, which was, in memory of the day's celebration, about the Pilgrims. It was the desire to do right in the face of all difficulties which animated the Founders of this great nation in their struggle for Freedom and Right, and which led their wives, daughters, and sisters to forego the necessities of life, to cross an unknown sea and to face the perils of the wilderness and to aid them in their n.o.ble purpose.

It was this sacrifice of the things that made life endurable, and their strict adherence to duty that gave rise to the sterling qualities of unflinching determination, hardy courage, stern endurance, unrepining cheerfulness, untiring loyalty, patient industry, and quick resourcefulness that has gained the name of the Pioneer spirit, and made these early women founders of our nation models of all that is pure and best in womanhood.

Their Director then went on and told of the handicrafts of the Pilgrims, such as baking, brewing, sewing, knitting, quilting, spinning, planting the foodstuffs, carding wool, and the many industries that were necessary to keep life in those pioneer days.

As the new Pioneer heard the gentle, persuasive voice, she began to see life in a new aspect, and to understand something of what it meant to emulate these n.o.ble women. "In your hikes, before your cheer fires, in your camps, in your home and school life, as well as in the tests and your outdoor and indoor activities, and in your sports and games, keep these women as your cheer star," said Mrs. Morrow earnestly, "so that you, too, will be actuated by the qualities that enn.o.bled them. And when the call comes, be kindly, helpful, resourceful, pure, and upright in the midst of all temptation and danger, and you will not only have the name of Pioneer, but will be filled with the real pioneer spirit."

Mrs. Morrow stood silent a moment and then repeated slowly:

"Life is more than the breath and the quick round of blood, It is a great spirit and a busy heart.

We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings, not figures on a dial.

We should count time as heart throbs. He most lives Who thinks most, feels the n.o.blest, acts the best."

-Bailey.

The girls now seated themselves in a circle, and as Jessie read the news from the monthly "Pioneer," which reported a flower hike for the Sat.u.r.day two weeks hence, they took out their materials and set to work.

Some wove gay-colored yarn on small frames, others braided raffia baskets, or made squares of plaited slips of paper, while Mrs. Morrow told them something about the art of weaving.

After some time spent in learning this old-time craft, the Director asked the girls how they could best apply this industry to a very common fundamental of the home. There was a slight pause, and then some one called out "To the carpet!" Another girl ventured to say "Our clothes."

Mrs. Morrow smiled as she said they were all right in a sense, but the particular craft she meant at that time was what Helen had timidly suggested, and that was, darning stockings!

There was a ripple of laughter at this truism and then, to Nathalie's surprise, there was a stocking drill, every one hauling forth a stocking from her basket and setting to work to practice this homely art. It was indeed a trial by needle to Nathalie, and she suffered some embarra.s.sment when, after borrowing a stocking from her neighbor, and trying her very best to do it well, it was returned to her from the Director with the remark that she needed training in the science.

Later, when Mrs. Morrow came to her side and showed how neatly her stocking hole appeared after weaving her thread back and forth, and made Nathalie practice doing the same, the girl suddenly realized what a braggart she had been. "Oh, I told Mother I was the champion mender,"

she thought remorsefully. "What a bungle I must have been making of those stockings!" With the avowed purpose that she was going to make darning her life-work for the next three weeks, she laid her work aside and hurried with the girls into the adjoining dressing-room to get ready for the real Pilgrimy time, when they were to represent the women of Plymouth town.

"Do you always have an all-day meeting?" she asked Grace, who was pinning a blue bird on Nathalie's gown, for at Helen's suggestion she was to appear at this, her first Rally, as a Blue Robin, in memory of the first songster that welcomed the Pilgrims.

"Oh, no, indeed," answered Grace, "but we departed from our usual plan, which is to meet in the afternoon only, unless we have a hike or demonstration, as we wanted to make our luncheon the Mayflower Feast.

But, oh, Nathalie," she ended enthusiastically, "you are a veritable blue bird! Look, girls, isn't she the dearest? That bluebird blue makes her cheeks like pink roses!"

At this sudden thrust into notoriety the girl's color grew more vivid as she turned for the inspection of the girls. They grew very enthusiastic over her bluebird costume with its bluish-gray slip with scalloped edges, and bluebird cap edged with tiny blue wings, where a blue bird, standing up in the front, poised with outspread wings "ready to fly," as one of the girls a.s.serted.

"Oh, it's only blue paper muslin," explained the "flier," as her mates had called her, when they examined the Blue Robin gown. "Helen helped me make it, and what a time we had making that birdie stick-hands off," she finished laughingly, as some too ardent admirer pressed her close, "or I shall not fly away but fall to pieces."

By this time, however, her admirers had found a new love in the Tike, who came dancing before them all in white. She was literally a bower of trailing arbutus, as sprays of that spring flower were fastened all over her gown.

"I am the Pilgrim flower," she piped pertly, "some call me the Mayflower blossom." And then catching up her skirts, with a low curtsey she repeated softly:

"Oh I'm the flower that never dies, 'Neath leaves so brown in bed so low.

The arbutus, who in glad surprise Bloomed 'Welcome' from fields of snow To our Pilgrim sires of long ago."

"Oh, here's Lillie Bell!" called some one. "Isn't she a duck of a dear!"

Simultaneously the girls forsook the Tike and flocked around Lillie, who, gowned in pure white, with kerchief and lace cap, represented Susannah White, the first bride of the colony.

"Yes, and I want you to note, girls," she a.s.serted impressively, with a nonchalant nod to the welcome accorded her, "that I am not only the first bride, but the first mother of the colony, for my little Peregrine was born when the _Mayflower_ rode at anchor in Cape Cod Bay, and Mrs.

Morrow claims this is even a greater honor than to be the first bride.