Part 18 (1/2)
”_That_ for her loyalty!” Mignon snapped her fingers. ”What about the Observer?”
Lucy shrank from Mignon as though the latter had dealt her a physical blow. In the November twilight the paleness of her set face stood out sharply. ”Stop!” she gasped. Catching Mignon's arm in a tense hold, she planted herself squarely before her tormentor. ”What-do-you-know-about the Observer?” she stammered, her green eyes gleaming like those of a cat.
Mignon laughed unpleasantly. ”Not as much, perhaps, as _you_ know, but enough. You were an idiot to ask Marjorie Dean's forgiveness. She loves to make persons believe they are in the wrong, so that she can have the pleasure of forgiving them. She is really clever at that sort of thing.
She made poor Mary Raymond's life miserable during that winter Mary lived at the Deans. Mary was a silly to make up with her. Why, the very day that Marjorie and I went to Miss Archer's to see about getting you the secretarys.h.i.+p, she mentioned the trouble you and she had last year.
She was quite cautious about it then and didn't tell me much. Later I found out about the Observer, though.”
Stunned by Mignon's revelations, Lucy silently fought back the burning tears that threatened to overflow her eyes. But one thought obscured her sorely troubled mind. Marjorie Dean had cruelly betrayed her to Mignon.
She had pledged her word of honor never to reveal Lucy's misdeed to anyone, and she had broken her word. Utterly crushed, poor Lucy did not stop to consider that Mignon was the least likely of all persons to whom Marjorie would confide such a secret. She knew only that the mere mention of the word ”Observer” was clear proof of her false friend's perfidy. Over-suspicious by nature, she was p.r.o.ne to believe all persons villains until they had given signal manifestation of their honesty. Nor had she been long enough a.s.sociated with Marjorie and her friends to easily retreat from that unjust viewpoint.
”Don't feel downhearted about it,” was Mignon's sneering consolation.
”Now that your eyes have been opened to a few things, you can show Marjorie Dean that you aren't as dense as she seems to think you. I don't mind in the least about that Observer business. I dare say if you told me your side of it I should find that it wasn't anything very dreadful. As for Marjorie Dean's version, well--” Mignon made a significant pause.
”I have nothing whatever to say on that subject,” was Lucy's stiff answer. She was vowing within herself that ”Once bitten twice shy”
should hereafter be her motto. ”I will say this much, though. You have given me unmistakable proof that Marjorie Dean is not nor never was my friend. I will keep my promise to you.”
Before Mignon had time to make reply, a rush of light feet on the pavement informed her that Lucy had left her. Through the dusk she could just distinguish a little figure fleeing madly up the quiet street. She laughed softly as it turned a corner and disappeared. She had already done much toward avenging the wrongs she had received at the hands of Marjorie Dean.
CHAPTER XVIII-NOT AT HOME?
”Marjorie, have you seen Lucy Warner?” Jerry Macy stepped inside the candy booth, her plump face alive with concern. ”It's half past eight and she's not here. The girls in her booth are wondering what has happened to her.”
”Why, no, I haven't.” Marjorie's features mirrored Jerry's anxious look.
”I know she had some work to do for Miss Archer this afternoon. She told me so. She said, too, it was her turn at the nursery.”
”That's so.” Jerry looked thoughtful. ”I was to go there, too, but I was so busy I asked Irma to appoint a subst.i.tute. I don't know who went in my place. I'd better see Irma and find out. Whichever Lookout took my turn may know what's keeping Lucy away.” Bustling off in search of Irma, Jerry accosted her with: ”Who subbed for me to-day at the nursery?”
”Mignon La Salle,” returned Irma placidly.
”What!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jerry. As the revue was in progress she cautiously lowered her tone as she continued: ”For goodness sake, Irma, why in the world did you send Mignon? No wonder Lucy hasn't put in an appearance!”
”What are you talking about, Jeremiah, and why should I not have sent Mignon? Lucy is too sensible a girl to allow Mignon's airs to annoy her, if that's what you are thinking of. Besides, Mignon was really nice about saying she'd go,” defended Irma in a mildly injured tone.
”I don't doubt it,” was Jerry's satirical retort. ”Don't mind me, Irma.
I'm not blaming you for it. It's just one of those beautiful 'vicissitudes' that are always bound to jump up and hit a person in the face. Just like that!” Jerry made a comic gesture of despair and beat a hasty course toward the candy booth.
”Well, I found out,” she groaned. ”It was our dear Mignon. You can guess the rest. Irma certainly did things up properly, that time. She didn't know what you and I know, or she wouldn't have done it.”
”Mignon!” Marjorie's brown eyes held a startled light. ”Jerry, do you suppose after all the warnings I've given Lucy that--”
”It looks suspicious,” interrupted Jerry. ”I should think, though, that a bright girl like Lucy Warner could easily see through Mignon. I guess I'll wait until the revue is over and then interview her ladys.h.i.+p. I may find out a few things.”
”I wish you would,” A worried note had crept into Marjorie's voice. ”I hope Mignon hasn't hurt Lucy's feelings again. Poor Lucy! She has been so happy these last three days. Perhaps nothing like that has happened.
Maybe she was too tired to come here to-night. She has had a busy day.”
”Let's hope that's the reason.” Jerry's reply did not convey a marked degree of hopefulness. She was more than half convinced that Mignon was responsible for Lucy's non-appearance at the Campfire.
The military maneuvers at last concluded, Jerry kept a lynx eye on the lemonade stand until she saw Mignon take up her position there. Marching boldly over to it, the stout girl addressed her with an abrupt: ”Thank you for subst.i.tuting for me at the nursery this afternoon. I understand Lucy Warner was with you. Did she say anything to you about not being able to come here to-night?” She stared hard at Mignon as she made this inquiry.