"Well, the one I saw was the certain kind. Why, last night mother nearly had nervous prostration because I was practicing up in my room.
I was trying to do a fall--and I did it all right."
"How foolish you are, Tavia," said Dorothy slightly frowning, "I would not think of such nonsense if I were you."
"Yes, it was awfully foolish, for it knocked the ceiling down in the kitchen, just dusting Johnnie"s pompadour. The escape, however, made mother happy, so that the ceiling did not count."
Dorothy "gave in." She had to laugh and did laugh so heartily she was obliged to sit down on the gra.s.s to enjoy the "tragedy" as Tavia described the stage fall and the "ceiling drop."
"But the secret?" demanded Tavia, making sure her skirt would not be stained, before taking her place on the gra.s.s beside Dorothy.
"Yes, I do want to tell you," answered Dorothy, "Now listen. You know Squire Sanders was particularly anxious that you should stand all the blame for Sarah"s accident."
"Particularly anxious? He was dead set on it. Polite language doesn"t fit the case."
"Tavia, you really are too slangy. It may be all right just for fun, in talking to girls, but some day you will be sorry. It will become a habit."
"Like Jake Schmid taking the pledge. I saw him yesterday very close to--a saloon!"
"Poor Jake!" said Dorothy with a sigh. "But he does seem to try--"
"To take the pledge? Indeed he does and I admire his perseverance.
That"s just the way I try to avoid slang."
"I am afraid, Tavia, we will not accomplish much in the way of confidences, if you persist in being--ridiculous," and Dorothy made as if to continue on her way home.
"Sit right down there, Dorothy Dale," insisted Tavia, pulling her friend"s skirt, and bringing Dorothy down beside her rather suddenly.
"I will have to play the villain and demand that "secret"!"
"Well, it is simply this: I think I see the motive Squire Sanders had in trying to disgrace you."
"Let me see it quick!" snapped Tavia.
"Didn"t your father run against him last year for the office of Town Squire?"
"Certainly," said Tavia, briefly.
"And the only reason he did not get the office was because the squire was so old the men thought it best not to disturb him just then."
"Right, again," answered Tavia.
"Election time is now almost here. Your father would be up for the office again. Don"t you see by bringing trouble to you and your folks your father would become unpopular?"
"And get left!"
"Yes; be defeated."
"But he will not!" and Tavia"s brown eyes danced significantly. "The squire is down and out. And worse yet he has to run for his money. Now my own dear dad will have a chance. Oh, Doro, I love politics better than eating. I hope some day soon, while Tavia Travers is still in circulation, the women will vote in Dalton same as they do in Rochester--they don"t just exactly vote in Rochester, but a lot of them talk about it."
"Now you must not mention my suspicions," cautioned Dorothy, "for I must speak to father first. It does not seem fair that the Fords should be blamed for making statements about you that, perhaps, the squire put into their heads."
"Dorothy Dale, you would make a first cla.s.s lawyer, and when you want a job at it I will engage you to defend my case. But I do not see how I am to keep all that momsey. It would be so good to have father back at a desk again. They say he really was a first cla.s.s justice out in Millville. And he just hates his work now--so little wages; mom cannot seem to make them go around--me and Johnnie; Johnnie mostly gets the knot at the end."
"It certainly would be splendid to have him get the position. And I am sure father will do all he can for him: but I would not mention it to your mother, just yet."
"All right Doro, I have given you my promise, but you have made me so happy!" and Tavia hugged Dorothy so enthusiastically that the latter was obliged to beg off.
"And I tell you what," went on Tavia, "when Pop gets Squire Sander"s place I--this--me--you know" and she made another wonderful, sweeping all-around bow, "I will be "city clerk." I will keep the books and Dorothy Hill-and-Dale, if ever your name gets on the books it shall be promptly eliminated, elucidated, expurgated--there now! Don"t you think I should be in the grad. cla.s.s? I was looking up words with "ate"
in--my favorite pastime,--and I came across that bunch."
"I do really think, Tavia, that you would do better at school if you only tried. We cannot always have studies that we are especially interested in. It is like the scales in piano practice, they give us the mechanical work for pretty dances and other brilliant pieces."
"Well, we have no piano, so I do not have to worry about that. I suppose you will play at the closing exercises?"
"Miss Ellis has asked me to. But Tavia, we really must be going. I have promised to go over to Sarah"s this afternoon."
"May I go with you? I just would like to feel that we had talked it all off, you know. I do not want to think Sarah has any hard feelings."
"Certainly; come, I am sure Sarah will be glad to see you, and her mother is very pleasant. Be careful not to tell too much about to-day"s affairs, It might worry Sarah."
"If I forget myself you just squint, and I"ll be as mum as a mummy."
So Dorothy and Tavia started off homeward, arm in arm.
CHAPTER XV
DOROTHY IN POLITICS
The news of Squire Sanders" downfall spread rapidly throughout Dalton.
To the men interested in public affairs it was no surprise, for they had known, of course, of his shortcomings; but there were those in the town who looked upon the "disgraceful scene" in the office that morning as something too serious for ordinary treatment--it should be brought to the attention of the sheriff, they declared.
Among those of that opinion was Mr. Ford, father of Sarah. He was one of the men who felt they had been wronged, personally, by the squire, and in reference to this matter Mr. Ford called upon Major Dale.
It was late that same afternoon, when Dorothy and Tavia were visiting Sarah, that Mr. Ford arrived at the office of Major Dale.
"I have been a fool," he told the major, "to listen to such arguments as that man made against mere children. Of course my daughter was injured and that angered me; but it was the foolish talk of that old man which made me think I should have revenge--revenge upon a girl no more guilty than a babe in its cradle."
Mr. Ford spoke with much bitterness. Men do not like to make such mistakes, but those of high character are always ready to do what they can to right such wrongs.
"But there was no real harm done?" interrupted the major.
"No harm done! To take two innocent girls into that office and accuse them of--I don"t know what! Why, Major, it was simply outrageous," and Mr. Ford paced the floor impatiently.
"It was a lucky thing that my young man, Ralph Willoby, happened along, although it seemed unlucky enough for him. But I believe he is not injured beyond a cut lip and bruised eye. The old squire seemed to have entirely lost control of himself. This comes from keeping incompetent men in office--just through sentiment."
"Exactly. They can do more harm than one would imagine. Think how he talked me into the idea that this poor Travers family should pay my daughter"s doctor bill! And I told him to go ahead and collect it!"