Mary Lee the Red Cross Girl Page 4

  With all this, Mary Lee set to work to carry out certain other plansthat had nothing to do with either of the two important events. And,strangely, too, she was able to enlist the services of Dr. Anderson atthis time.

  That poor man, with each day's nearer approach to the event foundhimself of less and less importance. There was little opportunity tosee his fiancee who was enmeshed in numberless engagements withdressmakers and, so it seemed to him, with everybody in town buthimself.

  Mary Lee found him in this frame of mind on the morning she called athis office, only three days before the wedding. She had been surprisedto find that he would be glad to see her at any time, when she calledhim on the telephone.

  "I didn't dare expect that I could see you so soon," she apologizedafter greetings had been exchanged. "All I could do was to hope forit."

  The doctor, however, gave no sign of being very busy. On the contrary,he seemed to indicate that he had prepared for a long and pleasantvisit with her.

  "I haven't a thing to do," he remarked. "I turned over my practice forthe next two months to Dr. Stewart on the presumption that I could befairly useful to _her_ and because, so I thought, of the opportunitiesI would have to see _her_. Then, too, I had a large number of thingsthat required attention.

  "And," he added with a wry face, "I have found plenty of time toattend to the things that required attention, for, lo and behold, Ifind _her_ without any time for me and the kind of help I can give_her_, she doesn't need. So you see, Mary Lee, I have lots of time onmy hands and am glad of the chance to see any friends who have timefor me."

  "Dr. Anderson," the girl came directly to the subject nearest herheart, "I wondered if you would not know someone who perhaps would bein need of the services of a girl like myself for after school hours."

  The doctor whistled in amazement.

  "Honestly, young lady, you are a creature of surprises. What made youthink of that, when there are so many of your friends who would makeyou more than welcome?"

  "I know they would," the girl replied, "but I shall never feel contentto live on their bounty and I shall only be happy when I am asindependent as is possible."

  "You are right, Mary Lee," he agreed in hearty approval. "It is theonly normal thing to do. Well," and he paused in deep thought. He knewthat Mary Lee would be mortified if he should suggest that he employher, for that would make it seem as if she were bidding for a positionin his office in an indirect way. He knew her well enough to be quitecertain that it would be best to place her elsewhere.

  "I shall see some of my friends who are likely to need an ableassistant part time. Of course, with the training you desire younaturally would prefer a doctor's office."

  Mary Lee nodded in assent. After a few inquiries as to the hours thegirl would be able to give to the new duties and a friendly warning,which the doctor decided was almost unnecessary as to the demands ofemployers, the subject was changed and the conversation changed toAunt Madge. The girl tried hard to give the doctor an idea of how busyhis fiancee was, the many things that needed attention and thetremendous amount of preparations necessary for it. Even though he hadbut a small conception of it all, she felt that she had made himunderstand a little more closely.

  At the end of a half hour, she departed after thanking him warmly forhis interest.

  The doctor was prompt in making inquiries. One of his friends, Dr.Payson, could use Mary Lee's services after school hours and Saturdaymornings. But he would also need her at ten o'clock for one hour ontwo mornings of each week.

  Dr. Anderson immediately called her up with the good news.

  "Of course, it does not pay much, but Payson will probably find youuseful and give you every opportunity to learn. It will be goodexperience and of great help to you later, when you enter trainingschool. The money it pays is as much as three dollars every week," thedoctor added laughingly and apologetically.

  But if that sum did not seem big to him, it did to Mary Lee and shetold him so. It had been more than she had expected. The only hitchwas the question of being free at ten on two school mornings.

  She consulted Letty in reference to this and received the welcomeassurance from her that study hours were often arranged so that freetime could be obtained.

  She called on Dr. Payson with Dr. Anderson. He proved to be a kindly,middle aged man and from all appearances seemed satisfied as to herpossible usefulness to him. Mary Lee did not know that Dr. Andersonhad given a full account of her sense of responsibility and likablequalities and that it was his enthusiastic recommendation that hadpersuaded his friend to try Mary Lee instead of employing an olderassistant for full time.

  "Well, Mary," he started to say, but Dr. Anderson interrupted him.

  "Not Mary, Payson, not Mary. This young lady's name is Mary Lee. Besure to remember the Lee. We sometimes think that her mother did notname her Lee after a loyal Indian, as she would have us believe, butbecause she wanted her little girl's name to sound as if it wereMer-ri-ly. That name fits her."

  As Mary Lee blushed, Dr. Payson remarked laughingly, "I am sure Ishall find her very pleasant and agreeable. I shall also be sure toremember that it is Mary Lee I am to call her, in the future."

  CHAPTER X

  AUNT MADGE IS MARRIED

  Aunt Madge had always been a firm believer in simplicity and she madethat the predominating tone of the ceremony. She had a fair share ofworldly riches and yet she had not, as our readers who have grown toknow her must readily realize, ever made use of her wealth for garishdisplay. There was a fine dignity and charm about the ceremony of themarriage that came through the gifted touch of true womanhood.

  It was at an old church, beautiful, stately and with that atmospherethat brings of itself devoutness, religious fervor and conviction. Awonderful organ played, as down the aisle came Ruth and Edith,followed by Letty and Mary Lee. The four girls were as fair as theflowers they carried and made a charming picture that brought forth amurmur of admiration. About them, too, as if to fit in with theentire impressiveness, was a sense of quiet and repose that to thosewho knew them measured the significance and importance of the eventfor them.

  Mrs. Cameron as matron of honor followed, and Dr. Payson escorted thebride. The bridegroom? He had been waiting with Dr. Payson, his bestman, at the altar throughout the entire ordeal. But we shall speak ofhim a little later, for our eyes are upon the bride as she goes,slowly and yet in perfect time of music, down the broad aisle to thealtar.

  All brides are beautiful. And yet, Margaret Cameron made a picturethat was to stay in the minds of those present for many a day. Onestores away memories and impressions of that kind.

  We are so built that everything must be symbolized. For as one thinksof green woods, there is sure to come the picture of one certain spot,one certain nook to symbolize it; so, for many of those present, therewould, in the same way, come a picture of Margaret Cameron as sheappeared that day, whenever thereafter weddings and brides were spokenabout. The fineness of her! She carried a shower bouquet of whiteroses and lilies of the valley. Her head-dress was very becoming--abridal veil prettily arranged--and her gown was a simple creation ofwhite satin draped gracefully, trimmed with some rare old lace whichbelonged to her mother, and which had adorned her bridal gown.

  We wish we could defy the conventional and the expected and say forthe groom that he was fully at ease, self-contained, in full commandof the situation. Poor man, we wish we could say it and remaintruthful. We could not do both. Never was any man more in need ofhelp. Dr. Payson had a busy time of it. His whispered instructionsfell on deaf ears, the owner of which was too scared to even hear. Atthe proper time, too, he was almost dragged to the proper place.

  He did, however, manage to answer, "I will" distinctly. And as if thathad been the goal, once he did that, some of his composure came backto him.

  Dr. Payson always insisted thereafter that his friend had primedhimself for the "I will" and was unequal to anything else.

  "Why, I actually felt sorry for him," he said. "Hi
s knees weretrembling and knocking against each other. I couldn't make out thething he was mumbling but I feel certain he was only rehearsing tohimself 'I will, I will, I will.'"

  There was the usual rush of friends after the Reverend Dr. Arthur hadtied the knot, and the shower of congratulations. It was the plan ofthe married couple to leave at once. To the new benedict, it seemed,however, that the number of their friends was unlimited and the timethey took to offer their good wishes hours and hours. But all thingshave an end and so the Andersons were off at last. Mrs. Anderson hadfound the opportunity for an affectionate leave-taking from her girlsand also from Bob Cameron. She had promised to write to them, too.

  Some of the tenseness of the last few days seemed to go with thecouple. Mrs. Cameron sighed with relief--relief over the fact thatthere had been no hitch and that the event had gone through sosmoothly. Belief, too, that the worry and bustle were over.

  For the girls there came a moment of reaction. Just what would takethe place of the excitement and planning of the last few weeks? Schoolseemed tame in comparison. Even the fact that Mary Lee had procured aposition for some of her spare time had not created the furore that itwould have under ordinary circumstances.

  "It certainly seems strange to think of Aunt Madge as Mrs. Anderson,doesn't it?" asked Ruth as the party started for the door.

  "And I suppose that's what we'll have to call her, too, instead ofAunt Madge," added Letty ruefully.

  "And precious little we shall see of her from now on, I suppose," wasEdith's contribution.

  "I declare when I grow up I just won't marry and desert my friends, Ijust won't." The sense of injury was growing stronger and it was sovoiced by Letty.

  The rest of the girls laughed at her.

  "You'll be the very first one, Letty dear," Mary Lee answered her, asshe gave the impetuous Letty an affectionate hug. "Come, girls, let'splan for school," she added.

  Dr. Payson was just entering his car as they came to the street.

  "Don't forget, Mary Lee," he called to her. "Be sure to report ontime."

  "I certainly will," answered Mary Lee.

  CHAPTER XI

  BUSY DAYS

  Ten days later school was already in full swing. Mary Lee had beenplaced in a grade lower than her friends because she had lost so muchtime while at the orphanage and at the Quinns. She had been able toarrange for the necessary spare time and so was able to become Dr.Payson's "assistant," as he jokingly called her.

  Each of the girls had received a card from the Andersons who were nowin the Adirondacks and who were to remain there for several weeks.Mary Lee had also received a letter from Tom Marshall, forwarded toher by Mrs. Quinn. He was on his way to Mexico and he told her thathis mother had died, but so peacefully that it had left him nobitterness. His sorrow held only the regret that he had not been morewith his mother during the last few years. He thanked Mary Lee againfor her help and voiced the hope that he would see her again some day.

  Pleasant days followed each other. The girl enjoyed her work at Dr.Payson's office as much as she did school. What time she did notdevote to her studies and to the office was spent agreeably with theother girls.

  It had been decided to hold the Campfire meetings on Friday nights andthe girls were doing fairly well in the absence of their leader, AuntMadge. Following Mary Lee's example, they were desirous of being RedCross girls.

  Ruth, who was secretary, was instructed to write to the Red CrossCommittee volunteering the services of the seven girls.

  "What can we do?" Alice Brown, one of the girls, pessimisticallyasked.

  "Why, we can make bandages, after a few lessons," replied Mary Lee.

  "And some of us can sew and knit," added Letty.

  "Oh," said Alice, as if a light had struck her. "Why of course."

  Before they could get a reply to their letter, the President andCongress had declared war against Germany. This made them doubly eagerfor their answer and with the idea of preparing ahead of time, at MaryLee's suggestion, they immediately invited Miss Walker, a friend ofMrs. Anderson, who was a trained nurse, to teach them how to make suchbandages as might be needed. Miss Walker readily consented to give oneevening a week to teaching them.

  The war came somewhat close to Mary Lee when Dr. Payson told her thathe intended to answer the first call for physicians.

  "Would you like to come along?" he asked her jestingly.

  The girl took his question seriously and for a moment was not sure.She pictured the wounded and dying with her ready imagination and feltas if she would not be equal to it.

  Then a new and clearer thought came.

  "If I'm to be a nurse," she said determinedly to herself, "I mustn'tthink of such things. I mustn't think of myself at all."

  But Dr. Payson, who had watched the serious minded girl withconsiderable amusement, added:

  "There isn't any need for sudden decision on your part. I'm afraid youcouldn't come even if you would. You are somewhat young, for onething, and I hope there won't ever come a time when they will needanybody so young," he concluded as a serious look came into his eyes.

  Then he changed the subject and went into a detailed explanation ofwhat was to be done with a case that was to come in a little laterthat day, and how he would expect Mary Lee to assist him. She listenedcarefully as she was anxious to get practical experience.

  "I wish I could have you here all the time," Dr. Payson remarked alittle later. "You are such a help. I tell you this because I feelsure it won't turn your head."

  The girl flushed with gratification and vowed to herself that shewould give her very best to her work always. And although Dr. Paysondid not add it, he had noticed with considerable satisfaction how neatthe girl was and how strong a point she made of keeping things inorder.

  In the midst of a number of questions one afternoon, a sudden thoughtstruck her and she stopped short.

  "I'm sorry, Dr. Payson, I should not be bothering you with my manyquestions," she remarked contritely. "I didn't realize before, howmany I ask."

  "You are not bothering me," he answered with decision. "I want you toask questions; in that way I shall be able to get your best help, sobe sure you always do."

  After that Mary Lee, taking him at his word, never hesitated. In thisway she was learning much and daily growing more efficient.

  Letty, for one, was keenly interested in Mary Lee's position and atsuch time when she was free she begged to be allowed to go with her toDr. Payson's office. But excepting Saturday mornings when Dr. Paysondid not come to the office, Mary Lee, much as she would have liked tohave Letty with her, had to reluctantly refuse permission. She feltthat the situation was not play and even on the Saturday mornings thatLetty did come she made her help in getting things in order.

  School events were now in full swing. Mary Lee became a member of theBasket Ball Team because of her quickness and strength. At the sametime Letty was made a substitute.

  At one of the Campfire meetings Mary Lee suggested to the other girlsthat they start a large Junior Red Cross Group at High School.

  The idea took like wildfire at school and over forty girls madeapplication at the first meeting.

  The idea had the enthusiastic backing of Miss James who was a teacherin English at the school and who had been made the director of thegroup by the faculty.

  "Suppose," said Miss James, "we form a Committee on Plans. There willbe so much to do and so many in the school who will be anxious to jointhat we should have plans formed."

  The girls all agreed. Besides Miss James seven girls were appointed,and Mary Lee, Letty and Ruth were three of them.

  As if to help the Committee on Plans the answer from the Red CrossCommittee came to Ruth the next morning.

  Ruth read the letter through breathlessly, and then hurried over tomeet Letty and Mary Lee before their departure for school.

  The two girls were just leaving the house as Ruth turned the corner.

  "Mary Lee, Letty!" she called to them excitedly and waved the let
ter.

  Passers-by stopped and smiled at the girl and her excitement but shewas heedless of the stir she was causing.

  Mary Lee and Letty turned at the call and hurried to meet her.

  "I've got the letter! I've got the letter!" she exclaimed.

  "Will they let us do anything? What do they say? Let's sit down andread it," Letty responded with great eagerness.

  Mary Lee, not a bit less excited, turned to see where they could sitdown.

  "Let's sit down here," she directed and the three girls seatedthemselves on the steps of Letty's house. Mary Lee then immediatelyturned to the letter.

  It was of considerable length. It told the girls that the help theycould give at the time was threefold. While some of it might not atfirst thought be the Red Cross work, as they probably had associatedtheir idea of it, it was, as they would realize after a littlethought, the best kind of Red Cross help. The letter closed verynicely, after outlining the things they could do, with an appreciationof their offer which was so opportune and the assurance that theirhelp was greatly needed.