Astra Read online

  Tilly was hustled into her best bib and tucker, without any chance to let her recalcitrant son-in-law know what she was going to do. She was taken by the next bus into town, arriving in the lawyer’s office almost as soon as he returned from his late lunch.

  Mr. Lauderdale was most kind and put poor frightened Tilly at ease at once. And after the matter of the pension and the reduced rent were all fixed up with definite papers to prove it, and fully explained to Tilly so that she couldn’t be bullied by her son-in-law any longer into thinking she had lost her home, Astra took Tilly out and gave her a delicious lunch, ending with mince pie a la mode. She also bought her three pairs of warm woolen stockings and a pair of kid gloves for a Christmas present. Then she gave her a crisp new ten-dollar bill and put her on the bus back to Willow Haven.

  Astra went back to her lodging place with a lighter heart. That matter was settled, and she knew that Tilly was a great deal happier. There might be trouble with her family later, but Tilly was well fortified with knowledge now and could hold her own.

  Back in her room, Astra did a few more pages of typing and wrote a letter to her father’s publisher to say that she was trying to get in shape the article for which they had asked and hoped to have it ready for them to see very soon.

  When she went down to the Association restaurant for her dinner, she found she was very hungry. She had worked hard and really accomplished something worthwhile. She felt she was doing what her father would have wanted her to do, and it made her very glad. And so far she had been able to put out of her mind to a certain extent, the vision of Cameron, who had seemed to possess her for several days. But seated in the restaurant now she felt very lonely and couldn’t help thinking back to the pleasant meals they had enjoyed together.

  Becoming suddenly aware of how her thoughts were flying back to him again now that her mind was not busy, she hurried with her eating. She would do something to break this up quickly, even if she had to go back to her work on the typewriter. She simply must not get silly about a young man. A stranger, too! Although her heart denied that, even as she thought it. He wasn’t a stranger. He never could be, and whether she ever saw him again or not, she would always count on him a real friend. Besides, a man who owned such interest in Christian things had to be a friend. If he had taken Christ as his Savior, and he certainly talked as if had, then he was a fellow child of God. That brought a relationship which was not to be measured by human standards. It was the fellowship of those who love the Lord.

  Up in her room again, her first act was to kneel by her bed and pray for Cameron with her whole heart, that he might truly take Christ as his Savior, that he might be guided in his life, and that he might be kept safe from harm. And she prayed for herself, that she might not let her thoughts wander where they had no business to be, that her life might be a true witness to all with whom she came in contact, and that she might be kept safe from harm and dangers and led in God’s ways.

  Then she got up from her knees and went back to her work.

  About ten o’clock, there came a telephone call from Cameron.

  “Sorry to disturb you, but I suggested that I might come over a few minutes this evening, and I was afraid you might wait up for me. So I’m calling to say it is impossible for me to come tonight. I got involved with a man on business and couldn’t get done sooner. And it turns out after all that I am not leaving for the old home in the morning as I planned. I can’t possibly get off now before Wednesday morning. But even at that, I shall be able to spend Christmas Eve with my stepmother, and she will like that, I know. So perhaps I may be able to run in on you tomorrow night and wish you Merry Christmas. Sorry not to have been there tonight, of course. I hope I didn’t spoil any possible plans for you. Good night. I have to take my man to the train now, but I’ll be seeing you again soon, if you don’t mind.”

  The tone was that of a real friend, a comrade, and she felt her own voice had been a bit breathless as she answered him. She hoped he hadn’t noticed it. But it was nice to have someone in a whole wide city to say good night to when she felt so alone. Tomorrow night! Well, that would be something nice to look forward to, even if it didn’t really happen when the time came. It gave a friendly feeling to the world. And, of course, he was a man of business and couldn’t be counted on to keep casual appointments every time. Every sensible busy person had to remember that.

  So she curled up on her couch and read a magazine for a little while before retiring, telling herself all the time what a very nice time she was having away here on her own, getting work done and enjoying herself.

  And nearer and nearer came Christmas. That day means so much in home life, the crowning peak of all the joyousness of the year. Christmas was going to be a lonely day. Really, tomorrow she must take a little time off and think up something nice and Christmasy to do for somebody. If she had a lot of money, she would do something for the people in this building where she had found a temporary home. Something cheering that would bring brightness into every life. Say a rosebud, or a carnation, sent up to every room with a tiny label, “From a fellow guest, with Christmas Greeting.” Should she do it? Oh, likely all the girls and women who lived here had Christmases of their own, friends who would give them gifts, but a single blossom couldn’t do any harm to anyone, and she could put a Christmas text on the flower. Well, that was a thought. If she couldn’t find any better way of celebrating, she might try that. Of course, it would have to be strictly incognito, but it would be fun to watch their faces. Would they wear the flowers? Should she do that? Well, she would think about it. Since there was no likelihood of her having any Christmas of her own except in her heart, why not do something for somebody else? At least there could be joy in that.

  Of course there were other things that could be done. There were little children in some of the city’s slum streets, not far away probably. A box of candy, passed around among some of the dirty-faced urchins who would have no real Christmas. A handful of tiny, bright little dolls, some red Testaments in attractive covers. Ah! There were ways to spend money. Someday, if all went well, when she came into her own, here were thoughts to put aside and remember. She wrote some of them down idly. She might decide on one plan and try it out, and maybe another year she could try others. Surely there must be some way in which a lover of the Lord Jesus could get the story of His birth, and the reason why, across to some of the people on the earth to whom God’s children were supposed to witness. The great gift of salvation, the forgiveness of sin. If people knew how to get forgiveness of sin, it would make a real Christmas for them. Well, if she ever had opportunity to talk things like that over with Cameron, it certainly would be interesting to see what he thought about it.

  And with that thought, Astra decided it was time to go to sleep. But definitely she made up her mind as she drifted off to sleep, that she would find some way to bring a Christmas message to someone this year.

  And then she dreamed that she was talking it over with Cameron, and the look he gave her fully approved of it all.

  Chapter 13

  The stepmother’s letter reached Cameron late Wednesday afternoon when he rushed back to his room to fling a few things into a bag, preparatory to taking the evening train.

  She had written it after due deliberation on Sunday evening and given it to a neighbor the next morning to mail “special delivery,” and then she had gone about her preparations for the journey to her sister Nancy’s home. But the neighbor had put the letter in his pocket and forgotten all about it until late Tuesday afternoon, when he mailed it just as the post office was closing. So it finally came to Cameron’s notice about the middle of Wednesday afternoon and halted his preparations at the last minute.

  He frowned when he read the letter. It seemed so unlike his stepmother to do things in that way. She hadn’t been very close to that sister for years, and it wasn’t in the least like her to start up suddenly and run away when she knew he was coming. However, it seemed reasonable.

  But afterwa
rd, as he was taking the first leisure breath of the day and wondering what he should do next, the telephone rang, bringing the voice of his plotting sister Rosamond, and then he wondered again.

  “Charlie,” she said in her usual pleading voice that always took him for granted, “are you in a very kindly gentle mood, and are you going to be very good to your wornout sister Rosamond? Because I’m going to ask a very great favor of you, and in turn, I’ll be glad to do anything in the world you want. Now be a good brother and say yes, before I ask you, won’t you?”

  “Not on your life!” said Cameron. “Not till I know what it is you’re asking. And if it’s anything to do with any of your simpering female go-getters, I’ll say no, and that’s flat!”

  “Now Charlie, why do you want to be so coarse and disagreeable? I really don’t know what you mean. It’s a simple little favor that I’m asking, partly for my sake, but most of all for my three beloved kiddies, who simply adore you and want you all to themselves for Christmas.

  “You see, Harold and I have been trying to plan for a long, long time to get away on Christmas Day and go up to see some friends of his who have a marvelous log cabin in the wilderness. It’s a wonderful place, with great forest trees all around and plenty of mountains nearby and wonderful skiing. I’m just wild to go. But I can’t bring myself to leave the kiddies with just the maids on Christmas Day, of all days. And I’ve said no so many times that Harold is really cross with me. So I’ve thought and thought and the only thing I can think of is that perhaps you will be self-sacrificing enough to stay with them. I know you haven’t got any particular fun of your own on hand. You never do have, and so I’ve figured it all out. Harold says we can start tonight early and come back late Christmas night. He has to be in his office the next morning in spite of everything, so we won’t leave you in the lurch any longer than that. And of course you’ll practically have both evenings to yourself, for the kiddies go to bed at seven and won’t bother you a particle. I know you were going to go up to see that poor old poke of a stepmother, but that can surely wait a few days. Anyhow, I don’t see what claim she has on you now, and I do think on Christmas Day, kiddies have the first right to be considered.”

  She paused and Charles Cameron got in a word.

  “Rosamond, do you actually mean to tell me that you are going to desert your babies on Christmas?”

  “Charles, they won’t care a mite if they have you. They adore you. And I know you’ll make them have the time of their lives. Then when we get home we can give them some extra treats to make up for it. And they will only think Christmas is that much longer and better than ever before. Besides, Charlie, they’re only kids!”

  “Do you want to know what I think of you?” said Charles in disgust. “I think you are both contemptible to consider a plan like that! Run off and leave your own little children, so you can act like a couple of kids and slide down a mountain on skis! I don’t think you have any right to have nice, sweet, lovely children and then treat them like that!”

  “Oh, Charlie dear! I’m so glad you consider them sweet and lovely, because then I know you’ll make them have a charming time, and I shan’t be missed at all. And besides, Charlie, don’t you think I have a duty to my husband?”

  “Duty to your husband! My eye! You’re doing this for your own selfish reasons, I know. And as for the stepmother, well, I’m not so sure you didn’t do something about that. But tell me, Roz. Suppose I say no to your proposition. What will you do? Divorce your husband or throw your children out in the street and let them shift for themselves?”

  “Now Charlie. You’re being too funny. You know you would never let it come to that!”

  “Oh, certainly not! You knew you could count on that. But what I want to know is, who is going to look after those children? Dress them and wash them and do all the things that have to be done for them? You know I’m no child’s nurse when it comes to that. I can play with them, but when it goes farther than that I’m utterly without experience. You know, it isn’t as if you had lived at home and I’d had a chance to see what went on.”

  “Oh Charlie, you’re too funny! But of course I’m leaving the servants. They are accustomed to looking after the children, and everything will go all right, I know. Only, Charlie, I wanted you there to make it bright and happy for them on Christmas Day. Play Santa Claus for them or something. And, of course, if you feel there ought to be some woman besides the servants, why, I’m sure I could get some friend to come in. It runs in my mind that Camilla Blair is going to be around the neighborhood that day, and I’m almost certain that I could get her to come in for a time and play jingles for them on the piano or sing or something!”

  “Yes!” said Cameron savagely. “I thought you had something up your sleeve! And I warn you, if it’s that Blair woman, I won’t come within fifty miles of the place. If you dare send her around I’m off you for life! I mean it, Roz. I don’t want to see her, and if she turns up I’ll pass right out of the picture!”

  “There, Charlie! Don’t get upset. Of course I won’t ask her to drop around, if you don’t want her. But just in case you change your mind and get lonesome when the day’s half over, you’ll find her at—”

  “There you go! Cut that out! I mean what I said. If you have any ideas like working that Blair person in, nothing doing!”

  “Why, of course not, Charlie. How silly! If you prefer to be there alone with the children, all right, I’ll say no more! And of course I’ll arrange that the servants will stay. I’ll give them extra days off later. And they will get you a nice little dinner. Only I thought it would be so much pleasanter for you if you had someone else to come in when the children are well started on a good time, someone who would be company for you.”

  “If I want any company, Roz, I’ll select it myself!”

  “Well—all right then! And can I depend on you, Charlie?”

  “I suppose you can, Roz, just as you have been depending on me to do whatever you demanded ever since I was a lonesome little kid myself. I’ll do it just because I feel sorry for your lonesome little youngsters on Christmas Day, with no parents to make it the grandest day of all the year. Only listen, Roz. I tell you, if you don’t play fair and lay off from the Blair woman, it’s the last time I’ll do anything you ask, and I mean it!”

  “All right, Charlie dear. Have it all your own way, only come!”

  “When do you want me to come?”

  “Could you come this evening? Harold says we could practically get there by midnight if we start right now.”

  “Can’t do it, Roz. I have to have a couple of hours first to do a few things before I could possibly come.”

  There was silence for a moment while a hurried consultation went on between Harold and Rosamond. Then Rosamond said reluctantly, “All right, Charlie, but make it as snappy as you can.”

  “I’ll do the best I can, but Roz, this last-minute business isn’t very easy to work with. I had other plans.”

  “Well I know, you sweet thing!” said the honeyed voice of the sister, triumphant now she had her way, “but really, I wasn’t sure we could do it till a few minutes ago.”

  “Oh yes?”

  Cameron hung up with a snap and turned about angrily to collect his thoughts. He felt morally sure that Rosamond was trying to put something over on him, and yet he couldn’t figure out what it was. Was he too kindhearted? That couldn’t be, could it? Yet even as a child, Rosamond was always getting him into unpleasant situations from which he couldn’t extricate himself without appearing to be most unaccommodating.

  But he had no time now to think things over. He had promised to go, and of course he had to for the sake of the kiddies. He was very fond of them. He would enjoy giving them a good time. Now, what had he been about to do when Rosamond interrupted?

  He whirled around to his desk and went hard at work again. He must get things in shape. If Rosamond didn’t get home when she had said she would, there might be delay the next day, and there were some th
ings that wouldn’t bear waiting, that were too important to leave to chance. There were a few letters to dictate, a couple of telegrams to send, and several business details that ought to be looked after in case he would be detained Friday. If he had gone to his stepmother’s as he had expected, his plan had been to start back Christmas night and be ready for work early the next morning, but now all that was upset. You never could depend upon Rosamond, nor her maids either. Ten to one they would walk out on him Christmas morning.

  One of his last acts before he left his office was to call his office boy and send him with his own portable radio, a neat little affair, to Astra Everson. He had intended to take it himself and stop long enough to show her the most effective way of tuning it, but there wouldn’t be time now. And perhaps it was just as well not to go himself, when he could stay but a moment. So he wrote a few words on his card—“I thought perhaps you’d like to borrow this to cheer your holiday. Charles”—slipped it in an envelope and gave direction for the young man to leave the radio if Miss Everson was out; or if she was there, to show her how to use it. He also called up the florist and ordered three dozen crimson roses sent to her. He frowned a good deal at the telephone after he had hung up. Now, would she think that was all right? She was not a girl one presumed with on slight acquaintance. And yet was theirs a slight acquaintance? When one considered it, he seemed to have presumed a good deal already, from the time he had first seen her. Well, he only wished he was free for this holiday to try and help her have a pleasant day. But of course he would be tied up with those kiddies. Perhaps he could telephone her sometime during Christmas Day and give her greetings.

  There was one man with whom he had important dealings he had not heard from yet, and he was all nerves watching for word from him. If it didn’t come before the afternoon was over, he would have an anxious Christmas Day, for it really meant big things for his business if he got this order.