Astra Read online

  But the afternoon passed and no word came, and Cameron grew more and more worried. He had been so sure of this order, and it was going to make such a lot of difference in his plans.

  Finally, a little after five o’clock, Rosamond called up.

  “Charlie, you haven’t fallen down on the job, have you?”

  “No.”

  “You’ll surely be here?”

  “I generally keep my promises, don’t I?”

  “Well, but you seemed so unwilling and so uncertain, I was afraid.”

  “Sorry, sister, but this is making a lot of trouble for me.”

  “Well for pity’s sake, why don’t you come? It can’t be so important to stay in an office Christmas Eve.”

  “You wouldn’t understand, of course, but it is. However, I’ll be there!”

  “And I can really depend on you?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “How soon will you be here?”

  “In less than an hour now, I hope.”

  “Oh dear! An hour! You know it means an awful lot to us to get started right away. It’s beginning to snow, and there may be a blizzard.”

  “In that case you’d have to consider staying at home, I suppose.”

  “No, indeed! It’s only snowing a little now, but we want to get well on our way before the storm really sets in. Can’t you hurry?”

  “Not any more than I’m doing now. You see, what I’m doing means an awful lot to me. But you needn’t worry. I’ll be there!”

  He turned back to his desk just as his secretary handed him a telegram. He tore it open frantically.

  CANNOT DECIDE WITHOUT TALKING TO YOU. SORRY YOU ARE AWAY. SHALL PASS THROUGH PHILADELPHIA CHRISTMAS MORNING. HAD HOPED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU BETWEEN TRAINS, FROM TEN TO TWELVE, THIRTIETH STREET STATION. IF YOU CAN MAKE IT WATCH FOR ME AT TRAIN. I MAY DECIDE TO TAKE YOUR OFFER. OTHERWISE WILL WAIT TILL SPRING.

  H. A. BURNSIDE.

  Charles Cameron sank down into his desk chair again in utter despair. Must he allow Rosamond’s whims to upset this great opportunity, which would mean everything to his business? Surely if Rosamond knew, she would be responsible and change her plans!

  He sprang to his telephone and called Rosamond’s number, and as soon as he heard the receiver lifted, he shouted, “I can’t possibly make it, Roz! You’ll have to make other plans! I have a deal on that will take all tomorrow morning. A telegram just came!"

  Then the nurse’s voice answered in great excitement, “Oh, is that you, Mister Charles? Why they’re gone! They haven’t been gone more than two minutes. They said they knew you would be here soon, and we would be all right till you got here, but the baby has been so upset to see her mommie go that she’s yelling so I can hardly hear. And both the other children are so upset to find out at this last minute that their parents are not going ta be here Christmas! What’s that? Didn’t she tell them before? No sir, she just told them as she was kissing them good-bye! I hope you’ll come soon, Mister Charles, because they are all so peevish, it seems I’ll go wild.”

  Cameron sat in consternation for a moment and then in a stern voice said, “Very well, Catherine, I’ll be there very soon now. Tell Junior to come to the phone. That you, Harold? What’s the matter, pard? You feeling down? Well, cheer up. I’ll be there in three jerks of a lamb’s tail. And tell the girls to mop their eyes and be ready with plenty of smiles, and we’ll have a fine time.”

  “You mean we’ll have a nice time before we go to bed, Uncle Charlie?” asked the woebegone voice of the little boy.

  “Sure we will!” said the hearty voice of the dismayed uncle. “Had your supper yet?”

  “No sir!”

  “Well, neither have I. Just tell the cook to get a slick supper for us, and we’ll have the time of our life! And we’ll hear Christmas carols and a lot of other things. Okay, boy?”

  “Okay, Uncle Charlie! That’ll be swell.”

  In a daze, Charles Cameron hung up the receiver and stared around his deserted office. It was Christmas Eve, and his employees had crept by, murmuring, “Merry Christmas, Mr. Cameron,” without his hearing them. And yet he couldn’t desert the children!

  Chapter 14

  All the afternoon of the day before Christmas, Astra had been out shopping. She had worked hard all the morning and had her father’s article, the last one he had worked on before he died, nearly copied. She felt she had a right to go out and play at Christmas a little while herself.

  Of course, it was a bit crowded in the shops, especially as she chose the cheap stores, ten-cent and the like. For in spite of Mr. Lauderdale’s assurance that she was not to worry about money, in spite of that fat check he had given her, she felt she must spend cautiously, at least until she was located permanently somewhere and knew just what she was going to do.

  So she bought rather sparingly, with only now and then a lavish expenditure on something that she felt she would like to give to someone, although she had at present no definite persons in mind for the gifts. Well, it was fun anyway.

  She bought a lot of red and green tissue paper, and red and silver ribbon. Also, some blue paper and silver stars. Because if there were to be gifts, they would have to be wrapped, though she didn’t yet know to whom they were to be given. Then she found some charming little ten-cent figurines of tiny shepherds with crooks and little white sheep and lambs. She bought a handful of those and a package of white cards. A few small, tan velvet camels with wise men on top. Ah! She would have a Christmas decoration in her room, perhaps. It would help to occupy the day that seemed so lonely to look forward to.

  And then she made a discovery. She found a Christian bookstore where they had charming books and lovely Christmas cards with real Bible verses on them. They also had large, illuminated, handpainted texts for the wall. There was one in blue and silver she must have for herself. And then she discovered the Bibles and Testaments, and she was delighted. She could hardly tear herself away from them. At last she came away with an exquisite Testament, luxuriously bound, thin and pliable, and just the thing for a man’s pocket, if she had any man to whom she dared give it. There was Charles Cameron, of course, but she could not give him a Christmas gift. He had been very kind to her and taken her to a concert, but a girl could not offer a gift to a stranger, a man whom she knew so very little. Yet, if she had been going to give him something, this was what she would like to give. It looked like him, refined and quiet, and durable. It was so soft and small, yet clear in print, that it seemed the very last word as luxury goes in Bibles. She also found some lovely little gospels, a few bound in blue leather and some in Christmasy red.

  She went to another store and bought a handful of very tiny dolls, in case she carried out some of her ideas about doing things for others, and also, three beautiful ones. And she bought a few other inexpensive trifles just because they would be nice sometime for somebody, and when she went back to her lodging she felt she had been very silly indeed. Such a great stack of bundles, so big, that she had been forced to purchase a couple of big paper shopping bags in which to carry them! And not a soul to whom to give any of them! Silly, that was what she was! Well, sometime she would find somebody who would enjoy them, and anyhow, she had had a good time. This was her own Christmas, just making believe.

  She came into the hall with her burdens just as the boy from Charles Cameron’s office had about decided it wasn’t any use to wait for her any longer and had arisen to leave the leather case which contained the radio with the boy at the desk.

  “There she is now,” said the boy, pointing down the hall. “You can give it to her yourself if you want to.”

  The boy from the office looked at Astra with admiring eyes. She was a lovely girl, but then his boss would pick out a lovely girl, of course. He came forward to greet her, smiling deferentially.

  “Is this Miss Everson?”

  Astra looked up, astonished.

  “Yes,” she said, and took the little note he held out, a pleased pink color glowing in h
er cheeks. Then she looked at the leather case questioningly.

  “Mr. Cameron thought you might enjoy using this Christmas Day,” said the boy. “He told me to show you how to use it. Can we go over to that table? I’ll show you how it works best.”

  So they went over to the table, and Astra was inducted to the method by which this little machine brought tales of the world out of the atmosphere. And other girls coming in to get their mail from the desk looked and listened, and cast envying glances her way.

  The boy understood what he was doing and made it very plain to Astra, and when he went away, she carried the leather case proudly to her room, a glad color in her face and a pleased light in her eyes. Her new friend had been kind again. He had not forgotten her even though he had gone away without the half-promised call. Well, she had been away all the afternoon, even if he had called.

  She put down her bundles and laid aside her wraps and started the radio. How thrilling it was that she was to have this pleasure tonight and tomorrow.

  Then it came to her that she had a great deal to do and should begin at once. She had ordered carnations enough for one for each person in the house and had bought very tiny Christmas cards, each with a scripture text. So now she sat down to write on the cards, “Christmas Greetings from a fellow house guest” and to slip a bit of ribbon through the fold of the card. It wouldn’t take her long to tie the cards on the flowers. She would take them to the desk the last thing before she retired, ask the boy to put them back in the refrigerator, and deliver them to each door very early in the morning.

  She was glad she had stopped in a drugstore and taken a cup of coffee and a sandwich, because she didn’t want to take the time to go out again in the snow. The restaurant belonging to the house would be full and noisy tonight, everybody having company. Besides, she wanted to stay with her radio and enjoy it.

  But she had scarcely turned it on when there came a tap at the door, and the boy handed in a large florist’s box. At first she thought it was her own carnations and wondered why he had brought them before she told him, but then she saw the name of the florist and knew it was not the nearby place where she had bought hers. And there was the card of greeting.

  Christmas Greetings and all Good Cheer,

  Your friend,

  Charles Cameron

  She opened the box and exulted in the gorgeous crimson roses. Such a wealth of them! She buried her face against their coolness, and her heart thrilled at the kindness and friendship that had taken all this trouble for her. If she only knew where to get in touch with him, how she would enjoy calling him up and thanking him. But he was likely on the train now, speeding to his old home and his kind stepmother. Well, she would just ask God to tell him how glad he had made her. She would thank God for the flowers. So she went down on her knees with the open box beside her and one great crimson rose drawn close to her face, its perfume stealing over her senses like a precious caress. Then she got up and went to work.

  She assembled her collection of shepherds and camels and sheep in a box by themselves. She wrapped the little dogs in red tissue paper and tied them with gold ribbon. She put the cards she had bought together so she could use them at a moment’s notice should the need arise, and she laid the prettier things in an empty bureau drawer till she should decide what to do with them. Now would be the time to tie those cards on the carnations.

  She went out and told the bellboy about her plan and found ready assent and help in her scheme. He himself would see that the flowers were properly delivered quite early in the morning, and he promised utmost secrecy, smiling gratefully when she presented him with a small leather Testament and thanked him for helping her. She hadn’t the slightest idea what it meant to the boy to have her lovely face smiling at him, with her soft frame of gold hair, and her beautiful blue eyes. He hoped some day he would have a girl as beautiful as this one. Only of course he wouldn’t, because she was a real lady, and he was only a poor boy.

  When Astra came back into her room with the box of flowers she felt very happy, and her radio welcomed her with Christmas carols being sung all over the world.

  “Night of Nights, so calm, so pure, so holy!”

  She sang with the radio as her deft fingers tied the little cards to the gift flowers, and she prayed as she sang that the little verses on the cards might each bear a blessing.

  She had finished tying the ribbons and stood looking down at the full box when the bellboy knocked at her door.

  “There is someone on the phone wants you. Is your box ready? I’ll carry it for you. Say, aren’t they swell! That’s great of you to do that for the folks. I bet they’ll appreciate that!” he said.

  He put the cover on the box and carried it away, and Astra hastened to the telephone booth at the end of the hall. How glad she was that no one was about just then.

  It occurred to her that perhaps this was her cousin Duke, and she took a deep breath and prayed that all might be well. And then it was Cameron’s nice, friendly voice greeting her.

  “Is that you, Astra?” She never noticed till afterward that this was the first time he had called her by her first name.

  “Oh yes,” she gasped. “I—”

  But Cameron was talking.

  “Say, good friend, I’m in a terrible hole, and I’m wondering if you will come to my rescue and help me out. Now don’t say you will if you have other plans, because it might not be pleasant, but I’d be all kinds of obliged if you can see your way clear to help.”

  “Why of course!” laughed Astra, and her laughter rippled over the wire with heartening cheer. “Of course! I’ll be delighted to do anything I can for you! Where are you?”

  “Why, I’m in Philadelphia.”

  “You haven’t gone yet?” Her voice was like a glad chime of bells.

  “No. I had to change my plans. My stepmother wrote she had to go and see her sick sister, and I’m to come later sometime. And then my sister wished her three children on me for over Christmas because she and her husband thought they had to go away. I foolishly promised to stay with them. They’ve gone, and I’ve at last got those three little hoodlums to bed and quiet. But the catch is a telegram from a businessman I’ve been trying to contact for two years, saying he is passing through Philadelphia tomorrow, and if I will come down to the station, he will sign a contract. It means a very great deal to my business if I can get it, but I can’t go away and leave these children, even for an hour. I promised to stay here and see that they had a good time for Christmas. Their nurse is here, and the cook, but I don’t trust the cook. I think she drinks. And the nurse asked leave to go to church in the morning, and she may not come back. There’s no telling. I don’t think my sister trusts either of them. Now the question is, would you be willing to come over, say, by nine o’clock in the morning and stay till I get back? I can’t promise when that will be, but it ought not to be over two or three hours at most, and may be only a few minutes. I know it’s a big thing to ask, but you’ve always been so willing, and I’m learning to presume on that.”

  “Oh, I’d be charmed!” said Astra, her eyes shining. “I love children, and we can have the grandest time together, I’m sure. How old are they?”

  “The boy is seven, the girls are five and two and a half. I don’t know how spoiled they are. I haven’t seen so much of them lately. But we always manage to get on together. I thought if you could come as early as nine, I could introduce them to you and ease out without their realizing it. You see, they are pretty sore at their father and mother deserting them on Christmas. They weren’t told till just before they left. Do you think you would mind telling stories or playing games or something with them till I can get rid of this important man and get back to you?”

  “Why of course not!” said Astra. “I’ll have the time of my life. It will make a real Christmas for me. Now, don’t you worry anymore. Go get yourself some real rest, and I’ll be there by nine o’clock sharp!”

  “Well, I knew you were that kind of girl or I
wouldn’t have dared to ask. But I am grateful with all my heart. Are you sure you hadn’t planned to go to dinner with some old friends?”

  “Certainly not. I told you I intended to keep away from them all until Christmas is over. I don’t want to barge in where I’m not wanted at any family gathering. If my guardian had been at home, that would have been different. But I was being very happy in the thought of hearing your radio all day long. And oh, those roses! I can’t thank you enough!”

  “Please don’t! I’m glad they pleased you, but I’m thinking you’ll be only too glad to get back to your quiet room with the radio and roses after you get through with my assignment tomorrow. I must warn you that these are very strenuous kids.”

  “Oh, that’s all right! We’ll get along. And I’m just so glad to get to help. I hope you have a great success and get your man. I’ll be praying you will.”

  “Thanks for that more than anything. I’ll be remembering that. Now, get your rest, for you’ll need it. And in the morning, take a taxi. Those are orders!”

  He gave the address very clearly, made her write it down, gave the telephone number, and asked her to call him when she was starting out.

  After she had hung up, Astra felt a happy glow in her heart. It was as if he had been visiting her. And tomorrow would be fun. No matter what the children were, she felt sure she would get along. Of course she mustn’t expect to see Cameron much. He would be leaving as soon as she got there, and when he returned it would be her place to depart as soon as she could. He wouldn’t want her hanging around. But she would have the radio and the roses, she remembered gleefully, to come back to.

  And now here was her chance to do something for somebody. Could she possibly get those children to listen to the Christmas story? Well, she could try. If she failed in that, there would be some other way to entertain them. Perhaps they already knew the Christmas story so well that it was old and worn out to them. But wouldn’t they be intrigued perhaps if she built Bethlehem for them? That was what she had been going to do in her room, just to be Christmasy.