A Girl to Come Home To (Musaicum Romance Classics). Grace Livingston Hill
liked it, and the teachers were crazy over him.”
“I’ll bet they were. It probably saved them a lot of work preparing for the class, and they likely lauded him to the skies. I suppose he’s as conceited as they make ’em.”
“No,” said Beryl gravely, “he didn’t seem to be. In fact, he always appeared to be quite humble, in spite of the fact that he was well thought of in athletics.”
“Well, speaking of Jeremy Graeme,” said Bonny Stewart, “he’s going to speak at our church next Sunday night. I just remembered it was in the church paper that my sister brought home from Sunday school, and I happened to read it. It was headed ‘Local hero will speak at the evening service’!”
“Hm!” said Mrs. Thaxter, appearing on the scene to make sure she had the right measurement for petticoat hems. “I guess you mean his older brother, Rodney Graeme. They wouldn’t ask that little squirt to speak. He’s only been in service a little over a year, and Rodney has been there three years. I understand Rodney did some notable things during his service.”
“No,” said Bonny firmly. “It was Jeremy. Definitely. I remember thinking what a strange name he had. And it said he had only been over there a few months over a year and was once reported missing but was saved in some unusual way. Say, girls, let’s all go to our church next Sunday and give him a good send-off. Is he shy, Beryl? We won’t embarrass him, will we, and spoil his speech? We might hide in the Sunday School room where he wouldn’t see us.”
Beryl smiled. “No, he isn’t shy.”
“Well, girls, will you go? You will, won’t you, Beryl?”
“Why, I might,” said Beryl. “I’ll see what plans Mother has. Perhaps I’ll go. But if I were you I wouldn’t hide. He wouldn’t mind your being there, I’m sure. He isn’t that kind.”
“But say, girls,” said Isabelle thoughtfully, “wasn’t that brother Rodney the one who was engaged to some girl with bleached hair? Jessica. That was her name. And she sported around with his ring on and made a great fuss over being engaged, and then after he went away she got married to some rich old man? Wasn’t that Rodney Graeme’s girl?”
“I’m sure I don’t know,” said Beryl Sanderson. “He always impressed me as a grave, quiet kind of man, the few times I ever saw him. The kind you would trust, you know.”
“Oh, that kind. Well, a girl just looking for a good time wouldn’t stick by a fellow like that, of course,” said Alida. “Say, what’s this Jeremy like? Awfully religious? Because if he is, I won’t go Sunday. I don’t care much for religion anyway. It always makes me cry and wish I’d never been born.”
“I really don’t know, Alida,” said Beryl almost haughtily. “I only knew him in high school, but he seemed very cheerful then.”
“Why, he’ll likely just talk about the war I suppose,” said Isabelle. “They all do. I adore to hear the fellows tell about their experiences, how many enemies they killed and all that and how they just got off by the skin of their teeth.”
“Isabelle! You bloodthirsty thing! How dreadful!” exclaimed Bonny.
“Well, isn’t that the way we’re supposed to feel during this war? We’re out to get the enemy as quick as we can and finish them up so they can’t start anything again, not in our lifetime, anyway. Isn’t that the idea?” said Isabelle.
“Well, anyway, girls you’ll all go, won’t you?” said Bonny Stewart. “I’ll get some credit up in heaven for bringing so many to church, won’t I? Come and meet at my house. It’s near the church, and I know my way around, you know. I’m supposed to be a member of that church. Meet at my house, and we’ll have a cup of tea and some little frosted cakes before we go over to the church. Beryl, why don’t you invite Jeremy Graeme to come over along with you, and we can all get acquainted with him?”
“No,” said Beryl with dignity. “He wouldn’t want to go to a reception before he spoke, and anyway I wouldn’t do that sort of thing. I’ll be at church, I think, but I’m not sure I’ll be over at your place, Bonny, beforehand. Mother has company, and I may be needed at home until time for church to begin. I’ll look you all up if I can.”
Then the noon whistle sounded and there was a general movement to put away work and go out to lunch. Beryl slipped away out of notice to think over what she had been hearing.
So, Jeremy had been doing notable things in the war and was going to speak about them. It would be interesting, of course, and she was sure she would like to hear him. Yet she recognized in herself a certain shrinking from seeing him again lest the grown-up Jeremy might disappoint her. For he had been one of her childhood’s admirations, and she didn’t want to think that he had failed to turn out the kind of man his boyhood had promised. She did not like to think her little-girl ideas of people had been wrong. Somehow they made a happy young background for the childish self she had been.
When Beryl reached home she went to her own room and sat down to think. Her mind was going back to her days at school and to the times when she was interested in this one and that. It was very plain to her as she thought back, remembering the boy they had but just a few minutes before been talking about. Presently she got up and went to her bookcase where there were several big books full of snapshots and photographs of her school days. She had scarcely looked them over since she graduated from high school. Yet she knew exactly where to find the ones she wanted. They were grouped together in the middle of the book, flanked on either side by other members of her class. And there was one a little larger than the rest, not really a photograph, just a page cut from the class yearbook. For some time she studied the pictures, and when she put the book away she decided that definitely she wanted to go and hear Jeremy talk and see if he had carried out the promise of his childhood. Then she put away the thought of it all and went to her appointment at the hospital where she was taking a friend’s place nursing for the afternoon.
There was another woman interested in the one who was to speak in the Harper Memorial Church next Sunday night, and that was Louella Chatterton.
Louella had gone into the city to visit with an old friend, also to be near the lawyer whom she wanted to consult about some business matters, and as she was passing along the street a name on the advertising board in front of a church caught her eye. Graeme. Why, could this be the Riverton Graemes? Louella about-faced and drew up in front of the church, studying the notice.
Lieutenant Commander Jeremy R. Graeme will speak in this church Sunday evening at 8:00 P.M. Come and hear the thrilling experience of this young serviceman. Come and bring your friends.
Louella read the notice over several times, and when she started on her way she headed for a drugstore where there would be a telephone. Seated in the booth she called up her number and asked for Mrs. De Groot, and when a voice responded she said gushingly, “Is that you Jessica? I’ve got the most exciting news to tell you. Can’t you take dinner with me tonight? We can talk so much better in my room at the hotel, with no interruptions, and meantime I’ll be looking up details and be able to tell you more than I can give you now over the telephone.”
“Oh! Louella, what do you mean? What is it all about? Has it anything to do with Rodney Graeme?”
“Well, yes, in a way. I’ve got to find out a little bit more about it, but I’ve got a scheme and it ought surely to give you an opportunity to meet him and have a good talk, which ought to clear the atmosphere, don’t you think?”
“Well, yes, it might. But what is all this? How did you hear about it, and what is it really?”
“Why, it’s just that he seems to be advertised to address an audience in the Harper Memorial Church, here in the city. I have seen the notice outside the church so that’s how I know about it. He’s a lieutenant commander, isn’t he? I thought so. They’ve got the names mixed somewhat, but I know it must be Rodney. It says Jeremy R., but that means nothing. Notices often get the names or the initials wrong, and anyway, even if it should be Jeremy, Rodney will probably be with him