Madge Mortons Secret | Page 9

box on the dressing
table a slender gold chain, her only bit of ornament outside her mother's
jewelry, Madge opened the catch and hung the key upon it.
"It will be safe there," she said half aloud. "But now I have a secret
worth keeping until I find the man who spoiled my father's life. And
when I do"--Madge's red lips set in a determined line--"I'll make him
tell the truth about Father to the whole world."
CHAPTER III
AN UNEXPECTED MEETING
Although the prospect of the coming visit to Old Point Comfort filled
Madge and Eleanor with a delightful sense of their own importance,
they still had certain misgivings as to what might be expected of them
as the guests of Mrs. Curtis. She had written them that as long as they
were to be anchored near Fortress Monroe, she hoped to show them the
social side of the Army and Navy life centered there. To the two
country girls the idea of "Society" was a trifle appalling. Phyllis Alden
had also written them that she knew nothing of Society and was almost
afraid to venture into that awe-inspiring realm, while Miss Jenny Ann
at first refused to consider the idea, but finally relented and made her
preparations to join the girls in anything but a joyous frame of mind.
Lillian Seldon was the only one of the little company who took the

prospect of balls and parties and meeting hosts of new people quite
calmly. She had two older sisters, who had made their entrance into
Philadelphia society, and Lillian had been allowed to be present at their
coming-out parties. Mrs. Seldon, Lillian's mother, was devoted to
Society, while Mrs. Butler cared for nothing outside her own home
interests, and Mrs. Alden was too busy taking care of a large family on
a small income to think of anything else. Phil's life had been largely
centered in her school. Eleanor and Madge had divided their allegiance
between Miss Tolliver's and "Forest House" until their houseboat had
opened a new world to them.
After a long talk with Eleanor, Madge finally wrote Mrs. Curtis,
confessing that they were rather afraid to venture into the social life of
the point. In reply Mrs. Curtis only made light of their fears and
misgivings and insisted that they should come. Tom, who had
undertaken the duty of finding a landing for the houseboat, announced
that it was safely sheltered near the southern end of Cape Charles; it
was too rough to anchor the boat on the Virginia side of the shore.
Besides, Tom was camping with some college friends on the shore of
the cape, and had arranged that the houseboat should be no great
distance from his camp. The houseboat party could cross over to Old
Point, or any of the resorts on the opposite beach, in a small steamboat
that made its way back and forth from one coast to the other, or in
Tom's new motor launch, which would be always at their disposal.
The careful way in which the Curtises had arranged for the comfort of
their young guests finally conquered the last faint objection on their
part, and when on the morning of the day appointed, escorted by Mrs.
Curtis and Tom, the four girls and Miss Jenny Ann boarded the "Merry
Maid" for their two weeks' stay, their former fears and misgivings were
entirely forgotten. They remembered only that they had come into their
own again through the generosity of Mrs. Curtis, and for her sake were
willing to brave even "Society."
* * * * *
The ballroom of the great hotel at Old Point Comfort was crowded with
dancers. It was an official military ball. The army officers were in

full-dress uniforms. The midshipmen from the fleet were in white.
There was a large sprinkling of naval officers from the battleships in
the harbor at Hampton Roads. Many of them were foreigners, as there
were several ships of other nations anchored there. There were
beautiful women in beautiful gowns and wonderful jewels. Altogether
it was a scene calculated to make a lively impression upon Madge and
her friends, and it was with rapidly beating hearts that, in company with
Mrs. Curtis, Madeleine and Tom, they entered the brilliantly lighted
ballroom which contained for them no familiar faces.
"Oh, dear, Miss Jenny Ann," whispered Eleanor, keeping close to her
chaperon's side, "why did we ever imagine we could appear at home in
a place like this? I wish we had not come." Her distress looked out
from her brown eyes as she watched the throng of fashionably dressed
women and uniformed men swaying and gliding in the figures of one of
the new dances that had taken society by storm.
"Don't be afraid, Nell," returned Phil, fighting