CHAPTER XIV
KINDLING THE TORCH
Hinpoha and Sahwah were patiently teaching Katherine hand signs one Saturday afternoon when Gladys burst in with a tragic face.
“Girls,” she cried, with extravagant emphasis, “have you heard the news?” Then, without waiting for reply, she continued: “Nyoda’s going to be married!”
“We know she is,” answered Hinpoha, “a year from this summer.”
“No, not a year from this summer,” said Gladys, swelling with the importance of the announcement she was about to make, “this summer. This very month!”
An incredulous exclamation burst from the three.
“It’s true,” continued Gladys. “Sherry’s going to be sent away on a long trip and he wants to take her with him, so they’re going to be married right away.”
All four sat stricken, trying to realize that the evil day which they had dreaded so and which they had thought far in the future was actually upon them. Only two more weeks and their idolized Guardian, who for three years had been a part of nearly everything they did, would be gone from them. It seemed that the world was coming to an end.
In the days that followed gloom hung thick over the House of the Open Door. Now that Nyoda was to be in it no longer the Winnebagos lost all joy in its possession. Each article of furniture that she had helped to make, each sketch of hers on the wall telling in clever little pictographs the tale of some adventure or frolic, gripped them with a fresh pang. Plans for summer excursions and activities were dropped.
“And we were all going ca-camping togu-gether!” wailed Hinpoha, and damp weather prevailed for many minutes.