“You are right, Leslie,” Elizabeth reluctantly conceded. “I never before looked at the matter in that light.”
Leslie was tempted to reply, “That was because you were too stupidly vain of your gay, blue ice wagon.” She refrained. Discretion warned her to allow matters to rest as they were. She had no desire to arouse resentment in the shallow, but tricky, junior. Her advice concerning a change of cars was sound and she knew it. While Leslie had neither liking nor faith in Elizabeth Walbert, she needed her services. She thought she had learned by past bitter experience precisely how to manage Elizabeth.
“The very first thing to do, Robin, is to find out whether those properties used for boarding houses are for sale. There is no use in hoping for one little instant that Miss Susanna will ever relent enough to allow us ground on the campus for any new houses.” Marjorie spoke with finality.
“Queer, isn’t it? Hamilton doesn’t even own itself.” A flickering smile touched Robin’s lips.
“Miss Susanna doesn’t consider that she owns the college,” Marjorie explained in defense of her eccentric friend. “Miss Humphrey said Mr. Brooke Hamilton’s will stipulated that she must sanction all building, improvements or important changes on the campus. The college has free right to choose everything else.”
Not even to Robin Page, her dearest Hamilton friend, outside Wayland Hall, had Marjorie ever divulged the fact of her friendship with the last of the Hamiltons. She would have liked to tell Robin,that, only a week previous, she had taken tea with Miss Susanna and heard again the old lady’s repeated statement that never should Hamilton College receive even the ghost of a favor from her.
“I wish we knew Miss Susanna Hamilton,” sighed Robin. “We could then have it out with her on the subject at least.”
Marjorie, feeling like a criminal, said nothing for a little. The two seniors had just come from a walk past the boarding houses, the site of which they hoped to be able to use for the building of the dormitory of their generous dreams.
“About these boarding houses, Robin,” Marjorie began afresh, desirous of leading her friend away from the subject of Miss Susanna. “Anna Towne’s landlady told her that they were in the hands of a real estate agent in the town of Hamilton. His name is Mr. Charles Cutler and his office is on Keene Street. He is the person we must see.”
“Since the girls off the campus wouldn’t accept our offer, we have six thousand, two hundred and ten dollars in our treasury,” announced Robin. “We must keep some of that for our regular beneficiary fund; say two thousand dollars. That gives us a little more than four thousand to pay down on the property.”
“It is only a drop in the bucket,” Marjorie said doubtfully. “I suppose those properties, all together,are worth thirty or forty thousand to the owner. The question of the money is easily solved. Ronny will finance the undertaking for us. She is determined to do it. She would give us the money, but I won’t accept it. I think the Hamilton girls now and to come should take this debt upon themselves and earn the money to pay it by their own efforts.”
“So do I,” nodded Robin. “Think what a good time we had getting up the revue. It was splendid practice for us in many ways. Let the girls who come after us have something to plan and work for. It will be the best thing that can happen to them. Besides, giving plays and entertainments helps to create the right kind of social atmosphere and also brings to light the talents of the students. I am for being independent and earning every cent of this money.”
“It will keep the Nineteen Travelers busy this year and we’ll choose nineteen more to replace us,” Marjorie declared with quiet satisfaction.
The Nineteen Travelers were now a surety. Marjorie had carried out her spoken resolve to Jerry to call together those students outside Wayland Hall who had been closest to the Nine Travelers. The original Nine Travelers had all expressed a desire to enlarge the informal society. It had therefore been regularly organized as a sorority one eveningin Leila’s and Vera’s room. The new sorority was now planning to do great things during their senior year at Hamilton.
“Self-denial last year didn’t hurt any of us,” Robin gaily pointed out. “I saved three hundred and two dollars. The other girls saved anywhere from two to three hundred apiece. Think what it means to our treasury now!”
“I saved three hundred and seven dollars. I didn’t miss it. I haven’t a new suit this fall, and I don’t want one. I brought back only two new frocks. Both of them were presents to me from my father. I won’t give up going to Baretti’s. That is my one luxury. I shall save as much as I can this year, too.”
“Wouldn’t it be fine if we could make and save enough money this year to clear the purchase price of these properties?” Robin’s eyes sparkled at the thought.
“We couldn’t unless something positively miraculous came our way.” Marjorie shook her head. “It would take all our spare time and more too. True, we don’t have basket ball to think of now, but on the other hand our subjects are harder. I wish I were as brilliant as Lucy. She had enough credits to be graduated last June, but she needed another year in biology and physics. This year she will have those two subjects and Political Science. Thatwill leave her quite a good deal of time for her own. What do you suppose she intends to do with it?”
“Tell me, for I am a no-good guesser.”
“She is going to be President Matthews’ regular secretary. She talked it over with him one day last week. He made arrangements so that his work would not interfere with her classes. That was really a concession, but he told her he had hoped from the first day she worked for him finally to have her for his secretary. She is so pleased. Her salary is thirty-five dollars a week. We were all glad for her sake,” Marjorie ended with generous enthusiasm.
Robin expressed equal pleasure in Lucy’s rise in fortune. “It is just one more example of how beautifully everything seems to be working out for us all at Hamilton,” she said happily. “During our freshman year our lot was full of snags. One by one they have dropped away. Long before the Sans left college snobbishness was on the wane.”
“Phil and Barbara deserve credit for much of that. I never saw a girl fight harder for democracy than Phil did during her freshie year. She really turned her class inside out and made them over.” Marjorie’s admiration for staunch, independent Phyllis Moore had steadily grown with time.
“I hear Miss Walbert is at Wayland Hall.” Mention of Phil’s energetic stand during her freshmanyear brought her unworthy opponent to Robin’s thoughts. “Is she as hateful as ever? I never could endure her, and you know, Marvelous Manager, I am fairly good-natured. Phil had an awful time over the way she tried to run the freshies.”
“Your disposition couldn’t be improved upon,” laughed Marjorie. “Yes, she is at the Hall. I seldom see her except at a distance. She isn’t there much to meals.”
“She has a new car; a limousine. It is black, this time. I have seen her driving it or rather driving ‘at it.’ Someone, I forgot who, said Leslie Cairns was visiting an aunt in Hamilton.”
Marjorie showed no surprise. She had already heard of Leslie’s re-appearance. Robin did not continue on the subject of Leslie. Her observation had been impersonal. Shortly afterward she left Robin, the two having agreed to call at the real estate agent’s office on Wednesday of the coming week.
Recounting to Jerry the talk between Robin and herself, Jerry asked abruptly: “Have you girls told anyone you were going to try to get hold of those properties? That is, anyone outside our own crowd?”
“I can’t say it has been kept a secret,” Marjorie returned. “At the time of the show we gave last winter, some of the girls who helped a good deal, like Ethel Laird and Grace Dearborn, may havementioned it. For instance, Grace sold tickets all over the campus. We were talking at that time about how fine it would be to be able to found a dormitory. Nothing has been said of late outside our crowd, that I recall. Robin and I have only started the ball rolling again. Why did you ask, Jeremiah?”
“I was thinking. If the real estate agent happened to hear you wanted the properties he might raise the price of them to more than they were worth. You don’t care to be stung, do you?”
“Certainlynot. The less we have to pay for the site the more money we shall have to put into the building. Besides, we don’t care to be saddled with any larger debt than we can help. We are going to see him next Wednesday. The chances are he won’t have heard anything about it in that short space of time—unless he heard last spring.” Marjorie frowned brief anxiety. Then her face cleared. “Oh, it isn’t at all likely,” she said. “Robin and I are going to put every minute we can spare into the work. Thank goodness, we studied hard enough our first three years! We are sure of getting through this year without having to dig.”
“We’ve had loads of good times, but still we have kept up in all our subjects,” commented Jerry with pardonable pride. “Now, in my sage and profound seniorship I propose to turn philanthropist andpromoter with you, Marvelous Manager. By the way, I brought up your mail. It’s over there.” Jerry indicated a small pile of letters on the top of a two-shelved wall book-case.
“Thank you.” Marjorie made a dive for them. “Six; I am lucky today!” She hastily sat down in the nearest chair to enjoy them. Reading each as she opened it, she was slow in coming to the last one of the pile.
“Here’s a note from Professor Leonard!” she exclaimed, mystification written on her pretty features. “He asks me to come to the gymnasium at four-thirty tomorrow afternoon. He doesn’t say anything in the note but that.”
“Basket ball, of course,” guessed Jerry.
“But I didn’t play on the team last year and he knows it. Oh, I think I know. Maybe he would like me to umpire or referee a game. No, it can’t be that, for he dropped basket ball after the Sans made so much trouble. I am sure I can’t guess why he wants to see me.”
“You’ll know after you’ve seen him,” returned Jerry, snickering.
“I have an idea I shall,” retorted Marjorie. “That was a brilliant remark, Jeremiah.”
When at four-thirty on the following afternoon Marjorie sought the physical culture director in thegymnasium, she was somewhat taken aback by the concise request: “I would like to make you chairman of the senior sports committee, Miss Dean. I have been urged to resume charge of college sports by President Matthews. You may recallwhyI refused to act as the director of them two years ago. Well, things have changed here since then. A certain pernicious element has been removed. I am going to try again, simply to please the doctor. Will you help me? I have in mind for that committee, you as chairman, Miss Page, Miss Harding and Miss Hunter. The four of you can arrange a series of basket ball games. In the spring we will have tennis. Miss Hunter is an expert player. I want her chiefly on account of her tennis prowess. It will not take up much of your time. You would probably attend the games held here, at any rate. Think it over and let me know by tomorrow. I wish to make a start as soon as possible.”
Marjorie listened to the director in silent consternation. She did not wish to serve on any such committee. It would interfere, to some extent, in her new plans. On the other hand, she wished very much to help Professor Leonard. He had made a concession in again resuming directorship of college sports. Could she do less than aid him? She aspired to serve her Alma Mater in the best way. Perhaps this work was as important as building adormitory. Professor Leonard had said, “Think it over.” Marjorie had already decided.
“I won’t wait until tomorrow, Professor Leonard, to decide. I will accept the honor now. If you wish, I will see the other girls. I think you can count on them.”
“Thank you, Miss Dean. I was sure you wouldn’t fail me.” The professor’s hand went out impulsively.
Marjorie reflected with a twinge of remorse as she returned the handshake that she had come very near to failing him.
“You will help me greatly by seeing your friends. I wish you four would meet me here day after tomorrow at this time. We will then discuss our plans for the season.”
“I’ll simply have to make room for committee duties on my programme somehow,” she thought, as she left the gymnasium and cut across the campus, headed for Silverton Hall. “Robin is in as deeply as I. Still, I know she wouldn’t have refused, under the same circumstances. If I had dreamed, ever since my freshman year, of such an honor, I’d never have attained it. Just because I have about twice as much on hand as I can look after, along comes something else. It’s what I should call an embarrassment of riches.”
While Marjorie was sighing a little over the multiplicity of responsibilities which had fallen to her lot, Elizabeth Walbert was also a person with several irons in the fire. She had promised Leslie Cairns that she would glean valuable information concerning the students’ beneficiary fund. She had sworn to be even with Augusta Forbes. She had determined to keep in favor with Alida Burton and Lola Elster.
Leslie being by far the most important person on her horizon, Elizabeth strained a point to gather the information Leslie desired. The day after her talk with the ex-student she set out for Acasia House the moment classes were over for the day. Marian Foster, the freshman she had mentioned, was not unlike Elizabeth in disposition. She was an arrant social climber and ranked money and lavish expenditure of it above everything. Introduced to Elizabeth on the campus, by another freshman, she had treated the junior with marked respect.This had pleased Elizabeth, who had grown more unpopular at Hamilton with each year she returned. She had promptly singled out Marian as an object of her patronizing attentions. These had consisted in a luncheon or two. several drives and one dinner at the Colonial.
Ethel Laird, in her sweet, gracious fashion, had also been kind to Marian, who had been very lonely on first arrival at Acasia House. Thus she stood between two influences. She had been shrewd enough to hide her true character from Ethel, whose popularity as a senior she had quickly discovered. Privately she decided to play two parts. To Ethel she would be merely the friendly, appreciative freshie. It was Elizabeth’s favor she really desired.
On this particular afternoon she welcomed Elizabeth with delight. She was even more pleased when the latter proposed a ride and a dinner at the Lotus. The invitation, which she quickly accepted, put her in a beatific state of mind which bred confidence. She was therefore very willing, as the new car, not the blue and buff “ice wagon,” bowled along the wide highway, to chatter of affairs at Acasia House. Long before the ride was over and the two girls anchored at the Lotus, Elizabeth had heard that which brought a triumphant light to her insincere blue eyes.
“And you say you heard this yourself?” Elizabeth suavely questioned. “You are sure that is true about that dormitory rumor? So many stories start on the campus that aren’t true at all. A girl will start what she calls a ‘blind alley’ sometimes, just to tease the freshies. They will grow awfully excited over it. Then the laugh is on them.”
“This wasn’t a rumor,” protested Marian. “It was gospel truth. I was in Miss Laird’s room when these two seniors came to see her. I wouldn’t have stayed after they came, but she seemed to wish me to. They asked her to attend a meeting at Wayland Hall. Then they talked about hoping they could buy this property where the boarding houses stand. It was so interesting to hear them. Miss Dean is beautiful, isn’t she? Miss Page is awfully cute, too.”
“I don’t know either of them,” evaded Elizabeth. “I have heard they were clever in a diggy way. Do tell me more of what they said. I am interested in this dormitory idea. I shall contribute five hundred dollars at least, maybe more, to help build it. It won’t mean that much to me.” She snapped her fingers grandly. She flattered herself into believing that Leslie could not have acted more cleverly.
As Marian was limited to twenty-five dollars a month spending money, Elizabeth’s affluence impressed her deeply. She outdid herself in trying toplease the crafty junior. Nor could she guess that her every word was being stored up in Elizabeth’s mind. Later, in the privacy of the junior’s room, it would be transferred to paper. She would not be able to see Leslie for two or three days, so she resorted to notes, fearful lest she might forget a part of what she had heard.
On the same Wednesday on which Marjorie and Robin called at the office of Charles Cutler, the real estate agent, Elizabeth met Leslie Cairns at the Lotus. Neither pair crossed each other’s paths. The information Elizabeth gave Leslie caused her to laugh often in her silent hob-goblin fashion. Elizabeth marked this with a little uneasiness.
“Why does what I am telling you strike you as so funny, Leslie?” she inquired suspiciously.
“Because it does,” was Leslie’s cool response. “I can just imagine those infants taking a job like that boarding house proposition on their shoulders. I am willing to contribute to it, but I am afraid they will fall down on it. That’s all.”
Marjorie and Robin, however, were floating on the top wave of hope as they talked with the agent, a tall, spare man with honest blue eyes and gentle manners.
“I do not know what the owner of these properties wants for them,” he said. “Five years ago he offered them for twenty-eight thousand dollars.There are seven houses in the block which you girls wish to buy. That was at the rate of four thousand apiece. Real estate has increased in value since then, but not much in this section. He might ask thirty-five thousand, but not more than that. You could sell the houses for old lumber. They would have to be torn down. That would net you something. It would be a relief to see the last of them. I always thought that whole row so unsightly in contrast to the beauty of the campus. Pity the others will have to stand. If you will call one week from today I can let you know the owner’s price. I expect him here within a few days.”
“Isn’t that great news?” exulted Robin, when they had left the office. “Thirty-five thousand is five thousand less than we figured. But, oh, my goodness, what a job we have undertaken! If we buy those properties, not a thing can be done about tearing them down until college closes. The off-the-campus girls must have a place to live. Then there’s next fall to think of. The dormitory wouldn’t be built so soon. It will take all summer to tear down the houses.”
“‘Sufficient unto the day’,” quoted Marjorie optimistically. “We will have to solve all those problems as we come to them. We could arrange for places for such students as couldn’t find accommodations in the campus houses to live in the town ofHamilton. We would have to make arrangements then with the jitney men to carry them back and forth, morning and night. There would have to be a luncheon provided for them near the campus. Signor Baretti might do that at a special price. This is only tentative. Still it shows that where there’s a will there’s a way.”
“You deserve your name of Marvelous Manager. Jerry made no mistake when she gave it to you,” declared Robin admiringly. “Honestly, Marjorie, I can’t tell you when I have felt so happy! It is so wonderful, this plan of ours! I was half afraid that Mr. Cutler would say, first thing, ‘No, the owner doesn’t care to sell.’ Now we are fairly sure of getting what we want. The minute we hear we can have it, I am going to give a party in my room to the Nineteen Travelers. A year ago I would have given it at Baretti’s. Not now. I have to practice economy. I’m a promoter of large enterprises.”
Following on the heels of exultation, however, came disappointment. On the day before that set for their call at Mr. Cutler’s office, Marjorie received a line from him stating that the owner of the properties was in Chicago and would not return until after Thanksgiving. Immediately he returned, she would be apprised of the fact.
“There’s no use in being disappointed about it,” she said bravely to Jerry. “We have the first chance to buy the properties. I shall not think much about it until nearer the time. The freshies are going to play their first game against the sophs one week from Saturday. I may as well turn my attention to my committee duties. Ahem!”
“You are a person of some importance, aren’t you?” Jerry struck an attitude before Marjorie of mock respect. “Who’s going to win, freshies or sophs?”
“Freshies, I believe.L’enfant terribleis a fine player. She is so clever. For a girl of her heightand weight she moves like lightning. One might think she was rough to watch her. She isn’t. She plays a close game, but a clean one. Those two freshmen who go around with Miss Walbert are good players, too. I am glad Miss Forbes was picked for center. She is a fine girl, Jerry, even though she doesn’t like me,” Marjorie praised with a tolerant smile.
“She is not so worse,” Jerry reluctantly conceded. “I don’t mind her turning up her already turned-up nose at me. I am not stuck on myself. I object to her not appreciating you.”
“So long as I have the fond regard of Jeremiah I can stand a few cold breezes.” Marjorie reached across the width of the table and administered a fond pat to Jerry’s plump hand.
“There’s worse’n me, lady,” croaked Jerry in her tramp voice, which made them both laugh.
It having been decided by the Nineteen Travelers not to undertake the giving of an entertainment until after Thanksgiving, Marjorie had a fair amount of time to give to basket ball. Professor Leonard had asked her and her three assistants on committee to drop in at the gymnasium occasionally during practice. “It will give you a line on the teams. I am anxious for fair play and no favors. I want the morale of these teams kept up. I recall a time when it was sadly lacking.”
The instructor was brutally candid in referring to the underhanded methods of the departed Sans. He would never get over his utter loathing for their lack of principle.
As for Augusta Forbes, energetic center on her team, her unreasoning dislike for Marjorie and Jerry had not abated. She was greatly displeased to find Marjorie at the head of the sports committee. She talked loudly in the privacy of her room about not expecting a square deal from the “wonderful” committee. She attributed her position on the freshman team entirely to Professor Leonard’s superior judgment. As a matter of fact, the committee had had the deciding word. Contrary to usual custom, the players received notices of their election to the teams the following day instead of on the floor. This gave the director and his committee an opportunity to talk matters over before deciding.
Unlike the rest of her Bertram chums, Gussie had put in a more or less stormy fall on the campus. She was not specially tactful and often gave unnecessary offense. She had a habit of blurting out the truth regardless of whose feelings might suffer. Yet she was quick to praise when something pleased her, and generous to a fault.
Unfortunately, she had made the one mistake of briefly cultivating Elizabeth Walbert. The aftereffects of that mistake still lingered to disturb her peace of mind. In keeping with her spiteful resolve, Elizabeth had not lost an opportunity to ridicule or annoy Gussie. Her influence among the half dozen freshmen at the Hall with whom she consorted was great enough to incite them to mischief against tall, babyish Gussie.
One evening she returned from dinner to find all her framed pictures turned toward the wall, her bed dismantled, the sheets and covers tied in hard knots, her text books lodged in the wastebasket. Another rainy evening she returned from the dining room to open windows. The rain was beating in the room and no amount of pressure would close them. Wrathful examination discovered nails as the opposing force—cleverly driven in the sashes so as almost to escape notice. On still another occasion, she was decidedly startled to come upon a masked, black-garbed figure stretched on her couch bed. It turned out to be a dummy made of her clothing and attired in an old black domino; one of the very dominos worn by the Sans on the night they had hazed Marjorie. Elizabeth Walbert had found it tucked away on a top closet shelf of her room, where it had escaped the notice of the maid during the summer house cleaning.
Such practical jokes, to Elizabeth’s mind, amounted to nothing. She yearned to do somethingreally malicious. Ridicule of Gussie appeared to do her little damage. What the “baby elephant” needed was a good scare. With this in mind, she sought the help of Lola Elster and Alida Burton. Gussie had scoffed openly at Lola’s mannish attire and bold manner. She had been treated by both seniors with a haughty disdain which she deeply resented. Therefore she had not hesitated to express to other freshmen a frankly unflattering opinion of Lola and Alida. During her brief stretch of friendship with Elizabeth, Gussie had repeated it to the junior.
It was on a rainy evening in late October that Elizabeth laid her grievance before the two seniors. She had hardly stepped over their threshold when she burst forth with: “I came to have a talk with you about that horrid Miss Forbes. I won’t endure any more insults from her. Will you two help me teach her a lesson?”
“How?” inquired Alida, laying down her text book and staring interestedly.
“That’s what I must think out. She has said rude, cutting things about all of us. This afternoon I met her and a gang of girls coming across the campus. The minute she spied me she said something to the rest of them. The whole crowd turned and walked away around me; just as though they couldn’t bear to come near me, even in passing. Ifeltsohumiliated. That is only a very small item compared to some of the hateful things she has said about me. And why? Simply because I didn’t stay near her every minute at the frolic.”
“Yes, Bess; we have heard all that lingo before,” Lola said with a touch of insolent indifference. “We know your trials with the ‘baby elephant.’ What do you expect us to do about it?Wesimply ignore her. You do the same and she will let you alone.”
“I’ll do more than that. I think,” Elizabeth lowered her voice, “she ought to be hazed.”
“Nosir-ee!” Lola’s lips set tightly after the totally disapproving ejaculation. “Don’t you ever mention hazing in this room. You must be crazy. Why were the Sans expelled? For hazing Miss Dean. You know that. Do you imagine for a second that Alida and I, in oursenior year, would take the chances Les Cairns did?”
“I wouldn’t hazeanyone,” declared Alida emphatically.
“Wise child; neither would I.” Lola fixed half scornful eyes on Elizabeth. “What ever made you light upon such a foolhardy idea? Where and how would you haze her?”
“I don’t know yet what I would do,” pouted Elizabeth. “There are lots of ways of hazing a person. The girls have done a few little things to herroom, as it is. Nothing was said to them about it.” She related with relish the tricks that had been played on Gussie.
“All that’shazing,” flatly maintained Lola. “This freshie must be pretty white or she would have reported it to Remson. You say nothing’s been said. That means she can keep her affairs to herself.”
“Hm-m!” Elizabeth made a pettish gesture. “You are queer. One minute you talk against this hateful creature, the next you praise her. It’s a clear case of blow hot, blow cold with you, Lola.”
“If you don’t like my ways, you had best stay away from me.” Lola half closed her eyes. Her expression was one of utter boredom.
Elizabeth made no answer to this. She was not ready to stay away from Lola.
“Let me tell you something, Bess.” Alida now took the floor, shaking a warning finger at their caller. “Don’t come to us with any scheme for getting even with someone you don’t like. We are not going in for revenge this season. If a really clever scout like Leslie Cairns couldn’t get away with it, neither you nor I could. That is certain.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I can’t say I think Leslie was so very clever. She bore the reputation of being a wonder worker, but she made plenty of flivvers. I could have engineered that hazing of MissDean and carried it through successfully. She made an awful mess of it.”
“I never heard the rights of that affair, so I can’t pass opinion on what you just said.” Lola’s tones were dry to displeasure. She knew enough concerning their caller’s proclivity toward malicious gossiping to weigh well her words. “I prefer to drop the subject entirely, Bess. It does not interest me. Get it straight, once and for all, Alida and I know when we are well off. We aren’t contemplating any changes in our programme, least of all foolish changes.”
“Very well.” The reply bristled with offended vanity. It was gall to the conscienceless junior to be thus baldly snubbed. “You girls areverymagnanimous. Perhaps you haven’t heard much that Miss Forbes has said against both of you. I assure you it has beenconsiderable.”
“Let her rave.” Lola shrewdly ignored the bait thrown out by Elizabeth.
“How does it happen that you always hear more of such gossip than any other girl on the campus whom we know?” demanded Alida a trifle sharply.
“I don’t.” The red poured into Elizabeth’s cheeks at this thrust. “You two stick together all the time. That’s why you are not in touch with campus gossip, as you call it.”
“I see as much of this lovely aggregation as I care to,” Lola yawned. “Forget it, Bess. You can’t stir us into action with that kind of bluff. You are looking for trouble. You thought it would be nice to have us help you hunt it. Nay, nay, my child! It simply isn’t being done in our circle.”
“I might have known better than come to you. I——”
“First sensible thing you’ve said since you came in here,” murmured Lola.
“You are simplyhateful, Lola Elster! Good night!” Elizabeth rose with an angry flop and made for the door.
“Oh, good night,” called Lola tantalizingly after her, as she banged the door. Lola turned to Alida, laughing. “That settles her. How she does hate to have her bluff called! Little she cares what that Forbes kid says against us. She only thinks of herself. If we were silly enough to help her in her schemes, we’d get the worst of it in the long run. If trouble came she’d slide from under and leave us to bear the brunt of it.”
“Don’t I know it?” nodded Alida. “Bess is good company when she chooses to be, but I never feel that she can be trusted. If I had mentioned to her tonight that I did not like Miss Forbes, I’d probably hear next week that I had said she was a villain ofthe deepest dye and that I was going to have her expelled from Hamilton. Bess weaves a whole hut from one wisp of straw.”
“I decline to furnish a single wisp, then,” Lola said lightly. “Bess is riding to a fall. I propose to be so far away from her when it happens that I won’t hear the crash.”
Marjorie thought that she had never longed so much for a holiday to come as Thanksgiving. She was eager to go home and see her general and captain. Then there was Connie’s wedding to be considered. Her mother had written her that the gown she was to wear as maid of honor to Constance was ready and waiting for her. Marjorie did not know its color, texture, what kind of wedding Connie was to have as to color scheme. All of that was being kept away from her as a delightful secret. Naturally she had a lively yearning for home and its joyous surprises.
There was also the question of the boarding-house proposition which could not be answered until after Thanksgiving. She hoped the owner would not disappoint her and Robin again by remaining away from Hamilton.
She made a valiant effort to forget her own yearnings in taking a kindly interest in basket ballpractice, which went on almost every afternoon in the gymnasium. She soon found that the scrub and official sophomore teams welcomed her presence at practice. The freshman team did not. Gussie Forbes glowered rudely at her whenever she chanced to be near enough. The two freshmen forwards, friends of Elizabeth Walbert’s, showed disfavor of Marjorie’s attendance. The other two freshman players took color, chameleon-like, from the belligerent trio and cast indifferently unfriendly glances in her direction.
It did not take Marjorie long to fathom this state of affairs. While it amused her, she was mildly resentful of it. Resolved not to be intimidated by a few black looks, she calmly ignored the situation. Soon, however, she began to notice that internal war raged on that particular team. As center, Augusta Forbes had not struck a bed of roses. With four of her team-mates arrayed against her, her position had become well-nigh unbearable.
Her childish heart wrapped up in basket ball, she exhibited a noteworthy patience. She was keenly proud of her position on the team and worked with might and main, schooling herself to be indifferent to the contemptible little stings delivered by her team-mates. Considering her tempestuous disposition, she showed remarkable self-restraint, an indicationof the fine young woman she would become when college had worn away the rough edges.
“See here, Marvelous Manager,” Jerry began one afternoon as the two stood watching a bit of snappy playing, which Augusta had just exhibited. “L’enfant terribleis not getting a fair deal. Did you know that?”
“Yes,I know it,” replied Marjorie with savage emphasis. “It is too bad. Something will have to be done about it. I have noticed it before today. I wanted to see if the rest of the committee would. I wished to be sure that I wasn’t over critical. Muriel mentioned it to me last week. Robin and Elaine noticed that the team was at loggerheads on Tuesday. I hardly know how to proceed. I hate to call a meeting of the team and lay down the law to them. It will only make Miss Forbes’ position more uncomfortable, I am afraid. She plays with her whole heart. They keep one eye on their game and the other on her.”
“She’s a star player,” praised Jerry. “I can’t help but admire her for the way she plugs along under such stress. Yes, Marj,l’enfant terriblewill turn out well, I predict, even if she never learns to appreciate us.”
“It seems to be Marj’s duty to wind up this snarl,” commented Marjorie satirically. “I do notrelish the task. I wish the freshies would not jangle. The soph team is positively seraphic.”
While Marjorie was casting about in her fertile brain for a good opening toward adjusting matters on the freshman team, the way opened with amazing celerity. She had attended practice on Thursday. The following Monday she had not. It being a rainy afternoon there were almost no spectators. An altercation rose between a girl on the scrub team which the freshies were pitted against, and Augusta. The scrub player claimed a foul on Gussie which the latter hotly contested. Gussie’s team-mates stood up for the scrub. The end of her patience reached, she turned on them all in a fury of words, stinging and truthful.
“The whole trouble with you four girls is you want to see me off the team,” she concluded. “Sorry I can’t oblige you, I mean glad. I play fairly. But you say, I do not. In your hearts you know I do. You had best tend to your own playing instead of picking flaws with me. I play a better game than any of you. If we lose the first game of the season, it won’t be my fault.”
“Nothing conceited about you, is there?” sneered Alma Hurst, the most disagreeable of the four objectors.
“I know what I can do on the floor,” composedly retorted Gussie.
“Yes, and I know what I can do off the floor,” threatened Alma. “We would have a fine team if it weren’t for you. It’s a case of four against one. I think our word will stand. I shall see that it does.”
“Go as far as you like,” scornfully dared Gussie. “You can’t bother me.”
“We’ll see about that,” asserted Alma, and walked away, accompanied by her three irate supporters.
Gussie left the gymnasium that afternoon with a heavy heart. She had defied the quartette of oppressors, but she had no faith in herself.
“I suppose I’m done for,” she reflected gloomily, as she forged through a driving rain to Wayland Hall. “They will complain to the sports committee or to Professor Leonard. Those seniors on the sports committee hate me. They will be perfectly delighted to put me off the team. They will make Professor Leonard think I am the most hateful, cheating person on the campus and he will ask me to resign. Just as though I would cheat in basket ball. There’d be no fun in playing unfairly.” Gussie choked back a low sob. She dashed her hand angrily across her eyes. “I won’t cry. I’m not such a big baby as that, I hope.”
On the following afternoon Marjorie found a note, in the bulletin board at the Hall, whichbrought a quick light of anger to her brown eyes. It read:
Miss Marjorie Dean,
Chairman, Sports Committee,
Wayland Hall, Campus.
Dear Miss Dean:
We appeal to you to take prompt action in the case of Miss Augusta Forbes who is a detriment to the freshman team. She is rough and unfair in her playing. Besides, she has accused us of being untruthful and used what we should call harsh language to us. We try to work peacefully and in harmony, but she is so unruly we simply cannot endure her. As there are four of us, all of the same opinion, I think our plea should be heard and this disturber removed from the team. Let us hear from you in the way of justice.
Yours truly,
Alma Hurst,
Official Freshman Team.
“They’ll certainly hear from me,” Marjorie commented, a smile flickering about the corners of her mouth. “As forl’enfant terrible. Poor old child!”
She sat down on the top step of the landing, where she had so often paused to read her letters, and re-read the preemptory letter. She continuedto sit there for a little while, evidently turning over in her mind something that had more than once visited it.
Unable to decide, she rose and went on up the stairs. Stopping only to lay her notebooks on the center table of her room, she next sought Muriel.
“Read that.” She dropped the letter on the table before which Muriel sat writing industriously.
Muriel glanced through and gave a short, scornful laugh, “Nothing like asking for what one wants. Such a modest request! Strip the team of its shining light to please four sore-heads! What are you going to say to the big four?”
“Enough in a few words to let them understand that I understand them. I needed your official support. I see I have it. I knew I had already. Now I shall show this effusion to Robin and Elaine. I am going over to Silverton Hall. If Jerry comes here hunting me, tell her I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“All right. Be sure to write those snippies a good, stiff letter, and let me see it,” called Muriel after Marjorie as she went out the door.
Robin and Elaine were equally disapproving of the letter written by Miss Hurst.
“I think Miss Forbes should be told of this attempt to oust her from the team. Of course she must have known all along of their feeling againsther. That accounts for the lack of fellowship among them that I noticed last Tuesday. It is not fair to keep her in the dark about it,” Robin declared.
“I had thought of telling her,” Marjorie said slowly. “I could write these kickers the kind of letter they need. They would then either have to treat Miss Forbes well or I should ask for their resignations from the team. They are in the wrong, I am sure. I will not countenance any injustice to any player while I am chairman of the sports committee. I feel, however, that I ought to ask Miss Forbes for her side of the matter in fairness to them. They have stated their case against her.”
“So you should,” Robin was quick to agree.
“Oh, by all means, tell her, Marjorie,” advocated gentle Elaine. “Then she will be sure that we are standing up for her.”
This was good advice. Unfortunately, neither Robin nor Elaine knew of Gussie’s unreasonable attitude toward Marjorie. She considered this phase of the affair rather ruefully as she walked across the campus through the November dusk. Her best method of approaching Gussie was to go to her room. Then if the recalcitrant “Gus” refused to talk with her, no one other than Florence Hart, Gussie’s room-mate, would be present at the failure.
“I’ll have to in and see Miss Forbes,” Marjorieinformed Jerry with a sigh. Jerry had been allowed to read the annoying letter.
“How nice!” satirized Jerry. “You had better poke your head in at her door, say what you must and beat it back here in a hurry. You will be perfectly safe, at least, if you follow my advice.”
Marjorie pictured this move on her part and giggled. “I think I’ll go and see her now. I have just time enough before dinner. If I put it off it will be harder and harder to do. I don’t wish to go one single bit, Jeremiah.” Her laughing face suddenly sobered.
“I don’t blame you. Still, it may all turn out for the best. Perhaps if this big goose understands that you are trying to help her she will change her policy. Glad I’m not on that sports committee. I have all I can do to manage Jerry Jeremiah Geraldine Macy, let alone managing anyone else.”
Marjorie started down the hall on her difficult errand, wondering what to say first to Gussie Forbes. She hoped Miss Hart would answer the door. Were Gussie to do so she might easily close the door in her caller’s face. Having something of importance to say, Marjorie was anxious to say it and close the subject.
She knocked twice before an answer came. When the door opened, she found herself looking into the frowning face ofl’enfant terrible. Before Gussie could close the door, had she intended to do so, Marjorie spoke with pretty impulsiveness.
“May I come in for a few moments, Miss Forbes? I wish particularly to see you.”
For answer Gussie merely opened the door wider and stood aside for Marjorie to pass her. She thought she understood the nature of the call. Miss Dean had come to tell her she was no longer a member of the freshman team. Well, she was notafraid to face this senior who had made fun of her on sight.
“Will you have a chair?” she said formally, closing the door and coming forward until she stood directly in front of her caller.
“Thank you.” Marjorie sat down, her brown eyes fixed on her reserved hostess. There was a world of kindness in their beautiful depths which Gussie could not overlook. She reluctantly sprang to the conclusion: “She’s sorry for me. She wants to let me down easily.”
“I have brought with me a letter, Miss Forbes. I should like you to read it. It displeased the sports committee very much. I beg of you not to take it to heart. It is not worth one minute’s discomfort on your part.”
Gussie accepted the letter in wonder. This explanation of Marjorie’s did not tally with what she had expected the senior would say. A bright flush mantled her checks as she read it.
“They threatened to do this,” she said dully as she returned the letter to Marjorie. “I play basket ball fairly. I am not rough, either. I had a fuss with a girl on the scrub team yesterday. The rest of our team stood up for her instead of me. I would have resigned before this, only I like to play basket ball. I saw no reason why I should give up my position.”
“There is no reason why you should not play,” warmly returned Marjorie. “No one could play a fairer game than you. Our committee have watched and admired your playing. All four of us used to play on the college teams. So we know a star player when we see one. Only lately we all saw that you were not being fairly treated. We had decided to put an end to such unfairness when I received this letter. I have seen the others on the sports committee. They are of the same mind as myself. We shall see that justice is done you.”
Augusta’s face had begun to clear as Marjorie talked. It brightened with each succeeding word. She forgot her earlier grudge against the other girl. She was hearing herself appreciated and it was very sweet to her.
“If these four players on the freshman team,” Marjorie continued, “refuse to be amicable on the floor, the sports committee will demandtheirresignations. We have the authority to do so and shall use it if necessary. It is our aim to have only pleasantness in connection with basket ball. Friendly rivalry between teams and harmony among the members of each team. That is the only basis on which to conduct college sports. I have seen it tried the other way, and it doesn’t pay.”
“If they resigned, then there wouldn’t be anyfreshman team,” stammered Gussie, thinking instantly of this dire calamity.
“Oh, yes there would,” Marjorie assured with a friendly laugh. “You would be center on a new team. Your position on the freshman team is safe. Please understand that, Miss Forbes. The other freshmen may find theirs shaky.”
Gussie stared at Marjorie with wide, solemn eyes. “I did not know you were like this,” she blurted. “What was the matter with me that I misjudged you so? I thought you and Miss Macy made fun of me on the first evening we were at Hamilton.”
“Miss Macy made some funny remarks about the noise you were all making and about you being freshies,” Marjorie felt impelled to confess, “but she did not intend to be ill-natured. We laughed, because, Jeremiah, as we call her, is almost always funny.”
“You will never forgive me,” was Gussie’s shame-faced prognostication. “The girls told me I had made a mistake. I wouldn’t listen to them. I don’t deserve your kindness to me, Miss Dean. When Miss Hurst said she was going to have me dropped from the team, I thought you would be glad of an excuse to drop me. So you can see for yourself what a horrid, suspicious person I am.”
For answer Marjorie laughed merrily. “I think you are very honest and straightforward,” she differed.“I am not sorry this letter was written. It has brought us an understanding of each other which should lead to friendship. If I were in your place, Miss Forbes, I would go on working on the team precisely as though nothing had happened. I shall write Miss Hurst this evening. I imagine after she receives my letter she will stop this annoying persecution. That is what it amounts to.”
After a little further conversation with the now placated Gussie, Marjorie shook hands with her and left her in a beatified state of mind.
“There is nothing truer than that old proverb, ‘It’s an ill wind that blows no one good,’” was Marjorie’s salutation as she entered her room. “By rights I should send Miss Hurst a note of thanks for putting me on good terms with Miss Forbes.”
Marjorie’s gay utterance was indicative of the success of her errand. She was genuinely happy over the change in Augusta Forbes toward herself. Had Gussie been one of whom her upright mind could not truly approve, she would not have been annoyed at the freshman’s misunderstanding of her. Knowing the stubborn girl to be sterling at heart, it had hurt Marjorie to be thus misjudged. It had hurt her still more to know that Augusta saw Jerry in a false light
“I notice you weren’t extinguished,” commentedJerry, her eyes resting with fond humor upon her pretty chum. “Tell me about it.”
Marjorie complied with the request. She finished with: “I explained a little about that night we saw her at Baretti’s; assured her we weren’t making fun of her. I asked her to come and see us soon. She said she would. She will know, after she has talked with you about five minutes, Jeremiah, that you are the best old treasure that ever was.”
“Am I so wonderful as all that? Dear me!” Jerry simpered, raising her chubby hands in mock surprise.
“Yes, you are, and you know it.” Marjorie made an affectionate little rush at Jerry and caught her around the waist. In the absence of Captain and General, she sometimes treated Jerry to these sudden, playful proofs of her affection. Nothing pleased Jerry more.
“I won’t have time to write an answer to Miss Hurst’s note,” she said, glancing at the clock. “I’ll do it directly after dinner and mail it before eight-thirty. There is a mail collection at nine. I want it to reach her tomorrow morning. I shall attend practice tomorrow afternoon and see that Miss Forbes has fair play.” The determined glint in Marjorie’s eyes spelled justice to the injured party.
Marjorie did not linger at the dinner table that evening. She hastened upstairs the moment shehad eaten dessert and set to work at the letter. Her fountain pen poised thoughtfully over the paper, she considered Miss Hurst’s note for a brief season. Then she wrote:
“Dear Miss Hurst:
“Your letter received. In justice to Miss Forbes I would say that her case has been under observation of the sports committee for the past week. The findings are these—she is a fine and honorable player, conforming to the rules of basket ball in every respect. She is not a disturber, in any sense, and the sports committee must refuse to countenance unfair reports against her. I find her scrupulously truthful. The committee have not been pleased with the churlish treatment which has been accorded Miss Forbes by the other members of the team. We would advocate a marked change on the part of yourself and your team-mates in this direction. Personal spite makes poor team work.
“Yours sincerely,
“Marjorie Dean,
“Chairman Sports Committee.”
“There!” she exclaimed, as she addressed an envelope to Alma Hurst at Acasia House. “That unpleasant labor is out of the way.”
“Let me read it?” begged Jerry. “You need my official criticism.”
“Read it, then. You don’t allow me to have any secrets from you,” Marjorie complained in feigned vexation.
“No indeed,” emphasized Jerry. “Good work,” she approved, having read the letter. “The real straight-from-the-shoulder variety. That ought to give pause to the Amalgamated Sorehead Society. That’s a fine name for them. I shall tell it to Gloomy Gus when she and I grow to be bosom friends.”
“Better not,” warned Marjorie, breaking into laughter. “She is quite capable of hurling it at them in a moment of wrath. Don’t furnish her with ammunition. She is a handful, all by herself.”
Drawing on her fur coat, for the evening was snappy with frost, Marjorie went bareheaded out of the Hall and across the campus, diagonally to the nearest mail-box. About to cross the main drive on the return to the house, she stood aside for a passing car. The glare of an arc light over the drive picked out plainly the faces of the two occupants of the car. They did not note her, she being in the shadow.
“Oh-h!” a soft little breath of surprise escaped her. She remained in the shadow watching the car. It stopped in front of Wayland Hall. One ofthe occupants, Elizabeth Walbert, left the car and hurried up the steps of the Hall. The car turned in the open space before the house, darted away instantly. It shot past Marjorie at high speed. This time she hardly glimpsed the driver’s face. She had already recognized it, however, as that of Leslie Cairns. She had not withdrawn into the shadow for the purpose of spying upon the two girls. She had merely preferred not to encounter them. She resolved to tell no one of having seen Leslie on the campus. She could not refrain from wondering at the ex-senior’s temerity, in thus invading a territory now forbidden to her.
“It’s a perfectly sweet dress! Of course it is just a wee, tiny bit better than any other you’ve ever given me, you two old dears!”
Marjorie made her usual loving onslaught upon her smiling general and captain who sat side by side on the living room davenport admiring her. It was the evening of Constance Stevens’ wedding and Marjorie was proudly parading her maid of honor frock before her indulgent parents. She had just come down stairs and was bubbling over with happiness at the beauty of the gown, her flowers, and the prospect in general directly ahead of her.
“Right face. Forward march to the end of the room,” ordered General Dean, gently holding Marjorie off from him. “Your distinguished captain and I can’t judge your fine feathers at such close range.”
Marjorie obediently paraded the length of the room and back, a vision of youthful enchantment.The pale yellow of her satin gown brought out vividly her dark hair and starry eyes. She had once given Connie a blue gown. This time Connie had been the donor. She had also insisted on furnishing even the white velvet evening coat, lined with the same satin as Marjorie’s frock, along with the other accessories of the costume. It lay across a chair, waiting for its lovely wearer. On the center table reposed a huge cluster of yellow chrysanthemums, tied with pale satin ribbon.
“Break ranks. Time for the gallant army to move on.” Mr. Dean consulted his watch.
“You didn’t say what you thought of my frock,” Marjorie reminded.
“I dare not. I have no desire to encourage vanity in my own child. Besides, soldiers don’t wear frocks. They wear uniforms,” teased Mr. Dean.
“Much obliged,” Marjorie nodded saucy thanks. “I mean for the compliment. It was a compliment, even though obscure.”
“You are so welcome,” gushed Mr. Dean. “Let me offer the army my arms.” He politely crooked his elbows to his wife and daughter.
Laughing, the two accepted his gallant offer, and the trio swept grandly from the living room.
“Captain deserves a whole lot of compliments,” Marjorie declared as they walked down the drivethree abreast to the limousine. “She looks so beautiful tonight!”
“I had already observed that fact,” returned her general, his eyes admiringly resting on his wife. Always a beautiful woman, Mrs. Dean was particularly distinctive in the white lace gown she was wearing. “You haven’t complimented me yet,” he pointedly added.
“You mustn’t ask for praise. Just be nice and folks will praise you of their own accord,” Marjorie gave his arm a vigorous pinch.
“I see!” He appeared to ponder. “Pretty is as pretty does. I suppose that cruel pinch belongs with the advice.”
“It does. Want another?”
“No, thank you. One more and I shall balk. Then who will see you to the wedding?”
In this frolicsome strain the Deans set out for Gray Gables to see the beautiful culmination of a romance begun with Marjorie’s gift of a blue dress to a girl who had known little then of happiness.
As Constance had said to Marjorie, on the night of Jerry’s and Hal’s dance, only her near and dear ones were to be present at her marriage to Lawrence Armitage. This happy event was to take place at Gray Gables at eight o’clock that evening.
Due to the time of year, Constance had decided on a chrysanthemum wedding, these being herfoster father, Mr. Stevens’, favorite flowers. Laurie held Mr. Stevens next to his own father in affection. He reverenced him as a master musician. Both he and Constance were glad to defer to his preference in this respect.
During the drive to Gray Gables, Marjorie found her mother’s hand and held it. She was feeling rather emotional in a very quiet fashion. Connie’s wedding was not yet quite a reality. Could it be that at eight o’clock that evening Connie was actually to be married? It seemed only yesterday that she and Constance were walking home from high school, grumbling over the length of next days’ French lesson.
Her captain understanding her sudden change of mood asked no questions, simply passed her free arm about Marjorie’s shoulders. Only the day before she had observed to her husband: “Here is our Constance on the eve of marriage. Marjorie is still nothing but a large child. Her ideas of love are very vague.”
“I am glad of it,” Mr. Dean had returned. “I hope her romance to come is still far distant.”
Arrived at Gray Gables they found the large square reception hall and drawing room had been converted into a chrysanthemum bower. The clean fresh scent of chrysanthemums filled the air. At the foot of the wide staircase were two huge vases oflarge, fringed, white mums. From this point a white ribboned aisle began which extended to one end of the drawing room, where an exquisite banking of palms and yellow and white mums marked the spot before which Constance and Laurie would stand to repeat their vows of deathless love and loyalty. Along each side of the ribboned way bloomed a hedge of golden and white mums of the small, bushy variety. The aisles reminded Marjorie of the chrysanthemum walk at Wayland Hall, designed by Brooke Hamilton.
“Go on up stairs, Marjorie,” Miss Allison directed, after welcoming the Deans. “Constance looks so lovely. She is waiting anxiously for you.”
Marjorie needed no second instructions. She ran up the stairs in her usual buoyant fashion and knocked at a familiar door.
“Come in.” Constance rose from before her dressing table as Marjorie entered. The two met in the middle of the room and embraced. For a long moment they stood thus. In the eyes of each were tears which they both strove to check.
“I’m so happy, Marjorie, and sad, and my feelings are a general jumble,” half sobbed Constance.
Marjorie nodded through tears. “I know. I feel that way, too, just because it’s you. I don’t want to cry and make my eyelids pink and neither do you,” she added with a tremulous laugh.
This brought a smile to Constance’s lovely but distinctly solemn features. The first rush of emotion past, the chums felt better.
“How dear you are in your wedding gown!” Marjorie exclaimed. She had now stepped far enough away from Constance to obtain a good view of her. The dress was of heavy white satin, beautiful in its simplicity of design. On a white-covered stand nearby lay the long fine lace veil with its perfumed garniture of lilies of the valley and orange blossoms. Beside it was the bride’s bouquet, a shower of the same sweet lilies and orange blossoms.
“This is Laurie’s gift to me.” Constance touched tenderly a string of luscious pearls adorning her white throat. “I want you to help me adjust my veil. Aunt Susan’s maid wished to, but I wouldn’t let her. I preferred you to do it, Marjorie.”
“I’d love to. You know that,” Marjorie left off admiring the pearls to make this warm assurance. “Go and sit on your dressing-table chair. Then you can see me fix your veil and be sure that you are satisfied with it.”
Constance obediently complied. Marjorie lightly lifted the fairy-like bridal insignia and placed it upon her friend’s head.
“I am your fairy god-mother,” she said in a dramatic voice. “On your wedding night I come tobring you every known happiness. I place the chaplet of love upon your head and grant you a long, untroubled life.”
Both girls laughed at this bit of fancy, the oval mirror reflecting a charming picture as Marjorie carefully adjusted the veil over Connie’s golden curls.
Presently the floor clock in the room ticked off ten minutes to eight. Next Miss Allison entered with: “Are you ready, dear?”
“Yes, Auntie.” Constance rose and held out both hands to the woman whose great-heartedness had changed the current of her whole life. “I wish I could thank you for all you’ve done for me, Aunt Susan,” she said with wistful sincerity. “It is so beautiful to have this kind of wedding from the home you gave me and surrounded by my very best friends.”
“Nonsense, child,” declared Miss Allison with gentle energy. “Think of all you have given me to make me happy. Though I shall miss you more when you are in Europe, simply because you are farther away, I feel this to be a particularly wonderful ending of a Thanksgiving Day. Now I must leave you girls and go on down stairs. Be ready to descend on the first notes of the wedding march, Connie. Don’t keep your bridegroom waiting.” With this touch of humor she left them.
As Mr. Stevens, Uncle John Roland and little Charlie were detailed to give away the bride, Professor Harmon, Laurie’s old friend at Weston High School, and three members of the Sanford orchestra formerly directed by Mr. Stevens, had been invited to play the wedding music.
With the first dulcet strains of Mendelssohn’s immortal Wedding March, Constance began a slow descent of the staircase, followed by Marjorie. It seemed eminently fitting that Marjorie, who had so loyally stood by Constance through thick and thin, should now be making this short though momentous pilgrimage with her.
At the foot of the stairs, Laurie, looking handsomer than Marjorie had ever before seen him, awaited his bride. Hal, his boyhood friend, stood beside him. Marjorie flashed him a bright, friendly glance as the two of them fell in behind their chums and began the walk through the flowery aisle to the bank of chrysanthemums. There Mr. Armitage, Miss Allison, Uncle John, Mr. Stevens and Charlie awaited them. Laurie had wished matters thus arranged.
Gathered informally in the spacious room were the Lookouts of the original chapter, Miss Archer, Mr. La Salle, two or three Weston High School instructors whom Laurie had specially liked, a dozen or more of his high school comrades, two or threefriends of his father’s, and his dead mother’s only sister. These made up the wedding guests. As the last telling strains of the wedding march died into that impressive silence which always immediately precedes the bridal ceremony, the company moved forward and formed a wide, worshiping circle about the wedding party. Then the rector of the Sanford Episcopal Church began the fine, old Episcopalian ring service.
It was the first wedding in which Marjorie had taken a part more important than that of guest. Constance was also the first one of the Lookouts to be married. So thoroughly impressed was she with Constance and Laurie, she gave no special thought to Hal. He was wondering with might and main if Marjorie might possibly awaken to love as a result of the marriage of the best friend of each of them. Hal had learned his lesson, however, on the night of the dance he and Jerry had given. He had then understood definitely that Marjorie wished to keep far away from any sentiment for him deeper than friendship. He was resolved to keep to this plane, no matter how bitterly it grieved him. He would never give Marjorie up as his prospective wife until he heard from her own lips that she did not love him. Still, he would never again make the faintest approach toward sentiment unless he saw for himself that it was not distasteful to her. Hehad set a hard task for himself. He was determined to carry it through. Boyishly, he told himself that if ever he asked Marjorie to marry him and she refused him, he would never marry.
The ceremony over, Constance was passed from one to another of her dear ones, while Laurie received the firm handclasps of his men friends. As the hands of Hal and Laurie met, their eyes exchanged glances. In Laurie’s was untold sympathy. In Hal’s was an expression which might have been either fortitude or proud resignation. Laurie could not judge which. He could only hope, as he had recently told Constance, that Marjorie would wake up some day to what a real prince old Hal was.