Betty Wales Senior | Page 6

Babbie had said, there was only one 19--, and with plenty of "passed up" courses to her credit she could work as little as she pleased this year and never go to a class-meeting after to-day.
"Let's stop for the B's," she suggested, as they went out into the September sunshine. "Bob hates meetings as much as I do. I'm not going to be the only one to be disciplined."
Before they had reached the Westcott, the B's shouted to them from their hammocks in the apple-orchard, which they reluctantly abandoned to go to the meeting. Bob had just had an exciting runaway--her annual spills were a source of great amusement to her friends and of greater terror to her doting parents--and she was so eager to recount her adventures and display her bruises, that nothing more was said about Madeline's plan for Eleanor.
The class-meeting was large and exciting. The election of a senior president is as thrilling an event at Harding as the coronation of a Czar of all the Russias to the world at large. It was a foregone conclusion that Marie Howard would be the unanimous choice of the class, but until the act was fairly consummated--and indeed until Marie had been dined at Cuyler's and overwhelmed with violets to the satisfaction of her many friends--the excitement would not abate. There was a pleasant uncertainty about the other class officers. Six avowed candidates for the treasurership quarreled good naturedly over their respective qualifications for the position, each one in her secret soul intending to withdraw in favor of her dearest friend among the other five. In another corner of the room an agitated group discussed the best disposition of the ten thousand dollar fund.
"I don't think we ought to dispose of it hastily," Christy Mason was saying. "It's a lot of money and we ought to consider very carefully before we decide."
"Besides," added Emily Davis flippantly, "as long as we delay our decision, we shall continue to be persons of importance in the eyes of the faculty. It's comical to see how deferential they all are. I took dinner at the Burton Sunday, and afterward Miss Raymond invited a few of us into her room for coffee. She didn't mention the money,--she's too clever for that,--but she talked a lot about the constant need for new books in her department. 'You can't run an English department properly unless you can give your pupils access to the newest books'--that was the burden of her refrain. Marion Lustig was quite impressed. I think she means to propose endowing an English department library fund."
"Dr. Hinsdale wants books for his department, and a lot of psychological journals--all about ghosts and mediums--that college professors look up about, you know," Nita Reese ended somewhat vaguely.
"And Miss Kent is hoping we'll give the whole sum to her to spend for another telescope," added Babe, whose specialty, if one might dignify her unscholarly enthusiasms by that name, was astronomy.
"Every one of the faculty wants it for something," said Christy.
"Naturally. They're all human, aren't they?" laughed Emily Davis, just as Rachel appeared in the doorway, looking very dignified and impressive in a cap and gown.
"Is the tassel right?" she whispered anxiously, as she passed a group of girls seated near the platform steps.
"No, put it the other side--unless you're a Ph. D.," returned Roberta Lewis in a sepulchral whisper. "Father has one. He lectures at Johns Hopkins," she added, in answer to nudges from her neighbors and awestruck inquiries as to "how she knew."
Then Rachel called the meeting to order. She thanked the class for the honor they had done her, and hoped she had not disappointed them.
"I've tried not to consider any clique or crowd," she said--"not to think anything about the small groups in our class, but to find out what the whole big, glorious class of 19-- wanted"--Rachel's voice rang out proudly--"and then to carry out its wishes. I believe in public sentiment--in the big generous feeling that makes you willing to give up your own little plans because they are not big and fine enough to suit the whole class. I hope the elections to-day may be conducted in that spirit. We each want what we all want, I am sure. We know one another pretty well by this time, but perhaps it will help us in choosing the right persons for senior officers if some of the candidates' friends make brief nominating speeches. It is now in order to nominate some one for the office of senior president."
Christy was on her feet in an instant, nominating Marie Howard, in a graceful little speech that mentioned her tact and energy and class spirit, recalled some of the things she had done to make the class of 19-- proud of her, and called attention to