Grace Harlowe's Sophomore Year at High School

by Josephine Chase

  CHAPTER IX

  AN UNSUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

  There were two subjects of interest under discussion in the sophomoreclass. One was the coming ball, the other the story of the lost signals,which had gone the round of the class. The general opinion seemed to bethat Anne had betrayed the team, and with the unthinking cruelty of youth,the girls had resolved to teach her a lesson. Miriam's accusation had beenrepeated from one girl to another, with unconscious additions, until Anneloomed up in the light of a traitor, and was treated accordingly.

  Grace had told Anne the next day the details of the meeting, and in somemeasure prepared her for what would undoubtedly follow. Anne had laughed alittle at the account of Miriam's remarks regarding her father, and thegirls' evident disapproval of the theatrical profession.

  "How silly they are," she said to Grace, who felt secretly relieved toknow that Anne was not mortally hurt over Miriam's attack. "They don'tknow anything about professional people. Of course, there are plenty ofworthless actors, but some of them are really very fine men and women.Miriam may abuse my family all she chooses, but I do feel unhappy to thinkthat those girls believe me dishonorable and under-handed."

  "They wouldn't if they had any sense," responded Grace hotly, "I neverbelieved that those girls could be so snobbish. I always thought themabove such petty meanness. Don't pay any attention to them, Anne. Theyaren't worth it. I am going to interview Julia Crosby and make heracknowledge that she wasn't referring to you the other day. There issomething queer about it all. I believe that there is some kind of secretunderstanding between Miriam and Julia; that this is a deliberate plot ontheir part to injure you and humiliate me, and I shall find out the truthbefore I am through."

  "But what has Julia Crosby against me?" queried Anne, "I hardly know her."

  "She hasn't forgotten the way David defended you at Mrs. Gray's Christmasball last year," answered Grace, "Besides, you're a sophomore. Isn't thata good enough reason?"

  "I suppose it is," said Anne wearily.

  Grace kept her word and hailed Julia Crosby on the following afternoon asshe was leaving the High School. It seemed a favorable opportunity forJulia was alone.

  "Miss Crosby," said Grace coldly. "I should like to speak to you about avery important matter."

  "There's nothing to hinder you, Miss Harlowe," replied Julia brusquely."I'm here. Are you sure that it really is important?"

  She stopped and eyed Grace insolently.

  "I am very sure that it is important, Miss Crosby," said Grace. "Not longago a certain sophomore overheard you telling a member of your class thatwe sophomores could thank a girl in our class for our basketball defeat. Acertain girl had already been unjustly accused of betraying our signals.When your remark was repeated to the team, they immediately decided thatyou meant her. Since then her classmates have taken the matter up and aredetermined to cut her acquaintance."

  "Well what has all this childish prattle to do with me?" demanded Juliarudely.

  "It has this to do with you, that you can set the matter right by sayingit was not Anne. You know perfectly well she had nothing to do with it. Idon't know how you got those signals, but I do know that Anne never gavethem to you."

  "Did I say that she did?" asked Julia.

  "No," said Grace, "neither did you say that she didn't."

  "Very true," replied Julia in a disagreeable tone, "and I don't intend tosay so either. She may or she may not have given them to me. I'll nevertell. She's a snippy, conceited, little prig, and a little punishment forher sins will do her good."

  "You are a cruel, heartless girl," cried Grace angrily. "Knowing Anne tobe innocent, you refuse to clear her name of the suspicion resting uponit. Let me tell you one thing. I know who tripped me the day of the game,and so does Anne. If you don't clear Anne instantly, I shall go straightto Miss Thompson with it."

  Grace's threat went home. Julia stood in actual dread of the principal. Itlooked as though the tables had been turned at last. If Grace went to MissThompson what a commotion there would be!

  In a moment, however, Julia recovered herself. What was it Miss Thompsonhad said about rough play? Ah, Julia remembered now, and with therecollection of the principal's words came the means of worsting GraceHarlowe in her efforts to vindicate Anne.

  "You may go to Miss Thompson if you think it wise," she said with amalicious smile, "but I wouldn't advise it--that is, unless you havegotten over caring for basketball."

  "What do you mean?" asked Grace. Then like a flash she understood. If sheshould tell Miss Thompson the truth, the principal would believe her.Julia would receive her just deserts but, oh, bitter thought, there wouldbe no more basketball that season.

  Grace felt that she had no right to sacrifice the pleasure of so manyothers, even for Anne's sake. It would only increase the feeling againstboth Anne and herself, and after all, Julia might still hold out in herinsinuations against Anne.

  "How can you be so contemptible?" she said to her smiling enemy. "Younever win anything honestly. I see it is useless for me to appeal to youfor something which you cannot give, and that is fair play!" With a slightbow, Grace walked quickly away, leaving Julia a little astonished at hersudden departure and not at all pleased at Grace's frankly expressedopinion.

  Grace lost no time in relating to Anne her fruitless interview with thejunior captain.

  "I am so humiliated to think I failed. I expected that threatening to tellMiss Thompson would bring her to her senses, but she is too cunning forme," sighed Grace.

  The two girls were walking home from school.

  "Shall you tell Nora and Jessica?" asked Anne.

  "No," said Grace. "Let us keep the sprained ankle part of the story asecret. They are loyal to you, at any rate, and Nora would be so angry. Iam afraid I couldn't keep her from going straight to Miss Thompson andmaking a general mess of things. I am so sorry, Anne, dear, but I guess weshall have to weather the gale together. It will die out after a while,just as all those things do. Hush! Don't say anything now. Here come Noraand Jessica."

  "What do you think!" cried Nora. "Edna Wright is giving a party nextSaturday, and she isn't going to invite either you or Anne."

  "How shocking!" said Grace. "We shall both die of grief at having beenslighted."

  She spoke lightly, and no one but Anne guessed how much the news hurt her.

  "We are not going," declared Nora, "and we told her so."

  "What did she say?" asked Grace.

  "We didn't give her time to answer," said Nora, "but rushed off to findyou. The whole thing is perfectly ridiculous! The idea of a lot of sillylittle school girls thinking they own the earth. It's all Miriam's fault.She has tried to be leader of her class ever since it was organized butmark what I say, she'll never accomplish it. Pride will get a fall, one ofthese days, and I hope I'll be around when it happens."

  "Never mind, Nora," said Grace soothingly. "Anne and I don't care. We'llgive a party at the same time, to our own crowd. I'll tell you what we'lldo. We will have a surprise party for Mrs. Gray. I'll write to Tom Grayand ask him to come down for next Saturday. That will be a double surpriseto dear Mrs. Gray."

  "Fine!" cried Jessica. "We'll have Hippy and Reddy and David. Then ourcircle will be complete. The other crowd will be furious. Those boys areall popular, and I know that Edna intends to invite them."

  "Let's tell them at once, then," said Nora, "before the other girls get achance."

  The boys were promptly invited. Grace sent a note to Tom Gray, who foundit possible to get away for the week end.

  Reddy, Hippy and David received invitations to the other party, butpolitely declined. Miriam endeavored to point out to her brother the follyof his conduct, but David simply stared at her and said nothing. He knewto what lengths her jealousy had carried her during the freshman year, andalthough Nora had entirely omitted his sister's name from the conversationwhen telling him of the recent trouble that had arisen, still David feltthat Miriam was at the bottom of it.

  Failing to e
licit any response from her brother, she flew into a rage anddid not speak to him for a week, while David went serenely on his way,and let her get over it as best she might.

  The surprise party proved a success. Mrs. Gray's delight at seeing her"Christmas children" and having her beloved nephew with her was worthseeing. The young people did all the "stunts" they knew for herentertainment, and the boys repeated their Shakespearian performance forthe old lady, who laughed until she could laugh no more.

  It was their turn to be surprised, however, when the old butler suddenlyappeared and announced that supper was served. Mrs. Gray had held a wordof conversation with him directly after their arrival, which resulted inan array of good things calculated to tempt the appetite of any healthyboy or girl.

  After supper they had an old-fashioned "sing," with Jessica at the piano,ending with "Home, Sweet Home" and the inevitable "Good Night, Ladies."

  "I'm sure we had a better time than the other crowd," said Nora as theyall walked down the street.

  "Of course," said Grace, but a little feeling of sadness swept over her asshe realized for the first time in her short life she had been slighted byany of her school friends.