Grace Harlowe's Sophomore Year at High School

by Josephine Chase

  CHAPTER XVII

  BURYING THE HATCHET

  It was some days before Julia Crosby was able to return to school, butwhen she did put in an appearance, she lost no time in taking her class inhand and bringing about a much-needed reform. The part played by GraceHarlowe in Julia's rescue had been related by her to various classmateswho had visited her during her illness, and Grace found that the oldergirls were inclined to lionize her more than she cared to be. She receivedpraise enough to have completely turned her head had she not been toosensible to allow it to do so.

  After holding a conference with Julia, the two girls sent out notices totheir respective classes that a grand reunion of the two classes wouldtake place on the next Saturday afternoon at one o'clock, at the oldOmnibus House, providing the weather permitted. A tax of twenty-five centsapiece was levied on the members of both classes. "Please pay your moneypromptly to the treasurer of your class," ended the notices, "if you wishto have plenty to eat. Important rites and ceremonies will be observed.You will be sorry if you stay away, as an interesting program ispromised. Please keep this notice a secret."

  "The field back of the Omnibus House is an ideal place for the burial,"Julia told Grace. "It was there that the 'Black Monks of Asia' held theirrevel and were unmasked by the freshmen. Besides, it's quiet and we shan'tbe disturbed."

  Grace agreed with her, and the two girls outlined the proceedings withmany a chuckle.

  The junior and sophomore classes had been requested to go directly to theOmnibus House.

  "It would be great to have both classes march out there, but we shouldhave the whole of Oakdale marching with us before we arrived at the sacredspot," observed Grace, with a giggle.

  "If we don't have a lot of freshmen to suppress it will be surprising. Ido hope the girls haven't told anyone," Julia answered. "By the way, wehave a hatchet at home that will be just the thing to bury. It is morelike a battle-ax than anything else, and looks formidable enough torepresent the feeling that the juniors and sophomores are about to bury.Now, Grace, you must prepare a speech, for we ought to have representativeremarks from both classes. Then Anne Pierson must recite 'The Bridge ofSighs,' after I have made it over to suit the occasion. We'll have tohave some pallbearers. Three girls from each class will do."

  Julia planned rapidly and well. Grace listened attentively. The juniorcaptain had remarkable energy. It was easy to see why Julia had alwaysheaded her class. Julia in turn, was equally impressed with Grace'sability. A mutual admiration society bade fair to spring up between thetwo, so recently at swords' points.

  On Saturday the weather left nothing to be desired. It seemed like a dayin late spring, although it was in reality early March. At one o'clockprecisely the two classes, with the exception of one member, assembled.Julia Crosby acting as master of ceremonies, formed the classes in twolines, and marched them to the middle of the field. Here, to theircomplete mystification, they saw a large hole about four feet in depth hadbeen dug.

  "Who on earth dug that hole, and what is it for?" inquired a curioussophomore.

  "Hush!" said Julia Crosby reverently. "That is a grave. Be patient. Curbyour rising curiosity. Soon you shall know all."

  "Assistant Master Harlowe, will you arrange the esteemed spectators, sothat the ceremony may proceed?"

  Grace stepped forward and solemnly requested the girls to form a doubleline on each side of the opening. The shorter girls were placed in thefront rows.

  "The sophomores will now sing their class song," directed the master ofceremonies.

  When the sophomores had finished, the juniors applauded vigorously. Thejuniors' song was next in order and the sophomores graciously returned theapplause.

  "I will now request the worthy junior members Olive Craig, Anne Green andElsie Todd, to advance. Honorable Assistant Master Harlowe, will you nameyour trusted followers?"

  Grace named Nora, Jessica and Marian Barber who came to her side withalacrity.

  "During the brief space of time that we are obliged to absent ourselves,will every guest keep her roving eyes bent reverently on the ground andthink about nothing. It is well to fittingly prepare for what is to come."

  With this Julia marched her adherents down the field and around the cornerof the Omnibus House. She was followed by Grace and her band. There was achorus of giggles from the chosen helpers that was sternly checked byJulia.

  Before their eyes stood a large, open paste-board box lined with thecolors of both classes, in which reposed the Crosby hatchet, likened to abattle-ax by Julia. Its handle was decorated with sophomore and juniorribbons, and around the head was a wreath of immortelles. A disreputablelooking sheaf of wheat lay across the end of the box.

  There was a smothered laugh from Nora, whose quick brain had grasped thefull significance of the thing.

  "This is not an occasion for levity," reprimanded Grace sternly. "Laughingwill not be tolerated."

  Three twisted ribbon handles of sophomore colors and three of juniorornamented either side of the box. Each girl grasped a handle.

  "We will proceed with the ceremony," directed Julia. "Lift up the box."

  This was easier said than done. The handles were so close together thatthe girls hardly had room to step. The journey was finally accomplishedwithout any further mishap than the sliding off of the wheat sheaf. Thiswas hastily replaced by Jessica before its fall had been marked by theeagle eye of the master of ceremonies, who marched ahead with herassistant.

  When the box had been carefully deposited at one side of the "grave,"Julia Crosby took her place beside it, and assuming a Daniel Websterattitude began her address.

  "Honored juniors and sophomores. We have met together to-day for a greatand noble purpose. We are about to take a step which will forever afterbe recorded among the doughty deeds of Oakdale High School. It will godown in High School history as the glorious inspiration of a master mind.We are going to unfurl the banner of peace and bury the hatchet.

  "Since the early days of our class history, war, cruel war, has ragedbetween the august bodies represented here to-day. On this very field manymoons ago the gallant sophomores advanced upon the, then, very freshfreshmen, but retreated in wild confusion. It is therefore fitting thatthis should be the place chosen for the burial of all grudges, jealousiesand unworthy emotions that formerly rent our breasts."

  Here Julia paused to take breath.

  The girls cheered wildly.

  Julia bowed right and left, her hand over her heart. When the noise hadsubsided, she continued. She bewailed junior misdeeds and professed meekrepentance. She dwelt upon the beauty of peace and she begged her hearershenceforth to live with each other amicably.

  It was a capital address, delivered in a mock-serious manner that provokedmirth, and did more toward establishing general good feeling than anyother method she might have tried. In closing she said:

  "The hatchet is the symbol of war. The wheat-sheaf represents our elderlygrudge; but the immortelles are the everlasting flowers of good will thatspring from the planting of these two. We will now listen to a few remarksfrom the pride of the sophomore class, Assistant Master of CeremoniesGrace Harlowe."

  Grace attempted to speak, but received an ovation that made her flush andlaughingly put her hands over her ears. When she was finally allowed toproceed, she delivered an oration as flowery as that of the master ofceremonies.

  When the cries of approbation evoked by Grace's oration had died away, itwas announced that the "renowned elocutionist," Miss Anne Pierson, wouldrecite a poem appropriate to the occasion. Anne accordingly recited "TheBridge of Sighs," done over by Julia Crosby, and beginning:

  "Take it up gingerly; Handle with care; 'Tis a relic of sophomore And junior warfare."

  The intense feeling with which Anne rendered this touching effusion,caused the master of ceremonies to sob audibly and lean so heavily uponher assistant for support that that dignified person almost pitched headfirst into the opening, and was saved from an ignominious tumble by o
ne ofher attendants. This was too much for the others, who, forgetting thesolemnity of their office, shrieked with mirth, in which the spectatorswere not slow to join.

  "I think we had better wind up the ceremony," said Julia with greatdignity. "These people will soon be beyond our control."

  The attendants managed to straighten their faces long enough to assist inthe concluding rites that were somewhat hastily performed, and the masterof ceremonies and her assistants held an impromptu reception on the spot.

  "Now," said Julia Crosby, "we have done a good day's work for bothclasses. I only hope that no prying freshmen hear of this. They will besure to come here and dig up what we have gone to such pains to bury. Theyhave no respect for their superiors. However, you have all behavedyourselves with true High School spirit, and I wish to announce that youwill find a spread awaiting you around the corner of the Omnibus House."

  There was a general hurrah at this statement, and the guests rushed off tothe spot designated.

  Grace had held an earnest conference with old Jean, and the result showeditself in the row of tables rudely constructed to fit the emergency. Heit was who had dug the "grave." He now sat on the steps waiting to build afire, over which Grace had planned to make coffee for the hungry girlswhose appetites had been whetted by the fresh air.

  The money contributed by the classes had been used to good advantage byGrace and Julia, and piles of tempting eatables gladdened the eyes of theguests.

  For the next half hour feasting was in order. Juniors and sophomoresshared cups; as the supply of these were limited. At the end of that timethe last crumb of food had disappeared and the girls stood in groups orwalked about the field, discussing the various features of school life.

  Some one proposed playing old-fashioned games, and soon "puss in thecorner," "pom-pom-pull-away," and "prisoner's goal" were in full swing.

  "This brings back one's Grammar School days, doesn't it?" said Nora toGrace. They were deep in a game of prisoner's goal, and stood for a momentwaiting for the enemy to move toward them.

  "I haven't had such a good, wholesale romp for ages," answered Grace, andwas off like the wind to intercept Eva Allen as she endeavored to make awide detour of their goal.

  The hours slipped by on wings.

  The start home was made about five o'clock. The juniors and sophomorestrooped back to Oakdale arm in arm, singing school songs and making thewelkin ring with their joyous laughter.

  The people of Oakdale smiled at the procession of happy girls and wonderedwhat particular celebration was in order.

  When the center of town was reached the party broke up with a great dealof laughing and chattering, the girls going their separate ways in thebest of spirits.

  "I've had a perfectly fine time," declared Grace, as she said good-bye toher chums, "and how glad I am that we are all friends again."

  She quite forgot when she made that statement that Miriam Nesbit had nothonored the reunion with her presence.