She looked down upon the campus. Gale and Valerie with Carol and Janet were coming toward the sorority house. They seemed to be in a hurry and kept glancing up at the window where she sat. She smiled ruefully. At last she had given them something to stir them. Now perhaps something would happen—at least, they wouldn’t change her mind! Phyllis laid her cane on the floor beside her chair and turned to face the door. Sunshine Alley was about to have a bit of a thunderstorm.
“We won’t stand for it!” Carol said the second the door opened.
Phyllis merely smiled.
“What do you mean by it anyway?” added Janet.
“Just what I said,” Phyllis replied. “I am resigning as president of the Freshman class.”
“But why? You must have a reason!” Valerie put in.
“I have a reason,” Phyllis said stubbornly. “I can’t go to all the class activities, I can’t run around and be in everything that the president is supposed to—so I am resigning.”
“We won’t accept it,” Gale said determinedly.
“You have to call a meeting of the class and it will be accepted. It has to be!” Phyllis said.
“But, Phyl,” Janet pleaded, “we want you to be the president. All the girls feel the same.”
“It wouldn’t be fair to the class,” Phyllis insisted. “A president is active—she has a lot to do. Well, I can’t do it so I’m resigning. It is very simple.”
“We won’t let you,” Carol said finally. “Val, you are secretary. Do something about it.”
“I already have,” Valerie said surprisingly. “I and the Vice President and the Treasurer.”
“Well?” Phyllis said eagerly. “The officers agreed to accept my resignation, didn’t they?”
“They did not,” Valerie said. “We agreed, and posted a notice in the East Campus Dormitory to the effect, that you are still our president. Gale is president pro tem, and any one who disagrees must see one of us. How does that suit you?”
“You mean Gale is to act in the places where I can’t?” Phyllis asked.
Valerie nodded.
“Then I’m president in name and Gale does the work,” Phyllis said. “That isn’t fair.”
“I’ll love it,” Gale assured her bouncing on the bed. “That will give me authority. And will I use it!”
“That is what I’m afraid of,” Carol grimaced. “See here, Miss President pro tem, don’t think you can order me around.”
Gale laughed. “I am going to try. Tonight there is a party here and you gals can come providing you go home now and let Phyllis rest.”
“I don’t want to rest,” Phyllis put in fretfully. “Stay here and talk to me.”
Carol looked from Gale to Phyllis.
“To go or not to go, that is the question!” misquoted Janet.
“Gale is so hospitable,” laughed Carol.
“I don’t know about the rest,” Valerie said, “but I have to go. The Christmas entertainment given by the Freshman class is being planned and the secretary has a lot of work.”
“While the president takes things easy,” Phyllis said bitterly.
“Who is going to sing?” Janet asked.
“Yes,” added Carol, “I heard the class is in need of a good contralto. Who is the star who is to sing in the chapel?”
Valerie shook her head. “Something else to keep me awake at night. I am on the committee to put the entertainment over and I haven’t the faintest idea who we will choose.”
“How about Phyl?” Gale asked.
“Phyl!” Janet echoed. “Of course! You’ve a fine voice, Phyl.”
Phyllis laughed. “But I won’t be in the entertainment!”
“All you have to do is sing,” Carol seconded.
“But it is impossible,” Phyllis said. “Me? Sing in the chapel? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“But——”
“I won’t listen to another word,” Phyllis said. “You don’t know what you are asking.”
“Phyl, you would——”
“No!” Phyllis almost shouted. “I would be scared to death.”
Gale winked at Valerie. “She would be scared to death, girls,” she murmured. “So that settles the question. Now will you go home? Go home and pack your things and get ready to leave tomorrow morning.”
“We won’t have time to pack tonight,” added Janet. “See you tonight for the party,” she added.
The early evening was already descending on the campus and Gale lighted the light.
“You didn’t have to chase the girls home,” Phyllis said peevishly.
Gale said nothing, merely seated herself at her desk and opened her French book. She did not try to concentrate her attention on the pages before her. She was acutely aware of Phyllis moving about. Gale longed to help Phyllis but she sat in her place not paying the slightest heed to the slow and difficult movements of her friend. Suddenly when Phyllis stumbled and would have fallen Gale sprang up and saved her.
“Let go!” Phyllis said indignantly. “I can make it by myself.”
Instantly Gale’s arms relaxed. She knew Phyllis must get used to the difficulties of her movements now but it was hard to sit by and do nothing. Gale turned away to her desk again. A few seconds later she felt Phyllis’ hand on her shoulder.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you,” Phyllis said.
“It is all right,” Gale said.
“But it isn’t all right,” Phyllis insisted stormily. “I snap at you—I snap at all the girls. It is only because——”
“I know,” Gale said. “But you mustn’t think about things so much, Phyl. Something will be done. This may only be for a little while. We’ll think of a way——”
“A way!” Phyllis murmured helplessly. “My Aunt was here, wasn’t she, and refused to do anything? She was my only hope.”
“How did you know?” Gale demanded sharply.
“Ricky,” Phyllis said. “She said something that set me thinking. I asked her point blank and insisted on her telling me.” She laughed a little. “Poor Ricky, she tried so hard not to let me know.”
“We will do something, Phyl,” Gale assured her friend more hopefully than she felt. “You’ve got to make the best of things for a little while.”
“A little while!” Phyllis echoed. “It has been months!”
“Well,” Gale laughed, “if you are looking for an argument with me you are going to be disappointed. I refuse to quarrel. I——”
“Gale!” Phyllis whispered frantically. “The window! There is a ladder being propped against it!”
Gale ran to the window and threw it open. “Someone is climbing up,” she said smiling.
“Who?”
“I think you know,” Gale laughed.
A dark head followed by broad shoulders hove above the window sill. A laughing voice spoke out of the November dusk.
“Hi, Phyl.”
“David!” Phyllis cried. “David!”
“In person,” he assured her.
“But how——”
“I have the Dean’s permission to call on you properly tonight at eight,” he said laughing, “but I couldn’t wait. She would probably chase me out if she could see me now, though. I met Carol and Janet on the campus a few minutes ago and they very helpfully suggested this method. It is effective if startling.”
“I’m going down for my dinner,” Gale said and disappeared.
Gale had her dinner and then went out on the campus. She could see David on the ladder and Phyllis at the window. She waited in the darkness until she saw David descending the ladder. She joined him when he was safely on the ground.
“When did you get here, David?” she asked shaking hands.
“This afternoon,” he replied. “I went immediately to the Dean’s office. I didn’t know whether I could see Phyllis or not. She is nice, your Dean.”
“Staying in the village?” Gale asked.
“Yes. I’m going to stay until after Thanksgiving,” he answered. “Th
e Dean said I might entertain Phyllis while the girls are gone for the holiday.”
“She needs someone,” Gale said. “I’m glad you’re here, David.”
“I gathered that,” he said seriously. “She seems pretty depressed.”
“Did you see her Aunt?” Gale asked. “You know I wrote you what she had said and asked you to see her. Did you?”
David shook his head. “She hasn’t been in Marchton since I received your letter. I went to the house and asked the woman who cooks for her when she expected Miss Fields back. She doesn’t know.”
Gale sighed. “It seems we are balked at every turn. I intend to find out what it is all about when I get back to Marchton. If not now, at Christmas.”
“I’ll try to keep Phyllis cheered up until you get back,” David promised.
Gale returned to the sorority house then. She had to help Ricky set the stage for their party. Phyllis would see David again at eight o’clock while the other girls were upstairs. Gale would see that they had the living room to themselves for a long talk. She knew Ricky would aid her if there was any difficulty in engineering a serene night for Phyllis.
CHAPTER XII
Further Developments
Gale tramped through the snow feeling light-hearted and gay. Snow always seemed to have such a psychological effect upon her. Whether it was the lightness of it, or the brightness of the sun shining on the surface of the snow she did not know. At any rate she felt at ease with the world.
College had resumed at high speed for the short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now it was but a week until the Christmas holidays. Gale felt joyfully elated. Last night she and Phyllis had carefully wrapped Christmas presents and hidden them in their trunks. There was a spirit of excitement in the air. The girls went about with mysterious bundles and smiles.
Even Phyllis seemed to be nearly back to her old cheerful spirits. Ever since Thanksgiving when David had appeared at the college Phyllis was happier, calmer. Gale was glad. She had had absolutely no success in Marchton. Miss Fields had not been at home. It had been as David said. No one knew where she had gone or when she was coming back.
Gale ran lightly up the steps and disappeared into the Dean’s office. The Dean’s secretary was absent so Gale knocked on the door to the inner sanctum where the Dean had her private office.
“Come in.”
Gale opened the door and stepped within.
“Oh, Gale.” The Dean looked up. She was just slipping into her coat. “Be seated. I want to mail this letter. It must get off immediately.”
“I’ll mail it for you,” Gale offered.
“No, I’ll drop it myself. It will only take a moment. Wait for me.”
Gale looked about the empty office. There was a typewriter next to the Dean’s desk. Her curiosity getting the better of her Gale inserted a sheet and typed a few words. It was not the smoothness or noiselessness of the machine that attracted her, but the letters themselves. The letters were even, in perfect alignment, all but the R. That was slightly raised. Gale could scarcely believe her eyes. She jerked the paper from the machine and brought the old mysterious note from her pocket. There was no question about it! The two had been written on the same machine! But it was impossible—incredible!
The Dean had not sent them that note, had she? Certainly not! But who then? Her secretary? Gale looked dubious. There was more in this situation than she had guessed. That she decided before—but now! How had this note been written on the Dean’s typewriter? She put both sheets of paper into her pocket again as she heard footsteps in the outer office.
“Now, Gale, what is it?” The Dean removed her coat and seated herself behind her desk.
“Phyllis. She has decided she doesn’t want to go home for Christmas. She would rather stay here. David, Mr. Kimball, wants to come to Briarhurst again and see Phyllis over the holidays.” Gale drummed lightly on the space bar of the typewriter. “A nice typewriter, Dean. Just new?”
“Yes, my secretary bought it yesterday.”
Yesterday! Gale added that to the storehouse of facts in her mind. Yesterday! Yet she was sure the mysterious note had been written on it months before! She scarcely heard the Dean’s permission for David to come to Briarhurst as he had done on Thanksgiving, so busy was she turning over this new development.
Her business with the Dean concluded, Gale left. She had dinner with Janet and Carol at the East Campus Dormitory and after that they all went to the chapel to hear the Freshman’s musical Christmas entertainment.
The organ was playing when the girls entered. The chapel was decorated with holly and poinsettias. In the corner a mammoth Christmas tree with the traditional white star at the top sent out a fragrance of spruce and Christmas cheer.
The girls sang carols and there were several solos. But the best liked soloist was a mystery. From the region of the organ, behind the holly and spruce display, came a girl’s voice. The others listened spellbound. Such richness and expression! Every note was as clear as a bell. The music rang through the chapel and brought a new understanding and appreciation of Christmas to the listeners.
“Who is it?” Janet was simply bursting with curiosity.
“She is superb!” Gale echoed. “I never heard a voice like that.”
Valerie was sitting beside them, the smile of sweet satisfaction on her face a mystery.
“You were on the committee, Val, who is it?” Carol coaxed.
“It is a secret,” Valerie said. “But isn’t she fine?”
“Wonderful,” Gale agreed. “I wish Phyllis could hear her.”
“Why didn’t Phyllis come?” Madge whispered.
“She said she was too tired.”
“Shshshsh,” Janet warned as the soloist began again. “I could listen to her for hours. Is she somebody from the college, Val?”
“Of course,” Valerie nodded.
“Oh, if I only had a voice like that!” Carol sighed.
“Then you would get some place,” Janet agreed. “That girl will be famous.”
Valerie smiled to herself.
When the quiet, musical evening was over the girls voted it a huge success. They doubted if even the play on the next night could hold them as enthralled. The Juniors and Seniors who had been present were quite as enthusiastic.
“We want that singer in the Glee Club,” Adele Stevens said firmly. She was the active president of the organization and she did not intend to miss adding such a fine voice to the group.
“I don’t know,” Valerie said dubiously. “We had a hard time persuading her to sing tonight.”
“But why didn’t she come out from behind the shrubbery?” Carol complained. “We want to know what she looks like.”
“Shrubbery!” Janet said horrified. “Carol Carter! To call our decorations that after the time we had arranging them!”
“Sorry,” Carol laughed. “Who put the star on the top of the tree?”
“Madge,” Janet giggled, “and she almost pulled the tree over a half dozen times.”
The girls paused in front of the sorority house.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t come in if Phyllis is tired,” Janet said.
“Come along,” Valerie said lightly. “She can bear it this once. No one should be tired around Christmas time.”
The girls trouped up the stairs singing as they went. They found Phyllis sitting at her desk, her cheeks flushed and eyes bright.
“Greetings, my little sugar plum,” Carol said lavishly. “You don’t know what you missed tonight.”
“What?” Phyllis asked.
“A singer—and what a singer! Honestly, that girl could be the musical sensation of the year.”
Valerie and Phyllis exchanged glances then they both started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Janet demanded.
“Either you girls are awf’ly innocent or you haven’t the brains I thought you had,” Valerie said between laughs. “Don’t you see? Phyllis was the singer. She was the soloist tonight.
”
“Phyllis!” Gale echoed.
Janet and Carol howled together: “And you never told us!”
“A fine pal you are!” Janet grumbled.
“I’m disgusted with you,” added Carol. “Hiding a voice like that! We knew you were good—but never that good!”
“I didn’t want to do it,” Phyllis confessed. “But Valerie said I didn’t have to appear before all of you. No one would know who I was. I thought it would be fun to surprise you.”
“You certainly did,” Carol declared. “So much so that Adele Stevens wants you in the Glee Club.”
“Never more can you be the shrinking violet,” Janet nodded. “Now you will blossom forth in notes of song and we shall see you never more. Ah, me, such is the price of fame.”
“Wait a minute,” Phyllis laughed. “I sang tonight but that was only because Val wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace, otherwise. I don’t intend to join the Glee Club.”
“It would be good for you,” Gale said. “You’ve always liked music, Phyl.”
Phyllis yawned. “But now I believe I would like bed better.”
“Just a gentle hint,” Carol chaffed. “It seems we are always getting put out of here.”
“You shouldn’t come at such late hours then,” Phyllis said.
“Tell me,” Janet said, “since you are surprising us, you aren’t going to be Santa Claus in the play tomorrow night, are you?”
Phyllis giggled. “Hardly!”
“Of course not,” Carol said indignantly. “She hasn’t got a beard.”
Gale opened the window. Voices drifted up on the night air. The sorority girls were just ending their sorority song.
“We link our hands in friendship,
The girls of Omega Chi.”
“I hope we get elected to the sorority,” Carol said. “Then perhaps we can move in here with you next term.”
“We aren’t even members,” Gale reminded them. “We are here only on the recommendation of Miss Relso. If she hadn’t written for us we would never have gotten rooms in Happiness House.”
“If we aren’t elected to the sorority in May we will have to move,” Phyllis added.
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