Ann Crosses a Secret Trail

by Harriet Pyne Grove

  CHAPTER VIII

  “RUSHING” ALINE FOR THE “BATS”

  It was at rather a late hour that evening when Ann and Marta attackedwhat Suzanne called “the everlasting lessons”. The Jolly Six hadgathered in to see the new headquarters, and even after study hours hadcommenced, Suzanne or Eleanor would whisk around, to say something,or to bring some little forgotten article. Lora Collier was arrivinglate, and according to Suzanne, nobody in the suite could study for theexcitement. “The reputation of the family rests with you, as usual,”teased Suzanne, a new Suzanne, it seemed, so happy, in spite of a fewtwinges of conscience in regard to Madeline. Suzanne’s conscience waswaking up a little.

  “Say, Ann, tell me honestly now,” said Marta, “wouldn’t you havepreferred to stay in the suite with Suzanne?”

  “Who’s been talking to you, Marta Ward?” asked Ann in return.

  “Suzanne and Eleanor made a few remarks that informed me of somethingback of all this.”

  “I may as well tell you the whole story now, then,” said Ann, “andfirst of all, let me say that while I liked being with Eleanor andAline, as long as you were with me, and while I like Suzanne, I shouldhave been much troubled _about_ you, had Miss Tudor arranged it thatway, and homesick _for_ you, Marta Ward.”

  With this introduction, Arm told Marta all that had happened, fromSuzanne’s first coming to her about Eleanor’s leaving the suite, tothe events of the evening. “And I believe that we are the best off ofall, Marta,” she concluded. “Isn’t this restful and fine? Why, we caneach have a bedroom if we want to,--and all this closet room! The girlsdon’t think that we’ll have anybody put in with us at all, though youwill want some one after I go to Florida, as I suppose I shall. Perhapsyou could change then, and room with Lora in Suzanne’s place.”

  “Time enough to think of that later. I’m glad that everybody is sohappy. It is too bad about Madeline, though.”

  “She likes Genevieve. They are really more congenial, and you’ll seeher getting over this,--if for no other reason than that Suzanne issister to a very handsome brother.”

  “Why, Ann!”

  “That is rather terrible for me to say, isn’t it? But ‘mark mywords’,--and it will make Suzanne feel better. Trust Miss Tudor, too,to do something to fix Genevieve and Madeline. For all Madeline saidwhat she did to me, she wasn’t the least bit cast down.”

  “We are going to have a lot of company here, Ann.”

  “Indeed we are. We’ll have to _plan_, to get all our lessons in,because of the rushing, and we’ll begin with Aline!”

  “_Aline?_ You haven’t suddenly taken leave of your senses, have you, mydear room-mate?”

  “Not yet, Marta. Aline’s mother was a Beta Alpha Tau. Her mother diednot so very long ago, it seems, and Aline won’t hear to going intothe Sig-Eps. Naturally, she hasn’t offered herself to the Bats, and Iwondered why in the world the Sig-Eps hadn’t initiated her long ago.Eleanor herself told me!”

  At that astonishing statement, Marta almost gasped. “It behooves us toget right at it, then,” she said, “and we must find out about the othernew girls right away. There was a fine looking girl at dinner withGenevieve. She was rather over-dressed, but looked like a girl of someforce, and Genevieve was being too nice to her for words.”

  Ann nodded assent “I saw her,” she said. “But we’ll get in touch withthe senior girls tomorrow and ask what they know and what they want usto do. I know that they will want Aline, as much as if we had had ameeting.”

  “By the way, did you hear Katherine tell me that a meeting is calledfor tomorrow afternoon, right after lessons, after last hour, and thatmeanwhile we are to find out all we can about the new girls. We can’ttake many in this year, you know, because our number is so nearlyfilled.”

  “But we must not miss any especially fine girls,” said Ann. “The otherswill be just as anxious as we are, so we must arrange to meet them.”

  “What do you think about our numbers?”

  “It always seems to me, Marta, that a sorority that has a comparativelylarge number of members in the chapter stands a chance of not beingso ‘exclusive’, which is the main criticism, Mother says, upon thesororities. However, let the authorities concern themselves about it.As long as they have ’em, and especially one as ‘chawming’ as the Bats,and I belong to it, I’m not worrying. At the same time, I can’t thinkit all there is of school life, like some of the girls, can you, Marta?”

  “I should say not! But it is lots of fun. Hurrah for the Beta AlphaTaus!”

  * * * * *

  On the following afternoon, a group of merry girls were arrangingthemselves upon the hillside for a meeting. Some had brought cushions.Others found convenient stone or rock; and still others sat down uponthe green hill itself, with its grass, weeds and vines.

  “Look out there, Kit,” warned Lucile Early. “There is some poison ivynear that bush.”

  “It never poisons me,” replied Katherine Neville, pulling aside somesticks from the place she had chosen.

  “Where is poison ivy?” asked Ethel Johns, jumping up. “It poisons meall right. That summer I went to camp I spent two weeks in the littlehospital room from being poisoned by it.”

  Lucile moved over to the other side of what was forming itself into acircle and sat down by Dorothy Horton. The Jolly Six was out in force,for here came the other two members, Ann Sterling and Marta Ward. “Hothere, Dots,” laughed Ann, “may I sit down by you?”

  “Come right along,” Dorothy invited, and Ann threw a cushion down,then dropped upon it, leaning over to engage in a low conversationwith Dorothy. There were many secrets in the air now. Exchange ofexperiences or of facts was going on around the circle. The seniorgirls carried the greatest responsibility. The junior girls came next,in dignities and consultation; then, the new sophomores, eager to helpwith the important activities on hand. It was wonderful not to be afreshman any longer. A whole year of experience made a Forest Hill girlsomething more than a mere initiate. Her feet were founded upon therock of residence, familiarity and enthusiasm. It was her school home,beloved, dearest of colleges!

  Ann had no thought of any trouble in persuading the girls that Alinewould make a desirable member. The only contingency that might arisewas one of numbers, in case the older girls had those in the upperclasses whom they wanted to add to the sorority.

  Sorority meetings and sorority affairs are shrouded in much secrecy.One would scarcely dare describe one of the official meetings, so tospeak. And as for those prescribing the duties of faithful membersor the rites of initiation, what dire consequences might follow oneshudders to consider! But this meeting was an ordinary, informalgathering, designed only to consider ways and means in the importantprovision for handing the Beta Alpha Taus down to future ages.

  There were several preliminary interruptions, due to the difficulty ofgetting settled. “All ready, Alice?” asked the secretary, who had comewithout any paper and had just secured an old envelope from the sweaterpocket of a friend. From another she borrowed a short pencil.

  “You’re a great secretary, Jean,” remarked the one who surrendered thepencil. “I suppose that I’ll never see that again, either.” This wassaid laughingly, with no intent to wound.

  “I hadn’t a minute to get ready. Alice called me and told me to comeright over, that we would be late. Yes, perhaps I _can_ remember tohand back your precious pencil. You must have had it last year, Ithink, and when was it sharpened last?”

  “I found it, in the table drawer of my new suite,” laughed the lender.

  “Ow,--girls!” A girl on the opposite side of the circle jumped up withwhat Virgil would have termed a feminine shriek. “Look out! There hegoes!”

  Half the girls were on their feet by this time, but Ann and Dots, whohad seen the dire monster glide in a different direction from theirposition, sat laughing.

  “What on earth!”

  “What is it!”

  “I nearly sat _down_ on it!” />
  “A garter snake, girls,” announced Alice, who was Alice Mann, thepresent head of the “Bats”. “Hurry up, please, and get in order. Wehaven’t much time before dinner. Come to order at once, please.” Alicewas clapping her hands; and several other girls, who were quietlysitting and ready, softly seconded her clapping. In a moment all wasquiet, though several girls still nervously looked about them, to makesure that none of the hated species was near.

  “We shall come right to the point, and I want to hear from those whohave names to propose for our consideration. We shall not elect, Isuppose. Then I want to know how we shall arrange for our firstinformal banquet and whom we shall invite. We’ll have to do what we aregoing to do right away, if we get our bids in first with several, whoknow nothing about our sororities and will go with the jolliest or mostattentive crowd.”

  “Madam President.”

  “Miss Price.”

  “I propose that inasmuch as we took in a larger number of freshmen thanusual last year, we bring in a number of upper classmen, some juniorsand seniors that made good last year and did not enter a sorority, andalso look up a few juniors that have just come in. Then, of course,we’d better add a few freshmen. We have enough in the present sophomoreclass.”

  Ann looked at Dorothy in dismay. “We’ll vote against that,” shewhispered. “What’s the _matter_ with her?”

  “Have you a list of girls that you think eligible?” asked Alice Mann.

  “Yes; shall I read it?”

  “If you please.”

  “That is all set up,” whispered Dorothy, “but I suppose they had tohave some idea.”

  The girls listened while the list was read, and when it was finishedits reader sat down, several girls were on their feet at once. Thepresident recognized one of them.

  “Madam President, is there a motion before the house?”

  “Miss Price, did you offer that list or your suggestion as a motion?”

  “Yes,--if you want one to start on.”

  “Very well, Miss Price moves that we elect from the juniors, seniorsand freshmen,--is that right?”

  “Madam President,----”

  “In a moment. Is there a second to that motion?”

  “I second it.”

  “Very well. The motion has been moved and seconded that we elect fromthe seniors, juniors and freshmen. Any remark? Now, girls a motionis before the house and I suppose that you can talk about it all youplease.”

  The girls who had first risen were still standing and were recognizedin turn.

  “Madam President, I suppose that it is not necessary to talk aboutthe motion, is it? In Congress they talk about everything on earthsometimes, so my father says.”

  Alice laughed a little. “If you follow the example of Congress, I’mafraid we’ll not get anywhere this afternoon. It is not necessary to betoo formal anyhow. Get to work!”

  Katherine was standing now. “Madam President, as a sophomore, I do notlike to have my class discriminated against. Suppose that we fail topass that motion and substitute one that merely suggests the offeringof suitable names from any class. We can use our judgment afterwards inselection.”

  A little further discussion followed. Then the president put the“crazy” motion--this was Dots’ term for it,--and it was lost. Katherinewas permitted to put a different motion. The list was read again. Oneor two other girls presented additional names and then Ann was on herfeet.

  “As one of the sophomore members I feel a little timid about presentingnames, particularly since it has been suggested that we have enoughsophomores. I acknowledge, too, that we have; but there is one finegirl that I am sure none of you know, or knew last year, would beeligible. The Sig-Eps have done their best to get her,--of that I wastold by a loyal Sig-Ep--but this girl’s mother was a Bat, which we didnot know, though I suppose it is in the records.”

  The girls were listening intently. Who could it be that had been rushedby the Sig-Eps and wouldn’t join?

  Ann avoided telling the name a little longer. “It isn’t so very longsince her mother died and that makes her all the more ready to joinher mother’s society, I think. Now, Madam President, do you think thatyou could consider her name if I should give it? Indeed I am ready topropose her at once, for she is gifted in several different ways and alovely girl that everybody likes, so far as I know.”

  “Who is it, Ann? Who is it?” came from several sources, sophomore aswell; for in the rush of events, Ann had not had time to talk privatelywith any of the Jolly Six or her other friends.

  “I am sure that we are all anxious, Miss Sterling, to know who the girlis,” said Alice, again clapping her hands for order.

  “I haven’t even had time to talk it over with anybody except myroom-mate since I found out. This girl, too, has made no effort, Iassure you, to let it be known that she favors the Bats. I understoodthat her room-mate found it out accidentally. She is Aline Robson.”

  “Aline!”

  “Why, I supposed that she was already a Sig!”

  “Let’s not miss Aline,--it will make a sensation all right!”

  “Let’s have her in right away and give her a big initiation to impressthe natives!”

  “What is your pleasure, ladies?” laughed Alice, who was as surprised asany one. Aline, small, reserved, but gifted and industrious, had madean impression upon her schoolmates in the one year that she had beenwith them. “Miss Price,” Alice continued, recognizing that young woman,one of the seniors.

  “I want to withdraw what I said about our having enough sophomores.Honestly, girls, I believe that it will make a stir and a goodimpression for us if we get Aline in instanter. Madam President,I move that we waive all rules and put it through now, sending AnnSterling to present Aline with our invitation and bid to the greatestsorority in Forest Hill college!”

  “Hear, hear!”

  There was no objection and presently the deed was done. Ann was to seeAline at the close of the meeting. But there were other interestingmatters. The girls began to talk about other desirable members.

  “This girl, fellow Bats,” said one of the juniors, “comes from anotherschool, with all kinds of honors, for one thing; and while I do notlike to speak of such a mundane matter, she also has plenty of money,which would help like everything in getting our new cottage that hasrecently been suggested.”

  “Fie, fie,” jokingly said Dots.

  “Well, I know the Bats are not a ‘society’ crowd, but we are not blindto the fact that if those who are fine girls anyhow are able to help usout financially, it is no drawback. I’m one of the practical sort!”

  “The ‘root of all evil’, Jane!”

  “You have it wrong,--it’s the _love_ of money that’s the ‘root of allevil’!”

  So it went. One girl was good and interesting, but would not “fit in”with the rest. Another pleased everybody. A committee was appointed tofind out more about these girls and others before a second meeting tobe held that evening after dinner. “It is too soon, girls,” said onedistressed member of the committee. “It’s nearly dinner time now!”

  “Very well,” said the president of the meeting. “Come around to oursuite when the bell rings for the close of study hours,--and come ‘toutde suite’, too.”

  “Listen to Alice’s French, and punning, too!”

  “Wait a minute, Ann,” called Alice, as Ann, happy in the thought ofAline, was about to leave, with Katherine and Lucile, it happened.

  Ann waited for Alice, who put her arm over Ann’s shoulder as theywalked toward the buildings. “You know, don’t you, Ann, that it is bestnot to be too precipitate in a thing of this sort?”

  Ann looked inquiringly at Alice. “You mean not to take it for grantedthat Aline is ready to fall into our arms at once?”

  “Yes. The girls, of course, will not do or say one thing till they getthe report from you.”

  “I have been wondering how to manage it,” said Ann. “I know Alinepretty well by this time, especially since we came very near to
beingsuite-mates. Still, the Bats haven’t paid her any particular attentionsince the first of last year.”

  “We did then, didn’t we? That makes it a little better.”

  “Yes, but then we thought that it was not best to bid her,--she was sosurrounded with the Sig-Eps and so intimate with Eleanor, though theydidn’t room together. Of course I did not know about it then, but Iheard Katherine and Dots talk about it.”

  Alice walked along without saying anything further for a few moments.“How would it do, Ann, if after dinner we get hold of Aline, some ofour crowd, maybe go outdoors, or bring her around to our suite, as ithappens; and then when you go back to your building, I will strollalong with you and perhaps say something about our having found outthat she had not joined the Sig-Eps, and being glad of it, or somethinglike that--you never can tell what is best to say until the timescomes.”

  “That is one reason why you are at the head of the Betas, Alice,” saidAnn. “You always _do_ know just the nice thing to say!”

  “Thanks, Ann. You are a loyal Beta Alpha Tau. I’m certainly glad thatwe got you in! Well, now, after what I am going to say has been said,and of course Aline will know anyhow, having been here a year, what weBats are after,--then the way will be paved for you to have a seriouslittle talk with her. Just tell her the facts, Ann, for they arecertainly complimentary, the interest the girls took and how they wanther. But I want a lot of our girls to meet her beforehand, anyhow, forthe ‘psychological effect’.”

  “I’m so glad, Alice, that you thought of this, because while we dowant to hurry it up, it ought to be done in the right way. Goodbye.I’ll tag on to Aline and tell her that I want to see her aboutsomething, if I can’t get her away from her crowd in any other way.”

  “Very well, Ann, goodbye till after dinner! The rushing season forAline will be short I hope.”

  “Yes; and I’m so glad that you think we’ll have a special feast tocelebrate her coming in,--if she does, and I’m pretty sure of it, onaccount of her mother you know.”

  Ann ran happily over to her suite, to hug Marta in the excess of heremotions, and to tell her about the plan of attack.