CHAPTER VIII
ELEANOR THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET
"The Phi Sigma Tau is to have a special meeting to-night at Jessica's,"called Grace Harlowe to Nora O'Malley as the latter entered thelocker-room at the close of school one day about two weeks after theinitiation at Jessica's.
"Does Jessica know it?" inquired Nora.
"Not yet," replied Grace, "but she will as soon as she comes in.I rushed down here the minute the last bell rang, because I wantedto be here when the girls come in. You are the first, however."
"Why are we to hold a meeting?" asked Nora, her curiosity aroused.
"Wait and see," replied Grace, smiling. "Of what use is it to hold ameeting, if I tell you all the business beforehand?"
"All right," said Nora, "you keep your secrets and I'll keep mine."
"What have you heard that's new?" asked Grace.
"Wait and see," replied Nora, with a grin of delight. "I am saving mynews for the meeting."
By this time the remaining members of the Phi Sigma Tau, with theexception of Eleanor Savell, had come into the locker-room, and had beenpromptly hailed by Grace. Marian Barber, Miriam Nesbit and Eva Allenafter agreeing to be at Jessica's, at eight o'clock, had gone theirseparate ways.
"Every one excepting Eleanor has been told," said Grace. "I really don'tknow how to approach her. She has been so distant of late."
"Don't wait to ask her," said Nora decidedly. "She won't attend themeeting."
"How do you know?" asked Jessica.
"I'll tell you to-night," answered Nora mysteriously, "but I knowpositively that she won't come, because she is going to have company at'Heartsease.' Now I've told you more than I intended to, and I shall notsay another word until to-night."
"Come on then," said Grace, "we won't wait any longer. Jessica, will youask your father if he will be at liberty for a few minutes thisevening?"
"Certainly," replied Jessica.
"Oh, I know now whom it's all about," cried Nora gleefully. "MaryStevens."
"You have guessed it," said Grace, "but, like yourself, I decline totalk until to-night."
Before eight o'clock the seven girls had taken possession of theBright's big, comfortable sitting room and were impatiently waiting forGrace to tell her news.
"Before I tell you what is on my mind," said Grace, "we ought to havea president, vice president and secretary for this worthy organization.I move therefore that we choose Miriam Nesbit for president of thissorority. Those in favor say 'aye.' We'll dispense with seconding themotion."
There was an instant's pause, then a chorus of "ayes" burst forth.
"Contrary, 'no.'"
The only "no" was from Miriam.
"We appreciate the fact that you are too polite to vote for yourself,Miriam," said Grace, "but your 'no' doesn't amount to a row of pins.You're elected, so come over here and occupy the chair of state. Longlive the president of the Phi Sigma Tau."
Miriam, flushed with pleasure, then took the seat that Grace hadvacated. She had not expected this honor and was deeply touched by it.Her summer with her girl chums at Lake George had made her an entirelydifferent girl from the Miriam of old. Admiration for Grace and herfriends had taken the place of the old animosity. Although the chums hadnot taken her into their inner circle, still they made much of her, andshe came nearer to being one of them than any other girl in the juniorclass.
"I am sure I thank you all," began Miriam, "and now we must have a vicepresident and a secretary."
Grace and Anne were elected with enthusiasm to the respective offices,then Miriam requested Grace to tell the other members what was on hermind.
After addressing the chair, Grace began: "I know you will all be glad tohear that Mabel has received a letter from Mary Stevens. It wasaddressed to me on the outside envelope and Mabel has given mepermission to open and read it to you. She is willing for us to dowhatever we think best. I won't attempt to read all the letter, onlythat part that interests us.
"Here it is: 'I am so sorry about the way in which you are treated, butglad to know that you have found friends at last. Miss Brant has noclaim on you whatever. She took you from the orphanage with theunderstanding that if you did not suit her she was to be allowed to sendyou back. The matron asked her why she did not adopt you, or at leastappoint herself your guardian, and she said that under no circumstanceswould she do so; that she wanted a good maid of all work, not adaughter. I enclose a statement from the matron to this effect. I wouldhave advised you before this to leave her, but you are too young todrift about the world alone. I hope that when I next hear from you, youwill be in happier surroundings. I have always believed that yourparents were people of means and that you were lost or stolen when ababy. Perhaps if they are still living you will find them some day.'"
"That is about all we need," said Grace, as she folded the letter andput it back in the envelope. "The next thing to do is to see Mr.Bright."
"I'll go for him at once," said Jessica, and darted off to the library,where her father sat reading. He rose, and, tucking his daughter's armin his, walked out to the sitting room, where the Phi Sigma Tau eagerlyawaited him.
"Well, well!" he exclaimed, smiling at the circle of girls. "What's allthis? Am I invited to be present at a suffragette's meeting or isJessica simply anxious to show me what nice friends she has?"
"No compliments allowed," laughed Grace. "We wish to ask your adviceabout something."
"I am at your service," said Jessica's father, making her an elaboratebow. "Command me as you will."
"'Tis well, most reverend sir. I thank you," said Grace, with a curtsy."Now sit you down, I pray, for presently I have a tale to tell."
Having conducted Mr. Bright with great ceremony to the arm chair in thecorner, Grace established him with many low bows, much to the amusementof the girls, with whom Jessica's father was a great favorite. ThenGrace began with her meeting with Mabel Allison and ended with theletter from Mary Stevens, enclosing the matron's statement.
"Now, those are all the facts of the case, Mr. Bright," she concluded."Will it be possible for us to get Mabel away from Miss Brant, or canMiss Brant hold her against her will?"
"Miss Stevens' letter and the matron's statement are sufficient,"answered Mr. Bright. "This woman cannot hold your little friend. MissBrant will in all probability be very angry, and attempt to brave thematter out. Suppose you and Jessica and I go down there together, Grace,and see what we can do?"
"O Mr. Bright!" cried Grace, clasping her hands delightedly, "will you,truly? Then let's go to-morrow and bring Mabel back with us."
"Very well; you and Jessica meet me at my office at four o'clockto-morrow afternoon," said Mr. Bright. "But what do you girls intend todo with her, once you get her? You can't adopt her, you know."
"She is to take turns living with us, papa," said Jessica, slipping herhand into her father's. "May she come here first? I'd love to have her."
Mr. Bright drew Jessica to his side. "My dear child, you know that youmay do as you please about it. I feel sure that she must be the rightsort of girl, or you and your friends wouldn't have become interested inher. Try her, and if you like her, then she is welcome to stay as longas she chooses. I think it would do you good to have a girl of your ownage in the house."
"Three cheers for Mr. Bright," cried Nora.
The cheers were given with a will, then the girls joined hands anddanced around Jessica's father, sounding their class yell until he brokethrough the circle and made a rush for the library, his fingers to hisears.
"Now that we have that question settled," said Miriam Nesbit, after thegirls were once more seated, "I think we ought to have a sorority pin."
"I think," began Eva Allen, "that my brother would design a pin for us.He is very clever at that sort of thing."
"Let's have a monogram," exclaimed Grace. "Old English letters of goldon a dull-green enamel background. We can get them up for about twodollars and a half apiece. Is that too expensive?"
The girls, who,
with the exception of Anne, had small allowances oftheir own, expressed themselves satisfied; while Anne determined thatfor once she was justified in yielding to wild extravagance.
"That's settled," said Miriam. "The next thing to do is----"
But a loud ring of the door bell interrupted her speech and caused thewhole party to start.
"Some one to see papa," said Jessica. "Go on with what you were saying,Miriam."
But before Miriam had a chance to continue, the maid entered the room, aletter in her hand.
"Here's a letter, Miss Jessica," she said. "But it's such a quare nameon the outside, I be wondering if it's fur yerself and no other?"
Jessica looked at the envelope. It was addressed to the "Phi Sigma Tau,care of Miss Jessica Bright."
"Why, who in the world can this be from? I thought no one outside knewthe name of our society as yet," said Jessica as she opened the end ofthe envelope. Then she turned the page, glanced at the signature, andgave a little cry of surprise.
"Just listen to this, girls!" she exclaimed, and read:
"'TO THE PHI SIGMA TAU:
"'After initiating me into your ridiculous society, you have seen fit to call a meeting of the members without directly notifying me, therefore I wish to withdraw from your sorority, as I feel that I have been deeply insulted. I have this satisfaction, however, that I would not have met with you to-night, at any rate. I am entertaining some girls in your class this evening, whom I find far more congenial than any previous acquaintances I have made in Oakdale. We are about to organize a sorority of our own. Our object will be to enjoy ourselves, not to continually preach to other people. I am deeply disappointed in all of you, and assure you that I am not in the least desirous of continuing your acquaintance.
"'Yours sincerely, "'ELEANOR SAVELL.'"
"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Nora O'Malley. "She says she is deeplyinsulted because we didn't invite her, but that she didn't intend tocome, at any rate. There's a shining example of consistency for you!"
"Who on earth told her about the meeting?" said Jessica. "We didn't waitto ask her to-day."
"I shall have to confess that I am the guilty one," said Eva Allen. "Youdidn't say anything to Miriam, Marian and me about Eleanor, and whenI left the locker-room I went back upstairs after a book I had forgotten.I met Eleanor on the stairs and told her about the meeting, and that youwere waiting in the locker-room for her. You must have left before shegot there, and, of course, she thought you did it purposely."
"Oh, dear, what a mess," sighed Grace. "I didn't mean to slight her. ButNora said she knew, positively, that Eleanor was entertaining someguests to-night, so I didn't wait. By the way, Nora, what was that newsof yours that you were so mysterious about this afternoon?"
"Just this," replied Nora. "That Edna Wright told me, that I needn'tthink we were the only people that could have a sorority. I asked herwhat she meant, and she said that she and Rose Lynton and Daisy Culverhad been invited out to Eleanor's to-night for the purpose of forming avery select club of their own. I am sorry I didn't tell you while in thelocker-room, but you would insist on having secrets, so I thought I'dhave one, too."
"Well, it can't be helped now," said Grace. "It is a pity that Eleanorhas taken up with Edna Wright. She is the only girl in the class thatI really dislike. She is frivolous and empty-headed, and Eleanor isself-willed and lawless. Put them together, and they will make a badcombination. As to the other two girls, they are sworn friends ofEdna's."
"I think," said Nora, "that our reform movement is about to end in aglaring fizzle."
"How can we reform a person who won't have anything to do with us?"asked Jessica scornfully.
"Let us hold her place in this sorority open for her, and let us make itour business to be ready to help her if she needs us," said Annethoughtfully. "Like all spoiled children, she is sure to get intomischief, and just as sure to come to grief. Mark my words, some dayshe'll be glad to come back to the Phi Sigma Tau."