CHAPTER XII
THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS
The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some ofthe sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to oneof their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrinkfrom the ordeal.
"I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber,"as long as she is to succeed Grace."
"Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early. She told me shecould not bear to see anyone unhappy. She is so sensitive you know?" EvaAllen was devoted to Miriam's cause.
"Oh, I don't know about that," said practical Marian. "She'll make a goodcaptain, however, because she has showed more loyalty to the team thanGrace has."
Marian firmly believed what she said. She had never been an ardent admirerof Miriam, and had at first stubbornly refused to repudiate Grace. ButMiriam had little by little instilled into her the idea of Grace'sincompetency, until Marian, who thought only of the good of the team,became convinced that a change of captains was advisable. Miriam'sbrilliant playing in the recent game was the final touch needed, and nowMarian was prepared to do what she considered was her absolute duty.
"Suppose we write Grace a letter," suggested one of the substitutes, "aslong as no one seems anxious to tell her."
"Hush," exclaimed Eva Allen, holding up her finger. "Here come Nora andJessica. I know they are going to make a lot of fuss when they hear thenews. Suppose we go back to the classroom and write the letter. We can allsign our names to it, and then we'll be equally to blame."
The conspirators accordingly trooped into the corridor, just as Nora andJessica were about to enter the locker-room.
"What in the world is the matter now?" called Jessica. "You girls looks asguilty as though you'd stolen a gold mine."
"Wait and see," said Eva with a rather embarrassed laugh, as she hurriedafter the others up the stairs.
"Do you know, Jessica, I believe they're up to some hateful mischief. Whatdid I tell you the other day? Those girls have given Grace the coldshoulder more than ever, since the game. They have been following Miriamabout like a lot of sheep. Grace notices it, too, and it makes herunhappy, only she's too proud to say so."
"Never mind," said Jessica soothingly. "They'll be sorry some day.Miriam's influence won't last. Grace did perfectly right in standing byAnne, and you and I must always stand by Grace. Grace is a fine captain,and----"
"What are you saying about me?" demanded Grace herself, walking into thelocker-room with Anne.
Jessica blushed and was silent, but Nora said glibly, "Oh, Jessica justnow said that you made a fine captain." Then she went on hurriedly, "Ithink our chances for winning the championship are better than ever, don'tyou?"
"The juniors have been practising like mad since their defeat," musedGrace. "They will make a hard fight next time. Miss Thompson told meyesterday that she never saw better work in basketball than ours lastSaturday. I am so proud of my team, even though they haven't been verynice to me lately. My whole desire is for them to win the final game. Isuppose a captain has about the same feeling toward her players that amother has toward her daughters. She is willing to make any sacrifice inorder to make fine girls of them."
"And you are a fine captain," cried Anne. "I felt so proud of you theother day. You handled your team so well. Knowing how hateful they havebeen, it was wonderful to see you give your orders as though nothing hadhappened. No other girl could have done it."
"That is a nice compliment, Anne, dear," said Grace pleased with the wordsof praise from her friend, for the bitterness of her recent unpopularityhad made her heart heavy.
At that moment the sophomores whom Jessica and Nora had encountered filedinto the room.
Each girl wore a self-conscious expression. Eva Allen carried an envelopein her hand. She was confused and nervous.
Once inside the door the girls paused and began a whispered conversation.Then Eva Allen tried to push the envelope into another girl's hand; butthe girl put her hands behind her back and obstinately refused to take it.There was another whispered conference with many side glances in Grace'sdirection.
Nora stood scowling savagely at the group. She noticed that it consistedof the basketball team and its substitutes. They were all there exceptMiriam.
"If you have any secrets, girls," remarked Grace in a hurt tone, "pleasepostpone the telling of them for a few minutes. I am going, directly."
She opened her locker and drew out her coat and hat, trying to hide thetears that filled her eyes.
Then Marian Barber impatiently took the envelope from Eva and steppedforward. She had made up her mind to get the whole thing over as rapidlyas she could.
"Er--Grace," she said, clearing her throat, "er--the team has----"
"Well, what is it?" exclaimed Nora, irritated beyond her power ofendurance. "Why don't you speak out, instead of stuttering in thatfashion? I always did detest stuttering."
"Marian has a note for you, Grace," interposed one of the substitutesgrowing bolder.
Marian placed the note in Grace's hand and turned slowly away. Up to thatminute she had believed that what they were about to do was for the best;but all at once the feeling swept over her that she had done acontemptible thing. She turned as though about to take the envelope fromGrace, but the latter had already opened it, and unfolding the paper beganreading the contents aloud.
"Dear Grace," she read, "after a meeting to-day of the members of theregular and substitute sophomore basketball teams, it was decided thatyour resignation as captain of the same be requested.
"We are sorry to do this, but we believe it is for the good of the team.We feel that you cannot be loyal to its interests as long as you persistin being a friend of one of its enemies."
The names of the players, with the exception of Nora's and Miriam's, weresigned to this communication.
After she had finished reading Grace stood perfectly still, lookingsearchingly into the faces of her classmates. She was trying to gain herself-control before speaking to them.
She could hardly realize that her own team had dealt this cruel blow. Forthe first time in her life she had received a real shock. She took a longdeep breath and clenched her hands. She did not wish to break down beforeshe had spoken what was in her mind.
Nora was muttering angrily to herself. Jessica looked ready to cry, whileAnne, pale and resolute, came over and stood by Grace. She felt that shehad been the primary cause of the whole trouble. She had borne the girls'unjust treatment of herself in silence, but, now, they had visited theirdispleasure upon Grace, and that was not to be borne.
"How dared you do such a despicable thing?" she cried. "You are cruel,unfeeling, and oh, so unjust. You accused me of something I would scornto do, and not satisfied with that, visited your petty spite upon a girlwho is the soul of truth and honor. You may say what you choose about me,but you shall not hurt Grace, and if you don't immediately retract whatyou have written I will take measures which may prove most unpleasant toall of you."
Just what Anne intended to do she did not know, but her outburst had itseffect on the conspirators, and they squirmed uneasily under the lash ofher words. Perhaps, they had misjudged this slender, dark-eyed girl afterall.
Before Anne could say more, Grace spoke quietly.
"Sit down, all of you," she said at last, with a sweetness and dignitythat was remarkable in so young a girl. "I have something to say to you.It is curious," she went on, "that I was just talking about our basketballteam when you came into the room. I had said to Nora, Jessica and Annethat I wanted more than anything else in the world to beat the juniorteam. Miss Thompson had been praising the team to me, and I said to thegirls that I thought I loved it just as a mother loves her daughters.There is no sacrifice I wouldn't make to keep up the team's good work, andthat is the reason why I am going to make a sacrifice, now, and declineto resign. If I had been a poor captain, you would have had a r
ight toask for my resignation But I haven't. I have been a good, hard-working,conscientious captain, and I have made a success of the team. None of youcan deny it. If you took a new captain at this stage it might ruineverything, and I tell you I have thought too much about it; I have set myheart on it so firmly that it would just break if we lost the decidinggame."
Her voice broke a little. Nora was sobbing openly. It was hard work forGrace to control her own tears.
"Of course," she went on, clearing her throat and raising her voice tosteady it, "it will be a sacrifice for me to keep on being your captainwhen you don't want me. It's no fun, I can assure you. Perhaps none of youhas ever felt the hurt that comes of being turned out by people who wereonce fond of you. I hope you never will. I am still fond of all of you,and some day, perhaps, you will see that you have made a mistake. At anyrate, I decline to resign my place. It was given to me for the year, and Iwon't give it up."
Grace turned her back and walked to the window. She had come at last tothe end of her strength. She leaned against the window jamb and weptbitterly.
But the address of Mark Anthony over the dead body of Caesar was not moreeffective than this simple schoolgirl's speech. Every girl there meltedinto tears of remorse and sympathy.
"Oh, Grace," cried Marian Barber, "won't you forgive us? We never dreamedit would hurt you so. Now that I look back upon it, I can't see how wecould have asked you to do it. We did believe that Miss Pierson betrayedus; but after all, that had nothing to do with your being captain of theteam. I think you have been a great deal more loyal than we have. I wantto say right here, girls, that I apologize to Grace and scratch my nameoff the list."
She took a pencil, dashing it through her signature, which was the firstone on the letter.
One by one each of the other girls put a pencil stroke through her name.
Then they pinned on their hats, slipped into their coats and left the roomas quickly as possible. They were all desperately ashamed; each in hersecret heart wished she had never entered into the conspiracy.
They had given the captaincy to Grace, and after all, they had no right totake away what they had freely given, and for no better reason than thatGrace was loyal to a friend whom they distrusted.
It was a cruel thing that they had done. They admitted it to each othernow, and wished they had never listened to Miriam Nesbit.
Speaking of Miriam, who was to tell her that she had not supplanted Graceafter all, as captain of the team.
"You are all cowards," exclaimed Marian Barber still buoyed up by herrecent emotions, "I am not afraid of Miriam, or anyone else, and I'llundertake to tell her."
But at the last moment she determined to break the news by letter.
In the meantime, Miss Thompson had quietly entered the locker-room, whereGrace and her three chums were still standing.
"Grace," said the principal, "I was passing by and I could not helpoverhearing what has been said, and while I don't care to enter into thelittle private quarrels of my girls, I want to tell you that you made anoble defense of your position. I am very proud of you, my child." MissThompson put her arms around the weeping girl and kissed her. "I wishevery girl in my school would make such a stand for her principles. Youwere right not to have resigned. Always do what your judgment tells you isright, no matter what the result is, and don't give up the captaincy!"