CHAPTER XVI
AN OUNCE OF LOYALTY
When the girls of the sophomore class entered their locker-room the nextday they found a notice posted to the effect that a class meeting would beheld after school in the locker-room at which all members were earnestlyrequested to be present.
There was considerable speculation as to the object of the meeting, and noone knew who had posted the notice. Grace kept her own counsel. She wishedto take the class by surprise, and thus make Anne's restoration to favorcomplete.
At recess Nora and Jessica brought up the subject, but found that Graceapparently wished to avoid talking about it.
"You'll attend, won't you, Grace?" asked Anne.
"Of course," said Grace hastily. "Will you excuse me, girls? I have atheorem to study."
She felt that if she stayed a minute longer she would tell her friends thegood news and spoil her surprise.
"What makes Grace act so queerly to-day?" said Jessica. "I believe sheknows something and won't tell us."
"I'll make her tell it," said Nora, and ran after Grace. But just then thegong sounded and recess was over.
As soon as school was dismissed for the day, the entire sophomore classcrowded into the locker-room. They were curious to know what was in thewind. Every member was present, and Grace felt a secret satisfaction whenMiriam Nesbit, looking rather bored, sauntered in.
There was a confused murmur of voices. The girls chattered gayly to eachother, as they waited for some one to call the meeting to order. WhenGrace left the corner where she had been standing with her three friends,and stood facing her classmates, the talking instantly ceased.
"Girls," she said, "I suppose you wonder who called this meeting, and whyit was called? I wrote the notice you all read this morning. I havesomething to tell you which I hope you will be glad to hear."
"At the beginning of the school year, some things happened that causedunpleasant suspicions to rest upon a member of our class. You all know whoI mean. It has caused her and her friends a great deal of unhappiness, andI am glad to be able at last to bring you the proof that she has beenmisjudged."
Grace paused and looked about her. She noted that Miriam had turned verypale.
"Just as I suspected," thought Grace, "she really did have a hand in thatsignal affair."
Then she continued.
"A few days ago I had occasion to call upon the junior captain, MissCrosby. While there, she assured me that the juniors did receive oursignals, but that Miss Pierson had absolutely nothing to do with thematter. I was not sure that you would care to take my word, alone, forthis"--Grace couldn't resist this one tiny thrust--"so she very kindlygave me the assurance in writing, signed by herself."
Grace then unfolded the paper and in a clear voice read Julia's statement.
There was not a sound in the room. Grace stood waiting. She had done herpart, the rest lay with her classmates.
Nora and Jessica had their arms around Anne, who had begun to cry quietly.The relief was so great that it had unnerved her. Then Marian Barbersprang to Grace's side and seized her by the hand.
"Listen, girls," she cried, "I want to acknowledge for the second timethat I am heartily ashamed of myself. We have all been nasty andsuspicious toward Anne. We never gave her a chance to defend herself, wejust went ahead and behaved like a lot of silly children. I am sorry foranything I have ever said about her, and I want to tell you right herethat I consider Grace Harlowe the ideal type of High School girl. I onlywish I were half as noble and courageous. I suppose you all wonder whyGrace went to see Julia Crosby. Well I'll tell you. I found out about itfrom Julia's sister this morning."
"Oh Marian, please don't," begged Grace, rosy with confusion.
But the girls cried in chorus, "Tell us, Marian! Don't mind Grace!"
When Marian had finished many of the girls were in tears. They crowdedaround Anne and Grace vying with each other in trying to show their goodwill. Then Eva Allen proposed three cheers for Grace and Anne.
They were given with a will. The noise of the ovation bringing one of theteachers to the door with the severe injunction, "Young ladies pleasecontain yourselves. There is too much noise here."
The girls dispersed by twos and threes, until Marian Barber and the chumswere the only ones left.
"I have a motto," said Marian, "that I shall bring here to-morrow and hangin the locker-room. If I had paid more attention to it it would have beenbetter for me."
"What is it, Marian?" asked Jessica.
"Wait and see," replied Marian. "Oh, it's a good one, and appropriate,too."
After saying good-bye to Marian the four chums walked on together.
"Are you happy, Anne, dear?" said Grace, slipping her hand into Anne's.
Anne looked up at Grace with a smile so full of love and gratitude thatGrace felt well repaid for all she had endured for friendship's sake.
"Everything has turned out just like the last chapter in a book," sighedNora with satisfaction "The sinner--that's Julia Crosby--has repented, andthe truly good people--Anne and Grace--have triumphed and will live happyforever after."
The girls laughed at Nora's remark.
"Now I can go on planning for our big game without being afraid that thegirls will stay away from practice and do things to annoy and make it hardfor me," said Grace happily. "I know that we shall win. I feel so full ofenthusiasm I don't know what to do. Oh, girls, I forgot to tell you thatJulia Crosby and I have a perfectly splendid plan. But I promised not tosay anything to anyone about it until she comes back to school."
"How funny it sounds to hear you talk about having plans with JuliaCrosby," said Jessica laughing. "You will make Miriam Nesbit jealous ifyou take Julia away from her."
"By the way, girls!" exclaimed Nora, "what became of Miriam? I saw herenter the locker-room, but she wasn't there when Marian Barber began herspeech. I know she did not remain, because I looked for her and couldn'tfind her."
"I saw her go," said Grace quietly, "That is the only part of this storythat doesn't end well. She doesn't like Anne or me any better than beforeand never will, I'm afraid. She influenced the girls against us, after thefirst game, and you remember what she said at the basketball meeting,don't you, Nora?"
"Yes," responded Nora, "I do, and if she hadn't been David's sister Iwould have told her a few plain truths, then and there."
"I said at the beginning of the year that I believed Miriam had a betterself," said Grace thoughtfully. "I still believe it, and I am not going togive her up yet."
"I don't envy you the task of finding it," said Jessica.
"I wonder what Marian Barber's motto is?" mused Anne. "She said it wouldbe a good one."
"I have no doubt of that. Marian Barber doesn't usually do things byhalves when once she starts," said Jessica. "I am surprised that she everallowed herself to be drawn into Miriam's net. She seems awfully sorry forit now."
"Oh, girls," cried Nora suddenly. "I have a half a dollar."
"Really?" said Jessica. "I didn't suppose there was that much money inOakdale."
"My sister gave it to me this morning," Nora went on, ignoring Jessica'sremark. "I am supposed to buy a new collar with it, but if you arethirsty----"
"I am simply perishing with thirst," murmured Grace.
Five minutes later the four girls were seated in the nearest drug storebusily engaged with hot chocolate, while they congratulated Nora on havingspent her money in a good cause.
The sophomores smiled to themselves next morning at Marian's motto. Ithung in a prominent place in the locker-room and read: "An ounce ofloyalty is worth a pound of cleverness."