CHAPTER XX
A PIECE OF NEWS
After the excitement of the famous game came a great calm. The variousteachers privately congratulated themselves on the marked improvement inlessons, and were secretly relieved with the thought that basketball waslaid on the shelf for the rest of the school year.
Miriam Nesbit left Oakdale for a visit the Monday after the game, and didnot return for two weeks. The general opinion seemed to be that she wasashamed of herself; but the expression on her face when she did return wasnot indicative of either shame or humility. She was more aggressive thanbefore, and looked as though she considered the whole school far beneathher. She refused to even nod to Grace, Nora, Anne or Jessica, while JuliaCrosby remarked with a cheerful grin that she guessed Miriam had forgottenthat they had ever been introduced.
During the Easter holidays, Tom Gray came down and his aunt gave a dinnerto her "adopted children" in honor of her nephew. Nora gave a fancy dressparty to about twenty of her friends, while Grace invited the seven youngpeople to a straw ride and a moonlight picnic in Upton Wood.
The days sped swiftly by, and spring came with her wealth of bud andbloom. During the long, balmy days Grace inwardly chafed at schoolbooksand lessons. She wanted to be out of doors. As she sat trying to write atheme for her advanced English class, one sunny afternoon during thelatter part of April, she glanced frequently out the window toward thegolf links that lay just beyond the High School campus. How she wished itwere Saturday instead of only Wednesday. That very day she had arranged toplay a game of golf with one of the senior class girls, who had made arecord the previous year on the links. Grace felt rather flattered at thenotice of the older girl, who was considered particularly exclusive, andrarely if ever paid any attention to the lower class girls. She hadaccidentally learned that Grace was an enthusiastic golfer, and thereforelost no time in asking her to play.
"I was awfully surprised when she asked me to play," confided Grace to herchums on the way home from school that afternoon.
"Oh, that's nothing," said Jessica. "She ought to feel honored to thinkyou consented. You are really an Oakdale celebrity, you know."
"Please remember when you are basking in the light of her seniorcountenance that you once had friends among the sophomores," said Nora ina mournful tone.
"I consider both those remarks verging on idiotic," laughed Grace. "Don'tyou, Anne?"
"Certainly," replied Anne. "But let me add a word of caution. Don't allowthis mark of senior caprice to turn your head. Remember you are----"
"You're worse than the others," cried Grace, "Let's change the subject."
Saturday proved a beautiful day, and with a light heart Grace started forthe links with her golf bag strapped across her shoulder. The senior whosename was Ethel Post, sat waiting for her on one of the rustic benches setunder a tree at one side of the starting place. She greeted Gracecordially and the two girls set to work without delay to demonstrate theirprowess as golfers. The caddies, two small boys of Oakdale, who could behired at the links by anyone desiring their services, carried the girls'clubs and hunted lost balls with alacrity.
Miss Post found that Grace was a foeman worthy of her steel. The younggirl's arm was steady, and she delivered her strokes with decision. Gracecame out two holes ahead.
Miss Post was delighted. "I hope you will golf with me often, MissHarlowe," she said cordially. "It is so seldom one finds a really goodplayer."
"I am fond of all games and outdoor sports," replied Grace, "but I likebasketball best of all. Did you attend any of our games during the winter,Miss Post?"
"No," answered the senior. "I am not much interested in basketball. Ireally paid no attention to it this year, and haven't attended a gamesince I was a freshman. Speaking of basketball," continued Miss Post, "Ipicked up a paper last fall with a whole lot of basketball plays writtenon it. It was labeled 'Sophomore basketball signals,' and I turned it overto one of the girls in your class. She happened to be on the team, too,and seemed very glad to get it. I presume it was hers, although she didn'tsay so."
At the mention of the word signals, Grace pricked up her ears. As MissPost innocently told of finding the list, Grace could hardly controlherself. She wanted to get up and dance a jig on the green. She was aboutto learn the truth at last.
Trying to keep the excitement she felt out of her voice, Grace asked in alow tone, "Whom did you return it to, Miss Post?"
"Why, Miss Nesbit," was the answer. "I was inside the campus when I foundit, and just then she passed me on the walk. I knew she was a sophomore,and thought it best to get rid of it, as I would probably have forgottenall about it, and it never would have been returned."
"Quite true," Grace replied, but she thought to herself that a great dealof unhappiness might have been avoided if Miss Post had only forgotten.
The talk drifted into other channels. Miss Post told Grace that sheexpected to sail for Europe as soon as school was over. In the fall shewould return and enter Wellesley. She had crossed the ocean once before,and had done the continent. This time she intended to spend all of hertime in Germany. Grace decided her new acquaintance to be a remarkablybright girl. At any other time she would have listened to her withabsorbed interest, but try as she might, Grace could not focus herattention on what was being said. One thought was uppermost in her mind,that Miriam was the real culprit.
What was to be done about it? She would gain nothing by exposing Miriam toher classmates. There had been too much unpleasantness already. If therewas only some way that Miriam could be brought to see the folly of herpresent course. Grace decided to tell Anne the news that night and ask heradvice.