Dorothy Whitehill

“ Lois knelt on the lower step, and Louise placed the wreath on her head.
“I crown you the most beautiful picture of the evening,” she said. And the girls broke out in heartiest applause.
“I knew it, I knew it,” Miss Porter whispered to Miss King. “She’s exquisite. See how her eyes sparkle when she blushes. She’s exactly the sensitive, delicate type, for a Jeanne D’Arc.”
“She is lovely,” Miss King agreed, in her frank way. “But if I’d had the awarding of the prize, Polly would have had it. She’s a splendid girl, she gave me a sweater, as well as a tam for Martha. I love that spirit.” ”

“ It had come, and though both girls had half expected it, it was a tremendous surprise.
“Oh, Louise, you know we’d love to do it!” cried Lois.
“It’s most too good to be true,” Polly exclaimed excitedly, then very solemnly she added to Florence: “To think we will really help you graduate! It’s the most thrilling thing that ever happened to me in my whole life!”
“I’m so glad you will do it for us,” smiled Florence, and turning to Louise she added: “We’d better go back to the girls. I think they’ll be waiting for us. It’s almost time to serenade Mrs. Baird.” ”

“ After luncheon Lois and Betty arrived for a last word; they were in their gym suits and Betty’s hands were ice cold. Polly tried to be encouraging and cheerful.
“Do be careful of those lines, Bet,” she advised, “and don’t run with the ball.”
“Run with the ball! I probably won’t have a chance to even get my hands on it let alone run with it. Oh, I tell you, I’m in a sweet funk!” groaned Betty.
“Will you stop talking like that, Betty Thompson,” commanded Lois. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. ”

“ Polly smiled, “Bet, it’s your turn; who do you want?”
“Mine? All right, let’s see. I like a lot of girls—there’s you and Lois and Ange and Connie—and—Oh, Jemima, but you’re all going and I can’t think of any one else, can you?”
“No, I can’t,” Polly said, laughing, “so that’s settled. Let’s go and ask Miss Porter.”
They found the English teacher in a perfect ocean of examination papers, a daub of red ink on one ear.
“Come in, girls, I suppose you want to know if you’ve passed,” she said, smiling the welcome she always felt for this particular trio. ”

“ Mr. Whittington’s surprise turned out to be the Russian Ballet, and as the girls watched the fascinating première danseuse as Pupin Fee (fairy doll) in that charming story dance, they were wild with delight, and Polly openly transferred her affection from Peter Pan. Lois remained faithful, and Betty never could make up her mind which one she loved the better.
“She might just as well be talking,” exclaimed Polly between acts. “I know just what she’s thinking with every move she makes. Oh, isn’t she precious!” ”

“ As they stood discussing his future, Vic noticed a familiar figure coming down the stable road. It was Tony, one of the Seddon Hall gardeners, and a special friend of his. He had taken care of him ever since Field Day.
As if to answer their question for them, the little monkey jumped from Betty’s lap, ran swiftly along the ground, and bounded to Tony’s shoulder.
“The problem is solved,” laughed Betty. “Tony will take care of him. Tony,” she called, and the Italian came up to the steps, smiling sheepishly. ”

“ Polly inquired.
“Never in my time,” answered Betty. “But, then, never, no, never was there such a set of impossibles as the ‘sofs,’ nor was there ever such a bully center to be found in the Freshman class.” This with a meaning glance at Polly, who had managed to get the ball after the toss-up a remarkable number of times that day.
“Bet, you’re crazy; why, I’m only a new girl. Lois would be first choice and you second.”
“You may be a new girl, but don’t forget the paper chase,” said Betty. “But you’re right about Lo; she is wonderful. She’s all over the place at once and she keeps her head. ”

“ Listen! Why don’t we give a farewell party to the Seniors?”
“It’s never been done,” replied Lois.
“What of that? There’s got to be a first time to everything, and it would be such a lark.”
“But what kind of a party?”
“A moonlight straw-ride and supper at Flat Rock,” suggested Polly. “Mrs. Baird would let us, I know, she’s such a dear.”
“How about the other girls?” inquired Lois. “Angela and Connie would love it, of course, but the rest—”
“The rest don’t count,” cut in Betty. “We have the majority and, besides, they always do what we suggest.”
“Let’s call a class meeting tonight,” said Polly. ”

“ On they sped to the orchard and panting, but delighted, they again reached the bridge.
“Everybody underneath and don’t make a sound,” Polly warned them, “and keep well to the end so they won’t see us as they come along; our only danger is, that they may notice the short trail that leads down here.”
They waited for what seemed an age, balancing themselves on slippery stones, very much excited, but very still, save for an occasionally suppressed giggle.
In a few minutes they heard the thump, thump of the approaching hounds and held their breath as the bridge shook over their heads. ”

“ The afternoon passed quickly, and by six o’clock the girls and faculty were all tramping into the Assembly Hall, that in the dim shaded light resembled a wooded dell, fit background for the gypsy camp that occupied one end of it.
Supper consisted of chicken salad, all kinds of sandwiches, cake, lemonade and ice cream. Just the sorts of things it’s fun to eat, sitting on the floor, picnic fashion.
In spite of the big dinner, every one ate heartily. ”

“ Miss Porter thought for a minute. “Mrs. Baird really wants you to go as your favorite characters? Lois, who is your favorite heroine?”
“Jeanne d’Arc, the martyred Maid of Orleans,” Lois replied dramatically. “Do you think I might go as Jeanne d’Arc?” she asked eagerly.
“I like that,” Polly interrupted. “I thought at the Hallow-e’en party I was to be a Jeanne d’Arc. Oh, well, I give up my rights for this once; besides,” she added seriously, “I don’t really love her the way you do.”
“Won’t armor be hard to imitate?” Miss King asked. ”

“ Today was the day of the Faculty tea, to be given by the Seniors, and Polly, Lois, and Betty were helping them make the sandwiches and fruit punch.
“Wah, but I’m hot and tired!” sighed Lois, holding a thin slice of bread in one hand and a knife smeared with mayonnaise dressing in the other.
“You’re lazy, you mean,” replied Betty. “Try squeezing a few of these lemons if you want a sample of real work; they’re as hard as rocks.” ”

“ Best of all days of the vacation was Christmas. Polly and Lois were wakened at nine o’clock by Uncle Roddy’s knock.
“Get up, you lazy children! Merry Christmas!” he called. “Lois, I have your mother on the phone for you. Come and speak to her.”
Lois jumped out of bed and in a minute was calling Xmas greetings all the way to Albany.
After breakfast Mr. Whittington arrived, and he and Uncle Roddy whispered mysteriously. Finally Mr. Whittington said:
“Get your things on, girls; we’re going for a ride.”
“A ride?” exclaimed Polly. “Why, the ground’s covered with snow.” ”

“ In the big room, some of the lights were put out and the girls sat in hushed groups talking in whispers.
Every once in a while, a Senior dressed as a gypsy would single out a group and lead it to the camp, where Louise and Florence as fortune tellers would select their fortunes from a big black pot (Polly’s discovery) and read it out in a sing-song voice. ”

“ Betty said decidedly. “Have you forgotten the row in class?”
“Then let’s drop the two Dorothys,” replied Lois.
“Wait, I’ve an idea,” Polly exclaimed; “let’s ask only the girls we like awfully well. We don’t know when we’ll ever be together again and—”
“Oh, Poll!” Lois protested. “Don’t talk like that.”
“Well, we don’t know. Louise and Florence graduate; Connie may go to the conservatory, and Ange—”
“I see what you mean,” Betty interrupted. “Make it a sort of farewell reunion and of course we’ll take Miss Porter—she’s our favorite teacher.” ”

“ Polly and Lois hugged each other for joy and after taking a disgracefully long time to undress, they finally fell asleep over their chocolate and cakes.
The two weeks of Christmas vacation was an unending good time; every minute was full. The mornings were spent chiefly in bed, for Mrs. Bent brought them their breakfast and sat to chat.
Sometimes they lunched down-town with Uncle Roddy and sometimes they motored through Central Park, or, with Mrs. Bent for chaperone, wandered through the stores, and as the old Scotch woman could refuse them nothing, they did pretty much as they chose. ”

“ Betty was wondering what particular chapter Miss Hale would choose for translation; Angela’s thoughts were busy with a possible rhyme about the hard-heartedness of the Spartan, and Lois and Polly were thinking of the promised walk with Louise, which would have to be given up.
It was Connie who interrupted their thoughts by banging on the door.
“May I come in?” she called.
“Yes; we are all in the depths of despair, but you may come in if you want to,” Polly called dolefully. ”

“ Polly and Lois, as before, captured the mysterious box and managed to hide it in the bushes. A camp fire, under Miss Stuart’s direction, was soon blazing, and the girls were seated on rugs and pillows, toasting bacon.
Now every one knows that a bacon bat is loads of fun to talk about before it happens, and to remember afterwards, but the actual eating of the bacon, which is always burned long before it is cooked, is not so much fun in itself. ”

“ When the final whistle blew there was a mad rush, and the girls on the team were hoisted high on the shoulders of the delighted school. Some one threw the big green and white banner around Louise and put the rather frightened mascot into her arms, and singing and cheering wildly, they carried her to the other end of the gym before the table whereon the silver cup had been placed.
Polly, Lois and Betty escaped as soon as the excited girls would let them, and jumping out of their gym suits they met, a few minutes later, in Roman Alley. ”

“ At quarter past twelve they arrived, and at the first sound of the carry-all’s approach, the Seddon Hall girls started cheering, and Louise, as captain, stepped forward to welcome them.
Lois, Betty and Polly moved a little to one side in order to get a good look at their opponents.
“That girl’s a giant,” whispered Lois, pointing at one of the Fenwick girls. “I’ll bet she plays home.”
“Seems to me they are all giants,” Betty grumbled. “I suppose that’s their mascot in that basket; well, it can’t beat ours.” ”

“ He departed with the Spartan without another word.
“There will be no lecture tonight, girls,” Mrs. Baird announced, “and you may go out as you planned to do. Don’t go too far away from the house and be sure and return promptly when you hear the bell.” And glancing at the clock she added, smiling: “You haven’t lost much time.”
It was the merriest of parties that set out a few minutes later for the old fort.
Lois and Betty tried their hardest to find out just how Polly was responsible, for responsible they knew she was, but Polly refused to say anything. ”

“ Uncle Roddy also accepted with pleasure.
Betty arrived Saturday morning, and the three of them chattered like magpies until luncheon. They drove to the theater in the motor and found the two men there to meet them. Betty was introduced to Mr. Whittington and she nicknamed him The Lord Mayor of London at once, after Dick of the same name in the nursery tales. By the time the curtain went up they were the best of friends.
Of course they adored Peter Pan and Wendy. They laughed a good deal and cried a little and waved their handkerchiefs madly when Peter asked them if they believed in fairies. ”