CHAPTER XV
A WOULD-BE "LARK"
Eleanor Savell and the seven girls who formed their sorority were thefirst to enter the study hall on Tuesday morning. As soon as a girl fromany of the three lower classes appeared she was approached by some ofthe former and a great deal of whispering and subdued laughter went on.A few girls were seen to shake their heads dubiously, and a number ofthose termed "grinds" were not interviewed. The majority, however,appeared to be highly delighted over what they heard, one group standingnear one of the windows, of which Eleanor was the center, laughed soloudly that they were sent to their seats.
Among the number to whom nothing was said were the members of the PhiSigma Tau, and as the morning advanced they became fully aware thatsomething unusual was in the wind. Several times they caught sight of afolded paper being stealthily passed from one desk to another, but as toits contents they had no idea, as it was not handed to any one of them.
At recess there was more grouping and whispering, and Grace was puzzledand not a little hurt over the way in which she and her friends wereignored. Such a thing had not happened since the basketball trouble theprevious year.
"Eleanor started that paper, whatever it is," said Nora O'Malley to thePhi Sigma Tau, who stood in a group around her desk. "She was here whenI came in this morning, and I was early, too. It is some masterpiece ofmischief on her part, or she wouldn't take the trouble to get here ontime."
"Here comes Mabel," said Jessica. "Maybe she has seen the paper. Mabel,dear, did you see that paper that has been going the rounds thismorning?"
Mabel nodded.
"What was written on it, Mabel?" asked Grace curiously.
Mabel looked distressed for a moment then she said, "I wish I mighttell you all about it, but I gave my word of honor before I read itthat I wouldn't mention the contents to any one."
"Then, of course, we won't ask you," said Anne Pierson quickly. "Buttell us this much--is it about any of us?"
"No," replied Mabel. "It isn't. It is something I was asked to sign."
"And did you sign it?" asked Jessica.
"I certainly did not," responded Mabel. "It was----" she stopped, thenflushed. She had been on the point of telling. "I am sorry I ever sawit," she continued. "I can't bear to have secrets and not tell you."
"That's all right, Mabel," said Marian Barber, patting her on theshoulder. "We don't want you to tell. If it doesn't concern us we don'tcare, do we, girls?"
"No, indeed," was the reply.
Just then the bell sounded and the girls returned to their seats withthe riddle still unsolved. Nothing more was seen of the mysteriouspaper, and Grace came to the conclusion that it had been nothingimportant, after all.
On Wednesday, aside from a little more whispering and significantglances exchanged among the pupils, not a ripple disturbed the calm ofthe study hall. It was therefore a distinct and not altogether pleasantsurprise when Miss Thompson walked into the room, dismissed the seniorclass and requested the three lower classes to remain in their seats.
After the seniors had quietly left the study hall, Miss Thompson stoodgravely regarding the rows of girls before her. Her eyes wandered towardwhere Eleanor sat, looking bored and indifferent, and then she lookedtoward Grace, whose steady gray eyes were fixed on the principal's facewith respectful attention.
"I don't believe Grace is guilty, at any rate," thought Miss Thompson;then she addressed the assembled girls.
"Something has come to my ears, girls," said the principal, "that I findhard to credit, but before you leave here this afternoon I must know whois innocent and who is guilty."
Miss Thompson paused and a number of girls stirred uneasily in theirseats, while a few glanced quickly toward Eleanor, who was lookingstraight ahead, the picture of innocence.
"You all know," continued the principal, "that it is strictly forbiddenfor any pupil to absent herself from school for the purpose of attendinga circus, matinee or any public performance of this nature. I have soseverely disciplined pupils for this offence that for a long time no onehas disobeyed me. I was, therefore, astonished to learn that a number ofgirls, regardless of rules, have taken matters into their own hands andhave decided to absent themselves from school to-morrow in order toattend the matinee to be given in the theatre. Such a decision is worsethan disobedience--it is lawlessness. Unless a severe example is made ofthe offenders, the standard of the school will be lowered. Therefore,I intend to sift this matter to the bottom and find out what mischievousinfluence prompted this act of insubordination.
"Report says that this movement originated in the junior class, and thata paper has been circulated and signed by certain pupils, who pledgedthemselves to play truant and attend the matinee to-morrow."
The eyes of Grace and her chums turned questioningly toward MabelAllison, who nodded slightly in the affirmative.
So that was what all the whispering and mystery had meant. Graceinwardly congratulated herself on having kept clear of the whole thing.None of her friends were implicated, either. Even Mabel had refused tosign.
"I have dismissed the senior class, because I have been assured of theirentire ignorance of the plot. What I insist upon knowing now, is who arethe real culprits, beginning with the girl who originated the paper tothe last one who signed it. I am going to put every girl on her honor,and I expect absolutely truthful answers. The girls who signed the paperI have mentioned will rise."
There was a moment of suspense, then Eleanor Savell proudly rose fromher seat. Her example was followed, until two thirds of the girlspresent were standing. The principal stood silently regarding them withan expression of severity that was decidedly discomfitting.
"That will do," she said curtly, after they had stood for what seemedto them an age, but was really only a couple of minutes.
"You may be seated. The girl who composed and wrote that agreement willnow rise and explain herself."
Without hesitating, Eleanor rose and regarded the principal with aninsolent smile. "I wrote it, Miss Thompson," she said clearly. "I wroteit because I wished to. I am sorry you found out about it, because ithas spoiled all our fun."
There was a gasp of horror at Eleanor's assertion. No one had everbefore spoken so disrespectfully to their revered principal.
"Miss Savell," said the principal quietly, although her flashing eyesand set lips showed that she was very angry, "if you have that paper inyour possession, bring it to me at once, and never answer me again asyou did just now. You are both disrespectful and impertinent."
But Miss Thompson's anger toward Eleanor was nothing compared with thetempest that the principal had aroused in Eleanor. The latter flushed,then turned perfectly white with rage. Still standing, she reached down,picked up a book from her desk and took from it a paper. "This," shesaid, in a low tense voice, "is the paper you wish to see. I do notchoose to let you see it, therefore I shall destroy it."
"I Do Not Choose to Let You See This Paper."]
Then she deliberately tore the offending paper into shreds and scatteredthem broadcast.
"I hope you understand that I am not afraid of you or any other teacherin this school," she continued. "I have never been punished in my life,therefore I am not liable to give you the first opportunity. I despiseyou, because you are a ridiculous prig, and I am glad of an opportunityto tell you so. As for the persons who told you about our plan, wordscannot express my contempt for them, and right here I accuse GraceHarlowe and her sorority of getting the information from Mabel Allisonyesterday and carrying it to you. They are all tale-bearers and sneaks."
With these words, Eleanor angrily flung the book she held on the deskand walked down the aisle toward the door, but Miss Thompson barred herway.
"Stop, Miss Savell," she commanded. "You shall not leave this room untilyou have apologized to the girls whom you have unjustly accused and tome. I will not tolerate such behavior."
Eleanor glared at the principal, whose face was rigid in its purpose,then sank into the nearest vacant sea
t, saying defiantly: "You may keepme here all night if you like, but, I meant what I said, and I shallretract nothing."
Nevertheless she did not again attempt to leave the room. She had metwith a will stronger than her own and she realized it.
Ignoring Eleanor's final remark, Miss Thompson once more turned herattention to the matter in hand.
"Those girls who are not in any way implicated in this matter aredismissed," she said.
About one third of the girls arose and prepared to leave the study hall,the Phi Sigma Tau being among the number. Grace motioned the girls tohurry. She wished to leave the room with her friends before MissThompson noticed them. She knew the principal would insist on an apologyfrom Eleanor, and neither she nor her friends wished it. For the firsttime since Eleanor had chosen to cut their acquaintance Grace wasthoroughly angry with her. She could not forgive Eleanor for havingaccused her and her friends of carrying tales before almost the entireschool; therefore a forced apology would not appease her wounded pride.She drew a breath of relief when the eight girls were safely outside thestudy hall door.
"Hurry up," she said. "We'll talk when we get outside school. Don't stopfor a minute. If Miss Thompson notices that we are gone, she'll sendafter us."
The girls silently donned their wraps and fled from the building likefugitives from justice. Once on the street a lively confab ensued, alltalking at once.
"Let's take turns talking," cried Grace, laughing. "We shall understandeach other a little better."
"Now, what do you think of Miss Eleanor?" cried Nora. "She has certainlyshown her true colors this time."
"I never heard of anything more unjust than the way she accused us, whenwe knew nothing about her old plan," said Marian Barber.
"It was abominable," said Eva Allen.
The other girls expressed their disapproval in equally frank terms.
"I suppose it did look as though I told you girls," said Mabel Allison,who had joined them at the gate. "You know I was with you at recess,right after the paper had been passed to me. I don't think Miss Savellintended me to see it. It was passed to me by mistake."
"Very likely," agreed Grace. "I wonder who did tell Miss Thompson. I sawseveral girls with the paper, but hadn't the remotest idea what it wasall about. You know Miss Thompson is awfully down on 'skipping school.'She threatened last year to suspend Edna Wright for it."
"There will be weeping and wailing in the 'Skull and Crossbones'crowd,'" exclaimed Nora. "They are all in this mix-up, and if theyaren't suspended, they'll be lucky."
"Are you going to stand up for Eleanor now, in the face of what she saidabout all of us before those girls, Grace?" asked Marian Barber hotly.
"No," said Grace shortly. "She deserves to be punished. The things shesaid to Miss Thompson were disgraceful, and I shall never forgive herfor the way she spoke of us."
"I wouldn't say that, Grace," remarked Anne. "You can never tell whatmay happen to change your views."
"It will have to be something remarkable in this instance," repliedGrace grimly, as she bade the girls good-bye. "Remember, girls,basketball practice again to-morrow, and the rest of the week. MissThompson has promised me the gymnasium. Please make it a point to be onhand."
"Good-bye, Grace," chorused her friends, and went on down the streetdiscussing the probable fate of the would-be truants.
* * * * *
To return to those youthful transgressors. They were spending a mostuncomfortable half hour with Miss Thompson. She was merciless in herdenunciation of their conduct, and the terror of suspension arose inmore than one mind, as they listened to her scathing remarks. It had allseemed a huge joke when they planned it, but there was nothing funnyabout it now. When, with the exception of Eleanor, the principaldismissed them, they filed decorously out, very uneasy in mind. MissThompson had taken their names, but had not stated their punishment andit was certain that they would be made to feel the full weight of herdispleasure.
When the last girl had disappeared the principal turned to Eleanor."I will listen to your apology, Miss Savell," she said coldly.
Eleanor looked scornfully at the principal, and was silent.
"Do you intend to obey me, Miss Savell?" asked Miss Thompson.
Still there was no answer.
"Very well," continued Miss Thompson. "Your silence indicates that youare still insubordinate. You may, therefore, choose between two things.You may apologize to me now, and to-morrow to the girls you have accusedof treachery, or you may leave this school, not to return to it unlesspermitted to do so by the Board of Education."
Without a word Eleanor rose and walked haughtily out of the room.
Grace Harlowe's Junior Year at High School Page 15
