Betty Lee, Sophomore

by Harriet Pyne Grove

  CHAPTER XIV: THE DECISION

  Carolyn rode home in the Gwynne car with Betty, but they talked of otherthings, especially the coming season of basketball. Betty declared thatshe did not play a good game and Carolyn said that she played as well asthe other sophomores and that moreover she was swift and graceful abouteverything just as she was in swimming. "Go in for it, Betty; pleasedo."

  "I'll think about it," promised Betty. "It's so that most of our hockeyteam want to play basketball, too."

  Taffies, no matter how toothsome, are not the best preparation for asound night's sleep; but Betty was too sleepy to give sororities anyfurther thought that night and the only effect of the taffy was ingiving her a dream in which she and Carolyn were being initiated intoKappa Upsilon, while Kathryn stood by watching them.

  In the morning she woke with a pretty good idea of what she was going todo. It was not necessary to marshal the arguments for and against. "I'mnot going into a thing that leaves out a lot of my special friends," shesaid to herself as she dressed. "Lyon High is too big for it to make anydifference to me. The question of sororities in college can wait. I maygo away to school or be in the University here. Carolyn's so sweet itwon't make any difference if she does go into it; and I like Kathryn somuch; and if Peggy changes, I can't help it."

  Peggy, however, was a big pull toward the sorority for Carolyn, sheknew. She almost wished she did not have to call up Carolyn. She didn'twant to use any influence with her. It wouldn't be fair. Perhaps by thistime Carolyn wanted awfully to do it and her decision would be a sort ofwet blanket. Still, she had promised to tell her before they went toschool.

  Betty hurried with her dressing and breakfast, helping a little as usualand to her relief, while she was still at the table, the telephone rang.Carolyn was calling her, she thought.

  Doris answered it this time, but she called Betty. "It's Carolyn," shesaid. "It must be something important for her to call you at breakfasttime."

  Betty only smiled as she hopped up and ran to the front hall. "Yes,Carolyn?"

  "Betty, Peggy called up last night and she is going to join and is crazyto have me do it!"

  "Well, Carolyn, why not, if you want to?"

  "I told old Peggy that I was trying to make up my mind but I didn'tmention you at all. I thought you'd rather not. She did, though, andsaid they wanted to have you. Lucia, too, had asked them if they hadasked you, with the idea that it would be a lot more attractive to herif they did!"

  "That was very nice of Lucia."

  "Well, Betty--have you decided?"

  "Yes, Carolyn."

  "That doesn't sound as if you were going to do it. If I know you, youwould have said something enthusiastic about Peggy and Lucia. Dare I askyou _what_ you have decided?"

  Betty's little chuckle went over the wires to Carolyn.

  "I am putting off telling you till the last minute, you see, _because_of what you are saying about Peggy and Lucia and how you may feelyourself about it. Please don't be influenced by what I do or don't do.That sounds conceited, doesn't it? But really I'm not a bit about it.You just consulted me and seemed to care what I thought about it, youknow!"

  "For pity's sake, Betty, don't apologize! And I can't wait a minutelonger to know!"

  "All right, then," said Betty, with no chuckle this time. "I knew when Iwoke up that I wasn't going to join. All the reasons against it win,Carolyn."

  "Well, I just about knew how you would decide. I've got to think it overbetween now and the time I get to school. I didn't know at all when Iwoke up what I was going to do. Peggy's enthusiasm last night shook me."

  "Why shouldn't it? You've known Peggy for a long time. And don't thinkthat your belonging to any sorority will make me think any less of you.That will be just _one little organization_ that we aren't in together.There are plenty of societies in Lyon High, Carolyn."

  "Yes. All right, Betty. I've got to think it out myself, just like you.See you at lunch."

  Receivers were hung up. The discussion was over. Now Betty was to thinkof her own relation to these girls, particularly of what she should sayto Marcella. It was not likely that Carolyn would mention her knowledgeof Betty's decision.

  But Betty was glad to put off the evil hour and when she met Kathryn asshe descended from the street car and walked up to the school entrancewith her, she knew that she was safe, though she saw Marcella in thehall, gave her a smiling bow and saw Marcella thoughtfully regard herand Kathryn. But the Kappa Upsilons were having quite a time with their"pledges." It wasn't possible to invite all of any little group offriends.

  It must be said that Betty's thoughts outside of lessons that day weremore concerned with basketball than with sorority. Carolyn's ideasstarted that line of thought. But Mathilde would work against her--ohwell, things would turn out as they would.

  It was after school when Marcella Waite spoke again to Betty. "Just aminute, Betty Lee. Are you rushing off to catch a car this time?"

  "No, indeed. I've all the time in the world--not even anything of the G.A. A. this afternoon."

  "Then perhaps you can come along with me and some of the other girls andhave dinner down town. Lucia is going, and perhaps we can get Carolynand Peggy."

  "I couldn't do that, Marcella, but thank you so much for asking me. Ihave to go home."

  "Oh, I could take you home to dress. The car is out here this time. ButI'll not urge you if you have other things on hand for tonight. I thinkyou know what I want to see you about. You said something sweet aboutKappa Upsilon yesterday, so I've been hoping that you would be quiteready to say yes about joining us. What do you think?"

  "Do you mean that you are asking me to join?"

  "Just that."

  "It is so good of you, Marcella. I did think about it for I thought thatyou would scarcely have said that to me if you hadn't meant something ofthe kind. And it would look so good to be in anything that you are in.I've enjoyed knowing you so much!" Betty was sober and earnest, with hereyes somewhat troubled as she looked straight at Marcella, standingaside from the walk a little, away from the hurrying pupils.

  "But when it comes to joining any high school sorority you know thatthere are a lot of things to think about."

  "Not so important as you think. It is just a lot of fun for the mostpart."

  "I know, and that part of it is lovely. But I decided this morning thatit wasn't best and if I _should_ be asked by any of them not to do it."

  "That is final, then?" asked Marcella, more business-like than offended.

  "Yes. It has to be, though I can't tell you how I appreciate it to bechosen by the Kappa Upsilons."

  "That is all right, Betty Lee. I'm sorry, though, and I think you'llregret it--not that we'll do anything to make you regret it, youunderstand."

  "My, no! I can't imagine _your_ doing anything mean, Marcella."

  "Thanks for your good opinion. By the way, my brother was home the otherday and asked what had become of the little girl that was Titania at myHallowe'en party."

  "Did I meet him? Your brother?"

  "Why, of course, but--that's so--perhaps you didn't know who he was. Hehad to make a train and could not stay for the unmasking or therefreshments, except to eat something back in the kitchen! He was the'Pirate of Penzance.'"

  "Oh!" exclaimed Betty, rather overwhelmed. She certainly did rememberthe "Pirate of Penzance!" What a pity that she had not known before! No,her decision would have been the same!

  "Doesn't your brother live at home?" she asked.

  "Oh yes; but he is at college in the East. He just happened to be athome, unexpectedly, so I worked him in to help out and I thought helooked splendid in that costume I got up for him."

  "He surely did."

  "It was a pity you shouldn't have seen him unmasked, though. He's quitehandsome at times, though I'm probably prejudiced."

  "I don't think you should say that. Besides, it's a good thing to beproud of your brothers and sisters."

  "I have two brothers," said Marcella, "and this one
is the younger one.He's a sophomore this year. Well, Betty, I'm sorry. But don't feeluncomfortable about it. I see that you do, and sororities don't like tobe turned down, either. But it isn't so bad if you have just decidedagainst high school sororities. I suppose your parents have had someinfluence against them most likely--I must run!"

  Marcella hurried away, to Betty's relief this time. She had meant tomake it easy for Betty, though, and Betty was grateful. Marcella was afine girl. And oh, the Pirate of Penzance, whose memories had someglamour of romance, was her brother! How silly it had been of her not tofind that out before.

  But Betty Lee, while not lacking in initiative, was timid about somethings. She had not wanted to seem curious or too much interested in anyboy. She had asked, indeed, if Carolyn knew who the Pirate of Penzancecould have been, but Carolyn had not known. Kathryn had joked her abouthis choosing her for a partner, but Kathryn had wondered who he was, andto ask Marcella was a thing Betty would not do.

  So it happened that until this moment Betty had no least idea of whomshe had met in that dark "hole in the wall." So it was a pity that shehad not seen him unmasked? Very vividly that smiling face in the mirror,lit only by the dim candle-light, kept Betty company in her thoughts onthe way home.

  Evening was not quite so good a time for courage as morning. Bettysuffered the natural reaction from a decision which definitely cut offany prospect of being in tempting sorority atmosphere, so heralded bygirls of some schools; and any secret society has fascinations of itsown.

  She knew that she had been sensible, but she had no word from Carolynand felt a sinking at her heart when she thought that Carolyn,influenced by Peggy's joining and the sweet urging of Marcella, hadprobably gone into the Kappa Upsilon sorority. When she thought ofMathilde, however, she had a different feeling. Imagine being intimatewith a girl like that! Mathilde was not only spoiled but rough at times,physically, if not in language, in spite of all her airs and superiorassumptions. But Kappa Upsilons might not find that out.

  It did make more of a difference than she thought it would aboutCarolyn, but--oh well--it was done. She would probably do the same thingif she still had to decide.

  Her father asked her to play with Doris a simple melody arranged for theviolin, whose piano accompaniment Doris managed very nicely, Bettythought; and with the violin tucked under her chin she felt comforted.There were "lots of happy times" that had nothing to do with school orsororities or being on teams or keeping on the honor roll--even!

  But Doris, who, like the rest of the junior high girls, was interestedin Lyon High doings and heard plenty of gossip about sorority affairsand the rushing recently done, asked Betty outright if she had beenasked to join any of the sororities.

  Betty hesitated, as she looked through some sheet music and putsomething new before Doris to try. "We don't talk about those things,Doris," she said.

  "Why not?"

  "Just--because."

  "You could tell at home, if you'd been asked and were going to join."

  "If I were going to join," repeated Betty, soberly.

  "What is this?" asked their father. "The high school students are notallowed to have sororities, Doris."

  "They have 'em just the same, Papa. I'm going to join one, that is if Iget asked."

  "Indeed?" and Mr. Lee lifted his brows.

  "You're not likely to be asked," said Betty, "if you're that frank aboutwanting to get in."

  Doris paid no attention to Betty's remark, but addressed her father."Oh, now, Papa, they get around it all right! I've heard all about it."

  "How you know more than I did is a wonder, Doris," said Betty. "Theremust be some one of your friends that knows the ins and outs."

  "There is. She has a sister who is a senior."

  "How about it, Betty?" asked Mr. Lee, interested. "Have you beenapproached on the subject?"

  "Yes, sir. I was asked to join a good one, nice girls anyhow, but Idecided not to go into any. I'll wait till I get into college, if I go,and if anybody wants me."

  Mr. Lee gave a nod of satisfaction and turned back to his book. "Thereis a reason for there being no sororities in high schools," said he. "Inthe smaller schools particularly it makes trouble."

  But Doris was at once alive with interest. "_Tell_ me, Betty! Whichone?"

  "Really, Dorry, I'd like to tell you; but it wouldn't be nice to do itnow. You might forget and say something about it. Will you be satisfiedif I say that I will tell you some time?"

  "I suppose I'll have to be."

  "Aw, she'd be saying, 'My sister was asked to join one of thesororities!'" Dick's tone was as much like a girl's as a boy whose voicewas beginning to change could manage.

  "I _will not_!" vehemently Doris asserted.

  "That will do, children," said Mrs. Lee. "This is Betty's affair. Sheprobably feels uncomfortable enough to refuse an attractive invitation."

  Mother knew, bless her! Perhaps she had been through the same thing.

  Then there came a ring at the telephone and Betty flew. "Somebody'scalling up Betty!" said Doris, rather pettishly, though she did notclose her ears to Betty's side of the conversation.

  "Oh, Carolyn!" said Betty, and then there was a silence on her part fora little.

  "You 'almost did?' Maybe you should have done it, Carolyn. Sure you'llbe happy over it?"

  Another long silence on Betty's part.

  "It is good of you to tell me all about it. Yes, Marcella is thegreatest attraction. I hope--what is that? Yes."

  "Marcella Waite, Dick," said Doris in a low tone. "It's the KappaUpsilons! I knew it!"

  "Doris," said Mrs. Lee, pleasantly but firmly, "whatever you may know orguess, I trust your sense of what is fitting to keep your ideas toyourself."

  "All right, Mamma--but I can't help hearing what the other kids talkabout."

  "The other children, you mean."

  "Yes'm."

  Mrs. Lee sighed, laying aside some mending for a magazine. Thisschool-grounds language! But perhaps, if they heard correct and culturedspeech at home it would do some good.