AWARDING THE PRIZES
The boat race between the four girls and six men at the camping
grounds, which had begun as a joke, was really to take place.
The boys had desired to do something for the entertainment of their
friends on the houseboat at Old Point Comfort. So the day of the boat
race was to be turned into a long day of feasting and amusement.
The summer camp was about to break up, and the young men who had been
members of it were to return to their homes to get ready for the
opening of college. The picnic at the camp was to be their swan song.
The camp was composed of fourteen young men and two professors from
Columbia University. Professor Gordon looked after the athletics and
Professor Gamage the general management of the camp. The men lived in
three small, portable houses, which were set up along the shores of
Oyster Sound, a little stretch of quiet water between the mainland and
a small island.
Tom Curtis and Alfred Thornton, insisting that they be allowed to act
as masters of ceremony for the day's amusements, had arranged a regular
programme for their guests.
Madge requested Tom Curtis to let their boat race take place first. She
and Phyllis were nervous and wished to have the race over in order that
they might be free to enjoy the day's pleasures. But, for once in their
acquaintance, Tom was obdurate and would not agree either to Madge's
entreaties or to her commands. He had arranged his programme and would
make no changes in it, he declared stubbornly.
The guests were to arrive at the camp and eat their luncheon; an hour
later the young men were to give an exhibition of wrestling and racing.
As a last feature of the day the famous race was to take place between
the boys and girls. The race was supposed to be rowed "just for fun,"
but Mrs. Curtis had secretly provided two silver cups. One was to be
presented to the victors, the other was to be awarded to whichever of
the two pairs of girls outrowed the other.
Madge and Phyllis had no particularly pretty suits to wear in the
coming race. The sailor suits they had worn on their first houseboat
excursion were now quite shabby, but neither of them felt that they
could afford to buy new ones. Two days before the boat race Miss Jenny
Ann came to the rescue. She made two beautiful new blouses of white
flannel with wide collars and cuffs of pale blue. Upon the right sleeve
of each blouse Eleanor embroidered in a shade of blue that exactly
matched their collars and cuffs the mysterious letters, M.M.M., which
stood for "Mates of the Merry Maid." These blouses worn with their dark
blue serge skirts made very attractive rowing costumes.
The time appointed for the boat race was at noon on Saturday. The boys
had worked manfully and the grounds looked as though they had been
arranged for a Fourth of July picnic.
When the houseboat party arrived they were greeted with great
cordiality by the young men of the camp. Flora Harris and Alice Paine
did not put in an appearance until within five minutes of the starting
time of the race. Both young women were attired in expensive boating
costumes of heavy cream-colored pongee. They wore white silk stockings
and white buckskin shoes. Their only touches of color were the scarfs
of pale green crepe de chine which were passed under their sailor
collars, and tied in a sailor knot at the open necks of their blouses.
Madge could not help feeling a tiny pang of envy as she gazed at her
beautifully dressed rivals. It was only for a moment, however. She
turned to Tom Curtis, who had hardly left her side since her arrival,
and said, "I have one last particular favor to ask. Will you ask your
crew to come and stand in a line before me?"
"Certainly," agreed Tom wonderingly. The next instant the six men stood
in a line before her. They were Tom Curtis and Alfred Thornton, who
were to pull together, Harry Sears and a Maryland boy, named George
Robinson, and two brothers, Peter and John Simrall. The six youths had
on their rowing costumes, with their sweaters over them. They looked
like a row of good-natured giants as they smiled cheerfully down on
Madge.
Phyllis, Eleanor and Lillian were standing just behind her. Flora
Harris and her cousin, Alice Paine, were not far away. Flora Harris and
Madge had barely spoken to each other all day. Before she had an
opportunity to explain what she wished of the young men, Flora
whispered to her cousin, so audibly that not only Madge but her three
friends heard "I suppose Miss Morton has arranged this tableau to make
herself conspicuous, as usual."
Madge flushed hotly. A quick reply sprang to her lips. The three girls
cast indignant glances at Flora. Madge shook her head slightly. She
meant that they were to remain silent. She had determined not to lose
her temper again with Flora Harris, no matter what the other girl said
or did, and she did not wish her friends to fight her battles. Then she
turned to the boys, who stood in an expectant row.
"Gentlemen," she began solemnly, not a sign of laughter on her usually
merry face, "before we begin our boat race, you will have to make us a
solemn promise." She gazed searchingly at the six oarsmen. "You must
promise us that you will play fair this afternoon in our rowing
contest."
"Why, Madge Morton!" exclaimed Tom, "what do you mean? Do you take us
for cheats?"
Madge smiled. "No, I don't take you for cheats. I am afraid that you
are going to behave like knights of chivalry, and that you will not try
to win the boat race, which you are to row against Miss Harris, Miss
Paine, Phil and me. So you must vow that you will row fairly and
squarely and that you will not hold back or give us any unfair
advantage."
The young men hesitated, looking sheepishly at one another. How had
Madge guessed their plan?
"We won't row with you unless you make us this promise," threatened
Phyllis.
Flora Harris and Alice Paine also insisted that this promise be given,
and after a good-natured protest on their part, the young men finally
agreed to Madge's demand.
The five sculls were waiting out on the water. There was a sixth boat
for the umpire, Professor Gordon, to follow the race. Professor Gamage
was to act as judge at the finish.
The girls got into their boats first, taking their station a hundred
yards ahead of the three sculls to be pulled by the men.
Madge and Phyllis, who were on the inside course, remembered every word
of Jimmy Lawton's coaching. They had won the spring regatta at Miss
Tolliver's school. But then they had rowed only against other girls.
Now, they were to enter into a different kind of contest. They did not
even know how skilful their feminine competitors were. The boys, of
course, had superior strength and training.
Lieutenant Lawton had declared that the one chance for Phyllis and
Madge lay in the start. If they could get away in good style, and make
a spurt toward the goal, the fact of their hundred yards advantage and
the shortness of the course would give them considerable chance of
winning the race.
The disadvantage under which Madge and Phil labored was that they had
not been accustomed to rowing in anything but quiet waters. Flora and
Alice were accustomed to rowing in the surf. The few days' practice on
the bay under Lieutenant Jimmy's direction had helped the two girls.
They had learned the advantage of the long stroke with the high
"feather." Phil was acting as stroke oar in their boat, Madge as
bowman; Alice Paine was stroke and Flora bowman in the rival skiff.
The four girls pulled gloriously. It was a lovely September day, and no
time or strength was wasted in false starts. None of the girls dared to
look back at the men when the signal to get away rang out. No cry of
false start rang after them, and they saw that their masculine rivals
were in close pursuit.
At the beginning of the contest Phyllis and Madge made the best forward
spurt. A moment later Flora and Alice brought their boat up bow and
bow.
Neither Madge nor Phil glanced toward their opponents. Their work lay
plainly ahead of them. The girls sat squarely in their skiff, their
bodies bending sharply forward, then back to recover. They held their
oars firmly but lightly, and pulled for their lives.
The four girls saw that the men were gaining on them. But they had
already covered half of the course. None of them cared very much
whether the boys were the victors. The two pairs of girls were intent
only on outstripping each other.
Madge and Phil knew they could not hold out long. But how they were
pulling! They had never done such splendid work before in their lives.
The boys were amazed. They were trying to keep their word to Madge. Now
it struck them that, after all, they would have to make a real effort
to win. The girls had made such a splendid advance that the men pulled
a little harder at their oars.
Flora Harris and Alice Paine gained a few feet on the other girls. The
experience of the former pair in rough waters was beginning to show.
Determination to win made Madge and Phil redouble their efforts. Their
opponents were only a shade ahead of them now. The boats were keeping
to their straight courses in the open sound. It is a first rule, in
boat racing of any kind, that each boat shall keep to its own water
throughout the race.
Flora Harris, as bowman, was responsible for the steering of her boat.
Whether from accident or intention, just as the bow of the rival skiff
came about midway the body of their shell Flora Harris pulled harder on
her port oar. Her boat swerved to the left. For a brief second the bow
crossed directly in front of the skiff rowed by the "Merry Maid" girls.
Madge was taken completely off her guard. She had not time to call out
to Phil. Phyllis, as stroke oar, was not expected to know what was
happening. Her duty was to row steadily ahead. Her companion's sudden
exclamation, the unexpected vision of the other boat in their course,
confused Phil. She lost her stroke. In the same second, Flora Harris
and Alice Paine returned to their course and pulled triumphantly ahead.
Their mistake lost them first place. But they outclassed Madge and
Phil. Harry Sears and George Robinson swept past and came up to the
stake. Flora and Alice were second. Tom and Alfred, the two Simrall
brothers, pulled past Madge and Phil. They had fulfilled Phil's
prediction and brought up the rear.
Professor Gordon, who, as umpire, had been following the race, was
worried. Of course, he had seen the foul made by Alice and Flora. Yet
he did not know exactly what to do. It was possible that girls did not
understand the rules of boat racing. This race was being rowed for
pleasure. The girls were the guests of his boys at the camp. Flora
Harris's father was an officer at Fortress Monroe. It would hardly do
to accuse his daughter of cheating. He decided to allow the competitors
to register a complaint. He would say nothing until the complaint was
made to him.
When Madge and Phyllis pulled in to the line of the other racing boats
Professor Gamage, the judge at the finish, was about to announce the
victors. Phil's face was white. She looked tired and dispirited.
Madge's cheeks were flaming. Every muscle in her body was tense. She
did not appear to feel the slightest fatigue.
"Don't say anything, Madge," pleaded Phil, before they came up with the
others. "If the umpire does not declare the race to be a foul, we must
not mention it. We were rowing only for fun. We don't wish to make a
scene. If we were to accuse Alice and Flora of committing a foul, they
would be likely to deny it."
"I must speak! I won't bear it!" breathed Madge passionately. "Why
should I allow Flora Harris the use of what we have rightfully won? Tom
or Alfred Thornton ought to speak."
Phyllis had no chance for further argument with her friend. The
announcements were being made.
"Sears and Robinson, first place; Miss Harris and Miss Paine, second,"
the judge called out. "If you will row back to the starting place, I
believe Mrs. Curtis has some prizes to award. We couldn't manage to
transport our audience up here."
The crews accepted the verdict in silence. Harry Sears and George
Robinson looked appealingly toward Madge and Phil, then toward their
umpire. Madge glanced at Tom from under her long lashes. Tom's face was
flaming, yet he said nothing. During the short row back to the camping
grounds the canoe crews were significantly silent.
At the starting place Mrs. Curtis, Madeleine, Lillian and Eleanor
waited to greet them, their arms filled with flowers. Before leaving
for Washington, Lieutenant Lawton had placed an order with a florist
for two bouquets of red and white roses tied with blue ribbon, to be
presented to Madge and Phil.
When Madeleine presented the bouquets the girls took their flowers with
half-averted faces.
The guests of the day, however, were eagerly watching Mrs. Curtis, who
was holding two beautiful silver loving cups in her hands. Professor
Gordon announced Harry Sears and George Robinson as the winners of the
race. They received the larger of the cups in rather an embarrassed
fashion.
"But I wish to know the girl winners," protested Mrs. Curtis, glancing
about the group of young people.
Flora came toward her smiling in the superior manner that proud Madge
particularly disliked. "I believe we came next, Mrs. Curtis," she
announced.
[Illustration: Madge Surprised the Little Company.]
Mrs. Curtis had just opened her lips to congratulate the winners when a
high, clear voice surprised the little company.
"Professor Gordon, did you not, as umpire, see that Miss Harris and
Miss Paine committed a foul which disqualified them in our boat race?"
"O Madge!" Mrs. Curtis spoke in a tone of intense displeasure.
Madeleine's lovely face flushed with embarrassment. Lillian and Eleanor
felt the color rise to their own faces. Miss Jenny Ann stepped to the
side of impetuous Madge, who had precipitated this awkward situation.
Flora Harris paused with her hand lifted to receive the prize. Her
cousin, Alice Paine, looked as though she would like to sink through
the earth.
"Does Miss Morton object to our receiving the prize?" Flora queried
icily. "Then, please don't give it to us. I hardly thought Miss Morton
could endure to see any one but herself as the winner. An Army
officer's daughter is not likely to receive a reward after she has been
accused of cheating, nor will she ever overlook the insult."
Flora moved away from Mrs. Curtis, her head held high, her face white
with anger.
The sympathy of most of the onlookers was at present with Flora and
Alice. Phyllis said nothing, but she moved nearer to Madge, her lips
closed in the firm line which never meant retreat.
"You should have made your complaint to me, Miss Morton, before we left
the boats," answered Professor Gordon sternly. "Don't you think it is
too late, now that we have come ashore and the places have been
awarded?"
"It is not the prize that we wish," returned Madge unsteadily. "It is
only that I think it is dreadful to win anything unfairly. Tom, you saw
what happened. Will you not speak?"
"Yes," began Tom sturdily, determined to stand by Madge, "I saw
Flora----"
Mrs. Curtis laid her hand on her son's arm. With one appealing glance
at his mother Tom subsided. "I am sorry this error has occurred," she
announced to the assembled guests. "I am sure that, if an error in the
race were committed, it was not intentional. I insist on Miss Harris
and Miss Paine accepting this cup. Madge should not have made her
accusation at such a time and place. I think that she owes her
opponents an apology."
Mrs. Curtis was gazing at Madge with more disfavor than she had ever
before shown her favorite.
The little captain felt that she would like to put her arms about some
one's neck and cry her heart out. She was sorry she had spoken, she was
ashamed to have made such a scene and to have spoiled the boys' party,
but she was not ready to apologize for having told the truth. Now her
eyes were flashing ominously and her red lips were curled in scorn. She
had never looked prettier or more obstinate.
"Any apology I have to offer will have to be made to you, Mrs. Curtis,"
she answered between her teeth. "I can not apologize to Miss Harris or
Miss Paine for having told the truth. Of course, I accept the umpire's
decision. I know that we should have entered our protest before we left
our boat."
Madge walked proudly away from the group. Her arms were full of
flowers, but her heart was full of woe. Why did she always seem to be
in the wrong where Flora Harris was concerned? What a bad-tempered girl
everyone must think her!
Phyllis turned to follow Madge, nor would she desert her chum for a
moment until the houseboat party left the camping grounds. Mrs. Curtis
did not notice Madge. She was thoroughly incensed. Tom had only a
chance to whisper: "Course you were right, dear girl. Flora Harris and
Alice cheated abominably. It was my fault too. I should have spoken up
at first. I let things go only because Mother was set on it, and I
didn't wish to see our party break up in a quarrel. All the fellows in
the race are with you. They saw what happened. They were cowards, just
as I was. They didn't want to raise a fuss with the girls."
The rest of the day did not pass very pleasantly for Madge. Mrs. Curtis
could not forgive the little captain for what she considered her lack
of diplomacy, and, knowing herself to be under the ban of her friend's
displeasure, Madge was singularly uncomfortable and ill at ease. Miss
Jenny Ann and the three "Merry Maid" girls could not help feeling that
though Madge had been somewhat hasty, still she had done nothing
reprehensible, and that it looked as though Mrs. Curtis were almost
taking sides with Flora Harris.
It was with unmistakable relief that the houseboat party said good
night to Mrs. Curtis and boarded Tom Curtis's launch for the ride back
to the "Merry Maid."
Madge drew a little apart from the others, staring moodily out over the
moonlit water. Finally Tom seated himself beside her and they talked
impersonally. She was too proud to bring up the subject of what had
occurred on shore, and Tom's sense of delicacy prevented him from
trying to discuss the disagreeable scene she had precipitated with her.
Once on board their boat the girls were unusually quiet, and
preparations for bed that night were accompanied by little
conversation. Knowing Madge's disposition, and that she was already
suffering deeply from her too frank expression of opinion that
afternoon, her friends had decided among themselves to allow the
subject to rest.
It was long after midnight, and the "Merry Maid" and her crew were
supposedly deep in slumber when Miss Jenny Ann was awakened by the
sound of low sobbing from Madge's berth. A moment later the chaperon
was bending over the little captain.
"Madge, dear, what is the matter?" she asked in alarm.
"O Miss Jenny Ann!" wailed Madge, "when shall I learn to keep my
temper? Phil told me to say nothing, and I did intend to hold my
tongue. But when that Harris girl stepped up so coolly to receive the
prize, knowing what a cheat she was, the words rushed out before I knew
they were coming. No one will ever forgive me for spoiling the day.
I'll never forgive myself."
"Don't cry so, Madge, dear," soothed Miss Jenny Ann. "You mustn't blame
yourself too severely. You had great provocation."
"I am not a bit sorry for what I said." Madge sat up in bed, a defiant
gleam in her eyes. Then her lips quivered and she said brokenly:
"It--it's--Mrs. Curtis. I--am--sorry--she--is angry with--me."
"You had better go over to the hotel and see Mrs. Curtis in the
morning," advised Miss Jones, "then, if she decides it to be necessary,
you must apologize to Flora Harris."
"Why should I apologize to her?" Madge's eyes grew dark with anger.
"She behaved very dishonorably."
"But you precipitated a very disagreeable scene, which, as you yourself
have said, spoiled the pleasure of the party for all Mrs. Curtis's
guests," reminded her teacher. "I know that you were severely tried. My
private opinion of Flora Harris is not a flattering one, but Madge
Morton is too great of spirit not to admit her fault and apologize to
Miss Harris for telling the brutal truth in a brutal manner."
Madge gazed almost sternly into the other woman's serious eyes. "I will
apologize to Miss Harris on one condition only," her red lips took on
an obstinate curve, "if Mrs. Curtis wishes me to do so."