After school that day the committee appointed to organize the Girls'
Branch Athletic Association of Central High met in one of the offices.
There were fifteen of the girls, and they were all present. Mrs. Case
had seen to it that the natural leaders of the various classes among
Seniors, Juniors and Sophomores were appointed to membership in this
committee.
There were six Seniors, five Juniors and four Sophomores--the latter
being Laura and Jess and Hester Grimes and her chum, Lily Pendleton.
Although Laura was at least three years younger than the oldest Senior,
she was popular and was elected chairman of the committee on a single
ballot. Besides, the other girls knew that Laura was an enthusiast in
athletic matters and that she had studied the question of organization
thoroughly.
"Mrs. Case gave each of us a booklet relating to the formation of
associations of this character," said Laura, when the meeting was called
to order. "I suppose you have all studied the little book. It gives us a
draft of the proper constitution and by-laws, and information on all
points likely to come before us. You all understand it, don't you?"
"My goodness!" exclaimed Lily, yawning. "I haven't even looked into
mine."
"I've looked into it, and I see that the teachers have a lot to do with
the thing," said Hester Grimes. "I don't like such interference, and
right at the start I move we disregard the book and form our own society
in our own way."
"Why, we can't do that!" cried Celia Prime, one of the Seniors. "There
would be no association then."
"I don't see why not," drawled Lily. "I think Hessie's plan is just
grand!"
"It's a grand way to go about not having athletics at all," said Mary
O'Rourke, another Senior, laughing. "We can't do business that way,
girls."
"Nor would it be wise if we could," Laura said, quickly. "Listen! This
is the rule that we have _got_ to comply with if we are going to form a
Girls' Branch: Any girl to be eligible for membership, or to take part
in athletic events for trophies and pins, must have a physician's
certificate of physical fitness, and the personal approval of Mrs.
Case."
"A doctor's certificate!" exclaimed Hester, with scorn. "What for?"
"A girl with a weak heart, for instance, will not be allowed to take
part in the games and events. You know that. Mrs. Case is dreadfully
particular about it."
"And a good thing," said one of the juniors. "I knew of a girl who
jumped rope so long that she dropped dead. It was awful."
"Well, who wants to jump rope?" snapped Hester.
"I do," admitted Jess, laughing. "It's fun. And Mrs. Case says it is
good exercise under careful conditions."
"I want to learn to dance," said Lily. "And dancing is going to be part
of the athletic exercises, isn't it?"
"Folk dancing," said Miss Prime. "And very pretty some of those
old-world dances are. No one-steps or glides, Miss!" and she laughed
shortly.
"Well, we must make up our minds to follow the rules in the little
book," Laura interposed. "You know, every girl must be approved by the
principal of the school as being in good standing both in deportment and
scholarship, including the usual work in physical training, or she can't
belong."
"That's going to cut out your friend Hargrew, I guess," laughed Lily.
"And we know who are doing their best to put Bobby out of the games,"
snapped Jess, looking angrily at Hester and her chum.
"Order!" exclaimed Laura, bringing down the gavel with a smack on the
desk. "No time for anything but business. Here is another thing, girls:
No girl who takes part in athletic competitions outside the school under
the auspices of any organization other than our Girls' Branch, can take
part in events by the school. If you take part, too, in any sports
unsanctioned by our rules, you can be expelled."
"There! I don't like that a bit," flared up Hester again. "I belong to
St. Cecelia's Gymnasium Club. I am not going to give up my church club
for this public school association."
"That's foolish," remarked Mary O'Rourke. "I belong to a ladies'
gymnastic class connected with my church, too; but I know that when we
get going in the High School it will be lots more fun to belong to this
association than the church club."
Other matters were talked over, as well; but the opinion of the majority
was for bringing in a report recommending the new association to follow
exactly the line of organization of other Girls' Branches in other
cities. Hester and Lily said they should offer a minority report; but
the others only laughed at that.
"You know that's ridiculous, Hester," said Mary O'Rourke. "We have to do
something besides merely report a form of organization. If we girls--and
those who follow us at Central High for years to come--are going to have
successful after-hour athletics, we must have equipment--and a field.
Just think of _that_, please. It is going to cost money--a heap of
money!--before we get through. And who is going to supply the money? If
we go against the opinions and desires of those who are helping us we
can't expect them to supply funds."
"Oh, I guess my father will give as much as anybody," said Hester,
tossing her head. Henry Grimes was a wholesale butcher and was accounted
a very wealthy man in Centerport. He was a member of the Board of
Aldermen and wielded much political influence.
"I suppose we must interest more than our parents in the plan," said
Laura, thoughtfully. "From what I read in that little book, some of the
girls' athletic fields in the big cities have cost upwards of a hundred
thousand dollars to build and equip. Of course, that includes a
clubhouse, and swimming pool, and all that."
"A nice time we'd have trying to get anything like that in Centerport,"
sneered Hester.
"Well, I don't know about that," spoke up Celia Prime. "We have some
very wealthy people here."
"Just think what Colonel Richard Swayne might do with some of his
money--if he wanted to," said Laura.
"My father says that of course the burden will come upon the parents who
are well-to-do. It's always the way," said Hester. "The rich have to do
for the poor."
This was a tactless speech, to say the least, for Mary O'Rourke's father
was merely a day laborer, and several of the other girls on the
committee were from poor families.
"I expect that the money part of it will not be within our
jurisdiction," said Miss Prime, sharply.
"No, we haven't got to worry about that," laughed Laura.
"That's all very well," said Hester. "But my father will be called upon
to give more than yours, Laura. He always is."
"He is better able to give, perhaps," returned Laura, coolly.
"There will have to be some large donor, if we are to have a real,
up-to-date athletic field," sighed Celia. "The boys have a good baseball
and football park. The railroad company gave the land, and public
subscription put it in shape. But we have just _got_ to interest some
rich person in our project."
"Colonel Swayne, for instance?" laughed Mary.
"Well, why not?" demanded Laura, suddenly.
"Why, he just _hates_ boys and girls!" cried her chum.
"So they say."
"You know he won't allow one of us to step on his grounds--and it's right
next to our bathing place, too," said Jess, with a considerable show of
feeling.
"He doesn't seem to love a soul but that married daughter of his--you
know, the widow. She's a peculiar acting woman. I don't believe she's
quite right," said Miss Prime. "And he certainly is wrapped up in her."
"And with all that money--and his beautiful estate," sighed Laura. "He
really ought to be interested in girls' athletics."
The others laughed. "We'll appoint Miss Belding a committee of one to
try and separate Colonel Swayne from some of his wealth," said Mary
O'Rourke.
"I accept!" declared Laura, suddenly, with flashing eyes. "I believe it
can be done."
"Huh! you think you're so smart, Laura," drawled Lily Pendleton.
"But it would be just _great_ if we could get him interested," sighed
Jess.
"Leave it to me," said Laura, boldly. "I'm going to try!"