The girls of Central High took hold of the regular physical exercises
with renewed eagerness these days. Although this work had always been
popular with the few, now the many began to show unwonted interest.
There was "fun" in prospect.
Mrs. Case was a fine physical instructor--the best, indeed, in
Centerport. In the beginning she had had to meet much opposition in her
work. Dr. Agnew, of the Board of Health, had been her efficient aid in
making parents see that the innovation of physical exercises in the
school work was a good thing. Now the majority of the girls' parents
admitted the advisability and value of gymnasium training. But some
missionary work was still to be done in the homes regarding the
suggested "after-hour" athletics for girls.
A healthy interest in the sports allowed by the Girls' Branch would aid
in keeping the girls themselves from a more questionable use of their
spare time. It was much more healthful and much more wise for them to
take part in sports and exercises calculated to build up muscle and
mind, than to parade the streets in couples, or cliques, or to attend
picture shows, or to idle their time through the big stores in emulation
of the adult "shopping-fiend."
As boys are made more manly by physical exercise and sports, so girls
can be made more womanly by them. A healthy girlhood is the finest
preparation obtainable for the higher duties of life. As Dr. Agnew,
Nellie's father, was fond of saying: "I don't care how much of a
bookworm a girl is, if she swings a pair of two and a half-pound Indian
clubs, she'll come out all right!"
The report of the organization committee was adopted at an enthusiastic
meeting on the following Saturday. Mrs. Case promised that money for
equipment of at least one basket-ball court, better swimming facilities,
and the preparation of a field for track athletics would be supplied.
The Board of Education would do some of this work. A field on the edge
of Lake Luna--right behind the school's swimming pool, and adjoining
Colonel Swayne's estate--had been obtained and in a few weeks track
athletics could be practised there. A fence was to be built to screen
the girls from too much publicity, and the paths for running laid out.
Tennis courts might be established here, too, if the money held out.
In the basement of the Central High building was a well equipped
gymnasium, open to the girls and boys on alternate days. But not many
games of skill could be played there. For one thing, the ceiling was not
high enough. And the girls--many of them--were eager to learn basket-ball,
captain's ball, tennis, and other vigorous sports approved by the Girls'
Branch Association.
It was approaching that important day in the school year at Central High
when the M. O. R.'s "touched" those girls selected for membership. That
certain Friday afternoon was looked forward to by most of the sophs and
juniors with much anxiety. The freshmen had no part in it. The faculty
did not allow the freshmen to belong to the secret society; but it was
something for the sophs and juniors particularly to strive for.
Some of the girls passed through the entire four years' course without
being chosen for membership in the M. O. R.'s. But a girl who was
popular in her class, stood well in her studies, was approved by the
teachers for her deportment, and displayed wit and skill in anything at
all, was quite sure of being chosen in either her third or fourth year;
but few sophomores were "called." Therefore it was considered a
particular honor to become an M. O. R. in the second year at the school.
This Friday afternoon, known as "the day of the touch," all the girls of
Central High gathered in the girls' yard. The M. O. R.'s had a modest
club house--an old-fashioned three-story, narrow dwelling on the same
street as the school, and only a block away--and from that house the
committee of nomination marched to the crowded schoolyard.
The committee consisted of four of the seniors who had longest been
members of the secret society. They walked through the crowd of girls
and with the little be-ribboned baton each carried touched upon the
shoulder the girls selected for initiation.
Girls thus indicated were supposed to go home at once and wait for the
committee to call for them that evening. Then they would be introduced
to the club; but the initiation would come later. There was always
something of a novel nature connected with the yearly initiation of
candidates.
It was both an honor and a social privilege to be "touched" for the
M. O. R.'s. Both Laura Belding and Josephine Morse desired greatly to be
among the favored few of the sophomores to gain this boon. But nobody
could prophesy which girls would be chosen.
Of course, the freshmen remained to "see the fun" and swell the crowd.
And such girls as Bobby Hargrew hung about for the same reason, for
there was no more chance of Bobby's obtaining the honor of a "touch"
than that she should go sailing around the moon!
As for Laura and her chum, however, their hearts beat high. They
_hoped_.
And when Celia Prime came toward them with her baton the chums almost
held their breaths. You could not tell by Celia's face whom she intended
to touch. She weaved in and out among the girls, many of whom were
silent and watchful, others chattering away like magpies. But there was
little "fooling" and "carrying-on," although Laura saw that Bobby
Hargrew was following Celia very closely and that the perfect gravity of
the mischief-maker's countenance was sufficient to warn all who knew her
well that there was "something up."
The next moment Laura was startled to feel a touch upon her
shoulder--right in the spot where she had been told the baton was always
placed. She turned swiftly. Mary O'Rourke had gone past. It was _she_
who had touched Laura instead of Miss Prime.
"Oh, Laura!" whispered Jess in her ear. "I've got it!"
"Got what?" demanded Laura.
"The touch. Celia gave it to me. And you?"
"Miss O'Rourke, I believe," whispered Laura, just as eagerly. "Come on!
let's go home."
"Goody! Oh, I'm so glad!" gasped Jess.
As they went out of the school premises they saw Hester Grimes hurrying
out of the other gateway.
"Do you suppose _she_ is chosen, too?" asked Jess, doubtfully.
"I don't know. I saw Celia going toward her. Ah! there's Bobby Hargrew
right behind Hester. What's that she's got in her hand--a stick?"
"Hey, Bobby!" shouted Jess.
But Bobby, giving her chums one glance, began to laugh silently,
pointing at the unconscious Hester's back, and then ran away, giggling.
"Now, what do you suppose that means?" demanded Jess.
"I really do not know. But Bobby is up to something. I wish she wouldn't
act so," said Laura, with a sigh.