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[Illustration: "WELL, I NEVER, A FRESHMAN ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH!"--_Page
23_.]
JEAN CABOT AT ASHTON
by
GERTRUDE FISHER SCOTT
Illustrated by Arthur O. Scott
[Illustration]
Boston
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
Published, August, 1912
Copyright, 1912, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
All rights reserved
JEAN CABOT AT ASHTON
Norwood Press
Berwick & Smith Co.
Norwood Mass.
U. S. A.
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE DAY BEFORE 1
II. HOW IT LOOKED ON WEDNESDAY 14
III. FIRST IMPRESSIONS 31
IV. THE FRESHMAN RECEPTION 49
V. INITIATION 78
VI. THE HARVARD-YALE GAME 102
VII. THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS 126
VIII. THE CORAL BEADS 154
IX. THE CHAFING-DISH PARTY 167
X. THE COSTUME PARTY 189
XI. MIDYEAR'S 206
XII. BEFORE THE FRESHMAN-SOPHOMORE GAME 224
XIII. THE GAME 246
XIV. THE BANQUET 261
XV. MR. CABOT'S VISIT 280
XVI. PRIZE-SPEAKING 298
XVII. THE TENNIS TOURNAMENT 321
XVIII. CLASS DAY 339
Illustrations
"Well, I never, a freshman, asleep at the
switch!" (Page 23) _Frontispiece_
FACING PAGE
"Why, what are you doing here? We've been looking
for you all over college" 90
"I don't know yet, Jean, but a man can do anything
if he's educated" 152
"Somebody open the south window, quick!" 178
With a quick movement she threw it over the shoulder
of her antagonist 258
Natalie went after the last two games in whirlwind
fashion 328
Jean Cabot at Ashton
CHAPTER I
THE DAY BEFORE
"Now, Tom dear, don't you do another single thing for me; I'm sure I
shall be all right, and Cousin Anna will meet me at the train in Boston
and then everything will be smooth sailing. You'll miss your train if
you wait another moment and blame me for it ever after, so good-by;
I'll write you as soon as I'm comfortably settled with Elizabeth
Frances Fairfax, in 45 Merton Hall."
"Well, so long, little sister; let me know if there's anything I
can do for you and we'll spend Thanksgiving together surely at Aunt
Sarah's, and may be, if you're very good, I'll come up and take you to
the Harvard-Yale the week before. You wouldn't mind going with that
good-looking room-mate of mine if I could persuade Connie Huntington to
accompany me, would you? It's only a few hours' run up to Boston, but
here are some chocolates and magazines in case you tire of the scenery.
Be game, little girl, and above every thing else, _make good_."
With these words Thomas Cabot swung off the train just in time to catch
a near-by accommodation train to convey him to Littleton Center, where
he was to join a merry house-party of young people. Jean quietly arose
from her seat and watched from the car window until her brother had
entirely disappeared from view, and then somewhat reluctantly turned
and resumed her former seat.
Brother and sister had come from Los Angeles to New York together, he
to enter upon his senior year at Yale and she to become a freshman
at Ashton College. Jean was the only daughter and youngest child of
a family of six. The four older brothers had been educated in the
West and were determined that the two youngest children should see
something of the life and culture of the East. Mrs. Cabot had died when
Jean was six, and although she had had governesses and accommodating
aunts and cousins galore to consider her welfare, still most of her
life had been spent in the company of her father and brothers, and when
they decided that she should go East to Ashton, a small college of
about five hundred strong, within twenty-five miles of Boston, she had
never for one moment doubted the wisdom of their choice, and acquiesced
as willingly as though Brother Will had said, "Jean, go get your racket
for a set of tennis."
From Los Angeles to New York, Tom and she had kept up a continuous
conversation on the "do's and don'ts" of college life, and at the
end of the journey Jean felt that she had a great advantage over the
other green freshmen, for she had been too carefully coached by her
brother to make any serious errors. Then, too, Cousin Anna Maitlandt,
a graduate of Ashton 1911, was to meet her at Boston and take her out
to college to see that she made a good beginning amid the strange new
surroundings.
Now Tom was gone, and for the first time that she could remember, Jean
was alone, face to face with the first big thing in her life. She
tried to read, but thoughts of home would persist in rushing in upon
her, and between the lines danced little pictures of life away out in
California. She wondered why she had come to college. Was it simply to
please her father and brothers or did she mean to make a success of
it for her own sake? She was fond of books and of study, but fond of
so many other things as well. What would there be in college to take
the place of her horseback rides over the ranch with the boys, her
evenings with her father in his den, her tennis, her weeks in camp in
the mountains, her whole free outdoor life? She knew little of girls
and cared less, for up to this time they had played a small part in her
life. To be sure, she had known them at St. Margaret's, her fitting
school, but she had spent as little time as possible there in order
to be at the call of the boys when they needed her, and you may be
sure some one of the five needed her most of the time. She was their
true confidante and they told her their little business worries and
successes, their love affairs, and their hopes and ambitions, for each
felt that his secret was safe with her. In spite of her tender years
and lack of real experience she seemed to be able to advise where many
an older person would have failed. And now she was leaving them all
behind and was wondering what they could do without her. The more she
thought, the more the longing came over her to give it all up and go
back to those she loved best.
Before she realized it two great tears were rolling down her cheeks
and as she was about to wipe them away a tall, handsome girl stood
before her, smiling down at her. "Isn't this Jean Cabot?" she asked,
giving her hand a cordial shake. "May I sit down here and talk a
little? You're going to Ashton College, aren't you? So am I. My name
is Allison, Marguerite Allison, 1914. Of course you're wondering how
I knew it was you. Well, I was sitting in the last chair of this
car and saw your brother as he bade you good-by. I met Tom last year
at the Yale Prom and I am sure he is going now to a house-party at
Littleton Center. I've just come from there and know all about it. I
was terribly disappointed not to stay over the week-end, but I'm on the
House Committee and just have to be back to-morrow. You know Student
Government just makes you do things. Belle Thurston, an old Ashton
girl, who is giving the house-party, told me she expected Tom this
evening, but he was stopping off in New York long enough to get his
sister Jean started for her year at Ashton. So that's how I knew it was
you. But tell me, dear, where are you going to live?"
By this time Jean's tears had dried and she had regained her usual
composure and quite firmly replied, "Oh, Miss Allison, I'm so glad to
know you; I was just beginning to get homesick, but you've saved my
life. I'm to live in Merton, 45, with Elizabeth Frances Fairfax. I got
my assignment just the day before we started."
"Merton; why, that's my house. Isn't it grand? 'Forty-five' is fourth
floor and mine is 27, second floor. As for Elizabeth Frances Fairfax,
she's probably another freshman from Massachusetts; name sounds like
one of those good old New England families. Massachusetts girls are
all right in spite of their strict old Puritan ancestors. I'm from
Cherokee, Iowa, but I haven't been home all summer. Really I haven't
any home to go to, for my father is interested in mines and is down
in Mexico most of the time. I stay with my aunt when I'm in Cherokee,
but this summer I've been visiting some of the college girls in New York
State and ended up at Littleton Center. And you've come all the way
from Los Angeles? I thought I'd come some distance, but it's nothing in
comparison with your trip. Most of the girls at college are Easterners,
but I'm sure you'll like them after you get used to their ways.
"What studies are you going to take? Can I help you with your program?
Come right into 27 as soon as we land and I'll fix things up for
you. Speaking of Massachusetts girls, you'll fall in love with my
room-mate, Natalie Lawton, just the minute you see her. She's from
Boston; lived there all her short life, not fifteen minutes' walk from
the Boston Public Library and Copley Square. Excuse me, of course you
don't know anything about Boston yet, but you will before you've been
a month at Ashton. Miss Emerson, she's college president, you know,
thinks there's no place on the whole earth quite like Boston, and it's
her especial delight to impress upon freshmen the advantages of being
so near to this wonderful city. The first time you hear her say, 'Now,
girls, remember the great advantages offered to you by being in such
close proximity to Boston,' you will think it rather significant, but
by the time you've heard it 576 times it will begin to grow a little
monotonous.
"Why, Miss Cabot, we're actually passing through Hyde Park, and we'll
be in the South Station in a few minutes. Hasn't the time gone quickly?
How many trunks have you and where are your checks? Let's be getting
our things together. I left my luggage up in the other end of the car,
so I'll go up and collect it and be back in a minute."
"Oh, thank you, Miss Allison, but my cousin, Miss Anna Maitlandt, has
promised to meet me at the train and I am sure she will help me with my
trunks."
"What! Anna Maitlandt, 1911, your cousin! Why, she lived in East Hall
her senior year when I was a freshman. I haven't seen her for perfect
ages, but she was my crush freshman year. How good it will seem to see
her again! And to think she's your cousin! How small the world is after
all! Here we are--follow me and I'll keep my eye open for Anna."
The long express train was crowded, but the two girls were quickly
out upon the platform and well up the track before a word was said.
Marguerite was well in the lead, when all at once Jean saw her drop her
bags and vigorously seize a rather petite girl, trim in her immaculate
white linen suit. By the time their greetings were over, Jean had
arrived on the scene and found herself as effusively greeted.
"So this is little Jean! Well, I never should have known you. Why,
you're as big as Tom, and look more like a senior than a green
freshie! No hazing you, my lady. Oh, what a prize for Ashton Athletic
Association! What is your specialty, Jean, tennis, basket-ball or
rowing? You'll make all three without half trying.
"Now, where are your trunk checks? We'll send the trunks out to Ashton
at once to have them waiting for us when we arrive. I'm going to take
you girls up town with me for dinner and a good talk, and Jean must go
out home with me for the night. To-morrow will be plenty early enough
for her to arrive. What say'st thou, Peggy?"
"Oh, Nan, you're a perfect dear to invite me, but really I can't
accept. You see I'm due out at Merton for a meeting of the House
Committee to-night. I stayed down at Littleton Center till the last
minute and now I've got to hustle back, for we've loads of work to
plan out. Drop into 27 to-morrow as soon as you arrive and make it
your headquarters until Jean's room is settled. Come down to the Inn
for lunch with me at noon. All of the old girls will be there and it
will be a good opportunity to introduce Jean to them. You know there's
nothing like knowing the right girls at the start.
"By the way, did you know that Bess McNeil was married last week? Oh,
I'm just brim-full of news to tell you, but it will have to wait till
later, for I must leave you now or I'll never catch the 5:09. So glad
to have met you, Nan; seems like old times, and I think your cousin
is a perfect dear. So long till to-morrow," and with this she dashed
across the station to a waiting taxicab which would convey her and her
bags across the city to the North Station.
Jean's trunks were soon re-checked and the two girls left the station
and took an uptown electric. Before long they alighted and entered
a quiet hotel where a good dinner was quickly served. Since Jean's
arrival the two girls had talked a steady stream, but the conversation
had centered almost entirely upon the families and home life of the
two. Now, however, it changed to the more important subject of
college. Anna did most of the talking, for it took a long time to
answer Jean's many questions. How much there was to be said. In fact,
Anna might have sat there all night discoursing on the joys and sorrows
of a college girl's life if a sweet-sounding clock had not reminded
her that in a very few moments the last suburban train departed for
Framington. Quickly she paid her bill and they were on their way again.
Although it was rather late when they arrived home, they found Mr. and
Mrs. Maitlandt waiting for them. After a most cordial greeting, Mrs.
Maitlandt suggested that they all retire, as it had been a hard day for
Jean and she must be fresh and rested for her first day at college.
After the good-nights had been said, Jean found herself alone in her
room a little bewildered in her new surroundings. Her poor body and
head ached as she had never known them to do before. To be sure,
everybody had been so good to her, but now they had all left her and
for the first time since she had left home she was alone. Quickly
undressing she put out her electric light and went over to the window.
It was a bright, starry night and as she gazed out upon its splendor a
wave of homesickness swept over her and she sobbed, "Oh, father and the
boys, why did I leave you? I wish I'd never promised to go to college."