In the Bellevue High School a wise principal had assisted in organizing
some six entertainment companies for appearance in the auditorium at
stated intervals during the season. Their programs were made up of
dramatic, musical or literary numbers, as the members of each company
decided. The Schwartz-Ensign Concert Company made its appearance on
November 10, and won the plaudits of a large house. Friends in
neighboring towns, relatives of some of the performers, requested a
reproduction of the entertainment. After consultation with her
colleagues, Velma Schwartz gave a favorable answer to two invitations.
[Sidenote: Meeting Half Way]
Loretta met Velma afterwards and said, “Velma, did we make a mistake in
saying nothing to Miss Pringle about these out-of-town trips? What will
she say?”
“Why should she say anything? Our folks at home are willing and I don’t
see that we are getting in her way. It makes no difference one way or
the other what she says.”
Naturally, the news finally reached Miss Pringle, high school principal
and general overseer of the entertainment programs. Two currents of
thought passed through her mind.
“I don’t see why, after all my care, they have taken up their
out-of-town trips without saying anything to me. I’ll just nip this in
the bud and tell them they can’t go.” But a different notion drove out
the earlier one. “They have done no real wrong. It’s a compliment to my
training for them to receive these invitations. I don’t see what harm
can come from it.” But a fragment of the former line of argument would
persist:
“Yes, Velma is the girl who did it. She starred the night of the
program. Her friends are determined to show her off elsewhere. No doubt
she wanted to add to her glory by keeping her scheme out of my fingers.
I have a notion to say to her that she might better have talked the
matter over with me.”
Then good sense ruled her and what she actually said was: “Why, Velma, I
heard just lately that some of your friends are planning to have you out
at Beecham Springs to give a program of music. What a fine thing that
is! It comes Friday night, I believe; that makes it safe for your
studies, so it’s going to turn out well. Your father and mother are
going with you, I suppose? Well, then, that will be fine.”