Had Betty Lee imagined any faintly romantic attraction to her dainty
self on the part of Ted Dorrance, she would have been disappointed
during these first weeks in the new school. He always spoke when they
met in the halls provided he saw her; but he was usually with other boys
and very much engrossed in whatever he was discussing with them.
Hurrying crowds on the way to classes had little interest for Betty as
well. She, too, was absorbed by the busy and interesting life, and soon
had friends among the girls in her classes.
Betty, though friendly, was by nature not inclined to make close friends
immediately. But girls that recite together and have the same lessons
will find much in common. Betty’s good recitations and her hand that
went up often to answer the questions of different teachers were
sufficient introduction to her classmates, who heard her name, as she
heard theirs, when she was called upon to recite. She cheerfully lent a
pencil or pen for a moment, or answered some question before class about
the lesson, or sat upon her desk, opposite some similarly perched girl,
to chat about coming events. There were “hundreds of freshmen” and that
literally; but they resolved themselves into the comparative few with
whom she recited in her different classes.
Long before the Thanksgiving visit, which she anticipated from her old
home chum, she was accustomed to school and work and thoroughly liked
many of the girls, especially a few who were “very chummy” with her, she
told her mother, and sat with her at lunch, or waited for her after
class, or planned their work or recreation together.
Louise Madison, she found to be a senior, president of the Girls’
Athletic Club, a large association, indeed, consisting of all the girls
who “went in” for athletics. A certain amount of gym work was required,
but one could take more, to be sure. Yet Betty’s parents were a little
hesitant just yet; and not knowing the wisdom of the teachers in charge,
preferred that Betty wait a little, except in swimming, which her father
said she ought to know as well as possible, so that she could “swim to
Europe” in case something happened to the ship before it reached port.
At that remark, soberly delivered, the family had laughed, but Doris
asked in good earnest, “When are we going, Papa?”
“Aw, Dodie,” said Dick, “can’t you tell a joke when you hear one?”
“Well, we probably _shall_ go some day,” airily said Doris, provoked at
herself for having spoken too soon, and none too well pleased with her
twin. “You think you’re very smart!”
“Doris,” quietly said her mother with a reproving shake of her head, and
trouble was avoided.
The freshman to whom Betty was most attracted, and that very soon, was
Carolyn Gwynne, a bright, warm‐hearted, generous girl, alive to
everything and enthusiastic about many things, yet with a certain poise
that Betty decided was due to the fact that she had always lived in the
city. Her pretty brown head often bobbed along by Betty’s fair one and
her face was alight with various expressions as she told Betty “all she
knew and more,” as she herself said.
“Everybody likes Carolyn,” said Peggy Pollard, who had seen the grades
through with Carolyn. “It’s because Carolyn goes out of her way to do
things for people. She has a lovely family, too, and that makes a
difference, don’t you think, Betty?”
“Oh, yes. Wouldn’t it be terrible not to be happy at home?”
“It certainly would.”
Peggy herself was a “darling girl,” Betty thought, prettily plump, like
Carolyn, though shorter than either Carolyn or Betty. Her locks that
fell around her shoulders just now, being allowed to grow and variously
trained on different days, were of that dark brown red that belongs with
what seems to be the same color of eyes and a pinky complexion. But
Peggy did not go without a hat as much as the other girls, since
freckles “were one thing she wasn’t going to have!” If she could only
_tan_ decently now! “You have a dimple on one cheek, Betty Lee,” said
Peggy, “and Carolyn has one on the other. Those cheeks ought to be on
one person!”
“Oh, aren’t you funny, Peggy Pollard!” exclaimed Betty. “Carolyn’s cheek
added to my cheek,”–then they both laughed, thinking of another meaning
for “cheek.” They were in a mood for silliness anyhow, Peggy said, for
they were on their way to the auditorium for a “pep” meeting. The
occasion, of course, was fall foot, ball. Enthusiasm must be aroused for
the “Lions,” soon to fight their first battles on the gridirons of
various schools in the city and suburbs. But Betty did have two dimples.
In common with the rest of the scholars of Lyon High, Betty and her
friends were delighted to have an auditorium session, not only for what
usually went on, but for the cutting of recitation hours!
“Carolyn’s going to have a garden party, Betty,” Peggy continued. “Has
she told you about it?”
“No–I hope I’ll be invited, though,” laughed Betty, climbing the stairs
now for the recitation room and her freshman locker, just secured in the
last few days. “My, isn’t it nice not to have to carry your books around
any more!”
“Yes,” and Peggy slid her hand up along the brass railing of the stairs.
“But I imagine Carolyn just decided about it last night. All their fall
flowers are so beautiful now. They have a wonderful big place, you know.
Have you anything else to do Saturday?”
“No, only some shopping down town with Mother. I could put that off. She
has a lot of things to do for Dick and Doris.”
“You might get your shopping done in the morning, perhaps. I’ll tell you
what cars to take, though it might be that Carolyn could come for you,
or somebody call for you in their car.”
“Oh, I could get there, I think, if it is not too far from the car line.
I’m getting used to going around now.”
“It isn’t so easy sometimes, even for those of us that have always lived
here, and our fathers and mothers like to be careful of us, of course.”
“Will there be a large party? I might meet some of the girls somewhere,
wherever you have to change cars.”
“Yes, probably you could. Why, I think that there will be all our crowd
and some others we don’t see so much of, real nice girls, you know.”
Betty was glad to be included in “our crowd,” but there was no further
opportunity for conversation. Boys and girls were pouring into the
different entrances of the auditorium, seeking their regular seats,
which had been assigned.
“Oh, look!” exclaimed Peggy. “We’re going to have the band! Say, don’t
they look fine in their uniforms? Well, ’bye–sorry I can’t sit by you.”
The high school band did look resplendent. As Betty took her seat they
struck up a lively popular air and played it through while the school
was assembling. They were on the platform, where the principal stood
beside a chair, probably thinking that his presence would have more
effect if he stood. And the presence of the dignified principal always
did have a calming effect. No nonsense or disrespect was ever shown to
him, for the very good reason that he would not tolerate it. A school of
this size, and a city school, with its variety of composition, called
for no weakness in the men and women who had charge of its discipline,
though in this school all due consideration was given to the rights and
needs of its pupils.
It was a pretty scene. Betty was glad that she sat on the end of one row
of seats, for she could see so much better. Eagerly she leaned forward,
not to miss any part of scene or action. But before they were seated,
they all turned as usual, at the signal from the principal, to salute
the flag, whose bright stripes and stars showed at the principal’s
right. Already the pupils were trained to say in excellent unison the
phrases which pledged them to the flag of their country and that “for
which it stands.” Together they made the right gestures at the right
time and Betty had not gotten over feeling thrilled to be a part of so
great a company, or over the patriotic tie that made them one.
Carolyn sat not far away, in front of Betty, and as soon as they were
seated she leaned back to nod at Betty and form with her lips the words,
“I want to see you after this.”
Betty nodded her understanding. She _was_ going to be invited to the
garden party, she thought. But what was the principal saying? He sat
down, after making a few announcements and handing the conduct of the
meeting over to some boy, whom Betty supposed the president of the Boys’
Athletic Association, though she had not caught the last words of the
principal. The program was not so different from that of the meetings
which Betty had attended in the little school at home, when there was a
general gathering in honor of athletics, but oh, how much bigger
everything was.
The band was several times as large, and how well they played! It must
be something to learn to play in a city where there is a symphony
orchestra, Betty thought. Ambition stirred. She just _must_ belong to
one of the musical organizations of the school, some time if not now!
Now the yell leader performed, leading the school in different yells for
the team and school. Betty’s face was one wide smile. These were new and
funny yells. The team had to come forward and some speeches where made.
Some of the boys were shy and awkward; others, used to it, said their
say with greater freedom. Some funny expressions were used. Betty
thought of how they must grate on the ears of her strict English teacher
who had been particularly severe in regard to slang at their last
recitation. What would she say if she heard some of the things that
Betty had been surprised to hear girls say, girls that seemed to be nice
and were undoubtedly attractive? Such girls in the village at home were
not welcomed to intimate friendship and as a rule belonged to a class
careless and unrefined at home.
Little thoughts like these ran through Betty’s young head as she
applauded with the rest and tried the yells, such fun to say; though she
did not know some of them. But they were easy to get, “crazy” as they
were. But the wilder the better, when it comes to athletics, or so the
modern rooters seem to think. The band indulged in funny little crashes
at quick signals from the yell leader. Betty, with one eye on the
principal, saw him smile occasionally. All this was allowed; but, after
all, it was an orderly performance, if wildly enthusiastic. “My, they
all know how to do it, don’t they?” she said to Carolyn, who joined her
on their way from the auditorium.
“Yes, but they wouldn’t I guess if they didn’t have people in charge
that won’t stand for any nonsense. Got your Latin all out?”
“Yes, though I’m shaky on some of it. It’s terribly hard for me to
memorize. If she didn’t have us go over it so much I’d never get it.”
“That’s what teachers are for, I suppose,” laughed Carolyn. “But what I
wanted to see you about was this: I want to have a garden party while
the weather’s nice, so I’m asking everybody for Saturday–just informal
invitations, you know, not the way my big sister does when _she_ gives a
party! Can you come? We’ll have a picnic dinner outdoors, unless the
weather does something awful. But it’s pretty dry and I don’t believe it
will rain. We had such a lot of rain last week and our flowers are so
pretty now. Please come.”
“Why, I’d just love to, Carolyn, and I think it’s nice of you to ask me.
I don’t know of any reason why I can’t come. I’ll ask Mother tonight and
let you know _sure_ tomorrow. It’s practically sure, though, because I
can do what I like Saturday afternoon.”
“All right, Betty. I’ll expect you. I’ll give you the address and tell
you how to get there when I have time.”
The girls hurried along with the rest of the crowds going to recitation
rooms. It must be said that Betty’s mind wandered a little occasionally,
whenever it was safe to let it wander, from the subjects of the lessons
to the delightful prospect of next Saturday. This was the first of the
week. What should she wear? She did not like to ask Carolyn, but perhaps
she could manage to bring up the subject with Peggy, or some of the
other girls, when she knew who were invited. Suppose there should be
some freshman boys. Peggy hadn’t said and neither had Carolyn.
That afternoon, after school, Betty rushed into the house with her books
for night study and deposited them on the table with a slight thud. Her
eyes were alight and the “one dimple” was much in evidence. “Mother, I’m
invited to a garden party! It’s at Carolyn’s on Saturday afternoon and
they’re going to have a picnic dinner outdoors. Can I go? _May_ I go, I
mean?”
“I shall certainly want to say yes, if you want to go, as I judge you
do.” Mrs. Lee was smiling, too, as she looked at her glowing young
daughter. She folded a garment she had been mending and laid it aside.
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, you know who Carolyn is, don’t you?”
“I ought to by this time,” and Mrs. Lee’s eyes twinkled. “It occurs to
me that I have heard you mention her before.”
Betty laughed. “I suppose I _have_ raved about Carolyn. But she is the
dearest thing.”
“I am sure that it is a perfectly proper friendship, Betty,” assented
Betty’s mother. “The Gwynne place has been mentioned more than once in
the paper and I read of a large garden party given there by Carolyn’s
mother, about two weeks ago, I think.”
“Oh, was that the gorgeous place that had the pictures of it in the
Sunday paper?” Betty looked a little dismayed. “Why, they must be very
stylish and wealthy folks–but Carolyn likes me–I know she does.”
“To be stylish and wealthy, my dear, does not always make people snobs,
and there are other assets that they may recognize in other people, too.
If you and Carolyn are congenial, there is no reason why there should
not be a pleasant friendship between you, at least now.”
Betty looked thoughtful. “You mean that after a while their way of
living might make a difference and that Carolyn would have different
friends!”
“Perhaps. I don’t know, Betty. Separation sometimes makes it impossible
to keep in touch. But don’t let me start unhappy thoughts about this. I
shall do everything I can to let you have friends and a happy time. You
always have; why not here in the city? Just so you have none that will
hurt you. But you are not likely to choose that kind, I think. Please
remember, Betty, that you can’t touch coal without getting black.”
“But you ought to be friendly with everybody, oughtn’t you?”
“Certainly, so far as being kind–but let the older folks do the
reforming, Betty. Well, all this about one innocent party? What should
you wear, Betty?”
“Just what I was going to ask you! But I’ll find out from Peggy. They
are going to play tennis and things. I wish I had a real ‘sport
costume,’ for I don’t suppose they’ll wear ‘party dresses’ to an outdoor
party like this.”
“Perhaps we can fix something up, Betty. If you only hadn’t outgrown
everything so! We can’t afford new clothes right now, after all our
moving and what we have had to buy to fix up this place. And social
prominence does not enter into our plans right at present.” Mrs. Lee
smiled at Betty, who was sitting in a low chair now with her hands
folded on her knees.
“It never does,” laughed Betty, “but you usually can’t help having it. I
should think it would be a rest not to be president of a club or
responsible for church things. Nevertheless, Mother, don’t hide your
light under a bushel!”
With this advice, Betty jumped up to run out into the kitchen and
pantry, for investigation of the cooky jar. Crumbs about showed that
Doris or Dick had been there before her, and she heard Amy Lou’s
childish laughter coming from the back yard. But Betty’s lessons were
hard for the next day and she returned to the living room to take one of
her texts back to her room and study a while by herself.