THE MAKING OF THE TEAM
Saturday dawned clear and sunshiny. It was an ideal autumn day, and
luncheon at Wayne Hall was eaten rapidly. Everyone was eager to give an
opinion regarding the basketball try out, and with one or two exceptions
each girl cherished the secret hope of making the team. Anne was one of
the exceptions. She had no basketball yearnings. She was ready and
willing to be an enthusiastic and loyal fan, but aside from walking and
dancing she had no desire to take an active part in college sports. She
was extremely proud of Miriam's and Grace's fine playing, however, and
never doubted for an instant that both girls would make the team. "I'm
sure you and Miriam will be chosen," she asserted to Grace, as the
latter stood before her mirror, viewing herself in her new felt walking
hat, that had arrived that morning.
The two friends had run up to their room after luncheon to hurry into
their coats and hats, preparatory to going to Exeter Field. Anne eyed
Grace admiringly. "Your new hat is so becoming," she said.
"I think yours is ever so pretty, too," returned Grace. "It looks like
new. No one would know that you bought it last season. You take such
good care of your clothes, Anne. I wish I could take as good care of
mine. I hang them up and keep them in repair, but somehow they just wear
out all at once."
"Don't stop to mourn over wearing out your clothes on this gala day,"
laughed Miriam Nesbit, who had appeared in the open door in time to hear
Grace's plaintive assertion. She was wearing a becoming suit of blue and
a blue hat to match.
"Where's Elfreda?" asked Grace. "She's going, too, isn't she?"
Miriam nodded, then said slyly, "If she ever gets ready."
Just then an anguished voice called out, "Miriam, please come back. That
pin you fastened in the back of my waist is sticking me and I can't
reach it."
Miriam flew to the rescue, smothering an involuntary laugh as she ran.
Five minutes later she and Elfreda, in a new brown suit and hat, wearing
the expression of a martyr, joined Grace and Anne on the veranda, and
the four set out for Exeter Field.
"I'm not going to talk about certain things to-day, Grace, but did you
notice that all the girls at our table were as nice with you as ever?"
said Anne in a low tone.
"Yes; I noticed it," returned Grace. "If they continue to be the same, I
shall think that we have been making a mountain of a molehill."
"Look at that crowd ahead of us," called Miriam.
A veritable procession of girls wound its way up the hilly street to
Exeter Field. There were big girls and little girls, all talking and
laughing happily, until the still October air rang with the sound of
their gay, young voices. The majority of them were well-dressed,
although here and there might be seen a last year's hat or coat that no
one seemed to notice or to mind. Overton had a reputation for democracy
in spite of the fact that most of its students came from homes where
there was no lack of money.
Arriving at the field the four girls followed the crowd, which for the
most part made for a long, low building at one end of the field.
"Where are they going?" asked Grace.
"For ice cream, of course," replied a young woman who stood near enough
to overhear Grace's question.
"Oh, I want some ice cream," piped up Elfreda.
"Very well, my child, you shall have it," said Miriam in a grave,
motherly tone.
The young woman who had answered Grace's question glanced at Miriam with
twinkling eyes. Then she smiled broadly. That smile warmed Grace's
heart.
"Won't you come with us?" she asked.
"Thank you, I believe I will," she replied. "I think I have the
advantage. I know you are Miss Harlowe, but you don't know me. My name
is Gertrude Wells, and I am a freshman, too. Now, suppose you introduce
your little friends, and we'll go over to the club restaurant. I was
waiting for my chum, but she has evidently deserted me."
Grace decided that she liked Miss Wells better than any other freshman
she had met. She had a dry, humorous way of saying things that kept them
all in a gale of laughter. Elfreda, too, seemed especially interested in
her, and exerted herself to please. After their second ice all around
they strolled over to where the manager of the college athletics
association was marshaling the candidates for the try out. Grace and
Miriam hurried off to the training quarters at one end of the field to
put on their gymnasium suits.
The girls who wished to play were formed into teams and tried out
against one another and the most promising of the players ordered to
step off to one side after having lined up for play three times. It was
after four o'clock when Grace and Miriam were called to the field. The
long wait had made Grace rather nervous. Miriam, however, was cool and
self-possessed, and played with snap and vigor.
"I don't know what ails me," said Grace despairingly, as she and Miriam
stood waiting for the next line up. "I didn't play my best. I tried to,
but I couldn't."
"You're nervous," rejoined Miriam. "Just make yourself believe you are
back in the gym at home and you can show them some star playing."
"I will," promised Grace. "See if I don't."
It was after five o'clock before the last ambitious freshman had been
given a chance to display her basketball prowess or lack of it. Grace
had made good her word and forgetting her nervousness had played with
the old-time dash and skill that had won fame for her in her high-school
days. Her playing had elicited cries of approval from those watching and
she had the satisfaction of hearing, "You play an excellent game, Miss
Harlowe," from the manager. Miriam, after her third trial, also received
her full measure of applause, and flushed and happy the two girls
clasped hands delightedly when they received word that they were to
report for practice at four o'clock Monday afternoon. As they were
leaving the field to go to the training shed Gertrude Wells hurried
toward them. "Miss Harlowe," she called, "please wait a minute."
Grace paused obediently while Miriam and Anne walked on ahead.
"Will you and your friends, Miss Nesbit, Miss Briggs and Miss Pierson,
come over to Morton Hall to-night at half-past seven o'clock. I have
invited a number of my freshmen friends, and I'd love to have you come,
too. It's Saturday night you know, so you won't have to worry about
recitations to-morrow."
"Thank you," replied Grace. "I will come with pleasure. Girls," she
called to the three ahead, "come back here."
Gertrude repeated her invitation, which was instantly accepted. "Be sure
to come early," was her parting admonition.
"This is our first freshman invitation," remarked Grace after Gertrude
had left them. "I'm so glad. I had begun to think we would never get
acquainted with the rest of our class."
"I understand that 19---- is the largest class Overton has ever had,"
said Anne.
"All the more reason why we should be proud of it," declared Miriam
quickly.
"I wonder what they'll have to eat," said Elfreda reflectively.
A derisive giggle greeted this remark.
"Well, you needn't laugh," retorted Elfreda good-naturedly. "I didn't
say that because I'm so fond of eating. I was just wondering whether it
would be worth while to eat supper or not."
"Take my advice and eat your supper, Elfreda," laughed Anne. "I have an
idea that we shall be fed on plowed field, fudge or something equally
nourishing."
"Humph!" commented Elfreda. "That's just about what I thought. I hope we
have something sour for supper to-night. I'm getting tired of sweet
stuff. It's frightfully fattening, too."
"What on earth has come over you, Elfreda," laughed Grace. "I thought
you were devoted to chocolate and bonbons."
"I was," confessed Elfreda, "until I saw you and Miriam play basketball
this afternoon. I was crazy to play, too. But imagine how I'd look on
the field. I couldn't run six yards without puffing. I'm going to try to
get thinner, and perhaps some day I can make the team, too."