Before Marjorie saw Miss Susanna, who had invited her in the note to
come to Hamilton Arms to dinner on Friday, another surprise was in store
for her. She had paid no special attention to a notice which appeared on
the main bulletin board the day after she had received the violets from
Miss Susanna. It stated that a full attendance of students was requested
on Friday morning in the chapel.
"What's going to happen at chapel, I wonder, that we are all ordered to
be there?" commented Muriel Harding that evening, at the usual nightly
confab.
"Special notices to be read, very likely," surmised Ronny. "From now on,
we'll begin to hear them. It's not very long until Commencement,
children."
"Don't speak of it." Jerry held up a protesting hand. "I think I ought
to have at least four more years of education. I'm not half educated. I
don't want to leave Hamilton this June, knowing I'm not coming back to
it."
This in a measure was the attitude the others were gradually taking.
With the growth of the new dormitory project came the earnest longing
"to stay just one more year" and see its furtherance. On the other hand
there were the home folks to be considered. Marjorie in particular felt
that her captain would not care to spare her away from home another
year. Nor would she ask that permission.
When on Friday morning row upon row of more or less lovely girl faces,
each with its own particular charm of youth, lined the large auditorium
of the chapel, no pair of bright eyes missed the significance of Doctor
Matthews' presence and that of the entire Board. Something out of the
ordinary was about to take place.
Morning exercises over, Doctor Matthews proceeded to address the
scrupulously attentive assemblage.
"It may not be known to many students present," he said, "that the
college has very little data concerning its noble founder, Brooke
Hamilton. We know that he planned this monument to learning on a broad
and magnificent scale. We know that he superintended the erection of the
buildings. We know that he spent his life near it, at Hamilton Arms;
that the town of Hamilton, Hamilton Highway, West Hamilton--all these
bear his honored name."
At the words, "Brooke Hamilton," the sharper interest of the original
Nine Travelers became focussed upon the president. Something of
exceptional interest to them was certain to follow the mention of that
name. Nor was the pith of the doctor's discourse long in coming. Their
interest deepened to astonishment as they heard him presently take up
the subject of the maxims of Hamilton's founder. Not only did he quote
the five already framed and hung in the college buildings. He also
quoted the other ten on the illuminated oblong in the founder's study at
Hamilton Arms.
Jerry was the first to catch the drift of the address. She recalled Miss
Susanna's words in speaking of Marjorie: "I have done something for her
that she'll like." She thought she now understood. Marjorie was to
receive a citation. Miss Susanna had planned the honor undoubtedly.
Jerry had not gone so far as even to dream that there might be others
also entitled to this high honor. The announcement of Marjorie's name
presently confirmed her conjecture. When Leila's, Helen's, her own name,
and, in fact, those of the others who made up Miss Susanna's nine young
friends followed Marjorie's, Jerry began to see stars. The tenth name,
Robin Page, sent an electric shock through them all. Robin had not known
Miss Susanna, but the latter had certainly known her through Marjorie's
generous praise.
Asked to rise in their places, the ten seniors, thus to be honored,
listened to a citation of their good deeds which made their cheeks burn
and their hearts beat faster. Miss Susanna Hamilton, it appeared, had
been very busy in their behalf.
President Matthews addressed each girl in turn by name, reciting the
maxim to be hung in her honor and stating the place on the campus the
framed tribute would occupy. Miss Susanna had shown her marked affection
for Marjorie in the choice of motto she had made. Marjorie's maxim was,
"The ways of light reach upward toward eternity."
While no demonstrations of approbation were permitted in chapel, the air
was full of repressed acclamation which would be presently set free
outside. The turn of the tide for democracy had occurred almost four
years before when the ten seniors thus elevated to distinction and a few
other loyal spirits had set their faces firmly against snobbery and
false principles. Now they were to experience the full sweep of the
waves of approbation on which their classmates proposed to launch them.
It was a never-to-be-forgotten morning. Everyone was late to first
recitations, and no one cared. Aside from the citations themselves,
another glorious fact stood forth clearly. In some marvelous manner
those who had received the honor of citation had been instrumental in
ending the estrangement of long standing between the college and the
great-niece of its reverend founder.
Coming in late that afternoon, Marjorie found a summons to Doctor
Matthews' office awaiting her. The time set was three o'clock of the
following afternoon. She smiled as she read the few lines penned by the
doctor. She was fairly positive that he wished to question her regarding
her friendship with Miss Susanna. Lucy had said at luncheon that the
doctor was anxious to talk with her.
In the midst of her own happiness, Marjorie thought rather sadly of how
different had been the purpose of the summons received by the Sans and
Elizabeth Walbert. She wondered if the parents of many of these girls
had not been cut to the heart over their utter failure. A silent song of
rejoicing welled within her soul that she had nothing but good reports
to present to her superior officers. She was glad her ways had been ways
of light.