Ann Crosses a Secret Trail Page 9

  CHAPTER IX

  AT “POLLY’S” ONCE MORE

  How hard it was to study these first days, when so much of importanceto the Beta Alpha Taus and the other sororities was “hanging in thebalance”! Marta and Ann scored success in their work only by earlyrising. It was fortunate for Ann that her heaviest work had been donein her first year. She still had a few extra hours to make up, but theywere divided between the first and second semesters and were in studieswhich were not particularly hard for Ann. She concentrated her powersduring regular study hours, rose an hour early, and spent the rest ofthe time, those happy hours between lessons and meals, in the serviceof the Beta Alpha Taus and the “Owls”, her literary society. It wasgreat fun to “cast dull care away”, as she told Marta, and have a goodtime with the girls. Walks, rowing, canoeing, swimming, climbing thehills, usually with some new girls in tow,--everything took on a newpleasure and excitement. The “rushing season” was decidedly thrilling.

  But alas for “best-laid plans” again! The desired hurrying of Alineinto the ranks of Beta Alpha Tau was not so easily accomplished. Thatevening, after dinner, Aline responded pleasantly to the overture ofthe Bats. It was natural enough that Ann should be with her, and someof the other members of the Jolly Six; but she naturally noticed thefact that attention was being paid her by the senior and junior girlsof the sorority. Not for nothing had Aline spent a year in a girls’school.

  When, noticing that all the girls, with the exception of two new girls,were Betas, she was about to refuse an invitation to Alice’s suite andslip away, Alice informed her that she was particularly desired. “Youdo not know my especial brand of fudge,” she said, and Ann joined in,with the remark that no one who ever tasted it was known to refuse asecond invitation. “Come on, Aline. We won’t stay but a minute if youhave anything important to do. I’ve got to get to work, too.”

  Aline yielded, and had as fine a time as anybody. Alice’s fudge wasall that had been claimed for it, and the study bell rang before thegay conversation ceased. The girls hastily brought their visiting toa close and started out, Ann slipping her arm through Aline’s and nothurrying. Alice followed and strolled a little beyond the door of thesenior cottage, where she and her suite-mates occupied a first floorsuite. Over the campus, girls were making their way to cottages or tothe music rooms.

  “I must go back, girls,” said Alice, turning to Aline, and taking bothher hands. “We Betas, Aline, have only _just discovered_ that you didnot join the Sigs! ‘Animus meminisse horret’! I can hardly forgive theSigs for letting the impression get out that you were theirs,--Ann, youtell her about it, and humbly recommend your Beta sisters!”

  With this, Alice smilingly left the girls, turning back at the door fora last glimpse.

  “Well!” exclaimed Aline. “Alice is your president, or ‘chief,’ or headexecutioner, or whatever you call it, isn’t she?”

  “Yes.”

  “Her quotation from the pious Aeneas was cute. I am wondering what allthis means, of course; but I don’t know whether I want you to talk tome about it or not, as she suggested.”

  Ann was a little surprised. “I’ll not, if you do not want me to, Aline,but I have some things that I would like to say to you. It is perfectlytrue that we have just found out that you are not a Sig-Ep; and we knowthat it is by no fault of _theirs_ that you are not. Are you pledged tosome other sorority, Aline?”

  “No. I didn’t mean that, Ann, but I hate the ‘rushing’. It always seemsso insincere to me, and when I noticed the older girls in the crowd, Ifelt embarrassed. I don’t mean, Ann,” Aline added, noticing that Annseemed a little subdued, “that I thought anything insincere tonight.I enjoyed the fun. Isn’t Dots a case?--and that Jane Price!” Alinelaughed in recollection.

  “Well, Aline, I don’t want to urge you to anything you do not want todo. We’ll start out on that basis. You know most of the Beta Alpha Tausand what sort of girls they are, so it is not necessary to recommendthem, even ‘humbly’, as Alice said. You are perfectly able to makeup your mind on that without assistance! What I want to tell you isin regard to how bad we want you to join us and what happened thisafternoon. I’ll ask you to remember that you had a little rushing fromthe Bats last year, till they thought it of no use. My! It makes mesick to think of it,--but maybe you wouldn’t have joined us anyway.”

  Aline made no reply to this.

  “This was our first meeting this afternoon, Aline, to plan thecampaign. Various girls were brought up,--their names, I mean,--asdesirable to consider, but there was no thought of bidding any oneto-day, until your name was suggested and the fact was made known thatyou were not a Sig. I wish you could have heard the girls! They surelywill feel bad if you turn us down, for I am authorized to invite you tojoin the Betas and as soon as possible. It was unusual, Aline, just asit is unusual for me to tell about one of our meetings.”

  There was a pause. Then Aline replied, “Ann, I--but thank you and therest of the Betas very, very much, I don’t know. Last year, I suspectI might have joined you. Mother was a member of your sorority. But now,so many of my friends are Sigs,--”

  “But you aren’t joining the sorority, are you? I happen to know thatthey want you as much as ever.”

  “No, on account of Mother; and, well, I don’t care for all of them, youknow, girls like Genevieve and Madeline.”

  “Are there any of the Betas that you object to?”

  “Oh, no!”

  Ann did not know what else to say. They had stopped in the lower hallof the Castle to finish their private conversation and were in constantdanger of being interrupted. “Well, Aline,” she finally said, “thinkit over. I hope that you can tell me tomorrow. You will receive a moreformal notice and note from Alice, through the secretary, tomorrowanyhow. But the girls wanted me to tell you tonight and they hope veryearnestly that you will see your way clear to join us.”

  “You are a dear, Ann,” said Aline, “I will----”

  But here came Eleanor from one of the downstairs suites. “Here you are,Aline, I wondered what was keeping you. I’ve stayed over time. We’dbetter get to work, if Bunny does not get us and give us a black mark.”

  “I want to see you about something tomorrow, Eleanor,” said Ann. “Keepa date for me, will you?”

  Laughingly Eleanor said that she would and went up the stairs withAline, Ann behind them.

  * * * * *

  No one had thought of the fact that the girls were not supposed toleave their own halls after the bell for the close of study hourshad rung. The Betas would scarcely want to antagonize or deceive theauthorities for their meeting, Marta said, when she and Ann thoughtabout it, and this conclusion was confirmed when a rap on the doorcame just before the bell rang. It was Alice, who stood just insidethe door, closing it, to tell them that the meeting was “off”, and toask what Aline had told Ann. Alice shook her head doubtfully when Anntold her of the conversation. “I hope we get her, but I don’t know,”said she. “We’ll have a short meeting tomorrow noon, before lunch,--atthe rustic bridge. If it rains, we’ll meet on the big porch of thesenior cottage, or in my suite, if there are too many around. Pleasetell the other girls, Ann, and I’ll not take the time to go there.Bunny challenged me, to give the countersign, in the hall; but I hadpermission!”

  “What is the countersign, Alice?” laughed Marta, but Alice only flungup her hand in a salute and disappeared down the corridor.

  “She’s an awfully nice girl,” said Marta. “I’ll be sorry to have thesenior group go out of Forest Hill this year.”

  “Yes, won’t you?”

  The next day was Ann’s busiest day. She had no opportunity to talkwith any of her friends if she had her lessons, except bits of chat onthe way to and from class; and then, indeed, Ann’s mind was full of thecoming lessons.

  The noon meeting was what Marta called short and sweet. It was decidedto have a “spread” at Polly’s, whether Aline joined then or not. Theywould make it a guest affair, inviting Alin
e and the few other girls,whom they wanted to meet the Beta Alpha Taus _en masse_, in the hope ofinteresting them.

  “We’ll make it an afternoon tea, girls,” said Jane, “if you approve;and we’ll have darling little invitations, hand painted, with parrotsin one corner. Who paints? You do, Lucile, and Alice,----” Jane lookedaround for more artists, and several hands went up.

  “Good. There won’t be many to do, of course, so it will take verylittle time.”

  “How about place cards?” Alice inquired. The group must have presentedan odd appearance, for they all stood close, arms about each other, orpeering over shoulders at Alice and Jane, who were in the center.

  “Sure enough. Well, we’ll make them much like the invitations and do itall at the same time. Put the motion, Alice, please.”

  The gong rang for lunch as the “Bats” passed their resolution to havethe Saturday afternoon spread at Polly’s, if permitted. Alice was tosee about that.

  In the evening after dinner, Eleanor joined Ann in the parlors, wherea group of girls were singing to Ann’s playing. Eleanor sang withthem, and, with Lora, made such attractive music that even Bunny, who,the girls said, hated music and was fit for “treason, stratagem andspoils”, put her head in at the hall door, and stepped in at last tolisten.

  But the little group presently began to break up, for the outdoorscalled them. Eleanor leaned over Ann and asked, “What did you want tosee me about, Ann? Was it Aline?”

  “Yes. How did you guess?”

  “Because you were with Aline, did not tell _her_ what you wanted to seeme about, and she had been off with a lot of you Bats.”

  “Smart girl. Yes, that is it. You were good enough to let me know thatshe would not join the Sigs, so I thought that I would ask your adviceon how to get her with us. She hesitates on your account, I think.Wouldn’t the Sigs all understand that Aline would join us because it isher mother’s sorority?”

  “_I_ would,” replied Eleanor, “but I don’t know. You know how funnysome girls are.”

  “Yes, but suppose it runs on and Aline does not join _any_ sorority.I think that she will be sorry not to have had the fun of it and thepleasant friendships. It isn’t as if we were all at swords’ pointswith each other. Miss Tudor has certainly kept her word about having alot of them! We compete in the rushing season, of course, and sometimesmean things are said; but after all, nobody takes it so very seriously.Don’t you agree with me?”

  “To a certain extent. Your sorority in a way does determine your moreintimate friendships. You are with that group of girls more, and someof the girls are pretty snobbish about it.”

  Now Ann had thought that Eleanor belonged to that type. It wasinteresting to hear Eleanor herself mention snobbery and, in a sense,disclaim it.

  “I will talk with Aline,” continued Eleanor, “if I have a goodopportunity, at least to let her know that I will not stand in her way.We can be just as good friends, though I _very much regret_ not havingher in the same sorority, and, Ann, I’ll ask her once more, finally, ifshe will not come with us!”

  “You have a perfect right to do that, Eleanor. If Aline joins us, Iwant it to be because she wants to, as well as for the reason that hermother was a member. That is, I don’t want her to feel forced to comein,--well, you know what I mean.”

  “Yes. I’ll talk to Aline tonight. After that, go ahead. Aline may cometo you herself. Perhaps she’d rather. I suppose that she was to answeryour proposition, if you made one?”

  “I did; and she said that she would think it over. Say, Eleanor, youwill not talk this over with any of the other Sigs, will you? I didnot give the source of my information on Aline’s not having joined theSigs.”

  “This is between Aline and me,” said Eleanor.

  * * * * *

  It was on Friday night, the one before the Saturday tea at Polly’s,when Aline came around to Ann’s suite and found her alone. Alinecarried in her hand the pretty card of invitation with its gay littleparrot. It bore the letters “R.S.V.P.” upon it and Aline had alreadyaccepted, to Marta’s and Ann’s delight. But for a moment Ann feltstartled. Could it be, after all, that Aline would not come, that therewas not a bit of hope for the “Bats”? But she welcomed Aline and madeher sit in the best rocker, where the view was prettiest.

  “‘The shades of night are falling fast,’ Aline, but you can see myfavorite hilltop and a few pink and lavender streaks from the sunset.Going to society meeting?”

  “Yes; aren’t you?”

  “Oh, yes. I have too many lessons for next week to do it, but I havetried staying home from the meeting and could not accomplish anything.”

  “So have I. I work better, anyhow, when the pressure is on and Ihaven’t time to get what I’m getting!”

  “Me, too!”

  “Well, Ann,--I suspect that you think I’ve taken my time about decidingwhether to join the Bats or not.”

  Ann’s heart was in her mouth,--so she afterward declared. “Better beslow than come to a wrong decision,” she said. “And you have to getacquainted with our girls, too,--the ones in the upper classes, atleast. You accepted our invitation to the tea at Polly’s tomorrow,didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” replied Aline, “but,----”

  Ann’s heart sank again.

  “I felt some way, Ann, that,--well, I’d rather decide before I went toyour social gathering, and so I came around to tell you that I havedecided to be a Bat!”

  “Oh, oh, oh,--how wonderful that is,--you dear old Aline! Why, I wassimply scared to death when you began that way! Did you realize how myheart was going down into my toes? Aline! You _mean_ it and will _join_us!”

  “I certainly do; but why, what did I say that made you think I wasgoing to refuse?”

  “Why, your hesitation. ‘Yes,’ you had accepted the invitation,‘but,’--wait till I call Marta and the girls, _please_,” for Aline,rather embarrassed, was rising to go.

  “All right, I’ll stay, then.” Aline sat down, while Ann flew up thecorridor, knocked and opened the door with sad lack of propriety,calling, “Kit, Dots,--everybody, come around to our suite and meet anew Bat!”

  Dorothy came hurrying toward Ann with extended arms. “Is it Aline?”

  “Aline it is,” said Ann, rapturously returning Dorothy’s hug, andturning to meet the happy looks of the other girls, who rushed up toask her how and wherefore. “I’ll answer all questions another time,”said she. “Come around now to welcome her! Isn’t it fine?”

  In a trice the entire Jolly Six surrounded Aline with affectionate andsincere greetings. Aline herself was happy, now that the deed was doneand there was no retreat. It had been regrets in regard to Eleanor thathad been the chief obstacle. Those Eleanor’s generosity had removed,for Aline’s sake. Ann felt like giving her the entire credit, butit was a thing that could not be mentioned without spoiling it all.Together they all went to the literary society meeting, as “Owls,”happily anticipating the banquet of the morrow. It would, in spite ofthe former uncertainty, celebrate Aline’s decision!

  * * * * *

  “Polly’s” was decorated in attractive style, for the Beta Alpha Tau teawas not the only one given upon that Saturday afternoon. “Polly” hadtaken over other rooms, in the same building and on the same floor,which were made to connect, but offered some privacy for separateparties. Ann well remembered her first lunch in that popular place,when she saw Suzanne, decked in all her glory, proudly accompanying theSigma Epsilons in a similar feast. For some reason the Sigs were not inthe number of guests at the Polly Inn that Saturday. There were rumors,too, of a split in the ranks and trouble over the type of girls thatwere to be “bid.” Genevieve and Madeline were said to lead one faction;Eleanor, and girls who made her list of particular friends, another.

  There was much going back and forth between suites, with manyconsultations and queries as to what would be suitable to wear. Ajunior girl, one who had been considered by the Bats as most desirable,asked
Ann what she should wear and begged her to come to the juniorcottage, to help her select. Ann was surprised to be regarded asauthority on clothes, but readily consented. “You are dressed in suchgood taste, I notice,” said the junior, “and I want to wear what iscustomary here. I’d know what to put on at home.”

  In pretty afternoon dresses, with hats and gloves, the girls made the’buses that took them to town look like moving rainbows, and theyfluttered into “Polly’s” with happy faces. Ann, as one of the old girlsnow, had no more wonderings as to whether she should fit this or thatoccasion. Her background was established. Ann’s distinctly interestingpersonality, her independence of character, the high quality of herwork and the charm of her pleasant ways and sincerity had made herknown, not only in her own class but in the school. Her chief delightat present was that Aline had accepted the Betas’ bid and that she waspresent as not merely a guest but a prospective initiate.

  “Now, if we can only get the other girls that we want,” she thought, asshe looked around the long table and noted with what care Alice and thesenior girls in charge had seated the guests, their place cards nextthose girls who were good entertainers and especially attractive. “It’scertainly no harm to put our best foot foremost,” she thought, and saidas much to Lucile, who happened to sit on the other side of her.

  Lucile nodded and gave her a meaning look, or what was intended to beone. “Do your best,” she whispered, with a glance at the junior who hadturned out to be in Ann’s charge, with a junior “Bat” on the other sideof her.

  With so much information about the school to be given and received,and with the natural excitement and pleasure incident to the beginningof a new school year, subjects of conversation were not lacking. Thenew girls could scarcely help enjoying the atmosphere of fun and goodhumor which prevailed, the stories of funny events, school delights andcalamities, and the very presence of the prettily dressed, merry girls.Last but not least, as more than one of the Bats said, Polly’s “eats”were neither to be despised nor easily forgotten!