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<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
<h3>THE SOPHOMORE RECEPTION</h3>
<p>It was the night of the sophomore reception and the gymnasium was ablaze
with light and color. All day the valiant sophomore class had labored as
decorators. Sofa cushions, portieres, screens and anything else that
might add to the beauty of the decorations had been begged and borrowed
from good-natured residents of the campus and nearby boarding houses.
There were great branches of red and gold leaves festooning and hiding
the gymnasium apparatus, and the respective sophomore and freshman
colors of blue and gold were in evidence in every nook and corner of the
big room. There was a real orchestra of eight pieces from the town of
Overton, seated on a palm-screened platform which had been erected for
the occasion; while a long line of freshmen in their best bib and tucker
crowded up to pay their respects to the receiving line of sophomores,
headed by the class president.</p>
<p>The freshmen of Wayne Hall had elected to go together, and Ruth Denton
had also been invited to take dinner and dress with Anne, then go with
her and her friends to the reception. At
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first Ruth demurred on account
of her gown, which was a very plain little affair of white dotted swiss.
Then Grace had come to the rescue and insisted that Ruth should wear a
very beautiful white satin ribbon belt with long, graceful ends,
belonging to her, which quite transformed the simple frock. There was
also a white satin hair ornament to match, and Miriam's clever fingers
had done her soft brown hair in a new, becoming fashion. Even Elfreda
had insisted on lending her a white opera cape and praising her
appearance until the little girl was in a maze of delight at so much
unexpected attention. Grace, Anne, and Miriam had put on their
graduating gowns and Elfreda was arrayed in all the glory of the gown
she had ordered for the occasion and afterward entertained so little
hope of wearing.</p>
<p>Just as they were ready to start the door bell rang. There was a sound
of laughing voices and the patter of slippered feet on the stairs, and
Mabel Ashe, accompanied by Frances Marlton, Constance Fuller, and two
other juniors, appeared on the landing.</p>
<p>"Better late than never," announced Mabel cheerily, as Grace appeared in
the doorway. "We've come to take you to the reception. We weren't
invited until the eleventh hour, but we're making up for lost time."</p>
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<p>"Why, I didn't know juniors were invited to the reception," exclaimed
Grace, taking Mabel's extended hand in both her own. "Judging from all
outward signs I suppose you are going to the reception, else why wear
your costliest raiment?"</p>
<p>"Your deduction is not only marvelous but correct," returned Mabel. "We
were invited because the sophomores found themselves lacking not in
quality, but quantity. There weren't nearly enough sophomore 'gentlemen'
to go round, so we juniors were pressed into service.</p>
<p>"I'm so glad," returned Grace warmly. "We know nearly all the freshmen,
but we know only a few sophomores. We were lamenting to-night because
we expected to be wall flowers."</p>
<p>"Not if Frances and I can help it," promised Mabel. "Girls, I want you
to meet Miss Graham and Miss Allen, both worthy juniors. You already
know Constance."</p>
<p>The "worthy juniors" nodded smilingly as Mabel presented Grace and her
friends.</p>
<p>"Get your capes and scarfs," directed Mabel briskly. "We must be on our
way. I'm sure it's going to be a red-letter affair. The sophomores have
nearly worked their dear heads off to impress the baby class. Do you
girls all dance, and how many of you can lead?"</p>
<p>"Miriam and I," answered Grace. "Anne is
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not tall enough. Elfreda and
Ruth will have to answer for themselves."</p>
<p>Ruth Denton confessed to being barely able to dance. Elfreda, who looked
really handsome in her blue evening gown, answered in the affirmative.
Grace noted with secret satisfaction that the stout girl was keeping
strictly in the background and making no effort to push herself forward.
"If she only behaves like that all evening the girls will be sure to
like her, and if anything comes up later about this registrar business
there won't be such fuss made over it," Grace reflected.</p>
<p>"Come on, Grace!" Frances Marlton's merry tones broke in on Grace's
reflections. "I'm going to be your faithful cavalier. I'll offer you my
arm as soon as we get downstairs. We never could walk two abreast in
state down these stairs."</p>
<p>Grace followed Frances's lead, smiling happily. Julia Graham, a rather
stout, pleasant-faced young woman in pink messaline, bowed to Miriam.
Anne found herself accepting the arm of Edith Allen, while Constance
Fuller took charge of Ruth Denton. The crowning honor fell to J.
Elfreda, for Mabel Ashe walked up to her, slipped her arm in that of the
astonished girl, saying impressively, "May I have the pleasure, Miss
Briggs?"</p>
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<p>The little party fairly bubbled over with high spirits as they set out
for the gymnasium in couples, but to Elfreda the world was gayest rose
color. To be escorted to the reception by the most popular girl in
college was an honor of which she had never dreamed. Only a few days
before she had resigned all hope of even going, but through the magic of
Grace Harlowe she was among the elect. For almost the first time in her
self-centered young life, she was swept by a wholly generous impulse to
do the best that lay within her in college if only for Grace's sake.
While she listened to Mabel's gay sallies, answering them almost shyly,
her mind was on the debt of gratitude she owed Grace, who, without
mentioning her visit to Alberta Wicks, had assured her that she had made
inquiry and found that the letter was not the work of the sophomore
class as a body. Grace had refused to voice even a suspicion regarding
the writer's identity, but had so strongly advised Elfreda to pay no
attention to the cowardly warning, but attend the reception as though
nothing had happened, that the stout girl had taken her advice.</p>
<p>Grace was now quietly jubilant over the way things had turned out. She
was so glad Mabel had chosen Elfreda. "I wonder how she knew," she said
half aloud.</p>
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<p>"How who knew, and what did she know?" inquired Frances quickly.</p>
<p>"Nothing," replied Grace, in sudden confusion. "I was just wondering."</p>
<p>"I know what you were wondering and I'll tell you. A certain junior who
is a friend of a certain sophomore told Mabel certain things."</p>
<p>"Frances, you are a wizard!" exclaimed Grace in a low tone. "How did you
know of what I was thinking?"</p>
<p>"The question is," replied Frances, "do you understand me?"</p>
<p>"I think I know who the sophomore is," hesitated Grace, "but I don't
understand about the junior."</p>
<p>"And I can't tell you," replied Frances gravely. "I can only say that
Mabel likes you very much, Grace, and that a certain junior who is fond
of Mabel is jealous of your friendship. Both Mabel and I admire your
stand in the other matter. You are measuring up to college standards, my
dear, and I am sure you will be an honor to 19——."</p>
<p>Frances finished her flattering prediction just as they stepped inside
the doorway of the gymnasium. Before Grace had time to reply they found
themselves among a bevy of daintily gowned girls that were forming in
line to pay their respects to the president of the sophomore
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class and
five of her classmates who formed the receiving party. After this
formality was over the girls walked about the gymnasium, admiring the
decorations. Mabel Ashe was fairly overwhelmed by her admirers. It
seemed to Grace as though she attracted more attention than the
receiving party itself. It was: "Mabel, dear, dance the first waltz with
me;" "Come and drink lemonade with us, Queen Mab," and "Why, you dear
Mabel, I might have known the sophomores couldn't get along without
you."</p>
<p>"She knows every girl in college, I believe," remarked Anne to Edith
Allen, as Mabel stood laughing and talking animatedly, the center of an
admiring group.</p>
<p>"Every one loves her from the faculty down," replied Edith. "She hadn't
been here six weeks as a freshman until the whole class was sending her
violets and asking her out to dinners. She was elected president of the
freshman class, too, and had the honor of refusing the sophomore
nomination. They want her for junior president, but she will refuse that
nomination, too. She is as unselfish and unspoiled as the day she came
here and the most sympathetic girl I have ever known. We are all madly
jealous of Frances."</p>
<p>Anne smiled at this statement. "It is nice to
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be liked," she said
simply. "That is the way it is with Grace at home."</p>
<p>"I'm not surprised," replied Edith, regarding Grace critically. "She has
a fine face. That Miss Nesbit seems nice, too. She is a beauty, isn't
she?"</p>
<p>Anne replied happily in the affirmative. To her praise of her two
dearest friends was as the sweetest music.</p>
<p>"Shall we dance?" said Edith, rising and offering her arm in her most
manly fashion. A moment later the two girls joined the dancers, who were
circling the floor with more or less grace to the strains of a waltz.</p>
<p>"What kind of a time are you having?" asked Grace an hour later as she
and Miriam met in front of one of the lemonade bowls.</p>
<p>"I'm enjoying it ever so much," was the enthusiastic answer. "I've met a
lot of sophomores that I've been wanting to know, and they have been so
nice to me. Have you seen Elfreda lately?"</p>
<p>"No," said Grace with a guilty start. "I've been having such a good time
I forgot her. Let's go and find her now."</p>
<p>The two began a slow promenade of the room in search of the missing
girl. Suddenly Grace clutched her friend's arm. "Look over there,
Miriam!" she exclaimed.</p>
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<p>Seated on a divan beside Mabel Ashe and surrounded by half a dozen
sophomores was J. Elfreda. She was talking animatedly and the girls were
urging her on with laughter and cries of "Now show us how some one else
in Fairview looks."</p>
<p>"What do you suppose she is saying?" wondered Miriam. "Let's go over."
They neared the group just in time to hear Elfreda say, "The president
of the Fairview suffragist league." Then her round face set as though
turned to stone. Her eyes took on a determined glare, and drawing down
the corners of her mouth she elevated her chin, rose from the divan and
shrilled forth "Votes for Women" in a tone that fairly convulsed her
hearers. Then suddenly catching sight of Grace and Miriam she sat down
abruptly and said with an embarrassed gesture of dismissal, "The show's
over. I see my friends are looking for me. I'll have to go."</p>
<p>"You funny, funny girl!" exclaimed Mabel Ashe. "What a treasure you'll
be when we give college entertainments. You'll make the Dramatic Club
some day."</p>
<p>"Nothing like it," returned Elfreda, resorting to slang in her
embarrassment.</p>
<p>"Where did you ever learn to mimic people so cleverly?" asked one
sophomore.</p>
<p>"Oh, I don't know," replied Elfreda almost
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rudely. "I've imitated folks
ever since I was a kid—little girl," she corrected. "You said you'd
waltz with me to-night, Miriam, so come on. That's a Strauss waltz, and
I don't want to miss it. Please excuse me," she said, turning to the
assembled girls. She was making a desperate effort to be polite when she
preferred to be rude.</p>
<p>"Mabel Ashe, you're the dearest girl," Grace burst forth as the little
crowd dissolved and strolled off in different directions. "You have been
lovely to Elfreda, and instead of her evening being spoiled, you know
what I mean, she has actually made a sensation."</p>
<p>"I am not the only one who has been looking out for J. Elfreda's
interests," reminded Mabel. "I am glad that she has this talent. It will
help her to make friends with the girls, and if nothing more is said
about the registrar affair she will soon have a following of her own."</p>
<p>"Do you think anything more will be said?" asked Grace anxiously.</p>
<p>"Not if I can help it," was the response.</p>
<p>It was almost midnight when, after seeing Ruth Denton home, the four
girls climbed the steps of Wayne Hall.</p>
<p>"It was lovely, wasn't it, Anne?" declared Grace as she slipped into her
kimono and began taking the pins from her hair.</p>
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<p>"Yes," said Anne with a half sigh. She was deliberating as to whether
she had better tell Grace a disturbing bit of conversation she had
overheard. After all it wasn't worth repeating. She had simply heard one
freshman say to another that she had been prepared to like Miss Harlowe,
but something she had heard had caused her to change her mind. Anne
suspected that in some way Elfreda's troubles had been shifted to
Grace's shoulders.</p>
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