CHAPTER II
THE LAST FRESHMAN
It was ten minutes past seven when the club settled down to the frozencustard and delicious cakes that Grace and Anne had provided for them.Then Elfreda, who had taken upon herself the making and serving of thecoffee, returned after a brief absence with a percolator of steamingcoffee, Miriam following with the sugar and cream.
"Isn't it too bad we never thought of doing this before?" said MarianCummings.
"Something had to be left for our senior year," said Anne Pierson.
"Do you know, I am anything but joyful at being a senior," announcedElfreda Briggs. "Of course, it is a satisfaction to know that one hasweathered the last three years' examinations and is practically on EasyStreet as far as studies go, but every now and then comes the awfulfeeling, 'only a little while and it will all be over'--college, Imean."
"'Yet a few days, and thee the all-beholding sun shall see no more.'"
quoted Emma Dean lugubriously.
"Not quite so bad as that," returned Elfreda with an appreciative grin.
"Even we juniors feel more or less that way," said Laura Atkins. "Inever had any real fun until I came to Overton. The time has gone sofast I can't believe that it is two years since I locked Grace and Anneout of their room and behaved like a savage. I don't wonder Elfredanamed me the Anarchist. I did my best to live up to the name."
"Oh, forget about that," murmured Elfreda, looking embarrassed.
The members of the club were wholly familiar with the history of LauraAtkins's freshman year and admired her for the matter-of-fact way inwhich she was wont to discuss her early short-comings. Under the sunnyinfluence of the four girls who had helped her to find herself, she haddeveloped into a gracious and likeable young woman. She and MildredTaylor were the guests of the club that afternoon.
"What is the latest word from erring freshmen? Has any one heard?" askedGrace. Laura's reference to herself had set Grace to thinking offreshmen in general.
"We've six at Ralston," groaned Julia Emerson. "The usualvariety--neither rich nor poor, brilliant nor dull, amiable norperverse, goody-goody nor lawless. Just that comfortable, maddeninglycommonplace variety of girls who never go to extremes."
"Extremes are dangerous," declared Elfreda judicially.
"Better be an extremist than nothing at all," grumbled Julia.
"For the first time since we came here, there isn't a single freshman atWayne Hall," announced Miriam.
"Are all the rooms taken?" asked Marian Cummings.
"All but half of one room," replied Emma Dean. "The illustrious MissWest is alone in her glory. I heard Mrs. Elwood lamenting to-day becausethat particular half was still vacant."
"Some one may take it yet," said Arline Thayer. "This is only the secondweek of the term. Only yesterday a freshman arrived at Morton House.Girls have been known to drift into Overton a whole month after thebeginning of the term."
"Did Miss West ask for a single?" questioned Grace of Emma.
"No, she doesn't in the least yearn for one. You know she is paying herown way through college. She told Mrs. Elwood that it was all she coulddo to keep her head above water as it was and couldn't afford to thinkof a single. Of course, Mrs. Elwood hasn't charged her single rates yet,but if no one else appears she will either have to pay the advancedprice or make other arrangements. Mrs. Elwood knows of two girls whohave been trying to get into Wayne Hall for a long time, and who willcome bag and baggage the moment she says the word."
"That is too bad," said Miriam slowly--"for Miss West, I mean."
A significant silence fell upon the company of girls. The same thoughtwas in each one's mind. It was Elfreda who finally voiced it. "It looksas though the S. F.'s ought to get busy," she said slangily. "We mightlend her the money to make up the difference."
"I am afraid that wouldn't do," objected Anne, whose practicalexperience with poverty had made her wise. "I imagine with her it is aquestion of being economical. It wouldn't be fair to tempt her toextravagance, for a single would be the height of improvidence,particularly if she had to go in debt for it."
"Anne is right," declared Gertrude Wells decidedly. "But to be perfectlyfrank, I am not in favor of the club taking up Miss West's case. You allknow how badly she behaved toward us last year, particularly towardGrace. If we offered her help, no doubt we should be ridiculed for ourpains. I think the best thing for us to do is to let her alone."
"So do I," echoed Sarah Emerson.
Several affirmative murmurs went up from various girls.
"Now, see here," began Elfreda Briggs emphatically. "What is the use inour calling ourselves Semper Fidelis and then going back on ourprinciples? When we organized this club, we didn't make any conditionsas to who should be helped and who shouldn't, did we? Whoever neededhelp was to have it. If there is anyway in which we can be of assistanceto Miss West, then it is our duty to respond cheerfully."
"Hurrah for you, Elfreda!" cried Arline. "You're an honor to the Sempersand your own sweet native land. Of course we aren't going to pick andchoose whom we shall help. I think we had better appoint a committee tocall on Miss West and find out if we can render her any financialassistance."
"I'm in favor of that committee," declared Emma Dean, "only don't ask meto serve on it."
"Grace and Arline are the very ones for that stunt," proposed JuliaEmerson. "They can do it to perfection."
"Please don't ask me," said Grace with sudden earnestness. "I justcan't, that's all." Her face flushed, and a distressed look crept intoher eyes which her friends were quick to note.
"Suppose you and Elfreda call on her, Miriam?" proposed Arline. "You twoare very valiant."
"Excuse me," said Elfreda so promptly that everyone laughed. "I may lookvaliant, but to every woman her own fear, you know."
"Oh, look, girls!" The sudden exclamation came from Gertrude Wells, whowas sitting near the open window. "There's the automobile bus from thestation. It's stopping in front of Wayne Hall, too."
There was a concerted rush for the two windows.
"I wonder who it can be!" cried Emma Dean. "Wouldn't it be funny if itwere the greatly desired freshman, Miss West's other half?"
The watchers saw the bus door open. Then out of it stepped the tallestgirl they had ever seen.
"I believe she is seven feet tall," muttered Emma Dean. "I am sure ofit."
"Nonsense," laughed Miriam. "But she is not far from six. I wish it weredaylight, then we could see her face."
"I wonder who she can be," mused Arline.
"There is only one answer," smiled Miriam Nesbit. "As Emma just stated,she must be Miss West's other half. However, we shall know before long."
A moment later they heard the bell ring, then up from the hall came thesound of Mrs. Elwood's voice speaking in surprised but pleased tones. Avoice almost masculine in its depth answered. There was a tramp of feetup the stairs and down the hall. In the next instant the door of the endroom had opened and closed upon the newcomer.
"Girls, you are saved," proclaimed Gertrude Wells dramatically. "We havebeen wasting our valuable time to-night trying to solve Miss West'sproblem, while all the time the queen of the giants was hurrying as fastas ever she could to the rescue."
There was a faint general laugh at the remark, then Elfreda saidseverely, "Young women, do you consider making uncomplimentary remarksabout new students in the line of true Overton spirit?"
"But she did look seven feet tall," persisted Emma Dean.
"Think how deceitful appearances sometimes are," reminded Miriam.
"Never judge a person by moonlight," added Ruth Denton.
"Never judge them at all," smiled Grace. "Let the poor freshman rest inpeace. I have a last sweet surprise for you. Name it and you can haveit."
"Caramels," guessed Julia Emerson.
"Marshmallows," said Gertrude Wells.
"Oh, I know," cried Arline. "Nut chocolates; the delicious kind that oldcandy man in Oakdale makes."
"Some o
ne must have told you," said Grace, going to the closet andreturning with a huge box. "You are all to stay here until the lastchocolate is eaten."
It was on the ragged edge of half-past ten when the Semper Fidelis Clubtrooped happily across the campus to their various houses, but, faithfulto their duty, the big candy box reposed in Grace's waste basket, quiteempty.
"I wonder how Kathleen West received her roommate," observed Miriam. Sheand Elfreda had lingered for a moment in Grace's room after the othershad gone.
"It is fortunate for her that a belated freshman happened along," wasGrace's serious reply.
"But most unfortunate for the freshman," added Elfreda. "However, thisone looks perfectly capable of fighting her own battles."