CHAPTER X
THE MAKING OF THE TEAM
Saturday dawned clear and sunshiny. It was an ideal autumn day, andluncheon at Wayne Hall was eaten rapidly. Everyone was eager to give anopinion regarding the basketball try out, and with one or two exceptionseach girl cherished the secret hope of making the team. Anne was one ofthe exceptions. She had no basketball yearnings. She was ready andwilling to be an enthusiastic and loyal fan, but aside from walking anddancing she had no desire to take an active part in college sports. Shewas extremely proud of Miriam's and Grace's fine playing, however, andnever doubted for an instant that both girls would make the team. "I'msure you and Miriam will be chosen," she asserted to Grace, as thelatter stood before her mirror, viewing herself in her new felt walkinghat, that had arrived that morning.
The two friends had run up to their room after luncheon to hurry intotheir coats and hats, preparatory to going to Exeter Field. Anne eyedGrace admiringly. "Your new hat is so becoming," she said.
"I think yours is ever so pretty, too," returned Grace. "It looks likenew. No one would know that you bought it last season. You take suchgood care of your clothes, Anne. I wish I could take as good care ofmine. I hang them up and keep them in repair, but somehow they just wearout 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 hearGrace's plaintive assertion. She was wearing a becoming suit of blue anda 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. Thatpin you fastened in the back of my waist is sticking me and I can'treach 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, wearingthe expression of a martyr, joined Grace and Anne on the veranda, andthe four set out for Exeter Field.
"I'm not going to talk about certain things to-day, Grace, but did younotice 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, Ishall 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 toExeter Field. There were big girls and little girls, all talking andlaughing happily, until the still October air rang with the sound oftheir 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 noone seemed to notice or to mind. Overton had a reputation for democracyin spite of the fact that most of its students came from homes wherethere was no lack of money.
Arriving at the field the four girls followed the crowd, which for themost 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 enoughto 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 withtwinkling eyes. Then she smiled broadly. That smile warmed Grace'sheart.
"Won't you come with us?" she asked.
"Thank you, I believe I will," she replied. "I think I have theadvantage. I know you are Miss Harlowe, but you don't know me. My nameis Gertrude Wells, and I am a freshman, too. Now, suppose you introduceyour little friends, and we'll go over to the club restaurant. I waswaiting for my chum, but she has evidently deserted me."
Grace decided that she liked Miss Wells better than any other freshmanshe had met. She had a dry, humorous way of saying things that kept themall in a gale of laughter. Elfreda, too, seemed especially interested inher, and exerted herself to please. After their second ice all aroundthey strolled over to where the manager of the college athleticsassociation was marshaling the candidates for the try out. Grace andMiriam hurried off to the training quarters at one end of the field toput on their gymnasium suits.
The girls who wished to play were formed into teams and tried outagainst one another and the most promising of the players ordered tostep off to one side after having lined up for play three times. It wasafter four o'clock when Grace and Miriam were called to the field. Thelong wait had made Grace rather nervous. Miriam, however, was cool andself-possessed, and played with snap and vigor.
"I don't know what ails me," said Grace despairingly, as she and Miriamstood 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 areback 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 beengiven a chance to display her basketball prowess or lack of it. Gracehad made good her word and forgetting her nervousness had played withthe old-time dash and skill that had won fame for her in her high-schooldays. Her playing had elicited cries of approval from those watching andshe had the satisfaction of hearing, "You play an excellent game, MissHarlowe," from the manager. Miriam, after her third trial, also receivedher full measure of applause, and flushed and happy the two girlsclasped hands delightedly when they received word that they were toreport for practice at four o'clock Monday afternoon. As they wereleaving the field to go to the training shed Gertrude Wells hurriedtoward 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 haveinvited 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 aboutrecitations to-morrow."
"Thank you," replied Grace. "I will come with pleasure. Girls," shecalled to the three ahead, "come back here."
Gertrude repeated her invitation, which was instantly accepted. "Be sureto come early," was her parting admonition.
"This is our first freshman invitation," remarked Grace after Gertrudehad left them. "I'm so glad. I had begun to think we would never getacquainted 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 Miriamquickly.
"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'tsay that because I'm so fond of eating. I was just wondering whether itwould be worth while to eat supper or not."
"Take my advice and eat your supper, Elfreda," laughed Anne. "I have anidea that we shall be fed on plowed field, fudge or something equallynourishing."
"Humph!" commented Elfreda. "That's just about what I thought. I hope wehave something sour for supper to-night. I'm getting tired of sweetstuff. It's frightfully fattening, too."
"What on earth has come over you, Elfreda," laughed Grace. "I thoughtyou were devoted to chocolate and bonbons."
"I was," confessed Elfreda, "until I saw you and Miriam play basketballthis afternoon. I was crazy to play, too. But imagine how I'd look onthe field. I couldn't run six yards without puffing. I'm going to try toget thinner, and perhaps some day I can make the team, too."