y girl in the class has a
right to vote at the class elections."

"Anne Pierson?" cried Miriam, turning crimson with suppressed rage.

"Yes," answered Grace calmly; "but, if everybody is agreeable, suppose
we go ahead."

"Agreed!" cried the others and the ballots were cast.

There was not much parliamentary practice in these class elections. Each
girl wrote the name of her choice on a slip of paper and dropped it in a
hat. Four of the girls then counted the votes, and the one receiving the
most slips was declared elected.

The slips were dropped into the hat, amid the silence of the company.
Some of the sophomores and juniors, perched on parallel bars, watched
the scene with superior amusement, but no notice was taken of their
half-whispered jeers.

The four girls then retired to count the votes.

"It's a tie," announced Marian Barber, returning presently; "a tie
between Grace and Miriam. I wish some of the others would come and
settle the matter."

"Here's some one," cried Nora. "Here's Anne Pierson. Let her cast the
decisive vote."

Miriam's eyes blazed, but she held her peace. There was nothing to do
but submit with an uneasy grace. But who could doubt what the outcome
would be? However, she felt somewhat relieved when Grace said:

"I think we should cast the votes over again, and, according to the
rules we made last year, Miriam and I should not vote, since the
election rests between us."

The votes were cast again, Anne timidly dropping her slip in the hat
with the others, and, as might have been expected, Grace was elected
captain of the Freshman Basketball Team of the Oakdale High School.

CHAPTER II

THE SPONSOR OF THE FRESHMAN CLASS

"Grace," asked Mrs. Harlowe, the day of the famous freshman tea, "have
you asked some of the girls to help this afternoon? Bridget can attend
to the sandwiches, but some one ought to pour the lemonade and generally
look after the wants of the others."

Grace was arranging a bowl of China asters on the piano in her mother's
charming drawing room. The shining mahogany chairs and tables reflected
the glow of the wood fire, for the day was chilly, and bright chintz
curtains at the windows gave a cheerful note of color to the scene.

"Oh, yes, mother," replied Grace. "Nora and Jessica, of course, and Anne
Pierson."

"And who is Anne Pierson?"

"I don't know who she is," answered Grace. "I never knew her until she
entered the High School. But she is terrib