206
XXI. The Race for Life 215
XXII. Captain Jules Listens to a Story 224
XXIII. The Victory Over Fate 232
XXIV. The Little Captain Starts on a Journey 243

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MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY

CHAPTER I

COMMENCEMENT DAY AT MISS TOLLIVER'S

"O Phil, dear! It is anything but fair. If you only knew how I hate to
have to do it!" exclaimed Madge Morton impulsively, throwing her arms
about her chum's neck and burying her red-brown head in the soft, white
folds of Phyllis Alden's graduation gown. "No one in our class wishes me
to be the valedictorian. You know you are the most popular girl in our
school. Yet here I am the one chosen to stand up before everyone and read
my stupid essay when your average was just exactly as high as mine."

Madge Morton and Phyllis Alden were alone in their own room at the end of
the dormitory of Miss Matilda Tolliver's Select School for Girls, at
Harborpoint, one morning late in May. Through the halls one could hear
occasional bursts of girlish laughter, and the murmur of voices betokened
unusual excitement.

It was the morning of the annual spring commencement.

Phyllis slowly unclasped Madge's arms from about her neck and gazed at
her companion steadfastly, a flush on her usually pale cheeks.

"If you say another word about that old valedictory, I shall never
forgive you!" she declared vehemently. "You know that Miss Tolliver is
going to announce to the audience that our averages were the same. You
were chosen to deliver the valedictory because you can make a speech so
much better than I. What is the use of bringing up this subject now, just
a few minutes before our commencement begins? You know how often we have
talked this over before, and that I told Miss Matilda that I wished you
to be the valedictorian instead of me, even before she selected you."

Phil's earnest black eyes looked sternly into Madge's troubled blue ones.
"If you begin worrying about that now, you won't be able to read your
essay half as well," declared Phil impatiently. "Please sit still for a
minute and wait until Miss Jenny Ann calls us."

Phil pushed Madge gently toward the big armchair. Then she walked over to
stand by the window, in order to watch the carriages drive up to Miss
Tolliver's door and to keep her back turned directly upon her friend
Madge.

The litt