le captain sat very still for a few minutes. She had on an
exquisite white organdie gown, a white sash, white slippers and white
silk stockings. In the knot of sunny curled hair drawn high upon her head
she wore a single white rose. A bunch of roses lay in her lap, also a
manuscript in Madge's slightly vertical handwriting, which she fingered
restlessly.

The silence grew monotonous to Madge.

"Are you angry with me, Phil?" she asked forlornly.

Madge and Phyllis Alden had been best friends for four years, and had
never had a real disagreement until this morning.

Phyllis was too honest to be deceitful. "I am a little cross," she
admitted without turning around. "I wish Lillian and Eleanor would come
upstairs to tell us how many people have arrived for the commencement."

Madge started across the room toward Phil. But Phyllis's back was
uncompromising. She pretended not to hear her friend's light step.
Suddenly Madge's expression changed. The color rose to her face and her
eyes flashed.

"I won't apologize to you, Phil," she said. "I had intended to, but I see
no reason why I should not say it is unfair for me to be the
valedictorian when you have the same claim to it that I have. It is
hateful in you not to understand how I feel about it. I am going to find
Miss Jenny Ann." Madge's voice broke.

A knock on the door interrupted the two girls. Madge opened the door to a
boy, who handed her a small parcel addressed in a curious handwriting to
"Miss Madge Morton." The letters were printed, but the writing did not
look like a child's. It was the fiftieth graduating gift that she had
received. Phil's number had already reached the half-hundred mark.

Madge dropped her newest package on the bed without opening it. She was
half-way out in the hall when Phyllis pulled her back.

"Look me straight in the face," ordered Phil. Madge obeyed, the flash in
her eyes fading swiftly. "Now, see here, dear," argued Phyllis, "suppose
that Miss Matilda had chosen me to deliver the valedictory instead of
you, wouldn't you have been glad?"

Madge nodded happily. "I should say I would," she murmured fervently.

Phyllis laughed, then leaned over and kissed her friend triumphantly.

"There, you have said just what I wanted to make you say," went on Phil.
"You say you would be glad if Miss Tolliver had chosen me for the
valedictorian instead of you. Why can't you let me have the same feeling
about you? Please, please understand, Madg