Society offering one the chance to
display leadership gifts. There was a basket-ball team, but Missy didn't
"take to" athletics. Missy brooded through long, secret hours.

The first week of September school opened, classes enrolled, and the
business of learning again got under way. By the second week the various
offshoots of educational life began to sprout, and notices were posted
of the annual elections of the two "literary societies," Iolanthe and
Mount Parnassus. The "programmes" of these bodies were held in the
auditorium every other Friday, and each pupil was due for at least one
performance a semester. Missy, who was an Iolanthian, generally chose
to render a piano solo or an original essay. But everybody in school
did that much--they had to--and only a few rose to the estate of being
"officers."

The Iolanthians had two tickets up for election: the scholastic, headed
by Beulah Crosswhite for president, and an opposition framed by some
boys who complained that the honours always went to girls and that it
was time men's rights were recognized. The latter faction put up Raymond
Bonner as their candidate. Raymond was as handsome and gay as Beulah
Crosswhite was learned.

It was a notable fight. When the day of election arrived, the Chemistry
room in which the Iolanthians were gathered was electric with restrained
excitement. On the first ballot Raymond and Beulah stood even. There
was a second ballot--a third--a fourth. And still the deadlock, the
atmosphere of tensity growing more vibrant every second. Finally a group
of boys put their heads together. Then Raymond Bonner arose.

"In view of the deadlock which it seems impossible to break," he began,
in the rather stilted manner which befits such assemblages, "I propose
that we put up a substitute candidate. I propose the name of Miss
Melissa Merriam."

Oh, dear heaven! For a second Missy was afraid she was going to
cry--she didn't know why. But she caught Raymond's eye on her, smiling
encouragement, and she mistily glowed back at him. And on the very
first vote she was elected. Yes. Miss Melissa Merriam was president of
Iolanthe. She was prominent.

And Raymond? Of course Raymond had been prominent before, though she had
never noticed it, and now he had helped her up to this noble elevation!
He must think she would adorn it. Adorn!--it was a lovely word that
Missy had just captured. Though she had achieved her eminence by a
fluke.

Missy took fortune at th