Polly's First Year At Boarding School

Excerpt: ...for words, walked slowly up to the platform. Mrs. Baird presented her with a tiny silver loving cup. "This gives me very great pleasure, my dear," she said smiling, "because Jeanne D'Arc is one of my favorite heroines, too." Lois tried to stammer her thanks. Just then Louise Preston stepped forward with a wreath of laurel. "Here's the crown that goes with it, Lo," she whispered. "Kneel down." Lois knelt on the lower step, and Louise placed the wreath on her head. "I crown you the most beautiful picture of the evening," she said. And the girls broke out in heartiest applause. "I knew it, I knew it," Miss Porter whispered to Miss King. "She's exquisite. See how her eyes sparkle when she blushes. She's exactly the sensitive, delicate type, for a Jeanne D'Arc." "She is lovely," Miss King agreed, in her frank way. "But if I'd had the awarding of the prize, Polly would have had it. She's a splendid girl, she gave me a sweater, as well as a tam for Martha. I love that spirit." Lois went to bed, elated at her success, and the praise she had received. She smiled delightedly at her reflection in the mirror. "I wonder," she mused, "if any one will ever tell Mother about this. I would like her to know but, of course, I can't myself." CHAPTER XI-PRACTICING FOR THE INDOOR MEET The last bell had just sounded and the girls were leaving the schoolroom for the day. Two weeks had passed since the Valentine party. Today was Wednesday and the coming Saturday was the date fixed for the Indoor Meet. The Whitehead School basket-ball team was to meet the Seddon Hall girls for their annual game. The year before they had played at Whitehead and were beaten. This year the game was to be played at Seddon Hall and the girls were determined there should be no more defeats. "Wait a minute, you two," called Connie, as she and Angela caught up with Polly and Lois in the schoolroom corridor. "I've news; such...