form?"

Already Elfreda's three friends were urging her forward. From far back
in the gymnasium a little figure was seen to separate itself from its
fellows and come hesitatingly forward. When Kathleen West reached the
platform and faced her audience she eyed them composedly, although her
face grew very white; then she began speaking in a clear, resonant
voice:

"I thank you for the honor you have conferred upon me," she said, bowing
to the committee, "and to you," she bowed to her audience, "for your
tribute of appreciation. I should like to say that in creating the
character of 'Loyalheart' I have not drawn upon my fancy, and I know
that the many lovable qualities with which I have endowed my heroine are
to be found in the girl who served as my inspiration. I refer to Miss
Grace Harlowe, of the senior class, whom I consider the ideal Overton
girl." Kathleen's voice trembled slightly on the last sentence. Then she
walked quickly down the aisle, accompanied by a burst of applause that
made the great room ring.

Grace had listened to Kathleen's little speech with unbelieving ears.
Could this be the antagonistic Kathleen West of a few weeks ago? What
had wrought this marvelous and unlooked-for change? That Elfreda had won
second honors had been forgotten. The attention of the students were
focused on Kathleen. Now repeated calls for "Harlowe! Grace Harlowe!"
sounded. Emma Dean and Arline escorted her to the platform.

"I thank Miss West for the honor she has done me, and I thank all of
you," she said with a sweet seriousness that went straight to her
hearers' hearts. "Although I am afraid I can't lay claim to the splendid
qualities Miss West has attributed to me, the knowledge that she has
thought me worthy is doubly dear." Then Grace hurried to her place very
near to tears, while Miriam affectionately pressed her arm on one side
and Anne, on the other, slipped her hand into that of her friend, and
thus the three listened to Elfreda's speech.

"That's about the most satisfactory general meeting I ever attended,"
remarked Emma Dean in Miriam's ear as they stepped outside to the
campus, where groups of girls had halted with a view to hailing their
respective friends as they passed.

"I was never more astonished in my life," returned Miriam, in guarded
tones. "As for Elfreda, she can't believe that she won second honors.
She insists there must have been a mistake."

"It was a general all-around surprise, I believe,"