ase
postpone the telling of them for a few minutes. I am going, directly."

She opened her locker and drew out her coat and hat, trying to hide the
tears that filled her eyes.

Then Marian Barber impatiently took the envelope from Eva and stepped
forward. She had made up her mind to get the whole thing over as rapidly
as she could.

"Er--Grace," she said, clearing her throat, "er--the team has----"

"Well, what is it?" exclaimed Nora, irritated beyond her power of
endurance. "Why don't you speak out, instead of stuttering in that
fashion? I always did detest stuttering."

"Marian has a note for you, Grace," interposed one of the substitutes
growing bolder.

Marian placed the note in Grace's hand and turned slowly away. Up to that
minute she had believed that what they were about to do was for the best;
but all at once the feeling swept over her that she had done a
contemptible thing. She turned as though about to take the envelope from
Grace, but the latter had already opened it, and unfolding the paper began
reading the contents aloud.

"Dear Grace," she read, "after a meeting to-day of the members of the
regular and substitute sophomore basketball teams, it was decided that
your resignation as captain of the same be requested.

"We are sorry to do this, but we believe it is for the good of the team.
We feel that you cannot be loyal to its interests as long as you persist
in being a friend of one of its enemies."

The names of the players, with the exception of Nora's and Miriam's, were
signed to this communication.

After she had finished reading Grace stood perfectly still, looking
searchingly into the faces of her classmates. She was trying to gain her
self-control before speaking to them.

She could hardly realize that her own team had dealt this cruel blow. For
the first time in her life she had received a real shock. She took a long
deep breath and clenched her hands. She did not wish to break down before
she had spoken what was in her mind.

Nora was muttering angrily to herself. Jessica looked ready to cry, while
Anne, pale and resolute, came over and stood by Grace. She felt that she
had been the primary cause of the whole trouble. She had borne the girls'
unjust treatment of herself in silence, but, now, they had visited their
displeasure upon Grace, and that was not to be borne.

"How dared you do such a despicable thing?" she cried. "You are cruel,
unfeeling, and oh, so unjust. You accused m