d
rather deal with them privately than have them made public. But run
along now, dear. You have done nobly and deserve a prize yourself."

A knock was heard, and as Grace departed through one door Miss Leece
opened the other.

"If Miss Thompson only wins this battle!" the young girl exclaimed to
herself. "I want to believe she will, but I know that terrible Miss
Leece will make a tremendous fight."

She joined her friends, who were waiting for her outside.

"Girls," she cried, "pray for Anne to-night!"

Nora, good little Catholic that she was, went straight to her church and
burned two candles before the altar of the Holy Virgin, while she
offered up a humble petition for Anne's deliverance; while Grace and
Jessica, in their own bedrooms, that night prayed reverently and
earnestly that Anne might be saved from her enemies. Thus were Anne's
three devoted friends working and praying for her while she slept the
sleep of exhaustion.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE FRESHMAN PRIZE

Graduation night in Oakdale High School was one of the great social
events of the year. The floor and galleries of Assembly Hall were
invariably packed with an enthusiastic audience; for the two schools
united at the ceremony of graduation and the senior class formed a mixed
company on the stage.

Most of the pupils attended commencement and the freshman class of the
Girls' High School was always there in full to witness the triumph of
one of its members, who was called forth from the audience to receive
the usual freshman prize of twenty-five dollars.

The identity of the winner was always kept a secret until the great
night, when she was summoned from the audience to the stage and
presented with the money before the entire assembly.

The readers can imagine, therefore, the uncertainty and trepidation that
fluttered in the hearts of our four girls as they sat together in the
center of the great hall. Anne had passed through a dozen stages of
emotions, both hopeful and otherwise, and had finally steeled herself to
give up all thought of winning either of the prizes.

Miriam, confident and handsome, sat near them. She wore a beautiful
white dress trimmed with lace, and her thick, black plaits were twisted
around her head like a coronet.

"She's all dressed up to step up on the stage and get her twenty-five,"
whispered Nora to Jessica.

"Perhaps she already knows she's going to get it," answered Jessica
doubtfully. "Perhaps Miss Leece h