ns first," said Doris,
glancing at her watch. "Then we can continue with the discussion
afterwards, till nine o'clock, for I promised Miss Allen I'd close
promptly. Nominations are now in order!"

"I nominate Ruth Henry!" said Barbara Hill, still glowing with
admiration of the girl.

"I nominate Lily Andrews!" announced Marjorie, to the surprise of
everyone.

"I nominate Evelyn Hopkins!" declared Ruth, glorying in the fact that
her loyalty to her room-mate would be silently applauded.

"And I move that the nominations be closed!" chimed in Barbara, again.

The whole thing had been done so quickly that Marjorie's especial
friends hardly realized that her chances for class presidency had
vanished completely. Marjorie herself did not mind: her attention was so
taken up with hockey and freshmen and Scout activities, that she had
scarcely given the matter a thought. Nor did Lily, stunned as she was at
the proposal of her own name for the office, realize her room-mate's
exclusion. But Ruth was so exultant that she could hardly refrain from
crying out in her joy. It seemed to her that her dearest wish was about
to come true. Two easier opponents, she thought, could not possibly have
been selected: Lily Andrews would never be elected--she was too fat and
plain; and Evelyn Hopkins--light, frivolous, self-centered girl that she
was--was decidedly unpopular. The outcome of the business seemed assured
in Ruth's favor; she was so certain of her own election, that she did
not even bother to vote for herself, but instead cast her ballot for
Evelyn.

Clerks and a judge of the election were appointed, and the voting was
quickly concluded. While they withdrew to count the ballots, the others
proceeded to discuss a time at which to call the freshmen class
together, to emphasize the importance of securing their own meeting.
Wednesday afternoon was finally decided upon.

The judge of elections returned, and stood beside Doris. Ruth looked at
the girl closely, vainly attempting to ascertain from her expression the
outcome of the election; but the latter returned her only an impersonal
stare.

"There was a tie," she announced, "between Lily Andrews and Ruth Henry,
each candidate having received nine votes. We shall need to have
another ballot between these two."

Ruth almost gasped at the announcement; quick figuring allowed her to
conclude that Evelyn must have received seven votes! Undoubtedly the
girl had voted for herself, and