Madge Morton's Victory

burying her red-brown head in the soft, white folds of Phyllis Alden's graduation gown. "No one in our class wishes me to be the valedictorian. You know you are the

a Tolliver's Select School for Girls, at Harborpoint, one morning late in May. Through the halls one c

g of the annual s

bout her neck and gazed at her companion ste

were the same. You were chosen to deliver the valedictory because you can make a speech so much better than I. What is the use of bringing up this subject now, just a few minutes before ou

worrying about that now, you won't be able to read your essay half as well," declared

stand by the window, in order to watch the carriages drive up to Miss To

ppers and white silk stockings. In the knot of sunny curled hair drawn high upon her head she wore a single white rose. A

grew monoton

th me, Phil?" she

riends for four years, and had never ha

itted without turning around. "I wish Lillian and Eleanor would come u

romising. She pretended not to hear her friend's light step. Suddenly Ma

it is unfair for me to be the valedictorian when you have the same claim to it that I have. It is hatef

in a curious handwriting to "Miss Madge Morton." The letters were printed, but the writing did not look like a child'

d without opening it. She was half-way out

ading swiftly. "Now, see here, dear," argued Phyllis, "suppose that Miss Matilda ha

I should say I would,"

eaned over and kissed h

osen me for the valedictorian instead of you. Why can't you let me have the same feeling about you? Please, please understa

ly time for the entertainment to begin, isn't it?" she inquired. "I suppose Miss Je

ls. On one side of the box the word "Madge" was worked out in tiny shells as clear and beautiful as jewels. Inside the box, on a piece of cotton, was a sing

"Mrs. Curtis is the only rich person I know in the whole world, and she has already given us her presents. I must show this to Uncle and Au

turned pale with the excitement of the comi

eventful moment had arrived. The graduating exerci

ll one person from another. When Madge and Phil overcame their fright they discovered that they were among the twelve girl graduat

her and mother, Dr. and Mrs. Alden; and Madge's uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Butler; but Mad

s before and have acted before people. I am not a bit afraid you will fail. See if you ca

hion in which Madge Morton, Eleanor Butler, Lillian Seldon and Phyllis Alden spent a sum

ce of Mrs. Curtis, a wealthy widow, and what came of the friendship that s

and Navy life to be found there. The origin of Captain Madge's secret, and of how she kept it in spite of the humiliation and sorrow it entailed, the mysterious way in which the "M

the trip the happy houseboat girls saddled themselves with Miss Betsey Taylor, a crotchety spinster, who

rry Maid," her championing of David when suspicion pointed darkly toward him as a thief, and her unswerving loyalty to the unhappy youth until

and somehow Madge arrived at the front of the stage and stood under a huge arch of flowers. Just above her head swung a great bell. Everyone was s

ncouragingly at her. Tom was crimson with embarrassment. Lillian and El

her friends and teachers on the stage. He

er. "Madge, speak more

as the valedictorian of her class, she had been chosen above her beloved Phil because of her gift as a speaker, yet she

. Tears swam mistily in her eyes. She

mth and glow of life. Her lips were deeply crimson, her hair a soft brown, with red and gold

ope for her. Suddenly her face broke into one of its sunniest smiles. She lifted her head. Witho