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