CHAPTER XXVI--THE CITATION

Before Marjorie saw Miss Susanna, who had invited her in the note to come to Hamilton Arms to dinner on Friday, another surprise was in store for her. She had paid no special attention to a notice which appeared on the main bulletin board the day after she had received the violets from Miss Susanna. It stated that a full attendance of students was requested on Friday morning in the chapel.

"What's going to happen at chapel, I wonder, that we are all ordered to be there?" commented Muriel Harding that evening, at the usual nightly confab.

"Special notices to be read, very likely," surmised Ronny. "From now on, we'll begin to hear them. It's not very long until Commencement, children."

"Don't speak of it." Jerry held up a protesting hand. "I think I ought to have at least four more years of education. I'm not half educated. I don't want to leave Hamilton this June, knowing I'm not coming back to it."

This in a measure was the attitude the others were gradually taking. With the growth of the new dormitory project came the earnest longing "to stay just one more year" and see its furtherance. On the other hand there were the home folks to be considered. Marjorie in particular felt that her captain would not care to spare her away from home another year. Nor would she ask that permission.

When on Friday morning row upon row of more or less lovely girl faces, each with its own particular charm of youth, lined the large auditorium of the chapel, no pair of bright eyes missed the significance of Doctor Matthews' presence and that of the entire Board. Something out of the ordinary was about to take place.

Morning exercises over, Doctor Matthews proceeded to address the scrupulously attentive assemblage.

"It may not be known to many students present," he said, "that the college has very little data concerning its noble founder, Brooke Hamilton. We know that he planned this monument to learning on a broad and magnificent scale. We know that he superintended the erection of the buildings. We know that he spent his life near it, at Hamilton Arms; that the town of Hamilton, Hamilton Highway, West Hamilton--all these bear his honored name."

At the words, "Brooke Hamilton," the sharper interest of the original Nine Travelers became focussed upon the president. Something of exceptional interest to them was certain to follow the mention of that name. Nor was the pith of the doctor's discourse long in coming. Their interest deepened to astonishment as they heard him presently take up the subject of the maxims of Hamilton's founder. Not only did he quote the five already framed and hung in the college buildings. He also quoted the other ten on the illuminated oblong in the founder's study at Hamilton Arms.

Jerry was the first to catch the drift of the address. She recalled Miss Susanna's words in speaking of Marjorie: "I have done something for her that she'll like." She thought she now understood. Marjorie was to receive a citation. Miss Susanna had planned the honor undoubtedly.

Jerry had not gone so far as even to dream that there might be others also entitled to this high honor. The announcement of Marjorie's name presently confirmed her conjecture. When Leila's, Helen's, her own name, and, in fact, those of the others who made up Miss Susanna's nine young friends followed Marjorie's, Jerry began to see stars. The tenth name, Robin Page, sent an electric shock through them all. Robin had not known Miss Susanna, but the latter had certainly known her through Marjorie's generous praise.

Asked to rise in their places, the ten seniors, thus to be honored, listened to a citation of their good deeds which made their cheeks burn and their hearts beat faster. Miss Susanna Hamilton, it appeared, had been very busy in their behalf.

President Matthews addressed each girl in turn by name, reciting the maxim to be hung in her honor and stating the place on the campus the framed tribute would occupy. Miss Susanna had shown her marked affection for Marjorie in the choice of motto she had made. Marjorie's maxim was, "The ways of light reach upward toward eternity."

While no demonstrations of approbation were permitted in chapel, the air was full of repressed acclamation which would be presently set free outside. The turn of the tide for democracy had occurred almost four years before when the ten seniors thus elevated to distinction and a few other loyal spirits had set their faces firmly against snobbery and false principles. Now they were to experience the full sweep of the waves of approbation on which their classmates proposed to launch them.

It was a never-to-be-forgotten morning. Everyone was late to first recitations, and no one cared. Aside from the citations themselves, another glorious fact stood forth clearly. In some marvelous manner those who had received the honor of citation had been instrumental in ending the estrangement of long standing between the college and the great-niece of its reverend founder.

Coming in late that afternoon, Marjorie found a summons to Doctor Matthews' office awaiting her. The time set was three o'clock of the following afternoon. She smiled as she read the few lines penned by the doctor. She was fairly positive that he wished to question her regarding her friendship with Miss Susanna. Lucy had said at luncheon that the doctor was anxious to talk with her.

In the midst of her own happiness, Marjorie thought rather sadly of how different had been the purpose of the summons received by the Sans and Elizabeth Walbert. She wondered if the parents of many of these girls had not been cut to the heart over their utter failure. A silent song of rejoicing welled within her soul that she had nothing but good reports to present to her superior officers. She was glad her ways had been ways of light.