It was early in February when Marjorie made known her plan to the club. At one of their regular meetings she had risen to speak earnestly on the subject of high school fellowship. She had expressed her belief that as Lookouts it was the business of the club to do something toward creating a spirit of comradeship among the four classes of Sanford High School. She had then proposed that once in two weeks on Friday evening the Lookouts should hold a reception in the gymnasium to which the pupils of the Sanford High School should be invited. It would be a strictly informal affair, instituted with the purpose of amalgamating the four classes into one big high school family. There might be a short program composed of volunteer stunts. There were sure to be present enough girls who would gladly take turns at the piano for dancing. The club could serve light refreshments at its own expense and the reception as a whole could not fail to promote better acquaintance and understanding. She had already spoken of it to Miss Archer, who had gladly granted her permission to use the gymnasium.
Such was the project which Marjorie had outlined. It had met the instant approval of her hearers and before the meeting ended the details of the plan had been settled and the date for the first reception set for the second Friday evening in February. On the eventful night the four classes attended the reception almost to a member, enjoyed themselves hugely after the fashion of carefree youth, and departed at eleven o’clock, the consciousness of a well-spent evening pervading their cordial good-nights to their schoolmate hostesses. Marjorie’s thoughtfulness for others had been the means of bringing happiness to more than one girl in Sanford High School to whom the social side of school had formerly meant little. Among such a large body of students there were many whose opportunities for social pleasures were few and far between. To these wistful lookers-on, the chance to become participants in this new and diverting phase of school life was a boon indeed.
Greatly to her surprise, Marjorie discovered in Veronica Browning a devoted advocate of the club’s new movement. Of her own free will she assured Marjorie of her willingness to take part in the program, should her services be desired. Her offer was joyfully accepted, for her fame as a dancer had traveled the rounds of Sanford. At the second reception she became the feature of the evening. Lost in wonder of her art, beside it her lowly position in life paled into insignificance. She came in for an avalanche of girlish admiration which she accepted with the modesty of one who attached little importance to her accomplishment.
It was perhaps a week after Veronica’s terpsichorean triumph that it suddenly occurred to Marjorie to ask her to reconsider her earlier refusal to join the Lookout Club. Since the latter’s decided negative to the proposal, made at the time of the organization of the Lookouts, Marjorie had not repeated her request. Veronica had then refused it with finality. Afterward the subject had never been reopened between them. In lieu of the fact that Veronica had done much toward making the Campfire a success, and continued to help the Lookouts in their various enterprises, Marjorie cherished the conviction that Mignon La Salle’s certain opposition to Veronica as a member could no longer be respected. Privately she announced her views to her chums, who were of the same mind. She, therefore, resolved again to lay the subject before her friend and plead with her to reconsider her refusal.
Chancing to meet Veronica in the street one March morning on the way to school she greeted her with: “I’ve a special favor to ask of you, Ronny, and don’t you dare refuse.”
“It is granted,” smiled Veronica.
“Now I’ve caught you!” Marjorie laughed mischievously. “You can’t back out. The Lookouts wish you to join the club, Ronny. I wish it most of all.”
“I guessed that to be the special favor,” remarked Veronica quietly.
“You did?” Marjorie’s brown eyes widened in surprise. “Then you must really wish to join us after all!”
“Yes! I am quite ready to become a Lookout,” was the amazing announcement. “I know you are wondering why I have changed my mind about it. Before I explain, I’ll say that I am glad you asked me again to join your club. It is another proof of your fair-mindedness.”