“What do you call your stepmother, Beth?”
“I do not think I ever called her anything in speaking to her. Of course, I call her Mrs. Newby when I allude to her, but that is very seldom.”
“Isn’t she nice, Beth? I don’t mean to be impertinent, but you know that I care for you a great deal, and I cannot help feeling concerned about everything regarding you.”
“You couldn’t be impertinent if you tried, Dolly, and I would answer your question if I could. I really don’t know how she would appear to an outsider. You must go home with me sometime and judge for yourself. She is a perfect lady, and that is about all that I feel qualified to say.”
Beth had talked all that she cared to on the subject, and Dolly wisely let the matter drop. Beth had told her no more than any mere acquaintance of the family’s could have repeated. She had let Dolly know something about her family, but nothing about her feelings. It was months before the subject ever came up again.
As Thanksgiving time approached, the Freshmen became very much excited over the approaching election. Several girls were mentioned in connection with the class presidency, notably Margaret Hamilton and Dolly herself. Abby Dunbar and Grace Chisholm would also be candidates in all probability.
Beth was intensely interested over the affair, and Dolly suspected her of doing considerable electioneering. It became more and more evident, as the time drew nearer, that Miss Hamilton and Dolly Alden would poll the most votes. Dolly tried to keep cool and unconcerned. It was a great surprise to her that her name should even be mentioned in this connection.
“But you would like it–you know you would like it!” insisted Beth as they went over the question for the final time in Dolly’s room. That was at noon on Monday, the election would be held that evening.
“Why, yes,” said Dolly honestly, “I would like it if it comes to me naturally, but I will not beg any of the girls to vote for me. That would spoil it all. If the girls prefer Miss Hamilton, she ought to be elected. She would make a much better presiding officer than I.”
“I don’t think so, do you, Miss Sutherland?” and Beth turned to Dolly’s room-mate who was the only other person present.