Jacksonville High School - Crimson J Yearbook (Jacksonville, IL)

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The Nautilus it. The girls all say I am as cross as two sticks, but I can’t help it. I have been thinking about my essay so much,” Gladys confessed, rather shamefacedly. “I’m just the same way; I’ve dreamed of writing essays three nights in succession, and I called Miss Smith, the algebra teacher, Miss Essay yesterday. I was thinking so bard about that,” said Margery. The girls looked at her in surprise, and Anna Laton whispered to her chum, Ruth Clark: “What’s happened to Margery? She has been walking around with her head in the clouds and has spoken hardly a word to any of us since she began on her essay.” “She is so sure of winning the prize that she condescends to be polite, I suppose,” replied Ruth. Margery blushed, for she had heard both the question and answer. “Hateful things; never mind. If I get the prize, I am not going to do one thing for any of the girls. Mrs. Wilson suggested that I rent a horse and surrey, so that I could take the girls riding, but I won’t, so there,” she thought. “I’ll pay them back if I win the prize.” “Young ladies and gentlemen: I am pleased to annonnce that—” Prof-Manton paused a moment; the room was so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop; “I am pleased to announce,” he continued, “that Miss Margery Benton has won the two hun- dred dollar prize offered by Mr. James of San Francisco for the best essay on ‘Fads’—there was faint applause— “and Miss Gladys Mason honorable mention for the second best. I extend to these young ladies my congratulations, and to those who tried, but did not win, my appreciation of their efforts. I will allow you fifteen minutes in which to congratulate them if you are not too demonstrative.” The next few moments were very happy ones to Margery until she happened to overhear a conversation- “I’m so sorry Gladys did not get it I don’t know what to do,” one girl was sayiug. “Her aunt told mother how much she expected to help her mother with it. I just know Margery will spend it every bit on herself, and she doesn’t need a thing. I hate selfish people!” At that moment, Gladys came up. “I wouldn't say that, for she is just thoughtless, and any way we do not know how she is going to use her money.” Margery did not wait to hear any more, but hurried away to think. Was it true? Yes; all too true. She had been selfish; the girls had no reason to like her, for her one object had always been—herself. “I will begin today and make the girls like me. Let’s see; what can I do to help some one else? I’ll go and talk to Mrs- Wilson, and see what she thinks.” A great opportunity came before (Continued on page 69) 16