Page 21 - 1918 February - To Dragma

114 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

Tears of bitter disappointment stood in more than one pair of eyes,
P. B. No. 2's among them. Bobby surely was a favorite.

"The next name is Mary Allen." The president's voice shook,—
from what emotion nobody could tell.

There were milder words of praise for Mary. A l l were agreed
on her niceness. Evidently hers was not such a strong personality
as Bobby's. There was some show of rejoicing at the lack of op-
position to her name.

Several more followed, with similar reception. And then the
name "Ruth Sanders" fell like a challenge on the air.

"Oh! She's a peach!" wailed someone. "We must get her!"
Others echoed her, sentiments. But P. B. No. 2 was still think-
ing of Bobby Graham. The president in her deep wisdom (and how
wise and diplomatic must a chapter president be!) took mental note
of the grumpy face and set lips.
"You all seem favorably impressed? Then we may reasonably
count on Ruth's making it ?" she asked, her eyes carefully scrutinizing
the finger nails on her right hand.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. I t was time to vote.
Several minutes later the results were announced. A l l were " i n "
except Bobby—and Ruth Sanders! Blank dismay was on every face
—except the president's. Etiquette and law forbade questioning, but
the atmosphere was so electric with accusation that P. B. No. 2 felt an
insane necessity for speech.
" W e l l — I did i t ! " she defiantly. " I think she's something of a
grind, and I abhor grinds. As much as some people hate dates!"
I t was out—all the blind, foolish way of "getting back," the
bitterness, the self-justification.
"And you all needn't look at me as i f I were a criminal to be shot
at sunrise, either! Is my desire of less importance than hers? My
vote of less value? You don't accuse her outright!"
No amount of argument or pleading could change her decision.
I t was final. Whether it hurt P. B. No. 1 or not, it satisfied her own
peculiar sense of justice. Who could say where the blame lay
heaviest? Not the chapter,—with its ruffled feelings and shattered
hopes. Every girl hated in her innermost being this business of
bartering and exchanging. But Bobby and Ruth were "wonders!"
A l l was in vain, however, and the meeting closed abruptly.

No one was happy, none content. There were whispered grumb-
lings, such as "Now we'll get about two, and Delta Phi will gloat
over our Bobby and Ruth. And they're such dears— and they really
belong to us!"