Middletown transcript., 1908-03-21
THE SENIOR PRESIDENT
BY WINIFRED KIRKLAND

presiden. Except for Mil
licent, Anne Brewer doesn't
stand one chance against you,
for you are the finest girl in the
class, Lily.
The wistful paleness of Lily's
lips relaxed into a sudden little
laugh Of pure incredulity and
amusement. 1t was laughable,
of course, but still it was sweet
to hear Theresa say it. It was
something for a lonely girl even
to be walking with Thersa Jacobs,
the most influential girl in col
lege.
Theresa was growing quite
bold now. She meant to say 1t
all; she meant to have Lily Mey-
rick for senior president. But
Lily was very still as;she listened.
You know, Lily, what a posi-
ton the senior president has
in the college, socially, as
we'll as every other way. Why,
she's a part of everything. You
can see nowhere even Theresa,
the bold, stopped for breathing
space-how it would look if you
were always with a girl like Mil
icent, a great, uncouth, ill-bred
thing like that.
The color surged to Lily's deli
cate face, but still she did not
speak. You understand, to be
very clear, concluded Theresa,
we want you for senior president
Lily, to represent US on all occa-
sions-but we do not want Milli-
Ecent Harlow to be made promi-
nent thereby. And here Theresa S
voice sharpened. We will not
have her, either! She finished
more gently: But you do under
stand, don't you, Lily?
| Oh, yes, said Lily, I under
stand.
| 1t really is very easy 10 break
off a friendship, Theresa contin'
ued, in a brisk, matter-of-fac
way. 1t doesn't need a quarrel
or anything horrid and disgust
ing like that. You just stop
going to the girls room, and al
ways have an excuse for not
going with her to things, and lots
of times don't see her at all. You
do it all gradually, and at last il
dawns upon her that you've chang
ed, and after the rest is easy
lI've done it several times.
| The clouds were never more
white against the blue, but Lily
did not see them, for all her in
tent eyes.
Of course, Theresa went on, In
not asking you to promise to give
up Millicent Harlow-not exactly
that. Only before the election
tonight all the girls will be
wanting to know how you've
taken our-Well, our suggestion
If before the class meeting a.
eight you could do some little
thing to show that you see-say
the wisdom of being less in
innate with Millicent-it would
be a very good thing. If. for in
stance, after chapel, instead o:
putting your arm round Millicen
, and trotting off to the reading
room with her, as you always
J do, you put your arm round
} some of US, and Irotted of
f with US instead, it would seem t.
indicate your frame of mind
/ Please, silent lady, you neet
make no promises, but am l for
given for all I've said? There's
one thing you might think of il
, this connection: In a choice be
, tween your friend and your class
, isn't some of your duty due tt
your class?
lam thinking, answered Lily.
Lily, Theresa brought her hant
down sharply on Lily's shoul
der, how in the world did it eve
happen, anyway? How il
the world did girl like you eve
, have anything to do with a CIR
like Millicent? You're so sweet
t so dainty-and she! 1t isn't only
, that she's so plain and so terribly
untidy,- how do you stand tina