“Finally the voting began. I won by a third majority.” Gussie could not keep a note of pride out of her voice. “Miss Monroe had more votes than Miss Burtis. My party began cheering me. Before they had stopped a soph who has a crush on Miss Monroe stood up and began fussing with the chairman. She said she had a perfect right to protest against the election; that the chairman had no business to accept my nomination for president when she had been informed beforehand by letter of my true character. She said that I was not fit to be the president of my class; that I was not truthful or honorable; that I had reported two worthy students for hazing who were entirely innocent of such a charge. Then she demanded that the ballot should be cast all over again with my name left out.
“The chairman said she had received the letter against me which the soph had written and had showed it to the other members of the committee. I wish you might have seen how scornful she looked. They had all agreed to ignore it as unworthy of attention.”
“That chairman is a peach,” warmly praised Jerry. “Who is she? I shall lunch her at Baretti’s tomorrow. See if I don’t.”
“She is Miss Hopkins, and she is splendid.” Gussie drew a long breath. “The soph who made all the fuss is Miss Walker. She and a pal of hers, Miss Johnson, were chummy with Alma Hurst and Ida Weir.”
“It isn’t right that such untruthful gossip should be spread about you, Gussie,” was Marjorie’s indignant cry. “The best way to down it is to show the sophs what a fine president you can be. I know you will.”
“I—I said I would resign,” Gussie confessed. “Miss Hopkins said she didn’t blame me. She gave me a queer look when she said it as though she wished I wouldn’t. My party hadn’t heard much of the talk between Miss Walker and Miss Hopkins for Miss Walker was sitting on a front seat. They only knew it was some kind of kick about me. They began to cheer me and the other sophs began to hiss. My party raked them down. I was sitting near the front, too, with Floss and Calista. All of a sudden Miss Hopkins walked up to me and said: ‘Please don’t resign, Miss Forbes. The committee believe in you.’ I know you’ll stand by us. I couldn’t resign after that.” Gussie avowed with rueful emphasis.