Irma in Italy

to Europe; any one would jum

rl of sixteen, paused, her compa

a to go away before school closes. Why, if she misses th

Italy to help her in h

ere's nothing better than regular study. Why, here's Irma c

wo friends seated on the front steps of Gertrude's house. "You have surely been gos

y, "but we'll admit we have been wondering how you made up

e. There was some one else she would invite, if I couldn't go. I simply could not

he spoke. "Fond as I am-or ought to be-of school, I wouldn't think twic

six weeks it will be May, and you won't find a plea

cnics this spring; you'll lose

hed Irma. "I know that I must lo

ce," cried George Belman,

ons, perhaps

s a change for her unselfishness in having whoopin

et over it before school opened; stand

rose slowly to her feet, and her friends, looking at her, notice

ipping her arm around Irma's waist, "tell us your pla

le Jim to Naples by the southern route, and, after going through Italy, we shall be ho

. "You won't miss us half as much if you have

ss my friends just as much," said Irma. "Besides,

who said this, with a

g a little. For you know I must take a special examination in

oo, or at least I should wis

w I am half frozen. Come, Irma, I will walk to your door with you," and, af

when she reached Italy. It was well, perhaps, that Irma herself had little to do in preparing for her journey. As it was, it was hard enough to keep her mind on lessons those last weeks, when there was so much besides to think of. Still,

ave her a little of the trouble of shopping," wrote A

, as Irma held up the warm-looking square of blue and green plaid. "But the Pa

many little things that the girls at school-and

uld use two pinballs and two brush-holders, but I don't need three needlebooks and half a dozen toothbrush cases. Oh, dear

LD TAKE THEM

r, only occasionally, since the ten year old maiden scorned the diminutive of her

may find their way to your room. Lucy might let me give you this needleboo

you when you are gone," and Tessie, delighted

ays in sight. When she sat down, he lay at her feet with his nose touching her dress. When she moved she almost stumbled over him; and once

e meant to hide until the trunk was opened on the sh

's his only chance of finding Katie Grimsto

rimston shall

to you; she wrote she woul

ssion is nine points of the law." Then Irma pick

ilosophical about the

fided to Gertrude. "They are calculating so on the stamps and post

up for the indifference of the

the ocean myself, for what with the danger of meeting icebergs," she continued cheerfully, "and bursting boilers and all the other perils of the sea-dear me,

oilers," cried Irma. "O Mah

ning to her mother, "but Mahala would change it to a nightmare," and

ather as he stood there waving his handkerchief. At this moment there were real tears in her eyes, though she had fully made up her mind not to cry. For the moment a great many thoughts crowded upon her,-memories of her mother looking from

mused, and as the ship moved seaward, she was so lost in sad thoughts that she ha

see, there stood by her aunt's side a tall boy, apparently a little older than John Wall or George Belman. Who could he be? And w

roline continued, "I do hope you two young people will like each

each other for a moment in sile

ur letter that Marion was

his hand to meet the one that Irma offered him. Then, acknowledging the i

be patient. We must do what we can for him. Had things been different,

rd of a boy

my wretched writing made the 'o' look

cle Jim that I am to you," and Irma smiled, remembering that Aunt Caroline wa

allowances for him," then Aunt Caroline flitted off, while Irma wondered why allowances

rail at some distance from Irma, wa

everything. Aunt Caroline ought to have had more sense. Any

d high buildings a backward glance. The mammoth Liberty, standing on its little island, held her attention for a moment. Past the closely built shore of Long Island and the forts on the Westchester side, they were getting

y mot

by the pilot. But

e writing at small tables or on improvised lap-tablets. In one corner a ship's officer wa

e letter. It was only a word to let

a stamp left," she heard him say, "heverybody's been wr

nglish stamps?" Irma

tamps. I can enclose your letter with my o

amp stood near Irma. She had heard him express annoyance that he must entrust his letter to the pilot unstamped. "O

im. She wondered afterwards how she had dared.

long on stamps, and I am obliged to you for letting me share your pr

ur leave," she detached two from Irma's strip of four, and dropping a nickel into her

s?" she asked politely. "I overh

slipped into Irma's hand two Italian stamps. This seemed a much more gracious payment than the nickel. Later sh

when Marion rushed up to him. "Oh

't han

ought to

said Irma. "I had half a

me," snapped Marion; "why shoul

n Irma. "You can give yo

fragments. Then he followed the steward with the ba

back on the pilot boat. Why, indeed, had she ever left home? She should have waited until they could all visit Europe together. Now all kinds of things might happen to Chris or Rudolph or Te

eon on shipboard, which she hardly tasted, her place at table was between Aunt Caroline and Marion. But a

ispered Aunt Caroline. "I fear he is sh

as a person to be avoided. "If only Marion had been a friend

led with various little things, and had stowed other small possessions in the drawer under the mirror, she saw the possibility of adapting herself to her cr

before breakfast, which Uncle Ji

ay at sea-Irma found a lett

she cried, turning

such a landlubber as not to know that in these d

in a corner, "Care the Purser

ked Uncle Jim,

n before I left home. I wonder how far

back," answered Aunt Caro

ceived daily after this, Mahal

she ran out of the room, and when I went on the steps to see if she'd gone over to the Flynns', well, just at that very minute something struck me on the head, and such a mess, all down my face and over my apron. When I got hold of Tessie she explained that she'd heard me say that if any one wished on an egg dropped from a second story window, the wish would