Molly Brown's Junior Days

ary evidence, were obliged to admit themselves outwitted; but they let it be known that jokes of that class wer

n her mind for saving up money enough to buy a new dress for the Junior Prom. in February. She bought a china pig in the v

friends, "because the only way you can

shake him and guess the amount of money he contained. Sometimes they wrote jingles about him, and Judy invented a dialogue between Martin

really cared for, but what she considered might please the editor who was to buy it as a complete story, and the public who would read it. There were mystery and love, beauty and riches in Molly's first attempt. Then she began

lf when she had finished the tale and copied it out on l

olled up the manuscript and marched across t

hen she entered, he rose politely and offered her a seat. Sitting

he began, "when you hear why I have called; but I really

he interrupted kindly.

money. Who isn't? But I have a writing bee in my head. I've had it

o discuss her poor rhymes with this learned

o prose. I have written a short story and-I hope you won't be angry-I've broug

rdly be thought competent to judge. Let's see what you have." He held out his hand for the manuscript. "On second th

ocked fingers, turned his whimsical brown eyes full upon her and never shifted his gaze once during the entire rea

f it? Please don't mince m

e with a start. She knew at on

Very good, indeed. Suppose you leave the manusc

mplain, since she had asked this favor of a very

ust his hands into his pockets. "Oh, yes. This is what I wanted to say-have an apple?" A flat Japanese basket on th

and one for herself. Then he saw her to the outer door

the class in Literature. It was folded into a big envelope and contained a

frankly that it is decidedly amateurish. The style is heavy a

ss yourself as you would if you were writing a letter to your mother. Write about real people and real happenings; not about impossibly beautiful and ri

does not come in a day any more than good piano playing or painting. I w

to be an implied compliment in the last line. She reread the story and blushed for

ng at the white peak of Fuji

the waste-paper basket. "That's the best place for you," she continued, apostrophizing her first attempt at fiction. "Nobody would ever have laughed or cried over you. Nobody would even have noti

re in the house when all the world's afield? Get thee up and go hence with me unto the gr

we'?" as

d, and a few others

ough teacups to go around

y and some over besides. Rosomond Chase and Millicent Porter were so taken with my basket las

I don't think I w

an element in college she did not like. They dressed a great deal, for one thing, especi

could endure even small disappointments. "They are awfully ni

they come and see

dy thought the sparkling coterie from Queen's was being honored by these two rich young persons from Beta Phi? Molly rejected the suspicion almost as soon as it entered her mi

from the depths of the Morris

ting on my ambitions when you broke in on me. Y

charming picture in her

anged." She seized her tea basket under one

Molly. "I think I'll have to give you another sha

life while the weather is good. It's lots e

ugh when she felt inclined to exert her mind. Millicent Porter was quite the opposite in appearance; small, wiry, with a prominent, sharp-featured face; prominent nose, prominent teeth and rather bulging eyes. She talked a

izing. It was her manner more than what she said; although Margar

ret thundered later when they were discussing

ntion that the young person of un

iss Brown, and tell me abo

ly, without budging from her seat on a log. "Ask Margaret

ed Miss Porter, and she moved graciously over to the log,

ought Molly, and she started Millicent on the topic of silver work. This young woman, rich

" Edith had observed

antique patterns, beautiful platters with enameled

flattery in the sympathetic attention Molly gave to other people's talk. It had the effect of loosening tongues an

lead they won't do me any good. Society people never quote Latin and Greek or make learned references to early Roman history and things of that sort. It isn't considered good form. Modern novels are the only things people read nowadays, but papa is determined. Now, with silver work, it's

Millicent did not pause to listen. Her voice sl

performance. If I had been born in a different sphere in life, I should have divided my time b

s sympathetic blue eyes, lowered her

ful vessels for the church, crucifixes, and things like that. I tell mamma I believe her grandfather's soul has entered into my body. But that isn't all. Now, if I tell you this, will you promise nev

g to be ashamed of

ret is where I got the taste for such t

ly, repressing the smile that fo

. He had a shop in Florence where he sold all sorts of beauti

an antique shop

the shop is still there to-d

licent's small, thin face and place it on the shoulders of the old silversmith or of his brother, the dealer i

se they will go no farther. You know more about me than any girl in Wellingt

ngagement,"-to try to write a sincere, natura

u come Sunday? They have horrid ea

, anxious as she was to kee

ou act?" asked Mi

d Molly, and that e

ubtle was the change, and Molly herself was hardly aware of it until her friend,

ta Phi girls, you certainly man

shocked at this unaccountabl

tever, and presently s

kept saying to herself, but she