Grace Harlowe's Second Year at Overton College

ases would permit. Miriam pushed open her door, which stood slightly ajar, with the

t isn't, either. We have a new chair. We needed it, too.

us permission you shall have one piece of can

s since I went home from school, and I'm going to haunt the gymnasium every spare moment that I have.

?" querie

going on in the hall, I wonder?" Stepping to the door she cal

suppose Mrs. Elwood locked it to prevent the ne

examining the keyhole. "Your supposition is all wrong, Gra

at-" beg

" quizzed E

I had no key,'" quoted Mir

s some one on the other side of that door who doesn't belong there. Whether she is not aware that she is a trespas

ou," volunte

" agree

needed, too," s

urning of a key in the lock, and the door was flung open. Facing them stood a young woman no taller tha

reason for this tumult?" sh

, "but we did not understand why the d

should know?" asked the

u are using belongs to my friend Anne Pierson and to me. During our freshman year it was ours, and when we

it. Kindly refrain from disturbing me further." With this significant remark the door was slammed in the faces of the aston

Elfreda, beating an angry tattoo o

side of the doo

anger. "Mrs. Elwood will be here soon. There is som

o give up your room to that beetle-browed ana

r went up from th

Miriam Nesbit between laughs. "That new girl looks exactly like an

picture of an anarchist who blew up a public building and he might

e. "I must find some place to put my luggage. Besides, time is

t her watch. "It's ten minutes to six now. It will take us fifteen minutes

dress," said Miriam positively. "Come into our room and we'll wa

door. "We'll have to put our bags in your room, too. I don't wis

ed Miriam. "No one shall a

t Vinton's later than half-past seven o'clock. There are so many little

k, they found Arline Thayer and Ruth Denton waiting

ing for ages!" e

s only one minute past that now," rem

girl. "I should have explained that I'm hungry.

ing her face into a startling resemblance to a fussy inst

med instant recognition of

you, Elfreda?" said Arline admiringly. "I t

I was a little girl in school the teachers never would let me sing with the rest of the children, because I led them all off the key. It was very nice at the beginning of the term, and I sang with the other child

Nesbit. "Can you remember how you l

e from six months up to date. To satisfy your curiosity, however," her face hardened until it took

archist!" exclaimed Ru

talking about?"

" teased Miriam. "Wai

itated her to perfection." Thereupon Grace related t

ing to do about

to Wayne Hall, and ask her to gently, but fi

her the Anarchi

itation," requested Miriam, her

omplied o

now, don't you

stupid if I didn't

wide. You can't expect me to give an imitatio

cognize her on sight

ct," remarked Grace. "Elfreda hasn't

up on curlers the night before-and it was almost tow color. I had red cheeks and was ashamed of them, and my stocky, square-shouldered figure was anything but sylphlike. I was

re describing yourself I could

ded Elfreda. "I imagine you

th my own smile. No one told me I was vain, for Mother died when I was a baby, and even my governess laughed to see me worship my own reflection. When I was twelve years old, Father engaged a governess who was different from the others. She was a widow and had to support herself. She was highly educated and one of the

xt, Grace,"

cters and bringing them home to be fed. Mother used to throw up her hands in despair at the acquaintances I made. Then, too, I had a propensity for bestowing my personal possessions on those who, in my opinion, needed them. Mother and I were not always of the same opinion. I wore my everyday coat to church for a whole winter as a punishment for having given away my best one without consulting her. With me it was a case of act first and think afterward. I don't believe I was particularly misch

much about yourself before

my own," laughed Grace. "I have never heard Anne say much about her chi

, but I would stand in the wings and weep by the hour over the pathetic parts of the different plays we put on. Father was a character man in a stock company. We lived in New York City and I used to frequently go to the theatre with him. My father wished me to become a professional, but my mother was opposed to it. When I was sixteen I played in a

ened to you in the theatre," persist

ed Anne. Then she said quickly, "Miriam m

iriam. "In the Oakdale Grammar School I was kno

jects," she declared. "She had two long black braids of hair and her cheeks were always pin

ightful temper. I was a snob, too, and looked upon gi

e describing yourself!" exc

urate description of the Miriam Nesb

fenced Grace. "You always i

iumphantly. "I don't object to telling about my past shortcomi

ace friends then

Grace. "We were both too headstrong and too fond of our own way to be close friends. It was aft

wo sentences Grace had effectually bridged a yawning gap in Miriam

h," declared Elfreda. "Now, Ruth,

t recording. That is, up to the time I came to Overton," she added, smiling gratefull

ave had a few good times that stand o

hortly. "There was nothing worth remembering. Perhaps I'll tell you some day, but not

don't see why you should say that, Ruth. We h

he felt the note of ce

ch. "It is now half-past seven. We ought to be at Wayne Hall by

e. "The Anarchist will make Wayne Hall resound with her vengeful c

ection of the campus. Arline was the first to leave them. Her good night to the four girls from Wayne Hall was cordial in

o was walking with Ruth. "Arlin

not mean to make her angry, only there are so

, wondering what Ruth's secret

nd Anne bade Ruth

they hurried up the steps of Wayne Hall. "On