Grace Harlowe's First Year at Overton College

the theatrical world had necessitated her frequent absence from home, felt the wrench less than did Grace or Miriam. Aside from their summer vacations they had never been away

but bravely conquering the sense of loneliness that swept over her, she threw back h

ked Miriam Nesbit. "That sudden world-defying glance that yo

akdown ever since we left Oakdale, and in this very instant I made up my mind to be bra

" replied Anne. "Troupers are not supposed to have fee

anted to Oakdale soil for

leaving my mother and sister, too. Still, when I think that I'm actu

s everything to you, doesn't it? That's because

hrough to graduation," added Anne soberly. "My vacat

rn money during vacations, Anne

e can get an engagement for me in a stock company. I'll have to work frightfully hard, for there will be a matinee every day as well as a regular performance every night, and I'll have a new part to study each week. But the salary will more than compensate me for my work. You know that Mary did dress-making and worked night and day to send me to high school. Of course, my five dollars a week from Mrs. Gray helped a great deal, but up to the time Mr. Southard sent for m

eave Mary to struggle on alone, after she had worked so hard to help me get a high school education. So the stage seemed to be my one way

g about you having to wait on table or do tutoring and odds and ends of work to put yourself through college, while all the time you were planning something different.

people as Mr. Southard and his sister to look after you, t

girls look at the matter i

ffered any object

d have followed the path she had marked out for hers

to displease my dearest friends, but it would be hard to give up something I knew could resu

We are not shocked because you are a genius. We are sworn advocates of the s

have appeared professionally be

rned Anne quietly, "but I won't volu

metimes hazed unmercifully by the upper classes, and their only salvation lies in silently standing the test. Julia Crosby says that she had all sorts of tricks played on her during her first term at Smith. Now she's a sophomore and can make life miserable for the freshmen. I am going to try to cultivate the true college spi

ation, and I'll try to live up to college ideals, but I'm not going to let anyone walk over me or ridicule me. I'm willing 't

," said Anne, smiling a little at the rec

e I left the house." Fumbling in her bag, Grace drew forth a bulky looking letter, bearing a foreign postmark, and teari

d it aloud?"

" said Miriam

o completely occupied with their own affairs, none of them noticed that the train had stopped. Suddenly a voice shrilled out impatiently, "Is this seat engaged?" With

an," replied

stolidly seated herself beside Miriam and deposited a tra

ghtening up suddenly, her heavily plumed hat collided with the hand in which Grace held Eleanor's letter, scattering the sheets in every direction. With a little cry of concern Grace sp

stout girl stolidly. "I never c

little Anne glared resentfully at the rude newcomer. Grace hesitated, opened her mouth as though about to s

me other time, girls

m besides 'I write these few lines to tell you that I am well and hope you are the same.' That sort of stuff makes me sick. Goodnes

had begun to disappear, wh

y, an expression of new interest dawning in he

ply. "I'll bet you girls are in the same boat

," answe

anger, "for I'm going there myself and I'd just about a

ish to go to Ove

loads of money, but what good does that do me if I can't get a chance to spend it? I'd fail in all my exams if I dared, but Pa knows I'm

half-closed eyes. "Where did you girls come from and what are your names?" s

n said: "My name is Grace Harlowe, and we

e map. We live there, because Ma was born there and thinks it the only place on earth, bu

ce," smiled

phine, but I hate it. Ma and Pa call me Fred, and that sounds pretty good to me. Say, aren't you girls about starv

re speed than elegance. "You'd better come along," she advised. "They serve good meals on this trai

e plenty of entertainment for the

essed with J. Elfreda. She strikes me as being entirely too fond of her own comfort. No

"if you don't mind having her sit beside you. Perhaps some one will

our society to none at all. I think her advice about

akes forever to get anything to eat. If I'd ordered it yesterday, I'd have some hopes of getting it to-day." Then, apparently forgetting the existence of the three girls, she sat with eyes fixed hungrily on the door through which her waiter was momentarily expected to pass. By the t

, even behind her back, in such familiar terms, but nothing else suits her. I'm not charitable like you, Grace. I haven't the patience to look

own estimation," laughed Grace, "but fortunately w

ly. "She always pretends she's a dr

at Overton?" asked Miriam,

ock," answered Grace. "I wish it were five now. I'm

much noise. Loud talking always keeps me awake. You may call me when we get to Overton." With these words she bent over her bag, opened it, and drew out a small down cushion. She rose in her seat, removed her

fell silent and became wrapped in their own thoughts. Grace was already beginning to experience a dreadful feeling of depression, which she knew to be homesickness. It was just the time in the afternoon when she and her moth

had quite forgotten her own problems, sat eyeing Grace affectionately and wondering how soon her friend would make her p