diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34894-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 182233 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34894-h/34894-h.htm | 2338 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34894-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 136435 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34894-h/images/title.jpg | bin | 0 -> 3384 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34894.txt | 2234 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34894.zip | bin | 0 -> 39303 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 4588 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34894-h.zip b/34894-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9e315c --- /dev/null +++ b/34894-h.zip diff --git a/34894-h/34894-h.htm b/34894-h/34894-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a2d5430 --- /dev/null +++ b/34894-h/34894-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2338 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Briarwood Girls, by Julia Lestarjette Glover. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .tocnum {position: absolute; top: auto; right: 20%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .right {text-align: right;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Briarwood Girls, by Julia Lestarjette Glover + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Briarwood Girls + +Author: Julia Lestarjette Glover + +Release Date: January 9, 2011 [EBook #34894] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIARWOOD GIRLS *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Josephine Paolucci +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 452px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="452" height="650" alt="Cover" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Cover</span> +</div> + +<h1>BRIARWOOD GIRLS</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 74px;"> +<img src="images/title.jpg" width="74" height="107" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>JULIA LESTARJETTE GLOVER</h2> + +<p class="center"> +"<i>I follow, follow, sure to meet the sun,<br /> +And confident that what the future yields<br /> +Will be the right, unless myself be wrong.</i>"<br /> +<br /> +THE BOOK CONCERN<br /> +COLUMBUS, OHIO<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +MADE IN<br /> +Columbus<br /> +<br /> +U.S.A.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Chapter</span> <span class="tocnum"><span class="smcap">Page</span></span><br /> +<br /> +I. Alison's Wonderful Lamp <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_5'>5</a></span><br /> +<br /> +II. Briarwood College <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_19'>19</a></span><br /> +<br /> +III. Some of the Girls <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_25'>25</a></span><br /> +<br /> +IV. Essays and Essays <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_31'>31</a></span><br /> +<br /> +V. The Tangled Skein <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_38'>38</a></span><br /> +<br /> +VI. Mysteries <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_47'>47</a></span><br /> +<br /> +VII. Without Leave <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_54'>54</a></span><br /> +<br /> +VIII. In Miss Harland's Office <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_64'>64</a></span><br /> +<br /> +IX. Adventure of the Lamp <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_70'>70</a></span><br /> +<br /> +X. Discoveries <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_79'>79</a></span><br /> +<br /> +XI. Class Prophecy <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_89'>89</a></span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter I</span></h2> + +<h3>ALISON'S WONDERFUL LAMP</h3> + + +<p>"Mother, isn't there <i>any</i> way for me to go back?"</p> + +<p>It was the first of June, and Alison Fair, just returned home for +vacation at the end of her Freshman year, found herself confronted with +the staggering knowledge that she could not return to Briarwood to +finish her college course, so well and happily begun.</p> + +<p>It was her mother who told her, breaking the hard news as gently as she +could, that the pressure of hard times and financial stress made it +impossible for her father to think of sending her back in the fall. She +told it very tenderly and lovingly, making it clear that only stern +necessity compelled them to deny her the opportunity; but the tenderness +could not alter the hard fact.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are not more disappointed than we are, darling," she said. "I would +not have told you so soon, but it would be worse if I would leave you +under the impression that you can return to Briarwood College. You will +be brave, and try not to distress your father by showing your +disappointment too much. I know how hard it is, dear. But be patient, +and perhaps some way will open. You are only sixteen, you can afford to +wait a little."</p> + +<p>Alison swallowed the lump in her throat and said nothing. Wait—yes—but +then she could not go on with her class—with Polly and Evelyn and Joan +and the rest. And next year they would be Sophomores—and the fun and +study would go on, and she would not be there; she would be out of it +all. No other girls would be just the same as those girls, her chums of +the Freshman year. And then she asked her one despairing question:</p> + +<p>"Mother, isn't there <i>any</i> way for me to go back?"</p> + +<p>But even as she asked it, she knew the answer, and gave it herself. "No, +I know there isn't.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> Father would send me if he could. I'll try to be +patient, mother. Don't worry. Don't mind, mother—" seeing that her +mother's tears were flowing. "I'll try not to think of it or talk of it +any more. I've had one year, anyway. And maybe I can take a +correspondence course, or something—"</p> + +<p>She tried to speak bravely, but it was more than she could manage just +now, and she hastily kissed her mother, and ran away to have it out by +herself.</p> + +<p>The children thought it strange that "Sister," suddenly stopped talking +of her college experiences and the pranks and frolics of the girls. To +their questions and demands to hear more, she would reply quietly, +"There isn't anything more to tell you, Floss. I guess I talked myself +out those first few days. Now I want to hear all you have been doing +during all the months I've been away."</p> + +<p>Which effectually diverted the attention of Floss and Billy and Mat and +opened a flood of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> reminiscences of their own school life, to which she +tried to listen patiently.</p> + +<p>The summer dragged on. Alison had looked forward to it—and beyond +it—with such eager pleasure; but the thought that she was not to go +back seemed to take all the zest from life. Letters came from the +girls—from Evelyn in the mountains, from Polly at the seaside, from +Joan and Katherine in Europe—all telling of the good times they were +having, and looking forward to their reunion at Briarwood in September. +And she would not be there. Trying not to show her disappointment too +much, not to distress her father and mother, was as far as Alison could +get. She could not look forward; there seemed nothing to look forward +to. And to look back to the happy days of last winter was more than she +could bear.</p> + +<p>So the days passed, and grew into weeks. August came, with glowing sun +and deep blue skies. Summer was at its glorious height. One bright +morning Billy came whistling in with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> mail; a letter for Alison from +Joan, her roommate of last winter, and a long, legal-looking envelope +for Mr. Fair. Both became absorbed, and Alison, deep in Joan's news, +scarcely heard when her father said gravely,</p> + +<p>"Aunt Justina is dead."</p> + +<p>"Who is Aunt Justina?" asked Floss with some curiosity, wondering why +father looked so "funny."</p> + +<p>"An old great-aunt of mine, who lived far away, in New England. You +children have scarcely heard of her, perhaps, but I used often to be at +her house, as a boy, in my holidays. Now she is dead, and her lawyer has +sent me a copy of her will. Wait, I will read it."</p> + +<p>He unfolded a stiff typewritten document. All the family were listening +now. Alison folded up Joan's sheet and looked up, interested.</p> + +<p>"Did she leave you anything, father?" Floss inquired. "Was she very +rich?"</p> + +<p>"No, not very. She was eccentric, and I never expected anything from +her. No, she has left me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> nothing. Most of her money was left to +charities; but she has left you, Alison, a bequest. Whether it is of any +value or not we cannot tell until we see it. Here it is in the will: 'To +my great niece, Alison Fair, my brass lamp which stands on my dresser, +with a letter, which I direct shall be sent to her along with it.'</p> + +<p>"The lawyer says: 'The lamp has been forwarded by express, the letter +being enclosed with it.' It will probably arrive today, and you can see +for yourself what Aunt Justina's legacy is like. It may be valuable; she +had a fancy for collecting antiques, and she traveled a good deal in her +younger days. On the other hand, it may be merely an old lamp on which +she set some fictitious value. So don't raise your expectations too +high."</p> + +<p>The thought crossed Alison's mind: "I wish she had left me its value in +money instead;" but she did not say it aloud. It seemed unsuitable to +think of money when Aunt Justina was just dead, though she could not be +expected to grieve over-much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> for an aged relative whom she had never +seen.</p> + +<p>Later in the day the expressman brought a box for Alison. The family +crowded around, all eager to help in unpacking the legacy. It was +beautifully packed, and as layer after layer of wrappings was lifted +off, curiosity rose to an almost irrepressible height. Finally the lamp +itself came into view, a beautiful thing of shining brass; ancient +Venetian work, hammered and beaten into a shape of exquisite loveliness +by artist fingers, long since dust.</p> + +<p>A cry of admiration arose as Alison lifted it from the last swathings +and held it up to view. The letter from Aunt Justina was tied to one +side, and she unfastened it with fingers that shook a little. It was a +message from the dead. It was so strange that that old lady, so far +away, should have thought of her and sent her this beautiful thing, and +written her a letter with her own trembling hand. With an odd feeling of +unreality<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> she unfolded the letter and read it aloud to her excited +family.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"My dear great-niece, Alison," it began, "You have never +seen me, perhaps you have never heard of me, until you will +read this, after my death; and you will think it strange, +perhaps, that I should take enough interest in you to send +you my favorite lamp. Your father was my favorite nephew, +and I had intended to make him my heir; but he displeased me +by taking his own way in life, instead of the one I had +planned for him. He had a right, I suppose, to do as he +thought best, and I was wrong to try to force him to do as I +wished. Whether he was wise or not, time will show. I am a +lonely old woman with none of my own near me in my last +years.</p> + +<p>"I declared I would leave his name out of my will, and I +must keep my word; but I have followed his career closely +enough to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> know something of his family and circumstances. +And so, though I am leaving him nothing, I want to leave to +his eldest daughter a small token of my interest and +affection. Take it, my dear, as an old woman's freak. I +bought it long ago in a quaint old shop in Venice. It is not +an heirloom, and if you should some day wish to sell it, you +may do so. On one condition, however: That is, that you keep +it, <i>as it is</i>, until you are in some strait when no other +help is available. Then, if you have exhausted all other +resources, fill the lamp and light it. It may cast a light +on your perplexities.</p> + +<p>"Until then, keep it bright in remembrance of</p> + +<p class="right"> +"Your affectionate aunt,<br /> +<br /> +"Justina Laurence."<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>A chorus of exclamations broke forth as Alison ceased reading. "What a +strange old lady! Father, was she really angry with you for not doing as +she wanted? And what was it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She wanted me to go into politics, backed by her money; but I had no +fancy for a politician's career, and I refused. Poor Aunt Justina! She +was a very ambitious woman, and would have liked to see me President. +Well, I am glad she felt more kindly at the last. I never wanted her +money; but I am glad she has remembered you, daughter," said Mr. Fair, +examining Alison's legacy with interest.</p> + +<p>"Keep it bright! Why, you can see your face in it now," cried Floss, +peering into its shining sides. "Sister, I don't see how you can wait to +'fill and light it.' I would like to see it lighted right away."</p> + +<p>"But she says, 'Keep it as it is until you are in some strait,'" said +Alison thoughtfully. "I would rather do just as she wished."</p> + +<p>"So it will be just an ornament to stand on your table," said Billy +disgustedly. "What a cranky old lady! What good will it do you?"</p> + +<p>But Alison was not listening to him. A thought had flashed into her +mind, and glancing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> at her mother she read the same thought in her eyes. +Quietly she lifted her "wonderful lamp" and placed it in the center of +the table for all to admire.</p> + +<p>Then she went away to her own room to think it over. Was she ever likely +to be in a much greater strait than she was now? And would not Aunt +Justina want her to go to college? If the lamp was to shed light on her +perplexities, surely now was the time it was needed.</p> + +<p>A tap at the door heralded her mother. "What is my daughter thinking +of?" she asked, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Of the same thing you are, mother. I see it in your face. Would it be +against Aunt Justina's wishes, to light the lamp now? She must have +meant <i>something</i>. And—if there is nothing more, after all—if it does +not 'shed light on my perplexities,' at any rate, it is valuable in +itself. But—I could hardly need its help more than I do now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought of that, too, Alison, and I think it could not be wrong to +investigate. Shall we fill it now, and wait until dark to light it?"</p> + +<p>The question settled, they all gathered round while Alison unscrewed the +old-fashioned burner of the lamp. "Maybe there is some magic about it," +she said, laughing nervously. "I feel like Aladdin. Shall I try rubbing +it first? But it doesn't need any rubbing to brighten it."</p> + +<p>The screw was a little stiff, but presently it turned. She removed it +and peered curiously in the top.</p> + +<p>"It is stuffed full of paper," she said. "More packing, I suppose. Wait +till I pull it out."</p> + +<p>"Careful," her father said, as she drew out a folded paper. He took it +from her, and waited while she drew out another and another of the thin +folded slips, until he had a handful. The bowl was large, and held a +good many of those folded papers. When Alison had drawn out the last +one, and turned to him, quite pale with excitement, he placed the packet +in her hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Alison, child, it is two thousand dollars!"</p> + +<p>"Two thousand! Oh, father! Oh, mother!"</p> + +<p>The children wondered why "Sister" should cry because her wonderful lamp +was full of money; but her mother understood.</p> + +<p>"Only I don't feel that it ought to be mine," she said presently. "It +ought to be yours, father. Please take it. I am sure Aunt Justina meant +it for you. It is too much money for me to spend."</p> + +<p>"No, little daughter. I think Aunt Justina knew very well what she was +about. She wanted me to know that she had forgiven my obstinacy, and so +she left it to my daughter. You may use it with a clear conscience. You +have borne the disappointment bravely, and we are glad you should have +this bequest."</p> + +<p>He kissed her, and Alison hid her face on his shoulder for a moment, +quite overcome with joy and surprise and gratitude, and then ran away to +her own room without another word.</p> + +<p>"Mother," she said later, when it had been talked over and decided that +she was to go back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> to Briarwood in September, "I wish Aunt Justina +could know how happy she has made me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she does; and if so, I am sure it would please her to know that +you are making a wise and good use of her legacy; all the more because +these weeks of trial and disappointment have taught you the value of the +school years; and the discipline of patience will have made you stronger +and better able to use them wisely."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will; and I hope Aunt Justina knows," breathed Alison, dimming +the shining surface of her wonderful lamp with a few happy tears.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter II</span></h2> + +<h3>BRIARWOOD COLLEGE</h3> + + +<p>Briarwood College was built on a terraced hillside, the buildings rising +one above the other, the lowest, or Main Building, on a level with the +street that ran at right angles with the hillside, while the topmost, +known as "Hillview," crowned the summit and commanded a view of near and +distant hills, blue, purple and opal-tinted, melting into the sky.</p> + +<p>The Main Building had originally been a handsome old dwelling house, +whose spacious rooms were now used as parlors, library, offices and +teachers' rooms. There were wide, beautiful porches in front and back, +and massive stone steps, ending in great stone urns overflowing with +bright flowers at the foot of each flight. These steps led<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> down into +wide shady gardens, where the girls walked up and down with arms +intertwined, or sat and studied and talked on rustic seats under the +trees on the shady lawns.</p> + +<p>The other buildings, Briarley Hall, Elmtree Hall and Hillview, were +devoted to class rooms and dormitories, each hall being presided over by +a teacher.</p> + +<p>In these pleasant courts of learning Alison Fair arrived on a golden +September afternoon, and was warmly welcomed by Miss Harland, the +Principal.</p> + +<p>"We are so glad to have you back, dear," Miss Harland said, kissing the +girl affectionately. "I was rather afraid from what you wrote some time +ago, that you might not return to us this year."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so was I, Miss Harland. I was dreadfully afraid of it. I was so +disappointed, I hardly realize yet that it is all right, and I am really +here. And may I have my same old room, and Joan for roommate?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The same room, dear, but I am so sorry about Joan. You see, she has not +come yet, and there was no one to claim that room, so I had to put a new +girl in with you. We have a very large school this year, and the +dormitories are overflowing. I really had no other place for her. You +may be able to change later, if you don't find her congenial. You won't +mind?"</p> + +<p>Alison did mind; but after the first pang of disappointment, she spoke +cheerfully. "It's all right, Miss Harland. I'm so thankful to be here at +all, I shan't grumble at anything. Joan <i>is</i> coming, isn't she?" in +sudden alarm.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I expect her this evening. Her father is driving her through +the country. Run up, then, and get acquainted with your new roommate. +Marcia West, is her name. She looked homesick."</p> + +<p>Homesick at Briarwood! Alison marvelled as she ran lightly up the +familiar staircase and along the corridor to the end room, which had +been hers and Joan Wentworth's last year. She was so happy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> to find +herself here again; but then she was not a new girl, and she knew there +were many freshmen lying on their beds at this moment and crying their +eyes out for homesickness. Well, it would not last long, one soon grew +accustomed to the pleasant routine of school days.</p> + +<p>She reached her door and tapped lightly. It was opened, after an +instant's delay, and the "new girl" stood there in silence, still +holding the door and looking at her with an expression which, if not +exactly forbidding, was certainly not encouraging. She was about +Alison's own age, rather tall and slight, with dark, sombre eyes and +dark heavy hair worn low on her forehead. The heavy hair and the +unsmiling eyes gave her face a lowering look that was not attractive at +first sight. She merely stood there without speaking, until Alison said +pleasantly,</p> + +<p>"Good evening. I am Alison Fair, and you are my new roommate. Miss +Harland told me you were here. I'm sorry to be late. I hope you like our +room."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pretty, though it's not very large for two," said the girl +nonchalantly. "I came in this morning. I've been unpacking."</p> + +<p>It was evident, as Alison entered and looked about her. Marcia had +unpacked her trunk, which stood open in the hall beside their door, and +had strewed her belongings about as freely as though she had expected to +occupy the room alone.</p> + +<p>It was a fairly good-sized room, containing two single beds, and a +dresser, chair and small table for each girl. A roomy closet was well +supplied with hangers and shoe-racks. A glance showed Alison that Marcia +had placed her dresser and table close to the window and strewn them +with photographs and toilet articles in lavish profusion. Also, that she +had taken the best chair.</p> + +<p>"I changed things a little. You don't mind, do you?" she asked, watching +Alison.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, it's your room as well as mine," Alison answered +good-humoredly, and proceeded to open her own trunk, which had been +brought up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> and placed in the hall, according to custom, and to arrange +her part of the room. Marcia had encroached on her side of the closet, +she noticed, but she said nothing, only hanging up a few dresses and +leaving the rest in her trunk. She placed a few favorite books between a +pair of bronze bookends, her father's parting gift; laid her Bible +beside them, and her pretty new portfolio her mother had given her; and +finally set her cherished lamp on the dresser. She had scarcely +finished, and stood surveying the effect, when there was a rush of +little feet in the corridor, the door was flung open, and a small, +rosy-faced curly-haired girl rushed in to fling herself into Alison's +arms.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alison, you darling thing! I'm so thrilled to be back, and in our +same old room, too."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter III</span></h2> + +<h3>SOME OF THE GIRLS</h3> + + +<p>"Lovely to be back," said Alison, warmly kissing the pretty childish +face," but you are too late for us to be roommates, Jo. I have another +roommate, a new girl, Marcia West. Marcia, this is Joan Wentworth, who +roomed with me last year."</p> + +<p>Joan shook back her light fluffy hair, looking rather taken aback for an +instant, as Marcia emerged from the closet, where she had been +invisible, arranging a rack of shoes. "How do you do?" Marcia said +briefly. "I didn't know I was taking your room. Miss Harland put me in +here. She said there wasn't any other room, or I'd go somewhere else. +I'm sorry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all right," Joan answered, recovering her equanimity quickly. +"I'll go and see if Kathy can take me in, for the night, anyway. She's +just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> across the hall, and she's by herself. I'll look her up."</p> + +<p>She was gone, leaving Alison and Marcia to shake down together as best +they could. Conversation languished. Alison tried to talk about her +school work. It developed that they would be in the same classes; but +Marcia seemed to have no enthusiasms. She had come to school because she +was made to, and she looked forward to nothing but getting through.</p> + +<p>Finally she said she was tired and lay down on her bed; and seeing +presently that she had fallen asleep, Alison slipped out of the room +across the hall to the room opposite, which was Katherine Bertram's. +Katherine was better off financially than most of the girls. Her mother +was dead and she had traveled and lived in hotel rooms for several years +previously, and so her room at school was more like a home than anything +she had known since her mother's death. It was prettily furnished, and +her pictures and rugs were better and more luxurious than most +schoolgirls' rooms<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> could boast. Nevertheless, she was known as "a good +fellow," and was popular with the girls.</p> + +<p>Alison's tap at the door was answered by a cordial "Come in," and she +entered, to find Katherine and Joan curled up on the bed, talking +vigorously, but both sprang up to greet her joyously. She found a seat +on a velvet-covered stool beside the couch, and Joan resumed her +interrupted grumble.</p> + +<p>"I'm just too disappointed and cross for anything," she lamented. "Here +I came flying back to our old quarters like—like a homing pigeon, only +to find my place taken by that cross-looking thing. I don't believe you +are going to like her a bit, Alison. She doesn't look as if she would +fit in."</p> + +<p>"It is too bad; but then it gives me Joan for a roommate, which is a +silver lining," said Katherine equably. "I didn't know there was a +chance of your losing your place, or I would have spoken to Miss Harland +and tried to get one of the old girls to change with her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, well, it's only the first day; maybe something will happen; or we +may like her better when we know her," said Alison hopefully.</p> + +<p>"And in the mean time, Joan is welcome with me as long as she likes. +I'll ask for a cot for her. There's plenty of room," said Katherine +hospitably. "We shall be close by and can get together whenever we like. +So cheer up, Jo, it won't be so bad."</p> + +<p>They fell into an animated discussion of school matters, which was +presently interrupted by a tumultuous rush outside, the door was opened +without ceremony, and in flocked the rest of the "Kindred +Spirit,"—Evelyn and Polly, boon companions, unlike as they were; +studious Rachel; Rosalind, the school beauty, whose golden head and +apple-blossom face scarcely suggested books or scholarship. These with +Alison, Katherine and Joan, made up the seven "Kindred Spirits," an +informal little club of loyal friends. Their favorite gathering place +last year had been the room occupied by Alison and Joan, and +consternation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> reigned when the news spread that the newcomer had +usurped Joan's place.</p> + +<p>"It won't be the same thing at all," complained Polly, flinging herself +back on the bed in a paroxysm of disappointment.</p> + +<p>Katherine poured oil on the troubled waters. "You can meet here just as +well. And maybe, as Alison says, we shall like her when we know her. +Don't let us judge her too hardly beforehand."</p> + +<p>"So charitable, Kathy always is," murmured Evelyn.</p> + +<p>Rachel changed the subject.</p> + +<p>"Well—did you know we have a new English teacher?"</p> + +<p>"No. What's her name?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Burnett—Cecil Burnett. She's lovely. And she's to be at our +table."</p> + +<p>"Are Helen Yorke and Brenda Thornton back?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I saw them this morning. As musical as ever. Oh, is that the +supper bell? It can't be six o'clock already."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It seems it can—for it is," said Alison, consulting her wrist watch +and finding it correspond with the bell. "I must go and see if my +roommate is awake, and take her down to supper. Please be nice to her, +girls. I don't know yet whether she is cross or just shy." She gave the +group an appealing look as she left the room, and Katherine answered it +with a reassuring smile.</p> + +<p>But Joan shrugged her shoulders and made a face. She had not been +prepossessed in favor of the new girl.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter IV</span></h2> + +<h4>ESSAYS AND ESSAYS</h4> + + +<p>The dining room was a large, square, light room, filled with tables, +each holding twelve. Alison piloted her roommate to a seat next to +herself, at her old table, where Evelyn, Katherine and Joan were already +seated, the rest of the group being at the next table. The new English +teacher, Miss Burnett, presided—a pretty girl, not many years older +than her prospective pupils. Brown-haired and brown-eyed, with a deep, +soft rose color in her cheeks, she was exactly the type that girls a few +years younger would naturally fall in love with on sight.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the group of girls at her table, running true to form, +promptly "fell for her" with schoolgirl unanimity; copied the way she +did her hair, whether it was becoming to them or not, practiced her +engaging smile, and even copied her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> clothes, as far as possible. Brown +was her favorite color—a deep, rich brown that suited her eyes and hair +and blended with the rose glow in her cheeks. This shade of brown +promptly became popular.</p> + +<p>Life at Briarwood soon settled into an accustomed routine of classes, +sports and recreation, and the days were full and busy. Miss Burnett had +an eager class, more interested in the study of their mother tongue than +they had ever been before, simply because she taught it.</p> + +<p>Toward Thanksgiving she gave them an essay contest, and Alison and her +roommate became more congenial as they discussed subjects and titles. +But their tastes and ideas were very different.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I could write anything worth reading, but I'll try, +because Miss Burnett wants us to," said Alison, to whom the study of +English was genuine enjoyment.</p> + +<p>"And I'll try because I've got to," responded Marcia with a wry face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Just let her hear you saying <i>got</i>, that's all," laughed Alison, +reaching for her book.</p> + +<p>"I hate all lessons, but I believe I hate English worst of any," said +Marcia crossly. "I don't see why we have to study it."</p> + +<p>"Why did you come to college, if you hate it so?" asked Alison +curiously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, because one must do something, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"But why do you take English?"</p> + +<p>"Because the rest of you do, and I don't like to be left out. Besides, +Miss Harland made me. Are you going to track meet this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then, will you lend me your English Literature? Rosalind borrowed mine +and hasn't returned it."</p> + +<p>"And welcome. There it is on the table."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I'll work while you play, like the ant and the grasshopper," +said Marcia more graciously than usual.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a brilliant autumn afternoon, and most of the girls were tempted +out. The hall was deserted, save for Marcia, scribbling hard in her +room.</p> + +<p>"Finished already?" asked Alison, coming in just in time for supper, +flushed and breathless after a basketball game.</p> + +<p>Marcia was just putting away her writing materials. She looked up +nonchalantly. "Almost. I've only to correct and copy it."</p> + +<p>"You've had a grand quiet time to work. I wish I had been as +industrious; but it was so lovely out. We had a splendid practice."</p> + +<p>Nothing was talked of in school for the next few days but the essays, +which were to be handed in the week before Thanksgiving, and the prize +winner would be announced on the day before—"to give us extra reason to +be thankful," said Joan.</p> + +<p>Katherine had written a scholarly essay, giving a sort of bird's-eye +view of the entire field of English literature, concisely expressed. +Privately, she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> believed herself sure of the prize, but no such +self-laudatory opinion was hinted at in her dignified demeanor.</p> + +<p>Joan had skipped airily over the earlier periods, coming rapidly down to +present-day fiction in the space of four pages. "She'll like mine +because it's short, anyway," she congratulated herself.</p> + +<p>Most of the other girls had tried, because Miss Burnett wished it. Some +of the efforts were better, some worse, than others, some impossible. +Alison, coming from her history class one morning, suddenly realized +that the time was almost up, and her essay was still unwritten. A few +unfinished beginnings, rejected as unsatisfactory, were all she had to +show.</p> + +<p>She had a vacant period next, and she took a sudden resolve. "I'll write +that essay in the next forty-five minutes, or know the reason," she told +herself sternly, and going to her room she posted a "busy" sign on the +door as a gentle hint that visitors were not desired, and fell to work.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>As she opened her English Literature, several half-sheets of paper fell +out, each scribbled over with her unsuccessful beginnings.... She +laughed and dropped them into the wastebasket. Then she picked up a +folded paper that she did not recognize. When had she written an +exercise in blue ink? She opened it, puzzled. What did it mean? An +essay, apparently, in Rosalind's unmistakable writing, which was like +herself, pretty, but entirely characterless. It was entitled "<i>The River +of Time.</i>" Plainly, it was Rosalind's idea of an essay on English +literature, which she described as a river flowing down the ages, on +whose waters were found lovely pearls. These pearls were represented by +the names of a few outstanding writers, but after a few inadequate +sentences Rosalind's imagination had apparently failed her.</p> + +<p>Realizing after a glance at the first page that it was not meant for her +eyes, Alison resolutely folded the paper, smiling. Literature was not +Rosalind's strong point, but she was so pretty and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> winning that one +forgave and smiled, as at the efforts of a child.</p> + +<p>"Poor little Rosalind," she thought, and put the paper aside, to be +given back to the writer at the first opportunity. Then she fell to work +on her own essay, and had finished her first copy by the time the period +ended.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter V</span></h2> + +<h3>THE TANGLED SKEIN</h3> + + +<p>"May I come in?" asked Rosalind's voice, and in response to Alison's +cordial invitation, she entered, a perplexed cloud on her face.</p> + +<p>"I'm so worried, Alison," she began. "I saw your 'busy' sign, so I +waited. I thought you might help me."</p> + +<p>"Was it about this?" Alison held up the folded paper. "I've been worried +about it, too."</p> + +<p>Rosalind pounced on the paper. "Oh, that's it. It's my essay. Where in +the world did you find it?"</p> + +<p>"It was in my English book. How it got there I can't imagine. It was +certainly not there when I saw the book last. I lent it to Marcia. She +said you had borrowed hers, and she didn't like to go and rummage in +your room while you were out——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She wouldn't have had to rummage. It was right on the table," said +Rosalind simply. "Did you read this, Alison? It's dreadful—"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help seeing the title and the first few sentences, but of +course I didn't read any further. Honestly, Rosalind, I am puzzled to +guess how your essay could have got into my book. Can you think?"</p> + +<p>Rosalind frowned and puckered up her sunny face in a great mental +effort.</p> + +<p>"I haven't any book, myself," she confessed. "Mine fell out of the +window, and I forgot to pick it up, and it rained in the night, and +ruined it. It was so sopping wet, it just fell to pieces. So I've been +getting along by borrowing the other girls' books. I borrowed Marcia's +the other day, and forgot to return it to her—"</p> + +<p>"So a lot of the trouble is due to your bad habit of forgetting to do +things," said Alison severely. But she smiled as she said it, and +Rosalind took the reproof with her usual sweet temper. "I know it was. +But what then, Alison?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then she borrowed mine, to study. She returned it to me, all right, but +she forgot to explain what your essay was doing in it. I went out to +track meet, and left Marcia studying for her essay. I hadn't looked +through my book carefully, and if I saw any papers sticking out, I +thought they were just my own notes. That is all I know about it, till I +found your essay just now."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's all right, now I've found it," said Rosalind easily. "They +have to be handed in tomorrow. I'm so glad I'm on time, for once."</p> + +<p>And with a relieved mind she danced lightly away, just as Marcia +entered.</p> + +<p>Alison looked up pleasantly. "Just in time, Marcia, to help solve a +mystery, or straighten out a muddle."</p> + +<p>Marcia stopped short and her face changed to the stony expression it +wore when she was not pleased. "Well," she said, "What can <i>I</i> do about +it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Rosalind was here just now," Alison explained patiently. "She came to +ask if I knew anything about her essay, which she could not find. I had +just found it inside my English book, and we were wondering how it got +there. That was all. I thought perhaps you might be able to tell us."</p> + +<p>Marcia grew paler than her wont, but she spoke clearly and coldly.</p> + +<p>"Why, Rosalind lost her book I suppose, and borrowed yours, and left the +essay in it. You know what a careless thing she is."</p> + +<p>"No; she never had my book. She had finished her essay and put it away, +that same afternoon, when you borrowed my book because she was out, and +had left yours in her room."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about it," said Marcia stolidly. "Are you trying +to accuse me of anything?"</p> + +<p>"Marcia! You are not in earnest?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you seemed to imply it. I didn't think you would mind lending me +your book—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Of course I didn't, Marcia. You know that."</p> + +<p>"I put it back on your table that same afternoon. You can testify to +finding it there. I haven't seen it since."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to 'testify' to anything," said Alison, astonished. "I was +only wondering how Rosalind's essay came to be in my book. Please don't +think I meant to be personal, Marcia."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about it," repeated Marcia, "and I'll thank you, +Alison Fair, not to be hinting at anything, instead of saying out +plainly what you think."</p> + +<p>"I wasn't hinting," began Alison, wounded to the verge of tears; but to +her relief, Marcia left the room, and she turned to the window, her +hands pressed to her eyes, trying to recover her composure enough to +think her way out of the tangle.</p> + +<p>Entered Joan, excited and curious.</p> + +<p>"Alison! We just saw Marcia stalking down the hall, looking like a +thundercloud, or a tragedy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> queen, or something! She wouldn't look at +us. Rosalind had just been in to tell us about your finding her essay, +she had been mourning as lost. It ought to be a fine one, to cause so +much excitement. So when I saw Marcia leaving the room in such offended +dignity, I just came to get you to come and tell Kathy and me all about +it before we burst with curiosity. You can't deny there's something, +when I find you swallowing tears—"</p> + +<p>The tears overflowed at the mention of them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Joan, I didn't mean to say anything about it, but since Rosalind +has told you—Mind, I'm not accusing Marcia, though she said—she asked +if I meant to hint—" Alison choked again.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," said Joan, briskly. "Nobody would think it, unless she had a +guilty conscience. I dare say she has. Wait till I call Kathy—or no, +you come into our room, and tell us all about it."</p> + +<p>An interested audience was assembled in the room across the hall, for +Rosalind had not been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> reticent, and Evelyn, Polly and Rachel were all +there to hear what was to be heard. So Alison was obliged to tell the +facts of the finding of the essay in her book after it had been borrowed +by Marcia.</p> + +<p>"Truly, I did not mean to even imply that she was to blame in any way," +she ended, almost apologetically, "but she seemed to think I was. I +would never have spoken of it at all, if Rosalind had not told you while +she was searching for her essay. Nobody was more surprised than I was +when I found it. And even now I don't—I can't understand what it all +means."</p> + +<p>"I can," said Joan, addressing the company at large. "It means that +Marcia is trying to put on Alison the onus of a thing she did herself, +and couldn't quite succeed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I <i>couldn't</i> think that of her," Alison cried, distressed.</p> + +<p>"My dear Alison, the trouble is that you think everybody is as honest as +yourself. People like that usually do get taken in."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, we can't do anything about it now, and we had better not talk +about it any more," pronounced Katherine. "Let's forget it. Talk about +something else. For instance—has anyone seen my ring? I've lost it +again."</p> + +<p>"Not that lovely pearl ring of yours, Kathy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I've missed it for a week, but I kept thinking it would turn up. I +generally remember to take it off when I wash my hands, but I can't +remember—I wash my hands so often—"</p> + +<p>"Kathy, you really are too careless—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the girls all recognize it and give it back to me when they find +it; but they always find it in less than a week."</p> + +<p>"There are the maids," suggested Polly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I don't believe one of them would take anything."</p> + +<p>"There you go again, Alison, with your 'everybody's honest.' I tell you +everybody is not. There's a ghost or something in this school," insisted +the incorrigible Joan. "Rachel lost her gold pencil a fortnight ago. +Ever find it, Ray?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No. But I do leave my things about. It may have slipped out of sight +somewhere."</p> + +<p>"So it may. Let me know when it returns of its own accord. This thing +reminds me of the title of a little French book I read once: <i>Les Petits +Mysteres de la Vie Humaine</i>. If I've made mistakes, Mademoiselle is not +here to correct me, and the rest of you couldn't. Anyway, it means 'The +Little Mysteries of Human Life,'" said Joan, looking defiantly about +her.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't like mysteries," remarked Evelyn. "What we need is a +clean-up day, to find all these missing valuables, and clear up all the +mysteries."</p> + +<p>The supper bell broke up the conclave.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter VI</span></h2> + +<h3>MYSTERIES</h3> + + +<p>The essays were handed in the next day, and after two days of what the +girls termed "agonizing suspense," Miss Burnett announced to her class +that the judges had made their decision. The best was Katherine's. No +one had expected anything else, and there was heartfelt applause with no +jealousy, as she received the prize, a handsome set of books. Alison's +received second place, to her own surprise, for she was modest as to her +own acquirements.</p> + +<p>The rest were of about the same degree of excellence—laborious efforts, +showing no originality of thought or discrimination. Still, they had +tried, and Miss Burnett expressed in a few pleasant words her +appreciation of their endeavors, as she returned their papers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>Finally, there were but two papers left on the desk. Miss Burnett took +up one and glanced at the title.</p> + +<p>"This one, <i>The River of Time</i>," she said, "has at least the merit of +brevity. In the space of about seven hundred words the author has +reviewed the history of English literature from its source to the +present time—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is mine, Miss Burnett," exclaimed Rosalind, starting. "Please +don't read it. I know it's awful." She smiled frankly and beguilingly +into the teacher's eyes. "It's the best I could do."</p> + +<p>Miss Burnett could not help returning the smile with the essay.</p> + +<p>"Is it really the best you could do, Rosalind?"</p> + +<p>"It is, truly, Miss Burnett. I could hardly do that."</p> + +<p>"Then, Rosalind, all I can say is that it is a pity. But at least you +really tried, and perhaps next time you will try harder and do better."</p> + +<p>She took up the last paper on the desk. "I have kept this one for the +last because I wanted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> to talk with you a little about it, Marcia. I +should like you to remain a few minutes after the class is dismissed."</p> + +<p>Marcia said nothing. One after another the girls filed out, until she +and the teacher were alone together. Then Miss Burnett unfolded the +paper and turned to the girl before her.</p> + +<p>"This essay is signed with your name, Marcia, in the sealed envelope +that was kept in my desk until the judges' decision had been reached. No +one knew who had written it. No one knows now, except myself. I have not +even mentioned the title, <i>The River Road</i>, until I had talked with you +alone. Did you talk with anyone else about your essay? You know I wished +them to be entirely original."</p> + +<p>"No, Miss Burnett, I never said a word to anybody about it," said +Marcia, quite truthfully.</p> + +<p>Miss Burnett looked grave and troubled. "Then it is very peculiar, +Marcia, that your essay has nearly the same title as Rosalind's, and +says the same thing, only in different words. How<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> could that be, unless +you talked over your essays together?"</p> + +<p>"But we did not, truly, Miss Burnett. It just happened so." Marcia +looked the teacher straight in the face, as if defying her to find a +flaw in her statement. "Rosalind lost her book, and borrowed mine. Then +she went out to play basketball without returning it. I had to borrow +Alison's book to study for mine. She said she found the essay in it when +she opened it to study. That is all I can tell you."</p> + +<p>If there were any guile in this speech, Miss Burnett was too +transparently honest herself to find it out. She looked troubled.</p> + +<p>"Well, Marcia, it is very strange, but I must take your word for it. +That is all, then."</p> + +<p>Thanksgiving had come and gone, and the girls were settled down for the +uneventful stretch that comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The +seven friends were gathered in Alison's room, one raw, cold +"Novemberish" afternoon for one of their old-time talks. Marcia had +gone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> out shopping with Rosalind, for whom she seemed to have developed +a sudden great friendship, and the girls had availed themselves of the +opportunity to meet in their favorite gathering place without the +embarrassment of her presence.</p> + +<p>Polly had a question to propound.</p> + +<p>"Why don't we like Marcia?"</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Evelyn, when the silence had lasted for several minutes +while each waited for the others to speak.</p> + +<p>"Alison ought to be able to answer that question," said Kathy.</p> + +<p>Alison was slow to speak. "I don't know," she said at last. "She is in +all our classes; she is pretty; she obeys all the college regulations. +She seems all right; but—well, she is my roommate, I don't like talking +of her behind her back."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't mind a bit," said Joan the outspoken. "I can tell you +what's wrong with her. She doesn't like us. She hates school. She calls +it a jail. She hates lessons. She hates Miss Harland. I heard her say so +once, when Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> Harland said no to something she wanted to do. I don't +see why she came to Briarwood at all."</p> + +<p>"Neither does she," put in Evelyn. "Her father sent her, that was why."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't like her, and I wish she roomed in another hall," said +Joan; and no one gainsaid her, for there was no denying that Marcia took +no pains to make herself popular.</p> + +<p>Polly changed the subject abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Kathy, did you ever find your ring?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Katherine looked startled. "No. And I've lost something else—my +great-grandmother's pearl necklace. Mother said I shouldn't take it to +school with me, but I was sure I would be careful with it. And I was, +girls, I really was. It stayed always in the bottom of my trunk, in its +velvet case. I don't believe any of you ever knew about it. I haven't +even taken it out since I left home. But yesterday I thought I would +make sure that it was safe under everything in the trunk. And I looked, +and it was not there. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> cannot understand it, but it is true. Mother +was right, as usual. I don't know how I am ever to tell her."</p> + +<p>There was a dead silence—the silence of dismay. What was this that was +among them?</p> + +<p>Joan broke it, saying briefly, "Ghost. Rosalind's essay. Kathy's ring. +Rachel's gold pencil. Now, Kathy's necklace. Look out for your lamp, +Alison!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense," Alison said laughing nervously. "You <i>can't</i> +suspect—Oh, I don't like being suspicious."</p> + +<p>"All right. I only say, look out."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter VII</span></h2> + +<h3>WITHOUT LEAVE</h3> + + +<p>"Want to go to a party, Rosalind?"</p> + +<p>It was a dull, uninteresting-looking day in early December. Snow was +threatening and out-of-doors looked anything but attractive. Rosalind +was toiling over a history lesson and wishing that all the kings and +queens of France had been guillotined before they made trouble for +future generations of schoolgirls, instead of afterward, when a tap at +the door heralded Marcia and her exciting question.</p> + +<p>Rosalind dropped her book, casting Louis XIV to the winds.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do. Where? And when? And how? Tell me quick."</p> + +<p>Marcia shut the door carefully. "Any chance of your roommate coming +in?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, she's gone home for the week-end. No one will disturb us. I'm +supposed to be studying. Didn't you see the sign?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I knew you weren't hurting yourself with study. Now listen. I +am invited to a party at Sara Marshall's tonight, and I can bring a +friend with me. Her brother will meet us at the corner with a car, at +nine o'clock. I thought of you. Will you go?"</p> + +<p>"I'd love to. Have you asked Miss Harland? Will she let us?"</p> + +<p>"Rosalind, you <i>are</i> green. What Miss Harland doesn't know won't hurt +her. I haven't asked her, and I don't intend to. If you would be afraid +to go without leave, I'll ask Alison—but she's such a stickler for +rules, I didn't think she would. And this is such a good chance, with +your roommate away, and all. We can dress in here after supper, and I'll +spend the night with you, if anybody asks. As soon as lights are out, +we'll slip down to the basement. There'll be a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> window unlatched. Ann +will do anything for me. See how easy it will be."</p> + +<p>It did strike Rosalind that the plan was too clearly arranged to have +been settled on such short notice. She said doubtfully, "But when did +you see Sara Marshall?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she sent me a note yesterday. I've been thinking of it ever since, +and planning it out." But Marcia did not explain that she had seen Sara +Marshall the day before, and that all the arrangements had been +carefully canvassed before a word was to be said to Rosalind. The note +had been merely to say that all was as they had planned, and that her +brother and a friend would be waiting at the corner for them. To +Rosalind it seemed an impromptu plan for a little fun, and her +pleasure-loving little head was quite turned at the prospect.</p> + +<p>"The only trouble is," Marcia was off on a fresh tack, "I haven't a +thing that is decent to wear. I spoiled my old blue the last time I +wore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> it. It was dreadfully unbecoming, anyway. I don't believe I can +go, after all."</p> + +<p>"I'll lend you my pink," offered Rosalind, dismayed at the thought of +disappointment. "I have a new white dress mother just sent me. Please +wear my pink. It would be so becoming to you."</p> + +<p>Marcia knew it would be, and after a proper amount of hesitation and +protest, she yielded, and the die was cast. The afternoon was an +exciting one, and after supper they retired to Rosalind's room, +ostensibly to study together. Marcia had asked and obtained permission +to spend the night with Rosalind, and with the door securely shut and +fastened, the business of dressing was before them.</p> + +<p>All went as they had planned. At nine o'clock they cautiously opened the +door. All was dark and still in the corridor, and they crept noiselessly +downstairs to the basement, where the window had been unlatched for them +by one of the maids, bribed by Marcia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>They climbed out, ran swiftly across the lawn, in terror lest someone +might be looking from an upper window. But there was no sound or +movement from the sleeping rooms. They climbed over the low place in the +wall and found themselves out in the quiet street.</p> + +<p>No one was in sight, and they scurried along, only intent on getting out +of sight of those dark windows. At the corner two dark figures +confronted them, and Rosalind barely suppressed a scream. But it was +only Tom Marshall, who greeted them cordially.</p> + +<p>"Hello, girls, here you are. This is Ray Gordon. We've got a car here. +Hop in, it's cold out here. Glad to see you have warm coats."</p> + +<p>The coats had been put on chiefly to cover their evening dresses, but +they were shivering with cold and excitement, and were glad to find +themselves in the warm car.</p> + +<p>They were soon in Mrs. Marshall's bright parlors, where a merry crowd +was gathered, and were pleasantly welcomed by Mrs. Marshall herself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +and by Sara, who introduced them to her friends, some of whom were known +to Marcia, but not to Rosalind.</p> + +<p>"Miss Harland did not object to your coming, dear?" Mrs. Marshall asked. +"I was sure she would not, she and I are old friends—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, she did not object in the least," said Marcia quickly, +forestalling the words she saw on Rosalind's lips, and replying, as she +argued to herself, quite truthfully, since Miss Harland had <i>not</i> +objected, not having been consulted.</p> + +<p>The evening went on. Marcia was very bright and animated. The pink dress +was becoming to her. Her cheeks glowed with bright color. A pearl +necklace clasped her throat, and on one finger gleamed a ring—a +beautiful pearl ring which she certainly had not worn when they left the +school. Rosalind wondered. Could she have had the jewels in her +hand-bag, and put them on in the comparative darkness of the car? That +must have been it, she decided. But she felt uncomfortable, and could +not throw herself into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> spirit of whole-souled enjoyment as the +others did. She was glad when the time came for breaking up, and their +two escorts took them back through the quiet streets.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," said Tom Marshall, drawing up at the corner. "We'll see +you safe to the gate—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, thank you. It is only a step, and we have to climb the wall. +Thank you, and goodnight," protested Marcia, her teeth chattering with +cold and nervousness.</p> + +<p>Not daring to speak aloud, the girls sped along, keeping close to the +wall until they reached the low place where they could climb over +without risking the opening of the gate. The basement window was still +unlatched. Carefully they scrambled through, and finally stood on the +floor—"Safe, and nobody saw us," exulted Marcia in a whisper.</p> + +<p>And then, without warning the light flashed on, and the culprits stood +revealed to the accusing eyes of Miss Charlton, the teacher on their +hall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>For a long minute they faced each other, the girls too dismayed and +startled to speak a word in their own behalf. At length Miss Charlton +said slowly and very distinctly,</p> + +<p>"I thought so. Marcia West and Rosalind Forrest, I shall report you +absent without leave. You will both go to Miss Harland's office after +chapel tomorrow morning. She will deal with you as she thinks best. Go +to your rooms now. Goodnight!"</p> + +<p>Thankful to be thus summarily dismissed, the girls scurried noiselessly +up two long flights of stairs and reached Rosalind's room without +meeting anyone. Every door was shut, the occupants of the rooms sleeping +safely and sweetly. How passionately Rosalind envied them. If she were +only safe in her own bed now, with no sense of wrongdoing to hound her, +no punishment awaiting her.</p> + +<p>"It's all your fault, Marcia," she sobbed, tearing her white dress in +her hurry to get it off. "I wish I had never listened to you—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My fault! Well, I like that. You were very willing to listen at the +time, it seems to me," returned Marcia crossly, pulling at the clasp of +the pearl necklace so roughly in her irritation that it snapped, and the +beautiful thing lay broken in her hand. "There! see what you made me +do," she added angrily.</p> + +<p>"I didn't," contradicted Rosalind, too exasperated to sympathize; and +presently she was in bed, with the covers pulled over her head.</p> + +<p>Frightened and ashamed, she remembered that she had not said her +prayers. She tried to say them in bed, but the first words of contrition +brought tears, and she cried herself to sleep.</p> + +<p>As for Marcia, she lay long awake, wondering what she should do with the +broken necklace she had "borrowed," in anticipation of this very party. +Finally she rose softly, and without turning on the light, found a small +box in the dresser drawer, placed the broken necklace in it, and opening +the door noiselessly, slipped past the line of trunks in the hall until +she came to the one she wanted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> She placed her little +tissue-paper-wrapped parcel behind it, and returned as noiselessly to +Rosalind's room, and slipped into bed beside her.... Daylight was +brightening the windows before she fell into a troubled doze.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter VIII</span></h2> + +<h3>IN MISS HARLAND'S OFFICE</h3> + + +<p>Two very frightened girls presented themselves at the door of Miss +Harland's office the next morning.</p> + +<p>They showed their feeling very differently. Rosalind was trembling and +weeping, the picture of grief; but Marcia's dark face was settled into +an expression of sullen determination not to speak. It might have been +carved out of stone as she stood with her lowering brow, and sombre dark +eyes fixed on the floor.</p> + +<p>Miss Harland looked at them very gravely and sadly. Marcia's eyes were +raised presently with a defiant and stubborn expression that was +unpromising. Rosalind did not look up at all. She was frankly crying. At +last Miss Harland spoke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am sorry to have to send for you, girls, but Miss Charlton has +reported that you were both absent without leave last night until a +later hour than I like my girls to be out—especially without +permission. I must ask you, therefore, to give me a full account of your +expedition—where you went, and with whom. I am sorry you had not +confidence enough in me to tell me about it, and to ask my leave; but +since you have not done so, I must require an explanation, Marcia, you +may speak."</p> + +<p>But Marcia remained stubbornly silent, only looking up from under her +dark brows with her sullen, defiant expression.</p> + +<p>After waiting a few minutes, Miss Harland turned to Rosalind.</p> + +<p>"You will not refuse to answer me, Rosalind? I think you have not found +me a hard mistress in the past, have you?"</p> + +<p>Rosalind could scarcely speak for tears. "Oh, no, Miss Harland. I'll +tell you—what I can—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you. Then tell me at whose house you were, and what took you +there?"</p> + +<p>"It was a party. They invited Marcia, and said she could bring a +friend."</p> + +<p>"And did she suggest that you come without permission?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. Miss Harland. She—she said she was glad you did not object—"</p> + +<p>Here Marcia gave a warning glance in Rosalind's direction, which was not +lost on Miss Harland. "There was no harm in it," she muttered.</p> + +<p>"Then, Marcia, if there was no harm, why not have come and told me, and +had my leave to go openly?"</p> + +<p>"I thought you wouldn't let us," in a hoarse, defiant voice.</p> + +<p>Miss Harland was silent an instant. How could she make this girl, with +her innately deceitful and secretive nature, understand where the wrong +lay?</p> + +<p>"And who escorted you there, and brought you back?" she asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rosalind answered, as Marcia seemed determined not to speak again.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Marshall's son and another boy; I don't know his name. At least, +they told us, but I can't remember."</p> + +<p>Miss Harland felt relieved. Rosalind's replies bore the stamp of truth. +In fact, as Miss Harland knew, she was too simple and straightforward to +be other than truthful. Her mind did not work fast enough to concoct a +falsehood; she was silly and easily led, but when it came to the point, +she would blunder out the truth. Marcia, on the other hand, was +extremely secretive, and would rather weave a tangled web of evasions +than give a clear and truthful answer. Miss Harland felt that there was +some confusion somewhere. Mrs. Marshall was a good friend of her. She +could be sure that she would not have countenanced any underhand +dealing. Why, then, did Marcia wish to conceal the fact of the +invitation? She was puzzled, but relieved that the affair was no worse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +than a schoolgirl's natural love of a secret adventure. But it would not +do to pass it over lightly.</p> + +<p>"And so you thought to deceive me, and slipped out without my +permission. Don't you see, Marcia, that <i>there</i> is where the harm lies? +I must not pass over such an infringement of the school regulations, and +so I must punish you both. You will be restricted for one month, or +until after Christmas. And the next time you wish to go out, come to me +frankly and ask permission. If possible, I will grant it; and if I do +not see fit, I shall expect you to submit cheerfully to my decision in +the matter. Now you may go to your classes."</p> + +<p>Marcia left the room without a word, looking like a thunder cloud. +Rosalind lingered, sobbing, to speak the words of contrition for which +Miss Harland had been waiting.</p> + +<p>"Please forgive me, Miss Harland. I'm sorry—so sorry, truly. I'll never +do it again. It wasn't a bit of fun, anyway, for I didn't like going +without leave, and I was scared all the time that somebody would +recognize us. I don't like doing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> things in that underhand way; it +frightens me. I knew all the time it was wrong, but I let Marcia +persuade me. It was my own fault, and I'm sorry. Forgive me."</p> + +<p>The pretty face was very pleading as Rosalind looked up with blue eyes +drowned in tears. Miss Harland's kiss of forgiveness was ready, as she +put her arm around the repentant sinner and drew her close into her kind +arms.</p> + +<p>"I forgive you, Rosalind, but there is Another whose pardon you must +ask," she said tenderly.</p> + +<p>"You mean God. I will, indeed, Miss Harland. I have already, and I will +again," promised Rosalind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter IX</span></h2> + +<h3>ADVENTURE OF THE LAMP</h3> + + +<p>Late one afternoon, a few days later, five of the Kindred Spirits +gathered in Kathy's room to talk things over, for the excitement over +the recent happenings in the school still ran high. Evelyn, Polly and +Joan sat on the bed, Rachel in the window seat, and Kathy on a low +velvet stool, known as the "Stool of Repentance." A light snow was +falling outside, making a pleasant contrast with the warmth and comfort +within.</p> + +<p>The girls were all talking at once, yet, mysteriously, each hearing what +all the others said. In the midst of the Babel the door was pushed +quietly open, and Rosalind slipped in, looking ashamed and sorry and +confused all at once; doubtful of her welcome, yet anxious to be back in +her old place among them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"May I come? I knocked, but you were all talking so hard, you didn't +hear me."</p> + +<p>"Of course you may. Here, sit down beside me on the 'stool of +repentance,'" said Kathy, making room for her.</p> + +<p>"It's the right place for me, I know," said Rosalind meekly. "I've been +horrid lately, girls, but I'm one of the 'K. S.' still, unless you've +turned me out."</p> + +<p>"We haven't. You deserted us," said Polly the blunt. "But we are glad to +see you back, Rosy," she added, frankly.</p> + +<p>"I'm dreadfully glad to be back, if you've all forgiven me. I've missed +you terribly. I don't exactly know how it happened. But I'm sorry. What +were you all talking about when I came in?" asked Rosalind, as +completely one of the group as if she had never left it.</p> + +<p>"Why, of these odd things that have been happening lately," explained +Joan. "You know, the disappearance of Kathy's ring and necklace, +and——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I found the necklace this morning," interrupted Kathy. "I meant to +tell you, but you haven't given me a chance."</p> + +<p>"Why, Kathy!" "Where?" "How?" A chorus arose.</p> + +<p>"When I moved my trunk out from the wall to sweep behind it," explained +Kathy, "I found a little parcel wrapped in tissue paper. I opened it, +thinking I might have dropped something there, and inside was my +necklace, all crushed together into a ball, and the clasp broken. If +anyone knows anything about it, explanations will be in order."</p> + +<p>The girls, silent in sheer amaze, looked at each other and then at +Rosalind, who gazed blankly at them in return.</p> + +<p>"I didn't put it there, girls, indeed. I don't know in the least how it +got there—"</p> + +<p>"But do you know anything about it?" asked Kathy.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't. It looks like the one Marcia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> wore the night of that +party, but I thought it was hers, and it may have been."</p> + +<p>"She said nothing about it to you?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word. Please believe me, girls."</p> + +<p>"Of course we believe <i>you</i>," said Joan, with an emphasis on the last +word.</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate, the necklace is found, and I am very glad. I will +have it mended, and take better care of it," said Kathy gravely. "I +haven't found my ring yet, nor has Rachel's pencil case been +discovered."</p> + +<p>"That is what I came about," said Rosalind, gathering courage. She +opened the handkerchief which she had held crumpled in her hand, and +showed the two missing articles under discussion, a locket and chain and +one or two other small articles. "I found them in my dresser drawer just +now, in a little box. Honestly, I don't know anything about them, or how +they got there."</p> + +<p>"How did it happen that you didn't find them before?" asked Rachel, +reclaiming her property.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I haven't cleared out my drawer lately, and the box was at the back, +under a pile of handkerchiefs and things. The drawer was in an awful +mess, and I was hunting for a collar," confessed Rosalind with a +shame-faced grin, for her untidiness was a proverb. "I brought it to you +as soon as I found it," she added, and there was truth in her face and +voice. The girls believed her.</p> + +<p>"But what does it mean?" asked Joan. "Don't cry, Rosy, we know you +didn't take them. You are silly enough sometimes, but you wouldn't +steal."</p> + +<p>The others assented readily. They all knew that, while Rosalind might be +led away for a time by folly and vanity, yet her nature was true and +sound, and she had a conscience. She knew quite well that she had been +led astray by her love of pleasure, and her penitence was sincere.</p> + +<p>"I can't understand it a bit," she began, when the door was opened +again—abruptly, and Alison<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> appeared—a pale and dismayed Alison with +wide frightened eyes.</p> + +<p>"Girls—have you hidden it on purpose, just to frighten me? Please don't +tease me, but tell me it is just a joke. I know you only meant to +frighten me!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Alison, what can you mean? We haven't done a thing," said Kathy, +speaking for them all.</p> + +<p>Alison flung herself across the bed, already sufficiently occupied by +three substantial girls. Joan caught her and pulled her into her lap.</p> + +<p>"Here," she said, shaking Alison roughly by the shoulder. "No hysterics, +or I'll slap you. Just tell us what is the matter."</p> + +<p>Thus importuned, Alison checked her sobs and raised a tragic face. "My +lamp! I'll never see it again!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense. How could you never see it again? Tell us. Is it broken?"</p> + +<p>"It's gone!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Gone! Not your beautiful Aladdin lamp, Alison? Why, it <i>couldn't</i> be +lost. What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>Alison pulled herself together and tried to speak collectedly.</p> + +<p>"I've been down in the library all the afternoon, taking notes for my +English; I came up to my room a few minutes ago, and as I looked round I +missed the lamp. You all know where it always stands, on my table. Well, +it wasn't there. And I thought—I hoped—that some of you might have +hidden it for a joke. If you didn't, then I don't know what to think."</p> + +<p>"What a ridiculous idea," said Polly indignantly. "A fine joke it would +be. What do you take us for?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't think what else could have become of it," said Alison, +beginning to cry again. Joan began to comfort her, but Kathy checked the +words on her lips.</p> + +<p>"Listen, Alison. Who was in your room while you were gone?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Only Marcia. I left her studying algebra."</p> + +<p>"And where is she now?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. She was gone when I came up."</p> + +<p>"And your lamp with her," added Joan. "I have an idea. Wait a minute, +all of you."</p> + +<p>She ran across the hall to Alison's room, returning promptly. "Come, all +of you, and see."</p> + +<p>The girls followed her, and stood puzzled in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Where are Marcia's things?" demanded Joan.</p> + +<p>A glance around the room showed it empty of all that had belonged to +Marcia. The girls looked at each other. Kathy was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>"We must find Marcia, girls—if she is to be found—and ask her if the +lamp was in the room when she left it."</p> + +<p>A hasty but thorough search established the certainty that Marcia was +not in any of the buildings. Neither, apparently, was the lamp. It was +almost supper time when the girls came together again to report +failure.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you think?" Alison asked.</p> + +<p>Joan, as usual, was the spokeswoman. "It looks to me as if she wanted to +go away, and has taken the lamp to sell it in order to get the money for +her ticket. She could not sell jewelry, of course, but a handsome lamp +might bring a good price. She has looked even more forbidding than usual +the last few days, and I know she hated school. She put back the other +things she 'borrowed,' and tried to throw the blame on Rosalind by +hiding them in her drawer. She knew Rosy was in Kathy's room with us, +and she had a clear field. So she carried out her plans, and ran away."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Kathy after a pause. "If Joan is right, we ought to report +Marcia's disappearance at once. If she has really run away from school, +Miss Harland will have to know it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter X</span></h2> + +<h3>DISCOVERIES</h3> + + +<p>The whole school was thrown into a ferment of excitement over the +discovery of Marcia's disappearance. No one exactly told anyone, but the +news flew from lip to lip with the speed of that little bird so famous +for its gossiping tendency. The school buildings were searched again, +with no result. No one had seen Marcia go out; yet she was certainly not +in the school. Miss Harland telephoned to all her friends in the town +with whom Marcia might be supposed to be staying, but no one had seen +her or heard from her.</p> + +<p>In great distress Miss Harland called up Marcia's father, Mr. West, who +was staying in a hotel in a nearby town, and asked him if his daughter +was with him, and to her intense relief, received a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> quick and +reassuring reply. Yes, his little girl had just arrived by the late +train. She was so homesick for her Daddy, she could not stay away from +him any longer, she told him.</p> + +<p>Could she speak to Marcia herself, Miss Harland asked. There was a brief +colloquy at the other end of the line, and then Mr. West spoke +courteously. Marcia had just gone to bed with a bad cold, and could not +talk that night. Tomorrow he would talk with her. And with a pleasant +"Goodnight," he hung up.</p> + +<p>Relieved from her fears for Marcia's safety, Miss Harland gladly +relinquished the search for the night, and the girls were forced to +restrain their excitement and go to bed. The next morning Mr. West came +in person to talk with Miss Harland. Marcia was still in bed, and too +hoarse to talk, so she had asked her father to explain to Miss Harland +why she had left school without a word to her. She could not bear to be +away from him, and hearing that he was about to leave for Chicago to +accept a position there, had hurried to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> join him, and being in haste to +catch the afternoon train, had not had time to take leave of her friends +and teachers. It was foolish, he said indulgently, but he had spoiled +his little girl, and could not be hard on her.</p> + +<p>Miss Harland asked him quietly whether Marcia had said anything of +having borrowed something of one of the girls. But Mr. West shook his +head. He would ask her, and let Miss Harland know; and politely bowed +himself out. Later, he telephoned to say that he had talked to Marcia, +and she had declared she had borrowed nothing of her friends. She and +her father were going to start for Chicago the same night, and she would +have no opportunity to say goodbye to the girls and Miss Harland. Her +cold was better, and she sent her love, and wished them all a merry +Christmas.</p> + +<p>Miss Harland returned a similar wish, and smiled as she hung up. She was +glad Marcia was safe with her father, and was not sorry to have seen the +last of her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>So Marcia left Briarwood, and with her departed something that had +spoiled the spirit of concord and happiness which usually prevailed in +the school. The girls were happy and at peace again. Joan returned to +her old place as Alison's roommate, and their room became as before +Marcia's coming, the rendezvous of the "Kindred Spirits."</p> + +<p>All would have been well with Alison, but for the grief for the loss of +her lamp. No trace of it had been found. There was no certainty that +Marcia had had anything to do with its vanishing, but Joan, always +practical and logical, maintained that since Marcia and the lamp had +been alone together the whole afternoon, and since the lamp, having no +feet, could not have left the room by itself, it was plain that Marcia +must have assisted its departure. Alison said nothing, but she grieved +deeply, with no hope of ever seeing her treasure again.</p> + +<p>The Christmas holidays were drawing near. The girls were busy with plans +for the two weeks'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> vacation, looking forward eagerly to going home, and +the teachers were equally anxious for the coming of the last day of +school.</p> + +<p>Alison felt as if she could scarcely wait. Her gifts for the family were +bought—the book she knew her father had long wanted but had not felt he +could afford to buy for himself; the new dress for her mother, who would +never get it for herself; the roller skates for Billy, the pretty scarf +for Floss, the doll for little Mat, who had not yet outgrown them.</p> + +<p>She hovered over them lovingly, fondling each package as she wrapped and +tied them with a lavish expenditure of tissue paper and ribbon. How she +blessed the memory of Aunt Justina, whose generosity had made her gifts +possible! "I <i>can't</i> wait," she said, and laughed at herself for her +impatience.</p> + +<p>The only flaw in her happiness was the prospect of having to confess at +home that she had lost her "Aladdin lamp."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>Two days before the 23rd, Joan, looking over her lists, made a +discovery. "Alison, I'll have to have some more cards. I forgot a whole +bunch of cousins out in Texas, who will be sure to send to me. I must +run down and get some more before they are all gone. Come with me. It's +snowing a little, but not too much."</p> + +<p>"All right. Run and get permission while I put on my hat and coat."</p> + +<p>In a few moments Joan came back with the required permission, and the +two girls set out, running down the steps of the terrace and out into +the snowy street. The snow was coming down more briskly, but they only +laughed and enjoyed the frolic as they ran down the steep hillside and +reached the level street on which the stores were. The "ten-cent store," +the shoppers' delight, was packed with late shoppers like themselves. +Joan struggled through the dense crowd at the counter, pushed and +jostled by the good-natured crowd, while Alison waited, amused and +interested.</p> + +<p>It was a lengthy ordeal, but at last Joan had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> found all she wanted and +was ready to go. It was nearly dark by this time, and the snow was +thicker, swirling about so as almost to blind them.</p> + +<p>"We must run, or we shall be late for supper," Joan said, and they made +what speed they could. Suddenly Alison stopped short before the +well-lighted window of a little jewelry and antique shop. "Look, Joan!"</p> + +<p>"What are you looking at? Do let's hurry," urged Joan.</p> + +<p>But Alison stood still. "Do you see? There, in Mr. Delany's window. Is +that my lamp, or isn't it?"</p> + +<p>Interested now, Joan stopped. "It is yours, or its twin," she decided. +"I didn't think there was but one."</p> + +<p>"I believe it <i>is</i> mine. I'm going in to ask about it," said Alison, and +turned into the warm bright little shop, followed by Joan.</p> + +<p>The proprietor was a friendly little Frenchman, well known to the girls, +who frequently purchased<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> their gifts there. He came forward, bowing and +rubbing his hands. "You want something for Christmas, is it not? I haf +many pretty things," he offered.</p> + +<p>"I came to ask about that lamp in the window, Mr. Delany," Alison said, +too eager to beat about the bush. "It is exactly like one I lost. Will +you tell me where you got it?"</p> + +<p>"That?" The old man looked disconcerted. "It was not meant to be in the +window at all; but my assistant, he has not much sense. It is not for +sale, Mademoiselle."</p> + +<p>"But how did you get it?" Alison persisted, and seeing her earnestness +he looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"It was sold to me, Mademoiselle, by a young lady, I think from your +school. I haf seen her pass with the other young demoiselles. She asked +me not to sell it again. She needed money, and if I would buy it from +her, she would come back and redeem it later. Her father was ill, very +ill, and she had no money to go to him. She was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> coming back to get it +later. So I lent her the money on it—but I haf not seen her yet."</p> + +<p>The girls looked at each other. So, Alison's generous heart said, +perhaps Marcia <i>did</i> mean only to borrow the lamp. Perhaps she really +meant to return it; but in the mean time, what if it should be sold by +mistake, or even stolen before that time came? Should she risk leaving +it in Mr. Delany's shop, even overnight?</p> + +<p>"Mr. Delany," she said, "I know all you say is true. I know the young +lady who sold you the lamp, or borrowed money on it. She was my roommate +at school, and she has gone to her father, as she said. That part is +true. But I want my lamp back at once, to take home for Christmas. Can I +get it from you now?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Delany looked puzzled and doubtful. "I promised the young +demoiselle—" he began.</p> + +<p>"If she were here, she would give it back to me. If Miss Harland comes +to you herself and explains about it, will you let me have it?" Alison +asked persuasively. "I will pay you, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> course, just what you advanced +to the young lady."</p> + +<p>"But certainly, if Mademoiselle Harland herself assures me that it is +all right," agreed Mr. Delany affably.</p> + +<p>"Then please put it away for a little while until she comes," begged +Alison.</p> + +<p>They flew home to report the discovery and the difficulty to Miss +Harland, and late though it was, she went with them at once to the +little Frenchman's shop. Mr. Delany was so impressed by her quiet +dignity and authority that he readily parted with the lamp for the sum +he had paid to Marcia for it, considering that he had come out very well +on the transaction at that.</p> + +<p>And in triumph Alison carried her treasure home, feeling that her +Christmas was assured.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chapter XI</span></h2> + +<h3>CLASS PROPHECY</h3> + + +<p>Christmas came, with all its anticipated joys, and went all too swiftly +into the past, leaving behind it a precious store of happy memories.</p> + +<p>The New Year found the girls of Briarwood back at school, fresh from +their holiday and ready for the hardest work of the year. The days were +well filled with study and play. New friendships were formed and old +ones strengthened, and a spirit of happiness and of honest comradeship +prevailed in the school as the girls worked together.</p> + +<p>Marcia was gone, and no one regretted her absence. She never returned to +redeem the lamp or, as Miss Harland had half hoped she would, to offer +an apology and explanation of why she had "borrowed" Alison's lamp, and +the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> pieces of property belonging to others, which she had +appropriated without leave, and returned in so cavalier a fashion. They +heard of her now and then in the course of the next few years—sometimes +in the lists of schools in the different cities to which her father's +business took him; later, she appeared occasionally in the society pages +of the papers.</p> + +<p>Later still came the announcement of her marriage to a young man well +known in society circles; after which she was heard of no more, and the +trouble she had caused in the school was forgotten in the other +interests that had taken its place.</p> + +<p>The Sophomore, Junior and Senior years of the "Kindred Spirits" and +their friends were successfully passed, and at length came the day, so +long worked for and looked forward to, when, with their school honors +won, the members of the Senior class were ready to throw off the cap and +gown, receive their diplomas and step forth as full-fledged graduates, +equipped for life in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> their various ways, each hoping to fulfill her +ambition and to realize the cherished hope that lay nearest her heart.</p> + +<p>The "Kindred Spirits" were gathered for the last time in Alison's and +Joan's room, to look over and comment on the new Annual, <i>Briarwood +Bells</i>. The class history was pronounced fairly good. In their Freshman +year they had made good in athletics. As Sophomores, there had been some +drawbacks in the first half of the year, but these had been made up by +the work of the latter half. Their "verdant days" were past, and they +realized the importance of faithful work.</p> + +<p>With the Junior year came new interests and hopes. The principal event +in this year, in the girls' memories, was the "Junior-Senior banquet," +the end and aim of existence for the time being. And now, with the close +of the Senior year the class had won its laurels, concluded the +Historian; and one sensed the long breath of relief with which she +finished her task.</p> + +<p>"Pretty good, on the whole," Joan pronounced.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> "Nothing brilliant, but I +think Miss Harland will consider that we have upheld the honor of +Briarwood."</p> + +<p>Kathy turned the pages, and then suddenly closed the book.</p> + +<p>"Girls, I have an idea. Before we read the class prophecy, let us each +tell our plans and ambitions for the future, and see how they tally with +what Helen has foretold for us—"</p> + +<p>"And let us meet here in this very room, ten years from now, and see how +many of her prophecies have come true." That was Joan's suggestion.</p> + +<p>"All right," assented Kathy. "Who will begin?"</p> + +<p>"You. You started this thing," said Rachel.</p> + +<p>"Very well. I expect to teach for a few years, and then to be a trained +nurse. Now you, Alison."</p> + +<p>"I want to do a lot of things, but most of all, I want to come back here +and teach at Briarwood," said Alison earnestly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good! Then you'll be here to welcome us when we meet in ten years," +Joan applauded. "As for me, I'm going to fly.... You will hear of me +some day as the famous woman aviator."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to travel to the ends of the earth," was Polly's +contribution. "Perhaps I'll fly with Polly."</p> + +<p>It was Rachel's turn. "I'm not so ambitious as Polly and Jo. Mine is to +be the best teacher of Domestic Science that I know how to be. I +specialized in that, you know."</p> + +<p>"Fine! Mine is to teach music and play at big concerts," said Evelyn. +"Now, Rosalind, how are you going to distinguish yourself?"</p> + +<p>Rosalind smiled and blushed all over her pretty flower-like face.</p> + +<p>"Why—I hadn't quite made up my mind. I guess I'll just have a good time +for a while, and then be—a lawyer."</p> + +<p>There was a shout of laughter. Kathy had been writing, and now read her +notes: "A teacher at Briarwood; a flyer; a great traveler; a Domestic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +Science teacher; a musician; a lawyer; and a trained nurse. Most of the +professions seemed to be represented. Briarwood will have cause to be +proud of us. Now let us see what the Class Prophet has to say of us."</p> + +<p>She turned the pages to one headed</p> + +<p class="center"> +CLASS PROPHECY +</p> + +<p>and began to read. The "prophecy" purported to be items from newspapers +of the future, and some of the extracts are of interest to our readers. +The first ran thus:</p> + +<p>"Misses Polly Worthington and Evelyn Kingsley have recently opened their +Music Studio. Miss Worthington will give instruction in voice and Miss +Kingsley in piano. Both young ladies distinguished themselves in these +branches at college."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"The public will be glad to hear that the best equipped hospital in the +South will shortly be opened, with Miss Alison Fair as head nurse."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p><hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"After finishing her course in Math. at the University of —— in which +she did brilliantly, Miss Rachel Cameron has accepted a position as +Math. teacher at her Alma Mater."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"The best seller of the month is a novel by Miss Katherine Bertram, who +is winning for herself an enviable name as a writer. Her former +classmates will read her work with interest and pleasure."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"A recent item in a missionary magazine tells us that Miss Joan +Wentworth has decided to devote her life and talents to the +missionfield. She will sail this week for China."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Miss Rosalind Forrest, the fairest ornament of her class in college, is +deeply interested in Social Service work, and is doing valuable work +along this line."</p> + +<p class="right"> +"Helen May, Historian."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>Kathy looked up. "So there is our future, girls, as our Historian has +foretold it. We never know. Perhaps some of us may follow the paths she +has pointed out. But in any case we can only do our very best in +whatever place in life we may find ourselves, content and humbly glad if +we merit the Lord's commendation, 'Well done, good and faithful +servant—'"</p> + +<p>There was a pause as Kathy stopped speaking. She had not meant to +preach, but the words had come to her instinctively, and they touched a +responsive chord in their hearts. The young faces were serious as +thoughts deeper than their merry surface banter made themselves felt.</p> + +<p>A sweet-toned bell called them to supper. The spring evening was +falling, soft and dewy, over the gray old walls and terraces of +Briarwood. Tomorrow they would separate, never to meet again as +care-free schoolgirls; and the shadow of the parting lay on their faces +and hearts as they rose to go down. It was Joan who cheerfully said,</p> + +<p>"To meet again—this day ten years!"</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Briarwood Girls, by Julia Lestarjette Glover + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIARWOOD GIRLS *** + +***** This file should be named 34894-h.htm or 34894-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/9/34894/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Josephine Paolucci +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/34894-h/images/cover.jpg b/34894-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..66ab3ef --- /dev/null +++ b/34894-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/34894-h/images/title.jpg b/34894-h/images/title.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c238171 --- /dev/null +++ b/34894-h/images/title.jpg diff --git a/34894.txt b/34894.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a845fa1 --- /dev/null +++ b/34894.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2234 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Briarwood Girls, by Julia Lestarjette Glover + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Briarwood Girls + +Author: Julia Lestarjette Glover + +Release Date: January 9, 2011 [EBook #34894] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIARWOOD GIRLS *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Josephine Paolucci +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + + + +BRIARWOOD GIRLS + +[Illustration] + +BY + +JULIA LESTARJETTE GLOVER + +"_I follow, follow, sure to meet the sun, +And confident that what the future yields +Will be the right, unless myself be wrong._" + +THE BOOK CONCERN +COLUMBUS, OHIO + + +MADE IN +Columbus + +U.S.A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I. Alison's Wonderful Lamp 5 + +II. Briarwood College 19 + +III. Some of the Girls 25 + +IV. Essays and Essays 31 + +V. The Tangled Skein 38 + +VI. Mysteries 47 + +VII. Without Leave 54 + +VIII. In Miss Harland's Office 64 + +IX. Adventure of the Lamp 70 + +X. Discoveries 79 + +XI. Class Prophecy 89 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ALISON'S WONDERFUL LAMP + + +"Mother, isn't there _any_ way for me to go back?" + +It was the first of June, and Alison Fair, just returned home for +vacation at the end of her Freshman year, found herself confronted with +the staggering knowledge that she could not return to Briarwood to +finish her college course, so well and happily begun. + +It was her mother who told her, breaking the hard news as gently as she +could, that the pressure of hard times and financial stress made it +impossible for her father to think of sending her back in the fall. She +told it very tenderly and lovingly, making it clear that only stern +necessity compelled them to deny her the opportunity; but the tenderness +could not alter the hard fact. + +"You are not more disappointed than we are, darling," she said. "I would +not have told you so soon, but it would be worse if I would leave you +under the impression that you can return to Briarwood College. You will +be brave, and try not to distress your father by showing your +disappointment too much. I know how hard it is, dear. But be patient, +and perhaps some way will open. You are only sixteen, you can afford to +wait a little." + +Alison swallowed the lump in her throat and said nothing. Wait--yes--but +then she could not go on with her class--with Polly and Evelyn and Joan +and the rest. And next year they would be Sophomores--and the fun and +study would go on, and she would not be there; she would be out of it +all. No other girls would be just the same as those girls, her chums of +the Freshman year. And then she asked her one despairing question: + +"Mother, isn't there _any_ way for me to go back?" + +But even as she asked it, she knew the answer, and gave it herself. "No, +I know there isn't. Father would send me if he could. I'll try to be +patient, mother. Don't worry. Don't mind, mother--" seeing that her +mother's tears were flowing. "I'll try not to think of it or talk of it +any more. I've had one year, anyway. And maybe I can take a +correspondence course, or something--" + +She tried to speak bravely, but it was more than she could manage just +now, and she hastily kissed her mother, and ran away to have it out by +herself. + +The children thought it strange that "Sister," suddenly stopped talking +of her college experiences and the pranks and frolics of the girls. To +their questions and demands to hear more, she would reply quietly, +"There isn't anything more to tell you, Floss. I guess I talked myself +out those first few days. Now I want to hear all you have been doing +during all the months I've been away." + +Which effectually diverted the attention of Floss and Billy and Mat and +opened a flood of reminiscences of their own school life, to which she +tried to listen patiently. + +The summer dragged on. Alison had looked forward to it--and beyond +it--with such eager pleasure; but the thought that she was not to go +back seemed to take all the zest from life. Letters came from the +girls--from Evelyn in the mountains, from Polly at the seaside, from +Joan and Katherine in Europe--all telling of the good times they were +having, and looking forward to their reunion at Briarwood in September. +And she would not be there. Trying not to show her disappointment too +much, not to distress her father and mother, was as far as Alison could +get. She could not look forward; there seemed nothing to look forward +to. And to look back to the happy days of last winter was more than she +could bear. + +So the days passed, and grew into weeks. August came, with glowing sun +and deep blue skies. Summer was at its glorious height. One bright +morning Billy came whistling in with the mail; a letter for Alison from +Joan, her roommate of last winter, and a long, legal-looking envelope +for Mr. Fair. Both became absorbed, and Alison, deep in Joan's news, +scarcely heard when her father said gravely, + +"Aunt Justina is dead." + +"Who is Aunt Justina?" asked Floss with some curiosity, wondering why +father looked so "funny." + +"An old great-aunt of mine, who lived far away, in New England. You +children have scarcely heard of her, perhaps, but I used often to be at +her house, as a boy, in my holidays. Now she is dead, and her lawyer has +sent me a copy of her will. Wait, I will read it." + +He unfolded a stiff typewritten document. All the family were listening +now. Alison folded up Joan's sheet and looked up, interested. + +"Did she leave you anything, father?" Floss inquired. "Was she very +rich?" + +"No, not very. She was eccentric, and I never expected anything from +her. No, she has left me nothing. Most of her money was left to +charities; but she has left you, Alison, a bequest. Whether it is of any +value or not we cannot tell until we see it. Here it is in the will: 'To +my great niece, Alison Fair, my brass lamp which stands on my dresser, +with a letter, which I direct shall be sent to her along with it.' + +"The lawyer says: 'The lamp has been forwarded by express, the letter +being enclosed with it.' It will probably arrive today, and you can see +for yourself what Aunt Justina's legacy is like. It may be valuable; she +had a fancy for collecting antiques, and she traveled a good deal in her +younger days. On the other hand, it may be merely an old lamp on which +she set some fictitious value. So don't raise your expectations too +high." + +The thought crossed Alison's mind: "I wish she had left me its value in +money instead;" but she did not say it aloud. It seemed unsuitable to +think of money when Aunt Justina was just dead, though she could not be +expected to grieve over-much for an aged relative whom she had never +seen. + +Later in the day the expressman brought a box for Alison. The family +crowded around, all eager to help in unpacking the legacy. It was +beautifully packed, and as layer after layer of wrappings was lifted +off, curiosity rose to an almost irrepressible height. Finally the lamp +itself came into view, a beautiful thing of shining brass; ancient +Venetian work, hammered and beaten into a shape of exquisite loveliness +by artist fingers, long since dust. + +A cry of admiration arose as Alison lifted it from the last swathings +and held it up to view. The letter from Aunt Justina was tied to one +side, and she unfastened it with fingers that shook a little. It was a +message from the dead. It was so strange that that old lady, so far +away, should have thought of her and sent her this beautiful thing, and +written her a letter with her own trembling hand. With an odd feeling of +unreality she unfolded the letter and read it aloud to her excited +family. + + "My dear great-niece, Alison," it began, "You have never + seen me, perhaps you have never heard of me, until you will + read this, after my death; and you will think it strange, + perhaps, that I should take enough interest in you to send + you my favorite lamp. Your father was my favorite nephew, + and I had intended to make him my heir; but he displeased me + by taking his own way in life, instead of the one I had + planned for him. He had a right, I suppose, to do as he + thought best, and I was wrong to try to force him to do as I + wished. Whether he was wise or not, time will show. I am a + lonely old woman with none of my own near me in my last + years. + + "I declared I would leave his name out of my will, and I + must keep my word; but I have followed his career closely + enough to know something of his family and circumstances. + And so, though I am leaving him nothing, I want to leave to + his eldest daughter a small token of my interest and + affection. Take it, my dear, as an old woman's freak. I + bought it long ago in a quaint old shop in Venice. It is not + an heirloom, and if you should some day wish to sell it, you + may do so. On one condition, however: That is, that you keep + it, _as it is_, until you are in some strait when no other + help is available. Then, if you have exhausted all other + resources, fill the lamp and light it. It may cast a light + on your perplexities. + + "Until then, keep it bright in remembrance of + + "Your affectionate aunt, + + "Justina Laurence." + + + +A chorus of exclamations broke forth as Alison ceased reading. "What a +strange old lady! Father, was she really angry with you for not doing as +she wanted? And what was it?" + +"She wanted me to go into politics, backed by her money; but I had no +fancy for a politician's career, and I refused. Poor Aunt Justina! She +was a very ambitious woman, and would have liked to see me President. +Well, I am glad she felt more kindly at the last. I never wanted her +money; but I am glad she has remembered you, daughter," said Mr. Fair, +examining Alison's legacy with interest. + +"Keep it bright! Why, you can see your face in it now," cried Floss, +peering into its shining sides. "Sister, I don't see how you can wait to +'fill and light it.' I would like to see it lighted right away." + +"But she says, 'Keep it as it is until you are in some strait,'" said +Alison thoughtfully. "I would rather do just as she wished." + +"So it will be just an ornament to stand on your table," said Billy +disgustedly. "What a cranky old lady! What good will it do you?" + +But Alison was not listening to him. A thought had flashed into her +mind, and glancing at her mother she read the same thought in her eyes. +Quietly she lifted her "wonderful lamp" and placed it in the center of +the table for all to admire. + +Then she went away to her own room to think it over. Was she ever likely +to be in a much greater strait than she was now? And would not Aunt +Justina want her to go to college? If the lamp was to shed light on her +perplexities, surely now was the time it was needed. + +A tap at the door heralded her mother. "What is my daughter thinking +of?" she asked, smiling. + +"Of the same thing you are, mother. I see it in your face. Would it be +against Aunt Justina's wishes, to light the lamp now? She must have +meant _something_. And--if there is nothing more, after all--if it does +not 'shed light on my perplexities,' at any rate, it is valuable in +itself. But--I could hardly need its help more than I do now." + +"I thought of that, too, Alison, and I think it could not be wrong to +investigate. Shall we fill it now, and wait until dark to light it?" + +The question settled, they all gathered round while Alison unscrewed the +old-fashioned burner of the lamp. "Maybe there is some magic about it," +she said, laughing nervously. "I feel like Aladdin. Shall I try rubbing +it first? But it doesn't need any rubbing to brighten it." + +The screw was a little stiff, but presently it turned. She removed it +and peered curiously in the top. + +"It is stuffed full of paper," she said. "More packing, I suppose. Wait +till I pull it out." + +"Careful," her father said, as she drew out a folded paper. He took it +from her, and waited while she drew out another and another of the thin +folded slips, until he had a handful. The bowl was large, and held a +good many of those folded papers. When Alison had drawn out the last +one, and turned to him, quite pale with excitement, he placed the packet +in her hand. + +"Alison, child, it is two thousand dollars!" + +"Two thousand! Oh, father! Oh, mother!" + +The children wondered why "Sister" should cry because her wonderful lamp +was full of money; but her mother understood. + +"Only I don't feel that it ought to be mine," she said presently. "It +ought to be yours, father. Please take it. I am sure Aunt Justina meant +it for you. It is too much money for me to spend." + +"No, little daughter. I think Aunt Justina knew very well what she was +about. She wanted me to know that she had forgiven my obstinacy, and so +she left it to my daughter. You may use it with a clear conscience. You +have borne the disappointment bravely, and we are glad you should have +this bequest." + +He kissed her, and Alison hid her face on his shoulder for a moment, +quite overcome with joy and surprise and gratitude, and then ran away to +her own room without another word. + +"Mother," she said later, when it had been talked over and decided that +she was to go back to Briarwood in September, "I wish Aunt Justina +could know how happy she has made me." + +"Perhaps she does; and if so, I am sure it would please her to know that +you are making a wise and good use of her legacy; all the more because +these weeks of trial and disappointment have taught you the value of the +school years; and the discipline of patience will have made you stronger +and better able to use them wisely." + +"Oh, I will; and I hope Aunt Justina knows," breathed Alison, dimming +the shining surface of her wonderful lamp with a few happy tears. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BRIARWOOD COLLEGE + + +Briarwood College was built on a terraced hillside, the buildings rising +one above the other, the lowest, or Main Building, on a level with the +street that ran at right angles with the hillside, while the topmost, +known as "Hillview," crowned the summit and commanded a view of near and +distant hills, blue, purple and opal-tinted, melting into the sky. + +The Main Building had originally been a handsome old dwelling house, +whose spacious rooms were now used as parlors, library, offices and +teachers' rooms. There were wide, beautiful porches in front and back, +and massive stone steps, ending in great stone urns overflowing with +bright flowers at the foot of each flight. These steps led down into +wide shady gardens, where the girls walked up and down with arms +intertwined, or sat and studied and talked on rustic seats under the +trees on the shady lawns. + +The other buildings, Briarley Hall, Elmtree Hall and Hillview, were +devoted to class rooms and dormitories, each hall being presided over by +a teacher. + +In these pleasant courts of learning Alison Fair arrived on a golden +September afternoon, and was warmly welcomed by Miss Harland, the +Principal. + +"We are so glad to have you back, dear," Miss Harland said, kissing the +girl affectionately. "I was rather afraid from what you wrote some time +ago, that you might not return to us this year." + +"Oh, so was I, Miss Harland. I was dreadfully afraid of it. I was so +disappointed, I hardly realize yet that it is all right, and I am really +here. And may I have my same old room, and Joan for roommate?" + +"The same room, dear, but I am so sorry about Joan. You see, she has not +come yet, and there was no one to claim that room, so I had to put a new +girl in with you. We have a very large school this year, and the +dormitories are overflowing. I really had no other place for her. You +may be able to change later, if you don't find her congenial. You won't +mind?" + +Alison did mind; but after the first pang of disappointment, she spoke +cheerfully. "It's all right, Miss Harland. I'm so thankful to be here at +all, I shan't grumble at anything. Joan _is_ coming, isn't she?" in +sudden alarm. + +"Oh, yes, I expect her this evening. Her father is driving her through +the country. Run up, then, and get acquainted with your new roommate. +Marcia West, is her name. She looked homesick." + +Homesick at Briarwood! Alison marvelled as she ran lightly up the +familiar staircase and along the corridor to the end room, which had +been hers and Joan Wentworth's last year. She was so happy to find +herself here again; but then she was not a new girl, and she knew there +were many freshmen lying on their beds at this moment and crying their +eyes out for homesickness. Well, it would not last long, one soon grew +accustomed to the pleasant routine of school days. + +She reached her door and tapped lightly. It was opened, after an +instant's delay, and the "new girl" stood there in silence, still +holding the door and looking at her with an expression which, if not +exactly forbidding, was certainly not encouraging. She was about +Alison's own age, rather tall and slight, with dark, sombre eyes and +dark heavy hair worn low on her forehead. The heavy hair and the +unsmiling eyes gave her face a lowering look that was not attractive at +first sight. She merely stood there without speaking, until Alison said +pleasantly, + +"Good evening. I am Alison Fair, and you are my new roommate. Miss +Harland told me you were here. I'm sorry to be late. I hope you like our +room." + +"Pretty, though it's not very large for two," said the girl +nonchalantly. "I came in this morning. I've been unpacking." + +It was evident, as Alison entered and looked about her. Marcia had +unpacked her trunk, which stood open in the hall beside their door, and +had strewed her belongings about as freely as though she had expected to +occupy the room alone. + +It was a fairly good-sized room, containing two single beds, and a +dresser, chair and small table for each girl. A roomy closet was well +supplied with hangers and shoe-racks. A glance showed Alison that Marcia +had placed her dresser and table close to the window and strewn them +with photographs and toilet articles in lavish profusion. Also, that she +had taken the best chair. + +"I changed things a little. You don't mind, do you?" she asked, watching +Alison. + +"Oh, no, it's your room as well as mine," Alison answered +good-humoredly, and proceeded to open her own trunk, which had been +brought up and placed in the hall, according to custom, and to arrange +her part of the room. Marcia had encroached on her side of the closet, +she noticed, but she said nothing, only hanging up a few dresses and +leaving the rest in her trunk. She placed a few favorite books between a +pair of bronze bookends, her father's parting gift; laid her Bible +beside them, and her pretty new portfolio her mother had given her; and +finally set her cherished lamp on the dresser. She had scarcely +finished, and stood surveying the effect, when there was a rush of +little feet in the corridor, the door was flung open, and a small, +rosy-faced curly-haired girl rushed in to fling herself into Alison's +arms. + +"Oh, Alison, you darling thing! I'm so thrilled to be back, and in our +same old room, too." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +SOME OF THE GIRLS + + +"Lovely to be back," said Alison, warmly kissing the pretty childish +face," but you are too late for us to be roommates, Jo. I have another +roommate, a new girl, Marcia West. Marcia, this is Joan Wentworth, who +roomed with me last year." + +Joan shook back her light fluffy hair, looking rather taken aback for an +instant, as Marcia emerged from the closet, where she had been +invisible, arranging a rack of shoes. "How do you do?" Marcia said +briefly. "I didn't know I was taking your room. Miss Harland put me in +here. She said there wasn't any other room, or I'd go somewhere else. +I'm sorry." + +"Oh, it's all right," Joan answered, recovering her equanimity quickly. +"I'll go and see if Kathy can take me in, for the night, anyway. She's +just across the hall, and she's by herself. I'll look her up." + +She was gone, leaving Alison and Marcia to shake down together as best +they could. Conversation languished. Alison tried to talk about her +school work. It developed that they would be in the same classes; but +Marcia seemed to have no enthusiasms. She had come to school because she +was made to, and she looked forward to nothing but getting through. + +Finally she said she was tired and lay down on her bed; and seeing +presently that she had fallen asleep, Alison slipped out of the room +across the hall to the room opposite, which was Katherine Bertram's. +Katherine was better off financially than most of the girls. Her mother +was dead and she had traveled and lived in hotel rooms for several years +previously, and so her room at school was more like a home than anything +she had known since her mother's death. It was prettily furnished, and +her pictures and rugs were better and more luxurious than most +schoolgirls' rooms could boast. Nevertheless, she was known as "a good +fellow," and was popular with the girls. + +Alison's tap at the door was answered by a cordial "Come in," and she +entered, to find Katherine and Joan curled up on the bed, talking +vigorously, but both sprang up to greet her joyously. She found a seat +on a velvet-covered stool beside the couch, and Joan resumed her +interrupted grumble. + +"I'm just too disappointed and cross for anything," she lamented. "Here +I came flying back to our old quarters like--like a homing pigeon, only +to find my place taken by that cross-looking thing. I don't believe you +are going to like her a bit, Alison. She doesn't look as if she would +fit in." + +"It is too bad; but then it gives me Joan for a roommate, which is a +silver lining," said Katherine equably. "I didn't know there was a +chance of your losing your place, or I would have spoken to Miss Harland +and tried to get one of the old girls to change with her." + +"Oh, well, it's only the first day; maybe something will happen; or we +may like her better when we know her," said Alison hopefully. + +"And in the mean time, Joan is welcome with me as long as she likes. +I'll ask for a cot for her. There's plenty of room," said Katherine +hospitably. "We shall be close by and can get together whenever we like. +So cheer up, Jo, it won't be so bad." + +They fell into an animated discussion of school matters, which was +presently interrupted by a tumultuous rush outside, the door was opened +without ceremony, and in flocked the rest of the "Kindred +Spirit,"--Evelyn and Polly, boon companions, unlike as they were; +studious Rachel; Rosalind, the school beauty, whose golden head and +apple-blossom face scarcely suggested books or scholarship. These with +Alison, Katherine and Joan, made up the seven "Kindred Spirits," an +informal little club of loyal friends. Their favorite gathering place +last year had been the room occupied by Alison and Joan, and +consternation reigned when the news spread that the newcomer had +usurped Joan's place. + +"It won't be the same thing at all," complained Polly, flinging herself +back on the bed in a paroxysm of disappointment. + +Katherine poured oil on the troubled waters. "You can meet here just as +well. And maybe, as Alison says, we shall like her when we know her. +Don't let us judge her too hardly beforehand." + +"So charitable, Kathy always is," murmured Evelyn. + +Rachel changed the subject. + +"Well--did you know we have a new English teacher?" + +"No. What's her name?" + +"Miss Burnett--Cecil Burnett. She's lovely. And she's to be at our +table." + +"Are Helen Yorke and Brenda Thornton back?" + +"Yes. I saw them this morning. As musical as ever. Oh, is that the +supper bell? It can't be six o'clock already." + +"It seems it can--for it is," said Alison, consulting her wrist watch +and finding it correspond with the bell. "I must go and see if my +roommate is awake, and take her down to supper. Please be nice to her, +girls. I don't know yet whether she is cross or just shy." She gave the +group an appealing look as she left the room, and Katherine answered it +with a reassuring smile. + +But Joan shrugged her shoulders and made a face. She had not been +prepossessed in favor of the new girl. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ESSAYS AND ESSAYS + + +The dining room was a large, square, light room, filled with tables, +each holding twelve. Alison piloted her roommate to a seat next to +herself, at her old table, where Evelyn, Katherine and Joan were already +seated, the rest of the group being at the next table. The new English +teacher, Miss Burnett, presided--a pretty girl, not many years older +than her prospective pupils. Brown-haired and brown-eyed, with a deep, +soft rose color in her cheeks, she was exactly the type that girls a few +years younger would naturally fall in love with on sight. + +Accordingly, the group of girls at her table, running true to form, +promptly "fell for her" with schoolgirl unanimity; copied the way she +did her hair, whether it was becoming to them or not, practiced her +engaging smile, and even copied her clothes, as far as possible. Brown +was her favorite color--a deep, rich brown that suited her eyes and hair +and blended with the rose glow in her cheeks. This shade of brown +promptly became popular. + +Life at Briarwood soon settled into an accustomed routine of classes, +sports and recreation, and the days were full and busy. Miss Burnett had +an eager class, more interested in the study of their mother tongue than +they had ever been before, simply because she taught it. + +Toward Thanksgiving she gave them an essay contest, and Alison and her +roommate became more congenial as they discussed subjects and titles. +But their tastes and ideas were very different. + +"I don't believe I could write anything worth reading, but I'll try, +because Miss Burnett wants us to," said Alison, to whom the study of +English was genuine enjoyment. + +"And I'll try because I've got to," responded Marcia with a wry face. + +"Just let her hear you saying _got_, that's all," laughed Alison, +reaching for her book. + +"I hate all lessons, but I believe I hate English worst of any," said +Marcia crossly. "I don't see why we have to study it." + +"Why did you come to college, if you hate it so?" asked Alison +curiously. + +"Oh, because one must do something, I suppose." + +"But why do you take English?" + +"Because the rest of you do, and I don't like to be left out. Besides, +Miss Harland made me. Are you going to track meet this afternoon?" + +"Yes." + +"Then, will you lend me your English Literature? Rosalind borrowed mine +and hasn't returned it." + +"And welcome. There it is on the table." + +"Thank you. I'll work while you play, like the ant and the grasshopper," +said Marcia more graciously than usual. + +It was a brilliant autumn afternoon, and most of the girls were tempted +out. The hall was deserted, save for Marcia, scribbling hard in her +room. + +"Finished already?" asked Alison, coming in just in time for supper, +flushed and breathless after a basketball game. + +Marcia was just putting away her writing materials. She looked up +nonchalantly. "Almost. I've only to correct and copy it." + +"You've had a grand quiet time to work. I wish I had been as +industrious; but it was so lovely out. We had a splendid practice." + +Nothing was talked of in school for the next few days but the essays, +which were to be handed in the week before Thanksgiving, and the prize +winner would be announced on the day before--"to give us extra reason to +be thankful," said Joan. + +Katherine had written a scholarly essay, giving a sort of bird's-eye +view of the entire field of English literature, concisely expressed. +Privately, she believed herself sure of the prize, but no such +self-laudatory opinion was hinted at in her dignified demeanor. + +Joan had skipped airily over the earlier periods, coming rapidly down to +present-day fiction in the space of four pages. "She'll like mine +because it's short, anyway," she congratulated herself. + +Most of the other girls had tried, because Miss Burnett wished it. Some +of the efforts were better, some worse, than others, some impossible. +Alison, coming from her history class one morning, suddenly realized +that the time was almost up, and her essay was still unwritten. A few +unfinished beginnings, rejected as unsatisfactory, were all she had to +show. + +She had a vacant period next, and she took a sudden resolve. "I'll write +that essay in the next forty-five minutes, or know the reason," she told +herself sternly, and going to her room she posted a "busy" sign on the +door as a gentle hint that visitors were not desired, and fell to work. + +As she opened her English Literature, several half-sheets of paper fell +out, each scribbled over with her unsuccessful beginnings.... She +laughed and dropped them into the wastebasket. Then she picked up a +folded paper that she did not recognize. When had she written an +exercise in blue ink? She opened it, puzzled. What did it mean? An +essay, apparently, in Rosalind's unmistakable writing, which was like +herself, pretty, but entirely characterless. It was entitled "_The River +of Time._" Plainly, it was Rosalind's idea of an essay on English +literature, which she described as a river flowing down the ages, on +whose waters were found lovely pearls. These pearls were represented by +the names of a few outstanding writers, but after a few inadequate +sentences Rosalind's imagination had apparently failed her. + +Realizing after a glance at the first page that it was not meant for her +eyes, Alison resolutely folded the paper, smiling. Literature was not +Rosalind's strong point, but she was so pretty and winning that one +forgave and smiled, as at the efforts of a child. + +"Poor little Rosalind," she thought, and put the paper aside, to be +given back to the writer at the first opportunity. Then she fell to work +on her own essay, and had finished her first copy by the time the period +ended. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TANGLED SKEIN + + +"May I come in?" asked Rosalind's voice, and in response to Alison's +cordial invitation, she entered, a perplexed cloud on her face. + +"I'm so worried, Alison," she began. "I saw your 'busy' sign, so I +waited. I thought you might help me." + +"Was it about this?" Alison held up the folded paper. "I've been worried +about it, too." + +Rosalind pounced on the paper. "Oh, that's it. It's my essay. Where in +the world did you find it?" + +"It was in my English book. How it got there I can't imagine. It was +certainly not there when I saw the book last. I lent it to Marcia. She +said you had borrowed hers, and she didn't like to go and rummage in +your room while you were out----" + +"She wouldn't have had to rummage. It was right on the table," said +Rosalind simply. "Did you read this, Alison? It's dreadful--" + +"I couldn't help seeing the title and the first few sentences, but of +course I didn't read any further. Honestly, Rosalind, I am puzzled to +guess how your essay could have got into my book. Can you think?" + +Rosalind frowned and puckered up her sunny face in a great mental +effort. + +"I haven't any book, myself," she confessed. "Mine fell out of the +window, and I forgot to pick it up, and it rained in the night, and +ruined it. It was so sopping wet, it just fell to pieces. So I've been +getting along by borrowing the other girls' books. I borrowed Marcia's +the other day, and forgot to return it to her--" + +"So a lot of the trouble is due to your bad habit of forgetting to do +things," said Alison severely. But she smiled as she said it, and +Rosalind took the reproof with her usual sweet temper. "I know it was. +But what then, Alison?" + +"Then she borrowed mine, to study. She returned it to me, all right, but +she forgot to explain what your essay was doing in it. I went out to +track meet, and left Marcia studying for her essay. I hadn't looked +through my book carefully, and if I saw any papers sticking out, I +thought they were just my own notes. That is all I know about it, till I +found your essay just now." + +"Well, it's all right, now I've found it," said Rosalind easily. "They +have to be handed in tomorrow. I'm so glad I'm on time, for once." + +And with a relieved mind she danced lightly away, just as Marcia +entered. + +Alison looked up pleasantly. "Just in time, Marcia, to help solve a +mystery, or straighten out a muddle." + +Marcia stopped short and her face changed to the stony expression it +wore when she was not pleased. "Well," she said, "What can _I_ do about +it?" + +"Rosalind was here just now," Alison explained patiently. "She came to +ask if I knew anything about her essay, which she could not find. I had +just found it inside my English book, and we were wondering how it got +there. That was all. I thought perhaps you might be able to tell us." + +Marcia grew paler than her wont, but she spoke clearly and coldly. + +"Why, Rosalind lost her book I suppose, and borrowed yours, and left the +essay in it. You know what a careless thing she is." + +"No; she never had my book. She had finished her essay and put it away, +that same afternoon, when you borrowed my book because she was out, and +had left yours in her room." + +"I don't know anything about it," said Marcia stolidly. "Are you trying +to accuse me of anything?" + +"Marcia! You are not in earnest?" + +"Well, you seemed to imply it. I didn't think you would mind lending me +your book--" + +"Of course I didn't, Marcia. You know that." + +"I put it back on your table that same afternoon. You can testify to +finding it there. I haven't seen it since." + +"I don't want to 'testify' to anything," said Alison, astonished. "I was +only wondering how Rosalind's essay came to be in my book. Please don't +think I meant to be personal, Marcia." + +"I don't know anything about it," repeated Marcia, "and I'll thank you, +Alison Fair, not to be hinting at anything, instead of saying out +plainly what you think." + +"I wasn't hinting," began Alison, wounded to the verge of tears; but to +her relief, Marcia left the room, and she turned to the window, her +hands pressed to her eyes, trying to recover her composure enough to +think her way out of the tangle. + +Entered Joan, excited and curious. + +"Alison! We just saw Marcia stalking down the hall, looking like a +thundercloud, or a tragedy queen, or something! She wouldn't look at +us. Rosalind had just been in to tell us about your finding her essay, +she had been mourning as lost. It ought to be a fine one, to cause so +much excitement. So when I saw Marcia leaving the room in such offended +dignity, I just came to get you to come and tell Kathy and me all about +it before we burst with curiosity. You can't deny there's something, +when I find you swallowing tears--" + +The tears overflowed at the mention of them. + +"Oh, Joan, I didn't mean to say anything about it, but since Rosalind +has told you--Mind, I'm not accusing Marcia, though she said--she asked +if I meant to hint--" Alison choked again. + +"Nonsense," said Joan, briskly. "Nobody would think it, unless she had a +guilty conscience. I dare say she has. Wait till I call Kathy--or no, +you come into our room, and tell us all about it." + +An interested audience was assembled in the room across the hall, for +Rosalind had not been reticent, and Evelyn, Polly and Rachel were all +there to hear what was to be heard. So Alison was obliged to tell the +facts of the finding of the essay in her book after it had been borrowed +by Marcia. + +"Truly, I did not mean to even imply that she was to blame in any way," +she ended, almost apologetically, "but she seemed to think I was. I +would never have spoken of it at all, if Rosalind had not told you while +she was searching for her essay. Nobody was more surprised than I was +when I found it. And even now I don't--I can't understand what it all +means." + +"I can," said Joan, addressing the company at large. "It means that +Marcia is trying to put on Alison the onus of a thing she did herself, +and couldn't quite succeed." + +"Oh, but I _couldn't_ think that of her," Alison cried, distressed. + +"My dear Alison, the trouble is that you think everybody is as honest as +yourself. People like that usually do get taken in." + +"Well, we can't do anything about it now, and we had better not talk +about it any more," pronounced Katherine. "Let's forget it. Talk about +something else. For instance--has anyone seen my ring? I've lost it +again." + +"Not that lovely pearl ring of yours, Kathy?" + +"Yes. I've missed it for a week, but I kept thinking it would turn up. I +generally remember to take it off when I wash my hands, but I can't +remember--I wash my hands so often--" + +"Kathy, you really are too careless--" + +"Oh, the girls all recognize it and give it back to me when they find +it; but they always find it in less than a week." + +"There are the maids," suggested Polly. + +"Oh, but I don't believe one of them would take anything." + +"There you go again, Alison, with your 'everybody's honest.' I tell you +everybody is not. There's a ghost or something in this school," insisted +the incorrigible Joan. "Rachel lost her gold pencil a fortnight ago. +Ever find it, Ray?" + +"No. But I do leave my things about. It may have slipped out of sight +somewhere." + +"So it may. Let me know when it returns of its own accord. This thing +reminds me of the title of a little French book I read once: _Les Petits +Mysteres de la Vie Humaine_. If I've made mistakes, Mademoiselle is not +here to correct me, and the rest of you couldn't. Anyway, it means 'The +Little Mysteries of Human Life,'" said Joan, looking defiantly about +her. + +"Well, I don't like mysteries," remarked Evelyn. "What we need is a +clean-up day, to find all these missing valuables, and clear up all the +mysteries." + +The supper bell broke up the conclave. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MYSTERIES + + +The essays were handed in the next day, and after two days of what the +girls termed "agonizing suspense," Miss Burnett announced to her class +that the judges had made their decision. The best was Katherine's. No +one had expected anything else, and there was heartfelt applause with no +jealousy, as she received the prize, a handsome set of books. Alison's +received second place, to her own surprise, for she was modest as to her +own acquirements. + +The rest were of about the same degree of excellence--laborious efforts, +showing no originality of thought or discrimination. Still, they had +tried, and Miss Burnett expressed in a few pleasant words her +appreciation of their endeavors, as she returned their papers. + +Finally, there were but two papers left on the desk. Miss Burnett took +up one and glanced at the title. + +"This one, _The River of Time_," she said, "has at least the merit of +brevity. In the space of about seven hundred words the author has +reviewed the history of English literature from its source to the +present time--" + +"Oh, that is mine, Miss Burnett," exclaimed Rosalind, starting. "Please +don't read it. I know it's awful." She smiled frankly and beguilingly +into the teacher's eyes. "It's the best I could do." + +Miss Burnett could not help returning the smile with the essay. + +"Is it really the best you could do, Rosalind?" + +"It is, truly, Miss Burnett. I could hardly do that." + +"Then, Rosalind, all I can say is that it is a pity. But at least you +really tried, and perhaps next time you will try harder and do better." + +She took up the last paper on the desk. "I have kept this one for the +last because I wanted to talk with you a little about it, Marcia. I +should like you to remain a few minutes after the class is dismissed." + +Marcia said nothing. One after another the girls filed out, until she +and the teacher were alone together. Then Miss Burnett unfolded the +paper and turned to the girl before her. + +"This essay is signed with your name, Marcia, in the sealed envelope +that was kept in my desk until the judges' decision had been reached. No +one knew who had written it. No one knows now, except myself. I have not +even mentioned the title, _The River Road_, until I had talked with you +alone. Did you talk with anyone else about your essay? You know I wished +them to be entirely original." + +"No, Miss Burnett, I never said a word to anybody about it," said +Marcia, quite truthfully. + +Miss Burnett looked grave and troubled. "Then it is very peculiar, +Marcia, that your essay has nearly the same title as Rosalind's, and +says the same thing, only in different words. How could that be, unless +you talked over your essays together?" + +"But we did not, truly, Miss Burnett. It just happened so." Marcia +looked the teacher straight in the face, as if defying her to find a +flaw in her statement. "Rosalind lost her book, and borrowed mine. Then +she went out to play basketball without returning it. I had to borrow +Alison's book to study for mine. She said she found the essay in it when +she opened it to study. That is all I can tell you." + +If there were any guile in this speech, Miss Burnett was too +transparently honest herself to find it out. She looked troubled. + +"Well, Marcia, it is very strange, but I must take your word for it. +That is all, then." + +Thanksgiving had come and gone, and the girls were settled down for the +uneventful stretch that comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The +seven friends were gathered in Alison's room, one raw, cold +"Novemberish" afternoon for one of their old-time talks. Marcia had +gone out shopping with Rosalind, for whom she seemed to have developed +a sudden great friendship, and the girls had availed themselves of the +opportunity to meet in their favorite gathering place without the +embarrassment of her presence. + +Polly had a question to propound. + +"Why don't we like Marcia?" + +"Well?" said Evelyn, when the silence had lasted for several minutes +while each waited for the others to speak. + +"Alison ought to be able to answer that question," said Kathy. + +Alison was slow to speak. "I don't know," she said at last. "She is in +all our classes; she is pretty; she obeys all the college regulations. +She seems all right; but--well, she is my roommate, I don't like talking +of her behind her back." + +"Well, I don't mind a bit," said Joan the outspoken. "I can tell you +what's wrong with her. She doesn't like us. She hates school. She calls +it a jail. She hates lessons. She hates Miss Harland. I heard her say so +once, when Miss Harland said no to something she wanted to do. I don't +see why she came to Briarwood at all." + +"Neither does she," put in Evelyn. "Her father sent her, that was why." + +"Well, I don't like her, and I wish she roomed in another hall," said +Joan; and no one gainsaid her, for there was no denying that Marcia took +no pains to make herself popular. + +Polly changed the subject abruptly. + +"Kathy, did you ever find your ring?" she asked. + +Katherine looked startled. "No. And I've lost something else--my +great-grandmother's pearl necklace. Mother said I shouldn't take it to +school with me, but I was sure I would be careful with it. And I was, +girls, I really was. It stayed always in the bottom of my trunk, in its +velvet case. I don't believe any of you ever knew about it. I haven't +even taken it out since I left home. But yesterday I thought I would +make sure that it was safe under everything in the trunk. And I looked, +and it was not there. I cannot understand it, but it is true. Mother +was right, as usual. I don't know how I am ever to tell her." + +There was a dead silence--the silence of dismay. What was this that was +among them? + +Joan broke it, saying briefly, "Ghost. Rosalind's essay. Kathy's ring. +Rachel's gold pencil. Now, Kathy's necklace. Look out for your lamp, +Alison!" + +"Oh, nonsense," Alison said laughing nervously. "You _can't_ +suspect--Oh, I don't like being suspicious." + +"All right. I only say, look out." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +WITHOUT LEAVE + + +"Want to go to a party, Rosalind?" + +It was a dull, uninteresting-looking day in early December. Snow was +threatening and out-of-doors looked anything but attractive. Rosalind +was toiling over a history lesson and wishing that all the kings and +queens of France had been guillotined before they made trouble for +future generations of schoolgirls, instead of afterward, when a tap at +the door heralded Marcia and her exciting question. + +Rosalind dropped her book, casting Louis XIV to the winds. + +"Of course I do. Where? And when? And how? Tell me quick." + +Marcia shut the door carefully. "Any chance of your roommate coming +in?" + +"No, she's gone home for the week-end. No one will disturb us. I'm +supposed to be studying. Didn't you see the sign?" + +"Yes, but I knew you weren't hurting yourself with study. Now listen. I +am invited to a party at Sara Marshall's tonight, and I can bring a +friend with me. Her brother will meet us at the corner with a car, at +nine o'clock. I thought of you. Will you go?" + +"I'd love to. Have you asked Miss Harland? Will she let us?" + +"Rosalind, you _are_ green. What Miss Harland doesn't know won't hurt +her. I haven't asked her, and I don't intend to. If you would be afraid +to go without leave, I'll ask Alison--but she's such a stickler for +rules, I didn't think she would. And this is such a good chance, with +your roommate away, and all. We can dress in here after supper, and I'll +spend the night with you, if anybody asks. As soon as lights are out, +we'll slip down to the basement. There'll be a window unlatched. Ann +will do anything for me. See how easy it will be." + +It did strike Rosalind that the plan was too clearly arranged to have +been settled on such short notice. She said doubtfully, "But when did +you see Sara Marshall?" + +"Oh, she sent me a note yesterday. I've been thinking of it ever since, +and planning it out." But Marcia did not explain that she had seen Sara +Marshall the day before, and that all the arrangements had been +carefully canvassed before a word was to be said to Rosalind. The note +had been merely to say that all was as they had planned, and that her +brother and a friend would be waiting at the corner for them. To +Rosalind it seemed an impromptu plan for a little fun, and her +pleasure-loving little head was quite turned at the prospect. + +"The only trouble is," Marcia was off on a fresh tack, "I haven't a +thing that is decent to wear. I spoiled my old blue the last time I +wore it. It was dreadfully unbecoming, anyway. I don't believe I can +go, after all." + +"I'll lend you my pink," offered Rosalind, dismayed at the thought of +disappointment. "I have a new white dress mother just sent me. Please +wear my pink. It would be so becoming to you." + +Marcia knew it would be, and after a proper amount of hesitation and +protest, she yielded, and the die was cast. The afternoon was an +exciting one, and after supper they retired to Rosalind's room, +ostensibly to study together. Marcia had asked and obtained permission +to spend the night with Rosalind, and with the door securely shut and +fastened, the business of dressing was before them. + +All went as they had planned. At nine o'clock they cautiously opened the +door. All was dark and still in the corridor, and they crept noiselessly +downstairs to the basement, where the window had been unlatched for them +by one of the maids, bribed by Marcia. + +They climbed out, ran swiftly across the lawn, in terror lest someone +might be looking from an upper window. But there was no sound or +movement from the sleeping rooms. They climbed over the low place in the +wall and found themselves out in the quiet street. + +No one was in sight, and they scurried along, only intent on getting out +of sight of those dark windows. At the corner two dark figures +confronted them, and Rosalind barely suppressed a scream. But it was +only Tom Marshall, who greeted them cordially. + +"Hello, girls, here you are. This is Ray Gordon. We've got a car here. +Hop in, it's cold out here. Glad to see you have warm coats." + +The coats had been put on chiefly to cover their evening dresses, but +they were shivering with cold and excitement, and were glad to find +themselves in the warm car. + +They were soon in Mrs. Marshall's bright parlors, where a merry crowd +was gathered, and were pleasantly welcomed by Mrs. Marshall herself, +and by Sara, who introduced them to her friends, some of whom were known +to Marcia, but not to Rosalind. + +"Miss Harland did not object to your coming, dear?" Mrs. Marshall asked. +"I was sure she would not, she and I are old friends--" + +"Oh, no, she did not object in the least," said Marcia quickly, +forestalling the words she saw on Rosalind's lips, and replying, as she +argued to herself, quite truthfully, since Miss Harland had _not_ +objected, not having been consulted. + +The evening went on. Marcia was very bright and animated. The pink dress +was becoming to her. Her cheeks glowed with bright color. A pearl +necklace clasped her throat, and on one finger gleamed a ring--a +beautiful pearl ring which she certainly had not worn when they left the +school. Rosalind wondered. Could she have had the jewels in her +hand-bag, and put them on in the comparative darkness of the car? That +must have been it, she decided. But she felt uncomfortable, and could +not throw herself into the spirit of whole-souled enjoyment as the +others did. She was glad when the time came for breaking up, and their +two escorts took them back through the quiet streets. + +"Here we are," said Tom Marshall, drawing up at the corner. "We'll see +you safe to the gate--" + +"Oh, no, thank you. It is only a step, and we have to climb the wall. +Thank you, and goodnight," protested Marcia, her teeth chattering with +cold and nervousness. + +Not daring to speak aloud, the girls sped along, keeping close to the +wall until they reached the low place where they could climb over +without risking the opening of the gate. The basement window was still +unlatched. Carefully they scrambled through, and finally stood on the +floor--"Safe, and nobody saw us," exulted Marcia in a whisper. + +And then, without warning the light flashed on, and the culprits stood +revealed to the accusing eyes of Miss Charlton, the teacher on their +hall. + +For a long minute they faced each other, the girls too dismayed and +startled to speak a word in their own behalf. At length Miss Charlton +said slowly and very distinctly, + +"I thought so. Marcia West and Rosalind Forrest, I shall report you +absent without leave. You will both go to Miss Harland's office after +chapel tomorrow morning. She will deal with you as she thinks best. Go +to your rooms now. Goodnight!" + +Thankful to be thus summarily dismissed, the girls scurried noiselessly +up two long flights of stairs and reached Rosalind's room without +meeting anyone. Every door was shut, the occupants of the rooms sleeping +safely and sweetly. How passionately Rosalind envied them. If she were +only safe in her own bed now, with no sense of wrongdoing to hound her, +no punishment awaiting her. + +"It's all your fault, Marcia," she sobbed, tearing her white dress in +her hurry to get it off. "I wish I had never listened to you--" + +"My fault! Well, I like that. You were very willing to listen at the +time, it seems to me," returned Marcia crossly, pulling at the clasp of +the pearl necklace so roughly in her irritation that it snapped, and the +beautiful thing lay broken in her hand. "There! see what you made me +do," she added angrily. + +"I didn't," contradicted Rosalind, too exasperated to sympathize; and +presently she was in bed, with the covers pulled over her head. + +Frightened and ashamed, she remembered that she had not said her +prayers. She tried to say them in bed, but the first words of contrition +brought tears, and she cried herself to sleep. + +As for Marcia, she lay long awake, wondering what she should do with the +broken necklace she had "borrowed," in anticipation of this very party. +Finally she rose softly, and without turning on the light, found a small +box in the dresser drawer, placed the broken necklace in it, and opening +the door noiselessly, slipped past the line of trunks in the hall until +she came to the one she wanted. She placed her little +tissue-paper-wrapped parcel behind it, and returned as noiselessly to +Rosalind's room, and slipped into bed beside her.... Daylight was +brightening the windows before she fell into a troubled doze. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +IN MISS HARLAND'S OFFICE + + +Two very frightened girls presented themselves at the door of Miss +Harland's office the next morning. + +They showed their feeling very differently. Rosalind was trembling and +weeping, the picture of grief; but Marcia's dark face was settled into +an expression of sullen determination not to speak. It might have been +carved out of stone as she stood with her lowering brow, and sombre dark +eyes fixed on the floor. + +Miss Harland looked at them very gravely and sadly. Marcia's eyes were +raised presently with a defiant and stubborn expression that was +unpromising. Rosalind did not look up at all. She was frankly crying. At +last Miss Harland spoke. + +"I am sorry to have to send for you, girls, but Miss Charlton has +reported that you were both absent without leave last night until a +later hour than I like my girls to be out--especially without +permission. I must ask you, therefore, to give me a full account of your +expedition--where you went, and with whom. I am sorry you had not +confidence enough in me to tell me about it, and to ask my leave; but +since you have not done so, I must require an explanation, Marcia, you +may speak." + +But Marcia remained stubbornly silent, only looking up from under her +dark brows with her sullen, defiant expression. + +After waiting a few minutes, Miss Harland turned to Rosalind. + +"You will not refuse to answer me, Rosalind? I think you have not found +me a hard mistress in the past, have you?" + +Rosalind could scarcely speak for tears. "Oh, no, Miss Harland. I'll +tell you--what I can--" + +"Thank you. Then tell me at whose house you were, and what took you +there?" + +"It was a party. They invited Marcia, and said she could bring a +friend." + +"And did she suggest that you come without permission?" + +"Oh, no. Miss Harland. She--she said she was glad you did not object--" + +Here Marcia gave a warning glance in Rosalind's direction, which was not +lost on Miss Harland. "There was no harm in it," she muttered. + +"Then, Marcia, if there was no harm, why not have come and told me, and +had my leave to go openly?" + +"I thought you wouldn't let us," in a hoarse, defiant voice. + +Miss Harland was silent an instant. How could she make this girl, with +her innately deceitful and secretive nature, understand where the wrong +lay? + +"And who escorted you there, and brought you back?" she asked. + +Rosalind answered, as Marcia seemed determined not to speak again. + +"Mrs. Marshall's son and another boy; I don't know his name. At least, +they told us, but I can't remember." + +Miss Harland felt relieved. Rosalind's replies bore the stamp of truth. +In fact, as Miss Harland knew, she was too simple and straightforward to +be other than truthful. Her mind did not work fast enough to concoct a +falsehood; she was silly and easily led, but when it came to the point, +she would blunder out the truth. Marcia, on the other hand, was +extremely secretive, and would rather weave a tangled web of evasions +than give a clear and truthful answer. Miss Harland felt that there was +some confusion somewhere. Mrs. Marshall was a good friend of her. She +could be sure that she would not have countenanced any underhand +dealing. Why, then, did Marcia wish to conceal the fact of the +invitation? She was puzzled, but relieved that the affair was no worse +than a schoolgirl's natural love of a secret adventure. But it would not +do to pass it over lightly. + +"And so you thought to deceive me, and slipped out without my +permission. Don't you see, Marcia, that _there_ is where the harm lies? +I must not pass over such an infringement of the school regulations, and +so I must punish you both. You will be restricted for one month, or +until after Christmas. And the next time you wish to go out, come to me +frankly and ask permission. If possible, I will grant it; and if I do +not see fit, I shall expect you to submit cheerfully to my decision in +the matter. Now you may go to your classes." + +Marcia left the room without a word, looking like a thunder cloud. +Rosalind lingered, sobbing, to speak the words of contrition for which +Miss Harland had been waiting. + +"Please forgive me, Miss Harland. I'm sorry--so sorry, truly. I'll never +do it again. It wasn't a bit of fun, anyway, for I didn't like going +without leave, and I was scared all the time that somebody would +recognize us. I don't like doing things in that underhand way; it +frightens me. I knew all the time it was wrong, but I let Marcia +persuade me. It was my own fault, and I'm sorry. Forgive me." + +The pretty face was very pleading as Rosalind looked up with blue eyes +drowned in tears. Miss Harland's kiss of forgiveness was ready, as she +put her arm around the repentant sinner and drew her close into her kind +arms. + +"I forgive you, Rosalind, but there is Another whose pardon you must +ask," she said tenderly. + +"You mean God. I will, indeed, Miss Harland. I have already, and I will +again," promised Rosalind. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ADVENTURE OF THE LAMP + + +Late one afternoon, a few days later, five of the Kindred Spirits +gathered in Kathy's room to talk things over, for the excitement over +the recent happenings in the school still ran high. Evelyn, Polly and +Joan sat on the bed, Rachel in the window seat, and Kathy on a low +velvet stool, known as the "Stool of Repentance." A light snow was +falling outside, making a pleasant contrast with the warmth and comfort +within. + +The girls were all talking at once, yet, mysteriously, each hearing what +all the others said. In the midst of the Babel the door was pushed +quietly open, and Rosalind slipped in, looking ashamed and sorry and +confused all at once; doubtful of her welcome, yet anxious to be back in +her old place among them. + +"May I come? I knocked, but you were all talking so hard, you didn't +hear me." + +"Of course you may. Here, sit down beside me on the 'stool of +repentance,'" said Kathy, making room for her. + +"It's the right place for me, I know," said Rosalind meekly. "I've been +horrid lately, girls, but I'm one of the 'K. S.' still, unless you've +turned me out." + +"We haven't. You deserted us," said Polly the blunt. "But we are glad to +see you back, Rosy," she added, frankly. + +"I'm dreadfully glad to be back, if you've all forgiven me. I've missed +you terribly. I don't exactly know how it happened. But I'm sorry. What +were you all talking about when I came in?" asked Rosalind, as +completely one of the group as if she had never left it. + +"Why, of these odd things that have been happening lately," explained +Joan. "You know, the disappearance of Kathy's ring and necklace, +and----" + +"But I found the necklace this morning," interrupted Kathy. "I meant to +tell you, but you haven't given me a chance." + +"Why, Kathy!" "Where?" "How?" A chorus arose. + +"When I moved my trunk out from the wall to sweep behind it," explained +Kathy, "I found a little parcel wrapped in tissue paper. I opened it, +thinking I might have dropped something there, and inside was my +necklace, all crushed together into a ball, and the clasp broken. If +anyone knows anything about it, explanations will be in order." + +The girls, silent in sheer amaze, looked at each other and then at +Rosalind, who gazed blankly at them in return. + +"I didn't put it there, girls, indeed. I don't know in the least how it +got there--" + +"But do you know anything about it?" asked Kathy. + +"No, I don't. It looks like the one Marcia wore the night of that +party, but I thought it was hers, and it may have been." + +"She said nothing about it to you?" + +"Not a word. Please believe me, girls." + +"Of course we believe _you_," said Joan, with an emphasis on the last +word. + +"Well, at any rate, the necklace is found, and I am very glad. I will +have it mended, and take better care of it," said Kathy gravely. "I +haven't found my ring yet, nor has Rachel's pencil case been +discovered." + +"That is what I came about," said Rosalind, gathering courage. She +opened the handkerchief which she had held crumpled in her hand, and +showed the two missing articles under discussion, a locket and chain and +one or two other small articles. "I found them in my dresser drawer just +now, in a little box. Honestly, I don't know anything about them, or how +they got there." + +"How did it happen that you didn't find them before?" asked Rachel, +reclaiming her property. + +"I haven't cleared out my drawer lately, and the box was at the back, +under a pile of handkerchiefs and things. The drawer was in an awful +mess, and I was hunting for a collar," confessed Rosalind with a +shame-faced grin, for her untidiness was a proverb. "I brought it to you +as soon as I found it," she added, and there was truth in her face and +voice. The girls believed her. + +"But what does it mean?" asked Joan. "Don't cry, Rosy, we know you +didn't take them. You are silly enough sometimes, but you wouldn't +steal." + +The others assented readily. They all knew that, while Rosalind might be +led away for a time by folly and vanity, yet her nature was true and +sound, and she had a conscience. She knew quite well that she had been +led astray by her love of pleasure, and her penitence was sincere. + +"I can't understand it a bit," she began, when the door was opened +again--abruptly, and Alison appeared--a pale and dismayed Alison with +wide frightened eyes. + +"Girls--have you hidden it on purpose, just to frighten me? Please don't +tease me, but tell me it is just a joke. I know you only meant to +frighten me!" + +"Why, Alison, what can you mean? We haven't done a thing," said Kathy, +speaking for them all. + +Alison flung herself across the bed, already sufficiently occupied by +three substantial girls. Joan caught her and pulled her into her lap. + +"Here," she said, shaking Alison roughly by the shoulder. "No hysterics, +or I'll slap you. Just tell us what is the matter." + +Thus importuned, Alison checked her sobs and raised a tragic face. "My +lamp! I'll never see it again!" + +"Nonsense. How could you never see it again? Tell us. Is it broken?" + +"It's gone!" + +"Gone! Not your beautiful Aladdin lamp, Alison? Why, it _couldn't_ be +lost. What do you mean?" + +Alison pulled herself together and tried to speak collectedly. + +"I've been down in the library all the afternoon, taking notes for my +English; I came up to my room a few minutes ago, and as I looked round I +missed the lamp. You all know where it always stands, on my table. Well, +it wasn't there. And I thought--I hoped--that some of you might have +hidden it for a joke. If you didn't, then I don't know what to think." + +"What a ridiculous idea," said Polly indignantly. "A fine joke it would +be. What do you take us for?" + +"I couldn't think what else could have become of it," said Alison, +beginning to cry again. Joan began to comfort her, but Kathy checked the +words on her lips. + +"Listen, Alison. Who was in your room while you were gone?" + +"Only Marcia. I left her studying algebra." + +"And where is she now?" + +"I don't know. She was gone when I came up." + +"And your lamp with her," added Joan. "I have an idea. Wait a minute, +all of you." + +She ran across the hall to Alison's room, returning promptly. "Come, all +of you, and see." + +The girls followed her, and stood puzzled in the doorway. + +"Where are Marcia's things?" demanded Joan. + +A glance around the room showed it empty of all that had belonged to +Marcia. The girls looked at each other. Kathy was the first to speak. + +"We must find Marcia, girls--if she is to be found--and ask her if the +lamp was in the room when she left it." + +A hasty but thorough search established the certainty that Marcia was +not in any of the buildings. Neither, apparently, was the lamp. It was +almost supper time when the girls came together again to report +failure. + +"What do you think?" Alison asked. + +Joan, as usual, was the spokeswoman. "It looks to me as if she wanted to +go away, and has taken the lamp to sell it in order to get the money for +her ticket. She could not sell jewelry, of course, but a handsome lamp +might bring a good price. She has looked even more forbidding than usual +the last few days, and I know she hated school. She put back the other +things she 'borrowed,' and tried to throw the blame on Rosalind by +hiding them in her drawer. She knew Rosy was in Kathy's room with us, +and she had a clear field. So she carried out her plans, and ran away." + +"Well," said Kathy after a pause. "If Joan is right, we ought to report +Marcia's disappearance at once. If she has really run away from school, +Miss Harland will have to know it." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +DISCOVERIES + + +The whole school was thrown into a ferment of excitement over the +discovery of Marcia's disappearance. No one exactly told anyone, but the +news flew from lip to lip with the speed of that little bird so famous +for its gossiping tendency. The school buildings were searched again, +with no result. No one had seen Marcia go out; yet she was certainly not +in the school. Miss Harland telephoned to all her friends in the town +with whom Marcia might be supposed to be staying, but no one had seen +her or heard from her. + +In great distress Miss Harland called up Marcia's father, Mr. West, who +was staying in a hotel in a nearby town, and asked him if his daughter +was with him, and to her intense relief, received a quick and +reassuring reply. Yes, his little girl had just arrived by the late +train. She was so homesick for her Daddy, she could not stay away from +him any longer, she told him. + +Could she speak to Marcia herself, Miss Harland asked. There was a brief +colloquy at the other end of the line, and then Mr. West spoke +courteously. Marcia had just gone to bed with a bad cold, and could not +talk that night. Tomorrow he would talk with her. And with a pleasant +"Goodnight," he hung up. + +Relieved from her fears for Marcia's safety, Miss Harland gladly +relinquished the search for the night, and the girls were forced to +restrain their excitement and go to bed. The next morning Mr. West came +in person to talk with Miss Harland. Marcia was still in bed, and too +hoarse to talk, so she had asked her father to explain to Miss Harland +why she had left school without a word to her. She could not bear to be +away from him, and hearing that he was about to leave for Chicago to +accept a position there, had hurried to join him, and being in haste to +catch the afternoon train, had not had time to take leave of her friends +and teachers. It was foolish, he said indulgently, but he had spoiled +his little girl, and could not be hard on her. + +Miss Harland asked him quietly whether Marcia had said anything of +having borrowed something of one of the girls. But Mr. West shook his +head. He would ask her, and let Miss Harland know; and politely bowed +himself out. Later, he telephoned to say that he had talked to Marcia, +and she had declared she had borrowed nothing of her friends. She and +her father were going to start for Chicago the same night, and she would +have no opportunity to say goodbye to the girls and Miss Harland. Her +cold was better, and she sent her love, and wished them all a merry +Christmas. + +Miss Harland returned a similar wish, and smiled as she hung up. She was +glad Marcia was safe with her father, and was not sorry to have seen the +last of her. + +So Marcia left Briarwood, and with her departed something that had +spoiled the spirit of concord and happiness which usually prevailed in +the school. The girls were happy and at peace again. Joan returned to +her old place as Alison's roommate, and their room became as before +Marcia's coming, the rendezvous of the "Kindred Spirits." + +All would have been well with Alison, but for the grief for the loss of +her lamp. No trace of it had been found. There was no certainty that +Marcia had had anything to do with its vanishing, but Joan, always +practical and logical, maintained that since Marcia and the lamp had +been alone together the whole afternoon, and since the lamp, having no +feet, could not have left the room by itself, it was plain that Marcia +must have assisted its departure. Alison said nothing, but she grieved +deeply, with no hope of ever seeing her treasure again. + +The Christmas holidays were drawing near. The girls were busy with plans +for the two weeks' vacation, looking forward eagerly to going home, and +the teachers were equally anxious for the coming of the last day of +school. + +Alison felt as if she could scarcely wait. Her gifts for the family were +bought--the book she knew her father had long wanted but had not felt he +could afford to buy for himself; the new dress for her mother, who would +never get it for herself; the roller skates for Billy, the pretty scarf +for Floss, the doll for little Mat, who had not yet outgrown them. + +She hovered over them lovingly, fondling each package as she wrapped and +tied them with a lavish expenditure of tissue paper and ribbon. How she +blessed the memory of Aunt Justina, whose generosity had made her gifts +possible! "I _can't_ wait," she said, and laughed at herself for her +impatience. + +The only flaw in her happiness was the prospect of having to confess at +home that she had lost her "Aladdin lamp." + +Two days before the 23rd, Joan, looking over her lists, made a +discovery. "Alison, I'll have to have some more cards. I forgot a whole +bunch of cousins out in Texas, who will be sure to send to me. I must +run down and get some more before they are all gone. Come with me. It's +snowing a little, but not too much." + +"All right. Run and get permission while I put on my hat and coat." + +In a few moments Joan came back with the required permission, and the +two girls set out, running down the steps of the terrace and out into +the snowy street. The snow was coming down more briskly, but they only +laughed and enjoyed the frolic as they ran down the steep hillside and +reached the level street on which the stores were. The "ten-cent store," +the shoppers' delight, was packed with late shoppers like themselves. +Joan struggled through the dense crowd at the counter, pushed and +jostled by the good-natured crowd, while Alison waited, amused and +interested. + +It was a lengthy ordeal, but at last Joan had found all she wanted and +was ready to go. It was nearly dark by this time, and the snow was +thicker, swirling about so as almost to blind them. + +"We must run, or we shall be late for supper," Joan said, and they made +what speed they could. Suddenly Alison stopped short before the +well-lighted window of a little jewelry and antique shop. "Look, Joan!" + +"What are you looking at? Do let's hurry," urged Joan. + +But Alison stood still. "Do you see? There, in Mr. Delany's window. Is +that my lamp, or isn't it?" + +Interested now, Joan stopped. "It is yours, or its twin," she decided. +"I didn't think there was but one." + +"I believe it _is_ mine. I'm going in to ask about it," said Alison, and +turned into the warm bright little shop, followed by Joan. + +The proprietor was a friendly little Frenchman, well known to the girls, +who frequently purchased their gifts there. He came forward, bowing and +rubbing his hands. "You want something for Christmas, is it not? I haf +many pretty things," he offered. + +"I came to ask about that lamp in the window, Mr. Delany," Alison said, +too eager to beat about the bush. "It is exactly like one I lost. Will +you tell me where you got it?" + +"That?" The old man looked disconcerted. "It was not meant to be in the +window at all; but my assistant, he has not much sense. It is not for +sale, Mademoiselle." + +"But how did you get it?" Alison persisted, and seeing her earnestness +he looked puzzled. + +"It was sold to me, Mademoiselle, by a young lady, I think from your +school. I haf seen her pass with the other young demoiselles. She asked +me not to sell it again. She needed money, and if I would buy it from +her, she would come back and redeem it later. Her father was ill, very +ill, and she had no money to go to him. She was coming back to get it +later. So I lent her the money on it--but I haf not seen her yet." + +The girls looked at each other. So, Alison's generous heart said, +perhaps Marcia _did_ mean only to borrow the lamp. Perhaps she really +meant to return it; but in the mean time, what if it should be sold by +mistake, or even stolen before that time came? Should she risk leaving +it in Mr. Delany's shop, even overnight? + +"Mr. Delany," she said, "I know all you say is true. I know the young +lady who sold you the lamp, or borrowed money on it. She was my roommate +at school, and she has gone to her father, as she said. That part is +true. But I want my lamp back at once, to take home for Christmas. Can I +get it from you now?" + +Mr. Delany looked puzzled and doubtful. "I promised the young +demoiselle--" he began. + +"If she were here, she would give it back to me. If Miss Harland comes +to you herself and explains about it, will you let me have it?" Alison +asked persuasively. "I will pay you, of course, just what you advanced +to the young lady." + +"But certainly, if Mademoiselle Harland herself assures me that it is +all right," agreed Mr. Delany affably. + +"Then please put it away for a little while until she comes," begged +Alison. + +They flew home to report the discovery and the difficulty to Miss +Harland, and late though it was, she went with them at once to the +little Frenchman's shop. Mr. Delany was so impressed by her quiet +dignity and authority that he readily parted with the lamp for the sum +he had paid to Marcia for it, considering that he had come out very well +on the transaction at that. + +And in triumph Alison carried her treasure home, feeling that her +Christmas was assured. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +CLASS PROPHECY + + +Christmas came, with all its anticipated joys, and went all too swiftly +into the past, leaving behind it a precious store of happy memories. + +The New Year found the girls of Briarwood back at school, fresh from +their holiday and ready for the hardest work of the year. The days were +well filled with study and play. New friendships were formed and old +ones strengthened, and a spirit of happiness and of honest comradeship +prevailed in the school as the girls worked together. + +Marcia was gone, and no one regretted her absence. She never returned to +redeem the lamp or, as Miss Harland had half hoped she would, to offer +an apology and explanation of why she had "borrowed" Alison's lamp, and +the other pieces of property belonging to others, which she had +appropriated without leave, and returned in so cavalier a fashion. They +heard of her now and then in the course of the next few years--sometimes +in the lists of schools in the different cities to which her father's +business took him; later, she appeared occasionally in the society pages +of the papers. + +Later still came the announcement of her marriage to a young man well +known in society circles; after which she was heard of no more, and the +trouble she had caused in the school was forgotten in the other +interests that had taken its place. + +The Sophomore, Junior and Senior years of the "Kindred Spirits" and +their friends were successfully passed, and at length came the day, so +long worked for and looked forward to, when, with their school honors +won, the members of the Senior class were ready to throw off the cap and +gown, receive their diplomas and step forth as full-fledged graduates, +equipped for life in their various ways, each hoping to fulfill her +ambition and to realize the cherished hope that lay nearest her heart. + +The "Kindred Spirits" were gathered for the last time in Alison's and +Joan's room, to look over and comment on the new Annual, _Briarwood +Bells_. The class history was pronounced fairly good. In their Freshman +year they had made good in athletics. As Sophomores, there had been some +drawbacks in the first half of the year, but these had been made up by +the work of the latter half. Their "verdant days" were past, and they +realized the importance of faithful work. + +With the Junior year came new interests and hopes. The principal event +in this year, in the girls' memories, was the "Junior-Senior banquet," +the end and aim of existence for the time being. And now, with the close +of the Senior year the class had won its laurels, concluded the +Historian; and one sensed the long breath of relief with which she +finished her task. + +"Pretty good, on the whole," Joan pronounced. "Nothing brilliant, but I +think Miss Harland will consider that we have upheld the honor of +Briarwood." + +Kathy turned the pages, and then suddenly closed the book. + +"Girls, I have an idea. Before we read the class prophecy, let us each +tell our plans and ambitions for the future, and see how they tally with +what Helen has foretold for us--" + +"And let us meet here in this very room, ten years from now, and see how +many of her prophecies have come true." That was Joan's suggestion. + +"All right," assented Kathy. "Who will begin?" + +"You. You started this thing," said Rachel. + +"Very well. I expect to teach for a few years, and then to be a trained +nurse. Now you, Alison." + +"I want to do a lot of things, but most of all, I want to come back here +and teach at Briarwood," said Alison earnestly. + +"Good! Then you'll be here to welcome us when we meet in ten years," +Joan applauded. "As for me, I'm going to fly.... You will hear of me +some day as the famous woman aviator." + +"I'm going to travel to the ends of the earth," was Polly's +contribution. "Perhaps I'll fly with Polly." + +It was Rachel's turn. "I'm not so ambitious as Polly and Jo. Mine is to +be the best teacher of Domestic Science that I know how to be. I +specialized in that, you know." + +"Fine! Mine is to teach music and play at big concerts," said Evelyn. +"Now, Rosalind, how are you going to distinguish yourself?" + +Rosalind smiled and blushed all over her pretty flower-like face. + +"Why--I hadn't quite made up my mind. I guess I'll just have a good time +for a while, and then be--a lawyer." + +There was a shout of laughter. Kathy had been writing, and now read her +notes: "A teacher at Briarwood; a flyer; a great traveler; a Domestic +Science teacher; a musician; a lawyer; and a trained nurse. Most of the +professions seemed to be represented. Briarwood will have cause to be +proud of us. Now let us see what the Class Prophet has to say of us." + +She turned the pages to one headed + + CLASS PROPHECY + +and began to read. The "prophecy" purported to be items from newspapers +of the future, and some of the extracts are of interest to our readers. +The first ran thus: + +"Misses Polly Worthington and Evelyn Kingsley have recently opened their +Music Studio. Miss Worthington will give instruction in voice and Miss +Kingsley in piano. Both young ladies distinguished themselves in these +branches at college." + + * * * * * + +"The public will be glad to hear that the best equipped hospital in the +South will shortly be opened, with Miss Alison Fair as head nurse." + + * * * * * + +"After finishing her course in Math. at the University of ---- in which +she did brilliantly, Miss Rachel Cameron has accepted a position as +Math. teacher at her Alma Mater." + + * * * * * + +"The best seller of the month is a novel by Miss Katherine Bertram, who +is winning for herself an enviable name as a writer. Her former +classmates will read her work with interest and pleasure." + + * * * * * + +"A recent item in a missionary magazine tells us that Miss Joan +Wentworth has decided to devote her life and talents to the +missionfield. She will sail this week for China." + + * * * * * + +"Miss Rosalind Forrest, the fairest ornament of her class in college, is +deeply interested in Social Service work, and is doing valuable work +along this line." + + "Helen May, Historian." + +Kathy looked up. "So there is our future, girls, as our Historian has +foretold it. We never know. Perhaps some of us may follow the paths she +has pointed out. But in any case we can only do our very best in +whatever place in life we may find ourselves, content and humbly glad if +we merit the Lord's commendation, 'Well done, good and faithful +servant--'" + +There was a pause as Kathy stopped speaking. She had not meant to +preach, but the words had come to her instinctively, and they touched a +responsive chord in their hearts. The young faces were serious as +thoughts deeper than their merry surface banter made themselves felt. + +A sweet-toned bell called them to supper. The spring evening was +falling, soft and dewy, over the gray old walls and terraces of +Briarwood. Tomorrow they would separate, never to meet again as +care-free schoolgirls; and the shadow of the parting lay on their faces +and hearts as they rose to go down. It was Joan who cheerfully said, + +"To meet again--this day ten years!" + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Briarwood Girls, by Julia Lestarjette Glover + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIARWOOD GIRLS *** + +***** This file should be named 34894.txt or 34894.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/9/34894/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Josephine Paolucci +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/34894.zip b/34894.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3f8c58c --- /dev/null +++ b/34894.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..68dd42e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #34894 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34894) |
