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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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Marjorie Dean's Romance - -Author: Pauline Lester - -Release Date: November 3, 2016 [EBook #53440] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN'S ROMANCE *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from images made available by the HathiTrust -Digital Library.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/frontis.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>The Travellers went down the stone walk waving<br />and calling gay good-byes to the small woman at the<br />head of the veranda steps.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>(<i>Page <a href='#Page_36'>36</a></i>) (<i>Marjorie Dean’s Romance</i>)</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div> - <h1 class='c001'>MARJORIE DEAN’S<br />ROMANCE</h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><span class='sc'>By PAULINE LESTER</span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='sc'>Author of</span></div> - <div>“The Marjorie Dean High School Series,” “The</div> - <div>Marjorie Dean College Series,” “The Marjorie</div> - <div>Dean Post-Graduate Series,” etc.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/title-page.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY</div> - <div>Publishers New York</div> - <div>Printed in U. S. A.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>THE MARJORIE DEAN</div> - <div>POST-GRADUATE SERIES</div> - <div class='c000'>A SERIES FOR GIRLS 12 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE</div> - <div class='c000'><span class='sc'>By PAULINE LESTER</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>MARJORIE DEAN, POST-GRADUATE</div> - <div class='line'>MARJORIE DEAN, MARVELOUS MANAGER</div> - <div class='line'>MARJORIE DEAN AT HAMILTON ARMS</div> - <div class='line'>MARJORIE DEAN’S ROMANCE</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Copyright, 1925</div> - <div>By A. L. BURT COMPANY</div> - <div class='c000'>MARJORIE DEAN’S ROMANCE</div> - <div class='c000'>Made in “U. S. A.”</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span><span class='xxlarge'>MARJORIE DEAN’S</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>ROMANCE</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER I.<br /> <br />IN THE STUDY</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>The sun that pale spring afternoon had appeared -only in brief, tantalizing flashes. Of a sudden it -burst through the curtain of ashen gray clouds, behind -which it had been hiding, into flaming glory. -Its warm rays rioted down through the long windows -of Brooke Hamilton’s study, filling the stately -room with radiant light; transfiguring the face of -the single occupant.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh.” Marjorie Dean raised her brown eyes -from the time-stained sheet of paper she had been -studying. She greeted the wealth of cheerful sunburst -with a fond friendly smile, blinking a little -at its almost too-ardent attention. It caught her, -embraced her, caressed her lovely, smiling face; -splashed her bright brown curls with gold.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>“You’re an affectionatious old dear, even though -you <i>did</i> skulk behind the clouds all morning.” She -made a valiant but vain effort to fix her eyes directly -upon the king of day. “Can’t do it. You are -altogether too dazzling for me.” She raised a -shielding hand to her eyes. “Anyway, I’m glad -you are here, full force. I saw you peeping out -from behind the gray quite a while ago. I was too -busy then to be sociable.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Please, Missus Biographeress, were you talking -to me?” broke in an inquiring, respectful voice. -“I wasn’t always like this, so I wasn’t.” Came an -eloquent silence.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie left off trying to stare the sun out of -countenance. She glanced about the study in half -startled surprise. The door leading into it from -the hall was closed. She suddenly laughed, a merry -little gurgle. She fixed an expectant gaze on the -study’s back wall.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I know where you are,” she called out. “No; I -wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to the sun.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Then you must be crazy.” The voice was now -minus respect. Instead it harbored smothered -laughter.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No, Jeremiah Macy; I am <i>not</i> crazy. But I am -<i>very very</i> busy.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s almost as bad as being crazy,” came the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>sympathetic opinion of the still unseen conversationalist. -“I hope you’re not too crazy, excuse me, -busy, to deign to grant your humble friend, Jeremiah, -an interview. Think of our happy bygone -campus days and don’t be snippy. Be not only -great, Bean; be cordial.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You win. Never dare call me snippy again. -Since you are <i>right behind</i> the secret panel you may -as well appear in the study.” Marjorie gave laughing -permission.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Thank you. Your cordiality sounds genuine. -I trust nothing has gone wrong with my hearing. -Ahem. What?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The secret panel in the back wall of the study -slid noiselessly to the left; disappeared into its hidden -groove. The square opening it left framed -Jerry Macy’s chubby, pink and white features -decorated with a pleasant smile. Her head was -poked forward like that of a speculative turkey. -Her intensely blue eyes were trained upon Marjorie -with an expression of impudent mischief.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Here I come.” She bent her back and bundled -through the aperture. “Ah-h!” She straightened -with satisfaction. “Always close the door after -you, Jeremiah.” She leaned forward; pressed the -small oblong of wood which formed the hidden -mechanism of the sliding panel. Next instant the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>opening had vanished. The high brown wainscoting -again stretched unbroken along the study’s rear -wall.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That secret panel is certainly a comfort to -my lonely old age, Bean.” Jerry cast a grateful -eye in its direction. “If I had come to the door of -this sacred haunt you might have chased me away. -But you couldn’t resist the panel method. Result—enter -Jeremiah.” Jerry waved a complacent hand.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s one version of how I happened to let you -in,” teased Marjorie. “Here’s another. I knew you -knew something new on the campus that I didn’t -know. So I ‘deigned to grant’ you an interview.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Hm-m. You’re not as noble as you might be. -Never mind. We won’t speak of that,” Jerry hurriedly -assured.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“So kind in you,” Marjorie murmured, “or -rather, so wise.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Precisely my own opinion. I may achieve -greatness as soon as you.” Without waiting for -an invitation Jerry slid into a high-backed chair -exactly opposite that of Marjorie at the long library -table.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“The girls will be here at five,” she announced. -“They’re going to take us back to Wayland Hall -with them. Leila has a new idea for a party. We’re -to stay to dinner at the Hall. Miss Susanna’s resigned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>to it. She was invited, too, but she said she -was ‘no buttinski.’ What do you think of that? -It shows I’ve accomplished some good since I came -to the Arms. I’ve taught Miss Susanna several -pithy bits of slang, and Jonas is learning fast.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I should say he was. The other day when he -took me to town in the car he told a motorist, who -tried to run in ahead of us to park, that he was -‘too fresh’ and to ‘cut out his nonsense.’” Marjorie -gave a reminiscent chuckle.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Jerry smiled cheerful gratification of this news. -“To make use of my own pet vocabulary: It’s up -to me to show a hot-foot,” she declared. “While -I enjoy lingering in this classic spot with you, -beautiful Bean, I shall not linger. You heard what -I said about five o’clock. Heed my remarks. I -must go now.” She made a feeble pretense toward -rising. She rolled humorous, entreating eyes at -Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, you may stay.” Marjorie became loftily -tolerant. “First you may tell me everything you -know about Leila’s new stunt. Afterward, I have -a splendid job for you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t know a single thing about Leila’s new -stunt. She ’phoned me about half an hour ago and -said she and Vera would come for us with the car -at five. She said she had a fine idea but that we’d -<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>not hear a word about it until after dinner at Wayland -Hall tonight. Anything else I might say on -the subject I’d have to make up. You would not -care to have your faithful Jeremiah resort to fiction, -would you?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You’re a faithful goose. I’m not so news-hungry -as to ask you to desert the truth, Jeremiah,” -was the merry assurance. “Leila, the rascal, knows -we’re eager for campus news and plans. She loves -to create suspense and keep it up till the very last -minute. Now I’m going to set you to work. You -may sort some letters for me, if you will.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Will I? My middle name is willing!” Jerry -drew her chair closer to the table with a grand -flourish. A pleased light shone in her blue eyes. -She was very proud of having already assisted Marjorie -on several occasions in the work of arranging -the data, prior to the writing of Brooke Hamilton’s -biography.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Readers of the four volumes comprising the -“<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean High School Series</span>,” know -Marjorie Dean as a high school girl. They have -learned to know her still better through the four -volumes which comprise the “<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean -College Series</span>.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Returned to Hamilton College as a post graduate -her work in connection with the building of a free -<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>dormitory for ambitious students in adverse circumstances -has already been recorded in the three -preceding volumes of the “<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean Post -Graduate Series</span>,” respectively entitled “<span class='sc'>Marjorie -Dean, College Post Graduate</span>,” “<span class='sc'>Marjorie -Dean, Marvelous Manager</span>” and “<span class='sc'>Marjorie -Dean at Hamilton Arms</span>.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Because Marjorie had deeply reverenced the -memory of Brooke Hamilton, the founder of Hamilton -College, she had come into an intimate friendship -with his great-niece, Miss Susanna Hamilton, -the only living representative of the Hamilton -family. For many years Miss Susanna had been -at enmity with the college board. Shortly after -the death of her distinguished great uncle, Brooke -Hamilton, she had turned against Hamilton College -and refused to furnish the data for a biography -of the founder which was to have been written by -the president of the college.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Due entirely to Marjorie’s hopeful, sunny influence -Miss Susanna had eventually emerged from -the shell in which she had lived for years. She had -decided that, since Marjorie had most revered the -maxims and memory of her great kinsman, she was -therefore the one best equipped to present him truly -to the world in a biography. She had invited Marjorie -to be her guest indefinitely at Hamilton Arms -<span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>and had turned over to the youthful biographer the -data for Brooke Hamilton’s life story.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie had said good-bye regretfully to Wayland -Hall, her college residence of almost five years -and moved to the Arms on the first day of March. -With her had gone a second cordially invited guest, -Jerry Macy, her roommate and chum of Sanford -high school days.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During their first week’s stay at the Arms the -two girls had been the center of a jolly little social -whirl. Miss Susanna had insisted on entertaining -their intimate friends at tea, luncheon and dinner. -The festive week had ended with a reception to the -dormitory girls at which the Travelers, Jerry’s and -Marjorie’s sorority, were the guests of honor.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Then had followed Marjorie’s introduction to -Brooke Hamilton’s study as her literary work shop. -There she had been affectionately established by -Miss Susanna and supplied with a cabinet full of -Brooke Hamilton’s personal letters and documents.</p> - -<p class='c005'>How long she might be engaged in the pleasantest -task she had ever undertaken Marjorie could not -say. As a labor of volition it demanded the best -effort of thought and judgment that she could summon. -With her usual lack of vanity she was not -attaching much importance to herself as Brooke -Hamilton’s biographer. Her whole heart was set -<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>upon doing justice to a great American by a faithful -presentation to the world of his integrity and -genius.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Do you realize, Jerry Macy, that we’ve been -here at the Arms almost a month?” Her back to -Jerry, Marjorie asked the question as she delved -industriously among the packs of neatly tied letters -on the top shelf of the cabinet. “Today’s the -twenty-fifth of March.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I know it. How much of Brooke Hamilton’s -story have you written?” Jerry came back curiously.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not any of it as I intend it shall finally stand,” -Marjorie confessed. “I’ve made plenty of notes, -but they only complicate matters at present. There -is so much material, all intensely interesting. It -would make a twelve volume biography. Miss Susanna -wishes it to be a one volume story. My head -is full of Hamilton history. It is positively maddening -sometimes to try to keep track of all I read, -and plan how I shall arrange it. I was never intended -for a biographer, Jeremiah.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You only think you weren’t,” Jerry encouraged. -“After you have got away with Brooke Hamilton’s -history and covered your beautiful self with glory -you may take up biographing as a steady job. I’ll -permit you to jot down the story of my life. I’ll -<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>try to persuade my friends to confide their life -stories to you for publication. There’s old Hal, -for instance. He—. Oh, forgive me, Marjorie. -I didn’t intend to be personal.” Jerry’s instant -apology was regretful. “I wasn’t thinking of a -thing, but the funny side of Hal’s having his biography -written.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, never mind, Jeremiah.” Marjorie was more -embarrassed by Jerry’s apology than she was at -mention of Hal’s name. Her face flushed hotly. -She kept it turned toward the cabinet, rather than -let Jerry see her confusion. A pause, then she -added generously: “Hal is good enough to do great -things in the world. Perhaps <i>you</i> may someday -write his biography as that of a personage. There! -Found at last.” She affected deep interest in two -bundles of letters which she took from the cabinet.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No, Marvelous Manager; I can’t see myself as -Hal’s biographer. He’d insist upon seeing every -line I biographed before it was hardly off the bat. -He wouldn’t like a thing I said about him. If I -wrote words of glorious praise, he’d say ‘stuff’ and -‘slush.’ If I failed to glorify him as a baseball -artist, a promoter of yacht races and a four-time -winner of the Sanford half-mile dash, he’d say I -was stingy.” Jerry retrieved her blunder with this -humorous flow. “<i>No, siree.</i> My genius runs toward -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>jingling, not biographing. Get that? If Hal -ever longs to see the story of his life in print he’ll -have to get busy and write it himself.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER II.<br /> <br />THE WORLD WIDE SECRET</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>Marjorie was laughing as she resumed her seat -at the study table. She was quick to understand the -purpose of Jerry’s ridiculous and elaborate objections -to her really sincere words concerning Hal. -Her flash of self-conscious embarrassment had vanished -in quick amusement of Jerry’s remarks.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“These are letters to Brooke Hamilton from -friends,” she explained as she shoved the two packs -across the table to Jerry.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“He must have been right in line for a popularity -prize.” Jerry eyed the tightly-bound, thick stacks -of letters with comical respect.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“They represent the correspondence of only four -or five men. Each letter isn’t from a different person, -my child,” Marjorie said lightly. “Your job -is to put the letters of each person in separate piles. -You may have that end of the table all to yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I get you, Bean.” Jerry energetically gathered -up the two packs of letters and moved with them -to the upper end of the table. “Watch my speed, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>my efficiency, my celostrous usefulness. By the -way, my new word is on the gain. I’ve persuaded -Jonas to use it, Miss Susanna thinks well of it and -Leila says it is clever enough to be Irish.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s a good imitation. Celostrous—sounds like -a real word, even though it isn’t,” laughingly commented -Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Sh-h-h. Somebody might hear you.” Jerry -held up a cautioning finger. She cast a roguish -smile toward a vividly handsome face which looked -down at her from a portrait on the wall. It was the -face of Brooke Hamilton. Life-size and life-like -the deep blue eyes seemed almost to twinkle an answer -to Jerry’s mischievous smile as she continued -to gaze at the portrait.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“He’s so real.” Marjorie turned her head over -one shoulder to glance up at the pictured face of a -strong man in the noon of manhood. A friendly -smile played upon her lips. “I hope you haven’t -minded my sitting with my back to you this afternoon, -Mr. Brooke,” she apologized.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“If that was a magic portrait this is the way it -would be. ‘Then the enchanted portrait spoke from -the wall and said: “Don’t mention it, beautiful -Bean. Go as far as you like. Even the back of -your head is an inspiration to me. I can never be -grateful enough to you for writing my biography. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>How is your friend, Miss Macy? She is a lovely -girl and I—”’”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Jeremiah, you disrespecter of great persons!” -Marjorie sprang from her chair and made a frolicsome -pounce upon Jerry. “Stop it this minute.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The two tussled gently for a brief instant, then -fell laughingly apart. The blue eyes of the man in -the portrait seemed almost to be watching the -merry conflict.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You see how utterly you disrupt serious work,” -Marjorie pointed out severely. “I have half a mind -to take the job I gave you away from you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You can’t. I have it cinched.” Jerry snatched -up the two packs of letters and tucked one under -each arm. “I love the job. I’ll do better, Bean. -I promise on my sacred Jeremiah honor.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I haven’t the heart to take those letters away -from you,” Marjorie jestingly conceded.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Glad of it. Kindly don’t bother me. I am going -to give a violent demonstration of the word -‘work.’ It’s three o’clock now.” Jerry peered down -at the tiny open-face, necklace watch she wore -about her neck on a fine-linked platinum chain.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I knew it was nearly three. I’ve learned to tell -time by the sun since I came to the Arms and began -my work here.” There was no timepiece in the -study, nor would Marjorie wear a watch when she -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>came into it to work. She did not wish to reckon -her daily faithful application to the biography by -time. She liked to lose herself in the thought that -all time was hers in which to do Brooke Hamilton’s -memory honor.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Jerry followed her announcement of industry by -a business-like attack upon one of the packs of letters. -Soon she was deep in carrying out Marjorie’s -directions. Marjorie resumed a reading of the -paper in which she had been engrossed when Jerry -had entered. It was a dissertation on democracy -in Brooke Hamilton’s fine, clear hand.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Silence took up its reign in the study. Marjorie -was deep in the dissertation. Oblivious to all else -Jerry interestedly sorted letters, reading pertinent -snatches of them. Neither saw the sliding panel -in the back wall of the study begin to move slowly. -Neither saw Miss Susanna’s head appear in the -opened square.</p> - -<p class='c005'>For fully a minute the old lady watched the industrious -pair with brooding, tender eyes. She had -thought Marjorie alone in the study and had come -to her by the secret entrance in the same spirit of -play which had prompted Jerry to use the sliding -panel. In one hand were three letters for Marjorie -which Jonas had just brought from the mail box at -the main gates of the Arms.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>As soundlessly as she had appeared in the secret -doorway the visitant disappeared. In noiseless -obedience to her touch the panel slid once more into -place. Miss Susanna trotted down the long hall and -on down the wide staircase. Her small face was -illumined by a bright smile. She looked as though -she had suddenly discovered the world-sought secret -of happiness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She continued on out the massive front door, -down the steps and across the lawn to where Jonas -was clipping long sprays of furry pussy willows for -the two tall Chinese vases at each end of the sitting -room mantel.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You ought to see them, Jonas,” she burst out -happily. “They’re both in the study, lost to the -world among Uncle Brooke’s papers. I came away -without their knowing I saw them. I couldn’t bear -to disturb his helpers, Jonas. And I once thought -no one but the president of Hamilton College was -fitted to write his biography!”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Strange things happen, Miss Susanna.” Jonas’s -silver head wagged itself solemnly over the huge -bunch of pussy willows he was holding. “He’d be -better pleased, though, to have things as they are -now. I believe he’d rather the little girl would -write his story.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Jonas invariably spoke of Brooke Hamilton as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>one alive, but traveling in a far country, rather -than of a man who had passed from earth.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I think so, too, Jonas.” The instant, eager response -brought a pleased gleam to the old man’s -eyes. “He founded Hamilton College for the higher -education of girls. It seems as though Hamilton -has at last shown appreciation of him by raising up -a student after his own heart. That student is -Marjorie Dean.” She paused, apparently taken -with her own fancy. She added sturdily: “All the -more reason why she should be the one to write -his biography.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER III.<br /> <br />TWO HAUNTING BLUE EYES</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“Hurray for Wayland Hall!” Jerry sketched a -lively step in front of the dressing table mirror -as she gave her reflection a last fleeting glance. -“The Arms is a magnificent, palatial roost, but -where, oh, where, are our little pals?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“At Wayland Hall. Sometimes I wonder if you -might not be happier there with the girls than here -with me.” Marjorie brought a half wistful look -to bear upon Jerry. She stood gazing at her chum, -a lovely contemplative study in black and white. -The straight cut of her white corduroy gown with -its wide rolling collar and deep cuffs of black satin -was so simple as to be exceptionally effective.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Want me to shake you until your curls bob -straight off your head and your teeth clatter like -castanets,” Jerry growled menacingly. She made a -threatening advance upon Marjorie, her blue eyes -set in a determined stare.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No, indeed.” Marjorie promptly put a high-backed -chair between herself and Jerry. “I’ll protect -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>my coiffure to the last gasp. I took pains to -put those curls precisely where I wanted them to -be.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Then don’t make any more foolish remarks, -Bean.” Jerry halted. The set expression of her -eyes changed to one of dancing fun. “I’ll set you -a good example by not making any more myself -that might even sound foolish. I know my own -follies as well as I know yours.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie leaned her arms on the crest of the tall-backed -chair. She smiled rather absently. How -like Hal’s eyes Jerry’s were, she was thinking. Recent -mention of Hal had brought him to the foreground -of her mind. Now she thrust memory of -him impatiently aside.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll be nicer to you than you were to me,” she -told Jerry. “You look very celostrous, Jeremiah.” -“Celostrous” was a pet word of Jerry’s own coining. -“Your dress matches your eyes and the silver -beading on it looks like fairy mist. It’s a frock -of frocks.” Marjorie continued her admiring survey -of Jerry and her becoming finery. As she had -remarked the gentian blue of the crepe exactly -matched her chum’s eyes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Again Hal’s handsome, resolute features sprang -into memory. This time memory played her an -unkind trick. She saw Hal’s eyes as they had appeared -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>in that unforgettable, unguarded moment as -he had paused before the portrait of herself at -Castle Dean on Christmas Day.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She had then come into a very disturbing realization -of how much pain she was causing him -through her lack of love for him. She had tried -to forget, knowing that she could offer no remedy. -Work had largely driven away that disturbing -memory since her return to Hamilton. Those two -blue, despairing eyes returned to haunt her only -upon receipt of a letter from their possessor. There -had been only two letters. Marjorie had not answered -either very promptly. She sometimes went -so far as to feel that she might be better pleased -not to hear from Hal. Still she did not wish to -deny him friendship.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You are <i>too sweet</i> for words.” Jerry broke in -upon her train of reflection. She purposely simpered -so as to hide her pleased embarrassment of Marjorie’s -compliments.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Am I?” Marjorie was not even seeing Jerry -now. She was seeing Jerry’s brother who refused -to retire from her somber reflections. No; she -valued Hal’s friendship as dearly as she did Leila’s, -Jerry’s or that of any of her chums. Her adoration -was for her captain and her general only. Now -that she had a clearer understanding of Hal’s disappointment -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>she felt a more personal sorrow toward -him. She had glimpsed the desolation of a -strong man’s soul. The revelation had awakened -in her a truer sympathy for him.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Come out of it.” Jerry had paused directly in -front of the chair on which Marjorie was leaning -her elbows. She waved her arms making vigorous -passes before the day-dreamer’s face. “What is the -matter, Bean? Two minutes ago you were one -grand sweet smile. Now your expression is werry -sad. You <i>have not</i> lost your last friend, Bean. -Take heart. Jeremiah is here. Ah! I have it! -Nothing like Bean Jingles to put the chee in chirk. -Here we go!</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Celostrous day; rip whoop-ter-ray;</div> - <div class='line in1'>We celebrate with zest:</div> - <div class='line in1'>Your feathers preen, resplendent Bean,</div> - <div class='line in1'>All dressed up in your best.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“According to your jingle ‘resplendent Bean’ must -resemble a vain, strutting peacock.” Marjorie came -out of her retrospective reverie with a giggle.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No, indeed. I never meant to suggest such a -thing. Regard yourself as a bird of Paradise, dear -Bean,” Jerry corrected.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I am not so conceited. Besides, I’m not dressed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>up in my best. This particular set of feathers is far -from gorgeous; and not even my second best.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Have a heart. Remember the claim of poetic -license, and respect it. Your practical, unpoetic -criticism is <i>so</i> discouraging. Don’t put on the -brake. There are more rhythmic inspirations to -come. I feel them whirling madly in my gifted -brain. I merely stopped for breath. Whir-r-r-r! -Buzz-z-z-z! I’m off again.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Oh, forth we’ll hike, upon the pike,</div> - <div class='line in1'>Beyond the campus wall;</div> - <div class='line in1'>We’ll tread the green, sweet, agile Bean,</div> - <div class='line in1'>Until we hit the Hall.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in1'>A charming pair, we’ll mount the stair;</div> - <div class='line in1'>Dear one, then take my arm:</div> - <div class='line in1'>Safe to fifteen, bewitching Bean</div> - <div class='line in1'>I’ll guide you without harm.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER IV.<br /> <br />THE SPRINGTIME OF THE HEART</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“And you will please trouble yourself to recite -that jingle again before it vanishes into nothingness,” -commanded a laughing voice from the doorway -of the large, old-fashioned sleeping room. -Leila Harper stood in the half-opened door, an attractive -figure in the newest of English leather -motor coats and sports hats.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Leila Greatheart, what a <i>dandy</i> coat and hat!” -Marjorie cried. She came forward, hands outstretched -to meet Leila.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Here I come with a fine Irish dash.” Leila made -a funny cat-like leap into the room and caught -Marjorie’s welcoming hands in hers. “It is a hundred -years since I saw you; or so it seems,” she -said in her whimsical way. “Now I shall say not a -word more until I have taken down Jeremiah’s -jingle. I happen to have a pencil, and bewitching -Bean herself will furnish her Celtic friend with a -bit of paper.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“At your service. Let me conduct you to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>writing desk,” Marjorie took Leila’s arm and escorted -her to an open antique mahogany desk. She -motioned Leila into the mahogany chair before it. -“There you are.” She indicated several sizes of -pale gray note paper bearing the monogram of the -Arms. “Isn’t this beautiful paper, Leila?” she -commented. “Miss Susanna put it here on purpose -for us. She never uses it. She prefers white. This -was Mr. Brooke Hamilton’s own stationary.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You are two lucky children in a fairy castle,” -Leila declared. “Now say me the jingle, Jeremiah. -Then we will talk about everything and anything.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Ahem.” Jerry coughed importantly. “I may have -to depend upon bewitching Bean to help me. I -never remember my own ravings—inspirations, I -should say. Inspiration is—it is—well, it just is.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Is it?” Leila inquired with raised brows and an -engaging grin.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It certainly is,” Jerry responded with a difficult -solemnity. It broke up in an amused high-keyed -chuckle. Merely to glance at Leila, posed in an -attitude of expectant and ridiculous affability was -to laugh.</p> - -<p class='c005'>After one or two hitches and a little prompting -from Marjorie who also had designs on Jerry’s -funny effusions, Leila managed to record the three -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>jingles, though she had arrived in time to hear only -the last one of them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Now we have a beginning.” She exhibited open -satisfaction of the penciled copy of Jerry’s lively -doggerel. She folded it twice and placed it in a -pocket of her leather motor coat. “I shall expect -you to take down and save me all future jingles of -Jeremiah, Beauty, since you are the inspiration. -Never fail to do so. Now you may talk to me -about anything. I am so gracious.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I have copies of two jingles that Jeremiah -spouted last week on an occasion when I brought -her four letters from the mail-box. I’ll mail you -copies of them tomorrow. Where is Midget? I -know she can’t be far away.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie glanced inquiringly at Leila.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She is lost somewhere in space downstairs. She -is but a small doll in this great house. And you -now promise me two more jingles. Two and two -are four, and four is better than two. Soon we -shall have a book. It must have a green crushed -Levant binding with a portrait of Jeremiah reciting -one of her own jingles as a frontispiece and the -story of her life printed in gold letters on the front -cover.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It looks as though I might become as famous -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>as Bean, Harper, Page or any other campus high -light if that crushed Levant edition doesn’t flivver,” -Jerry said hopefully.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Full of their usual light-hearted raillery the trio -of girls presently went downstairs to find not only -Vera Mason in the sitting room with Miss Hamilton. -Ronny Linde, Muriel Harding, Lucy Warner and -Robin Page as well were there, clustered around -Miss Susanna. They greeted Jerry and Marjorie -with a concerted shout and rushed them affectionately.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How did the four of you manage to keep so -quiet?” Jerry demanded. “I’m amazed.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You needn’t be. You were so noisy yourselves -you didn’t hear us. But <i>we</i> heard <i>you</i>,” Vera assured. -“We heard three different varieties of giggle, -all going at once. Leila was told to hurry upstairs -and bring you down instantly. Instead—” She -cast an accusing glance at Leila.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Ah, but you were in good company, so I may -be forgiven.” Leila made a gallant bow to Miss -Susanna.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You certainly are a fine Irish gentleman with -your lordly manner and nice leather overcoat,” complimented -Miss Susanna, her brown eyes dancing.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Am I not?” modestly agreed Leila. “What I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>need most to make me impressive is a pair of green -leather boots and a chimney pot hat.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll cast you as the romantic Irish hero of a play -in precisely that costume. See if I don’t,” Robin -Page laughingly threatened.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Who will write the play?” Leila quizzed interestedly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You of course.” Robin leveled a designating finger -at Leila. “That’s a bully idea; to give a romantic -Irish play. And for once you may act as well as -be stage manager. So glad I happened to see you -this afternoon and hear about your green leather -boots and chimney pot hat.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“As you will not require anything of me but to -write the play, manage the stage and play the leading -part I’ll not change your gladness to sorrow by -snubbing you. Still I am wondering where I am -to find the boots and the hat. And let me add a -condition of my own. I will not be stage manager, -actor or playwright unless Miss Susanna will promise -to come to the show.” Leila launched this proviso -with her most ingratiating smile in Miss Hamilton’s -direction.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll come,” the old lady obligingly promised. Now -that she had “surrendered,” as she humorously -termed her change of heart toward Hamilton College -<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>she was almost as eager as her girls to have -some part in campus fun and enterprise. “Will it -be a house play?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No it will not.” Marjorie and Robin spoke the -same words, and almost together. They looked at -each other and laughed. The same thought had -prompted the same answer.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Wise Page and Dean. They see money in featuring -Leila as the hero in her green boots and chimney -pot hat,” was Ronny’s light explanation of the exchange -of eye messages.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Do we? Well, <i>rather</i>!” Marjorie said with -warmth.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Uh-huh,” emphasized Robin. “The campus -dwellers will mob the gym to see Irish Leila as an -Irish hero in an Irish play. We’ll reap a bully harvest -of dollars for the dormitory.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You and Vera can do that Irish contra dance you -danced at Page and Dean’s first show when we were -junies.” Muriel grew animated. “In itself it’s worth -the price of admission.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, <i>do</i> have it in the play, Leila,” rose the general -plea.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leila bowed, hand over her heart. “How -celebrated Midget and Leila are! That means Midget -must play the part of the maid from Lough Gur, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>of the county Limerick. That is the place in Ireland -where the fairies yet hold their invisible revels. -And I think Midget might be taken for one of the -Lough Gur fairy queens,” she said fancifully. “I -am afraid to invite her home with me to Ireland -for fear the fairy folk may steal her and shut her -up in a mountain.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not if I see them first,” Vera was positive upon -this point.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Midget is small, but valiant.” Leila rolled laughing -eyes at her friends. “Ah, but you would not <i>see</i> -the fairies, Midget, when they slipped you away. -You would not see them until you were safe inside -the mountain.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Then I’ll keep far from Ireland. I’ll be Irish in -plays only,” Vera vowed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Be sure and save a good part for Luciferous -Warneriferous,” was Muriel’s next thoughtful request. -“She simply loves to act.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, I do not.” Lucy looked alarmed. A gale -of laughter went up at her horrified denial. “I can’t -act. You know that, Muriel Harding.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You should learn to act,” Muriel said with -severity. “It is your duty. <i>I</i> am giving you good -advice. These persons are laughing at you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Who made them laugh? Keep your advice. I’m -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>furious with <i>you</i>. Br-r-r-r!” Lucy shook her head -savagely, thrust her chin forward and fixed her -greenish eyes upon Muriel in a frozen glare which -convulsed that delighted wag. She thoroughly enjoyed -teasing dignified Lucy to the point of retaliating.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, splendid! You look every inch a villain!” -Muriel simulated profound admiration. “You have -true histrionic ability, Luciferous. Let my flattering -opinion sink deep, and encourage you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll let it go in one ear and out the other,” was -Lucy’s derisive retort. “Don’t <i>dare</i> choose me -even for a villager in your Irish play, Leila Harper. -I’ll be far more useful as a press agent. I’ll get up -a handbill about the play, and mimeograph it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Bully idea, Luciferous. Be sure and hit all the -high spots. When you have the handbills ready -you may stand outside Hamilton Hall and distribute -them to the campus dwellers.” Jerry patted Lucy -on the shoulder with force.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Ouch! That’s one of my high spots you just -hit.” Lucy dodged out of Jerry’s reach, rubbing her -assaulted shoulder. “I’d rather give out handbills -any time than act,” she declared with a defiant glance -at laughing Muriel.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Be calm, Luciferous,” soothed Leila with an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>assuring grin. “I would rather have the handbills -than you on the stage as a villain. It is Matchless -Muriel who may have the pleasure of playing that -part. She will have plenty of lines to learn.” Leila -nodded significantly toward Muriel who merely continued -to smile.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Biographers, bill posters, stage managers, actors, -et cetera; attention!” Vera called out. She -pointed to the tall floor clock, imperturbably ticking -off the minutes. “It’s five minutes to six. Too -bad I always have to be time crier for this reckless -aggregation.” She heaved a dismal sigh. “What -<i>would</i> you do without me?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Be laggards all the rest of our lives, faithful -Midget. You are one of the world’s finest institutions.” -Leila beamed patronizing appreciation on -her diminutive chum.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I know my own worth. I am surprised to find -you have an inkling of it,” Vera retorted with complacent -dignity.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“A dignified Midget is so impressive,” murmured -Leila. “See how wrapped up in her small -self she is. She has forgotten about being town -crier. I see I must—.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Don’t trouble yourself. I’m still on the job. -It’s now five minutes later than it was five minutes -ago,” Vera hastily announced.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>“Come, good Travelers.” Muriel took the middle -of the floor in a stiff recitative attitude. Raising -one arm she declaimed in a high stilted voice: “Let -us journey with all speed toward shelter ere dark -night o’ertakes us.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Something like that,” was Ronny’s ultra modern -agreement. “With so much talk and so little action -it may be midnight ere we see the Hall. I’m not -speaking of myself, or of Miss Susanna. We’re -not loquacious.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>You</i> only miss being loquacious because you -haven’t happened to start an argument with Matchless -Muriel. I should hope you <i>weren’t</i> speaking of -Miss Susanna.” Jerry put on a shocked expression.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Don’t squabble over me,” Miss Hamilton said -in a meek little voice. Followed a burst of ready -laughter. She said as it died out: “I’m going to -send you home now, children. Come back tomorrow -evening to dinner. Bring Kathie and Lillian -with you. Robin, please invite Phil and Barbara. -Tell Phil to bring her fiddle. I will invite Peter -and Anne Graham, and Signor Baretti. He will -like to come to our party. He and Peter will be -company for Jonas. I shall make Jonas sit at the -table with us.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Travelers thought Miss Susanna’s sisterly -regard for Jonas one of her finest characteristics. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>While he had been a youthful servitor of the Hamiltons -during Brooke Hamilton’s declining years, -he had filled the triple role of brother, servitor and -friend to the Lady of the Arms during her long -lonely reign in the great house. He was many -years older than Miss Susanna, but still a strong, -sturdy man.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Jonas looked upon Miss Susanna as an empress, -to be reverenced and obeyed. Miss Hamilton’s oft -repeated assertion to him: “You are a direct importation -of Providence, Jonas, willed me by Uncle -Brooke,” had made a deep impression on him at -first utterance. As a consequence, his one aim in -life was that of faithful service. Rarely could she -coax him to appear socially at the Arms, even -among the few friends who knew his worth.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You’re always thinking up something perfectly, -splendidly hospitable!” As she rose from her chair -to see the Travelers to the front door Marjorie -pounced lovingly upon the Lady of the Arms, wrapping -both arms around her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“A hold up, a hold up!” cried Jerry. “I’m going -to join in it.” She made a playful attempt to -pry Marjorie’s arms loose from about the old lady. -The others gathered around the pair, mischievous -and laughing. They put Miss Susanna through a -gentle wooling which left her with ruffled hair, her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>lace collar awry and her cheeks pink from the loving -salutes of fresh young lips.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Travelers went down the wide stone walk -from the house looking back, waving and calling -gay good-byes to the small, alert woman at the -head of the veranda steps. The gate reached, Marjorie -turned to wave her hand again. She mentally -contrasted Miss Susanna’s happy expression of the -present occasion with the sharp, doubting, half resentful -gaze the mistress of the Arms had turned -upon her when she had first been ushered into the -library by Jonas to meet Brooke Hamilton’s kinswoman. -Where there had once been shadow, somber -silence, loneliness, was now light of love, gay -friendly voices, sympathy, companionship.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It had been Miss Susanna’s wish that Marjorie -and Jerry should be at the Arms to greet the return -of Spring. Remembering this a rare, rapturous -flash of exaltation swept over Marjorie. She was -thinking as she waved her hand to the little old -lady on the veranda that Spring had not only returned -to the Arms. It had miraculously returned -to Miss Susanna’s heart.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER V.<br /> <br />FOR THE GOOD OF THE “DORM”</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“What’s on your mind, Leila Greatheart? -You’ve thrown out tantalizing little scraps of what -I’d call non-information ever since we left the -Arms. Now stand, and deliver.” Marjorie made -her plea for enlightenment as Leila closed the door -of her room and favored her chums with one of her -bland, wide smiles.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Dinner over at the Hall, the eight Travelers had -lingered in Miss Remson’s snug office to talk to the -little manager for a pleasant half hour. They had -just made port in Leila’s and Vera’s room for what -promised to be a most interesting session.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What’s on my mind, Beauty?” Leila regarded -Marjorie owlishly. “More than you might think, -should you judge by appearance,” she said with -mock seriousness. “I am enchanted with myself -because of my own schemes. Sit in a circle around -me and listen to the golden runes of Leila, the -witch woman. I see gold, gold, gol-l-d.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>She made a sudden forward sweep of the arm -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>toward Jerry who was about to seat herself on -Vera’s couch beside Lucy Warner. Jerry raised -a mild shriek of surprise, flopped against Lucy who -was near the end of the couch. Unprepared for -such a jolt, Lucy rolled off the end of the couch to -the floor. Jerry clutched wildly at her arm. Her -balance upset she followed Lucy to the floor and -sat down upon her amid shouts of merriment from -the six gleeful spectators to the double mishap.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Now see where you put me.” Jerry still sat on -the floor regarding Leila with an air of deep injury. -Lucy had scrambled to her feet and made -for a chair. “The very least you can do is help -me up. Give me your hands, and don’t dare let -go.” Jerry held up her hands to her still mirthful -hostess.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leila essayed the task of raising Jerry to her feet. -Laughter robbed her of power to lift Jerry. It -also robbed Jerry of power to raise herself from -the floor. After three separate attempts at co-operation, -all mirthfully unsuccessful, Jerry was -hoisted to her feet by the combined efforts of Marjorie, -Ronny and Muriel.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You are an awful hostess.” Jerry opened her -mouth widely on “awful” and ducked her head -violently forward at Leila. “First you scare your -guests by making wild sweeping swoops at them. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>Then you laugh at them when they come to grief. -This time I’ll choose the middle of the couch, and -be safe.” Very cautiously she re-seated herself on -the couch, squarely in the center.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“We’ll sit one on each side of you, Jeremiah, so -that you can’t fall off the couch again.” Ronny -plumped down on the couch on one side of Jerry. -Muriel obligingly seated herself on the other side.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>I</i> was shoved off that couch and sat upon by -Jeremiah, yet no one appears to remember it,” Lucy -mournfully complained.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I remember it. You tipped me off your lap,” -accused Jerry.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“But you tipped me off the couch first,” reminded Lucy. -“I forgive you, but never again will I -sit on a couch beside you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I always try to look upon everything that happens -as for the best,” Jerry returned with angelic -sweetness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There were no bones broken, but there was -plenty of fuss made.” Leila thus summed up the -accident. “Now pay attention to me, and let us -have no more nonsense.” Whereupon she burst out -laughing, thus starting her companions’ merriment -afresh.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Quiet finally restored she began again. This -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>time with the fine earnestness which she could -readily summon when occasion demanded.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Travelers, dear,” she addressed the now attentive -seven, “we have left only six days of March, -then April, May and the early part of June in which -to earn money for the dormitory. We must give -as many shows as we can manage between now -and Commencement. We must give the Irish play -the first week in May. I shall write it in one week. -It will be nothing startling, but it will be a play, -I grant you that. I shall have a sorry siege to -make the cast learn their lines in two weeks. It -must be done. We must rehearse four nights in a -week. Vera will make cunning Irish token cards -and we shall sell them for a silver quarter apiece.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“First I had heard of my new job, but I accept. -May I inquire into the mystery of an Irish token -card?” Vera asked with an assumption of profound -respect.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You will draw many little pictures of the cast, -Midget, on many little cards,” was Leila’s somewhat -indefinite answer. “You will learn more about my -Celtic schemes when I am not so busy.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, very well. See that <i>you</i> don’t interrupt any -of <i>my</i> busy hours. If you see me put up a busy -sign on my side of the room, respect it,” warned -Vera.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>“See that <i>you</i> do not again interrupt <i>me</i>,” flung -back Leila, scowling portentously at her diminutive -roommate.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Everyone else interrupted, however, and Leila -had to come to a laughing stop in her harangue -until she had enlightened the party regarding “Irish -token cards.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Like her artist father, Vera was gifted with the -ability to draw. Leila’s idea of having small, head-and-shoulder, -pen-and-ink sketches of the various -characters in the play drawn on oblong cards, three -by one and a half inches, was decidedly interesting -from an artistic as well as a financial standpoint. -Below the sketch would appear the stage name of -the character, the true name and the date of the -play.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Vera won’t be able to do many cards, Leila. -She won’t have time. She can’t make the rough -sketches until we have our costumes and know ourselves -how we are going to look,” was Ronny’s -doubtful view of the feature.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, I can draw the different characters as they -ought to look. Leila can show me the style of costume -to be followed by the actors. I’ll draw each -character once, leaving out the features till I know -who will be who. Then I can fill in the blanks with -the familiar eyes, noses, mouths and ears of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>illustrious cast. After that it will only mean hours -and hours of tedious copying my originals.” Vera -made a triumphant outspreading gesture of the arms -indicative of her mastery of the situation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How we do miss Ethel Laird,” sighed Ronny. -“She was so clever. Do you remember how gorgeous -those posters for the first show were that she -painted. What became of them, Marvelous Manager?” -She looked quickly toward Marjorie as -though seized with a sudden idea.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“They’re with the other properties in the Page -and Dean section of the garret,” Marjorie replied. -“At least they were still there the last time I was -up garret. That was after the Valentine masquerade. -What is it, Ronny? I see you have something -on your mind.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Let’s have an auction,” eagerly proposed Ronny.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not now; not until the first of June. We could -clear up all the stuff we have used for advertising -the shows, and other treasures of our own that -have campus history, and auction them off. Let -Jerry be the auctioneer. Oh, lovely! What?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, lovely,” mimicked Jerry. “There is nothing -very lovely about hard labor.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No use in pretending, Jeremiah. You know -you’d revel in being an auctioneer.” Ronny shook -her finger at Jerry.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>“I’ve heard of worse stunts,” Jerry admitted with -a grin.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I have nearly as good an opinion of you, Ronny, -as I have of myself,” Leila graciously conceded. -“You and Jeremiah have my permission to manage -the auction. You may collect all the wares -for it, and do all the work. Between times, when -you have little to do, you may dance in my shows.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>Your</i> shows?” Ronny’s eyebrows ascended to -a politely satiric height.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>My</i> shows,” repeated Leila with great firmness. -“Have you not yet learned that Page and Dean -amount to little without me. It is Harper and -Harper who should have all the credit.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Right-o!” exclaimed Marjorie and Robin exactly -together.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Now why did you agree with me?” Leila demanded, -her tone full of innocent Celtic surprise. -“That was merely one of my Celtic jests.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“‘Many a true word,’ you know,” cited Robin.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“We’ll make you senior partner in the firm, -Leila Greatheart,” was Marjorie’s generous proposal. -“Harper, Page and Dean has a fine, dignified -sound.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Away with you!” Leila waved off the suggestion. -“I am deaf to such a sound. Say no more, -or I shall fly into one of my fierce frenzies. Now -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>I am here not to rage, but to keep Midget in order, -and conduct this meeting.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>In order?</i>” Vera interrogated in an awful voice. -“Kindly state <i>when</i> I have been out of order since -this go-as-you-please session began.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not at all, Midget; not at all—as yet,” Leila -laid significant stress on “as yet.” “So we may hope -for the best and change the subject,” she hastily -added.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s high time it was changed,” Vera said loftily.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leila turned comical eyes upon the company. -Then she continued: “Now we have the Irish play -and the auction on the carpet. Soon we shall be -giving Kathie’s new play: ‘The Knight of the -Northern Sun.’ Gentleman Gus will be featured -in that. Kathie had finished the writing of it. -Luciferous has already typed the parts. And I have -picked a fine heroine. The Ice Queen is to play the -part of Nageda, the Norse princess.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER VI.<br /> <br />A TANTALIZING GLIMPSE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“Where did you collect the nerve to ask that -ask?” Jerry admiringly demanded of Leila, following -the shout of surprise from the others.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I have nerve for any occasion,” was the modest -reply.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I believe you. What did the Ice Queen say to -you, or was she too icily iced for words? I get -you that she must have made a ‘yes’ sign, in spite -of her freezing frozenness.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She said ‘yes.’ I went straight to the point -with plenty of coolness in my own sweet Irish -voice,” Leila answered with a touch of grimness. -“She loves to be a center of attraction. I have a -good idea of her beauty and cleverness. She knows -that. We made the bargain like two veterans. She -does not wish for my friendship. I can live without -hers. We have in Ireland our own proverb of -fair exchange. It is: ‘To exchange needs with -your neighbor is nothing lost to him or you.’”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“In this instance it is everything gained,” Marjorie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>blithely asserted. “You are the same old -wonder, Leila Greatheart. I must make a list of -these coming attractions now.” She opened the -small blue leather notebook which she was seldom -without now wherever she happened to go on the -campus. She wrote busily for a little, oblivious of -the murmur of discussion going on around her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Three sure-fire attractions,” she exulted, as she -presently glanced up from her notebook.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ve something to report, too. I’ve at last persuaded -Miss Oliver to let us feature her in a musicale -in Greek Hall. It’s to come off a week from -Friday evening.” Robin’s announcement was -touched with pride.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was the signal for another little burst of surprise. -While Candace Oliver, the freshman musical -genius who one of the Craig Hall girls had discovered, -had on several occasions reluctantly played -for Robin and a few other admiring students, she -had steadily refused to appear on the college stage -as a pianiste.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Another obstacle surmounted. How did you do -it? I thought I was too persuasive to be resisted, -but she turned me down,” commented Muriel.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, I asked her to let us feature her, every time -I met her. I used all the nice pleasant arguments -I could think of but without effect. The other day -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>I happened to meet her at Baretti’s. I introduced -Signor Baretti to her. I was sitting at the same -table with her and Baretti came up, as always, to -speak to me. He only stayed a minute, but in that -minute I remarked to him that Miss Oliver was -a wonderful pianiste. He looked truly impressed -and said in his odd way: ‘I like hear you play -som’time. When you play in Miss Page, Miss -Dean’s show, for help the dormitory. Miss Page, -you come tell me when Miss Ol-ee-var play.’ I -smiled at Miss Oliver. She had turned red as a -poppy. Then I said, sweet as cream: ‘I surely -<i>will</i> let you know, Signor Baretti.’”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What did she say?” Ronny voiced the question -that stood in six pairs of bright eyes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, he trotted off just then, and I didn’t give -her time to say a word. I began telling her about -him and how sincere his interest in the dormitory -was, and how he had fought for Page and Dean, -and how altogether great-spirited he was. She -listened without saying much. She was half through -luncheon when I sat down at her table. She left -the restaurant as soon as she had finished her dessert. -Next day I received a four line note from -her. She said in it that she had changed her mind -about not being featured at a musicale. ‘I wish -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>to do my part to help the dorm’ girls,’ was the line -that made Robin execute a hornpipe.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“The infallible Guiseppe again to the rescue,” -Vera said lightly, yet with a certain pleased intonation -which expressed the appreciation underlying it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Attraction number four.” Amid the gratified -murmur which followed Robin’s recital, Marjorie -set down the musicale in her book. “What is Miss -Oliver’s program, Robin? Of course you’ve seen -her since you received her note.” Marjorie knew -that Robin was sure of her prize.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Three Chopin numbers and Beethoven’s ‘Sonata -Appassionata.’ Phil is going to play one of Brahm’s -Hungarian dances and Jensen’s ‘Romance.’ Verna -Burkett is going to sing. She has a glorious contralto -voice, and Reba Hoffman, that little blonde -German dorm will give a ’cello number. I am -anxious to exploit dorm talent, too. It’s going to -be a hummer of a program. I think we ought to -charge two dollars apiece for the tickets, the same as -we charge for our revues. What do you think -about it, Marjorie?” Robin earnestly consulted -her partner. “You know we only charged a dollar -and a half for tickets for the last musicale.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t believe two dollars a seat will be considered -robbery. We always reserve free seats for -the dormitory girls at all the shows. The other -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>Hamiltonites can afford to pay two dollars apiece -for the kind of entertainment we shall offer. -They’d have to pay from two to three dollars apiece -for good seats at a special benefit musicale wherever -they might go,” was Marjorie’s candid reply. -“I don’t wish to seem priggish, but they could spend -their allowance checks for no better cause.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“True as truth, good partner,” Robin agreed, -with a saucy little nod. “Oh, dear,” she changed -to plaintive in a twinkling. “I wish we might use -the Hamilton Concert Hall for the musicale. Think -of the money we’d take in. Greek Hall is hardly -more than half as large.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why can’t you use it?” asked Lucy Warner -with crisp suddenness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No one has the nerve to ask Prexy for the use -of it, my child.” Vera bent a benign glance upon -Lucy which contrasted oddly with her doll-like -daintiness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why not?” Lucy persisted.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Prexy has yet to come to one of our shows, -Luciferous,” Marjorie said quietly. “We’ve always -sent him tickets, and Mrs. Prexy and her -friends have come to them. But he never has. He -approves of the dormitory enterprise. He has been -friendly with me on all occasions, but—” Marjorie -smiled—“he never appears at our revues.”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>“It’s the one thorn on Page and Dean’s rosebush,” -laughed Robin. “Besides, Luciferous, we’ve -never felt like trying to break into the regular college -lecture and concert programs with our shows. -It’s more a matter of deference than anything else. -If he had ever offered the hall to us, we’d have -accepted the offer instanter. But he never has.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I believe it never occurred to him,” Lucy said -bluntly. “I wish I’d known long ago. I’ll ask him -tomorrow for the use of it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Lu-ciferous!” Muriel beamed on Lucy with a -radiance too joyous to be genuine. “You deserve -a citation. That is you will deserve one if you put -the Prexy problem across. Do so, and I will cite -your good conduct tomorrow evening in this very -room at precisely seven o’clock. You will receive a -tin star, three whacks on the shoulder and a ticket -to the Hamilton Movie Palace. Popcorn and pink -lemonade will be served to all.” Muriel effulgently -included the rest of the party in the generous invitation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The next five minutes were spent in jubilantly -rushing Lucy. She received approving pats on the -shoulders, pats on the back and pats on the head. -Each Traveler tried to outdo the other in contributing -funnily approving remarks. Muriel smilingly -proposed raising Lucy to Jerry’s and her shoulders -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>and parading about the room with her. Jerry and -Lucy both had strong objections to the honor -walk.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I wouldn’t trust either of you to carry me two -feet,” Lucy declared mirthfully. “Now never mind -rushing me further. Leila beguiled us here with -the promise of hearing something extraordinary. -I have yet to hear it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“So I did.” Leila surveyed the Travelers, whose -attention had quickly returned to her, her bright -blue eyes asparkle. “Now this is what I have to -say.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>As she laid her plan before her chums, a constant -chorus of gurgles, giggles and chuckles accompanied -her words. The instant she paused -Jerry raised a not too loud cheer of approbation -which the others echoed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I am indebted to you, Matchless Muriel, for suggesting -the proper kind of refreshments. You may -believe that popcorn and pink lemonade will be -served at our party along with gum drops and peppermint -sticks. I had not yet thought of the eats -until you spoke. Now I shall get up a fine spread.” -Leila’s tone conveyed her deep satisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It will be oceans of fun.” Muriel had already -begun to laugh as she thought of what her part in -the event should be.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>“The gentlemen of the campus may have to hunt -diligently for suitable wardrobe. I shall see about -mine at once.” Vera giggled softly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Her naive remark was the signal for a fresh explosion -of mirth. In a room further along the hall -a girl moodily rested her pen to listen to the breath -of laughter wafted faintly to her through walls and -closed doors. Doris Monroe tried to frown at the -distant sounds of harmonious comradeship. She -found that she was not angry. She was despondent -because she was lonely. She was beginning to -glimpse a side of college life, wholly desirable, but, -unfortunately for her, beyond her reach.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER VII.<br /> <br />THE DARK TOWER</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>Doris Monroe had seen Marjorie and Jerry in -the dining room of Wayland Hall that evening. She -knew the Travelers were holding a social session in -Leila’s and Vera’s room and somberly envied them -their fun. Things had been distressingly dull for -her since her return from the holiday vacation spent -with Leslie Cairns in New York.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She had thoroughly enjoyed herself in New York -after Mrs. Gaylord, Leslie’s chaperon, had appeared -at the Essenden, the apartment hotel in which Leslie -had engaged the Dresden suite of rooms. Leslie, -too, had been more agreeable during that short, -blissful two weeks of fine dressing, expensive dinners, -luncheons and theatres than Doris had known -her to be either before or since the vacation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The few times she had been in Leslie’s company -after their return to Hamilton, Leslie had been preoccupied, -irritable and altogether unpleasant. She -had been so patently uncongenial that Doris had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>preferred to keep away from her on the plea of study. -This plea was at least sound. Doris had had her -hands full for a time in trying to stave off being -conditioned in mathematics.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She had known nothing of Leslie’s downfall as a -business woman. It was at least three weeks after -Leslie had reluctantly obeyed her father’s mandate -and left Hamilton for New York before she had -written Doris a letter from an apartment on Central -Park West which Mrs. Gaylord had secured for the -two as a residence.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In the letter Leslie had stated that she would return -to Hamilton for a few days early in April. She -had not, however, explained her sudden departure, -nor had she mentioned the disruption of her garage -enterprise. Doris had answered the letter, feeling -secretly relieved that Leslie was not in Hamilton. -She had a shrewd idea that Leslie’s father might be -responsible for Leslie’s return to New York. She -had heard enough of the conversation between Leslie -and her chaperon on the occasion, when Mrs. Gaylord -had arrived unexpectedly at the Essenden, to -guess that Leslie and her father were not on very -congenial terms.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie had left Doris the Dazzler, the white car -she was so fond of driving. She had said nothing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>in her letter about it, nor had she mentioned the -sum of money which she had placed to Doris’s account -in a Hamilton bank. Doris had not yet been -able to return the seventy-five dollars she had drawn -of the five hundred Leslie had placed in bank to her -credit. She was resolved on doing so before the -close of college in June. Selfishly indifferent and -indifferently selfish though she was she had a certain -standard of honor. She had not ceased to -regret having allowed Leslie to bank the five hundred -dollars to her account.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris was not so anxious to return the Dazzler -to Leslie. True she had no expectation of keeping -it indefinitely. She hoped, however, that Leslie -would allow her to use it until the close of college. -She was able to pay for its up-keep from her allowance. -Though she cared little for the freshies -and sophs who made much of her, she frequently -took one or more of them with her on her drives -in the white car. Secretly she preferred her own -company to theirs. She regarded them as more or -less “silly” and continued to accept their adoration -with bored sweetness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Unwillingly she had discovered in herself a growing -interest for the Travelers. Her keen perception -could not fail to show her their undeniable claim -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>to originality and cleverness. She admired, even -liked Muriel, to whom she had, however, not spoken -since before Christmas. Before their misunderstanding -she had been on the verge of real fondness for -Muriel. She now missed their former pleasant relation -as roommates. At times she was tempted to -lay aside her grievance and try to restore the old -friendly footing.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leila had approached Doris at the psychological -moment. Doris was weary of being rushed by those -for whom she entertained hardly more than casual -interest. She had not the diversion of Leslie Cairns’ -companionship. She had persistently turned “dig” -to the extent of putting herself beyond the immediate -fear of a condition in mathematics. She -was therefore ready to entertain with secret pleasure -Leila’s polite request for her appearance in “The -Knight of the Northern Sun.” She was actually -eager to take the part of Nageda, the Norseland -princess.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Outwardly she showed herself as coolly business-like -as Leila during their brief interview. After -she and Leila had separated she experienced a half -sad regret because she appeared to be so thoroughly -“out of it” with clever Miss Harper. She was sure -Miss Harper cared nothing about her personally. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>She merely regarded her as a student; one best -suited to play the part of Nageda.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“The Knight of the Northern Sun” was to be -given on the evening of April thirtieth. It would -be presented at least three weeks in advance of -Leila’s Irish play. The Candace Oliver musicale -was to take place on the evening of April fourth. -On the night of April eleventh Leila’s “great idea” -would furnish the entire college body of students -with an evening’s fun.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Such was the program the Travelers drew up. -After the meeting came the usual spread, eaten in -high spirits. Marjorie, Robin and Jerry stole -downstairs several minutes after inexorable old ten-thirty -had shrilled its loud emphatic nightly command -for retiring. Very quietly the trio let themselves -out the front door into the moonlight.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie and Jerry gallantly offered themselves -as Robin’s escorts across the moonlit campus to Silverton -Hall. They took hold of her arms and -paraded her between them, expatiating to her as -they rushed her along at a hiking stride, on the -value of their company. In front of Silverton Hall -they lingered briefly for a last animated exchange -of laughing pleasantries, then Jerry and Marjorie -turned their steps toward the entrance at the east -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>end of the campus which gave on the pike toward -Hamilton Estates.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It seems strange to be walking out of the -campus gates at this time of night.” Marjorie -made this light observation as the two Travelers -stepped from the college premises and out upon -Hamilton Pike.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“We’re enchanted, you know. We broke the -spell for a little while this evening. There’s the -enchanted trail back to the good fairy’s castle.” -Jerry pointed to the pike, shining and white under -the moon’s clear, burning lamp. “That’s the way -I’ve felt most of the time since we settled ourselves -at the Arms.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“So have I. It’s not only Hamilton Arms that -seems enchanted. Hamilton Estates is like a fairy-tale -kingdom,” Marjorie added to Jerry’s fancy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“The Kingdom of Castles,” Jerry instantly supplied. -“And in the heart of the kingdom dwelt -Goldendede, a fairy empress.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>As they continued on their way to the Arms the -pair amused themselves with the weaving of a fairy -tale about Miss Susanna, Hamilton Estates and -themselves as willing victims of enchantment.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Bing! that nearly shattered the enchantment,” -grumbled Jerry as an automobile whisked past them -from the direction in which they had come. “There’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>nothing fairy-like about a buzz-buggy. That particular -one butted into our fairy tale and reu-ined -it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Never mind. You’ve been truly inspired since -we left the campus tonight, Jeremiah,” Marjorie -consoled. “Goldendede is a beautiful name for -Miss Susanna. The Kingdom of Castles exactly -suits Hamilton Estates. You couldn’t have named -this aloof collection of turreted gabled houses better.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s higher commendation than you ever gave -the Bean Jingles. It makes up for your sad lack -of appreciation of those gems. I am <i>so</i> mollified, -Bean!” Jerry fairly purred gratification.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’d appreciate your art of jingling more, Jeremiah, -if it were addressed to someone else. Leila -or Ronny or Vera Jingles would be less personal.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You have a grudge against your charming self, -Bean,” was Jerry’s retort. “Forget it. Brooke -Hamilton is to be celebrated in biography, why -shouldn’t Marjorie Dean be celebrated in verse. -The first is not greater than the last in her own -little way. The—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Say another word like that and I’ll run off and -leave you in the enchanted dark.” Marjorie placed -a light hand over Jerry’s lips.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Jerry gently removed the restraining fingers and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>gave them a friendly squeeze. She kept Marjorie’s -hand in hers and the two walked on, arms swinging. -“You’re a resplendent goose,” she said, “but -you win. At least you do until the next time.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Jerry, did you notice Miss Susanna’s face today -as she stood on the veranda waving to us?” -Marjorie changed the subject with abruptness. “It -was transfigured!”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I noticed. I thought then that there could not -be anything quite so wonderful as the return of -happiness to a person who had been shut away -from happiness as long as she had.” Jerry turned -suddenly serious. “And you began it, Marvelous -Manager. You were the leaven—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie dropped Jerry’s hand and flashed away -from her along the pike, a slim, flitting, shadowy -figure. She was laughing softly to herself as she -ran on for a few yards.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I told you I’d run away from you.” she reminded, -as Jerry came speeding up to her. “I -didn’t propose to stay after hearing myself compared -to a yeast cake.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The two had paused, breathless and laughing at -one side of the pike. Their run had brought them -just beyond the brightly lighted gate posts of Lenox -Heath, a rambling, many gabled English manor -house. Its powerful gate lights illuminated the pike -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>for several hundred feet. Farther ahead of them -it was dark and shadowy, in spite of the full moon’s -rays.</p> - -<p class='c005'>A few more steps would bring them to the part -of the highway which skirted the Carden estate, -forming its southern boundary. Formerly the pike -at this point had extended between irregular embankments -of stony earth which rose to a low height -above the pike’s smooth bed. It was at this particular -part of the pike that Miss Susanna had narrowly -escaped being run over by Lillian Walbert’s -car on a February afternoon of the previous year.</p> - -<p class='c005'>During the summer which followed the date of -Miss Susanna’s near accident, the right side of the -pike which marked the northern boundary of the -Clements estate had been leveled with the road bed -by order of the Clements themselves. The low -lumpy irregular ridge on the Carden side of the -pike remained, flaunting itself in the face of improvement, -a proof of Carden indifference and obstinacy. -Because of it the Carden house and -grounds appeared even more neglected and unkempt.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s good and dark here in spite of the moon.” -Jerry glanced up at the great arching limbs of the -trees on the Carden side of the pike. A row of -giant elms grew just inside the thick evergreen -<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>hedge which enclosed the Carden premises and gave -the estate its name. Though still bare of leaves, -the thick interlacing branches of the elms served as -a screen against the moon’s pale radiance.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What a gloomy old dump the Carden estate is!” -was Jerry’s disapproving exclamation. “It looks -like a ghost ranch.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s the Dark Tower in the Kingdom of -Castles.” This time Marjorie did the naming. -“‘Two Travelers to the Dark Tower came,’” she -laughingly misquoted.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Let’s hope we don’t see the horrors Childe -Roland was supposed to have seen. Goodness -knows <i>what</i> bogie horrified him. I should call -‘Childe Roland’ Browning’s most aggravating -poem. But this eerie spot is no place for a literary -discussion. B-r-r-r! Let’s beat it. I saw a white -ghostly light flash out from behind that old house!”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Jerry did not accept her own proposal. Instead -she stopped short, eyes trained on the pale flood of -light. It emanated from a point behind the house -and whitened a space to the left of the gloomy -gray stone dwelling.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Here comes your ghost, and in an automobile.” -Marjorie began to laugh. Two white eyes of light -had appeared around the left hand corner of the -house and were rapidly coming down the drive -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>toward the watchers. “‘Two goslings to the Dark -Tower came—and saw a gasoline ghost,’” she -mocked.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The watchers came abreast of the entrance gateway -of the estate just as the car reached it. By -its light they saw that the gates stood open. They -hurried past them and drew close to the uneven -ridge of earth in order to allow the automobile -plenty of room to turn onto the pike. Instead of -driving on, the solitary occupant stopped the -machine at the edge of the pike just clear of the -gateway.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The machine itself was a long, rakish-looking -racing car. Its driver was a tall man, very broad -of shoulder. He wore a long dark motor coat. -A leather motor cap was pulled down over his forehead. -Intent on his own affairs, he did not glance -toward the two young women. He sprang from -the racer and strode back to close the gates. He -slammed them shut with an air which indicated -proprietorship. Two or three long steps and he -had returned to his car. He leaped into it, started -it and was gone almost instantly around the curve -of the pike which was the last outpost of the Carden -estate. Just on the other side of it the estate -of Hamilton Arms began.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>Some ghost.</i> That’s the first time I ever saw -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>anyone emerge from that gloom patch, day or night. -Now who do you suppose he was? If he’s a visitor -at Carden Hedge he must be visiting either himself -or spooks. Maybe he’s a Carden. Not that I care -a hoot who he is, but one must have something to -say about everyone.” Jerry left the rough ground -on which the two had been standing for the smoothness -of the pike. “Come along, Bean. It will be -midnight before we hit the castle,” she predicted. -“Ronny was right about this pair of Travelers.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I wonder if he was one of the Cardens?” Marjorie’s -question contained a certain amount of curiosity. -Since she had taken up the work of arranging -the data for Brooke Hamilton’s biography -she had found enough allusions to the Carden family -to give her a clear idea of what a thorn Alec -Carden had been to Brooke Hamilton’s flesh.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“He may be the son of Alec Carden. I mean the -son who inherited Carden Hedge,” she continued -musingly. “This man in the racer wasn’t young. -I caught a fair view of his face in spite of the way -he had his cap pulled down. Still he may be -younger than I thought him at a glance, and the -grandson of old Alec Carden.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why worry about it?” teased Jerry. She had -caught the note of puzzled interest in Marjorie’s -voice.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>“I’m not worrying. I’m wondering why that -man’s face looked so familiar. I’m sure I never -saw him before.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How can he look familiar to you if you’ve never -before seen him?” inquired Jerry, with a chuckle.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s precisely what I’m wondering. Perhaps -he resembles some one I know or have seen. I -must ask Miss Susanna to describe John Carden, -the son who lives at the Hedge. Here we are at -our own castle. Next time we mustn’t stay out -so late, Jeremiah. I hope Miss Susanna hasn’t -stayed up to wait for us. She likes her early bedtime, -you know.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Miss Susanna had elected to “stay up” to hear -about Leila’s “great” idea. They found her waiting -for them in the library, wrapped in a trailing blue -velvet dressing gown. She hustled them upstairs -to don negligees and ordered them down to -the library when they should have changed costume. -There she brought them two little Chinese bowls -of chicken consommé and a plate of salty crackers.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Both girls had eaten sparingly of the spread. -After their moonlight walk they were really hungry, -and the consommé was delicious. As they ate it -and nibbled the crisp crackers they regaled Miss -Susanna with a lively account of the evening’s happenings. -Interest in the Travelers’ new plans for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>entertainments drove the incident of the unknown -motorist completely from Marjorie’s mind. Nor -did she think of him again for some time afterward.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER VIII.<br /> <br />A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“Leslie, is it really you? I’d been wondering -why you hadn’t answered my letter. I wrote you -soon after I received your note.” Doris Monroe’s -indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she -answered the telephone. She was surprised and -more pleased than she had thought she could -possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire. -Leslie’s arrival in Hamilton meant an immediate -brightening of the bored existence Doris had been -leading since her return from New York.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I wrote you I’d surely be here in April,” Leslie -brusquely reminded, “and here I am.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m <i>awfully</i> glad of it.” Doris spoke with -pleasing sincerity. “Is Mrs. Gaylord with you?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Ye-es.” Leslie drawled the affirmation with -exaggerated weariness. “How she does wish she -wasn’t. She nearly had a conniption when I told -her we were going to make a flying trip to Hamilton. -I’ll meet you at the Colonial at four this -P. M. You’ll hear more of my history then. -Bye.” Leslie was gone.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>Doris’s beautiful face was a study as she turned -from the telephone. She was a trifle amazed at her -distinct pleasure in Leslie’s unexpected arrival at -Hamilton. Leslie had been so moodily unbearable -after their return from the holiday vacation which -they had spent in New York, Doris had felt relieved -at the former’s sudden disappearance from -Hamilton and the subsequent receipt of Leslie’s -brief note from New York.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was only recently that she had begun to miss -Leslie and wish for her society. In spite of her -ugly moods Leslie was possessed of an originality -which Doris found singularly enlivening. No one -could say more oddly funny things than Leslie when -she chose to be humorous. Leslie never hesitated -to pay extravagantly for whatever she happened to -want. Doris admired in her what she considered -Leslie’s “adventurous spirit.” She had been -brought up to know her father’s explorer friends. -They were hardy, intrepid world wanderers of daring. -She had listened to their tales of reckless adventuring -into the unknown and gloried in the doings -of these splendid captains of adventure. There -were occasions when it appeared to her that Leslie -showed something of the same adventurous, undaunted -spirit.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As a matter of truth, Leslie was animated by -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>this very spirit. She had directed it, however, into -ignoble channels. What she chose to regard as -strategy and daring were nothing other than trickery -and lawlessness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris knew little or nothing of Leslie’s flagrant -offenses as a student at Hamilton College. She -had learned of the latter’s expellment from college -from Leslie herself. She had consequently -never heard the rights of the affair. She had -heard vague stories concerning it from Julia Peyton, -Clara Carter and one or two juniors. The -knowledge of Leslie’s immense wealth had hampered -even their gossip about the ex-student. The -freshmen and the sophomores, who were Doris’s -chief companions, had entered Hamilton too late -to be on the campus at the period before Leslie’s -and her chums’ expulsion from college. They, -therefore, knew not much about her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The present junior and senior classes had been -respectively the freshman and sophomore classes -during Leslie’s senior year at Hamilton, which had -been also the year of her expulsion from college. -At that particular time the attitude of the two lower -classes had been one of horrified disapproval of the -seventeen San Soucians who had been expelled -from Hamliton for hazing a student. That was -almost as much as any of them had ever learned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>about the affair. The girls who knew the disagreeable -truth were Marjorie Dean and her intimates. -Silence with them was honor. They knew a great -many other derogatory facts about Leslie Cairns -and her methods which they kept strictly sub rosa.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris was ready to welcome Leslie with warmth. -She sorely lacked companions of interest. She had -begun to grow bored to satiety by admiration. The -freshies’ and sophs’ adoration for her was too -superficial to be satisfying. They enjoyed rushing -the college beauty. Each class liked to parade her -on the campus and fête her at Baretti’s, the Colonial -or at their pet Hamilton tea shops as a triumphant -class trophy. She was selfish, but not shallow; -indifferent, but not vapid. It was in her composition -to give as well as receive. Because she had -been surfeited with adulation she had lately experienced -a vague unrestful desire to turn from the -knowledge of her own charms to an admiration of -some one else.</p> - -<p class='c005'>First among the students of Hamilton she admired -Leila Harper. Robin Page was her second -“crush.” Muriel made a third in a trio which had -won her difficult fancy. None of these, however, -were likely to become her friends. She would never -make overtures to them. She was confident that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>they would never make further friendly advances -to her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Such a state of mind on her part augured a hearty -welcome for Leslie. Doris hurried to her room -after her last afternoon class, hastily got into the -new fawn English walking suit, recently arrived -from a Bond Street shop, and made a buoyant exit -from the Hall and to the garage for the white car. -It was a clear, sunshiny day. She thought Leslie -might like to take a ride in the Dazzler. Leslie -had probably hired a taxicab in which to come from -town to the Colonial.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was a very short distance from the garage to -the Colonial. Arrived there, Doris saw a solitary -car parked in front of the restaurant. It was a -black roadster of newest type and most expensive -make. She jumped to an instant conclusion that it -must belong to Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris parked the Dazzler behind the roadster and -went into the tea room to meet Leslie. She found -her seated at one of the several square mission oak -tables engaged in a languid perusal of a menu card.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How are you, Goldie? Have a seat at the table -and a bite with yours truly.” Leslie waved Doris -into the chair opposite her. Then she stretched an -arm lazily across the table and offered Doris her -hand.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>“Very well, thank you, Leslie. How have you -been getting along?” Doris returned, with only a -shade of her usual drawl. “I <i>am</i> glad to see you. -I have missed you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“A good miss.” Leslie shrugged an accompaniment -to her laconic comment. “Were you surprised -to hear me on the ’phone?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Of course. I was surprised when you wrote me -from New York. I had no idea you had left Hamilton. -I was afraid of being conditioned in math. -I was studying like mad and hadn’t time just then -to call you on the telephone at the hotel. I knew -you were very busy.” So far as she went Doris -was truthful.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, forget it. I believe what you say, Goldie, -but you might have added that you were all fed -up with me. I know I had a beastly grouch after -the New York trip. It had teeth and claws. I had -business trouble. That sneaking carpenter who is -trying to swing the dormitory job for Bean and -her precious Beanstalks coaxed all my men over to -the Beggar Ranch. He told them a lot of fairy -stories, I suppose. Anyway, I had to send for one -of my father’s best men, an Italian financier, who -understands Italian peasants. Even he couldn’t -undo the mischief that scamp, Graham, had done.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I finally had to send for my father. He fired -<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>the whole shooting match. I’m done with that -garage flivver. My father said it wouldn’t pay me -very well in the end. He was sore at me for wasting -my time around this burg. He tried to make -me promise I’d go to New York and never think -about Hamilton again. He can’t stand the college -since the precious Board gave me such an unfair -deal.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why, that’s dreadful, Leslie; about your garage -I mean.” Doris had a certain amount of sympathy -for Leslie. She was not specially interested -in business, but she decided that Leslie had been -badly treated.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll say it is,” Leslie made grim response. “Oh, -never mind. I’m still worth a few dollars. Did -you see my new car out in front?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes—I had an idea that car must belong to -you. It suggested you to me at first sight.” Doris -smiled across the table at her returned friend. “I -had no idea you’d have a car. I brought the Dazzler -on purpose. I thought we might like to take -a ride.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Gaylord and I came here from New York in -that car,” Leslie informed with an inflection of -pride. “My father doesn’t know I’m here. He -sailed for Europe last Thursday. I know positively -<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>that he went, too. I was at the dock and saw his -steamer cut loose from Manhattan.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Were you?” Doris exhibited her usual polite -reticence regarding Leslie’s father. Long since she -had discovered that Leslie did not like to answer -questions about him. “It is rather a long drive -from New York, isn’t it. Your motor coat and -hat are chic.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“So is your suit. I suppose it floated straight -across the pond to you. My coat came from the -Clayham, in New York. But it’s some bang-up -English shop, now let me tell you.” Leslie showed -brightening satisfaction of her own greenish-gray -motor coat and round hat of the same material.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie’s own remarks about her father were -“fairy stories” so far as her having seen him entered -into them. She had not seen him, nor had -she received any letters from him other than the -peremptory one in which he had scathingly reprimanded -her and ordered her to New York. -Nevertheless she <i>had</i> seen him sail for Europe in -the “<i>Arcadia</i>,” though he had not known of her -presence on the dock when the steamer cleared.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She had gone to the dock in a cheap tan rain-coat, -a red worsted Tam o’Shanter cap and a pair -of shell-rimmed glasses. Mingling with the crowd -on the dock she was confident her disguise was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>effective. Her father’s manager, Mr. Carrington, -had furnished her with the information of the date -and hour of her father’s departure for Europe. She -had not seen him since the day when she had called -at her father’s offices. Neither had he seen her -father for more than a few minutes at a time -during which no mention of Leslie had been made. -He had been led by her to believe that she had -planned a pleasant steamer surprise for her father. -He had therefore kept his own counsel and his -promise to Leslie. He had sent her a note to the -Essenden which had been duly forwarded to her -new address.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I should think you’d rather be in New York than -here.” Doris gave a half envious sigh. “There’s -nothing here of interest off the campus.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, I had to come here while Peter the Great -was away.” Leslie volunteered this much of an explanation -of her visit. “I must get a line on what -was done on the garage so I’ll know just how -much money I put into it. My father will want to -know that right off the bat if he offers it for sale -as it stands. You and I will have some bully rides -and drives while I’m here, Goldie. I shan’t be such -a grouch as I was right after Christmas. How are -things at the knowledge shop? How is Bean? -Had any fusses with her or her Beanstalks lately?” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>Leslie’s expression grew lowering as she mentioned -Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Dean and Miss Macy aren’t at Wayland -Hall now. They’re staying at Hamilton Arms. -I don’t know whether they are coming back to -the Hall again or not.” Doris had expected the -information might elicit surprise from her companion. -She smiled in faint amusement of Leslie’s -astonished features, then added the crowning -bit of news. “Miss Dean was chosen by Miss -Hamilton to write Brooke Hamilton’s biography.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER IX.<br /> <br />A WILD PLAN</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“What-t? Do you know what you’re saying?” -Leslie’s tones rose higher.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I ought to know. I’ve heard nothing else since -she left the Hall for Hamilton Arms.” Doris’s -tone was the acme of weariness. “It wouldn’t have -been surprising to hear that President Matthews -had been asked to write Brooke Hamilton’s biography,” -she continued. “The idea of <i>Miss Dean</i> -as his biographer is, well—<i>ridiculous</i>.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s pure bosh,” Leslie said contemptuously. -“She’s a tricky little hypocrite. She’s managed to -curry favor with that wizened old frump at Hamilton -Arms. The last of the Hamiltons! She looks -it. I heard when I was at Hamilton that she was -sore at the college; that she had all the dope for -Brooke Hamilton’s biography but wouldn’t come -across with it. I presume Bean slathered her with -deceitful sweetness until she grew dizzy with her -own importance and renigged.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t like Miss Dean.” Doris’s fair face -<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>clouded. “I’m glad she’s not at the Hall any -longer. Miss Harper and her other friends don’t -appear to miss her much, or Miss Macy either. -They have parties in one another’s rooms almost -every night.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“They have found they can live without her,” -was Leslie’s satiric opinion. “You certainly have -handed me news, Goldie.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, that’s only a beginning,” Doris declared, -well pleased with Leslie’s appreciation. “The -other night Miss Dean and Miss Macy were at -the Hall to dinner. Afterward they were in Miss -Harper’s room with their crowd. They had a high -old time talking and laughing. I could hear them, -but not very plainly. They were planning shows, -though. Since then a notice for a piano recital, -featuring Candace Oliver, a freshie musical genius, -has appeared on all the bulletin boards. Since that -notice there has come another of an Irish play by -Miss Harper. It’s to be given in May. The name -of the play and the cast hasn’t yet been announced. -Miss Harper is awfully tantalizing. She always -waits until campus curiosity is at fever height about -her plays before she gives out any more information.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She’s a foxy proposition.” Leslie showed signs -of growing sulkiness. Her earlier affability had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>begun to wane at first mention of Marjorie Dean. -Next to Marjorie, Leila Harper was registered in -her black books.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She’s clever, Leslie; not foxy,” Doris calmly -corrected. She went on to tell Leslie of the part -Leila had asked her to play in “The Knight of the -Northern Sun.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie’s deep-rooted jealousy of the two girls -who were college successes where she had been -a rank failure rushed to the surface. “Leila Harper -has nerve to ask you to be in a play when she knows -you are a friend of mine. I see her game. She -knows just how useful you can be to her in her -confounded old play. It’s some feather in her -theatre bonnet to keep the college beauty at her -beck and call. She has planned to break up our -friendship by flattering you into believing you are -a dramatic wonder. Bean is probably back of -Harper’s scheme. She can’t and never could bear -to see me enjoy myself.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie jerked out the final sentence of her tirade -against Leila with angry force. Her face had darkened -in the jealous way which invariably reminded -Doris of the driving of thunder clouds across a -graying sky.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Harper was impersonal in asking me to -be in the play,” Doris defended. The sea shell -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>pink in her cheeks had deepened perceptibly. “She -dislikes me. I know she wants me in the cast because -she thinks I’d be a feature. You see I’m the -true Norse type. The heroine of the play is a -Norse princess. I want to be in the play because -I like to be in things. I’ll enjoy the praise and -the excitement. I may go on the English stage -when I have been graduated from Hamilton. My -father would not object if I were to play in a high -class London company.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“The same old Goldie who cares for nobody but -herself.” Leslie gave vent to a sarcastic little -snicker. “Why not take up with Bean, too?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, Leslie, don’t be hateful,” Doris said with -an air of resigned patience. “You know I detest -Miss Dean. Nothing could induce me to take up -with her. It’s different with Miss Harper. She’s -not American, you know. She is so cosmopolitan -in manner. She is really more my own style. But, -of course, she’s hopelessly devoted to that Sanford -crowd of girls.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Don’t mention Sanford to me. I hate the name -of that collection of one-story huts,” Leslie exploded -fiercely. “You ought to detest Bean, considering -the way she has treated me. If she had -been half as square as she pretends to be she would -have put the kibosh on old Graham, just like that, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>when he began hiring my men away from my architects. -My father said the whole business was a -disgrace. He said there was no use in my trying -to buck against an institution. That’s what Bean’s -pull amounts to. She has both Prexy and that -ancient Hamilton relict to back her.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“If Miss Dean knew that her architect was hiring -your men away from your architects, and ignored -the fact for her own business interests then -she must be thoroughly dishonorable,” Doris said -flatly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“If—if—There you go,” sputtered Leslie, wagging -her head, her shaggy eye-brows drawn together. -“No ‘if’ about it. She knew. You talk -as though you wanted to believe her honorable. -Well, she isn’t, never was; never will be. It makes -me furious to think that she should go nipping -around the campus as a college arc light while I -wasn’t even allowed a look at a sheepskin. Too -bad I couldn’t have learned some of her pretty little -dodges. I’d have been able to slide out of the hazing -racket. I’ll tell you something you don’t know. -Bean could have helped us when the Board sent for -her by refusing to go to Hamilton Hall to the inquiry. -Not Bean. She went, and made such a fuss -about pretending she didn’t care to talk that it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>made us appear ten times as much to blame as we -really were.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“If—” Doris hastily checked herself. “She -seems to have tried her best to down you, Leslie. -But, why?” Her green eyes directed themselves -upon Leslie with a disconcerting steadiness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie gave a short laugh. “I used to ask myself -that,” she replied with a sarcastic straightening of -her lips. “Now I understand her better. She was -jealous and wanted to be the whole show, all the -time. She is deep as a well. Take my word for -it. I know her better than I wish I knew her.” -She shook her head with slow effective regret.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll surely remember what you’ve said about -her.” Doris meant what she said. She had been -distinctly shocked at both instances which Leslie -had cited of Marjorie Dean’s treachery. What she -desired most now was that Leslie should drop the -discussion of her grievances.</p> - -<p class='c005'>This Leslie was not ready to do. She continued -on the depressing topic for several more minutes. -Then she began asking Doris questions concerning -the subject of Brooke Hamilton’s biography. Doris -knew only what she had already imparted to Leslie -concerning it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“None of the students know the details concerning -it except Miss—I mean, the Travelers,” she -<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>finally said desperately. She stopped short of mentioning -Marjorie’s name again. She did not care -to start Leslie anew. “I imagine there really isn’t -much else to know besides what I’ve already told -you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Don’t you ever believe it,” was the skeptical -retort. “But I don’t blame you, Goldie, for what -you don’t know.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Thank you.” Doris shrugged satiric gratitude. -Glad to turn the conversation into a lighter -strain she continued gaily: “We’re soon going to -have a general lark on the campus. The whole -college crowd is to be in it. It’s to be a ‘Rustic -Romp.’ One-half of the girls are to dress up as -country maids; the other half as country swains. -In order to be sure of an even number of couples -each student has to register her choice as maid or -swain. If not enough girls register as swains then -some of the maids will have to change their minds -and do duty as gallants. Miss Evans, a rather nice -senior, has charge of the registration. And it’s to -be a masquerade!” Doris’s exclamation contained -pleased anticipation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Wonderful.” Leslie chose to be derisive. -Underneath envious interest prompted her to ask; -“Whose fond, fertile flight of foolishness was that? -Mickie Harper’s or Pudge and Beans?”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>“I don’t know whose inspiration it was. Probably -the seniors had the most to do with it.” Doris -again steered the talk toward peaceful channels.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Hm-m.” Leslie glanced at Doris, then at the -luncheon which the waitress was now placing before -them on the table. She gazed abstractedly at -the appetizing repast. Her eyes traveled slowly -back to Doris. Suddenly she broke into one of her -fits of silent, hob-goblin merriment. “I think I’ll -attend that hayseed carnival myself,” she announced -in a tone of defiant boldness.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER X.<br /> <br />CLAIMING A PROMISE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“What do you mean?” Slightly mystified for -an instant it then broke upon Doris that Leslie was -in earnest. She was actually entertaining a wild -idea of attending the coming romp behind the -shelter of a mask. “You couldn’t do that—er—it -would be—unwise,” she stammered. Dismay -flashed into her green eyes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why couldn’t I?” The question vibrated with -obstinacy. “Who except you would know me?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“U-m-m; no one would know you while you -were masked, I suppose. When it came time to -unmask—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’d not be in the gym at unmasking time,” -Leslie interrupted decisively. “I’d be out of that -barn and away before the signal came to unmask.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris eyed Leslie doubtfully. Her first shock -of dismay at the announcement had subsided. She -was still swayed by caution as she said slowly: “It -would be awfully risky for you. At the Valentine -masquerade no one knew when the call to unmask -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>was coming. That’s the way it will be at the -romp.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“At the Valentine masquerade when <i>I</i> was at -Hamilton the time for unmasking was nine-thirty.” -The corners of Leslie’s wide mouth took on an ugly -droop.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I know that is the way it used to be,” Doris -hastily re-assured. “At the last masquerade the -freshies asked the junior committee to make the -unmasking time a surprise. It proved to be a lot of -fun. It will be done again this time. I’m almost -sure it will.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What if it should be? Don’t imagine that I -can’t watch my step. I’d not be caught.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Suppose you were dancing when the call to unmask -came? You’d have to leave your partner -instantly and run like a deer for the door. Suppose -you were caught on the way to the door and -unmasked by a crowd of girls? The freshies are -terrors at that sort of thing. They are always out -for tom-boy fun. You’d not care to have such -an embarrassing thing happen to you.” Doris chose -to present to Leslie a plain supposition of what -might happen to her as an uninvited masker at the -romp.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Leave it to me to make a clever get-away,” was -Leslie’s boast. “I’d be safe for five or six dances. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>That would be as long as I’d care to stay in the -gym. It’s wearing a hayrick costume that strikes -me as having some pep to it. The adventure of -breaking into the knowledge shop and enjoying myself -under the noses of Prigville, without any of -the inhabitants knowing who I am, appeals to me.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Unwittingly she had appealed to the side of Doris -most in sympathy with her bold plan. Doris had -been born and bred to understanding and approval -of adventure. “I understand the way you feel about -it, Leslie,” she began. “If I were certain that—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, forget that I mentioned dressing up to -you!” Leslie exclaimed with savage impatience. -“You’ve said more than once that you’d be pleased -to do anything you could for me, <i>at any time</i>. -I thought you would help me a little to play this -joke on Prigville. Never mind. I’ll ask only one -thing of you. If you <i>should</i> happen to recognize -me on the night of the haytime hobble, kindly don’t -publish it among the prigs.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Leslie.” Doris put dignified reproach into the -response. “You know I would never betray you. -I’m perfectly willing to help you carry out your -plan, provided there’s no danger to either of us in -it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Danger of what?” came the sarcastic question. -“No danger to you. Let me do a little supposing. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>Suppose we went together to the gym; you as a -maid, and I as your swain. Suppose I failed to -make a get-away and was unmasked by a bunch -of smart Alecs. I’d probably not be near you when -the signal came to unmask. I’d not bother you -after the grand march. There’d be so many hey -Rubes in the gym no one would remember our -coming in together. That lets you out, doesn’t it? -You should falter. Have a heart, Goldie!” Leslie -had grown satirically persuasive.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris sat studying the situation in silence. She -had colored afresh at Leslie’s pointed inference that -she was more concerned for her own security from -possible mishap at the romp than for that of Leslie -herself. She hated the sarcastic reminder flung -at her by Leslie that she had promised a favor on -demand and was now not willing to keep her word. -As Leslie had presented the situation to her there -could be no risk to her. Leslie was more than able -to look out for her own interests. To help Leslie -now meant not only the keeping of her promise. It -was a singularly easy way of keeping it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’d rather you’d turn me down now than next -year,” Leslie sneered as Doris continued silent.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll help you, Leslie.” Doris spoke stiffly, ignoring -her disgruntled companion’s sneer.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Come again.” Leslie cupped an ear with her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>hand, mockery in the gesture, but triumph in her -small dark eyes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I said I would help you.” Doris repeated her -first statement in an even stiffer tone. She would -not permit Leslie to break down her poise.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Good for you. You won’t be sorry. Help me -to put over this stunt on Prigville and I’ll give you -the Dazzler for your own.” Leslie was buoyantly -generous in her delight at having gained her own way.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t want any such reward. That’s just -the trouble with you, Leslie. You are always offering -me so much more than I can ever return. -I wish you were going to the dance, to stay all -evening and have a good time with the others.” -Doris sincerely meant the wish.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You know whose fault it is that I can’t.” Leslie -shrugged significantly. “Now I must plan my -costume.” She straightened in her chair with a -faint sigh. “I’ll sport blue overalls, a brown and -red gingham shirt, large plaid, with no collar; a -turkey-red cotton hankie, a big floppy hayseed hat -and a striped umbrella.” She chuckled as she enumerated -these items of costume.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I had thought seriously of going as a swain, but -decided against it. I’d rather look pretty. I have -a certain reputation to keep up on the campus. I’d -prefer not to caricature myself.”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>“You make me smile, Goldie. How you worship -that precious beauty reputation of yours! You -may be right about it. I presume you are.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie’s rugged face grew momentarily downcast. -She was thinking morosely that if, like Doris, -she had been half as careful in whom she trusted and -to what risks she lent herself when at Hamilton she -might have escaped disgrace.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I know I am.” Doris was emphatical. She -noted the gloomy change in Leslie’s features and -understood partly what had occasioned it. Those -four words, “I presume you are,” made more impression -on Doris than any other reference to her -college trouble or against Marjorie Dean, which -she had ever before heard Leslie make. It held a -compelling, resigned inference of unfair treatment -at the hands of others. Those others were of -course Miss Dean and her friends. Doris allowed -herself to jump to that conclusion. She had fostered -jealous disdain of Marjorie until it had become -antipathy. She knew Leslie’s faults, but she -chose to overlook them. She had sometimes regarded -Leslie’s accusations against “Bean” as overdrawn. -Now she felt more in sympathy with Leslie’s -standing grudge against Marjorie Dean than -at any time since she had known Leslie.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XI.<br /> <br />A RUSTIC DISASTER</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>The evening of April eleventh saw Hamilton -campus in the possession of a social throng, large, -rural and hilarious. The spring twilight was scarcely -ready to drop faint lavender shades over departed -day when from the various student houses on the -big green issued veritable country bumpkins in festival -attire. They appeared singly, in twos, threes, -quartettes and straggling groups.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Fortunately for the rovingly-inclined bands of -rural pleasure-seekers the night was warm and -balmy. In the mild fragrant spring air, the giggling -maids flaunted their bright calicos and ginghams, -unhidden in their cotton glory by shawl, coat -or cape.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The gallant swains who dotingly accompanied -the flower-hatted or sun-bonneted, aproned ladies -were a sturdy, rugged-looking lot in their blue or -brown overalls, flannel or gingham shirts, brilliant -cotton neck handkerchiefs and wide-brimmed straw -field hats or weather-stained sombreros. A few ambitious -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>rustic youths had appeared in their own -fond weird conception of party attire. They were -amazing and wonderful to behold.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“These happy hecks at Hamilton certainly have -small feet,” remarked a stocky rustic in a faded -pink gingham shirt, a blue and white checked overall, -broad, square-toed low shoes, a bright green -neckerchief and a narrow-rimmed, round straw hat -with a hole in the crown through which a lock of -brown hair appeared, standing straight up. The -accompanying mask was a round false face with -very red cheeks and high arching brows.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Well, they can’t help it. If they hide ’em with -brogans how can they dance with the lady hecks?” -demanded a tall bumpkin in what he was now -proudly exhibiting on the campus as “my horse -clothes.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Te, he he,” giggled the stocky rustic. “Truly, -Muriel Harding, I never saw you look so funny -before in all my life.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Sh-h-h, Jeremiah. I don’t know how you knew -me. Since you do, keep it dark. Some horse -clothes! Have one of my cards.” Muriel handed -Jerry a correspondence card in a violent shade of -pink. In the center of it was written: “Horsefield -Hanks, Jockey and Post Master, Jayville.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Jerry continued to giggle at Horsefield Hanks’ -<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>gala adornment. It consisted of a bright blue flannel -shirt, a broad red leather belt, baggy brown -trousers tucked into a pair of boot-modeled goloshes, -a rusty black cutaway coat and a red and -white striped jockey cap with a wide front peak. -The mask was a false face of particularly ferocious -expression. To look at Horsefield Hanks was not -only to laugh. It was a signal to keep on laughing.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Where is Marjorie?” Muriel inquired as she -turned from bending a killing glance upon two -hurrying maids, evidently intent on joining their -swains. The two called a mirthful: “Hello, sweetness. -Where did your face grow?” and whisked -on their way.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Gone over to the Hall to meet Robin. She -has on a fine check yellow and white gingham dress -trimmed with little yellow ruffles, white stockings -and slippers and a white ruffled organdie hat with -long yellow ribbon strings.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll certainly know her if I see her. Vera is too -cute for words. She has two overalls on, one over -the other, to make her look fat. They’re blue and -her blouse is white. She has a black alpaca coat on, -too. She managed to get hold of a funny little -pair of copper-toed boots. She has built them up -inside until she is at least three inches taller. She -won’t be easily recognized.” Muriel rattled off the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>description in a low laughing voice. “Ronny has -on a pale blue calico. It comes down to her heels. -She has black slippers and stockings, a ruffled blue -sunbonnet and a white kerchief folded across her -shoulders. Lucy’s dressed in the same style except -her dress is lavender. Leila is a maid, but I -haven’t been able to pick her out yet. Now how in -the world did you know that I was I?” Muriel -demanded.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I knew the most ridiculous costume I saw would -be yours,” chuckled Jerry. “You’re so funny, you’re -positively idiotic.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Then I’m likely to win the prize for having the -funniest costume. Won’t that be nice? Come on, -Hayfoot, that’s what you look like. Let’s go out -in the world and hunt up Strawfoot. I presume -we’ll be mobbed before we’ve gone far for not -having our rustic maids along with us. Anyhow -let’s brave the jays and jayesses as long as we can.” -Muriel politely offered Jerry an arm. “I’m to meet -Candace Oliver at seven-thirty at the Bean holder. -I’m a gentleman jockey of leisure until then. The -post office was closed early today. Jayville will -have to wait for its mail.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The gallant pair had not proceeded fifty feet -from their reconnoitering place before they were -surrounded by a crowd of swains and maids and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>rushed over the green as prisoners to be apportioned -to the first two swainless maids the company -chanced to encounter.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Meanwhile a rustic gentleman in wearing apparel -becoming to one of his lowly station had just made -a very stealthy entrance to the campus from the -extreme eastern gates. He had cautiously stepped -from a smart black roadster which was parked a -little way from the gates, but well off the highway. -Before he had ventured to step from the car he had -left the steering seat and disappeared into the tonneau -of the machine, then simply a motorist in a -voluminous leather motor coat, goggles and a -leather cap.</p> - -<p class='c005'>From the back of the car had presently emerged -a typical jay in blue overalls, and a loud-plaided, -collarless, gingham shirt of green, blue and -red mixture. He wore a turkey-red handkerchief, -knotted about the neck, an immense flopping hat -of yellowish straw, white socks and carpet slippers -with worsted embroidered fronts. In one hand he -clutched firmly a huge red and yellow striped umbrella. -The mask, which Leslie had ordered sent -to her from New York, was a very pink and white -face, utterly insipid, with three flat golden curls -pasted on the low forehead. Its expression, one of -cheerful idiocy, was as distinctly as mirth-inspiring -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>as was the fierce face of Horsefield Hanks. In fact -it would have been hard to decide which of the two -get-ups was the funnier.</p> - -<p class='c005'>One swift glance about her to assure herself of -a clear coast and Leslie made a dash for the campus -gates. She was through the gateway in a twinkling. -She did not stop until she had put a little distance -between herself and the gates. Then she paused, -turned, critically surveyed the highway, the portion -of the campus immediate to her and lastly her car. -She was hardly content to leave it there, but there -was no other way. It was well out of the path of -other machines, either coming or going on the pike. -She could but hope that no one would make off with -it. She reflected with a wry smile that there were -still a few more cars to be bought, though she might -happen to lose that one. As usual she was prepared -to pay lavishly for her fun.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She hurried straight on across the campus past -Silverton Hall and in the direction of Acasia House. -It was the most remote from the gymnasium of all -the campus houses. She and Doris had agreed to -meet there, making the appointment late enough -to miss Acasia House rustics when they should set -out for the gymnasium. Doris had telephoned her -that afternoon and made the final arrangement for -their rendezvous. They were to meet behind a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>huge clump of lilac bushes just budding into leaf.</p> - -<p class='c005'>As she came abreast of the lilac bushes a dainty -figure in white dimity, imprinted with bunches of -violets stepped forth to meet her. Doris’s charming -frock had a wide dimity sash and her dimity -hat, trimmed with bunches of silk violets, had long -violet ribbon strings. She wore flat-heeled black -kid slippers and white silk stockings of which only -a glimpse showed beneath her long gown.</p> - -<p class='c005'>One look at Leslie’s inane false face and she -burst into laughter. “Such a face!” she gasped -mirthfully. “The funniest one I’ve seen since I -left the Hall tonight.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie lifted the spreading hat and disclosed to -Doris a yellow wig which matched the curls pasted -to her mask. “My face is my fortune,” she announced -humorously.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s too funny for words. I’m almost afraid we -may be rushed.” Doris cast an anxious glance at -the not far distant crowd.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Am I so funny as all that?” Leslie asked in -gratification.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You are quite extraordinarily funny,” Doris -assured. “The crowd on the campus has been going -it strong ever since dinner. They’re awfully -frisky. Once they get into the gym they’ll be wanting -to dance. Then we won’t be in danger. There’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>to be a prize given for the funniest costume. Too -bad you can’t stay in the gym long enough to win -it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, I don’t want it. I only want a little fun,” -Leslie said.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Warily the pair skirted the crowd and went on -to the gymnasium. Leslie’s funny face immediately -challenged the attention of a number of frisky -couples parading the great room. They began -flocking about herself and Doris, asking foolish -questions in a gleeful effort to learn her identity. -She remained mute for which Doris was thankful. -Her vacant smiling mask merely continued to beam -upon her hilarious questioners.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Hamtown Gilt Medal Band and Orkestry -were already in their corner, importantly ensconced -behind a white pasteboard picket fence. They alone -of the ruralites were unmasked. They were simple -geniuses of music in overalls, gay-checked shirts -and high-crowned haying hats of rough straw, -speckled green and red. Strings of richly gilded -pasteboard medals struggled across each musician’s -manly chest; they testified eloquently of past musical -achievement. A large gilt-lettered sign, high on a -standard flaunted the proud legend: “We have won -all the medals in Hamtown for the past forty years. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>The only other band was a hand organ. Notice -our decorations.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The leader and first violin of this renowned -group of musicians was tall and rather blonde, -with an imposing blonde goatee and an artistic -sweep of curled blonde mustache. His companion -players were hardly less well supplied with whiskers, -mustaches and even side burns. In direct apposition -to the rustic youths of the community of -Hamtown they presented a decidedly mature, dignified -appearance. They seemed complacently well -aware of their musical superiority over their -humbler companions and gave themselves plenty of -airs.</p> - -<p class='c005'>At intervals about the spacious gym were little -open booths where popcorn fritters, salted peanuts, -stick candy, apples and oranges, molasses taffy and -pink lemonade were sold. In each booth a masked -rustic maid presided, keeping a lynx eye on her -wares.</p> - -<p class='c005'>After the orchestra had tuned up with considerable -scraping, sawing and tooting they burst into -the rallying strains of the grand march. Doris -heard the sound of the music with patent relief. -She had grown more and more uneasy for fear that -Leslie might forget her role of silence and blurt -out a remark in her characteristic fashion. Anyone -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>who had known her in the past would be likely to -recognize her voice.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris had suggested that it would be better for -they two to dance together the few numbers before -the unmasking for which Leslie dared remain. -To this Leslie would not hear. She craved freedom -to roam about the gymnasium by herself and -dance with whom she fancied. She and Doris -walked through the grand march together and -danced the first number. Then Leslie left Doris, -who was being singled out by two or three husky -farmer boys for attention, and strolled down the -gymnasium, her striped umbrella under one arm.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Behind the fatuously-smiling blonde face her -small dark eyes were keeping a bright watch on -the revelers. She wondered where Bean and her -Beanstalks were and tried to pick them out by -height and figure. She decided that a maid in a -pale pink lawn frock was Marjorie and promptly -kept away from her. When the music for the second -dance began she made her bow to a slim sprite in -fluffy white who accepted with a genuine freshie -giggle.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Encouraged by her success as a beau Leslie -danced the next and still the next, each time with -a different partner. She was a good dancer, and -led with a sureness and ease quite masculine. After -<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>a couple of turns about the room Leslie had been -obliged to discard her umbrella. She had boldly -set it up inside the orchestra’s picket fence where -it would be less likely to attract the attention of -prankish wags.</p> - -<p class='c005'>At the beginning of the fifth dance Leslie was not -yet ready to go. She glanced at the wall clock -which stood at five minutes to nine. It was still too -early for unmasking. She believed herself safe for -at least two more dances after the one about to begin. -She started toward a group of two or three -disengaged maids.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Suddenly from the farther end of the gymnasium -a cry arose which Leslie mistook for “Unmask.” -It threw her into a panic. She forgot in her dismay -that Doris had said the signal for unmasking -would be the blast of a whistle. What she remembered -instead was her striped umbrella. She was -only a few steps from the orchestra corner. She -made a frantic rush to it, reached over the low -picket fence and snatched up the umbrella. She -turned away, not noticing that she had laid low a -section of the fence. She hurried across the floor, -bent only on reaching the door.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh!” A forceful exclamation went up as she -crashed against a couple who had begun to dance. -The force of the collision fairly took the breath of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>all three girls. Leslie made an unintentional backward -step. The umbrella slid from under her arm -toward the floor just as the jostled swain and his -lady were about to move on. It tripped the rustic -gallant neatly and he sprawled forward full length -on the highly waxed floor, dragging his partner -with him.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XII.<br /> <br />A RANK OUTSIDER</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“What a clumsy creature you are!” The fallen -gallant scrambled up from the floor and delivered -the opinion in a feminine voice. It was shrill and -wrathful. It rose in its shrillness above the rhythmic -melody of the orchestra. “It’s both inconsiderate -and dangerous in you to carry such a large -umbrella onto the floor. Your face and your behavior -go nicely together.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Beg your pardon for upsetting you, but keep -your opinion to yourself.” Leslie began the reply -with forced politeness, but ended her words almost -in a hiss. Behind her simpering mask she was a -dark fury. “I never allow anyone to speak in that -tone to me.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How do you propose to prevent my saying what -I please?” came back tauntingly from the belligerent -swain. His partner, a slender, graceful figure in a -pale yellow gingham gown placed a gently arresting -hand on her angry gallant’s arm. It was shaken -off with instant hateful impatience.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>“I don’t propose to do that. Nothing short of a -clamp could keep you from shrieking.” Leslie had -changed in a twinkling to rude insolence. “I’ll -have mercy on my ear drums and beat it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Wha-a-t?” The angry swain’s voice had suddenly -changed key. It had lowered in a mixture -of amazed, disapproving conviction.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The utterance of that one amazed word acted upon -Leslie like a sudden dash of cold water. She wheeled -and swaggered on down the room with an air of -elaborate unconcern. It was entirely make-believe. -Her heart was thumping with dismay. She had -spoken after having vowed within herself that whatever -might happen at the romp she would remain -mute. More, she was afraid she had been recognized -by the student whom she had unwittingly -tripped up with her umbrella. Something in those -higher pitched tones had sounded familiar. She -could not then remember, however, of whom they -reminded her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She had turned away from the quarrel just in -time. Attracted by the commotion at that part of -the gymnasium more than one pair of dancers had -steered toward the accident center. Some of these -now headed Leslie off in her perturbed journey -down the room. They collected about her with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>mischievous intent, hemming her in and calling out -to her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Such a pretty boy!” “Hello, April smiles!” -“Wait a minute, puddeny-woodeny!” “I’m crazy -about you!” were some of the pleasantries hurled -at her. Under other circumstances Leslie would have -laughed at the extravagances. Now she was growing -worried for her own security from identification. -She was now in precisely the situation against -which Doris had warned her. Suppose the call to -unmask were to come just then? She resolved -desperately that, unheeding it, she would bolt for -the door.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Meanwhile the tripped-up rustic was sputtering -to his dainty partner in a manner which indicated -trouble to come for Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I wouldn’t stand such insolence from another -student, much less from an intruder,” Julia Peyton -was saying wrathfully. “I wouldn’t—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Try to forget the matter, Miss Peyton,” urged -a soft voice.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I shan’t. Who are you, and how do you happen -to know me?” demanded Julia rudely. “<i>You</i> -don’t know who that mask is. I <i>do</i>. She has no -invitation or right to be here tonight. It’s against -all Hamilton tradition. Doris Monroe is to blame -<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>for this outrage. She has helped that horrid Miss -Ca—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I am Miss Dean, Miss Peyton,” came the interruption, -low, but vibrating with sternness. “You -will please not mention the name you were going to -say.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll do as I please about that. I’ll do more. I’ll -expose that Miss Cairns before she has a chance to -leave here. I know who’s to blow the whistle for -unmasking. She is a sophie friend of mine. I’ll -ask her to blow it now. Then we’ll see what Miss -Cairns will do.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Before Marjorie could stop her she had started -up the room on a hunt for the sophomore who had -been detailed to blow the unmasking whistle. A -dismayed glance after Julia, then Marjorie followed -her. There was but one thing she could do. She -must follow Julia and discover to which sophomore -had been intrusted the signal detail. Each class -had been given a certain amount of the details for -the romp. Among sophomore details was the -sounding of the unmasking signal.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Unaware that she was being followed by Marjorie, -Julia had gone on a tour of the room, searching -this way and that, with spiteful eagerness. She -now had a stronger motive for exposing Leslie than -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>the latter’s offense against tradition. She was determined -to be even with Doris for having “almost” -snubbed her on numerous occasions. It would not -reflect to Doris’s credit to be named as the student -who had smuggled into the gym a girl who had been -expelled from Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The sophomore who was to blow the whistle was -Jane Everest. Dressed in a befrilled frock of apricot -dotted swiss, Jane formed a bright spot of color -among the pale blues and pinks which was easily -picked out. Julia had little trouble locating her. -Marjorie, now not more than three yards behind -Julia, reached the pair almost as soon as Julia hailed -Jane. The two had met before that evening. Each -knew the other’s costume.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Who do you think is here tonight?” Julia caught -Jane’s arm. This time she took the precaution of -whispering to her. “Leslie Cairns,” she answered -before Jane could speak. “<i>Isn’t that outrageous.</i> I -want <i>you</i> to blow the whistle this instant. She’s -down there in the middle of a crowd. She won’t -be able to get free of it. She <i>must</i> be exposed Jane. -It’s necessary to the interest of the whole college -that she should be sternly dealt with. Imagine her -sneaking in here under the cover of a mask.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why—That <i>is</i> really dreadful, Julia,” Jane -<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>whispered back. “Are you sure? Some of the -freshies don’t want the whistle blown until ten -o’clock. The committee says it had better be after -the next dance. I ought to do as they wish, you -know. Where is she?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Down there.” Julia nodded sulkily toward a -group of enjoying wags at the far end of the gymnasium. -Those who composed it were finding more -sport in teasing Leslie than in dancing.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie was waiting until Julia should have -finished whispering to the apricot mask before soliciting -the latter’s attention. She was uneasily watching -the fun going on around Leslie. She could not -be sure that the mask to whom Julia was whispering -was the one to blow the unmasking whistle. For all -she knew Julia might have stopped to cite her grievance -to one of her particular friends.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Is she that ridiculous, silly-faced mask?” Jane -cried. “<i>She’s</i> awfully droll.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I fail to see it.” Julia was haughtily contradictory. -“Will you please blow the whistle now, -Jane? You know she shouldn’t be here.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Please pardon me, I must speak to you.” Marjorie -had made up her mind to act. If the apricot -mask were the soph detailed to blow the whistle, -then she must be asked to delay blowing it until -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>Leslie could be steered from the gym without discovery. -If she were not the one appointed Marjorie -decided that she would hurry down to Leslie and inform -her of the danger.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You have no—” Julia began angrily.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I am Miss Dean,” ignoring Julia, Marjorie -serenely continued. “Will you please tell me who -you are?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yours truly, Jane Everest, Marjorie.” A little -laugh rippled out from behind the concealing mask.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, Jane!” There was inexpressible relief in -the exclamation. “I’m so glad it’s you. Are you -the soph who is to blow the unmasking whistle? -If you are, don’t blow it for at least ten minutes -yet.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I insist that Miss Everest shall blow it, and at -once,” burst forth Julia Peyton furiously. “She has -just promised <i>me</i> that she will.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No, I haven’t promised to blow the whistle at -once, Julia,” Jane steadily corrected.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What right have <i>you</i> to interfere in our fun? -Post graduates are not supposed to interest themselves -too closely in class affairs.” Julia tossed her -head in withering disdain of Marjorie. “What right -have <i>you</i> to prevent <i>me</i> from exposing that detestable -Miss Cairns. Do you consider it honorable or fair -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>to the traditions of Hamilton to permit a former -student who was expelled to come on the campus -socially?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How do you know, Miss Peyton, that Miss -Cairns, a former student of Hamilton, is present in -the gymnasium, or has been here this evening?” -Marjorie inquired with a cool evenness that made -Julia gasp. “Have you seen her?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I <i>know</i>, and so do you. Didn’t she trip us with -her umbrella? Didn’t we hear her voice. <i>I</i> recognized -it. <i>You</i> may not have.” The answer was -freighted with sarcasm.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“A masker carrying an umbrella tripped us. When -she spoke her voice sounded like that of Miss Cairns,” -Marjorie stated impersonally. “I did not see the -masker’s face. Did you?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What difference does <i>that</i> make?” sharply countered Julia. -“We both recognized her by her voice.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Since we did not see her face how can we be sure -that we recognized her. Lacking the evidence of -our own eyes our best plan is to launch no accusations -against Miss Cairns. Jane,” Marjorie turned -to the sophomore, “when are you going to blow the -unmasking whistle?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“After the next dance. This dance is ending now, -I think.” Jane turned momentary attention to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>music, which was beating to a syncopated end. “That -is the time the floor committee has set. I can change -it if you like, Marjorie.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No, thank you. That suits me nicely. I must -go now, but I’ll see you soon after unmasking, -Jane.” With a slight, courteous inclination of the -head to Miss Peyton, Marjorie walked composedly -down the great room to where Leslie stood, still -surrounded.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie had not spoken to Leslie Cairns more -than two or three times during the long period of -time in which they had been students together at -Hamilton. She had never spoken to Leslie since -Leslie had been away from the college. She now -wondered what she could say to the uninvited masker -which might not be too humiliating to her.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XIII.<br /> <br />A FRIENDLY TURN</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>Circling the group around Leslie she approached -the latter from the left side. Simultaneous with -her approach the opening strains of a fox trot broke -up the group. Not more than half a dozen persistent -“rushers” lingered.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Let’s move on,” she breathed to Leslie. She -adopted a soft almost babyish tone. As she spoke -she took light hold of Leslie’s arm and began to -steer her gently free of the few masks who were -mischievously trying to detain the foolish-faced -swain.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Surest thing you know, sweetums,” Leslie returned -in a deep gruff voice. “You’re the little kid -who fell over my amberil. I didn’t go for to trip -you up, peaches. Want to dance?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not yet. Let’s go walking up the hall so folks -can see your han’some face.” Obeying an impish -impulse Marjorie added, “It is simply celostrous. -It’s the only one you have, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“By cricky, it is. I ought to be proud of it.” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>Leslie was oddly pleased to have the partner of -“that screech owl” single her out for friendly attention. -“I knowed you wasn’t mad at me, kid,” she -next volunteered.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No, I wasn’t.” The small soft voice held positiveness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s fine. I <i>know</i> you’ve got a kind face.” -Both girls indulged in a smothered giggle at this -inane tribute.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Fade away,” Leslie waved a careless hand toward -two or three lingering tormentors. “Can’t -you let me and my girl alone?” She brandished her -umbrella at them and swaggered out of their ken -with Marjorie on an arm.</p> - -<p class='c005'>They looked after her, laughing, but did not -pursue the pair. Leslie thought it extremely lucky -that she should have been singled out for attention -by “friendly ruffles.” She had no idea where -in the big room to look for Doris. She dared not -linger to search for her. Her one thought now -was to gain the safety of outdoors before unmasking -time came.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Up the room the pair now strolled with an air -of rustic gaiety. It was simulated by both with -difficulty. They kept fairly close to the west wall -of the gymnasium so as to be well out of the path -of the dancers. Neither appeared to be in a hurry. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>Both were battling against a strong desire to break -into a run.</p> - -<p class='c005'>They were nearing the door before a knowledge -of what to say to Leslie came to little “friendly -ruffles.” Marjorie came into a sudden understanding -that Leslie was as anxious as she to reach the -door. With unspoken intent both had steered -directly for it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Lightly withdrawing her fingers from her escort’s -arm Marjorie said in a very low, distinct -tone. “The unmasking will take place after this -dance. There will be a short intermission then. -The girls will probably go parading about the -campus.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Who are you? Do you know me?” Leslie had -instantly caught the hidden inference. Her partner -knew her to be an outsider.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Does it matter who we are? I must go. Good -night.” Followed the gracious addition. “Your -costume was much the funniest at the romp.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>In the second of silence which succeeded the -compliment the two maskers faced each other, Leslie -across the threshold now, Marjorie still inside -the vestibule.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Thank you, and double thank you,” Leslie said -in an odd muffled voice. “Good night.” She turned -and started across the campus at a swinging stride -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>which might have belonged to a true country boy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Thank goodness,” breathed Marjorie. She -watched the lonely figure fast disappearing into the -darkness and a feeling of pity rose in her heart because -Leslie could not remain at the romp and enjoy -the fun of winning the prize her ludicrous get-up -merited.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It had taken longer than she thought to conduct -Leslie to the door. Marjorie decided it to be hardly -worth while to renew her search for Robin Page, -whom thus far she had not been able to pick out -among the rustic throng. She had not more than -re-entered the ball room when the unmasking -whistle blew shrilly. Its high, piercing blasts were -immediately drowned by waves of echoing laughter -as masks were removed and identities jubilantly -made known.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie made a swift rush forward to meet an -Irish country woman who was jogging peacefully -along, a small, covered, green and white basket -on her arm. She was dressed in a voluminous -bright-figured brown cretonne dress. Over her -shoulders was a green and red plaid shawl, on her -head a white mob cap with a full white outstanding -ruffle and a huge green satin bow decorating the -front of it. Wide flat black slippers, green and red -plaid hosiery which her ankle length dress permitted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>a glimpse of and a bright green umbrella completed -her gay attire.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Now for the sake av ould Ireland, is it yerself -I am finding forninst me?” demanded the delighted -Hibernian lady, offering Marjorie one end of her -umbrella to shake instead of her hand.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes, it is certainly myself and no other. But -<i>where</i> have you been? Not out on the floor. I -never saw sign of you in that costume until this -minute. You tricky old Celt. You appeared late -on purpose, <i>that’s</i> what you did,” Marjorie accused.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leila smiled widely and cheerfully. “Now how -can you blame me? Since I am Irish then how -could I appear in the gym in an Irish costume of -my own special fancy and not have the campus -dwellers add two and two? So I have had a fine, -exciting time sitting up in my room twirling my -Irish thumbs until time for me to set out for the -festival.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What a mean thing to do; to put your friends -to so much needless trouble. How long have you -been on the floor?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leila looked thoughtful then beamed again: “Perhaps -three minutes,” she admitted. “I have not yet -met a Traveler except you, Beauty. You are the -same beauty-bright colleen as ever. You would be -that though dressed in canvas bags.”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>“You are direct from County Blarney,” Marjorie -made a gesture of unbelief. “Jerry and I -picked out Muriel first thing. She is so funny. I -knew Ronny and Lucy, too, and Lillian. I’m sorry -Kathie couldn’t be in this. That’s the penalty she -pays for being of the faculty. Let’s go Traveler -hunting, Leila.” She took Leila’s arm and the two -strolled on together further to investigate the many -groups of mirthful, chattering rustics who crowded -the spacious room.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was not long before Leila and Marjorie were -the center of a group of their own composed of -Muriel, Vera, Lillian, Lucy, Barbara Severn, -Ronny and Jerry. Leila circulated among them, -beaming affably. She announced mysteriously that -she had something nice to give each one.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s a gift basket which I stole from a leprechaun -and in it is a magic charm for each and all. Be -pleased to hold one hand behind your back when I -give out the charms. Shut your fingers tight down -on the charm so it can not vanish away. When I -give the word you may look at them. Now be -fair and do not peep at them until I give you the -word.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>With this glib injunction Leila slid a hand into -the basket and drew it out tightly closed about -some small object. She ordered the company to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>stand in a circle, each with a hand behind her back.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What is it?” cried Muriel as her hand received -and tightly clutched the small smooth round object.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Now you shall see how fond I am of you.” -Leila had hurriedly given out the rest of the charms. -“You may all look.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>A chorus of derisive groans mingled with -laughter followed the gracious permission. Each -Traveler had been presented with a small potato. -Its new pale skin had been scrubbed to immaculate -cleanness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“A charming charm, I must say,” giggled Muriel. -“Let’s forcibly lead the Celtic sorceress out on the -campus and peg at her with these praties. If she -isn’t hit by any of them we shall know that they -are either bewitched or else we can’t throw straight.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>In the midst of the fun her friends were having -over Leila’s charms, remembrance of Leslie Cairns -and her constrained flight from the scene of fun returned -to Marjorie. She had sufficient cause to regard -Leslie as an enemy, yet she did not hold her as -such. Now she was feeling nothing but a kind regret -that Leslie had barred herself out of Hamilton and all -its pleasures. She decided that she would not tell even -Jerry of the incident. Common sense whispered to -her that Doris Monroe must have aided Leslie in -the escapade. They had probably met on the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>campus and gone to the gymnasium together. Marjorie -knit her brows in an effort to recall a dancing -partner of Leslie’s. She herself had noticed and -repeatedly laughed at the foolish-faced farmer before -the collision with Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What are you scowling about?” Jerry happened -to note Marjorie’s puckered brows. “Let me -sweeten your disposition by treating you to wintergreen -lozenges and crimson lemonade.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I accept your generous offer. I hope you have -money enough to treat lavishly,” Marjorie accepted -Jerry with this pertinent hint, after having been -affectionately jabbed in the side with Jerry’s elbow.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I got cash,” Jerry boasted, thrusting her free -hand into a pocket of her overalls. “I still got -some ’o my Fourthy July money. I didn’t spend -nothing that day hardly. It rained lickety whoop. -Silas Pratt near got swept off the speaker’s stand a -deliverin’ his Fourthy July ration. I heerd at the -last the stand floated right off in the woods a carryin’ -the Hamtown choir, Revern’d Skiggs and three -boys as was sittn’ on the bottom steps of it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie and Jerry headed gaily for the lemonade -stand calling back buoyant invitations to their -friends to join them. As they drew near the stand -a girl turned away from it and glanced at them. -She was golden-haired and lovely in her white -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>dimity frock scattered thickly with violets. Neither -Marjorie nor Jerry could do other than admire her -and her becoming costume. The trio did not exchange -salutations.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris Monroe had not spoken to Jerry more than -once or twice since coming to Hamilton. She had -not even bowed to Marjorie since her own refusal -to go to Sanford with Muriel on a Christmas vacation. -Now she stared at Marjorie’s costume, -rather than at Marjorie herself, in dismayed fascination. -She had made a discovery which was -anything but pleasing to her.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XIV.<br /> <br />A DISHEARTENING SITUATION</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>The discovery that Marjorie was the rustic maid -in the pale yellow gingham gown who had accompanied -Leslie Cairns to the door of the gymnasium -was a distinct shock to Doris. Following the Rustic -Romp she received a second jolt when Julia Peyton -waylaid her on the campus to inform her triumphantly -that she had something “very important -to say about Miss Cairns.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Whatever it may be, say it now,” Doris commanded, -keeping curiosity and interest well out of -her tone. During the progression of her sophomore -year she had grown to dislike Julia more and more. -In the beginning she had tolerated resignedly Julia’s -jealous preference for her society. Now she did -not care whether either Julia or Clara Carter liked -her or not.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I couldn’t <i>think</i> of saying it now. I haven’t -time. It’s something confidential.” Julia crested her -black head importantly. Her black, moon-like eyes -fixed themselves upon Doris in a mysterious stare.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>“Now, or not at all.” Doris stood firm. “I’d -prefer not to invite you to my room because of Miss -Harding. I don’t like to go to yours. You and -Miss Carter nearly always quarrel. It’s such a -bore to listen to you.” She affected a weary expression.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Julia cast a frowning glance about her. She -glanced hastily up at the clock tower and said doggedly: -“I must go. I’ll meet you at the big green -seat near the west side of the campus at five this -afternoon. I have your welfare at heart, even -though you don’t think so,” she flung this reproachfully -at Doris. “I simply <i>must</i> speak to you about -Miss Cairns.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris knew nothing of Julia’s unfortunate fall -over Leslie’s umbrella. She had gone outdoors after -a spirited dancing number, in company with half -a dozen merry masks, for a breath of the sweet -spring air. The spill had occurred while she was -outside. When she had returned she had been immediately -claimed for the next dance. A little later -while dancing she had caught sight of Leslie surrounded -by hilarious maskers. She had hurried to -extricate her from her difficulties as soon as the -dance was over. She had then spied Leslie moving -towards the vestibule door in company with the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>mask in yellow gingham. It filled her with an immeasurable -relief to know that Leslie had, as she -supposed, escaped discovery and was then on her -way to leaving the frolic.</p> - -<p class='c005'>To learn soon afterward that Marjorie Dean had -been Leslie’s companion to the door was not re-assuring. -Her heart sank at the very thought -until her first agitation had passed. She had recollected -that, masked, Miss Dean might not have -recognized Leslie. Leslie had promised not to talk. -She and Marjorie were as strangers to each other; -had been for some time. Doris could only marvel -at the queer twist of fortune which had brought -Leslie and Marjorie together. According to Leslie’s -accounts the two were bitter enemies. Masked, -they had paraded up the gymnasium together on apparently -congenial terms.</p> - -<p class='c005'>This latest thought completely re-assured Doris. -Of course they had not recognized each other! -Knowingly, neither would have gone a step with -the other. Leslie had undoubtedly managed to free -herself from her partner before reaching the door. -Directly after the unmasking Doris had skipped a -dance purposely to make a careful search on the -floor for Leslie. Leslie had disappeared, completely -and satisfactorily.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>Doris had not said to Julia Peyton whether or -not she would meet her at the big green campus -bench near the west entrance. She changed her -mind about going half a dozen times before five -o’clock came. She had expected to hear from Leslie -on the telephone through the day. No call from -Leslie came until a quarter to five that afternoon. -The message was a fairly polite invitation from Leslie -to drive to Orchard Inn to dinner. She agreed -to meet Doris on Hamilton Pike in front of the -central campus gates.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Since she had come downstairs to answer the telephone -Doris decided to walk over to the campus -bench and learn what Julia had to say about Leslie. -She was to meet Leslie at half past five. She would -not spend more than ten or fifteen minutes in Julia’s -company. Since the romp was over, and nothing -of mishap had occurred to Leslie on the frolicsome -occasion, Doris was not inclined to borrow trouble -over whatever Julia might have to say of Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m glad you came.” Julia rolled her black eyes -at Doris in an expression of spiteful satisfaction. -“You must have <i>some</i> idea of what I have to say, -after what happened last night.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I didn’t intend to come. I happened to be -downstairs, so I changed my mind about meeting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>you. I do not know what you mean by saying ‘after -what happened last night.’ How can I possibly know -what you are going to say?” Doris asked the question -with a suspicion of sarcasm in her tone.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Are you pretending you don’t know what happened?” -Julia asked offendedly. “Weren’t you on -the floor most of the time before the unmasking?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes, but I saw nothing happen, either remarkable -or dreadful. You told me this morning you -had something to say to me about Miss Cairns. -Whatever happened last night has nothing to do -with her,” Doris said coldly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t understand you at all, Doris,” Julia cried -resentfully. “Didn’t you know that Miss Cairns -tripped Miss Dean and me last night while we were -dancing, and that we both fell?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris shook her head in blank amazement. “I -did not know,” she said very positively. “When -did that happen? I went outdoors for a few minutes -about two numbers before unmasking time. Was -it then, I wonder?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Maybe it was. You admit then that Miss Cairns -was in the gym,” was the triumphant return.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I admit nothing.” Doris managed to keep up -her cold composure. Anger gleamed in her green -eyes.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>“She was there, even if you won’t admit it. She -behaved like a boor to me. She crashed into us -like a locomotive and poked a miserable umbrella -she carried squarely between our feet. How could -we help but fall? I simply said I thought it wasn’t -best for her to carry such a large umbrella on the -dancing floor. You should have heard the insulting -things she said to me, and to Miss Dean. She was -in a terrible rage. I had all I could do to keep my -temper.” Julia endeavored to look very superior.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris did not make the mistake of uttering a word. -She purposed to hear Julia out before speaking. The -sophomore was more than satisfied to be allowed -to do all the talking.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I knew it was Miss Cairns by her voice. I was -<i>so</i> shocked. After she had abused us both she swaggered -off down the room. Then my partner told -me that she was Miss Dean. I was <i>so</i> surprised. -She said we had best not tell anyone just then that -Miss Cairns was on the floor—the best way to do -was not to mention names, but to order her out -of the gym quietly. She did that very thing herself. -Just before the unmasking I saw Miss Dean -walking Miss Cairns up the gym and to the vestibule -door. In two or three minutes Miss Dean came -back alone.” Julia gave out this information with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>malicious relish. “But that’s not <i>all</i> Miss Dean -did. She played a trick on the whole college which -I think very ignoble.” She paused to note the -effect on Doris of this remarkable news.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Go on,” Doris commanded with bored amusement. -“Your tale of the Rustic Mask is growing -interesting.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You may find it more so.” A dull angry red -overspread Julia’s pasty-white complexion. “I -haven’t come to your part in it yet.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No?” Doris smilingly tilted her golden head and -raised polite brows.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Dean acted entirely against the traditions -of Hamilton,” she continued sullenly. “She went -straight to Jane Everest, who was detailed to blow -the whistle for unmasking and asked her not to blow -it until she, Miss Dean, gave her the signal. She -told Jane why, too. She had asked <i>me</i> not to say -a word to a soul about Miss Cairns.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How do you happen to know all this?” Doris -asked in a quick sharp tone.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I was with Miss Dean. I—er—I didn’t—I -couldn’t get away from her just then. So I heard -the whole thing.” Julia floundered briefly, but ended -in triumph.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What did Miss Everest say?”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>“She said she would wait to blow it. I was so -disgusted with them both for their disloyalty to tradition -I simply turned and left them. You know, -Doris, that Miss Dean had no business to ask Jane -Everest to disobey the order of the senior dance committee. -They had set the time for unmasking. It -was very dishonorable for her to try to shield an expelled -student who had taken advantage of the masquerade -to trick her way into the gym. Miss Cairns -couldn’t possibly ever again have hoped to take part -in a college frolic after the way she left Hamilton. -She was considered utterly lawless by the Board, -Prexy and the faculty. I’ve heard <i>volumes</i> against -her since I came to Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Dean knows more against Miss Cairns, so -I’ve been told, than any other student at Hamilton. -She and Miss Cairns were rivals for popularity while -Miss Cairns was on the campus. They used to play -all sorts of dishonorable tricks upon each other, I -suspect,” Julia eyed Doris darkly, “that Miss Dean -didn’t have the—the—courage to expose Miss -Cairns. It would take a person of very high principle -to expose Miss Cairns openly on the floor of the -gym, as she should have been exposed. I hope, for -<i>your</i> sake, Miss Dean won’t tell her pals about it. -If she does, it will soon be campus gossip.”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>“Why for my sake?” Doris still refused to be -included in Julia’s implications.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s sweet in you to try to protect Miss Cairns, -Doris, I honor you for it.” Julia said, her reply -reeking acidity. “But you can’t deceive me. I know -the farmer with the striped umbrella was Miss -Cairns. I saw you go through the grand march -and dance the first dance with her. I knew you by -your walk and I came up close to you on purpose -and took a good look at you to make sure. I know -your emerald ring and I saw some of your hair -fluffing out from under your hat.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I went through the grand march and danced the -first number with a rustic swain,” Doris stated with -deliberate coldness. “I did not see my partner’s -face. Did you?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s not the point,” Julia evaded, stung to -exasperation by her classmate’s cool reception of her -revelation. “What I came here <i>specially</i> to tell you -is that you had better not be seen going around with -Miss Cairns. This story will travel, I feel sure. -You’ll be severely criticized and dropped by most -of the students. Even your good looks won’t save -you. It was very inconsiderate and selfish of Miss -Cairns to put you in such a risky position. She -is certainly not your friend. The crowd last night -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>was frisky. If the girls had had the least idea -of whom she was they would have ripped off her -mask, hooted her from the gym and maybe the -campus. How would you have felt then?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I only know the way I feel now. I don’t like -you, Miss Peyton, and I never have.” Doris chose -to be drastically candid. “If a story such as you have -just told me should go the round of the campus, I -should not blame Miss Dean or Miss Everest for -having started it. I should blame you. I intend -to be silent. Let me give you a piece of advice. -You had best be silent, too, about what you <i>believe</i> -you know against Miss Cairns.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XV.<br /> <br />THE TRUTH ABOUT “BEAN”</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>Doris had only time enough to hurry back to the -Hall for her wraps before starting out again to -meet Leslie. She did not regret her blunt words -to Julia. The gossiping, jealous sophomore had deserved -them. Doris had grown tired of Julia’s impudent -interference into her personal affairs. This -time Julia had gone too far. Doris had decided to -drop her, oblivious of what the sophomore might -afterward say of her. She believed sturdily that she -could defend her own position at Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You certainly deserted me,” was Leslie’s greeting -as Doris stepped into the roadster, parked at the -central gates. “Last night, I mean,” she added -with her slow smile.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I never meant to,” Doris apologized. “You said -you preferred to look out for yourself. I saw you -in the middle of that crowd of freshies and was worried -about you. By the time I could get free of my -partner to go to you I saw you on the way out of -the gym.”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>“Thanks to little yellow gingham ruffles, Leslie -Adoree broke away from the merry rustic scene with -colors flying and her false face still on. I had a -good time, though, while it lasted.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Did that unwieldy umbrella really trip a couple -who were dancing?” Doris inquired abruptly. She -was anxious to learn whether Julia had told her the -truth in the matter.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It really did.” Leslie’s face suddenly lost its -half humorous expression. “One of them was a -screech owl posing as a rustic youth. Her voice had -a familiar sound. Still there are so many varieties -of screech owl on the campus,” she ended sarcastically.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“The ‘screech owl’ was Miss Peyton. The other -girl was—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Peyton. No wonder I felt like pitching -in and fighting her while I had my farm togs on.” -Leslie’s tone indicated her disgust. “She was outrageous, -Goldie. I tried to stay dumb, but I -couldn’t. I finally said two or three pithy things -to her. Little yellow gingham ruffles was all right. -She tried to keep us from fussing. Afterward she -came down to where I was and walked me away -from a gang who had been trying to rag me. She -walked me up the gym to the vestibule door and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>joked with me all the way. She had on a pale yellow -gingham dress with little yellow ruffles and a -white hat with—</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What did she say to you, Leslie?” was Doris’s -anxious interruption. “I mean when you reached -the door.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That was the queer part. She knew me. I’m -almost sure of it. She didn’t say a word about my -going, but she knew I wanted to get out of the gym -before unmasking. She went to the door with me -to keep off trouble. She was a good sport; an upper -class girl probably. Some one I may have met. I -know a few juniors and seniors who were freshies -and sophs when I was a senior.” Leslie gave an -inaudible sigh. Last night’s frolic had brought back -vividly the memory of her failure as a student.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“The girl in the yellow gingham ruffled dress was -Miss Dean,” Doris said in a peculiar tone.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What?” In her surprise Leslie allowed the roadster -to run off the course on the pike she was keeping -by several inches. She instantly brought the machine -back to course. Apparently struck dumb, she leaned -forward, staring interestedly at the road ahead. Just -then she could think of nothing to say. Presently -she found speech again.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes, it was Bean,” she said dully. “I know it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>now. Why didn’t you come and walk me away -from her when you saw us together?” Leslie demanded, -her accent displeased.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I didn’t know then that the mask you were with -was Miss Dean. I didn’t know it until I saw her -after the unmasking.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She did me a good turn.” Leslie stopped, her -face reddening. It was the first time she had ever -said a good word for Marjorie to any one. “How -soon after I got away from the gym did the whistle -blow?” she inquired soberly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not more than two or three minutes. You got -away just in time. I didn’t know about Miss Peyton -and Miss Dean and the umbrella business until -this afternoon. Miss Peyton told me. I must have -been outside the gym when it happened. I was out -on the campus with a crowd for a few minutes.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris had wisely decided not to tell Leslie of what -Julia Peyton had said. Julia was fond of telling her -friends and classmates anything disagreeable which -she might have heard of them. Doris abhorred the -pernicious habit. Instead she began to quiz her -companion about the umbrella mishap. She had a -curiosity to know Julia Peyton’s exact part in it. -She had not wholly credited the sophomore’s side -of the story.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>Leslie answered, at first rather abstractedly. Her -mind was still centered on the “good turn” which -“Bean” had done her. Presently she dropped into -a humorous account of the accident which made -Doris laugh. Julia had declared Leslie to be lawless -and dishonorable. Doris wondered if it were -really true of her. Leslie had treated her fairly. -She began to believe she liked Leslie despite the latter’s -occasional spells of domineering insolence. She -made up her mind then and there to learn if she -could the history of Leslie’s and Marjorie Dean’s -enmity from its beginning.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie’s account of the umbrella incident, humorous -and truthful, differed considerably from that of Julia -Peyton. Doris wondered if Julia had not also misrepresented -matters to her about Muriel at Christmas -time. Then she remembered regretfully that -Muriel had admitted having said the very things -which had offended her pride. In the present instance -she chose to believe Leslie rather than Julia.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Harding won the prize for having the funniest -costume,” Doris ended a little silent interval -between the two girls. “She had on that ridiculous -imitation of a riding costume. You remember we -were laughing at her? The prize was a large jar -of stick candy. Your costume was really funnier -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>than hers. Your mask was so screamingly silly.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Bean said I had the funniest costume,” Leslie -commented shortly. Her dark face grew darker as -she sent the roadster speeding over the smooth -pike. So it had been the girl she most disliked who -had conducted her merrily and surely out of an -embarrassing situation for which only herself was -to blame. Her mind began suggesting petty spiteful -reasons for Marjorie’s kindly act. She dismissed -them in the instant of their birth. None -of them were honest.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Only one conclusion remained to be drawn in the -matter. Leslie faced it unwillingly. To give it -credence meant the crashing down of all the carefully -built-up cases against “Bean” which she had -cherished for over four years. In spite of the wilful -and malicious attempts she had made against -Marjorie’s welfare and peace of mind, “Bean,” it -now appeared, had no grudge against her.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XVI.<br /> <br />THE JOURNAL</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“That settles things for me, Jeremiah. For the -first time since I entered Hamilton I’m not going -home for the Easter vacation. General can’t come -home for a month from that Canadian trip. So -Captain’s coming here for Easter. Oh, joy! Tra, -la, la, la, too, roo, re, lay!” Marjorie whisked up -and down her’s and Jerry’s quarters at the Arms in -frisky delight. A letter from her captain had -furnished impetus for the dance.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s a good thing for us that Irma has changed -the date of her wedding from Easter until the last -week in June. That lets us completely out of going -home. Not that I don’t want to see the Macy -family. I do; I do. But I must stick to you, -Bean, till all is over. Then the Macys will have the -pleasure of seeing Jeremiah for the rest of their lives. -I feel a jingle beginning to sprout. Aha!” Jerry -turned an imaginary crank on one side of her head -and recited:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>“Oh, let us sing, like anything,</div> - <div class='line in1'>And warble, too, re, lay.</div> - <div class='line in1'>No Feejee queen compares with Bean;</div> - <div class='line in1'>With Bean I choose to stay.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“You are a loyal Jeremiah as I’ve told you in -the past, seven thousand times, more or less.” -Marjorie stopped her frisky prance to pat Jerry on -the head. “Have you stopped to consider the feelings -of the Macy family? They may strongly object -to an Easter without Jeremiah.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“They’ll have to bear it. It’ll be the first long -vacation for Jeremiah away from Macyville.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“And my first one away from Castle Dean. I -promised Captain all the long Hamilton vacations -before ever I entered college. I’ve kept my word. -I would have this one, too,” Marjorie declared -earnestly. “Now Captain’s coming to the Arms, and -everything is more celostrous than ever.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“So it is, Bean; so it is,” Jerry assured in what -she liked to term her “most middle-aged, gentlemanly” -voice.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I should have felt like a shirker about going -home at Easter. Leila, Vera, Robin, Ronny and -Lucy say they can’t spare the time away from the -campus. It would have broken up my work on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>the biography a little, and I’d have hated to leave -Miss Susanna. Still I would have gone. Captain -first, you know.” Marjorie lovingly patted her -mother’s letter.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’d have gone home with you and risked being -called a shirker by the gang. I’d have borne it. -I’m as noble as you are, noble Bean. Here is a -copy of my latest jingle.” Jerry tendered Marjorie -a sheet of paper. “I caught it while you were busy -praising me.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Thoughtful bard,” Marjorie commended, flourishingly -accepting the paper. “May I inquire what -you intend to do today?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m going over to the campus right after breakfast. -Leila and I are going to make Norse helmets -for Norse warriors of buckram and silver paper. -With the help of our fertile brains and a little invincible -glue we shall win. What are you going to -do to while the day away?” Jerry inquired innocently.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, nothing special,” Marjorie waved an airy -hand. “That’s the way it seems sometimes,” she -added, her face sobering, “when I write all day and -then find at evening that I haven’t done more than -a page of good work. I’ve divided the material for -the biography into two parts. I wish to call the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>first part ‘Inspiration.’ The second part will be -‘Realization.’”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It sounds good to me.” Jerry waited breathlessly -to hear more. It was the first time Marjorie had -volunteered her any information on the subject of -her own writing. Jerry watched her as she might -have a rare song bird, which had poised itself near -her and was ready to take flight at the tiniest movement -on her part.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“‘Inspiration’ is to be the story of his youth, -hopes and dreams. ‘Realization’ is to be the story -of the man, Brooke Hamilton, and his achievement.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Does Miss Susanna know what you’ve just told -me? You have such clam-like tendencies, Bean.” -Jerry smirked at her chum.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes, I told her about it several days ago. I -only thought of it one day last week. I like the -idea.” Marjorie’s accompanying smile was utterly -without vanity. “If I could write as well as Kathie, -or Leila, or you, Jeremiah, I’d be happy. Really, -I have to dig out almost every sentence I write.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Hooh!” derided Jerry. “I can’t write. You’re -simply trying to be polite to present company. So -deceitful!” She raised a hand in shocked reproach.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I never allow anyone to call me deceitful.” Marjorie -charged upon Jerry, who nimbly eluded her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>and ran for the door. She whisked out into the -hall and down the broad staircase with her vengeful -pursuer close behind her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The pair breezed around the corner of the newel -post just in time to crash into Jonas, who was -coming through the hall with a large feather duster -which one of the maids had accidentally left on the -hall rack.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Mercy on us!” Jonas raised a startled arm. -He poked the duster full into Jerry’s face, to Marjorie’s -noisy delight.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Ker-choo! I’m not the hall rack, Jonas, and -I don’t think I resemble the newel post, either,” -Jerry reproved.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“No, you don’t quite look like either of ’em,” -Jonas agreed, chuckling. “Excuse me for dusting -you,” taking a leaf from Jerry’s own book of etiquette -he slyly added, “and blame yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Fine, Jonas, you’re learning,” Jerry heartily encouraged.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The frolicsome pair lingered in the hall for a little -exchanging of merry repartee with Jonas. He now -looked forward to such lively encounters as a part -of his day’s program.</p> - -<p class='c005'>At breakfast that morning Mrs. Dean’s letter -formed the main topic of conversation. Marjorie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>was bubbling over with happiness at the highly -agreeable way in which her affairs had worked out.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m the person fortune has singled out for attention,” -Miss Susanna crisply asserted. “All I need -do is stay quietly at home and watch my friends gravitate -to the Arms. Last Easter you girls all went -away from Hamilton and left poor Susanna without -a single playmate. This year Susanna has them -all, and with one more to come from another land.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s wonderful to know that Captain will soon -be here.” Marjorie’s voice was full of tender expectation. -“Her presence will furnish me with -oceans of fresh literary impetus. I shall need it -for ‘Realization,’ the second part of the biography. -It will be a good deal longer than the first part. -I wish they might have been of equal length.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“The inspiration to build Hamilton College was -his life. At least he made it that,” Miss Susanna -said rather absently. She appeared to be immersed -in thought far remote from her spoken words.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s precisely why the first part of the biography -will be so much shorter than the second,” -Marjorie cried, her forehead puckering in faint -disapproval. “His very interesting years in China, -the building of Hamilton, all his work belongs in -‘Realization.’ He had begun to work, then, you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>see, entirely toward realizing his splendid plans. -I’d love to have more data about his youth. There -is a great deal of the China data which would have -been lost if you hadn’t written down the stories he -told you of his life in the Orient,” she nodded gratefully -to Miss Susanna.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There may be some earlier data that I can let -you have for that first part,” was Miss Hamilton’s -vague promise. “I’ll see what I can find for you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie presently went to the study wondering -not a little as to what the data might be which -Miss Hamilton had promised. She surmised from -the old lady’s preoccupied air during the remainder -of the meal that Miss Susanna was mentally trying -to decide whether or not to give her for the biography -certain incidents in the life of Brooke Hamilton -which she had thus far withheld.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I wish you could really speak and tell me something -about yourself,” she said fancifully to Brooke -Hamilton’s portrait. “What were your favorite -sports when you were a very young man? Riding, -of course, and probably swimming. Did you—let -me think”—she stared reflectively at the portrait—“did -you ever win a hundred yard dash, or—a -yacht race?” She colored self-consciously at her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>own question. Her thoughts had veered suddenly -from Brooke Hamilton to Hal Macy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Thought of Hal next reminded her that she would -not see Hal at Easter. That would be best for them -both. Still she visualized Hal’s disappointment, not -only at not seeing her—he would miss Jerry’s comradely -companionship. It would be of no use to -tell Jerry she ought to go to Sanford for Easter on -Hal’s account. Jerry would hoot at the idea. Marjorie -decided that she would write Hal a particularly -cordial Easter letter to try to make up for her absence.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She brought her mind summarily back to the subject -of Brooke Hamilton. What was it Miss -Susanna had once said of him concerning love? And -when was it she had said it? An instant, and -Marjorie recalled the occasion. It was the only time -the mistress of the Arms had ever mentioned -Brooke Hamilton as having loved. She had said -on the occasion of Marjorie’s introduction to the portrait -of her kinsman in the study that Brooke Hamilton -had believed in the romance of deeds; not the -romance of love. She had also said that he had -“found after all that love was love. That the romance -of men and women—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Miss Susanna had stopped at this juncture and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>had never again renewed the subject. Marjorie grew -inwardly vexed with herself for having permitted -her thoughts to run toward love. Because, unfortunately, -Hal had fallen in love with her, the thought -of Hal must ever bring reminder of the unwelcome -fact. She was glad that Brooke Hamilton’s history -was one of deeds. In the mass of data she had -handled there had been personal mention made of -only his mother, Faith Gretney Hamilton, and Miss -Susanna.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ve been mooning,” she informed the handsome, -blue-eyed man in the gilt frame. “Now I am going -to work hard. I must leave you in July for two -whole months. I wish you would come down from -the wall and finish writing your own story before -I come back. Wouldn’t that be a lovely magic surprise -for Marjorie?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>A light tap on the study door sent her scurrying -to open it. Miss Susanna walked into the study an -odd look on her small shrewd features. In her -hands she carried a rosewood box. It was perhaps -eight by ten inches and not more than three inches -deep. It was a lock box with a beautifully executed -leaf border and a simple, artistically carved monogram -on the shining surface of the lid.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Marjorie, I have brought you Uncle Brooke’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>journal,” Miss Susanna began without preamble. -“I hadn’t intended to let you or anyone else ever -see it, much less permit a line of it to be published. -Since you have been at the Arms I have wondered -several times whether I was doing right in keeping -it from you. How can you acquire a true conception -of him unless you know him as his journal reveals -him?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>As she talked Miss Susanna busied herself -with the turning of a tiny key in the lock. She -set the box on the study table, opened it. Inside it -lay an oblong notebook bound in black leather. It -was not very thick. Around it was a wide black -rubber band.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Here it is.” The old lady lifted it from the -box with a sadly reverent air; handed it to Marjorie. -She accepted it, saying nothing. “It is a love story -you are going to read in this old black book, Marvelous -Manager; the love story of your friend, -Brooke Hamilton. He was a marvelous manager, -too, child. There was only one thing he did not -know how to manage. That was his heart.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XVII.<br /> <br />BROOKE HAMILTON’S ANGELA</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>Marjorie looked from Miss Susanna to the portrait -and back again. The mistress of the Arms -was eyeing the portrait, too, with an expression of -dark melancholy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There’s no use in my staying here to talk with -you about this journal, child. I’ve read it several -times and almost cried my eyes out over it. In fact, -I don’t want to talk about it at all. I’m going. -After you have read it, I’ll have something else -to say. Not until then.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Thank you, Miss Susanna,” Marjorie had only -time to call after the sturdy little woman as the -latter hurried from the room, furtively wiping her -eyes with her hem-stitched handkerchief.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The young girl, who stood on the threshold of -life and love, even as Brooke Hamilton had once -stood, was equally the stranger to love that he had -been. Marjorie regarded the black leather book -with a glance of timid fascination. Between the -loose black covers, broken apart from much handling, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>in that small space, was the record of a love -which had not been a happy one. Over a happy -love idyl Miss Susanna would never have “almost -cried her eyes out.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>She understood that her remark at the breakfast -table concerning her lack of material for ‘Inspiration’ -had set the question of the giving of the journal -to her going again in Miss Susanna’s mind. -Marjorie felt as though she stood on the brink of -the unknown. The love story of Brooke Hamilton -could not but be different from that of any of which -she had read or heard.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She swept aside the pad of paper on which she -had been writing and carefully laid the journal on -the table before her. Slowly she removed the wide -rubber band and opened the book to the first page. -There in his clear handwriting stood a foreword:</p> - -<p class='c005'>“May 1,” it began. “This is my birthday, -though not even the servants know it. Well, I have -purchased myself a gift; this black book. It shall -not be a black book in an evil sense. It shall only -record my doings which I shall hope to make ever -of purpose and right. Should I live to be a very -old man this journal will preserve for me facts -which memory will have long grown weary of holding. -I shall call this book a present from my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>mother. I do not approve of making presents to -myself.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie smiled at the final sentence of the foreword. -It sounded so like Miss Susanna. The little -preamble was distinctly boyish, she thought. It had -the dignity, however, belonging to one brought up -in loneliness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She turned the page. The next item was brief -and dated three years later, but again May 1, it -stated:</p> - -<p class='c005'>“My birthday again. I found this book today -in my desk. I had forgotten its use until I opened -it. I shall try once more to keep a record of personal -events. Three years between the two entries. -How time passes.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>To her surprise the next entry was dated July -tenth, eight years later. It was humorously rueful.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I appear to be most unsuccessful as a journalist. -I have the will to record my doings but not -the execution. Tonight I am in an oddly pleasant -state of mind over the day’s events. The Vernons, -of Vernon Lodge, gave an archery meet this afternoon. -They held the meet in honor of a cousin, -Miss Angela Vernon, who has come to make her -home with them. Miss Vernon is an orphan with -a pleasing girlish face and soft chestnut curls. Her -voice is low and sweet and she has a merry fashion -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>of showing her small white teeth in laughing which -is captivating. I enjoyed her company, which I -cannot state to be the truth of the majority of -young women whom I have met. I have no fault -to find with these except that they seem to be possessed -of so little depth. What a pretty name -Angela is. I like it far better than Rachel, Maria, -Abagail, Betsy or other feminine names similarly -plain and ugly.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Vernons’ archery meet had staged the opening -incidents in Brooke Hamilton’s love affair. After -the entry of July tenth, followed others, in -somewhat scattered dating of the same year. Hardly -one of these but that made mention of Angela -Vernon. The young, attentive Brooke Hamilton -had been horseback riding with Angela. He had -escorted her to a lawn party. He had danced repeatedly -with her at the Hamilton country-side -ball. He wrote at some length in his journal of -the pleasure he derived from her company. Yet -into his writing never crept the word love.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie read on and on, forgetful of all but the -world the journal conjured for her in which the -author and Angela Vernon had once lived and -played their parts. Thus far she had experienced -no desire toward tears. Instead she was inclined -to signal annoyance at Brooke Hamilton for his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>attitude of complacency toward charming Angela -Vernon. At first she had been amused by his naive -admissions to his journal, so utterly devoid of -sentimentality. She had not then specially sympathized -with Angela. From his written comments -she could guess nothing of the young girl’s -mind toward him. An entry dated almost two -years later than the fateful archery meet brought an -odd aching sadness to Marjorie’s heart.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“May 10. Life has moved very agreeably for -me in my ancestral home during the years of my -adolescence. Since my meeting with the Marquis -de Lafayette, however, all within me is changed. -There was a time to dance, to play, to be irresponsibly -youthful. That time has past. I am facing -the great problem of how one day to carry out -my dream of founding a democratic college for -young women in loving memory of my mother. In -order to do this I shall require great riches. These -I have not, though my father is not counted less -than rich. I have a plan by which I may attain -wealth in time. It must needs carry me far from -home. So be it. I am a free spirit. I am bound -by no pledge of love or duty.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I am well satisfied that Angela and I are not -more than friends. Sometimes I wonder if we are -even such. She seems often cold, restrained in my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>presence where formerly she was invariably light -and cordially gay. I confess I do not always understand -young women. I shall soon be without her -comradely company. She is going to Philadelphia -to visit the Vernons there and dance at the Assembly -Ball. She is very charming. She says she will -never marry. Such a statement is not to be taken -seriously. I have frequently assured her that she -will no doubt wed a man high in the affairs of the -United States. She is fitted for diplomatic society.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Followed other entries of a similar nature. Marjorie -could not but marvel at the blindness of young -Brooke Hamilton to Angela Vernon’s love for him. -Unversed in the ways of young women the very -comments he wrote concerning her variable moods -toward him Marjorie translated as the attempts of -a girl in love to hide her unrequited affection from -its indifferent object of worship.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Then came an entry made on shipboard on the -day when the founder of Hamilton had embarked -from New York on his first voyage to China. Her -eyes misted with sudden tears as she read:</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Out at sea, the world before me! When I wonder -shall I see the Arms again? Not, I am resolved -until the battle’s won, my fortune made, my -dream become a reality. I have brought with me -my black book, a link between me and my younger, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>lighter hours of life. ‘When I became a man, I -put away childish things.’ So it is with me now. -I must strive and accomplish in the world of deeds. -Its only creed is action, and still more action. I -shall keep my book now as the path back to youth’s -pleasant orchard.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Angela gave me a utility case of dark blue silk -which she herself made. She also gave me a small -daguerrotype of herself. I was greatly touched by -her remembrance of me. She rode down to the -little station on her pony to wish me ‘<i>bon voyage</i>.’ -It was hardly more than dawn. Hers was the last -face I saw among the home friends. She had been -crying. She said so quite frankly. I had no idea -she cared for me so fondly. She has flouted me -roundly at times. God knows when we shall meet -again. It appears strange that my friendliest comrade -should have been a young woman rather than -a young man. Angela has been such to me. I said -to her in jest: ‘You will have perhaps married and -forgotten me, Angela, by the time I return to my -country and the Arms.’ She said: ‘I shall never -forget you, and I shall never marry.’ So she thinks, -but time creates many changes. I am weary of -the pitching of the ship. I have not yet felt any -indication of seasickness. I shall close you, black -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>book, and seek my rest. You must be my comrade -hereafter.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The part of the journal immediately following -Brooke Hamilton’s embarkation to the Orient continued -with brief notes on the voyage. From that -point on the entries dealt with the young fortune-seeker’s -life in China. These entries in themselves -Marjorie found valuable as aids in completing the -somewhat sparse data she already had regarding -the young man’s Oriental enterprise. Among them -she found odd bits of Chinese wisdom which he -quoted as the sayings of the several Chinese philosophers -who had become his intimate friends. These -original twists of mind, together with the numerous -stories of her kinsman’s life in China which Miss -Susanna had dictated to her would beautifully round -out the earlier chapters of “Realization.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie was presently surprised to find that the -China entries covered a period of over ten years. -Brooke Hamilton had evidently proved himself as -irregular a journalist abroad as at home. While the -entries were fuller than the earlier vaguer comments -of youth, a year in time was often covered -by three or four entries.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She read steadily through the record of commercial -achievement which had brought him not -only immense wealth but honor and distinction -<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>among a philosophical, far-seeing race rarely understood -by Europeans or Americans. The Chinese -had liked him for his truth and honesty. Because -they had liked him they had helped him to his -goal of attainment.</p> - -<p class='c005'>There was very little of Angela in this part of the -record. Now and again her name would appear -in, “I received a letter last week from Angela. It -has been many weeks on the way to me, judging -from the date of writing,” or, “Angela writes that -she believes I may never go back to America. How -little a girl understands a man’s high aspirations. -My absence from home is merely a necessary part -of my great plan. I shall try to make Angela understand. -Hers is a fine mind. She should not lend -it to such trivial conjectures. My return to America, -God sparing my life, is certain.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie’s sympathies were now firmly enlisted -toward Angela. She marveled that a man possessed -of Brooke Hamilton’s fine spirit and high -ideals should have so blindly passed by an unswerving -devotion like Angela’s. He had not loved her, -and had been honestly unaware that she loved him. -He had been too completely centered in the giant -labor he had set himself to perform to stop by the -way for flower gathering.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The last entry of the China group inspired Marjorie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>with somber consternation. It had been -penned only a few months before the successful -man of affairs had returned to America and Hamilton -Arms.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I nearly lost Angela, my little comrade.” Followed -a blank; as though the writer had paused in -horror of his own words. “She has been near -death of pneumonia. I am shocked beyond expression. -I cannot image home without her to welcome -me. Since receiving the bad news in a letter -from her cousin, Adele Vernon, I have thought of -Angela night and day. I shall leave my business -interests here in Woo Fah’s hands and sail on the -next mail steamer. It is three months since Adele’s -letter was written. God knows what may have -happened to my little girl.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie cast a sorrowful upward glance at the -portrait. She thought she knew the tragic end -of the blue-eyed man’s love idyl. Nothing but -the rustle of the notebook’s leaf as she turned it -broke the hush pervading the study. Her eyes met -that which wrung from her a little cry of gladness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I have found love. I know its meaning now. -I have come from the other side of the world to learn -the wonder of all wonders. It is not the wonder of -deeds. It is the wonder of a woman’s love, changeless -in its white glory. I walked in darkness, without -<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>knowing. Now I have come into the light. -She always loved me, from the first day. How -could I have been so blind? There was a woman, -my mother, who loved me. There is a woman, -Angela, who loves me now. I know only these two.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“We shall be married at Easter. That time seems -far off. Angela tells me it is only five months -away. From November until April I shall endeavor -to lavish upon her the devotion she says -she feared might never be hers. I chose achievement -instead of love. Yet love did not forsake -me. I have been magnificently favored by God.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The lovely, changeful face of the absorbed reader -lightened a little over the cheerful turn in the story. -Her faint smile died with the stark remembrance -that Brooke Hamilton had not married. She continued -reading with a sigh:</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Christmas Eve, eleven o’clock. I have just returned -from Vernon Lodge. Early this evening I -heard my favorite carol, ‘God Rest You Merry -Gentlemen’ coming sweetly from the sitting room -bow window. Angela, Adele and Bobby Vernon -were the carolers. Angela’s high, entrancing soprano -voice still lingers in my ears. I think I shall -never wish to hear a truer, sweeter voice singing -the carol my mother so greatly loved.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Of course I caught them, brought them into -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>the house, kissed Angela’s lips, under the mistletoe, -kissed Adele’s hand and shook hands with Bobby. -I would have entertained them at the Arms but -they marched me off to Vernon Lodge. There we -had one more divinely happy evening together. -Angela is always so full of life, so brimming over -with charm. I tell her sometimes she is too charming -for her strength. She is rather frail still from -the ravages of pneumonia. When we are married -we shall go overseas on a long honeymoon voyage. -This I believe will restore her to her former strength -of constitution.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie hastily turned the leaf. She was prepared -for disaster, but it came with a relentlessness -which made her heart ache:</p> - -<p class='c005'>“May first. My birthday. I am alone. It is -two months since Angela died. Is that a long, -or a short space of time? I do not know. I know -only she is gone. She complained of being weary -in the evening. Next morning they found her -asleep, her dear little crinkling smile on her lips. -Pneumonia had weakened her heart. Even she did -not know to what extent. This afternoon I gathered -quantities of the double, fragrant purple violets for -which the Arms has been famed since my grandmother’s -day. I took them all to the Vernon vault, -my offering to love. Angela was not there, naturally. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>Her radiant spirit had long since transcended -earth.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I, Brooke Hamilton, a strong man, remain here. -If only I had earlier understood love. I might -have, had I not been so closely wrapped in my -own dreams of achievement. What even greater -things I might have accomplished with her by my -side. Great love is the impetus to noble achievement. -I know it now. Dear Angela! I bruised -her tender heart with my selfish indifference to her -love for me. God in mercy willed that I should -not break it. Out of long years, four months! -Forgive me, sweet. I shall never write in this book -again.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie put her curly head down on the table -and cried. She had lived and suffered that balmy -spring morning with Brooke Hamilton. She had -a sad impression that she had forever passed out -of the comfortable state of disinterest with which -she had formerly looked upon love. Nothing would -ever be the same again.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XVIII.<br /> <br />ON THE ROAD TO ORCHARD INN</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>Mechanically, Marjorie closed the journal of -Brooke Hamilton and slipped the rubber around it. -She felt as though she never wished to open it again. -What a tragedy lay between those black, worn, -leather covers. Brooke Hamilton had suffered too -greatly she thought for that which he was not really -to blame.</p> - -<p class='c005'>He had not understood that Angela loved him. -Still, he had upbraided himself with the remorseful -thought that he might have understood, if he had -tried. Angela had always loved him. She had -known that she loved him. He had not in the beginning -loved her, or at least he had given no -thought to love. The last despairing entry in the -journal held strong accusation against himself for -not having given love a place in his life. Mind had -dominated heart, when instead heart and mind should -have gone seeking love and achievement together.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Then the thought which had been pounding at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>the walls of her brain for admittance entered her -consciousness. Suppose that, some day, too late, -she were to discover she really loved Hal? She had -the same friendly regard for Hal which Brooke -Hamilton had entertained for Angela. Hal loved -her truly. Angela had truly loved Brooke Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The mere idea of such a far-fetched catastrophe -filled the sober-faced, lately tearful lieutenant with -panic. She took the sad little history of a man’s -ambition and misunderstanding and hurriedly replaced -it in the rosewood box. She turned the key, -then placed the box in the cabinet. Having now -read it, she could not bear to talk with Miss Susanna -again about it that day. She longed to go out in -the bright spring weather and walk until she had -shaken off the deep-seated melancholy which had -invaded her young heart. The quotation from Thanatopsis: -“Go forth, under the open sky, and list -to nature’s teachings,” recurred to her with force.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s almost time for luncheon,” she murmured. -“I can’t help it. I must go outdoors for awhile. -I shan’t write a line today. Maybe not tomorrow. -I’ll scribble a note to Miss Susanna and give it to -Jonas to hand to her. Jerry’ll survive my desertion -for once.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Luncheon at the Arms was at one o’clock. It -<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>lacked only a few minutes of one when Marjorie -came downstairs to find Jonas and deliver her note -into his hands. She had stopped only long enough -to bathe her slightly pinkish eye-lids and draw on -a pretty buff sports coat and hat.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She had hardly progressed the length of the long -stone walk leading to the gate when her drooping -spirits began to revive. She was not shallow, in -that she could lightly throw off the impression of -the morning’s reading. She was strong-willed -enough not to allow it to gain a distressing hold -upon her. Most of all she wished to forget her -dejected suppositions which concerned Hal.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Outside the gates of the Arms she paused to -decide on which way to go. Should she walk to the -town of Hamilton, or toward the campus. A walk -into staid, drowsy Hamilton meant nothing more -than a lonely prowling up and down the main -streets. To go toward the campus! There was -no telling who she might meet. Marjorie chose -the campus, and variety.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Now by King John’s castle where may you be -going?” Leila Harper called out the salutation -as she swept past Marjorie in her car. A moment -and it had stopped. Leila leaned far out of it, -beckoning. “Have the feet to hurry,” she ordered. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>“I have just been to town, but I’ll take you back -again in a trice, if you say.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t want to go to town.” Marjorie shook -an emphatic head. “Take me for a spin, Leila Greatheart. -I’ve quit biographing for the day and I wish -to be amused; wish to be, and hope to be.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I am that amusing! And you must have heard -it. Now who told it to you?” Leila cocked her -head to one side and smilingly awaited an answer.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Leila Harper,” laughed Marjorie. “I hope she -knew what she was talking about.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I hope so,” Leila echoed fervently. “Let us -take a ride, Beauty, to Orchard Inn. I should be -busy with my Irish play this afternoon. I have no -thoughts for it. We are both less gifted than we -might be.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Orchard Inn to luncheon sounds comforting.” -Marjorie was settling herself beside Leila in the -car. “It’s a glorious day for a drive. I’ve not -seen you for more than a few minutes at a time -since the Rustic Romp. I’ve only seen Robin once. -She came over to the Arms the day after the Romp -to tell me we made nearly a thousand dollars from -it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Did you not hear, Beauty? Someone dropped -a hundred dollar note into the cash box. Miss Dow -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>had charge of the box. She had no idea who the -generous rustic might be.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh-h!” Marjorie’s exclamation died in a soft -breath. She had made a quick flashing guess as -to the donor. Leslie Cairns, of course. What an -odd proceeding on her part! Nevertheless Marjorie -gave her the benefit of having been animated by -a generous motive. She had undoubtedly come prepared -to give such a sum. Marjorie was also of the -opinion that Doris Monroe had paved the way for -Leslie’s lark.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It is not a campus performance to give such -wealth,” smiled Leila. “I mean outside the Travelers -and a few such princes as Gentleman Gus and -her train of hearties. I thought Ronny might be -the one. She accuses Vera; and so it goes.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Whoever gave it must have wished her identity -to be a secret.” Marjorie would have liked to tell -Leila of Leslie’s lark. She had made up her mind -that night, however, to be silent. Three persons besides -herself knew it. No, only one, Doris Monroe. -Jane Everest and Julia Peyton lacked the evidence -of their own eyes. Unless Julia Peyton should gossip, -Leslie’s uninvited presence in the gymnasium -would not be known.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Since we have the gold, why should we seek -<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>the miner,” Leila said genially. “‘The Knight of -the Northern Sun’ is coming on grandly. Next -Tuesday evening we shall give a full rehearsal. I -trust our spear proof silver buckram helmets will -fit our Norse warriors. Kathie is a true playwright, -but I am a Celtic fake. It is hard to glorify my -hero, since I am to be the hero myself. I am in -a fine dilemma,” she complained drolly. “Why did -I ever imagine I could write an Irish play?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was an hour’s run by automobile to Orchard -Inn. It was the most distant from the campus of -the coterie of tea rooms dear to the hearts of the -Hamilton girls. The route lay for the most part -over Hamilton Pike. The last three miles of the -journey had to be made over a dirt road. It was fairly -smooth and easily traveled except when roughened -by heavy rains.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The two girls kept up a low steady stream of -conversation as the car sped on toward the Inn. -Both were feeling the pleasantness of a brief freedom -from everything connected with even their beloved -work. Neither had expected to take a trip -to the Inn when she had started out. As a consequence, -both were jubilant over the little excursion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you something very -important, Leila. We were so busy talking about -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>the Travelers’ stunts it almost slipped my mind. -Captain’s coming to the Arms for Easter.” Marjorie’s -voice rang with joy. “That means I can -stay here. Jerry is going to stay, too.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“May I ask whose marvelous managing that is?” -Leila’s eyes grew starry. She adored Mrs. Dean.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Captain’s. You see General will be away on a -trip. Captain knows how much I have to do here, -so she is going to help me by coming to the Arms. -Miss Susanna is delighted. It’s a case of Captain -Bean making Lieutenant Bean and all the Beanstalks -happy.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“We should start a Beanstalk colony here at Hamilton -and remain here all our days. Would it not -be a credit to the township and a satisfaction to my -old age?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’d love to live in Hamilton Estates, Leila,” -Marjorie confessed. “I care for Sanford because -of Jerry, Muriel, Lucy and a few other chums of -my high school days. If Jerry, Lucy, Muriel and -a few more could be transplanted to Hamilton, I’d -move Castle Dean here, too. Sanford has always -meant a great deal to me. Hamilton means more.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I understand. Midget and I have sometimes -romanced of building ourselves a hut in the land -of college.” Leila looked dreamily away for an instant -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>at the peaceful spring landscape. There was -a touch of home hunger in her reply. She was -silent for a little, her attention riveted on picking as -smooth a route as was possible on the dirt road -for the car. The machine had struck a rough, narrow -stretch of ground not more than wide enough -for two cars to pass each other.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Hey, ho,” she said, coming back to practicality; -“I am not anxious to meet any cars on this cattle -path.” The words had scarcely left her lips when -a low frame, black roadster, built for speed, appeared -in sight upon the brow of an incline ahead -of them. “Do you see that, Beauty? I had but -to speak when a listening jinxie whisked a black -hob-goblin into my path,” Leila cried out in mild -vexation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie watched the approaching car with more -than casual interest. A comprehensive glance at -it had informed her as to the identity of the driver. -A young woman was at the wheel, the car’s sole -occupant. Marjorie did not miss seeing the peculiar -expression which showed itself in the other’s face -as she glanced at Leila’s car and prepared to keep -strictly to the proper side of the narrow road.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Instead of starting down the low hill the other -motorist stopped her car at the top of the little rise -<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>of ground and waited for Leila’s roadster to come -up. As Leila’s car came abreast of her automobile -she leaned out and cried: “Will you please stop -your car? I’d like to speak to Miss Dean.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Has the world come to an end?” Leila muttered -in Marjorie’s ear as she complied with the other -girl’s request. “The Hob-goblin is no myth, as you -can see for yourself, Beauty.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XIX.<br /> <br />I’M SORRY</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>With Leila’s muttered comments in her ears Marjorie -had hard work to keep a sober face and maintain -an air of pleasant impersonality toward Leslie -Cairns. She could think of no reason why Leslie -Cairns should speak to her. She thought Leslie -could hardly have guessed her identity since the -Romp. Certainly on that night Leslie had not recognized -her. The fact that she had amiably permitted -Marjorie to conduct her to the door and freedom -was sufficient proof in itself.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Good afternoon, Miss Dean.” Leslie’s salutation -was laconic. Marjorie thought she was looking -particularly well in a sports suit and hat of bright -brown English weave. Her irregular, dark features -bore no trace of ill humor. Instead her face was -singularly impassive.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Good afternoon, Miss Cairns.” Marjorie’s clear -brown eyes looked straight into Leslie’s small black -ones. She could think of nothing to say. She -<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>therefore waited for Leslie to make the next advance -in conversation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s about the other night, I’d like to speak to -you,” Leslie declared with somber steadiness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Pardon me. I am willing to listen to whatever -you may wish to say to me, Miss Cairns, but—I -am with Miss Harper,” Marjorie reminded with -candid courtesy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Harper is welcome to hear what I have -to say to you. She probably knows already that -I—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She knows nothing of—of—certain things from -me. Pardon me for interrupting you.” Marjorie -smiled friendly warning.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I am sure she doesn’t,” Leslie agreed with an -odd energy which brought a faint flush of surprise -to Marjorie’s cheeks. “She must have heard it somewhere -on the campus, though. I thought possibly -that screech owl—I’ll say Miss Peyton, one’s -her natural name, the other only a surname, had -published me on the main bulletin board before -this.” Mention of Julia Peyton filled Leslie’s tones -with contemptuous sarcasm.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Hardly.” The quick sturdiness of the retort -brought a peculiar gleam to Leslie’s eyes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It was a mistake—losing my temper as I did.” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>Leslie’s next speech came with shamed apology. -“I don’t know that it matters specially—now. The -mischief’s done. I had no business in the gym that -night.” She looked at Marjorie as though asking -for an opinion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leila sat the picture of immobility. Her hands -loosely clasped the wheel. Her blue eyes stared -straight ahead. She affected deep interest in the -immediate road ahead of the car. She had had -no inkling of what Leslie meant until the latter had -made pertinent allusion to the gymnasium. Light -had then broken upon her acute Irish intelligence. -Comprehension threatened to break up her immobile -expression.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That is of course true from—from a certain -standpoint,” Marjorie admitted. “If you wish my -personal opinion,” she smiled; “I can’t see but that -your presence there was an added attraction to the -crowd. I have fought for democracy at Hamilton, -Miss Cairns. I can only feel my attitude to be -democratic now. I believe that you went to the -Romp merely to have fun. There could be no harm -in such a motive.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There wasn’t!” Leslie cried in sharply anxious -agreement. “I had grown tired of myself and only -wanted to have a good time. I wouldn’t do such a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>stunt, again, though. I’m through with such performances. -I’m through with everything,” she added -with a dull kind of desperation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I think I understand how you felt about going to -the Romp,” Marjorie said gently.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Still you wouldn’t have done so. That’s the -difference between your disposition and mine. Never -mind about that. I’ve just one thing to tell you. -I wish you’d believe me. I’m all through trying to -make trouble for you at Hamilton or any place else.” -Leslie’s earnestness was unmistakable.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It—truly, Miss Cairns, it doesn’t make—” Marjorie -colored with growing confusion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, but it does. I want you to know, Bean—” -It was Leslie who now turned very red. Before she -could offer an abashed apology Marjorie’s merry -laugh rang out.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Please don’t.” She gaily warded off apology. -“You can’t imagine how truly fond I’ve become of -being called ‘Bean.’ It’s funniest of two or three pet -names the girls have given me. Miss Macy has even -composed some funny verses which she calls ‘Jingles -to Bean.’”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What?” A slow smile succeeded Leslie’s -momentary air of uncertainty as to whether she had -heard aright.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>“You have a keen sense of humor, Miss Cairns,” -Marjorie generously continued. “Your costume the -other night showed your appreciation of funny -things. You spoke of Miss Peyton. She was unfair -with you at the dance. I was glad you walked -away from her, and sorry that you should have been -aggravated by her to the point of answering.” Marjorie -tried to lead the subject away from intimate -personalities. She disliked to make apologies. She -disliked far more to receive them. She desired no -promise of future rectitude from Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Leila,” she addressed Leila’s clear-cut Irish -profile, “have you heard that Miss Cairns was -masked at the Romp?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I have not.” Leila slowly turned her face toward -Leslie. “May I inquire what your costume -was? I was not in the gym until a very few minutes -before the unmasking,” she explained.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I was just a farmer, blue overalls, gingham shirt -and all that sort of thing,” Leslie described briefly. -“I happened to get hold of a particularly silly-looking -mask. That was the funny part of the costume.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“And now I will tell you the funny part of your -adventure.” Leila regarded the girl she had ranked -as her pet aversion with a not unkindly glance. “I -have heard nothing about you in connection with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>this funny-face farmer, but I have heard plenty of -myself. It seems I had the credit for being that -one. I was not on the floor while you were. I -waited in my room so as to tease the girls. I had -bet with a crowd of freshies that none of them could -pick me out in that rustic mob.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why, that,—” Marjorie began.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Is why there was a crowd at my heels all the -time,” finished Leslie rather excitedly. She and -Marjorie both laughed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Even Leila’s austerity of feature relaxed into -an amused smile. “I must have come into the gym -when you were preparing to leave it for I caught -not even a glimpse of such a costume as you had. -Now a rumor is drifting merrily about the campus -that I was the funny mask, but that I changed to -an Irish peasant costume to puzzle the freshies.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How utterly providential!” Marjorie’s opinion -was cordially hearty. “I am afraid I shall be too -busy from now on to enlighten the campus dwellers -concerning their fond delusion.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I have plenty to do myself,” was Leila’s vague -inference.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie’s eyes traveled from one to the other of -the pair of amused faces. Were these the two -Hamilton girls she had hated so unreasonably when -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>a student in college with them? She now dejectedly -wondered why she had hated them.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There’s something I must say to you,” she persisted -to Marjorie. “I used to hate you. That is, -I thought I hated you. After I found out who you -were I knew I could never hate you any more. You -took with you all my weapons of offense. Why -should I ever have hated you? The answer goes -back to myself. You ought to hate me. But I -know you don’t. That makes me double hate myself.” -Leslie made an impatient movement of the -head, indicating her distaste for herself.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I never hated you, Miss Cairns. I’ve felt dreadfully -exasperated with you at times,” Marjorie -honestly admitted. “I haven’t felt that way toward -you for a long time,” she added with her winsome -smile.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s good news.” Leslie faintly answered the -smile. Her hands began to tighten on the wheel. -“Oh, yes, I almost forgot. Miss Monroe had -nothing to do with my campus lark. I planned it -myself. She knew of it, but it wouldn’t be fair to -censure her for what I would have done anyway. -Will you stand by her if—if any gossip should -start about the affair?” Leslie looked almost appealingly -from one to the other of the two -Travelers.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>“You need have no fears in that respect,” Marjorie -promised staunchly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There will be little or nothing said,” was Leila’s -dryly authoritative prediction.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Thank you both. That’s all, I believe, except—I’m -sorry. I’m saying it, though about five years -too late,” Leslie declared bitterly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie made no verbal reply. She bent upon -Leslie a glance brimming with toleration. Its frank -kindness made Leslie feel like bursting into tears. -Pride alone kept her from it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>After a moment Marjorie said: “We have something -to thank you for, Miss Cairns; the hundred -dollar note you dropped into the money box the -evening of the Romp. We understand and appreciate -the spirit that prompted the gift. When I -say we, I mean the Travelers.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie made the assumption boldly, hoping -thus to take Leslie unawares. She succeeded. Leslie -colored hotly. Hastily she started the motor. -“Good-bye.” She smiled a queer, wry smile; -nodded first to Leila, then to Marjorie. Next instant -her car had passed theirs and was speeding -away from them.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XX.<br /> <br />BEGINNING TO GROW UP</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“Can that be Leslie Cairns?” marveled Leila. -“You will now kindly tell me a great many facts -about her recent history which I have somehow -missed. You intended to tell me about them, did -you not?” She regarded Marjorie with laughing -suspicion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I had not intended to tell you or anyone else -that she attended the Romp,” Marjorie said emphatically. -“I never even mentioned it to Jerry. -You see what a good secret keeper I am. Since -you have heard a part of the story from the heroine -herself, I may as well tell you the rest.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Leslie Cairns’s wits are as ready as Jerry’s -when it come to giving out names,” was Leila’s -comment after Marjorie had informed her of the -set of circumstance at the Romp in which Leslie had -so prominently figured. “Jerry and Muriel named -Miss Peyton the Prime Minister. That was appropriate -enough last fall when she tried so earnestly -to dictate a policy of her own to we poor timid -<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>P. G.’s. It seems she has practiced screeching as -well as dictating. And she looks like an owl!” -Leila’s intonation was full of false enthusiasm.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I made up my mind not to tell Miss Cairns -about Miss Peyton and Jane Everest. It wasn’t -necessary. She is worried now for fear Miss Monroe -may be blamed. It seems odd, Leila, that Leslie -Cairns should have shown consideration for another. -I say it candidly; not spitefully. She ought -to be protected if only for that change toward -growth.” Marjorie was very earnest in her conviction -regarding Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It is a nine days’ wonder to me.” Leila was -impressed in spite of her earlier impulse to be -skeptical. “If nothing is brought up against Leslie -Cairns now on the campus, nothing will be later. -The time of interest for a rumor is just before, -at the time, or just after something supposedly happens. -The Romp is now almost a memory. Soon -along will come something new and amusing to -crowd that memory out.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There is still the other side of it, Leila.” Marjorie -grew grave. “It was against good taste in -Leslie Cairns to step into the social side of Hamilton -College under cover of a mask. She had forfeited -the right to do so when she left Hamilton two -years ago.”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>“Still it is the most harmless piece of mischief -that she ever carried out. And she dragged no one -else into it,” Leila said thoughtfully.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Precisely the point, Leila. I’ve felt so about it -ever since I went to the door of the gym with her -that night.” Marjorie spoke her mind forcefully. -“I couldn’t regard her lark as anything but a lark. -Her costume was so funny and she behaved in such -a funny, original way. She was more like a child -than a young woman. It was as if she had slipped -through the gate of a high fence, and into a forbidden -yard. She acted as if she were having a -fine time playing. Perhaps she went over a rustic -road to childhood that night, and when she came -back found herself changed?” Marjorie made -fanciful suggestion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It may be so. All the fairy tales are not hatched -in the Emerald Isle.” Leila cast a sly smile toward -her fanciful chum. “More’s the pity that I instead -of she should be given credit for her costume. For -that I shall see to it that she gains in another direction. -Ah-h-h!” Leila gave the wheel an inspired -jerk which sent the car bumping into a rut. “I have -just thought of a plan to keep the Screech Owl -from screeching on the campus.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Have you? I’m glad to hear it.” There was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>a hint of grim enthusiasm in the reply. “What -will you do?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I shall have to try it out on her first and tell -you my method afterward. It is only the ghost of -a plan yet.” Leila made evasive answer.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie did not inquire further into Leila’s -“ghost” of a plan. “All right. Keep it to yourself. -I only hope it will be effective. It’s hard to believe, -isn’t it, that we should be planning now to -protect Leslie Cairns? When one stops to remember -that she—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Never did anything but harass and torment -us,” supplied Leila, “it is that amazin’.” Her accent -became strongly Hibernian.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s not quite what I meant to say, but it’s -true. We can afford to be generous to her, Leila.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Ah, yes. It is more becoming to old age,” -sighed Leila, then chuckled. “As ancient, tottering -P. G.’s we are so merciful!”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s one explanation. It will do as well as -another,” laughed Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“We have an old Irish saw that runs: ‘What is -the gain in beating a knave after the hangman has -him?’” Leila lightly quoted the quaint Celtic inquiry.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What is the use? That is exactly the question,” -Marjorie smiled in sympathy with the pertinent -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>old query. “Leslie Cairns has made things far -harder for herself than for us.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The two girls fell silent after Marjorie’s remark. -Both were thinking of the past five years in which -Leslie Cairns had figured so unpleasantly. Neither -cared to continue the conversation with Leslie as the -chief topic. The lure of Spring had chained them -both to dreamy admiration of her budding beauty.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The automobile had swung into the last lap of -the road to Orchard Inn which wound in and out -like a pale brown ribbon among orchard belts of -fragrant pink and white bloom. Orchard Inn itself -to which they would presently come, was a staunch -brick relic of colony days, set down in the midst -of thick-trunked, gnarled apple trees. Just then -they were burgeoning in rose and snow, scented -with Spring’s own perfume.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie had always been a devoted worshipper -at the shrine of Spring. The glorious resurrection -each year of earth, which had lain stark and drear -under winter’s death-like cloak, seemed to her the -mystery of mysteries. Today the very sight of -brown fields turning to emerald, apple, pear and -cherry trees rioting in ravishing bloom, the twitter -of nesting birds, busy putting the last touches to -their tiny homes, filled her with retrospection. Sight -<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>of a peach tree, a luxuriant bouquet of vivid pink -gave her a sensation of unutterable sadness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She understood dimly that her mood of wistful -sadness was born of more than her ardent love of -Spring. She was still gripped by the supreme -tragedy of Brooke Hamilton’s love story. She almost -wished she had not read it. She was sure -that she could never bear to read it over again. In -the next breath she made sturdy resolve that she -would. She would not allow herself to be affected -to such an extent even by a story as sad as was -Brooke Hamilton’s.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Then, without invitation, Hal invaded her -thoughts. She was no nearer being in love with -him than she had ever been, she reflected with an -almost naughty satisfaction. Nevertheless, the moment -she began to think about love, he appeared, -a blue-eyed image of her mind, always regarding -her in the same sorrowful way, in which she had -caught him viewing the portrait of the “Violet -Girl.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie had no suspicion that she had changed -a great deal in mind since the evening at Severn -Beach when she and Hal had walked together with -their friends along the moonlit sands and Constance -had sung “Across the Years.” She had listened to -the sadly beautiful song, which had breathed of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>blighted hopes and love’s misunderstandings without -either sentimentality or sentiment of mind. Hal -had characterized her faithfully when he had told -her that she had not yet grown up.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Neither he nor she knew that the growing-up -miracle had begun when she had laid her childishly -curly head on the study table and cried out her heart -over Brooke Hamilton’s tragic love affair.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XXI.<br /> <br />THE MEETING</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>While Marjorie and Leila rode on through -fragrant spring bloom to Orchard Inn, Leslie -Cairns drove slowly toward the town of Hamilton. -She was filled with many emotions, but the chief -one was that of surprise at the way in which she -had been received by “Bean” and Leila Harper. -She had always stood a trifle in awe of Leila and -her cleverness when the two had been classmates -though she had affected to despise the gifted Irish -girl. Marjorie she had hated from the first meeting. -Or thus she had narrowly believed until she had -come into the knowledge that “little friend ruffles” -and Marjorie were one and the same. She had also -come into a knowledge of Marjorie which she could -not ever again overlook.</p> - -<p class='c005'>A friendly act on Marjorie’s part, the prompting -of a broad tolerant spirit had been the magic which -had worked a well-nigh unbelievable change in Leslie. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>It is often the small, seemingly unimportant -happenings in life which frequently are instrumental -in working the most amazing transformations.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While Marjorie was going through one process -of growing up Leslie was going through another -widely different phase of the same process. Leslie -had begun to learn that: “He who breaks, pays.” -Until her garage failure she had been childishly -stubborn in her belief that she could successfully -“get away with” whatever she undertook to accomplish. -She had suffered untold mortification of -spirit over the ignominious end her father had put -to her business venture. She had read and re-read -the letter which her father had at that time written -her until she knew every scathing word of it by -heart. This in itself had produced a beneficial effect -upon Leslie’s wayward character. In time to -come she would regard that particular letter as the -turning point in her life.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The downfall of her business hopes had furnished -her with gloomy retrospection for long days after -she had returned to New York. With all the fancied -grudges she had against Marjorie she was obliged -to admit to herself that “Bean” had certainly not -been responsible for her father’s unexpected visit -to Hamilton. Neither was she to know until years -afterward that a “Bean-inspired” advocate of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>justice in the person of Signor Guiseppe Baretti had -proven her business Waterloo.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Sullenly obeying her father’s stern command to -renew her intimacy with Natalie Weyman, Leslie -had reluctantly got into touch again with Natalie. -Natalie, however, was betrothed to a young English -baronet. She was consequently interested in nothing -but herself, her fiancé and an elaborate trousseau of -which she was imperiously directing the preparation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie felt utterly “out of it” at Nat’s playhouse. -She lounged in and out of the Weyman’s imposing -Long Island palace with the enthusiasm of a wooden -Indian. She listened in morose silence to Natalie’s -fulsome eulogies upon her fiancé, Lord Kenneth -Hawtrey, the Hawtrey ancestral tree, her own -trousseau and the two-million dollar settlement her -father proposed to make over to her as a bridal -gift. Leslie mentally tabulated each of these fond -topics upon her bored brain and learned to know -by the signs just when each of them would be complacently -brought forward by her former college -chum.</p> - -<p class='c005'>When she could stand the strain no longer she -had announced to Mrs. Gaylord that her father had -gone to Europe and that she intended to buy a new -roadster and drive to Hamilton. “You can stay -<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>here or go along, Gaylord. Suit yourself. My -advice to you is to stick to me. Peter the Great -will approve of such devotion on your part. He -knows I’d go, even if you were to try to squash the -expedition. Your part is ‘Never desert Leslie,’” -was the succinct counsel she gave her chaperon.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While Leslie was engaged in driving slowly toward -Hamilton wrapped in her own half sad, half relieved -mixture of thoughts, a tall man in a leather -motor coat and cap ran down the steps of the Hamilton -House and sprang into a rakish-looking racing -car parked in front of the hotel. His heavy dark -brows were corrugated in a frown. His lips though -firmly set harbored a grim smile.</p> - -<p class='c005'>He had driven through the sunny streets of sedate -Hamilton that afternoon as one who knew the place -but had been long away from it. This was his -second call at the hotel. On both occasions he had -seen and talked with Mrs. Gaylord. His business, -beyond a few, dry unreproving sentences, was with -Leslie Cairns. As Leslie confidently believed him -to be in Europe she was scheduled to receive a -decided shock.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Peter Cairns, for the man in the racer was he, was -soon speeding over Hamilton Pike, through Hamilton -estates and on past the college wall toward a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>squat stone building which had the appearance of -an old-time inn. In front of it he parked the racer -again and strode up the long stone walk toward the -quaint low door with its swinging wrought iron -lamp.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Within the restaurant Signor Guiseppe Baretti -was in earnest consultation with his manager. He -glanced up at the newcomer, who, instead of choosing -a table and making for it, headed directly for -him. That the little, shrewd-eyed proprietor of the -restaurant and the broad-shouldered financier had -a bond in common was plainly evident from the -way in which they shook hands at the close of the -financier’s short call.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What you think? What you think?” the Italian -excitedly demanded, catching his manager’s arm as -the door closed behind his caller. “This is the -father the girl we write the letter about. When he -comes here, just now, a little while, he says to me: -‘How’r you? You don’t know me. I am Peter -Car-rins.’ I think this mebbe where I get the hard -beat, cause I have tol’ this man what trouble his -daughter make Miss Page, Miss Dean. But this -is what say: ‘I am to thank you for your letter. -I have not the time today talk much with you. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>Before long I come here again. Then I tell you -som’thin’ su’prise you verra much.’</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I say then to him I think he come to give me -the good beat for my letter. He laugh. He say: -‘No, no.’ Put up his hand like that.” Baretti illustrated. -“‘I un’erstand you verra well. I have been -much in Italy. I know the Italiano.’ Then he speak -me good Italiano. Now that is the father Miss -Car-rins. What you think? She is here in Hamilton -again. Mebbe her father don’ know it. I -believ’ he don’. Mebbe she don’ know he is here. -When both find out, then oo-oo, much fuss I guess. -Mebbe Miss Car-rins get a good beat,” he predicted -with a hard-hearted chuckle.</p> - -<p class='c005'>If he had walked to the door after Peter Cairns -instead of lingering to acquaint his faithful little -countryman with the identity of the stranger, he -would have seen something interesting. He would -have seen a trim-lined black roadster slow down to -a sudden stop as the result of a peremptory hail from -a racing car which had drawn up alongside. In -short, Baretti would have seen Leslie Cairns and -Peter Cairns meet precisely in front of the east-end -gates of the campus.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XXII.<br /> <br />A BUSINESS PROPOSAL</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“Run your car off to one side where it won’t -interfere with the traffic.” The financier ordered -Leslie about precisely as he might have ordered one -of his men. His tones reached her, coldly concise, -entirely devoid of affection. “There, that will do.” -He skillfully manipulated the racer to a point parallel -with her car, but out of the way of passing -automobiles.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What do you want?” Leslie inquired with sulky -coolness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What are you doing here?” sternly countered -her father.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Nothing. You took away my job.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“A good thing I did. I ordered you to stay in -New York. Why are you not there? Why didn’t -you obey me? You’re courting business college, -it would seem.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Things are not always what they seem,” Leslie -came back laconically.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The financier set his lips anew. It was either that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>or smile. Leslie was regarding him with the curiously -unafraid expression which had most amused -him in her as a child.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why can’t you behave properly?” he demanded -with vexed displeasure.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t know. I have been trying to find that -out for myself lately. It’s a hard job, Peter.” She -purposely called him Peter. It had been another of -her laughable childish mannerisms.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It brought a smile, reluctant and fleeting to his -face. An odd light burned in his eyes for an instant. -He turned his head to avoid her penetrating -gaze. He had never before heard Leslie make an -allusion to self-analysis. The knowledge that she -had begun to try to fathom her forward motives was -encouraging.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What mischief have you done since you came up -here?” he next asked. “Why could not you have -cultivated Natalie instead of racing over the country -up here in a car?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Nat is going to be married to a monocle and an -English title. She is hopeless. I couldn’t stand -her. I fled to the country, Peter. I knew you -wouldn’t wish to have me die of being bored. Don’t -rag Gaylord for it. I made her come here. She’s -a good, ladylike sport, who knows how to stick to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>me and yet mind her own affairs. You may think -you picked her for me. No, no; I saw her first. -That gives me a prior claim to bossing her. I’m -glad I met you, if only to settle that little point in -your mind.” Leslie’s hands busied themselves with -the wheel. “I think I’ll go on,” she declared tranquilly. -“Don’t worry, Peter, I won’t do anything -more to disgrace you. I’m going to lead a noble -life from now on.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>She was fighting desperately to maintain humorous -indifference. It was the side of her character which -Peter Cairns most appreciated. She was now fighting -to regain the proud interest he had once taken -in her ready wit and irresistible humor. Her reprehensible -behavior had amounted to stupidity. -Peter Cairns most hated stupidity in man or woman.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Peter Cairns repressed an audible chuckle at this -latest news from his lawless daughter. “This is -not the place to discuss ethics,” he said dryly. “Run -your car into town and meet me in the hotel lounge.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Race you in; cross town, or any old way?” Leslie -proposed on impulse. She eyed her father doubtfully.</p> - -<p class='c005'>For a long moment the two stared into each -other’s faces, as though each were endeavoring to -determine the strength or weakness of the other.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>“I’ll go you.” Peter Cairns spoke with a finality -which set Leslie’s heart to pounding violently.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“My car was built for speed and I know how to -get the speed out of it without arousing the natives. -Look out, and don’t get pinched.” Leslie brought -her car up on an exact line with the racer. “One, -two, three, go to it,” she called animatedly. Then -she was off over the pike on not only a go-as-you -please race to Hamilton. She was on the first lap -of what she hoped would be the quick road back to -her father’s heart.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie won the race. Peter Cairns was not familiar -with the short cut she took. It bumped her car -over a stretch of uneven paved street but brought -her triumphantly to the entrance of the Hamilton -House at least a minute ahead of her father’s car.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why did you pick Hamilton of all places to -come back to?” Peter Cairns was presently demanding -of her. The two had seated themselves opposite -each other in a deserted corner of the lounge.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Probably the scene of my many crimes held a -fascination for me,” Leslie advanced with a reflective -air that completely upset the financier’s hitherto carefully -preserved gravity. He laughed outright.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What did this Miss Dean against whom I understand -you had so much spite ever do to you that was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>unfair or dishonorable?” His alert features had -quickly returned to their customary aloof cast.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not a blamed thing, Peter,” she said in a tone -of sober humiliation. “You were right. I am several -kinds of idiot, bound in one volume. The war’s -over. I surrendered this afternoon, just before I -met you. Whatever you know about Bean and me -is probably true.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Who is Bean?” demanded Peter Cairns.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie enlightened him. At the same time she -quoted Marjorie’s own recent remarks on the subject. -“You can see from that why I quit,” she said. -“There was nothing else to do. Some day, when -I’ve really put over a good square business enterprise -I’ll tell you the story of Bean, her Beanstalks and -Leslie Adoree.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Your first business ought to be to repair the -mischief you made,” was the severely judicial response. -“Unfortunately you can’t undo the anxious, -troubled hours which your malice has imposed upon -others. You have taught me a lesson. I needed -it. My code of finance has been that of a hawk. I -have revised it on more humane lines. I’d rather -not have learned it from your mistakes. But it’s -been learned now. I am not sorry I cut you off from -me. Perhaps it was not the way to do. I don’t -<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>know. I loved you very tenderly as a child, Leslie. -I was proud of you as a youngster. I should like -to be proud of you as a young woman. What are -the prospects?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Good, Peter. The best since the days when I -was your pal and we planned to conquer the universe -together. I’m trying to think of a way to make -amends.” She met her father’s measuring glance -with an air of patience quite foreign to her old -wayward self. “I like it up here. I’ve a girl friend -on the campus. I really like her. I want you to -meet her. Gaylord approves of her. What more -can you ask?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll take you at your word.” For the first time -since meeting her father he held out his hand. -Leslie placed her right hand in his strong fingers. -Her left reached out very timidly and covered the -hand she held. It was the silent ratification of affection -between Peter and Peter Cairns’ daughter.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“How did you know I was here?” she asked after -a brief silence.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I told Wilkins, my secretary, to keep track of -you. I made only a flying trip to Europe. He told -me you were here. I drove here soon after leaving -the steamer. I had business at Hamilton Estates.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What are you going to do with my garage -<span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>flivver?” A gleam of intense curiosity lived in Leslie’s -eyes. “You said in your letter that some day -I’d know why I had no business to buy the property -for the site. Is today the day?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It may as well be.” Peter Cairns looked away, -his mind evidently engaged in choosing the words -for his next utterance. “My name isn’t Peter -Cairns,” he said deliberately. “It’s Peter Carden. -Alec Carden was my father. I ran away from him -and his harsh tyranny. I changed my name to -Cairns. The old Scotch name of our family was -Cairrens. It became Carden in James the First’s -time.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What?” Force of surprise brought out Leslie’s -habitual monosyllable. She wondered if she -were awake or dreaming. Had her father, a lord -of finance, once been a hot-headed rebellious boy -who had changed his name and run away from -Carden Hedge?</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes, what?” her father repeated half ironically. -“My father left Carden Hedge to John, along with -all he had. He disinherited me. When I went I -took with me a bundle of bonds from the safe. They -were mine; left me by my mother. I went to New -York and made good. All this by the way of explaining -about the garage site. You paid John Saxe -<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>sixty thousand dollars for a site that belonged to -the Carden Estate. Not a foot of it belonged to -the Saxe Estate. I had it surveyed and proved the -Carden right to it. Saxe refunded the money. He -was innocent in the matter.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie’s downcast reception of this last crushing -surprise touched her father. “Buck up, Cairns II.,” -he said in the hearty, affectionate tone which Leslie -had been dreading, yet longing, to hear. “I know -I handed you a hummer. Now there’s not much -more to say, except that I bought Carden Hedge -over two years ago of John. I’ve let him live there -off and on, simply to have someone look after the -property a little. I thought once of living there -myself. I changed my mind. It’s a pretty country -up here. I liked it when I was a boy, and do still. -I must be on my way tomorrow. How long would -you like to stay in Hamilton?” He questioned with -the old deference he had formerly observed to her -wishes.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’d rather go back to New York with you.” Leslie -fought to keep her voice steady. “I can’t. I -want to stay on here a little and try to find a way -to do something for the dormitory, or the college -or the students—anything I can do to make up for—” -She paused, regained composure, went on. “I’m -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>to blame for keeping you out of happiness. I cheated -myself, too. How could you care to live at the -Hedge after what I did at Hamilton? I have learned -the big lesson this time. I’d go back to college and -begin all over again in spite of what might be said, -if I could, Peter. I’d do it for you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Peter Cairns saw a white-winged evanescent -grace called happiness flit before his eyes. It had -whisked away the day he had learned of Leslie’s expulsion -from college. “Perhaps we’ll yet live at the -Hedge, Leslie,” he said. “We can do that much, if -we can’t go back in other ways. Now I’ll make a -bargain with you. If you can find any good and -original reason for keeping your flivver I’ll give the -whole business to you as it stands. It must be -original, though. That’s the chief requirement. -And it must be something that will benefit Hamilton -College students, faculty, dormitory—in fact the -whole aggregation. Go to it. You perfect the plan. -I’ll finance it for you. Nothing but the best will -be accepted by me in the idea line. I’m going to -try to prove that my girl has as good a brain as -there is going.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XXIII.<br /> <br />A GREAT DAY FOR THE CAMPUS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>Julia Peyton could have forgiven Doris Monroe -for disagreeing with her. To be told by Doris -that she was an object of dislike to the lovely -sophomore was not to be borne. She held frequent -indignant consultations with her roommate, Clara -Carter, on the double subject of the ingratitude of -Doris and the snippiness of Marjorie Dean. Julia -had not forgiven Marjorie for her “interference” -at the Rustic Romp.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Thus far she had not voiced the gossip on the -campus that the foolish-faced farmer at the hop had -been Leslie Cairns. She was a little afraid that such -a bit of gossip on her part might bring down upon -her Marjorie’s displeasure. She knew in her heart -that she was the only one of the four girls who -would be likely to spread the story. Later on, when -the Romp had been forgotten she would tell her -friends about that horrid Miss Cairns and how she -<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>had stealthily slipped into the social side of Hamilton -under cover.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Finding the desire to gossip irresistible she and -Clara Carter entertained a soph with the tale one -evening in their room. The soph, Lena Marsden, -a quiet studious girl, had a flourishing crush on -Doris. She promptly acquainted Doris with the -ill news under promise of secrecy. “If some one like -Miss Mason or Miss Harper, or any of the P. G.’s -who have poise and influence would reprimand Miss -Peyton, maybe she’d not talk about it any more.” -was Lena’s opinion.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie’s repeated unkind and untruthful estimate -of Marjorie had tended to destroy Doris’s confidence -in her, at least. Julia herself had spoken slightingly -of Hamilton’s most popular post graduate. Doris decided -that of the seven post graduates she knew the -two most likely to command the difficult silence of -Julia were Veronica Lynne and Leila Harper. Her -final choice fell upon Leila. She and Leila had grown -quite friendly as the rehearsals of “The Knight of -the Northern Sun” progressed. As her Norse lover, -Godoran, Augusta Forbes and Doris had also progressed -from stiff civility to real friendliness.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Will you come to my room this afternoon about -five, Miss Harper?” Doris requested on the day before -<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>that of a complete rehearsal of the play. In -the act of leaving the dining room after luncheon -Doris paused for an instant behind Leila’s chair.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“With pleasure. I may be a little late, but I -won’t fail to come,” Leila assured. Supposing -Doris’s request had something to do with the approaching -rehearsal, Leila thought nothing further -about it. It was twenty minutes past five that afternoon -when she knocked on the door of Doris’s -room. It was the first time she had been asked to -enter it by Doris. Muriel never entertained her -chums there, “for fear of freezing them,” she always -said.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There’s something I must ask you, Miss Harper,” -Doris opened the conversation with an anxious little -rush. She went on to lay the case of Julia’s spite -against Leslie before Leila. “I am sorry to have -to mention Miss Cairns’s name even to you. There -seemed only this one way. I know I can trust you. -I know you can suggest something.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leila listened with laughter in her blue eyes. She -had already been agitating her resourceful brain on -the matter of Julia’s garrulity. The plan she had -dimly formed on the day when she and Marjorie -had driven to Orchard Inn had developed better -even than she had expected.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>“I think I have a way of managing her,” she said -with a flashing smile of confidence.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She is not easy to manage,” warned Doris. “It -will take something unusual to make an impression -on her. She is envious and jealous and that blinds -her to see much good in any one.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I will see her when I leave you. I have seen -Miss Cairns, Miss Monroe. Miss Dean and I met -her on the way from Orchard Inn several days ago. -She spoke to Miss Dean in my presence of the Romp. -She is your friend, I believe, and is anxious that -you shall not be blamed for anything. That is really -all I wish to say in the matter.” Leila gave Doris -a straight, significant glance.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris settled back limply in her chair, “I—I—am -surprised,” she stammered. “I wish you—no, I -don’t, either. I’ll ask Leslie. She will tell me what -it’s all about. I like Leslie, Miss Harper.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I like her myself better than I used to,” was -Leila’s careful answer.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Have you—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Doris did not finish. The door was flung open -and a breezy, delighted shout of “Leila Greatheart!” -ascended as Muriel Harding rushed upon Leila and -hugged her. “Welcome to our cubicle! Why didn’t -you tell me you were coming to see me?”</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>“I cannot tell a lie. I didn’t come here to see you -at all, at all. I came to see Miss Monroe. Now -I must be going. You may both come to see -Midget and me this evening.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, I can’t—that is—not this evening,” Doris -protested weakly. She dearly wished to accept the -invitation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She means she won’t come if I do,” Muriel -cheerfully supplied. Muriel’s tone did not accord -with her feelings. She was actually hurt, but gamely -refused to show it.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I meant nothing of the sort,” Doris contradicted. -Instantly she reflected that she had meant precisely -that. “I beg your pardon,” she addressed Muriel -stiffly. “I did mean that. I don’t now. I will -come this evening, Miss Harper.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Good night! I shall expect you both.” Leila -flashed out of the door, hurriedly closing it after -her. Left to themselves the two girls might effect -an understanding. She knew that Muriel was still -vague as to why Doris had suddenly turned against -her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Suppose we have it out this time, just to see how -wrathful we can be,” Muriel proposed, a shade of -satire in the proposal. “That’s the only way I know -to break up a situation that’s been hard on both of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>us. I’ve always thought the wires were crossed -somewhere in Harding’s and Monroe’s last fight, -but I couldn’t prove it. Harding’s and Monroe’s -last fight! Doesn’t that sound thrilling? It makes -one think of Indians, cowboys, rattlesnakes, buffaloes, -prairies and—geese,” she ended with a laugh.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I hope it will be Harding’s and Monroe’s last -fight,” Doris said with sudden energy. “I know now -that a certain other person was to blame for most -of it. I know that you were not trying to be kind -to me or belittle me. I’m not so sure about Miss -Dean.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She loves you, Doris Monroe.” Muriel sprang -into affectionate defense of Marjorie. “You never -had a more faithful crush. She is the one who -started the name of the fairy-tale princess for you. -She has adored your beauty and wanted you to be -in theatricals so that you could be seen and admired. -She was the judge who delivered the adjuration -to Beauty at the beauty contest. She is -the best friend you have on the—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Muriel stopped at sound of an odd little murmur -from Doris. The fairy-tale princess had dropped -into a chair with her golden head pillowed on -one arm. Muriel’s torrent of loving defense had -fallen upon Doris like verbal hailstones. In fending -<span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>for Marjorie she had forgotten her own side of the -estrangement.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While the two were deep in amiable and verbose -adjustment of their disagreement Leila was calling -upon Julia Peyton. As she afterward confided to -Vera: “I was there, Midget, with my tongue in -my cheek.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Her interview with moon-eyed Julia appeared to -be eminently satisfactory. She soon left the garrulous -sophomore’s room, followed by Julia to the -door. Leila managed to walk down the hall to her -own room after the interview with an air of dignity -becoming to a post graduate. She was well -aware that Julia stood in the doorway of her room -watching her. When she was safely within the walls -of her own domicile she astonished Vera by making -a laughing dive for her couch bed. She flung -herself upon it and gave way to merriment.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You should have been with me, Midget,” she -gasped. “I have had a lively time with the Screech -Owl and the Phonograph. I have written a part -for Miss Peyton in my new Irish play of ‘Desmond -O’Dowd.’ It is that of Derina, the village gossip. -She has not read it yet. When she does, I may have -the part but no Screech Owl to play it. If you wish -to tie your enemy’s hands, offer him an honor. I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>have written the part of Derina especially to show -this soph what she is. By the time she has rehearsed -the part several dozen times she will wish to be any -body but this one. I shall give her my personal attention. -You know what that means. She may -need a rehearsal every day. Hard on Leila. But -think of the good to humanity!”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Ingenious, you old star worshipper,” laughed -Vera. “Do you know she is, I believe, almost the -only gossip on the campus. That’s fine for Hamilton, -isn’t it? Every day we are growing better and -better. Speaking of goodness reminds me of our -own Marjorie. She and Jerry are coming over this -evening.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“And I am expecting company; Matchless Muriel -and the Ice Queen. Are they not a fine combination?” -Leila cast a sly smile of triumph toward -Vera. “How do you like my news, Midget?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m flabbergasted. Honestly, Leila, have those -two patched up their quarrel?” Vera exhibited delighted -wonder.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Honestly, they have. Know, Midget, that I am -always honest.” She drew down a disapproving -face. “How can you ask me such a question?” Immediately -her engaging smile broke forth. “I have -certainly a cheering budget of news for Beauty tonight. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>What with the thawing of the Ice Queen -and the taming of the Screech Owl this has been -a grander day on the campus than that of the Kerriberry -Fair, in County Kerry, ould Ireland.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XXIV.<br /> <br />THE HAPPIEST PERSON</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>Easter vacation brought Captain Dean to Hamilton -Arms and tumultuous happiness to Marjorie’s -heart. Greatly as she had come to love the Arms -for its stately marvelous beauty and comfort, the -loving devotion of Miss Susanna and the fact that -it had been the home of Brooke Hamilton, she now -loved it more strongly because it was graced by -her adored captain’s presence.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Since the morning when she had read the journal -of Brooke Hamilton she had not written another -word of his biography. “I can’t write,” she plaintively -complained to Miss Susanna. “Spring and -Captain and Brooke Hamilton’s journal have all -got into my brain and won’t be shoved back. I’ll -have to get all over the strenuousness of them before -I can go on writing.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I think I shall lock up the study for a while, -anyway,” Miss Susanna threatened. “The Army -owes a duty to its superior officer. I shall order -Lieutenant Dean out on guide duty to Captain Dean. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>Ensign Hamilton and Corporal Macy will go along -for company.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>Corporal Macy.</i>” Jerry elevated her nose in -deep disgust. “I’m a lieutenant myself. Kindly remember -it. An ensign doesn’t belong to the Army. -An ensign belongs properly to the Navy.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I shall be the great exception,” persisted Miss -Susanna, laughing. “Ensign sounds well with -‘Hamilton.’ It is not seemly for youth to scornfully -contradict age.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“First show me age,” retorted Jerry. “There -ain’t no such animal around here.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m going to take Captain for a walk around the -estate this morning,” Marjorie announced. “There -are oceans of things I want to show her and talk -about. Almost every bush or tree at the Arms has -an interesting history, all its own. Ensign Hamilton -and, ahem, Corporal Macy are cordially invited -to join the walk around.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>Lieutenant</i> Macy doesn’t regret that she has an -engagement with Major Jonas Kent to plant dahlias -this morning. Major Kent is far more polite than -certain other officers of the detachment of far lesser -rank,” Jerry declined with significance.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I ought to be, and I am, the happiest person in -the world, I believe.” Marjorie later voiced this -<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>fervent opinion as she sat on a rustic bench between -her Captain and Miss Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The three had seated themselves in the sweet -spring sunlight at indolent ease after a long ramble -about the magnificently kept grounds of the Arms. -Under their feet the young green grass wove a soft -living carpet. Over their heads spread the iron-strong -branches of a mammoth tulip tree.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Just because I am so happy, every once in a -while I think of Mr. Brooke, Miss Susanna. Then -I grow sad for a little. How beautiful it would -have been for Angela and him to live here year after -year in the perfect happiness of love! I often wonder -how he had the courage to go through so many weary -years after she left him. He chose such a patient, -brave-hearted way.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Perhaps he accomplished more of good because -of such a sorrow than he might have wrought without -it,” sighed Miss Hamilton. “From the time of -Angela’s death he centered himself more than ever -on the founding of Hamilton College. It might well -be called a monument to the two women he loved. -The nobility of plan and execution were inspired -by his mother. But the beauty of nature which he -cultivated and carried out with such rare taste and -sentiment on the campus is his tribute to Angela. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>Day after day, early and late, he busied himself with -enhancing the beauty of that overgrown grass plot. -Perhaps his spirit communed with hers as he worked. -This was before my time. You will find a packet -of what he named, ‘My garden letters,’ among the -data. If you haven’t already been over it, you have -a joy in store for you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Miss Susanna stared absently out over the sea -of living green splashed with the pale pinks, yellows -and scarlets of early blooming shrubs. Mrs. -Dean had taken no part in the conversation, preferring -to listen. Marjorie’s wistful observation regarding -Brooke Hamilton and Angela Vernon had -raised a feeling of surprise in her mind. It was -the most sentimental word she had ever heard Marjorie -utter.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Since her arrival at the Arms she had been permitted -by Miss Hamilton to read the journal over -which she had heard the Lady of the Arms and -her lieutenant have several long discussions. Jerry -had also been permitted to read it. She had at -first cried over it, then impatiently characterized -stately Brooke Hamilton as a “lovable old stupid” -for not “getting it across” first thing that Angela -was in love with him.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I have a perfectly celostrous idea, children.” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>Marjorie thus gaily designated the two beside her. -“It came out of what you just said of Mr. Brooke -and the campus.” She lightly clasped Miss -Susanna’s arm. “I’ll put Mr. Brooke’s love idyl in -‘Realization,’ together with his nature work on the -campus. That will do away with having to write of -how he made Angela unhappy for so many years -because he didn’t know he loved her. I will state -only that they met first when very young, and without -knowing their own hearts. I think I will keep -the entry about her riding down to the station with -the picture to say good-bye to him.” Marjorie -turned to Miss Susanna, her eyes questioning.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You are to do as you please, Marvelous Manager.” -Miss Susanna smiled into the beautiful, -colorful face so near her own. “If you wished to -publish the journal verbatim, I’d not gainsay you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I know you wouldn’t, Goldendede.” Marjorie -returned the smile with interest. “I don’t wish him -to be misunderstood. He was not intentionally selfish. -He was simply wrapped in his own great -dream. The world, were it to read that journal, -might call him hard-hearted. Even he reproached -himself after he found that he loved Angela. I will -leave out anything that I should not care to say of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>him myself. I pledged friendship with him in the -beginning, you remember.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I am glad you feel as I do about his love affair.” -Miss Susanna said with a grateful little nod. “I -have always thought mention of it, at least, important -in a biography of him. I was not sure what to -do. I had thought, at the time when I talked with -President Burns of having it prepared for publication, -of submitting only a brief paragraph or two -about Angela Vernon. I leave the matter contentedly -to you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That’s enough to bring back my lost inspiration,” -was the blithe declaration. “Come on, both -of you.” Marjorie sprang to her feet. She stretched -an inviting hand to both her mother and Miss -Susanna. “I shall proceed to hustle you about the -rest of the grounds before luncheon. I’m going -to the study to work this afternoon. Don’t dare lock -it up.” She laid energetic command upon Miss Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What’s to become of my sight-seeing tour?” -doughtily demanded Miss Susanna.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Corporal Macy will conduct it. Order her to -it, and promise her a commission of major,” Marjorie -merrily proposed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes, genius is really beginning to burn again,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>Miss Susanna teasingly commented. “Jerry shall -earn her commission.” As she spoke she had allowed -Marjorie to pull her to her feet.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Let’s walk down by the gate,” Marjorie proposed. -“I wish Captain to see that wonderful -Chinese white lilac bush that once grew in the royal -Chinese gardens.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>They were not more than halfway across the space -of lawn intervening between the rustic seat and the -white, feathery plumed lilac bush when the eyes of -all three picked up the trim lines of a small black -roadster which had stopped at the entrance gates. -There were two persons in the roadster. One of -them, a tall, broad-shouldered man in gray tweeds -and motor hat to match, was already out of the car. -He had turned to give an assisting hand to a young -woman who vaguely resembled him. She smiled -happily at him as she stepped lightly to the ground. -The two turned their backs on the car and approached -the gates.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s Leslie Cairns!” Marjorie said in a low, astounded -tone.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It’s—Can it be?” Miss Susanna shaded her eyes -from the sun with a small, sturdy hand. “I believe -it is—Peter Carden!”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XXV.<br /> <br />UNDER THE TULIP TREE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>“Well, Peter, the years have dealt lightly with -you,” was Miss Susanna’s greeting as she held out -a hand to Alec Carden’s runaway son.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She had heard from Marjorie of the recent -agreeable change in Leslie Cairns. Marjorie had -felt it only fair to Leslie to acquaint Miss Susanna -with that change. The old lady now divined that -Peter Carden had come to the Arms on a friendly -errand. Her quick brain had instantly arrived at -the truth as she glanced from Leslie to Peter Carden. -Leslie was his daughter. Followed immediately -the recollection of the financier’s altered name.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“So you changed your name to Cairns, and this -is your daughter,” she continued with abruptness. -In her astonishment she momentarily forgot to -make introductions.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes.” Peter Cairns showed admiration of the -intrepid little woman who had successfully fought -off his bullying father and a college board largely -composed of rascals. His keen eyes registered an -<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>expression of deference which he seldom accorded -either men or women. “This is my daughter, Leslie, -Miss Susanna.” He drew Leslie gently forward. -“She came to meet you and to see Miss -Dean. I came to see you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m glad you have. I might not have said that -years ago, but I can say it now.” Miss Susanna -introduced Peter Cairns and Leslie to Mrs. Dean, -and the financier to Marjorie. The latter and Leslie -had already exchanged friendly salutations.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie thought she had never before seen Leslie -look so well. Beauty, even prettiness of the -regulation type she would never have. There was -a new expression of light and animation on her -face, however, which made her what her father -had often called her as a child: “his ugly beauty.” -The loose, unprepossessing droop to her mouth -which Marjorie had formerly most disliked in her -features was gone. A half humorous little quirk -had taken the place of the ugly droop. It brightened -her face wonderfully. Always of extremely symmetrical -figure she was at her best today in a pale -blue broadcloth dress. The softening grace of a -wide summer fur draped her shoulders. Every detail -of her apparently simple toilet had been carefully -chosen. Leslie was a model of smart attiring.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t feel much older than when I was Peter -<span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>Harum-scarum, as John used to call me,” smiled -the financier. “I have had many a good and many -a bad time at the Hedge. It has been mine for two -years. I bought it from John. I am glad old Alec -died. A hard thing to say of one’s own father, -perhaps. He had a hard hand, and a hard nature. -I was glad to hear that you fought things to a finish -with him.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You may say what you please to me about Alec -Carden, Peter. I know it will be the truth. I dislike -to hear a man who was detested by his children -while he lived hypocritically mourned by them after -Providence has mercifully removed him from their -midst,” Miss Hamilton declared with candid relish. -“Come up to the house and have luncheon with -us. I hear you are a king of finance. Your history -after you ran away from home must be interesting. -You weren’t more than twenty-four when you -went, were you?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Twenty-five.” Peter Cairns laughed, a short -bitter sound. “Thank you for the invitation, Miss -Hamilton. Some other day we’ll accept with -pleasure. We have a business engagement today -with a man named Peter Graham.” He and Leslie -looked at each other and laughed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Her glance toward him was a vivid brightening -of feature which Marjorie thought beautiful. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span>“Won’t you come over and sit down under the big -tulip tree?” she invited winningly. “We have been -sitting there in the sunshine loving the spring outdoors.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes, do. Peter, go and bring that seat over -here under the tulip tree with the other,” directed -Miss Susanna pointing out a nearby rustic seat.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes’m.” The usually silent, taciturn man, who -kept his large office force in a state of continual -awe, ran like a boy to bring up the rustic bench -and place it under the tulip tree opposite the other.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Now, Peter, what in the world prompted you to -come to see me?” the old lady inquired briskly, as -she re-seated herself on the bench. Mrs. Dean -courteously excused herself and walked on to the -house. She decided that the four she had left -would get along better without her. Miss Susanna -and Leslie sat on one seat. Marjorie and Peter -Cairns on the other.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, a number of things,” Peter Cairns replied -with an odd little duck of the head which Miss Susanna -recalled him as a boy.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You two,” she indicated father and daughter, -“are full of pleasant mystery. Your faces give you -away.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It is pleasant mystery; very pleasant,” he replied -with friendly conviction. “This is what it’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>all about.” In his short-cut fashion he quickly outlined -what he had already informed Leslie regarding -the ownership of the site she had chosen on -which to build the garage.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I took the property away from Leslie because -I was not pleased with her,” he continued frankly. -“Saxe refunded the money. He was entirely innocent -in the matter. I took the sixty thousand dollars -refund and invested it for Leslie. It was her -money. She had paid far too much for the site. -As the site belonged to the Carden estate and the -Carden estate belonged to me I took over the whole -garage enterprise. Leslie had to bear the loss of -the money she had used for construction and other -foolish purposes. I wanted to show her what a -flivver she’d made.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“We agreed to tell this tale together. I’ve told -my part of it. Now Leslie will tell hers. Your -turn, Cairns II,” he raised his heavy brows meaningly -at Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“My father told me if I could think up a good -reason for having my garage site back again, he -would give it to me. The requirements were that -whatever I wanted it for must benefit Hamilton -College and all connected with it. He said it must -be an original reason.” Leslie came to the point -with the same celerity as was Peter Cairns’s habit.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>“I tried at first to think of something that would -work out with your plans, Miss Dean,” she now -addressed Marjorie. “I knew you had long since -provided against emergency. Every time I thought -of the word originality I thought of Leila Harper. -I used to think when I was at Hamilton that she -<i>was</i> originality.” Leslie smiled briefly. “Miss -Monroe raves over her. She says she is a dramatist, -stage manager, actor and so forth. This is my -idea. I’d like to build a theatre on the garage site. -I’d call it the Leila Harper Playhouse. I’d present -it to Hamilton College with the proviso that Miss -Harper should always control the theatre and the -policy of the plays. I would like to will her to -Hamilton College as a rare dramatist, actor and manager.” -Leslie paused. Once fairly started on her -proposal she had grown more and more animated.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You take my breath!” Marjorie gave a little -rapturous gasp. “I should say your plan was original. -I think it’s the very heart of gracious generosity. -I love Leila, Miss Cairns, and wish more than -I can say to have her appreciated and honored at -Hamilton.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“She ought to be appreciated. She is going to -be. You see a theatre will be of benefit to all the -campus folks. It will be a source of amusement -and pleasure to all. The money resulting from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>the plays should go to help the dormitory along. -It will train girls who have histrionic ability for -the stage. It will encourage students to play-writing. -There will be prizes offered, so many each -year for the best in plays, perhaps for exceptionally -fine acting. My father will endow it. I shall put -a part of my money into the endowment provided -my idea is accepted by the Travelers. My name is -not to be mentioned in it. My father doesn’t wish -his to be, either.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“None of the Travelers could or would refuse -such an offer, Miss Cairns. Remember it is first -of all for Leila. She has worked so hard to give -the campus good plays. Not to mention all the -splendid things she’s done for Hamilton as a -Traveler.” Marjorie sang Leila’s praises with a -high heart. “Yet none of us would wish yours or -your father’s name to be withheld. It would be -our grateful pleasure to tell others of your splendid -gift.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You make it seem the thing for us to do—I -don’t know. Let me come again and talk with you -about it. My father and I are partners now,” she -threw him a fond comradely glance. He and Miss -Susanna had listened and let youth talk out its -own matters of interest.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was an hour later when Peter Cairns and Leslie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>left the Arms, happy in the long step that had been -taken that day toward the partnership of which they -had talked and dreamed in bygone years in New -York.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Susanna has changed more than any other -person I ever knew,” were the financier’s first words -to Leslie as they drove away from Hamilton Arms. -“She was a sweet woman until after she had so -much trouble with my father and that rascally -board. I was only a little boy then. I never saw -her again after I left Carden Hedge until a few -years ago when I came up here to see John. She -looked like a fierce, sullen little creature of the wild, -ready to snarl at a word. Now she is charming. -She looks as though she had found what we have—happiness.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Blame it on Bean,” Leslie said with a shadow of -her old satiric smile. “She can change anything. -She even put over the great transformation on me.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Back at the Arms Jerry, who had successfully put -dozens of plump dahlia tubers into the soft brown -earth under Jonas’s somewhat critical eye, was now -racing across the lawn to the tulip tree.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I saw the company from afar. Who were -they?” she called out when within a few feet of -the rustic benches where Miss Susanna and Marjorie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>had reseated themselves. “No one I ever saw -before. I couldn’t label either one of them.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You have seen them both before, Jeremiah,” -Marjorie calmly assured. “The young lady was -Leslie Cairns. The man was—our gasoline bogie.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What-t? Has one hob-goblin wed another. -Don’t tell me the grand Hob-goblin is married!” -Jerry looked ridiculous consternation.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Who said anything about being married. The -gasoline bogie is Leslie Cairns’s father.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Then he must be a house robber. What was -he doing around the Carden estate at that hour of -the night?” Jerry demanded.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“He is not a house robber.” Marjorie was now -laughing. “He is a house owner. He owns Carden -Hedge, and his name is Peter Carden. He is the -Carden son who ran away from home and changed -his name to Peter Cairns.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Good night.” Her eyes on Marjorie, Jerry went -to sit down on the end of one of the two benches. -She missed the bench and sat down forcefully on -the soft grass.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Can you beat it?” she giggled as she scrambled -to her feet and dropped down beside Marjorie, this -time in the middle of the bench. “Can you blame -me for that flivver? I’ve heard of being overcome -by astonishment. It just happened to Jeremiah.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XXVI.<br /> <br />THE IRISH MINUET</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c004'>The Travelers presented “The Knight of the -Northern Sun” at the Hamilton Concert Hall on -the evening after that of the re-opening day of college -following the Easter vacation. Lucy Warner -had asked and received President Matthews’s hearty -permission to use the hall for the Norse play and -afterwards for any other attractions which Page and -Dean might wish to offer.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The Norse play was the most ambitious drama the -Travelers had yet undertaken. They had gone to -great trouble and pains to costume and produce the -play inexpensively, but with realism. Nor was the -audience which crowded the large hall to the doors -composed entirely of students. Since the presentation -of the first show by Page and Dean almost -two years previous, interested citizens of the town -of Hamilton and residents of Hamilton Estates had -shown flattering eagerness to obtain seats for Page -and Dean’s shows.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>Augusta Forbes scored heavily as Godoran, the -Norse hero, who, until he met the fair Nageda, -boasted that he had looked earnestly at no woman’s -face save his mother’s. Doris was the lovely, -golden-haired Nageda, who fell in love with Godoran -at sight but was carried off as a hostage by barbarian -hordes on the day of her initial meeting with -her hero.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The play netted the dormitory fund over a -thousand dollars. Augusta and Doris stepped into -the spot light of campus admiration and were fêted -by their friends for upwards of a week afterward. -Marjorie attended the presentation of the drama with -her mother, Jerry, Miss Susanna and Jonas. It was -her mother’s last evening at the Arms and this sad -knowledge put her in a rather forlorn mood. Then, -too, she could not help thinking of Hal. She had -suggested the title of the play as a result of seeing -the costume of polar knight Hal Macy had worn at -the merry-making in Sanford on Christmas Eve. -Now she saw Hal as the knight, rather than Gussie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She wondered vexedly why she always thought -of Hal in connection with the sentimental. It was -because he had told her he loved her, she supposed. -She watched fascinatedly the progress of the play -and listened with half impatient sadness to the impassioned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>words of love which Katherine Langly, -who knew nothing about love, had put into the -mouth of Godoran.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Following the play and her mother’s departure -for Sanford, Marjorie returned with conscientious -interest to the work of the biography. Since the -love story of Brooke Hamilton had entered into it -she had revolutionized her whole idea of the plan. -Now she plunged once more into the journal, working -at it diligently. She tried to use every sentence -of it which did not touch too personally on the side -of the great man’s romance which belonged to him -and not to the world.</p> - -<p class='c005'>After a time it seemed to her that she knew every -line of the journal by heart. She worked steadily -on through the bright spring weather until she had -arranged the delicate matter to suit her critical -mind. Miss Susanna was greatly pleased over Marjorie’s -arranging of the sentimental part of her -great-uncle’s history. She had taken a notion to -edit the garden letters herself, and the two friends -worked together in the study at the long library -table, each with the same fond spirit toward the -man in the portrait.</p> - -<p class='c005'>On the campus Leila Harper in fancy had ceased -to be a post graduate. Instead she was living through -<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>an exciting period of Irish history as she rehearsed -the heroic part of Desmond O’Dowd. As the time -drew near for the presentation of the Irish drama -she grew more pleased with the work of the cast -than she had ever been with that of any other group -of actors whom she had formerly used in her plays. -Vera, as Mona of Lough Gur, the Irish maid from -County Limerick, promised to be the chief attraction.</p> - -<p class='c005'>One thing to perfect her production Leila lacked. -She needed a real man, one with an exceptionally -sweet tenor voice to sing words to the minuet tune -that accompanied the Irish minuet she and Vera were -to give in the first act of the play. As the hero it -was really Leila’s place to sing the quaint words as -she danced. Not being possessed of a tenor voice -she could not carry out this part of the program. -She decided after much thought to place a singer in -the wings to voice the pretty Irish words.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Next difficulty was to obtain the singer. Following -a brief season of despairing calculation as to -whether a church singer in Hamilton might not undertake -the solo, Leila hit upon another plan that -brought a true Cheshire cat grin to her keen Celtic -features. She hastily mailed a very ragged piece -of Irish music to Hal Macy with a short accompanying -letter, and buoyantly awaited results.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>Leila’s plan to bring Hal from Sanford to sing -behind the scenes for her on the night of her play -was not entirely one of self-interest. She had often -thought Marjorie was nothing less than a sleeping -beauty slated to awaken suddenly from a dream of -life to reality and a lover’s kiss. She had long -guessed for herself that Hal loved Marjorie. She -had also been the only one besides Marjorie who -had seen Hal’s heart-broken expression as he had -stood before Marjorie’s portrait.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Of late Leila had shrewdly thought she had -noticed signs of absent-minded dreaming on Marjorie’s -part which might or might not have to do -with Hal. Miss Susanna had decreed that Marjorie -might tell the original Travelers of the journal -if she wished. Leila had listened to Marjorie’s sad -account of it and her wistful remarks afterward with -her head on one side. She had there and then made -up her mind to try out an experiment of her own -upon Hal and Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c005'>In due time Hal’s answer returned. Yes, he would -be pleased to help her with her play in any way -he could. He would make it a point to keep out -of sight until after the performance. This Leila -had also requested. He had learned the Irish song -and thought it very pretty. Leila was tempted more -<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>than once to tell Jerry. She triumphantly fought -off the desire and cannily kept her own counsel.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Now wholly engaged in what promised to completely -outdo “The Knight of the Northern Sun,” -Leila paid little attention to anything else. As she -worked steadily and patiently toward perfecting the -various actors in the difficult Celtic characters they -were to represent she did not dream that she had -already been selected as an object for honor.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Leslie Cairns had determined that Leila should -receive her gift, and her father’s, of a theatre on the -last day of chapel. Leslie had always remembered -and been impressed by the various honor citations -which she had witnessed when a student at Hamilton. -She believed that Leila would prefer to be honored -in the company of her fellow students in chapel than -at the regular Commencement exercises. She argued -that the gift she wished to offer Leila was germane -to the traditional side of the college.</p> - -<p class='c005'>While Leila was carrying on a lively correspondence -with Hal, Marjorie was wondering now and -then why she had not heard from him. With Hal -so much in her mind of late it was not strange that -she should notice his delay in writing. She had -written him over a month ago. He had not written -to Jerry, either. Perhaps he had been away, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>or had been ill. No; if he had been ill Jerry’s mother -would have mentioned it to Jerry in a letter. Marjorie -realized, all of a sudden, that she had grown -quite concerned in the matter. She chided herself -for being silly, and dismissed Hal from her -thoughts—until he happened to walk into them -again.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Say, have you heard from old Hal lately?” -Jerry asked her on the evening of Leila’s play, as -the two girls were dressing for the event. “Because -I’m going to wear my turquoise necklace I happened -to think of him. He gave it to me, you know.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ve wondered myself why he hasn’t answered -my last letter.” Marjorie stood before the long -wall mirror surveying herself with a critical and unenthusiastic -eye. She was dressed in the shaded -violet frock of Chinese crepe which she had owned -for five years and which was still a la mode. She -had worn it only on rare occasions. It was still fresh -and charming as on the night when she had worn it -as a freshman to the Beauty contest. Leila had begged -her to wear it “in honor of your Celtic friend -and Irish playwright,” she had laughingly stipulated.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“He’s probably away on a business trip for the -governor.” Jerry delivered this opinion as she poked -<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>her arms into her white fur evening coat. “Don’t -forget your violets.” She patted the huge bunch -of scented purple beauties at her own corsage.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie turned from the mirror. She took her -own bunch of violets from the water, dried the -stems and pinned them on. The faint exquisite perfume -of them all but brought tears to her eyes. -She thought of Angela, of Brooke Hamilton, of how -they had loved violets. And then—back went her -mind to the winter day when Hal had stood before -the portrait of a girl who wore violets.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m going for a long, long walk tomorrow,” -she announced. “My head is full of cobwebs. I -shall let the fresh air sweep it clear. I hope there -will be a good old high wind blowing. I’ll love to -walk out and fight with it.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’ll go with you. Bean. Never believe you can -lose me.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I look upon you as a permanent fixture,” Marjorie -graciously assured.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Make the most of me tonight. I’m going to -leave you tomorrow. I happen to remember that I -can’t be always with you.” Jerry trailed out the -remark in a melancholy tone. “I like the permanent -fixture idea, but I can’t be it. I have to go the round -of the campus houses tomorrow and see what I can -<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>gather up for the auction. There are times when -I wish I were not quite so necessary to Hamilton,” -was Jerry’s regretfully modest ending.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You don’t know what you are talking about.” -Marjorie gave a funny little chuckle. “First you -said I couldn’t lose you. Then you said just the -opposite.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I know it. I seem to be like that, don’t I?” -Jerry beamed foolishly upon her lovely chum.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie got into her own evening coat, a springtime -affair of pale tinted silk and lace, and the pair -paraded downstairs arm in arm. Jerry’s nonsense -had served to restore Marjorie’s lighter spirits to -normal light-heartedness. During the short ride in -the limousine to Hamilton Concert Hall an energetic -conversation occupied the attention of all three. -It concerned the library which was to be presented -to the dormitory girls when the dormitory should -be completed.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Miss Susanna was determined that the students -who were now the dormitory seniors should be -present the next fall when the dormitory would be -finished and opened. She had just announced her -intention of defraying the railway expenses of the -graduate “dorms” wherever they might be.</p> - -<p class='c005'>All three were also happy over Guiseppe Baretti’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>present to the dormitory. He had long announced -his intention of giving the “dorm a nice present.” -A few days previous he had sent for Robin and -Marjorie and solemnly informed them that he -wished to take the expense of furnishing the dorm -with the best grill room that money could secure. -“I buy all for it; all,” he declared with an inclusive -spread of the arms. “Then I do this. What you -want buy. You give me the list ev’ry week. I -buy for the dorm same I buy for me. This don’ -cost me half’s much it cost the dorm.” His offer -was accepted with the same deep gratitude which it -seemed to Marjorie that the Travelers owed almost -everyone.</p> - -<p class='c005'>The orchestra pit of the hall looked like a florist’s -shop. As the trio entered the fragrance of roses -and violets was wafted to their nostrils.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Um-m. All the actors are in line for a donation,” -muttered Jerry. “I hope our offerings to the bunch -haven’t been side tracked.” The Travelers had gathered -up among themselves a goodly sum of money -for the purpose of honoring the members of the -cast with flowers. Vera’s dainty pen and ink were -all gone before the Hamilton Arms detail reached -there.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Miss Mason said to tell you that she had saved -<span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>some sketches for you,” was the comforting assurance -that met the party at the door. The message -was delivered by a sophomore who was doing usher -duty.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Seats of honor well up front had been reserved -for the mistress of the Arms and her bodyguard. -Seated in the brilliantly lighted room, the perfume of -flowers on the air, the pleasant, well-bred murmur -of subdued voices in her ears Marjorie thrilled to -it all as she had always vibrated to the social side -of Hamilton College.</p> - -<p class='c005'>She loved to think of herself as a part of it, -alive and moving along with that busy, mind-profitable -life. She was glad that she had such clever, -wonderful friends. Not one of her chums but that -had specialized in some particular talent or craft. -She alone was the only one who had no hold on the -fine arts beyond being an appreciative worshipper -of those who were talented. Thus her thoughts -ran until the rise of the curtain on “Desmond -O’Dowd.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>From then on she thought only of the play itself. -Leila herself had arranged the most of the -setting for the first act. The opening scene was laid -in the old-fashioned hall of an Irish country house -of early eighteenth century. Desmond O’Dowd, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>hero, whose free thinking and free speech had placed -him in disfavor with the Earl of Claflin, had come -to Claflin Eyrie, the earl’s home, in the hope of seeing -Mona, the earl’s niece. He wished to say goodbye -to her before joining a revolutionary political -party which he believed to be the only one working -for the good of Ireland.</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was during this act that Leila and Vera were -to dance the Irish minuet of which the Hamilton girls -were so fond. The play opened with a number of -young men and women of Mona’s acquaintance -gathered for a little evening party. The high-waisted, -comparatively simple costumes of the young -women were dainty foils for the dark knee trousers, -square cut coats, silk stockings, fancy low shoes and -lace falls of the young men. Shoulder length hair, -ribbon-tied, formed a part of the picturesque dressing -of the young Irish gentlemen of this period.</p> - -<p class='c005'>After a gay little dance in which the whole -company joined, came the entrance into the hall of -Desmond. Leila played the part with true Celtic -intensity and understanding. Vera who took color -from constant association with Leila, was no less -convincing in the role of dainty Mona. Marjorie -leaned forward in her seat breathlessly waiting for -the moment to come which would introduce the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>minuet. She had seen it danced by the two a number -of times and never tired of it. She was particularly -fond of the charming setting of words that went -with a part of the tune. The minuet had special -music which Leila had brought from Ireland and -which was very old.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Leila can’t sing the words this time,” Marjorie -whispered to Jerry. “She was grumbling to me -about it not so very long ago. She can’t sing like -a man and she doesn’t care to sing them in her own -voice.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>The pleading, persuasive voice of Desmond to -Mona, saying: “Just one dance, acushla. Tomorrow -I’ll be far away across the lakes and with only -the thought of you and your love to keep my poor -heart from breaking.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie breathed a long sigh of anticipatory -pleasure as the preliminary strains of the minuet -rose from the orchestra pit where Phillys Moore -was conducting her own capable ten piece orchestra. -With the usual number of deep, courtly bows the -minuet began. Followed the gradual advance down -the center of the pair of dancers. The odd, dainty -stepping, dignified in its deliberateness. Each step -in perfect accord with each note of the music combined -to make a poetry of motion difficult to describe. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>Then—From somewhere off stage a voice suddenly -began to sing:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Down the center little one,</div> - <div class='line in1'>Life for us has just begun:</div> - <div class='line in1'>Down the center, step together,</div> - <div class='line in1'>Only you and I are one forever.</div> - <div class='line in1'>Colin he is watching me,</div> - <div class='line in1'>His love you can never be,</div> - <div class='line in1'>Step together, part we never</div> - <div class='line in1'>Sweetheart wee.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>It was a high, sweet tenor voice, vigorous of -tone yet giving the Irish lilt the true lyric delicacy -necessary to the rendering of any Irish song. Marjorie -listened to it, entranced, yet with the vague -impression that she had heard it somewhere before.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Forward, forward,</div> - <div class='line in1'>Higher, sweeter, sounds the measure,</div> - <div class='line in1'>You for me, my small white treasure</div> - <div class='line in1'>You for me, for now and aye, love.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>The voice sang on, seeming to grow more and -more impassioned. The tender import of the love -words brought a quick veil of tears to Marjorie’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>eyes. It was all so real. The two lovers, surrounded -in the very beginning with unsurmountable difficulties, -their brave attempt to defy life and fate. -Ardent Desmond pleading for the constancy of his -“small white treasure.” Then that voice, ringing, -a thread of defiant laughter running through its -music.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie came back to reality in time to hear an -excited voice in her ear growling softly: “Old Hal. -Now can you beat that. It is Hal that’s doing the -singing. I know it. That’s some of Leila Harper’s -work. Oh-h-h. Wait until I grab both of them. -I’m going behind the scenes the minute the show’s -over. I’d go at the end of the first act, but I might -make a nuisance of myself. If Hal Macy knows -what is good for him he will march himself out -front like a kind and loving brother.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie heard Jerry’s words in a kind of pleased -daze. She was conscious of one emotion above -everything else. She would be very glad to see -Hal. She wished he would soon come to them. -But Hal did not appear. Wily Leila had enlisted -his services in helping with a mob scene at the end -of the second act. She needed him again to direct -another third-act ensemble where the revolutionists -gather about their chief, Desmond O’Dowd, in the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>haunted house at the foot of the Cragsmore cliff. -Leila knew precisely what she was about in keeping -Hal from Marjorie. She was certain both Jerry -and Marjorie must have recognized his singing voice.</p> - -<p class='c005'>When the final curtain had descended after Leila -and the cast had been surfeited with flowers and -curtain calls, and after Leila had made a speech -of few and embarrassed words, Hal had still not appeared.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Let him go.” Jerry had grown out of patience. -“I disown him. I never had a brother. I’ll will -old Hal to Leila Harper for a stage hand. She has -kept him back on the stage and made him work. -She—” Jerry suddenly subsided with an articulate -murmur.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie looked blank. She had never before -thought of Leila Harper in conjunction with Hal. -How had Hal happened to know the words to the -old Irish song? Leila must have sent them to him -by letter. No, she must have sent the music for -the minuet. She thought that he had not been in -Hamilton more than a few hours. Still he might -have been on the campus all day and she had never—</p> - -<p class='c005'>There she stopped. Leila was her most devoted -friend. She was glad that Hal had at last shown -a preference for some one beside herself. Marjorie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>stopped the thought process again. She found she -did not wish to think about Hal and Leila as being -interested in each other. She wondered next if they -had been corresponding long. Leila had never mentioned -in her presence that she had received a letter -from Hal. Leila had—</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Marjorie.” The sound of the voice whose tender -cadences had lately thrilled her was now speaking -her name, and in the same ardent tone.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Oh, Hal.” Involuntarily both hands went out -to meet the strong warm ones which clasped her -slender fingers close.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You gave us a positive electric shock,” complained -Jerry. “How long have you been here? -Give an account of yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not very long.” Hal relinquished Marjorie’s -hands slowly, deliberately. She stood looking at him -with an expression of sweet welcome which came -to him vaguely as something he had not hitherto -seen in her face.</p> - -<p class='c005'>He had already warmly greeted Miss Susanna. -She was now engaged in conversation with Professor -Wenderblatt, who had come up to speak to -her.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“There’s Lillian Wenderblatt over by the orchestra -pit talking to Phil. I must see her about the auction. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>Back in a minute.” Jerry had not noticed any difference -in Marjorie’s demeanor toward Hal. She -left the two together on general principles.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Were you surprised to hear my voice before -you saw me?” Hal asked with a smile. He was -trying to tell himself that he must not show Marjorie -that he loved her. She did not like that.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes; I didn’t recognize it for a minute. I only -knew it was familiar—and beautiful,” she added -with her charming lighting up of feature.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Thank you. How are you, Marjorie, and the -biography? You are the portrait girl tonight, -aren’t you?” Hal was struggling valiantly to be impersonal. -He wished instead to say to this lovely -violet girl: “I love you. I love you.” The grace -of her beauty was in his heart. The perfume from -the violets at her waist was a breath of sweetness -to his hungry soul.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Yes, I am wearing my violet dress. I am well. -The biography is progressing very slowly.” Marjorie -felt an odd little chill at Hal’s pleasant inquiries.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m going to the Arms with you,” Hal announced. -“Miss Susanna insists that I shall stay -there tonight. I must be on my way tomorrow. -I’m planning a trip to Alaska. Expect to be gone -<span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>all summer. I’ll go over to the campus tomorrow -before I leave and call on Leila. She certainly is -a grand old comrade.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I love Leila Greatheart, Hal,” Marjorie said -loyally. “I’m so glad you came here to help her -with her play.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Aren’t you just a little bit glad to see me for -myself, Marjorie?” Hal could not resist putting -this one question.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“You know I am.” Marjorie attempted to look -into his face with her old-time frank smile. She -smiled, but the smile was one of shyness. Her brown -eyes rested on Hal only an instant. The rose deepened -in her cheeks. Hal looked at her, and wondered.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span> - <h2 class='c003'>CHAPTER XXVII.<br /> <br />ROMANCE</h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c006'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“The magic of yon sailing moon</div> - <div class='line in1'>Lures my poor heartstrings out of me;</div> - <div class='line in1'>God’s moonshine whitens the lagoon:</div> - <div class='line in1'>The earth’s a silver mystery.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“Why, Hal, I didn’t know you knew that poem!” -Marjorie stood beside Hal at the top of the veranda -steps bathed in the white moonlight. Looking at -her, Hal had quoted the verse of old Irish poetry. -“Leila must have taught you that.” She smiled, -but there was a tiny ache in her heart.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“<i>You</i> taught me that. You recited it one night -when we were down on the beach. That was last -summer. It seems longer ago.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“So I did. I had forgotten.” For some unknown -reason Marjorie felt lighter of heart. The tiny pain -was gone.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“That was a white moonlight night. So is this. -Come and take a walk.” Hal stretched out a hand -to Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>“Just a little way.” She followed him down the -steps, but laughingly refused his hand. “I know -this place better than you. I don’t need a guide,” -she said. “We mustn’t go far from the veranda. I -am hungry. We are soon going to have a midnight -supper, especially for you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I’m grateful for hospitality. What a corking old -piece of magnificence the Arms is! I wish I had -time to see it thoroughly. I’d invade your study -and bother you. I give you fair warning.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Why can’t you stay at the Arms for a few days, -Hal? Jerry will be so disappointed. You can’t -know as I know how much she loves you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I know.” Hal nodded. “Jerry will be home -before long. But you won’t be home for—” He -paused. “Are you coming home in June?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I don’t know.” The answer came doubtfully. -“The biography won’t be finished until some time -next winter. I must come back to Hamilton next -fall to see to our dormitory interest. There are other -things, too. Captain and General wish me at home, -and Miss Susanna wishes me here, and—</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I want you myself, Marjorie.” Hal’s quick utterance -had the virile quality now which had thrilled -her when he sang. “Why do I tell you this again -when I’ve sworn to myself I’d never trouble you? -<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>I don’t know. I only know that you seem to me tonight -to be—kinder.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Hal, I—” They were crossing the lawn now -strolling aimlessly along under the moon’s pale rays. -They came to an immense flowering almond bush. -It lifted burgeoning pink clusters, a mass of rioting -bloom under the white light.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Hal, I always mean to be kind to you.” Marjorie -did better this time. “I wish you wouldn’t -feel that you have troubled me. I have read Brooke -Hamilton’s love story. I understand more of love -than I used. I know that true love is—it is—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What do you know of love?” Hal’s hands suddenly -dropped lightly upon her shoulders. The two -had stopped before the great pink bush, facing each -other, their young features set with the terrific -earnestness of youth. “Have you grown up? Do -you love me?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I—have grown up this much—I—understand the -worth of true love, Hal. That is—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Not loving me yet, but very near it,” came the -tender interruption. Hal’s hands slipped from Marjorie’s -shoulders. “I love you,” he said. “I love -you.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Marjorie regarded him silently. She knew that -Hal was fighting against loving her. That in a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>moment of emotion he had spoken again the words -he had tried to forget. He would instantly go back -to his role of devoted friend. She did not wish -him to go back. She loved him. How greatly she -loved him she could not then guess. She knew only -that she loved him.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“What is it, Marjorie?” Hal reached for her -hands, caught them, held them unresisting in his -own.</p> - -<p class='c005'>Came a silence. A faint vagrant night breeze -stirred the trees, touched the faces of the two besides -the almond bush. Very gently Hal drew his -Violet Girl into his arms.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“It must be a whole year from now, Hal,” Marjorie -said later with charming practicality. They -were walking toward the house now in answer to at -least five minutes’ intermittent whistling of Jerry -from the veranda.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Stop a minute.” Hal drew Marjorie into the -shadow of a tall shrub.</p> - -<p class='c005'>“I have oceans to do. I told you all about it -a little while ago. Work is work. It can’t be done -in a minute. But it can be accomplished by next -June. Then I’ll be—I’ll be—”</p> - -<p class='c005'>“Marjorie Dean Macy,” Hal said, and he -punctuated these three euphonic words in true -<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>lover’s fashion. The story of that eventful year of -accomplishment and triumph, which ended in the -dawn of a perfect wedding day for Marjorie, will -be told in: “MARJORIE DEAN MACY.”</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c006'> - <div>THE END.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='adpage'> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xlarge'><i>SAVE THE WRAPPER!</i></span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_0_6 c005'>If you have enjoyed reading about the -adventures of the new friends you have -made in this book and would like to read -more clean, wholesome stories of their entertaining -experiences, turn to the book -jacket—on the inside of it, a comprehensive -list of Burt’s fine series of carefully selected -books for young people has been placed for -your convenience.</p> - -<p class='c005'><i>Orders for these books, placed with your -bookstore or sent to the Publishers, will -receive prompt attention.</i></p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='figleft id003'> -<img src='images/ad_page_01.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Princess</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Polly Series</span></div> - <div class='c000'>By AMY BROOKS</div> - <div class='c000'>Author of “Dorothy Dainty” series, Etc.</div> - <div>Stories of Sweet-Tempered, Sunny,</div> - <div>Lovable Little “Princess Polly.”</div> - <div>For girls 12 to 16 years.</div> - <div>Each Volume Illustrated.</div> - <div class='c000'>Cloth Bound</div> - <div class='c000'><i>With Individual Jackets in Colors.</i></div> - <div class='c000'>PRICE, 75 CENTS EACH</div> - <div>POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>PRINCESS POLLY</div> - <div class='line'>PRINCESS POLLY’S PLAYMATES</div> - <div class='line'>PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL</div> - <div class='line'>PRINCESS POLLY BY THE SEA</div> - <div class='line'>PRINCESS POLLY’S GAY WINTER</div> - <div class='line'>PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY</div> - <div class='line'>PRINCESS POLLY AT CLIFFMORE</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>For sale by all booksellers, or sent</div> - <div>on receipt of price by the Publishers</div> - <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='figleft id003'> -<img src='images/ad_page_02.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>The</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Virginia Davis</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Series</span></div> - <div class='c000'>By GRACE MAY NORTH</div> - <div class='c000'>Clean, Wholesome Stories of Ranch Life.</div> - <div>For Girls 12 to 16 Years.</div> - <div>All Clothbound.</div> - <div class='c000'><i>With Individual Jackets in Colors.</i></div> - <div class='c000'>PRICE, 75 CENTS EACH</div> - <div>POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>VIRGINIA OF V. M. RANCH</div> - <div class='line'>VIRGINIA AT VINE HAVEN</div> - <div class='line'>VIRGINIA’S ADVENTURE CLUB</div> - <div class='line'>VIRGINIA’S RANCH NEIGHBORS</div> - <div class='line'>VIRGINIA’S ROMANCE</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>For sale by all booksellers, or sent</div> - <div>on receipt of price by the Publishers</div> - <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>THE MERRY LYNN</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>SERIES</span></div> - <div class='c000'>By HARRIET PYNE GROVE</div> - <div class='c000'>Cloth Bound. Jackets in Colors.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>The charm of school and camp life, out-door -sports and European travel is found in these winning -tales of Merilyn and her friends at boarding -school and college. These realistic stories of the -everyday life, the fun, frolic and special adventures -of the Beechwood girls will be enjoyed by all girls of -high school age.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>MERILYN ENTERS BEECHWOLD</div> - <div class='line'>MERILYN AT CAMP MEENAHGA</div> - <div class='line'>MERILYN TESTS LOYALTY</div> - <div class='line'>MERILYN’S NEW ADVENTURE</div> - <div class='line'>MERILYN FORRESTER, CO-ED.</div> - <div class='line'>THE “MERRY LYNN” MINE</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY, <i>Publishers</i></div> - <div>114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='figleft id003'> -<img src='images/ad_page_04.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>The</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Greycliff Girls</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Series</span></div> - <div class='c000'>By HARRIET PYNE GROVE</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>Stories of Adventure, Fun, Study and Personalities -of girls attending Greycliff School.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>For Girls 10 to 15 Years</div> - <div class='c000'>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH</div> - <div class='c000'>POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</div> - <div class='c000'>Cloth bound, with Individual Jackets in Color.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>CATHALINA AT GREYCLIFF</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRLS OF GREYCLIFF</div> - <div class='line'>GREYCLIFF WINGS</div> - <div class='line'>GREYCLIFF GIRLS IN CAMP</div> - <div class='line'>GREYCLIFF HEROINES</div> - <div class='line'>GREYCLIFF GIRLS IN GEORGIA</div> - <div class='line'>GREYCLIFF GIRLS’ RANCHING</div> - <div class='line'>GREYCLIFF GIRLS’ GREAT ADVENTURE</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>For sale by all booksellers, or sent</div> - <div>on receipt of price by the Publishers</div> - <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='figleft id003'> -<img src='images/ad_page_05.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>The</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Girl Scouts</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Series</span></div> - <div class='c000'>BY EDITH LAVELL</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by -an author of wide experience in Scouts’ craft, as -Director of Girl Scouts of Philadelphia.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs.</div> - <div class='c000'>PRICE, 50 CENTS EACH</div> - <div>POSTAGE 10c EXTRA</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ GOOD TURN</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ CANOE TRIP</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ RIVALS</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ VACATION ADVENTURES</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ MOTOR TRIP</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ CAPTAIN</div> - <div class='line'>THE GIRL SCOUTS’ DIRECTOR</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>For sale by all booksellers, or sent</div> - <div>on receipt of price by the Publishers</div> - <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='figleft id003'> -<img src='images/ad_page_06.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>The Camp Fire</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Girls Series</span></div> - <div class='c000'>By HILDEGARD G. FREY</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>A Series of Outdoor Stories for -Girls 12 to 16 Years.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</div> - <div class='c006'>PRICE 50 CENTS EACH</div> - <div>Postage 10c. Extra.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; -or, The Winnebagos go Camping.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The -Wohelo Weavers.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, -The Magic Garden.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along -the Road That Leads the Way.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS’ LARKS AND PRANKS; or, -The House of the Open Door.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN’S ISLE; or, The -Trail of the Seven Cedars.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; -or, Glorify Work.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over -the Top with the Winnebagos.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or, -The Christmas Adventure at Carver House.</p> - -<p class='c007'>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; -or, Down Paddles.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>For sale by all booksellers, or sent</div> - <div>on receipt of price by the Publishers</div> - <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 E. 23d St., NEW YORK</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='figleft id003'> -<img src='images/ad_page_07.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>Books for Girls</span></div> - <div class='c000'>By GRACE MAY NORTH</div> - <div class='c000'>Author of</div> - <div>THE VIRGINIA DAVIS SERIES</div> - <div class='c000'>All Clothbound. Copyright Titles.</div> - <div class='c000'><i>With Individual Jackets in Colors</i></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>MEG OF MYSTERY MOUNTAIN</p> - -<p class='c009'>This story tells of the summer vacation some young -people spent in the mountains and how they cleared -up the mystery of the lost cabin at Crazy Creek Mine.</p> - -<p class='c005'>RILLA OF THE LIGHTHOUSE</p> - -<p class='c009'>“Rilla” had lived all her life with only her grandfather -and “Uncle Barney” as companions, but finally, at -High Cliff Seminary, her great test came and the -lovable girl from Windy Island Lighthouse met it -brilliantly.</p> - -<p class='c005'>NAN OF THE GYPSIES</p> - -<p class='c009'>In this tale of a wandering gypsy band, Nan, who has -spent her childhood with the gypsies, is adopted by -a woman of wealth, and by her love and loyalty to -her, she proves her fine character and true worth.</p> - -<p class='c005'>SISTERS</p> - -<p class='c009'>The personal characteristics and incidents in the lives -of two girls—one thoughtless and proud, the other -devoted and self-sacrificing—are vividly described in -this story, told as it is with sympathy and understanding -for both.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers,</div> - <div>114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Transcriber’s note:</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>Chapter headings have been regularized.</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 6, double quote inserted before ‘Here’s,’ “teased Marjorie. “Here’s another.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 24, ‘paricular’ changed to ‘particular,’ “This particular set of”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 25, full stop struck following ‘HEART,’ “THE SPRINGTIME OF THE HEART”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 25, double quote inserted before ‘Now,’ “way. “Now I shall”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 28, comma changed to full stop after ‘Hamilton,’ “room with Miss Hamilton.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 31, ‘simple’ changed to ‘simply,’ “She simply loves to act”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 34, ‘maybe’ changed to ‘may be,’ “it may be midnight ere”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 35, ‘Hamilton’s’ changed to ‘Hamiltons,’ “servitor of the Hamiltons”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 37, comma inserted after ‘Hall,’ “at the Hall, the eight”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 43, ‘admited’ changed to ‘admitted,’ “Jerry admitted with”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 47, single quote inserted after ‘Baretti,’ “know, Signor Baretti.’”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 48, ‘Appasionata’ changed to ‘Appassionata,’ “Beethoven’s ‘Sonata Appassionata.’”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 50, ‘anythings’ changed to ‘anything,’ “deference than anything else”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 54, comma struck after ‘Doris,’ “left Doris the Dazzler”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 56, full stop inserted after ‘personally,’ “about her personally.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 58, ‘Sussanna’ changed to ‘Susanna,’ “about Miss Susanna”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 69, ‘a’ struck after ‘been,’ “had been respectively”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 71, ‘bouyant’ changed to ‘buoyant,’ “made a buoyant exit”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 73, em-dash inserted between ‘Yes’ and ‘I,’ “Yes—I had an idea”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 79, single quote changed to double quote before ‘Miss,’ ““Miss Harper was impersonal”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 80, double quote inserted after ‘girls,’ “Sanford crowd of girls.””</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 86, second full stop struck after ‘romp,’ “be at the romp.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 86, ‘invited’ changed to ‘uninvited,’ “as an uninvited masker at”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 88, ‘let’s’ changed to ‘lets,’ “That lets you out”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 90, full stop inserted after ‘are,’ “I presume you are.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 90, ‘three’ changed to ‘four,’ “Those four words, “I presume you are,””</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 90, double quote struck after ‘Leslie,’ “had known Leslie.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 97, ‘wont’ changed to ‘won’t,’ “we won’t be in”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 98, ‘they’ inserted before ‘testified,’ “manly chest; they testified eloquently”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 106, ‘horried’ changed to ‘horrid,’ “helped that horrid Miss”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 106, ‘sopohomore’ changed to ‘sophomore,’ “Among sophomore details”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 113, ‘umberella’ changed to ‘umbrella,’ “She brandished her umbrella”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 118, ‘hurridly’ changed to ‘hurriedly,’ “Leila had hurriedly given”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 119, ‘losenges’ changed to ‘lozenges,’ “lozenges and crimson”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 122, double quote inserted after ‘all,’ “not at all.” Doris”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 122, double quote struck before ‘Julia,’ “Julia cast a frowning”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 123, ‘re-asssuring’ changed to ‘re-assuring,’ “was not re-assuring”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 130, full stop inserted after ‘have,’ “and I never have.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 132, ‘unwieldly’ changed to ‘unwieldy,’ “that unwieldy umbrella”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 133, ‘is’ changed to ‘it,’ “Yes, it was Bean”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 137, ‘Hamiliton’ changed to ‘Hamilton,’ “since I entered Hamilton”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 144, ‘mistresss’ changed to ‘mistress,’ “the mistress of the Arms”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 153, ‘daguerrotype’ changed to ‘daguerreotype,’ “me a small daguerreotype”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 153, single quote inserted after ‘Arms,’ “the Arms.’ She said”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 156, ‘prevading’ changed to ‘pervading,’ “broke the hush pervading”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 162, ‘choose’ changed to ‘chose,’ “Marjorie chose the campus”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 163, double quote struck before ‘I’ve,’ “a drive. I’ve not”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 165, ‘be’ inserted before ‘made,’ “had to be made over”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 165, ‘jubiliant’ changed to ‘jubilant,’ “both were jubilant over”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 166, ‘lieutenant’ changed to ‘Lieutenant,’ “Bean making Lieutenant Bean”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 176, ‘authoratative’ changed to ‘authoritative,’ “dryly authoritative prediction”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 178, ‘Lelia’ changed to ‘Leila,’ “side of it, Leila”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 180, ‘harrass’ changed to ‘harass,’ “but harass and torment”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 180, single quote and full stop transposed after ‘amazin,’ “it is that amazin’.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 180, double quote inserted before ‘We,’ ““We have an old”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 180, single quote inserted after ‘him,’ “the hangman has him?’”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 184, second ‘been’ struck, “she had been received”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 185, double quote inserted after ‘with,’ ““get away with” whatever”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 187, ‘succint’ changed to ‘succinct,’ “was the succinct counsel”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 189, single quote struck after ‘Cairns,’ “after Peter Cairns instead”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 194, ‘caste’ changed to ‘cast,’ “their customary aloof cast”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 196, ‘chosing’ changed to ‘choosing,’ “in choosing the words”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 197, double quote inserted after ‘for,’ “to make up for—””</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 203, ‘off’ changed to ‘of,’ “flashed out of the door”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 208, ‘tumultous’ changed to ‘tumultuous,’ “Arms and tumultuous happiness”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 226, ‘dilligently’ changed to ‘diligently,’ “at it diligently. She”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 229, ‘f’ changed to ‘of,’ “The Knight of the Northern Sun”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 229, full stop changed to comma after ‘Sun,’ “the Northern Sun,” Leila paid”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 235, ‘neice’ changed to ‘niece,’ “Mona, the earl’s niece”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 240, ‘converstation’ changed to ‘conversation,’ “engaged in conversation with”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 241, ‘planing’ changed to ‘planning,’ “I’m planning a trip”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 242, ‘Hall’ changed to ‘Hal,’ “Hal could not resist”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 243, double quote inserted before ‘Why,’ ““Why, Hal, I didn’t”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 245, ‘terrfic’ changed to ‘terrific,’ “with the terrific earnestness”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Ad Page 5, ‘ALLENS’ changed to ‘ALLEN’S,’ “THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL”</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Marjorie Dean's Romance, by Pauline Lester - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN'S ROMANCE *** - -***** This file should be named 53440-h.htm or 53440-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/4/4/53440/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from images made available by the HathiTrust -Digital Library.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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