diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-06 20:36:43 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-06 20:36:43 -0800 |
| commit | 5cd8ad9ba952d7adbac06ae6785a1b790f08be91 (patch) | |
| tree | 242919a494818f6976a51847d1a840d7f98c3162 | |
| parent | eae01ee40d87b0e89e00918f3da3cab9dbcd6822 (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53987-0.txt | 6690 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53987-0.zip | bin | 129220 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53987-h.zip | bin | 363416 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53987-h/53987-h.htm | 9054 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53987-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 143718 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53987-h/images/frontis.jpg | bin | 71661 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53987-h/images/title-page.jpg | bin | 10645 -> 0 bytes |
10 files changed, 17 insertions, 15744 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8edcd7b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53987 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53987) diff --git a/old/53987-0.txt b/old/53987-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 39f2199..0000000 --- a/old/53987-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6690 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Marjorie Dean Macy's Hamilton Colony, by Pauline Lester - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. 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 Macy's Hamilton Colony - -Author: Pauline Lester - -Release Date: January 17, 2017 [EBook #53987] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN MACY'S HAMILTON COLONY *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -[Illustration: “She stood beaming her delight of the flower-like group -that had invaded her room.”] - - [_Page 57_] [_Marjorie Dean Macy’s Hamilton Colony_] - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - Marjorie Dean Macy’s - Hamilton Colony - - _By_ PAULINE LESTER - - - AUTHOR OF - - “The Marjorie Dean High School Series,” “The - Marjorie Dean College Series,” “The Marjorie - Dean Post-Graduate Series,” etc. - - [Illustration] - - A. L. BURT COMPANY - - Publishers New York - - Printed in U. S. A. - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE MARJORIE DEAN - POST-GRADUATE SERIES - - A SERIES FOR GIRLS 12 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE - - By PAULINE LESTER - - MARJORIE DEAN, POST-GRADUATE - MARJORIE DEAN, MARVELOUS MANAGER - MARJORIE DEAN AT HAMILTON ARMS - MARJORIE DEAN’S ROMANCE - MARJORIE DEAN MACY - MARJORIE DEAN MACY’S HAMILTON COLONY - - Copyright, 1930 - - By A. L. BURT COMPANY - - MARJORIE DEAN MACY’S HAMILTON COLONY - - Printed in U. S. A. - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - MARJORIE DEAN MACY’S - HAMILTON COLONY - - - - - CHAPTER I - - -“Something fine is going to happen, Bean.” - -Jerry Macy leaned back in the roomy porch rocker, half-closed blue eyes -squinting prophetically up at the turquoise August sky. “Yes, sir; it -is.” - -“Several fine things _ought_ to happen, but they haven’t.” Marjorie Dean -Macy’s emphasis upon the “ought” was energetically wistful. - -“Something celostrous is coming this way,” Jerry continued to maintain. -“It’s in the air.” - -“I wish it would hurry up, and come, then. Captain was to be home from -the beach yesterday. _She_ hasn’t happened. Leila owes me a letter. -_That_ hasn’t happened yet. I haven’t heard from her for over a month, -or from Vera, either. And there is Hamilton Arms, still boarded up and -with no sign of Miss Susanna, or Jonas. Where is everybody? That’s what -_I’d_ like to know.” - -“_I’m_ with you yet, Mrs. Macy,” Jerry reminded pertinently. “And -incidentally, you still have a nice kind husband.” She beamed upon the -lovely occupant of the porch swing with pretended solicitude. - -“Thank you for reminding me of my blessings.” Marjorie nodded laughing -gratitude at Jerry. “What do you _think_ is going to happen, wise -sooth-sayer?” she asked in the next breath. - -“Um-m-m.” Jerry’s eyes opened a trifle wider. She thrust her dimpled -chin forward at a ridiculous angle, peering owlishly about her as though -about to pick an answer to Marjorie’s question out of the sunlit August -air. “Search me,” she said after a moment, then giggled. - -“_You_ are a fake.” Marjorie pointed a derisive finger at Jerry. - -“Nope. I’m not. I have a pleasant little hunch that we’re either going -to see somebody we’ve not expected to see, or else hear from somebody -we’ve not expected to hear from. Now, do you get me, Marjorie Bean -Macy?” - -“Who, I wonder?” Marjorie said speculatively. “Not Ronny. I used to call -her the great unexpected. But I needn’t hope, this time, to see her. I -received her first honeymoon letter to me only last week. No, Ronny will -have to be counted out of your hunch, Jeremiah.” Marjorie sighed -regretfully. Her affection for Veronica Lynne, her California comrade -and chum, was deep-rooted. - -“She certainly handed the Travelers the surprise of their lives last -June. I’ll never forget that last spread in her room on Commencement -night, and her calm announcement to us that she was going home to be -married to Professor Leonard in July at the old mission at Mañana. She -_was_ the great unexpected that night, I’ll say. I haven’t got over it -yet. I never even suspected those two were miles deep in love, and -Jeremiah nearly lost her reputation then and there, for knowing -something about everything.” - -“Ronny was always a mystery from the first time I met her playing maid -at Miss Archer’s. She was always a delightful mystery, too. Somehow, it -seemed quite in keeping that she should have given us all such a -surprise about Professor Leonard. I’d never even dreamed of Ronny as in -love with any man. Perhaps I might have suspected last year how things -were between her and Professor Leonard if I hadn’t been so dreadfully -unsettled in mind about Hal. I doubt it, though. I’m still surprised -that you let it get by _you_, Jeremiah.” - -“And I’m even more surprised that Leila Harper never suspected them as -on the brink of love,” Jerry returned. - -“I’m going to tell you something, Jerry.” Marjorie was smiling -reminiscently. “I promised Ronny never to tell anyone except you, -something she told me just before she left Hamilton, and I was not to -tell you until after we’d received her announcement cards.” - -“Go ahead. Shoot.” Jerry sat suddenly straight in her chair, eyes -fastened interestedly upon Marjorie’s smiling features. - -“Ronny never even dreamed Professor Leonard loved her until just before -my wedding. They were alone together after classes in the gymnasium on -the day before my wedding. They had been talking of Hal and me, -and—well—suddenly he began to tell her about himself. His mother was a -Spanish Mexican of very good family, and his father met her while he was -professor in a Mexican university. Professor Leonard told Ronny that he -hoped someday to establish a welfare station and school for poor Mexican -children in Mexico. Then quite suddenly he told her how dearly he loved -her, but would not ask her to share such a life of sacrifice, and -perhaps privation, as his future would undoubtedly hold. - -“She’d known for quite a while that she cared for him, but thought he -hadn’t cared for her in any other than a friendly way. She was so -dumbfounded she couldn’t say a word at first. He thought he had -displeased her, and she had a hard time trying to make him understand -that he hadn’t; that she truly loved him, and wished more than anything -else to marry him and help him carry out his great plan. She never said -a word to him about his plan being one of her father’s pet dreams, but -she wrote her father to come to Hamilton for a flying visit, so as to -meet Professor Leonard, and talk with him. He came and stayed in town at -the Hamilton house for two days, and, during that time, the three of -them came to a perfect understanding of one another. No one except they -two knew Mr. Lynne was in Hamilton.” - -“_Good night!_” Jerry thus vented her astonishment. “I know _one_ thing, -Ronny would have told you. She’d have included you in that little family -confab, too, if you hadn’t been up North, on your own honeymoon.” - -“Yes, she told me she would have,” Marjorie admitted, coloring. “But -that was only because I was the first friend she made in Sanford, you -know.” - -“Yep. I know. Bing, bang; here goes a new jingle.” Jerry raised a -declaiming hand and recited: - - “Oh glorious Bean, why hide your sheen, - Beneath a bushel’s shade. - Your friends all lean on you, good Bean, - On you their hopes are stayed.” - -“If your jingle were about someone else, I’d praise it as a triumphant -inspiration. Since it isn’t—you’re a ridiculous person, Jeremiah. I -think I’ve told you that before now.” Marjorie was regarding Jerry with -tolerant amusement. “Kindly repeat that jingle, before you forget it. -Oh, yes, and wait until I go for a pencil and paper. I promised Leila -faithfully never to let the fruits of your jingling get by me, -complimentary to me, or no.” - -Laughing, Marjorie sprang from the swing and hurried lightly into the -house. She was smiling to herself in pure contentment of spirit as she -passed through the reception hall and on into the library. Her new home, -to which she had come only two weeks before from a lengthy honeymoon, -spent in the Adirondacks, was still a matter of delighted wonder to her. -During Hal’s and her absence, Mr. and Mrs. Dean had been happily -occupied in putting the new home of the happy pair to rights, against -the day when they should turn their faces toward Hamilton Estates. - -Readers of the MARJORIE DEAN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE and POST GRADUATE -SERIES can already claim Marjorie and her intimate girl-associates as -old friends. They have followed the fortunes of this particular band of -devoted chums through both bright and stormy days. - -MARJORIE DEAN MACY saw the happy culmination of the romance between -Marjorie and Hal Macy in her marriage to him, on a balmy May Day evening -at Hamilton Arms, the home of her friend, Miss Susanna Hamilton. - -It was now the last of August. Marjorie and Hal had taken possession of -their new home the middle of August in order to see Mr. and Mrs. Dean -off for a two weeks’ stay at their old standby, Severn Beach. Jerry -Macy, deep in preparations for her marriage to Danny Seabrooke to take -place on the eighth of September, had been unable to resist Marjorie’s -affectionate invitation to come to her and Hal’s new home as the first -guest to enter the hospitable portals of “Travelers’ Rest.” - -“I’ve been here over a week, Mrs. M. D. Macy,” she announced as Marjorie -returned to the veranda with a pencil and small leather note book. “I -simply must hit the trail for Sanford, not later than day after -tomorrow. Danny’ll think I’ve lost interest in the marriage idea, and -quit him cold.” - -“I know you _ought_ to go,” Marjorie nodded. “I’ve loved having you here -with Hal and me.” - -“You might have a worse sister-in-law,” Jerry pointed out with a sly -grin. - -“I couldn’t have a better one. I know that,” came with quick loyalty -from Marjorie. “What a lot of wonderful things have happened to the Big -Six since they paraded home from high school together in good old -Sanford.” - -“Um-m-m. I should say there had. But, do you know, Marjorie, I used to -hope, back in those days that some day you’d marry Hal, and become my -sister-in-law. After we entered Hamilton and you seemed to care nothing -at all for him, except as a friend, it made me feel blue as sixty, at -times. Honestly, I never believed then you would finally wake up and -fall in love with him.” Jerry’s chubby features grew reminiscently -solemn. - -“I wonder now that I could have been so hard-hearted,” Marjorie made -frank reply. “How could I have hurt Hal so deeply? That’s what I ask -myself sometimes in the midst of the happiness his love has brought me. -I can understand now how Brooke Hamilton must have grieved over Angela. -It was his diary that woke me up. And to think! I almost missed love.” -Marjorie was looking very sober herself. - -“Here we sit, solemn as two owls, talking about what didn’t happen, -thank goodness.” Jerry’s roguish smile crinkled her lips. “While we’re -on the subject, I’ll tell you a secret. It was the way you turned Hal -down that started me to thinking seriously about Danny. I’d always liked -Danny a whole lot, but, somehow, I could never take him seriously. -Whenever he’d show signs of growing serious, I’d laugh at him. Finally, -when you and Hal flivvered, it worried both Danny and me. We did manage -one or two serious talks about that. It drew us closer together in -sympathy, somehow, and the night we went sailing in the _Oriole_, you -remember that night, I realized that he meant a great deal more to me -than I’d believed he could. That very night, while we were at the wheel -together, I fell in love with him. And you’re the first person I ever -told it to, and you’ll be the last. Believe me, I never let him suspect -it, though, until a whole year later.” - -“I’m highly honored, Jeremiah.” Marjorie’s words held fond appreciation. -“I’m so glad you wished me to know about you and Danny. Frankly, I’d -often wondered when and how you and he came to an understanding. You’re -such a secretive old dear. I used to imagine you didn’t care the least -little bit about Danny. I was sure he cared for you, though.” - -“I wasn’t sure,” Jerry made blunt response. “I mean, not until that -summer we were at Severn Beach.” Jerry became silent, an absent gleam -springing into her merry blue eyes. “And I’m going home day after -tomorrow to get ready to be married to Dan-yell,” she suddenly broke out -with a half humorous inflection. “Can you beat that?” - -“No, I can’t.” Marjorie shook a smiling head. “I think it’s——” - -“There’s the mail man!” Jerry sang out, the absent gleam in her eyes -changing to one of eager expectation. “Come on.” She sprang up from her -chair, and ran down the steps, waving a beckoning arm to Marjorie. - -The porch swing rocked wildly as Marjorie left it in a quick rush after -Jerry. The pair raced down the wide stone walk to the high arched stone -gateway, bringing up, laughing, beside the mail box, fastened to a post, -just inside the entrance gates. - -“Oh, bother! I forgot the key!” Marjorie exclaimed in mild vexation. - -“I have it. I brought it out on the veranda with me. Kindly recall that -I’ve been expecting a love letter from my intended,” she reminded, -chuckling. “I got ready to grab it.” She fished the little key from a -diminutive, lace-trimmed pocket of her frock. - -“You’re a life-saver,” Marjorie sighed relief. - -Jerry had already busied herself with fitting the key to the lock. -“_Great guns!_” she ejaculated, as she swung open the little door of the -box. “_Some mail._” - -There were eleven letters, according to her pleasantly-excited count. - -“Seven for you, two for old Hal, and three for me,” she announced, -handing Marjorie her letters and Hal’s. “One of mine is from Mother. -I’ll say it’s a ‘Why don’t you come home, Jerry,’ message. One’s from -Ronny. It’s high time she wrote me. This one’s from Muriel Harding, and -it’s postmarked ‘New York.’ Now what the dickens is she doing in New -York? I thought she was at Severn Beach. Curiosity wins. I’ll read hers -first.” - -Jerry conducted this lively monologue as she hastily tore open an end of -the envelope addressed in Muriel Harding’s familiar swinging hand. She -extracted the letter from the envelope, glanced quickly down the first -page, then gave a funny little shout of surprise. - -“Catch me,” she implored. “I’m going to drop dead of surprise. Muriel -Harding, _you rascal_. _I told_ you something was going to happen, Bean. -Well, has it happened? I guess, yes.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER II - - A JOLT FOR LESLIE - - -“What is it? Hurry up, and tell me.” Marjorie gave Jerry’s arm a -playfully impatient little shake, her own letters for the moment -forgotten. - -“Listen to this,” Jerry began. - - “DEAR OLD JEREMIAH: - - “When you read this letter I shall be Mrs. Harry Lenox, and on - my way with Harry to South America. Some little jolt, Jeremiah, - but you’ll survive it. Harry’s father, now Muriel’s - highly-respected papa-in-law, has important business interests - in the Argentine. It was impossible for him to make the trip to - the Argentine at present, so Harry had to fall in line. That - meant he would not return to Sanford until next summer. Poor - Muriel. She had grown so used to having Harry around. As you - know, we expected to be married in November. Harry said, ‘Why - not now?’ I said, ‘It does seem as though something ought to be - done about it.’ And that’s what it’s all about. - - “Father and Mother went to New York with us, and we were married - in the parsonage of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church last Monday - afternoon, August twenty-fifth. Don’t forget the date. I was - married in the ducky pale tan traveling ensemble that I had had - made for my November going-away gown. I hadn’t yet decided upon - my wedding dress, and it was a good thing. - - “I’m not yet over my own surprise at the sudden way all my nice, - artistic wedding plans went up in the air. One thing, however, I - insisted upon—a great big wedding cake. You and Marjorie, and - all my other good little pals, will receive a piece of that - glorious cake by parcel post. - - “It seems awfully strange to be hurrying away from the good old - U. S., adventure-bound. I’d always planned a wonderful wedding, - with the big Sanford Six strictly on the job. Love is really a - serious matter. There could be only one thing more serious, to - me—not to be in love. - - “I can’t stop to write any more just now. It is almost ten - o’clock, and we have to be on board the steamer by eleven. We - are to sail for Buenos Aires on the _Maraquita_ at midnight. - There’s no use in trying to tell you how sorry I am about going - so far away without having you and the girls on hand to wish me - _bon voyage_. You and Marjorie, my dear comrades of years, can - understand, above all others, just how I feel about it. I’ll - write you a long letter as soon as I’m settled on shipboard. Be - good, Jeremiah, and remember me to Dan-yell. More about - everything then, including several pages of regrets at not being - able to join your bridesmaid line on the fateful eighth of - September. Oceans of love. You’ll hear from me again soon. - - “Hastily, - “MURIEL.” - -“_What_ do you think of that?” Jerry’s tone conveyed her own feelings. -“Muriel was right about the jolt. After all, it’s just about what one -might expect of Muriel Harding. Maybe I shan’t miss her, though. We’d -planned a lot of things to do in Sanford next winter.” She vented a -long, regretful sigh. - -“Your hunch came true, Jeremiah. We hadn’t expected to hear from Muriel -Harding Lenox, in New York, and all ready to sail for South America. -You’re the only one of the Big Six still single. And your fate is -sealed. Four of us are married to the boys who were our high school -cavaliers. You’re going to marry yours. Susan Atwell is the only one of -us who has loved and married far away from Sanford.” Marjorie’s lovely -features had grown dreamily reminiscent. - -“There’s no use in denying it. We’re getting old, Bean; getting old.” -Jerry gave an elaborately disconsolate sniffle. - -It set both chums to giggling as whole-heartedly as in the days when -they were freshmen at Sanford High, with the future a closed book, the -pages of which neither was curious to scan. - -“I’ve a letter here from Muriel, too,” Marjorie said. “Let’s go back to -the veranda and have a letter-reading bee. One of mine is from Leslie -Cairns,” Marjorie was busily going over the envelopes in her hand, “and -this one’s from Robin Page. This one looks like a high-class -advertisement. Oh, here’s one from Gussie Forbes, postmarked California. -Then I’ve a Paris one from Connie, and last and best one from General. -That means he and Captain aren’t coming home just yet. Hurry up, Jerry.” -She began to tow Jerry speedily up the walk to the house. “I’m in a -grand rush to begin the bee.” - -Marjorie laid the two letters for Hal on the willow porch stand, -hurriedly returning to the swing, there to enjoy her own. Jerry had -plumped down again in her rocker and was already perusing her mother’s -letter. “What did I tell you?” she commented to Marjorie as she -continued to read. “Mother is worrying like mad because I’m lingering -longer here than becomes the station of one, Jerry Macy, about to be -wed. It’s time for me to hit the home plate. I can see that.” - -“Never mind. We’ll all be together again soon,” Marjorie reminded. - -“And that rascal, Muriel Harding was to have been my maid of honor,” -Jerry groaned. “Why can’t you be my matron of honor, since she’s left me -in the lurch. I’d rather have you as a first aid to the altar than -anyone else.” She turned coaxingly to Marjorie. - -“I’d love to be, except for one thing. I’d rather stand aside in favor -of the unmarried girls,” Marjorie said simply. “Let me see. You’re going -to have Leila, Vera, Leslie, Lucy, Helen Trent and Robin Page as your -bridesmaids.” She wrinkled her dark brows in a reflective frown. After a -moment’s silence she spoke: “Jerry, why don’t you have Lucy as your maid -of honor? Next to the Big Six, she’s really nearest to us all. It would -make her wonderfully happy.” - -“Luciferous?” Jerry eyed Marjorie with a contemplative squint. “I never -thought of her. I was thinking just this minute that I might ask Helen -Trent to take Muriel’s place. Helen was my first Hamilton chum, you -know. Lucy——” Jerry became suddenly silent. “Right, as usual, beneficent -Bean.” She nodded conclusively. “I ought to ask Lucy to be my maid of -honor. I’ll do it, too. Mother says in her letter that the girls’ gowns -are finished, and waiting for a grand try-on. Lucy’s will have to be -altered, though. She’s considerably shorter than Muriel.” - -“You haven’t told me about the dresses yet, Jeremiah,” Marjorie dimpled -as she made ingratiating reminder. Thus far Jerry had declined to give -details. “I’m going to give you a treat, Bean, so don’t ask questions,” -had been her reply. - -“And I’m not going to, either,” Jerry came back with her tantalizing -grin. “I’ll invite you to the try-on. Curb your curiosity till then, or -I’ll compose a jingle about it,” she now threatened. - -“You’re awfully mean,” Marjorie’s amused tone belied her words. - -“Don’t you want to be delightfully surprised?” Jerry demanded. - -“Of course I do. I was only funning, my dear Miss Macy.” - -“Glad to hear it. I’d hate to hurt your feelings, Mrs. Macy.” - -“Don’t mention it. There ain’t no such animal,” Marjorie retorted. - -Smilingly, the two friends again went back to their letters. Jerry was -soon lost in the many pages of Ronny’s long friendly message. Marjorie -was finding equal pleasure in a long letter from Constance Armitage. -Every now and then, one of the pair would read aloud a particular -paragraph of her letter for the edification of the other. - -Jerry had finished Ronny’s letter before Marjorie had come to the end of -the one from Constance. She busied herself with a rereading of Muriel’s, -smiling broadly to herself over it. - -Marjorie was also smiling, as though she had suddenly come into the -knowledge of an extremely pleasant secret. The affectionate sidelong -glance she shot at Jerry seemed to indicate that it strictly concerned -the latter. - -Presently she took up the letter from Leslie Cairns. It was hardly more -than a note, phrased in Leslie’s pithy fashion. - - “Dearest Bean,” it began. “September’s near, and I’m glad of it. - I’ve tried Newport, the Catskills, and various other lady-like - resorts just to please Mrs. Gaylord, who is on the job, keeping - an eye on Cairns II while Peter is carrying on a snappy - financial war with the wolf pack in London. We’re home in little - old New York now, and Hamilton will be my next stop. Have you a - night’s lodging for a weary Traveler, should the spirit move me - to drop down, just like that, upon you? Gaylord is so full of - plans concerning what she ought to do, may do, and intends to - do, next, she doesn’t know where she’s at. I hope she decides to - visit her relatives, _pronto_. I can then gracefully kiss her - good-bye, and beat it for Hamilton. I suppose the campus is - looking as lively just now as a ten-acre lot after a circus has - moved off it. Nothing doing there yet. What? I’m going to - descend on Remson, and good old Fifteen again, though Peter - hopes we’ll be housed at Carden Hedge by Christmas. I have a new - car. It’s some speedy flash. I let it out the other day for - Gaylord’s benefit. She almost lost her breath, and her - confidence in Leslie is now missing. What’s the use in trying to - write the news? I’d rather tell it to you. You may expect me. - Love, as per usual, dear Bean. - - “Faithfully (but bored to a frazzle), - “LESLIE.” - -“Listen to Leslie’s funny letter,” Marjorie commanded. - -“I’m listening.” Raising her head from her own letters, Jerry’s eyes -strayed toward the pike. With a quick exclamation she sprang to her -feet. “Look!” she cried, and rushed across the lawn to the drive. - -One swift glance, and Marjorie had dashed down the steps in Jerry’s -wake. A station taxicab was just turning into the drive through the open -gates. She gave a jubilant little shout as she glimpsed a laughing face -peering out of an open window of the tonneau, and re-doubled her pace. - -“Leila!” Her voice rose to a happy staccato. “You dear, precious old -fake. Whoever would have thought of seeing _you_ today. No wonder I -haven’t heard from you.” She was at the opened door of the machine now, -grabbing enthusiastically at the tall, blued-eyed Irish girl just -emerging from the car. - -“It is myself, and none other.” Leila was out of the car now, clinging -affectionately to Marjorie. “Ah, Beauty, you are a rare sight to a poor -Irish emigrant.” - -“Where’s emigrant number two?” Jerry had come up and joined in the -embracing. She peered past Leila into the tonneau of the car. - -“Right here,” came in prompt tones. Vera Mason’s charming blonde head -poked itself into view. She sprang from the car, laughing, a dainty, -diminutive figure in her smart gray traveling coat and tight little felt -hat. - -She was immediately seized and hugged, Marjorie and Jerry exclaiming -over the welcome pair, girl fashion. Jerry’s quick eyes had caught sight -of a third occupant of the tonneau. The latter, sat huddled in the far -corner of the broad seat, face obscured by the folds of a silk scarf, -carefully draped over it. - -“You can’t fool _me_. Come out, _pronto_, and give an account of -yourself,” Jerry commanded. Making an agile reach into the tonneau she -snatched the concealing scarf from the wearer’s face, revealing Leslie -Cairns’ rugged laughing features. - -“How are you, Macy?” Leslie made an attempt at a tone of calm -nonchalance which ended in a hearty burst of laughter. - -“Fine and dandy, Cairns II,” Jerry caught Leslie’s extended hands and -began dragging her out of the car. - -“Steady, there. You certainly have strong-arm methods.” Leslie came out -of the car with a bounce, due to Jerry’s forceful assistance. - -“_Why, Leslie!_” Marjorie’s brown eyes were wide with pleasant -astonishment. “You, too! How splendid. I had just finished reading your -letter when Jerry saw the taxi turning in at our gate.” - -“Gaylord went, and I came. Wait a minute. This taxi man thinks he’s been -held up here for an hour.” Leslie paid the fidgeting driver, who had -already placed the travelers’ luggage on the drive. - -Jerry picked up two of the bags. “More of my strong-arm methods,” she -observed. - -“I’ll take Vera’s, and mine,” Leslie reached for them. - -“Since they seem to love work, why should we interfere?” Leila remarked -innocently. - -“Why, indeed,” Marjorie gaily agreed. - -She and Leila led the way to the house, arms about each other’s waists, -talking animatedly as they walked. - -“Welcome, Travelers,” she called out as they entered the large square -living room. She turned, arms outspread, with a pretty gesture of -hospitality. “What does this room remind you of?” she turned to Vera and -Leila. She burst into a merry little laugh as a big, gray and white -Angora cat sat up, yawning widely, in a deep-cushioned chair. “You old -fluffy give-away!” she exclaimed. - -“Castle Dean!” both girls cried in concert. “Ruffle!” - -“And it’s plain to be seen a good household fairy whisked the castle -here from Sanford, Ruffle puss, and all,” Leila declared with an -enthusiastic touch of brogue and a fond dive at Ruffle. “The top of the -afternoon to you, Ruffle Claws.” She swept down upon Ruffle, gathering -him, struggling, into her arms. - -“Now, now, now, is this the way to behave? I see you have the same old -claws. Have you no welcome, then, for Irish Leila?” - -“Nu-u-u.” Ruffle accompanied his loud protest with a wild scramble out -of Leila’s prisoning arms. He sprang for his chair, regaining it, and -spreading out in it with an air of lofty defiance. - -“Never mind. I shall charm you yet with catnip and cunning blarney.” -Leila shook her finger at the Angora. “This is the room I loved best at -Castle Dean,” she said to Marjorie. “What good fortune to find it again -here.” - -“We all felt the same about it. Since General and Captain were to make -their home ours, and ours, theirs, the four of us got together and -decided that we’d better transplant our living room to Hamilton Estates. -It forms a link, somehow, between Sanford and here. So many wonderful -things have happened in this dear comfy room. _You_ never saw it before, -Leslie, but you’ll soon become well acquainted with it.” - -Thoughtfulness prompted Marjorie to add this last to her cheery -explanation. Despite the fact that she was now on the friendliest of -terms with the girls she had once despised, at times Leslie still showed -signs of awkward embarrassment when among them. - -“I love it already.” The oddly somber look, which had briefly touched -Leslie’s dark features, vanished. “It’s the most home-like room I’ve -ever stepped into. I’m home-hungry, you know,” she confessed. “I’m going -to make a bang-up, homey home for my father at Carden Hedge.” - -“We shall all be going there to see you, lucky Leslie. It is only poor -Midget and I who have no home. Oh, wurra, wurra!” Leila wailed the last -two words soulfully. - -“Plenty of noise, but no tears,” Vera commented slyly. - -“She knows me,” Leila turned an indicative thumb toward Vera. “Or, it -may be she thinks she knows. It is all the same.” - -“I hope you will all come and hang around the Hedge—a whole lot,” Leslie -said with half wistful emphasis. “Peter the Great and I are planning to -be ‘at home’ there by Christmas. I’m going to hold my old stand-by, -Fifteen, until our new home is ready. I’m undecided regarding P. G. -subjects. I’ll specialize in something—don’t know yet what I want to -take up.” - -“You had best be satisfied with one subject,” Leila put in. “It is small -time you’ll have for more than one after college opens.” - -Her eyes on Leila, Marjorie read in the Irish girl’s tone an odd -significance which Leslie had missed. - -“I shan’t try to mix much in college affairs,” Leslie shook a decided -head. “I’ll have time enough on my hands for three subjects, provided -I’m ambitious enough to become a faithful study-hound.” - -“She says, ‘three subjects.’ Now what do you think of that, Midget?” -Leila stared at Vera in pretended wonder. - -“What are you trying to do—kid me?” Leslie’s sober features relaxed into -a faint smile. Quickly they shadowed again as she said: “You girls can -understand why I’m not keen on doing the social side of college. It’s -best for me to go quietly about my own affairs on the campus.” A deep -flush had risen to her cheeks. She made an abrupt pause, in itself -eloquent of her meaning. - -“Oh, shucks!” burst impatiently from Jerry. “You don’t know your own -worth, Leslie. The social side of Hamilton needs _you_, in particular, -to help make things zip. You’ve already a reputation on the campus——” - -“That’s just the trouble,” Leslie interrupted dryly. “Not the pleasant -sort of reputation you mean, Jeremiah. It’s the old one—the one that -I’ve not yet succeeded in living down. I hope to do it—in time, by hard, -unobtrusive work for Hamilton College. That’s the only way it can be -done.” Her rugged features settled into purposeful lines. - -“Do you hear that, Midget? She is that anxious to be hard-working!” - -This time Leslie caught the amused exchange of eye-signals between Leila -and Vera. - -“See here, you two,” she challenged, “what’s the joke?” For a brief -instant a glint of hurt suspicion sprang into her dark eyes. It snapped -out as quickly as it had appeared. She said good-humoredly, “Why not -tell it to the gang? Then we can all laugh. Is it an Irish joke on -Leslie?” - -“It is, indeed. Midget and I made it up in Ireland.” Leila flashed -Leslie a tantalizing smile. - -“Well?” Leslie urged expectantly. “Shoot it at me.” - -“Now I warn you, beforehand, that if you should not like our joke it -would be a sorry joke on me,” Leila fixed comically-concerned eyes on -Leslie. - -“I’m already beginning to feel doubtful about it. You’d better shoot,” -Leslie warningly advised. - -“It seems that I had.” Leila looked solemnly impressed. “Well, it was -this way: One day while Midget and I were wandering around the edge of a -deep green bog,” Leila began, story fashion, “I said to Midget, ‘Does it -not seem hard to you that your friend, Leila, should have to write plays -and be a theatrical manager, too?’ ‘It does,’ she said. ‘I can see you -will be in a bog as deep as the one over there when you go back to -Hamilton.’ ‘What a comfort you are to me, Midget,’ I said with a deep -sigh. ‘I have often thought so,’ she replied gently.” - -A funny little treble giggle from Vera broke Leila up in the midst of -her recital. She burst out laughing, her companions joining in the wave -of mirth that swept the big room. - -“Now I have lost the thread of my tale,” Leila declared after two or -three mirthfully-ineffectual attempts at continuing it. “Where was I at? -Ah, yes, I then said to Midget: ‘I should be one, or the other, but not -both.’ She said, ‘Quite true, but don’t ask me to be the one you decide -not to be. I cannot write plays, and it is all I can do to manage my own -affairs.’ ‘Be aisy,’ I said with a fine touch of brogue. ‘You are not my -idea of either.’ ‘Thank goodness,’ she said, not at all peevish. ‘I feel -that I was intended to be a playwright,’ I said. ‘I am that -temperamental!’ ‘Something like that,’ she said. ‘I have no genius for -managing,’ I confessed. ‘I cannot contradict you,’ said Midget. ‘You had -best turn that delicate little job over to someone else who has.’” - -Leila paused. Her genial smile flashed broadly into evidence. Her eyes -strayed inquiringly to Marjorie. - -The latter was leaning forward in her chair, a lovely picture of -delighted animation. “Oh, Leila!” she exclaimed. “How perfectly -splendid!” - -“You have guessed something, Beauty. Was it not good advice that Midget -gave me? Now to follow it.” Her head made a swift sudden turn from -Marjorie to Leslie. “Will you be manager of the Leila Harper Playhouse, -Leslie?” she asked practically, then added drolly: “I shall tear my -black hair in a fine frenzy if you refuse.” - -“Why—I—what?” Seated on the davenport Leslie had been leaning far -forward, elbows on knees, hands cupping her chin, her eyes fixed on -Leila. The unexpected suddenness of Leila’s question gave her a -veritable jolt. She made a startled forward movement, slid off the edge -of the davenport and sat down smartly on the floor. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER III - - LESLIE AND LEILA - - -“Can you blame me?” Leslie had finally managed to make herself heard -above the gale of laughter that had attended her mishap. She still sat -on the floor, regarding her laughing companions with half sheepish -reproach. - -“No-o,” Leila made mirthful answer. “Let us be assisting the new manager -to rise, Jeremiah, since we are the strongest of this crowd.” - -“Thank you. I can assist myself.” Leslie sprang to her feet, resuming -her former seat on the davenport. “You certainly have handed me a jolt, -Leila Harper. It’s the last thing I ever thought of.” - -“Then let it be the first now.” There was a vibration of earnestness in -Leila’s reply. “Summed up in three little words: ‘I need you.’ There’s -no other girl on the campus so well-fitted as you for the job. You’re a -good business person, Leslie. Better still, you’re thoroughly -cosmopolitan.” - -“Oh, I don’t think so.” Flushing at the praise, Leslie shook her head. -“It’s my self-assured manner that gives me the impression of knowing a -whole lot more than I really do,” she explained frankly. - -“Rubbish!” came energetically from Vera. “You are what you are, Leslie -Cairns—clever as—as,” she groped mentally for a fitting comparison,—“as -Leila.” - -“Listen to that.” Leila made Vera a killingly appreciative bow. - -“Nothing like it. I wish I were,” Leslie said regretfully. - -“Let us have a contest, so that we may learn whether you are more clever -than I, or, I than you,” Leila proposed blandly. “If you will have pity -on a distracted Irish playwright, and help her out, then we shall both -be in a fair way to out-do each other in cleverness.” - -Leila had scented refusal of the honor she wished to do Leslie in the -latter’s undecided manner. She now proposed to give her no chance to -refuse. “We shall have fine times consulting together since we shall be -near each other at Wayland Hall,” she smoothly pointed out. - -“I’d love to manage the Playhouse, and I know Peter the Great would be -delighted to have me do it, except for one thing.” Leslie spoke in her -direct way. “There’d surely be ill-natured criticisms raised about it. -Suppose it was said that Peter hadn’t been disinterested in giving the -Playhouse to Hamilton College; that he had given it with the idea of -making me foremost, and important, in campus affairs. Probably more -spiteful remarks than that might be circulated.” - -She stopped, staring half moodily at Leila. “‘The way of the -transgressor is hard.’” She gave a short mirthless laugh. “Those first -three years of mine on the campus were a mess. I behaved like a villain. -Now it’s up to me to stand the gaff.” - -“No, Leslie, it isn’t.” Marjorie cut in decidedly. “You have more than -retrieved whatever mistakes you made during your first three years at -Hamilton by what you did last year. Leila needs you this year. You would -be an ideal manager for the Playhouse. Don’t allow anything else to -matter. Depend upon it, Leila has already thought up some nice way of -arrangement for you. I can see it in that beaming smile of hers.” - -“I have fine arrangements for all occasions.” Leila was now grinning -broadly. “When college opens I shall write an article for the ‘Campus -Echo,’” she continued. “In it I shall outline the policy of the -Playhouse, and give a resumé of what I intend to do in the way of plays -during the college year. I shall also state that I have asked Leslie to -assume the managership of the theatre, because of her extreme -capability. Then let anyone start anything, and watch Irish Leila take -the field, five feet at a bound, shillalah in hand.” - -“Give us an imitation now of that five-foot bound,” coaxed Jerry. - -“Not until I have first practiced it in private,” Leila declared with -canny firmness. “And I suppose all is now settled, as amiably as you -please, and the Playhouse has a new manager.” She turned ingratiatingly -to Leslie, who could not help smiling, despite her doubts. - -“I don’t know.” Leslie still demurred. “I——” she glanced about her at -the little group of friendly, interested faces. She understood that her -friends were hoping she might say “yes.” “I guess—so,” she said -uncertainly. “Yes, I’ll accept the honor, mostly, though, to please you -girls, and—Peter the Great.” - -“Hurrah, hurray, hurroo!” Leila sent up a jubilant little cheer. “The -world shall yet hear of us. Cairns and Harper, the greatest living -promoters of high-class campus drama. That is what people will presently -be saying about us.” - -“Nothing succeeds like nerve,” Jerry declared. - -“And it is experience that teaches the truth of that fine sentiment,” -Leila came back with an innocent air that raised a general laugh at -Jerry’s expense. - -“I am a most thoughtless and inhospitable hostess!” Marjorie exclaimed -as the wave of laughter subsided. “I should have told Delia to make -ready a feast, and then——” - -“_Delia!_” came in a concerted, delighted shriek from Leila and Vera. - -“Of course. How could the Deans and the Macys ever get along without -Delia? She’s our own, heart and soul.” - -“Lead us to her,” begged Leila. “We’re not famished, Beauty. We bumped -into Leslie on the train, and the three of us had luncheon together. Ah, -but there was a happy pow-wow when we met, subdued and ladylike you may -be sure. So it is not Delia’s delectable eats, but delectable Delia -herself we are bent upon seeing.” - -“Come along then.” Marjorie waved them kitchenward. - -The visiting party burst into the kitchen upon Delia who sat placidly in -her kitchen rocker shelling peas and humming to herself. - -“I knew you’d be askin’ right away for me, Miss Leila.” Delia sprang up, -hastily dumping a lapful of pea shells into a nearby splint basket. She -came forward to meet Leila, her face bright with beaming confidence. “I -saw you from the kitchen garden when the taxi stopped on the drive. I -just thought then how surprised Miss, I mean, Mrs. Macy must be to see -you.” Delia giggled at her own slip of title. “I can’t remember to call -Miss Marjorie by her married name,” she confessed. - -“I’m not quite used myself to my new name,” was Marjorie’s laughing -comment. “Once in a while Jerry calls me Mrs. Macy, but not with proper -respect. I’m very fond of my Bean name.” She dimpled at Leslie whose -answering smile was a mixture of amusement and confusion. - -“The tea is ready now, Mrs. Macy. Everything’s on the tea wagon in the -pantry. I thought you girls would need a little bit to eat until dinner. -I was just goin’ to wheel the lunch into the livin’ room when you come -out here. I feel so glad to think you come to see me,” Delia looked her -pleased pride of the invasion. - -“It’s here we shall take our tea, in honor of you,” Leila said. “I am -the one to pour it, and we shall all wait on you.” - -“Fine.” Jerry dashed for the pantry, to return trundling the tea wagon. - -Vera was already bowing Delia back into her rocker. “Stay seated most -magnificent and highly-esteemed Delia,” she directed grandly. - -“Te, he, he,” Delia chuckled at the flowery encomium. - -“Oh, Delia! I forgot you’d never before met Leslie. This is Leslie -Cairns, Delia. Leslie shake hands with Delia.” Marjorie gaily performed -the introduction. “Leslie is going to be our neighbor at Carden Hedge, -at Christmas, Delia. Won’t that be fine?” - -“It will,” Delia nodded, all smiles. “The more of Miss Marjorie’s -friends that come to live near her, the better it is for her. I’m glad -to know you, Miss Leslie.” - -Leslie shook hands warmly with Delia, pleased by the maid’s friendly -sincerity. She could not help mentally contrasting her present -democratic attitude with that of her former snobbish contempt for -persons in humbler circumstances than herself. “Cairns II, you’re -improving,” was her whimsical thought. “There’s a lot of room yet for -improvement, though, so don’t get chesty.” - -The tea party proved to be a hilariously happy event, with Delia the -guest of honor, despite her half-abashed, good-natured expostulations. - -“I’m going to tear you all away from Delia now,” Marjorie finally made -firm announcement. “I’m going to see you safely to your own little -corners of Travelers’ Rest. Then I must come back to the kitchen and -help Delia, or you won’t have any dinner tonight.” She shot Delia a -mischievous glance. - -“Oh, now, Miss Marjorie——” Delia began. “Jus’s though I couldn’t get -along without Alice. It’s Alice’s day out,” she explained to the newly -arrived guests, referring to the absent maid. - -“Jerry can keep on playing porter. Only, I’ll be kind to you, and help -you with the girls’ luggage, Jeremiah.” - -“I’m the one to be helpin’ with the luggage,” Delia insisted. - -“Be aisy.” Leila lapsed purposely into brogue. “It’s ourselves’ll be -after luggin’ our own luggage up the stairs.” - -They were soon ascending the broad open staircase at the back of the -reception hall, their happy voices blending in cheerful harmony. - -Having triumphantly established Leslie in her room, the rest of the gay -party went on to the room which Leila and Vera were to occupy together. - -“Close the door, Beauty; and close it softly,” Leila drew a long breath -of sheer contentment as the four chums, who had stood shoulder to -shoulder, through both adversity and joy, at Hamilton, were once more -alone together. “Not that I love Leslie less, but Beauty and Jeremiah -more,” she added in light explanation. “Try as I may, I am not yet -altogether used to Leslie Cairns as one of us. I’m glad she is, but -there’s still an odd strangeness about it. Who could possibly have -guessed when we waged war against the San Soucians, for democracy’s -sake, that we should one day capture and tame their ringleader?” - -“I get you. I feel about the same as you sometimes in regard to Leslie,” -Jerry said quickly. “How about you, Vera?” - -“I like her immensely,” Vera responded with a little emphatic nod. “I -believe she has tried, harder than any other student who has ever -enrolled at Hamilton, to conquer her faults. Leila feels the same, only -she’s handicapped by a certain sardonic sense of humor.” - -“It is the truth,” Leila affirmed solemnly, then she began to smile. “I -look at her as she is now, and for the life of me I cannot help -remembering the dance she led us for three years about the campus. And -it is at her amazing reform that I am ignoble enough, at times, to grin. -Only, I shall have a care to grin over it strictly in private,” she -finished, her broad, humorous smile still in mischievous evidence. - -“Just the same it is splendid in you to wish Leslie to be manager of the -Playhouse.” Marjorie spoke with admiring warmth. “Think what it will -mean to her, girls.” She turned to Jerry and Vera. “Her father will be -so proud of her.” - -“And think of the hard work it will save me,” Leila adroitly shunted off -Marjorie’s compliment. - -“Don’t try to slide out of your good deeds, Leila Greatheart. You’re the -same slippery person, when it comes to that, you always were.” Marjorie -made one of her funny little-girl rushes at Leila, arms widespread. She -caught Leila about the neck and gave her a bear hug. - -“Now I thought I had changed for the better.” Leila cocked her head to -one side, looking down at Marjorie with her own particular quizzical -air. “But you, Beauty, I see little sign in you of the sedate dignity of -a Mrs. with a newly-acquired husband, and a manor house.” - -“Bean is Bean,” Jerry cut in, “so much the same old Beanie that I was -inspired to chant a jingle to her this afternoon.” - -“Where then is the jingle?” Leila held out a demanding hand for a copy -of it. - -“Now you know perfectly well I never set down my works of genius. Apply -to Marjorie for it. She got it before we both for-got it.” - -“I saved it for you, Leila,” Marjorie assured. - -“Uh-h-h.” Leila received the assurance with a gratified gurgle. - -“Oh, girls, it’s so satisfying to see you both again, and the four of us -have such a lot to talk about,” Marjorie said with a happy little intake -of breath, “but,” she paused, her eyes unconsciously roving in the -direction of Leslie’s room. “It’s a case of ‘Remember the stranger -within thy gates.’” She went on brightly. “We’ve plenty of time before -dinner for one of our famous confabs, but it’s apt to be more or less -noisy. If Leslie should hear us laughing and talking, it might make her -feel—well, rather out of things here. She’s grown as sensitive as she -used to be hard since she found herself. We must make it our special -pleasure to show her we like to have her with us.” - -“The confab is hereby postponed, but it will keep.” Leila nodded -understandingly. - -“We were going to shoo you two out of here, anyway,” Vera mercilessly -announced. “If you were to continue to hang around in here until we -unpacked our bags you might see”—she put on a mysterious air,—“well, -something that you’re not to see, until later.” - -Before Marjorie could reply in kind the loud honk, honk of a motor horn -came up to the four friends from the drive. - -“Oh, that’s Hal. He’s home earlier than I had expected. I won’t wait to -be shooed out of here.” The color had deepened charmingly in Marjorie’s -pink cheeks. A warm tender light had leaped into her brown eyes. “Pardon -me, children. I’ll see you again in a little while.” She was at the door -as she spoke. - -An insistent repetition of the call sent her scurrying down the stairs -and on to a side door of the house that opened upon the drive. - -“Come here, girls, if you want to see—er—well—my ideal of perfect love.” -Jerry had crossed the room to one of the windows, which looked down upon -the drive, and was beckoning to Leila and Vera. - -Peering down, the three girls were just in time to see the meeting -between the two who had once so nearly drifted apart forever, but had at -the last found love in all its tender glory. - -Marjorie had run down the steps of the veranda in the same instant in -which Hal had sprung from the driver’s seat of the roadster. They met -midway on the walk, catching hold of hands, and laughing like two -children. No embrace passed between them, other than the cling of hands, -but there was a light upon both young faces that told its own story. - -“You know whereof you speak, Jeremiah.” It was Leila who lifted the -brief silence that had fallen upon the three unseen watchers at the -window after Hal had taken Marjorie by an arm and piloted her fondly up -the steps and into the house. “There is an old Irish saying,” she -continued: “‘Love is like a four-leaved shamrock, hard to find, but of -great good luck to the finder.’ And it’s easy to point out the two lucky -finders.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - TRUE LOVE’S OWN SYMBOL - - -“My dear child, I’m going to say good-bye now to Jerry Macy and take -myself off downstairs so as to be ready to be among the first to say, -‘Good fortune to Jerry Seabrooke’.” - -Miss Susanna Hamilton folded Jerry in her arms, kissing her gently upon -both cheeks, and then upon her lips. The little old lady, charming in -her gown of ecru satin and duchess lace, was smiling at Jerry, a world -of affection in her small bright eyes. - -“Dearest Goldendede.” Jerry returned the embrace with fervor. “I love -you bushels as Jerry Macy, and when I’m Jerry Seabrooke, I’ll go on -loving you, even more than bushels.” - -“That’s worth looking forward to.” Miss Susanna wagged her head with -amused appreciation. - -“I’m next, Jerry, dear.” Mrs. Dean now claimed Jerry. “It seems hardly -more than yesterday since you and Marjorie went raiding the Dean kitchen -after school on a hunt for chocolate cake. Romance was far from your -thoughts then. Marjorie found hers, and you yours. We are all happy in -your happiness tonight.” Mrs. Dean’s tones bespoke her love for Jerry. -“Wonderful things have befallen the Dean Army.” - -“I think I’m the luckiest girl in the world, Captain.” Jerry brought a -hand to her forehead in playful salute. “Besides Father and Mother and -Hal I’ve you and General and Miss Susanna as special superior officers -to wish me happiness. Some honor for Lieutenant Macy, I’ll say.” - -“And you never counted me in.” Marjorie shook a finger at Jerry. Seated -on a chaise longue she had thus far been a contentedly-smiling, silent -spectator to the fond little scene of which Jerry formed the center. - -“Oh, _you’re_ my brother officer. I take you for granted,” Jerry assured -her. - -It was half-past seven by the busily ticking Dresden clock on Jerry’s -chiffonier. At eight o’clock that evening Jerry was to be married to -Danny Seabrooke in the Macy’s beautiful salon-like drawing room -downstairs. She had been dressed for half an hour for the momentous -journey she was soon to take down the grand staircase, and on her -flower-decked way to keep a high tryst with Danny, her devoted cavalier -of high school days. - -Mrs. Dean, Miss Susanna and Marjorie had been spending an intimate half -hour with the bride-to-be in accordance to her forceful plea: “For -goodness sake stick to me.” The two older women now left the room to -take their places among the guests. Only Marjorie remained with her -chum, knowing that Jerry wished her to do so. - -As the door closed upon Miss Susanna and Mrs. Dean, Jerry walked over to -the long triple-plated floor mirror and began a critical survey of her -resplendent self in it. Marjorie sat watching her with proud, admiring -eyes. She thought she had never before seen Jerry look so pretty. - -“Well, Bean,” Jerry presently turned away from the mirror to fix round, -inquiring blue eyes almost solemnly upon Marjorie, “what’s the verdict? -I mean, how does Jeremiah look?” - -“You are so lovely in your wedding dress, Jerry.” Marjorie gave a sigh -of delighted admiration. - -“Honestly, and truly _am I_—_do_ I look as nice as that?” Jerry’s cheeks -grew pinker at the tribute. - -“Honestly, and truly you are—you do,” Marjorie assured with amused -emphasis. “You know I’ve always liked best to see you wear white. But -tonight—you are positively stunning, Jeremiah. Your wedding dress is a -dream, and so are you in it.” - -“Oh, gee, but I’m glad of it,” Jerry gave a sigh of profound relief. -“Since it’s you who is saying it, I have to believe it. I’d like to -look—um-m, something celostrous, all on Danny’s account. I want him to -be properly impressed by my—ahem—resplendent beauty,” Jerry giggled, her -sense of humor ever to the fore. There was, nevertheless, something of -girlish wistfulness in her joking words. - -“He will be,” Marjorie devotedly predicted. “What do _you_ think of -yourself in your wedding finery?” she continued mischievously. - -“Oh, pretty fair, Bean; just middling.” There was a pleased gleam in -Jerry’s eyes, however, as she turned once more to the mirror. - -She made a charming picture standing before it, looking taller and -slimmer than was her wont in the straight beautiful lines of her ivory -satin wedding gown with its garniture of pearls and rare old lace. The -lace-trimmed court train, falling from the shoulders, the long tight -sleeves and the V-shaped pearl-embroidered neck also served to heighten -the stately effect of her costume. - -“I shan’t put on my veil until the last minute,” she announced -matter-of-factly. “Just let me tell you this, Bean, it’s a whole lot -more trouble to dress for one’s own wedding than it is for some one -else’s.” - -Mindful of her snowy finery she sat down carefully on the edge of her -bed and viewed Marjorie with a half abashed, half impish air. “How’s -that for a sweetly sentimental thought to trot along to the altar?” she -asked. - -“It’s strictly a la Jeremiah, only you’ll forget it the instant you hear -the wedding march.” A reminiscent gleam had appeared in Marjorie’s eyes. - -“I guess you know what you are talking about.” Jerry fell into sudden -silence. Apparently unsentimental Jerry was not lacking in either -sentiment, or emotion. She was feeling deeply the tension of the moment, -but was endeavoring to hide it, even from Marjorie. “I only hope I keep -in step with it,” she added with a reflective air. - -“In step with what?” Marjorie came suddenly out of her moment of -dreaming. - -“The wedding march, of course,” Jerry replied with a faint chuckle. - -“Oh,” Marjorie had to laugh with her. She understood Jerry, and the way -she was feeling, also the facetious effort her chum was making to -conceal her real feelings. - -“I never did like having a lot of fuss made over me.” Jerry rose and -walked to a side table on which reposed her wedding bouquet of lilies of -the valley and white orchids. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she said, lifting it -up almost reverently. Her humorous expression had vanished into one of -girlish seriousness. - -“I love it. It’s so perfect”—Marjorie paused—“as perfect as love. It’s -true love’s own symbol.” - -“True love,” Jerry repeated musingly. “I never dreamed for a minute when -Danny and I used to squabble and play jokes on each other as high school -pals that I’d ever love him enough to marry him. You know I always said -I was never never going to be married.” For a moment she bent her face -over the mass of exquisite white blooms, hiding it from view. She -presently raised it from the bouquet with: “Times have certainly -changed, Beanie. They certainly have changed.” - -“It looks that way, Macy,” Marjorie gaily agreed. Gradually her smile -faded. “Jerry,” she began slowly, “you know you and I have never talked -much to each other about Hal—and—and—the way things were for so long -between us before—well—before I discovered that I really had a heart for -love. At that time I was relieved because you tried never to let me -think you were disappointed because I didn’t then love Hal. I felt that -you were, and I often wished to have a talk with you about him. Somehow -I couldn’t bring myself to speak of him, even to you. I was so sure that -I could never learn to love him in the beautiful way I believed he loved -me. Captain was the only one I confided my troubles to.” - -“You weren’t to blame because you didn’t know your own heart,” Jerry -made loyal defense. “I used to feel a little out of patience with you at -times. It hurt me like sixty to see Hal try to buck up, determined not -to show what a crusher you had handed him. Still, I couldn’t blame you, -either. Love’s the world’s great mystery, even if it is love that sends -the old ball dizzying around,” Jerry finished with slangy philosophy. - -In spite of her practical tone Marjorie glimpsed a glint of tenderness -in her chum’s eyes as she gently deposited the white armful of fragrance -upon the table again. - -“I’ve not yet forgiven myself for having hurt Hal so. Whenever I think -of how nearly I lost him forever by my own blindness, it sends my heart -away down for a minute. It will take a lifetime of devotion on my part -to make it up to him. We’re so happy together now. It doesn’t seem as -though I deserved such happiness,” Marjorie ended half wistfully. - -“Shucks,” was Jerry’s comforting opinion. “You deserved happiness more -than any one of us did.” - -“Oh, no,” Marjorie shook her head gravely. “No one deserves to be -happier than you and Danny are going to be. You two just simply drifted -beautifully into love. There haven’t been any misunderstandings, or -heartaches, in your romance. It’s been ideal.” - -“That’s so.” Jerry considered Marjorie’s assertion with a half -embarrassed flush. It was the witching, intimate hour for confidences -between the chums. “I guess we began to miss each other a lot at about -the same time. I missed Danny dreadfully during my senior year at -Hamilton. When we came to compare notes, last summer at Severn Beach, we -found we weren’t crazy about having to be so far away from each other -and—that’s the way it all happened,” she confessed half shyly. “Danny -wanted to ask me to marry him on that night when we went for a sail in -the _Oriole_ and Hal sang the ‘Venetian Boat Song’ with a kind of -heart-break in his voice that he hadn’t the least idea was there. You -missed it entirely, but it got both Danny and me. I’ll never forget that -night as long as I live.” Jerry made an eloquently reminiscent gesture. -“He told me after we became engaged that he hadn’t the courage to ask me -that night to marry him, for fear I might turn him down as you had Hal.” - -“That was a night I had some very sad memories of, long afterward, when -I came to a realization that I really loved Hal, but too late. I -surmised he was going to ask me to marry him before I went back to -Hamilton, and I was determined not to give him an opportunity. Wasn’t I -stony-hearted though?” Marjorie laughed rather tremulously. - -“You’re bravely over it now, and that’s what counts,” was Jerry’s sturdy -philosophy. “I think that when——” - -“Jerry, dear, the girls will be here in a minute.” Mrs. Macy’s hurried -entrance into the room broke up the confidential session. A plump dainty -little figure in her handsome gown of pearly gray and white, her bright -blue eyes adoringly took in the charming spectacle of Jerry in her brave -white array. “Shall I help you with your veil?” She nodded briskly -toward the beautiful, voluminous veil of brussels net which swept -fairy-like folds across the foot of Jerry’s bed. - -“Please do, Mother.” The two exchanged fond smiles. - -Mrs. Macy lifted the misty, exquisite lace cloud from the bed and -trotted over to Jerry with it. Jerry stood very still while her mother -placed the coronet-like cap, with its garniture of pearls and orange -blossoms, on her head, and adjusted it to her critical satisfaction. - -The pretty service performed, Jerry placed her hands on her mother’s -cheeks and kissed her on the lips. “Thank you, Mother,” she said. The -uncontrollable impulse toward humor overcoming her she pulled a fold of -the veil over her face and peered owlishly through the lace meshes at -Marjorie. “It’s too late for regrets,” she quavered in a doleful tone. -“Good night, Jerry Macy.” - -“Do try to behave well during the ceremony, at least, Jerry,” was her -mother’s laughing advice as she circled about her irrepressible daughter -in anxious mother-proud survey. - -“I will,” Jerry promised in a hollow voice that set the trio laughing. A -murmur of voices outside her door, and she added encouragingly: “Here -come the girls. Kindly note my exemplary behavior from now on. Jeremiah -is going to step strictly into line for the great occasion.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER V - - ALL ON ACCOUNT OF JEREMIAH - - -“Don’t hand me all the verbal bouquets. Keep a few for your own use.” -Surrounded by an enthusiastic bevy of bridesmaids Jerry had at last -managed to make herself heard above the buzz of admiring compliments -they had been hurling at her from all sides. “Talk about a rosebud -garden of girls. I’ll say you’re it.” She stood beaming her delight of -the flower-like group that had invaded her room. - -Jerry had had pronounced ideas of her own concerning the color scheme -for her wedding. She had elected that it should be a rose wedding, since -the rose was both Danny’s and her favorite flower. Moreover, Danny had a -preference for a certain apricot-tinted variety of rose, deep apricot in -bud, but shading when open to a delicate pink. “Marvel” was the name the -originator of the variety had bestowed upon the rose, and it had quickly -come into fashionable popularity. Jerry, in search of an attractive -color scheme for her wedding had hit upon the plan of using the dainty -Marvel rose for her purpose. - -She had made a careful study of the exquisite apricot-pink shading of -the rose with the result that her maid of honor and six bridesmaids, now -gowned in the stunning dresses she herself had designed and had made for -them, bore delightful resemblance to a bouquet of “Marvels.” - -Lucy Warner, brimming with happiness over the unexpected privilege of -serving as Jerry’s maid of honor, wore a frock of deep-tinted apricot -tulle over apricot silk with apricot satin slippers and stockings to -match. Beneath a wreath of tiny Marvel rosebuds her small earnest -features looked demurely out, giving her the semblance of the rosebud -she was dressed to represent. A large bouquet of the tight-petaled buds -added the final artistic touch to her costume. - -Leila Harper and Leslie Cairns, as bridesmaids, wore frocks of slightly -paler apricot tulle, their wreaths and bouquets of half open Marvel buds -exactly matching the shade of their gowns. Helen Trent and Phyllis Moore -continued further to carry out the color scheme in still paler-shaded -apricot tulle, worn over silk underslips of a delicate pink. Their -wreaths and bouquets were of Marvel roses, well-opened, but not full -blown. - -Vera Mason and Robin Page completed the color scheme in frocks of pale -pink tulle with wreaths and bouquets of the full-blown Marvel roses. The -two tiny flower girls, Reba and Nella Macy, kiddie cousins of Jerry’s, -wore bouffant frocks of chiffon, many-skirted and of the four shades of -the rose in which the maid of honor and the bridesmaids’ gowns had been -carried out. They had long-handled, ribbon-tied baskets filled to -over-flowing with half-blown and full-blown roses and wore rosebud -wreaths upon their curly golden heads. - -As Jerry happily took in the gorgeous human flower garden about her she -could not forbear teasing Lucy a little. Fixing her eyes upon the latter -with a certain ridiculous expression which always made Lucy giggle, she -said: “Luciferous Warniferous, you are positively stunning. You are -enchanting, imposing, arresting, resplendent—wait a minute till I think -up a few more glowing terms. Oh, yes, you are celostrous, Luciferous, -absolutely and undeniably celostrous—and that lets you out. Be _very -very_ careful of yourself this evening. Some worshipping young man may -fall hard for you, and try to kidnap you.” - -“Oh-h, Jeremiah Macy,” Lucy brandished her bouquet at Jerry, laughing, -but looking half vexed. “You are—well—you are——” - -“What am I?” Jerry inquired with a quizzical grin. - -“The same ridiculous old tease,” Lucy retorted. “When first I caught -sight of you in your wedding dress, with your lovely veil, I felt -positively impressed by your grandeur and dignity. Now I don’t feel in -the least like that about you,” Lucy ended with a faint chuckle. - -“Never judge by appearances, my child. A bran span new wedding dress and -veil may cloak an awful disposition. Try to regard me, Luciferous, as -your former friend and razzberry, Jerry, Jeremiah, Geraldine Macy, and -none other. I’m going to continue to be her to the very last minute.” - -“The last minute is not far off, dear,” Mrs. Macy now broke in. “It’s a -quarter to eight, children. Marjorie and I must go downstairs.” She cast -a covertly significant glance at Marjorie who returned it with an -equally guarded flash of brown eyes. “You had best form in line, girls, -as soon as we are gone so as to be ready on the dot. I’ll leave the door -open as we go. Remember, as soon as you hear the first notes of the -wedding march you must begin to move forward to the stairs.” - -With these final solicitous directions Mrs. Macy went to the door and -opened it wide. From below stairs the wedding party now caught the -harmonious throb of violins softly entuning an old Italian wedding song. -It was a marvelous old song, full of impassioned harmony, which had been -one of Laurie’s “finds” during his and Constance’s first year abroad. -Virtuoso Stevens was playing it now, accompanied by Uncle John Roland, -his foster brother-musician, Charlie Stevens, and four other of the -musicians who had helped to form the little orchestra, so dear to the -Sanford High School boys and girls of former days. These were the -musicians Jerry had chosen to make the music at her wedding. - -Mrs. Macy paused for an instant in the open doorway, smiling. Her eyes -roved again to the clock, now showing almost ten minutes to eight, then -again to Marjorie. The latter, radiantly lovely in a sleeveless evening -frock of orchid satin, a great cluster of orchids, brought her by Hal, -nestling against one dimpled shoulder, stood near Jerry, head bent a -trifle forward, an expression of expectant listening upon her face. - -Above the overtones of the violins there suddenly arose the sweetness of -a high soprano voice, taking up the ancient wedding song. A hush had -already fallen upon the lately buzzing girl company with the first sound -of the orchestra music. The stillness deepened as the golden voice sang -on, soaring, lark-like to entrancing heights. Then Jerry shattered the -spell with an exultant shout of “Connie, Connie! It’s Connie singing! I -know it is! Oh, you Marjorie Dean.” She whirled about and pounced -joyfully upon Marjorie, catching her by the shoulders and gently shaking -her. “You _knew_ she was coming—knew all the time, and never said a -word.” - -“Hands off. You’ll rumple your veil, and crush my orchids.” Marjorie -wriggled free of Jerry’s lightly pinioning hands. - -“I’m going to shake Mother next.” Jerry made a laughing dive at her -mother. “You’re just as guilty as Marjorie. You knew it, too.” - -“We’ll steal one more minute to explain, then we must run. We did not -know surely till this morning that Connie and Laurie would be here to -the wedding. They managed to catch a fast boat home from Havre, and -arrived here only an hour ago—_all on account of Jeremiah_. We wanted -you to have a last Jerry Macy surprise. Dearest pal,” Marjorie’s arms -enfolded Jerry, regardless of her own recent admonition of “Hands off!” -She kissed Jerry on the lips, saying, “You know all I wish for you,” -then released her and scampered for the stairs in Mrs. Macy’s wake. - -Silence fell again in the room with Marjorie’s and Mrs. Macy’s exit. -Constance had begun the second verse of the song. Presently the glorious -voice had ceased with a last high, dulcet note. A sighing breath of -appreciation rose from the charmed listeners in Jerry’s room. Still -under the spell of the song and the singer, no one spoke. Then, in the -midst of the stillness, the orchestra below began the Mendelssohn -wedding march, very softly at first with a gradual increase of volume as -the march was continued. - -Came a quick scurrying into place, accompanied by soft exclamations and -subdued laughter, then the bridal procession had formed and begun to -move down the hall to the grand stairway. - -At the foot of the broad staircase Jerry’s father awaited her. On his -arm she continued her little journey of love, attended by her faithful -maids. Across the wide reception hall, through a ribboned aisle, which -continued on into the salon, and down the middle of the long apartment -to its southern end, the bridal procession swept. Its objective was a -gorgeous bank of palms and roses in front of which Jerry and Danny were -to make their vows. Everywhere in the salon roses were massed in -fragrant profusion. The scent of the queenly flower hung over the room -like sweet incense. - -The clergyman who was to perform the ceremony had been the one to -baptize both Jerry and Danny as infants. He had already taken his place -before the rose bank. Near him Danny, accompanied by his brother, -Robert, his best man, awaited the coming of the bride. Danny’s serious -moments of life had been thus far rare. His impish smile was more apt -than not to be in evidence wherever he went. There was now no sign of it -on his gravely-earnest features as he stood waiting for Jerry. -Seriousness vastly became frolicksome Danny, making him handsome in -spite of his freckles. - -As the white-robed bride, the little girl with whom he had grown up, -came toward him in her brave snowy array, the eyes of the pair met. -Jerry saw the light of love leap into her bridegroom’s eyes like a -flashing, sacramental flame, and was blushingly content. She had at last -succeeded in making “some impression” upon Danny. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - THE HIGH TRYST - - -The space on each side of the ribboned aisle from its beginning at the -foot of the staircase to its terminus in front of the rose bank was -thronged with guests. Came a subdued murmur from the friendly assemblage -and a great craning of necks as the bridal cortége passed through the -ribboned lane on its way to the altar. - -The musicians had been stationed just inside the wide double doorway -between the hall and the salon. Despite the stellar role which had been -assigned to Jerry in the drama of Romance she managed to turn her head -toward the orchestra, sending a fleeting, affectionate glance toward the -slender golden-haired young woman smiling radiantly at her from a seat -among the musicians. - -Immediately the procession had passed the orchestra, Constance and -Laurie rose and followed in order to join a certain small group of -persons who were standing a little at the right of the altar. It -comprised Mrs. Macy, Mr. and Mrs. Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Seabrooke and -Jerry’s Sanford married chums, together with their husbands. There was -Irma Linton, now Irma Norwood, and her ever devoted cavalier of -high-school days, the “Crane.” Connie and Laurie, Marjorie and Hal, and -Susan Atwell, now Susan Armstrong, with her tall bronzed western mate. -Of the original sextette of Sanford youngsters who had been such famous -pals Muriel Harding Lenox and her husband alone were missing. Jerry and -Danny had been united in their desire to have near them during the -ceremony those who had ever been, and would ever be, to them, their -nearest, and dearest. - -Followed the breathless hush which invariably precedes the momentous -interval between the cessation of the wedding march and the beginning of -the sacred ceremony of marriage. Followed the minister’s deep, resonant -enunciation of “Dearly beloved,” as he took up the solemn words of the -ceremony. - -Marjorie alone heard Hal’s “Dearest,” murmured in her ear as one of his -hands closed tenderly over her slim fingers. She returned the fervent -pressure, a quick mist of tears blurring her eyes. Hal had put an -infinity of meaning into that one murmured word of endearment, given to -her alone to understand. - -“My own dear wife,” Danny was saying to Jerry as he kissed her with a -smile which Jerry ever after fondly cherished as the most beautiful -smile she had ever seen on a man’s face. - -A moment more, and she was receiving the congratulatory embraces of her -father and mother. Next Hal kissed her, then passed her on to Marjorie. -The smiling group of dear ones now hemmed the bridal pair in, eager to -wish them good fortune. - -Jerry and Connie met with wide-open arms, hugging each other with -delighted vigor. - -“You certainly put one over on me, you rascal!” Jerry exclaimed with -slangy disregard for her newly-fledged title of Mrs. Daniel Seabrooke. -“Oh, Connie, you can’t possibly guess how glad I felt to hear your dear -voice singing the wedding song! I wanted to rush downstairs, then and -there, and hug you. We’d given up hoping you and Laurie might be here at -the wedding, and Danny was awfully blue about it. He had counted on Hal -and Laurie and the ‘Crane’ as his special standbys.” - -“I had no idea you esteemed me so highly, Dan-yell.” Laurie’s laughing -voice broke in. He had fixed mischievous blue eyes upon Danny, face -alight with the old love of teasing which had never yet failed to draw -his freckled-faced pal into good-natured argument. - -Danny’s becomingly serious expression had now vanished in a challenging -grin. He could not resist the joy of a verbal tilt with Laurie. - -“You know it now, but don’t let it turn your head,” he cautioned. -“Absence caused me to think kindly of you. Now that you are here, my -future good opinion of you will depend entirely upon the way you treat -me. As a bran-new, extremely well-behaved husband I am entitled to your -profound respect. As yet I see no flourishing signs of it in your manner -toward me. I shall hope for the best, however,” he ended with mock -encouragement. - -“Here’s hoping.” Laurie showed white teeth in a broad smile. - -“Matters look far from hopeful to me. Never mind, Mr. Armitage. Your -wife at least respects me. Such being the case, I will overlook your -decidedly disrespectful grin.” - -“How about the one you’re sporting?” Laurie affably inquired. - -“You must be seeing things.” Danny whisked the smile from his face in a -twinkling, gazing at Laurie with wide-eyed solemnity. - -“I see marriage hasn’t changed you,” Laurie retorted. - -“It’s too early in the game to pass an opinion. A wise man would never -do it,” Danny made reproving reply. - -Thereupon both young men burst into laughter and wrung each other’s -hands all over again. - -“Believe me, I’m glad to have a grip on that good old hand,” Danny said -seriously as he gave Laurie’s hand a final shake. - -“Same here,” Laurie made warm response. - -Further friendly exchange of pertinent pleasantries between them was cut -short by the congratulatory demands upon Danny’s attention. Laurie and -Connie also came in for a rush of cordial greeting from numerous old -friends present at the wedding. - -As a pretty courtesy to the guests, Reba and Nella, the little flower -girls now circulated among them, giving them the roses from their -baskets. There was to be a wedding supper in a huge tent that had been -put up on the lawn, and also dancing in the ball room. Jerry and Danny -would not leave on their wedding trip until after midnight in time to -board a one-o’clock train that was to take them to the Adirondacks, -where they had elected to spend their honeymoon in Hal’s camp. - -“I’m going to have my wedding party just like the parties Hal and I used -to give,” Jerry had said. “The minute the ceremony’s over—good-bye -formality. Danny and I have arranged to go away on a late train, -purposely, so that we can stay a while with the crowd and have a dandy -good time.” - -The first animated rush of congratulation having spent itself, Jerry and -Danny separated briefly. Danny’s three Sanford pals had claimed him for -their own for a few merry minutes of conversation. Jerry had a mission -of her own to perform in which her bridesmaids were buoyantly -interested. Each was hopeful that she might be the one to catch the -bridal bouquet which Jerry was presently to throw among them. - -Jerry-like she was now laughingly refusing to tell her watchful -attendants just when, and from what point, she intended to cast the -flowery token among them. - -“Follow me, and see what happens,” she teased as she began a slow walk -down the salon, and toward the reception hall, surrounded by a laughing, -expostulating seven. - -“Don’t worry. You couldn’t lose us if you tried,” Helen Trent assured -the bride. - -“You ought to give Robin and me a special tip-off, Jeremiah. What chance -have we against five tall, long-armed ladies?” Vera complained -plaintively. - -“Pay no attention to Midget,” counseled Leila. “What she lacks in height -she makes up in quickness. If she does not snap up the bouquet from -under our very noses it will not be for lack of trying.” - -“It’s sportsmanlike to try out this grab game, but if it means ‘Leslie, -you’ll be married next,’ then I hope I miss,” Leslie confided to Leila -in an undertone. “I’ve contracted to keep house for Peter the Great for -the next few years, so that lets me out,” she averred with her slow -smile. - -“I am fondling no hopes in that direction, either,” Leila murmured. “My -ideal is a nice, white-haired old gentleman who will defer to me on all -occasions; one who will enjoy being unmercifully bossed.” She rolled her -blue eyes drolly at Leslie, who giggled softly. - -“When you find him, don’t forget to invite me to your wedding,” she -stipulated. - -“You shall be my maid of honor,” Leila made affable promise. “By then, -we shall be old and gray, I am afraid, and be wearing bonnets and -spectacles.” - -Jerry and her alert following had now reached the foot of the grand -stairway. She set one slim, satin-shod foot upon the first step of the -staircase as though about to begin the ascent of the stairs. Then she -suddenly whirled about and tossed her bridal bouquet high in the air, -well above the heads of the eager group of girls. A wild scramble for it -ensued, accompanied by excited feminine cries. An instant, and a shout -of gay laughter ascended from the animated group. Came a merry chorus -of: “Leila’s going to be married next. Leila’s going to be married -next.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - CONSPIRATORS OF HAPPINESS - - -“Who is he, Leila?” Helen Trent teasingly called out. - -“Yes, who is he, and where did you first meet him?” Leslie Cairns, -usually the most silent among the group, could not refrain from joining -in the teasing. - -“A fine Irish gentleman, of course,” Robin said with elaborate -positiveness. - -“I must begin practicing old Irish airs,” Phil supplemented with an -energetic nod. “I may be asked to play at the wedding.” - -“It is valuable time you will be wasting in the practice,” came in -ironic tones from behind the big bouquet. The bride’s flowery insignia -had dropped squarely into Leila’s open arms at the second when she had -dashed forward with the others. Her arms still enwrapping the floral -grace, she had ducked her black head until only the crown of it showed -above the top of the bouquet. - -“Don’t pretend to be so shy! We know you aren’t blushing,” Vera -exclaimed. - -“How can you know when you can not see my face?” came pithily from -behind the white shelter. Leila’s face popped up above the flowers. She -peered over them at her tormentors with an expression of such ludicrous -shyness as to produce a gale of laughter. - -“Now laugh at me,” she said reprovingly, “and that after you have had a -fine time making fun of me. And it’s that embarrassed I am. I am all but -tongue-tied from bashfulness.” - -“We’d never have suspected such a thing. So glad you told us.” Even -staid Lucy felt impelled to join in the merry badinage. - -“Let me tell you more. If I am the one to be married next, then none of -the rest of you will ever be married. So you may practice your Irish -airs and play them to me, Phil, for my wedding day is like an Irish -myth, something that will never come true.” - -“Such a cheerful prediction,” commented Robin Page. - -“Is it not?” beamed Leila. - -“You really can’t expect us to take you seriously, you know,” Helen said -with regretful scepticism. - -“I expect nothing else except that you will be making me a sad lot of -future trouble by teasing me on all occasions. I shall soon have no -comfort at all, at all,” Leila made rueful forecast. - -“Never mind,” Lucy lightly sympathized. “You have the bouquet. I was -hoping I’d catch it, just because it is so beautiful.” - -“A fine bunch of posies it is,” Leila lapsed into brogue, “but it’s -yourself that may be catching a bridegroom wan of these days, -Luciferous, without the catching of the wadding bo-kay.” - -“_I guess not_,” Lucy made vigorous protest. “Oh, there’s Miss Archer.” -She bolted from the group with heightened color for a point across the -hall where the principal of the Sanford High School stood talking with -Mrs. Dean. A subdued ripple of merriment followed her escape from -further teasing on Leila’s part. It was privately conceded among her -Hamilton chums that President Matthews’ son was in love with Lucy. -Whether, or not, Lucy cared for him was a matter for cogitation among -them. Never by word or sign had she betrayed, even to Marjorie, anything -other than an ordinary friendly interest in the young man. - -“Just the same, _she blushed_,” Vera said triumphantly, laughing eyes -following Lucy’s prompt rush across the hall. - -“She’ll soon be in line to blush some more. Donald Matthews is here, -somewhere about, only Lucy hasn’t yet happened to see him. President and -Mrs. Matthews couldn’t come to the wedding on account of a previous -engagement at a house party. Lucy took it for granted that Donald -wouldn’t be here, either. I didn’t tell her he was coming. She is -so—well, you girls know how she is. I was afraid she’d balk at being -maid of honor out of pure shyness, no matter how much she cared about -it. Lucy cares about Donald. I’m almost positive she does. You see I -still know something about everyone even though I’m no longer Jeremiah -Macy,” Jerry wound up with a droll air of wisdom. - -Lucy’s green eyes opened wide, when, during her chat with Miss Archer, a -tall figure loomed up beside her, speaking her name with -politely-concealed eagerness. She was so fully engulfed by the pleasant -embarrassment of the moment that she failed to note the battery of -affectionately amused eyes bent upon her from the bridal group she had -so lately deserted. - -“Come on, girls, let’s vanish before she happens to look this way,” -Jerry proposed. “She nearly fell dead with surprise, as it was, when she -saw her future husband. Let’s not add to the shock.” - -The little group promptly moved on into the salon. There they became -immediately separated. Jerry was quickly hemmed in by further numbers of -well-wishers. Leila, Vera, Helen, Phil and Robin were warmly hailed by -Sanford friends they had made while spending holiday vacations with -Marjorie and Jerry. - -From the midst of a knot of Sanford friends Marjorie’s roving glance -took in Leslie, standing at the edge of an animated group, her dark -brows drawn together in a frown. “Leslie feels out of things,” was her -instant thought. Excusing herself to her friends she hurried over to -Leslie, with intent to take her in tow. - -“Oh, Bean. I’m glad to get hold of you.” Leslie’s frown disappeared in -an expression of patent relief. “I simply had to see you about -something, but I hated to butt in on you and your Sanford friends.” - -“What is it, Leslie?” Marjorie asked with quick concern. She was yet far -from understanding Leslie’s complex nature. - -“I’ve done something, Bean, something I thought would be nice for Jerry -and Mr. Seabrooke. I’ve got away with the first half of the stunt—and,” -Leslie paused, looking half abashed, “now I wonder how I’m going to get -away with the last half. I thought it would be easy, but—well—I find it -isn’t. It’s just struck me that Jerry and her husband may think I have a -colossal nerve to—to——” Leslie stopped, coloring. “You’ll have to help -me out, Bean,” she said desperately, with a short laugh. - -“Of course I will. Tell me what you’d like me to do for you. I know -you’ve planned something lovely for Jerry and Danny,” encouraged -Marjorie. - -“Maybe.” Leslie still looked doubtful. “All right. Here goes. You see -since my father went to London there’s no one except me to use his -private car on the railroad. I knew Jerry and Mr. Seabrooke were going -to the Adirondacks on their honeymoon, so I thought it would maybe -please them to go there in Peter’s car. If I had thought of it sooner, -I’d have told Jerry about it. It never occurred to me until day before -yesterday, and I’ve had to do some little hustling to get the car here -in time. Believe me, I’ve kept the wires hot between here and New York. -The car’s here; it came in at two o’clock this afternoon, and I was -right there at the station yard to welcome it. I dropped out of the gang -this afternoon, but they were all so busy they didn’t miss me. Now -that’s part one—very nice and easy. What?” Leslie’s deliberate smile -showed itself. - -“Yes; What? You delightful plotter of happiness.” Marjorie’s face was -alight with appreciation of Leslie’s plan. “Now that you’ve planned the -surprise, and had all the trouble to make it come true, you want me to -tell them about it. No, siree; you’re going to tell them about it -_yourself_.” - -“I can’t. I won’t. I thought once I could, but I’ve got cold feet now. -Please tell them, Beanie Bean. I haven’t the nerve.” - -“You’ve always said you had nerve enough for anything,” came Marjorie’s -smiling retort. - -“I know it. I say a great many foolish things,” Leslie admitted with a -faint chuckle. “Are you going to stand by me, or are you going to quit -me cold?” - -“I’ll help you a little,” Marjorie conceded teasingly. “I’ll find Jerry -and Danny and steer them into the library after the company have mostly -gone upstairs to the ball room. Then you are to break the news to them.” - -“Oh, no, I——” - -“Oh, yes, you must. You haven’t the least idea of what a fine surprise -you are going to give Jerry. She’d like to hear it from you, Leslie. She -is very fond of you.” - -“But she used to hate me like poison, both she and Leila Harper. I know -they like me now,” Leslie went on quickly. “They’ve shown that much. -Jerry, by asking me to be one of her bridesmaids, and Leila, by asking -me to be business manager of the Playhouse. I’m beginning to feel at -home with Leila, but with Jerry, somehow, it seems almost as though -there was a barrier still standing between us. I get it dimly that she -hasn’t, perhaps, ever forgiven me for the contemptible things I once -tried to put over on you. I felt really pleased with myself about this -car business, until I began thinking that _she_ might not be pleased at -all. You understand what I mean. It’s hard to try to explain.” Leslie -fixed suddenly somber eyes upon Marjorie. - -“Yes, I understand, and I also understand that you are a big goose, -Leslie Adoree Cairns,” Marjorie made cheering response. “Let me tell you -something. Jerry would not be your friend today unless she had entirely -forgiven and forgotten anything she might have once laid up against you. -She would have held herself aloof from you in spite of yours and my -friendship. Nothing I might have said to her in your favor would have -induced her to change her mind. There; does that give you more nerve?” - -“Some,” Leslie brightened visibly. - -“All right. Go on into the library, and wait for us. I’ll bring Jerry -and Danny there as soon as I can.” Marjorie caught Leslie by the hands -with a friendly little pressure, then sped away on her pleasant errand. -At the doorway of the salon she turned to cast a reassuring smile at -Leslie who stood gazing soberly after her. - -Leslie’s hand went up in acknowledging gesture, then she started slowly -for the library which was situated on the opposite side of the house -from the salon. - -“Leslie would like to see you and Danny in the library,” Marjorie -presently murmured in Jerry’s ear during a brief lull in the new tide of -congratulation that was holding the bridal pair captive in the salon. - -“Yours truly,” Jerry returned in an undertone. “This ‘wish you joy’ -stunt will soon be over. Tell Leslie she may expect us. Now what’s on -her mind?” - -“Wait, and learn,” Marjorie cryptically advised. Unauthorized by Leslie -she gathered together Leila, Vera, Robin, Phil, Helen Trent, and, -lastly, Lucy Warner, who stood talking to Donald Matthews with the -serious air of a sage. - -“You’re needed in the library to attend a special session of the -Travelers,” she told each girl in turn. “Come along with me.” Nor would -she give out a word of information regarding the import of the special -session. - -Outside the library doorway she called a halt in the procession. “We’ll -wait here for Danny and Jerry. Keep back out of sight of Leslie. She’s -in the library, but I’d rather she wouldn’t see you just yet.” - -“What is it all about? As your business partner I think I’m entitled to -an explanation. Page and Dean aren’t supposed to have secrets from each -other,” Robin made plaintive plea. - -“She is that aggravating.” Leila raised disapproving hands. “Wurra, -wurra! What shall we do with her?” - -“Pull down her curls,” Vera made a playful dive at Marjorie. - -“Steal her orchids.” Phil made a pretended grab at the cluster of -orchids nestling against Marjorie’s shoulder. - -“Powder her nose till it looks floury,” Helen whisked a gold compact -from a tiny inside pocket of her corsage and advanced upon Marjorie. - -In the midst of the pretended struggle, carried on amid much subdued -mirth, a calm voice inquired: “What’s going on out here?” Leslie, tired -of her own company, as she continued to wait in the library for Marjorie -and the Seabrookes, and strolled to the door, attracted by the sound of -familiar voices, gleeful with laughter. She stood surveying the group, a -trace of her former quizzical aloof attitude toward the Travelers in her -face and bearing. - -“Now see what you’ve done.” Marjorie merrily declared as she extricated -herself from Helen’s grasp. Helen, at least, had determined to carry out -her part of the punishment. “You’re discovered, and all because you made -so much noise. Very well. You may now escort Leslie with all pomp and -ceremony into the library. She has done something perfectly dear for -Jerry and Danny. I took the liberty of bringing you girls here because I -thought they would like you to share the surprise that’s coming to them, -with them.” - -She turned to Leslie, laying a soft little hand on the other girl’s arm. -“Do you mind, Leslie? We’re all Travelers together you know, sworn to -share each other’s joys and sorrows. If you do, then——” - -“No, I don’t; not the least bit.” Leslie was smiling now. “I thought for -a minute I did; but not now. The gang will support me during the -ordeal,” she concluded humorously. - -“Now it seems we know something of what we are about to be doing, and -still not much of anything. Let us do ourselves proud as escorts, and -then see what happens.” Leila made a sweeping bow to Leslie, crooking an -inviting arm. “Will you kindly be taking my Irish arm, Miss Cairns?” she -said gallantly. - -“Take mine, too,” petitioned Phil, ranging herself on Leslie’s other -side. - -“Robin and I are going to walk ahead of Leslie, backwards, into the -library, bowing all the way, and chanting her praises,” Vera announced -grandly. - -“Then I’ll be advising you to watch your step, or you find your two -selves sitting down very suddenly,” was Leila’s mirthful warning. - -“We might as well bring up the rear,” Marjorie told Helen and Lucy. “All -the best positions have been snapped up.” - -Leslie had hardly more than been bowed to the big leather davenport, -invited by her flamboyantly polite escorts to be seated, when Jerry’s -voice was heard outside the room. - -“Here we are,” she called out cheerily as she and Danny entered the -library. Her quick glance took in the group awaiting her with a flash of -surprise. Marjorie had merely said that Leslie wished to see Danny and -herself in the library. “We came down the back stairs and through the -kitchen so as to dodge the crowd. What’s stirring?” she asked lightly, -but her eyes directly sought Leslie’s face. - -“Nothing much.” Leslie’s dark eyes were bent on Jerry with smiling -friendliness. - -A brief instant of silence ensued. The other bridesmaids were wondering -pleasantly what it was all about. Danny was showing attentive interest, -though Marjorie read complete mystification on his composed features. - -“Peter,” Leslie began abruptly, then laughed, “I mean my father, is in -London, you know. His private car on the railroad isn’t doing anyone any -good, just at present. I thought you two,” she nodded toward the bride -and groom, “might like it for your trip to the Adirondacks. I wired for -it, and it’s down at the railroad yard now, ready to go out with the -one-o’clock train. It will be at your disposal during your honeymoon -trip, if you’ll accept the use of it. If you wish to go to any other -place in it from the mountains, wire me at Hamilton twenty-four hours -before you start, and I’ll gladly make arrangements for you. Our -houseman, Emil, will be aboard to make you comfortable. That’s all, -except that it would make both my father and me very happy to have you -use it,” she ended almost humbly. - -“Leslie,” Jerry put out both hands impulsively to Leslie who caught them -in a close warm clasp. “You take my breath. What a lot of trouble you -have been to just on purpose to make Danny and me happy. Isn’t it -perfectly celostrous, Danny?” she turned eagerly to her husband. - -“It is.” Danny’s hand went out to Leslie. “It’s a knock-down,” he said, -his roguish smile breaking out. “I can’t think of anything to say except -‘Thank you, Leslie. You’ve surely added tonight to our happiness.’” - - “Rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah! - Rah, rah for Leslie and her private car!” - -Phil’s hands waved themselves above her head like triumphant banners as -she sent up this joyful tribute. The other Travelers immediately took it -up with a will. As a result more than one guest’s head poked itself -through the arched doorway to be as quickly withdrawn with the chagrined -knowledge that the cheering going on in the library seemed to be a -strictly intimate matter of rejoicing. - -“It’s time we were moving on, Travelers tried and true,” Marjorie -presently said after the hub-bub of buoyant talk and laughter had died -out. “I should like to have at least one dance with the groom before -these two,” she smilingly indicated Danny and Jerry, “have run away from -us; provided he should ask me for a dance,” she added innocently. - -“Will you please trot a trot with me, Mrs. Macy?” Danny grinningly rose -to the occasion. - -“I will; I’d love to,” Marjorie came back with equal promptness. She -knew Danny was feeling far more pleasantly embarrassed than appeared on -the surface at Leslie’s good will offer. - -“If you were a bride in old Ireland you would have to dance with every -man who came to your wedding,” was Leila’s cheering remark to Jerry as -the library party started for the ball room. - -“Good night! I certainly have something to be thankful for,” was Jerry’s -emphatic opinion. - -Up the familiar two flights of stairs to the ball room, a climb now -doubly endeared by memory to the Sanford contingent of the light-hearted -group, an evening of further jollity awaited them. - -Dancing had already begun, and a fox trot was in full swing when they -entered the ball room, soon to be whirled into the ever favorite -amusement of the dance. Jerry and Danny had a dance together, then did -not meet again until over an hour later when they led the merry van -downstairs to partake of the wedding supper which would be served in the -mammoth tent on the lawn. - -The bridal table was a thing of beauty in the way of decorative art, and -at the many smaller tables roses formed the center decoration with a -rose at each place. There were favors for the feminine fair of -satin-covered, rose-topped powder boxes in delicate evening shades, and -for the men there were cunning Japanese rose jars filled with delightful -rose pot-pourri. - -The bridal table seated the bride and groom, Mr. and Mrs. Macy, Mr. and -Mrs. Seabrooke and the groomsman, Robert Seabrooke, Mr. and Mrs. Dean, -Hal and Marjorie, Miss Susanna Hamilton, Irma, Susan and Constance -together with their husbands, the six bridesmaids, the maid of honor, -and last, but not least, Delia. Jerry had ranked Delia as among her -“best pals,” declaring that Delia was too thoroughly a part of the Dean -menage to be separated from it at the wedding supper. - -It was close to midnight when the last toast to the bride and groom had -been drunk down and the big tent had emptied itself of its merry -assemblage, the majority of elder guests to take their leave and the -younger set to return to the ball room for another hour of dancing. - -“What Danny and I ought to do is to duck out the back way, cut and run,” -Jerry told Marjorie in the privacy of her room to which she and Marjorie -had slipped away from the throng after supper, there to make ready for -her wedding journey. “Make up your mind there’ll be rice enough thrown -at us to stop a famine in China. There’ll be confetti, too. Make no -mistake about that. By the time the Seabrookes dash into their car it -will be hard to say which they resemble most, the tag end of a Mardi -Gras parade, or a couple of rice stalks in full crop. Anyhow, we aren’t -going to duck. Danny and I are agreed upon that point. Nothing like -giving our friends a chance at us,” Jerry grinned philosophically as she -slipped into the smart beige colored ensemble she had chosen as a -traveling costume. - -When at half-past twelve she and Danny boldly essayed their departure by -way of the broad flight of steps which led down from the port cochere to -the drive the rice storm set in in earnest. Amid showers of rice and -confetti, and a frantic hub-bub of gay-spirited farewells, the besieged -couple fled across the narrow space of stone walk, gaining the welcome -shelter of their waiting car. A moment, and William, the Macy’s -chauffeur, had sent the trim roadster shooting forward down the drive. -Jerry and Danny were started at last upon their real journey through -life. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - A “QUEER CATCH” - - -“And from today on we shall be driven slaves, bound by the order of -good-intentioned Travelers to the ill-fare and welfare of Hamilton,” -Leila Harper proclaimed dramatically to Leslie Cairns as she entered -Room 15 at Wayland Hall in answer to Leslie’s call of “Come.” - -“I can stand it if you can,” Leslie returned imperturbably as she gave a -final pat to her smartly-coiffed head and viewed the effect with -commendable satisfaction. “Thanks to a permanent wave. I’m not quite so -ugly as I used to be,” she told Leila with a half sardonic smile. - -“Tell me nothing. I am admiring you more each time I see you,” Leila -spoke lightly, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness in her reply -which brought a quick tinge of color to Leslie’s cheeks. - -“I used to think I looked better in tailored clothes and mannish coats -and hats than in ‘girlie’ stuff.” Leslie glanced down at the soft folds -of the imported chiffon frock she was wearing. Silver gray, flowered -with twisting sprays of scarlet poppies, with here and there a touch of -scarlet satin, the dress had a peculiar individuality which was ever -noticeable in Leslie’s choice of clothes. - -“It was Marjorie Dean who revolutionized my ideas of how to dress,” she -confided. “Even in the days when I couldn’t even think about her without -hating her, I was crazy about her clothes. They were just like -her—perfectly beautiful. I took a violent fancy to one dress I saw her -wear. It was a peachblow silk evening frock and I made a sketch of it -and had it duplicated as nearly as I could by a New York modiste. It was -just before I went home from my soph year here. I intended the dress for -wear at Newport. When the dress was delivered to me, in New York, I -tried it on. I looked a fright in it. I was so angry over it that I sat -down and tore it to shreds and then bundled the wreck into my waste -basket.” - -“A desperate deed,” was Leila’s light comment. Her keen mind flashed her -an inkling of what Leslie was going to say next. - -“I couldn’t understand then why that peachblow dress was such a frost on -me. It wasn’t either the style, or the color that was unbecoming. It was -the general effect of the confounded dress. It was not until long -afterward, when I had come to know Marjorie, and to love her, that I -found out the reason for that frock flivver. It was the combination of -dress and wearer that had caught my fancy. She had given the dress its -remarkable individuality. I was entirely out of harmony with her. You -can understand——” Leslie paused, brows drawn in a frown. - -“Yes,” Leila nodded. “It would be different now, if you were to try the -same thing again as an experiment.” - -“I couldn’t do that again. You see _I’m_ different now. I’m trying to be -true to myself; to express that new self even in dress. I used to think -of nothing but snatching the prettiest and best of everything that -happened to please me. I was crazy to be thought very individual, and -all the time my true individuality was being submerged fathoms deep -beneath selfishness. That peachblow dress flivver gave me a frightful -jolt, I was sore over it for weeks. But it didn’t wake me up. I only -wish it had,” Leslie finished with a rueful shrug. - -“Are you ready?” Vera’s breezy entrance into the room precluded the -possibility of any further confidence that Leslie might have felt an -impulse to impart to Leila. - -Leila had listened to Leslie’s unexpected revelation with inward -surprise. Leslie was inclined to be silent rather than talkative when in -her company, and usually impersonal in her conversation. She broke away -from her own surprised thoughts with a little start to answer Vera’s -question. “We are, Midget. What about the cars?” - -“They’re both out on the drive; I had one of the garage men drive yours -over when I went to the garage for mine.” Vera, daintily diminutive in a -white pongee ensemble, waved a comprehensive hand in the direction of -the drive. “I saw your roadster out in front, Leslie. Good work.” - -“Yes; I brought it from the garage early this afternoon. I’ve been so -busy arranging, disarranging, and then re-arranging the furniture in -this room that I haven’t felt the wheel under my fingers for the past -two days. I’m through here, at last. How do you like the lay-out?” she -asked with a touch of concern. - -“It’s lovely.” Vera glanced about her with appreciative eyes: “I adore -the mulberry color scheme. Marjorie and Jerry were going to have 15 done -over in fawn and blue the last year they were here. Then they went to -the Arms to live, and it never happened.” - -“Glad you like it. I’m going to leave it as it stands when I go home to -the Hedge at Christmas—as a last good-will offering to old Wayland Hall, -you know,” she explained whimsically. - -“It’s by far the grandest room in the house now,” Leila said with an -approving glance about her. The thick velvet rug, painted willow study -table with its oval glass top, the silk-cushioned wicker chairs had all -been done in a rich mulberry color. The chiffonier, dressing table and -day bed were of Circassian walnut. The bed was upholstered in the same -soft silk as the chairs and piled with mulberry silk cushions, corded -and embroidered in dull gilt. The effect of luxurious grandeur of the -rehabilitated room, however, was pleasingly lessened by the wealth of -college banners and trophies, framed photographs of classmates and other -treasured college souvenirs which decked the pale tan, mulberry-bordered -walls. - -“The Wayland Hallites will all be tumbling over one another in a -wholesale rush upon Miss Remson for 15 when you are through with it,” -Vera made laughing prophesy. - -“I shan’t be here to see it,” Leslie commented with a faint smile. “When -I leave the Hall for the Hedge I’m going to do the Arab tent-folding -stunt. Nobody except you two, Doris and Miss Remson, will be in the -know. Maybe I’ll will the stuff in this room to some one. Don’t know. It -will all depend upon what may happen. Let X, the redoubtable sign of the -unknown quantity, stand for this year’s college madness. Who knows the -answer?” Leslie made a gesture of light futility. - -“Who, indeed? I am no sooth-sayer of such mysteries, but I know this,” -Leila pointed significantly to Leslie’s chiffonier clock, “it is twenty -minutes past five, and the five-fifty train is on time. Come, let us be -up, and at it.” She cast a quick appraising glance in the long wall -mirror near her at the smart figure in white wash satin reflected there, -then walked toward the door. - -Five minutes later the three cars of the self-constituted -freshie-welcoming committee were eating up the few miles of smooth pike -that lay between them and the railroad station of the town of Hamilton. - -“Five minutes to spare, and an almost empty platform.” Vera scanned the -station platform the trio had just gained with a half disappointed -pucker of brows. “I had hoped we’d see some of the old guard from Acasia -House, or Silverton Hall.” - -“Too early in the game. These freshies we are here to meet are early -birds. I’ve been wondering, whether or not, they constitute a gang; on -the order of the Sans, you know. Miss Remson showed me the list of -names. I noticed that ten of the addresses were New York suburban, and -two Philadelphia suburban. That looks rather pally. What?” - -“That is something I gave little thought to.” Leila looked interested. -“I saw the list, and jotted down the freshies’ names, but paid small -attention to the addresses. Then, too, I am not familiar with New York -City as you know it, Leslie.” - -“Let us hope——” Vera checked herself, coloring. - -“That this new aggregation won’t turn out to be a second edition of the -Sans,” Leslie finished the sentence for her. - -“Yes, that is what I half said,” Vera admitted, laughing. - -“Go as far as you like. You won’t ruffle my feelings,” Leslie assured -with an air of amusement. “If history should repeat itself, it would be -one on me. Now wouldn’t it?” - -“It’s far more likely to be the other way. None of the twelve may ever -have heard of one another.” Vera took an optimistic view of the matter. -“Hamilton has always had a large enrollment from New York City.” - -“We shall soon know.” The long, sharp, echoing whistle of the incoming -train from the East shrilled out upon the still afternoon air. Far down -the track the five-fifty New York express shot into sight from around a -curve. - -Three pairs of alert eyes roved quickly up and down its length as it -came to a final jarring stop in front of the station. The few persons -issuing from the train were a signal disappointment to the welcoming -delegation. No one of them could possibly be hailed as even an arriving -student to Hamilton. - -“Flop! Just like that!” Leslie simulated disappointed collapse. “Nary a -freshie in sight, and the train’s getting ready to shoot.” - -“Wait a minute. There’s a girl coming down the train steps, away up -front.” Vera had spied a possible “catch.” “Oh, no, it isn’t,” she went -on half dejectedly. Second glance had revealed the traveler as a -youngster of presumably thirteen, or fourteen. “She’s just a little -girl.” - -In the instant of Vera’s exclamation the small figure had skipped nimbly -down the last two steps of the car to the platform, laden though it was -with a leather dressing-case and a good-sized black leather traveling -bag. - -“Upon my word! What?” broke in low, surprised tones from Leslie. “Give -her another once-over, and walk out of the midget class, Vera. You have, -at last, a deadly rival.” - -“Why, the very idea!” Vera exhibited signal amazement. “You’re right, -Leslie. She’s not a child, and she must be at least _two inches_ shorter -than I.” - -Down the platform toward the astonished trio of post-graduates the -diminutive figure of a girl was advancing at a brisk walk. Dressed in a -pleated frock of bright green pongee which missed her knees by at least -an inch, a close-fitting green hemp hat pulled down over her ears, she -came on, confidently, surveying the three Hamilton girls with a pair of -bright, jet-black eyes. - -“Good afternoon,” she saluted with an air of calm assurance. Her bright, -bird-like eyes continued to rove from one to another of the three -post-graduates. “You are upper-class students, aren’t you? Awfully sweet -in you to come to meet me.” - -“Thank you.” Leila became spokesman, her face a courteous mask. “We -are——” - -“Seniors,” interposed the little girl eagerly with a quick nod of her -green-capped head. - -“No.” Leila’s “No” was enigmatic. “We are post-graduates. We are from -Way——” - -“Oh, that’s better still.” The black-eyed girl dropped her luggage to -the station platform and shot forth a small deeply-tanned hand. “Shake,” -she said. “Glad to meet you, I’m sure.” - -“Thank you.” Leila tried to put friendliness into the handshake. Her -canny Irish nature had already arrayed itself against the tiny freshman, -and her too-assured manner. On the other hand, she could not help -feeling amused by the newcomer to Hamilton College. “I am Miss Harper, -of 19—. This is Miss Mason, also of 19—, and Miss Cairns of 19——” - -“Why, you and Miss Mason have been graduates from college for _three -whole years_, haven’t you?” exclaimed the girl, her black eyes rounding -in a kind of condescending surprise. “Oh, I know. You are both of the -faculty. Some honor for me, to be met at the train by faculty.” This, as -she nodded acknowledgment of Leila’s introduction, shaking hands in turn -with Vera and Leslie. “Pardon me, I didn’t catch your name,” she said as -her hand dropped away from Leslie’s light clasp. - -“I am Miss Cairns,” Leslie returned imperturbably, “but we are not——” - -“My name is Jewel Marie Ogden, and I’m entering the freshman class at -Hamilton College from Warburton Prep. It’s a toppo prep school not far -from New York City,” interrupted the girl. “You must have heard of it.” - -“I know Warburton.” Leslie’s tone was pleasantly enigmatic. - -“Do you know any girls from there?” Miss Ogden asked eagerly. - -“I have met a few Warburton girls.” - -“Tell me their names,” persisted the curious freshman. - -Leslie mentioned the names of three girls, New York acquaintances whom -she had known in the old, more lawless days of her college career. She -was relieved when her persistent questioner indifferently declared, -“I’ve never even heard of them.” - -“You would hardly know any of them, as they were graduated from -Warburton several years ago.” - -“How many years ago?” - -“At least five, or six.” Leslie made her answer politely evasive. She -was self-vexed at having unthinkingly mentioned her former Warburton -acquaintances. - -“Let us help you with your bags.” Leila came to Leslie’s rescue. She -picked up the heavier of the freshman’s two leather bags. - -“Oh, all right. So kind in you, I’m sure. I appreciate your interest in -me. How far is it from the station to the campus?” - -“Three miles. I must explain to you——” Leila began. - -“Do you drive your own car?” calmly pursued Miss Ogden. - -“Yes.” Leila’s vague sense of irritation at the inquisitive newcomer -disappeared in a wild desire toward laughter. The confident assurance of -this newest stranger within the gates of Hamilton challenged her ever -ready sense of humor. - -“We’ll have to draw lots to see with which of us Miss Ogden will ride,” -Vera said gaily. To Miss Ogden she said: “We three drove to the station -in separate cars. We expected to meet a crowd of twelve freshmen who -were due to arrive here on the five-fifty express. They certainly failed -to arrive.” She waved a significant hand at the station platform, -deserted now of persons other than themselves and two or three station -employes, methodically going about their business. - -“Twelve freshmen. Mm-m-m. Where were they to come from?” - -“Ten of them from New York, or near New York; two from Philadelphia,” -Leila patiently informed. - -“Let’s move on.” Leslie had possessed herself of the freshman’s other -bag. She spoke with a touch of impatience. “Too bad the freshies didn’t -arrive. Miss Remson will be disappointed. She——” - -“Is Miss Remson the registrar?” quizzed Miss Ogden. - -“No-o.” Leslie could not repress a chuckle. - -“Why do you laugh?” The freshman’s tone was decidedly nettled. - -“I beg your pardon,” Leslie apologized. “If you knew Miss Remson as we -do you would comprehend the joke. She is the manager of Wayland Hall, -and——” - -“I’m going to live at Hamilton Hall,” Miss Ogden interrupted. “I gave -the Hamilton bulletin a once-over, and decided that much, first thing. -From the picture of it, it looked far more toppo to me than any of the -other campus houses; really swagger, you know. I’ve brought myself up to -believe in choosing the best, and that the best is none too good for -me.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - THE MISSING TWELVE - - -A moment of breathless silence followed Jewel Marie Ogden’s confident -statement. Three pairs of eyes fixed themselves resolutely upon the -complacent freshman. The three astonished post-graduates dared not so -much as glance at one another. Leila was the first of the trio to -command speech which should convey no hint of the mirthful state of her -feelings. - -“You have made a mistake about Hamilton Hall,” she said in her direct -fashion. “It is not a campus boarding house. It contains only President -Matthews’ and the registrar’s offices, and a number of recitation -rooms.” - -“Oh-h-h.” For the first time since her arrival on the station platform -the cocksure stranger exhibited signs of confusion. Chagrin swept a -flood of red to her round cheeks. Instant with it, she frowned, casting -a suspicious glance at Leila. “You are surely not trying to kid me, are -you. It seems to me that as members of the faculty, you should——” - -“We are not trying to mislead you. Hamilton’s upper classmen are above -such things. Furthermore, we are not members of the faculty. We——” - -“But you gave me the impression you were,” flashed back the black-eyed -girl half crossly. “Why couldn’t you have said in the first——” - -“Pardon me. Permit me to finish what I had begun to say to you.” The -courteous dignity of Leila’s tone checked the other’s discourteous -speech midway in utterance. “We are post-graduates, and live at Wayland -Hall, one of the campus houses. We are always glad to be of service, -when we may, to entering freshmen. You have evidently made a mistake -regarding Hamilton Hall. Perhaps we can help you.” - -“Yes; I’ve made a stupid mistake.” The freshman pettishly shrugged her -slim, green-clad shoulders. She made no effort at explaining her mistake -to the nonplussed trio of would-be helpers. After a tiny interval of -frowning hesitation she shot at them the brisk question: “Which of the -campus houses is the best; the highest price, I mean; the one with the -most class to it, you know?” - -“So far as general excellence is concerned the campus houses rank the -same. Wayland Hall is a trifle higher-priced than the others,” Leila -answered levelly, fighting back her own rising desire to frown. - -“Then I shall go there to live,” Jewel Marie Ogden announced with a -decisive wag of her head. “Since _you_ live there, you can tell me all -about it. I shall ask for a single, of course. I simply can’t endure the -thought of a roommate. I had a single at Warburton. Do you each have a -single?” - -“Miss Mason and Miss Harper room together. I have a single.” Leslie’s -politely immobile features underwent a sudden purposeful tightening. She -had decided to “hand the annoying freshman one” straight from the -shoulder. “There are no vacancies at Wayland Hall,” she said. “I should -advise you to go directly to Hamilton Hall and explain your mistake to -the registrar. She may be able to secure you a room, or at least half a -room, in one of the other campus houses.” - -“I shall go to Wayland Hall first, and meet your Miss Remson. I imagine -I can persuade her to make room for me there. I usually get whatever I -want, when I make up my mind to go after it. It still lacks a week -before the opening of college. A great many things may have happened by -then.” Miss Ogden’s self-confidence had evidently returned with a rush. - -“We are all at your service to run you up to the Hall.” This time it was -Leslie who fought back a frown. Never possessed of a goodly stock of -patience, she was already “fed up” with Jewel Marie. - -“You may take me to the campus in your car, if you will be so kind,” was -a gracious concession on the part of the freshie which Leslie accepted -without enthusiasm. - -“Pleased to be of service to you,” she returned briefly. - -“Suppose we hurry along, then,” Vera suggested good-naturedly, “then we -won’t be late to dinner. Too bad to keep Miss Remson waiting while there -are so few of us in the house.” - -“Your friends are awfully nice, but I choose to ride with you because I -took a fancy to you,” were the freshman’s first words as Leslie -presently started her roadster on the short run to the campus. - -“You’d hardly say that if you knew us better,” Leslie replied a trifle -coolly. “Miss Harper is considered the cleverest student who ever -enrolled at Hamilton, and Miss Mason is tremendously popular.” - -“Really? How nice. I’m sure I appreciate their interest in me.” The -little girl’s glib reply smacked of insincerity. “Still, it was _you_ -who interested me most. You have an air about you. You’re so awfully -swagger. And your dress—pardon me for mentioning it—it looks imported. -Do you send to Paris for your clothes? I suppose you have been across -often. You have _so much_ individuality. I was in Paris all summer. I -brought back acres of lovely clothes, too. Did I guess right? Have you -been abroad often?” she inquired eagerly. - -“Several times. Not as often as Miss Harper has been, though.” Leslie -found secret satisfaction in her answer. “She comes from Ireland. Her -father’s estate there is one of the largest in the country.” - -“Ireland isn’t much of a country, though,” was the freshman’s -unimpressed opinion. “She looks quite American.” - -“Yes?” Leslie busied herself with her driving, vouchsafing no other -reply. She was thinking that she would be better pleased to drop Miss -Ogden at the Hall than she had been to meet her. She was not regretting -the fact that there were no vacancies at Wayland Hall. - -“Suppose I should be unable to secure a room at Wayland Hall.” Jewell -Marie had begun on a new tack. “In such case, I shouldn’t mind rooming -with you, if you would be willing to take me as a roommate.” - -“What?” Sheer surprise brought Leslie’s pet ejaculation to her lips. She -shot the car forward with a sudden jolt by way of relieving her -feelings. - -“Have you a large room? Is it second, or third floor; front or back?” -quizzed the other girl. - -“I—I—It would be impossible.” Leslie’s voice held finality. “I prefer to -room alone. In the event that I should take a roommate, she would be a -certain particular friend of mine, a senior, who also lives at the Hall. -She is on her way to the U. S. now from Paris. Half of her room became -vacant when her roommate left college last June, but I believe she and -another senior have made arrangements to room together this year.” - -“I’m sorry you feel like that about it. At Warburton the girls there -were crazy to room with me, but I felt then just about the way you seem -to feel in regard to taking a roommate. Oh, never mind. I daresay I -shall have no trouble getting into Wayland Hall,” was the lofty, half -piqued assertion. “Of course, I may not like the Hall. It will depend -upon whether it appeals to me or not.” - -“The part of the country we are now passing through is called Hamilton -Estates.” Leslie was glad of an opportunity to change the subject. “We -are coming to Hamilton Arms now. It was the home of Brooke Hamilton. He -founded Hamilton College. His great-niece, Miss Susanna Hamilton, still -lives at the Arms.” - -“Is that so? I recall seeing something about Brooke Hamilton having -founded the college in the bulletin I sent for. I didn’t bother myself -about reading it. That sort of thing bores me dreadfully.” - -“Then you are likely to be bored frequently as a freshman at Hamilton.” -Leslie spoke with faint satire. “You will hear a great deal about Brooke -Hamilton on the campus, and see the result of his steadfast work and -genius at every turn.” - -“I shall let it go in one ear and out the other,” Miss Ogden waved a -dismissing hand. “I’m not interested in the historical side of Hamilton -College. It’s the social side that appeals to me. I’ve heard there were -more millionaires’ daughters enrolled at Hamilton than at any other -college for girls in the United States. Is that true?” The bright black -eyes of the freshman fastened themselves eagerly upon Leslie. - -“Really, I couldn’t say. I have never stopped to think about any such -thing,” Leslie answered rather brusquely. - -“But you must know most of the students at Hamilton,” came insistently -from the other girl. - -“I know the majority of the students at Wayland Hall, but, with the -exception of a few friends, such as Miss Harper and Miss Mason, I know -little of their personal affairs, or financial circumstances. The social -side of Hamilton is delightful, at the same time, it is decidedly -democratic. Cleverness, and initiative, count for more at Hamilton than -does money.” - -“That sounds awfully, well—dreadfully prissy, and pokey. ‘True worth -will win,’ and ‘Every day we are growing better, and better,’ and all -that sort of twaddle. One hears it generally about most colleges, -though.” Miss Ogden’s shoulder-shrug was eloquent of her contempt of -such a state of affairs as Leslie had briefly outlined to her. “I can -tell in a few days whether, or not, I’m going to like Hamilton. If it -doesn’t appeal to me I shall pick another college.” - -Sight of the campus momentarily turned the self-centered strange -attention from her own particular aims and ambitions. “It’s a bully -campus,” she exclaimed with some warmth. “It has a lot of class.” As the -roadster sped on toward the entrance gates she continued to voice -approval of the majestic stretch of green, stately Hamilton Hall, and -its accompanying handsome campus houses. - -Neither Leila’s nor Vera’s car showed on the drive leading up to Wayland -Hall. Leslie guessed that they had driven to the garage, since they had -preceded her on the return from the station. It therefore became her -duty to escort Miss Ogden to the Hall, and there introduce her to Miss -Remson. Her responsibility as one of the welcoming committee of the -afternoon would then cease, she was thankfully reflecting, as she -accompanied the diminutive freshman up the steps. - -“Well, Leslie,” greeted the brisk little manager as Leslie entered Miss -Remson’s office with her afternoon “catch,” “you are back from the -station in good season. I delayed serving dinner on account of the -arriving freshmen.” She rose from her desk chair and stepped forward, -smiling at the new arrival in her kindly fashion. - -“They never arrived, Miss Remson,” Leslie said. “This is Miss Ogden, -also a freshman. She came in on the five-fifty, and we promptly captured -her. The freshie twelve we went down there to meet must either have -missed the train, or else changed their plans. At any rate, they failed -to appear. Miss Ogden would like to talk with you about securing a room -at the Hall. You will pardon me, Miss Ogden, if I leave you now. I will -see you again at dinner, or else, afterward.” Leslie bowed to the -freshman and made a quick escape from the office. - -She went out on the veranda, there to await the coming of Leila and Vera -from the garage. Her own car she had decided to leave parked on the -drive in case she wished to go for an after-dinner spin. She dropped -into one of the big porch chairs with an audible sigh of relief, -mentally characterizing Jewel Marie Ogden as a “Razzberry.” - -“Where is she? What have you done with her?” Vera Mason’s voice, low, -and suspiciously near laughter, suddenly interrupted the mental analysis -of the pert little freshie which Leslie was endeavoring to make. - -“What?” she raised a surprised head from the hand that cupped her chin. -“Where did you blow from? I never even heard you.” - -“Oh, we came cross-lots, and then around the corner of the house. Where -is she, Leslie?” Vera repeated, eyes roving toward the opened, screened -door. - -“In there, having a go with Miss Remson.” Leslie jerked her head toward -the manager’s office, the beginning of her slow smile on her lips. “I -introduced her to Miss Remson, then fled.” - -“I should say so.” Vera’s small hands spread themselves in a gesture of -comic hopelessness. “She’s a positive curiosity. I never before met -another girl quite like her. What a find she would have been for a crowd -of mischievous sophs. She surely would have read of herself afterward in -the grind book. I didn’t dare look at either of you girls while she was -talking to us.” Vera dropped, laughing, into a convenient rocker. - -“She was lucky to have been met by three staid, old persons like us,” -was Leila’s humorous opinion. “I am still full of pride and vainglory at -having been taken for one of the faculty. And Miss Remson has yet to -hear that she was guessed to be the registrar. But for the life of me, I -cannot understand why Jewel Marie, and grant me, that is some name, -should have made such a ridiculous mistake about Hamilton Hall. I do not -understand the girl at all, and I have often thought myself an Irish -lady of some understanding.” - -“What I can’t understand is this. As a graduate of prep school she -should be thoroughly familiar with college conditions. Hamilton Hall is -sufficiently described in the Hamilton bulletin so as to differentiate -it from the other campus houses. I simply couldn’t feel sympathetic with -her when she admitted she had made a stupid mistake.” Vera made honest -confession. “She had been so—so—well disagreeably inquisitive and -self-centered. It’s not charitable to discuss her, even to you two, who -saw her as I saw her, but——” Vera paused with a helpless little shrug. - -“Her present manners will not carry her far at Hamilton, provided she -should enroll here. I have my doubts whether she knows her own mind -about it, and I have further doubts that she will be able to secure even -half a room on the campus. It is a foregone conclusion that she will -scorn the dormitory,” Leila predicted. “What was your opinion of her, -Leslie?” - -“A human interrogation point,” Leslie said laconically, then laughed. -“Her college ideals seem to be about on a par with those of the Sans. -Somehow, I felt sorry for her. If she stays at Hamilton she will gather -some violent jolts. She’s far from stupid, but she’s a young vandal; her -own worst enemy.” Leslie had decided against repeating, even to Leila -and Vera, the conversation which she had held with the freshman on the -way to the campus. It had been in her opinion, too trivial for -repetition. She had already summed up Miss Ogden in her own mind as a -social climber, ill-bred, and altogether too self-assertive. She had -known plenty of such girls in the old days, when she, also, had been a -law unto herself. “Jewel Marie has come to the right place to -learn—about herself,” Leslie paused briefly, then went on. “She’s -awfully sure she knows herself now, but she’s going to find out -differently, if she sticks here at Hamilton.” - -“What happened to the twelve freshies, I wonder?” Leila commented -irrelevantly. - -“Oh, they’ll probably bob up tomorrow. Let’s go to dinner. I’m hungry, -in spite of our bitter disappointment,” Vera declared facetiously. - -“Yes, we’d best beat it for the dining room. Miss Remson kept the dinner -back on their account. It must be on now.” Leslie rose from the porch -rocker. Her gaze straying idly toward Hamilton pike she gave vent to a -quick exclamation. “Look,” she cried, pointing toward the pike. “Some -little gas party stirring.” - -A long line of automobiles had appeared on the pike, coming from the -direction of Hamilton Estates, moving in a slow procession past the -stone wall of the campus. While Hamilton Pike was a much traveled road -for motorists, the line of cars moving along in slow succession was an -unusual sight. - -A united exclamation ascended from the three post-graduates as the smart -black roadster, leading the van, turned in at the campus gateway. - -“Now what do you suppose that procession means?” Vera had clasped her -small hands together in astonishment. - -“Search me. The driver of the head car doesn’t seem to know quite where -she’s bound for.” Leslie had focussed her gaze upon the girl driver of -the first car in the line. The latter had brought her roadster to a slow -stop on the drive a few yards from the gateway, as she turned to -address, over one shoulder, the solitary occupant in the tonneau of the -machine. The high treble of her tones was carried to the three watchers -on the veranda, though they could not understand what she was saying. - -A moment’s further pause, then the roadster moved forward again, -arriving on the main drive at the point where it diverged into its -several approaches to the campus houses. The driver of the roadster -headed into the Wayland Hall drive, slowing down to a quick stop at the -edge of the broad graveled space in front of the Hall. - -“I’ve guessed the answer,” Leslie said in an excited undertone. “I’ve -counted the cars in that line. There are twelve buzz-buggies. The -freshies have arrived, the missing twelve are on the job at last.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER X - - DANGER AHEAD - - -“This is Wayland Hall, is it not?” The driver of the head automobile had -now sprung from the roadster and was advancing toward the veranda steps. -She was a tall girl, gracefully slender in her smart tan motor coat, -with straight, well-cut features and large flashing dark eyes. From -under her small tan motor hat her hair showed jet-black and silky, -contrasting sharply with the healthy pallor of her oval face. Her tone, -indifferently impersonal, was such as she might have used in addressing -a traffic officer, or other guardian of public service. - -“Good evening. Yes, this is Wayland Hall,” Vera’s courteous intonation -contrasted sharply with the stranger’s almost imperious manner of -speaking. - -“Thank you.” The girl in tan turned abruptly away from the steps and -hurried back to the roadster. She paused at one of the tonneau doors for -an instant’s conversation with the, as yet unseen, occupant within the -car, then went on to the next car where she paused again for a word with -its driver. - -“What shall we do, flee, or make a stand and greet our little freshie -sisters?” Vera murmured. - -“You have me there.” Leila cast a comically apprehensive glance toward -the line of cars, now stretching most of the way down the drive. “It is -one thing to welcome a freshie at the station, but quite another to -extend the hand of welcome from the veranda. And, if the other eleven -should prove like this first haughty lady, with the flashing black eyes -and an imperial air, there will be little need of our kind offices,” -Leila ended a trifle satirically. - -“You got it, did you? So did I,” Leslie said half grimly. “I hate to -hang out on the veranda and run the risk of being classed as a mutt by -this freshie legion. Somehow, I feel something like that coming our way. -On the other hand, we’re P. G’s., trying to live up to Hamilton’s first -tradition. Let’s stick it out, and see what happens.” - -“I’ll go and tell Miss Remson they’ve arrived. I’ll be back in a -minute.” Vera flitted into the house to find Miss Remson. - -From the head car an elderly woman, white-haired and smartly dressed, -had now emerged. Immediately she began to busy herself with a goodly -quantity of luggage which she began removing, piece by piece, from the -back of the car. Leslie watched her shrewdly, for a moment, then -muttered to Leila, “She’s the chaperon, on the order of Gaylord, you -know. Wait and see if I haven’t said it.” - -Leila nodded. “Here they come,” she said softly. - -The luggage-laden occupants of the line of cars were now on the way to -the veranda of the Hall led by the tall dark girl whose high animated -tones could be clearly heard above the voices of her companions. - -In the same moment Miss Remson came out upon the veranda with Vera, an -expression of surprise in her kind blue eyes. “I never thought of them -as arriving by automobile,” she was saying to Vera. “A good thing I held -dinner back for them.” - -Before Vera could make reply the first three of the luggage-burdened -group of travelers had reached the veranda. The trio consisted of the -tall, dark girl, the elderly woman and a very blonde stout girl wearing -eye-glasses. - -“Where can I find the manager of the Hall, Miss—— What is her name, Mrs. -Weatherly?” The tall dark girl turned rather impatiently to her elderly -companion. “Really, I have forgotten it.” - -“Miss Remson, I believe,” supplied the gray-haired woman in a politely -expressionless tone. “Don’t you recall, Miss Norris, that I—” - -“Where can I find Miss Remson?” The tall girl paid no heed to the -half-formed question on her companion’s lips. She had instead addressed -herself to Leila who chanced to be sitting nearest to her. - -“I am Miss Remson.” The little manager stepped forward to meet the -newcomers as they gained the veranda floor. - -“Oh, are you? I am Miss Norris. This is Mrs. Weatherly, our chaperon. We -made the trip here from New York by motor instead of by train. We would -have arrived earlier except for a provoking tire blow-out on one of our -machines. I hope our rooms are in readiness for us. We are really quite -fagged from the trip. And, may we have dinner? Perhaps your maids might -help us with our luggage.” - -Miss Norris deposited the two leather bags she carried upon the veranda -floor. She did not offer a hand to Miss Remson, apparently not seeing -the hand the manager had already half extended. - -Ignoring the girl’s half arrogant attitude, Miss Remson’s fund of -old-fashioned courtesy did not desert her. “I am glad to welcome you to -Wayland Hall, Miss Norris,” she said, bowing an acknowledgment of the -girl’s introduction to the chaperon, Mrs. Weatherly. “You will find your -rooms ready; satisfactory, also I trust. Dinner has not yet been served. -I had expected you by train. Dinner was therefore held back on account -of your expected arrival. Miss Harper, Miss Mason and Miss Cairns, -Hamilton post-graduates, drove down to the station to welcome you. They -reported to me the fact of your non-arrival by train.” - -Miss Remson proceeded in her brisk manner to introduce Miss Norris and -Mrs. Weatherly to the three P. G’s. without giving the haughty freshman -the opportunity of immediate answer to her own pleasant, but dignified -reply. - -“Pleased to meet you,” Miss Norris’s smiling, careless nod to each of -the three P. G’s. in turn was indicative of the precise amount of -pleasure she derived from the meeting. Nor did she offer a hand to them. -“So kind in you to go to the station. Thank you for thinking of us.” - -“You are welcome,” Leila became spokesman, her tone formal, rather than -friendly. She was not fond of being patronized. Miss Norris’s glance -wavered a trifle as she met the steady light of the Irish girl’s blue -eyes. - -“Yes; it was certainly very sweet in you,” she hastily amended, then -turned to Miss Remson with: “We should like to see our rooms before we -have dinner.” She made no attempt to introduce the stout girl beside her -to the three P. G’s. - -The bevy of freshmen behind her were paying small attention to their -leader’s conversation with Miss Remson. They were evidently satisfied -with their leader’s method of management. A low-toned buzz of -conversation was going on among them, punctuated by frequent gusts of -laughter. - -“Come on, girls.” Miss Norris waved a beckoning arm to the buzzing group -at the foot of the veranda steps. With a condescending smile and nod to -the three P. G’s. she and her two companions followed Miss Remson into -the house. Mrs. Weatherly also bowed to them, pleasantly, and with a -curious expression almost of appeal on her plump features. The blonde -girl showed not the slightest interest in them as she moved stolidly -along beside Miss Norris. - -“Isn’t there a lift in the house?” was the last the trio left on the -veranda heard of Miss Norris, as her voice floated back to them from the -reception hall. “At Edgely Manor each campus house has—” - -“Edgely Manor! Humph,” Leslie’s subdued ejaculation held a degree of -light contempt. “So that’s what it’s all about. We may as well check out -on this particular crowd of freshies, and be helpful to them by giving -them a good letting-alone.” - -“Tell us about Edgely Manor, wise Leslie,” begged Vera amusedly. - -“Speak no word of it until we are in the dining room. Did I not hear you -say you were hungry, Midget? I am that hungry myself, and that in spite -of having been well snubbed,” Leila had dropped into colloquial -Celticism. “It’s sadly hurt I should feel. Now why do I smile?” Her -strong features were full of laughing amusement. - -“One can’t take a flock of geese seriously,” Leslie answered. - -“Not unless the whole flock comes hissing at once,” laughed Vera as they -entered the house. - -“Even then they are not dangerous, if one turns on them,” Leila declared -contemptuously. - -As the three P. G’s. crossed the hall on their way to the dining room -they glimpsed the last of the procession of freshmen rounding the corner -at the head of the staircase. - -“They came, they saw, and they’re now safe in port. Why worry about -them?” Leslie murmured satirically. - -“I was wondering how you were going to end that time-worn quotation,” -was Leila’s sly rejoinder. - -“Well, I couldn’t say ‘they conquered,’ for they haven’t, and I had to -say something,” Leslie defended with a grin. - -“You remind me of an Irish woman on our estate who once said very -impressively to me, ‘You may be knowin’ Miss Leila, that a watched pot -never yet set the world on fire,’” Leila chuckled. - -Laughing, the trio entered the long pleasant dining room to find it -occupied, thus far, by only three students. Miss Duncan, the freshman of -the previous year who had passed a perfect entrance examination which -had entitled her to the “Brooke Hamilton honor room” at the Hall, had -returned early to college in order to tutor such students as might -desire her services. Miss Ryan and Miss Keller, sophs of the previous -year, had also returned to take up their junior estate at Hamilton. - -“Now,” Leslie began as the three friends seated themselves at their -table, “I’ll tell you about Edgely Manor. Described in a few words, it’s -a precious pet knowledge shop. It’s supposedly a prep school to college, -but it’s really more on the order of a fashionable boarding school. The -majority of the girls who enroll there are the daughters of society -folks. Miss Tremaine, who is at the head of the school, is an outrageous -snob. As a consequence, the Edgely Manor girls have an inflated opinion -of themselves. I know this to be true, for my father picked the Manor -for me as a prep school. I started in there, and managed to stand Miss -Tremaine and her precious pets for two months. One Saturday afternoon I -took a run into New York, and home. I’d had enough of the Manor. I -balked, and wouldn’t go back. Peter the Great had to find another school -for me. I met Natalie Wyman at the new school, and liked her. I hadn’t -liked a single girl at the Manor. Nat was a frightful snob, and I -developed snobbish tendencies from chumming with her. I know now that I -wasn’t ever a snob at heart. I was a democrat, like my father. If I -hadn’t been, I could never have climbed out of the pit I’d dug for -myself. You girls remember the way the Sans ran things during their -freshman year at Hamilton.” Leslie fixed her dark eyes soberly upon -Leila. - -“I am not likely to forget it,” Leila made honest reply. “I was strongly -tempted not to come back to Hamilton the second year on that very -account. It was love of Hamilton College, and all it stood for, that -brought me back to it again as a soph. Then Marjorie came, Beauty set -her good little feet on the campus, and you know the rest.” A gleam of -sentiment shone in Leila’s eyes. - -“Yes, I know the rest,” Leila nodded slowly. “Seeing this crowd of girls -today brought back memory of the Sans. In this Miss Norris I saw myself -again, leading my crowd, and behaving like a villain. You know what a -lot of trouble I managed to stir up, at the Hall, and on the campus. I -have a hunch that history is going to repeat itself; not on the campus. -The battle for democracy has been fought and won there, thanks to -Marjorie and you girls who stood by her so faithfully. Here at the -Hall—look out.” Leslie laughed in her odd noiseless way. “Whatever -starts here, I shall take a hand in. Because of the flivver I made five -years ago I’m going to fight as hard for democracy this year as I once -fought against it.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - THE INTRUDER - - -The three P. G’s. were beginning their dessert when the freshman -invasion upon the dining room occurred. The belated twelve, seen without -motor coats and hats, were an attractive-looking lot of girls, smartly -dressed to a degree. Assigned seats at table by Miss Remson, who had -conducted the newcomers to the dining room, they made considerable noise -in the way of talk and laughter, calling back and forth to one another -across the three tables which seated them, precisely as though they -might have been the only occupants of the dining room. - -“What’s overtaken their chaperon, I wonder?” Leslie surveyed the -chattering group of diners with an enigmatic face. - -“Where is Jewel Marie?” counter-questioned Vera. - -“Maybe taxi-cabbing it back to Hamilton town,” Leslie said ruminatively. -“I left her to learn her fate from Miss Remson. She wouldn’t take my -word for it, that the Hall was full up to the last half room. I still -feel sorry for her, somehow, thinking her over after having thankfully -passed her on to Miss Remson.” - -Neither Mrs. Weatherly, nor Miss Ogden made an appearance in the dining -room before Leila, Vera and Leslie had finished dessert. - -“Want to go for a ride with me?” Leslie invited as the three went -upstairs, bound for their rooms. - -“We can’t. We’ve been shamefully lazy since we came to the Hall. Neither -of us are more than half unpacked. We made each other a solemn promise -to do the job up brown before going bye-bye tonight,” Vera said with a -sigh. - -“And we are persons of our word. You know just how it will be if we keep -putting off unpacking. We shall be flitting gaily about, here, and -there, with our friends descending hungrily upon us, and our poor -possessions still in a fine muddle. ‘Take time by the forelock.’ So we -shall firmly grab the forelock, and give it a strenuous jerk,” Leila -finished with energy. - -“Go to it! Attaboy! Maybe I’ll see you later; maybe not.” Leslie left -the industry-declared pair at the door of her room. The door closed, she -went over to a wicker chair beside one of the windows, meditatively -seating herself. She was wishing that the inquisitive little freshie she -had brought to the Hall from the station had not proposed herself as a -roommate to her. - -“Nope I can’t see it that way,” she presently said aloud. “There’s no -reason why I should. Miss Remson would back me up in that.” Her eyes -roved about the luxuriously-appointed room, a gleam of pride in their -dark depths. “Some room,” she nodded, with a sigh of satisfaction. She -smiled a little, anticipating Marjorie’s friendly delight at the beauty -of her “den.” “I’ll have a ‘den-warming’ next week for the Travelers,” -she murmured. - -Thought of Marjorie, and her smile vanished gradually, leaving her -rugged features darkly overcast. Marjorie, to whom she owed the change -of heart which had brought her nothing except happiness, Leslie regarded -as a guiding spirit. Given the same circumstances, it had now occurred -to her to wonder what Marjorie would do. She thereupon began arguing -with herself that even Marjorie might easily feel as she felt about -giving up the comfortable privacy of a “single” to a stranger, merely -because the stranger in question had set her mind upon living at Wayland -Hall. Yet, in her heart, she misdoubted the strength of her own -argument. - -“‘Remember the stranger within the gates,’” was the final pertinent -fling of her mind at her as she left her room and went soberly down the -stairs. She was tempted to stop in Miss Remson’s office, there to -inquire what had become of her freshman “catch.” She went on out of the -house instead, deciding to seek the manager on her return from the ride. - -Leslie walked past the long line of cars, temporarily deserted by their -owners, glad that she had parked her own roadster sufficiently near -enough to the gates so as to escape the string of automobiles which -extended within a few yards of it. Her knowledge of motor cars informed -her that the cars she had passed were the latest models of the most -expensive types. Her own roadster, exceptionally trim-lined, was no -better than those of the freshman twelve. - -She was soon speeding along Hamilton Pike, the fresh-blowing evening -breeze in her face, the swift rush of the fleeing car filling her with -contented exhilaration. Speeding through Hamilton Estates she glimpsed -the lights of Travelers’ Rest and Hamilton Arms, happy in the knowledge -that she would be welcome at either of the stately homes, should she -choose to stop. Carden Hedge, back among the great trees, shadowed of -outline in the growing dusk, would soon be twinkling with lights. Home -was not far off. Her heart beat faster at the thought. Once she had -hated the very name of Hamilton. Now it was everything to her. Lost in -blissful musing, the half sympathetic concern she had felt for the odd -little freshman faded temporarily from her mind. Nor did it return until -she had driven past the college gates on her way to the garage. - -At the garage she found the proprietor, a short, stout man with a -troubled expression, grumbling roundly at the strange ways of “them -young ladies from the college.” - -“You should worry. Think of the business you’re doing,” Leslie -humorously reminded. She had noted at first glance the cars of the -twelve freshmen, arranged in a double row at the back of the roomy -garage. - -“I’d as lief them girls that was just here would take their cars some -place else,” he asserted half belligerently. “They wasn’t like you, Miss -Cairns, and Miss Harper and Miss Mason, and all them young ladies you go -around with. I ain’t no time for fussers, people that treat me ’s if I -was the dirt under their feet. I told one girl, straight out, ‘I ain’t -goin’ to lose no sleep, you see, if you want to take your cars t’some -other garage. There’s a couple more up the next street, south of the -campus.’” - -“Better luck tomorrow, Mr. Symes. Those girls were tired out tonight. -They drove to Hamilton from New York.” Leslie felt impelled to put in a -good word for the absent freshmen. - -“It’ll take more’n a night’s rest to reform that snippy bunch,” was the -proprietor’s displeased prediction, the probable truth of which Leslie -could scarcely doubt. - -Returned to the Hall she poked her head in at the half-open door of the -manager’s office with a jesting, “No ‘Busy’ sign in sight. May I come -in?” - -“Of course you may.” Miss Remson looked up smilingly from the -cloth-bound, ledger-like book over which she had been poring. Leslie -recognized it at a glance as the manager’s “Room” book. In it she kept a -register of the names of students living at the Hall, together with the -numbers of the rooms and such other data as her position of manager -demanded. - -“I am sorry for that little Miss Ogden, Leslie,” she began in low tones -as Leslie sat down in a chair near her. “She seems nothing but a child, -in spite of her self-assertive manner. She has set her heart upon living -at Wayland Hall, and I have nothing to offer her in the way of a room. -I’ve permitted her to use Miss Finch’s and Miss Peters’ room over night. -Neither of them will be here until next Wednesday. She has told me that -she is an orphan, and must look out for herself. She has given me as a -reference Miss Sarah Arthur, Dean of Warburton Preparatory School for -girls. She informed me with a ridiculous air of childish pride that she -had plenty of money, could afford to take the best room at the Hall, -provided she could secure it. She is nineteen, and, it seems, has no -legal guardian. She was very frank with me in some respects, and -decidedly secretive in others. She is really something of an enigma. I -could only advise her to go to the managers of the other campus houses -tomorrow and try her luck with them. It is possible she might find a -vacancy in one of the other campus houses. I understand the dormitory -has been completely filled. She is set against it, however. She is -determined to find board on the campus.” - -“She applied to me on the way from the station for half of my room,” -Leslie said with a touch of humor. “I told her ‘No.’ Afterward, I -wondered if it were selfish in me to refuse her. Do you think it was?” -Leslie regarded Miss Remson with sudden gloomy gravity. - -“No, Leslie: I do not,” was Miss Remson’s prompt reply. “Since you do -not desire a roommate, you are under no obligation of kindness to alter -your own arrangements on Miss Ogden’s behalf. The Hamilton bulletin, -which she admits she wrote for and received, plainly states that -arrangements for rooms must be made beforehand, and by letter, by those -desiring board at the campus houses. This young girl’s failure to be -business-like in the matter hardly calls for such a sacrifice on your -part as she has asked you to make.” - -“She proudly informed us at the station that she expected to board at -Hamilton Hall.” Leslie’s features lifted in a faint grin. “We had to -explain matters to her. Then she said she’d made a stupid mistake, but -she failed to enlighten us as to how she happened to make it. We found -her more or less of a Chinese puzzle.” - -“She said nothing to me of having made such a mistake.” Miss Remson -showed half smiling surprise. “How came she to make it, I wonder?” - -“Hard to say. Maybe she only gave the bulletin a once-over, then threw -it away,” was Leslie’s half jesting theory. - -“A plausible guess.” Miss Remson’s eyes twinkled. “Well, I have done the -best I can for her, poor child. I hope she will be able to find campus -accommodations. Did you see her again at dinner? I lost track of her -after I had shown her to Room Fourteen. I had my hands full with that -crowd of freshmen. I grew quite out of patience with Miss Norris. She -ordered me about as though I were a maid. A very arrogant young woman. -Her treatment of Mrs. Weatherly, the chaperon, was really insufferable.” - -“What became of the chaperon? I didn’t see her at dinner,” Leslie asked -with a touch of curiosity. - -“She saw her charges safely into the Hall, then telephoned for a taxicab -to take her to the station. She said she wished to catch the eighty -forty-five train to New York. I asked her to remain to dinner, but she -declined my invitation. She complained of having a bad headache. It was -hardly to be wondered. From the way her charges treated her, I judged -her to be a paid chaperon.” - -“I think she was,” Leslie nodded her conviction of the surmise. -“Professional chaperons are quite the go in New York among society -hounds. Papa is too busy playing the market, mamma, auntie and big -sister can’t leave the social whirl. Enter the long-suffering chaperon. -All on account of daughter, who regards her as a tiresome necessity, and -bosses her to a standstill. I know. I used to boss poor Mrs. Gaylord -unmercifully. I’ll say Mrs. Weatherly must have been glad to see the -station taxi at the door.” - -“I hope you won’t mind my saying it, Leslie, but these New York freshmen -seem to me perilously like the Sans,” the manager observed soberly. -“Perhaps I formed the impression simply because they came to the Hall -together in a seemingly chummy crowd. They may turn out to be of an -entirely different sort. Miss Norris was the only one among them who -annoyed me.” - -“They reminded me of the Sans in some respects,” Leslie replied after a -moment of reflective silence. - -“Deliver me from any more such experiences as I had with the Sans.” The -little manager raised her hands in a prohibitive gesture. - -“I will. I promise faithfully to deliver you from this freshie -aggregation, if they should start any trouble.” Leslie laughed, but -there was a ring of resolution in her words. She rose with: “I must go -upstairs and write to Peter the Great. He’ll be leaving London soon for -home, and I’d like him to have one more letter from me before he sails. -Don’t lose any sleep over the freshie invasion. Just leave it to Leila, -Vera and me to keep the democracy plant growing at the Hall.” - -“Thank you, my dear. I shan’t run out to meet calamity. Speaking of -democracy reminds me of Marjorie. When did you last see her? I have been -looking for a visit from her. I was so sorry I couldn’t attend Jerry’s -wedding. I’ve not seen Marjorie since her return from Sanford. Tell her, -when you see her again, to come over soon.” - -“I’m going over to Travelers’ Rest tomorrow. I’ll bring her back with -me, if I can. She and Miss Susanna have begun re-arranging Mr. Brooke’s -library, and they are not yet through with the job. Good night, Miss -Remson.” Leslie was now at the door. - -“Good night, Leslie.” The manager nodded affectionately to the girl who -had once been a sore trial to her. - -Leslie went slowly up the stairs and down the hall toward her room, -overtaken by a sudden sense of loneliness. She missed Doris Monroe. -“Goldie,” as Leslie liked to call Doris, was always a good pal. Too, she -missed the merry camaraderie of the Sanford group of girls now scattered -to the four winds. Of them, Marjorie and Lucy still remained to her, but -Lucy was staying with Lillian Wenderblatt for a few days before the -opening of college, and Marjorie was still deep in love’s young dream. -Vera and Leila had turned industrious for the evening. She wouldn’t -“butt in” upon them. Leslie sighed faintly as her hand closed on the -knob of her door. Remembering the letter she must write, she brightened, -shook off her wistful mood and opened her door with an energetic swing. - -She was about to close it when the sound of a sob broke upon the dark -stillness of her room. Slightly startled, her fingers found the light -switch at the left of the door casing. Came a flood of light— - -“What?” Leslie’s favorite ejaculation fell from her lips. Inquiry, not -displeasure, was in the glance she turned upon the small weeping figure, -huddled on the floor beside one of the windows. Advancing toward it she -said not ungently, “What’s the trouble?” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - A LITTLE SOCIAL CLIMBER - - -The black curly head of the sobbing intruder slowly raised itself from -her arms at Leslie’s inquiry. The expression of the round, tear-stained -face she turned toward Leslie was a mixture of shame, defiance and -appeal. - -“I know I’ve no business to be here,” she quavered half apologetically. -“I mean like this.” Steadying her voice, she went on with: “I knocked on -your door. It was open a little. When I knocked it opened wider. Then I -saw there was no one in here. I thought perhaps you’d be back soon, and -wouldn’t mind if I waited for you. I just had to see you I feel so-o -ba-d-d.” The words ended in a mournful child-like wail. The girl’s black -curly head went down again upon her arms. - -“Don’t cry. Buck up, and get up,” advised Leslie tersely. “Have a chair, -then go ahead and spill your troubles.” She already had a shrewd idea of -the nature of Jewel Marie Ogden’s business with her. - -She waited until the downcast freshman had risen from the floor, to -slump dejectedly into the depths of a broad-armed wicker chair, then she -seated herself in a chair directly opposite that of the other girl. - -“Now, go ahead,” she directed cheerfully. “I’m listening.” - -“I can’t find a room, or even half a room, on the campus,” burst out -little Miss Ogden. “Miss Remson told me to go tomorrow to see the -managers of the other campus houses, but I went tonight. I couldn’t bear -to wait till tomorrow. I was afraid I might miss the chance of getting a -room. It was no use.” She shook a disconsolate head. “None of them had a -single vacancy. I don’t want to leave—Hamilton—I—want—to—” she faltered, -her red lips again beginning to quiver. - -“Why don’t you try one of the boarding houses off the campus?” Leslie -had decided that there was no use in reminding the downcast freshman -that she alone was responsible for her present disappointment. “I know -of two that are up to the campus houses in excellence. The dormitory has -even better accommodations than the campus houses, but I’ll say it is -probably full to overflowing.” - -“No, no,” came the positive answer, “I must be on the campus, or else go -away from here. I hate the very thought of a dormitory. Nothing—I mean, -not for me,” the little girl hastily objected. - -Leslie noted the hasty emendation with a slight smile. She suspected -that slang came far easier to Miss Ogden than the “side” she had put on -at the station. - -“I have a reason, a very strong reason, for wishing to live on the -campus,” Miss Ogden began again eagerly, “I can’t bear to give up hope. -I came to your room to ask you if you think there’d be any chance for me -with the senior you told me about. Is she surely going to take a -roommate?” - -“Yes I know positively, because she is my pal.” - -“Then why don’t you and she room together?” The freshman’s face -brightened. “If you should, then maybe the other girl and I could—” - -“No, you couldn’t,” Leslie interrupted patiently. “Doris Monroe, the -senior I mentioned to you, is very fond of the girl she’s going to room -with. I like rooming alone. There; you have it.” Leslie made an -explanatory motion of the hand. She suspected the little girl of having -designs upon her room, but of lacking the final spurt of temerity to ask -outright again for a half of it. - -“I guess I’d best go.” Miss Ogden half rose from the chair. Then she -plumped down upon it again, and began to cry. “I—wouldn’t you, couldn’t -you—Oh, I know you’ll—hate me—for being so—so—nervy, but—if you’d only -take—me—as a—a—roommate for—for a while, maybe I might be able to -find—another room on the campus—later. Truly, I’d try—not—to be a -bother, and to—to—find another room as soon as I—could,” the tearful -pleader wound up with a long sobbing gurgle. - -Leslie stared at her uninvited visitor, her immobile features giving no -clue to her racing thoughts. She was tempted to comment with a touch of -good-natured satire: “No doubt about your nerve.” Immediately the -impulse died, and her brain took up seriously the problem she was -facing. Should she, or should she not, consider this stranger’s welfare, -rather than her own? A roommate would certainly not add to her -happiness. Fond as she was of Doris, they got along much better in -separate rooms. Her own fault. Leslie refused to blame Doris for what -she was wont satirically to style as “Cairns’ moods and tenses.” - -“You can’t see me, at all, can you?” Hurt pride at length steadied the -freshman’s tone. She pulled herself together and rose with a kind of -hopeless finality that caused Leslie a pang of self-reproach. - -“No; I don’t,” she answered with blunt honesty, “not yet, but I’m -considering you as a roommate. Don’t say a word.” She held up an -arresting hand. “Just sit tight. Let me think things out.” - -“Oh-h-h I—” Miss Ogden subsided meekly, her black eyes fixed hopefully -upon Leslie. - -Leslie began a thoughtful survey of the room, her glance roving from one -to another of its luxurious appointments. “The chaise longue will have -to go. I’ll give it to Miss Remson,” was her mental decision. “She’ll -have to have a day bed like mine, and a chiffonier. I won’t give up my -color scheme, though I _am_ giving up half my room. Good-bye to a happy -life. Hard luck, Cairns II. The dress closet’s large, thank goodness. I -can get along with half of it. We can use the same dressing table. Hope -she hasn’t the mirror habit.” Aloud she said: “I’ve considered. You may -come in with me, if you like. I’ll warn you, beforehand, I’m not always -sociable. I like to be let alone.” - -“I won’t bother you a bit; truly I won’t. And you’re sure you want—I -mean, you’re willing I should come?” The other girl’s downcast features -had lost their doleful droop. - -“No; I’m not willing—yet, but I have a heart.” Leslie’s slow smile -appeared briefly. “We’ll let it go at that. I’ll speak to Miss Remson -tomorrow about having a couch bed brought in here, temporarily, for -you.” She went on to explain her plan for the re-arrangement of the -room. - -“I’ll pay for whatever furniture you are going to buy on my account,” -instantly proposed the freshman. “I have lots of money. I’d love to do -it.” - -Leslie shook her head, “No; leave that part to me. I have my own reasons -for asking you to do so. Perhaps, some day, I may ask you to make me a -promise on that very account.” - -“I’ll promise now to do whatever you may ask me to do in the time to -come.” There was evident gratitude in the earnestly-spoken reply. - -Leslie eyed the little girl with new interest. There seemed to be more -to Jewel Marie that might be likable than had at first appeared on the -surface. “Thank you,” she said simply. - -“There’s something I’d like to tell you. I’d not care to have anyone -else on the campus know it, though. It’s about myself—a secret. No one -at Warburton ever found it out—I mean—” came a pause. The freshman’s -black eyes were again focussed upon Leslie with solemn intensity. - -Leila’s jesting Celtic protest, “Tell me nothing,” hovered behind -Leslie’s lips. She did not utter it, instead waited in silence for her -visitor to continue at will. - -“I believe I can trust you with my secret,” the girl went on hurriedly. -“It seems necessary for me to tell you. You see, you don’t understand -me, at all. I tried to put on airs at the station today, because—I’m not -like that, really I—” Again she came to an uncertain pause. “Would you -mind if I told you about myself?” She was watching Leslie rather -timidly, divining the latter’s unflattering lack of curiosity regarding -her affairs. - -“No.” Leslie’s “No” was kindly. - -“But you are not very keen about it, are you?” persisted the freshman. - -“Forget it,” was the succinct advice. “Go ahead with your story.” - -“Well,” the little girl drew a long breath, “it’s like this. Until I -went to Warburton prep last year, I’d always lived a different life from -other girls. At the station I spoke of Warburton as though I’d started -there as a freshman. I hadn’t. I’d never been in any other school. I’d -always had a governess. I—I’m a child of the circus.” - -“What?” Leslie straightened with a sudden interested jerk. - -“The child of a circus,” Jewel Marie repeated. “I certainly gave you a -jolt that time, now didn’t I?” She broke into a little laugh. - -“Yes. You sound interesting. Go on,” Leslie encouraged. - -“Have you ever heard of ‘Chiquita,’ the child trapeze wonder?” - -“Let me think. Have I?” Leslie considered for a moment. “No,” she -returned, “I haven’t. I never cared much about circuses, even as a -child. With what circus did you travel?” - -“One called ‘Fernando’s Mammoth Shows.’ That was a long time ago when I -was six years old. I’m nineteen now. My father, Harvey Ogden, owned the -show, in partnership with the ringmaster, Fernando de Castro, a Spanish -Mexican. They used his name for the circus because they liked it better -than Ogden for circus purposes. My mother was Spanish. She was a star -trapeze performer. She and my father were married when she was -seventeen.” - -Now started on the story she had longed to confide to Leslie the -narrator spoke in short dramatic sentences. “I began working in the -ring, doing acrobatic stunts when I was seven. By the time I was ten I -was doing a trapeze act with my mother. We showed mostly in Mexico, and -in the southern part of the U. S. When I was eleven we were caught in a -flood. We were showing in a town along the Mississippi River when the -flood came. It cleaned out the circus. My father was drowned. My mother -was saved, but she contracted pneumonia, and died two weeks later in a -hospital. Fernando and his wife, Fleurette, a bareback rider, and I were -up in the town shopping when the flood came. The circus lot was near the -river and a good deal lower down than the rest of the town. Twenty-two -of our people, besides my father, were drowned. It was terrible.” - -“It must have been.” Leslie had assumed her characteristic pose of elbow -on chair, chin in hand. She was leaning forward a trifle, a sure -indication of her sympathetic interest. - -“Nandy, that’s what I always called him, and Fleurette and I went to -Mexico City after the flood. My father and mother had left me quite a -lot of money, and Nandy had himself appointed as my guardian. It was up -to Nandy and Fleurette to find another engagement, for Nandy had put -most of his money into the circus, and lost it through the flood. I -wanted to work, too, but none of us cared about going back again to -circus life. My parents had wished me to become well-educated. Finally -Nandy thought out a trapeze act for Fleurette and me. She was fine on -the trapeze, too, and we went into vaudeville, with Nandy as manager. We -toured the U. S. for three years, and made plenty of money, for we were -headliners. After that we went to Europe and Nandy featured me as ‘La -Petite Oiseau.’ We stayed in Europe, working, until last year. During -all that time I had a tutor, an English woman, Miss Jaffrey. She was an -awful frump, but she knew how to tutor. She had a sister who was -teaching French at Warburton prep. She arranged for me to go to school -there, without letting the dean know I was a professional. Nandy said it -wouldn’t do to let it be known at school that I was a trapeze performer. -While I was at Warburton, Nandy took a job as manager of a vaudeville -house in Paris. Fleurette grew too stout for fast trapeze work so she -quit the business. Nandy fixed me up a dandy solo act and I worked, off -and on, last summer at the Paris house he was managing. - -“I had to carry out my father’s and mother’s wishes about going to -college, so I wrote to half a dozen colleges for bulletins. I picked -Hamilton College, but I lost the bulletin before I’d more than hardly -glanced at it. If Jaffrey’d been with me she’d have written to Hamilton -and arranged everything for me, but she left me when I went to -Warburton. I meant to write for another bulletin, but I hate to write -letters, so I let it go, thinking it would probably be as easy to get a -room on the campus as it would be to get one in a hotel. I remembered -something about Hamilton Hall and made the mistake of taking it for a -campus house. Now you understand what an idiot I was to make such a -silly mistake,” the little girl ended ruefully. - -“I’m understanding one thing,” Leslie leaned forward, one hand extended, -“you’re a clever kid. You needn’t be ashamed of letting it be known on -the campus that you are a professional. Why keep it a secret?” - -“I’d rather no one here, except you, knew it,” the other girl exclaimed -in quick alarm. “You must promise me you won’t tell anyone what I’ve -told you—my story in confidence. Promise me—” - -“Don’t worry. You may rest assured no one will ever learn it from me,” -Leslie interrupted. “I give you my word. There’ll be no come-back.” - -“Thank you. I _know_ I can trust you.” Alarm slowly faded from the -freshman’s worried features. “There’s no disgrace in having been a -circus performer,” she went on after a moment’s hesitation, her tone -defensive. “The trouble is this. Circus folks are mostly misunderstood -by the public at large. They aren’t low and ignorant as is too often -supposed, the performers, I mean. They are sober, quiet, good-living -people who are obliged to take the best possible care of themselves so -as always to be in good physical trim for their work, which is generally -dangerous. I’m not ashamed of my circus life, or of my circus friends. -It’s not that.” She shook her black head almost vehemently. “It’s only -that I’ve said good-bye to that life. I shall never again do -professional trapeze work. Entering Hamilton is the beginning of my new -life. I want to be like the girls are who come from aristocratic -families. I’m not. I understood that much soon after I’d entered -Warburton. That was hot air, most of what I said at the -station—pretending I was somebody at Warburton. I—I wasn’t. I knew only -a few girls—none of them belonged to the toppo social gang that ran -things there.” - -A bright flush mantled the little girl’s round cheeks as she made this -confession. “I don’t want to be a snob—never that, but I’d love to be -what the circus crowd call ‘a fine lady.’ I’d love to have poise and -distinction; an air, you know.” She crested her black head in an -unconscious imitation of her idea of aristocracy. “_You_ are like that. -So are those two girls who were with you at the station. The little girl -was so sweet, and had such lovely manners. I’m going to try to be like -her.” - -“Don’t try to be like anyone but yourself,” Leslie advised emphatically. -“Make your own personality count. I don’t agree with you about keeping -your circus life a secret. Hamilton used to be a snob shop, but not now. -Cleverness counts for more than money here. You’re an artist in your -line. The girls would go crazy over your trapeze stunt, and you, if they -knew about you.” Leslie already had a managerial eye upon the little -girl for a vaudeville show she and Leila were in process of planning as -a first offering at the Leila Harper Playhouse. - -“No, no.” There was active distress in the refusal. “It wouldn’t do. -Girls are queer. They might pretend to admire me here on the campus, -then turn around and try to down me because I’d been with a circus.” - -“The upper class students wouldn’t—” - -“But I’m a freshman,” cut in Miss Ogden, “and I want to stand well with -my own class. It might make a great difference. I saw that crowd of -freshmen who came to the Hall this evening. They looked awfully toppo. I -shouldn’t care to have them know about my circus life. I’d love to be -friends with _them_. They certainly showed class.” - -A great light suddenly burst upon Leslie. So that was the way things -were with Jewel Marie. There was nothing she felt privileged to offer in -the way of advice that the socially-ambitious freshman might care to -hear. She would have to discover for herself that all was not gold that -glittered. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - PLANNING POPULARITY - - -“The freshman frolic is to be given next Saturday evening in the gym. -Miss Ferguson has invited me to go. I understood her to say that her -roommate, Miss Waters, was going to invite you. Have you seen her?” -Stephanie Norris’s voice betrayed no sign of pleasant interest in the -information she had just delivered to her stout roommate, Laura Fisher. -Laura, deep in a novel, had not glanced up from it at her chum’s -entrance into the room. - -“Nope.” Laura did not raise her eyes from her book. - -“Anything but a manless dance.” Stephanie shrugged disdainfully as she -walked to the dressing table mirror and began a critical survey of the -attractive reflection it threw back to her. Tall, and charmingly -slender, the violet-gray of her tailored cloth frock strikingly -emphasized the black of hair and eyes and the clear, lovely pallor of -skin. - -“You haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying,” Stephanie turned petulantly -away from the mirror to frown at Laura. - -“Um-m-m,” Laura went on reading. - -“Will you please stop behaving like a dummy, and listen to me?” -Stephanie’s black eyes had begun to flash ominously. - -“Um-m-m,” Laura’s pale blue eyes lifted themselves slowly from her book. -Reaching a hand into a conveniently-near box of nut chocolates she -carefully selected one, bit into it enjoyingly, then drawled, “I’m -listening.” - -“Did you hear anything I said?” Stephanie demanded crossly. - -“Not much. You say such a lot, Steve, it’s hard to keep track of your -remarks. I heard you say something about the freshman frolic, and then -something more—about a dummy,” Laura paused, a glint of malice in her -pale eyes. - -“You are—” - -“I’m really listening this time,” Laura interrupted sweetly. - -“You are going to be invited to the frolic by Miss Waters.” Stephanie -had intended to tell Laura that she was detestable. Policy warned her to -more impersonal speech. “Miss Ferguson has invited me.” - -“You don’t seem to be crazy over the honor,” Laura fished for another -chocolate. - -“I’m not,” Stephanie declared pettishly. “Miss Ferguson is all right. I -like her better than I like the rest of this Wayland Hall crowd. -Hamilton is, and has been from the first, a disappointment to me. But -then—I never wanted to come here.” She sank into a chair, frowning -moodily. - -“You didn’t?” Laura at last showed indication of interest. “Then why in -Pete’s name did you make the gang think it was the only college on the -map?” - -“Because—” Stephanie flushed, “I wanted the gang with me,” she said -lamely. - -“We’d have gone with you to Smith, or Bryn Mawr—to any of the others you -might have picked. None of us were crazy about Hamilton. We’d heard of -it as a stiff-necked proposition, all tied up with Brooke Hamilton -traditions. You said it led the rest socially; that it was a college of -millionaires’ daughters,” she finished accusingly. - -“That’s true; about the millionaires’ daughters,” Stephanie defended. -“My father heard that the wealthiest men in the U. S. favor Hamilton as -a college for their daughters. He was determined I should enroll at -Hamilton; not because of that. He had another reason for wishing me to -come here; a stronger one.” - -“What was it?” Laura was eyeing Stephanie speculatively. - -“I don’t know,” Stephanie confessed. “He didn’t say he had, but—I -understand my father, when he’s set his mind upon some certain thing. He -talked to me very seriously about Hamilton. He wants me to make a -notable record for myself here; win honors, you know, and make my -influence felt on the campus. He’s promised me a diamond necklace next -June if I succeed in carrying out his ideas on the subject.” Stephanie’s -lowering features cleared themselves for the moment. - -“Go to it.” There was a hint of indolent satire in the stout girl’s -tone. “What are you going to do to start the noble influence ball to -rolling?” - -“How should I know?” Stephanie countered irritably. “The very idea of it -makes me weary. I want the necklace. I know that much. I’ll have to -study the situation, and then try to hit the high spots at the -psychological moment.” - -“It sounds easy. I wonder—” Laura made a tantalizing pause. - -“Don’t make fun of me,” Stephanie turned upon her roommate with sudden -fierceness of tone. “It’s—it’s outrageous in Father to expect any such -thing of me, necklace or no necklace. I like to do as I please, without -having to watch my step all the time. I’ll have to see to it that I make -brilliant recitations. That means digging, when I’m longing to be out in -my car. I’ll have to make myself popular with the girls that count as -powers on the campus. That will be a frightfully tiresome task. I’m -going to entertain a good deal. Father has doubled my allowance. I shall -pick the best sorority, and try to make it, and go in for dramatics and -sports.” - -“Good-bye, in case I shouldn’t see you again,” Laura crunched a -chocolate almond, smiling at Stephanie out of half-closed eyes. “You’re -going to be _so_ busy.” - -“Oh, stop trying to be funny. You can help me a lot if you choose. You -can keep the rest of our gang in line to help me, too. Only they mustn’t -be let into the real reason why. It wouldn’t do. I can trust you. I’m -not so sure of the others. Through one, or another of them, my plan -would leak out on the campus, and make not only myself, but my father, -too, seem ridiculous. You are so clever. You can pick up bits of campus -news from the students without them suspecting they are being pumped. -Then I’ll know exactly how I stand at all times, and can act -accordingly. You’ll be something on the order of a prime minister to -me.” Stephanie had now become flatteringly appealing. - -“Yes, I can wind the girls around my finger,” Laura conceded -confidently. “Only they never suspect they’re being wound. You get the -credit as leader, while I do the managing. You’re in luck, Steve, to -have me around. Do you get that?” - -“Oh, I know it.” Stephanie had changed to sweetly grateful. Laura’s -boast, made in significant assurance, called for sugar on her part. -“You’re quite wonderful, dear,” she continued purringly. “What do you -think we ought to do first?” - -“Get on the good side of those three high and mighty P. G.’s,” Laura -made instant reply. “I’ve been finding out a few things on the campus -about them. We made a mistake the day we came to the Hall in snubbing -them when they tried to be friendly.” - -“I didn’t care to be patronized by them,” Stephanie cut in coldly. - -“They weren’t trying to patronize us. I told you so then, didn’t I?” - -“Yes, but I—” - -“You wouldn’t believe that I knew what I was talking about. And the -moral to that, my dear, is—they’ve given us a fine letting-alone ever -since.” - -“Oh, I don’t know.” Sheer stubbornness prompted Stephanie to contest her -chum’s triumphant statement. “I imagine it’s only because they’ve been -busy with their own affairs that we’ve seen so little of them. Half the -time they’re away from meals. We’ve merely kept to ourselves which is—” - -“Another mistake we’ve made,” Laura supplemented with curt conviction. -“It has cut us off from finding out things about them, and also about -this confoundedly high-brow institution of learning.” - -“Rubbish. I’ve heard too much about it already.” - -“And about _them_?” Laura persisted coolly. - -“Well; I’ve asked Miss Ferguson about them. She has no time for them, -though she is too well-bred to say it outright. When I spoke to her -about the station business, and about having met them she said in the -sweetest way that she hardly knew them, and would prefer not to discuss -them.” - -“Naturally; don’t doubt it,” Laura commented with lazy sarcasm. - -“What do you mean?” Stephanie questioned in a sharp tone. - -“Just what I say. She has good reason for pretending to mind her own -business. I happen to know _that_ much about her.” - -“What do you mean?” Stephanie repeated, eyeing her roommate narrowly. - -“Oh, I heard a few little things about Miss Ferguson the other day. For -one thing, she is a trouble-maker. She tried to start trouble, it seems, -last year at the Hall for Miss Cairns. I don’t know why. I’m going to -find out, though. Anyway, she didn’t get away with it. Miss Remson, and -a crowd of P. G.’s who were at the Hall then, and who belonged to the -same sorority as Miss Cairns, stood by her. At the last, almost all of -Miss Ferguson’s pals, who had backed her, turned against her. This P. -G., Marjorie Dean something or other, who, according to report is the -Great I Am here at Hamilton, was on Miss Cairns’ side, too. Miss -Ferguson didn’t have a look-in.” - -“I don’t believe any such tale,” Stephanie said contemptuously. “Who -told it to you?” she asked with displeased curiosity. - -“Nothing doing. I promised not to tell what I’ve just told you, or from -whom I heard it. I’ve partly broken my word already by repeating it to -you. I thought you ought to know about it, but it’s not necessary for -you to know who said it,” Laura answered coolly. - -“No one except an enemy of Miss Ferguson’s would say such mean things -about her; that she was a trouble-maker, and that she hadn’t a look-in,” -was Stephanie’s scornful opinion. - -“Then I must be the enemy,” Laura laughed softly. “What’s the matter -with you, Steve? But, no; it’s not your fault. I didn’t make myself -clear. The person who told me about Miss Ferguson wasn’t trying to down -her. She simply told me a little about the trouble last year, and I drew -my own conclusions about Miss Ferguson. You’ll find out, sooner or -later, that they’re correct. Look out for her. Remember, I’ve warned -you.” - -“I don’t need your warning. I consider myself capable of judging -character. I like Miss Ferguson.” Stephanie’s chin tilted itself to a -defiant angle. - -“Which goes to show what a punk judge of character you are,” was the dry -retort. “Never mind. Let it go at that. No use in raving at me, Steve. -The person who told me is a friend of Miss Ferguson’s, but she has a -wholesome respect for Miss Cairns, and her P. G. supporters. That’s why -I couldn’t glean much from her. Better success next time,” Laura -predicted, indolently confident. - -“You’re altogether too mysterious. You know more about—well, about this -story than you’ve told me,” Stephanie coldly accused. - -“No; I don’t; and that’s flat. When I _do_ find out more, you’ll be the -first to hear it.” There was finality in the lightly-given promise. - -Stephanie frowningly accepted defeat. She could not well afford to -quarrel with Laura. Once thoroughly angered, Laura was apt to turn -stonily silent, refusing to speak to her for weeks. “What shall you wear -to the freshman dance?” She changed the dangerous subject half sulkily. - -“Haven’t decided yet.” A glint of amusement appeared, and as quickly -disappeared in Laura’s eyes. “The pale blue georgette with the silver -lace tunic, maybe. It’s my prettiest frock.” - -“I shall wear my white satin dress; the imported one, you know. It’s a -stunning thing; too stunning to be wasted on a girl hop, but first -impressions count. There’s to be a beauty contest. How I’d _love_ to win -it. Miss Ferguson says there are to be no juniors or seniors at the -frolic this year. The sophomore class is a little larger than the -freshie class, so the juniors and seniors won’t be needed as escorts. I -haven’t seen any startling beauties yet among either the freshies or the -sophs. Have you?” Stephanie’s question betrayed ill-suppressed -eagerness. - -“I’ve seen three or four beautiful girls on the campus. They may be -upper class girls, for all I know. Of course, Miss Monroe, here at the -Hall, is a beauty, but she’s a senior, and that lets her out. I heard -she’d won it two successive years. I heard, too, that this Marjorie -Dean, I can’t remember her married name, had won it, twice; that she was -prettier than Miss Monroe, though of a different type of beauty.” - -“Do you think there is a chance that I might win the contest?” Stephanie -could not resist asking the question. - -“Yes; I think there is,” Laura returned speculatively, “particularly if -you should wear the white satin dress. You _are_ beautiful, Steve, but—” -Laura paused, shaking her head. - -“But what?” Stephanie demanded, half affronted. - -“You’re too imperious in manner. It somehow shows itself in your face, -and lessens your good points. You ought to be more gracious of manner. -You’d make a better impression all around. Just try it out for the rest -of the week and go to the frolic looking radiant, whether you feel like -being gracious, or not,” was Laura’s calmly pertinent advice. - -“What do you expect me to do? Go about the campus grinning like a Chessy -cat?” came the nettled retort. - -“It will do more for you in the way of popularity than your empress of -the world pose. You asked me for my opinion. You now have it. I’m going -for a ride, and a stop at Baretti’s on the way back to dinner.” Laura -rose with the deliberate slowness which characterized her every -movement. “You’d better come along.” - -“No; I have letters to write,” Stephanie replied curtly. She was still -piqued at Laura’s scarcely flattering criticism. - -“Then you’d better put a ‘Busy’ sign on the door. Miss Ogden has been -here twice to see you while you were out.” - -“Oh, that tiresome little upstart!” Stephanie’s face darkened. “I can’t -endure her.” - -“She seems to have a crush on you.” - -“She’ll have to get over it, then, for I _can’t endure her_. She’s -underbred.” Stephanie’s red upper lip lifted itself scornfully. - -“She’s a freshie, though. Don’t forget that,” Laura reminded. “Class -election’s next week. Be nice to her, and she may nominate you for -president. Antagonize her, and she may do you a lot of damage among the -freshies. Those black eyes of hers can shoot danger signals. Try -snubbing her once, and then—look out.” - -“You’re positively maddening today,” Stephanie exclaimed in angry -vexation. “You’ve done nothing but criticize me ever since I came into -the room.” - -“At least I’ve said what I had to say to your face.” Laura’s unconcern -at her roommate’s displeasure was apparent. “You’d like it a good deal -less if I had said it to one of the other girls, and behind your back.” - -Stephanie accepted the truth of Laura’s calm statement with a pettish -little shrug. “I shall not put up a ‘Busy’ sign, nor answer the door if -she should knock,” she declared perversely. - -“It’s up to you.” It was Laura’s turn to shrug. “Don’t forget, though, -that Miss Ogden rooms with Miss Cairns, and Miss Cairns is one of the -high powers on the campus, as nearly as I can judge. She’s a pal of the -Great I Am.” - -“I fail to see any special reason why all that nonsense should be of -interest to me.” Stephanie chose to continue to be perverse. - -“Think it over. So long. Shall I hang out the ‘Busy’ sign?” - -“_No_,” Stephanie all but shouted the reply. - -“All right. Have your own way about it, and be sorry afterward.” With -this prophetic warning, Laura went out the door, laughing softly, -leaving her stubborn roommate to digest the unwelcome prediction as best -she might. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - MARJORIE FINDS THE LOST NOTE BOOK - - -“Only one more case to do, then this job will be finished, and finished -as it should be.” Miss Susanna Hamilton, looking tinier than usual in -the enveloping folds of a blue and white pinafore, gave a long, -satisfied sigh as she viewed the completed work which had engaged -Marjorie, Jonas and herself for several days. - -“It truly does look fine,” Marjorie echoed the sigh. Standing beside -Miss Susanna in the middle of the large library at the Arms, she was a -charming study of work in her pale blue smock and dust cap. “Only to -think; we are the first to re-arrange Mr. Brooke’s books since he -himself used them,” she added meditatively. - -“Yes,” Miss Susanna nodded rather absently. Her thoughts, as well as -Marjorie’s, were turning to the long-passed master of the Arms whose -influence still pervaded the stately old house like a living presence. - -“Goodness knows the library needed a going-over,” Miss Hamilton said -with a sudden change to practicality. “Jonas has kept the books dusted, -of course; but that’s all. I knew Uncle Brooke’s books were sadly out of -place. I used to help him take care of his library. Somehow, after his -death, I hadn’t a heart for this straightening job. Toward the last of -his life he spent a great deal of time in the library. He was inclined -to forgetfulness at times, which accounts for his books being so sadly -out of place. They’re in order again at last, thanks to you, Marjorie.” -Her keen dark eyes wandered contentedly from one tall-glassed bookcase -to another. - -“It’s not yet eleven. I think we’d have time to do that last case before -luncheon, don’t you?” Marjorie was appraising the contents of a smaller -teak-wood bookcase that stood by itself against the east wall of the -library. Three sides of the library were book-lined, but the east side -showed no bookcases other than the one she had just indicated. - -“Yes; I think so, too. That case holds Uncle Brooke’s most treasured -books.” Miss Susanna stood regarding it retrospectively. “Not books -which might be considered very valuable from a money standpoint,” she -explained. “It holds the books that were dear to him, for one reason or -another. He never followed any particular arrangement in the matter of -that case. I daresay half of them are standing upside-down on the -shelves. I left it until last, purposely. The case is locked, but here’s -the key.” - -The old lady brought a small brass key from the depths of her pinafore -pocket. She trotted across the room to the case and fitted the key to -the lock. Marjorie followed her, standing interestedly beside her as she -swung open the double glassed doors. More than once, during her stay at -Hamilton Arms, while compiling the Brooke Hamilton biography, she had -wondered idly about this particular case. Its glass doors had inside -curtains of a thin, silky Oriental material which lent to the case an -oddly mysterious air. Miss Susanna had never spoken of it to her, and -Marjorie had delicately forborne making any inquiry to Miss Hamilton -concerning it. - -“It’s just as he left it.” Miss Susanna’s brisk tones had softened. She -and Marjorie were gazing into the interior of the now open bookcase at -the orderly disorder of the overcrowded shelves. There were books, thick -and thin, large and small, even to tininess, leather and cloth bindings, -standing in uneven rows upon the dusty shelves. On top of the rows were -yet more books, in little piles of twos and threes, a true sign of an -ardent book lover. - -“We’ll have to take them out, four or five at a time, dust them and the -space on the shelf that they occupy, then put them back exactly as we -found them,” was Marjorie’s plan of action. “Wait a minute, I’ll bring -you a chair, Goldendede. You shall sit beside me, and direct this -enterprise. Let me do the work. The case is hardly large enough for us -both to work on at the same time.” - -She was hurrying across the library before she had finished speaking for -Miss Susanna’s favorite chair. “There, my dear Goldendede, pray you be -seated,” she invited, with a low bow, setting the chair beside Miss -Hamilton, “while your faithful servitor proceeds to work magic.” - -“I’ll take you at your word, child. I’m really a little tired. I haven’t -your young strength, and we have delved most industriously this -morning.” The old lady sat down in the chair with grateful alacrity. - -Very carefully Marjorie began the task. She started at the left end of -the top shelf of the case, gently pulling out the well-worn bindings -with reverent fingers. Brooke Hamilton had ranged literature in search -of the best was her thought as she continued to explore his treasures. - -“You are welcome to the key to the case at any time, Marjorie,” Miss -Susanna’s bright, bird-like eyes had not missed the warm, interested -light upon Marjorie’s lovely features as her willing hands moved among -the dusty bindings, restoring them once more to something of their -original pristine brightness. - -“How dear in you, Goldendede. I was just wishing that I might go -browsing among these books.” Marjorie’s childlike delight at the -unexpected concession was the old lady’s pleasure. “This bookcase seems -a little library in itself, representative of Mr. Brooke and his -broad-mindedness.” - -“It is just that. Uncle Brooke’s books were his best friends. They were -dear to him because of the particular message each had for him.” The -mistress of the Arms dropped into one of her not infrequent intervals of -silence which Marjorie had early come to know and respect. She continued -with her work, content to let the little old lady shatter it at will. - -“What is the latest news from the campus, child?” Miss Susanna came -suddenly out of her brief spell of silent abstraction. “‘I have nerve,’ -as Jerry would say, to ask you that, since I’ve been the means of -keeping you away from it for the past week.” - -“Then, further to quote Jerry, ‘I like your nerve,’” Marjorie replied -laughingly. “I’ve loved to be here. Not that I love the campus less, but -Goldendede more. I’m going over to Wayland Hall tomorrow evening to see -the girls. Hal has a business appointment in the town of Hamilton. I -haven’t the least idea of what it’s all about. He’s been very mysterious -over it. He’s going to stop for me on his way home.” - -“A business appointment! That sounds interesting.” Miss Susanna -exhibited affectionate curiosity. Hal’s one cross since he and Marjorie -had taken up their residence at Hamilton Estates had been his inability -to decide upon some definite plan of business occupation. Possessed of a -comparatively large fortune, inherited from his grandfather, his -youthful energy rebelled against settling down at Travelers’ Rest as a -country gentleman. Marjorie had found her work at Hamilton College, the -work which had all but parted them forever. Hal hoped that he might also -find a work in their new home, satisfying to heart and brain. Only -lately an idea had come to him as the result of a prospecting tour about -the staid, self-centered town of Hamilton. Pursuant of his idea he had -got into action. The result had been his appointment with John Saxe, the -real estate agent who had formerly figured in the business ventures of -the steady little firm of “Page & Dean.” The outcome of his appointment -with Mr. Saxe would, he fondly hoped, furnish a happy surprise for -Marjorie. - -“Of course it sounds interesting. That’s precisely what I said to Hal -when he mentioned the appointment to me. He laughed, but wouldn’t -volunteer any further information. I didn’t ask for any, either. He has -some sort of delightful surprise in store for me. I know he has,” was -Marjorie’s smilingly confident assertion. - -Miss Susanna nodded smiling content of the happiness of the two young -people upon whom her affections were so firmly centered. - -“There’s the bell.” She suddenly held up a hand in a listening attitude. -“Now _who_ can that be? Not callers, I hope. If it should be, I shall -receive them just as I am; pinafore, dusty hands, and all.” - -“It’s Miss Leslie, Miss Susanna.” Jonas had appeared in the open doorway -of the library. - -“Oh! What a relief! Ask her to come in here, Jonas.” Miss Hamilton had -bobbed up from the chair at sound of the bell. She dropped into it -again, with a thankful sigh. - -“Where have you been keeping yourself, Leslie?” Sight of Leslie Cairns -in the doorway, looking her best in a smart ecru ensemble and ultra-trim -little felt hat, brought Miss Susanna to her feet again, and hurrying -across the room to greet her welcome caller. - -“Yes! where have you been, elusive person?” Marjorie hastily shoved a -book, held in her right hand, back into place on a shelf and came -forward, dust cloth cheerfully waving a greeting to the visitor. “Twice -I’ve ’phoned you. ‘Out’ was the answer Annie gave me both times. Then I -wrote you a note, demanding your presence at Travelers’ Inn at dinner -tomorrow evening. I ’phoned Leila, asking her and Vera to come, too. -They can’t come because the Bertramites are entertaining them at -Baretti’s. They’ll be back at the Hall, though, by seven-thirty, for the -Bertramites have to study. Leila said, why not foregather in Vera’s and -her room for the evening. Now you see what it’s all about. My note to -you was a sketchy scrawl. I wrote it in a hurry. Perhaps you haven’t -received it yet.” Marjorie glanced inquiringly at Leslie. - -“Yes; I received it in the morning mail. I was anxious to see you, and -Miss Susanna, so I took a run over here instead of telephoning. I had an -idea you were still busy with the library job. It looks great.” Leslie’s -eyes roved approvingly over the beautiful old room with its wealth of -books from many lands. - -“This is the last case, and I have only two more shelves to do. Please -tell Leslie about it, Goldendede, while I work very hard to finish it.” -Marjorie energetically resumed work, making herself a mental promise to -spend a day soon in the library in a leisurely exploration of the -treasures of the quaint old bookcase. - -Presently coming to the bottom shelf, she sat down upon the thick velvet -rug, reaching mechanically for the first book at the left end of the -shelf. It was, she saw, a copy of the dissertations of Epictitus, bound -in green morocco, the soft fine leather worn by constant use. She -smiled. Epictitus had been Brooke Hamilton’s favorite philosopher, so -Miss Susanna had told her. She wiped away the dust very gently from the -priceless volume, then opened it, about to give the yellowed leaves a -mild shake. - -To her surprise a considerably smaller, black, cloth-bound book dropped -from among the leaves of the Epictitus into her lap. It was a thin -little book, not more than six inches long and three inches wide. About -an inch from the top of the cover a white label had been pasted that -bore the writing of the departed master of the Arms. “Brooke Hamilton,” -she read, “Personal Notes.” - -Marjorie’s heart began a sudden joyful throbbing. Could the little black -book be the particular, important notebook of which Miss Susanna had -regretfully spoken as lost at the time when she had turned over to -Marjorie the material for her distinguished great-uncle’s biography? - -With a joyful little cry Marjorie was on her feet, and holding out the -little black book to Miss Hamilton. - -“What wonderful thing have you found in the old case, child?” Miss -Susanna interrupted her conversation with Leslie to peer tolerantly -through her glasses at Marjorie. - -“Look at it, Goldendede,” Marjorie excitedly thrust the notebook into -the old lady’s hands. “It’s a notebook. Mr. Brooke’s own notebook; the -one that you thought was lost. I’m sure of it.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - BROOKE HAMILTON’S STAUNCHEST ADVOCATE - - -“I believe you are right, Marjorie.” Miss Susanna’s hands were trembling -slightly as she opened the notebook and read aloud the first entry. -“‘Thought of a new motto today. “Her ways led upward to the stars.” -Note: This motto should be particularly applicable to the “one” whom I -hope may rise, a future guiding light to Hamilton College.’” - -“Why—why—that’s my motto.” Marjorie was looking her utter amazement. “I -mean—” Sudden confusion deepened the pink in her cheeks to rose. “It’s -the one you selected for me for citation, Goldendede,” she added in -embarrassed explanation. - -“It’s the one that suited you best, so don’t feel backward about coming -forward and saying so,” Leslie assured with her slow smile. - -“Of course it suited her,” chimed in Miss Susanna. “You know, Leslie, -I’ve always said that Marjorie typified Uncle Brooke’s ideal of -girlhood.” - -“Wouldn’t you like to read us some more notes, Goldendede?” Marjorie -asked persuasively. - -“And thus take the subject off your very retiring self,” the old lady -supplemented pithily. “Very good, my dear.” Miss Hamilton turned the -first leaf and read out to her two avid listeners, “‘Must have Jenkins -retake my foot measurements. Last pair of boots he made me are a -fraction too narrow. Don’t forget to do this. Important.’” - -A ripple of laughter greeted this entry. - -“From the sublime to the vexatious problems of everyday life,” commented -Miss Susanna. She continued to read aloud the annotations of her famous -kinsman. Short, and to the point, they revealed clearly the character of -Brooke Hamilton—philosopher, sage, philanthropist, and lastly, -unassuming country gentleman. - -“This must be the book Uncle Brooke lost not more than a year before his -death. He was greatly annoyed by the loss, and used to hunt for it by -the hour. Many of the annotations contained dates which he could not -remember, offhand. And to think that it’s been tucked away all these -years in the Epictitus! Strange he didn’t find it again soon after he -had lost it.” Miss Hamilton knitted thoughtful brows. “Ah, now I recall -something that may have been the very reason he didn’t. A friend gave -him a very fine copy of Epictitus on his birthday. He placed the new -copy on his desk, in his study. It was in a much larger print than the -other, and his eyes had begun to fail him considerably then.” - -Miss Susanna turned leaf upon leaf of the notebook, reading aloud to her -interested audience of two as she turned them. “There, I knew I was -right about that.” She looked up triumphantly from the book, then read, -“‘Have decided to offer the fifty-thousand conditional gift to Hamilton -through the medium of “the one who may arise” in my college. I shall ask -Norris to handle the matter for me. I can rely upon him for integrity, -and at the same time be of financial service to him since he is hard put -at present in his law business. I shall go to his office to talk things -over with him tomorrow.’” - -“This little book is a precious find to me, girls.” Miss Hamilton’s -hands were trembling with the excitement of what she had just read. -“Uncle Brooke had sometimes spoken vaguely to me of some such plan he -had in mind for the college, but I never knew whether, or no, he had put -it into execution. This annotation tells me that he must have done so. -Once he had put his hand to the plow, he never turned back.” - -The abstracted light in the old lady’s eyes spelled her absorbed -listeners to silence. They continued to watch her as she turned the next -leaf, waiting to hear more from her at will. The time-yellowed leaves of -the note book continued to turn under her small fingers. She was -evidently in search of further data concerning her kinsman’s avowed -project. - -“Ah; here it is!” she exclaimed. “‘Saw Norris last Tuesday. Have -completed arrangements with him for the “Brooke Hamilton Honor Fund.” -For particulars and necessary accompanying papers, see secret drawer.’” - -“The secret drawer!” Marjorie cried. “It is in Mr. Brooke’s study desk, -isn’t it? Didn’t you say once to me that there was a secret drawer in -the desk?” - -“Yes,” An oddly puzzled frown had sprung between Miss Hamilton’s brows. -“I don’t understand what Uncle Brooke meant. There is nothing in the -secret drawer in his study desk. I know that positively because Jonas -and I examined it quite a long time after Uncle’s death. Jonas knew how -to open it. I hadn’t known until he showed me. There were a few letters -in it then, which I turned over to you, Marjorie, together with other -material for the biography. None of those letters related to either this -man Norris, or the honor fund. Please ring for Jonas, Leslie. He may -know of another secret drawer here. I surely do not.” Miss Susanna -looked nonplussed. - -“Who is, or, more likely was, the man Norris to whom he intrusted the -matter?” Leslie asked in her keen fashion. “If living, he would be a -very old man now.” - -“I don’t know who he is, or was, as the case may he,” Miss Hamilton -replied, a note of distress in her answer. “According to Uncle Brooke’s -notes he is, or was, a lawyer. I know of no lawyer, however, by the name -of Norris, who was practicing law in the town of Hamilton at that time.” -She shook a puzzled head. - -Jonas just then appearing in the library doorway, Miss Hamilton turned -eagerly to him, “Jonas, do you know of another secret drawer here at the -Arms besides the one in Uncle Brooke’s study desk?” - -Jonas came forward without answering the question, his white brows -contracted in an evident effort at recollection. - -“I don’t know _where_ there is another secret drawer at the Arms,” he -said slowly, “but it seems to me I once heard Mr. Brooke speak of one. I -can’t think now, when, or why, he spoke about it. Maybe it’ll come back -to me after a while. I only think that he _did_ speak of it to me,” the -old houseman ended with certainty. - -“Marjorie found Uncle Brooke’s notebook; the one he lost, and worried -about losing.” Miss Hamilton held up the little black book, relating to -Jonas in an excited voice the circumstances of the finding and the -important information it contained concerning the “Honor Fund.” - -Jonas’s fine old features registered marked surprise. “_He_ talked to me -about that honor fund, different times,” he said, an excited note in his -own voice. “He must have put his idea through, or he wouldn’t have -written that in the notebook.” - -“Do you recall a lawyer in Hamilton by the name of Norris, Jonas?” Miss -Susanna had fixed hopeful eyes on Jonas. - -“No,” Jonas answered after due deliberation. “I never heard Mr. Brooke -mention any such man, either. He must have lived there, though, or in -some near-by town. Mr. Brooke said in the note you just read me that he -was going to this man Norris’s office the next day to see him.” - -“Yes,” the old lady nodded, “I wish you to go to Hamilton town this -afternoon, Jonas, and see John Saxe. He knows everybody in the town and -around it. Ask him to look up this man Norris, if he can, as soon as -possible. It was his business to write me concerning this trust directly -after Uncle Brooke’s death. Possibly he thought I knew the situation -regarding it. Nevertheless, he should have communicated with me, at any -rate. He must have been living then. If he had died before Uncle Brooke -died Uncle would have made a new arrangement with another lawyer about -the fund.” - -“Perhaps he may have done so, and any data which might relate to the -change of lawyers is in the secret drawer, too,” Marjorie suggested. - -“And we haven’t the remotest idea of where that mysterious secret drawer -may be!” Miss Susanna’s small hands went up in a despairing gesture. - -“Some Chinese puzzle,” Leslie commented. - -“Maybe the secret drawer is somewhere in the Chinese room,” came as a -sudden inspiration from Marjorie, prompted by Leslie’s mention of the -word “Chinese.” - -“It may be there.” Miss Hamilton cast a half startled glance at her -companions. “The room has a number of odd Oriental stands and cabinets, -any one of them might easily contain a secret drawer. To find it, -though!” Up went her hands again. “A needle-in-the-haystack search, I’m -afraid. I know less about the Chinese room than any other room in the -house. Jonas is far more familiar with it than I. You’ll have to be -chief hunter, there, Jonas.” - -“I guess I will.” Jonas looked pleased at being thus appointed to the -search. - -“One thing is certain. The secret drawer _must_ be found. It is -somewhere in this house which narrows down the area to be searched to -the few rooms Uncle Brooke continually used,—his bedroom, his study, the -Chinese room and the library. Of the four, I should say the library is -the least likely to contain it. The only piece of furniture in here that -might contain it is the library table. I doubt the possibility of there -being a secret drawer in it.” - -Miss Susanna rose, went over to the massive, claw-legged mahogany table, -and began a slow prowl about it, her sharp eyes taking in its every -detail. Jonas had already begun the search, tapping the sides of the -table as he peered along the carvings of them for what might prove to be -a cunningly concealed spring. He opened the drawers of the table, -subjecting the inside of them to the same careful examination. - -“There’s no secret drawer in this table,” was his opinion, spoken at the -end of his methodical investigation. - -“I’m satisfied, too, there isn’t,” agreed the mistress of the Arms. -“Tomorrow, Jonas, we will tackle the study. There may be another secret -drawer in the study desk besides the one of which we know. This -afternoon I want you to go to Hamilton and see what you can learn -regarding Lawyer Norris. If we should be lucky enough to find the secret -drawer within the next few days it won’t be necessary to start an -investigation, regarding the fifty thousand dollars involved in this -affair. The one note plainly states Uncle Brooke’s intention of offering -a fifty thousand dollar honorarium to Hamilton College under certain -conditions, laid down by him. The note of later date states that he -completed some sort of arrangement for it with Lawyer Norris. As a trust -fund the fifty thousand would have, probably, been deposited in bank at -once by Norris. Uncle Brooke used the Hamilton Trust largely, although -he was a depositor in several New York City banks. If he gave his check -for the honor fund to Norris, together with instructions to him to -deposit the check, it may be the Hamilton Bank was used for the -transaction. In such case the bank should have the record of the -transaction. If so, why was I not notified of it soon after Uncle -Brooke’s death?” Miss Susanna’s question was asked with hurt -belligerence. - -“An arrangement entire separate from your kinsman’s other financial -affairs may have been made by him with Norris,” Leslie hazarded. “His -notes state his confidence in Norris. No doubt then he made the check -out to Norris. Of course he might have given him bonds instead.” - -“He had no bonds at the time he sent for Norris. His large fortune was -almost all in cash or in real estate. His father left him a great deal -of land, in and about Hamilton, and Hamilton Estates. I’d prefer not to -call the Hamilton Trust into the matter, though we may find it necessary -in the long run to do so.” - -“Surely, if the Hamilton Bank had been asked to handle the check you -would have heard something about the matter, either directly, or -indirectly, during all the years you have lived at the Arms,” was -Leslie’s further opinion. - -“I’m inclined to that view of it, too. I doubt if the Hamilton Bank is -in any way concerned in this Norris business.” - -“Why not let my father investigate for you?” proposed Leslie. “He’s -coming to Hamilton to see me for a day or two, soon after he lands. If, -by that time, you haven’t found the secret drawer, then please let my -father help you in the matter, Miss Susanna,” Leslie earnestly -petitioned. - -“Peter? I never once thought of him!” Miss Susanna exclaimed, -brightening visibly. “He’s the very man I need to help me. I should be -eternally grateful to him, if he would.” - -“He will,” Leslie promised. - -“There’s more to this than appears on the surface.” Miss Hamilton’s lips -set themselves in severe line. “Granted we find the secret drawer, the -finding of the data relating to the honor fund may only serve to prove -treachery to his trust on Lawyer Norris’s part. As heir to my uncle’s -fortune and estate, Hamilton Arms, he at least owed it to me to inform -me of the trust Uncle Brooke had reposed in him.” - -“Possibly he was under the impression that you knew of the -fifty-thousand dollar fund through your uncle, and had been instructed -by Mr. Brooke to assume the responsibility of choosing ‘the one’ in the -event of his death,” Marjorie made meditative suggestion. “In such case, -he might wait for you to communicate with him regarding it.” - -“I’ll admit such a contingency,” the old lady conceded rather -reluctantly. “We’re all at sea in the matter, it seems. Either Norris, -or else the secret drawer, must be found; both preferably.” - -“This much seems certain, Lawyer Norris was not commissioned by Mr. -Brooke to choose ‘the one’ in the event of Mr. Brooke’s decease,” -Marjorie said. - -“I’m not so sure of that.” Miss Susanna showed inclination toward -distrust of the lawyer. “Uncle Brooke never did things by halves. You -must remember, this particular transaction was made less than two years -before his death. He was then over eighty years old. He knew his end was -near. He had often said as much to me. I believe he would have appointed -me to choose ‘the one’; not the man Norris. I knew Uncle; his hopes, -dreams; ideals, and he knew that I knew them. I can’t understand why he -did not confide in me at the time he formulated a definite plan.” Her -voice trembled a trifle on the last words, the manifestation of a hurt -spirit. - -“I’ve no doubt but that the lost papers may hold an explanation of -that,” Marjorie advanced comfortingly, “and they’re tucked away -somewhere in this very house. Somehow, I have faith in Lawyer Norris. -Mr. Brooke would not have chosen him for such an important -responsibility if he hadn’t been sure of his truth and honor. - -“Uncle Brooke’s staunchest advocate.” Miss Susanna drew Marjorie, -standing beside her, into the circle of an arm. “If neither the papers, -nor Lawyer Norris should be found, I could still carry out his wish. The -important point to be considered, after all, would not be the fifty -thousand dollars. The finding of ‘the one’ would be the real problem, -except—” her eyes came to rest with luminous tenderness upon the lovely -face bent seriously upon her,—“the one has already been found. I found -her for Uncle Brooke, long ago, not far from my gates. She helped a very -cranky old lady pick up an overturned basket of plant pots, and showed -her how beautiful girlhood might be. Afterward, I came to know her -better, not only as a friend, but as an inspiration to Uncle Brooke’s -college, giving her best to it because of her appreciation of its -founder. He chose the motto ‘Her ways led upward toward the stars,’ as -applicable to ‘the one.’ Without knowing it I chose the same motto as -best suited to Marjorie. It is almost as though I had received his -direct approval of my choice.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - LESLIE’S QUEER PROBLEM - - -“And is it yourself, and no other? Is it not time you put in an -appearance at the Hall with many apologies for having forgotten us?” -Leila Harper ushered Marjorie into her room, her smiling lips in decided -apposition to her severe tone. - -“It is myself, and, may I ask, who else might it be?” Marjorie retorted -as she and Leila enthusiastically wrung hands. - -“Ask me nothing. I am that glad to see you, I have no flip answer at my -tongue’s end. We have all been busy, it would seem. I have been at the -Playhouse, with only the typewriter for company, pounding out the parts -for my opening play. Midget was invited to become co-editor with Jane -Everest on the ‘Campus Echo.’ Leslie is wrestling with a queer problem -of her own. You will hear more about it this evening. And Hamilton Arms -has held you a willing captive. We should have come to see you in the -evening, except that we have had callers here every night for a week. -The Bertramites dinner at Baretti’s ended my social rush for a while. I -shall begin to lead the life of a hermit for the next three weeks.” - -“You can’t. Miss Susanna had ordered yours and Vera’s presence at the -Arms at seven o’clock dinner tomorrow night. You are to bring Kathie, -Lucy, Lillian and Doris with you. You are to tear them away from any -engagements they may have made. Goldendede has something important to -tell the Travelers. Robin and Phil are coming, too. I’ve already ’phoned -them.” - -“Now what has happened?” Leila cocked her head inquisitively to one -side. “This much I can guess. Leslie knows all about it. When I asked -her for news of the Arms last night, knowing that she had lunched there -yesterday, she had little to say except that the library looked fine, -and Miss Susanna was well. I saw mystery in the tail of her eye. But I -am so polite. I said nothing to her about it.” Leila gave Marjorie a -drolly hopeful glance. - -“I tell you a tiny little bit, Leila Greatheart,” Marjorie conceded -indulgently. “Something happened yesterday at the Arms that was in the -nature of an astonishing surprise. Leslie was there when it happened. -Goldendede wishes the girls she has invited to dinner to hear about it. -She intends to tell them.” - -Marjorie felt the color rising in her cheeks. Her own surprise at the -finding of Brooke Hamilton’s notebook had been secondary to that of Miss -Hamilton’s avowed choice of “the one.” To cover her sudden feeling of -confusion she asked hastily, “Where is Vera?” - -“Now you are asking me something. Midget is at the freshie frolic. It’s -tonight, you know, and seems a very clannish affair. There were more -than enough sophs to go round. No juniors or seniors were invited this -year to help on escort duty. Midget was asked to be one of the three -judges of the beauty contest. She, Doris and Calista Wilmot are the -fateful trio. The contest was to be held at nine-thirty, so Midget will -be here before you go.” - -“There’s a freshie at the dormitory who ought to win it,” Marjorie -declared with enthusiasm. “I don’t know her name, but I do know she is a -beauty. I happened to be over at the dorm the day she arrived. She -actually took my breath. She has violet blue eyes and curly black auburn -hair, and the _sweetest_ face, with a skin like a roseleaf.” - -“I’ve met her. Her name is Carol Burke. The dorms are hoping she’ll win -the contest. They say, though, that she will be awfully upset, if she -should win it; that she’s very shy, and retiring, with but little idea -of her own good looks. That is the way you were, Beauty, when I dragged -you into the first contest.” Leila flashed Marjorie one of her -inimitable smiles. - -“I remember I felt awfully cross with you because of it,” Marjorie -reminded. “Now, in my settled old age, I can afford to smile over it.” - -“But if you were to walk into the gym tonight in your violet dress you -would win it again,” Leila predicted. - -“My violet dress!” Marjorie hurried away from the subject of the -contest. “It seems strange, Leila, but it looks as lovely as ever; not a -bit old style. Captain shortened it and took out the sleeves, and now -it’s a dream. How are the Bertramites? I must have them over at the Rest -soon to dinner.” - -“They are—” Two deliberate, successive knocks on the door sent Leila -scurrying to open it for Leslie, who had dropped Marjorie at the Hall -and had then gone on to the garage with her roadster. - -“Come on into my room for a while,” Leslie invited. “Marjorie hasn’t -seen Fifteen since it was done over. Jewel Marie is gaily fox-trotting -at the frolic, thank goodness, and we can discuss the affairs of the -universe in peace. Leave a scrawl on the table for Vera when she comes -in, Leila. Have you seen Miss Remson yet?” she turned to Marjorie. - -“Yes; only for a moment. She had to go to town on unexpected business. -I’ll run over tomorrow to see her. Goldendede wants her to be at the -dinner tomorrow night.” - -“’Tis done. ‘_Midget, Attention!_ Come to Fifteen. No knocking -necessary,’” Leila read out, then gave the penned message a vigorous -drying fluttering before running it through with a long, black-headed -pin, and sticking the pin into the middle of the study table. - -Leslie closed the door of Fifteen behind her comrades to the tune of -admiring exclamation from Marjorie. - -“Can this celostrous cozy corner be old Fifteen?” Marjorie’s face glowed -appreciation of Leslie’s artistry. - -“It can be. It is.” Leslie showed her pleasure of Marjorie’s lively -approval of her color scheme and arrangement. “I liked it a little -better before I changed things around in order to make room for Miss -Ogden,” she said. - -“I am still wondering at your cleverness, and also at how it came about -that you gathered in the homeless Miss Ogden,” Leila said a trifle -inquisitively. “Now tell me nothing.” She put up her hand, laughing as -though to ward off an unsolicited confidence. “I am not as inquisitive -as I seem.” - -“I’m still wondering myself how I happened to drag in that kid,” Leslie -confessed, smiling. “She was no end disappointed because she couldn’t -find a campus room. I’m only going to be here till Christmas. It seemed -so selfish in me to bar the midget out. I’ve a sort of plan going in my -head about Fifteen—something I’d like to do with it when I leave here to -go to a real home.” - -“What, Leslie?” Marjorie was all interest. - -“I’m going to will my half of Fifteen to the first girl on the dormitory -waiting list. If she doesn’t want it, then the next on the list will do. -It will be a free proposition, same as the dormitory, but with all the -comfy advantages that being on the campus means.” - -“Your plan is just like you, Leslie. It’s lovely,” Marjorie accorded -with quiet sincerity. - -“You are a noble Cairns, and I think well of you,” Leila spoke lightly, -but Leslie understood the undercurrent of earnestness in the speech. The -Irish girl was wondering, however, what the effect of the carrying out -of Leslie’s plan would be upon Miss Ogden. She suspected her of being a -social climber which would not accord at all with Leslie’s scheme of -things. - -As though reading her mind, Leslie remarked speculatively, “I am going -to talk to Miss Ogden about Fifteen. I haven’t yet explained it to her. -I hardly believe she will make any objection to it when I finally tell -her. That will be shortly before I leave here for Carden Hedge.” - -Watching Leslie’s face Marjorie glimpsed the shadow of the old -dominating leader who had ruled the frivolous San Soucians by sheer -determined will. - -“Do you like Miss Ogden, Leslie?” sprang impulsively from her lips. -Immediately she became vexed with herself for having unthinkingly asked -so personal a question. “I shouldn’t have asked you that,” she -apologized quickly. - -“Glad you did. It’s given me an opening to speak my mind to you and -Leila about her, and also this crowd of freshies from New York who are -at the Hall. You ask me if I like Miss Ogden. Yes, and no. At heart -she’s a democrat. Outwardly, she’s a goose, with snobbish aspirations. -She’ll need more than one jolt to wake her up to herself, and she’s in a -fair way soon to gather in the first one. The New York freshies are -snobs, Marjorie; same type as the Sans. Leila, Vera and I discovered as -much the day we first met them. The Ogden kid is wild about them; has a -crush on Miss Norris, the banner snob of the gang. Experience is a great -teacher! I understand this bunch of high hats. She doesn’t. I can’t very -well warn her against them. They’re her classmates. She would probably -resent such a warning, as a meddlesome interference on my part. Still, I -hate to see her hurt without having first done what I can to prevent -calamity. Leila, Vera and I have been keeping a starboard eye upon her, -trying diplomatically to steer her clear of snags. We decided we’d best -consult you about her, Marvelous Manager.” Leslie’s eyes rested -expectantly upon Marjorie. - -“Why underrate your own superior capabilities?” Marjorie glanced from -Leila to Leslie with twinkling eyes. - -“We are but poor playhouse managers, and, at that, far from marvelous. -It is one thing to manage mummers, in a make-believe drama. They are -pleased to be managed. But to attempt to manage freshies, in a real -drama, who have no taste for being managed, is quite another.” Leslie -made a deprecatory gesture. “These New York freshies, Beauty, are an -innovation at Hamilton. They are a gay, noisy set in their rooms, going -back and forth to them through their end of the hall with plenty of -laughter and commotion. To the other students at the Hall they show -small friendliness. Miss Ogden loses no opportunity to court favor with -them. We know they make sport of her behind her back, for we have heard -them sneer about her. They patronize her to her face. Why they do not -snub her outright, as they have two or three of the sophs at the Hall, -we wondered, until yesterday. Then we heard that at the freshie class -meeting she nominated Miss Norris, their leader, for president. Now we -shall see what we shall see,” Leila said significantly. - -“Was Miss Norris elected president?” Marjorie inquired interestedly. - -“Yes; her crowd had been busily electioneering for her. She won over -Miss Foster of Acasia House by only two votes. Her roommate, Miss -Taylor, gave a dinner for her last night at Baretti’s.” - -“Was Miss Ogden invited?” Marjorie’s interest had deepened. - -“Yes! I was glad to hear from Leslie that she was.” - -“She had Miss Taylor to thank for it,” Leslie interposed. “If any other -girl in that crowd had given it, I’ll say Jewel Marie wouldn’t have had -a look in. This Miss Taylor is rather different from the others. She’s -stout and sleepy-looking. She appears stodgy until one happens to see -her laugh. When she laughs, and that’s not often, her whole face -changes. One sees humor written on every feature. She’d make a wonderful -Touchstone in ‘As You Like It.’” - -“Yes, and Miss Norris would make a fine Henry the Fifth. I’m thinking of -putting it on at the Playhouse this winter. Still, she is one I am not -anxious to manage. I am not fond of wrangling,” Leila made a wry face, -“and I have heard her differ, far from politely, with the girls of her -own set.” - -“It’s this way, Marjorie,” Leslie broke in seriously, “Miss Norris at -first almost ignored Miss Ogden. All of a sudden, she became quite -gracious to her; she lunched Miss Ogden at the Colonial and invited her -into the sacred precincts of her room a couple of times. Jewel Marie -nearly expired with joy. She would have followed her crush about like a -faithful terrier, if I hadn’t kept her busy trotting around with me. -Leila and I both predicted that the bubble would burst soon after -election. Since then Miss Ogden has twice invited Miss Norris to dinner -at Baretti’s. On both occasions she has disappointed the kid at the last -minute with flimsy excuses. She’s still fatuously blind, and the -eye-opening process is going to be some shock to her. I’m tempted to let -her hear me out, straight from the shoulder, then let her rave. By the -time she finds herself dropped by her crush she’ll be able to meet the -terrible blow without making herself ridiculous.” There was a suspicion -of good-humored scorn in Leslie’s voice. “She isn’t remarkably tactful. -She’s more likely to go up in the air over the snub, just because of her -hurt feelings.” - -“I believe I’d try the straight-from-the-shoulder tactics, Leslie,” was -Marjorie’s thoughtful advice. “Miss Ogden may be angry with you, at -first, but she will understand afterward that you were trying to help -her. It will prepare her in a measure for what you believe is going to -happen, even though she should resent your warning at the time it is -given.” - -“I’ll have a talk with her in the morning,” Leslie nodded with decision. -“She was planning on having a good time tonight. I’m not going to spoil -pleasant memories of it by croaking. Miss Felton took her to the -frolic.” - -“Oh, I remember _her_. She is the pretty, brown-haired girl who was the -first to protest against the petition Miss Ferguson started on that -memorable night last spring here at the Hall,” Marjorie said with a -reminiscent smile. - -“She’s a mighty nice girl,” Leslie returned, “and I wish, for her own -sake, that this misguided roommate of mine had a crush on Miss Felton. -Muriel’s show was a greater success than she thought it might be. The -sophs at the Hall, who joined the Lotus Club as freshies, are a -congenial crowd this year, with the exception of Miss Ferguson. She has -attached herself to the New York crowd, and is very pally with Miss -Norris. I daresay the N. Y.’s know my past campus history better than I -do,” Leslie declared with grim satire. “They try to ignore my existence -whenever they can, for which I thank them.” - -“Wait until my theatre article appears next week in the ‘Echo.’ Then you -will suddenly see a great change among them. What girl does not love the -idea of acting? Leila and I will then be ranked as desirable -acquaintances rather than antiquated P. G.’s,” Leslie humorously -prophesied. - -Mention of the Playhouse turned the conversation from Leslie’s -“misguided” roommate into a more pleasing channel. Leila had decided to -open the theatre with an elaborate performance of “The Merchant of -Venice.” She proposed next to follow the Shakespearean drama with a -revue, then, later, to present her new Irish play, “The Leprachaun.” -After the holidays she hoped to put on “Henry the Fifth,” provided she -could secure a cast to suit her critical fancy. - -“It will be no trick to find a cast for the Merchant of Venice,” she -told her interested companions. “Doris will add to her campus fame as -Portia, Gussie will make an ideal Antonio, and Miss Duncan will cover -herself with glory in playing Shylock. On Bassonio, I have not yet -decided. I may ask Miss Taylor, the stout freshman, to play the part. -She is tall enough, and broad enough of shoulder, to play a man’s part -well.” Leila glanced questioningly from one to the other of her chums. -“She interests me, and, incidentally, it may lead to a better state of -affairs here at the Hall. I suspect her of having some influence upon -her crowd. They babble like brooks when together, but she, I have -noticed, says little, though her oddly pale blue eyes miss nothing.” - -“Don’t ever talk to me again about marvelous managing,” Marjorie -exclaimed. “_You_ are the real Marvelous Manager. You’ve picked up a -trail to a better state of affairs here, already. Go ahead; ask Miss -Taylor to—” - -The unexpected violent opening of the door cut off Marjorie’s unfinished -sentence. Three pairs of eyes suddenly directed themselves at the -tempestuous entrant. A very small girl in a peachblow-hued evening frock -had fairly bounced into the room, banging the door behind her. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FROLIC - - -“Hello, Jewel,” Leslie calmly greeted after a quick glance at the -freshman’s anger-dark features. - -Without answering the angry girl dashed across the room to her couch -bed, flinging herself upon it. Her doubled fists began beating an -enraged tattoo upon the pillows, to which her slippered feet kicked -themselves in time upon the couch cover. “Oh, oh, oh!” she repeatedly -ejaculated in rage-thickened tones. “I’ll never forgive her! Oh, oh, -oh!” - -The trio of silent spectators to the freshman’s gust of anger could not -but exchange significant glances. Into the mind of each had sprung the -question: “Had the blow, which Leslie had anticipated, fallen already?” - -“Let us go into my room,” Leila proposed tactfully, rising from her -chair as she spoke. - -“We’ll wait for you there, Leslie.” Marjorie was already following Leila -to the door. - -“Go ahead.” Leslie’s dark brows raised themselves in indicative despair. -“I’ll join you presently.” - -“I’m wondering if the prophecy has come true so soon,” were Leila’s -first words as they shut themselves into her room. “Sit down, Beauty, -and be at home.” Abruptly she dropped into a chair and burst into -laughter. - -“Never think that I am making a mock of misfortune,” she said presently, -a mirthful quiver in her tones. “I’m still thinking of the amazing -bounce that midget made into the room. It might well have been that of a -circus performer. She little knows the honor in store for her. It seems -I have found a star for my play ‘The Leprachaun’ and that without the -trouble of seeking.” - -“You are a funny old dear, Leila Harper,” Marjorie, girl-like, could not -do other than laugh with Leila. “Something harrowing must have happened -to Miss Ogden at the frolic to send her away from it in such a tempest. -It’s early yet.” Her eyes sought the clock on Leila’s dressing-table. -“Only twenty-five minutes to ten. The beauty contest must just have -begun. She’s awfully tiny, isn’t she?” she again reverted to the subject -of Miss Ogden, “at least two inches shorter than Vera. She’s pretty, I -think.” - -“She has the prettiness of a child when she is good-natured,” Leila -said, “but, oh, my stars, what a temper! Until tonight she has shown -nothing of it to Leslie, Vera and me. Vera will not be long in coming -now. She promised to slip away from the gym as soon as the contest was -over. Grant that before then Leslie will have calmed the storm and -reduced the whirlwind to order,” she finished with dry humor. - -It was Vera, however, who appeared in the room ahead of Leslie. She -dropped into a chair with exaggerated weariness and a long, sighing: -“_Such_ a time as there has been tonight, over at the gym. Truly, girls, -it was dreadful! Where’s Leslie?” Vera’s quick glance in the direction -of Leslie’s room conveyed an inkling of the reason of Leslie’s absence. - -“Yes; she is in Fifteen with Miss Ogden,” Leila interpreted the glance, -and answered. “Now, for goodness’ sake, Midget, are we to know what it -is all about?” - -“You are; and this is the tale. There was a _positive tongue_ battle in -the gym tonight, just before the beginning of the beauty contest. It -looked for a minute as though there might be some actual hand-to-hand -fighting done.” Vera gave a faint little chuckle. “The trouble started -as the result of an accident to Miss Norris’s gown. During the last -fox-trot before the beginning of the beauty walk, Miss Norris was -standing near the punch bowl corner, drinking lemonade. The floor of the -gym was as slippery as glass. The sophs had put too much wax on it, and -there’d been a lot of slipping and sliding done. The girls were having a -lot of fun because of it. Miss Ogden and a tall soph, whose name I don’t -know yet, were doing a very frisky variation of the trot. The punch bowl -was one of those thin lovely tinted glass affairs and stood on a stand -the sophs had fixed up and draped with the class colors. Miss Ogden and -the soph were going it full speed. In the first place, the stand had -been set too far from the wall. Just as the two girls came close to it, -Miss Ogden’s feet slipped and the pair crashed into the stand. Over went -stand and punch bowl, _simply deluging_ Miss Norris with lemonade.” -Vera’s hands went up in horrified recollection of the scene. - -“Was ever anything more unfortunate?” Leila turned to Marjorie. - -“_Dreadfully_,” Marjorie agreed. She found herself suddenly sympathizing -with the small, rage-swept figure she had seen for a moment in Leslie’s -room. - -“It was an accident. The majority of the girls at the frolic would have -accepted it as such, without being peeved, if it had happened to any one -of them. Miss Norris was furious over it. It was too bad, of course. She -had on a perfectly ducky white satin frock. She really looked beautiful -in it, though I think her beauty is of a cold, arrogant type. She is -evidently high-tempered, and she lost control of her temper. She fairly -screamed out at Miss Ogden: ‘_You’ve ruined my dress, you rough, -ill-bred little bounder._’ This, while Miss Ogden was apologizing to her -for the accident, and half crying. The beauty line had just begun to -form. A good many of the girls fell out of line, mostly the freshies, -and hurried over to the wreck. The punch bowl was smashed to smithereens -and the stand lay in a big puddle of lemonade. The silk draping was -soaked with it. The judges’ platform wasn’t more than a dozen feet away -from the smash so we could hear a part of what was being said by the two -girls. - -“I felt sorry for Miss Ogden. She tried to keep her temper, even after -Miss Norris had spoken so insultingly to her. She merely clenched her -hands and repeated: ‘I’m more sorry than I can say, Miss Norris; I’m -more than ready to pay for your damaged gown. I know it’s imported, but -I’ll be glad to—’ Miss Norris answered in the most hateful way, -‘_You_—You show your ill-breeding in suggesting such a thing. You are -simply impossible.’ - -“Miss Ogden couldn’t stand that so she blazed out: ‘_You_ didn’t seem to -regard me as impossible when you asked me to electioneer for you. _You_, -not _I_, are ill-bred!’ Miss Norris positively shrieked, ‘_How dare you -insult me?_ You know you haven’t spoken truthfully.’ Six or seven of -Miss Norris’s crowd joined in then, and they all turned upon Miss Ogden. -Then there began such a chorus of gabbling, I couldn’t distinguish much -that was being said. Some of Miss Ogden’s friends joined the fuss and -began to defend _her_. She was in the middle of the crowd, wild with -rage, telling them all what she thought of them. The whole fuss hardly -occupied more than five minutes’ time. Miss Elgin, the soph president, -hurried over to me and said: ‘Come and help me stop this fuss, _please_, -Miss Mason. It’s disgraceful!’ I told her to come up on the platform and -order the beauty line to reform instantly, saying that, otherwise, the -contest would be declared off.” - -Vera laughed softly. “You should have seen the mob break up. Five -minutes later the line was strolling around the gym, as decorously as -could be. I don’t know what became of either Miss Norris, or Miss Ogden. -Neither was in the beauty line, naturally. Most of Miss Norris’s crowd -were. It sounds uncharitable, but I’m convinced that Miss Norris hoped -to win in the contest. She wouldn’t have, though, even if her gown -hadn’t been damaged. Miss Burke, a dormitory freshie, won it. She was -the most beautiful girl in the line. The dorms gave her a great -send-off. I beat it for the Hall the moment after Doris delivered the -adjuration to Beauty, but I could still hear the girls cheering until I -was half way across the campus.” - -“Miss Ogden is in her room. Leslie is with her,” Leila informed Vera. -“She came in in a fine flurry. We fled, knowing we had best leave her to -Leslie.” - -“She has my sympathy. It was not only ill-bred, but also unkind in Miss -Norris to make such a scene because of an accident,” was Vera’s slightly -contemptuous opinion. “If this fuss had occurred before the class -election she would never have won the presidential vote.” - -“She’s made a bad start at Hamilton,” Marjorie said soberly. “She’s -taken the wrong road, and no one but herself can put her on the right -one again. If only she could be made to see it.” - -“It is like you, Beauty, to mourn over the ill-doer, and for that we -have loved you. Leslie is what she is today because you believed she had -a better self. It is yet too young in the college year to say what -beneficial changes may come, if any, to Miss Norris. If she has a better -self,” Leila’s tone had become sceptical, “I am afraid she will be put -to considerable trouble to find it. I know I shall take no pains to -point it out to her.” - -“Shall you ask her to be in Henry the Fifth after what happened -tonight?” Marjorie inquired half mischievously. - -“_Now_ you _are_ asking me something.” Leila’s wide smile broke out. “I -might be doing better were I to ask her to play ‘Kate’ in ‘The Taming of -the Shrew.’” - -The entrance of Leslie into the room turned the attention of the three -girls in her direction. - -“What happened at the gym, Vera?” she asked as she drew a chair forward -and joined the group. - -“Then she hasn’t yet come out of it?” Vera opened questioning blue eyes. - -“Oh, she has, to the extent of saying there was a scrap at the gym, and -that she hates Miss Norris. That’s the part she keeps on emphasizing to -me. She’s so sore over whatever happened tonight at the gym that she -can’t see straight. She promised to spill the news to me tomorrow. I -didn’t stop to quiz her about it. I thought you’d know, perhaps.” - -Vera recounted briefly what she had already told Leila and Marjorie. - -“_Good night_,” was Leslie’s slangily forceful reception of Vera’s -account of the evening’s accident. “No wonder the kid is sore. Some one -ought to send Miss Norris a book of etiquette for social occasions with -a few choice paragraphs underlined. Leave it to Muriel to do it, if she -were here. I wonder if Miss Norris is worse than I used to be?” she -pondered aloud. “I believe she _is_. I doubt if, in the same -circumstances, I’d have raised a commotion in public about getting a -lemonade shower-bath. Of course, it was the beauty contest that started -her going. She’ll never forgive Jewel Marie for being the means of -snapping her out of it. The kid says she hates Miss Norris. It looks as -though internal war might ramp and rage at Wayland Hall, unless someone -with scads of nerve should rise in her might, and put the kibosh on it.” - -“You’ve always said _you_ had more nerve than anybody else, Leslie,” -Marjorie laughed, yet there was a gleam of earnestness in her brown -eyes. - -“Yep; I know it. I was just thinking about that myself.” Leslie’s eyes -met Marjorie’s in a glance of slow significance. - -“While you and Beauty find a plan to make the Hall a safe place for two -timid old ladies like Midget and me to live in, I shall brew you a cup -of tea, and Midget must lay the plates and bring out the cakes.” - -Leila and Vera immediately began to busy themselves with the preparation -of a spread, leaving Marjorie and Leslie to the discussion which had -seemingly narrowed down to they two. - -“This crowd of Miss Norris’s are doing their level best to upset the -democratic peace of Wayland Hall,” Leslie said emphatically. “They can’t -possibly win in the long run, but they can keep things here disagreeably -stirred up, perhaps all year, unless their activities are nipped in the -bud. Last year Muriel’s show turned the tide in my favor when Miss -Ferguson and Dulcie Vale tried to down me. There was a greater number of -girls in the Orchid Club, too. There are twelve of these freshies. One -may safely count Mildred Ferguson in with them. Thirteen disturbers to -vanquish. Go to it Cairns II. That’s how I feel about it. That’s what -Peter the Great would say, if I told _him_ my troubles.” - -“You have the same determined spirit I can imagine Brooke Hamilton as -having had,” Marjorie reached out, laying a warmly sympathetic hand upon -one of Leslie’s. “If I were still living at the Hall as a P. G., you -know I would fight shoulder to shoulder with you. But I’m not far away -from you. Remember, if you need my help in any way, it shall be yours.” - -“You certainly have some imagination.” Leslie indulged in one of her -oddly silent laughs. “Thank you for the Brooke Hamilton bouquet, and -I’ll know where to come running, if things begin to speed up too much -for me.” - -“Do you believe these freshies are interested in Hamilton as their Alma -Mater?” Marjorie put the question after a meditative silence. - -“No; not even a little bit. They’re of the present-moment flapper type, -indifferent to everything but their own pleasure. They spend their -recreation hours mostly in their cars. They’re not the sort to respond -to friendly advances. They’ve been fairly pleasant with the other -freshies here. Now that freshie class election is over—” Leslie’s shrug -was indicative of her meaning. - -“You and Leila are both so clever, Leslie, and you two practically -control campus dramatics. If only you could win these girls over by -offering them parts in the plays to be given at the Playhouse this -winter. It might make them feel more in touch with Hamilton, and awaken -in them a new spirit of college interest.” Marjorie’s suggestion rang -with her own boundless enthusiasm toward Hamilton. - -“Something like that,” Leslie nodded. “Frankly, Marjorie, that New York -freshie crowd bores me silly. So does Jewel Marie, at times. But she’s -of the people, all democrat underneath her ridiculous idea of caste. I -can see where I’m going to run into trouble if I don’t watch my step -while trying to win over a bunch of girls that she’s down on. Just the -same, Mrs. Macy,” Leslie purposely took on Jerry’s matter-of-fact tone, -“_it will have to be done. Yes siree; it will have to be done_, and it’s -up to Cairns II to tackle it, _and get away with it_.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - A SENTIMENTAL INTEREST - - -“And you say John Saxe doesn’t know who owns those Kenton Street -properties. That’s strange.” Peter Cairns’ alert dark features -registered a mixture of surprise and doubt. “He should know.” - -“I’m convinced that he doesn’t,” Hal Macy returned. “He told me the -owner of them transacted all business pertaining to them through an -agent, who refused to tell him the owner’s name. The agent told Mr. Saxe -that the owner was not keen about selling them, but might consider one -hundred, fifty thousand for them.” - -“Ridiculous. I wouldn’t give a penny over forty thousand for them, and -that’s a very fair figure,” the financier declared with slightly -contemptuous finality. - -“I offered fifty thousand for them, through Saxe. I hardly thought them -worth more than that. The site is worth far more than are the houses. -They are ramshackle, with practically no modern conveniences. It has -been my idea to buy them, have the houses torn down, and, in their -stead, erect modern two-story dwellings with all modern conveniences. -These properties extend along the south side of the street for almost -two blocks. The families who live in the rickety houses have been there -for years, and are among the really deserving poor of Hamilton. As a -staid, conservative college town Hamilton has little commercial or -industrial interest. There is little work for the laboring man in and -about the town at present. The shutting down of two or three of the few -manufactories in Hamilton has made wage-earning a problem. I have talked -with some of these poor fellows and have found their conditions -deplorable. With no steady work, and a high rental to pay, to say -nothing of the present high cost of living, the majority of them are -hard pressed. I should like, at least, to see them in comfortable -houses, at a more moderate rental than they are now obliged to pay.” - -Hal’s eyes had strayed from Peter Cairns’ strong face to that of his -Violet girl, confident of her sympathetic approval. They two, Leila and -Vera, Leslie and her father had dined that evening at the Arms with Miss -Susanna and were now gathered in the library for a confidential session. - -Peter Cairns had arrived in Hamilton on the day before and was Miss -Susanna’s guest. He had come in prompt response to her letter containing -the affectionate mandate, “Peter, I want you to drop everything else and -come to the Arms. I must see you.” Hal, still hugging his mysterious -secret to his heart, had been equally anxious to see the financier. He -had also pinned his faith upon Peter Cairns to ascertain for him the -identity of the owner of the properties. - -Listening to the discussion between Miss Susanna and the financier -regarding the possibilities of locating Lawyer Norris, if living, or -of obtaining the much desired information regarding the -fifty-thousand-dollar Honor Fund should the attorney be deceased, Hal -was more than ever convinced of Peter Cairns’ brilliant capabilities. -His terse assurance: “I’ll attend to it for you, Miss Susanna, though -it may take a little time to trace Norris,” had served to strengthen -Hal’s belief in him. - -“And _that_ is the surprise you’ve been hiding from me,” Marjorie’s face -was radiant. “I love it, and you, too, bushels and bushels,” she -finished childishly. - -“I knew you would.” Hal’s answering smile was like a caress. He tore his -eyes reluctantly from his wife’s lovely face to explain boyishly to the -others, “I’m a man without a job, you know, and it worries me, as much, -maybe, as being out of work worries those poor fellows on Kenton Street. -The only difference between us is that of money. They haven’t enough. I -have too much. My grandfather left me a whole lot of money. A great -uncle of mine left me a lot more. I’d like to use some of it to help the -other fellow. Marjorie and I are so happy, I’d like to see others happy, -too, because of it. I can’t see being a country gentleman with a stable -full of fine horses, hunting dogs, and all that sort of thing. I want to -keep going, in a way that will benefit others. Marjorie taught me the -glory of work. Now I’d like best of all to show her how well I’ve -learned my lesson.” - -“Hal!” Came a flash of white, and Marjorie had perched herself upon the -arm of Hal’s chair, her soft lips pressed against his cheek, a bare, -clinging arm about his neck. - -“You have your reward,” Peter Cairns said gallantly. Unconsciously his -eyes strayed past the married lovers to Leila. Happening to meet the -financier’s glance, Leila felt the color rise in her cheeks. She -instantly looked away, self-vexed. Their glances had merely chanced to -meet, was her annoyed thought. Deep in her heart, however, she was -conscious of a growing admiration for the clean-cut, keen-eyed finance -king. - -Leslie, always a close observer, had missed neither the exchange of -glances nor the quick-leaping color to Leila’s cheeks. She smiled to -herself, as though vastly amused by some sudden amusing thought of her -own. - -“It is the one reward worth gaining.” Hal’s right arm had wrapped itself -about Marjorie’s waist. - -“You two children have the best,” Miss Susanna’s brisk intonation had -softened to gentleness. “You can well afford to be money-generous. So -can I, for that matter. I’m rich in devoted friends, too. I’d like to -join in this welfare enterprise of yours, Hal, if you’ll permit me.” - -“This is the best news I’ve heard since Marjorie told me that she loved -me bushels and bushels.” Hal’s handsome features were smiling anew. - -“Why not let Leslie and me into it, too?” Peter Cairns demanded. - -“The Marjorie Dean Macy Welfare Colony,” suggested Leslie. “How’s that -for a name?” - -“_No, indeed_,” Marjorie made lively objection. “Either the Susanna -Hamilton, or the Peter Cairns Welfare Colony would sound much better.” - -“Not a bit of it,” sturdily objected Miss Susanna. “Leslie has the right -idea. We are all here together tonight, the best of friends, because of -Marjorie’s interest, direct or indirect, in us when we were practically -strangers to one another.” - -“_Ain’t it the truth?_” Leslie agreed in a tone of awed wonder that set -them all laughing. - -“We are really Marjorie’s own colony. Don’t attempt to deny it, young -lady,” Miss Hamilton shook a playfully reproving finger at Marjorie, -“nor try to disown us.” - -“As though I could.” Marjorie slipped from the arm of Hal’s chair and -went over to sit on that of Miss Susanna. - -“I’ll try again,” Leslie said humorously. “Since Marjorie and Miss -Susanna both object to having our new colony named for them, and I know -Peter the Great will object to the honor, the minute he can get a word -in, why not call it the Hamilton Colony?” - -“Yes; of course, that is so much better,” Marjorie laughingly seconded. - -“I didn’t think you’d go back on me, Leslie.” This time Miss Susanna’s -finger shook itself at Leslie. - -“I haven’t. I’m only trying to please everybody here, and not getting -away with it,” Leslie assured with an enjoying grin. - -“It all goes back to Mr. Brooke, Goldendede. Hamilton was his native -town. If such a condition as Hal has just described to us had existed in -Hamilton in his day, he would have tried to remedy it, as we hope to -do,” Marjorie made soulful argument. “I’d like to think of it as his -colony, all of us working together under the inspiring name of -Hamilton.” - -“I’m not proof against such an argument. You know my weak spot, and have -taken advantage of it, bad child.” Miss Susanna drew Marjorie into the -curve of her arm. “Well, we’ll see about it. Now let us leave the naming -of our colony until later. While Peter goes on the trail of information, -Hal shall take us down to Kenton Street for a look at the properties. If -only we could find that aggravating secret drawer we could straighten -this Honor Fund matter out like magic.” She heaved an impatient sigh. - -“You will one day find it in the last place you might expect it to be, -and that is but poor consolation,” Leila prognosticated. - -“What I should call encouragement from a purely Celtic standpoint,” Vera -said teasingly. - -“Just like that,” Leslie joined Vera in teasing Leila. - -“But for these two, I could lead a peaceful life,” Leila complained -resignedly. - -“The three of you had better come over to the Arms on Saturday for the -week-end. I’ll set you to hunting the secret drawer in separate rooms. -Then you won’t be disturbed, Leila.” Miss Susanna surveyed the trio with -twinkling eyes. “I daresay, however, that I’ll find the three of you all -hob-nobbing cheerfully together in one room before the day is over,” she -mischievously predicted. - -“Something like that _might_ happen,” Leila conceded with her widest -smile, “I am so kind-hearted.” - -Peter Cairns and Miss Susanna exchanged sympathetically droll glances as -they listened to the lively repartee that went on for a little among the -three chums. - -“The best is ours, Peter,” the old lady said softly to him with a quick -sidelong nod toward Leslie. - -“I know it,” was his fervent response as he looked with fond pride at -his daughter’s laughter-bright face. Again his eyes strayed to Leila who -was indulging in what she characterized as “a fit of Irish glee.” She -and Leslie were evidently the best of friends. He wondered, if, in the -dim future, there might come a time when he—. He had been interested in -Leila almost since first meeting. He had sternly dismissed the -sentimental thought that invariably sprang into his brain each time he -saw the clever Irish girl. - -“Peter,” Miss Susanna’s voice broke in upon his nearly sentimental -meditation, “I wish you’d come and take a look about the Chinese room. -You’ve traveled in the Orient and know a good deal about the secret ways -of the Orientals. Your knowledge of Chinese things may steer you -straight to the secret drawer.” - -“Are we invited to go along?” Marjorie inquired plaintively. - -“Of course, goose, we’ll all go, and do a little hunting. I believe in -making my guests useful,” laughed the old lady. - -The searchers trooped merrily into the Chinese room, volubly voicing -their hope that the financier might hit upon the hiding-place of the -secret drawer. For an hour they busied themselves diligently, running -their hands over the various pieces of teakwood furniture, and pressing -upon spots of it that suggested even remotely the presence of a secret -mechanism. - -At the end of an hour, however, they had come no nearer to finding the -too-well-concealed drawer than when they had begun the search. Even the -financier admitted himself as baffled on first hunt. - -“I’m coming up to the Hedge before Thanksgiving to get it ready for -occupancy. If you haven’t found the drawer by that time, I’ll have -another go at it. Meantime, while I’m hunting Norris, let the girls help -you keep up the search here. I have a lively hunch that we shall find -Norris, or possibly his heirs, and the drawer, too, _and_,” his dark -features set themselves with stubborn determination, “I propose to leave -nothing undone toward making that hunch come true.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - AN UNSCRUPULOUS PLOTTER - - -As a result of the agreement Leila, Leslie, Marjorie and Vera had made -among themselves on the night of the freshman frolic toward winning over -Stephanie Norris and her chums, Leila had decided to open the season at -the Playhouse with “Henry the Fifth,” rather than “The Merchant of -Venice.” - -It was with no particular pleasure, however, that, on an evening not -long after the frolic she knocked upon Miss Norris’s door for a polite -interview with the difficult freshman, concerning the honor she proposed -to extend to her. “And if I should suddenly come flying back here, as -though blown down the hall by a strong gale, feel no surprise!” she -confided to Vera. “I am not counting upon a cordial reception.” - -To her surprise, she found the arrogant freshman inclined to be -gracious. Stephanie had come into a realization of several pertinent -truths since the night of the freshman frolic. One of them was a nettled -realization that she had behaved unwisely in flying into a fit of temper -with Miss Ogden. Her own particular coterie of chums had sympathized -with her, with the exception of Laura Taylor, her roommate. Mildred -Ferguson was also on her side. She was not so sure of Mildred’s -roommate, Miss Watson, who had escorted Laura to the frolic. Laura had -voiced frank disapproval of Stephanie’s rude outburst when they had -reached the privacy of their room after the frolic was over. They had in -consequence quarreled hotly and had since been barely upon speaking -terms. - -The article which had appeared in “The Campus Echo,” three days after -the frolic, relative to the “Playhouse,” had not added to Stephanie’s -peace of mind. She had not supposed “that horrid Miss Cairns” to be of -so much importance on the campus. According to Mildred Ferguson, Miss -Cairns had no right, whatever, to be on the campus. Her father’s money -alone had influenced President Matthews to overlook her many -misdemeanors. She had actually been expelled from college, then later -had been permitted to return to Hamilton as a matter of favoritism. As -Miss Ogden’s roommate, she might be expected to sympathize with “the -tiresome little creature.” - -Stephanie was still brimming with rancor against the offending freshman. -Thanks to Miss Ogden’s stupid clumsiness not only her lovely important -gown, but also her high hope of winning the beauty contest had been -ruined. She had vengefully determined “to get even” with the diminutive -freshman to the point of having already considered various spiteful -schemes for humiliating the object of her spite. What she purposed to -do, when she had finally hit upon a telling plan of revenge, was to -carry it out with a secrecy that should permit of no discovery. - -Leila’s unexpected call, together with the flattering import of her -errand, filled Stephanie with a sense of gratified triumph. She took -good care to hide it under a forced pretense of graciousness, however. -Her unreasoning dislike for the clever manager of the Playhouse must not -be permitted to stand in the way of her own popularity. She had “lost -out” wretchedly in the beauty contest. She could not afford any further -“flivvers.” Nevertheless, she chose to demur over the stellar role which -Leila now offered her on the plea that she would like to “think the -matter over” before coming to a decision. - -Leila presently returned to her own room, not in the least deceived by -the scheming freshman, but half sorry she had asked her to take part in -the coming Shakespearean play. “The deed is done,” she dryly informed -Vera as she entered their room. “Let us hope it has not been ill done. I -am less than ever taken with Miss Norris. She has little more college -spirit than a basket of potatoes.” - -“How very uncharitable you are,” Vera giggled at Leila’s disgusted -comparison. - -“Am I not?” The Irish girl’s half-frowning features brightened into a -faint grin. She thereupon gave Vera a brief account of her interview -with Stephanie, ending with: “I am the willing slave of democracy, but -it is a hard master.” - -With Leila’s exit from Stephanie’s room, her roommate, Laura Taylor, who -had been present during Leila’s call, broke the constraint which had -hung heavily upon the two since the night of the frolic. - -“You are in luck, Steve,” she observed with quiet significance. “You can -afford to forget about the beauty contest flivver. Something much better -has come your way. Go to it. You can act. You ought to make a wonderful -King Hal.” - -“Yes; I _can_ act.” Stephanie walked over to her mirror, chin raised to -a complacent angle. “I hope the costumes for the part are good. If I -don’t like them, I shall send to a New York costumer’s for others that -may suit me better.” - -“Yes?” Behind Stephanie’s back Laura’s plump shoulders shrugged bored -disapproval. - -“It’s exactly as I told you it would be.” Stephanie suddenly swung -around from the mirror, speaking with triumphant energy. “Those snippy -P. G.’s, Miss Harper and Miss Cairns, simply _had_ to recognize my -worth. It looks to me as though Miss Harper might be on my side, and not -on Miss Ogden’s. Perhaps Miss Cairns has had enough of her, too. Both -have no doubt heard about our fuss at the beauty contest.” - -“Listen to me, Steve,” Laura burst forth impatiently, “for goodness’ -sake stop kidding yourself along. You happen to be the type Miss Harper -happened to need for King Henry. _That’s_ the reason, _and the only -reason_ why she has offered you the part.” - -“It is _not_,” Stephanie flared back hotly. “You are—” - -“Kindly permit me to finish.” Laura spoke in a tone which Stephanie -recognized and dreaded. It meant that the wall of silence was likely to -loom again between them, to remain raised indefinitely. - -“_Oh, pardon me_,” she apologized with covert sarcasm. - -“Neither Miss Harper nor Miss Cairns are the sort to ‘take sides’ in the -way you seem to believe they might. If they were, they would certainly -not be on yours. You were far more to blame the other night at the -frolic than was Miss Ogden. If you had spoken to me, as you spoke to -her, I should have been tempted to make more trouble for you than she -made.” - -“I was _not_ to blame. She ruined my gown, then flew at me like a—a -tiger,” stormed Stephanie. - -“But not until you had called her a clumsy idiot, a bounder and various -other uncomplimentary names,” Laura stolidly reminded. “You owe that -girl an apology.” - -“_I_,” Stephanie indicated herself with an outraged fore finger, -“_apologize to that miserable little upstart_? I’ll never forgive her -for having put me in such a humiliating position. I’ll find a way to get -back at her for it, too. Remember what I say.” - -“Oh, drop it,” Laura commented wearily. “The sooner you live down your -part of that fuss, the better off you’ll be. And don’t come to me with -any of your ridiculous revenge schemes. Nothing doing.” - -“You talk like a prig—like one of those silly dormitory students,” -Stephanie threw back with supreme contempt. “What has come over you, -Laura Taylor? You act entirely different from the good pal you used to -be to me.” Stephanie cunningly appealed to Laura from a standpoint of -loyalty. Laura hated disloyalty. - -“I’ve been loyal to you, if that’s what you mean.” Laura turned a coolly -level gaze upon her friend’s petulant features. “Everything at Hamilton -is so different from the way things were at prep school—more inspiring, -and—” Laura paused, then added reflectively, “worth while.” - -“Horrors! I hope you haven’t enlisted under the reform banner,” -Stephanie sneered. “It looks fatally like it.” - -“Don’t let it worry you.” A quick flush rose to the stout girl’s plump -cheeks. “Watch your own step. I mean that in good part, Steve.” - -“_Thank you_,” came the disdainful retort. “I _hope_ I am capable of -managing my own affairs.” - -“I hope so, too,” Laura returned with a gravity of tone that made -Stephanie feel vaguely uncomfortable. - -Three days later she wrote Leila a formal note containing her acceptance -of the Shakespearean part. Rather to her disappointment, Leila promptly -responded with an equally formal note of thanks, and a brief request -that she report at the theatre at one o’clock the following Saturday -afternoon for a reading of the drama to be later enacted. Stephanie had -hoped that Leila would again come to her room, having decided upon a -certain lofty pose which she intended to assume during the call. She was -also desirous of learning whether Miss Ogden had been included in the -cast, an inclusion against which she had determined politely to protest. -She had resolved to make life miserable for the offending freshman to -the point of driving her from Hamilton College, provided she could -accomplish such a revenge. If she could not, it would not be from lack -of trying. A pampered only child, Stephanie had grown to young womanhood -with a fixed idea of her own importance. Nor was anyone permitted long -to stand in her way, whom she could succeed in ousting from it. - -Her attendance of the reading of the play at the Playhouse on the -following Saturday afternoon revealed to her the not unwelcome fact that -Miss Ogden was missing from the cast. It would save her the necessity of -a protest, which, she had sulkily reflected, might have reacted to her -disadvantage. She was full of secret satisfaction over the good fortune -that had visited her, vanity prompting her to repudiate Laura’s blunt -surmise of how it had come about. - -The swift passing of the autumn days found her strictly upon her most -gracious behavior toward Leila, Vera and the other members of the cast. -Leslie she could not endure. Fortunately for her she seldom came into -contact with the busy, reserved manager. Leslie had become everything to -the charming little theatre from manager to property man. While Leila -directed and rehearsed the actors with unfailing patience and good -nature, Leslie was frequently a silent observer at rehearsals. Seated -far back in the auditorium little that went on on the stage escaped her -critical eyes. - -There had been no need for Stephanie to be dissatisfied with her several -costumes. In presenting the theatre to the campus Peter Cairns had shown -lavish generosity in the matter of wardrobe. He had also placed a -costume fund at Leila’s disposal to be used at her discretion. The love -of acting being a part of Stephanie’s vain make-up, she did well in the -stellar role of king. She had every reason to be happy, in the new -pleasant environment which the rehearsals furnished, but was not. She -continued to nurse her grudge against Jewel Ogden, never, for a moment -relenting toward the despised freshman. - -As a result of the quarrel at the frolic Jewel was still very sore at -heart. She had girlishly admired Stephanie for her good looks and -imperial manner, and had been cut to the quick by the latter’s harsh -treatment of herself. She had mentally dwelt upon the disaster to -Stephanie’s hopes, that she had grown pitifully sensitive. She kept it -well hidden, however, under her usual brisk, out-spoken manner. Leslie -alone understood that the little girl had not yet emerged from her -valley of humiliation. Following her vehement grief on the night of the -frolic she had afterward become mute on the subject of her wrongs, -refusing to volunteer another word relative to them. Leslie, -sympathetically silent, had asked no question. - -Leila had already approached Jewel on the subject of her new play, “The -Leprachaun,” to be enacted later in the college year. This with a view -toward “making honors even” and as an indication to Miss Ogden of the -impartiality of her policy, germane to matters theatrical. The freshman -had accepted the stellar part in the new play which was still engaging -Leila’s serious literary effort. The Irish girl had determined to make -the fanciful drama the best she had yet written. She had carefully -explained to Jewel how much the quaint Irish play meant to her, and -Jewel had, for the time, emerged from under her secret cloud to brighten -over the flattering prospect ahead of her. Later, she dropped again into -her former half despondent mood, a change which Leslie quickly noted. - -“Cheer up, Jewel, and come on over to Baretti’s to dinner. I feel like -changing my eats tonight. You eata da spaghet?” She paused before Jewel -in droll imitation of Signor Baretti, the friendly proprietor of the -restaurant. - -“Yes, I do. I love Italian cooking.” Jewel’s sober face lightened. - -“Fine business.” Leslie whisked the little girl into her coat before she -had time to change her mind, dropping her small felt hat gently on the -curly black head. - -They were presently seated at an alcove table of the quaint inn, -ordering a full Italian dinner that began with Baretti’s special snappy -relish and would end with Spumoni ice cream and delicious Italian cake. -It was still early for the usual nightly throng of college diners at the -inn. Besides Leslie and Jewel the tables showed not more than a -sprinkling of students, none of whom either girl knew other than by -sight. They had just begun their dessert when a party of students -entered the restaurant to an accompanying ripple of noise and laughter. - -“Oh.” Jewel’s dessert spoon struck her plate with a nervous little clang -as she recognized in the entrants a part of Stephanie Norris’s pals, -together with Mildred Ferguson. Stephanie, however, was not among them. - -They seated themselves at a not far distant table in a laughing flutter, -their eyes busily roving the great room. - -“I’ve finished my dessert,” Jewel’s face had suddenly lost its -brightness. “Let’s go, Leslie,” she entreated. - -“We will soon,” Leslie nodded, “but we are not going to run away because -of that crowd. I refuse to be cheated of my coffee, and you haven’t yet -taken a sip of yours.” - -“I don’t want it. I’d rather go. Those girls—you don’t understand,” she -declared sadly. “They—that Miss Ferguson—she has said hateful things -about me. If we stay she will begin talking about me, and the others -will stare at me, and laugh among themselves. I can’t bear it.” Her red -underlip had begun to tremble. - -“Steady, kid. Pay no attention to them.” Leslie sent a coolly appraising -glance at the tableful of girls that was not without its effect. The -staring process had already covertly begun, but more than one pair of -eyes wavered from the challenging inquiry of her black eyes. The group -turned attention to the ordering of their dinner with a promptness that -brought the semblance of a grim smile to Leslie’s lips. - -“What has Miss Ferguson been saying about you?” was Leslie’s first -question, when ten minutes later, the two girls had stepped out into the -soft fall darkness. - -“The same sort of things Miss Norris said to me in the gym when I -spoiled her dress,” quavered Jewel. - -“You are positive that she has said them? You know, don’t you, that -campus gossip is anything but reliable? Remarks often become badly -twisted on the way around,” Leslie made dry assertion. - -“Yes; I know she has. Miss Felton heard her say something unkind about -me to Miss Mayhew the other day and censured her for it. I’ve heard of -things she has said from two other freshmen, too. They advised me to go -to her and have it out with her. I’d rather not do it. I’m not afraid, -but it seems more dignified to ignore her hatefulness, if I can. I made -one mistake in answering Miss Norris on the night at the frolic, I don’t -care to make a second.” - -“You have the right idea. Stick to it. No one but yourself can make, or -mar you.” Unconsciously Leslie repeated the very words she had said on a -certain spring night of the previous year when a bevy of girls, headed -by Mildred Ferguson, had arrayed itself against her. - -“That’s the way I think, too. You can see for yourself how much better -it was not to let it be known on the campus that I used to be a trapeze -performer,” Jewel said soberly. “I’d have been talked over and sneered -at until I’d have been glad to leave Hamilton.” - -“Not by the girls who count as representative of Hamilton,” Leslie -sturdily disagreed. “You’ve lost your nerve. Find it again, and don’t -let the hissing of these geese worry you.” - -“I’ll try to find it again.” Jewel gave a little half-hearted laugh. -“Just the same I’m glad only you know about my stage days. You—you’re -sure you never mentioned it, even to Miss Harper?” Jewel’s voice rose -anxiously. - -“Certainly not; even though I had, you’d still be safe,” Leslie -humorously assured. “She’s an even better secret-keeper than I.” - -Long after lights were out that night and Jewel slept, vastly comforted -by Leslie’s kindly effort to cheer her up, Leslie lay wide-awake, -pondering a summary method of interference in the freshman’s behalf -against the persecution of Mildred Ferguson’s gossiping tongue. She -finally dropped to sleep without having hit upon a decided scheme of -action, though daylight and waking would again renew her thoughtful -consideration of the problem. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XX - - LE PETIT OISEAU - - -“You are positive of it, Marylyn?” Stephanie Norris’s voice betrayed -triumphant excitement. “You must be able to prove, you know, that she -really _is_ the person you saw in Paris, before you dare let the news -get out on the campus. Otherwise she would fly at you like a hornet, or -else take her troubles to Prexy.” - -“I’m positive enough of what I tell you. I can prove it, too, by a -French theatre program I have with her picture on the front cover. I -have always been puzzled, wondering why her face seemed so familiar to -me. I was sure I’d seen her somewhere on the Continent when we were -abroad last summer. The night of the frolic I was more sure of it than -ever when I saw her in that peachblow frock, doing that fancy trot with -the tall soph. Even then I couldn’t place her. Yesterday afternoon I was -talking to Miss Werner who was in Paris about the same time that we -were. We both happened to remember a particularly good vaudeville show -we’d seen there. Then it flashed across me, all of a sudden, ‘_Le Petit -Oiseau_.’ That’s the way she was programmed. She came out first in a -dress that was almost the same shade of pink as the one she wore to the -frolic, and did some marvelously clever acrobatic stunts. Then she -changed to a scarlet and black trapeze rig with cunning little black -wings. She had a partner then, a catcher, I believe they call him, and -then she did some toppo stunts on the flying trapeze.” - -Marylyn Spencer, small, and rather pretty, save for a pair of lynx-like, -calculating eyes, fairly paused for breath after her rapidly-spoken -revelation. She was a faithful satellite of Stephanie’s, far more in -harmony with the latter’s high-handed methods than was Laura. “I’ve -written to Mother to send me the program. It was so artistic I kept it -as a Paris souvenir. I know I’m right about it,” she finished -emphatically. - -“_A common trapeze performer_,” Arline Redmond said with infinite -disdain. “_That is_ the limit. No wonder she behaved like a wild cat to -you at the frolic, Steve. She certainly doesn’t belong at Hamilton. -There _are_ colleges, of course, suited to such _ambitious persons_.” -She laughed disagreeably. “She had nerve to come to Hamilton.” - -“I imagine she got into Hamilton under false pretenses.” Stephanie took -eager advantage of the opening. “Possibly Miss Cairns may know the truth -about her. I’ll say the faculty doesn’t. When do you expect to receive -that program from home, Marylyn?” - -“Within three or four days. Why? What are you going to do?” she demanded -curiously. More or less of her curiosity was reflected upon the faces of -the other girls who were present in Stephanie’s room. Among the group -Laura alone maintained a bored silence. No word of the gossiping -conversation, going on animatedly in the room, was “getting by” her. - -“Never mind what I’m going to do. Let me have that program as soon as -you can. Then look out.” Stephanie gave a soft malicious little laugh. - -“You’ll have to be very careful what you do, Steve,” warned Mildred -Ferguson half sourly. She had been unable to “think up” a telling -revenge against Jewel Ogden and was slightly peeved at Marylyn’s -success. “If you start anything about Miss Ogden having been a circus -performer going on the campus you’ll soon find both Miss Cairns and Miss -Harper on your trail. They can make it hot for you, too.” - -“_That_ for Miss Cairns and Miss Harper,” Stephanie snapped contemptuous -fingers. “Miss Harper is lovely to me, and Miss Cairns would be, too, if -I gave her the slightest opening. Don’t worry, I know how to put this -little stunt over, and no one, outside you girls here, will be able to -say how it happened.” - -“Much ado about nothing,” Laura had come out of her bored silence. -“Possibly, after Steve has behaved like the villain in a melodrama -you’ll then all discover that the Ogden kid doesn’t care a hang who -knows she was once a trapeze performer. It may give her a fine boost on -the campus.” - -“Nothing of the sort.” Stephanie turned angrily upon Laura. “If she’d -felt like that about it she would have boasted of it long ago, to me. -She’s horribly conceited. No, indeed. She was always very evasive -whenever I happened to ask her any personal questions. Besides, she told -me she had attended Warburton Prep.” - -“Possibly she had,” Laura retorted. - -“I doubt it. You’re always on the wrong side of the fence lately. Since -you don’t agree with me, please, at least, remember that this is a -confidential talk,” Stephanie reminded icily. - -“Now you _have_ said something.” Laura thereupon subsided with an amused -air which only an odd glint in her pale blue eyes contradicted. - -Meanwhile Jewel had taken Leslie’s blunt advice to heart and was trying -to regain the self-assured air that had characterized her during her -first days at college. Hearing no further adverse criticisms of herself -she was now glad that she had followed the line of conduct which Leslie -had advocated. - -Returning from a ride with Leslie in the late October dusk the eyes of -both girls were simultaneously attracted by the sight of a folded -newspaper held in place by the knob of their room door. - -“The Hamilton Gazette,” Jewel read in surprise. “How queer, and it’s -addressed to me! I wonder who put it there?” - -“Some little mystery.” Leslie had already entered the room and switched -on the light. Her thoughts elsewhere, she was paying no particular -attention to the freshman as she stood ripping off the news sheet’s -addressed wrapper. She heard, mechanically, the rustle of unfolding -paper, followed by sudden silence. - -“Oh-h-h-h!” - -Leslie was unprepared for the long, anguished wail which Jewel sent up. -Sight of the little girl’s horrified expression, and she came quickly -forward, saying anxiously, “What’s the matter, Jewel?” - -“Read it! Read it!” the freshman cried, holding the paper toward Leslie -with shaking hands. “Look. _You_ did that. No one but you could have -done it. I—I—hate you!” She thrust the paper forcefully into Leslie’s -hands. - -“What?” Leslie had already busied herself with the fateful news sheet. -Squarely at top center of the first page was a badly-blurred picture of -a girl in a very short-skirted evening frock. Her pose, however, was -distinctly theatrical. Despite blurred reproduction the girl in the -picture was unmistakably Jewel. Below the picture Leslie read the -large-type headline, “Trapeze Performer a College Innovation.” - -Amazed interest glued Leslie’s eyes to the half column article below the -head line. She read on, dimly conscious of Jewel’s accompanying angry -voice. - -“Where did you get that picture?” she finished in time to hear Jewel -storm. “You had it all the time. You must have seen our show in Paris, -then pretended innocence to me. That picture was on the theatre program, -and you know it. No one else knew about me except you. How _could_ you?” - -“Come out of it, Jewel,” Leslie said with brusque kindness. “Listen to -me. Didn’t I give you my word of honor regarding your secret?” - -“Yes, and broke it,” Jewel flung back furiously. - -“You should know me better than that. Try to be reasonable. What object -would I possibly have in doing any such contemptible thing?” - -“How should I know? Probably you told your friend Mrs. Macy about it. -She may have told another of her intimate friends,” Jewel replied -bitterly. “She—” - -“I have told _no one_. Mrs. Macy is above reproach. You will kindly -leave her name out of the discussion.” Pale with wrath, the chill of -Leslie’s tones cut through Jewel’s anger. - -“Perhaps she didn’t—” she began, half ashamed; Leslie, however, had -reached the door and left the room without heeding the angry freshman’s -half attempt at exoneration. Left to herself resentment against Leslie -again possessed her. When, half an hour later, Leslie returned, well -over the surge of black anger that had threatened to burst upon Jewel, -the freshman appeared stonily unaware of her presence in the room. - -In the dining room that evening girl comment ran decorously rife. Every -freshie at the Hall had found a copy of the “Hamilton Gazette” at her -door that afternoon. They awaited Jewel’s entrance into the dining room -with more or less eager curiosity. She did not appear at dinner, to -their signal disappointment. Far from being shocked at the write-up, the -broader-minded element among them were inclined to lionize Jewel. -Weighed down by a false sense of shame, she could not possibly guess -this. - -In Stephanie Norris’s room that evening a triumphantly lively discussion -went on at Stephanie’s coup de grace. The freshman’s non-appearance at -dinner they had chose to regard as significant. - -“I knew I was right about her,” Marylyn Spencer elatedly repeated. -“However did you manage, Steve? I mean so that there won’t be a -come-back for you. Remember I must have that program back again.” - -“I’m going into town tomorrow. I’ll send a messenger boy from the -Hamilton House for it, and wait for its return to me there. I shall -simply tell him,” Stephanie broke into an amused laugh, “to ask the -editor for Miss Harper’s program.” - -“Miss Harper?” went up in several different keys of surprise. - -“Yes. It’s awfully funny. You see I happened to mention Miss Harper’s -name in connection with the Playhouse, and the editor must have mistaken -me for her. He very politely called me Miss Harper. So—” again she -laughed,—“I let it go at that.” - -“Then, no one can possibly connect us with—” Joyce Gray, Marylyn’s -roommate began excitedly. - -“This pleasant little joke,” Laura Taylor supplied mockingly. “You were -in luck again, weren’t you, Steve.” - -“Yes.” Stephanie cast a suspicious glance at Laura. The latter’s -immobile face told her nothing. - -“I imagine she will try to brave this out,” Mildred Ferguson said half -contemptuously. “Some of the students are silly enough to begin making a -fuss over her. We ought to do something more, before this affair dies -out, to chase her off the campus.” - -“What?” came in an expectant chorus. - -“Haze her,” Mildred replied very deliberately. - -“It’s strictly forbidden at Hamilton,” demurred Edith Barber. “It’s sure -enough expellment if one is caught at it.” - -“Oh, yes, of course, but one needn’t be caught at it. I know something -we might do that couldn’t possibly be proven against us, if we were to -be caught hazing that midget. Are you willing to try it out?” - -“I am,” Stephanie made instant reply. - -“I’d rather know what your plan is before making any promises,” Joyce -said doubtfully. - -“So should I,” came from two or three of the others. - -“Never mind, I’ll tell you about it, then you can decide,” Mildred -conceded. “There’s a room at the back of Hamilton Hall, first floor, -that the students are permitted to use for rehearsals of campus house -plays. All one has to do is to ask the janitor for the key, and it can -be entered from a side door. The door opening upon the corridor can be -locked. All one has to promise is to be out of the room by ten o’clock. -First we’ll write Miss Ogden a note asking her to come to that room by -the side entrance at eight o’clock on a certain evening for the -discussion of a grave matter. We’ll simply sign it ‘Chairman, Senior -Welfare Committee.’ When she steps into the room she’ll see seven masked -figures in gray dominos waiting for her. One of us, it had better be -Steve, will play chairman and make her a speech about campus interests -demanding that she leave Hamilton. Steve will have to speak very -sternly, so as to make her believe that she is really in bad with the -best class of Hamilton students because of the write-up in the -‘Gazette.’ Nine chances out of ten she will swallow the bait and leave -college. None of the rest of us will say a word, and Steve will have to -disguise her voice. If anyone should happen to be around that might make -trouble we can easily explain our presence there by saying we were -simply rehearsing a little play, and deny knowing anything about either -the note we’ll send her, or the Senior Welfare Committee. But there’s -absolutely no danger of discovery.” Mildred glanced about the circle of -interested faces, confident that she had scored. - -“It’s a dandy scheme.” Stephanie drew a long breath of satisfaction. -“But I can’t disguise my voice well enough to act as chairman. Laura -can.” She looked dubiously at her roommate, not sure but that Laura -would balk. “Would you be the chairman, Laura?” she asked persuasively. - -“Yes.” Laura’s prompt acceptance made Stephanie open her eyes. - -“I’ll write you a speech. You’ll have to learn it by heart and practice -it,” Mildred told the stout freshman. “It ought to be something like -this: ‘My dear Miss Ogden, it has long been the custom of a selected -committee of seniors, secretly appointed each year by a certain person -to deal privately with such matters as may rise to interfere with the -welfare of the students of Hamilton.’ How is that?” she appealed, -laughing. - -“Fine,” exulted Stephanie. - -An accompanying murmur of approval arose. Laura alone kept silence. - -“What do you think of it, Laura?” Stephanie was aware of Laura’s -muteness. - -“It will answer the purpose. When will the party come off, where are the -dominos to come from?” - -“We’ll buy the cloth and make them. We can run them up by hand tomorrow -night. I’ll make yours for you while you’re learning your part. I’ll -write the speech this very night. This is Tuesday. We can try our little -stunt on Thursday, provided no one else is going to use the room on -Thursday night. I’ll find that out tomorrow morning. The sooner it -happens, the sooner we’ll see the last of Jewel Marie Ogden.” - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - - ALL IN THE NAME OF WELFARE - - -“Suppose she shouldn’t come?” Behind the gray of her mask Joyce Rawlston -gave a faint giggle. - -“She will, I think,” Mildred Ferguson predicted. “I heard today that she -was all broke-up over the write-up. She has been taking her meals at -Baretti’s, too. That’s why we haven’t seen her in the dining room at the -Hall.” - -“It’s a wonder Miss Cairns hasn’t been trotting around with her, trying -to show how much democracy she has,” Marylyn Spencer curled a red upper -lip. “They’ve not been seen together since the afternoon when the story -came out in the ‘Gazette.’” - -“Miss Cairns is looking after her own interests by dropping her, I -presume. She had better watch her step. She used to be considered the -most lawless student that ever enrolled at Hamilton. She made a wise -change in her ways when she managed to get back again on the campus. Now -she plumes herself on being so intimate with Marjorie Dean Macy and that -crowd of wonder workers. I _detest_ Leslie Cairns,” Mildred exclaimed -with bitter energy. - -“For goodness’ sake, Laura, don’t fall down on your speech,” Stephanie -interposed nervously. She was tired of hearing Mildred’s tirade against -Leslie, from a too frequent repetition of it. - -“I won’t. Let me alone,” Laura replied to Stephanie in the deep -forbidding voice she was soon to use as chairman. - -“Will she knock on the door?” Reba Franklin cast a quick glance toward -the appointed portal by which Jewel Marie Ogden must enter, provided she -obeyed the dread summons. - -“No. The note directed her to open the door, and walk in. Sh-h-h. I’m -sure I heard a step,” Mildred raised a warning finger. - -Came the turn of the knob. A muffled sigh ascended from the masked -tribunal. Jewel Ogden had stepped into the room, her black eyes fixed -upon the waiting gray dominos in an expression of anxious dread. For an -instant she stood poised on the threshold as though about to turn and -flee, then she came slowly forward until she was within a few feet of -the long oak bench on which were seated the fearsome company of masks. - -“I received a note,” she began bravely, “from the Chairman of the Campus -Welfare Committee. I should like to speak to her, please.” Her eyes -roved timidly up and down the line of masks. - -“I am the chairman.” Laura had risen. She stepped forward a little, -standing between the diminutive freshman and the row of silent dominos. -“My dear Miss Ogden,” she began, “it has long been the custom in almost -every college for the unjust to persecute the just. You have been -summoned here tonight by a certain group of girls who have yet to learn -how to live, or how to let others live.” - -“Oh-h! Oh-h! Why, the idea!” The impressiveness of the masked figures -had been suddenly lost in the angry babble of girl voices that rose from -behind the gray masks. - -“_Silence._” The sternness of the command, spoken in a voice that was -certainly not Laura Taylor’s, pre-empted an odd uncomfortable hush. “_I_ -am the chairman of this committee, and I am going to deliver a speech -suitable to the occasion. It will not be a long speech, but it will be -strictly to the point. It seems hardly necessary for me to inform you -students that you are hazing. It is a dangerous pastime on Hamilton -campus.” - -“You are not Laura Taylor!” Stephanie had sprung angrily to her feet. -“You have no right to be here spying upon us.” - -“What right have you to be here in the existing circumstances?” lashed -out the stern voice. - -“We are—we are going to rehearse a play,” Stephanie declared defiantly. - -“Not now; the show is over, and the play is played out.” - -“We had permission to use this room this evening. You are intruding.” -Mildred Ferguson had rallied stormily to Stephanie’s aid. - -“Very true, Miss Ferguson, but, circumstances alter cases. I came here -tonight to see that Miss Ogden received fair treatment. Also to say to -you that hazing does not pay; neither does spite and malice. I tried -them all once, here at Hamilton, so I know now that advice to you is -sound.” - -“Leslie Cairns,” Mildred Ferguson almost shouted out the name. - -“Yes; Leslie Cairns, the most lawless student who ever enrolled at -Hamilton College.” As she spoke Leslie threw back the hood of the domino -and stripped the mask from her face. “I’m trying now to live down that -reputation. I _was_ expelled, you see. You have merely run the risk, but -it’s a bad risk to run.” - -“_Laura_,” gasped Marylyn, “Where is she? She’s to blame for—” she -checked herself. - -“Yes; she is. She came to me in confidence today because she had the -courage of her convictions. She wishes you to know this; asked me to -tell you. That’s all, I believe. Come on. Jewel, let’s go over to -Baretti’s for ice cream. Good night, masks. The next time you decide to -start on a student you don’t happen to fancy, think it over, and don’t -start.” - -Her arm linked in Jewel’s, the tiny girl had begun to cry, quietly, -pitifully, she drew her freshie catch toward the door, leaving an oddly -silent row of chagrined girls behind them. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - - GOLDENDEDE’S CHOICE - - -That which Jewel had so greatly feared proved itself to be instead the -beginning of her rise in campus popularity. Her tearful apologies to -Leslie the latter met with a smiling “Forget it.” Deciding to do some -investigating on her own account, Leslie took occasion to drop into the -“Gazette” one afternoon for an interview with the editor. She came out -of the office laughing immoderately and drove post haste for Wayland -Hall. - -“Do you know yet who furnished the paper with that program and -write-up?” she asked Jewel as she came breezily into their room. - -“No; you know I don’t. Of course I suspect Miss Norris of it, and of -course I can’t prove it.” Jewel could now afford to smile at the matter. -She was tasting the sweetness of being valued at last for having -achieved for herself an international fame as Le Petit Oiseau. - -“Do you care now who did it?” Leslie questioned shrewdly. - -“No; not now, except to be glad that I’ve no tiresome secret to bother -me.” - -“All right. Then I’ll tell you who did it. It was Leila Harper.” - -“_Oh, no_,” Jewel cried out in protest. - -“Yes.” Leslie’s sober features broke up in laughter. “Oh, Kid, you must -let me tell it to Leila. She’s due to get a shock. That spite-chaser, -Miss Norris, gave the editor of the ‘Gazette’ the impression that she -was Miss Harper. I nearly dropped when he shot it at me. Then I -guilefully drew him into giving me a description of Miss Harper, and he -described Miss Norris instead.” - -“Go and tell her,” Jewel gave laughing permission. “Tell her -_everything_.” - -“Now would not that discourage even an Irish playwright?” was Leila’s -droll reception of the news of her supposed perfidy. “I am no villain, -but it seems I swank as one in editors’ offices. I shall warn Vera -against myself. Even now I may be conniving against her, and that -without even poor Midget suspecting me. Oh, wurra, wurra!” - -Leslie presently left Leila, her face bright with recollection of the -Irish girl’s warm commendation. She had, partly by chance, partly by -determined resolve, managed to strike a telling blow for democracy. She -and Laura Taylor had also made a pact toward reclaiming Stephanie Norris -from the narrowness of her snobbish ways. On returning to her room on -the night of the frustrated attempt at hazing, Stephanie had sat down -and cried, saying she was not sorry the plan had failed, and blaming -Mildred Ferguson for proposing it in the beginning. Toward Laura she had -even exhibited an oddly grudging respect. - -While Leslie trod the trail of democracy, Marjorie continued to help -Miss Susanna hunt for the secret drawer. Miss Hamilton had received but -one brief letter from Peter Cairns in which he wrote that he had, as -yet, nothing of special importance to report in regard to Lawyer Norris. - -“Why, oh, why, can’t that miserable secret drawer open like magic, and -show itself?” grumbled Miss Susanna one November afternoon following a -fresh going over of the Chinese room. “I shan’t waste any more time in -this room. I don’t believe he ever put those papers in here. Did he?” -she inquired of a squat, severe-visaged Chinese idol that stood on top -of a teakwood cabinet. “_You_ wouldn’t tell me, if you could speak.” She -pointed an accusing finger at the squatting god. - -“Could it possibly be anywhere in Mr. Brooke’s bedroom?” Marjorie said -speculatively. “We’ve never hunted much for it in there.” - -“Let’s go up there and see what we may see. It wouldn’t have been like -him, though, to keep his papers there,” the old lady said a trifle -wearily. - -“Leila said we’d some day find it in the last place we might guess,” -Marjorie reminded cheerfully. She understood that Miss Hamilton’s -disappointment at not having found the drawer was weighing heavily upon -her. - -The large square, airy chamber that had once been Brooke Hamilton’s -contained few pieces of furniture. A four-poster mahogany bed, a -highboy, a chest of drawers, one or two tables, three chairs and a night -stand beside the bed completed the furnishings with the exception of one -other bit of furniture. It was a plain, square-topped stand of shining -mahogany that stood in a large bow window. Marjorie knew it to be Angela -Vernon’s workstand. Miss Susanna had told her its pathetic history. -Angela’s brother had given it to Brooke Hamilton as a memento of his -fiancee soon after Angela’s sudden death. It contained bright silks and -wools which she had loved to fashion into gifts for her dear ones, as -well as an unfinished bit of embroidery and still another of fairy-like -tatting. - -Marjorie had once before begun a gentle search in the body of the stand, -the top of which lifted. Miss Susanna had discouraged further search by -declaring that there was no likelihood of finding it there. Entering the -room of the departed master of Hamilton Arms that sunny afternoon the -slowly descending sunlight in the west seemed to point golden fingers at -the little stand. - -“I’m going to look in the little stand again, Goldendede,” she called -while Miss Susanna began a fussy ransacking of the highboy. - -“Very well, but it’s a forlorn hope.” - -Marjorie smiled to herself as she raised the lid of the stand and -applied careful hands to the old-time handiwork of Brooke Hamilton’s -sweetheart. Bereft of its treasures the two bare compartments of the -stand showed no promise of either a secret compartment, or drawer. - -She returned the contents with a little romantic breath. It would be -fitting, she thought, to have found the drawer in the dear, cunning -stand, once Angela Vernon’s. - -“Nothing.” She shook her curly head as Miss Susanna glanced inquiringly -toward her. - -“No; it’s not much more than a toy stand, Marjorie. Would you mind -moving it over here. It used always to be in the corner on the left of -Uncle Brooke’s bed.” - -“It’s heavier than one might believe,” Marjorie said as she grasped it -firmly by the two front comers and lifted it. Of a sudden she heard an -odd, whirring sound, something shot out of the stand, striking her -smartly against the knees, sending her staggering backward. She uttered -a startled cry as her downward glance caught the white of neatly-folded -papers reposing in orderly fashion in a shallow drawer that had sprung -open from the lower part of the box-like square which formed the -compartments. - -“Child, child,” Miss Susanna had now dropped to the floor and sat -hugging the paper-filled little drawer. “There was a false bottom to -that stand, and I never even suspected it. It belonged to Angela -Vernon’s great-grand-mother. Those were the palmy days of such secret -devices. How ever did you happen to hit upon the mechanism?” - -“I don’t know. I might ask however did the mechanism happen to hit me?” -Marjorie returned, face glowing with the happiness of the unexpected -discovery. - -“We’ll take the drawer to the study at once and go over these papers. -Come along, Chickie.” Miss Susanna started from the room with a degree -of triumphant briskness. - -“Just as I imagined,” she said an hour later as she laid the penned -agreement made between her kinsman and Lawyer Norris upon the table. -“This agreement distinctly specifies that, in the event of Uncle -Brooke’s death, I was then to be apprised of this agreement and, also, -that the privilege of choosing ‘the one’ was to be mine after I had -reached the age of eighteen. Norris was to receive two thousand dollars -a year for his services. The fifty thousand dollar check was deposited -in the Surety Trust Bank of New York City. Now we shall make headway. I -shall write Peter to come here at once. With the actual facts now at our -command we shall be able to trace Norris’s movements, and learn what -became of him and his trust after Uncle died.” - -“Dear, dear Goldendede,” Marjorie rubbed a soft cheek against the old -lady’s wrinkled one, “I’d rather not be the one. Please choose Leila -instead. She’s done such splendid work for Hamilton.” - -“It can’t be done, Marjorie.” The shadow of a frown touched Miss -Hamilton’s brows. “You are the ‘one’ in the sense Uncle Brooke dreamed -of; Leila is a splendid girl; a genius. Still she came to Hamilton a -whole year before you came, accomplishing nothing beyond success in her -college studies. Suppose I were to choose her as the ‘one’ I should meet -with plenty of dissenters. Suppose I should name you. I shall, you know. -No use in trying to escape me. The whole college would rise up and call -me level-headed. You understand now what I mean?” - -“Yes; but there’s my side, too, to consider. You must understand the way -I feel about it,” Marjorie gently argued. - -“You’ve often said you wished to try to carry on even a small part of -Uncle Brooke’s work at Hamilton. Because you have been a devoted friend -to his college you are chosen to enrich it by fifty thousand dollars. -Isn’t that worth the great discomfort of having been chosen by me as the -‘One’?” There was a hint of growing irritation in the old lady’s -question. She resented being crossed in so important a matter even by -Marjorie. - -“It’s not a great discomfort—only—. It’s not the glory of having worked -for Hamilton that I care about. It’s the work itself I glory in. I wish -to carry on Mr. Brooke’s work still, whenever I can. Couldn’t we have a -very private presentation, Goldendede, with only you and Prexy, and the -girls and a few other of my close friends in attendance?” she put -wistfully. - -“No; we couldn’t.” Miss Susanna laid the paper she had been examining on -the table with an irritated little flip. “We may not have it at all,” -she snapped as she hustled toward the door. - -Marjorie heard the door close behind the old lady. She looked up with a -brave, but rueful face at the portrait on the wall. “I’m sorry, but I -don’t wish to be the one; not even a tiny bit,” she said childishly -aloud. - -“I had to come back, dear child,” Miss Susanna had softly opened the -door in time to hear Marjorie’s sober comment. “Forgive this old -crosspatch. Here is the letter he wrote Lawyer Norris that has shown me -strongly how much his heart was in the idea of the Honor Fund, and the -One. Read it.” - -Silence settled down in the sun-bright study as youth and age sat -reading the words of one long passed. Finally Marjorie laid down the -bulky letter she had just finished. “You win,” she nodded to the -portrait. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - - LEILA FINDS ROMANCE - - -“You’ve done wonders, Peter. The secret drawer furnished us with the -facts, but it took you to hunt down Norris’s son, and trace the check -after it fell into the son’s hands. That rascal should be brought to -book for appropriating that check and building up a fortune from it. You -say he is now worth half a million.” Miss Susanna pursed her lips, -shaking her head, “He’s a rascal,” she repeated, “Half a million, Hm-m.” - -“He’s rated at that.” There was an odd light in Peter Cairns’ black -eyes, and an enigmatic smile played about his lips. “I have a few -surprises up my sleeve,” he told the same interested little company that -had sat with him in the library on his latest visit at the Arms. - -“If you’ve one for me, ready,” Hal had assumed a listening attitude. - -“This same Norris who appropriated the fifty thousand dollar check owns -those properties you wish to buy. I have arranged to take them over for -you at your own figure.” - -“Tell me nothing.” Hal borrowed one of Leila’s pet surprise phrases. - -“This will interest you,” he nodded to Leslie, Leila and Vera. “He has a -daughter at Hamilton in the freshman class. I suppose you know her?” he -interrogated. - -“Yes.” Blank surprise flashed over the faces of the trio as they nodded -affirmative. - -“What sort of girl is she—clever, or stupid?” he inquired pointedly. - -“She is clever at acting. She’s to play King Hal in our production of -‘Henry the Fifth,’” Leila informed him. - -“I have heard that she made brilliant recitations,” Leslie conceded. - -“She is really a beautiful girl,” Vera remarked after a moment of -silence. - -“I’m going to ask Leslie a question,” Peter Cairns smiled fondly at his -daughter. “What would you think of me if I had done what Norris has done -in the matter of appropriating this check for his own use?” - -“I don’t know. I couldn’t bear it. Try to be honest always, won’t you, -Peter?” The intensity with which Leslie began her reply lightened into a -rather wavery chuckle. - -“Oh, ha, ha!” Vastly amused at Leslie’s reply, the financier continued, -“It’s like this. I’ve had it out with Norris about everything. He is -willing to make good the fifty thousand dollar check. He admits that he -did wrong in not communicating with Miss Susanna soon after Mr. Brooke’s -death. His father died shortly before Mr. Brooke. He also admitted to me -that he had hoped his daughter might win the honor fund when she should -be of an age to enter Hamilton. He suspected that Miss Susanna knew -little or nothing about the arrangement, since she had never tried to -get into touch with him. He decided to hold back the fund for his -daughter’s benefit. He had heard a good deal about Marjorie as a shining -light at Hamilton, but he believed his daughter might go her one better. -It took time and patience to get these unlovely facts from him, but I -persevered with him and got them. He understands that his position is -serious. He is willing to make any amend he can, financial or other, -because of his love for his daughter. He wishes her never to know that -he has been other than above reproach. You have the facts. What shall -you do about him, Miss Susanna?” - -“Oh, let the rascal go, for his daughter’s sake. Make him turn over -those Kenton Street properties to Marjorie’s colony,” was the old lady’s -disgusted mandate. “You settle the whole matter with him, Peter. I rely -upon you implicitly. So glad you and Leslie are soon coming to the -Hedge. I shall make good use of my new neighbors.” She chuckled at her -own joke. - -“Three cheers for Goldendede, who can show us all a lesson in -magnificent magnanimity.” Leslie was on her feet, her dark eyes beaming -admiring affection of Miss Susanna. - -The room rang with the happy sound of voices raised in honor of Miss -Susanna’s kindly decision. Then they all took hands and indulged in a -joyful little prance about the pleased old lady. Jonas, coming to the -doorway all smiles was seized and whisked into the laughing, gyrating -circle. - -“Come and sing us a French song, Leslie,” coaxed Vera, a little later as -the talk fell away from the all-important subject of the honor fund to -drift into lighter, happier channels. As she spoke, Vera had begun to -tow Leslie toward the library door. - -In the music room Leila found herself sitting a little away from the -piano, talking rather self-consciously to Peter Cairns. - -“Leslie told me something you once said to her, Leila,” Peter Cairns -said with his usual abruptness, “which amused me so much I must ask you -about it.” - -“What was that?” Leila inquired curiously. - -“It was about that prospective bridegroom of yours, the old man with the -white hair whom you might boss unmercifully.” The financier’s lips were -smiling, but his dark eyes were fixed purposefully upon the Irish girl’s -features. - -“Ah, yes.” Leila could not repress an enjoying grin. “I have not yet -found him.” - -“I wish I had his qualifications to the dot. I haven’t. I’m not yet a -snowy-haired monument to old age, but I have at least one of them, I am -willing to be bossed unmercifully.” - -Blue eyes met black squarely, a faint flush crept into Leila’s cheeks, -then the ridiculousness of the conversation being borne upon them both -they burst into laughter. - -“Seriously, Leila,” Peter Cairns had changed again from laughter to -purpose, “won’t you think about what I’ve said?” - -“I will think about it,” Leila promised. Her eyes had an absent mystic -light in their depths. - -“I love you, Leila,” he said again, “I’ve loved you almost from the day -I first met you.” - -“I will think about that, too,” she returned soberly, and for a brief -instant she permitted his strong brown fingers to close over her own. - - - THE END - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s note: - -Title Page, comma inserted after ‘Series,’ “Dean Post-Graduate Series,” -etc.” - -Page 7, ‘though’ changed to ‘thought,’ “but thought he hadn’t” - -Page 7, ‘though’ changed to ‘thought,’ “He thought he had” - -Page 11, ‘Had’ changed to ‘Hal,’ “you turned Hal down” - -Page 13, ‘Servern’ changed to ‘Severn,’ “she was at Severn” - -Page 32, ‘fi ed’ changed to ‘fixed,’ “her eyes fixed on” - -Page 35, ‘anythind’ changed to ‘anything,’ “allow anything else to” - -Page 39, ‘directely’ changed to ‘directed,’ “she directed grandly” - -Page 39, double quote inserted after ‘improving,’ “you’re improving,” -was her” - -Page 46, full stop changed to comma after ‘say,’ “among the first to -say,” - -Page 53, double quote inserted before ‘Danny,’ “half shyly. “Danny -wanted to” - -Page 59, ‘alway’ changed to ‘always,’ “expression which always made -Lucy” - -Page 71, double quote inserted before ‘My,’ ““My ideal is a nice” - -Page 75, ‘its’ changed to ‘it’s,’ “but it’s yourself that” - -Page 80, double quote inserted before ‘They’ve,’ “quickly. “They’ve -shown that” - -Page 101, full stop changed to comma after ‘declared,’ “questioner -indifferently declared,” - -Page 132, ‘exhiliration’ changed to ‘exhilaration,’ “contented -exhilaration. Speeding” - -Page 139, ‘cameradie’ changed to ‘camaraderie,’ “missed the merry -camaraderie” - -Page 143, ‘amendation’ changed to ‘emendation,’ “the hasty emendation -with” - -Page 143, question mark inserted after ‘roommate,’ “to take a roommate?” - -Page 144, double quote struck before ‘Should,’ “facing. Should she, or” - -Page 147, double quote inserted after ‘it,’ ““Forget it,” was” - -Page 165, ‘let’s’ changed to ‘lets,’ “and that lets her out” - -Page 166, ‘letter’ changed to ‘letters,’ “No; I have letters” - -Page 181, ‘tured’ changed to ‘turned,’ “Miss Susanna turned leaf” - -Page 187, comma inserted after ‘isn’t,’ “satisfied, too, there isn’t,” - -Page 195, double quote inserted before ‘Marjorie,’ “Leslie invited. -“Marjorie” - -Page 203, ‘Leslie’ changed to ‘Leila,’ “acting? Leila and I” - -Page 219, ‘manufacturies’ changed to ‘manufactories,’ “of the few -manufactories” - -Page 255, ‘anxoius’ changed to ‘anxious,’ “of anxious dread. For” - -Page 272, ‘, her’ changed to ‘. Her,’ “Leila promised. Her eyes had” - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Marjorie Dean Macy's Hamilton Colony, by -Pauline Lester - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN MACY'S HAMILTON COLONY *** - -***** This file should be named 53987-0.txt or 53987-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/9/8/53987/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. 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. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/old/53987-0.zip b/old/53987-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5724bc7..0000000 --- a/old/53987-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53987-h.zip b/old/53987-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index da69179..0000000 --- a/old/53987-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53987-h/53987-h.htm b/old/53987-h/53987-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index ac213ff..0000000 --- a/old/53987-h/53987-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9054 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> - <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Marjorie Dean Macy’s Hamilton Colony, by Pauline Lester</title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - body { margin-left: 8%; margin-right: 10%; } - h1 { text-align: center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.4em; } - h2 { text-align: center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.2em; } - .pageno { right: 1%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; color: silver; - text-indent: 0em; text-align: right; position: absolute; - border: thin solid silver; padding: .1em .2em; font-style: normal; - font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; } - p { text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: justify; } - .sc { font-variant: small-caps; } - .xlarge { font-size: x-large; } - .xxlarge { font-size: xx-large; } - .lg-container-b { text-align: center; } - @media handheld { .lg-container-b { clear: both; } } - .lg-container-r { text-align: right; } - @media handheld { .lg-container-r { clear: both; } } - .linegroup { display: inline-block; text-align: left; } - @media handheld { .linegroup { display: block; margin-left: 1.5em; } } - .linegroup .group { margin: 1em auto; } - .linegroup .line { text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em; } - div.linegroup > :first-child { margin-top: 0; } - .linegroup .in1 { padding-left: 3.5em; } - .linegroup .in3 { padding-left: 4.5em; } - div.pbb { page-break-before: always; } - hr.pb { border: none; border-bottom: thin solid; margin-bottom: 1em; } - @media handheld { hr.pb { display: none; } } - .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } - .figcenter { clear: both; max-width: 100%; margin: 2em auto; text-align: center; } - div.figcenter p { text-align: center; text-indent: 0; } - .figcenter img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } - .id001 { width:450px; } - .id002 { width:150px; } - @media handheld { .id001 { margin-left:22%; width:56%; } } - @media handheld { .id002 { margin-left:41%; width:18%; } } - .ic001 { width:100%; } - .ig001 { width:100%; } - .nf-center { text-align: center; } - .nf-center-c1 { text-align: left; margin: 1em 0; } - .c000 { margin-top: 4em; } - .c001 { page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em; } - .c002 { margin-top: 1em; } - .c003 { margin-top: 2em; } - .c004 { page-break-before:auto; margin-top: 4em; } - .c005 { margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - .c006 { margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - .c007 { margin-left: 5.56%; margin-right: 5.56%; margin-top: 0.5em; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - .c008 { margin-left: 5.56%; margin-right: 5.56%; } - .c009 { margin-left: 5.56%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } - </style> - </head> - <body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Marjorie Dean Macy's Hamilton Colony, by Pauline Lester - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. 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 Macy's Hamilton Colony - -Author: Pauline Lester - -Release Date: January 17, 2017 [EBook #53987] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN MACY'S HAMILTON COLONY *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/frontis.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“She stood beaming her delight of the flower-like group that had invaded her room.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>[<i>Page <a href='#Page_57'>57</a></i>] [<i>Marjorie Dean Macy’s Hamilton Colony</i>]</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div> - <h1 class='c001'>Marjorie Dean Macy’s<br />Hamilton Colony</h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><i>By</i> PAULINE LESTER</div> - <div class='c003'><span class='sc'>Author of</span></div> - <div class='c002'>“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 class='c002'>Publishers New York</div> - <div class='c002'>Printed in U. S. A.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>THE MARJORIE DEAN</span></div> - <div><span class='xlarge'>POST-GRADUATE SERIES</span></div> - <div class='c002'>A SERIES FOR GIRLS 12 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE</div> - <div class='c002'>By PAULINE LESTER</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 class='line'>MARJORIE DEAN MACY</div> - <div class='line'>MARJORIE DEAN MACY’S HAMILTON COLONY</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Copyright, 1930</div> - <div class='c002'>By A. L. BURT COMPANY</div> - <div class='c002'>MARJORIE DEAN MACY’S HAMILTON COLONY</div> - <div class='c002'>Printed in U. S. A.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span><span class='xxlarge'>MARJORIE DEAN MACY’S</span></div> - <div><span class='xxlarge'>HAMILTON COLONY</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER I</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“Something fine is going to happen, Bean.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jerry Macy leaned back in the roomy porch -rocker, half-closed blue eyes squinting prophetically -up at the turquoise August sky. “Yes, -sir; it is.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Several fine things <i>ought</i> to happen, but they -haven’t.” Marjorie Dean Macy’s emphasis -upon the “ought” was energetically wistful.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Something celostrous is coming this way,” -Jerry continued to maintain. “It’s in the air.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I wish it would hurry up, and come, then. -Captain was to be home from the beach yesterday. -<i>She</i> hasn’t happened. Leila owes me a letter. -<i>That</i> hasn’t happened yet. I haven’t -heard from her for over a month, or from -Vera, either. And there is Hamilton Arms, -still boarded up and with no sign of Miss Susanna, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>or Jonas. Where is everybody? That’s -what <i>I’d</i> like to know.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>I’m</i> with you yet, Mrs. Macy,” Jerry reminded -pertinently. “And incidentally, you -still have a nice kind husband.” She beamed -upon the lovely occupant of the porch swing -with pretended solicitude.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Thank you for reminding me of my blessings.” -Marjorie nodded laughing gratitude at -Jerry. “What do you <i>think</i> is going to happen, -wise sooth-sayer?” she asked in the next -breath.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Um-m-m.” Jerry’s eyes opened a trifle -wider. She thrust her dimpled chin forward -at a ridiculous angle, peering owlishly about -her as though about to pick an answer to Marjorie’s -question out of the sunlit August air. -“Search me,” she said after a moment, then -giggled.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>You</i> are a fake.” Marjorie pointed a derisive -finger at Jerry.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nope. I’m not. I have a pleasant little -hunch that we’re either going to see somebody -we’ve not expected to see, or else hear from -somebody we’ve not expected to hear from. -Now, do you get me, Marjorie Bean Macy?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Who, I wonder?” Marjorie said speculatively. -“Not Ronny. I used to call her the great -<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>unexpected. But I needn’t hope, this time, to -see her. I received her first honeymoon letter -to me only last week. No, Ronny will have -to be counted out of your hunch, Jeremiah.” -Marjorie sighed regretfully. Her affection for -Veronica Lynne, her California comrade and -chum, was deep-rooted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She certainly handed the Travelers the surprise -of their lives last June. I’ll never forget -that last spread in her room on Commencement -night, and her calm announcement to us that -she was going home to be married to Professor -Leonard in July at the old mission at Mañana. -She <i>was</i> the great unexpected that night, I’ll -say. I haven’t got over it yet. I never even -suspected those two were miles deep in love, -and Jeremiah nearly lost her reputation then -and there, for knowing something about everything.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Ronny was always a mystery from the first -time I met her playing maid at Miss Archer’s. -She was always a delightful mystery, too. -Somehow, it seemed quite in keeping that she -should have given us all such a surprise about -Professor Leonard. I’d never even dreamed -of Ronny as in love with any man. Perhaps I -might have suspected last year how things were -between her and Professor Leonard if I hadn’t -<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>been so dreadfully unsettled in mind about Hal. -I doubt it, though. I’m still surprised that you -let it get by <i>you</i>, Jeremiah.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And I’m even more surprised that Leila -Harper never suspected them as on the brink -of love,” Jerry returned.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going to tell you something, Jerry.” -Marjorie was smiling reminiscently. “I promised -Ronny never to tell anyone except you, -something she told me just before she left Hamilton, -and I was not to tell you until after we’d -received her announcement cards.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Go ahead. Shoot.” Jerry sat suddenly -straight in her chair, eyes fastened interestedly -upon Marjorie’s smiling features.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Ronny never even dreamed Professor Leonard -loved her until just before my wedding. -They were alone together after classes in the -gymnasium on the day before my wedding. -They had been talking of Hal and me, and—well—suddenly -he began to tell her about himself. -His mother was a Spanish Mexican of very -good family, and his father met her while he -was professor in a Mexican university. Professor -Leonard told Ronny that he hoped someday -to establish a welfare station and school -for poor Mexican children in Mexico. Then -quite suddenly he told her how dearly he loved -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>her, but would not ask her to share such a life -of sacrifice, and perhaps privation, as his future -would undoubtedly hold.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She’d known for quite a while that she cared -for him, but thought he hadn’t cared for her in -any other than a friendly way. She was so -dumbfounded she couldn’t say a word at first. -He thought he had displeased her, and she had -a hard time trying to make him understand -that he hadn’t; that she truly loved him, and -wished more than anything else to marry him -and help him carry out his great plan. She -never said a word to him about his plan being -one of her father’s pet dreams, but she wrote -her father to come to Hamilton for a flying -visit, so as to meet Professor Leonard, and talk -with him. He came and stayed in town at the -Hamilton house for two days, and, during that -time, the three of them came to a perfect understanding -of one another. No one except -they two knew Mr. Lynne was in Hamilton.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Good night!</i>” Jerry thus vented her astonishment. -“I know <i>one</i> thing, Ronny would have -told you. She’d have included you in that little -family confab, too, if you hadn’t been up North, -on your own honeymoon.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, she told me she would have,” Marjorie -admitted, coloring. “But that was only because -<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>I was the first friend she made in Sanford, you -know.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yep. I know. Bing, bang; here goes a new -jingle.” Jerry raised a declaiming hand and -recited:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Oh glorious Bean, why hide your sheen,</div> - <div class='line in3'>Beneath a bushel’s shade.</div> - <div class='line in1'>Your friends all lean on you, good Bean,</div> - <div class='line in3'>On you their hopes are stayed.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“If your jingle were about someone else, I’d -praise it as a triumphant inspiration. Since it -isn’t—you’re a ridiculous person, Jeremiah. I -think I’ve told you that before now.” Marjorie -was regarding Jerry with tolerant amusement. -“Kindly repeat that jingle, before you -forget it. Oh, yes, and wait until I go for a -pencil and paper. I promised Leila faithfully -never to let the fruits of your jingling get by -me, complimentary to me, or no.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Laughing, Marjorie sprang from the swing -and hurried lightly into the house. She was -smiling to herself in pure contentment of spirit -as she passed through the reception hall and -on into the library. Her new home, to which -she had come only two weeks before from a -lengthy honeymoon, spent in the Adirondacks, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>was still a matter of delighted wonder to her. -During Hal’s and her absence, Mr. and Mrs. -Dean had been happily occupied in putting the -new home of the happy pair to rights, against -the day when they should turn their faces toward -Hamilton Estates.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Readers of the <span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean High School</span>, -<span class='sc'>College</span> and <span class='sc'>Post Graduate Series</span> can already -claim Marjorie and her intimate girl-associates -as old friends. They have followed the fortunes -of this particular band of devoted chums -through both bright and stormy days.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean Macy</span> saw the happy culmination -of the romance between Marjorie and Hal -Macy in her marriage to him, on a balmy May -Day evening at Hamilton Arms, the home of -her friend, Miss Susanna Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c006'>It was now the last of August. Marjorie and -Hal had taken possession of their new home the -middle of August in order to see Mr. and Mrs. -Dean off for a two weeks’ stay at their old -standby, Severn Beach. Jerry Macy, deep in -preparations for her marriage to Danny Seabrooke -to take place on the eighth of September, -had been unable to resist Marjorie’s affectionate -invitation to come to her and Hal’s -new home as the first guest to enter the hospitable -portals of “Travelers’ Rest.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>“I’ve been here over a week, Mrs. M. D. -Macy,” she announced as Marjorie returned to -the veranda with a pencil and small leather note -book. “I simply must hit the trail for Sanford, -not later than day after tomorrow. Danny’ll -think I’ve lost interest in the marriage idea, -and quit him cold.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I know you <i>ought</i> to go,” Marjorie nodded. -“I’ve loved having you here with Hal and me.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You might have a worse sister-in-law,” -Jerry pointed out with a sly grin.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I couldn’t have a better one. I know that,” -came with quick loyalty from Marjorie. “What -a lot of wonderful things have happened to the -Big Six since they paraded home from high -school together in good old Sanford.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Um-m-m. I should say there had. But, do -you know, Marjorie, I used to hope, back in -those days that some day you’d marry Hal, and -become my sister-in-law. After we entered -Hamilton and you seemed to care nothing at all -for him, except as a friend, it made me feel -blue as sixty, at times. Honestly, I never believed -then you would finally wake up and fall -in love with him.” Jerry’s chubby features -grew reminiscently solemn.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I wonder now that I could have been so hard-hearted,” -Marjorie made frank reply. “How -<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>could I have hurt Hal so deeply? That’s what -I ask myself sometimes in the midst of the happiness -his love has brought me. I can understand -now how Brooke Hamilton must have -grieved over Angela. It was his diary that -woke me up. And to think! I almost missed -love.” Marjorie was looking very sober herself.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Here we sit, solemn as two owls, talking -about what didn’t happen, thank goodness.” -Jerry’s roguish smile crinkled her lips. “While -we’re on the subject, I’ll tell you a secret. It -was the way you turned Hal down that started -me to thinking seriously about Danny. I’d always -liked Danny a whole lot, but, somehow, I -could never take him seriously. Whenever he’d -show signs of growing serious, I’d laugh at him. -Finally, when you and Hal flivvered, it worried -both Danny and me. We did manage one or two -serious talks about that. It drew us closer together -in sympathy, somehow, and the night -we went sailing in the <i>Oriole</i>, you remember -that night, I realized that he meant a great deal -more to me than I’d believed he could. That -very night, while we were at the wheel together, -I fell in love with him. And you’re the first -person I ever told it to, and you’ll be the last. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>Believe me, I never let him suspect it, though, -until a whole year later.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m highly honored, Jeremiah.” Marjorie’s -words held fond appreciation. “I’m so glad -you wished me to know about you and Danny. -Frankly, I’d often wondered when and how you -and he came to an understanding. You’re such -a secretive old dear. I used to imagine you -didn’t care the least little bit about Danny. I -was sure he cared for you, though.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I wasn’t sure,” Jerry made blunt response. -“I mean, not until that summer we were at -Severn Beach.” Jerry became silent, an absent -gleam springing into her merry blue eyes. “And -I’m going home day after tomorrow to get -ready to be married to Dan-yell,” she suddenly -broke out with a half humorous inflection. “Can -you beat that?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No, I can’t.” Marjorie shook a smiling -head. “I think it’s——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“There’s the mail man!” Jerry sang out, the -absent gleam in her eyes changing to one of -eager expectation. “Come on.” She sprang up -from her chair, and ran down the steps, waving -a beckoning arm to Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The porch swing rocked wildly as Marjorie -left it in a quick rush after Jerry. The pair -raced down the wide stone walk to the high -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>arched stone gateway, bringing up, laughing, -beside the mail box, fastened to a post, just -inside the entrance gates.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, bother! I forgot the key!” Marjorie exclaimed -in mild vexation.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I have it. I brought it out on the veranda -with me. Kindly recall that I’ve been expecting -a love letter from my intended,” she reminded, -chuckling. “I got ready to grab it.” -She fished the little key from a diminutive, lace-trimmed -pocket of her frock.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’re a life-saver,” Marjorie sighed relief.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jerry had already busied herself with fitting -the key to the lock. “<i>Great guns!</i>” she ejaculated, -as she swung open the little door of the -box. “<i>Some mail.</i>”</p> - -<p class='c006'>There were eleven letters, according to her -pleasantly-excited count.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Seven for you, two for old Hal, and three -for me,” she announced, handing Marjorie her -letters and Hal’s. “One of mine is from -Mother. I’ll say it’s a ‘Why don’t you come -home, Jerry,’ message. One’s from Ronny. -It’s high time she wrote me. This one’s from -Muriel Harding, and it’s postmarked ‘New -York.’ Now what the dickens is she doing in -New York? I thought she was at Severn -Beach. Curiosity wins. I’ll read hers first.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>Jerry conducted this lively monologue as she -hastily tore open an end of the envelope addressed -in Muriel Harding’s familiar swinging -hand. She extracted the letter from the envelope, -glanced quickly down the first page, -then gave a funny little shout of surprise.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Catch me,” she implored. “I’m going to -drop dead of surprise. Muriel Harding, <i>you -rascal</i>. <i>I told</i> you something was going to happen, -Bean. Well, has it happened? I guess, -yes.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER II<br /> <br />A JOLT FOR LESLIE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“What is it? Hurry up, and tell me.” Marjorie -gave Jerry’s arm a playfully impatient -little shake, her own letters for the moment forgotten.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Listen to this,” Jerry began.</p> - -<p class='c007'>“<span class='sc'>Dear Old Jeremiah</span>:</p> - -<p class='c007'>“When you read this letter I shall be Mrs. -Harry Lenox, and on my way with Harry to -South America. Some little jolt, Jeremiah, but -you’ll survive it. Harry’s father, now Muriel’s -highly-respected papa-in-law, has important -business interests in the Argentine. It was impossible -for him to make the trip to the Argentine -at present, so Harry had to fall in line. -That meant he would not return to Sanford -until next summer. Poor Muriel. She had -grown so used to having Harry around. As -you know, we expected to be married in November. -Harry said, ‘Why not now?’ I said, -‘It does seem as though something ought to be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>done about it.’ And that’s what it’s all about.</p> - -<p class='c007'>“Father and Mother went to New York with -us, and we were married in the parsonage of -St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church last Monday -afternoon, August twenty-fifth. Don’t forget -the date. I was married in the ducky pale tan -traveling ensemble that I had had made for my -November going-away gown. I hadn’t yet decided -upon my wedding dress, and it was a good -thing.</p> - -<p class='c007'>“I’m not yet over my own surprise at the -sudden way all my nice, artistic wedding plans -went up in the air. One thing, however, I insisted -upon—a great big wedding cake. You -and Marjorie, and all my other good little pals, -will receive a piece of that glorious cake by -parcel post.</p> - -<p class='c007'>“It seems awfully strange to be hurrying -away from the good old U. S., adventure-bound. -I’d always planned a wonderful wedding, with -the big Sanford Six strictly on the -job. Love is really a serious matter. There -could be only one thing more serious, to me—not -to be in love.</p> - -<p class='c007'>“I can’t stop to write any more just now. It -is almost ten o’clock, and we have to be on -board the steamer by eleven. We are to sail -for Buenos Aires on the <i>Maraquita</i> at midnight. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>There’s no use in trying to tell you how -sorry I am about going so far away without -having you and the girls on hand to wish me -<i>bon voyage</i>. You and Marjorie, my dear comrades -of years, can understand, above all others, -just how I feel about it. I’ll write you a long -letter as soon as I’m settled on shipboard. Be -good, Jeremiah, and remember me to Dan-yell. -More about everything then, including several -pages of regrets at not being able to join your -bridesmaid line on the fateful eighth of September. -Oceans of love. You’ll hear from me -again soon.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r c008'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Hastily,</div> - <div class='line'> “<span class='sc'>Muriel</span>.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>What</i> do you think of that?” Jerry’s tone -conveyed her own feelings. “Muriel was right -about the jolt. After all, it’s just about what -one might expect of Muriel Harding. Maybe I -shan’t miss her, though. We’d planned a lot of -things to do in Sanford next winter.” She -vented a long, regretful sigh.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Your hunch came true, Jeremiah. We -hadn’t expected to hear from Muriel Harding -Lenox, in New York, and all ready to sail for -South America. You’re the only one of the Big -Six still single. And your fate is sealed. Four -<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>of us are married to the boys who were our -high school cavaliers. You’re going to marry -yours. Susan Atwell is the only one of us who -has loved and married far away from Sanford.” -Marjorie’s lovely features had grown dreamily -reminiscent.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“There’s no use in denying it. We’re getting -old, Bean; getting old.” Jerry gave an elaborately -disconsolate sniffle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>It set both chums to giggling as whole-heartedly -as in the days when they were freshmen -at Sanford High, with the future a closed book, -the pages of which neither was curious to scan.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve a letter here from Muriel, too,” Marjorie -said. “Let’s go back to the veranda and -have a letter-reading bee. One of mine is from -Leslie Cairns,” Marjorie was busily going over -the envelopes in her hand, “and this one’s from -Robin Page. This one looks like a high-class -advertisement. Oh, here’s one from Gussie -Forbes, postmarked California. Then I’ve a -Paris one from Connie, and last and best one -from General. That means he and Captain -aren’t coming home just yet. Hurry up, Jerry.” -She began to tow Jerry speedily up the -walk to the house. “I’m in a grand rush to -begin the bee.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie laid the two letters for Hal on the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>willow porch stand, hurriedly returning to the -swing, there to enjoy her own. Jerry had -plumped down again in her rocker and was already -perusing her mother’s letter. “What did -I tell you?” she commented to Marjorie as she -continued to read. “Mother is worrying like mad -because I’m lingering longer here than becomes -the station of one, Jerry Macy, about to be wed. -It’s time for me to hit the home plate. I can see -that.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Never mind. We’ll all be together again -soon,” Marjorie reminded.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And that rascal, Muriel Harding was to have -been my maid of honor,” Jerry groaned. “Why -can’t you be my matron of honor, since she’s -left me in the lurch. I’d rather have you as a -first aid to the altar than anyone else.” She -turned coaxingly to Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’d love to be, except for one thing. I’d -rather stand aside in favor of the unmarried -girls,” Marjorie said simply. “Let me see. -You’re going to have Leila, Vera, Leslie, Lucy, -Helen Trent and Robin Page as your bridesmaids.” -She wrinkled her dark brows in a reflective -frown. After a moment’s silence she -spoke: “Jerry, why don’t you have Lucy as -your maid of honor? Next to the Big Six, she’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>really nearest to us all. It would make her wonderfully -happy.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Luciferous?” Jerry eyed Marjorie with a -contemplative squint. “I never thought of her. I -was thinking just this minute that I might ask -Helen Trent to take Muriel’s place. Helen was -my first Hamilton chum, you know. Lucy——” -Jerry became suddenly silent. “Right, as usual, -beneficent Bean.” She nodded conclusively. “I -ought to ask Lucy to be my maid of honor. I’ll -do it, too. Mother says in her letter that the -girls’ gowns are finished, and waiting for a -grand try-on. Lucy’s will have to be altered, -though. She’s considerably shorter than -Muriel.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You haven’t told me about the dresses yet, -Jeremiah,” Marjorie dimpled as she made ingratiating -reminder. Thus far Jerry had declined -to give details. “I’m going to give you -a treat, Bean, so don’t ask questions,” had been -her reply.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And I’m not going to, either,” Jerry came -back with her tantalizing grin. “I’ll invite you -to the try-on. Curb your curiosity till then, or -I’ll compose a jingle about it,” she now threatened.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’re awfully mean,” Marjorie’s amused -tone belied her words.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>“Don’t you want to be delightfully surprised?” -Jerry demanded.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Of course I do. I was only funning, my dear -Miss Macy.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Glad to hear it. I’d hate to hurt your feelings, -Mrs. Macy.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t mention it. There ain’t no such animal,” -Marjorie retorted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Smilingly, the two friends again went back -to their letters. Jerry was soon lost in the -many pages of Ronny’s long friendly message. -Marjorie was finding equal pleasure in a long -letter from Constance Armitage. Every now -and then, one of the pair would read aloud a -particular paragraph of her letter for the edification -of the other.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jerry had finished Ronny’s letter before Marjorie -had come to the end of the one from Constance. -She busied herself with a rereading of -Muriel’s, smiling broadly to herself over it.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie was also smiling, as though she had -suddenly come into the knowledge of an extremely -pleasant secret. The affectionate sidelong -glance she shot at Jerry seemed to indicate -that it strictly concerned the latter.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Presently she took up the letter from Leslie -Cairns. It was hardly more than a note, -phrased in Leslie’s pithy fashion.</p> - -<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>“Dearest Bean,” it began. “September’s -near, and I’m glad of it. I’ve tried Newport, -the Catskills, and various other lady-like resorts -just to please Mrs. Gaylord, who is on -the job, keeping an eye on Cairns II while -Peter is carrying on a snappy financial war with -the wolf pack in London. We’re home in little -old New York now, and Hamilton will be my -next stop. Have you a night’s lodging for a -weary Traveler, should the spirit move me to -drop down, just like that, upon you? Gaylord -is so full of plans concerning what she ought -to do, may do, and intends to do, next, she -doesn’t know where she’s at. I hope she decides -to visit her relatives, <i>pronto</i>. I can then -gracefully kiss her good-bye, and beat it for -Hamilton. I suppose the campus is looking as -lively just now as a ten-acre lot after a circus -has moved off it. Nothing doing there yet. -What? I’m going to descend on Remson, and -good old Fifteen again, though Peter hopes we’ll -be housed at Carden Hedge by Christmas. I -have a new car. It’s some speedy flash. I let -it out the other day for Gaylord’s benefit. She -almost lost her breath, and her confidence in -Leslie is now missing. What’s the use in trying -to write the news? I’d rather tell it to you. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>You may expect me. Love, as per usual, dear -Bean.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r c008'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Faithfully (but bored to a frazzle),</div> - <div class='line'> “<span class='sc'>Leslie</span>.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>“Listen to Leslie’s funny letter,” Marjorie -commanded.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m listening.” Raising her head from her -own letters, Jerry’s eyes strayed toward the -pike. With a quick exclamation she sprang to -her feet. “Look!” she cried, and rushed across -the lawn to the drive.</p> - -<p class='c006'>One swift glance, and Marjorie had dashed -down the steps in Jerry’s wake. A station taxicab -was just turning into the drive through the -open gates. She gave a jubilant little shout as -she glimpsed a laughing face peering out of -an open window of the tonneau, and re-doubled -her pace.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Leila!” Her voice rose to a happy staccato. -“You dear, precious old fake. Whoever would -have thought of seeing <i>you</i> today. No wonder -I haven’t heard from you.” She was at the -opened door of the machine now, grabbing enthusiastically -at the tall, blued-eyed Irish girl -just emerging from the car.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is myself, and none other.” Leila was -out of the car now, clinging affectionately to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>Marjorie. “Ah, Beauty, you are a rare sight -to a poor Irish emigrant.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Where’s emigrant number two?” Jerry -had come up and joined in the embracing. She -peered past Leila into the tonneau of the car.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Right here,” came in prompt tones. Vera -Mason’s charming blonde head poked itself -into view. She sprang from the car, laughing, -a dainty, diminutive figure in her smart gray -traveling coat and tight little felt hat.</p> - -<p class='c006'>She was immediately seized and hugged, -Marjorie and Jerry exclaiming over the welcome -pair, girl fashion. Jerry’s quick eyes had -caught sight of a third occupant of the tonneau. -The latter, sat huddled in the far corner of the -broad seat, face obscured by the folds of a silk -scarf, carefully draped over it.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You can’t fool <i>me</i>. Come out, <i>pronto</i>, and -give an account of yourself,” Jerry commanded. -Making an agile reach into the tonneau she -snatched the concealing scarf from the wearer’s -face, revealing Leslie Cairns’ rugged laughing -features.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“How are you, Macy?” Leslie made an attempt -at a tone of calm nonchalance which -ended in a hearty burst of laughter.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Fine and dandy, Cairns II,” Jerry caught -<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>Leslie’s extended hands and began dragging her -out of the car.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Steady, there. You certainly have strong-arm -methods.” Leslie came out of the car with -a bounce, due to Jerry’s forceful assistance.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Why, Leslie!</i>” Marjorie’s brown eyes were -wide with pleasant astonishment. “You, too! -How splendid. I had just finished reading your -letter when Jerry saw the taxi turning in at -our gate.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Gaylord went, and I came. Wait a minute. -This taxi man thinks he’s been held up here for -an hour.” Leslie paid the fidgeting driver, who -had already placed the travelers’ luggage on -the drive.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jerry picked up two of the bags. “More of -my strong-arm methods,” she observed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll take Vera’s, and mine,” Leslie reached -for them.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Since they seem to love work, why should -we interfere?” Leila remarked innocently.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why, indeed,” Marjorie gaily agreed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>She and Leila led the way to the house, arms -about each other’s waists, talking animatedly as -they walked.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Welcome, Travelers,” she called out as they -entered the large square living room. She -turned, arms outspread, with a pretty gesture -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>of hospitality. “What does this room remind -you of?” she turned to Vera and Leila. She -burst into a merry little laugh as a big, gray -and white Angora cat sat up, yawning widely, -in a deep-cushioned chair. “You old fluffy give-away!” -she exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Castle Dean!” both girls cried in concert. -“Ruffle!”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And it’s plain to be seen a good household -fairy whisked the castle here from Sanford, -Ruffle puss, and all,” Leila declared with an enthusiastic -touch of brogue and a fond dive at -Ruffle. “The top of the afternoon to you, Ruffle -Claws.” She swept down upon Ruffle, -gathering him, struggling, into her arms.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now, now, now, is this the way to behave? I -see you have the same old claws. Have you no -welcome, then, for Irish Leila?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nu-u-u.” Ruffle accompanied his loud protest -with a wild scramble out of Leila’s prisoning -arms. He sprang for his chair, regaining -it, and spreading out in it with an air of lofty -defiance.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Never mind. I shall charm you yet with -catnip and cunning blarney.” Leila shook her -finger at the Angora. “This is the room I loved -best at Castle Dean,” she said to Marjorie. -“What good fortune to find it again here.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>“We all felt the same about it. Since General -and Captain were to make their home ours, and -ours, theirs, the four of us got together and -decided that we’d better transplant our living -room to Hamilton Estates. It forms a link, -somehow, between Sanford and here. So many -wonderful things have happened in this dear -comfy room. <i>You</i> never saw it before, Leslie, -but you’ll soon become well acquainted with it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Thoughtfulness prompted Marjorie to add -this last to her cheery explanation. Despite -the fact that she was now on the friendliest of -terms with the girls she had once despised, at -times Leslie still showed signs of awkward embarrassment -when among them.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I love it already.” The oddly somber look, -which had briefly touched Leslie’s dark features, -vanished. “It’s the most home-like room -I’ve ever stepped into. I’m home-hungry, you -know,” she confessed. “I’m going to make a -bang-up, homey home for my father at Carden -Hedge.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We shall all be going there to see you, lucky -Leslie. It is only poor Midget and I who have -no home. Oh, wurra, wurra!” Leila wailed the -last two words soulfully.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Plenty of noise, but no tears,” Vera commented -slyly.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>“She knows me,” Leila turned an indicative -thumb toward Vera. “Or, it may be she thinks -she knows. It is all the same.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I hope you will all come and hang around -the Hedge—a whole lot,” Leslie said with half -wistful emphasis. “Peter the Great and I are -planning to be ‘at home’ there by Christmas. -I’m going to hold my old stand-by, Fifteen, -until our new home is ready. I’m undecided -regarding P. G. subjects. I’ll specialize in -something—don’t know yet what I want to take -up.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You had best be satisfied with one subject,” -Leila put in. “It is small time you’ll have for -more than one after college opens.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Her eyes on Leila, Marjorie read in the Irish -girl’s tone an odd significance which Leslie had -missed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I shan’t try to mix much in college affairs,” -Leslie shook a decided head. “I’ll have time -enough on my hands for three subjects, provided -I’m ambitious enough to become a faithful -study-hound.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She says, ‘three subjects.’ Now what do -you think of that, Midget?” Leila stared at -Vera in pretended wonder.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What are you trying to do—kid me?” Leslie’s -sober features relaxed into a faint smile. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>Quickly they shadowed again as she said: “You -girls can understand why I’m not keen on doing -the social side of college. It’s best for me -to go quietly about my own affairs on the campus.” -A deep flush had risen to her cheeks. -She made an abrupt pause, in itself eloquent of -her meaning.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, shucks!” burst impatiently from Jerry. -“You don’t know your own worth, Leslie. The -social side of Hamilton needs <i>you</i>, in particular, -to help make things zip. You’ve already a reputation -on the campus——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“That’s just the trouble,” Leslie interrupted -dryly. “Not the pleasant sort of reputation you -mean, Jeremiah. It’s the old one—the one that -I’ve not yet succeeded in living down. I hope -to do it—in time, by hard, unobtrusive work -for Hamilton College. That’s the only way it -can be done.” Her rugged features settled into -purposeful lines.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you hear that, Midget? She is that anxious -to be hard-working!”</p> - -<p class='c006'>This time Leslie caught the amused exchange -of eye-signals between Leila and Vera.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“See here, you two,” she challenged, “what’s -the joke?” For a brief instant a glint of hurt -suspicion sprang into her dark eyes. It snapped -out as quickly as it had appeared. She said -<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>good-humoredly, “Why not tell it to the gang? -Then we can all laugh. Is it an Irish joke on -Leslie?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is, indeed. Midget and I made it up in -Ireland.” Leila flashed Leslie a tantalizing -smile.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Well?” Leslie urged expectantly. “Shoot it -at me.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now I warn you, beforehand, that if you -should not like our joke it would be a sorry joke -on me,” Leila fixed comically-concerned eyes on -Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m already beginning to feel doubtful -about it. You’d better shoot,” Leslie warningly -advised.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It seems that I had.” Leila looked solemnly -impressed. “Well, it was this way: One day -while Midget and I were wandering around the -edge of a deep green bog,” Leila began, story -fashion, “I said to Midget, ‘Does it not seem -hard to you that your friend, Leila, should have -to write plays and be a theatrical manager, -too?’ ‘It does,’ she said. ‘I can see you will -be in a bog as deep as the one over there when -you go back to Hamilton.’ ‘What a comfort -you are to me, Midget,’ I said with a deep sigh. -‘I have often thought so,’ she replied gently.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>A funny little treble giggle from Vera broke -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>Leila up in the midst of her recital. She burst -out laughing, her companions joining in the -wave of mirth that swept the big room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now I have lost the thread of my tale,” Leila -declared after two or three mirthfully-ineffectual -attempts at continuing it. “Where was I -at? Ah, yes, I then said to Midget: ‘I should -be one, or the other, but not both.’ She said, -‘Quite true, but don’t ask me to be the one you -decide not to be. I cannot write plays, and it -is all I can do to manage my own affairs.’ ‘Be -aisy,’ I said with a fine touch of brogue. ‘You -are not my idea of either.’ ‘Thank goodness,’ -she said, not at all peevish. ‘I feel that I was -intended to be a playwright,’ I said. ‘I am that -temperamental!’ ‘Something like that,’ she -said. ‘I have no genius for managing,’ I confessed. -‘I cannot contradict you,’ said Midget. -‘You had best turn that delicate little job over -to someone else who has.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila paused. Her genial smile flashed broadly -into evidence. Her eyes strayed inquiringly -to Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The latter was leaning forward in her chair, -a lovely picture of delighted animation. “Oh, -Leila!” she exclaimed. “How perfectly splendid!”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You have guessed something, Beauty. Was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>it not good advice that Midget gave me? Now -to follow it.” Her head made a swift sudden -turn from Marjorie to Leslie. “Will you be -manager of the Leila Harper Playhouse, Leslie?” -she asked practically, then added drolly: -“I shall tear my black hair in a fine frenzy if -you refuse.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why—I—what?” Seated on the davenport -Leslie had been leaning far forward, elbows on -knees, hands cupping her chin, her eyes fixed on -Leila. The unexpected suddenness of Leila’s -question gave her a veritable jolt. She made -a startled forward movement, slid off the edge -of the davenport and sat down smartly on the -floor.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER III<br /> <br />LESLIE AND LEILA</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“Can you blame me?” Leslie had finally managed -to make herself heard above the gale of -laughter that had attended her mishap. She -still sat on the floor, regarding her laughing -companions with half sheepish reproach.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No-o,” Leila made mirthful answer. “Let -us be assisting the new manager to rise, Jeremiah, -since we are the strongest of this crowd.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Thank you. I can assist myself.” Leslie -sprang to her feet, resuming her former seat on -the davenport. “You certainly have handed me -a jolt, Leila Harper. It’s the last thing I ever -thought of.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then let it be the first now.” There was a -vibration of earnestness in Leila’s reply. -“Summed up in three little words: ‘I need you.’ -There’s no other girl on the campus so well-fitted -as you for the job. You’re a good business -person, Leslie. Better still, you’re thoroughly -cosmopolitan.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, I don’t think so.” Flushing at the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>praise, Leslie shook her head. “It’s my self-assured -manner that gives me the impression of -knowing a whole lot more than I really do,” she -explained frankly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Rubbish!” came energetically from Vera. -“You are what you are, Leslie Cairns—clever -as—as,” she groped mentally for a fitting comparison,—“as -Leila.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Listen to that.” Leila made Vera a killingly -appreciative bow.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nothing like it. I wish I were,” Leslie said -regretfully.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Let us have a contest, so that we may learn -whether you are more clever than I, or, I than -you,” Leila proposed blandly. “If you will -have pity on a distracted Irish playwright, and -help her out, then we shall both be in a fair way -to out-do each other in cleverness.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila had scented refusal of the honor she -wished to do Leslie in the latter’s undecided -manner. She now proposed to give her no -chance to refuse. “We shall have fine times -consulting together since we shall be near each -other at Wayland Hall,” she smoothly pointed -out.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’d love to manage the Playhouse, and I -know Peter the Great would be delighted to -have me do it, except for one thing.” Leslie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>spoke in her direct way. “There’d surely be ill-natured -criticisms raised about it. Suppose -it was said that Peter hadn’t been disinterested -in giving the Playhouse to Hamilton College; -that he had given it with the idea of making me -foremost, and important, in campus affairs. -Probably more spiteful remarks than that might -be circulated.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>She stopped, staring half moodily at Leila. -“‘The way of the transgressor is hard.’” She -gave a short mirthless laugh. “Those first -three years of mine on the campus were a mess. -I behaved like a villain. Now it’s up to me to -stand the gaff.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No, Leslie, it isn’t.” Marjorie cut in decidedly. -“You have more than retrieved whatever -mistakes you made during your first three -years at Hamilton by what you did last year. -Leila needs you this year. You would be an -ideal manager for the Playhouse. Don’t allow -anything else to matter. Depend upon it, Leila -has already thought up some nice way of arrangement -for you. I can see it in that beaming -smile of hers.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I have fine arrangements for all occasions.” -Leila was now grinning broadly. “When college -opens I shall write an article for the -‘Campus Echo,’” she continued. “In it I shall -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>outline the policy of the Playhouse, and give a -resumé of what I intend to do in the way of -plays during the college year. I shall also state -that I have asked Leslie to assume the managership -of the theatre, because of her extreme capability. -Then let anyone start anything, and -watch Irish Leila take the field, five feet at a -bound, shillalah in hand.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Give us an imitation now of that five-foot -bound,” coaxed Jerry.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Not until I have first practiced it in private,” -Leila declared with canny firmness. -“And I suppose all is now settled, as amiably -as you please, and the Playhouse has a new -manager.” She turned ingratiatingly to Leslie, -who could not help smiling, despite her doubts.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t know.” Leslie still demurred. -“I——” she glanced about her at the little group -of friendly, interested faces. She understood -that her friends were hoping she might say -“yes.” “I guess—so,” she said uncertainly. -“Yes, I’ll accept the honor, mostly, though, to -please you girls, and—Peter the Great.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Hurrah, hurray, hurroo!” Leila sent up a -jubilant little cheer. “The world shall yet hear -of us. Cairns and Harper, the greatest living -promoters of high-class campus drama. That -<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>is what people will presently be saying about -us.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nothing succeeds like nerve,” Jerry declared.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And it is experience that teaches the truth -of that fine sentiment,” Leila came back with an -innocent air that raised a general laugh at -Jerry’s expense.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I am a most thoughtless and inhospitable -hostess!” Marjorie exclaimed as the wave of -laughter subsided. “I should have told Delia -to make ready a feast, and then——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Delia!</i>” came in a concerted, delighted shriek -from Leila and Vera.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Of course. How could the Deans and the -Macys ever get along without Delia? She’s our -own, heart and soul.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Lead us to her,” begged Leila. “We’re not -famished, Beauty. We bumped into Leslie on -the train, and the three of us had luncheon together. -Ah, but there was a happy pow-wow -when we met, subdued and ladylike you may -be sure. So it is not Delia’s delectable eats, but -delectable Delia herself we are bent upon seeing.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Come along then.” Marjorie waved them -kitchenward.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The visiting party burst into the kitchen -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>upon Delia who sat placidly in her kitchen -rocker shelling peas and humming to herself.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I knew you’d be askin’ right away for me, -Miss Leila.” Delia sprang up, hastily dumping -a lapful of pea shells into a nearby splint basket. -She came forward to meet Leila, her face -bright with beaming confidence. “I saw you from -the kitchen garden when the taxi stopped on -the drive. I just thought then how surprised -Miss, I mean, Mrs. Macy must be to see you.” -Delia giggled at her own slip of title. “I can’t -remember to call Miss Marjorie by her married -name,” she confessed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m not quite used myself to my new name,” -was Marjorie’s laughing comment. “Once in -a while Jerry calls me Mrs. Macy, but not with -proper respect. I’m very fond of my Bean -name.” She dimpled at Leslie whose answering -smile was a mixture of amusement and confusion.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The tea is ready now, Mrs. Macy. Everything’s -on the tea wagon in the pantry. I -thought you girls would need a little bit to eat -until dinner. I was just goin’ to wheel the -lunch into the livin’ room when you come out -here. I feel so glad to think you come to see -me,” Delia looked her pleased pride of the invasion.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>“It’s here we shall take our tea, in honor of -you,” Leila said. “I am the one to pour it, and -we shall all wait on you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Fine.” Jerry dashed for the pantry, to return -trundling the tea wagon.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Vera was already bowing Delia back into her -rocker. “Stay seated most magnificent and -highly-esteemed Delia,” she directed grandly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Te, he, he,” Delia chuckled at the flowery -encomium.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, Delia! I forgot you’d never before met -Leslie. This is Leslie Cairns, Delia. Leslie -shake hands with Delia.” Marjorie gaily performed -the introduction. “Leslie is going to be -our neighbor at Carden Hedge, at Christmas, -Delia. Won’t that be fine?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It will,” Delia nodded, all smiles. “The -more of Miss Marjorie’s friends that come to -live near her, the better it is for her. I’m glad -to know you, Miss Leslie.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie shook hands warmly with Delia, -pleased by the maid’s friendly sincerity. She -could not help mentally contrasting her present -democratic attitude with that of her former -snobbish contempt for persons in humbler circumstances -than herself. “Cairns II, you’re -improving,” was her whimsical thought. “There’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>a lot of room yet for improvement, though, so -don’t get chesty.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>The tea party proved to be a hilariously happy -event, with Delia the guest of honor, despite -her half-abashed, good-natured expostulations.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going to tear you all away from Delia -now,” Marjorie finally made firm announcement. -“I’m going to see you safely to your -own little corners of Travelers’ Rest. Then I -must come back to the kitchen and help Delia, -or you won’t have any dinner tonight.” She -shot Delia a mischievous glance.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, now, Miss Marjorie——” Delia began. -“Jus’s though I couldn’t get along without -Alice. It’s Alice’s day out,” she explained to -the newly arrived guests, referring to the absent -maid.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Jerry can keep on playing porter. Only, I’ll -be kind to you, and help you with the girls’ luggage, -Jeremiah.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m the one to be helpin’ with the luggage,” -Delia insisted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Be aisy.” Leila lapsed purposely into -brogue. “It’s ourselves’ll be after luggin’ our -own luggage up the stairs.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>They were soon ascending the broad open -staircase at the back of the reception hall, their -happy voices blending in cheerful harmony.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>Having triumphantly established Leslie in -her room, the rest of the gay party went on to -the room which Leila and Vera were to occupy -together.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Close the door, Beauty; and close it softly,” -Leila drew a long breath of sheer contentment -as the four chums, who had stood shoulder to -shoulder, through both adversity and joy, at -Hamilton, were once more alone together. “Not -that I love Leslie less, but Beauty and Jeremiah -more,” she added in light explanation. -“Try as I may, I am not yet altogether used -to Leslie Cairns as one of us. I’m glad she is, -but there’s still an odd strangeness about it. -Who could possibly have guessed when we -waged war against the San Soucians, for democracy’s -sake, that we should one day capture and -tame their ringleader?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I get you. I feel about the same as you -sometimes in regard to Leslie,” Jerry said -quickly. “How about you, Vera?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I like her immensely,” Vera responded with -a little emphatic nod. “I believe she has tried, -harder than any other student who has ever enrolled -at Hamilton, to conquer her faults. -Leila feels the same, only she’s handicapped by -a certain sardonic sense of humor.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is the truth,” Leila affirmed solemnly, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>then she began to smile. “I look at her as she -is now, and for the life of me I cannot help remembering -the dance she led us for three years -about the campus. And it is at her amazing -reform that I am ignoble enough, at times, to -grin. Only, I shall have a care to grin over it -strictly in private,” she finished, her broad, -humorous smile still in mischievous evidence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Just the same it is splendid in you to wish -Leslie to be manager of the Playhouse.” Marjorie -spoke with admiring warmth. “Think -what it will mean to her, girls.” She turned to -Jerry and Vera. “Her father will be so proud -of her.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And think of the hard work it will save me,” -Leila adroitly shunted off Marjorie’s compliment.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t try to slide out of your good deeds, -Leila Greatheart. You’re the same slippery -person, when it comes to that, you always were.” -Marjorie made one of her funny little-girl -rushes at Leila, arms widespread. She caught -Leila about the neck and gave her a bear hug.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now I thought I had changed for the better.” -Leila cocked her head to one side, looking -down at Marjorie with her own particular quizzical -air. “But you, Beauty, I see little sign in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>you of the sedate dignity of a Mrs. with a newly-acquired -husband, and a manor house.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Bean is Bean,” Jerry cut in, “so much the -same old Beanie that I was inspired to chant -a jingle to her this afternoon.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Where then is the jingle?” Leila held out a -demanding hand for a copy of it.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now you know perfectly well I never set -down my works of genius. Apply to Marjorie -for it. She got it before we both for-got it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I saved it for you, Leila,” Marjorie assured.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Uh-h-h.” Leila received the assurance with -a gratified gurgle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, girls, it’s so satisfying to see you both -again, and the four of us have such a lot to -talk about,” Marjorie said with a happy little -intake of breath, “but,” she paused, her eyes -unconsciously roving in the direction of Leslie’s -room. “It’s a case of ‘Remember the -stranger within thy gates.’” She went on -brightly. “We’ve plenty of time before dinner -for one of our famous confabs, but it’s apt to -be more or less noisy. If Leslie should hear us -laughing and talking, it might make her feel—well, -rather out of things here. She’s grown -as sensitive as she used to be hard since she -found herself. We must make it our special -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>pleasure to show her we like to have her with -us.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The confab is hereby postponed, but it will -keep.” Leila nodded understandingly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We were going to shoo you two out of here, -anyway,” Vera mercilessly announced. “If you -were to continue to hang around in here until -we unpacked our bags you might see”—she put -on a mysterious air,—“well, something that -you’re not to see, until later.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Before Marjorie could reply in kind the loud -honk, honk of a motor horn came up to the four -friends from the drive.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, that’s Hal. He’s home earlier than I -had expected. I won’t wait to be shooed out -of here.” The color had deepened charmingly -in Marjorie’s pink cheeks. A warm tender -light had leaped into her brown eyes. “Pardon -me, children. I’ll see you again in a little -while.” She was at the door as she spoke.</p> - -<p class='c006'>An insistent repetition of the call sent her -scurrying down the stairs and on to a side door -of the house that opened upon the drive.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Come here, girls, if you want to see—er—well—my -ideal of perfect love.” Jerry had -crossed the room to one of the windows, which -looked down upon the drive, and was beckoning -to Leila and Vera.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>Peering down, the three girls were just in -time to see the meeting between the two who -had once so nearly drifted apart forever, but -had at the last found love in all its tender -glory.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie had run down the steps of the veranda -in the same instant in which Hal had -sprung from the driver’s seat of the roadster. -They met midway on the walk, catching hold of -hands, and laughing like two children. No embrace -passed between them, other than the cling -of hands, but there was a light upon both young -faces that told its own story.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You know whereof you speak, Jeremiah.” -It was Leila who lifted the brief silence that -had fallen upon the three unseen watchers at -the window after Hal had taken Marjorie by -an arm and piloted her fondly up the steps and -into the house. “There is an old Irish saying,” -she continued: “‘Love is like a four-leaved -shamrock, hard to find, but of great good luck -to the finder.’ And it’s easy to point out the -two lucky finders.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER IV<br /> <br />TRUE LOVE’S OWN SYMBOL</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“My dear child, I’m going to say good-bye -now to Jerry Macy and take myself off downstairs -so as to be ready to be among the first to -say, ‘Good fortune to Jerry Seabrooke’.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Miss Susanna Hamilton folded Jerry in her -arms, kissing her gently upon both cheeks, and -then upon her lips. The little old lady, charming -in her gown of ecru satin and duchess lace, -was smiling at Jerry, a world of affection in her -small bright eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Dearest Goldendede.” Jerry returned the -embrace with fervor. “I love you bushels as -Jerry Macy, and when I’m Jerry Seabrooke, -I’ll go on loving you, even more than bushels.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“That’s worth looking forward to.” Miss -Susanna wagged her head with amused appreciation.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m next, Jerry, dear.” Mrs. Dean now -claimed Jerry. “It seems hardly more than yesterday -since you and Marjorie went raiding the -Dean kitchen after school on a hunt for chocolate -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>cake. Romance was far from your thoughts -then. Marjorie found hers, and you yours. We -are all happy in your happiness tonight.” Mrs. -Dean’s tones bespoke her love for Jerry. “Wonderful -things have befallen the Dean Army.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I think I’m the luckiest girl in the world, -Captain.” Jerry brought a hand to her forehead -in playful salute. “Besides Father and -Mother and Hal I’ve you and General and Miss -Susanna as special superior officers to wish me -happiness. Some honor for Lieutenant Macy, -I’ll say.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And you never counted me in.” Marjorie -shook a finger at Jerry. Seated on a chaise -longue she had thus far been a contentedly-smiling, -silent spectator to the fond little scene -of which Jerry formed the center.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, <i>you’re</i> my brother officer. I take you -for granted,” Jerry assured her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>It was half-past seven by the busily ticking -Dresden clock on Jerry’s chiffonier. At eight -o’clock that evening Jerry was to be married -to Danny Seabrooke in the Macy’s beautiful -salon-like drawing room downstairs. She had -been dressed for half an hour for the momentous -journey she was soon to take down the -grand staircase, and on her flower-decked way -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>to keep a high tryst with Danny, her devoted -cavalier of high school days.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Mrs. Dean, Miss Susanna and Marjorie had -been spending an intimate half hour with the -bride-to-be in accordance to her forceful plea: -“For goodness sake stick to me.” The two -older women now left the room to take their -places among the guests. Only Marjorie remained -with her chum, knowing that Jerry -wished her to do so.</p> - -<p class='c006'>As the door closed upon Miss Susanna and -Mrs. Dean, Jerry walked over to the long triple-plated -floor mirror and began a critical survey -of her resplendent self in it. Marjorie sat -watching her with proud, admiring eyes. She -thought she had never before seen Jerry look -so pretty.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Well, Bean,” Jerry presently turned away -from the mirror to fix round, inquiring blue -eyes almost solemnly upon Marjorie, “what’s -the verdict? I mean, how does Jeremiah look?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are so lovely in your wedding dress, -Jerry.” Marjorie gave a sigh of delighted admiration.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Honestly, and truly <i>am I</i>—<i>do</i> I look as nice -as that?” Jerry’s cheeks grew pinker at the -tribute.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Honestly, and truly you are—you do,” Marjorie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>assured with amused emphasis. “You -know I’ve always liked best to see you wear -white. But tonight—you are positively stunning, -Jeremiah. Your wedding dress is a -dream, and so are you in it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, gee, but I’m glad of it,” Jerry gave a -sigh of profound relief. “Since it’s you who -is saying it, I have to believe it. I’d like to -look—um-m, something celostrous, all on Danny’s -account. I want him to be properly impressed -by my—ahem—resplendent beauty,” -Jerry giggled, her sense of humor ever to the -fore. There was, nevertheless, something of -girlish wistfulness in her joking words.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“He will be,” Marjorie devotedly predicted. -“What do <i>you</i> think of yourself in your wedding -finery?” she continued mischievously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, pretty fair, Bean; just middling.” -There was a pleased gleam in Jerry’s eyes, however, -as she turned once more to the mirror.</p> - -<p class='c006'>She made a charming picture standing before -it, looking taller and slimmer than was her wont -in the straight beautiful lines of her ivory satin -wedding gown with its garniture of pearls and -rare old lace. The lace-trimmed court train, -falling from the shoulders, the long tight -sleeves and the V-shaped pearl-embroidered -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>neck also served to heighten the stately effect -of her costume.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I shan’t put on my veil until the last minute,” -she announced matter-of-factly. “Just let -me tell you this, Bean, it’s a whole lot more -trouble to dress for one’s own wedding than it -is for some one else’s.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Mindful of her snowy finery she sat down -carefully on the edge of her bed and viewed -Marjorie with a half abashed, half impish air. -“How’s that for a sweetly sentimental thought -to trot along to the altar?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s strictly a la Jeremiah, only you’ll forget -it the instant you hear the wedding march.” -A reminiscent gleam had appeared in Marjorie’s -eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I guess you know what you are talking -about.” Jerry fell into sudden silence. Apparently -unsentimental Jerry was not lacking in -either sentiment, or emotion. She was feeling -deeply the tension of the moment, but was endeavoring -to hide it, even from Marjorie. “I -only hope I keep in step with it,” she added -with a reflective air.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“In step with what?” Marjorie came suddenly -out of her moment of dreaming.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The wedding march, of course,” Jerry replied -with a faint chuckle.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>“Oh,” Marjorie had to laugh with her. She -understood Jerry, and the way she was feeling, -also the facetious effort her chum was making -to conceal her real feelings.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I never did like having a lot of fuss made -over me.” Jerry rose and walked to a side -table on which reposed her wedding bouquet of -lilies of the valley and white orchids. “Isn’t -it beautiful?” she said, lifting it up almost reverently. -Her humorous expression had vanished -into one of girlish seriousness.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I love it. It’s so perfect”—Marjorie -paused—“as perfect as love. It’s true love’s -own symbol.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“True love,” Jerry repeated musingly. “I -never dreamed for a minute when Danny and -I used to squabble and play jokes on each other -as high school pals that I’d ever love him -enough to marry him. You know I always said -I was never never going to be married.” For -a moment she bent her face over the mass of -exquisite white blooms, hiding it from view. She -presently raised it from the bouquet with: -“Times have certainly changed, Beanie. They -certainly have changed.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It looks that way, Macy,” Marjorie gaily -agreed. Gradually her smile faded. “Jerry,” -she began slowly, “you know you and I have -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>never talked much to each other about Hal—and—and—the -way things were for so long between -us before—well—before I discovered that I -really had a heart for love. At that time I was -relieved because you tried never to let me think -you were disappointed because I didn’t then -love Hal. I felt that you were, and I often -wished to have a talk with you about him. -Somehow I couldn’t bring myself to speak of -him, even to you. I was so sure that I could -never learn to love him in the beautiful way I -believed he loved me. Captain was the only -one I confided my troubles to.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You weren’t to blame because you didn’t -know your own heart,” Jerry made loyal defense. -“I used to feel a little out of patience -with you at times. It hurt me like sixty to see -Hal try to buck up, determined not to show -what a crusher you had handed him. Still, I -couldn’t blame you, either. Love’s the world’s -great mystery, even if it is love that sends the -old ball dizzying around,” Jerry finished with -slangy philosophy.</p> - -<p class='c006'>In spite of her practical tone Marjorie -glimpsed a glint of tenderness in her chum’s -eyes as she gently deposited the white armful -of fragrance upon the table again.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve not yet forgiven myself for having hurt -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>Hal so. Whenever I think of how nearly I lost -him forever by my own blindness, it sends my -heart away down for a minute. It will take a -lifetime of devotion on my part to make it up -to him. We’re so happy together now. It -doesn’t seem as though I deserved such happiness,” -Marjorie ended half wistfully.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Shucks,” was Jerry’s comforting opinion. -“You deserved happiness more than any one of -us did.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, no,” Marjorie shook her head gravely. -“No one deserves to be happier than you and -Danny are going to be. You two just simply -drifted beautifully into love. There haven’t -been any misunderstandings, or heartaches, in -your romance. It’s been ideal.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“That’s so.” Jerry considered Marjorie’s -assertion with a half embarrassed flush. It -was the witching, intimate hour for confidences -between the chums. “I guess we began to miss -each other a lot at about the same time. I -missed Danny dreadfully during my senior year -at Hamilton. When we came to compare notes, -last summer at Severn Beach, we found we -weren’t crazy about having to be so far away -from each other and—that’s the way it all happened,” -she confessed half shyly. “Danny -wanted to ask me to marry him on that night -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>when we went for a sail in the <i>Oriole</i> and Hal -sang the ‘Venetian Boat Song’ with a kind of -heart-break in his voice that he hadn’t the least -idea was there. You missed it entirely, but it -got both Danny and me. I’ll never forget that -night as long as I live.” Jerry made an eloquently -reminiscent gesture. “He told me after -we became engaged that he hadn’t the courage -to ask me that night to marry him, for fear I -might turn him down as you had Hal.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“That was a night I had some very sad -memories of, long afterward, when I came to a -realization that I really loved Hal, but too late. -I surmised he was going to ask me to marry -him before I went back to Hamilton, and I was -determined not to give him an opportunity. -Wasn’t I stony-hearted though?” Marjorie -laughed rather tremulously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’re bravely over it now, and that’s what -counts,” was Jerry’s sturdy philosophy. “I -think that when——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Jerry, dear, the girls will be here in a minute.” -Mrs. Macy’s hurried entrance into the -room broke up the confidential session. A -plump dainty little figure in her handsome -gown of pearly gray and white, her bright blue -eyes adoringly took in the charming spectacle -of Jerry in her brave white array. “Shall I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>help you with your veil?” She nodded briskly -toward the beautiful, voluminous veil of brussels -net which swept fairy-like folds across the -foot of Jerry’s bed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Please do, Mother.” The two exchanged -fond smiles.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Mrs. Macy lifted the misty, exquisite lace -cloud from the bed and trotted over to Jerry -with it. Jerry stood very still while her mother -placed the coronet-like cap, with its garniture -of pearls and orange blossoms, on her head, -and adjusted it to her critical satisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The pretty service performed, Jerry placed -her hands on her mother’s cheeks and kissed her -on the lips. “Thank you, Mother,” she said. -The uncontrollable impulse toward humor overcoming -her she pulled a fold of the veil over her -face and peered owlishly through the lace -meshes at Marjorie. “It’s too late for regrets,” -she quavered in a doleful tone. “Good night, -Jerry Macy.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do try to behave well during the ceremony, -at least, Jerry,” was her mother’s laughing advice -as she circled about her irrepressible -daughter in anxious mother-proud survey.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I will,” Jerry promised in a hollow voice -that set the trio laughing. A murmur of voices -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>outside her door, and she added encouragingly: -“Here come the girls. Kindly note my exemplary -behavior from now on. Jeremiah is going -to step strictly into line for the great occasion.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER V<br /> <br />ALL ON ACCOUNT OF JEREMIAH</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“Don’t hand me all the verbal bouquets. -Keep a few for your own use.” Surrounded by -an enthusiastic bevy of bridesmaids Jerry had -at last managed to make herself heard above -the buzz of admiring compliments they had been -hurling at her from all sides. “Talk about a -rosebud garden of girls. I’ll say you’re it.” -She stood beaming her delight of the flower-like -group that had invaded her room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jerry had had pronounced ideas of her own -concerning the color scheme for her wedding. -She had elected that it should be a rose wedding, -since the rose was both Danny’s and her -favorite flower. Moreover, Danny had a preference -for a certain apricot-tinted variety of -rose, deep apricot in bud, but shading when -open to a delicate pink. “Marvel” was the name -the originator of the variety had bestowed upon -the rose, and it had quickly come into fashionable -popularity. Jerry, in search of an attractive -color scheme for her wedding had hit upon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>the plan of using the dainty Marvel rose for her -purpose.</p> - -<p class='c006'>She had made a careful study of the exquisite -apricot-pink shading of the rose with the result -that her maid of honor and six bridesmaids, -now gowned in the stunning dresses she herself -had designed and had made for them, bore delightful -resemblance to a bouquet of “Marvels.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Lucy Warner, brimming with happiness over -the unexpected privilege of serving as Jerry’s -maid of honor, wore a frock of deep-tinted apricot -tulle over apricot silk with apricot satin -slippers and stockings to match. Beneath a -wreath of tiny Marvel rosebuds her small -earnest features looked demurely out, giving -her the semblance of the rosebud she was -dressed to represent. A large bouquet of the -tight-petaled buds added the final artistic touch -to her costume.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila Harper and Leslie Cairns, as bridesmaids, -wore frocks of slightly paler apricot -tulle, their wreaths and bouquets of half open -Marvel buds exactly matching the shade of their -gowns. Helen Trent and Phyllis Moore continued -further to carry out the color scheme in -still paler-shaded apricot tulle, worn over silk -underslips of a delicate pink. Their wreaths -<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>and bouquets were of Marvel roses, well-opened, -but not full blown.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Vera Mason and Robin Page completed the -color scheme in frocks of pale pink tulle with -wreaths and bouquets of the full-blown Marvel -roses. The two tiny flower girls, Reba and -Nella Macy, kiddie cousins of Jerry’s, wore -bouffant frocks of chiffon, many-skirted and of -the four shades of the rose in which the maid -of honor and the bridesmaids’ gowns had been -carried out. They had long-handled, ribbon-tied -baskets filled to over-flowing with half-blown -and full-blown roses and wore rosebud -wreaths upon their curly golden heads.</p> - -<p class='c006'>As Jerry happily took in the gorgeous human -flower garden about her she could not forbear -teasing Lucy a little. Fixing her eyes upon the -latter with a certain ridiculous expression -which always made Lucy giggle, she said: -“Luciferous Warniferous, you are positively -stunning. You are enchanting, imposing, arresting, -resplendent—wait a minute till I think up -a few more glowing terms. Oh, yes, you are -celostrous, Luciferous, absolutely and undeniably -celostrous—and that lets you out. Be <i>very -very</i> careful of yourself this evening. Some -worshipping young man may fall hard for you, -and try to kidnap you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>“Oh-h, Jeremiah Macy,” Lucy brandished her -bouquet at Jerry, laughing, but looking half -vexed. “You are—well—you are——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What am I?” Jerry inquired with a quizzical -grin.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The same ridiculous old tease,” Lucy retorted. -“When first I caught sight of you in -your wedding dress, with your lovely veil, I felt -positively impressed by your grandeur and dignity. -Now I don’t feel in the least like that -about you,” Lucy ended with a faint chuckle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Never judge by appearances, my child. A -bran span new wedding dress and veil may -cloak an awful disposition. Try to regard me, -Luciferous, as your former friend and razzberry, -Jerry, Jeremiah, Geraldine Macy, and -none other. I’m going to continue to be her to -the very last minute.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The last minute is not far off, dear,” Mrs. -Macy now broke in. “It’s a quarter to eight, -children. Marjorie and I must go downstairs.” -She cast a covertly significant glance at Marjorie -who returned it with an equally guarded -flash of brown eyes. “You had best form in line, -girls, as soon as we are gone so as to be ready -on the dot. I’ll leave the door open as we go. -Remember, as soon as you hear the first notes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>of the wedding march you must begin to move -forward to the stairs.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>With these final solicitous directions Mrs. -Macy went to the door and opened it wide. -From below stairs the wedding party now -caught the harmonious throb of violins softly -entuning an old Italian wedding song. It was -a marvelous old song, full of impassioned harmony, -which had been one of Laurie’s “finds” -during his and Constance’s first year abroad. -Virtuoso Stevens was playing it now, accompanied -by Uncle John Roland, his foster -brother-musician, Charlie Stevens, and four -other of the musicians who had helped to form -the little orchestra, so dear to the Sanford High -School boys and girls of former days. These -were the musicians Jerry had chosen to make -the music at her wedding.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Mrs. Macy paused for an instant in the open -doorway, smiling. Her eyes roved again to the -clock, now showing almost ten minutes to eight, -then again to Marjorie. The latter, radiantly -lovely in a sleeveless evening frock of orchid -satin, a great cluster of orchids, brought her by -Hal, nestling against one dimpled shoulder, -stood near Jerry, head bent a trifle forward, an -expression of expectant listening upon her face.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Above the overtones of the violins there suddenly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>arose the sweetness of a high soprano -voice, taking up the ancient wedding song. A -hush had already fallen upon the lately buzzing -girl company with the first sound of the orchestra -music. The stillness deepened as the golden -voice sang on, soaring, lark-like to entrancing -heights. Then Jerry shattered the spell with an -exultant shout of “Connie, Connie! It’s Connie -singing! I know it is! Oh, you Marjorie -Dean.” She whirled about and pounced joyfully -upon Marjorie, catching her by the shoulders -and gently shaking her. “You <i>knew</i> she was -coming—knew all the time, and never said a -word.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Hands off. You’ll rumple your veil, and -crush my orchids.” Marjorie wriggled free of -Jerry’s lightly pinioning hands.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going to shake Mother next.” Jerry -made a laughing dive at her mother. “You’re -just as guilty as Marjorie. You knew it, too.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We’ll steal one more minute to explain, then -we must run. We did not know surely till this -morning that Connie and Laurie would be here -to the wedding. They managed to catch a fast -boat home from Havre, and arrived here only -an hour ago—<i>all on account of Jeremiah</i>. We -wanted you to have a last Jerry Macy surprise. -Dearest pal,” Marjorie’s arms enfolded Jerry, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>regardless of her own recent admonition of -“Hands off!” She kissed Jerry on the lips, saying, -“You know all I wish for you,” then released -her and scampered for the stairs in Mrs. -Macy’s wake.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Silence fell again in the room with Marjorie’s -and Mrs. Macy’s exit. Constance had begun -the second verse of the song. Presently the -glorious voice had ceased with a last high, dulcet -note. A sighing breath of appreciation rose -from the charmed listeners in Jerry’s room. -Still under the spell of the song and the singer, -no one spoke. Then, in the midst of the stillness, -the orchestra below began the Mendelssohn -wedding march, very softly at first with a gradual -increase of volume as the march was continued.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Came a quick scurrying into place, accompanied -by soft exclamations and subdued laughter, -then the bridal procession had formed and -begun to move down the hall to the grand stairway.</p> - -<p class='c006'>At the foot of the broad staircase Jerry’s -father awaited her. On his arm she continued -her little journey of love, attended by her faithful -maids. Across the wide reception hall, -through a ribboned aisle, which continued on -into the salon, and down the middle of the long -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>apartment to its southern end, the bridal procession -swept. Its objective was a gorgeous bank -of palms and roses in front of which Jerry and -Danny were to make their vows. Everywhere -in the salon roses were massed in fragrant profusion. -The scent of the queenly flower hung -over the room like sweet incense.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The clergyman who was to perform the ceremony -had been the one to baptize both Jerry -and Danny as infants. He had already taken -his place before the rose bank. Near him Danny, -accompanied by his brother, Robert, his best -man, awaited the coming of the bride. Danny’s -serious moments of life had been thus far rare. -His impish smile was more apt than not to be -in evidence wherever he went. There was now -no sign of it on his gravely-earnest features as -he stood waiting for Jerry. Seriousness vastly -became frolicksome Danny, making him handsome -in spite of his freckles.</p> - -<p class='c006'>As the white-robed bride, the little girl with -whom he had grown up, came toward him in her -brave snowy array, the eyes of the pair met. -Jerry saw the light of love leap into her bridegroom’s -eyes like a flashing, sacramental flame, -and was blushingly content. She had at last -succeeded in making “some impression” upon -Danny.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER VI<br /> <br />THE HIGH TRYST</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>The space on each side of the ribboned aisle -from its beginning at the foot of the staircase -to its terminus in front of the rose bank was -thronged with guests. Came a subdued murmur -from the friendly assemblage and a great craning -of necks as the bridal cortége passed -through the ribboned lane on its way to the -altar.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The musicians had been stationed just inside -the wide double doorway between the hall and -the salon. Despite the stellar role which had -been assigned to Jerry in the drama of Romance -she managed to turn her head toward the orchestra, -sending a fleeting, affectionate glance -toward the slender golden-haired young woman -smiling radiantly at her from a seat among the -musicians.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Immediately the procession had passed the -orchestra, Constance and Laurie rose and followed -in order to join a certain small group of -persons who were standing a little at the right -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>of the altar. It comprised Mrs. Macy, Mr. and -Mrs. Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Seabrooke and Jerry’s -Sanford married chums, together with their -husbands. There was Irma Linton, now Irma -Norwood, and her ever devoted cavalier of high-school -days, the “Crane.” Connie and Laurie, -Marjorie and Hal, and Susan Atwell, now Susan -Armstrong, with her tall bronzed western mate. -Of the original sextette of Sanford youngsters -who had been such famous pals Muriel Harding -Lenox and her husband alone were missing. -Jerry and Danny had been united in their desire -to have near them during the ceremony -those who had ever been, and would ever be, to -them, their nearest, and dearest.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Followed the breathless hush which invariably -precedes the momentous interval between -the cessation of the wedding march and the beginning -of the sacred ceremony of marriage. -Followed the minister’s deep, resonant enunciation -of “Dearly beloved,” as he took up the solemn -words of the ceremony.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie alone heard Hal’s “Dearest,” murmured -in her ear as one of his hands closed tenderly -over her slim fingers. She returned the -fervent pressure, a quick mist of tears blurring -her eyes. Hal had put an infinity of meaning -<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>into that one murmured word of endearment, -given to her alone to understand.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“My own dear wife,” Danny was saying to -Jerry as he kissed her with a smile which Jerry -ever after fondly cherished as the most beautiful -smile she had ever seen on a man’s face.</p> - -<p class='c006'>A moment more, and she was receiving the -congratulatory embraces of her father and -mother. Next Hal kissed her, then passed her -on to Marjorie. The smiling group of dear -ones now hemmed the bridal pair in, eager to -wish them good fortune.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jerry and Connie met with wide-open arms, -hugging each other with delighted vigor.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You certainly put one over on me, you rascal!” -Jerry exclaimed with slangy disregard -for her newly-fledged title of Mrs. Daniel Seabrooke. -“Oh, Connie, you can’t possibly guess -how glad I felt to hear your dear voice singing -the wedding song! I wanted to rush downstairs, -then and there, and hug you. We’d given up -hoping you and Laurie might be here at the -wedding, and Danny was awfully blue about it. -He had counted on Hal and Laurie and the -‘Crane’ as his special standbys.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I had no idea you esteemed me so highly, -Dan-yell.” Laurie’s laughing voice broke in. -He had fixed mischievous blue eyes upon Danny, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>face alight with the old love of teasing which -had never yet failed to draw his freckled-faced -pal into good-natured argument.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Danny’s becomingly serious expression had -now vanished in a challenging grin. He could -not resist the joy of a verbal tilt with Laurie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You know it now, but don’t let it turn your -head,” he cautioned. “Absence caused me to -think kindly of you. Now that you are here, -my future good opinion of you will depend entirely -upon the way you treat me. As a bran-new, -extremely well-behaved husband I am entitled -to your profound respect. As yet I see -no flourishing signs of it in your manner toward -me. I shall hope for the best, however,” he -ended with mock encouragement.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Here’s hoping.” Laurie showed white teeth -in a broad smile.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Matters look far from hopeful to me. Never -mind, Mr. Armitage. Your wife at least respects -me. Such being the case, I will overlook -your decidedly disrespectful grin.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“How about the one you’re sporting?” Laurie -affably inquired.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You must be seeing things.” Danny whisked -the smile from his face in a twinkling, gazing -at Laurie with wide-eyed solemnity.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>“I see marriage hasn’t changed you,” Laurie -retorted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s too early in the game to pass an opinion. -A wise man would never do it,” Danny -made reproving reply.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Thereupon both young men burst into laughter -and wrung each other’s hands all over again.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Believe me, I’m glad to have a grip on that -good old hand,” Danny said seriously as he gave -Laurie’s hand a final shake.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Same here,” Laurie made warm response.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Further friendly exchange of pertinent pleasantries -between them was cut short by the congratulatory -demands upon Danny’s attention. -Laurie and Connie also came in for a rush of -cordial greeting from numerous old friends -present at the wedding.</p> - -<p class='c006'>As a pretty courtesy to the guests, Reba and -Nella, the little flower girls now circulated -among them, giving them the roses from their -baskets. There was to be a wedding supper in -a huge tent that had been put up on the lawn, -and also dancing in the ball room. Jerry and -Danny would not leave on their wedding trip -until after midnight in time to board a one-o’clock -train that was to take them to the Adirondacks, -where they had elected to spend their -honeymoon in Hal’s camp.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>“I’m going to have my wedding party just -like the parties Hal and I used to give,” Jerry -had said. “The minute the ceremony’s over—good-bye -formality. Danny and I have arranged -to go away on a late train, purposely, -so that we can stay a while with the crowd and -have a dandy good time.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>The first animated rush of congratulation -having spent itself, Jerry and Danny separated -briefly. Danny’s three Sanford pals had claimed -him for their own for a few merry minutes of -conversation. Jerry had a mission of her own -to perform in which her bridesmaids were buoyantly -interested. Each was hopeful that she -might be the one to catch the bridal bouquet -which Jerry was presently to throw among -them.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jerry-like she was now laughingly refusing -to tell her watchful attendants just when, and -from what point, she intended to cast the -flowery token among them.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Follow me, and see what happens,” she -teased as she began a slow walk down the salon, -and toward the reception hall, surrounded -by a laughing, expostulating seven.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t worry. You couldn’t lose us if you -tried,” Helen Trent assured the bride.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You ought to give Robin and me a special -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>tip-off, Jeremiah. What chance have we against -five tall, long-armed ladies?” Vera complained -plaintively.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Pay no attention to Midget,” counseled -Leila. “What she lacks in height she makes up -in quickness. If she does not snap up the bouquet -from under our very noses it will not be for -lack of trying.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s sportsmanlike to try out this grab game, -but if it means ‘Leslie, you’ll be married next,’ -then I hope I miss,” Leslie confided to Leila in -an undertone. “I’ve contracted to keep house for -Peter the Great for the next few years, so that -lets me out,” she averred with her slow smile.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I am fondling no hopes in that direction, -either,” Leila murmured. “My ideal is a nice, -white-haired old gentleman who will defer to me -on all occasions; one who will enjoy being unmercifully -bossed.” She rolled her blue eyes -drolly at Leslie, who giggled softly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“When you find him, don’t forget to invite me -to your wedding,” she stipulated.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You shall be my maid of honor,” Leila made -affable promise. “By then, we shall be old and -gray, I am afraid, and be wearing bonnets and -spectacles.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jerry and her alert following had now -reached the foot of the grand stairway. She -<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>set one slim, satin-shod foot upon the first step -of the staircase as though about to begin the -ascent of the stairs. Then she suddenly whirled -about and tossed her bridal bouquet high in the -air, well above the heads of the eager group of -girls. A wild scramble for it ensued, accompanied -by excited feminine cries. An instant, -and a shout of gay laughter ascended from the -animated group. Came a merry chorus of: -“Leila’s going to be married next. Leila’s going -to be married next.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER VII<br /> <br />CONSPIRATORS OF HAPPINESS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“Who is he, Leila?” Helen Trent teasingly -called out.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, who is he, and where did you first meet -him?” Leslie Cairns, usually the most silent -among the group, could not refrain from joining -in the teasing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“A fine Irish gentleman, of course,” Robin -said with elaborate positiveness.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I must begin practicing old Irish airs,” Phil -supplemented with an energetic nod. “I may be -asked to play at the wedding.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is valuable time you will be wasting in the -practice,” came in ironic tones from behind the -big bouquet. The bride’s flowery insignia had -dropped squarely into Leila’s open arms at the -second when she had dashed forward with the -others. Her arms still enwrapping the floral -grace, she had ducked her black head until only -the crown of it showed above the top of the bouquet.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>“Don’t pretend to be so shy! We know you -aren’t blushing,” Vera exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“How can you know when you can not see my -face?” came pithily from behind the white -shelter. Leila’s face popped up above the -flowers. She peered over them at her tormentors -with an expression of such ludicrous shyness -as to produce a gale of laughter.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now laugh at me,” she said reprovingly, -“and that after you have had a fine time making -fun of me. And it’s that embarrassed I am. I -am all but tongue-tied from bashfulness.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We’d never have suspected such a thing. So -glad you told us.” Even staid Lucy felt impelled -to join in the merry badinage.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Let me tell you more. If I am the one to -be married next, then none of the rest of you -will ever be married. So you may practice -your Irish airs and play them to me, Phil, for -my wedding day is like an Irish myth, something -that will never come true.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Such a cheerful prediction,” commented -Robin Page.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Is it not?” beamed Leila.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You really can’t expect us to take you seriously, -you know,” Helen said with regretful -scepticism.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I expect nothing else except that you will -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>be making me a sad lot of future trouble by -teasing me on all occasions. I shall soon have -no comfort at all, at all,” Leila made rueful -forecast.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Never mind,” Lucy lightly sympathized. -“You have the bouquet. I was hoping I’d catch -it, just because it is so beautiful.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“A fine bunch of posies it is,” Leila lapsed -into brogue, “but it’s yourself that may be -catching a bridegroom wan of these days, Luciferous, -without the catching of the wadding -bo-kay.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>I guess not</i>,” Lucy made vigorous protest. -“Oh, there’s Miss Archer.” She bolted from -the group with heightened color for a point -across the hall where the principal of the Sanford -High School stood talking with Mrs. Dean. -A subdued ripple of merriment followed her -escape from further teasing on Leila’s part. It -was privately conceded among her Hamilton -chums that President Matthews’ son was in love -with Lucy. Whether, or not, Lucy cared for -him was a matter for cogitation among them. -Never by word or sign had she betrayed, even -to Marjorie, anything other than an ordinary -friendly interest in the young man.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Just the same, <i>she blushed</i>,” Vera said triumphantly, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>laughing eyes following Lucy’s -prompt rush across the hall.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She’ll soon be in line to blush some more. -Donald Matthews is here, somewhere about, -only Lucy hasn’t yet happened to see him. -President and Mrs. Matthews couldn’t come to -the wedding on account of a previous engagement -at a house party. Lucy took it for granted -that Donald wouldn’t be here, either. I didn’t -tell her he was coming. She is so—well, you -girls know how she is. I was afraid she’d balk -at being maid of honor out of pure shyness, no -matter how much she cared about it. Lucy -cares about Donald. I’m almost positive she -does. You see I still know something about -everyone even though I’m no longer Jeremiah -Macy,” Jerry wound up with a droll air of wisdom.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Lucy’s green eyes opened wide, when, during -her chat with Miss Archer, a tall figure loomed -up beside her, speaking her name with politely-concealed -eagerness. She was so fully engulfed -by the pleasant embarrassment of the moment -that she failed to note the battery of affectionately -amused eyes bent upon her from the bridal -group she had so lately deserted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Come on, girls, let’s vanish before she happens -to look this way,” Jerry proposed. “She -<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>nearly fell dead with surprise, as it was, when -she saw her future husband. Let’s not add to -the shock.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>The little group promptly moved on into the -salon. There they became immediately separated. -Jerry was quickly hemmed in by further -numbers of well-wishers. Leila, Vera, Helen, -Phil and Robin were warmly hailed by Sanford -friends they had made while spending holiday -vacations with Marjorie and Jerry.</p> - -<p class='c006'>From the midst of a knot of Sanford friends -Marjorie’s roving glance took in Leslie, standing -at the edge of an animated group, her dark -brows drawn together in a frown. “Leslie feels -out of things,” was her instant thought. Excusing -herself to her friends she hurried over to -Leslie, with intent to take her in tow.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, Bean. I’m glad to get hold of you.” -Leslie’s frown disappeared in an expression of -patent relief. “I simply had to see you about -something, but I hated to butt in on you and -your Sanford friends.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What is it, Leslie?” Marjorie asked with -quick concern. She was yet far from understanding -Leslie’s complex nature.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve done something, Bean, something I -thought would be nice for Jerry and Mr. Seabrooke. -I’ve got away with the first half of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>stunt—and,” Leslie paused, looking half -abashed, “now I wonder how I’m going to get -away with the last half. I thought it would be -easy, but—well—I find it isn’t. It’s just struck -me that Jerry and her husband may think I -have a colossal nerve to—to——” Leslie -stopped, coloring. “You’ll have to help me out, -Bean,” she said desperately, with a short -laugh.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Of course I will. Tell me what you’d like -me to do for you. I know you’ve planned something -lovely for Jerry and Danny,” encouraged -Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Maybe.” Leslie still looked doubtful. “All -right. Here goes. You see since my father -went to London there’s no one except me to -use his private car on the railroad. I knew -Jerry and Mr. Seabrooke were going to the -Adirondacks on their honeymoon, so I thought -it would maybe please them to go there in -Peter’s car. If I had thought of it sooner, I’d -have told Jerry about it. It never occurred to -me until day before yesterday, and I’ve had to -do some little hustling to get the car here in -time. Believe me, I’ve kept the wires hot between -here and New York. The car’s here; it -came in at two o’clock this afternoon, and I -was right there at the station yard to welcome -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>it. I dropped out of the gang this afternoon, -but they were all so busy they didn’t miss me. -Now that’s part one—very nice and easy. -What?” Leslie’s deliberate smile showed itself.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; What? You delightful plotter of happiness.” -Marjorie’s face was alight with appreciation -of Leslie’s plan. “Now that you’ve -planned the surprise, and had all the trouble to -make it come true, you want me to tell them -about it. No, siree; you’re going to tell them -about it <i>yourself</i>.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I can’t. I won’t. I thought once I could, -but I’ve got cold feet now. Please tell them, -Beanie Bean. I haven’t the nerve.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’ve always said you had nerve enough -for anything,” came Marjorie’s smiling retort.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I know it. I say a great many foolish -things,” Leslie admitted with a faint chuckle. -“Are you going to stand by me, or are you going -to quit me cold?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll help you a little,” Marjorie conceded -teasingly. “I’ll find Jerry and Danny and steer -them into the library after the company have -mostly gone upstairs to the ball room. Then -you are to break the news to them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, no, I——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, yes, you must. You haven’t the least -idea of what a fine surprise you are going to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>give Jerry. She’d like to hear it from you, Leslie. -She is very fond of you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But she used to hate me like poison, both she -and Leila Harper. I know they like me now,” -Leslie went on quickly. “They’ve shown that -much. Jerry, by asking me to be one of her -bridesmaids, and Leila, by asking me to be business -manager of the Playhouse. I’m beginning -to feel at home with Leila, but with Jerry, somehow, -it seems almost as though there was a barrier -still standing between us. I get it dimly -that she hasn’t, perhaps, ever forgiven me for -the contemptible things I once tried to put over -on you. I felt really pleased with myself about -this car business, until I began thinking that <i>she</i> -might not be pleased at all. You understand -what I mean. It’s hard to try to explain.” Leslie -fixed suddenly somber eyes upon Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, I understand, and I also understand -that you are a big goose, Leslie Adoree Cairns,” -Marjorie made cheering response. “Let me tell -you something. Jerry would not be your friend -today unless she had entirely forgiven and forgotten -anything she might have once laid up -against you. She would have held herself aloof -from you in spite of yours and my friendship. -Nothing I might have said to her in your favor -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>would have induced her to change her mind. -There; does that give you more nerve?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Some,” Leslie brightened visibly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“All right. Go on into the library, and wait -for us. I’ll bring Jerry and Danny there as -soon as I can.” Marjorie caught Leslie by the -hands with a friendly little pressure, then sped -away on her pleasant errand. At the doorway -of the salon she turned to cast a reassuring -smile at Leslie who stood gazing soberly after -her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie’s hand went up in acknowledging gesture, -then she started slowly for the library -which was situated on the opposite side of the -house from the salon.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Leslie would like to see you and Danny in -the library,” Marjorie presently murmured in -Jerry’s ear during a brief lull in the new tide -of congratulation that was holding the bridal -pair captive in the salon.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yours truly,” Jerry returned in an undertone. -“This ‘wish you joy’ stunt will soon be -over. Tell Leslie she may expect us. Now -what’s on her mind?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Wait, and learn,” Marjorie cryptically advised. -Unauthorized by Leslie she gathered together -Leila, Vera, Robin, Phil, Helen Trent, -and, lastly, Lucy Warner, who stood talking to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>Donald Matthews with the serious air of a sage.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’re needed in the library to attend a special -session of the Travelers,” she told each girl -in turn. “Come along with me.” Nor would she -give out a word of information regarding the -import of the special session.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Outside the library doorway she called a halt -in the procession. “We’ll wait here for Danny -and Jerry. Keep back out of sight of Leslie. -She’s in the library, but I’d rather she wouldn’t -see you just yet.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What is it all about? As your business -partner I think I’m entitled to an explanation. -Page and Dean aren’t supposed to have secrets -from each other,” Robin made plaintive plea.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She is that aggravating.” Leila raised disapproving -hands. “Wurra, wurra! What shall -we do with her?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Pull down her curls,” Vera made a playful -dive at Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Steal her orchids.” Phil made a pretended -grab at the cluster of orchids nestling against -Marjorie’s shoulder.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Powder her nose till it looks floury,” Helen -whisked a gold compact from a tiny inside -pocket of her corsage and advanced upon Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>In the midst of the pretended struggle, carried -<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>on amid much subdued mirth, a calm voice -inquired: “What’s going on out here?” Leslie, -tired of her own company, as she continued to -wait in the library for Marjorie and the Seabrookes, -and strolled to the door, attracted by -the sound of familiar voices, gleeful with laughter. -She stood surveying the group, a trace -of her former quizzical aloof attitude toward -the Travelers in her face and bearing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now see what you’ve done.” Marjorie merrily -declared as she extricated herself from -Helen’s grasp. Helen, at least, had determined -to carry out her part of the punishment. -“You’re discovered, and all because you made -so much noise. Very well. You may now escort -Leslie with all pomp and ceremony into the library. -She has done something perfectly dear -for Jerry and Danny. I took the liberty of -bringing you girls here because I thought they -would like you to share the surprise that’s coming -to them, with them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>She turned to Leslie, laying a soft little hand -on the other girl’s arm. “Do you mind, Leslie? -We’re all Travelers together you know, sworn -to share each other’s joys and sorrows. If you -do, then——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No, I don’t; not the least bit.” Leslie was -smiling now. “I thought for a minute I did; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>but not now. The gang will support me during -the ordeal,” she concluded humorously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now it seems we know something of what -we are about to be doing, and still not much of -anything. Let us do ourselves proud as escorts, -and then see what happens.” Leila made a -sweeping bow to Leslie, crooking an inviting -arm. “Will you kindly be taking my Irish arm, -Miss Cairns?” she said gallantly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Take mine, too,” petitioned Phil, ranging -herself on Leslie’s other side.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Robin and I are going to walk ahead of Leslie, -backwards, into the library, bowing all the -way, and chanting her praises,” Vera announced -grandly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then I’ll be advising you to watch your step, -or you find your two selves sitting down very -suddenly,” was Leila’s mirthful warning.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We might as well bring up the rear,” Marjorie -told Helen and Lucy. “All the best positions -have been snapped up.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie had hardly more than been bowed to -the big leather davenport, invited by her flamboyantly -polite escorts to be seated, when -Jerry’s voice was heard outside the room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Here we are,” she called out cheerily as she -and Danny entered the library. Her quick -glance took in the group awaiting her with a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>flash of surprise. Marjorie had merely said -that Leslie wished to see Danny and herself in -the library. “We came down the back stairs -and through the kitchen so as to dodge the -crowd. What’s stirring?” she asked lightly, but -her eyes directly sought Leslie’s face.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nothing much.” Leslie’s dark eyes were -bent on Jerry with smiling friendliness.</p> - -<p class='c006'>A brief instant of silence ensued. The other -bridesmaids were wondering pleasantly what it -was all about. Danny was showing attentive interest, -though Marjorie read complete mystification -on his composed features.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Peter,” Leslie began abruptly, then laughed, -“I mean my father, is in London, you know. -His private car on the railroad isn’t doing anyone -any good, just at present. I thought you -two,” she nodded toward the bride and groom, -“might like it for your trip to the Adirondacks. -I wired for it, and it’s down at the railroad yard -now, ready to go out with the one-o’clock train. -It will be at your disposal during your honeymoon -trip, if you’ll accept the use of it. If you -wish to go to any other place in it from the -mountains, wire me at Hamilton twenty-four -hours before you start, and I’ll gladly make -arrangements for you. Our houseman, Emil, -will be aboard to make you comfortable. That’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>all, except that it would make both my father -and me very happy to have you use it,” she -ended almost humbly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Leslie,” Jerry put out both hands impulsively -to Leslie who caught them in a close warm -clasp. “You take my breath. What a lot of -trouble you have been to just on purpose to -make Danny and me happy. Isn’t it perfectly -celostrous, Danny?” she turned eagerly to her -husband.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is.” Danny’s hand went out to Leslie. -“It’s a knock-down,” he said, his roguish smile -breaking out. “I can’t think of anything to say -except ‘Thank you, Leslie. You’ve surely added -tonight to our happiness.’”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah!</div> - <div class='line in1'>Rah, rah for Leslie and her private car!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>Phil’s hands waved themselves above her -head like triumphant banners as she sent up -this joyful tribute. The other Travelers immediately -took it up with a will. As a result more -than one guest’s head poked itself through the -arched doorway to be as quickly withdrawn with -the chagrined knowledge that the cheering going -on in the library seemed to be a strictly -intimate matter of rejoicing.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>“It’s time we were moving on, Travelers tried -and true,” Marjorie presently said after the -hub-bub of buoyant talk and laughter had died -out. “I should like to have at least one dance -with the groom before these two,” she smilingly -indicated Danny and Jerry, “have run away -from us; provided he should ask me for a -dance,” she added innocently.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Will you please trot a trot with me, Mrs. -Macy?” Danny grinningly rose to the occasion.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I will; I’d love to,” Marjorie came back with -equal promptness. She knew Danny was feeling -far more pleasantly embarrassed than appeared -on the surface at Leslie’s good will -offer.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“If you were a bride in old Ireland you would -have to dance with every man who came to your -wedding,” was Leila’s cheering remark to Jerry -as the library party started for the ball room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Good night! I certainly have something to -be thankful for,” was Jerry’s emphatic opinion.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Up the familiar two flights of stairs to the -ball room, a climb now doubly endeared by -memory to the Sanford contingent of the light-hearted -group, an evening of further jollity -awaited them.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Dancing had already begun, and a fox trot -was in full swing when they entered the ball -<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>room, soon to be whirled into the ever favorite -amusement of the dance. Jerry and Danny -had a dance together, then did not meet again -until over an hour later when they led the merry -van downstairs to partake of the wedding supper -which would be served in the mammoth tent -on the lawn.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The bridal table was a thing of beauty in the -way of decorative art, and at the many smaller -tables roses formed the center decoration with -a rose at each place. There were favors for the -feminine fair of satin-covered, rose-topped powder -boxes in delicate evening shades, and for -the men there were cunning Japanese rose jars -filled with delightful rose pot-pourri.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The bridal table seated the bride and groom, -Mr. and Mrs. Macy, Mr. and Mrs. Seabrooke -and the groomsman, Robert Seabrooke, Mr. and -Mrs. Dean, Hal and Marjorie, Miss Susanna -Hamilton, Irma, Susan and Constance together -with their husbands, the six bridesmaids, the -maid of honor, and last, but not least, Delia. -Jerry had ranked Delia as among her “best -pals,” declaring that Delia was too thoroughly -a part of the Dean menage to be separated from -it at the wedding supper.</p> - -<p class='c006'>It was close to midnight when the last toast -to the bride and groom had been drunk down -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>and the big tent had emptied itself of its merry -assemblage, the majority of elder guests to -take their leave and the younger set to return -to the ball room for another hour of dancing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What Danny and I ought to do is to duck -out the back way, cut and run,” Jerry told Marjorie -in the privacy of her room to which she -and Marjorie had slipped away from the throng -after supper, there to make ready for her wedding -journey. “Make up your mind there’ll be -rice enough thrown at us to stop a famine in -China. There’ll be confetti, too. Make no mistake -about that. By the time the Seabrookes -dash into their car it will be hard to say which -they resemble most, the tag end of a Mardi Gras -parade, or a couple of rice stalks in full crop. -Anyhow, we aren’t going to duck. Danny and -I are agreed upon that point. Nothing like giving -our friends a chance at us,” Jerry grinned -philosophically as she slipped into the smart -beige colored ensemble she had chosen as a traveling -costume.</p> - -<p class='c006'>When at half-past twelve she and Danny -boldly essayed their departure by way of the -broad flight of steps which led down from the -port cochere to the drive the rice storm set in in -earnest. Amid showers of rice and confetti, and -a frantic hub-bub of gay-spirited farewells, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>besieged couple fled across the narrow space -of stone walk, gaining the welcome shelter of -their waiting car. A moment, and William, the -Macy’s chauffeur, had sent the trim roadster -shooting forward down the drive. Jerry and -Danny were started at last upon their real journey -through life.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER VIII<br /> <br />A “QUEER CATCH”</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“And from today on we shall be driven -slaves, bound by the order of good-intentioned -Travelers to the ill-fare and welfare of Hamilton,” -Leila Harper proclaimed dramatically to -Leslie Cairns as she entered Room 15 at Wayland -Hall in answer to Leslie’s call of “Come.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I can stand it if you can,” Leslie returned -imperturbably as she gave a final pat to her -smartly-coiffed head and viewed the effect with -commendable satisfaction. “Thanks to a permanent -wave. I’m not quite so ugly as I used -to be,” she told Leila with a half sardonic -smile.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Tell me nothing. I am admiring you more -each time I see you,” Leila spoke lightly, but -there was an undercurrent of seriousness in her -reply which brought a quick tinge of color to -Leslie’s cheeks.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I used to think I looked better in tailored -clothes and mannish coats and hats than in -‘girlie’ stuff.” Leslie glanced down at the soft -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>folds of the imported chiffon frock she was -wearing. Silver gray, flowered with twisting -sprays of scarlet poppies, with here and there -a touch of scarlet satin, the dress had a peculiar -individuality which was ever noticeable in Leslie’s -choice of clothes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It was Marjorie Dean who revolutionized my -ideas of how to dress,” she confided. “Even in -the days when I couldn’t even think about her -without hating her, I was crazy about her -clothes. They were just like her—perfectly -beautiful. I took a violent fancy to one dress I -saw her wear. It was a peachblow silk evening -frock and I made a sketch of it and had it duplicated -as nearly as I could by a New York modiste. -It was just before I went home from my -soph year here. I intended the dress for wear -at Newport. When the dress was delivered to -me, in New York, I tried it on. I looked a fright -in it. I was so angry over it that I sat down -and tore it to shreds and then bundled the wreck -into my waste basket.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“A desperate deed,” was Leila’s light comment. -Her keen mind flashed her an inkling of -what Leslie was going to say next.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I couldn’t understand then why that peachblow -dress was such a frost on me. It wasn’t -either the style, or the color that was unbecoming. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>It was the general effect of the confounded -dress. It was not until long afterward, when -I had come to know Marjorie, and to love her, -that I found out the reason for that frock flivver. -It was the combination of dress and -wearer that had caught my fancy. She had -given the dress its remarkable individuality. I -was entirely out of harmony with her. You can -understand——” Leslie paused, brows drawn in -a frown.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes,” Leila nodded. “It would be different -now, if you were to try the same thing again as -an experiment.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I couldn’t do that again. You see <i>I’m</i> different -now. I’m trying to be true to myself; to -express that new self even in dress. I used to -think of nothing but snatching the prettiest and -best of everything that happened to please me. -I was crazy to be thought very individual, and -all the time my true individuality was being submerged -fathoms deep beneath selfishness. That -peachblow dress flivver gave me a frightful jolt, -I was sore over it for weeks. But it didn’t wake -me up. I only wish it had,” Leslie finished with -a rueful shrug.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Are you ready?” Vera’s breezy entrance into -the room precluded the possibility of any further -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>confidence that Leslie might have felt an -impulse to impart to Leila.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila had listened to Leslie’s unexpected -revelation with inward surprise. Leslie was inclined -to be silent rather than talkative when -in her company, and usually impersonal in her -conversation. She broke away from her own -surprised thoughts with a little start to answer -Vera’s question. “We are, Midget. What about -the cars?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“They’re both out on the drive; I had one of -the garage men drive yours over when I went to -the garage for mine.” Vera, daintily diminutive -in a white pongee ensemble, waved a comprehensive -hand in the direction of the drive. -“I saw your roadster out in front, Leslie. Good -work.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; I brought it from the garage early this -afternoon. I’ve been so busy arranging, disarranging, -and then re-arranging the furniture in -this room that I haven’t felt the wheel under -my fingers for the past two days. I’m through -here, at last. How do you like the lay-out?” she -asked with a touch of concern.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s lovely.” Vera glanced about her with -appreciative eyes: “I adore the mulberry color -scheme. Marjorie and Jerry were going to -have 15 done over in fawn and blue the last year -<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>they were here. Then they went to the Arms to -live, and it never happened.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Glad you like it. I’m going to leave it as it -stands when I go home to the Hedge at Christmas—as -a last good-will offering to old Wayland -Hall, you know,” she explained whimsically.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s by far the grandest room in the house -now,” Leila said with an approving glance about -her. The thick velvet rug, painted willow study -table with its oval glass top, the silk-cushioned -wicker chairs had all been done in a rich mulberry -color. The chiffonier, dressing table and -day bed were of Circassian walnut. The bed -was upholstered in the same soft silk as the -chairs and piled with mulberry silk cushions, -corded and embroidered in dull gilt. The effect -of luxurious grandeur of the rehabilitated room, -however, was pleasingly lessened by the wealth -of college banners and trophies, framed photographs -of classmates and other treasured college -souvenirs which decked the pale tan, mulberry-bordered -walls.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The Wayland Hallites will all be tumbling -over one another in a wholesale rush upon Miss -Remson for 15 when you are through with it,” -Vera made laughing prophesy.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I shan’t be here to see it,” Leslie commented -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>with a faint smile. “When I leave the Hall for -the Hedge I’m going to do the Arab tent-folding -stunt. Nobody except you two, Doris and -Miss Remson, will be in the know. Maybe I’ll -will the stuff in this room to some one. Don’t -know. It will all depend upon what may happen. -Let X, the redoubtable sign of the unknown -quantity, stand for this year’s college -madness. Who knows the answer?” Leslie -made a gesture of light futility.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Who, indeed? I am no sooth-sayer of such -mysteries, but I know this,” Leila pointed significantly -to Leslie’s chiffonier clock, “it is -twenty minutes past five, and the five-fifty train -is on time. Come, let us be up, and at it.” She -cast a quick appraising glance in the long wall -mirror near her at the smart figure in white -wash satin reflected there, then walked toward -the door.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Five minutes later the three cars of the self-constituted -freshie-welcoming committee were -eating up the few miles of smooth pike that lay -between them and the railroad station of the -town of Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Five minutes to spare, and an almost empty -platform.” Vera scanned the station platform -the trio had just gained with a half disappointed -pucker of brows. “I had hoped we’d -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>see some of the old guard from Acasia House, -or Silverton Hall.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Too early in the game. These freshies we -are here to meet are early birds. I’ve been -wondering, whether or not, they constitute a -gang; on the order of the Sans, you know. Miss -Remson showed me the list of names. I noticed -that ten of the addresses were New York suburban, -and two Philadelphia suburban. That -looks rather pally. What?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“That is something I gave little thought to.” -Leila looked interested. “I saw the list, and -jotted down the freshies’ names, but paid small -attention to the addresses. Then, too, I am not -familiar with New York City as you know it, -Leslie.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Let us hope——” Vera checked herself, -coloring.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“That this new aggregation won’t turn out to -be a second edition of the Sans,” Leslie finished -the sentence for her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, that is what I half said,” Vera admitted, -laughing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Go as far as you like. You won’t ruffle my -feelings,” Leslie assured with an air of amusement. -“If history should repeat itself, it would -be one on me. Now wouldn’t it?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s far more likely to be the other way. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>None of the twelve may ever have heard of one -another.” Vera took an optimistic view of the -matter. “Hamilton has always had a large enrollment -from New York City.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We shall soon know.” The long, sharp, echoing -whistle of the incoming train from the East -shrilled out upon the still afternoon air. Far -down the track the five-fifty New York express -shot into sight from around a curve.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Three pairs of alert eyes roved quickly up -and down its length as it came to a final jarring -stop in front of the station. The few persons -issuing from the train were a signal disappointment -to the welcoming delegation. No one of -them could possibly be hailed as even an arriving -student to Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Flop! Just like that!” Leslie simulated -disappointed collapse. “Nary a freshie in sight, -and the train’s getting ready to shoot.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Wait a minute. There’s a girl coming down -the train steps, away up front.” Vera had spied -a possible “catch.” “Oh, no, it isn’t,” she went on -half dejectedly. Second glance had revealed the -traveler as a youngster of presumably thirteen, -or fourteen. “She’s just a little girl.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>In the instant of Vera’s exclamation the small -figure had skipped nimbly down the last two -steps of the car to the platform, laden though it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>was with a leather dressing-case and a good-sized -black leather traveling bag.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Upon my word! What?” broke in low, surprised -tones from Leslie. “Give her another -once-over, and walk out of the midget class, -Vera. You have, at last, a deadly rival.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why, the very idea!” Vera exhibited signal -amazement. “You’re right, Leslie. She’s not -a child, and she must be at least <i>two inches</i> -shorter than I.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Down the platform toward the astonished trio -of post-graduates the diminutive figure of a girl -was advancing at a brisk walk. Dressed in a -pleated frock of bright green pongee which -missed her knees by at least an inch, a close-fitting -green hemp hat pulled down over her -ears, she came on, confidently, surveying the -three Hamilton girls with a pair of bright, jet-black -eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Good afternoon,” she saluted with an air of -calm assurance. Her bright, bird-like eyes -continued to rove from one to another of the -three post-graduates. “You are upper-class -students, aren’t you? Awfully sweet in you -to come to meet me.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Thank you.” Leila became spokesman, her -face a courteous mask. “We are——”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>“Seniors,” interposed the little girl eagerly -with a quick nod of her green-capped head.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No.” Leila’s “No” was enigmatic. “We are -post-graduates. We are from Way——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, that’s better still.” The black-eyed girl -dropped her luggage to the station platform and -shot forth a small deeply-tanned hand. “Shake,” -she said. “Glad to meet you, I’m sure.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Thank you.” Leila tried to put friendliness -into the handshake. Her canny Irish nature -had already arrayed itself against the tiny -freshman, and her too-assured manner. On the -other hand, she could not help feeling amused -by the newcomer to Hamilton College. “I am -Miss Harper, of 19—. This is Miss Mason, also -of 19—, and Miss Cairns of 19——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why, you and Miss Mason have been graduates -from college for <i>three whole years</i>, -haven’t you?” exclaimed the girl, her black eyes -rounding in a kind of condescending surprise. -“Oh, I know. You are both of the faculty. -Some honor for me, to be met at the train by -faculty.” This, as she nodded acknowledgment -of Leila’s introduction, shaking hands in turn -with Vera and Leslie. “Pardon me, I didn’t -catch your name,” she said as her hand dropped -away from Leslie’s light clasp.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>“I am Miss Cairns,” Leslie returned imperturbably, -“but we are not——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“My name is Jewel Marie Ogden, and I’m entering -the freshman class at Hamilton College -from Warburton Prep. It’s a toppo prep school -not far from New York City,” interrupted the -girl. “You must have heard of it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I know Warburton.” Leslie’s tone was -pleasantly enigmatic.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you know any girls from there?” Miss -Ogden asked eagerly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I have met a few Warburton girls.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Tell me their names,” persisted the curious -freshman.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie mentioned the names of three girls, -New York acquaintances whom she had known -in the old, more lawless days of her college career. -She was relieved when her persistent -questioner indifferently declared, “I’ve never -even heard of them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You would hardly know any of them, as they -were graduated from Warburton several years -ago.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“How many years ago?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“At least five, or six.” Leslie made her answer -politely evasive. She was self-vexed at -having unthinkingly mentioned her former Warburton -acquaintances.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>“Let us help you with your bags.” Leila -came to Leslie’s rescue. She picked up the -heavier of the freshman’s two leather bags.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, all right. So kind in you, I’m sure. I -appreciate your interest in me. How far is it -from the station to the campus?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Three miles. I must explain to you——” -Leila began.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you drive your own car?” calmly pursued -Miss Ogden.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes.” Leila’s vague sense of irritation at -the inquisitive newcomer disappeared in a wild -desire toward laughter. The confident assurance -of this newest stranger within the gates -of Hamilton challenged her ever ready sense of -humor.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We’ll have to draw lots to see with which of -us Miss Ogden will ride,” Vera said gaily. To -Miss Ogden she said: “We three drove to the -station in separate cars. We expected to meet -a crowd of twelve freshmen who were due to -arrive here on the five-fifty express. They certainly -failed to arrive.” She waved a significant -hand at the station platform, deserted now of -persons other than themselves and two or three -station employes, methodically going about -their business.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>“Twelve freshmen. Mm-m-m. Where were -they to come from?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Ten of them from New York, or near New -York; two from Philadelphia,” Leila patiently -informed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Let’s move on.” Leslie had possessed herself -of the freshman’s other bag. She spoke -with a touch of impatience. “Too bad the -freshies didn’t arrive. Miss Remson will be disappointed. -She——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Is Miss Remson the registrar?” quizzed Miss -Ogden.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No-o.” Leslie could not repress a chuckle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why do you laugh?” The freshman’s tone -was decidedly nettled.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I beg your pardon,” Leslie apologized. “If -you knew Miss Remson as we do you would -comprehend the joke. She is the manager of -Wayland Hall, and——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going to live at Hamilton Hall,” Miss -Ogden interrupted. “I gave the Hamilton bulletin -a once-over, and decided that much, first -thing. From the picture of it, it looked far -more toppo to me than any of the other campus -houses; really swagger, you know. I’ve brought -myself up to believe in choosing the best, and -that the best is none too good for me.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER IX<br /> <br />THE MISSING TWELVE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>A moment of breathless silence followed -Jewel Marie Ogden’s confident statement. -Three pairs of eyes fixed themselves resolutely -upon the complacent freshman. The three astonished -post-graduates dared not so much as -glance at one another. Leila was the first of -the trio to command speech which should convey -no hint of the mirthful state of her feelings.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You have made a mistake about Hamilton -Hall,” she said in her direct fashion. “It is not -a campus boarding house. It contains only -President Matthews’ and the registrar’s offices, -and a number of recitation rooms.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh-h-h.” For the first time since her arrival -on the station platform the cocksure -stranger exhibited signs of confusion. Chagrin -swept a flood of red to her round cheeks. Instant -with it, she frowned, casting a suspicious -glance at Leila. “You are surely not trying to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>kid me, are you. It seems to me that as members -of the faculty, you should——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We are not trying to mislead you. Hamilton’s -upper classmen are above such things. -Furthermore, we are not members of the faculty. -We——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But you gave me the impression you were,” -flashed back the black-eyed girl half crossly. -“Why couldn’t you have said in the first——”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Pardon me. Permit me to finish what I had -begun to say to you.” The courteous dignity -of Leila’s tone checked the other’s discourteous -speech midway in utterance. “We are -post-graduates, and live at Wayland Hall, one -of the campus houses. We are always glad to -be of service, when we may, to entering freshmen. -You have evidently made a mistake regarding -Hamilton Hall. Perhaps we can help -you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; I’ve made a stupid mistake.” The -freshman pettishly shrugged her slim, green-clad -shoulders. She made no effort at explaining -her mistake to the nonplussed trio of would-be -helpers. After a tiny interval of frowning -hesitation she shot at them the brisk question: -“Which of the campus houses is the best; the -highest price, I mean; the one with the most -class to it, you know?”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>“So far as general excellence is concerned the -campus houses rank the same. Wayland Hall -is a trifle higher-priced than the others,” Leila -answered levelly, fighting back her own rising -desire to frown.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then I shall go there to live,” Jewel Marie -Ogden announced with a decisive wag of her -head. “Since <i>you</i> live there, you can tell me -all about it. I shall ask for a single, of course. -I simply can’t endure the thought of a roommate. -I had a single at Warburton. Do you -each have a single?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Miss Mason and Miss Harper room together. -I have a single.” Leslie’s politely immobile features -underwent a sudden purposeful tightening. -She had decided to “hand the annoying -freshman one” straight from the shoulder. -“There are no vacancies at Wayland Hall,” she -said. “I should advise you to go directly to -Hamilton Hall and explain your mistake to the -registrar. She may be able to secure you a -room, or at least half a room, in one of the other -campus houses.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I shall go to Wayland Hall first, and meet -your Miss Remson. I imagine I can persuade -her to make room for me there. I usually get -whatever I want, when I make up my mind to -go after it. It still lacks a week before the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>opening of college. A great many things may -have happened by then.” Miss Ogden’s self-confidence -had evidently returned with a rush.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We are all at your service to run you up to -the Hall.” This time it was Leslie who fought -back a frown. Never possessed of a goodly -stock of patience, she was already “fed up” with -Jewel Marie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You may take me to the campus in your car, -if you will be so kind,” was a gracious concession -on the part of the freshie which Leslie accepted -without enthusiasm.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Pleased to be of service to you,” she returned -briefly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Suppose we hurry along, then,” Vera suggested -good-naturedly, “then we won’t be late -to dinner. Too bad to keep Miss Remson waiting -while there are so few of us in the house.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Your friends are awfully nice, but I choose -to ride with you because I took a fancy to you,” -were the freshman’s first words as Leslie presently -started her roadster on the short run to -the campus.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’d hardly say that if you knew us better,” -Leslie replied a trifle coolly. “Miss Harper -is considered the cleverest student who ever -enrolled at Hamilton, and Miss Mason is tremendously -popular.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>“Really? How nice. I’m sure I appreciate -their interest in me.” The little girl’s glib reply -smacked of insincerity. “Still, it was <i>you</i> who -interested me most. You have an air about you. -You’re so awfully swagger. And your dress—pardon -me for mentioning it—it looks imported. -Do you send to Paris for your clothes? I suppose -you have been across often. You have <i>so -much</i> individuality. I was in Paris all summer. -I brought back acres of lovely clothes, -too. Did I guess right? Have you been abroad -often?” she inquired eagerly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Several times. Not as often as Miss Harper -has been, though.” Leslie found secret satisfaction -in her answer. “She comes from Ireland. -Her father’s estate there is one of the largest in -the country.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Ireland isn’t much of a country, though,” -was the freshman’s unimpressed opinion. “She -looks quite American.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes?” Leslie busied herself with her driving, -vouchsafing no other reply. She was thinking -that she would be better pleased to drop -Miss Ogden at the Hall than she had been to -meet her. She was not regretting the fact that -there were no vacancies at Wayland Hall.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Suppose I should be unable to secure a room -at Wayland Hall.” Jewell Marie had begun on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>a new tack. “In such case, I shouldn’t mind -rooming with you, if you would be willing to -take me as a roommate.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What?” Sheer surprise brought Leslie’s -pet ejaculation to her lips. She shot the car -forward with a sudden jolt by way of relieving -her feelings.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Have you a large room? Is it second, or -third floor; front or back?” quizzed the other -girl.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I—I—It would be impossible.” Leslie’s -voice held finality. “I prefer to room alone. In -the event that I should take a roommate, she -would be a certain particular friend of mine, a -senior, who also lives at the Hall. She is on her -way to the U. S. now from Paris. Half of her -room became vacant when her roommate left -college last June, but I believe she and another -senior have made arrangements to room together -this year.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m sorry you feel like that about it. At -Warburton the girls there were crazy to room -with me, but I felt then just about the way you -seem to feel in regard to taking a roommate. -Oh, never mind. I daresay I shall have no -trouble getting into Wayland Hall,” was the -lofty, half piqued assertion. “Of course, I may -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>not like the Hall. It will depend upon whether -it appeals to me or not.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The part of the country we are now passing -through is called Hamilton Estates.” Leslie -was glad of an opportunity to change the subject. -“We are coming to Hamilton Arms now. -It was the home of Brooke Hamilton. He -founded Hamilton College. His great-niece, -Miss Susanna Hamilton, still lives at the Arms.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Is that so? I recall seeing something about -Brooke Hamilton having founded the college in -the bulletin I sent for. I didn’t bother myself -about reading it. That sort of thing bores me -dreadfully.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then you are likely to be bored frequently -as a freshman at Hamilton.” Leslie spoke with -faint satire. “You will hear a great deal about -Brooke Hamilton on the campus, and see the -result of his steadfast work and genius at every -turn.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I shall let it go in one ear and out the other,” -Miss Ogden waved a dismissing hand. “I’m not -interested in the historical side of Hamilton -College. It’s the social side that appeals to -me. I’ve heard there were more millionaires’ -daughters enrolled at Hamilton than at any -other college for girls in the United States. Is -that true?” The bright black eyes of the freshman -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>fastened themselves eagerly upon Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Really, I couldn’t say. I have never stopped -to think about any such thing,” Leslie answered -rather brusquely.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But you must know most of the students at -Hamilton,” came insistently from the other girl.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I know the majority of the students at Wayland -Hall, but, with the exception of a few -friends, such as Miss Harper and Miss Mason, -I know little of their personal affairs, or financial -circumstances. The social side of Hamilton -is delightful, at the same time, it is decidedly -democratic. Cleverness, and initiative, count -for more at Hamilton than does money.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“That sounds awfully, well—dreadfully -prissy, and pokey. ‘True worth will win,’ and -‘Every day we are growing better, and better,’ -and all that sort of twaddle. One hears it generally -about most colleges, though.” Miss -Ogden’s shoulder-shrug was eloquent of her -contempt of such a state of affairs as Leslie had -briefly outlined to her. “I can tell in a few -days whether, or not, I’m going to like Hamilton. -If it doesn’t appeal to me I shall pick another -college.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Sight of the campus momentarily turned the -self-centered strange attention from her own -particular aims and ambitions. “It’s a bully -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>campus,” she exclaimed with some warmth. “It -has a lot of class.” As the roadster sped on toward -the entrance gates she continued to voice -approval of the majestic stretch of green, stately -Hamilton Hall, and its accompanying handsome -campus houses.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Neither Leila’s nor Vera’s car showed on the -drive leading up to Wayland Hall. Leslie -guessed that they had driven to the garage, -since they had preceded her on the return from -the station. It therefore became her duty to -escort Miss Ogden to the Hall, and there introduce -her to Miss Remson. Her responsibility -as one of the welcoming committee of the afternoon -would then cease, she was thankfully reflecting, -as she accompanied the diminutive -freshman up the steps.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Well, Leslie,” greeted the brisk little manager -as Leslie entered Miss Remson’s office with -her afternoon “catch,” “you are back from the -station in good season. I delayed serving dinner -on account of the arriving freshmen.” She -rose from her desk chair and stepped forward, -smiling at the new arrival in her kindly fashion.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“They never arrived, Miss Remson,” Leslie -said. “This is Miss Ogden, also a freshman. -She came in on the five-fifty, and we promptly -captured her. The freshie twelve we went down -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>there to meet must either have missed the train, -or else changed their plans. At any rate, they -failed to appear. Miss Ogden would like to talk -with you about securing a room at the Hall. -You will pardon me, Miss Ogden, if I leave you -now. I will see you again at dinner, or else, -afterward.” Leslie bowed to the freshman and -made a quick escape from the office.</p> - -<p class='c006'>She went out on the veranda, there to await -the coming of Leila and Vera from the garage. -Her own car she had decided to leave parked -on the drive in case she wished to go for an -after-dinner spin. She dropped into one of the -big porch chairs with an audible sigh of relief, -mentally characterizing Jewel Marie Ogden as -a “Razzberry.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Where is she? What have you done with -her?” Vera Mason’s voice, low, and suspiciously -near laughter, suddenly interrupted the mental -analysis of the pert little freshie which Leslie -was endeavoring to make.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What?” she raised a surprised head from -the hand that cupped her chin. “Where did you -blow from? I never even heard you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, we came cross-lots, and then around the -corner of the house. Where is she, Leslie?” -Vera repeated, eyes roving toward the opened, -screened door.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>“In there, having a go with Miss Remson.” -Leslie jerked her head toward the manager’s -office, the beginning of her slow smile on her -lips. “I introduced her to Miss Remson, then -fled.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I should say so.” Vera’s small hands spread -themselves in a gesture of comic hopelessness. -“She’s a positive curiosity. I never before met -another girl quite like her. What a find she -would have been for a crowd of mischievous -sophs. She surely would have read of herself -afterward in the grind book. I didn’t dare look -at either of you girls while she was talking to -us.” Vera dropped, laughing, into a convenient -rocker.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She was lucky to have been met by three -staid, old persons like us,” was Leila’s humorous -opinion. “I am still full of pride and vainglory -at having been taken for one of the faculty. -And Miss Remson has yet to hear that -she was guessed to be the registrar. But for -the life of me, I cannot understand why Jewel -Marie, and grant me, that is some name, should -have made such a ridiculous mistake about -Hamilton Hall. I do not understand the girl at -all, and I have often thought myself an Irish -lady of some understanding.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What I can’t understand is this. As a graduate -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>of prep school she should be thoroughly -familiar with college conditions. Hamilton -Hall is sufficiently described in the Hamilton -bulletin so as to differentiate it from the other -campus houses. I simply couldn’t feel sympathetic -with her when she admitted she had made -a stupid mistake.” Vera made honest confession. -“She had been so—so—well disagreeably -inquisitive and self-centered. It’s not charitable -to discuss her, even to you two, who saw -her as I saw her, but——” Vera paused with a -helpless little shrug.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Her present manners will not carry her far -at Hamilton, provided she should enroll here. I -have my doubts whether she knows her own -mind about it, and I have further doubts that -she will be able to secure even half a room on -the campus. It is a foregone conclusion that she -will scorn the dormitory,” Leila predicted. -“What was your opinion of her, Leslie?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“A human interrogation point,” Leslie said -laconically, then laughed. “Her college ideals -seem to be about on a par with those of the -Sans. Somehow, I felt sorry for her. If she -stays at Hamilton she will gather some violent -jolts. She’s far from stupid, but she’s a young -vandal; her own worst enemy.” Leslie had decided -against repeating, even to Leila and Vera, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>the conversation which she had held with the -freshman on the way to the campus. It had -been in her opinion, too trivial for repetition. -She had already summed up Miss Ogden in her -own mind as a social climber, ill-bred, and altogether -too self-assertive. She had known -plenty of such girls in the old days, when she, -also, had been a law unto herself. “Jewel Marie -has come to the right place to learn—about herself,” -Leslie paused briefly, then went on. -“She’s awfully sure she knows herself now, but -she’s going to find out differently, if she sticks -here at Hamilton.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What happened to the twelve freshies, I -wonder?” Leila commented irrelevantly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, they’ll probably bob up tomorrow. Let’s -go to dinner. I’m hungry, in spite of our bitter -disappointment,” Vera declared facetiously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, we’d best beat it for the dining room. -Miss Remson kept the dinner back on their account. -It must be on now.” Leslie rose from -the porch rocker. Her gaze straying idly toward -Hamilton pike she gave vent to a quick exclamation. -“Look,” she cried, pointing toward -the pike. “Some little gas party stirring.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>A long line of automobiles had appeared on -the pike, coming from the direction of Hamilton -Estates, moving in a slow procession past -<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>the stone wall of the campus. While Hamilton -Pike was a much traveled road for motorists, -the line of cars moving along in slow succession -was an unusual sight.</p> - -<p class='c006'>A united exclamation ascended from the three -post-graduates as the smart black roadster, -leading the van, turned in at the campus gateway.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now what do you suppose that procession -means?” Vera had clasped her small hands together -in astonishment.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Search me. The driver of the head car -doesn’t seem to know quite where she’s bound -for.” Leslie had focussed her gaze upon the -girl driver of the first car in the line. The latter -had brought her roadster to a slow stop on the -drive a few yards from the gateway, as she -turned to address, over one shoulder, the solitary -occupant in the tonneau of the machine. -The high treble of her tones was carried to the -three watchers on the veranda, though they -could not understand what she was saying.</p> - -<p class='c006'>A moment’s further pause, then the roadster -moved forward again, arriving on the main -drive at the point where it diverged into its -several approaches to the campus houses. The -driver of the roadster headed into the Wayland -Hall drive, slowing down to a quick stop at the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>edge of the broad graveled space in front of -the Hall.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve guessed the answer,” Leslie said in an -excited undertone. “I’ve counted the cars in -that line. There are twelve buzz-buggies. The -freshies have arrived, the missing twelve are -on the job at last.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER X<br /> <br />DANGER AHEAD</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“This is Wayland Hall, is it not?” The -driver of the head automobile had now sprung -from the roadster and was advancing toward -the veranda steps. She was a tall girl, gracefully -slender in her smart tan motor coat, with -straight, well-cut features and large flashing -dark eyes. From under her small tan motor hat -her hair showed jet-black and silky, contrasting -sharply with the healthy pallor of her oval face. -Her tone, indifferently impersonal, was such as -she might have used in addressing a traffic officer, -or other guardian of public service.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Good evening. Yes, this is Wayland Hall,” -Vera’s courteous intonation contrasted sharply -with the stranger’s almost imperious manner -of speaking.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Thank you.” The girl in tan turned abruptly -away from the steps and hurried back -to the roadster. She paused at one of the tonneau -doors for an instant’s conversation with -the, as yet unseen, occupant within the car, then -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>went on to the next car where she paused again -for a word with its driver.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What shall we do, flee, or make a stand and -greet our little freshie sisters?” Vera murmured.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You have me there.” Leila cast a comically -apprehensive glance toward the line of cars, -now stretching most of the way down the drive. -“It is one thing to welcome a freshie at the station, -but quite another to extend the hand of -welcome from the veranda. And, if the other -eleven should prove like this first haughty lady, -with the flashing black eyes and an imperial air, -there will be little need of our kind offices,” -Leila ended a trifle satirically.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You got it, did you? So did I,” Leslie said -half grimly. “I hate to hang out on the veranda -and run the risk of being classed as a mutt -by this freshie legion. Somehow, I feel something -like that coming our way. On the other -hand, we’re P. G’s., trying to live up to Hamilton’s -first tradition. Let’s stick it out, and see -what happens.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll go and tell Miss Remson they’ve arrived. -I’ll be back in a minute.” Vera flitted -into the house to find Miss Remson.</p> - -<p class='c006'>From the head car an elderly woman, white-haired -and smartly dressed, had now emerged. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>Immediately she began to busy herself with a -goodly quantity of luggage which she began removing, -piece by piece, from the back of the -car. Leslie watched her shrewdly, for a moment, -then muttered to Leila, “She’s the chaperon, -on the order of Gaylord, you know. Wait -and see if I haven’t said it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila nodded. “Here they come,” she said -softly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The luggage-laden occupants of the line of -cars were now on the way to the veranda of the -Hall led by the tall dark girl whose high animated -tones could be clearly heard above the -voices of her companions.</p> - -<p class='c006'>In the same moment Miss Remson came out -upon the veranda with Vera, an expression of -surprise in her kind blue eyes. “I never thought -of them as arriving by automobile,” she was -saying to Vera. “A good thing I held dinner -back for them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Before Vera could make reply the first three -of the luggage-burdened group of travelers had -reached the veranda. The trio consisted of the -tall, dark girl, the elderly woman and a very -blonde stout girl wearing eye-glasses.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Where can I find the manager of the Hall, -Miss—— What is her name, Mrs. Weatherly?” -The tall dark girl turned rather impatiently to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>her elderly companion. “Really, I have forgotten -it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Miss Remson, I believe,” supplied the gray-haired -woman in a politely expressionless tone. -“Don’t you recall, Miss Norris, that I—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Where can I find Miss Remson?” The tall -girl paid no heed to the half-formed question -on her companion’s lips. She had instead addressed -herself to Leila who chanced to be sitting -nearest to her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I am Miss Remson.” The little manager -stepped forward to meet the newcomers as they -gained the veranda floor.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, are you? I am Miss Norris. This is -Mrs. Weatherly, our chaperon. We made the -trip here from New York by motor instead of -by train. We would have arrived earlier except -for a provoking tire blow-out on one of our machines. -I hope our rooms are in readiness for -us. We are really quite fagged from the trip. -And, may we have dinner? Perhaps your maids -might help us with our luggage.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Miss Norris deposited the two leather bags -she carried upon the veranda floor. She did not -offer a hand to Miss Remson, apparently not -seeing the hand the manager had already half -extended.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Ignoring the girl’s half arrogant attitude, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>Miss Remson’s fund of old-fashioned courtesy -did not desert her. “I am glad to welcome you -to Wayland Hall, Miss Norris,” she said, bowing -an acknowledgment of the girl’s introduction -to the chaperon, Mrs. Weatherly. “You -will find your rooms ready; satisfactory, also I -trust. Dinner has not yet been served. I had -expected you by train. Dinner was therefore -held back on account of your expected arrival. -Miss Harper, Miss Mason and Miss Cairns, -Hamilton post-graduates, drove down to the station -to welcome you. They reported to me the -fact of your non-arrival by train.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Miss Remson proceeded in her brisk manner -to introduce Miss Norris and Mrs. Weatherly -to the three P. G’s. without giving the haughty -freshman the opportunity of immediate answer -to her own pleasant, but dignified reply.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Pleased to meet you,” Miss Norris’s smiling, -careless nod to each of the three P. G’s. in turn -was indicative of the precise amount of pleasure -she derived from the meeting. Nor did she -offer a hand to them. “So kind in you to go to -the station. Thank you for thinking of us.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are welcome,” Leila became spokesman, -her tone formal, rather than friendly. She was -not fond of being patronized. Miss Norris’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>glance wavered a trifle as she met the steady -light of the Irish girl’s blue eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; it was certainly very sweet in you,” she -hastily amended, then turned to Miss Remson -with: “We should like to see our rooms before -we have dinner.” She made no attempt to introduce -the stout girl beside her to the three -P. G’s.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The bevy of freshmen behind her were paying -small attention to their leader’s conversation -with Miss Remson. They were evidently -satisfied with their leader’s method of management. -A low-toned buzz of conversation was -going on among them, punctuated by frequent -gusts of laughter.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Come on, girls.” Miss Norris waved a beckoning -arm to the buzzing group at the foot of -the veranda steps. With a condescending smile -and nod to the three P. G’s. she and her two -companions followed Miss Remson into the -house. Mrs. Weatherly also bowed to them, -pleasantly, and with a curious expression almost -of appeal on her plump features. The blonde girl -showed not the slightest interest in them as she -moved stolidly along beside Miss Norris.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Isn’t there a lift in the house?” was the last -the trio left on the veranda heard of Miss Norris, -as her voice floated back to them from the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>reception hall. “At Edgely Manor each campus -house has—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Edgely Manor! Humph,” Leslie’s subdued -ejaculation held a degree of light contempt. “So -that’s what it’s all about. We may as well -check out on this particular crowd of freshies, -and be helpful to them by giving them a good -letting-alone.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Tell us about Edgely Manor, wise Leslie,” -begged Vera amusedly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Speak no word of it until we are in the dining -room. Did I not hear you say you were -hungry, Midget? I am that hungry myself, and -that in spite of having been well snubbed,” Leila -had dropped into colloquial Celticism. “It’s -sadly hurt I should feel. Now why do I smile?” -Her strong features were full of laughing -amusement.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“One can’t take a flock of geese seriously,” -Leslie answered.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Not unless the whole flock comes hissing at -once,” laughed Vera as they entered the house.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Even then they are not dangerous, if one -turns on them,” Leila declared contemptuously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>As the three P. G’s. crossed the hall on their -way to the dining room they glimpsed the last -of the procession of freshmen rounding the -corner at the head of the staircase.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>“They came, they saw, and they’re now safe -in port. Why worry about them?” Leslie murmured -satirically.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I was wondering how you were going to end -that time-worn quotation,” was Leila’s sly rejoinder.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Well, I couldn’t say ‘they conquered,’ for -they haven’t, and I had to say something,” Leslie -defended with a grin.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You remind me of an Irish woman on our -estate who once said very impressively to me, -‘You may be knowin’ Miss Leila, that a watched -pot never yet set the world on fire,’” Leila -chuckled.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Laughing, the trio entered the long pleasant -dining room to find it occupied, thus far, by -only three students. Miss Duncan, the freshman -of the previous year who had passed a -perfect entrance examination which had entitled -her to the “Brooke Hamilton honor room” at -the Hall, had returned early to college in order -to tutor such students as might desire her services. -Miss Ryan and Miss Keller, sophs of the -previous year, had also returned to take up -their junior estate at Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now,” Leslie began as the three friends -seated themselves at their table, “I’ll tell you -about Edgely Manor. Described in a few words, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>it’s a precious pet knowledge shop. It’s supposedly -a prep school to college, but it’s really -more on the order of a fashionable boarding -school. The majority of the girls who enroll -there are the daughters of society folks. Miss -Tremaine, who is at the head of the school, is -an outrageous snob. As a consequence, the -Edgely Manor girls have an inflated opinion of -themselves. I know this to be true, for my father -picked the Manor for me as a prep school. I -started in there, and managed to stand Miss -Tremaine and her precious pets for two months. -One Saturday afternoon I took a run into New -York, and home. I’d had enough of the Manor. -I balked, and wouldn’t go back. Peter the Great -had to find another school for me. I met Natalie -Wyman at the new school, and liked her. -I hadn’t liked a single girl at the Manor. Nat -was a frightful snob, and I developed snobbish -tendencies from chumming with her. I know -now that I wasn’t ever a snob at heart. I was -a democrat, like my father. If I hadn’t been, I -could never have climbed out of the pit I’d dug -for myself. You girls remember the way the -Sans ran things during their freshman year at -Hamilton.” Leslie fixed her dark eyes soberly -upon Leila.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I am not likely to forget it,” Leila made -<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>honest reply. “I was strongly tempted not to -come back to Hamilton the second year on that -very account. It was love of Hamilton College, -and all it stood for, that brought me back to it -again as a soph. Then Marjorie came, Beauty -set her good little feet on the campus, and you -know the rest.” A gleam of sentiment shone in -Leila’s eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, I know the rest,” Leila nodded slowly. -“Seeing this crowd of girls today brought back -memory of the Sans. In this Miss Norris I saw -myself again, leading my crowd, and behaving -like a villain. You know what a lot of trouble -I managed to stir up, at the Hall, and on the -campus. I have a hunch that history is going -to repeat itself; not on the campus. The battle -for democracy has been fought and won there, -thanks to Marjorie and you girls who stood by -her so faithfully. Here at the Hall—look out.” -Leslie laughed in her odd noiseless way. “Whatever -starts here, I shall take a hand in. Because -of the flivver I made five years ago I’m going to -fight as hard for democracy this year as I once -fought against it.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XI<br /> <br />THE INTRUDER</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>The three P. G’s. were beginning their dessert -when the freshman invasion upon the dining -room occurred. The belated twelve, seen -without motor coats and hats, were an attractive-looking -lot of girls, smartly dressed to a -degree. Assigned seats at table by Miss Remson, -who had conducted the newcomers to the -dining room, they made considerable noise in -the way of talk and laughter, calling back and -forth to one another across the three tables -which seated them, precisely as though they -might have been the only occupants of the dining -room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What’s overtaken their chaperon, I wonder?” -Leslie surveyed the chattering group of -diners with an enigmatic face.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Where is Jewel Marie?” counter-questioned -Vera.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Maybe taxi-cabbing it back to Hamilton -town,” Leslie said ruminatively. “I left her -to learn her fate from Miss Remson. She -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>wouldn’t take my word for it, that the Hall was -full up to the last half room. I still feel sorry -for her, somehow, thinking her over after having -thankfully passed her on to Miss Remson.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Neither Mrs. Weatherly, nor Miss Ogden -made an appearance in the dining room before -Leila, Vera and Leslie had finished dessert.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Want to go for a ride with me?” Leslie invited -as the three went upstairs, bound for their -rooms.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We can’t. We’ve been shamefully lazy since -we came to the Hall. Neither of us are more -than half unpacked. We made each other a -solemn promise to do the job up brown before -going bye-bye tonight,” Vera said with a sigh.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And we are persons of our word. You know -just how it will be if we keep putting off unpacking. -We shall be flitting gaily about, here, -and there, with our friends descending hungrily -upon us, and our poor possessions still in a -fine muddle. ‘Take time by the forelock.’ So -we shall firmly grab the forelock, and give it -a strenuous jerk,” Leila finished with energy.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Go to it! Attaboy! Maybe I’ll see you later; -maybe not.” Leslie left the industry-declared -pair at the door of her room. The door closed, -she went over to a wicker chair beside one of -the windows, meditatively seating herself. She -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>was wishing that the inquisitive little freshie -she had brought to the Hall from the station -had not proposed herself as a roommate to her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nope I can’t see it that way,” she presently -said aloud. “There’s no reason why I should. -Miss Remson would back me up in that.” Her -eyes roved about the luxuriously-appointed -room, a gleam of pride in their dark depths. -“Some room,” she nodded, with a sigh of satisfaction. -She smiled a little, anticipating Marjorie’s -friendly delight at the beauty of her -“den.” “I’ll have a ‘den-warming’ next week -for the Travelers,” she murmured.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Thought of Marjorie, and her smile vanished -gradually, leaving her rugged features darkly -overcast. Marjorie, to whom she owed the -change of heart which had brought her nothing -except happiness, Leslie regarded as a guiding -spirit. Given the same circumstances, it had -now occurred to her to wonder what Marjorie -would do. She thereupon began arguing with -herself that even Marjorie might easily feel as -she felt about giving up the comfortable privacy -of a “single” to a stranger, merely because the -stranger in question had set her mind upon living -at Wayland Hall. Yet, in her heart, she -misdoubted the strength of her own argument.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“‘Remember the stranger within the gates,’” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>was the final pertinent fling of her mind at her -as she left her room and went soberly down the -stairs. She was tempted to stop in Miss Remson’s -office, there to inquire what had become of -her freshman “catch.” She went on out of the -house instead, deciding to seek the manager on -her return from the ride.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie walked past the long line of cars, temporarily -deserted by their owners, glad that she -had parked her own roadster sufficiently near -enough to the gates so as to escape the string -of automobiles which extended within a few -yards of it. Her knowledge of motor cars informed -her that the cars she had passed were -the latest models of the most expensive types. -Her own roadster, exceptionally trim-lined, was -no better than those of the freshman twelve.</p> - -<p class='c006'>She was soon speeding along Hamilton Pike, -the fresh-blowing evening breeze in her face, the -swift rush of the fleeing car filling her with -contented exhilaration. Speeding through Hamilton -Estates she glimpsed the lights of Travelers’ -Rest and Hamilton Arms, happy in the -knowledge that she would be welcome at either -of the stately homes, should she choose to stop. -Carden Hedge, back among the great trees, -shadowed of outline in the growing dusk, would -soon be twinkling with lights. Home was not -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>far off. Her heart beat faster at the thought. -Once she had hated the very name of Hamilton. -Now it was everything to her. Lost in blissful -musing, the half sympathetic concern she had -felt for the odd little freshman faded temporarily -from her mind. Nor did it return until -she had driven past the college gates on her way -to the garage.</p> - -<p class='c006'>At the garage she found the proprietor, a -short, stout man with a troubled expression, -grumbling roundly at the strange ways of “them -young ladies from the college.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You should worry. Think of the business -you’re doing,” Leslie humorously reminded. She -had noted at first glance the cars of the twelve -freshmen, arranged in a double row at the back -of the roomy garage.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’d as lief them girls that was just here -would take their cars some place else,” he asserted -half belligerently. “They wasn’t like -you, Miss Cairns, and Miss Harper and Miss -Mason, and all them young ladies you go around -with. I ain’t no time for fussers, people that -treat me ’s if I was the dirt under their feet. -I told one girl, straight out, ‘I ain’t goin’ to lose -no sleep, you see, if you want to take your cars -t’some other garage. There’s a couple more -up the next street, south of the campus.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>“Better luck tomorrow, Mr. Symes. Those -girls were tired out tonight. They drove to -Hamilton from New York.” Leslie felt impelled -to put in a good word for the absent freshmen.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’ll take more’n a night’s rest to reform -that snippy bunch,” was the proprietor’s displeased -prediction, the probable truth of which -Leslie could scarcely doubt.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Returned to the Hall she poked her head in at -the half-open door of the manager’s office with -a jesting, “No ‘Busy’ sign in sight. May I come -in?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Of course you may.” Miss Remson looked -up smilingly from the cloth-bound, ledger-like -book over which she had been poring. Leslie -recognized it at a glance as the manager’s -“Room” book. In it she kept a register of the -names of students living at the Hall, together -with the numbers of the rooms and such other -data as her position of manager demanded.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I am sorry for that little Miss Ogden, Leslie,” -she began in low tones as Leslie sat down -in a chair near her. “She seems nothing but a -child, in spite of her self-assertive manner. She -has set her heart upon living at Wayland Hall, -and I have nothing to offer her in the way of a -room. I’ve permitted her to use Miss Finch’s -and Miss Peters’ room over night. Neither of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>them will be here until next Wednesday. She -has told me that she is an orphan, and must look -out for herself. She has given me as a reference -Miss Sarah Arthur, Dean of Warburton -Preparatory School for girls. She informed me -with a ridiculous air of childish pride that she -had plenty of money, could afford to take the -best room at the Hall, provided she could secure -it. She is nineteen, and, it seems, has no -legal guardian. She was very frank with me -in some respects, and decidedly secretive in -others. She is really something of an enigma. -I could only advise her to go to the managers -of the other campus houses tomorrow and try -her luck with them. It is possible she might -find a vacancy in one of the other campus -houses. I understand the dormitory has been -completely filled. She is set against it, however. -She is determined to find board on the -campus.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She applied to me on the way from the station -for half of my room,” Leslie said with a -touch of humor. “I told her ‘No.’ Afterward, -I wondered if it were selfish in me to refuse her. -Do you think it was?” Leslie regarded Miss -Remson with sudden gloomy gravity.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No, Leslie: I do not,” was Miss Remson’s -prompt reply. “Since you do not desire a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>roommate, you are under no obligation of kindness -to alter your own arrangements on Miss -Ogden’s behalf. The Hamilton bulletin, which -she admits she wrote for and received, plainly -states that arrangements for rooms must be -made beforehand, and by letter, by those desiring -board at the campus houses. This young -girl’s failure to be business-like in the matter -hardly calls for such a sacrifice on your part -as she has asked you to make.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She proudly informed us at the station that -she expected to board at Hamilton Hall.” Leslie’s -features lifted in a faint grin. “We had -to explain matters to her. Then she said she’d -made a stupid mistake, but she failed to enlighten -us as to how she happened to make it. -We found her more or less of a Chinese puzzle.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She said nothing to me of having made such -a mistake.” Miss Remson showed half smiling -surprise. “How came she to make it, I wonder?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Hard to say. Maybe she only gave the bulletin -a once-over, then threw it away,” was Leslie’s -half jesting theory.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“A plausible guess.” Miss Remson’s eyes -twinkled. “Well, I have done the best I can for -her, poor child. I hope she will be able to find -campus accommodations. Did you see her again -at dinner? I lost track of her after I had shown -<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>her to Room Fourteen. I had my hands full with -that crowd of freshmen. I grew quite out of -patience with Miss Norris. She ordered me -about as though I were a maid. A very arrogant -young woman. Her treatment of Mrs. -Weatherly, the chaperon, was really insufferable.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What became of the chaperon? I didn’t see -her at dinner,” Leslie asked with a touch of -curiosity.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She saw her charges safely into the Hall, -then telephoned for a taxicab to take her to the -station. She said she wished to catch the eighty -forty-five train to New York. I asked her to -remain to dinner, but she declined my invitation. -She complained of having a bad headache. -It was hardly to be wondered. From the way -her charges treated her, I judged her to be a -paid chaperon.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I think she was,” Leslie nodded her conviction -of the surmise. “Professional chaperons -are quite the go in New York among society -hounds. Papa is too busy playing the market, -mamma, auntie and big sister can’t leave the -social whirl. Enter the long-suffering chaperon. -All on account of daughter, who regards -her as a tiresome necessity, and bosses her to a -standstill. I know. I used to boss poor Mrs. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>Gaylord unmercifully. I’ll say Mrs. Weatherly -must have been glad to see the station taxi at -the door.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I hope you won’t mind my saying it, Leslie, -but these New York freshmen seem to me perilously -like the Sans,” the manager observed -soberly. “Perhaps I formed the impression -simply because they came to the Hall together -in a seemingly chummy crowd. They may turn -out to be of an entirely different sort. Miss -Norris was the only one among them who annoyed -me.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“They reminded me of the Sans in some respects,” -Leslie replied after a moment of reflective -silence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Deliver me from any more such experiences -as I had with the Sans.” The little manager -raised her hands in a prohibitive gesture.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I will. I promise faithfully to deliver you -from this freshie aggregation, if they should -start any trouble.” Leslie laughed, but there -was a ring of resolution in her words. She rose -with: “I must go upstairs and write to Peter -the Great. He’ll be leaving London soon for -home, and I’d like him to have one more letter -from me before he sails. Don’t lose any sleep -over the freshie invasion. Just leave it to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>Leila, Vera and me to keep the democracy plant -growing at the Hall.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Thank you, my dear. I shan’t run out to -meet calamity. Speaking of democracy reminds -me of Marjorie. When did you last see her? I -have been looking for a visit from her. I was -so sorry I couldn’t attend Jerry’s wedding. I’ve -not seen Marjorie since her return from Sanford. -Tell her, when you see her again, to come -over soon.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going over to Travelers’ Rest tomorrow. -I’ll bring her back with me, if I can. She and -Miss Susanna have begun re-arranging Mr. -Brooke’s library, and they are not yet through -with the job. Good night, Miss Remson.” Leslie -was now at the door.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Good night, Leslie.” The manager nodded -affectionately to the girl who had once been a -sore trial to her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie went slowly up the stairs and down the -hall toward her room, overtaken by a sudden -sense of loneliness. She missed Doris Monroe. -“Goldie,” as Leslie liked to call Doris, was always -a good pal. Too, she missed the merry -camaraderie of the Sanford group of girls now -scattered to the four winds. Of them, Marjorie -and Lucy still remained to her, but Lucy was -staying with Lillian Wenderblatt for a few days -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>before the opening of college, and Marjorie was -still deep in love’s young dream. Vera and -Leila had turned industrious for the evening. -She wouldn’t “butt in” upon them. Leslie sighed -faintly as her hand closed on the knob of her -door. Remembering the letter she must write, -she brightened, shook off her wistful mood and -opened her door with an energetic swing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>She was about to close it when the sound of -a sob broke upon the dark stillness of her room. -Slightly startled, her fingers found the light -switch at the left of the door casing. Came a -flood of light—</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What?” Leslie’s favorite ejaculation fell -from her lips. Inquiry, not displeasure, was in -the glance she turned upon the small weeping -figure, huddled on the floor beside one of the -windows. Advancing toward it she said not ungently, -“What’s the trouble?”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XII<br /> <br />A LITTLE SOCIAL CLIMBER</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>The black curly head of the sobbing intruder -slowly raised itself from her arms at Leslie’s -inquiry. The expression of the round, tear-stained -face she turned toward Leslie was a -mixture of shame, defiance and appeal.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I know I’ve no business to be here,” she -quavered half apologetically. “I mean like this.” -Steadying her voice, she went on with: “I -knocked on your door. It was open a little. -When I knocked it opened wider. Then I saw -there was no one in here. I thought perhaps -you’d be back soon, and wouldn’t mind if I -waited for you. I just had to see you I feel so-o -ba-d-d.” The words ended in a mournful child-like -wail. The girl’s black curly head went down -again upon her arms.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t cry. Buck up, and get up,” advised -Leslie tersely. “Have a chair, then go ahead -and spill your troubles.” She already had a -shrewd idea of the nature of Jewel Marie Ogden’s -business with her.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>She waited until the downcast freshman had -risen from the floor, to slump dejectedly into -the depths of a broad-armed wicker chair, then -she seated herself in a chair directly opposite -that of the other girl.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now, go ahead,” she directed cheerfully. -“I’m listening.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I can’t find a room, or even half a room, on -the campus,” burst out little Miss Ogden. “Miss -Remson told me to go tomorrow to see the managers -of the other campus houses, but I went -tonight. I couldn’t bear to wait till tomorrow. -I was afraid I might miss the chance of getting -a room. It was no use.” She shook a disconsolate -head. “None of them had a single vacancy. -I don’t want to leave—Hamilton—I—want—to—” -she faltered, her red lips again beginning -to quiver.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why don’t you try one of the boarding -houses off the campus?” Leslie had decided that -there was no use in reminding the downcast -freshman that she alone was responsible for -her present disappointment. “I know of two -that are up to the campus houses in excellence. -The dormitory has even better accommodations -than the campus houses, but I’ll say it is probably -full to overflowing.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No, no,” came the positive answer, “I must -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>be on the campus, or else go away from here. I -hate the very thought of a dormitory. Nothing—I -mean, not for me,” the little girl hastily -objected.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie noted the hasty emendation with a -slight smile. She suspected that slang came far -easier to Miss Ogden than the “side” she had -put on at the station.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I have a reason, a very strong reason, for -wishing to live on the campus,” Miss Ogden -began again eagerly, “I can’t bear to give up -hope. I came to your room to ask you if you -think there’d be any chance for me with the -senior you told me about. Is she surely going -to take a roommate?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes I know positively, because she is my -pal.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then why don’t you and she room together?” -The freshman’s face brightened. “If -you should, then maybe the other girl and I -could—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No, you couldn’t,” Leslie interrupted patiently. -“Doris Monroe, the senior I mentioned -to you, is very fond of the girl she’s going to -room with. I like rooming alone. There; you -have it.” Leslie made an explanatory motion -of the hand. She suspected the little girl of -having designs upon her room, but of lacking -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>the final spurt of temerity to ask outright again -for a half of it.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I guess I’d best go.” Miss Ogden half rose -from the chair. Then she plumped down upon -it again, and began to cry. “I—wouldn’t you, -couldn’t you—Oh, I know you’ll—hate me—for -being so—so—nervy, but—if you’d only take—me—as -a—a—roommate for—for a while, maybe -I might be able to find—another room on the -campus—later. Truly, I’d try—not—to be a -bother, and to—to—find another room as soon -as I—could,” the tearful pleader wound up with -a long sobbing gurgle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie stared at her uninvited visitor, her immobile -features giving no clue to her racing -thoughts. She was tempted to comment with a -touch of good-natured satire: “No doubt about -your nerve.” Immediately the impulse died, and -her brain took up seriously the problem she was -facing. Should she, or should she not, consider -this stranger’s welfare, rather than her -own? A roommate would certainly not add to -her happiness. Fond as she was of Doris, they -got along much better in separate rooms. Her -own fault. Leslie refused to blame Doris for -what she was wont satirically to style as -“Cairns’ moods and tenses.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You can’t see me, at all, can you?” Hurt -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>pride at length steadied the freshman’s tone. -She pulled herself together and rose with a kind -of hopeless finality that caused Leslie a pang -of self-reproach.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No; I don’t,” she answered with blunt honesty, -“not yet, but I’m considering you as a -roommate. Don’t say a word.” She held up an -arresting hand. “Just sit tight. Let me think -things out.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh-h-h I—” Miss Ogden subsided meekly, -her black eyes fixed hopefully upon Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie began a thoughtful survey of the room, -her glance roving from one to another of its -luxurious appointments. “The chaise longue -will have to go. I’ll give it to Miss Remson,” -was her mental decision. “She’ll have to have -a day bed like mine, and a chiffonier. I won’t -give up my color scheme, though I <i>am</i> giving up -half my room. Good-bye to a happy life. Hard -luck, Cairns II. The dress closet’s large, thank -goodness. I can get along with half of it. We -can use the same dressing table. Hope she -hasn’t the mirror habit.” Aloud she said: “I’ve -considered. You may come in with me, if you -like. I’ll warn you, beforehand, I’m not always -sociable. I like to be let alone.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I won’t bother you a bit; truly I won’t. And -you’re sure you want—I mean, you’re willing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>I should come?” The other girl’s downcast features -had lost their doleful droop.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No; I’m not willing—yet, but I have a -heart.” Leslie’s slow smile appeared briefly. -“We’ll let it go at that. I’ll speak to Miss Remson -tomorrow about having a couch bed brought -in here, temporarily, for you.” She went on to -explain her plan for the re-arrangement of the -room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll pay for whatever furniture you are going -to buy on my account,” instantly proposed -the freshman. “I have lots of money. I’d love -to do it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie shook her head, “No; leave that part -to me. I have my own reasons for asking you -to do so. Perhaps, some day, I may ask you -to make me a promise on that very account.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll promise now to do whatever you may -ask me to do in the time to come.” There was -evident gratitude in the earnestly-spoken reply.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie eyed the little girl with new interest. -There seemed to be more to Jewel Marie that -might be likable than had at first appeared on -the surface. “Thank you,” she said simply.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“There’s something I’d like to tell you. I’d -not care to have anyone else on the campus -know it, though. It’s about myself—a secret. -No one at Warburton ever found it out—I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>mean—” came a pause. The freshman’s black -eyes were again focussed upon Leslie with -solemn intensity.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila’s jesting Celtic protest, “Tell me nothing,” -hovered behind Leslie’s lips. She did not -utter it, instead waited in silence for her visitor -to continue at will.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I believe I can trust you with my secret,” -the girl went on hurriedly. “It seems necessary -for me to tell you. You see, you don’t understand -me, at all. I tried to put on airs at the -station today, because—I’m not like that, really -I—” Again she came to an uncertain pause. -“Would you mind if I told you about myself?” -She was watching Leslie rather timidly, divining -the latter’s unflattering lack of curiosity regarding -her affairs.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No.” Leslie’s “No” was kindly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But you are not very keen about it, are -you?” persisted the freshman.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Forget it,” was the succinct advice. “Go ahead -with your story.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Well,” the little girl drew a long breath, “it’s -like this. Until I went to Warburton prep last -year, I’d always lived a different life from other -girls. At the station I spoke of Warburton as -though I’d started there as a freshman. I -hadn’t. I’d never been in any other school. I’d -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>always had a governess. I—I’m a child of the -circus.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What?” Leslie straightened with a sudden -interested jerk.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The child of a circus,” Jewel Marie repeated. -“I certainly gave you a jolt that time, now -didn’t I?” She broke into a little laugh.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes. You sound interesting. Go on,” Leslie -encouraged.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Have you ever heard of ‘Chiquita,’ the child -trapeze wonder?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Let me think. Have I?” Leslie considered -for a moment. “No,” she returned, “I haven’t. -I never cared much about circuses, even as a -child. With what circus did you travel?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“One called ‘Fernando’s Mammoth Shows.’ -That was a long time ago when I was six years -old. I’m nineteen now. My father, Harvey -Ogden, owned the show, in partnership with the -ringmaster, Fernando de Castro, a Spanish -Mexican. They used his name for the circus -because they liked it better than Ogden for circus -purposes. My mother was Spanish. She -was a star trapeze performer. She and my -father were married when she was seventeen.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Now started on the story she had longed to -confide to Leslie the narrator spoke in short dramatic -sentences. “I began working in the ring, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>doing acrobatic stunts when I was seven. By -the time I was ten I was doing a trapeze act -with my mother. We showed mostly in Mexico, -and in the southern part of the U. S. When I -was eleven we were caught in a flood. We were -showing in a town along the Mississippi River -when the flood came. It cleaned out the circus. -My father was drowned. My mother was saved, -but she contracted pneumonia, and died two -weeks later in a hospital. Fernando and his -wife, Fleurette, a bareback rider, and I were up -in the town shopping when the flood came. The -circus lot was near the river and a good deal -lower down than the rest of the town. Twenty-two -of our people, besides my father, were -drowned. It was terrible.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It must have been.” Leslie had assumed -her characteristic pose of elbow on chair, chin -in hand. She was leaning forward a trifle, a -sure indication of her sympathetic interest.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nandy, that’s what I always called him, and -Fleurette and I went to Mexico City after the -flood. My father and mother had left me quite -a lot of money, and Nandy had himself appointed -as my guardian. It was up to Nandy -and Fleurette to find another engagement, for -Nandy had put most of his money into the -circus, and lost it through the flood. I wanted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>to work, too, but none of us cared about going -back again to circus life. My parents had wished -me to become well-educated. Finally Nandy -thought out a trapeze act for Fleurette and me. -She was fine on the trapeze, too, and we went -into vaudeville, with Nandy as manager. We -toured the U. S. for three years, and made -plenty of money, for we were headliners. After -that we went to Europe and Nandy featured me -as ‘La Petite Oiseau.’ We stayed in Europe, -working, until last year. During all that time -I had a tutor, an English woman, Miss Jaffrey. -She was an awful frump, but she knew how to -tutor. She had a sister who was teaching -French at Warburton prep. She arranged for -me to go to school there, without letting the -dean know I was a professional. Nandy said -it wouldn’t do to let it be known at school that -I was a trapeze performer. While I was at Warburton, -Nandy took a job as manager of a -vaudeville house in Paris. Fleurette grew too -stout for fast trapeze work so she quit the business. -Nandy fixed me up a dandy solo act and -I worked, off and on, last summer at the Paris -house he was managing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I had to carry out my father’s and mother’s -wishes about going to college, so I wrote to half -a dozen colleges for bulletins. I picked Hamilton -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>College, but I lost the bulletin before I’d -more than hardly glanced at it. If Jaffrey’d -been with me she’d have written to Hamilton -and arranged everything for me, but she left -me when I went to Warburton. I meant to write -for another bulletin, but I hate to write letters, -so I let it go, thinking it would probably be as -easy to get a room on the campus as it would -be to get one in a hotel. I remembered something -about Hamilton Hall and made the mistake -of taking it for a campus house. Now you -understand what an idiot I was to make such a -silly mistake,” the little girl ended ruefully.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m understanding one thing,” Leslie leaned -forward, one hand extended, “you’re a clever -kid. You needn’t be ashamed of letting it be -known on the campus that you are a professional. -Why keep it a secret?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’d rather no one here, except you, knew -it,” the other girl exclaimed in quick alarm. -“You must promise me you won’t tell anyone -what I’ve told you—my story in confidence. -Promise me—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t worry. You may rest assured no one -will ever learn it from me,” Leslie interrupted. -“I give you my word. There’ll be no come-back.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Thank you. I <i>know</i> I can trust you.” Alarm -<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>slowly faded from the freshman’s worried features. -“There’s no disgrace in having been a -circus performer,” she went on after a moment’s -hesitation, her tone defensive. “The trouble is -this. Circus folks are mostly misunderstood by -the public at large. They aren’t low and ignorant -as is too often supposed, the performers, I -mean. They are sober, quiet, good-living people -who are obliged to take the best possible -care of themselves so as always to be in good -physical trim for their work, which is generally -dangerous. I’m not ashamed of my circus life, -or of my circus friends. It’s not that.” She -shook her black head almost vehemently. “It’s -only that I’ve said good-bye to that life. I shall -never again do professional trapeze work. Entering -Hamilton is the beginning of my new -life. I want to be like the girls are who come -from aristocratic families. I’m not. I understood -that much soon after I’d entered Warburton. -That was hot air, most of what I said -at the station—pretending I was somebody at -Warburton. I—I wasn’t. I knew only a few -girls—none of them belonged to the toppo social -gang that ran things there.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>A bright flush mantled the little girl’s round -cheeks as she made this confession. “I don’t -want to be a snob—never that, but I’d love to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>be what the circus crowd call ‘a fine lady.’ I’d -love to have poise and distinction; an air, you -know.” She crested her black head in an unconscious -imitation of her idea of aristocracy. -“<i>You</i> are like that. So are those two girls who -were with you at the station. The little girl -was so sweet, and had such lovely manners. I’m -going to try to be like her.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t try to be like anyone but yourself,” -Leslie advised emphatically. “Make your own -personality count. I don’t agree with you about -keeping your circus life a secret. Hamilton -used to be a snob shop, but not now. Cleverness -counts for more than money here. You’re -an artist in your line. The girls would go crazy -over your trapeze stunt, and you, if they knew -about you.” Leslie already had a managerial -eye upon the little girl for a vaudeville show -she and Leila were in process of planning as a -first offering at the Leila Harper Playhouse.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No, no.” There was active distress in the -refusal. “It wouldn’t do. Girls are queer. -They might pretend to admire me here on the -campus, then turn around and try to down me -because I’d been with a circus.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The upper class students wouldn’t—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But I’m a freshman,” cut in Miss Ogden, -“and I want to stand well with my own class. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>It might make a great difference. I saw that -crowd of freshmen who came to the Hall this -evening. They looked awfully toppo. I shouldn’t -care to have them know about my circus life. -I’d love to be friends with <i>them</i>. They certainly -showed class.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>A great light suddenly burst upon Leslie. So -that was the way things were with Jewel Marie. -There was nothing she felt privileged to offer -in the way of advice that the socially-ambitious -freshman might care to hear. She would have -to discover for herself that all was not gold that -glittered.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XIII<br /> <br />PLANNING POPULARITY</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“The freshman frolic is to be given next Saturday -evening in the gym. Miss Ferguson has -invited me to go. I understood her to say that -her roommate, Miss Waters, was going to invite -you. Have you seen her?” Stephanie Norris’s -voice betrayed no sign of pleasant interest -in the information she had just delivered to -her stout roommate, Laura Fisher. Laura, deep -in a novel, had not glanced up from it at her -chum’s entrance into the room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nope.” Laura did not raise her eyes from -her book.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Anything but a manless dance.” Stephanie -shrugged disdainfully as she walked to the -dressing table mirror and began a critical survey -of the attractive reflection it threw back -to her. Tall, and charmingly slender, the violet-gray -of her tailored cloth frock strikingly emphasized -the black of hair and eyes and the -clear, lovely pallor of skin.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>Stephanie turned petulantly away from the mirror -to frown at Laura.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Um-m-m,” Laura went on reading.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Will you please stop behaving like a dummy, -and listen to me?” Stephanie’s black eyes had -begun to flash ominously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Um-m-m,” Laura’s pale blue eyes lifted -themselves slowly from her book. Reaching a -hand into a conveniently-near box of nut chocolates -she carefully selected one, bit into it enjoyingly, -then drawled, “I’m listening.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Did you hear anything I said?” Stephanie -demanded crossly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Not much. You say such a lot, Steve, it’s -hard to keep track of your remarks. I heard -you say something about the freshman frolic, -and then something more—about a dummy,” -Laura paused, a glint of malice in her pale eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m really listening this time,” Laura interrupted -sweetly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are going to be invited to the frolic by -Miss Waters.” Stephanie had intended to tell -Laura that she was detestable. Policy warned -her to more impersonal speech. “Miss Ferguson -has invited me.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You don’t seem to be crazy over the honor,” -Laura fished for another chocolate.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>“I’m not,” Stephanie declared pettishly. -“Miss Ferguson is all right. I like her better -than I like the rest of this Wayland Hall crowd. -Hamilton is, and has been from the first, a disappointment -to me. But then—I never wanted -to come here.” She sank into a chair, frowning -moodily.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You didn’t?” Laura at last showed indication -of interest. “Then why in Pete’s name did -you make the gang think it was the only college -on the map?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Because—” Stephanie flushed, “I wanted the -gang with me,” she said lamely.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We’d have gone with you to Smith, or Bryn -Mawr—to any of the others you might have -picked. None of us were crazy about Hamilton. -We’d heard of it as a stiff-necked proposition, -all tied up with Brooke Hamilton traditions. -You said it led the rest socially; that it was a -college of millionaires’ daughters,” she finished -accusingly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“That’s true; about the millionaires’ daughters,” -Stephanie defended. “My father heard -that the wealthiest men in the U. S. favor Hamilton -as a college for their daughters. He was -determined I should enroll at Hamilton; not because -of that. He had another reason for -wishing me to come here; a stronger one.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>“What was it?” Laura was eyeing Stephanie -speculatively.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t know,” Stephanie confessed. “He -didn’t say he had, but—I understand my father, -when he’s set his mind upon some certain thing. -He talked to me very seriously about Hamilton. -He wants me to make a notable record for myself -here; win honors, you know, and make my -influence felt on the campus. He’s promised me -a diamond necklace next June if I succeed in -carrying out his ideas on the subject.” Stephanie’s -lowering features cleared themselves for -the moment.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Go to it.” There was a hint of indolent -satire in the stout girl’s tone. “What are you -going to do to start the noble influence ball to -rolling?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“How should I know?” Stephanie countered -irritably. “The very idea of it makes me weary. -I want the necklace. I know that much. I’ll have -to study the situation, and then try to hit the -high spots at the psychological moment.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It sounds easy. I wonder—” Laura made a -tantalizing pause.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t make fun of me,” Stephanie turned -upon her roommate with sudden fierceness of -tone. “It’s—it’s outrageous in Father to expect -any such thing of me, necklace or no necklace. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>I like to do as I please, without having to watch -my step all the time. I’ll have to see to it that -I make brilliant recitations. That means digging, -when I’m longing to be out in my car. I’ll -have to make myself popular with the girls that -count as powers on the campus. That will be a -frightfully tiresome task. I’m going to entertain -a good deal. Father has doubled my allowance. -I shall pick the best sorority, and try to -make it, and go in for dramatics and sports.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Good-bye, in case I shouldn’t see you again,” -Laura crunched a chocolate almond, smiling at -Stephanie out of half-closed eyes. “You’re going -to be <i>so</i> busy.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, stop trying to be funny. You can help -me a lot if you choose. You can keep the rest of -our gang in line to help me, too. Only they -mustn’t be let into the real reason why. It -wouldn’t do. I can trust you. I’m not so sure -of the others. Through one, or another of them, -my plan would leak out on the campus, and -make not only myself, but my father, too, seem -ridiculous. You are so clever. You can pick -up bits of campus news from the students without -them suspecting they are being pumped. -Then I’ll know exactly how I stand at all times, -and can act accordingly. You’ll be something -<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>on the order of a prime minister to me.” Stephanie -had now become flatteringly appealing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, I can wind the girls around my finger,” -Laura conceded confidently. “Only they never -suspect they’re being wound. You get the -credit as leader, while I do the managing. -You’re in luck, Steve, to have me around. Do -you get that?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, I know it.” Stephanie had changed to -sweetly grateful. Laura’s boast, made in significant -assurance, called for sugar on her part. -“You’re quite wonderful, dear,” she continued -purringly. “What do you think we ought to -do first?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Get on the good side of those three high -and mighty P. G.’s,” Laura made instant reply. -“I’ve been finding out a few things on the -campus about them. We made a mistake the -day we came to the Hall in snubbing them when -they tried to be friendly.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I didn’t care to be patronized by them,” -Stephanie cut in coldly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“They weren’t trying to patronize us. I told -you so then, didn’t I?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, but I—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You wouldn’t believe that I knew what I -was talking about. And the moral to that, my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>dear, is—they’ve given us a fine letting-alone -ever since.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, I don’t know.” Sheer stubbornness -prompted Stephanie to contest her chum’s triumphant -statement. “I imagine it’s only because -they’ve been busy with their own affairs -that we’ve seen so little of them. Half the time -they’re away from meals. We’ve merely kept -to ourselves which is—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Another mistake we’ve made,” Laura supplemented -with curt conviction. “It has cut -us off from finding out things about them, and -also about this confoundedly high-brow institution -of learning.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Rubbish. I’ve heard too much about it already.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And about <i>them</i>?” Laura persisted coolly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Well; I’ve asked Miss Ferguson about them. -She has no time for them, though she is too well-bred -to say it outright. When I spoke to her -about the station business, and about having -met them she said in the sweetest way that she -hardly knew them, and would prefer not to discuss -them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Naturally; don’t doubt it,” Laura commented -with lazy sarcasm.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What do you mean?” Stephanie questioned -in a sharp tone.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>“Just what I say. She has good reason for -pretending to mind her own business. I happen -to know <i>that</i> much about her.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What do you mean?” Stephanie repeated, -eyeing her roommate narrowly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, I heard a few little things about Miss -Ferguson the other day. For one thing, she is -a trouble-maker. She tried to start trouble, it -seems, last year at the Hall for Miss Cairns. -I don’t know why. I’m going to find out, though. -Anyway, she didn’t get away with it. Miss -Remson, and a crowd of P. G.’s who were at -the Hall then, and who belonged to the same -sorority as Miss Cairns, stood by her. At the -last, almost all of Miss Ferguson’s pals, who -had backed her, turned against her. This P. G., -Marjorie Dean something or other, who, according -to report is the Great I Am here at Hamilton, -was on Miss Cairns’ side, too. Miss Ferguson -didn’t have a look-in.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t believe any such tale,” Stephanie -said contemptuously. “Who told it to you?” -she asked with displeased curiosity.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nothing doing. I promised not to tell what -I’ve just told you, or from whom I heard it. -I’ve partly broken my word already by repeating -it to you. I thought you ought to know -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>about it, but it’s not necessary for you to know -who said it,” Laura answered coolly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No one except an enemy of Miss Ferguson’s -would say such mean things about her; that -she was a trouble-maker, and that she hadn’t -a look-in,” was Stephanie’s scornful opinion.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then I must be the enemy,” Laura laughed -softly. “What’s the matter with you, Steve? -But, no; it’s not your fault. I didn’t make myself -clear. The person who told me about Miss -Ferguson wasn’t trying to down her. She simply -told me a little about the trouble last year, and -I drew my own conclusions about Miss Ferguson. -You’ll find out, sooner or later, that they’re -correct. Look out for her. Remember, I’ve -warned you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t need your warning. I consider myself -capable of judging character. I like Miss -Ferguson.” Stephanie’s chin tilted itself to a -defiant angle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Which goes to show what a punk judge of -character you are,” was the dry retort. “Never -mind. Let it go at that. No use in raving at -me, Steve. The person who told me is a friend -of Miss Ferguson’s, but she has a wholesome -respect for Miss Cairns, and her P. G. supporters. -That’s why I couldn’t glean much -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>from her. Better success next time,” Laura predicted, -indolently confident.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’re altogether too mysterious. You -know more about—well, about this story than -you’ve told me,” Stephanie coldly accused.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No; I don’t; and that’s flat. When I <i>do</i> find -out more, you’ll be the first to hear it.” There -was finality in the lightly-given promise.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Stephanie frowningly accepted defeat. She -could not well afford to quarrel with Laura. -Once thoroughly angered, Laura was apt to turn -stonily silent, refusing to speak to her for -weeks. “What shall you wear to the freshman -dance?” She changed the dangerous subject -half sulkily.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Haven’t decided yet.” A glint of amusement -appeared, and as quickly disappeared in -Laura’s eyes. “The pale blue georgette with -the silver lace tunic, maybe. It’s my prettiest -frock.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I shall wear my white satin dress; the imported -one, you know. It’s a stunning thing; -too stunning to be wasted on a girl hop, but -first impressions count. There’s to be a beauty -contest. How I’d <i>love</i> to win it. Miss Ferguson -says there are to be no juniors or seniors -at the frolic this year. The sophomore class is -a little larger than the freshie class, so the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>juniors and seniors won’t be needed as escorts. -I haven’t seen any startling beauties yet among -either the freshies or the sophs. Have you?” -Stephanie’s question betrayed ill-suppressed -eagerness.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve seen three or four beautiful girls on the -campus. They may be upper class girls, for -all I know. Of course, Miss Monroe, here at -the Hall, is a beauty, but she’s a senior, and -that lets her out. I heard she’d won it two -successive years. I heard, too, that this Marjorie -Dean, I can’t remember her married name, -had won it, twice; that she was prettier than -Miss Monroe, though of a different type of -beauty.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you think there is a chance that I might -win the contest?” Stephanie could not resist -asking the question.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; I think there is,” Laura returned -speculatively, “particularly if you should wear -the white satin dress. You <i>are</i> beautiful, Steve, -but—” Laura paused, shaking her head.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But what?” Stephanie demanded, half affronted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’re too imperious in manner. It somehow -shows itself in your face, and lessens your -good points. You ought to be more gracious -of manner. You’d make a better impression -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>all around. Just try it out for the rest of the -week and go to the frolic looking radiant, -whether you feel like being gracious, or not,” -was Laura’s calmly pertinent advice.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What do you expect me to do? Go about -the campus grinning like a Chessy cat?” came -the nettled retort.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It will do more for you in the way of popularity -than your empress of the world pose. You -asked me for my opinion. You now have it. -I’m going for a ride, and a stop at Baretti’s on -the way back to dinner.” Laura rose with the -deliberate slowness which characterized her -every movement. “You’d better come along.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No; I have letters to write,” Stephanie replied -curtly. She was still piqued at Laura’s -scarcely flattering criticism.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then you’d better put a ‘Busy’ sign on the -door. Miss Ogden has been here twice to see -you while you were out.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, that tiresome little upstart!” Stephanie’s -face darkened. “I can’t endure her.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She seems to have a crush on you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She’ll have to get over it, then, for I <i>can’t -endure her</i>. She’s underbred.” Stephanie’s -red upper lip lifted itself scornfully.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She’s a freshie, though. Don’t forget that,” -Laura reminded. “Class election’s next week. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>Be nice to her, and she may nominate you for -president. Antagonize her, and she may do you -a lot of damage among the freshies. Those -black eyes of hers can shoot danger signals. Try -snubbing her once, and then—look out.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’re positively maddening today,” Stephanie -exclaimed in angry vexation. “You’ve -done nothing but criticize me ever since I came -into the room.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“At least I’ve said what I had to say to your -face.” Laura’s unconcern at her roommate’s -displeasure was apparent. “You’d like it a good -deal less if I had said it to one of the other -girls, and behind your back.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Stephanie accepted the truth of Laura’s calm -statement with a pettish little shrug. “I shall -not put up a ‘Busy’ sign, nor answer the door -if she should knock,” she declared perversely.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s up to you.” It was Laura’s turn to -shrug. “Don’t forget, though, that Miss Ogden -rooms with Miss Cairns, and Miss Cairns -is one of the high powers on the campus, as -nearly as I can judge. She’s a pal of the Great -I Am.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I fail to see any special reason why all that -nonsense should be of interest to me.” Stephanie -chose to continue to be perverse.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>“Think it over. So long. Shall I hang out -the ‘Busy’ sign?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>No</i>,” Stephanie all but shouted the reply.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“All right. Have your own way about it, and -be sorry afterward.” With this prophetic warning, -Laura went out the door, laughing softly, -leaving her stubborn roommate to digest the unwelcome -prediction as best she might.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XIV<br /> <br />MARJORIE FINDS THE LOST NOTE BOOK</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“Only one more case to do, then this job will -be finished, and finished as it should be.” Miss -Susanna Hamilton, looking tinier than usual in -the enveloping folds of a blue and white pinafore, -gave a long, satisfied sigh as she viewed -the completed work which had engaged Marjorie, -Jonas and herself for several days.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It truly does look fine,” Marjorie echoed -the sigh. Standing beside Miss Susanna in the -middle of the large library at the Arms, she -was a charming study of work in her pale blue -smock and dust cap. “Only to think; we are -the first to re-arrange Mr. Brooke’s books since -he himself used them,” she added meditatively.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes,” Miss Susanna nodded rather absently. -Her thoughts, as well as Marjorie’s, were turning -to the long-passed master of the Arms -whose influence still pervaded the stately old -house like a living presence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Goodness knows the library needed a going-over,” -Miss Hamilton said with a sudden change -<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>to practicality. “Jonas has kept the books -dusted, of course; but that’s all. I knew Uncle -Brooke’s books were sadly out of place. I used -to help him take care of his library. Somehow, -after his death, I hadn’t a heart for this -straightening job. Toward the last of his life -he spent a great deal of time in the library. He -was inclined to forgetfulness at times, which -accounts for his books being so sadly out of -place. They’re in order again at last, thanks -to you, Marjorie.” Her keen dark eyes wandered -contentedly from one tall-glassed bookcase -to another.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s not yet eleven. I think we’d have time -to do that last case before luncheon, don’t you?” -Marjorie was appraising the contents of a -smaller teak-wood bookcase that stood by itself -against the east wall of the library. Three sides -of the library were book-lined, but the east side -showed no bookcases other than the one she -had just indicated.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; I think so, too. That case holds Uncle -Brooke’s most treasured books.” Miss Susanna -stood regarding it retrospectively. “Not books -which might be considered very valuable from -a money standpoint,” she explained. “It holds -the books that were dear to him, for one reason -or another. He never followed any particular -<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>arrangement in the matter of that case. I daresay -half of them are standing upside-down on -the shelves. I left it until last, purposely. The -case is locked, but here’s the key.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>The old lady brought a small brass key from -the depths of her pinafore pocket. She trotted -across the room to the case and fitted the key -to the lock. Marjorie followed her, standing interestedly -beside her as she swung open the -double glassed doors. More than once, during -her stay at Hamilton Arms, while compiling the -Brooke Hamilton biography, she had wondered -idly about this particular case. Its glass doors -had inside curtains of a thin, silky Oriental -material which lent to the case an oddly mysterious -air. Miss Susanna had never spoken of -it to her, and Marjorie had delicately forborne -making any inquiry to Miss Hamilton concerning -it.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s just as he left it.” Miss Susanna’s brisk -tones had softened. She and Marjorie were -gazing into the interior of the now open bookcase -at the orderly disorder of the overcrowded -shelves. There were books, thick and thin, -large and small, even to tininess, leather and -cloth bindings, standing in uneven rows upon -the dusty shelves. On top of the rows were yet -<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>more books, in little piles of twos and threes, a -true sign of an ardent book lover.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We’ll have to take them out, four or five at -a time, dust them and the space on the shelf -that they occupy, then put them back exactly as -we found them,” was Marjorie’s plan of action. -“Wait a minute, I’ll bring you a chair, Goldendede. -You shall sit beside me, and direct this -enterprise. Let me do the work. The case is -hardly large enough for us both to work on at -the same time.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>She was hurrying across the library before -she had finished speaking for Miss Susanna’s -favorite chair. “There, my dear Goldendede, -pray you be seated,” she invited, with a low -bow, setting the chair beside Miss Hamilton, -“while your faithful servitor proceeds to work -magic.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll take you at your word, child. I’m really -a little tired. I haven’t your young strength, -and we have delved most industriously this -morning.” The old lady sat down in the chair -with grateful alacrity.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Very carefully Marjorie began the task. She -started at the left end of the top shelf of the -case, gently pulling out the well-worn bindings -with reverent fingers. Brooke Hamilton had -ranged literature in search of the best was her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>thought as she continued to explore his treasures.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are welcome to the key to the case at -any time, Marjorie,” Miss Susanna’s bright, -bird-like eyes had not missed the warm, interested -light upon Marjorie’s lovely features as -her willing hands moved among the dusty bindings, -restoring them once more to something -of their original pristine brightness.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“How dear in you, Goldendede. I was just -wishing that I might go browsing among these -books.” Marjorie’s childlike delight at the unexpected -concession was the old lady’s pleasure. -“This bookcase seems a little library in itself, -representative of Mr. Brooke and his broad-mindedness.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is just that. Uncle Brooke’s books were -his best friends. They were dear to him because -of the particular message each had for him.” -The mistress of the Arms dropped into one of -her not infrequent intervals of silence which -Marjorie had early come to know and respect. -She continued with her work, content to let the -little old lady shatter it at will.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What is the latest news from the campus, -child?” Miss Susanna came suddenly out of her -brief spell of silent abstraction. “‘I have nerve,’ -as Jerry would say, to ask you that, since I’ve -<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>been the means of keeping you away from it for -the past week.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then, further to quote Jerry, ‘I like your -nerve,’” Marjorie replied laughingly. “I’ve -loved to be here. Not that I love the campus -less, but Goldendede more. I’m going over to -Wayland Hall tomorrow evening to see the -girls. Hal has a business appointment in the -town of Hamilton. I haven’t the least idea of -what it’s all about. He’s been very mysterious -over it. He’s going to stop for me on his way -home.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“A business appointment! That sounds interesting.” -Miss Susanna exhibited affectionate -curiosity. Hal’s one cross since he and Marjorie -had taken up their residence at Hamilton -Estates had been his inability to decide upon -some definite plan of business occupation. Possessed -of a comparatively large fortune, inherited -from his grandfather, his youthful -energy rebelled against settling down at Travelers’ -Rest as a country gentleman. Marjorie -had found her work at Hamilton College, the -work which had all but parted them forever. -Hal hoped that he might also find a work in -their new home, satisfying to heart and brain. -Only lately an idea had come to him as the -result of a prospecting tour about the staid, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>self-centered town of Hamilton. Pursuant of -his idea he had got into action. The result had -been his appointment with John Saxe, the real -estate agent who had formerly figured in the -business ventures of the steady little firm of -“Page & Dean.” The outcome of his appointment -with Mr. Saxe would, he fondly hoped, -furnish a happy surprise for Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Of course it sounds interesting. That’s -precisely what I said to Hal when he mentioned -the appointment to me. He laughed, but -wouldn’t volunteer any further information. I -didn’t ask for any, either. He has some sort -of delightful surprise in store for me. I know -he has,” was Marjorie’s smilingly confident -assertion.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Miss Susanna nodded smiling content of the -happiness of the two young people upon whom -her affections were so firmly centered.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“There’s the bell.” She suddenly held up a -hand in a listening attitude. “Now <i>who</i> can that -be? Not callers, I hope. If it should be, I shall -receive them just as I am; pinafore, dusty -hands, and all.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s Miss Leslie, Miss Susanna.” Jonas had -appeared in the open doorway of the library.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh! What a relief! Ask her to come in here, -Jonas.” Miss Hamilton had bobbed up from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>the chair at sound of the bell. She dropped -into it again, with a thankful sigh.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Where have you been keeping yourself, Leslie?” -Sight of Leslie Cairns in the doorway, -looking her best in a smart ecru ensemble and -ultra-trim little felt hat, brought Miss Susanna -to her feet again, and hurrying across the room -to greet her welcome caller.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes! where have you been, elusive person?” -Marjorie hastily shoved a book, held in her -right hand, back into place on a shelf and came -forward, dust cloth cheerfully waving a greeting -to the visitor. “Twice I’ve ’phoned you. -‘Out’ was the answer Annie gave me both -times. Then I wrote you a note, demanding your -presence at Travelers’ Inn at dinner tomorrow -evening. I ’phoned Leila, asking her and Vera -to come, too. They can’t come because the Bertramites -are entertaining them at Baretti’s. -They’ll be back at the Hall, though, by seven-thirty, -for the Bertramites have to study. Leila -said, why not foregather in Vera’s and her -room for the evening. Now you see what it’s -all about. My note to you was a sketchy scrawl. -I wrote it in a hurry. Perhaps you haven’t received -it yet.” Marjorie glanced inquiringly at -Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; I received it in the morning mail. I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>was anxious to see you, and Miss Susanna, so I -took a run over here instead of telephoning. I -had an idea you were still busy with the library -job. It looks great.” Leslie’s eyes roved approvingly -over the beautiful old room with its -wealth of books from many lands.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This is the last case, and I have only two -more shelves to do. Please tell Leslie about it, -Goldendede, while I work very hard to finish -it.” Marjorie energetically resumed work, making -herself a mental promise to spend a day -soon in the library in a leisurely exploration of -the treasures of the quaint old bookcase.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Presently coming to the bottom shelf, she sat -down upon the thick velvet rug, reaching mechanically -for the first book at the left end of -the shelf. It was, she saw, a copy of the dissertations -of Epictitus, bound in green morocco, -the soft fine leather worn by constant use. She -smiled. Epictitus had been Brooke Hamilton’s -favorite philosopher, so Miss Susanna had told -her. She wiped away the dust very gently from -the priceless volume, then opened it, about to -give the yellowed leaves a mild shake.</p> - -<p class='c006'>To her surprise a considerably smaller, black, -cloth-bound book dropped from among the -leaves of the Epictitus into her lap. It was a -thin little book, not more than six inches long -<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>and three inches wide. About an inch from the -top of the cover a white label had been pasted -that bore the writing of the departed master of -the Arms. “Brooke Hamilton,” she read, “Personal -Notes.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie’s heart began a sudden joyful throbbing. -Could the little black book be the particular, -important notebook of which Miss Susanna -had regretfully spoken as lost at the time -when she had turned over to Marjorie the material -for her distinguished great-uncle’s biography?</p> - -<p class='c006'>With a joyful little cry Marjorie was on her -feet, and holding out the little black book to -Miss Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What wonderful thing have you found in the -old case, child?” Miss Susanna interrupted her -conversation with Leslie to peer tolerantly -through her glasses at Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Look at it, Goldendede,” Marjorie excitedly -thrust the notebook into the old lady’s hands. -“It’s a notebook. Mr. Brooke’s own notebook; -the one that you thought was lost. I’m sure of -it.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XV<br /> <br />BROOKE HAMILTON’S STAUNCHEST ADVOCATE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“I believe you are right, Marjorie.” Miss Susanna’s -hands were trembling slightly as she -opened the notebook and read aloud the first -entry. “‘Thought of a new motto today. “Her -ways led upward to the stars.” Note: This -motto should be particularly applicable to the -“one” whom I hope may rise, a future guiding -light to Hamilton College.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why—why—that’s my motto.” Marjorie -was looking her utter amazement. “I mean—” -Sudden confusion deepened the pink in her -cheeks to rose. “It’s the one you selected for -me for citation, Goldendede,” she added in embarrassed -explanation.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s the one that suited you best, so don’t -feel backward about coming forward and saying -so,” Leslie assured with her slow smile.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Of course it suited her,” chimed in Miss Susanna. -“You know, Leslie, I’ve always said -that Marjorie typified Uncle Brooke’s ideal of -girlhood.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>“Wouldn’t you like to read us some more -notes, Goldendede?” Marjorie asked persuasively.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And thus take the subject off your very retiring -self,” the old lady supplemented pithily. -“Very good, my dear.” Miss Hamilton turned -the first leaf and read out to her two avid listeners, -“‘Must have Jenkins retake my foot -measurements. Last pair of boots he made me -are a fraction too narrow. Don’t forget to do -this. Important.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'>A ripple of laughter greeted this entry.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“From the sublime to the vexatious problems -of everyday life,” commented Miss Susanna. -She continued to read aloud the annotations of -her famous kinsman. Short, and to the point, -they revealed clearly the character of Brooke -Hamilton—philosopher, sage, philanthropist, -and lastly, unassuming country gentleman.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This must be the book Uncle Brooke lost not -more than a year before his death. He was -greatly annoyed by the loss, and used to hunt -for it by the hour. Many of the annotations -contained dates which he could not remember, -offhand. And to think that it’s been tucked -away all these years in the Epictitus! Strange -he didn’t find it again soon after he had lost -it.” Miss Hamilton knitted thoughtful brows. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>“Ah, now I recall something that may have been -the very reason he didn’t. A friend gave him -a very fine copy of Epictitus on his birthday. -He placed the new copy on his desk, in his -study. It was in a much larger print than the -other, and his eyes had begun to fail him considerably -then.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Miss Susanna turned leaf upon leaf of the -notebook, reading aloud to her interested audience -of two as she turned them. “There, I -knew I was right about that.” She looked up -triumphantly from the book, then read, “‘Have -decided to offer the fifty-thousand conditional -gift to Hamilton through the medium of “the -one who may arise” in my college. I shall ask -Norris to handle the matter for me. I can rely -upon him for integrity, and at the same time be -of financial service to him since he is hard put -at present in his law business. I shall go to -his office to talk things over with him tomorrow.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This little book is a precious find to me, -girls.” Miss Hamilton’s hands were trembling -with the excitement of what she had just read. -“Uncle Brooke had sometimes spoken vaguely -to me of some such plan he had in mind for the -college, but I never knew whether, or no, he -had put it into execution. This annotation tells -<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>me that he must have done so. Once he had -put his hand to the plow, he never turned back.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>The abstracted light in the old lady’s eyes -spelled her absorbed listeners to silence. They -continued to watch her as she turned the next -leaf, waiting to hear more from her at will. The -time-yellowed leaves of the note book continued -to turn under her small fingers. She was evidently -in search of further data concerning her -kinsman’s avowed project.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Ah; here it is!” she exclaimed. “‘Saw Norris -last Tuesday. Have completed arrangements -with him for the “Brooke Hamilton Honor -Fund.” For particulars and necessary accompanying -papers, see secret drawer.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The secret drawer!” Marjorie cried. “It is -in Mr. Brooke’s study desk, isn’t it? Didn’t -you say once to me that there was a secret -drawer in the desk?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes,” An oddly puzzled frown had sprung -between Miss Hamilton’s brows. “I don’t understand -what Uncle Brooke meant. There is -nothing in the secret drawer in his study desk. -I know that positively because Jonas and I examined -it quite a long time after Uncle’s death. -Jonas knew how to open it. I hadn’t known -until he showed me. There were a few letters in -it then, which I turned over to you, Marjorie, together -<span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>with other material for the biography. -None of those letters related to either this man -Norris, or the honor fund. Please ring for Jonas, -Leslie. He may know of another secret drawer -here. I surely do not.” Miss Susanna looked -nonplussed.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Who is, or, more likely was, the man Norris -to whom he intrusted the matter?” Leslie asked -in her keen fashion. “If living, he would be -a very old man now.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t know who he is, or was, as the case -may he,” Miss Hamilton replied, a note of distress -in her answer. “According to Uncle -Brooke’s notes he is, or was, a lawyer. I know -of no lawyer, however, by the name of Norris, -who was practicing law in the town of Hamilton -at that time.” She shook a puzzled head.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jonas just then appearing in the library doorway, -Miss Hamilton turned eagerly to him, -“Jonas, do you know of another secret drawer -here at the Arms besides the one in Uncle -Brooke’s study desk?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jonas came forward without answering the -question, his white brows contracted in an evident -effort at recollection.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t know <i>where</i> there is another secret -drawer at the Arms,” he said slowly, “but it -seems to me I once heard Mr. Brooke speak of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>one. I can’t think now, when, or why, he spoke -about it. Maybe it’ll come back to me after -a while. I only think that he <i>did</i> speak of it to -me,” the old houseman ended with certainty.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Marjorie found Uncle Brooke’s notebook; -the one he lost, and worried about losing.” Miss -Hamilton held up the little black book, relating -to Jonas in an excited voice the circumstances -of the finding and the important information -it contained concerning the “Honor Fund.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Jonas’s fine old features registered marked -surprise. “<i>He</i> talked to me about that honor -fund, different times,” he said, an excited note -in his own voice. “He must have put his idea -through, or he wouldn’t have written that in the -notebook.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you recall a lawyer in Hamilton by the -name of Norris, Jonas?” Miss Susanna had -fixed hopeful eyes on Jonas.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No,” Jonas answered after due deliberation. -“I never heard Mr. Brooke mention any such -man, either. He must have lived there, though, -or in some near-by town. Mr. Brooke said in -the note you just read me that he was going to -this man Norris’s office the next day to see him.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes,” the old lady nodded, “I wish you to go -to Hamilton town this afternoon, Jonas, and see -John Saxe. He knows everybody in the town -<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>and around it. Ask him to look up this man -Norris, if he can, as soon as possible. It was -his business to write me concerning this trust -directly after Uncle Brooke’s death. Possibly -he thought I knew the situation regarding it. -Nevertheless, he should have communicated -with me, at any rate. He must have been living -then. If he had died before Uncle Brooke -died Uncle would have made a new arrangement -with another lawyer about the fund.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Perhaps he may have done so, and any data -which might relate to the change of lawyers is -in the secret drawer, too,” Marjorie suggested.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And we haven’t the remotest idea of where -that mysterious secret drawer may be!” Miss -Susanna’s small hands went up in a despairing -gesture.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Some Chinese puzzle,” Leslie commented.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Maybe the secret drawer is somewhere in -the Chinese room,” came as a sudden inspiration -from Marjorie, prompted by Leslie’s mention -of the word “Chinese.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It may be there.” Miss Hamilton cast a -half startled glance at her companions. “The -room has a number of odd Oriental stands and -cabinets, any one of them might easily contain -a secret drawer. To find it, though!” Up went -her hands again. “A needle-in-the-haystack -<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>search, I’m afraid. I know less about the Chinese -room than any other room in the house. -Jonas is far more familiar with it than I. You’ll -have to be chief hunter, there, Jonas.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I guess I will.” Jonas looked pleased at being -thus appointed to the search.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“One thing is certain. The secret drawer -<i>must</i> be found. It is somewhere in this house -which narrows down the area to be searched -to the few rooms Uncle Brooke continually used,—his -bedroom, his study, the Chinese room and -the library. Of the four, I should say the library -is the least likely to contain it. The only -piece of furniture in here that might contain -it is the library table. I doubt the possibility -of there being a secret drawer in it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Miss Susanna rose, went over to the massive, -claw-legged mahogany table, and began a slow -prowl about it, her sharp eyes taking in its -every detail. Jonas had already begun the -search, tapping the sides of the table as he -peered along the carvings of them for what -might prove to be a cunningly concealed spring. -He opened the drawers of the table, subjecting -the inside of them to the same careful examination.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“There’s no secret drawer in this table,” was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>his opinion, spoken at the end of his methodical -investigation.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m satisfied, too, there isn’t,” agreed the -mistress of the Arms. “Tomorrow, Jonas, we -will tackle the study. There may be another -secret drawer in the study desk besides the one -of which we know. This afternoon I want you -to go to Hamilton and see what you can learn -regarding Lawyer Norris. If we should be -lucky enough to find the secret drawer within -the next few days it won’t be necessary to start -an investigation, regarding the fifty thousand -dollars involved in this affair. The one note -plainly states Uncle Brooke’s intention of offering -a fifty thousand dollar honorarium to Hamilton -College under certain conditions, laid down -by him. The note of later date states that he -completed some sort of arrangement for it with -Lawyer Norris. As a trust fund the fifty thousand -would have, probably, been deposited in -bank at once by Norris. Uncle Brooke used the -Hamilton Trust largely, although he was a depositor -in several New York City banks. If he -gave his check for the honor fund to Norris, together -with instructions to him to deposit the -check, it may be the Hamilton Bank was used -for the transaction. In such case the bank -should have the record of the transaction. If -<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>so, why was I not notified of it soon after Uncle -Brooke’s death?” Miss Susanna’s question was -asked with hurt belligerence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“An arrangement entire separate from your -kinsman’s other financial affairs may have been -made by him with Norris,” Leslie hazarded. -“His notes state his confidence in Norris. No -doubt then he made the check out to Norris. Of -course he might have given him bonds instead.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“He had no bonds at the time he sent for -Norris. His large fortune was almost all in -cash or in real estate. His father left him a -great deal of land, in and about Hamilton, and -Hamilton Estates. I’d prefer not to call the -Hamilton Trust into the matter, though we may -find it necessary in the long run to do so.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Surely, if the Hamilton Bank had been asked -to handle the check you would have heard something -about the matter, either directly, or indirectly, -during all the years you have lived at -the Arms,” was Leslie’s further opinion.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m inclined to that view of it, too. I doubt -if the Hamilton Bank is in any way concerned -in this Norris business.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why not let my father investigate for you?” -proposed Leslie. “He’s coming to Hamilton to -see me for a day or two, soon after he lands. -If, by that time, you haven’t found the secret -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>drawer, then please let my father help you in -the matter, Miss Susanna,” Leslie earnestly petitioned.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Peter? I never once thought of him!” Miss -Susanna exclaimed, brightening visibly. “He’s -the very man I need to help me. I should be -eternally grateful to him, if he would.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“He will,” Leslie promised.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“There’s more to this than appears on the -surface.” Miss Hamilton’s lips set themselves -in severe line. “Granted we find the secret -drawer, the finding of the data relating to the -honor fund may only serve to prove treachery -to his trust on Lawyer Norris’s part. As heir -to my uncle’s fortune and estate, Hamilton -Arms, he at least owed it to me to inform me -of the trust Uncle Brooke had reposed in him.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Possibly he was under the impression that -you knew of the fifty-thousand dollar fund -through your uncle, and had been instructed by -Mr. Brooke to assume the responsibility of -choosing ‘the one’ in the event of his death,” -Marjorie made meditative suggestion. “In such -case, he might wait for you to communicate with -him regarding it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll admit such a contingency,” the old lady -conceded rather reluctantly. “We’re all at sea -in the matter, it seems. Either Norris, or else -<span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>the secret drawer, must be found; both preferably.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This much seems certain, Lawyer Norris -was not commissioned by Mr. Brooke to choose -‘the one’ in the event of Mr. Brooke’s decease,” -Marjorie said.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m not so sure of that.” Miss Susanna -showed inclination toward distrust of the lawyer. -“Uncle Brooke never did things by halves. -You must remember, this particular transaction -was made less than two years before his death. -He was then over eighty years old. He knew -his end was near. He had often said as much -to me. I believe he would have appointed me to -choose ‘the one’; not the man Norris. I knew -Uncle; his hopes, dreams; ideals, and he knew -that I knew them. I can’t understand why he -did not confide in me at the time he formulated -a definite plan.” Her voice trembled a trifle on -the last words, the manifestation of a hurt -spirit.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve no doubt but that the lost papers may -hold an explanation of that,” Marjorie advanced -comfortingly, “and they’re tucked away somewhere -in this very house. Somehow, I have faith -in Lawyer Norris. Mr. Brooke would not have -chosen him for such an important responsibility -if he hadn’t been sure of his truth and honor.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>“Uncle Brooke’s staunchest advocate.” Miss -Susanna drew Marjorie, standing beside her, -into the circle of an arm. “If neither the papers, -nor Lawyer Norris should be found, I could still -carry out his wish. The important point to be -considered, after all, would not be the fifty thousand -dollars. The finding of ‘the one’ would -be the real problem, except—” her eyes came -to rest with luminous tenderness upon the lovely -face bent seriously upon her,—“the one has -already been found. I found her for Uncle -Brooke, long ago, not far from my gates. She -helped a very cranky old lady pick up an overturned -basket of plant pots, and showed her how -beautiful girlhood might be. Afterward, I came -to know her better, not only as a friend, but as -an inspiration to Uncle Brooke’s college, giving -her best to it because of her appreciation of -its founder. He chose the motto ‘Her ways led -upward toward the stars,’ as applicable to ‘the -one.’ Without knowing it I chose the same -motto as best suited to Marjorie. It is almost -as though I had received his direct approval -of my choice.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XVI<br /> <br />LESLIE’S QUEER PROBLEM</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“And is it yourself, and no other? Is it not -time you put in an appearance at the Hall with -many apologies for having forgotten us?” Leila -Harper ushered Marjorie into her room, her -smiling lips in decided apposition to her severe -tone.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is myself, and, may I ask, who else might -it be?” Marjorie retorted as she and Leila enthusiastically -wrung hands.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Ask me nothing. I am that glad to see you, -I have no flip answer at my tongue’s end. We -have all been busy, it would seem. I have been -at the Playhouse, with only the typewriter for -company, pounding out the parts for my opening -play. Midget was invited to become co-editor -with Jane Everest on the ‘Campus Echo.’ -Leslie is wrestling with a queer problem of her -own. You will hear more about it this evening. -And Hamilton Arms has held you a willing captive. -We should have come to see you in the -evening, except that we have had callers here -<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>every night for a week. The Bertramites dinner -at Baretti’s ended my social rush for a -while. I shall begin to lead the life of a hermit -for the next three weeks.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You can’t. Miss Susanna had ordered yours -and Vera’s presence at the Arms at seven -o’clock dinner tomorrow night. You are to bring -Kathie, Lucy, Lillian and Doris with you. You -are to tear them away from any engagements -they may have made. Goldendede has something -important to tell the Travelers. Robin -and Phil are coming, too. I’ve already ’phoned -them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now what has happened?” Leila cocked her -head inquisitively to one side. “This much I -can guess. Leslie knows all about it. When I -asked her for news of the Arms last night, -knowing that she had lunched there yesterday, -she had little to say except that the library -looked fine, and Miss Susanna was well. I saw -mystery in the tail of her eye. But I am so -polite. I said nothing to her about it.” Leila -gave Marjorie a drolly hopeful glance.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I tell you a tiny little bit, Leila Greatheart,” -Marjorie conceded indulgently. “Something -happened yesterday at the Arms that was in the -nature of an astonishing surprise. Leslie was -there when it happened. Goldendede wishes the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>girls she has invited to dinner to hear about it. -She intends to tell them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie felt the color rising in her cheeks. -Her own surprise at the finding of Brooke Hamilton’s -notebook had been secondary to that of -Miss Hamilton’s avowed choice of “the one.” -To cover her sudden feeling of confusion she -asked hastily, “Where is Vera?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now you are asking me something. Midget -is at the freshie frolic. It’s tonight, you know, -and seems a very clannish affair. There were -more than enough sophs to go round. No juniors -or seniors were invited this year to help on escort -duty. Midget was asked to be one of the -three judges of the beauty contest. She, Doris -and Calista Wilmot are the fateful trio. The -contest was to be held at nine-thirty, so Midget -will be here before you go.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“There’s a freshie at the dormitory who -ought to win it,” Marjorie declared with enthusiasm. -“I don’t know her name, but I do -know she is a beauty. I happened to be over -at the dorm the day she arrived. She actually -took my breath. She has violet blue eyes and -curly black auburn hair, and the <i>sweetest</i> face, -with a skin like a roseleaf.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve met her. Her name is Carol Burke. The -dorms are hoping she’ll win the contest. They -<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>say, though, that she will be awfully upset, if -she should win it; that she’s very shy, and retiring, -with but little idea of her own good looks. -That is the way you were, Beauty, when I -dragged you into the first contest.” Leila flashed -Marjorie one of her inimitable smiles.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I remember I felt awfully cross with you -because of it,” Marjorie reminded. “Now, in -my settled old age, I can afford to smile over -it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But if you were to walk into the gym tonight -in your violet dress you would win it again,” -Leila predicted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“My violet dress!” Marjorie hurried away -from the subject of the contest. “It seems -strange, Leila, but it looks as lovely as ever; -not a bit old style. Captain shortened it and -took out the sleeves, and now it’s a dream. How -are the Bertramites? I must have them over at -the Rest soon to dinner.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“They are—” Two deliberate, successive -knocks on the door sent Leila scurrying to open -it for Leslie, who had dropped Marjorie at the -Hall and had then gone on to the garage with -her roadster.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Come on into my room for a while,” Leslie -invited. “Marjorie hasn’t seen Fifteen since it -was done over. Jewel Marie is gaily fox-trotting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>at the frolic, thank goodness, and we can -discuss the affairs of the universe in peace. -Leave a scrawl on the table for Vera when she -comes in, Leila. Have you seen Miss Remson -yet?” she turned to Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; only for a moment. She had to go to -town on unexpected business. I’ll run over tomorrow -to see her. Goldendede wants her to -be at the dinner tomorrow night.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“’Tis done. ‘<i>Midget, Attention!</i> Come to -Fifteen. No knocking necessary,’” Leila read -out, then gave the penned message a vigorous -drying fluttering before running it through with -a long, black-headed pin, and sticking the pin -into the middle of the study table.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie closed the door of Fifteen behind her -comrades to the tune of admiring exclamation -from Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Can this celostrous cozy corner be old Fifteen?” -Marjorie’s face glowed appreciation of -Leslie’s artistry.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It can be. It is.” Leslie showed her pleasure -of Marjorie’s lively approval of her color -scheme and arrangement. “I liked it a little better -before I changed things around in order to -make room for Miss Ogden,” she said.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I am still wondering at your cleverness, and -also at how it came about that you gathered in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>the homeless Miss Ogden,” Leila said a trifle inquisitively. -“Now tell me nothing.” She put -up her hand, laughing as though to ward off an -unsolicited confidence. “I am not as inquisitive -as I seem.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m still wondering myself how I happened -to drag in that kid,” Leslie confessed, smiling. -“She was no end disappointed because she -couldn’t find a campus room. I’m only going -to be here till Christmas. It seemed so selfish -in me to bar the midget out. I’ve a sort of plan -going in my head about Fifteen—something I’d -like to do with it when I leave here to go to -a real home.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What, Leslie?” Marjorie was all interest.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going to will my half of Fifteen to the -first girl on the dormitory waiting list. If she -doesn’t want it, then the next on the list will -do. It will be a free proposition, same as the -dormitory, but with all the comfy advantages -that being on the campus means.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Your plan is just like you, Leslie. It’s -lovely,” Marjorie accorded with quiet sincerity.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are a noble Cairns, and I think well of -you,” Leila spoke lightly, but Leslie understood -the undercurrent of earnestness in the speech. -The Irish girl was wondering, however, what -the effect of the carrying out of Leslie’s plan -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>would be upon Miss Ogden. She suspected her -of being a social climber which would not accord -at all with Leslie’s scheme of things.</p> - -<p class='c006'>As though reading her mind, Leslie remarked -speculatively, “I am going to talk to Miss Ogden -about Fifteen. I haven’t yet explained it -to her. I hardly believe she will make any objection -to it when I finally tell her. That will -be shortly before I leave here for Carden -Hedge.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Watching Leslie’s face Marjorie glimpsed the -shadow of the old dominating leader who had -ruled the frivolous San Soucians by sheer determined -will.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you like Miss Ogden, Leslie?” sprang impulsively -from her lips. Immediately she became -vexed with herself for having unthinkingly -asked so personal a question. “I shouldn’t have -asked you that,” she apologized quickly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Glad you did. It’s given me an opening to -speak my mind to you and Leila about her, and -also this crowd of freshies from New York who -are at the Hall. You ask me if I like Miss Ogden. -Yes, and no. At heart she’s a democrat. -Outwardly, she’s a goose, with snobbish aspirations. -She’ll need more than one jolt to wake -her up to herself, and she’s in a fair way soon -to gather in the first one. The New York freshies -<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>are snobs, Marjorie; same type as the Sans. -Leila, Vera and I discovered as much the day -we first met them. The Ogden kid is wild about -them; has a crush on Miss Norris, the banner -snob of the gang. Experience is a great teacher! -I understand this bunch of high hats. She -doesn’t. I can’t very well warn her against -them. They’re her classmates. She would -probably resent such a warning, as a meddlesome -interference on my part. Still, I hate to -see her hurt without having first done what I -can to prevent calamity. Leila, Vera and I -have been keeping a starboard eye upon her, -trying diplomatically to steer her clear of snags. -We decided we’d best consult you about her, -Marvelous Manager.” Leslie’s eyes rested expectantly -upon Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why underrate your own superior capabilities?” -Marjorie glanced from Leila to Leslie -with twinkling eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We are but poor playhouse managers, and, -at that, far from marvelous. It is one thing to -manage mummers, in a make-believe drama. -They are pleased to be managed. But to attempt -to manage freshies, in a real drama, who -have no taste for being managed, is quite another.” -Leslie made a deprecatory gesture. -“These New York freshies, Beauty, are an innovation -<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>at Hamilton. They are a gay, noisy -set in their rooms, going back and forth to them -through their end of the hall with plenty of -laughter and commotion. To the other students -at the Hall they show small friendliness. Miss -Ogden loses no opportunity to court favor with -them. We know they make sport of her behind -her back, for we have heard them sneer about -her. They patronize her to her face. Why -they do not snub her outright, as they have two -or three of the sophs at the Hall, we wondered, -until yesterday. Then we heard that at the -freshie class meeting she nominated Miss Norris, -their leader, for president. Now we shall -see what we shall see,” Leila said significantly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Was Miss Norris elected president?” Marjorie -inquired interestedly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; her crowd had been busily electioneering -for her. She won over Miss Foster of Acasia -House by only two votes. Her roommate, -Miss Taylor, gave a dinner for her last night -at Baretti’s.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Was Miss Ogden invited?” Marjorie’s interest -had deepened.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes! I was glad to hear from Leslie that -she was.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She had Miss Taylor to thank for it,” Leslie -interposed. “If any other girl in that crowd -<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>had given it, I’ll say Jewel Marie wouldn’t have -had a look in. This Miss Taylor is rather different -from the others. She’s stout and sleepy-looking. -She appears stodgy until one happens -to see her laugh. When she laughs, and that’s -not often, her whole face changes. One sees -humor written on every feature. She’d make -a wonderful Touchstone in ‘As You Like It.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, and Miss Norris would make a fine -Henry the Fifth. I’m thinking of putting it -on at the Playhouse this winter. Still, she is -one I am not anxious to manage. I am not fond -of wrangling,” Leila made a wry face, “and I -have heard her differ, far from politely, with -the girls of her own set.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s this way, Marjorie,” Leslie broke in -seriously, “Miss Norris at first almost ignored -Miss Ogden. All of a sudden, she became quite -gracious to her; she lunched Miss Ogden at the -Colonial and invited her into the sacred precincts -of her room a couple of times. Jewel -Marie nearly expired with joy. She would have -followed her crush about like a faithful terrier, -if I hadn’t kept her busy trotting around with -me. Leila and I both predicted that the bubble -would burst soon after election. Since then -Miss Ogden has twice invited Miss Norris to -dinner at Baretti’s. On both occasions she has -<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>disappointed the kid at the last minute with -flimsy excuses. She’s still fatuously blind, and -the eye-opening process is going to be some -shock to her. I’m tempted to let her hear me -out, straight from the shoulder, then let her -rave. By the time she finds herself dropped -by her crush she’ll be able to meet the terrible -blow without making herself ridiculous.” There -was a suspicion of good-humored scorn in Leslie’s -voice. “She isn’t remarkably tactful. She’s -more likely to go up in the air over the snub, -just because of her hurt feelings.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I believe I’d try the straight-from-the-shoulder -tactics, Leslie,” was Marjorie’s thoughtful -advice. “Miss Ogden may be angry with you, -at first, but she will understand afterward that -you were trying to help her. It will prepare -her in a measure for what you believe is going -to happen, even though she should resent your -warning at the time it is given.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll have a talk with her in the morning,” -Leslie nodded with decision. “She was planning -on having a good time tonight. I’m not going -to spoil pleasant memories of it by croaking. -Miss Felton took her to the frolic.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, I remember <i>her</i>. She is the pretty, -brown-haired girl who was the first to protest -against the petition Miss Ferguson started on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>that memorable night last spring here at the -Hall,” Marjorie said with a reminiscent smile.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She’s a mighty nice girl,” Leslie returned, -“and I wish, for her own sake, that this misguided -roommate of mine had a crush on Miss -Felton. Muriel’s show was a greater success -than she thought it might be. The sophs at the -Hall, who joined the Lotus Club as freshies, are -a congenial crowd this year, with the exception -of Miss Ferguson. She has attached herself -to the New York crowd, and is very pally with -Miss Norris. I daresay the N. Y.’s know my -past campus history better than I do,” Leslie -declared with grim satire. “They try to ignore -my existence whenever they can, for which -I thank them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Wait until my theatre article appears next -week in the ‘Echo.’ Then you will suddenly see -a great change among them. What girl does -not love the idea of acting? Leila and I will -then be ranked as desirable acquaintances -rather than antiquated P. G.’s,” Leslie humorously -prophesied.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Mention of the Playhouse turned the conversation -from Leslie’s “misguided” roommate -into a more pleasing channel. Leila had decided -to open the theatre with an elaborate performance -of “The Merchant of Venice.” She proposed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>next to follow the Shakespearean drama -with a revue, then, later, to present her new -Irish play, “The Leprachaun.” After the holidays -she hoped to put on “Henry the Fifth,” -provided she could secure a cast to suit her -critical fancy.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It will be no trick to find a cast for the Merchant -of Venice,” she told her interested companions. -“Doris will add to her campus fame -as Portia, Gussie will make an ideal Antonio, -and Miss Duncan will cover herself with glory -in playing Shylock. On Bassonio, I have not -yet decided. I may ask Miss Taylor, the stout -freshman, to play the part. She is tall enough, -and broad enough of shoulder, to play a man’s -part well.” Leila glanced questioningly from -one to the other of her chums. “She interests -me, and, incidentally, it may lead to a better -state of affairs here at the Hall. I suspect her -of having some influence upon her crowd. They -babble like brooks when together, but she, I -have noticed, says little, though her oddly pale -blue eyes miss nothing.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t ever talk to me again about marvelous -managing,” Marjorie exclaimed. “<i>You</i> are the -real Marvelous Manager. You’ve picked up a -trail to a better state of affairs here, already. -Go ahead; ask Miss Taylor to—”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>The unexpected violent opening of the door -cut off Marjorie’s unfinished sentence. Three -pairs of eyes suddenly directed themselves at -the tempestuous entrant. A very small girl in -a peachblow-hued evening frock had fairly -bounced into the room, banging the door behind -her.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XVII<br /> <br />WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FROLIC</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“Hello, Jewel,” Leslie calmly greeted after a -quick glance at the freshman’s anger-dark features.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Without answering the angry girl dashed -across the room to her couch bed, flinging herself -upon it. Her doubled fists began beating an -enraged tattoo upon the pillows, to which her -slippered feet kicked themselves in time upon -the couch cover. “Oh, oh, oh!” she repeatedly -ejaculated in rage-thickened tones. “I’ll never -forgive her! Oh, oh, oh!”</p> - -<p class='c006'>The trio of silent spectators to the freshman’s -gust of anger could not but exchange significant -glances. Into the mind of each had sprung -the question: “Had the blow, which Leslie had -anticipated, fallen already?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Let us go into my room,” Leila proposed -tactfully, rising from her chair as she spoke.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We’ll wait for you there, Leslie.” Marjorie -was already following Leila to the door.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Go ahead.” Leslie’s dark brows raised themselves -<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>in indicative despair. “I’ll join you -presently.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m wondering if the prophecy has come true -so soon,” were Leila’s first words as they shut -themselves into her room. “Sit down, Beauty, -and be at home.” Abruptly she dropped into a -chair and burst into laughter.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Never think that I am making a mock of -misfortune,” she said presently, a mirthful -quiver in her tones. “I’m still thinking of the -amazing bounce that midget made into the -room. It might well have been that of a circus -performer. She little knows the honor in store -for her. It seems I have found a star for my -play ‘The Leprachaun’ and that without the -trouble of seeking.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are a funny old dear, Leila Harper,” -Marjorie, girl-like, could not do other than -laugh with Leila. “Something harrowing must -have happened to Miss Ogden at the frolic to -send her away from it in such a tempest. It’s -early yet.” Her eyes sought the clock on Leila’s -dressing-table. “Only twenty-five minutes to -ten. The beauty contest must just have begun. -She’s awfully tiny, isn’t she?” she again reverted -to the subject of Miss Ogden, “at least -two inches shorter than Vera. She’s pretty, I -think.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>“She has the prettiness of a child when she -is good-natured,” Leila said, “but, oh, my stars, -what a temper! Until tonight she has shown -nothing of it to Leslie, Vera and me. Vera will -not be long in coming now. She promised to -slip away from the gym as soon as the contest -was over. Grant that before then Leslie will -have calmed the storm and reduced the whirlwind -to order,” she finished with dry humor.</p> - -<p class='c006'>It was Vera, however, who appeared in the -room ahead of Leslie. She dropped into a chair -with exaggerated weariness and a long, sighing: -“<i>Such</i> a time as there has been tonight, over at -the gym. Truly, girls, it was dreadful! Where’s -Leslie?” Vera’s quick glance in the direction of -Leslie’s room conveyed an inkling of the reason -of Leslie’s absence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; she is in Fifteen with Miss Ogden,” -Leila interpreted the glance, and answered. -“Now, for goodness’ sake, Midget, are we to -know what it is all about?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are; and this is the tale. There was a -<i>positive tongue</i> battle in the gym tonight, just -before the beginning of the beauty contest. It -looked for a minute as though there might be -some actual hand-to-hand fighting done.” Vera -gave a faint little chuckle. “The trouble started -as the result of an accident to Miss Norris’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>gown. During the last fox-trot before the beginning -of the beauty walk, Miss Norris was -standing near the punch bowl corner, drinking -lemonade. The floor of the gym was as slippery -as glass. The sophs had put too much wax on -it, and there’d been a lot of slipping and sliding -done. The girls were having a lot of fun -because of it. Miss Ogden and a tall soph, -whose name I don’t know yet, were doing a very -frisky variation of the trot. The punch bowl -was one of those thin lovely tinted glass affairs -and stood on a stand the sophs had fixed up -and draped with the class colors. Miss Ogden -and the soph were going it full speed. In the -first place, the stand had been set too far from -the wall. Just as the two girls came close to -it, Miss Ogden’s feet slipped and the pair -crashed into the stand. Over went stand and -punch bowl, <i>simply deluging</i> Miss Norris with -lemonade.” Vera’s hands went up in horrified -recollection of the scene.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Was ever anything more unfortunate?” -Leila turned to Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Dreadfully</i>,” Marjorie agreed. She found -herself suddenly sympathizing with the small, -rage-swept figure she had seen for a moment in -Leslie’s room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It was an accident. The majority of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>girls at the frolic would have accepted it as -such, without being peeved, if it had happened -to any one of them. Miss Norris was furious -over it. It was too bad, of course. She had -on a perfectly ducky white satin frock. She -really looked beautiful in it, though I think her -beauty is of a cold, arrogant type. She is evidently -high-tempered, and she lost control of -her temper. She fairly screamed out at Miss -Ogden: ‘<i>You’ve ruined my dress, you rough, -ill-bred little bounder.</i>’ This, while Miss Ogden -was apologizing to her for the accident, and -half crying. The beauty line had just begun to -form. A good many of the girls fell out of -line, mostly the freshies, and hurried over to -the wreck. The punch bowl was smashed to -smithereens and the stand lay in a big puddle -of lemonade. The silk draping was soaked with -it. The judges’ platform wasn’t more than a -dozen feet away from the smash so we could -hear a part of what was being said by the two -girls.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I felt sorry for Miss Ogden. She tried to -keep her temper, even after Miss Norris had -spoken so insultingly to her. She merely -clenched her hands and repeated: ‘I’m more -sorry than I can say, Miss Norris; I’m more -than ready to pay for your damaged gown. I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>know it’s imported, but I’ll be glad to—’ Miss -Norris answered in the most hateful way, ‘<i>You</i>—You -show your ill-breeding in suggesting -such a thing. You are simply impossible.’</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Miss Ogden couldn’t stand that so she blazed -out: ‘<i>You</i> didn’t seem to regard me as impossible -when you asked me to electioneer for you. -<i>You</i>, not <i>I</i>, are ill-bred!’ Miss Norris positively -shrieked, ‘<i>How dare you insult me?</i> You know -you haven’t spoken truthfully.’ Six or seven of -Miss Norris’s crowd joined in then, and they all -turned upon Miss Ogden. Then there began -such a chorus of gabbling, I couldn’t distinguish -much that was being said. Some of Miss Ogden’s -friends joined the fuss and began to defend -<i>her</i>. She was in the middle of the crowd, -wild with rage, telling them all what she thought -of them. The whole fuss hardly occupied more -than five minutes’ time. Miss Elgin, the soph -president, hurried over to me and said: ‘Come -and help me stop this fuss, <i>please</i>, Miss Mason. -It’s disgraceful!’ I told her to come up on the -platform and order the beauty line to reform -instantly, saying that, otherwise, the contest -would be declared off.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Vera laughed softly. “You should have seen -the mob break up. Five minutes later the line -was strolling around the gym, as decorously as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>could be. I don’t know what became of either -Miss Norris, or Miss Ogden. Neither was in -the beauty line, naturally. Most of Miss Norris’s -crowd were. It sounds uncharitable, but I’m -convinced that Miss Norris hoped to win in the -contest. She wouldn’t have, though, even if her -gown hadn’t been damaged. Miss Burke, a -dormitory freshie, won it. She was the most -beautiful girl in the line. The dorms gave her -a great send-off. I beat it for the Hall the moment -after Doris delivered the adjuration to -Beauty, but I could still hear the girls cheering -until I was half way across the campus.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Miss Ogden is in her room. Leslie is with -her,” Leila informed Vera. “She came in in a -fine flurry. We fled, knowing we had best leave -her to Leslie.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She has my sympathy. It was not only ill-bred, -but also unkind in Miss Norris to make -such a scene because of an accident,” was -Vera’s slightly contemptuous opinion. “If this -fuss had occurred before the class election she -would never have won the presidential vote.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She’s made a bad start at Hamilton,” Marjorie -said soberly. “She’s taken the wrong -road, and no one but herself can put her on the -right one again. If only she could be made to -see it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>“It is like you, Beauty, to mourn over the ill-doer, -and for that we have loved you. Leslie -is what she is today because you believed she -had a better self. It is yet too young in the -college year to say what beneficial changes may -come, if any, to Miss Norris. If she has a better -self,” Leila’s tone had become sceptical, “I -am afraid she will be put to considerable trouble -to find it. I know I shall take no pains to point -it out to her.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Shall you ask her to be in Henry the Fifth -after what happened tonight?” Marjorie inquired -half mischievously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Now</i> you <i>are</i> asking me something.” Leila’s -wide smile broke out. “I might be doing better -were I to ask her to play ‘Kate’ in ‘The Taming -of the Shrew.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'>The entrance of Leslie into the room turned -the attention of the three girls in her direction.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What happened at the gym, Vera?” she -asked as she drew a chair forward and joined -the group.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then she hasn’t yet come out of it?” Vera -opened questioning blue eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, she has, to the extent of saying there -was a scrap at the gym, and that she hates Miss -Norris. That’s the part she keeps on emphasizing -to me. She’s so sore over whatever happened -<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>tonight at the gym that she can’t see -straight. She promised to spill the news to me -tomorrow. I didn’t stop to quiz her about it. -I thought you’d know, perhaps.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Vera recounted briefly what she had already -told Leila and Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Good night</i>,” was Leslie’s slangily forceful -reception of Vera’s account of the evening’s -accident. “No wonder the kid is sore. Some -one ought to send Miss Norris a book of etiquette -for social occasions with a few choice -paragraphs underlined. Leave it to Muriel to -do it, if she were here. I wonder if Miss Norris -is worse than I used to be?” she pondered aloud. -“I believe she <i>is</i>. I doubt if, in the same circumstances, -I’d have raised a commotion in -public about getting a lemonade shower-bath. -Of course, it was the beauty contest that started -her going. She’ll never forgive Jewel Marie -for being the means of snapping her out of it. -The kid says she hates Miss Norris. It looks -as though internal war might ramp and rage -at Wayland Hall, unless someone with scads of -nerve should rise in her might, and put the -kibosh on it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’ve always said <i>you</i> had more nerve than -anybody else, Leslie,” Marjorie laughed, yet -<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>there was a gleam of earnestness in her brown -eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yep; I know it. I was just thinking about -that myself.” Leslie’s eyes met Marjorie’s in -a glance of slow significance.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“While you and Beauty find a plan to make -the Hall a safe place for two timid old ladies -like Midget and me to live in, I shall brew you -a cup of tea, and Midget must lay the plates -and bring out the cakes.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila and Vera immediately began to busy -themselves with the preparation of a spread, -leaving Marjorie and Leslie to the discussion -which had seemingly narrowed down to they -two.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This crowd of Miss Norris’s are doing their -level best to upset the democratic peace of Wayland -Hall,” Leslie said emphatically. “They -can’t possibly win in the long run, but they can -keep things here disagreeably stirred up, perhaps -all year, unless their activities are nipped -in the bud. Last year Muriel’s show turned -the tide in my favor when Miss Ferguson and -Dulcie Vale tried to down me. There was a -greater number of girls in the Orchid Club, too. -There are twelve of these freshies. One may -safely count Mildred Ferguson in with them. -Thirteen disturbers to vanquish. Go to it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>Cairns II. That’s how I feel about it. That’s -what Peter the Great would say, if I told <i>him</i> -my troubles.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You have the same determined spirit I can -imagine Brooke Hamilton as having had,” Marjorie -reached out, laying a warmly sympathetic -hand upon one of Leslie’s. “If I were still living -at the Hall as a P. G., you know I would -fight shoulder to shoulder with you. But I’m -not far away from you. Remember, if you need -my help in any way, it shall be yours.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You certainly have some imagination.” Leslie -indulged in one of her oddly silent laughs. -“Thank you for the Brooke Hamilton bouquet, -and I’ll know where to come running, if things -begin to speed up too much for me.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you believe these freshies are interested -in Hamilton as their Alma Mater?” Marjorie -put the question after a meditative silence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No; not even a little bit. They’re of the -present-moment flapper type, indifferent to -everything but their own pleasure. They spend -their recreation hours mostly in their cars. -They’re not the sort to respond to friendly advances. -They’ve been fairly pleasant with the -other freshies here. Now that freshie class election -is over—” Leslie’s shrug was indicative of -her meaning.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>“You and Leila are both so clever, Leslie, and -you two practically control campus dramatics. -If only you could win these girls over by offering -them parts in the plays to be given at the -Playhouse this winter. It might make them feel -more in touch with Hamilton, and awaken in -them a new spirit of college interest.” Marjorie’s -suggestion rang with her own boundless -enthusiasm toward Hamilton.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Something like that,” Leslie nodded. -“Frankly, Marjorie, that New York freshie -crowd bores me silly. So does Jewel Marie, at -times. But she’s of the people, all democrat -underneath her ridiculous idea of caste. I can -see where I’m going to run into trouble if I -don’t watch my step while trying to win over -a bunch of girls that she’s down on. Just the -same, Mrs. Macy,” Leslie purposely took on -Jerry’s matter-of-fact tone, “<i>it will have to be -done. Yes siree; it will have to be done</i>, and -it’s up to Cairns II to tackle it, <i>and get away -with it</i>.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XVIII<br /> <br />A SENTIMENTAL INTEREST</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“And you say John Saxe doesn’t know who -owns those Kenton Street properties. That’s -strange.” Peter Cairns’ alert dark features -registered a mixture of surprise and doubt. “He -should know.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m convinced that he doesn’t,” Hal Macy -returned. “He told me the owner of them transacted -all business pertaining to them through an -agent, who refused to tell him the owner’s -name. The agent told Mr. Saxe that the owner -was not keen about selling them, but might consider -one hundred, fifty thousand for them.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Ridiculous. I wouldn’t give a penny over -forty thousand for them, and that’s a very fair -figure,” the financier declared with slightly contemptuous -finality.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I offered fifty thousand for them, through -Saxe. I hardly thought them worth more than -that. The site is worth far more than are the -houses. They are ramshackle, with practically -no modern conveniences. It has been my idea -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>to buy them, have the houses torn down, and, -in their stead, erect modern two-story dwellings -with all modern conveniences. These properties -extend along the south side of the street -for almost two blocks. The families who live -in the rickety houses have been there for years, -and are among the really deserving poor of -Hamilton. As a staid, conservative college town -Hamilton has little commercial or industrial interest. -There is little work for the laboring -man in and about the town at present. The -shutting down of two or three of the few manufactories -in Hamilton has made wage-earning a -problem. I have talked with some of these poor -fellows and have found their conditions deplorable. -With no steady work, and a high rental -to pay, to say nothing of the present high cost -of living, the majority of them are hard pressed. -I should like, at least, to see them in comfortable -houses, at a more moderate rental than they are -now obliged to pay.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Hal’s eyes had strayed from Peter Cairns’ -strong face to that of his Violet girl, confident -of her sympathetic approval. They two, Leila -and Vera, Leslie and her father had dined that -evening at the Arms with Miss Susanna and -were now gathered in the library for a confidential -session.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>Peter Cairns had arrived in Hamilton on the -day before and was Miss Susanna’s guest. He -had come in prompt response to her letter containing -the affectionate mandate, “Peter, I want -you to drop everything else and come to the -Arms. I must see you.” Hal, still hugging his -mysterious secret to his heart, had been equally -anxious to see the financier. He had also -pinned his faith upon Peter Cairns to ascertain -for him the identity of the owner of the properties.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Listening to the discussion between Miss -Susanna and the financier regarding the possibilities -of locating Lawyer Norris, if living, or -of obtaining the much desired information regarding -the fifty-thousand-dollar Honor Fund -should the attorney be deceased, Hal was more -than ever convinced of Peter Cairns’ brilliant -capabilities. His terse assurance: “I’ll attend -to it for you, Miss Susanna, though it may take -a little time to trace Norris,” had served to -strengthen Hal’s belief in him.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“And <i>that</i> is the surprise you’ve been hiding -from me,” Marjorie’s face was radiant. “I love -it, and you, too, bushels and bushels,” she finished -childishly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I knew you would.” Hal’s answering smile -was like a caress. He tore his eyes reluctantly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>from his wife’s lovely face to explain boyishly -to the others, “I’m a man without a job, you -know, and it worries me, as much, maybe, as -being out of work worries those poor fellows on -Kenton Street. The only difference between -us is that of money. They haven’t enough. I -have too much. My grandfather left me a whole -lot of money. A great uncle of mine left me -a lot more. I’d like to use some of it to help -the other fellow. Marjorie and I are so happy, -I’d like to see others happy, too, because of it. -I can’t see being a country gentleman with a -stable full of fine horses, hunting dogs, and all -that sort of thing. I want to keep going, in a -way that will benefit others. Marjorie taught -me the glory of work. Now I’d like best of all -to show her how well I’ve learned my lesson.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Hal!” Came a flash of white, and Marjorie -had perched herself upon the arm of Hal’s -chair, her soft lips pressed against his cheek, -a bare, clinging arm about his neck.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You have your reward,” Peter Cairns said -gallantly. Unconsciously his eyes strayed past -the married lovers to Leila. Happening to meet -the financier’s glance, Leila felt the color rise -in her cheeks. She instantly looked away, self-vexed. -Their glances had merely chanced to -meet, was her annoyed thought. Deep in her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>heart, however, she was conscious of a growing -admiration for the clean-cut, keen-eyed finance -king.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie, always a close observer, had missed -neither the exchange of glances nor the quick-leaping -color to Leila’s cheeks. She smiled to -herself, as though vastly amused by some sudden -amusing thought of her own.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is the one reward worth gaining.” Hal’s -right arm had wrapped itself about Marjorie’s -waist.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You two children have the best,” Miss Susanna’s -brisk intonation had softened to gentleness. -“You can well afford to be money-generous. -So can I, for that matter. I’m rich in -devoted friends, too. I’d like to join in this -welfare enterprise of yours, Hal, if you’ll permit -me.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This is the best news I’ve heard since Marjorie -told me that she loved me bushels and -bushels.” Hal’s handsome features were smiling -anew.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why not let Leslie and me into it, too?” -Peter Cairns demanded.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The Marjorie Dean Macy Welfare Colony,” -suggested Leslie. “How’s that for a name?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>No, indeed</i>,” Marjorie made lively objection. -“Either the Susanna Hamilton, or the Peter -<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>Cairns Welfare Colony would sound much better.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Not a bit of it,” sturdily objected Miss Susanna. -“Leslie has the right idea. We are all -here together tonight, the best of friends, because -of Marjorie’s interest, direct or indirect, -in us when we were practically strangers to one -another.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Ain’t it the truth?</i>” Leslie agreed in a tone -of awed wonder that set them all laughing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We are really Marjorie’s own colony. Don’t -attempt to deny it, young lady,” Miss Hamilton -shook a playfully reproving finger at Marjorie, -“nor try to disown us.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“As though I could.” Marjorie slipped from -the arm of Hal’s chair and went over to sit on -that of Miss Susanna.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll try again,” Leslie said humorously. -“Since Marjorie and Miss Susanna both object -to having our new colony named for them, and -I know Peter the Great will object to the honor, -the minute he can get a word in, why not call -it the Hamilton Colony?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; of course, that is so much better,” Marjorie -laughingly seconded.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I didn’t think you’d go back on me, Leslie.” -This time Miss Susanna’s finger shook itself at -Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>“I haven’t. I’m only trying to please everybody -here, and not getting away with it,” Leslie -assured with an enjoying grin.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It all goes back to Mr. Brooke, Goldendede. -Hamilton was his native town. If such a condition -as Hal has just described to us had existed -in Hamilton in his day, he would have tried to -remedy it, as we hope to do,” Marjorie made -soulful argument. “I’d like to think of it as his -colony, all of us working together under the inspiring -name of Hamilton.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m not proof against such an argument. -You know my weak spot, and have taken advantage -of it, bad child.” Miss Susanna drew -Marjorie into the curve of her arm. “Well, -we’ll see about it. Now let us leave the naming -of our colony until later. While Peter goes on -the trail of information, Hal shall take us down -to Kenton Street for a look at the properties. -If only we could find that aggravating secret -drawer we could straighten this Honor Fund -matter out like magic.” She heaved an impatient -sigh.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You will one day find it in the last place you -might expect it to be, and that is but poor consolation,” -Leila prognosticated.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What I should call encouragement from a -purely Celtic standpoint,” Vera said teasingly.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>“Just like that,” Leslie joined Vera in teasing -Leila.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But for these two, I could lead a peaceful -life,” Leila complained resignedly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The three of you had better come over to -the Arms on Saturday for the week-end. I’ll -set you to hunting the secret drawer in separate -rooms. Then you won’t be disturbed, Leila.” -Miss Susanna surveyed the trio with twinkling -eyes. “I daresay, however, that I’ll find the -three of you all hob-nobbing cheerfully together -in one room before the day is over,” she mischievously -predicted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Something like that <i>might</i> happen,” Leila -conceded with her widest smile, “I am so kind-hearted.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Peter Cairns and Miss Susanna exchanged -sympathetically droll glances as they listened -to the lively repartee that went on for a little -among the three chums.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The best is ours, Peter,” the old lady said -softly to him with a quick sidelong nod toward -Leslie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I know it,” was his fervent response as he -looked with fond pride at his daughter’s laughter-bright -face. Again his eyes strayed to Leila -who was indulging in what she characterized -as “a fit of Irish glee.” She and Leslie were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>evidently the best of friends. He wondered, if, -in the dim future, there might come a time when -he—. He had been interested in Leila almost -since first meeting. He had sternly dismissed -the sentimental thought that invariably sprang -into his brain each time he saw the clever Irish -girl.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Peter,” Miss Susanna’s voice broke in upon -his nearly sentimental meditation, “I wish -you’d come and take a look about the Chinese -room. You’ve traveled in the Orient and know -a good deal about the secret ways of the Orientals. -Your knowledge of Chinese things may -steer you straight to the secret drawer.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Are we invited to go along?” Marjorie inquired -plaintively.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Of course, goose, we’ll all go, and do a little -hunting. I believe in making my guests useful,” -laughed the old lady.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The searchers trooped merrily into the -Chinese room, volubly voicing their hope that -the financier might hit upon the hiding-place of -the secret drawer. For an hour they busied -themselves diligently, running their hands over -the various pieces of teakwood furniture, and -pressing upon spots of it that suggested even -remotely the presence of a secret mechanism.</p> - -<p class='c006'>At the end of an hour, however, they had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>come no nearer to finding the too-well-concealed -drawer than when they had begun the search. -Even the financier admitted himself as baffled -on first hunt.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m coming up to the Hedge before Thanksgiving -to get it ready for occupancy. If you -haven’t found the drawer by that time, I’ll have -another go at it. Meantime, while I’m hunting -Norris, let the girls help you keep up the search -here. I have a lively hunch that we shall find -Norris, or possibly his heirs, and the drawer, -too, <i>and</i>,” his dark features set themselves with -stubborn determination, “I propose to leave -nothing undone toward making that hunch come -true.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XIX<br /> <br />AN UNSCRUPULOUS PLOTTER</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>As a result of the agreement Leila, Leslie, -Marjorie and Vera had made among themselves -on the night of the freshman frolic toward winning -over Stephanie Norris and her chums, -Leila had decided to open the season at the -Playhouse with “Henry the Fifth,” rather than -“The Merchant of Venice.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>It was with no particular pleasure, however, -that, on an evening not long after the frolic she -knocked upon Miss Norris’s door for a polite -interview with the difficult freshman, concerning -the honor she proposed to extend to her. -“And if I should suddenly come flying back -here, as though blown down the hall by a strong -gale, feel no surprise!” she confided to Vera. -“I am not counting upon a cordial reception.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>To her surprise, she found the arrogant -freshman inclined to be gracious. Stephanie -had come into a realization of several pertinent -truths since the night of the freshman frolic. -One of them was a nettled realization that she -had behaved unwisely in flying into a fit of temper -<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>with Miss Ogden. Her own particular coterie -of chums had sympathized with her, with -the exception of Laura Taylor, her roommate. -Mildred Ferguson was also on her side. She -was not so sure of Mildred’s roommate, Miss -Watson, who had escorted Laura to the frolic. -Laura had voiced frank disapproval of Stephanie’s -rude outburst when they had reached the -privacy of their room after the frolic was over. -They had in consequence quarreled hotly and -had since been barely upon speaking terms.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The article which had appeared in “The -Campus Echo,” three days after the frolic, relative -to the “Playhouse,” had not added to -Stephanie’s peace of mind. She had not supposed -“that horrid Miss Cairns” to be of so -much importance on the campus. According to -Mildred Ferguson, Miss Cairns had no right, -whatever, to be on the campus. Her father’s -money alone had influenced President Matthews -to overlook her many misdemeanors. She had -actually been expelled from college, then later -had been permitted to return to Hamilton as a -matter of favoritism. As Miss Ogden’s roommate, -she might be expected to sympathize with -“the tiresome little creature.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Stephanie was still brimming with rancor -against the offending freshman. Thanks to Miss -<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>Ogden’s stupid clumsiness not only her lovely -important gown, but also her high hope of winning -the beauty contest had been ruined. She -had vengefully determined “to get even” with -the diminutive freshman to the point of having -already considered various spiteful schemes for -humiliating the object of her spite. What she -purposed to do, when she had finally hit upon a -telling plan of revenge, was to carry it out with -a secrecy that should permit of no discovery.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila’s unexpected call, together with the flattering -import of her errand, filled Stephanie -with a sense of gratified triumph. She took -good care to hide it under a forced pretense of -graciousness, however. Her unreasoning dislike -for the clever manager of the Playhouse must -not be permitted to stand in the way of her own -popularity. She had “lost out” wretchedly in -the beauty contest. She could not afford any -further “flivvers.” Nevertheless, she chose to -demur over the stellar role which Leila now offered -her on the plea that she would like to -“think the matter over” before coming to a -decision.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila presently returned to her own room, not -in the least deceived by the scheming freshman, -but half sorry she had asked her to take part -in the coming Shakespearean play. “The deed is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>done,” she dryly informed Vera as she entered -their room. “Let us hope it has not been ill done. -I am less than ever taken with Miss Norris. She -has little more college spirit than a basket of -potatoes.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“How very uncharitable you are,” Vera giggled -at Leila’s disgusted comparison.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Am I not?” The Irish girl’s half-frowning -features brightened into a faint grin. She thereupon -gave Vera a brief account of her interview -with Stephanie, ending with: “I am the willing -slave of democracy, but it is a hard master.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>With Leila’s exit from Stephanie’s room, her -roommate, Laura Taylor, who had been present -during Leila’s call, broke the constraint -which had hung heavily upon the two since the -night of the frolic.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are in luck, Steve,” she observed with -quiet significance. “You can afford to forget -about the beauty contest flivver. Something -much better has come your way. Go to it. You can -act. You ought to make a wonderful King Hal.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; I <i>can</i> act.” Stephanie walked over to -her mirror, chin raised to a complacent angle. -“I hope the costumes for the part are good. If -I don’t like them, I shall send to a New York -costumer’s for others that may suit me better.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes?” Behind Stephanie’s back Laura’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>plump shoulders shrugged bored disapproval.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s exactly as I told you it would be.” -Stephanie suddenly swung around from the mirror, -speaking with triumphant energy. “Those -snippy P. G.’s, Miss Harper and Miss Cairns, -simply <i>had</i> to recognize my worth. It looks to -me as though Miss Harper might be on my side, -and not on Miss Ogden’s. Perhaps Miss Cairns -has had enough of her, too. Both have no doubt -heard about our fuss at the beauty contest.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Listen to me, Steve,” Laura burst forth impatiently, -“for goodness’ sake stop kidding -yourself along. You happen to be the type Miss -Harper happened to need for King Henry. -<i>That’s</i> the reason, <i>and the only reason</i> why she -has offered you the part.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It is <i>not</i>,” Stephanie flared back hotly. “You -are—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Kindly permit me to finish.” Laura spoke -in a tone which Stephanie recognized and -dreaded. It meant that the wall of silence was -likely to loom again between them, to remain -raised indefinitely.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Oh, pardon me</i>,” she apologized with covert -sarcasm.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Neither Miss Harper nor Miss Cairns are -the sort to ‘take sides’ in the way you seem to -believe they might. If they were, they would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>certainly not be on yours. You were far more -to blame the other night at the frolic than was -Miss Ogden. If you had spoken to me, as you -spoke to her, I should have been tempted to -make more trouble for you than she made.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I was <i>not</i> to blame. She ruined my gown, -then flew at me like a—a tiger,” stormed -Stephanie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“But not until you had called her a clumsy -idiot, a bounder and various other uncomplimentary -names,” Laura stolidly reminded. “You -owe that girl an apology.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>I</i>,” Stephanie indicated herself with an outraged -fore finger, “<i>apologize to that miserable -little upstart</i>? I’ll never forgive her for having -put me in such a humiliating position. I’ll find -a way to get back at her for it, too. Remember -what I say.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, drop it,” Laura commented wearily. -“The sooner you live down your part of that -fuss, the better off you’ll be. And don’t come -to me with any of your ridiculous revenge -schemes. Nothing doing.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You talk like a prig—like one of those silly -dormitory students,” Stephanie threw back with -supreme contempt. “What has come over you, -Laura Taylor? You act entirely different from -the good pal you used to be to me.” Stephanie -<span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>cunningly appealed to Laura from a standpoint -of loyalty. Laura hated disloyalty.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve been loyal to you, if that’s what you -mean.” Laura turned a coolly level gaze upon -her friend’s petulant features. “Everything at -Hamilton is so different from the way things -were at prep school—more inspiring, and—” -Laura paused, then added reflectively, “worth -while.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Horrors! I hope you haven’t enlisted under -the reform banner,” Stephanie sneered. “It -looks fatally like it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Don’t let it worry you.” A quick flush rose -to the stout girl’s plump cheeks. “Watch your -own step. I mean that in good part, Steve.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Thank you</i>,” came the disdainful retort. “I -<i>hope</i> I am capable of managing my own affairs.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I hope so, too,” Laura returned with a gravity -of tone that made Stephanie feel vaguely -uncomfortable.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Three days later she wrote Leila a formal -note containing her acceptance of the Shakespearean -part. Rather to her disappointment, -Leila promptly responded with an equally -formal note of thanks, and a brief request that -she report at the theatre at one o’clock the following -Saturday afternoon for a reading of the -drama to be later enacted. Stephanie had hoped -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>that Leila would again come to her room, having -decided upon a certain lofty pose which she -intended to assume during the call. She was -also desirous of learning whether Miss Ogden -had been included in the cast, an inclusion -against which she had determined politely to -protest. She had resolved to make life miserable -for the offending freshman to the point of -driving her from Hamilton College, provided -she could accomplish such a revenge. If she -could not, it would not be from lack of trying. -A pampered only child, Stephanie had grown -to young womanhood with a fixed idea of her -own importance. Nor was anyone permitted -long to stand in her way, whom she could succeed -in ousting from it.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Her attendance of the reading of the play at -the Playhouse on the following Saturday afternoon -revealed to her the not unwelcome fact -that Miss Ogden was missing from the cast. It -would save her the necessity of a protest, which, -she had sulkily reflected, might have reacted to -her disadvantage. She was full of secret satisfaction -over the good fortune that had visited -her, vanity prompting her to repudiate Laura’s -blunt surmise of how it had come about.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The swift passing of the autumn days found -her strictly upon her most gracious behavior -<span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>toward Leila, Vera and the other members of -the cast. Leslie she could not endure. Fortunately -for her she seldom came into contact with -the busy, reserved manager. Leslie had become -everything to the charming little theatre from -manager to property man. While Leila directed -and rehearsed the actors with unfailing patience -and good nature, Leslie was frequently -a silent observer at rehearsals. Seated far back -in the auditorium little that went on on the -stage escaped her critical eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>There had been no need for Stephanie to be -dissatisfied with her several costumes. In presenting -the theatre to the campus Peter Cairns -had shown lavish generosity in the matter of -wardrobe. He had also placed a costume fund -at Leila’s disposal to be used at her discretion. -The love of acting being a part of Stephanie’s -vain make-up, she did well in the stellar role -of king. She had every reason to be happy, in -the new pleasant environment which the rehearsals -furnished, but was not. She continued -to nurse her grudge against Jewel Ogden, never, -for a moment relenting toward the despised -freshman.</p> - -<p class='c006'>As a result of the quarrel at the frolic Jewel -was still very sore at heart. She had girlishly -admired Stephanie for her good looks and imperial -<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>manner, and had been cut to the quick -by the latter’s harsh treatment of herself. She -had mentally dwelt upon the disaster to Stephanie’s -hopes, that she had grown pitifully sensitive. -She kept it well hidden, however, under -her usual brisk, out-spoken manner. Leslie alone -understood that the little girl had not yet -emerged from her valley of humiliation. Following -her vehement grief on the night of the -frolic she had afterward become mute on the -subject of her wrongs, refusing to volunteer another -word relative to them. Leslie, sympathetically -silent, had asked no question.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leila had already approached Jewel on the -subject of her new play, “The Leprachaun,” to -be enacted later in the college year. This with -a view toward “making honors even” and as an -indication to Miss Ogden of the impartiality of -her policy, germane to matters theatrical. The -freshman had accepted the stellar part in the -new play which was still engaging Leila’s serious -literary effort. The Irish girl had determined -to make the fanciful drama the best she -had yet written. She had carefully explained -to Jewel how much the quaint Irish play meant -to her, and Jewel had, for the time, emerged -from under her secret cloud to brighten over -the flattering prospect ahead of her. Later, she -<span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>dropped again into her former half despondent -mood, a change which Leslie quickly noted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Cheer up, Jewel, and come on over to Baretti’s -to dinner. I feel like changing my eats tonight. -You eata da spaghet?” She paused -before Jewel in droll imitation of Signor Baretti, -the friendly proprietor of the restaurant.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, I do. I love Italian cooking.” Jewel’s -sober face lightened.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Fine business.” Leslie whisked the little girl -into her coat before she had time to change her -mind, dropping her small felt hat gently on the -curly black head.</p> - -<p class='c006'>They were presently seated at an alcove table -of the quaint inn, ordering a full Italian dinner -that began with Baretti’s special snappy relish -and would end with Spumoni ice cream and delicious -Italian cake. It was still early for the -usual nightly throng of college diners at the inn. -Besides Leslie and Jewel the tables showed not -more than a sprinkling of students, none of -whom either girl knew other than by sight. They -had just begun their dessert when a party of -students entered the restaurant to an accompanying -ripple of noise and laughter.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh.” Jewel’s dessert spoon struck her plate -with a nervous little clang as she recognized in -the entrants a part of Stephanie Norris’s pals, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>together with Mildred Ferguson. Stephanie, -however, was not among them.</p> - -<p class='c006'>They seated themselves at a not far distant -table in a laughing flutter, their eyes busily roving -the great room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ve finished my dessert,” Jewel’s face had -suddenly lost its brightness. “Let’s go, Leslie,” -she entreated.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We will soon,” Leslie nodded, “but we are -not going to run away because of that crowd. -I refuse to be cheated of my coffee, and you -haven’t yet taken a sip of yours.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t want it. I’d rather go. Those girls—you -don’t understand,” she declared sadly. -“They—that Miss Ferguson—she has said hateful -things about me. If we stay she will begin -talking about me, and the others will stare at -me, and laugh among themselves. I can’t bear -it.” Her red underlip had begun to tremble.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Steady, kid. Pay no attention to them.” -Leslie sent a coolly appraising glance at the -tableful of girls that was not without its effect. -The staring process had already covertly begun, -but more than one pair of eyes wavered from -the challenging inquiry of her black eyes. The -group turned attention to the ordering of their -dinner with a promptness that brought the semblance -of a grim smile to Leslie’s lips.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>“What has Miss Ferguson been saying about -you?” was Leslie’s first question, when ten minutes -later, the two girls had stepped out into -the soft fall darkness.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The same sort of things Miss Norris said -to me in the gym when I spoiled her dress,” -quavered Jewel.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You are positive that she has said them? -You know, don’t you, that campus gossip is anything -but reliable? Remarks often become badly -twisted on the way around,” Leslie made dry -assertion.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; I know she has. Miss Felton heard her -say something unkind about me to Miss Mayhew -the other day and censured her for it. I’ve -heard of things she has said from two other -freshmen, too. They advised me to go to her -and have it out with her. I’d rather not do it. -I’m not afraid, but it seems more dignified to -ignore her hatefulness, if I can. I made one -mistake in answering Miss Norris on the night -at the frolic, I don’t care to make a second.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You have the right idea. Stick to it. No -one but yourself can make, or mar you.” Unconsciously -Leslie repeated the very words she -had said on a certain spring night of the previous -year when a bevy of girls, headed by Mildred -Ferguson, had arrayed itself against her.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>“That’s the way I think, too. You can see -for yourself how much better it was not to let -it be known on the campus that I used to be a -trapeze performer,” Jewel said soberly. “I’d -have been talked over and sneered at until I’d -have been glad to leave Hamilton.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Not by the girls who count as representative -of Hamilton,” Leslie sturdily disagreed. -“You’ve lost your nerve. Find it again, and -don’t let the hissing of these geese worry you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll try to find it again.” Jewel gave a little -half-hearted laugh. “Just the same I’m glad -only you know about my stage days. You—you’re -sure you never mentioned it, even to -Miss Harper?” Jewel’s voice rose anxiously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Certainly not; even though I had, you’d still -be safe,” Leslie humorously assured. “She’s -an even better secret-keeper than I.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Long after lights were out that night and -Jewel slept, vastly comforted by Leslie’s kindly -effort to cheer her up, Leslie lay wide-awake, -pondering a summary method of interference -in the freshman’s behalf against the persecution -of Mildred Ferguson’s gossiping tongue. She -finally dropped to sleep without having hit upon -a decided scheme of action, though daylight and -waking would again renew her thoughtful consideration -of the problem.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XX<br /> <br />LE PETIT OISEAU</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“You are positive of it, Marylyn?” Stephanie -Norris’s voice betrayed triumphant excitement. -“You must be able to prove, you know, that she -really <i>is</i> the person you saw in Paris, before -you dare let the news get out on the campus. -Otherwise she would fly at you like a hornet, or -else take her troubles to Prexy.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m positive enough of what I tell you. I -can prove it, too, by a French theatre program -I have with her picture on the front cover. I -have always been puzzled, wondering why her -face seemed so familiar to me. I was sure I’d -seen her somewhere on the Continent when we -were abroad last summer. The night of the -frolic I was more sure of it than ever when I -saw her in that peachblow frock, doing that -fancy trot with the tall soph. Even then I -couldn’t place her. Yesterday afternoon I was -talking to Miss Werner who was in Paris about -the same time that we were. We both happened -to remember a particularly good vaudeville -<span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>show we’d seen there. Then it flashed -across me, all of a sudden, ‘<i>Le Petit Oiseau</i>.’ -That’s the way she was programmed. She came -out first in a dress that was almost the same -shade of pink as the one she wore to the frolic, -and did some marvelously clever acrobatic -stunts. Then she changed to a scarlet and black -trapeze rig with cunning little black wings. She -had a partner then, a catcher, I believe they call -him, and then she did some toppo stunts on the -flying trapeze.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marylyn Spencer, small, and rather pretty, -save for a pair of lynx-like, calculating eyes, -fairly paused for breath after her rapidly-spoken -revelation. She was a faithful satellite -of Stephanie’s, far more in harmony with the -latter’s high-handed methods than was Laura. -“I’ve written to Mother to send me the program. -It was so artistic I kept it as a Paris souvenir. -I know I’m right about it,” she finished emphatically.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>A common trapeze performer</i>,” Arline Redmond -said with infinite disdain. “<i>That is</i> the -limit. No wonder she behaved like a wild cat -to you at the frolic, Steve. She certainly doesn’t -belong at Hamilton. There <i>are</i> colleges, of -course, suited to such <i>ambitious persons</i>.” She -<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>laughed disagreeably. “She had nerve to come -to Hamilton.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I imagine she got into Hamilton under false -pretenses.” Stephanie took eager advantage of -the opening. “Possibly Miss Cairns may know -the truth about her. I’ll say the faculty doesn’t. -When do you expect to receive that program -from home, Marylyn?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Within three or four days. Why? What are -you going to do?” she demanded curiously. -More or less of her curiosity was reflected upon -the faces of the other girls who were present -in Stephanie’s room. Among the group Laura -alone maintained a bored silence. No word of -the gossiping conversation, going on animatedly -in the room, was “getting by” her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Never mind what I’m going to do. Let me -have that program as soon as you can. Then -look out.” Stephanie gave a soft malicious little -laugh.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’ll have to be very careful what you do, -Steve,” warned Mildred Ferguson half sourly. -She had been unable to “think up” a telling revenge -against Jewel Ogden and was slightly -peeved at Marylyn’s success. “If you start -anything about Miss Ogden having been a circus -performer going on the campus you’ll soon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>find both Miss Cairns and Miss Harper on your -trail. They can make it hot for you, too.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>That</i> for Miss Cairns and Miss Harper,” -Stephanie snapped contemptuous fingers. “Miss -Harper is lovely to me, and Miss Cairns would -be, too, if I gave her the slightest opening. -Don’t worry, I know how to put this little stunt -over, and no one, outside you girls here, will -be able to say how it happened.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Much ado about nothing,” Laura had come -out of her bored silence. “Possibly, after Steve -has behaved like the villain in a melodrama -you’ll then all discover that the Ogden kid -doesn’t care a hang who knows she was once a -trapeze performer. It may give her a fine boost -on the campus.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Nothing of the sort.” Stephanie turned angrily -upon Laura. “If she’d felt like that about -it she would have boasted of it long ago, to me. -She’s horribly conceited. No, indeed. She was -always very evasive whenever I happened to -ask her any personal questions. Besides, she -told me she had attended Warburton Prep.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Possibly she had,” Laura retorted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I doubt it. You’re always on the wrong side -of the fence lately. Since you don’t agree with -me, please, at least, remember that this is a -confidential talk,” Stephanie reminded icily.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>“Now you <i>have</i> said something.” Laura thereupon -subsided with an amused air which only -an odd glint in her pale blue eyes contradicted.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Meanwhile Jewel had taken Leslie’s blunt advice -to heart and was trying to regain the self-assured -air that had characterized her during -her first days at college. Hearing no further -adverse criticisms of herself she was now glad -that she had followed the line of conduct which -Leslie had advocated.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Returning from a ride with Leslie in the late -October dusk the eyes of both girls were simultaneously -attracted by the sight of a folded -newspaper held in place by the knob of their -room door.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“The Hamilton Gazette,” Jewel read in surprise. -“How queer, and it’s addressed to me! -I wonder who put it there?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Some little mystery.” Leslie had already entered -the room and switched on the light. Her -thoughts elsewhere, she was paying no particular -attention to the freshman as she stood -ripping off the news sheet’s addressed wrapper. -She heard, mechanically, the rustle of unfolding -paper, followed by sudden silence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh-h-h-h!”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie was unprepared for the long, anguished -wail which Jewel sent up. Sight of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>little girl’s horrified expression, and she came -quickly forward, saying anxiously, “What’s the -matter, Jewel?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Read it! Read it!” the freshman cried, holding -the paper toward Leslie with shaking hands. -“Look. <i>You</i> did that. No one but you could -have done it. I—I—hate you!” She thrust the -paper forcefully into Leslie’s hands.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What?” Leslie had already busied herself -with the fateful news sheet. Squarely at top -center of the first page was a badly-blurred picture -of a girl in a very short-skirted evening -frock. Her pose, however, was distinctly theatrical. -Despite blurred reproduction the girl -in the picture was unmistakably Jewel. Below -the picture Leslie read the large-type headline, -“Trapeze Performer a College Innovation.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Amazed interest glued Leslie’s eyes to the -half column article below the head line. She -read on, dimly conscious of Jewel’s accompanying -angry voice.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Where did you get that picture?” she finished -in time to hear Jewel storm. “You had -it all the time. You must have seen our show -in Paris, then pretended innocence to me. That -picture was on the theatre program, and you -know it. No one else knew about me except -you. How <i>could</i> you?”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>“Come out of it, Jewel,” Leslie said with -brusque kindness. “Listen to me. Didn’t I -give you my word of honor regarding your -secret?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes, and broke it,” Jewel flung back furiously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You should know me better than that. Try -to be reasonable. What object would I possibly -have in doing any such contemptible thing?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“How should I know? Probably you told your -friend Mrs. Macy about it. She may have told -another of her intimate friends,” Jewel replied -bitterly. “She—”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I have told <i>no one</i>. Mrs. Macy is above reproach. -You will kindly leave her name out of -the discussion.” Pale with wrath, the chill of -Leslie’s tones cut through Jewel’s anger.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Perhaps she didn’t—” she began, half -ashamed; Leslie, however, had reached the door -and left the room without heeding the angry -freshman’s half attempt at exoneration. Left -to herself resentment against Leslie again possessed -her. When, half an hour later, Leslie -returned, well over the surge of black anger -that had threatened to burst upon Jewel, the -freshman appeared stonily unaware of her presence -in the room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>In the dining room that evening girl comment -<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>ran decorously rife. Every freshie at the Hall -had found a copy of the “Hamilton Gazette” at -her door that afternoon. They awaited Jewel’s -entrance into the dining room with more or less -eager curiosity. She did not appear at dinner, -to their signal disappointment. Far from being -shocked at the write-up, the broader-minded -element among them were inclined to lionize -Jewel. Weighed down by a false sense of -shame, she could not possibly guess this.</p> - -<p class='c006'>In Stephanie Norris’s room that evening a -triumphantly lively discussion went on at -Stephanie’s coup de grace. The freshman’s -non-appearance at dinner they had chose to regard -as significant.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I knew I was right about her,” Marylyn -Spencer elatedly repeated. “However did you -manage, Steve? I mean so that there won’t be -a come-back for you. Remember I must have -that program back again.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going into town tomorrow. I’ll send a -messenger boy from the Hamilton House for -it, and wait for its return to me there. I shall -simply tell him,” Stephanie broke into an -amused laugh, “to ask the editor for Miss -Harper’s program.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Miss Harper?” went up in several different -keys of surprise.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>“Yes. It’s awfully funny. You see I happened -to mention Miss Harper’s name in connection -with the Playhouse, and the editor must -have mistaken me for her. He very politely -called me Miss Harper. So—” again she -laughed,—“I let it go at that.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Then, no one can possibly connect us with—” -Joyce Gray, Marylyn’s roommate began excitedly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This pleasant little joke,” Laura Taylor supplied -mockingly. “You were in luck again, -weren’t you, Steve.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes.” Stephanie cast a suspicious glance -at Laura. The latter’s immobile face told her -nothing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I imagine she will try to brave this out,” -Mildred Ferguson said half contemptuously. -“Some of the students are silly enough to begin -making a fuss over her. We ought to do something more, -before this affair dies out, to chase -her off the campus.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What?” came in an expectant chorus.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Haze her,” Mildred replied very deliberately.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s strictly forbidden at Hamilton,” demurred -Edith Barber. “It’s sure enough expellment -if one is caught at it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, yes, of course, but one needn’t be caught -<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>at it. I know something we might do that -couldn’t possibly be proven against us, if we -were to be caught hazing that midget. Are you -willing to try it out?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I am,” Stephanie made instant reply.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’d rather know what your plan is before -making any promises,” Joyce said doubtfully.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“So should I,” came from two or three of the -others.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Never mind, I’ll tell you about it, then you -can decide,” Mildred conceded. “There’s a -room at the back of Hamilton Hall, first floor, -that the students are permitted to use for rehearsals -of campus house plays. All one has to -do is to ask the janitor for the key, and it can -be entered from a side door. The door opening -upon the corridor can be locked. All one has -to promise is to be out of the room by ten -o’clock. First we’ll write Miss Ogden a note -asking her to come to that room by the side entrance -at eight o’clock on a certain evening for -the discussion of a grave matter. We’ll simply -sign it ‘Chairman, Senior Welfare Committee.’ -When she steps into the room she’ll see seven -masked figures in gray dominos waiting for her. -One of us, it had better be Steve, will play chairman -and make her a speech about campus interests -demanding that she leave Hamilton. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>Steve will have to speak very sternly, so as to -make her believe that she is really in bad with -the best class of Hamilton students because of -the write-up in the ‘Gazette.’ Nine chances out -of ten she will swallow the bait and leave college. -None of the rest of us will say a word, and Steve -will have to disguise her voice. If anyone should -happen to be around that might make trouble -we can easily explain our presence there by saying -we were simply rehearsing a little play, and -deny knowing anything about either the note -we’ll send her, or the Senior Welfare Committee. -But there’s absolutely no danger of discovery.” -Mildred glanced about the circle of -interested faces, confident that she had scored.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s a dandy scheme.” Stephanie drew a long -breath of satisfaction. “But I can’t disguise -my voice well enough to act as chairman. Laura -can.” She looked dubiously at her roommate, -not sure but that Laura would balk. “Would -you be the chairman, Laura?” she asked persuasively.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes.” Laura’s prompt acceptance made -Stephanie open her eyes.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’ll write you a speech. You’ll have to learn -it by heart and practice it,” Mildred told the -stout freshman. “It ought to be something like -this: ‘My dear Miss Ogden, it has long been the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>custom of a selected committee of seniors, secretly -appointed each year by a certain person -to deal privately with such matters as may rise -to interfere with the welfare of the students of -Hamilton.’ How is that?” she appealed, laughing.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Fine,” exulted Stephanie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>An accompanying murmur of approval arose. -Laura alone kept silence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What do you think of it, Laura?” Stephanie -was aware of Laura’s muteness.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It will answer the purpose. When will the -party come off, where are the dominos to come -from?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We’ll buy the cloth and make them. We can -run them up by hand tomorrow night. I’ll make -yours for you while you’re learning your part. -I’ll write the speech this very night. This is -Tuesday. We can try our little stunt on Thursday, -provided no one else is going to use the -room on Thursday night. I’ll find that out tomorrow -morning. The sooner it happens, the -sooner we’ll see the last of Jewel Marie Ogden.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXI<br /> <br />ALL IN THE NAME OF WELFARE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“Suppose she shouldn’t come?” Behind the -gray of her mask Joyce Rawlston gave a faint -giggle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She will, I think,” Mildred Ferguson predicted. -“I heard today that she was all broke-up -over the write-up. She has been taking her -meals at Baretti’s, too. That’s why we haven’t -seen her in the dining room at the Hall.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s a wonder Miss Cairns hasn’t been trotting -around with her, trying to show how much -democracy she has,” Marylyn Spencer curled a -red upper lip. “They’ve not been seen together -since the afternoon when the story came out -in the ‘Gazette.’”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Miss Cairns is looking after her own interests -by dropping her, I presume. She had better -watch her step. She used to be considered -the most lawless student that ever enrolled at -Hamilton. She made a wise change in her ways -when she managed to get back again on the -campus. Now she plumes herself on being so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>intimate with Marjorie Dean Macy and that -crowd of wonder workers. I <i>detest</i> Leslie -Cairns,” Mildred exclaimed with bitter energy.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“For goodness’ sake, Laura, don’t fall down -on your speech,” Stephanie interposed nervously. -She was tired of hearing Mildred’s -tirade against Leslie, from a too frequent repetition -of it.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I won’t. Let me alone,” Laura replied to -Stephanie in the deep forbidding voice she was -soon to use as chairman.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Will she knock on the door?” Reba Franklin -cast a quick glance toward the appointed portal -by which Jewel Marie Ogden must enter, provided -she obeyed the dread summons.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No. The note directed her to open the door, -and walk in. Sh-h-h. I’m sure I heard a step,” -Mildred raised a warning finger.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Came the turn of the knob. A muffled sigh -ascended from the masked tribunal. Jewel Ogden -had stepped into the room, her black eyes -fixed upon the waiting gray dominos in an expression -of anxious dread. For an instant she -stood poised on the threshold as though about -to turn and flee, then she came slowly forward -until she was within a few feet of the long oak -bench on which were seated the fearsome company -of masks.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>“I received a note,” she began bravely, “from -the Chairman of the Campus Welfare Committee. -I should like to speak to her, please.” Her -eyes roved timidly up and down the line of -masks.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I am the chairman.” Laura had risen. She -stepped forward a little, standing between the -diminutive freshman and the row of silent dominos. -“My dear Miss Ogden,” she began, “it has -long been the custom in almost every college for -the unjust to persecute the just. You have been -summoned here tonight by a certain group of -girls who have yet to learn how to live, or how -to let others live.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh-h! Oh-h! Why, the idea!” The impressiveness -of the masked figures had been suddenly -lost in the angry babble of girl voices that -rose from behind the gray masks.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Silence.</i>” The sternness of the command, -spoken in a voice that was certainly not Laura -Taylor’s, pre-empted an odd uncomfortable -hush. “<i>I</i> am the chairman of this committee, -and I am going to deliver a speech suitable to -the occasion. It will not be a long speech, but -it will be strictly to the point. It seems hardly -necessary for me to inform you students that -you are hazing. It is a dangerous pastime on -Hamilton campus.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>“You are not Laura Taylor!” Stephanie had -sprung angrily to her feet. “You have no right -to be here spying upon us.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What right have you to be here in the existing -circumstances?” lashed out the stern voice.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We are—we are going to rehearse a play,” -Stephanie declared defiantly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Not now; the show is over, and the play is -played out.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We had permission to use this room this -evening. You are intruding.” Mildred Ferguson -had rallied stormily to Stephanie’s aid.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Very true, Miss Ferguson, but, circumstances -alter cases. I came here tonight to see -that Miss Ogden received fair treatment. Also -to say to you that hazing does not pay; neither -does spite and malice. I tried them all once, -here at Hamilton, so I know now that advice to -you is sound.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Leslie Cairns,” Mildred Ferguson almost -shouted out the name.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; Leslie Cairns, the most lawless student -who ever enrolled at Hamilton College.” -As she spoke Leslie threw back the hood of the -domino and stripped the mask from her face. -“I’m trying now to live down that reputation. -I <i>was</i> expelled, you see. You have merely run -the risk, but it’s a bad risk to run.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>“<i>Laura</i>,” gasped Marylyn, “Where is she? -She’s to blame for—” she checked herself.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; she is. She came to me in confidence -today because she had the courage of her convictions. -She wishes you to know this; asked -me to tell you. That’s all, I believe. Come on. -Jewel, let’s go over to Baretti’s for ice cream. -Good night, masks. The next time you decide -to start on a student you don’t happen to fancy, -think it over, and don’t start.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Her arm linked in Jewel’s, the tiny girl had -begun to cry, quietly, pitifully, she drew her -freshie catch toward the door, leaving an oddly -silent row of chagrined girls behind them.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXII<br /> <br />GOLDENDEDE’S CHOICE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>That which Jewel had so greatly feared -proved itself to be instead the beginning of her -rise in campus popularity. Her tearful apologies -to Leslie the latter met with a smiling -“Forget it.” Deciding to do some investigating -on her own account, Leslie took occasion to -drop into the “Gazette” one afternoon for an -interview with the editor. She came out of the -office laughing immoderately and drove post -haste for Wayland Hall.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you know yet who furnished the paper -with that program and write-up?” she asked -Jewel as she came breezily into their room.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No; you know I don’t. Of course I suspect -Miss Norris of it, and of course I can’t prove -it.” Jewel could now afford to smile at the matter. -She was tasting the sweetness of being -valued at last for having achieved for herself -an international fame as Le Petit Oiseau.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Do you care now who did it?” Leslie questioned -shrewdly.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>“No; not now, except to be glad that I’ve no -tiresome secret to bother me.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“All right. Then I’ll tell you who did it. It -was Leila Harper.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“<i>Oh, no</i>,” Jewel cried out in protest.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes.” Leslie’s sober features broke up in -laughter. “Oh, Kid, you must let me tell it to -Leila. She’s due to get a shock. That spite-chaser, -Miss Norris, gave the editor of the ‘Gazette’ -the impression that she was Miss Harper. -I nearly dropped when he shot it at me. Then -I guilefully drew him into giving me a description -of Miss Harper, and he described Miss Norris -instead.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Go and tell her,” Jewel gave laughing permission. -“Tell her <i>everything</i>.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Now would not that discourage even an Irish -playwright?” was Leila’s droll reception of the -news of her supposed perfidy. “I am no villain, -but it seems I swank as one in editors’ -offices. I shall warn Vera against myself. Even -now I may be conniving against her, and that -without even poor Midget suspecting me. Oh, -wurra, wurra!”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Leslie presently left Leila, her face bright -with recollection of the Irish girl’s warm commendation. -She had, partly by chance, partly -by determined resolve, managed to strike a telling -<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>blow for democracy. She and Laura Taylor -had also made a pact toward reclaiming Stephanie -Norris from the narrowness of her snobbish -ways. On returning to her room on the -night of the frustrated attempt at hazing, -Stephanie had sat down and cried, saying she -was not sorry the plan had failed, and blaming -Mildred Ferguson for proposing it in the beginning. -Toward Laura she had even exhibited -an oddly grudging respect.</p> - -<p class='c006'>While Leslie trod the trail of democracy, -Marjorie continued to help Miss Susanna hunt -for the secret drawer. Miss Hamilton had received -but one brief letter from Peter Cairns in -which he wrote that he had, as yet, nothing of -special importance to report in regard to Lawyer -Norris.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Why, oh, why, can’t that miserable secret -drawer open like magic, and show itself?” grumbled -Miss Susanna one November afternoon following -a fresh going over of the Chinese room. -“I shan’t waste any more time in this room. -I don’t believe he ever put those papers in here. -Did he?” she inquired of a squat, severe-visaged -Chinese idol that stood on top of a teakwood -cabinet. “<i>You</i> wouldn’t tell me, if you could -speak.” She pointed an accusing finger at the -squatting god.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>“Could it possibly be anywhere in Mr. -Brooke’s bedroom?” Marjorie said speculatively. -“We’ve never hunted much for it in -there.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Let’s go up there and see what we may see. -It wouldn’t have been like him, though, to keep -his papers there,” the old lady said a trifle -wearily.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Leila said we’d some day find it in the last -place we might guess,” Marjorie reminded -cheerfully. She understood that Miss Hamilton’s -disappointment at not having found the -drawer was weighing heavily upon her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The large square, airy chamber that had once -been Brooke Hamilton’s contained few pieces -of furniture. A four-poster mahogany bed, a -highboy, a chest of drawers, one or two tables, -three chairs and a night stand beside the bed -completed the furnishings with the exception -of one other bit of furniture. It was a plain, -square-topped stand of shining mahogany that -stood in a large bow window. Marjorie knew -it to be Angela Vernon’s workstand. Miss -Susanna had told her its pathetic history. Angela’s -brother had given it to Brooke Hamilton -as a memento of his fiancee soon after Angela’s -sudden death. It contained bright silks and -wools which she had loved to fashion into gifts -<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>for her dear ones, as well as an unfinished bit -of embroidery and still another of fairy-like tatting.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie had once before begun a gentle -search in the body of the stand, the top of which -lifted. Miss Susanna had discouraged further -search by declaring that there was no likelihood -of finding it there. Entering the room of the -departed master of Hamilton Arms that sunny -afternoon the slowly descending sunlight in the -west seemed to point golden fingers at the little -stand.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going to look in the little stand again, -Goldendede,” she called while Miss Susanna began -a fussy ransacking of the highboy.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Very well, but it’s a forlorn hope.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie smiled to herself as she raised the -lid of the stand and applied careful hands to the -old-time handiwork of Brooke Hamilton’s -sweetheart. Bereft of its treasures the two -bare compartments of the stand showed no -promise of either a secret compartment, or -drawer.</p> - -<p class='c006'>She returned the contents with a little romantic -breath. It would be fitting, she thought, -to have found the drawer in the dear, cunning -stand, once Angela Vernon’s.</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>“Nothing.” She shook her curly head as Miss -Susanna glanced inquiringly toward her.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No; it’s not much more than a toy stand, -Marjorie. Would you mind moving it over -here. It used always to be in the corner on the -left of Uncle Brooke’s bed.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s heavier than one might believe,” Marjorie -said as she grasped it firmly by the two -front comers and lifted it. Of a sudden she -heard an odd, whirring sound, something shot -out of the stand, striking her smartly against -the knees, sending her staggering backward. -She uttered a startled cry as her downward -glance caught the white of neatly-folded papers -reposing in orderly fashion in a shallow drawer -that had sprung open from the lower part of -the box-like square which formed the compartments.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Child, child,” Miss Susanna had now -dropped to the floor and sat hugging the paper-filled -little drawer. “There was a false bottom -to that stand, and I never even suspected it. It -belonged to Angela Vernon’s great-grand-mother. -Those were the palmy days of such -secret devices. How ever did you happen to -hit upon the mechanism?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t know. I might ask however did the -mechanism happen to hit me?” Marjorie returned, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>face glowing with the happiness of the -unexpected discovery.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“We’ll take the drawer to the study at once -and go over these papers. Come along, Chickie.” -Miss Susanna started from the room with a degree -of triumphant briskness.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Just as I imagined,” she said an hour later -as she laid the penned agreement made between -her kinsman and Lawyer Norris upon the table. -“This agreement distinctly specifies that, in the -event of Uncle Brooke’s death, I was then to be -apprised of this agreement and, also, that the -privilege of choosing ‘the one’ was to be mine -after I had reached the age of eighteen. Norris -was to receive two thousand dollars a year for -his services. The fifty thousand dollar check -was deposited in the Surety Trust Bank of New -York City. Now we shall make headway. I -shall write Peter to come here at once. With -the actual facts now at our command we shall -be able to trace Norris’s movements, and learn -what became of him and his trust after Uncle -died.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Dear, dear Goldendede,” Marjorie rubbed -a soft cheek against the old lady’s wrinkled -one, “I’d rather not be the one. Please choose -Leila instead. She’s done such splendid work -for Hamilton.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>“It can’t be done, Marjorie.” The shadow of -a frown touched Miss Hamilton’s brows. “You -are the ‘one’ in the sense Uncle Brooke dreamed -of; Leila is a splendid girl; a genius. Still she -came to Hamilton a whole year before you came, -accomplishing nothing beyond success in her -college studies. Suppose I were to choose her -as the ‘one’ I should meet with plenty of dissenters. -Suppose I should name you. I shall, -you know. No use in trying to escape me. The -whole college would rise up and call me level-headed. -You understand now what I mean?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes; but there’s my side, too, to consider. -You must understand the way I feel about it,” -Marjorie gently argued.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“You’ve often said you wished to try to carry -on even a small part of Uncle Brooke’s work at -Hamilton. Because you have been a devoted -friend to his college you are chosen to enrich it -by fifty thousand dollars. Isn’t that worth the -great discomfort of having been chosen by me -as the ‘One’?” There was a hint of growing irritation -in the old lady’s question. She resented -being crossed in so important a matter even by -Marjorie.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It’s not a great discomfort—only—. It’s not -the glory of having worked for Hamilton that -I care about. It’s the work itself I glory in. I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>wish to carry on Mr. Brooke’s work still, whenever -I can. Couldn’t we have a very private -presentation, Goldendede, with only you and -Prexy, and the girls and a few other of my close -friends in attendance?” she put wistfully.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“No; we couldn’t.” Miss Susanna laid the -paper she had been examining on the table with -an irritated little flip. “We may not have it at -all,” she snapped as she hustled toward the -door.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Marjorie heard the door close behind the old -lady. She looked up with a brave, but rueful -face at the portrait on the wall. “I’m sorry, -but I don’t wish to be the one; not even a tiny -bit,” she said childishly aloud.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I had to come back, dear child,” Miss Susanna -had softly opened the door in time to hear -Marjorie’s sober comment. “Forgive this old -crosspatch. Here is the letter he wrote Lawyer -Norris that has shown me strongly how much -his heart was in the idea of the Honor Fund, -and the One. Read it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Silence settled down in the sun-bright study -as youth and age sat reading the words of one -long passed. Finally Marjorie laid down the -bulky letter she had just finished. “You win,” -she nodded to the portrait.</p> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER XXIII<br /> <br />LEILA FINDS ROMANCE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>“You’ve done wonders, Peter. The secret -drawer furnished us with the facts, but it took -you to hunt down Norris’s son, and trace the -check after it fell into the son’s hands. That -rascal should be brought to book for appropriating -that check and building up a fortune from -it. You say he is now worth half a million.” -Miss Susanna pursed her lips, shaking her head, -“He’s a rascal,” she repeated, “Half a million, -Hm-m.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“He’s rated at that.” There was an odd light -in Peter Cairns’ black eyes, and an enigmatic -smile played about his lips. “I have a few surprises -up my sleeve,” he told the same interested -little company that had sat with him in -the library on his latest visit at the Arms.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“If you’ve one for me, ready,” Hal had assumed -a listening attitude.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This same Norris who appropriated the fifty -thousand dollar check owns those properties -you wish to buy. I have arranged to take them -over for you at your own figure.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span>“Tell me nothing.” Hal borrowed one of -Leila’s pet surprise phrases.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“This will interest you,” he nodded to Leslie, -Leila and Vera. “He has a daughter at Hamilton -in the freshman class. I suppose you know -her?” he interrogated.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Yes.” Blank surprise flashed over the faces -of the trio as they nodded affirmative.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“What sort of girl is she—clever, or stupid?” -he inquired pointedly.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She is clever at acting. She’s to play King -Hal in our production of ‘Henry the Fifth,’” -Leila informed him.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I have heard that she made brilliant recitations,” -Leslie conceded.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“She is really a beautiful girl,” Vera remarked -after a moment of silence.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I’m going to ask Leslie a question,” Peter -Cairns smiled fondly at his daughter. “What -would you think of me if I had done what Norris -has done in the matter of appropriating this -check for his own use?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I don’t know. I couldn’t bear it. Try to be -honest always, won’t you, Peter?” The intensity -with which Leslie began her reply lightened into -a rather wavery chuckle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, ha, ha!” Vastly amused at Leslie’s reply, -the financier continued, “It’s like this. I’ve -<span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>had it out with Norris about everything. He is -willing to make good the fifty thousand dollar -check. He admits that he did wrong in not -communicating with Miss Susanna soon after -Mr. Brooke’s death. His father died shortly -before Mr. Brooke. He also admitted to me that -he had hoped his daughter might win the honor -fund when she should be of an age to enter -Hamilton. He suspected that Miss Susanna -knew little or nothing about the arrangement, -since she had never tried to get into touch with -him. He decided to hold back the fund for his -daughter’s benefit. He had heard a good deal -about Marjorie as a shining light at Hamilton, -but he believed his daughter might go her one -better. It took time and patience to get these -unlovely facts from him, but I persevered with -him and got them. He understands that his -position is serious. He is willing to make any -amend he can, financial or other, because of his -love for his daughter. He wishes her never to -know that he has been other than above reproach. -You have the facts. What shall you -do about him, Miss Susanna?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Oh, let the rascal go, for his daughter’s sake. -Make him turn over those Kenton Street properties -to Marjorie’s colony,” was the old lady’s -disgusted mandate. “You settle the whole matter -<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>with him, Peter. I rely upon you implicitly. -So glad you and Leslie are soon coming -to the Hedge. I shall make good use of my -new neighbors.” She chuckled at her own joke.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Three cheers for Goldendede, who can show -us all a lesson in magnificent magnanimity.” -Leslie was on her feet, her dark eyes beaming -admiring affection of Miss Susanna.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The room rang with the happy sound of -voices raised in honor of Miss Susanna’s kindly -decision. Then they all took hands and indulged -in a joyful little prance about the pleased -old lady. Jonas, coming to the doorway all -smiles was seized and whisked into the laughing, -gyrating circle.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Come and sing us a French song, Leslie,” -coaxed Vera, a little later as the talk fell away -from the all-important subject of the honor -fund to drift into lighter, happier channels. As -she spoke, Vera had begun to tow Leslie toward -the library door.</p> - -<p class='c006'>In the music room Leila found herself sitting -a little away from the piano, talking rather self-consciously -to Peter Cairns.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Leslie told me something you once said to -her, Leila,” Peter Cairns said with his usual -abruptness, “which amused me so much I must -ask you about it.”</p> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>“What was that?” Leila inquired curiously.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“It was about that prospective bridegroom of -yours, the old man with the white hair whom -you might boss unmercifully.” The financier’s -lips were smiling, but his dark eyes were fixed -purposefully upon the Irish girl’s features.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Ah, yes.” Leila could not repress an enjoying -grin. “I have not yet found him.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I wish I had his qualifications to the dot. I -haven’t. I’m not yet a snowy-haired monument -to old age, but I have at least one of them, -I am willing to be bossed unmercifully.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>Blue eyes met black squarely, a faint flush -crept into Leila’s cheeks, then the ridiculousness -of the conversation being borne upon them -both they burst into laughter.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“Seriously, Leila,” Peter Cairns had changed -again from laughter to purpose, “won’t you -think about what I’ve said?”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I will think about it,” Leila promised. Her -eyes had an absent mystic light in their depths.</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I love you, Leila,” he said again, “I’ve loved -you almost from the day I first met you.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>“I will think about that, too,” she returned -soberly, and for a brief instant she permitted -his strong brown fingers to close over her own.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>THE END</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Transcriber’s note:</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>Title Page, comma inserted after ‘Series,’ “Dean Post-Graduate Series,” etc.”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 7, ‘though’ changed to ‘thought,’ “but thought he hadn’t”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 7, ‘though’ changed to ‘thought,’ “He thought he had”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 11, ‘Had’ changed to ‘Hal,’ “you turned Hal down”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 13, ‘Servern’ changed to ‘Severn,’ “she was at Severn”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 32, ‘fi ed’ changed to ‘fixed,’ “her eyes fixed on”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 35, ‘anythind’ changed to ‘anything,’ “allow anything else to”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 39, ‘directely’ changed to ‘directed,’ “she directed grandly”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 39, double quote inserted after ‘improving,’ “you’re improving,” was her”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 46, full stop changed to comma after ‘say,’ “among the first to say,”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 53, double quote inserted before ‘Danny,’ “half shyly. “Danny wanted to”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 59, ‘alway’ changed to ‘always,’ “expression which always made Lucy”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 71, double quote inserted before ‘My,’ ““My ideal is a nice”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 75, ‘its’ changed to ‘it’s,’ “but it’s yourself that”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 80, double quote inserted before ‘They’ve,’ “quickly. “They’ve shown that”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 101, full stop changed to comma after ‘declared,’ “questioner indifferently declared,”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 132, ‘exhiliration’ changed to ‘exhilaration,’ “contented exhilaration. Speeding”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 139, ‘cameradie’ changed to ‘camaraderie,’ “missed the merry camaraderie”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 143, ‘amendation’ changed to ‘emendation,’ “the hasty emendation with”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 143, question mark inserted after ‘roommate,’ “to take a roommate?”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 144, double quote struck before ‘Should,’ “facing. Should she, or”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 147, double quote inserted after ‘it,’ ““Forget it,” was”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 165, ‘let’s’ changed to ‘lets,’ “and that lets her out”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 166, ‘letter’ changed to ‘letters,’ “No; I have letters”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 181, ‘tured’ changed to ‘turned,’ “Miss Susanna turned leaf”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 187, comma inserted after ‘isn’t,’ “satisfied, too, there isn’t,”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 195, double quote inserted before ‘Marjorie,’ “Leslie invited. “Marjorie”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 203, ‘Leslie’ changed to ‘Leila,’ “acting? Leila and I”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 219, ‘manufacturies’ changed to ‘manufactories,’ “of the few manufactories”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 255, ‘anxoius’ changed to ‘anxious,’ “of anxious dread. For”</p> - -<p class='c009'>Page 272, ‘, her’ changed to ‘. Her,’ “Leila promised. Her eyes had”</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Marjorie Dean Macy's Hamilton Colony, by -Pauline Lester - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN MACY'S HAMILTON COLONY *** - -***** This file should be named 53987-h.htm or 53987-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/9/8/53987/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. 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. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - - </body> - <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.56b on 2017-01-06 03:13:57 GMT --> -</html> diff --git a/old/53987-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/53987-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 71a3578..0000000 --- a/old/53987-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53987-h/images/frontis.jpg b/old/53987-h/images/frontis.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 93d139f..0000000 --- a/old/53987-h/images/frontis.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53987-h/images/title-page.jpg b/old/53987-h/images/title-page.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ff1e4b4..0000000 --- a/old/53987-h/images/title-page.jpg +++ /dev/null |
