Molly Brown's Junior Days

ents. But they were only on the surface, impulsive flashes of irritability that

olets, and, opening her eyes, she looked straight into th

l like a corpse,

e tissue ribbon around the stems of th

y from her devote

and gone down to the village for them," she said t

of the Shakespeareans came to the apartment of the three girls to call one evening, but they were Judy's friends, invited by her to drop in and have fudge, and Molly and Nance kept quiet and remained in the background. If

'Shakespeareans'?" Minerva Hig

ering of college slang and college gossip. But still she had

herself u

ere are some things at Wellin

Minerva, making

the bow. She had gone on her

re had been first a stormy meeting of the class. It was quite natural for President Wakefield to want all her particular friends to form the committee to choose a play and select the actors, and it was equally human of the Caroline Brinton forces to resent the old clique rule. But Margaret

e modern comedies and melodramas usually selected by junio

n had announced in great vexation. "W

fth Night" it was to be, with daily rehears

ause the costume was easy. Judy was to play Viola, Edith Williams, Malvolio,

was abnormal, would have trusted herself to memorize a Shakespearean part. But the girls were amazed now at their own powers. Miss Pryor, teacher of elocuti

night of the play there was a great rush for seats. The president herself was there and many

ed Molly, peeping through the hole

oaned Nance, dressed as

go off all right. Molly, don't you forget and be too solemn. Yo

her breath, hoping instantly that Judy, in a high

and the sophomores commenced clapping, Molly's mind became a

y began. She had no idea how Judy had c

se of stage fright, but she'll

at like a frozen image in the wings until Na

rry

te. Her hands became numb. Icy fingers seemed to clutch her throat, and when she opened

rimson surge into her cheeks, and she heard her own voice speaking t

nded to Molly like a sudden rainstorm in summer. And, like a summer

we carried that off pretty well. If only Judy doe

e fright?" demanded

didn't know? She almo

olly, "and just when she w

ssions; or perhaps it was that poor Judy, sensitive and high strung, imagined the audience was cold to her and so allowed her spir

Jessie received two from admirers who appeared to keep a running account at the florist's in the village. A splendid basket of red roses and a bunch of violets were ha

e mistake. They co

another burst of applause which again brought Miss Molly Br

that Miss Millicent Porter had thus honored her. The card on the violet

" observed Margaret later in the green room. "There

's because she has so much

silver to play with; but not on you, Molly, dear,

of idol worship by a young girl for an older one; but because she had be

erson to be admired by such a grand young lady. She sent th

ve it, Miss Molly,"

e and college yells. Not in their wildest dr

est, they were all so excellent," the

h actor marched slowly in front of the curtain, a

et Wakefield," they yelled; or "What's the matter with

somewhere behind the scenery. There was some speculation in the audience as to why Viola had not filed across the stage with the others, but sin

, the last to taste the sweets of popu

herself behind the curtain and joined her classm

ch! Wakefield

the platform and gave one of her most appropriate addresses to t

hey are certainly a remarkable group of girls. So much individua

ance, who, by the way, is as tall as I am, but so thin that she seems small, has magnetism that w

e compliments from high places, and perhaps it was quite

he curtain with the res

, when she had t

eard them give

dy," call

d a muffled voice fr

ere shocked. With a tactful instinct most of the girls hurriedly gathered thei

you the leading lady of the company?" exclaimed Mo

ly," Judy answered, in

id Molly, "and you

angrily. "I ruined the entire b

y, "you are talking wi

ever heard you make a speech like that before. And just as I was about to go on

rgaret. "Really, Judy, y

anyhow," cried Nance

ying to screen her," replied Judy, who

ee fight?" asked Edith, w

athering up

ncerned," she answered

orrowfully back at Judy, but

and that's the whole of it," and she flung herself out of the door after

udy left all alone

and disappointment, she threw herse

or came in and swit