Missy

e town to live in, but not Melissa. Not even in winter, when school and lessons took up so much time that it almost shut out reading

ry, full of things fascinating enough to make up for algebra and physics. But even physics becomes suddenly thrilling at times. And always literature! Of course "grades" were bothersome, and sometimes you hated to s

ing poetry out of the big Anthology and-this a secret-writing poetry yourself! It was heavenly to write poetry. Something soft and warm seemed to ooze through your being as you sat out there and watched the sorrow of a drab, drab sky; or else, on a

whole being in tune with it, that she was called i

nd handed it to her with exaggerated solemni

her name on the

ithin, written in a pai

Home Wednesday June

impossible to speak, she passed the card to her moth

: it still clogged her throat,

mot

o to evening parties, Missy." Mo

ed her eye

ose big saucers!" he smil

r eyes back again.

things, Missy. I don't know what this town's coming to-mere

, mo

ing, Missy. It wo

n her throat. It made it difficult for her to swallow, and not

her. Missy tried to obey and felt t

curls which showed golden glints in the sun. She had a whim that she and Missy, sometimes, should have dresses made exactly alike-for instance, this summer, their best dresses of pink do

d. Mrs. Allen was going to "assist" Mrs. Bonner. She s

said Mrs. Merriam. "She seems so young

ay. But as long as I've got to assist, I'm willing Kitty should go this

Missy's tone

olerant smile as if to say: "Well, what can one

ed strawberries in the kitchen where Marguerite, the hired girl, was putting up fruit, and she loved the pinkish-red and grey-green of the berries against the deep yellow of the bowl. She loved, too, the colour of the

s to see him, with mallet and ball before a wicket, trying to mimic the actions of his elders. Poppylinda, Missy's big black cat, wanted to play too, and succeeded in ge

left out of the conversation. She felt glad for that; it is hard to talk to old people; it is hard to express to them the thoughts and feelings that pos

ther, she excused herself to answer it. From outside the door she heard

rk, luminous loveliness. It seemed that she herself was a part of the silver moon high up there, a part of the white, shining radiance which spread down and over leaves and grass everywhere. The strong, damp scent of

eave off thinking the big, vague thoughts the night always called forth

the millionth time she wished she were pretty like Kitty Allen. An

No; her hair was too straight and heavy. She tried to imagine undulating waves across her forehead-if only mother would let her use crimpers! Pe

he eyes which stared back from the looking-glass till she had the odd sensation that they were something quite strange and

ams by a voice at the door: "Missy, wh

lushed as though di

been doing wi

. Mother, may I have it

l see. Now hurry a

nd gone, and after the light had been tu

perfectly still, your arms stretched out like wings. Then you fix your eyes on the moonlight and imagine you feel your wings stir. And the first thing you know y

on fifteen, but she coul

she did not ride out upon it. She shut her eyes, though she felt wide-awak

perhaps. Her pink dotted mull was easily recognizable, though it had taken on a certain ethereally chic quality-as if a rosy cloud had been

e that she was as gracious and sweet-mannered as she was beautiful

the handsomest as well as the richest man in Cherryvale. And he liked her, for last year, their first year in high school, he used to study the Latin lesson with her and wait for her after school and carry her books home for her. He had done that although Kitty Allen was much prettier than she and though Beulah Crosswhite was much, much smarter. The

sad. For a time she lay quiet, watching the slant, silvery threads and feeling mysteriously, fascinatingly, at peace. Then Poppy, who always slept at the foot of her

omed matinal salutation which Missy called a kiss. Mother did not approve of Poppy's "kisses," but Mi

she got downstairs breakfast was ready and the house all sweet

and bantered her: "So we've go

hat it's disgraceful the way they

Allen wasn't going to be there

e hem of my pink dress

ie might just as well have said: "I t

Missy went on, "and I'd like

rose from the table, to pause and

new ribbon or somethi

reflectively. "They've got some pret

ure. It is queer how you can eat, and like what yo

sh-a pleasant errand. She changed the black tie on her middy blouse to a scarlet one and let the e

ore dinner, and she sat by the dining-room

t Nettie presently, "a

a loss. "I wasn't thinking o

you smili

I smi

unt Nettie said: "Missy smiles

trees quietly weeping, nor of the vivid red patches of geranium beds. Everything could have been quite different, a

ery lovely. Then she had an hour to herself, and since the rain wouldn't permit her to spend it in

-almost as wonderful as "The Blessed Damozel." She was glad she had chanced upon it

e tree Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit; My heart is like a rainbow shell That pa

d pomegranates, And peacocks with a hundred eyes; Work in it gold and silver grapes, In lea

ed why she smiled. Only, even though she herself could have expressed it so beau

miled and watched her toilet. After breakfast, at the piano, her fingers found the scales tiresome. Of themselves they wandered off into unexpected rhythms which s

ashed into by mother's reproving voice: "Missy, what are you doing? I

t. It was singing a tune far out of harmony with chromat

hone, and at the other end was Raymond; he wanted her to save him the first dance tha

wouldn't be at home-what funny things grown-ups do! The baby was taking his

y fascinating book! It always filled her with vague, undefinable emotions. She read: "O youth, youth! Thou carest for nothing: thou possessest, as it were, all the treasures of the universe; even sorrow comforts thee, even melanch

revocably and vanish, like wax in the sun, like snow. She sighed. But even as she sighed the feeling of

ely to the party. Mother had said that presents were not expected, that they were getting too big to exchange little presents, yet she would have liked to

house? Would they let her take them? Would they understand? And a strong distaste for their inevitable questions, for the explanations which she could not explain definitely even to herself, prompted

astening up the pink dotted mull, Poppy walked inquisitively in and sat down to oversee this special, important event. Missy succeeded with the greatest difficulty in adjusting the brocaded sash to her satisfaction. She regretted her unwaved hair, but mother was going to crimp it herself in

y beauties, the heartbeat of dew-jewelled fairies, the longings of untrammelled butterflies-dancing, she could have flown up to he

kinds of wise, unintelligible words. Missy knew that they were wise, even though she could not und

that Poppy then smiled too, a secret smile; so she kissed Poppy also. How wonderful,

ng spoiled by the unexpected return of mother and Aunt Nettie.

are you doing, Mi

g object in her party finery. She tried to make an

Aunt Nettie

rrassment, couldn't have explained

t scold her f

better do it before supper, before the baby gets cross." The crimped coiffure was an immense suc

k of such things, dear." But, as mother stooped to readjust a wavi

ccasion of a festival. The beautiful and festive aspect of the world without, and of, her heart within, made it diff

caded pink ribbon now become a huge, pink-winged butterfly; and, mother's last touch, a pink rosebud holding a tendril-a curling tendril-artfully above the left ear

But Missy did not mind his bantering tone. The expressio

her. With them was a boy she had never seen before, a tall, dark boy

about this Cousin Jim who was going to visit Cherryvale some ti

oking rather wan. Mrs. Allen explained she had eate

mother's last admonition, her father's last banter, Aunt Nettie's last anxious peck at

ked mother. "For

ond's bouquet in the summerhouse? How could she get them? What should she say? And what would they think? "No," she answered hesitantly. "I guess not." But the bright shining of her pleasure was a little

k over his shoulder, and smiled. He had beautiful white teeth which gleamed out of his dark-skinned face,

round three sides, the most imposing house in Cherryvale. Already strings of lanterns were lighted on the lawn, blue and red and

herryvale parties and funerals) were one moment starkly exposed and the next moment hidden by light-hued skirts and by stiffly held, Sunday-trousered dark legs. For a while that stiffness which inevitably introduces a formal gathering of youngsters he

ing in town, an older, tall, red-haired girl, with languishing, long-lashed eyes. She wore a red chiffon dress, lower cut than was worn in Cherryvale, which looked like a picture in a fashion magazine. But it was not her chic alone that made her so striking.

her hand badly, so that Raymond and his alluring partner "progressed" to the higher table while she remained with the boy who didn't count. But, as luck would have i

he told Missy. "I'm a re

sible not to smile back at that engagin

higher table. Cousin Jim assured her it was all due to her skill. She almost thought tha

her for the first waltz. Missy wondered, a little wistfully, whether now he mightn't be regretting that

made his charming bow. They danced through the two parlours and then out to the porch and round its full length; the

is polite way. "Mother wants to see me a

n Mrs. Allen, with Jim i

s awfully sick. She was helping with the refreshments an

mmiserat

Allen went on. "I hate to take you away j

d then come back, and take her home after the party's over." He gave a litt

ed Missy a li

Allen, c

said I'd bring y

" Missy's eyes pleaded e

ous to return to her own daughter. "Jim will take good ca

he grounds were deserted, but the lanterns, quivering in the breeze, seemed to be huge live glow-worms suspended up there in the dark. It was enchantment. Stepping lightly, holding her breath, sniffing at unseen scents, hearing laug

ther world, and quite distinctly, she

ut the fact remains you didn'

he could see the languorously uplifted eyes, the provoking little gesture of fa

you-you know I wa

replied the visiti

protested

y didn't

ked somebody el

le to get away; her heart, her breathing, seemed to petrify too; they hurt her. Why had Raymond danced with her if he didn't want to? And why, why did that girl laugh? She suddenly felt that she must l

self nearer the entrance gate, Fortunately there was nobody to see her; everyone-except those two-was back up there in the gl

d turned to anguish? But, of course, that was what life was: pain crowding elbows w

her experience, Missy leaned against the gatepost upon which a lantern was

ickly and his shoes creaking loudly, returned.

watching

unny girl,"

ittle wistful. "Why, moon-gazing i

mphasized Missy, as if to de

Come straight in and danc

ll about steps and just floated along, on invisible gauzy wings, unconscious of her will of direction, of his will of direction. There was nothing in the w

said Jim admiringly

e to d

You dance better than any

ise indeed. Missy blushed and was move

ing-not me. Do you feel it that way?" "Never thought of it that way," answered Jim

girl" he didn't dislike her for it, because he rushed on: "Y

augh and of Raymond's defection seemed to have subsided into triviality. And when Raymond came up to ask for a dance she experienced a new and pleasurable thrill in telling him she was already engaged. That thrill disturbed her

the visiting girl, so she asked

ot in it wit

gain-alas, how pleasant is wickedness!

ss so"-ind

other

th devotion. Then came the time to go home. Missy could not hold back a certain sense of triumph as, aft

before they had reached the gate she was acutely conscious of the touch of her arm on his. To make matters worse, a curious wave of embarrassment was creeping over her; she couldn't think o

to me," he

ame people and affairs you do? Back there at the party things had gone easily, but they were playing cards or d

eside his creaking shoes as in a nightmare, and, as she felt every atom of her free

it's g

e. He didn't look exactly happy

! creak! sai

eard 'em squeak like that befo

ue, her brain? Was it because she didn't know Jim well enough to talk to him? Surely not, for she had met strange boys before and not fel

eak! said

ock lay be

solution spoke again: "Just look at the moon-how big it is!"

eak! said

pause. "Don't you love moonl

s don't squeak."

gh too. Creak! cre

ock lay be

always make

his squeaking shoes. She lived at the other end of town from Raymond Bonner's house, and the long walk was made up of endless intermittent perorations on the moon, on squeaking shoes. But the song

so kind and gentle, gr

tural everything looked here! Over there, across the stretch of white moonlight, sa

into the house with her! On the impulse, without pausing to reflect that her action might look queer, she exclaimed: "Wait a minute!"

"I-I forgot them. And I didn't want

the roses. "They smell awfull

, Missy extended them to him. "

. "That's awfully sweet of you.

m if you want the

the bunch awkwardly

eally mine, I want to do with them wha

of c

ought to have flowers more than any gir

d at her

Missy. How po

n. I demand one rose for myself. And y

ngers Missy fixed

irls are all crazy for brass buttons. They make hatpins and things

your sleeve?" she

a guard mount and things for punishment. But that's part of the gam

hat Jim was being subtle. Oh, the romance of it! To give her a brass b

to glance upward, noted that the curtain of an upstairs window was

said hurriedly. "Mothe

ou soon. You're up at Ki

o say now. A little while ago she hadn't been able to talk. Now, for no appar

"Good night, Mr. Henley." "Good night-M

, met her disapprovingly. "Missy, where in

cousin gave

o find further words. Then she continued accusingly: "I

nd her mother had

t you come

otten there had been a shred of anything but "good time" in the whole glor

taken advantage of me, Missy. And don't let me

ully to Missy's consciousness. She was too confused in

bed," sa

y flowers in

be quick

sleep there beside her while she slept, but mother wouldn't underst

followed to unfasten her dress, to help take down her hair, to plait the mouse-coloured braids. She wanted to be alone, yet she

and years. She had been a success even though Raymond Bonner had said-that. Anyway, Jim was a better dancer than Raymond, and handsomer and nicer-besides the uniform. He was more poetical t

hrough the lace curtains shone the moonlight, the gleaming path along which she had so ofte

e was the mystery of the moon, of the universe, of Life. And the tune in her heart, which could take on so many bewilder