Grace Harlowe's First Year at Overton College

and anything else that might add to the beauty of the decorations had been begged and borrowed from good-natured residents of the campus and nearby boarding houses. There were great branches o

rm which had been erected for the occasion; while a long line of freshmen in their best bib and tucke

isted that Ruth should wear a very beautiful white satin ribbon belt with long, graceful ends, belonging to her, which quite transformed the simple frock. There was also a white satin hair ornament to match, and Miriam's clever fingers had done her soft brown hair in a new, becoming fashion. Even Elfreda had insisted on lendin

voices and the patter of slippered feet on the stairs, and Mabel Ashe, accompanied

in the doorway. "We've come to take you to the reception. We weren't

aking Mabel's extended hand in both her own. "Judging from all outward signs I

ause the sophomores found themselves lacking not in quality, but quantity. There weren't

the freshmen, but we know only a few sophomores. We were l

"Girls, I want you to meet Miss Graham and Miss Alle

d smilingly as Mabel prese

it's going to be a red-letter affair. The sophomores have nearly worked their dear hea

is not tall enough. Elfreda and Ruth

secret satisfaction that the stout girl was keeping strictly in the background and making no effort to push herself forward. "If she only behaves like that all

s. "I'm going to be your faithful cavalier. I'll offer you my arm as soon as w

Anne found herself accepting the arm of Edith Allen, while Constance Fuller took charge of Ruth Denton. The crowning honor fell to J. Elfreda

among the elect. For almost the first time in her self-centered young life, she was swept by a wholly generous impulse to do the best that lay within her in college if only for Grace's sake. While she listened to Mabel's gay sallies, answering them almost shyly, her mind was on the debt of gratitude she owed Grace, who, without mentioning her visit to Alberta Wicks, ha

had turned out. She was so glad Mabel had chosen El

at did she know?" inq

e, in sudden confusion.

l you. A certain junior who is a friend of a

imed Grace in a low tone. "How did

replied Frances, "d

e is," hesitated Grace, "but I d

t a certain junior who is fond of Mabel is jealous of your friendship. Both Mabel and I admire your stand in th

t of the sophomore class and five of her classmates who formed the receiving party. After this formality was over the girls walked about the gymnasium, admiring the decorations. Mabel Ashe was fairly overwhelmed by her admirers. It seemed to Grace as thou

ed Anne to Edith Allen, as Mabel stood laughing and

o dinners. She was elected president of the freshman class, too, and had the honor of refusing the sophomore nomination. They want her for junior president, but she will re

ice to be liked," she said simply. "Tha

ce critically. "She has a fine face. That Miss Ne

ive. To her praise of her two deares

manly fashion. A moment later the two girls joined the dancers, who we

ed Grace an hour later as she and Miriam

I've met a lot of sophomores that I've been wanting to know, a

"I've been having such a good time I f

of the missing girl. Suddenly Grace clutched her fr

was J. Elfreda. She was talking animatedly and the girls were urging her on

gh turned to stone. Her eyes took on a determined glare, and drawing down the corners of her mouth she elevated her chin, rose from the divan and shrilled forth "Votes for Women" in a tone that fairly convulse

at a treasure you'll be when we give college enter

ed Elfreda, resorting to

to mimic people so cleve

You said you'd waltz with me to-night, Miriam, so come on. That's a Strauss waltz, and I don't want to miss it. Please excuse

and strolled off in different directions. "You have been lovely to Elfreda, and instead

"I am glad that she has this talent. It will help her to make friends with the girls, and i

g more will be said?"

help it," wa

seeing Ruth Denton home, the four g

ed Grace as she slipped into her kimono

d. After all it wasn't worth repeating. She had simply heard one freshman say to another that she had been prepared to like Miss Harlowe, but som