Grace Harlowe\'s Fourth Year at Overton College
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Jessie Graham Flower >> Grace Harlowe\'s Fourth Year at Overton College
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12 Grace Harlowe's Fourth Year at Overton College
By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.
Author of The Grace Harlowe High School Girls Series, Grace Harlowe's
First Year at Overton College, Grace Harlowe's Second Year at Overton
College, Grace Harlowe's Third Year at Overton College.
PHILADELPHIA
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY
Copyright, 1914
[Illustration: Grace Paused in the Doorway.]
CONTENTS
I. A Semper Fidelis Luncheon
II. The Last Freshman
III. An Accident and a Surprise
IV. Patience Promises to Stand By
V. A Declaration of War
VI. A Face to Face Talk
VII. When Friends Fall Out
VIII. A Leaf from the Past
IX. A Thanksgiving Invitation
X. Kathleen's Promise
XI. Kathleen's Great Story
XII. Treachery
XIII. The Invitation
XIV. A Congenial Sextette
XV. A Firelight Council
XVI. Elfreda Shows Grace the Way
XVII. What the Seniors Thought of the Plan
XVIII. The Fairy Godmother's Visit
XIX. What Patience Overheard
XX. The Mysterious "Peter Rabbit"
XXI. Who Will Win the Honor Pin?
XXII. Kathleen's Great Moment
XXIII. Grace Finds Her Work
XXIV. Conclusion
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Grace Paused in the Doorway.
Grace Stepped Behind a Tree.
They Clustered About the Fireplace.
The Four Friends Were Strolling Across the Campus.
Grace Harlowe's Fourth Year at Overton College
CHAPTER I
A SEMPER FIDELIS LUNCHEON
"The skies must smile and the sun must shine
When Semper Fidelis goes out to dine,"
sang Arline Thayer joyously as she rearranged her sofa pillows for the
eighth time, patting each one energetically before placing it, then
stepping back to view the effect. "Aren't you glad every one's here, and
things have begun to happen again, Ruth?" she asked blithely. "I hope no
one disappoints us. I wish this room were larger. Still, it held
eighteen girls one night last year. Don't you remember my Hallowe'en
party, and what a time we had squeezing in here?"
"It is so good in Mrs. Kane to let us have the dining room with Mary to
serve the oysters," said Ruth. "We never could do things properly up
here."
"I know it. Oysters are such slippery old things, even on the half
shell," returned Arline, who was not specially fond of them. "Let me
see. The girls will be here at four o'clock. We are to have oysters,
soup, a meat course, salad and dessert. That makes five different
courses in five different houses. It will be eight o'clock before we
reach the dessert. I am glad that is to be served in Grace's room. We
always have a good time at Wayne Hall."
To the readers of "Grace Harlowe's First Year at Overton
College," "Grace Harlowe's Second Year at Overton College"
and "Grace Harlowe's Third Year at Overton College," Grace
Harlowe and her various intimate associates have become familiar
figures. Those who made her acquaintance, together with that of her
three friends, Nora O'Malley, Jessica Bright and Anne Pierson, during
her high school days will recall with pleasure the many eventful
happenings of these four happy years as set forth in "Grace
Harlowe's Plebe Year at High School," "Grace Harlowe's
Sophomore Year at High School," "Grace Harlowe's Junior Year at
High School" and "Grace Harlowe's Senior Year at High
School."
The September following the graduation of the four friends from high
school had seen their paths diverge widely, for Nora and Jessica had
entered an eastern conservatory of music, while Anne and Grace, after
due deliberation, had decided upon Overton College. Miriam Nesbit, of
Oakdale fame, had entered college with them, and the trio of friends had
spent three eventful years at Overton.
"It is time we gathered home," grumbled Arline. "I have hardly seen
Grace or any of the Semper Fidelis girls this week. They have all been
so popular that they haven't given a thought to their neglected little
friends."
"Let me see," returned Ruth slyly. "How many nights have you stayed
quietly at home this week?"
"Not one, you rascal," retorted Arline, laughing. "I ought to be the
last one to grumble. But in spite of all the rush, I have missed the
dear old quartette."
"So have I," declared Ruth earnestly. "Twenty minutes to four. They will
soon be here."
"Yes. I asked Grace to come as early as possible," said Arline. "There,
I hear the bell now." Arline whisked out of the room and peered
anxiously over the baluster. "Hello, Grace," she called joyously. "Hurry
as fast as ever you can. Where are your faithful three?"
"I came on ahead," laughed Grace. "I had promised you that I would, and
being a person of my word, I didn't wish to disappoint you. When I left
Wayne Hall Miriam was playing maid to Elfreda. The new gown she had made
for the luncheon didn't arrive until the last minute. So Miriam stayed
to help her dress. It is a perfectly darling gown. Just wait until you
see Elfreda in it. She hasn't gained an ounce since she went home last
spring. She has had a strenuous time all summer to keep her weight down.
You must ask her to tell you about it."
"I will," promised Arline, with an anticipatory smile. "But where is
Anne?"
"I left Anne finishing a letter to her mother. She will be here with
Miriam and Elfreda. Isn't it splendid to think you and Ruth can be
together this year?"
Grace ran lightly up the stairs in Arline's wake, and a moment later
greeted Ruth with outstretched hands.
"Take the seat of honor, Grace," directed Arline, gently propelling her
toward her best leather upholstered armchair. "Isn't it obliging of the
weather to stay so nice and warm? We don't need hats or coats. You were
sensible and didn't wear either. Not having to bother with wraps will
save time, too."
"I am highly impressed with this house-to-house luncheon," declared
Grace. "It was clever in you to suggest it, Arline."
"Oh, these progressive luncheons are nothing new," returned Arline
quickly. "I have read that they are extremely popular among college and
high school girls. I am sure I don't know why I never before proposed
that we give one. It is going to be lots of fun, isn't it? There's the
bell again. I hope that maid hasn't gone on a vacation. It usually takes
her forever." Arline darted out of the room to hang over the baluster
once more.
This time it was the Emerson twins, and by four o'clock the last member
of the club had taken her place beside her sisters in Arline's room.
"As we are all here," announced Arline, "we might as well begin. The
feast awaits you downstairs in the dining room; that is, a very small
part of it. There is one beautiful feature about this luncheon, we are
to have plenty of exercise between each course. Are all of you hungry?"
There was a lively chorus of affirmatives.
"Then choose your partners and come along," ordered the little
curly-haired girl.
It did not take long to dispose of the oysters, and, headed by Sara and
Julia Emerson, the little procession of girls moved on to Ralston House,
where the twins were to play hostess and serve the soup.
"You can thank your stars and me that you don't have to squeeze into our
room and eat your soup from cups instead of Mrs. Bryant's best soup
plates," Julia informed her guests as they swarmed up the steps. "Mrs.
Bryant couldn't see this luncheon at first. She had no appreciation of
what a really important affair it was to be. I had to use all my
persuasive powers on her. But I won, and she descended to the kitchen
and made the soup herself."
"I think we owe Julia a special vote of thanks," declared Miriam Nesbit
a little later, as she finished her soup. "This vermicelli soup is the
best I ever tasted."
"It can't be beaten, can it?" asked Sara Emerson eagerly. "That was why
we were so anxious to take the soup course on our shoulders. We knew
what was in store for us if we could make Mrs. Bryant see things in our
light."
"S-h-h, she's coming!" warned Julia. "For goodness' sake, Sara, be
careful."
Mrs. Bryant, a rather austere person and not in the least like her
sister, Mrs. Elwood, who managed Wayne Hall, walked into the dining room
at this juncture, apparently in the best of humors.
Arline glanced inquiringly at Grace, who nodded slightly, whereupon the
dainty president of the Semper Fidelis Club rose and made the matron a
pretty little speech of thanks in behalf of the club. Then the luncheon
party started on their way again, Mrs. Bryant hospitably seeing them to
the door and extending a smiling invitation to come again.
"I knew she couldn't resist us," chuckled Sara Emerson, as the girls
filed down the walk. "A combination like ours is safe to make its way
anywhere. Come on, Marian and Elizabeth, you are the hostesses now.
Shall we head for Livingstone Hall?"
"No, indeed," smiled Marian. "Bess and I are not so lucky. It is
Vinton's for ours. But we can assure you that you won't be disappointed
in the layout."
One of the features of the luncheon was the fact that no one knew until
the moment of serving what the various courses were to be. When it was
discovered that Marian and Elizabeth had ordered fried chicken, for
which Vinton's was famous, with potatoes au gratin and tiny French peas,
there was general rejoicing. It took the better part of an hour to eat
these good things, and the guests, feeling that they were on familiar
ground, enjoyed themselves hugely.
"Oh, dear!" groaned Elfreda, "I know I have gained a pound since I
started out this afternoon. I haven't eaten so much at one time for
ages. There is still the salad and dessert to come. I can't possibly
miss either one of them."
"Never mind, Elfreda," soothed Emma Dean; "we won't invite you to the
next luncheon, then you can----"
"Just try leaving me out and see what happens," retorted Elfreda
threateningly. "You may find yourself locked in your room on that
self-same day with the key missing."
"Be good, both of you," admonished Miriam, "or I'll see that neither of
you get any dessert."
"Grace and Anne wouldn't be so mean," returned Elfreda with supreme
self-assurance.
"How could we blast such touching faith?" laughed Anne.
"There, what did I tell you?" asked Elfreda, turning triumphant eyes on
Emma. "Now, leave me out if you dare."
"I don't dare. I don't want to," declared Emma affably. "I was merely
trying to be pleasant and helpful. If you were not invited to the
spread, naturally you wouldn't eat, and if you didn't eat, then you
wouldn't have to worry about that extra pound. It is all very simple."
"Very!" agreed Elfreda, with such scathing emphasis that the exchange of
words ended in a general giggle at Emma's expense.
"Now that you've all finished laughing at me," she declared
good-naturedly, "I hereby invite all of you, even Elfreda, to Martell's
for the salad, which is my part of the ceremony."
"Oh, goody, it's Waldorf!" exclaimed Elfreda delightedly, as, seated
about the big corner table at Martell's, perhaps twenty minutes later,
they saw the salad brought on. "You knew what we liked, didn't you,
Emma?"
"I did, in spite of my simple tendencies," murmured Emma.
"That was a well merited thrust," laughed Elfreda, laying her hand
lightly over her heart.
"And now Wayne Hall and our humble apartment await you," proclaimed
Grace when the last vestige of salad had disappeared. "Anne and I extend
you a pressing invitation to dessert and conversation. Although this is
to be a strictly informal session of the club, we may wish to discuss
certain club business. The evening is before us. We ought to make good
use of it."
"And so we shall," returned Emma Dean, as they rose to go. "The affairs
of the nation shall be discussed and adjusted to-night."
"And the world will be upside down forever after," predicted Elfreda.
"Don't croak," reproved Emma. "Who knows what this night may bring
forth? It may engender indigestion, or a stern injunction to make less
noise on the part of Mrs. Elwood, but whatever the future has in store
for us, we shall have had at least one luncheon worth remembering."
CHAPTER II
THE LAST FRESHMAN
It was ten minutes past seven when the club settled down to the frozen
custard and delicious cakes that Grace and Anne had provided for them.
Then Elfreda, who had taken upon herself the making and serving of the
coffee, returned after a brief absence with a percolator of steaming
coffee, Miriam following with the sugar and cream.
"Isn't it too bad we never thought of doing this before?" said Marian
Cummings.
"Something had to be left for our senior year," said Anne Pierson.
"Do you know, I am anything but joyful at being a senior," announced
Elfreda Briggs. "Of course, it is a satisfaction to know that one has
weathered the last three years' examinations and is practically on Easy
Street as far as studies go, but every now and then comes the awful
feeling, 'only a little while and it will all be over'--college, I
mean."
"'Yet a few days, and thee the all-beholding sun shall see no
more.'"
quoted Emma Dean lugubriously.
"Not quite so bad as that," returned Elfreda with an appreciative grin.
"Even we juniors feel more or less that way," said Laura Atkins. "I
never had any real fun until I came to Overton. The time has gone so
fast I can't believe that it is two years since I locked Grace and Anne
out of their room and behaved like a savage. I don't wonder Elfreda
named me the Anarchist. I did my best to live up to the name."
"Oh, forget about that," murmured Elfreda, looking embarrassed.
The members of the club were wholly familiar with the history of Laura
Atkins's freshman year and admired her for the matter-of-fact way in
which she was wont to discuss her early short-comings. Under the sunny
influence of the four girls who had helped her to find herself, she had
developed into a gracious and likeable young woman. She and Mildred
Taylor were the guests of the club that afternoon.
"What is the latest word from erring freshmen? Has any one heard?" asked
Grace. Laura's reference to herself had set Grace to thinking of
freshmen in general.
"We've six at Ralston," groaned Julia Emerson. "The usual
variety--neither rich nor poor, brilliant nor dull, amiable nor
perverse, goody-goody nor lawless. Just that comfortable, maddeningly
commonplace variety of girls who never go to extremes."
"Extremes are dangerous," declared Elfreda judicially.
"Better be an extremist than nothing at all," grumbled Julia.
"For the first time since we came here, there isn't a single freshman at
Wayne Hall," announced Miriam.
"Are all the rooms taken?" asked Marian Cummings.
"All but half of one room," replied Emma Dean. "The illustrious Miss
West is alone in her glory. I heard Mrs. Elwood lamenting to-day because
that particular half was still vacant."
"Some one may take it yet," said Arline Thayer. "This is only the second
week of the term. Only yesterday a freshman arrived at Morton House.
Girls have been known to drift into Overton a whole month after the
beginning of the term."
"Did Miss West ask for a single?" questioned Grace of Emma.
"No, she doesn't in the least yearn for one. You know she is paying her
own way through college. She told Mrs. Elwood that it was all she could
do to keep her head above water as it was and couldn't afford to think
of a single. Of course, Mrs. Elwood hasn't charged her single rates yet,
but if no one else appears she will either have to pay the advanced
price or make other arrangements. Mrs. Elwood knows of two girls who
have been trying to get into Wayne Hall for a long time, and who will
come bag and baggage the moment she says the word."
"That is too bad," said Miriam slowly--"for Miss West, I mean."
A significant silence fell upon the company of girls. The same thought
was in each one's mind. It was Elfreda who finally voiced it. "It looks
as though the S. F.'s ought to get busy," she said slangily. "We might
lend her the money to make up the difference."
"I am afraid that wouldn't do," objected Anne, whose practical
experience with poverty had made her wise. "I imagine with her it is a
question of being economical. It wouldn't be fair to tempt her to
extravagance, for a single would be the height of improvidence,
particularly if she had to go in debt for it."
"Anne is right," declared Gertrude Wells decidedly. "But to be perfectly
frank, I am not in favor of the club taking up Miss West's case. You all
know how badly she behaved toward us last year, particularly toward
Grace. If we offered her help, no doubt we should be ridiculed for our
pains. I think the best thing for us to do is to let her alone."
"So do I," echoed Sarah Emerson.
Several affirmative murmurs went up from various girls.
"Now, see here," began Elfreda Briggs emphatically. "What is the use in
our calling ourselves Semper Fidelis and then going back on our
principles? When we organized this club, we didn't make any conditions
as to who should be helped and who shouldn't, did we? Whoever needed
help was to have it. If there is anyway in which we can be of assistance
to Miss West, then it is our duty to respond cheerfully."
"Hurrah for you, Elfreda!" cried Arline. "You're an honor to the Sempers
and your own sweet native land. Of course we aren't going to pick and
choose whom we shall help. I think we had better appoint a committee to
call on Miss West and find out if we can render her any financial
assistance."
"I'm in favor of that committee," declared Emma Dean, "only don't ask me
to serve on it."
"Grace and Arline are the very ones for that stunt," proposed Julia
Emerson. "They can do it to perfection."
"Please don't ask me," said Grace with sudden earnestness. "I just
can't, that's all." Her face flushed, and a distressed look crept into
her eyes which her friends were quick to note.
"Suppose you and Elfreda call on her, Miriam?" proposed Arline. "You two
are very valiant."
"Excuse me," said Elfreda so promptly that everyone laughed. "I may look
valiant, but to every woman her own fear, you know."
"Oh, look, girls!" The sudden exclamation came from Gertrude Wells, who
was sitting near the open window. "There's the automobile bus from the
station. It's stopping in front of Wayne Hall, too."
There was a concerted rush for the two windows.
"I wonder who it can be!" cried Emma Dean. "Wouldn't it be funny if it
were the greatly desired freshman, Miss West's other half?"
The watchers saw the bus door open. Then out of it stepped the tallest
girl they had ever seen.
"I believe she is seven feet tall," muttered Emma Dean. "I am sure of
it."
"Nonsense," laughed Miriam. "But she is not far from six. I wish it were
daylight, then we could see her face."
"I wonder who she can be," mused Arline.
"There is only one answer," smiled Miriam Nesbit. "As Emma just stated,
she must be Miss West's other half. However, we shall know before long."
A moment later they heard the bell ring, then up from the hall came the
sound of Mrs. Elwood's voice speaking in surprised but pleased tones. A
voice almost masculine in its depth answered. There was a tramp of feet
up the stairs and down the hall. In the next instant the door of the end
room had opened and closed upon the newcomer.
"Girls, you are saved," proclaimed Gertrude Wells dramatically. "We have
been wasting our valuable time to-night trying to solve Miss West's
problem, while all the time the queen of the giants was hurrying as fast
as ever she could to the rescue."
There was a faint general laugh at the remark, then Elfreda said
severely, "Young women, do you consider making uncomplimentary remarks
about new students in the line of true Overton spirit?"
"But she did look seven feet tall," persisted Emma Dean.
"Think how deceitful appearances sometimes are," reminded Miriam.
"Never judge a person by moonlight," added Ruth Denton.
"Never judge them at all," smiled Grace. "Let the poor freshman rest in
peace. I have a last sweet surprise for you. Name it and you can have
it."
"Caramels," guessed Julia Emerson.
"Marshmallows," said Gertrude Wells.
"Oh, I know," cried Arline. "Nut chocolates; the delicious kind that old
candy man in Oakdale makes."
"Some one must have told you," said Grace, going to the closet and
returning with a huge box. "You are all to stay here until the last
chocolate is eaten."
It was on the ragged edge of half-past ten when the Semper Fidelis Club
trooped happily across the campus to their various houses, but, faithful
to their duty, the big candy box reposed in Grace's waste basket, quite
empty.
"I wonder how Kathleen West received her roommate," observed Miriam. She
and Elfreda had lingered for a moment in Grace's room after the others
had gone.
"It is fortunate for her that a belated freshman happened along," was
Grace's serious reply.
"But most unfortunate for the freshman," added Elfreda. "However, this
one looks perfectly capable of fighting her own battles."
CHAPTER III
AN ACCIDENT AND A SURPRISE
"Well, what do you think of her?" inquired Elfreda Briggs the following
morning, poking her head in at Grace's door, a quizzical smile on her
round face. Grace and Anne had left the breakfast table a few minutes
before Elfreda, who had foregone finishing her breakfast and rushed
upstairs to hear her friends' opinion of the tall freshman, who had
seemed taller than ever as she stalked uncompromisingly into the dining
room that morning in Kathleen West's wake. The newspaper girl looked
anything but in a happy frame of mind, and after several covert glances
in her direction, Grace decided that the new arrival had not been met
with open arms on the part of Kathleen.
"What do I think of her?" repeated Grace. "A good many things, I should
say. What do you think?"
"I think she is the most interesting and entertaining person I've seen
in years," declared Elfreda exaggeratingly.
"Then her entertaining powers do not lie in speech," laughed Anne. "I
heard her say three things this morning at the table. They were, 'yes,'
'thank you' and 'I believe so.'"
"She didn't talk, that's a fact," admitted Elfreda, "but she looked as
though she was keeping up an awful thinking. Does any one know from
whence she came, and why?"
"I don't know anything about her," said Grace, shaking her head, "but I
am sure that you will find out everything worth knowing before night.
You will be able to see a great deal, you know."
"Don't flatter me," grinned Elfreda. "That's no joke, though," she added
hastily. "I'll find out, never fear, and then I'll tell you girls."
"What a comfort it is to have the latest news brought to one's door
every morning," jeered Anne.
"You'll find yourself without that comfort if you are not more
respectful," threatened Elfreda. "I'll carry my news to other doors
where it will be more highly appreciated."
"Your threats fail to impress me," retorted Anne. "You know that you
couldn't bear to ignore us."
"I know I shall be late to chapel, and that you will be later," replied
Elfreda significantly. "Tardiness is unbecoming in a senior. I am sorry
to be obliged to remind you of it."
"Save your sorrow and come along," called Miriam Nesbit from the
doorway. "Aren't you going to chapel this morning, Grace?"
"Not this morning," replied Grace, not raising her eyes from the book
over which she was poring. "This is psychology morning and I'm very
shaky on the lesson. I feel in my bones that I'll be called upon to
recite, so please go away, all of you, and don't bother me," she
finished with an affectionate smile that did not accord with her blunt
words.
"Going, going, gone!" flung back Elfreda over her shoulder as she left
the room, followed by Miriam and Anne.
Grace glanced anxiously at the clock, then concentrated her mind anew
upon her reading. The sound of hurried feet on the stairs and through
the halls, accompanied by an occasional murmur of voices as the students
left Wayne Hall, was borne to her ears as she read and tried to
familiarize herself with the main points of the lesson. Gradually the
house settled down to quiet, and Grace, becoming thoroughly interested
in her work, lost all track of time.
The sound of a terrific crash, apparently just outside the half-opened
door, brought her to her feet in alarm. "What was that?" she exclaimed.
Stepping to the door she looked up and down the hall. From the room at
the end, the door of which was ajar, came a jingling sound as of dishes
being piled together. For a moment Grace hesitated, then walked toward
the sound. At the doorway she paused again; then the sight that met her
eyes caused her to spring forward with an impulsive, "What a dreadful
smash! Do let me help you."
The extremely tall young woman who sat on the edge of her bed surveying
the wreck of her washbowl, pitcher and every other piece of china that
five minutes before had reposed confidently on the top of her washstand
regarded Grace ruefully. There was a twinkle in her eyes, however, that
belied her regret. "It did make considerable noise, I imagine," she said
crisply. "Strange the rest of the students here haven't appeared on the
scene."
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