Grace Harlowes Plebe Year at High School | Page 3

a voice at the door, "I didn't mean to intrude
on your visitors, Anne, but I couldn't help overhearing Miss Harlowe's
invitation."
A small woman, much older than Anne, but very like her in face and
figure, appeared at the door.
"This is my sister," said Anne, taking the other's hand affectionately.
"Anne imagines she can't go, but she certainly can," went on the older
Miss Pierson, calmly, not in the least embarrassed by the strange young
girls. "Of course, she must go. I can arrange it easily."
"But, Mary----" protested Anne.
"Never mind, little sister," interrupted Mary, "it will be all right. Miss
Harlowe, what time must she be there?"
"At four o'clock," answered Grace, rising to go, "and I am delighted
that she can come. Remember, Anne, I'm counting on you to pour the
lemonade. The other girls are going to help with the sandwiches and ice
cream. By the way," she added, as they went down the steps, "be sure
and come to the basketball meeting at the gym this afternoon."
And so it was arranged that Anne Pierson, the shabbiest and poorest
girl in Oakdale High School, was to help receive at one of the prettiest
and most charming houses in town. Miriam Nesbit's rudeness was to
bring about a friendship between Anne Pierson and her three
schoolmates that lasted a lifetime.
After the half-past two o'clock dinner, which was the universal custom
in Oakdale, the chums met again at the gymnasium in the Boys' High
School. Wednesdays and Saturdays were nicknamed "ladies' days" by
the High School boys, for on these afternoons the girls were permitted
free use of the gymnasium.
The meeting to-day was not for gymnastic exercises, however, but an
important subject was to be discussed--the Freshman Basketball Team.

Also the captain of the team was to be elected.
Other club meetings were in full force when the girls arrived, and the
great room vibrated with the hum of voices. The three freshmen, who
knew better than to interrupt sophomores and juniors at their
pow-wows, made their way quietly across the hall to the appointed
place of rendezvous. Of course, the entire Freshman Class did not
assemble to discuss this subject. Many members were not interested in
basketball, except to look on. Girls who were overstudious, and not
physically strong, could not at any rate play on the team, and therefore
they seldom attended such meetings. Jessica Bright was one of these,
nevertheless, she followed her two friends, who had always been
foremost in athletics at the Central Grammar School.
The election of a captain was the first business of the meeting. That
over, the captain, after due and serious consultation with a friendly
cabinet, chose the players and their substitutes.
Undoubtedly Grace Harlowe had the coolest head in the class, and was
the most to be relied upon at critical moments; yet Miriam Nesbit
exerted a strange influence over her followers, who were almost her
slaves. She was the richest of all the girls and wore the costliest clothes.
The parties she gave, from time to time, in her mother's large and
handsome home were the talk of the place. She was also the cleverest
girl in the class, and had taken undisputed first place since she was a
child. She was not a close student, but seemed to absorb her lessons in
half the time that it took her friends to master them. Popular she
certainly was, or rather she was feared by her schoolmates. Her
masterful, overpowering spirit seemed to sweep everything before it.
Grace Harlowe was quite as powerful in her way, but she had a noble,
unselfish disposition and was much beloved by her friends. She stood
well in her studies, but had never taken first place. Perhaps this was
because she had interested herself so much in outdoor sports that she
had not given enough time to study.
Both girls were handsome--Miriam tall, dark and oriental-looking, with
flashing eyes and an imperious curve to her lips; Grace was also tall,

with wavy, chestnut hair, fine gray eyes, regular features, a full,
generous chin and cheeks glowing with health.
Miriam Nesbit had already done a good deal of lobbying when the
three girls arrived on the scene. She wished to be elected captain of the
team at any cost; but Grace's adherents were holding off, quietly
waiting for her arrival.
"Well, here you are at last!" said Marian Barber, who had been
preparing the ballots for the coming election.
Marian was the busy girl of the class, and always made herself useful.
"Is everyone here?" demanded Nora, scanning the crowd of freshmen
with a view to ascertaining what her chum's chances were.
"All that intend coming," replied Miriam. "The softies stayed away, as
usual."
"Suppose we wait five minutes," said