Grace Harlowes First Year at Overton College | Page 2

Irish Nora here
to stand up for me! She wouldn't allow any one, except herself, to
speak harsh and cruel words to me."
"We shan't be able to speak many more words of any kind to you," said
Miriam, consulting her watch. "The train is due in ten minutes."
When Grace Harlowe and her three dear friends, Nora O'Malley,
Jessica Bright and Anne Pierson, began to make history for themselves
in their freshman year at Oakdale High School, none of them could
possibly imagine just how dear they were to become to the hearts of the
hundreds of girls who made their acquaintance in "Grace Harlowe's

Plebe Year at High School." The story of their freshman year was one
of manifold trials and triumphs. It was at the beginning of that year that
Grace Harlowe had championed the cause of Anne Pierson, a
newcomer in Oakdale. Then and there a friendship sprang up between
the two girls that was destined to be life long. The repeated efforts of
several malicious girls to discredit Anne in the eyes of her teachers, and
her final triumph in winning the freshman prize offered to the class by
Mrs. Gray, a wealthy resident of Oakdale, made the narrative one of
interest and aroused a desire on the part of the reader to know more of
Grace Harlowe and her friends.
In "Grace Harlowe's Sophomore Year at High School" the girl chums
appeared as basketball enthusiasts. In this volume was related the
efforts of Julia Crosby, a disagreeable junior, and Miriam Nesbit, a
disgruntled sophomore, to disgrace Anne and wrest the basketball
captaincy from Grace. Through the magnanimity of Grace Harlowe,
Miriam and Julia were brought to a realization of their own faults, and
in time became the faithful friends of both Anne and Grace.
During "Grace Harlowe's Junior Year at High School" the famous
sorority, the Phi Sigma Tau, was organized by the four chums for the
purpose of looking after high school girls who stood in need of
assistance. In that volume Eleanor Savelli, the self-willed daughter of
an Italian violin virtuoso, made her appearance. The difficulties Grace
and her chums encountered in trying to befriend Eleanor and her final
contemptuous repudiation of their friendship made absorbing reading
for those interested in following the fortunes of the Oakdale High
School girls.
Their senior year was perhaps the most eventful of all. At the very
beginning of the fall term the high school gymnasium was destroyed by
fire. Failing to secure an appropriation from either the town or state, the
four classes of the girls' high school pledged themselves to raise the
amount of money required to rebuild the gymnasium. In "Grace
Harlowe's Senior Year at High School" the story of the senior class
bazaar, the daring theft of their hard-earned money before the bazaar
had closed, and Grace Harlowe's final recovery of the stolen money

under the strangest of circumstances, furnished material for a narrative
of particular interest. After graduation the four chums, accompanied by
their nearest and dearest friends, had spent a long and delightful
summer in Europe. On returning to Oakdale the real parting of the ways
had come, for Nora and Jessica had already departed for an eastern city
to enter a well known conservatory of music. Marian Barber and Eva
Allen were to enter Smith College the following week, Eleanor Savelli
had long since sailed for Italy, and now the morning train was to bear
Miriam Nesbit, Grace Harlowe and Anne Pierson to Overton, an
eastern college finally decided upon by the three girls.
"Last year we left you on the station platform gazing mournfully after
the train that bore me away from Oakdale," remarked Hippy
reminiscently. "How embarrassed I felt at so much attention, and yet
how sweet it was to know that you had gathered here, not to see David
Nesbit, Reddy Brooks, Tom Gray or any such insignificant persons off
to school, but that I, Theophilus Hippopotamus Wingate, was the object
of your tender solicitations."
"I expected it," groaned David. "I don't see why we ever woke him up
and dragged him along."
"As I was about to say when rudely interrupted," continued Hippy
calmly, "I shall miss you, of course, but not half so much as you will
miss me. I hope you will think of me, and you may write to me
occasionally if it will be a satisfaction to you. I know you will not
forget me. Who, having once met me, could forget?"
Hippy folded his arms across his chest and looked languishingly at the
three girls.
A chorus of giggles from those grouped around the girls and derisive
groans from the boys greeted Hippy's sentimental speech.
Suddenly a long, shrill whistle was heard.
"That's your train, girls," said Mr. Harlowe, who with Mrs.