Grace Harlowes First Year at Overton College | Page 4

and day to send me to
high school. Of course, my five dollars a week from Mrs. Gray helped
a great deal, but up to the time Mr. Southard sent for me to go to New
York City to play Rosalind I didn't really think of college as at all
certain. Before I left New York for Oakdale, Mr. and Miss Southard
and I had a long talk. They made me see that it was right to use the
talent God had given me by appearing in worthy plays. Mr. Southard
pointed out the fact that I could earn enough money by playing in stock
companies in the summer to put me through college and at the same
time contribute liberally to my mother's support.
"The home problem was really the greatest to be solved. I felt that it
wouldn't be right for me to even work my way through college and
leave Mary to struggle on alone, after she had worked so hard to help
me get a high school education. So the stage seemed to be my one way
out after all. And when once I had definitely decided to do as Mr.
Southard recommended me to do I was happier than I had been for
ages."
"Anne Pierson, you quiet little mouse!" exclaimed Grace. "Why didn't
you tell us all this before? You are the most provoking Anne under the
sun. Here I've been worrying about you having to wait on table or do

tutoring and odds and ends of work to put yourself through college,
while all the time you were planning something different. We all know
you're too proud to let any of your friends help you, but since you are
determined to make your own way I'm glad that you have chosen the
stage, after all."
"I think you are wise, Anne," agreed Miriam. "With two such people as
Mr. Southard and his sister to look after you, there can be no objection
to your following your profession."
"I am glad to know that you girls look at the matter in that light,"
replied Anne.
"Suppose we had offered any objections?" asked Grace.
"I'll answer that question," said Miriam. "Anne would have followed
the path she had marked out for herself regardless of our objections.
Am I right, Anne?"
"I don't know," said Anne, flushing deeply. "You have all been so good
to me. I couldn't bear to displease my dearest friends, but it would be
hard to give up something I knew could result in nothing save good for
me." Anne paused and looked at Grace and Miriam with pleading eyes.
"Never mind, dear," comforted Grace. "We approve of you and all your
works. We are not shocked because you are a genius. We are sworn
advocates of the stage and only too glad to know that it has opened the
way to college for you."
"Shall you let the fact that you have appeared professionally be known
at Overton?" asked Miriam.
"I shall make no secret of it," returned Anne quietly, "but I won't
volunteer any information concerning it."
"I wonder what our freshman year at Overton will bring us," mused
Grace. "I have read so many stories about college life, and yet so far
Overton seems like an unknown land that we are about to explore.

From all I have heard and read, exploring freshmen find their first term
at college anything but a bed of roses. They are sometimes hazed
unmercifully by the upper classes, and their only salvation lies in
silently standing the test. Julia Crosby says that she had all sorts of
tricks played on her during her first term at Smith. Now she's a
sophomore and can make life miserable for the freshmen. I am going to
try to cultivate the true college spirit," concluded Grace earnestly.
"College is going to mean even more to me than high school. I don't
imagine it's all going to be plain sailing. I suppose, more than once, I'll
wish myself back in Oakdale, but I'm going to make up my mind to
take the bitter with the sweet and set everything down under the head of
experience."
"To tell you the truth," Miriam said slowly, "I am not enthusiastic over
college. I value it as a means of continuing my education, and I'll try to
live up to college ideals, but I'm not going to let anyone walk over me
or ridicule me. I'm willing 'to live and let live,' but, as Eleanor Savelli
used to say when in a towering rage, 'no one can trample upon me with
impunity.'"
"I wonder when we shall see Eleanor again," said Anne, smiling a little
at the recollection called up by Miriam's quotation.
"That reminds me," exclaimed Grace. "I have a letter from Eleanor