Grace Harlowes Fourth Year at Overton College | Page 9

between them had been firmly tied.
From the moment of Kathleen West's discovery that her roommate was
fast becoming friendly with the very girls she affected to despise, she
adopted an aggressive manner toward the New England girl which the
latter was quick to perceive and tactfully ignore. Patience had an
unusually keen insight into character, and she had made up her mind
not to get beyond the point of exchanging common civilities with the
disgruntled young woman who seemed determined to go through
college with her eyes tightly closed to her own interests.
That the newspaper girl possessed a fondness for study and never
neglected her lessons was a point in her favor, in Patience's eyes. As
the daughter of a well-known man of letters she had inherited her
father's love of study and an appreciation of that same love in others.
She frequently smiled at the clever, caustic remarks the strange, moody
girl was wont to make about everything and everybody, and
occasionally she surprised even Kathleen herself by her ready
appreciation of the themes the latter wrote.
It was several weeks before the two young women even became
accustomed to each other. During that time Kathleen learned that
Patience was proof against her aggressiveness, and not half so
narrow-minded as she had thought; while Patience discovered, to her
dismay, that in spite of Kathleen's undoubted wit and brilliancy, she
disliked her rather more, if anything, than on first acquaintance.

"I feel quite conscience-stricken over it," she confided to Grace one
afternoon as they started down College Street for a short walk before
dinner. "I wouldn't tell any one else, Grace, but I simply can't like Miss
West. I've tried, and I can't. I am equally sure she doesn't like me.
Imagine us sharing the intimacy of one room, and at the same time
disliking each other cordially. I suppose there isn't the slightest chance
for me to make a change this year. Besides, I don't wish to leave Wayne
Hall."
"Oh, you mustn't think of leaving Wayne Hall!" exclaimed Grace in
dismay. "I am so sorry about Miss West. She is a peculiar girl. None of
the girls here pretend to understand her. When first she came here as a
freshman she was friendly enough with us. Then something occurred
for which we were not to blame, or rather, we did not know that Miss
West considered us at fault," corrected Grace conscientiously. "At any
rate, she suddenly began to avoid us. For a long time we didn't know
the reason." Grace paused for an instant. "By the time we found out, it
was too late. Other things had happened. I can't really tell you much
about that part of it," she added, reddening, "but in fairness to myself
and my friends I will say that we were not to blame for what followed.
There, that isn't very definite, is it? But I know you won't ask any
questions."
"Not one," returned Patience gravely. "I knew, of course, that relations
between you two were strained, but hadn't the slightest idea of the
cause of it all. I believe I understand something of the situation now."
They tramped along in silence for a time. Grace was thinking almost
resentfully that even in her senior year she seemed unable to free
herself from a sense of responsibility toward Kathleen West. Her great
affection for Mabel Ashe had undoubtedly been at the bottom of it, but,
deep in her heart, Grace knew that had there been no Mabel to pave the
way for Kathleen, she would have done whatever lay in her power to
help this strange girl, who had no conception of, and was not likely
ever to imbibe, that intangible and yet wholly necessary principle,
college spirit. She wondered a little sadly why Mabel Ashe had not
written her. Could it be possible that Mabel had heard unkind,

untruthful tales of her from the newspaper girl? Grace impatiently
accused herself of being suspicious and tried to shake off the
impression.
While she was pursuing this uncomfortable train of thought, Patience
Eliot was covertly watching her companion's face. The expression she
saw there evidently did not please her, and with a slightly determined
set of her lips and a gleam of sudden purpose in her frank eyes, she
promised herself that, beginning that very day, she would try to study
Kathleen from an entirely different standpoint than heretofore. Laying
her hand on Grace's shoulder she said warmly: "Don't worry, Grace. I
will take back what I said about leaving Wayne Hall. I'm going to stay
there until the last day of my sophomore year, at least. And as long as I
stay I shall no doubt go on rooming with Miss West. There, does that
make you feel better?"
"It is