Grace Harlowes Return to Overton Campus | Page 8

her only this morning. Really, Elfreda, I
wonder if, ever again, there will be a class quite like 19--?"
"Never," declared Elfreda with quick loyalty, then, glancing up at the
mission clock on the wall, she exclaimed: "I wonder why Mrs. Gray
doesn't come! Let's go out on the veranda and watch for her."
The two young women strolled out onto the veranda just in time to see
an automobile drive up to the house containing two persons. One of
them was Mrs. Gray, the other, to whom she was talking animatedly,
was a broad-shouldered young man, whose gray eyes shone with
pleasure as he caught sight of Grace.
"Why, Tom!" she called in astonishment. "Where did you come from? I
thought you were away up in Maine." She hurried down the steps, her
hands extended.
The young man caught them in his and held them fast. "So I was," he
answered, his eyes searching hers, "but my work there is done for the
present. I am on my way to Washington, but it's a roundabout way, for,
when I received your letter, I was devoured with curiosity to see
Harlowe House, so I took a day off, on my own responsibility, and
came this way."
Grace colored under the young man's ardent gaze. She knew only too
well that it was not alone curiosity to see Harlowe House that had taken
Tom out of his way. "I'm sorry your curiosity didn't devour you
sooner," she retorted mischievously. "If only you had come here last
week! You could have made yourself invaluable. However, you are in
time to meet Elfreda, at least."
"Yes, Tom," declared his aunt, "you can't afford to miss knowing
Elfreda. She is the counterpart of Hippy, and has kept Grace and I in a
perpetual state of smiles during the past two weeks."
Tom helped his aunt out of the automobile and the three walked slowly

toward the veranda where Elfreda stood waiting. A moment later she
and Tom were shaking hands and declaring that, having heard so much
of each other from Grace, they were really old acquaintances.
"When are you going home?" Tom asked, as half an hour later, the
party paused in the living-room after a tour of inspection which
included the four floors.
"That is the main subject under discussion at present," smiled Grace. "It
must be very soon. If not to-morrow, then the day after. Here we are
fairly into August and I have spent a very short time with Father and
Mother. Then, too, the Phi Sigma Tau has a great many mysterious
rites to observe before two of its members enter into that state known
as matrimony. Also we expect Eleanor Savelli soon. She and her father
and aunt are going to be at 'Heartease' for two or three months. Mabel
Allison and her mother are coming east, and the Southards are coming
home with Anne when their motion-picture work in California is done.
I could go on naming plenty of other reasons, but those are the really
important ones."
"I should say they were important ones," agreed Tom. "It sounds as
though there were to be some lively times in Oakdale. I'm going to try
to make my vacation cover the weddings. I can't allow the Originals to
get married, celebrate or jollificate without me."
"Oh, Tom, will you really?" cried Grace with enthusiasm. "I'll let you
know the moment the date of the girls' weddings is set."
"Can you stay over until to-morrow, Tom?" asked Mrs. Gray. "Then we
can go back to Oakdale on the late afternoon train."
"I'm afraid not, Aunt Rose, I'm a day late now. I'll have to take the
night train for Washington. Let me see." He drew a time table from his
coat pocket. "There is a train out of Overton at nine o'clock to-night.
I'm due to catch it. But I'm going to take you all to dinner at the
Tourraine and we are going for a drive afterward which will end at the
station, where you will all see me on my desolate way. Are there any
objections?"

"Nothing but delighted acceptances, my dear boy," assured his aunt,
glancing fondly at her big, good-looking nephew. "I'll venture to
answer for the girls, too."
"We'll come to Tom's dinner party, provided he has luncheon with us,"
stipulated Grace. "It's almost noon now. Mrs. Elwood will have
luncheon ready at one. You'd better come with us, Tom. We are going
to have strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, for dessert."
"You couldn't lose me," asserted Tom with slangy emphasis. "Shall I
go on ahead and telephone for a car, Aunt Rose?"
"No, I'll walk to Wayne Hall with you children," decided Mrs. Gray.
"I wonder if there is anything else to be done," murmured