Jane Allen: Junior | Page 3

It was Jane at last.
"Here she comes! Here she comes!" announced Nettie Brocton. "And
look, girls! she isn't even whistling. Something is wrong with our sunny

Jane."
There was no mistake about it, something was wrong, for Jane Allen
swung along the path, calling greetings to friends grouped in knots and
colonies with an evident half heartedness foreign to her usual buoyant,
cheerful personality.
Espying her own contingent on the poplar slope she threw her arms out
in a reckless, boyish sort of gesture to give force to the "Hello girls!"
she called, but even that was much too mild for Jane.
"We were in despair," began Judith, Jane's particular friend and
school-long companion. "Janie dear, why the clouds? What's up? Let us
know the worst, do. We are fortified now, whereas in an hour hence we
may be weak from interviews with the new proctor. Sit down Jane. We
just rose to go in search of you, and by my new watch I see there is still
time before the hour to report. There," and the little spot cleared for
Jane in the semi-circle was now covered with a pretty plaid skirt, "do
tell us. You really look worried,"
"Not really?" contradicted the gray eyed Jane. "Worried, and on our
very first lovely day? You surely wrong me!" she tried to get her arms
around more girls than even finger tips might touch. "I'm simply
bubbling with joy, as I should be. I was detained in the office longer
than I wanted to stay, and you all know how mean it is to have to sit on
one particular chair facing the desk while a lot of new girls ask a larger
lot of foolish questions. Perhaps that made me a little cross, but do
forgive me. I wouldn't spoil this initial hour for worlds. Please tell me
everything in one breath. I am just dying to hear."
No one answered. Ted Guthrie did gurgle a bit, and Velma Sigsbee
threw a handful of leaves in Nettie Brocton's hair, but the pause was a
riot. Why should Jane deceive them? Cross from delay in the busy
office indeed, as if she would not have bolted out and left the whole
room to the nervous new students! The girls looked from one to the
other and finally Judith Stearns saved the situation by proposing that
the juniors line up to help the seniors show newcomers about the
grounds. On this day at least, class lines were forgotten at Wellington.

"We were just waiting for you Janie," she declared adroitly, "and
Mildred Manners has been whoo-hooing her lungs out across the
campus. Come along girls, and see you don't waylay all the millionaires.
I hear every garage in the village is bursting with classy cars, and the
livery stable can't take another single boarder. Ted, you take Velma and
Maud, and be careful not to divulge any club secrets; Janet, you tag
along with Winifred and just gush to death over that timid little blonde
who seems to have a whole bag full of hand made handkerchiefs for
weeps. Jane, may I have the honor of your company?"
Judith's black eyes looked into Jane's gray orbs that asked and
answered so many questions.
"Thanks, Judy," said Jane aside. "You're a dear. Let's go and do the
honors."
The next moment Wellington grounds rang with shouts and laughter,
and the voice of Jane Allen defied the criticism her pretty face had so
lately invited.
"It's perfectly all right," she assured Judith, but the latter stuck her chin
out in contradiction.
"Can't fool me, Janie," she whispered between handshakes and
greetings. "But I'll wait till the picnic winds up. Did you ever see so
many new girls? Has some college burned down since last year?"
"No, love, but our reputation has gone forth. This is a glorious day for
Wellington and, Judy Stearns, it is going to be a glorious year for us.
We are still juniors!" and Jane trailed off to find her place in the long
line that was automatically forming around the great old elm. An
extension course in special work kept Jane with her junior friends.
"Wellington, dear Wellington!" rang out the then famous strain in
hundreds of silvery voices. The college song was echoed from every
hill into every grass lined hollow, and if the new girls doubted the spirit
of comradeship they were to be favored with there, the consecration
brought it home to them, like strong loving arms stretched out in the

sea of school day mysteries.
It was hours later, when the pattering of feet in the long corridors died
down to a mere trail of sound, that Jane and Judith managed to pair off
for a confidential chat.
"You have got to tell me," demanded Judith.