Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore | Page 3

too. They really ought to be included. Are they here,
and how long have you and Vera been back?"
Marjorie made her explanations and asked her questions almost in the
same breath.
"We have been here three days. We have been really busy though. We
had our unpacking to do, and we changed the furniture around in our
room. We spent one whole afternoon playing golf. We both adore the
Hamilton links. The time has gone fast, although we have missed our

own particular cronies, especially in the evenings. Now we can have a
few jollifications before college starts." Vera answered for Leila, who
had turned to greet Lucy Warner.
Presently Muriel and Ronny joined them, to be warmly welcomed by
the two juniors. Jerry and Helen Trent were the last to arrive. With their
appearance among the group of staunch comrades, the entire party
began a slow walk down the platform and toward the stairs which led
away from the station.
"If you are in search of information as to who's where and when you
may expect them, ask Helen. As I used to say of myself, 'I know
everything about everybody,' I now pass on that same saying to my
esteemed friend, Miss Trent." Jerry beamed on Helen with exaggerated
admiration.
"Now, Jeremiah, don't you think that a rather sweeping statement?
There may be just a few students at Hamilton I don't happen to be
informed about. You will give our friends here the impression that I am
a busybody. Remember I am now a junior. Try to treat me with more
respect." Helen smiled indolent good nature as she thus admonished
Jerry.
"I'll try, but that's all the good it will do. The whole trouble is, you don't
command my awe and respect," complained Jerry.
"Neither do you inspire such feelings in me," placidly returned Helen.
"We'll simply have to go on being disrespectful to each other," she
ended, with a chuckle which Jerry echoed.
"Let us see." The little company had reached the place where Leila and
Vera had parked their cars. Leila now cast speculative eyes over the
group. "Martha is missing. Ethel must have found her cousin, surely. If
she did not find her she was to go back to the campus with us. I lost
track of her after the train whistled in. Martha is probably with Ethel;
helping to impress the freshman cousin with junior estate," Leila made
whimsical guess. "I think we are ready to start. Nine of us; that's four to
your car and five to mine, Midget."

"All right," returned Vera. "Choose your five, or, better, let your five
choose you. The sooner we start, the sooner we will reach the Hall.
That means a longer time to celebrate tonight."
"Delighted to ride with either of you," assured Muriel. "The main
feature of this occasion is the beautiful fact that we are cherished
enough to be actually met at the station and asked to ride in folks'
automobiles."
"Muriel can't get over the freezing-out we met with last September,"
commented Ronny.
"Neither can I. I feel chilly every time I think of it. Br-r-r!" Jerry made
pretense of shivering.
"Well, we all know whose fault that was," shrugged Leila.
"Precisely what I said just before we left the train," nodded Jerry. "We
couldn't understand for a long time why those three Sans should have
taken it upon themselves at all to meet our train. We have a clear idea
now of why it was. Tonight, at the celebration, I'll hold forth on the
subject. Let us not mar the sweet joy of meeting by gossiping," she
ended with an irresistibly funny simper.
"No; let us not," echoed Leila dryly. "Be quick with your choosing now.
Time will keep on flying."
Five minutes later, Marjorie, Ronny, Helen and Jerry were leaving the
station yard in Leila's car. Muriel, Lucy, Katherine and Vera occupied
the latter's smart limousine. In comparison with the subdued almost sad
little party they had been on the previous September, the Five Travelers
were now a very merry company of adventurers in the Country of
College.
On the front seat of Leila's roadster, beside Leila, Marjorie was silent
for a little, as Leila skilfully guided the trim roadster in and out of the
considerable traffic of Herndon Avenue, Hamilton's main thoroughfare.

"Have you seen any of the Sans yet, Leila?" she presently questioned.
The car was now turning into Highland Avenue, which led directly to
Hamilton Estates. Marjorie glimpsed, in passing, the same wealth of
colorful leaf and bloom she had so greatly admired when driving
through the pretty town the previous autumn.
"No signs of them yet," Leila made reply. "I am not grieving. I am
wondering if they will be at the Hall again this year. Miss Remson