Mary Louise | Page 2

girls at the school. Dorothy Knerr
used to say that "Mary Louise's clothes always looked as if they grew
on her," but that may have been partially accounted for by the grace of
her slim form and her unconscious but distinctive poise of bearing. Few
people would describe Mary Louise Burrows as beautiful, while all
would agree that she possessed charming manners. And she was
fifteen--an age when many girls are both awkward and shy.
As she drew near to the group on the bench they ceased discussing
Mary Louise but continued angrily to canvass their latest grievance.
"What do you think, Mary Louise," demanded Jennie, as the girl
paused before them, "of this latest outrage?"
"What outrage, Jen?" with a whimsical smile at their indignant faces.
"This latest decree of the tyrant Stearne. Didn't you see it posted on the

blackboard this morning? 'The young ladies will hereafter refrain from
leaving the school grounds after the hour of six p.m., unless written
permission is first secured from the Principal. Any infraction of this
rule will result in suspension or permanent dismissal.' We're
determined not to stand for this rule a single minute. We intend to
strike for our liberties."
"Well," said Mary Louise reflectively, "I'm not surprised. The wonder
is that Miss Stearne hasn't stopped your evening parades before now.
This is a small school in a small town, where everyone knows everyone
else; otherwise you'd have been guarded as jealously as if you were in a
convent. Did you ever know or hear of any other private boarding
school where the girls were allowed to go to town evenings, or
whenever they pleased out of school hours?"
"Didn't I tell you?" snapped Mable, addressing the group. "Mary Louise
is always on the wrong side. Other schools are not criterions for this
ramshackle establishment, anyhow. We have twelve boarders and four
day scholars, and how Miss Stearne ever supports the place and herself
on her income is an occult problem that the geometries can't solve. She
pays little Miss Dandler, her assistant, the wages of an ordinary
housemaid; the furniture is old and shabby and the classrooms gloomy;
the food is more nourishing than feastful and the tablecloths are so
patched and darned that it's a wonder they hold together."
Mary Louise quietly seated herself upon the bench beside them.
"You're looking on the seamy side, Mable," she said with a smile, "and
you're not quite just to the school. I believe your parents sent you here
because Miss Stearne is known to be a very competent teacher and her
school has an excellent reputation of long standing. For twenty years
this delightful old place, which was once General Barlow's residence,
has been a select school for young ladies of the best families. Gran'pa
Jim says it's an evidence of good breeding and respectability to have
attended Miss Stearne's school."
"Well, what's that got to do with this insulting order to stay in
evenings?" demanded Sue Finley. "You'd better put all that rot you're

talking into a circular and mail it to the mothers of imbecile daughters.
Miss Stearne has gone a step too far in her tyranny, as she'll find out.
We know well enough what it means. There's no inducement for us to
wander into that little tucked-up town of Beverly after dinner except to
take in the picture show, which is our one innocent recreation. I'm sure
we've always conducted ourselves most properly. This order simply
means we must cut out the picture show and, if we permit it to stand,
heaven only knows what we shall do to amuse ourselves."
"We'll do something worse, probably," suggested Jennie.
"What's your idea about it, Mary Louise?" asked Dorothy.
"Don't be a prude," warned Mable, glaring at the young girl. "Try to be
honest and sensible--if you can--and give us your advice. Shall we
disregard the order, and do as we please, or be namby-pambies and
submit to the outrage? You're a day scholar and may visit the picture
shows as often as you like. Consider our position, cooped up here like a
lot of chickens and refused the only harmless amusement the town
affords."
"Gran'pa Jim," observed Mary Louise, musingly, "always advises me to
look on both sides of a question before making up my mind, because
every question has to have two sides or it couldn't be argued. If Miss
Stearne wishes to keep you away from the pictures, she has a reason for
it; so let's discover what the reason is."
"To spoil any little fun we might have," asserted Mable bitterly.
"No; I can't believe that," answered Mary Louise. "She isn't unkindly,
we all know, nor is she too strict with her girls. I've heard her remark
that all her boarders are young ladies who can