CHAPTER V
THE ANARCHIST CHOOSES HER ROOMMATE
"It's the Anarchist, of course," said Anne, turning to Grace.
"I wonder who she left roomless in the hall this time," speculatedGrace. "Shall we go and see?"
"Do you think we had better?" hesitated Anne.
"Yes," returned Grace boldly. "To a certain extent we are responsiblefor the welfare of the freshmen." Opening the door, she looked up anddown the hall. Then, with a sudden air of resolution, she walkeddownstairs. On the oak seat in the hall, looking disconsolately abouther, sat the "cunning" freshman that Grace had admired. At sight ofGrace she sprang toward the sophomore with an eager, "Won't you pleasetell me where I can find Mrs. Elwood?"
"I believe she has gone to market," replied Grace. "She usually goes atthis time every morning. Can I help you in any way?"
"No-o," replied the other girl doubtfully. "I wished to see Mrs. Elwood,because--" Her lip quivered. A big tear rolled down her cheek. "Oh, Ihate college," she muttered in a choking voice. "I wish I hadn't comehere. I'd go back to the station and take the next train west, if Ihadn't promised my brother that I'd stay. I hate the east and everythingin it. I know I'm going to be unhappy here."
With the smile that few people could resist, Grace sat down on the seatbeside the tearful little stranger. "I think I know what is troublingyou," she said gently. "I could not help overhearing Miss Atkins a fewmoments ago. I also heard you running downstairs, so I came down, too,to ask you if there was anything I could do for you."
"You are very kind," faltered the stranger. "I must wait to see Mrs.Elwood, but will you tell me your name, please?"
"Oh, I beg your pardon for not introducing myself," responded Gracecontritely. "I am Grace Harlowe of the sophomore class."
"My name is Mildred Taylor," responded the newcomer. "I came from thestation in the bus a few minutes ago. There were two other freshmen withme. They seem to be more fortunate than I. The maid showed us to ourrooms. I supposed, of course, that I would have to room with anothergirl, but I didn't think--" she paused.
"I know," sympathized Grace. "I heard what was said to you; at least apart of it. Won't you come upstairs to our room and meet my roommate,Miss Pierson?"
"It is very thoughtful in you to take so much trouble for me," repliedthe freshman gratefully.
"That is part of our plan here at Overton," laughed Grace. "When I was alonely, bewildered freshman, several of the upper class girls made ittheir business to look out for my comfort. Now it is my turn to passthat kindness along."
"What a nice way to look at things!" exclaimed Mildred Taylor. "If Ithought the rest of the girls in the college were going to be like you,I'd be ready to love Overton."
"Oh, you will love Overton," was Grace's quick reply. "You can't helpyourself."
Anne received the forlorn newcomer with a sweet courtesy that quitecharmed her. "We are in the midst of our unpacking," she explained. "Ourtrunks came only a little while ago. Won't you take off your hat andcoat?"
"Anne, I will leave Miss Taylor in your care," declared Grace. "Pleaseexcuse me, I'll be back directly," she nodded encouragingly to theirguest.
At the door of Miriam's room Grace knocked softly, then in answer to theimpatient, "Come in," entered to find Elfreda standing in the midst ofan extended circle formed by her possessions.
"Isn't this enough to discourage the most valiant heart?" she declared,with a comprehensive sweep of her arm over the scattered contents of hertrunk. "But I am going to clear everything away. I promised Miriam thatmy half of the room should be kept 'decently and in order' all year. Itis one of my sophomore obligations."
Grace listened in amusement to the stout girl's earnest assertion. "Ihaven't finished unpacking either," she said. "I came for advice. Thefreshman who was to occupy the other half of Miss Atkins's room hasarrived, and Miss Atkins won't let her into the room. I just brought herupstairs to my room.
"Last night I talked with Mrs. Elwood. She isn't particularly anxious tohave Miss Atkins in the house. When Miss Taylor, that is the name of thefreshman who just came, tells her about what happened she will ask MissAtkins to leave Wayne Hall. This girl has brought with her to Overtonthe worst possible spirit in which to begin her freshman year. Ofcourse, we don't know whether she is rich or poor, or whether hersuccess or failure in college means anything to any one besides herself.We can not know under what circumstances she has been brought up.Perhaps she has some one at home who is straining every nerve to sendher to college. Perhaps there is a father, mother, sister or brother whohas made untold sacrifices to give her a college education. Perhapsthere has been no lack of money, only a desire on the part of parents ora guardian to get rid of her by sending her off to school. I believe weought to try to help this girl in spite of her rudeness to us. Will yougo with me to her room? I want to talk to her. We may find her in abetter humor than she was in last night. While Anne entertains MissTaylor you and I will venture into the domain of the Anarchist."
"I'll go," agreed Elfreda, secretly flattered because Grace had chosenher.
Grace led the way down the hall to the end room. A sulky voice respondedto her knock, and throwing open the door the two girls stepped inside.The belligerent freshman sat bolt upright in a Morris chair, forbiddingand implacable.
"How do you do?" said Grace politely. "I hope we are not intruding."
The young woman merely scowled by way of answer.
"I wonder how I'd better begin," pondered Grace, looking squarely intothe hostile eyes.
Elfreda stood calmly surveying the scowling girl. "You might ask us tosit down," she observed impertinently.
The young woman glanced at the stout girl with an expression of angryamazement. Elfreda's rudeness was equal to her own.
"I beg your pardon," she said satirically. "Won't you be seated?"
"Oh, no, I just wanted to hear you say it," flung back Elfreda.
Ignoring this retort, Miss Atkins turned to Grace. "What do you wish?"she asked with cold precision.
"I am sorry to be obliged to tell you that if you do not allow MissTaylor to occupy her half of the room, you are likely to be asked toleave Wayne Hall," said Grace gravely. "Mrs. Elwood was displeased overwhat happened last night, and I know that when she learns of what hashappened to-day she will not overlook it. We do not wish to see youleave Wayne Hall, and besides, the various college houses are fillingfast. You might have difficulty in securing a desirable room elsewhere."
"Is there any reason why I should not occupy this room alone?"
"None whatever, if you arranged for a single beforehand," interposedElfreda shrewdly. "If you did, I can't see why Mrs. Elwood consented totake Miss Taylor."
"I did not arrange for a single room," was the stiff response.
"Then you haven't any case, have you?" queried Elfreda cheerfully. "Now,see here. I am going to tell you a few things. You are beginning allwrong. It is just what I did last year, and I had a pretty disagreeabletime, you may rest assured. The best thing you can do is to tell MissTaylor to come and claim her half of the room before anything happens toyou. If you leave Wayne Hall, sooner or later the whole college willhear of it and it won't help you to be popular, either. It is easyenough to do as you please regardless of whether or not it pleasesothers, but you are bound to pay for the privilege. If you don't believeme, just wait and see."
A flush mounted to the defiant stranger's cheeks.
"Public opinion is usually a matter of small importance to me," shesaid, but her tone of lofty indifference was not convincing. "There is,however, a certain amount of wisdom in what you have just said. I shouldnot care to appear ridiculous in the eyes of the really importantstudents at Overton. You may inform Miss Taylor that I have altered mydecision. I shall raise no further objections to her as a roommate."
With a pompous gesture of dismissal this self-centered young woman roseand walked majestically to the window. Turning her back squarely uponGrace and Elfreda, she appeared to be deeply absorbed
in watching whatwent on in the street, and, divided between vexation and laughter, thetwo girls left the room. Elfreda hurried back to her unpacking and Graceto her own room.
"It is all right, Miss Taylor. Your roommate is prepared to receiveyou," Grace announced.
"I shall be glad to have some place I can call all my own," sighed thelittle girl, "but I know I shall never like her," she added resentfully.
"On the contrary, you may learn to like her very much," returned Grace."Now I'll help you with your things." Picking up Miss Taylor's heavysuit case, Grace escorted her to the door of the end room.
"How did it happen?" greeted Anne, when five minutes later Gracereturned alone, smiling and triumphant.
"Don't ask me," laughed Grace. "Ask Elfreda. She wrought the miracle."
"What did she do?" asked Anne.
"She won the day, or rather the half of the room, by plain speaking."Grace recounted to Anne what had taken place in the belligerent youngwoman's room. "She made more impression on the Anarchist in five minutesthan I could have made in a week," finished Grace.
"Elfreda has a remarkable personality," was Anne's thoughtful answer."Her very frankness makes an impression where diplomacy counts forlittle. However, I am not surprised that history repeated itself sosoon. I hope this is the last time we shall be obliged to thwart theAnarchist and administer justice to the oppressed.
"I don't envy Miss Taylor," said Anne. "I wish every girl in college hadas nice a roommate as I have."
"Beware of flatterers," laughed Grace.
"And also of Anarchists," added Anne.
"But of the two," smiled Grace, "I prefer flatterers, especially if theyhappen to occupy the other half of my room."