The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-11-20

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I Except for Millicent Anne Brewer
doesn't stand one chance against you,
for you are the finest girl in the class,
Lily"
The wlstful paleness of Lily's lips re-
laxed into a sudden little laugh of pure
incredulity and amusement. 1t was
sweet to hear Theresa say it. 1t was
something for a lonely girl even to
be walking with Theresa Jacobs, the
most influential girl in college.
Theresa was growing quite bold now.
She meant to say it all; she meant
to have Lily Meyrick for senior presi-
dent. But Lily was very still as she
| listened
"You know, Lily, what a position
the senior president has in the col
lege, socially, as well as every other
way. Why, she's part of everything
You can see how"-here even Theresa,
the bold, stopped for breathing space
-"how it would look if you were al
ways with a girl like Millicent, a great
uncouth, ill-bred thing like that"
The color surged to Lily's delicate
face, but still she did not speak. "You
understand, to be very clear" conclud-
ed Theresa, I'VE want you for senior
president, Lily, to represent us on all
occasions-but we do not want Milli-
cent Harlow to be made prominent
thereby" And here Theresa's voice
sharpened. I'VE will not have her,
either!" She finished more gently:
But you do understand don't you,
Lily"
"Oh, yes," said Lily, 81 understand"
'It really is very easy to break off
a friendship" Theresa continued in a
brisk, matter-of-fact way. "It doesn't
need a quarrel or anything horrid and
disgusting like that You just stop
going to the girls room, and always
have an excuse for not going with her
to things, and lots of times don't see
her at ALL You do it all gradually, and
at last it dawns upon her that you've
changed, and, after that the rest is
easy. I've done it several times"
The clouds were never more white
against the blue, but Lily did not see
them, for all her intent eyes.
"Of course" Theresa went on, I'm
not asking you to promise to give up
Millicent Harlow-not exactly that.
Only before the election tonight all the
girls will be wanting to know how
you've taken our-well, our suggestion.
II before the class meeting at eight you
could do some little thing to show
that you see-say-the wisdom of be-
ing less intimate with Millicent-it
would be very good thing. If, for
| instance, after chapel, instead of put
ting your arm round Millicent and
trotting off to the reading-room with
her, as you always do, you put your
arm round some of the rest of us, and
trotted off with us instead, it would
seem to indicate your frame of mind.
Please, silent lady, you need to make
no promises, but am | forgiven for all
I've said? There's one thing you might
think of in this connection: In a
choice between your friend and your
class, isn't some of your duty due to
your class?"
Il am thinking" answered Lily.
Lily" Theresa brought her hand
down sharply on Lily's shoulder, how
in the world did it ever happen, any
way? How in the world did girl like
you ever have anything to do with
girl like Millicent? You're so sweet,
so dainty-and she! 1t isn't only that
she's so plain and Sc terribly untidy-
how do you stand that awful hair
but she's so ill-natured and rude. You
might think, with all her physical dis
advantages, she'd at least try to be po-
lite and agreeable to people, but the
outrageous things she says! Why, If
she treated even you decently, it would
be easier to see her absorbing all your
time and preventing our ever getting at
you. To think that you and she are
friends! Lily, how did it ever hap
pen?"
81 guess 1t Just happened" said Lily.
"I've known her always. since we were
very little girls"
With valiant resolution to keep it.
self calm during the half-hour before
election, the class surged out Of chapel.
One thing 1t must know before eight
O'Clock, and so it crowded about the
chapel door waiting her. A crowd of
girls sunged round her. 1t was 80
easy to encircle her and separate her
from Millicent, pressing up all unwit-
ting for her usual place by Lily's side.