AN UNPLEASANT SUMMONS
"Here's a letter for you, Grace," called Elfreda, who had run downstairs
ahead of Grace to survey the contents of the house bulletin board before
going in to breakfast.
Grace surveyed the envelope critically, tore it open and unfolded the
sheet of paper inside. In another moment a little cry of consternation
escaped her.
"What's the matter?" asked Elfreda curiously, trying to peer over her
shoulder.
"It--it's a summons from the dean," said Grace a trifle unsteadily.
"What do you suppose it means?"
"Nothing very serious," declared Elfreda confidently. "How can it? Think
over your past misdeeds and see if you can discover any reason for a
summons."
Grace shook her head. "No," she said slowly. "I can't think of a single,
solitary thing."
"Then don't worry about it," was Elfreda's comforting advice. "Whatever
it is, you are ready for it."
As Grace entered the dean's office that morning a vague feeling of
apprehension rose within her. The dean, a stately, dark-haired woman
with a rather forbidding expression, which disappeared the moment she
smiled, glanced up with a flash of approval at the fine, resolute face
of the gray-eyed girl who walked straight to her and said firmly, "Good
morning, Miss Wilder."
"Good morning, Miss Harlowe," returned the dean quietly. Then picking up
a letter that lay on the middle of her desk, she said gravely: "I
received a very peculiar letter this morning, Miss Harlowe, and as it
concerns not only you, but a number of your friends as well, I thought
it better to send for you. You may throw light upon what at present
seems obscure."
Grace mechanically stretched forth her hand for the open letter and
read:--
"When giving an entertainment in any of the halls or in the
gymnasium, is it not usually customary, not to say courteous, to
ask permission of the president of the college or the dean
beforehand? The young women whose names appear on the enclosed
list evidently do not consider any such permission necessary.
For the past week preparations for a bazaar have been going
briskly forward, to be held in the gymnasium on the evening of
November ----. For inside information inquire of Miss Harlowe.
"A WELL WISHER."
Grace read the note through twice, then, looking squarely at the dean,
she said: "May I see the enclosed list?" The dean handed her a smaller
slip of paper on which appeared the names of the girls who had been
present at the meeting in her room. Grace scanned the slip earnestly.
Her color rose slightly as she returned it to Miss Wilder.
"The names on this list are the names of the young women who belong to
the Semper Fidelis Club. After the concert last spring it was partly
decided to give a bazaar the following autumn. The other day the club
met in my room to talk over the matter. As we were all in favor of
giving one, the meeting was open for the discussion of ideas for
attractive features. Finally something was proposed that was so very
clever we couldn't help adopting it. I assure you, Miss Wilder, we had
no thought of doing anything definite about the bazaar without first
obtaining proper permission to give it and to use the gymnasium as our
field of operation. In fact, Miss Thayer promised me on the afternoon of
the meeting that she would see you the following afternoon. She is the
president of the club. I haven't seen her since then." Grace paused,
looking worried.
"Miss Thayer has not been here," returned Miss Wilder kindly. "However,
your explanation is sufficient, Miss Harlowe. I am reasonably sure that
the writer of this letter has either misunderstood the situation, or has
been misinformed. To be candid, very little credence can be placed on
the information contained in an anonymous letter. In fact, my reason for
sending for you had to do with that, rather than the implied charge the
letter makes. I wish you to examine this handwriting," she touched the
letter which Grace still held in hand. "Do you recognize it?"
There was a slight interval of silence. Grace devoted herself to the
examination of the letter and the slip of paper. Then, handing it to the
dean, she said frankly: "I have no recollection of having seen this
handwriting before to-day."
The dean folded the letter, placed the list of names inside its folds
and returned it to the envelope. "This is the first anonymous letter
that has ever been brought to my notice," she said gravely. "I trust it
will be the last. It is hard to believe that a student of Overton would
resort to such petty spite, for that seems to be its keynote. It is
practically impossible, however, to find the writer among so many
girls."
Grace would have liked to say that this was not the first anonymous
letter that had been brought to her notice. The ghost of a disturbing,
unsigned note that had almost wrecked Elfreda's freshman happiness rose
and walked before her. Could it be possible that the same hand had
written the second note? Grace was startled at her own thought.
"May I see the note again, Miss Wilder?" she asked soberly. This time
she scrutinized the writing even more closely. There was something
familiar, yet unfamiliar, about the formation of the letters. Finally
she handed it back. "It is a mystery to me," she said, with a little
sigh. "I am so glad you understood about the bazaar."
Before the dean could reply the click of approaching heels was heard. A
moment later a light knock sounded on the door. At a nod from the dean,
Grace opened it, and stood face to face with Arline Thayer.
"Why, Grace Harlowe!" she exclaimed in her sweet, high voice. "I didn't
know you were here. Did you get my message? Good afternoon, Miss
Wilder," she added, following Grace inside the office.
"Good afternoon, Miss Thayer," smiled Miss Wilder, indicating a chair,
which Arline accepted.
"I owe you and the Semper Fidelis Club an apology for not having
delivered their message. I spent yesterday nursing a headache and was
not able to attend any of my classes. Miss Harlowe has already asked
your permission to hold a bazaar in the gymnasium, I believe."
"Yes," returned Miss Wilder pleasantly. "I am willing to allow the
Semper Fidelis Club carte blanche for one night. I approve warmly of
both the club and its object. I shall, of course, ask formal permission
of the president, but that need not necessarily delay your plans. The
concert given by your club last year was a most enjoyable affair and
proved very profitable to the club, did it not?"
Grace answered in the affirmative. "We were fortunate in being able to
secure Savelli, the virtuoso," she replied. "It was by the merest chance
that he happened to have that one evening free. His daughter, Eleanor,
who is one of my dear friends, and I telephoned to New York City to ask
him to play for us. We saved him until last as a surprise number."
"The audience fully appreciated his playing," returned Miss Wilder. "To
hear the great Savelli was an unexpected privilege. I shall look forward
to your bazaar with pleasurable anticipation and I wish you success."
Grace looked searchingly into the smiling, dark eyes of the dean.
"Thank you so much, Miss Wilder," she said earnestly. "I felt sure you
would understand."
"We should like Professor Morton to open the bazaar, and would
appreciate a speech from you also," added Arline.
"I shall be pleased to help the club in any way I can," assured Miss
Wilder graciously as the two girls were about to leave the office. "I am
certain that Professor Morton will echo my sentiments." Something in the
older woman's quiet tones made Grace feel that the anonymous letter had
entirely failed in its object.