d Mabel. "I'd love to be a reporter and go
poking into all sorts of places. After a while I'd be sent out to write
up murder trials and political happenings and, oh, lots of big stories."
Mabel beamed on her amazed audience.

"I never would have believed it of you, but I'm sure you could do it,"
predicted Leona Rowe confidently.

"Good for you!" cried Mabel, leaning across the table to shake hands
with Leona. "I have one loyal supporter at least."

Mabel's declaration having brought to the minds of the little company
the fact that sooner or later the choice of an after-college occupation
would be necessary, a brisk discussion began as to what each girl
intended to do. Aside from Anne, who had fully determined to stick to
her profession, and Constance, who was specializing in English, with the
intention of one day returning to Overton as an instructor, no one at
the table had a very definite idea of her future usefulness.

"We seem to be a rather purposeless lot," remarked Miriam Nesbit. "The
trouble with most of us is that we are not obliged to think about
earning our own living after we leave college. We look forward to being
ornaments in our own particular social set, but nothing more. I'm not
sure, yet, what I am going to do with my education. I intend to put it
to some practical use, though."

"So am I," agreed Grace. "We'll just have to keep on doing our best and
find ourselves."

"I suppose that is the real purpose of going to college," said Anne
thoughtfully.

"I think we are all growing too serious," laughed Mabel. "By the way,
Grace," she went on, "who is that curious looking little freshman with
the perpetual scowl that lives at Wayne Hall!"

The four Wayne Hall girls exchanged significant glances.

"Stop exchanging eye messages and tell me," ordered Mabel.

"Her name is Atkins," returned Grace briefly. Then a peculiar look in
her eyes caused Mabel to say hastily, "I just wondered who she was," and
changed the subject.

As they left Martell's, walking two by two, Mabel fell into step with
Grace. Slipping her arm through that of the Oakdale girl, she said in a
low tone, "Come over to see me to-morrow evening. I have something to
say to you. I almost said it before the girls; then I caught your
warning look in time. Come to dinner to-morrow night and stay all
evening. I promise faithfully to make you study."

"I have a theme to do," replied Grace dubiously. "Do you think there
would be any prospec