printed
inscription that could be seen by the audience. It read:

"A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE FAIRY GODMOTHER OF THE FRESHMAN CLASS."

A scene of wild enthusiasm followed. The young people gave three cheers
for Mrs. Gray and ended with the High School yell. The actors came out
and were cheered each in turn.

Grace, Tom Gray and Reddy had worked the marionettes, it seemed,
standing on the back of the table where the theater was placed, while
the others, sitting on low stools at the sides where they could see and
not be seen, read their lines which had been composed by Anne.

"It wasn't so hard as you might think," said Grace, explaining the
marionettes to a group of friends. "Dressing the dolls was easy; we
glued on most of their clothes, and we made the step-sisters ugly by
giving them putty noses. Hippy painted the scenery and David supplied
the electric lights. The threads that moved the arms and bodies were
tied to little cross sticks something like a gallows, so that they could
be held from above without being seen."

But the marionette show was only the beginning of the party. There was
to be feasting and dancing, and, lastly, a big Christmas tree loaded
with presents.

The floors were cleared. The notes of a waltz rang out, and away whirled
the happy boys and girls. Anne and David, who did not dance, retired to
a sofa in the library to look on.

"Are you happy, Anne, in your beautiful pink dress?" asked David,
regarding her with open admiration.

"How can I help being happy?" she replied. "This is the first pretty
dress that I have ever had and I never went to a party before, either."

"I never enjoyed a party before," said David, "but I'm enjoying this
one. I hope, for Mrs. Gray's sake, it goes off without a hitch."

Just then Tom Gray waltzed by with Grace. They stopped when they saw
their friends, and came back.

"Our efforts are certainly crowned with success," exclaimed Grace. "It's
the most beautiful ball ever given in Oakdale. Everyone says so. By the
way," she added, "get your partners and fall in line for the grand march
to supper."

"I already have mine, all right," declared Tom Gray.

"And I think I have mine," observed David. "She's wearing a pink dress
and is just about as tall as a marionette."

Anne laughed and stood on tiptoe to make herself look taller. Suddenly
she caught the eye of Miriam Nesbit, who was lingering in the doorway,
watching the scene with an expression that the circ