murmured Anne, as she
reluctantly took the package that Grace thrust into her unwilling hands.

"All aboard," shouted the brakeman, and with a hasty kiss Grace hurried
down the steps to join her friends, who stood on the station platform
waving their farewells to the brown-eyed girl who was to separate from
them for the first time since the beginning of their High School career.

The days slipped quickly away, and the girl chums heard frequently from
Anne, who had arrived at her destination in safety, was met by the
Southards and carried off to their comfortable home. She was enjoying
every minute of her stay, she wrote them, and every one was very kind to
her. Miss Southard was a dear, and she was looking forward to the visit
of the Phi Sigma Tau with almost as much enthusiasm as Anne herself.

The boys had been duly informed of Anne's good fortune, and the Saturday
of the third week of Anne's engagement had been the date fixed upon for
the theatre party. Tom Gray would bring Arnold Evans. Hippy, David and
Reddy would join them in New York. Then the five boys would repair to
the hotel where the girls were to stop, accompanied by Mrs. Gibson and
James Gardiner, who was again invited to make the number even.

Intense excitement prevailed in school when it was learned that the Phi
Sigma Tau were to go to New York to see Anne as "Rosalind," and the five
girls were carried upon the top wave of popularity.

Marian and Eleanor alone remained aloof, evincing no outward interest in
the news, although both thought rather enviously of the good time in New
York that awaited the girls they had repudiated.

The eventful Saturday came at last, and the five girls, chaperoned by
Mrs. Gibson, with James Gardiner for a bodyguard, boarded the same
express that had carried Anne off and were whirled away to the
metropolis.

As soon as they arrived in New York they were conveyed by taxicabs to
their hotel and on entering the reception room were hailed with delight
by the boys, who had arrived only half an hour before. While they were
busily engaged in exchanging news, Anne hurried in from a rehearsal, was
seized by Grace, then passed from one to the other until, freeing
herself, she said, laughing:

"Do let me stand still for a second. I haven't had a really good look at
any of you yet."

"What do you mean by becoming a Shakespearian star without consulting me
first!" demanded David, with mock severity, although there was a rather