ssica.

"True," retorted Nora, "but for my part I think the Phi Sigma Tau have
done their share toward the mending process."

"Marian Barber!" exclaimed Grace. "Where in the world did you unearth
that man you introduced us to, at the bazaar?"

"Yes, I should say so," echoed Nora. "I didn't like him one bit."

A flush overspread Marian Barber's plain face. She frowned, then said
very stiffly:

"Really, girls, I can't see why any one should dislike Mr. Hammond. I
think he is a remarkably nice young man. Father and mother like him,
too. He has called to see me twice since the bazaar, and I am going to
the theatre with him to-morrow night. I like him very much better than
any of these silly Oakdale schoolboys," she added a trifle maliciously.

The girls listened, thunderstruck. Was this good-natured, easy going
Marian Barber who had spoken? To their knowledge Marian had never before
received attentions from even "silly schoolboys." She was well liked
among girls, but had always fought shy of young men.

"Forgive me, Marian," cried Nora impulsively. "I didn't dream that you
were interested in Mr. Hammond."

"I am not half as much interested in him as he is interested in me,"
retorted Marian, bridling. "He prefers me to any Oakdale girl he has
met."

The girls exchanged astonished glances at Marian's complacent statement.

"Where did you first meet him, Marian?" asked Anne gently.

"At the bazaar," replied Marian promptly.

"Who introduced him to you?" asked Grace curiously.

Marian hesitated a moment, then burst forth defiantly. "I suppose you
girls will think it perfectly dreadful when I tell you that he
introduced himself. He came up and asked me to tell him about some of
the features of the bazaar. I did, then he went away, and after a while
he came back and talked to me a long time. He is in the real estate
business, and is going to have an office here in Oakdale. He was very
much interested in the things I said to him, and when I told him about
our Phi Sigma Tau he asked to be introduced to you girls. I never
supposed you'd take such a dislike to him. I think he is perfectly
splendid," she added with emphasis.

"Well, I don't agree with you," said hot-headed Nora. "And I don't think
you should have noticed him, beyond being merely civil, without an
introduction. Do you, Grace?"

"I don't know," said Grace slowly. "That is a question that no one save
Marian can settle. I don't wish to seem hateful, Mari