ide vault that way. Let me show you,"
exclaimed Grace Harlowe.

The gymnasium was full of High School girls, and a very busy and
interesting picture they made, running, leaping, vaulting, passing the
medicine ball and practising on the rings.

In one corner a class was in progress, the physical culture instructor
calling out her orders like an officer on parade.

The four girl chums had grown somewhat taller than when last seen. A rich
summer-vacation tan had browned their faces and Nora O'Malley's tip-tilted
Irish nose was dotted with freckles. All four were dressed in gymnasium
suits of dark blue and across the front of each blouse in letters of
sky-blue were the initials "O.H.S.S." which stood for "Oakdale High
School Sophomore." They were rather proud of these initials, perhaps
because the lettering was still too recent to have lost its novelty.

"Never mind," replied Anne Pierson; "I don't believe I shall ever learn,
it, but, thank goodness, vaulting isn't entirely necessary to human
happiness."

"Thank goodness it isn't," observed Jessica, who never really enjoyed
gymnasium work.

"It is to mine," protested Grace, glowing with exercise and enthusiasm.
"If I couldn't do every one of these stunts I should certainly lie awake
at night grieving over it."

She gave a joyous laugh as she vaulted over the wooden horse as easily and
gracefully as an acrobat.

"I'd much rather dance," replied Anne. "Ever since Mrs. Gray's Christmas
party I've wanted to learn."

"Why Anne," replied Grace, "I had forgotten that you don't dance. I'll
give you a lesson at once. But you must first learn to waltz, then all
other dancing will be easy."

"Just watch me while I show you the step," Grace continued.

"Now, you try it while I count for you."

"One, two, three. One, two, three. That's right. Just keep on practising,
until you are sure of yourself; then if Jessica will play for us, I'll
waltz with you."

"With pleasure," said Jessica, "Anne must learn to waltz. Her education in
dancing mustn't be neglected another minute."

Anne patiently practised the step while Jessica played a very slow waltz
on the piano and Grace counted for Anne. Then the two girls danced
together, and under Grace's guidance Anne found waltzing wasn't half as
hard as she had imagined it would be.

By this time the gymnasium was almost empty. The class in physical culture
had been dismissed, and the girls belonging to it had withdrawn to the
loc