e brass andirons. They looked into each others' eyes
and smiled sleepily.

Had it all been a dream, their winter picnic, or was old Jean at that
very moment really nailing wolf skins to his wall?

CHAPTER XXI

THE LOST LETTER

Spring was well advanced, full of soft airs and the sweet scents of
orchards in full bloom.

Through the open windows of the schoolroom Grace could hear the pleasant
sounds of the out of doors. The tinkle of a cow bell in a distant meadow
and the songs of the birds brought to her the nearness of the glorious
summer time.

She chewed the end of her pencil impatiently, endeavoring to withdraw
her attention from the things she liked so much better than Latin
grammar and algebra. Examinations were coming, those bugbears of the
young freshman, and then vacation. A vision of picnics crossed her mind,
of long days spent out of doors, with luncheon under the trees and
tramps through the woods. Yet, before all these joys, must come the
inevitable final test, the race for the freshman prize. Although, after
all, only two would really enter the race, Miriam and Anne. Nobody else
would think of competing with these two brilliant students.

How tired Anne looked! She had done nothing but study of late. No party
had been alluring enough to beguile her from her books. She had even
discontinued her work with Mrs. Gray, and early and late toiled at her
studies.

"She will tire herself out," Grace thought, and made a resolution to
take Anne with her on a visit to her grandmother's in the country just
as soon as the High School doors were closed for the summer.

Miriam was not studying so hard. But then she never did anything hard.
She simply seemed to absorb, without taking the trouble to plod. She had
been very defiant of late, Grace thought, and more insolent than ever
before. She and Miss Leece were "thicker" than was good for Miriam,
considering that teacher's peculiar disposition to flatter and spoil
her. However, that was none of Grace's business, and certainly Miss
Leece had been careful since the sound rating Miss Thompson had given
her.

Just then the gong broke in upon Grace's reflections. With a sigh of
relief she closed her book and strolled with her friends down to their
usual meeting place in the locker room.

There was but one topic of conversation now, the freshman prize.

"Anne," predicted Nora, "you just can't help winning it! I don't believe
it's in you to make a mistake.