was that
beautiful girl at the next table to the alcove? I saw you speak to her.
She was with Miss Parker, that little girl of 19-- who has so much
money."

"That was Evelyn Ward, Anne, and thereby hangs a tale which I'll
entertain you with to-morrow. One thing about her will interest you. She
wants to become an actress. She thinks you are the wonder of this
century. I'll introduce her to you to-morrow."

"She is beautiful," commented Anne, "and if she is really sincere in her
ambition I might help her to attain her ambition."

CHAPTER XVI

THE INTERRUPTED CONFIDENCE

The days that lay between Thanksgiving and Christmas passed swiftly and
uneventfully for Grace. As the holiday vacation drew near she was
divided, however, between her desire to go home and her duty to Harlowe
House. It was Emma Dean who finally settled the question by announcing
that she did not intend to go home for Christmas and would gladly look
after things during Grace's absence. The trip home was too expensive,
Emma had stated frankly, and her railroad fare would be quite a help
when added to the Dean housekeeping fund. Once she had made her decision
to stay at Overton she began to lay plans for a happy holiday season for
the Harlowe House girls, who, without exception, were also to remain in
Overton for their vacation. Two days before Christmas Grace left Overton
for Oakdale, with many injunctions to Emma to take things easy and to
telegraph her at once if she needed her.

Once at home a round of merry parties began. True to their promise
Jessica and Reddy had come back to Oakdale for Christmas. The only
missing member of the Eight Originals was Anne, and the Sunday morning
following Christmas Day she walked into the Harlowe's living room
accompanied by Everett Southard and his sister. She could not bear to
allow the holidays to pass without seeing her friends, so she and the
Southards had taken the midnight train for Oakdale, determined to spend
at least one day there. That evening a contented, happy company gathered
at the Nesbits, as Miriam's and David's guests, at a dinner given in
honor of the unexpected arrivals. After a short, but exceedingly
earnest, confab in a cosy corner just off the hall, Anne and David had
appeared arm in arm, and, to an accompaniment of meaning smiles, had
announced their engagement. Although Miriam Nesbit was entirely unaware
of it, four pairs of eyes, belonging to the feminine half of the Eight
Origi