Murray High School - Crest Yearbook (Murray, UT)

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tation of the school, and, of course, it will take considerable investiga- tion. On thinking it over seriously I am of the opinion that it will be wiser to keep the matter a secret until after the party. I hope you un- derstand. Of course, I know just what that amount of money means to you, and in the meantime I will watch closely and will ask you to do the same. In case you find any evidence do not fail to notify me at once. This must be cleared up before vacation. Iris, however, did not keep it a secret, but went straight to Emily 's room. Suppose we have a little detective agency all our own, suggested Iris. Something will turn up before long. Of course, I'm not caring in the least about the money, but it will be fun playing detective. During noon hour the two girls walked arm in arm. The morning had passed and still no clue. As they passed one of the rooms Iris stopped and listened. It came this morning, a clear voice was saying. Mother sent it after all. Isn't it too grand for anything? And these darling yellow slippers to match. The voice was unmistakably Doris Grey 's. Iris glanced meaningly at Emily. As if moved by a single thought they stepped to the door and knocked in a business-like manner. In less than no time they were in the room keenly watching Doris while she displayed a delicate yellow dress with slippers to match. Envy at once took possession of the girls, for this dress would be by far the most beautiful dress at the party. Isn't it beautiful, breathed Doris. 4'Yes, answered Iris, coldly. It is rather pretty. Something in the tone of Iris' voice caused every girl to turn first in her direction, then to Doris. Iris stood calm and cold while Doris flushed under their gaze-apparently she was ill at ease. Emily looked at Iris, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. Doris looked inquiringly at the girls, but a.s no answer seemed forthcoming she walked to her trunk, folded the dress carefully and again turned to the girls. Without a word Iris and Emily left the room. Wliat. did it all mean? Immediately after the unmelodious clang of the bell dismissed the girls for the day, Iris stood once more facing Miss Cornwall. Emily close behind. 4'You say you found this letter in her room at noon? Her eyes were riveted on the girls. Yes, ma'am, was the prompt reply from Iris, followed effectively with a reassuring nod from Emily. Only a very few words of explana- tion were necessary. All right, girls, you may go. I'll attend to this. u For fully a half hour that astonished person sat with the letter in her hand-the last line was read over and over again-4'I'm sorry little daughter, but it is impossible at present. Mothern. At last she made up her mind. In a few minutes Doris stood before her white and trembling. In all the school there was nothing to be dreaded more than to face this S

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a party for the girls before they left for their homes. Dresses were being planned by all-and such dresses-real party gowns-something very unusual at the Browning Boarding School. Ever since the invitations had been received the girls had no room in their brains for anything except the party. Perhaps no girl in the school looked forward to the event with more enthusiasm than did Doris. A letter had been sent home, telling of the party and begging for a dress. For a week she had waited patiently for an answer. It came at last. She ra.n to her room, her eyes bright, the letter clutched tightly in her hand. Trembling she broke the seal. Ex- citedly she scanned the carefully penned words down to the last one- Mother.', I-Ier fingers loosened, the letter dropped to the floor unheeded. Her eyes had lost their glow and the Hush that had dyed her cheeks faded. liiechanically she walked across the room and knelt beside the little worn trunk. Carefully she lifted from somewhere among its contents a flimsy wlnte muslin dress. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes tight to keep back the tears, while visions of the party passed before her. There was Iris in the rose and silver, Emily in her delicate blue, Ruth in her fluffy pink. But there in the corner taking no part in the fun sat a girl in plain white muslin. She Woke from her reverie with a start and rose to her feet, deter- mined to face it all bravely. And when after classes that day the girls gathered once more to pour over the event now so near, Doris told all a.nd none could ever have guessed the disappointment that lay beneath her faint smile. Some were sympathetic, others paid little or no atten- tion, while Iris only curved her lip into a curious half smile and said with an air of pride, Of course you won 't go to the party in that white one you had last summer, will you? NVouldn 't you feel terrible among all us girls in our party gowns? Yes-but really, do dresses matter so very much 'Z-I wouldn't look as pretty as you do in any dress, Iris, but I wouldn't stay away from the party even if I did have to go in muslinf' Iris only tossed her head, but the subject of dresses was no longer discussed. Early on the day o ie par y ' . ,fy g g . - 1 knock camek to her door. NV1th her come in h Iris stepped into tan' room. Taking an offered chair, she began in a quick excited voice. Miss Cornwall, I received fifty dollars from home last week and I find this . . 77 morning It has been taken from my room. Miss Cornwall leaned back in her chair.. For at least twe'ScCi0Ef? she said nothing but evidently she was turning something our 11 mind. At length she spoke. .V It UWM Are you sure the money has not been misp aut . 1 n U dl . . - H ' V c 'll1C'l ' With the g'11'l7S emphatic Yes, mam, the face of tie D1 P f tl t Miss Cornwall sat in her room A once more grew thoughtful. . O I lr the ropu- I'm sorry, my dear, I to have anything of this natui e ma

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StG1'11, hard face of the principal, and none were ever called into the office unless some rule or regulation had been violated. Doris, said Miss Cornwall, in a firm voice: Did you receive this letter from your mother last week? She held it toward her. Doris looked at it astonished and nodded her head. But you have your party dress, have you not? her voice grew more firm, her eyes more piercing. Doris tried to answer-but her tongue refused its office-was she dreaming ? As if in the distance she heard the same- stern cold voice saying, You know, of course, money has been stolen from one of the girl 's rooms. Doris started! Miss Cornwall you mean you think I I she could say no more, but burst into tears. You needn't tell me about it now if it affects you this way, but I will call at your room in the morning and then I will ask for an explana- tion, but I will say now that I cannot allow you to wear that dress to the party to night. You may go to your room. If this were a movie it might be flashed on the screen in the meantime, and Iris would be seen in her room frowning over the dif- ficulty in arranging the mass of blonde hair. This completed at last, the dress was taken from its place where it had been placed the day before. As the folds of silver lace fell into place a crisp fifty dollar bill dropped to the floor. Iris gasped! It hadn't been stolen! But some one had been accused, and she realized, accused with very little evidence. Her first impulse, true to human nature was to shield herself-to save her- self the shame of facing Miss Cornwall and-but no, Doris was not a thief. Without another thought she slipped into the dress and hurried to Miss Cornwall 's room. Ten minutes found them at the door o oris i softly, there she lay on the bed, her small form shaking with sobs. f D ' ' room. They entered In one second Iris was by her side explaining in a passionate voice everything down to the most minute detail. Comfort did not come in a moment, the Wound was far too deep for that. Come dear, said Miss Cornwall, her voice more tender tlran ecver ' 7 V sf ' f t 1 before. Don't cry any more, it s all bben a teiiible mistake, Ju 'y, dear, try hard to forget. v Oh, I can't tell you how sorry and ashamed I am., I was Jealoti, Doris, because of your dress-forgive me-and let s be fi iends again. was the first time Iris Holbrook, the proud and Ihaughty, had evel humbled herself in such a manner, but now her voice trembled. ' ' - ' 1 ' 1 iess Doris smiled and taking her hand, said, with all the foigix ei Words can express, I understand. ETHEL NAYLOR, '21.