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Grace Harlowe's Junior Year at High School; or, Fast Friends in the Sororities

<h3>THE PLAY'S THE THING</h3> Excitement ran high in the three lower classes one morning in early February when Miss Thompson requested that those interested in the production of a Shakespearian play go to the library directly after school, there to discuss the situation. When the gong sounded dismissal, about sixty girls with dramatic aspirations made for the library. The Phi Sigma Tau entered in a body. They had decided at recess to carry away as many laurels as possible, providing they could get into the cast. Miss Tebbs, teacher of elocution; Miss Kane, teacher of gymnastics, and Miss Thompson stood at one side of the library talking earnestly as they noted each newcomer. "Oh, look!" whispered Jessica, clutching Nora's arm. "There's Eleanor and her crowd." "Then look out for squalls," replied Nora. "She'll try to be the whole cast, and will get a magnificent case of sulks if she can't have her own way." "Sh-h-h," warned Eva Allen. "She'll hear you. Besides, Miss Thompson is going to speak." The principal held up her hand for silence and the groups of girls engaged in subdued conversation ceased talking and turned their attention toward her. "You are all aware that each year the senior class gives a play, which they choose, manage and produce with no assistance save that given by Miss Tebbs," said the principal. "So far the three lower classes have never given a play. Some time ago Miss Tebbs suggested that as we need money for special books in the library which our yearly appropriation does not cover, we might present a Shakespearian play with good effect, choosing the cast from the freshman, sophomore and junior classes. "The first thing to be thought of is the play itself. After due consideration, we decided that 'As You Like It' is better suited to our needs than any of the other Shakespearian dramas. In it are twenty-one speaking characters, besides numerous lords, pages and attendants. We shall probably use about fifty girls, thus making it an elaborate production. By the attendance this afternoon I should imagine that you are heartily in favor of our project and that we shall have no trouble in making up the cast. As Miss Tebbs has charge of the situation, I yield the floor to her. She will explain to you about the giving out of the parts." There was an enthusiastic clapping of hands as Miss Thompson smiled and nodded to the girls, then left the room. Miss Tebbs then stated that on Friday afternoon after school there would be a "try out" for parts in the gymnasium, in order to find out what girls were most capable of doing good work in the cast. Just what the test would be had not been decided. It would be well, however, to study the chosen play and become familiar with it; also each girl must bring a copy of the play with her. If the girls wished to ask any questions, she would answer them as far as possible. Miss Kane would help with the posing and coaching when the thing was fairly started. The girls crowded around Miss Tebbs and Miss Kane, asking all sorts of questions. "One at a time, girls," laughed Miss Tebbs. "I have not asked you to enact a mob scene." Under cover of the confusion, Grace and her three friends slipped out of the library. "'The play's the thing,'" quoted Nora, "and me for it." "That is for the judges to decide," said Jessica sagely. "Perhaps they won't even look at you." "Do you think any one could see my Irish countenance and fail to be impressed?" demanded Nora. "Really and truly, Nora, the more you travel with Hippy, the more you talk like him," remarked Grace. "I consider that a compliment," replied Nora, laughing. "Hippy says awfully funny things." "Look at our little Anne," said Jessica. "She is actually dreaming. Tell us about it, dear." "I was thinking of the play," said Anne dreamily. "I do so want a part, if only a little one." "You'll be chosen for Rosalind, see if you aren't," predicted Grace. "Oh, no," said Anne. "Some one else will be sure to get that. Besides, I'm too short." "But, Anne, you've had stage experience," said Jessica. "You ought to get it." "Not in a Shakespearian play," replied Anne, shaking her head. "I might not do well at all with that kind of part." "Never fear, you'll be the star before you know it," said Nora. By Friday, there was nothing on the school horizon save the cherished play. Before school, at recess, and even in classes it was the topic of the hour. To the eager girls the day seemed particularly long, and a heartfelt sigh went up when the dismissal gong rang. As the four chums hurried toward the gymnasium, Anne suddenly caught Grace by the arm with a faint gasp of surprise. Glancing quickly down at her friend to ascertain the cause of Anne's sudden agitation, Grace saw her friend's eyes following the figure of a tall, distinguished-looking man who was just disappearing down the corridor leading to the gymnasium. "What's the matter, Anne?" asked Grace. "Do you know that man?" "No," replied Anne, "but I know who he is." "He must be a remarkable person, considering the way you gasped and clutched me," laughed Grace. "That man is Everett Southard, the great Shakespearian actor," said Anne almost reverently. "I saw him in 'Hamlet' and his acting is wonderful." "No wonder you were surprised," said Grace. "It fairly takes my breath. I've seen ever so many pictures of him and read magazine articles about him. What do you suppose he is doing in Oakdale, and at the High School—of all places?" "Time will tell," said Nora. Then she suddenly clasped her hands. "O girls, I know! He's here for the try-out!" "Why of course he is," exclaimed Grace. "Now I remember Miss Tebbs showed me a magazine picture of him one day last year, and told me that she had known him since childhood. Besides, he is playing a three-night engagement in Albany. I read it in the paper last night. It's as plain as can be. Miss Tebbs has asked him to run up here and pick out the cast." "Good gracious," said Jessica. "I shall retire in confusion if he looks at me. I won't dare aspire to a part now, and I had designs on the part of Phebe." "Don't be a goose," said Nora. "He's only a man. He can't hurt you. I think having him here will be a lark. Won't some of those girls put on airs, though. There he is talking with Miss Tebbs now." The girls entered the gymnasium to find there nearly all of those who had attended the first meeting in the library increased by about a score of girls who had decided at the last minute to try for parts. Eleanor stood at one end of the great room, with Edna Wright and Daisy Culver. Grace thought she had never seen Eleanor looking more beautiful. She was wearing a fur coat and hat far too costly for a school girl, and carried a huge muff. Her coat was thrown open, disclosing a perfectly tailored gown of brown, with trimmings of dull gold braid. She was talking animatedly and her two friends were apparently hanging on every word she uttered. "No wonder Eleanor has an opinion of herself," said Nora. "Look at Daisy and Edna. They act as though Eleanor were the Sultan of Turkey or the Shah of Persia, or some other high and mighty dignitary. They almost grovel before her." "Never mind, Nora," said Grace. "As long as you retain your Irish independence what do you care about what other girls do?" "I don't care. Only they do act so silly," said Nora, with a sniff of contempt. "Sh-h-h!" said Jessica softly. "Miss Tebbs is going to call the meeting to order." A hush fell over the assembled girls as Miss Tebbs stepped forward to address them. "I am very glad to see so many girls here," she said. "It shows that you are all interested in the coming play. Although you cannot all have parts, I hope that you will feel satisfied with the selection made this afternoon. In order that each member of the cast may be chosen on her merit alone, my old friend, Mr. Southard, kindly consented to come from Albany for the sole purpose of giving us the benefit of his great Shakespearian experience. Allow me to introduce Mr. Everett Southard." He was greeted with a round of applause, and after bowing his thanks, the eminent actor plunged at once into the business at hand. He spoke favorably of the idea of an all-girl cast, saying that each year many girls' colleges presented Shakespearian plays with marked success. The main thing to be considered was the intelligent delivery of the great dramatist's lines. The thing to do would be to find out what girls could most ably portray the various characters, it would be necessary to try each girl separately with a few lines from the play. In order to facilitate matters, he suggested that those girls who really desired speaking parts step to one side of the room, while those who wished merely to make the stage pictures, step to the other. Out of the eighty girls, about thirty-five only stepped over to the side from which the principal characters were to be chosen. Many of the girls had no serious intentions whatever regarding the play, and the awe inspired by Mr. Southard's presence made them too timid to venture to open their mouths before him. Jessica, whose courage had fled, would have been among the latter if Nora had not seized her firmly by the arm as she prepared to flee and marched her over with the rest of the Phi Sigma Tau. Eleanor and Edna Wright were among the junior contestants, while there was a good showing of sophomores and freshmen. Mr. Southard took in the aspirants with keen, comprehensive glance. His eyes rested a shade longer on Eleanor. She made a striking picture as she stood looking with apparent indifference at the girls about her. Then his quick eye traveled to Grace's fine face and graceful figure, and then on to Anne, whose small face was alive with the excitement of the moment. A breathless silence had fallen over the room. Every eye was fixed on the actor, who stood with a small leather-covered edition of "As You Like It" in his hand. Miss Tebbs stood by with a pencil and pad. The great try-out was about to begin. <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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