out pattern. Though for a year and a half now, the minister's son Don had been dating Marcia, and that had helped ease the loneliness a trifle. The loneliness, I say; not the emptiness.

He was three years younger than Marcia, but neither seemed to mind that. Sometimes he would drive her over to Waterton where he worked on a master's degree at State College. While he was in classes, she would sit in the library and watch the girl students, trying not to envy those who were making something of their lives.

Then one evening while out riding, Marcia's boy friend said, "Do me a big favor, huh? My cousin Enid is coming to spend the summer. Only Heaven knows why she'd want to spend it in Marksville though she is pretty fond of Mother and Dad. But what I'm getting at, you're the only girl around here anywhere near her age. So kind of take her under your wing, will you?" He stopped talking while they caught up with another car and passed it. "She's a nice enough person; unusually smart, too. But I imagine most people find her kind of boring that's my own idea, though. What I mean is, she doesn't care for the usual kind of good times. Stays by herself a lot and reads. Maybe you can sort of help bring her out', as the old saying goes. Mind giving it a try?"

"No, of course not." Though Marcia didn't find it hard to believe that Enid might be boring; for didn't she find the nice dependable Don boring fairly often?

A week later, when Marcia answered the old-fashioned wall telephone, she heard Don's mother saying, "Hello, dear? My niece has just now arrived from back east. I think Don has told you about her. Fine girl. But what I'm calling about, all her luggage somehow miscarried you know, one of those mistakes they make on trains sometimes. And the poor girl hasn't a thing to change into, and her traveling suit is so hot." Then the voice broke into a la ugh. "One of my dresses would wrap around her three times. So I suggested that just maybe you'd have a thin cotton you might possibly

"Of course I have," Marcia answered.

"Send her right