Show 1 1 A STORY OF THREE r l li i i The day had been oppressively hot and even now in the creeping Yi shadows the air held a lingering ling heat Out in the garden farden the delicate delicate i scent of roses told of an evening in June Two robins which for three x H Ht tiffs in the elder box-elder by the gate 7 t suc successive seasons had built their nest great IV- IV quietly appeared and with the of undisputed possession settled set set- r tree to enjoy a juicy tied themselves comfortably in the ox-heart ox cherry treat L Presently Effie Tremayne a sweet girl who was to be a graduate te on the morrow stepped out on the porch looked hurriedly down the empty street and made her way to the garden arbor there to think and ponder over her trouble She was unhappy yet her young face looked as fresh as the rose-buds rose that clustered around the frame above her head The last rays of the setting sun were struggling through the trees when hen a footstep startled her She looked up into the confident blue blueeyes blueeyes blueeyes eyes of Fred Williams But there was no responsive light in yin her own as she arose and faced him Why Effie what is it What has gone wrong v vOnly Only this Fred I have been thinking it all over and I know it would be better for both of us to break our engagement to She was surprised at at- atthe the quietness with which he took it She had hadnot hadnot hadnot not observed that while he was by nature enthusiastic he was not im im- He took off his straw his straw hat turned it in his hand and looking up at her hert said l f c Really J I cannot think why Tell me Because and she gazed straight before her as though thereby to gain fain a better control of her voice voice because because I could riot endure to hear every splendid and brilliant woman raved about and lauded to the skies to the end of cf my days Y Your poem today in the class exercises deci decHen eo me If anyone had doubts as to who is The Most Popular Sweet Girl Graduate the verses on her beauty vivacity repartee and whatnot dispelled dispelled dispelled dis dis- them all I am not beautiful I am not vivacious or of tall and graceful bearing I Iam am a plain ordinary girl without figure cleverness or wit You could never be he happy with me always and it would be he a sorry mistake for us both Effie he answered half smiling but speaking quietly you yon are making too much of those verses While I I. I admire Kate 1 McCarney's striking personality I am not in the least disloyal to you A beautiful woman does not always make a good wi wife e. e Y You lU are the one I have chosen as my help through life the one to make me happy Surely that satisfies vou you my dear But it doesn't she cried hurt by hy his easy assurance Where are your verses to the plain and quiet sweet girl firl graduate Where is the poem to the poor insignificant girl who is to be your help through life the one to make you happy Dont be unreasonable sw sweetheart etheart Calm yourself yourself- Sleep on this matter You Yon will see it in a different light ht to-morrow to and be sorry for your words Good God night and he walked rapidly down the garden her weak and trembling wondering at the suddenness of it all Jack Summers and Fred Williams were chums churns and roommates Both were good students in the same class and both had worked with tongue and pen for the success of their college paper Jack quiet and Ci thoughtful was the very opposite of his friend as boon companions often are An easy talker a clever though superficial debater Fred was possessed possessed possessed pos pos- with an unbounded faith in his opinions and himself generally r. r But many a sharp edge in his character had been smoothed and rounded t. t by contact with Jacks Jack's stronger mind and finer sensibilities and at the end of three years Fred had been decidedly the gainer from their close companionship I The day of days had come the day of graduation The fhe weather was r u perfect ct the flowers profuse and the music delightful Jack Summers ran his eye along the line of graduates in white sitting opposite until it rested on one one girl and he thought he had never seen look so sweet and andr r r yet so sad as now A few hours later and commencement day was ending with the usual r ball and banquet Before the light night was half over the event was de- de f. f claired the most enjoyable gathering ever given by hy the Alumni As ocia- ocia tion One girl Alumna however r did not share this feeling a at- at she moved along along- with her party depressed a and d ill at ease She noticed a pang that Fred Williams was one of the gayest in the little group around Kate McCarney his Most Popular Sweet Girl Graduate ti Freds Fred's indifference all evening to Effies Effie's presence had not passed unnoticed by Jack Summers nor was he insensible to her inward un unhappiness unhappiness hap hap- r so presently he went to her and said This is our last day in the old building Come let us take a goodbye goodbye good good- t bye took at some of the rooms She gladly con consented and together they went down stairs to the basement All was dark but he produced a match and lighted a gas jet For a wonder the door of the laboratory was unlocked They went in and looked at the old familiar objects but the room with its cleared tables seemed strangely ely silent ilent and empty so they crossed the hall to the the law room only to find the door locked Well here is another room we can enter for I have the key cried J Jace ace Soon they were sitting inside gazing at a strewn paper-strewn desk So thi this is the Chronicle editors editor's den the place where for a year you and Fre Fre Mr Williams have been grinding out the editorials Yes Yes and and perhaps you would be interested in in-in in in something here hereof hereof hereof of of Freds Fred's he said in a low strange tone He unlocked a drawer t t k ki i t and hand handed d h her r a small ll sized ordin ordinary Y n note note teb leaned against g the desk and watched her She turned a afew f l a s' s a and l looking looking look look- ing ing- ingup 0 up at him said pensively F. F V. V An old laboratory notebook Yes Yes She interrupted him with a joyful little cry ry bent down and read intently Oh about me To me Verses Ver-es to me To Effie Erne My hair My eyes Oh Im I'm so happy They're mine mine She kissed th the book and pressed it to her laughing and crying by turns Over by the desk Jack looked at her in silence his face white and drawn with the effort to control some powerful emotion Oh a and nd nd here is i's a sketch of me working in in the laboratory It is done in ink and so beautifully And verses beneath And some about s t my y big laboratory apron with the eaten acid-eaten holes If I had only known this yesterday before I taunted him for never composing verses to me me Oh I am so unhappy and anci yet so ver very happy j Sh She was was not satisfied had examined every page and then st she e wished to carry the note book away with her But Jack prevailed upon upon h her r to leave it and vas shel content to go upstairs filled with a new anew happiness IL The d dancing was n now w at its height the hallway crowded with many many manyi i couples As Effie passed Fred at the ball room entrance she gave him a beaming smile He looked pleased but and when a few moments i s later he saw that Jack had left lefther her with her party and was approaching ap ap approaching he advanced and greeted him warmly Co Come e down to the Chronicle office the next dance I must r t see see- you said Jack quietly y f h Alright r replied plied the other looking hard at his his' his chum chum but Jack Jacky turned and went slowly vly down the stairs t Once in the room he sat down at the desk des c and brought out the telltale telltale telltale tell tell- tale notebook He turned it ov over r examined the outside minutely then carefully erased some still remaining lines of a name written on the front cover A Astep step resounded through the hall Jack Summers remained standing standing standing stand stand- ing by the window looking out upon the moonlit campus campas as his friend j came in and closed the door Fred stood still a moment then walking walking- quietly to rih the desk began mechanically to pick up and turn over the papers papers upon upon it waiting for Jack to speak But Bat as the form at the window window window win- win dow made no movement he rhe looked ov over over r and said softly Well Tell it and Il d-Il ard ff ard r rd f 4 Jack wh what t is Slowly Jack turned c cs in his hand with ith something f r t V f Effie Erne Tremayne has been down here tonight She has seen this notebook knows its contents and now is supremely happy He handed handed handed hand hand- ed it to Fred who took it to the light and began turning the leaves then paused looked up and said in a puzzled voice Why these are notes and nothing nothing- Read on Search till find the you came command The noise of the turning leaves continued then stopped and all was silence N Now ow said Jack coming forward that is your laboratory note note- book You took those notes you drew those sketches and you Ot composed composed composed com com- posed those verses Miss Tremayne is waiting in the ball ro room room m. m I promised to send you to her Go Fred and and go But J Jack Jack Jack- ack- ack x No no you must go For the sake of the old days and and her There was a silent clasp of hands the opening and closing of a adoor adoor adoor door and the bent figure of a man with his head buried in his hands Derie Durie Degie |