Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-07-28

A
Our college was one to which both
ladies and gentlemen were admitted
and although we were allowed much
liberty, still our strictest rules were
those which related to our intercourse
with the opposite sex One rule with
which have to do, and, believe, the
only one which Cassie wilfully dis
obeyed, was:
"A lady belonging to the institution
may ride with q gentleman but twice
during term, and must, without fail
be in her room at eight o'clock"
This rule was Cassie's especial trial
and she frequently violated it in both
particulars mentioned.
Charlie CastletOn, nephew of the
professor, and very much like him in
appearance, had entered the college
about the same time Cassie did, and
they had been fast friends from the be-
ginning, and very frequently CON-
panions i'm disgrace.
One day Cassie informed me that
Charlie had been expelled from the col
lege for some persistent misdemeanor
and was going away from Lynne the
next week, and, in half whisper, she
cOnfided to me that she had promised to
ride with him the next Tuesday even
ing, although she had already taken the
two rides allotted to that term. Itried Ia
dissuade her, but she said:
''I'm going this one time, Gerty, and
it is to be the last. have been think
ing good deal about it lately, and l am
firmly resolved to do better. | tell it TO
you alone, and you will see if it is not
as say"
The next evening Tutor Griswold in
formed me that, al the last faculty meet
ing, Cassie's case was again brought up,
and, with the exception of Professor
Van Aiken, who looked the picture of
distress, and Professor CastletOn, white
and stern, all decided that she must
leave the college.
''The child-yOung lady, 1 mean, -
said Professor Castleton, ''is not mali
cious nor willful, and 1 believe many of
her transgressions arise from an over
flow of animal spirits" 10 which one
and all assented, half hoping their
brother professor had some plan by
which TO relieve them. He continued: ::
81 have a-a-a neutrality-suspicious. il
might be called-which, l hope, will
prove efficacious. This is Miss Clare's
third term in Lynne, and the term is
half ended. At its close, if there is no
change, l will withdraw my objection
to her removal"
This was readily consented To, and
after the meeting Professor Castleton
was assailed with many questions con-
cerning his method, which he steadily
refused to crafty, saying: IF l sue
ceed you shall know. No, l cannot say
that l have ever known of its being
practiced before. 1t is entirely 4 new
plan of my own. l fear il NAV not sue
ceed, but earnestly hope it Will"
The evening appointed for Cassie's
ride came, and it was with mingled
anxiety and relief saw her leave the
house. Relief-for had faith TO believe
that she would make it the last of SIM
liar disObediences, as she had promised,
for there was an earnestness in her look
and manner as she made the promise
that had never seen before.
l had barely composed myself to my
studies after her departure, when vio-
lent ring was heard at the door, and |
was summoned to the parlor, where, to
my astonishment, l found Charlie Cas-
tleton pacing the floor in fever of
anxiety and vexation-
"Oh, Miss Vernon" he cried as l en-
tered, ''I'm a wretched man! / don't
know why l should come TO you, but l
had to tell some one. Where do you
suppose Cassie is? Offwith Uncle Roger
and never knew ~ and he brought his
fist down violently upon the table.
''Oh, cried, and weakly sat down
upon chair.
"You may well say 'oh, and /, stupid
idiot that am, not able 10 say word
but look on and get her in" and he
walked frantically around, taking up
books and small articles, turning them
over, and. laying them down without
seeming to know what he was doing.
''Charlie," said, ''sit down here
quietly and tell me just what has hap
pened-perhaps We can do something
then"
''No, you cannot; they are half way
to Eldred by this time. But 1 may as
well tell you; came to tell yon. You
see, we were to start early, before the
moon came up, so no one would recog-
nize us, and she was to come 10 the big
hemlock tree at the corner Of the park
and start from there. l was waiting
there for her with-sach a team m!-Col-
vile's Black Jerry and 'Dapple jack
YOU know they were in first class order"
-(his eyes sparkled and then darkenedD
when who should walk over to me
but Uncle Roger, and As he stepped up
to me saw Cassie open the door down
here and start out. Uncle Roger saw
her too. Charles he said-yOu know
he said it-.Charles, l will take your
place for tonight. Give me your over
coat and hat, and he fairly hustled me
out of them, and so dazed and bewil-
dered. Oh, knew / was an idiot
said so-but l never realized it as did
then when he clapped this hat on my
head and said: Charles, move away
from her instantly. This is an impor-
tant matter, sir!' And as | moved off
slowly he came down with his hand on
my shoulder and said, 'GOv and went,
and never said word the whole time.
But when | was on the other side of the
tree ! went back-I couldn't help it,
you knOw--and stood in the shadow.
There was Cassie patting the horses,
and saying, 'Oh, Charlie, arn't they
beauties ?" and uncle answering-'and
l swear" he said excitedly, ''if didn't
almost think it was / who had spoken:
We'll they just are, but l thought you
were never coming, Cassie Now-one
and she was in
the buggy as light as feather. How
he ever knew that was the way L did,
Fm sure don't know. L just dug my
heels into the ground and swore as they
drove of, and then thought of you and
came down. You see we can't do any
thing"
''Ohv' 1 sighed, "if you had only
spoken, even after they had started, just
to let her know.
''Oh, yes; if" he cried. almost an
grily. "'If' I'd not given him the hat,
or the coat, or the team, or Cassie; 'if'
everything but did, did all he told
me to; that comes of being brought up
by him, and having to obey him when
was little. I suppose he thinks fell
low of seventeen is child still, and l
can't say Is blame him after ALL, he
added, gloomily.
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