The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-02


the week.
Intense interest gathered about this
closing afternoon. Indeed. When
one considers how small part Of Tie
great world the female seminary oi
N, with all its frame, actually was
il WAS wonderful how intense this inter
est became. One would say, who hap
pened to peep into the greenroom ol
the composition readers, waiting witt
cold fright or with hectic agitation, eacl
for her turn 20 be called upon the stage.
that the result Of this evening would ht
something mOmentOus enough 30 cause
an alteration in the course OF our planet,
or, at the very least, IA trembling inits
onward step.
This impression would not have been
lessened by reading the titles of the
compositions. Women Of our Ger
tury :" The Dead Past burying its
Dead :" The Future of the American
Republic very fine thing, and
winner of the first prize Spiritual
Tendencies Of Astronomical Research :
" Darwin's Development Theory con
fronted with Argyle's Reign III Law :
" Is Genius Hereditary. and if SO, from
the Paternal or the Maternal Side ? with
Statistics from Galton, carefully com,
piled, and SO on, and SO forth.
Very simply, after this array, came
the announcement given by the principal
Of the seminary, "A Mountain Brook, '
by Miss Il. Kane.
Closing exercises had been heightened
beyond their fixed time, and daylight
was departing as Miss Kane made her
appearance from the greenroOm, COM
position III hand. A side window had %
be opened to give sufficient light, and
through this opening came rosy glow
that almost atoned for the lack of floral
tributes such as had overwhelmed the
entrance of every other reader. Not a
single flower was thrown 10 welcome the
coming uf Miss r. Kane. A friend
less girl, many Of the audience thought
But no one in the world Is Il friendless
girl, so the suddenly opened window
said for the sunset glow poured in and
enshrined her feet, and illumlned her
garments, and crowned her young head
Wi th flowers Of light.
And in timid, but clear voice the
composition was read. a Mountain
Brook, " not scientific or erudite, but a
theme Of action, and taking as a smile
OF n useful life the trite figure OF river
bearing from its rocky solitude, through
wood and through field of grain, and
over mill-wheel and by the town. it's
ever-augmentjng stream Of refreshing
and compelling force.
The trite comparison WAS treated with
a novel grace. And one thing was quite
remarkable about the composition -- a
description of the scenery in which the
Mountain Brook was supposed 10 receive
from high authority its mission through
the thirsting earth. This description
was SO viyidly accurate that any one
familiar with a certain mountain locality
would have recognized at once that the
" Brook sprang to light under the fern
famed cavern Of Block Height.
No one among the audience, however,
was familiar with that particular nook
of upland scenery. No one, excepting
handsome young man who had drawn 10
himself during the afternoon the shyly
admiring glances of very many of the girls.
He had been restless, hike the watcher
who impatiently awaits the striking Of the
hour. When Miss Kane entered he became
still and satisfied, like the watcher when
the hour has struck.
" Redolette She has fulfilled her
promise"
These two unspoken sentences eI-
pressed the mental impression, COM
plete. For TO this young man, through
the five years. including his senior year
at college, his law study, his energetic
establishment Of law practice, " Redo.
lette had been the embodiment OF all
that is sweetest in girl. And she
has fulfilled her promise, referred not
somuch to the fact that this sweetest
girl had kept her word 30 him as that
she had kept her word To Time-kept
the promise Of the lovely child 10 be
the lovehest woman.
" Redolette I" said Willie.
TheyAhal entered one Of the arbors
that had been improvised Of cedars 10
adorn the garden fete. They had been
walking arm in arm through the grounds
for a long time; for one of the earliest
guests of the evening had been Willie
Locke, and he had rushed Immediately
TO Redolette's side, and had kept her to
himself all the evening. They chose to
walk in the garden rather than join in
the dance, for they had so much TO say.
And they had talked over their five
years separation and its leading evedts
before they went into the arbor to rest.
The last thing Redolette had said in
the walk was, $50 now, Willie, thanks
to the inspiring leader of my choice,
am ready to take some part in the
movement of my time. My schooling
here is ended. Ny little inheritance is
made secure. l am my own mistress
now. should like, if possible, to do
little good in the world and the only
question with me now is, How shall |
do it best p"
And here il was that Willie with n
sudden movement drew her into the
arbOr, and said, with such an electric
vibration in his voice as made her heart
an for an instant TO stop to beat,
"I.edolette !"
Something so far beyond the 81 mple
name was implied by his vital utterance
Of it that she made no response.
"Since / was happy" he said, to
guide you Alright once, let me be your
guide again. Let me tell you, Redol-
cite, my angel, my queen, how you can
do the most good in the world-how
am sure you cnn DO the most good"
He paused, and Redolette, whose eyes
had been tremulously cast down, lifted
her glance to his.
And before she had time to really look,
to see all he meant-before she had time
TO let the question, "How ?" pass her
beautiful red lips, he had seized her in
his strong arms, he had answered her
once and forever:
"As my ,oYe."