The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-03
HALLOWELL'S PRETTY SISTER.

HALLOwELL himself was my class
mate at Harvard and is still my good
friend; in fact, he and Jack Spenser
and l have been cronies from the time
of our fitting for college at Exeter until
now.
When Sponsor reached the eminence
of being Junior he felt himself to be a
greater man than ever before or since
"a state of mind which l am ready to
say is not uncommon in members of
that class. At that time he was by far
the most grown-up looking of our set,
and, from being chief baseball player
and foremost in the riots and frolics of
the year before, he seemed to blossom
out all at once into a famous ladies'
man and something of dandy. He
grew wonderfully particular about his
cravats and boots, not to mention the
fit of his clothes and the color of his
gloves; and that winter of our junior
year he Went TO germans and to the as
semblies and parties of every descrip-
ton. We missed Jack; for our old COM
rade, instead of showing his former in
terest in the subjects to which we gave
our whole attention, showed no satisfac-
ton even at being a Junior, seeming to
ignore that conspicuous position entire
ly. He affected the company of society
men in the class ahead, who, in consid-
Grafton OF his size and good manners,
position and generosity and congenial
tastes, treated him almost exactly as if he
were a Senior. We leased him unmerci-
fully, and were much interested in try
ing to keep track of his flirtations, and
managed somehow or other to get the
full particulars of his behavior and ex-
periences on almost every occasion, to
his annoyance-though he wisely con-
cealed any feeling of this kind as much
as possible. We liked him and we
missed him, for he seemed to have no
time nowadays for stroll or frolic in
town, and he was almost never to be
seen at any of the private spreads some
times given Of an evening. must add
that we almost missed the entertain
ments which he used to give the year
before. His room was decorated with
the trophies from the germans and pho
tographs of his young lady friends, and
there were always several notes of invi-
tation ostentatiously displayed on the
table and mantel. At last, when he had
pair OF slippers given him by one girl
and q gorgeous sofa-cushion came from
another, (neither of which were made
up), we almost lost hope of ever re-
gaining his old interest and affection for
us. Hallowell, Jack and l had been
inseparable during our sophomore year,
and Hallowell and l grew sad and an
CRY by turns at being deserted, and
finally gave up Jack despairingly and
went on with our own fashion of living
Jack was as friendly as ever, and we
saw him more or less, of course, though
he had little time to spare for us.
Hallowell lived fifty or sixty miles
from Boston, in small country town
where his family had a pleasant old
place and lived in most charming fash
ion. His mother was dead, and his
father, younger brother and sister had
been abroad until within month or two
of the time of which write, so Dick had
spent his vacations with the family of
an uncle who lived in New York. He
had always spoken of our going to visit
him, and it was odd to notice how much
interest Jack Spenser manifested in
carrying out the old plan, after Hallowell
came home from the holiday vacation
bringing with him fascinating photo
graph of his sister Alice, of whom he
seemed very fond, and had always
spoken with such enthusiasm that we
had frequently accused him of brag-
cling. His room suddenly became much
more interesting to Jack Spenser, who
had way of lounging about in an easy
chair by the comfortable, where the pho
tograph stood in blue velvet frame,
looking at it admiringly; and once he
went so far as to borrow it for day or
two. Finally when Hallowel asked us
to 60 home with him to spend Washing
toms birthday, which came on Monday
that year, his satisfaction was great :;
and Dick confided to me that he didn't
believe Spenser cared any thing for 60
ing with us, it was only because he
should meet Alice.
just before the visit, a letter came to
Dick to say that Mr.. Hallowell and the
younger brother Tom would be away,
but it caused us no sorrow since Miss
Hallowell's presence was the pleasure
w VhiSh WO ACOhCo III w anu
what could be better than spending a
day or two at such q place as we i'm
agined Hallowell's home to bep Fathers
and your ger brothers could be dispensed
with easily.
l was a shy fellow then and half
afraid of young ladies, but l also had
admired the photograph, and Miss
Hallowell and / had exchanged mes
sages through her brothers. letters, so
it was not exactly like meeting an utter
stranger. must confess that l was a
rival TO Spenser in my elaborate prep
arations in the line of gloves and era
watts, and even went to the length of
getting a new supply of unreasonably
elegant pocket. handkerchiefs and a
tight new pair of shoes; and anxiously
asked the advice of Spenser and several
other class authorities concerning the
relative becomingness of my hat or seal
skin cap. Altogether it was one of the
most interesting and important occa-
sions of my life. 1t seems at least twen-
ty years agol