The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-05-12
20 speak in tho most aticctionato, Sister,

see, ever since HaTdalcn returned from
Girton sho has been encouraged in her
devotion to study. People express the
greatest admiration for her talents; then
papa has made her his secretary. and so,
without being in the least conceited, she
naturally feels that she is superior to the
girls she ordinarily meets. You know,
Will, can't help thinking it was mis-
take to let her grow SO very learned.
think il is woman's part to be helpful
and domestic, to take interest in the good
management of small matters, and in
the welfare of those about her."
"Why can't Magdalen be domestic as
well as intcllcctualp" demanded Will,
moodily. II don't sec the Incompatible
ity."
Nora did not choose to tell him that
Maguaicn hau begged 10 DO aiiowea 10
take part in household affairs, and that
she herself had opposed the suggestion.
She had gained n character for domestic
ity. and did not wish to have her suprem-
acy shared.
al dare say there is no actual incom-
patibility," she admitted, gently, "but
MaGdalen is so wrapped up in her work
for papa that VIC never think Of occupy
ing her mind with matters which am
quito willing to see after myself. Why
should she DO botheredp She is not tho
girl to marry, unless indeed'-Nora
laughed gaily-'she could find man
who was all intellect, and had no bodily
needs to be ministered to-"
Poor viii! Magdalcn joined them In
the garden later on, but for his own sake
he held aloof from her. The girl was
greatly hurt, as of old she had been his
special friend. Too shy to complain,
however, she shrank into herself and with
pang of regret saw Will fall into the
way of the world-trcat her, namely,
with distant respect, and Nora with ia
miiiar friendliness. He had not been at
Fosters many days before his name was
coupled with Morals by all the match
makers i'm the neighborhood. Tho good
people were much mistaken. Will might
walk, ride, and play tennis with Nora,
or even constitute himself her cavalier
and escort on every possible occasion,
but secretly his heart went out towards
Magdalcn. Yet how, after Morals words,
could he dream of betraying his deyo-
ton? How could he, man whose only
attachments were those of physical
strength and agility, hope to please a
girl thrown both by training and natur-
nj bent into tho midst of purely intellect
ual interests? Sadly he told himself that
she was not for him.
And MaSdalen as sadly told herself
that somehow she had forfeited Willis
friendship, by which, had he only known
it, she set great store. He seemed to her
tho perfection of a gentleman, and per-
haps his want of learning was the thing
she liked best about him, so cordially
did she hold her own blueness in abhor-
renee.
Thus were the two kept apart by O
phantom barrier raised between them
by Nora. who, without caring for Will
herself, resented his preference for Mag
dalcn. She was under no misapprehen-
sions "a to his feelings, and yet petty
jealousy debarrcd her from doing what
lay in her power towards bringing about
better understanding between him and
her sister.
Wills last day arrived. A large ten
mis- party was To take place ut Fosters
in the afternoon, as a sort of farewell en-.
tcrtainment for him, and he did his best
to throw off the dependency which OPP
pressed him.
xviii you play to-day, Magdalenp'
he asked, very hesitatingly, in tho morn
ing.
Magdalcn shook her head.
NO" she said, shyly, Il don't play
tennis"
"Of course not" laughed Nora
| xviii. what an extraordinary idea! Al
if you didn't know Magdalen was above
tcnnisr'
at is not that" said Magdalcn color
| ing; "but the tennis is above me, trieC
it again and again ut Girton, but it wa:
never any good. only spoil every Sc
/ play in"
90, well, you can'tplay or you won't, ,
said Nora, impatiently; sits all thu
same"
| Nora's sudden ill-temper seemed yer,
| uncallcd-fOr, but she was irritated b,
the disappointment on Wills face. Pres
emily, however, her equanimity was re
stored, and she said, putting out he
hand:
Forgive me, Magdalen; Pm talkin.
q heap of cross nonsense. Or cours
YOU need not play; but you shall tall
to the people-that is, if papa can spar
us his walking Dictionary of Antiqui
ties"
Another allusion to her blueness
Magdalen gave her sister an appealing
look, and left the room. Will fell int
brown study.
During the afternoon he played q grea
deal with Nora as his partner, and tn
two proved an invincible couple. A
Nora was fully occupied with the game
Magdalen was called upon for once t
do her share in receiving and talking t
the guests. They were more than eve
impressed with her intense blueness, fc
the poor girl had the heart-ache, an
found it strangely hard to look brigl
and smiling. Many were the remart
made to her about Will and Nora, WI
} certainly played admirably together.
the middle of ono exciting set, youn
married lady, who was sitting next
Magdalen. whispered confidentiall
"Those two arc made for one anothe
aren't theyP Depend upon it, they WI
be partners in earnest before MIR. Fai
= BARN leaves"
Magdalcn went little palo as 81
answered, evasivcly, every one likes
have Nora for q partner"
Eyes, yes, know; but not in the sen
, I mean. What a loss she will be to I
all! Now, tell me, do you think MIR. Flo
ter will let her go out with him, or W
: they have to waltz"
0 This was going too far. Magdal'
thought.
l "The question has not been discuss
yet" she replied distantly; and, aw'
l by her manner, the young lady subsid'
: into silence.
. Magdalcn went up to her room, VIII
i the party was over, in a very miserat
frame of mind. AS she cast retrospe
0 over her lifo of late, II seemed to h
that her success ut Cambridge had &C
y her every thing she most cared abol
d She did not know how much her thr
n years ut Girton had done for her. S
: was not in position to realize the
@ important difference between her hal
d of mind and that of Morals, between Ii
1 unworldliness and Morals worldline
o 1t il worthy of note that these social
n Girton and Newman "blues' are,
n the most part, especially simple girls.
The twilight deepened, and at Il
= Will could delay the inevitable leaN
|, taking no longer. Magdalen kept {
0. of the room. Wills going was the MI
n terrible thing that had ever happen
ii to her, and sho would rather not s
n good-by to him Mt all, than have to
d it carclcssly before them all.
1t "Where is Magdalenp" asked w
d presently.
10 "Sho was looking out something
t. Herodotus for me just now" said \
Foster. EVA, 60 and call her; tell
st Will is waiting to say good-by."
Poor Will! 1t was n bitter thous