The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-06-07


New England college, the conversation
recalled some of the friends Of our
younger days, and he surprised me with
the remark: "a woman's sympathies lie
nearer her heart than her love, unless her
love is born of them" But he surprised
me more by the story he told to prove
it.
guess it WAS seven years, he said that
our chair of astronomy remained vacant.
You knew of DR.. Merdon. It was Justly
that the world finally gave him fame.
Well, after his death the trustees were at
loss to fill his place. A weak man would
have been insufferable there.
Do you remember his family. Charm
ing wife and daughter. They spent sew
eral years abroad after his death, and
when they returned, notwithstanding
that the widow still wore mourning, the
number of our little social events was
doubled. The daughter had q string of
young millionaires after her constantly.
Female society perhaps you know, wasn't
unlimited, and it was with foundation
of truth that the fellows grimly joked
about calling on the girls their fathers
had courted before them. Charlotte
Merdon was IS fascinating q girl as her
mother had been, 30 said the old folks,
and it was to her that young Professor
Lutz quoted from Horace, "Oh daughter,
more beautiful than thy beautiful
mo:herw when he brought down upon
himself the ridicule of the mountain day
party. Yes, she could have had her pick
from dozen very rich boys, and l think
abe would have taken it, too, If she had
not discovered that her mother was try
ing to influence her in their favor.
At the senior party that year. Char
lotte held her court, as she did every.
where. She was surrounded, remem-
Der, by the rich fellows of Charlie Ell
liott's set. Elliott was happy that night
Charlotte had been unusually gracious,
aud her mother had made her favor
clearer than ever.
Over near the door sat the last man TO
be expected at presidents party, Brent
Seymour. He was senior the year be-
fore, and taking postgraduate study at
the observatory Merdon had built short
~ before his DEATH town boy, who
supported his mother and worked his
way through college, not often seen in
society, and his ill-fitting clothes and
embarrassed manner attested il. Elliott.
looking around the room for q subject
for his next brilliant remark to Miss
Merdon, caught sight Of him.
Ed, said he, turning to his chum,
'Itsll you. what will be great sport. Bring
Seym0nxJp and formally present him
to M 6erdon. 1t will confuse him.
He WON'T know what to do, and there'll
be . deuce of q scene."
The chum complied and in a moment
had the reluctant Seymour by the arm
The scene that followed must have been
all that Elliott desired. For o moment
the poor student stood before the belle
1t was not unlike the tableau OF the beg
gar and the princess. Her easy attitude
contrasted strangely with his painful
swkwardness. Elliott had not miscal.
culated. The effect was immediate. All
eyes were turned toward the couple and
. smile went around.
Charlotte Merdon saw it, and her
cheeks famed. She had OWNED the
heartless joke. To the surprise of those
about her she begged Seymour to be
ooated-insisted that he should be seated.
Then she tried to draw him into the con-
vessation. But it Was impossible. EN-
hefFAssment seemed to have driven his
wits away. Only one remark he vsn-
tussd. CHANGING ct portrait ON the wall
hsslaamsred, ssThsl's . rood picture of
- president" The portrait was one
aoesn thirty ysafs bsfoFs and vas any
eafnG but . rood kksaeos Of TIE presi-
1ses - - then apPsassd. Ths unfortun-
~ se0ask esassd ano1Ase snils. Il