The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-05-26


old acquaintance, now professor in a
recalled some of the friends Of our
the remark: "a woman's sympathies lie
nearer her heart than her love, unless her
love is born of them" But he surprised
it.
guess it was seven years, he said that
our chair of astronomy remained vacant.
You knew of DIR. 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 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 bofore them. Charlotte
Merdon was as fascinating a girl as her
mother had been, $50 said the old folks,
and it was to her that young Professor
Lutz quoted from Horace, "Oh daughter,
more beautiful than thy beautiful
motherr 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 think
she 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, yas 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,
and her mother had made her favor
clearer than ever.
Over near the door sat the last man to
| be expected at q presidents party, Brent
Seymour. He was senior the year be-
fore, and taking postgraduate study at
the observatory Merdon had built short
| ly before his death-a town boy, who
supported his mother and worked his
way through college, not often seen in
| society, and his illftting clothes and
| embarrassed manner attested IT, Elliott,
looking around the room for subject
for his next brilliant remark to Miss
Merdon, caught sight of him.
ED" said he, turning to his chum,
"Itell you what will be great sport. Bring
Seymour up and formally present him
to Miss .Merdon. It will confuse him.
He won't know what to do, and there'll
be deuce of 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 moment
the poor student stood before the belle.
It was not unlike the tableau of the beg
| gar and the princess. Her easy attitude
contrasted strangely with his painful
awkwardness. Elliott had not miscal.
culated. The effect was immediate. ALI
eyes were turned toward the couple and
smile went around.
Charlotte Merdon saw it, and hel
cheeks famed. She had OWNED the
heartless Joke. To the surprise of those
about her she begged Seymour to be
seated-insisted that he should be seated
Then she tried to draw him into the con.
versation. But it was impossible. EN-
barrassment seemed to have driven his
wits away. Only one remark he ven
tured. Glancing at q portrait on the wal
he stammered, That's good picture oi
the president" The portrait was one
taken thirty years before and was any
thing but q good likeness of the presi
dent as he then appeared. The unfortun
ate remark caused anothes smile. Ell
lott was delighted His joke was q
splendid success. Poor Seymour twisted
about in his chair and hung his head
His discontinue was complete.
Miss Merdon took deliberate look a.
J the picture. and did not smile. Yes,
she said, ''it is called very good like
ness of him just after graduation. Hay,
J you seen the presidents flowers, Mr.
Seymour? Let me show them to you.
Il Rising, and excusing herself, she let
] the young man into the greenhouse. ad
joining the parlor.
I 1.-The devil" said Elliott. ST didn'
: look for anything like that"
, Seymour, rescued in this way from
. his trying ordeal, hardly knew what t
+ say or do. He felt as if milestone ha.
. been taken from his neck. The pain an,
: the manner of relief worked strangel
r on his sensitive nature He felt that b
was in great dobt to his companion. Fl