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

the letters and the picture showed the
stains of tears. Charlotte looked at the
picture closely. The face was familiar.
Surely she had seen it before. But
where? She could not place it among
her acquaintances. Whose face was it?
She started. A broken, uncertain voice
seemed to say, 'That's good picture OF
the president" Her lovers awkward
remark at the party, the portrait on the
wall, the picture that her mother cried
over. 1t was all clear, very clear, and
she didn't care to read the open letter by
the picture.
'My poor, dear mother!" she thought,
as, without awakening her, she glided to
her own room, carrying the greatest
secret of her lifetime, save one.
IT was after midnight when Mrs. Mer-
don awoke. She had hoped her daugh-
ter would come in. She wanted to tell
her that she was no longer angry. She
had been carried back over parts of her
own life and she wanted to tell Charlotte
that after all she must follow the voice
of her heart, that her own experience
had taught her SO. She was almost
ready to confess to her that although she
had married man who was great, whom
everybody knew, she-no, no, no, she
could not tell her daughter that-she
could not tell her that. Very slowly she
put away the letters and the picture, say.
ing, "Yes, loved him then, and God
forgive me, L have loved him ever since"
At noon the next day servant brought
q note to the presidents study: "Char.
lotte E. Merdon requests the pleasure of
q few moments private conversation"
II wonder what Addie Mather's daugh-
ter wants OF me-" thought the old
bachelor as he passed down into the re
ception room. Chow the girl brings her
to my mind"
In dignifed way that even surprised
herself Charlotte began: IT understood
that the trustees have given you appoint
ing power regarding the professorship
which my fathers death made vacant"
eyes"
Have you made any provision YETI"
"No."
81 have a candidate to present"
"What-you? A candidate! Who is
it?"
"Brent Seymour"
Charlotte's intimacy with Seymour
was not unknown to the president, but
this astounded him.
"It is impossible" he said; II do not
see how you can ask it, how you can
think it."
"Would you not do much to bring to
you one you loved?" she asked boldly.
A peculiar light came into the gray
eyes behind the steel bowed spectacles.
eyes"
"How much?"
Anything"
"Would you give professorship?"
The peculiar light increased. 1t was
almost blaze.
Eyes"
"Will you give me this professorship,
If I bring to you one you love?"
The gray eyes were now fairly fame.
She was understood. He sprang to his
feet. Age seemed to fall from him like
Q scale.
>Girl, what do you mean?" he shouted.
THAT she loves you all the time"
There was q base ball match on the
college grounds, but it was not the topic
of the afternoon. A report that Brent
Seymour had been appointed to the
chair of astronomy had sent half the col
leRe to his house to congratulate him.
They could not begin to get inside, so
he stood out in the yard and shook
hands with them one by one.
In the early evening passing student
saw an unusual visitor go up the path to
the Merdon mansion. It was the gray.
haired president. Mrs. Merdon opened
the door herself, and the student
couldn't help seeing the look Of astonish-
ment ON her face. and that she tottered
IS she stepped back into the hall;
couldn't help hearing, in tones that he
will never forget, two EXPLANATIONS,
"Addie!" Frank" and the door closed.
When Seymour and Charlotte came in
from their evening walk they heard
voices in the sitting room, and Seymour
WAS speechless with establishment as he
recognized the presidents voice: 81 am
glad that you rejected me once, for my
Joy is made wonderful by years of dark
ness"
Catching her lovers hand Charlotte
stepped with him into the room.
"Mother," she said, If you haven't
got too much happiness already"-look-
ing ct the venerable man who did not
release the hand he was holding IRE
member you promised to be happy for
ever if I should marry the man who will
all my fathers chair. Let me present
him."
My host ceased. His story was evil
IDENTIFY done, and as he drew back from
the table he said: 1.-THE only thing fctiti.
Gus about it is the name have give the
poor student"
But" asked. did Charlotte ever