Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-09

| appointments NO ulplOno, no medal,
no honor on commencement day.
after so many sessions Of faithful
labor. And [ have looked forward to
my commencement day as the hap
piest, fairest day of my life. I would
not mind for only my own sake, but
to think of how disappointed poor
papa will be-
In vain Matte tried to console her
| friend, telling her that twas only the
disappointment of day and would
never count in the news of the battle, u
as she had merely failed to attain the
outward fourishes of her recompense,
that she had gained knowledge, taste
and adornments which were recogniz-
ed by all the inmates of her Alma
Mater, and would be appreciated by
society in days to come.
But all her logic failed to bring
back the smiles to Eise's face, for she
could not help but deem it cruel fate
that her first great disappointment
should cast it's shadow over the day
she had marked out to be the brightest
of her life.
But, after all, when the much talk
ed-of day came Elise was not so sad
as she feared she would be. How
could she be forrowful il such a scene?
Surrounded by such convoy Of mer-
ry, white-1ebed creatures, with such a
flood of golden sunlight pouring down
upon them, balmy, perfume-laden
breezes fresh from the gardens Of June
tanning their brows and strains of
joyous music charming their senses,
hearts that had grown old in disap-
pointments soon cast aside their sad
ness.
That night after the exercises We're
over and the audience dispersed,
Elise's father led her out on the moon
lit. balcony to tell her how well pleased
he Was with her sessions accomplish
ments; he told her how happy it him
to hear her voice and to see how
skillfully she executed the most diff
cult instrumental pieces.
But, dear papa, [ have no diploma,
no medal for you, she said, deeply
signing.
THAT does not, in the least, dis
please me, my little girl. AS to med
ais, they only represent relative excel
lGnce, and If you are not exactly salts
fed with your literary attainments,
and have your heart set on taking a
diploma, you need not be disappointed,
for to-day Prof. Ingram spoke to me
of your failure in the Latin examina-
ton, and told me the cause of it. He
said. as he accepted the invitation ex::
tended to him, he would take pleasure
in giving you a few a private lessons,
no h IN
Latin and be able to take your di-
ploma yet, with very little ineonven-
fence to either party.
This revelation struck Elise almost
breathlfss.
"What invitation, papa" she ask
ed. "Is Prof. Ingram going TO visit
you at Woodlawn this summer@'
eyes, darling, I have often invited
him to visit me at my summer home,
that we might hunt and fish together
and spend again pleasant time in each
! others company as IN our old college
days. = have always been fond of
Ingram, and will be only the more
rejoiced to have him with me if his
visit is the means of making my loved
one more happy"
It made Elise's heart sink, the pros
pect of the summer before her, when
she had expected to be as joyous and
free as lark, to be restrained all the
bright, beautiful time by the grave,
digniied Professors presence. How
much more happy she would be to
pursue her studies free and alone!
But she did not make known her
feelings because she loved her father
SO well and would not for anything
annoy him. She turned the subject
as soon as she could, asking eagerly
about her "Aunfie," maiden sister
Of Mr. O'Brien, who lived with him
and tried faithfully to fill the Office Of
mother to his orphaned child.
For the first few days after the Pro
fessor's arrival at WoodlaWn Elise
skillfully steered clear of his presence,
never meeting him except at the table
and when she went TO take her lessons
from him in the library.
The Professor, although she was
perfectly polite to MIN, saw she avoid
ed him, and the hour spent with him
in the libary each morning was real
punishment to her. The first morning,
as the Professor had not brought his
text books with him, she was obliged
to let him look on her books as she
read; but by the next day she had
broug ht down an old copy of Tacitus,
that was her fathers, from some dusty
recess in the library, and politely Of
fered it to him. He noticed this, and
tried to make her more at ease in his
presence
''Miss Elise" he said one morning,
'1et me eEtreat you not to sit SO far
off, as if you were afraid to come even
in hearing distance of me. Come
over here and sit on this sofa by me,
and [ give you my word for it, if you
do go little wrong, you will sustain
no mortal Injury at my hands.
'Pray do not rush through your
lesson, listening tony comments and
corrections as the inevitable, and then
hurry out of my presence as If [ were
an OGRE II WAS exnedient for me 10