Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-11-26

aAAo. AA01uOA #uA0hpP4OVM VI HOE
daughters visit to the observatory with
Seymour broadened into anger as his
calls were repeated, and repeated often.
An intimacy grew between the young
people that, even to themselves they
did not undertake to explain. The
girls friendship had opened new
world to the hard-worked student.
Had he known more of life, he would
have known that he was falling in love.
Over the other q secret was stealing as
comes over us in the morning. A
month had passed since the senior party.
The two sat again in the telescope
room. She seemed to be studying the
stars.
And do you remember she was ask
ing, that, that evening you thought
through some one of them father was
looking at us2"
EYES,"
do you suppose he can see us now?"
Yes" Gin surprised way.)
aThen," (hesitaingly) edo you think
he is glad-is glad to see us together?"
Wont you," 1.-THE voice was very
husky)-"won't you answer for me?"
Yes" she said, in q voice clear as q
harp chord. II know he is"
Seymour wondered If his senses were
giving away. He hardly knew what fol-
lowed. He meant to ask--he tried to
ask if she didn't think her father would
be glad to see them always together.
Somehow that seemed long and heavy
and he couldn't make the words come.
he had q choking sensation in his
throat and his eyes were. blinded with
tears. He felt just as he had in the
greenhouse the night of the senior
party. He wanted to kiss the hem of
her garment. He felt that he was in
debt to her and falling deeper in
dept every momenr. He knew he was
making fool of himself, but he didn't
care. He was the happiest fool that
moment in Gods happy world.
you are just as much mine," she
said at last, her hands resting on his
head, which some way or other had
found a place in her lap-"you are
just as much mine as if I had not done
all the wooing myself"
The Merdon mansion bad never seen
such a storm as followed Charlotte's
avowal of her betrothai. Her mother
insisted that she would never consent
never in the world, and the girl, who
had always honored her wishes above
everything else was in distress.
"But you did not marry a rich man
yourself, mother; why should you want
me to-" she urged.
II married man who was great
whom everybody knew: why, If you
were to marry the man, whoever he is,
who will fill his chair, I should be hap
py forever, but this fellow"-and her
indignation almost overpowering her
she left the room.
It was late in the evening when Char
lotte stole up stairs. Passing her
mothers room she saw that the door was
partly open. She knew what it meant.
Women, even among themselves, make
their reconci]iations gracefully, gradu.
ally. She pushed the door wide open,
as her mother had intended she should,
and went in. The lady sat by her
writing table; her head rested on her
hand, and she was evidently sleeping.
A little pile of letters lay before her, .
picture beside them. Tears had
dropped upon the letters, and the pict-
ure bore the stain of tears. Charlotte
looked at the picture closely. The face
was familiar. Surely she had seen it be-
fore. But where? She could not place
it among her aoquaintances. Whose
face was it? She started. A broken, I'M
certain voice seemed to say. "That's a
good picture of the president" Her
lovers awkward remark at the party,
the portrait on the wall, the picture
that her mother cried over. It was all
clear, very clear, and she didn't care to
read the open letter by the picture.
my poor, dear motherl" she thought
as without awakening her, she glided
to own room, carrying thither the great.
est secret of her lifetime, save one.
1t was after midnight when Mrs
Merdon awoke. She had hoped he,
daughter would come in. She wanted
to tell her that she was no longer angry
She had been carried back over parts O.
her own life and she wanted to tel
Charlotte that after all she must follow
the voice of her heart, that her own OK
perience had taught her so. She wa
almost ready to confess to her that al
though she had married q man who wa
great, whom everybody knew, she-no
no, no, she could not tell her daughter
that. Very slowly she put away tn,
letters and picture, saying:
Eyes, I loved him then, and, God for
give me, I have loved him ever since.
At noon the next day a servan
brought note to the president
study:
"Charlotte E. Merdon requests th
pleasure of "a few moments private con
versation."
II wonder what Addie Mather'
daughter wants of me?" thought the oil
bachelor as he passed down into the re
ception room. @.How the girl bring
her to mlnd!"
In a dignified manner that even sui
prised herself, Charlotte began:
Il understand that the trustees hav
given you power regarding the profe.
sorship which fathers death made v.
cant"
"Yes."
Have you made any provision yet
mo-"
II have candidate to present"
"What- A candidate! Who
it?"
Brent Seymour"
Charlotte's intimacy was not know
, to the president, but this astounde
:, him.
II 1T is impossible" he said, II don
, see how You can ask it, how you ca
!. think of it."
"Would you not do much to bring
= you one you loved?"' she asked bold
A peculiar light came into the gr,
= eyes behind the steel-bowed spectacle
EYES,"
@How much 2"
! Anything"
: would you give professorship 2"
. The peculiar light increased. Il W
= almost blaze.
= EYES,"
. will you give me this professc
ship if bring to you one you lover"