River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-12-11

but never glanced to the desk where she
sat. At last she laid down her pen
folded her papers without reading then
and, with deep sigh. handed them K
| the Professor. 1t was seldom EIisg
sighed. but she vas very tired now, and
had little hope of her labor ayailine
anythins A little while afterwards
! she passed by his door, and, glancinq
in. saw that he was sitting in the same
place intently reading her papers.
Il understand" she said to herself
He is so much afraid INV papers merit
mark high enough to pass me that he
can not wait longer TO look over them.
, Perhaps Elise felt that she was I'M
| inst to the Professor in her surmise,
but she would have felt it more if she
had only glanced up to meet the kind
sympathetic look in his eyes as she
handed him her papers, not an hour be
fore.
In few days they all met again in
his Office to hear the fat passed on the
result of their labor. When he came
to Elise's name he made slight pause
before he read it, and the mark he had
put on her examination pause to
give her failure emphasis, Elise inter
preted it, She was the only one who
had failed! No need of emphasis to
make her feel it! How was she to
bear her great disappointment?
Ii Elises good Judgment had not
made her know how deficient she was
in a knowledge of this language, she
would bave believed the Professors
dislike for her had influenced his de-
cision, but she well knew it was just,
and her heart sank deep under her
failure. She did not raise her eyes
from the floor, but sat there mo-
tionless, expressionless, until the
class was dismissed, for the last time,
with congratulations from the Profes-
sor. Then, without speaking to any
one, she hastily turned to leave the
room. She made her exit from his
presence to-day less joyfully than she
had ever done, for, heretofore, however
serious may have been her bearing
when she entered his reeitation-room,
her face was always the most radiant of
the class as soon as she was dismissed.
She avoided speaking to any one, and
walking briskly to her MUSHROOM
opened her portfolio and commenced
practlcing. 1t was the hour for her to
practice her vocal lesson, but she was
too nearly CRYING to sing. At first fer
lovely eyes were so dim with tears she
could scarcely see the notes, but ere
long, with her unusual powers of self
control, she had mastered her feelings
sufficiently to sing. Turning over the
fancy operas she was wont to practice
at this hour, she sought the old Irish
melodies that she used to sing to her
father summer evenings when the
shadows had gathered on the hills, and
the din of the world was hushed and
gave place to the music of her sweet,
childlke voice. 1t seemed a consola-
ton to pour forth the sadness of her
soul into those sweet old refrains that
she had first heard as they fell in music
from the lips OF her mother, whose voice
had long been hushed on earth. The
last notes of kathleen Mavourneen"
had Just been borne away by the sum-
mer breezes when Matte, her favorite,
gently opened the door and asked per-
mission to enter.
Matte was closely allied to Elise in
all her merry markings, and now she
felt that she ought to try to share her
sorrow.
1t was not long before Elise's tie IS
had broken through the barriers ofs-if-
control and were falling fast from e. IS
that, it seemed nature had fashioned
for smiles.
Il know it is silly to cry about it.,
Matte; but, oh, it is such bitter dis
appointment! No diploma, no medal,
no honor on commencement day, after
so many sessions OF faithful labor. And
I have looked forward to my com
mencement day as the happiest, fairest
day of my life. 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 it was only the
disappointment of a day and would
never count III the news of the battle, >"
as she had merely failed to attain the
outward 1ourishes of her recompense,
that she had gained knowledge, taste
and adornments which were recognized
by all the inmates other Alma Mater,
and would be appreciated by society in
days to come.
But all the logic failed to bring back
the smiles to Elise'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 ont to be the brightest of her
LIE
But after all, when that much-talked-
of day came Elise was not so sad as she
feared she would be. How could she be
sorrowful in such a scene? Surround
ed by such a convoy of merry, white
robed creatures, with such flood of
golden sunlight pouring down upon
them, balmy, perfume-laden breezes
fresh from the gardens of June tanning
their brows and strains of joyful music
charming their senses, hearts that had
grown old in disappointments soon cast
aside their sadness.
That night after the exercises were
over and the audience dispersed, Elise's
father led her out on the moon lit bal
conv to tell her how well pleased he
was with her sessions accomplishments ;
lac told her how happy it made him to
hear her voice and to see how skillfully
she executed the most difficult instru-
mental pieces.
"But, dear papa, / have no diploma,
no medal for you," she said, deeply
signing.
"That does not, in the least displease
me, my little girl. "As to medals,
they only represent relative excellence,
and if you are not exactly satisfied 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 fail
ure in Latin examination, and told me
the cause of it. He said, as he accepted
the invitation extended him, he would
take pleasure in giving You few pri-
waite lessons, and you might pursue your
studies in Latin and be able to take
your diploma yet, with very little IN
convenience to either party.
This revelation struck Elise almost
breathless.
eWhat invitation, papa?" she asked,
"Is Prof. Ingram going to visit you at
Woodlawn this summer ?"
Eyes, darling, L 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 i'll our old college
DAYS. | have always been fond of In
gram, and viii be only the more re
ioiced TO have him with me if his visit
is the means of making my loved one
more happy"
1t made Elise's heart sink, the pros
Al 1t1f 1ar rl4ka1,