The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-11-29
"WHERE THERE'S A WILL.y

Taking tea the other evening with an
cid acquaintance, now professor in a
New England college, the conversation
recalled some of the friends of other
days, and he surprised me with this
remark: "A woman's sympathies lie
nearer her heart than love-" But he
surprised me more by the story he told
me to prove it.
Il guess it was seven years." he said.
that our chair of astronomy remained
vacant. You know of Dr. Merdop. 1t
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 insutfer-
able there.
$40 you remember his family
Charming wife and daughter. They
spent several Years abroad after his
death, and when tuey returned, notwith-
standing that the widow still wore
mourning, the number of our little So
cial events was doubled. The daugh-
ter had a string OF young mlllionaires
after her constantly. Female society,
perhaps you know, wasn't unlimited,
and 1t was with foundation of truth
that the fellows grimly joked about
calling on the girls their fathers had
courted before them. Charlotte Mer-
don was as fascinating a girl as her
mother had been. SO SAID the old folks,
and It was to her tnat young Prof. Lutz
quoted from Horace: %, daughter, more
beautiful than Thy beautiful motherp
wheE he brought down on himself the
rldicule of the mountain day party.
Yes, she could have had the pick from a
dozen very rich boys, and [ think she
would have taken 1t too, if she hadn't
discovered that her mother was trying
to influence her III their favor.
At The senior party that year, Char
lotte held her court as she did every
wAefe. she was surrounded, remem-
Der, by the lch fellows of Charlie FL
hntts set. Elliott WAS happy that night
Charlotte had been unusually gracious,
and her mother had made her favor
clearer than ever.
Ed, said he, turning to his chum,
"I'll tell you what will be great sport.
BRING Seymour up and formally pre-
sent him to Miss Merdon 1t Will CON
fuse him. He won't know what to do,
and therell be deuce of scene"
The chum complied, andln 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.
IL was not unlike the tableau of the
beggar and the princess. Her easy at
tltude contrasted strangely with his
painful awkwardness. Elliott had not
mlscalculated. The effect was immedi-
ate. All eyes were turned toward the
couple, and smile went around
Charlotte Merdon saw it, and her
cheeks famed. She had OWNED the
heartless joke. To the surprise of those
around her she begged Seymour to be
seated-insisted that he should be seat
ed. Then she tried to draw him into
conversation. But it was impossible.
Embarrassment seemed to have driven
his wits away. Only one remark he
ventured. CHANGING at portrait on the
wall, he stammered out: That's a good
picture of the president" The portrait
was taken 30 years before and was any
thing but good likeness of the presi-
dent as he then appeared. The unfor-
tunate remark caused another smile
Elliott was delighted. His joke was
splendid success. Poor Seymour twisted
about IN his chair and hung his head.
His discontinue was complete.
Miss Merdon took ii deliberate look
at the picture and did not smile. Yes
she said, 1T is called a very good like
ness of him just after graduation. Have
You seen the presidents flowers. Mr..
SaunnnJrrD 7 or Oh l. H.
Rising, and excusing herself she led
the young man into the green house,
adjoining the parlor.
The deyil!' said Elliott, Il didn't
look for anything like that"
Seymour, rescued in this way from
his trying ordeal, hardly knew what TO
say or do. He felt as if milestone
had been taken from his neck. The
pam and manner of relief worked
strangely on his sensitive nature. He
felt that he was In great debt to his
companion. He wanted to kiss the hem
OF her garment. He wanted to cry. He
knew he was feeling and acting like a
TOOL. He expected that he should make
greater fool of himself than in the
parlor. But some way he didn't care
de had lost all fear of the beautiful
girl Her act of mercy had brought
her nearer than Years of acquaintance
could. He talked RAPIDLY of the flow
ers, for he knew of them, and Charlotte
hstened-hstened wondering why she
cared to listen, little thinking that her
sympathy had brought the awkward
student nearer than he would have been
mad she known him half her lifetime
ana had never seen him in pain. So
When he pointed out the Observatory
where he worked, the queerly shadej
building that showed its dark ontlinas
IN the moonlight. inst over the camnnS
on the hill, she wondered what was il
.hat prompted her to beg him to take
ner there, TO exact promise from him
Ihat; on the very next evening. he
Nouiu conduct her through the build.
ing that mad been built after her faith
efs order She persuaded herself that
II was desire to see some msnnsor;r.s
OF hei fathers which Seymonr tol5 r.
naS oeeh lelt there Perhaps it was.
No1Si'nseahulng her mothers mild
tenons .L the next evening found
ner Win brent Seymour in the tele
scope room OF the observatory. The
roof had been let down and she was
watching the stars. was
Il wonder if father often stnd;sd
them from this room,7 she said. =
Whenever the sky was clear
wonder il he can see them now o,
No, think that through some one
of them he is looking at u.s.
Far from science and astronomy far
very far from his scholarly STANDPOINT
the mans childish reply had taken him