The Mineral argus., 1885-01-01

but his eyes speak volumes Of disap-
prevail to me- He is 80 cold and digni-
fed that l am always i'll ut ease in his
presence. They say he goes much in
society; I wonder il his manner ont
there Is the same ~ here? II it is ]
should think there would always he u
vacant space around him."
II de not know n aver met him he
fore came here, but have heard he cut
quite figure in Paris winter before
last. suppose he was more vivacious
there, or Ia belle Franchise would never
have smiled on him."
Here Matte. remembering that the
bell had rung for her next class, start
ed Oh, telling Elise TO come over to her
room early that evening, that they
could get through with their work in
time to 60 out for q walk. Elise and
Matte were true friends, and they al
ways studied their lessons together,
helping each other all they could, ex-
cept in Latin. Elise would not study
that with any one, because she felt that.
in it, she could not help them in return
for the assistance they would give her.
For few days after this little cpl
sode, Elise, although she pretended not
to mind her failure, worked at the de-
spised study with more zeal.
But ere long she became discouraged
again, and many time would have
begged the superintendent permission
to quit the class, but for one reason
she knew that unless she attained pro-
ficicncy in this branch. she could not
take o full diploma that year. and, al
though the study Of Latin was . great
burden to her. she could not gain her
own consent TO lay it down at the cost
of losing diploma. "the contamination
devoutly to be desired" Of every school
girls heart.
Il am afraid it is useless for me to
try" she siid to one of the girls, on her
way to the Professors Office the day Of
the senior Latin examination, "but it
seems too bad, after have been So sue
cessful in all my other classes, to give
up my hopes of a diploma and the
scholarship medal without even making
an effort in this. If had gotten the
music medal, would not care so much.
but l lost time droning over this old
Latin, and could not pay proper atten-
ton to my music. l rarely ever had
such horrid luck in all my life, and
poor papa will he so greatly 1isap-
pointed when he comes to commence
ment!" Here Elise's voice faltered. and
. tear stole into her great blue eyes.
II am SO glad yol are going to try.
dearie," said the girl TO whom she had
been speaking, land hope. sincerely,
you will meet with more success than
you expect" And she truly did all the
girls loved the beautiful, kind Franco
Irish girl, for she was always merry and
always kind. She worked hard all that
day and remained in the Office writing
long after all the other girls had gone.
The Professor waited patiently for her,
but never glanced to the desk where she
sat. At last she laid down her pen,
folded her papers without reading them
and, with deep sigh. handed them to
the Professor. It was seldom Elise
sighed. but she was very tired now, and
had little hope of her labor availing
anything. A little while afterwards
she passed by his door, and, glancing
in, saw that he was sitting in the same
place intently reading her papers.
II understand" she said to herself.
"He is so much afraid INV papers merit
a mark high enough to pass me that he
can not wait longer to look over them. v
Perhaps Elise felt that she was un-
Just 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 q few DAYS they all met again.
his Office TO hear the fiat 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 t.
make her feel il! How was she Il
bear her great disappointment?
If Elise's good judgment had moi
made her know how deficient she wa
in knowledge of this language, shs
wOuld bave believed the Professor.
dislike for her had Influenced his lie
cision, but she we'll knew it was Just
and her heart sank deep under hel
failure. She did not raise her eye
from the floor, but sat there mo
tiOnless, expressionless, until tin
class was dismissed, for the last time
with congratulations from the Profes
sor. Then, without speaking to an.
one, she hastily turned to leave tn,
room. She made her exit from hi
presence to-day less joyfully than sh
had ever done, for. heretofore, howeve
serious may have been her bearing
when she entered his recitation-room
her face was always the most radiant Q
the class as soon as she was dismissed