The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-29
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JOHN TOURDAN.
ARomance of College Life, by wiiliston Fish


cause this uninteresting love affair is not the
principal motive
Playwriehts make quick work Of putting
before US the first situation, and profting a
moment by their methods. may write down the
dramatis persona: Kate-but l mistake, play
wrlghts have never had the galantry to nut the
ladies frst-John Jourdan, orphan; myself, In
love with Kate Sands; Kate Sands, in love with
-, / may mistake again if put her down IN
love with me. Let me say simply that she was
making visit to the scene of the story-my
college town-and that we both had been long
and pleasurably anticipating our reunion
An inventorial description of heroine has
never vet had the merit Of making itself remem-
bered | will only say of Kate that she was
formed of contradictions; her lips were clearly
cut. her dark eyes full of dignity, and the shape
of her head one which indicates an owner equal
to the world in revenge, she had nose which,
in infancy must have been charmingly snub,
and she was petite aud volatile. Her father was
French, her mother an Americana they were
dead and she now lived with wealthy foster
parents, whose duty it was to spoil her in return
for her graciousness.
Very likely was thinking Of Kate one fore
noon, sitting in my boarding house window and
looking out on the muddy, deserted street, when
there came in view horse and open buggy with
two passengers They stopped in front of my
window and gave me an opportunity Of observ-
ing them closely. The horse was nondeseript
in the way Of country horses; the buggy monde
script among old buggies, and old man who
drove had to my eye, no individuality among
poor old men. If sufficiently vague
and unmeaning comparison can be
found for nondescript things, they
looked like dusty old ghosts who had hidden
away so long in some damp place that the dust
had nodded on them. But the second passen-
GER who began to alieht, was very different
His cheeks were flushed with health and vigor
AS he stepped down | saw that he was lame.
and, in my broad way, extended him a ready
sympathy. He went to the back of the buggy
and took out Il bundle of books, said good bye 10
the snadowy old man--cheerily | could see,
although / could not hear-and limped through
the gate to the house. The nondescrpt horse
started up by imperceptible degrees and took it's
load Of antiquity our of sight
The young man rang-or rather l expected
him to ring; in fact he knocked and that right
vigorously. Then lost sight of him and sound
until heard people mounting the stairs and en-
tering the room opposite mine 1t was the land
lady with the new boarder. / heard the en-
response, and, shortly, the matron departed,
calling out as she went, in sweet society voice
which deceptively spoke of better days, that
'Our dinner is promptly at l."
/ have spoken of my broad sympathy-say,
instead, young mans affectation of that quality
for his own sentimental pleasure. and one knows
in what strain l thought of the new boy. That
he must now be !amenting his loneliness; that
he was contemplating the long road to the
ambitious end he had thought of attaining and
oil
Imagination, the way that he bore them seemed
hopeless Poor fellow" ] said, in my beautiful,
Junior way. there is chasm before him. only
time carry him across and time mocks hona
as well as memory"
There was an oddly sounding step in the hall
and then quick knock at my door. By the
Sin1e | had said ''come in" the rosy-cheeked
young man had entered. Without word he
came forward and gave me card. On 1T In
printers' script was the name John Jourdan'
looked up 10 see if there was any other cere-
mony he wished to perform, but he, evidently
considering the introduction formally concluded,
limped over to the window and began to build on
the full foundation of acquantanceshiD he had
laid by remarking that it was a nasty day.
agreed and he laughed and took chair.
It'll be rather slippery for me to walk down
town this afternoon, won't it," He asked this as
if, from long familiarity with him, was judge
of his CAPABILITIES Pm going to the examina-
ton Are there students in all these rooms?
yes two In some"
"Any beginnersP
mo; | believe not"
"T1l be lonesome won't 1F' The prospect OF
solitude did not seem to especially depress him,
and he continued: II suppose a boy feels very
proud when he is near graduationF"
/ was little surprised at the manner of this
question; it was as if he took survey of the world
and smlingly noted petty thing
In what then did duty with me as cold, re-
pressiye tore, ] replied: Il don't know that
they they are unduly high blown"
He did not contend that they were, and when
he had spoken a few moments on less danger
Gus subject. took his leave. | called him a
character. In the two cases, when there is
nothing about person to be understood, and
when there is nothing that can understand,
we call the person q character" and tranQuize
our vanity.
After dinner the young man came in again,
cheerful and brisk, and announced that he was
about to go down to the examination. lie
seemed to say, II am at the first rung of the
storied ladder" and to enjoy the situation as
keenly as he would a travel In stored land.
lauohed at his humorous way of taking things
and then laughed as if the fancy were my own
When he left looking back with toss of the
head and. with his cane, making queer accom-
paniment to his queer pace he had aroused my
interest sufficiently to make me look forward
with some anxiety to his return, fearing that he
was to lose his light-heartedness. knew moth
ing of his attainments except that was sure
this was his first essay at large school, and he
was far from having the stuulouS, reserved all
of one, through lack of means, has pursued his
studies in private. l that he was poor
Evidently then, he was one who had not yet
learned how many hardships come with poverty
nor how many real discouragements lie In the
road to the consummation of a working educa
ton
It was 8 or o'clock in the afternoon when
heard the peggng sound again in the hall The
wound man went into his room, and | believed
that. being alone he would give himself over to
a fit of despair: but it was only moment before
he crossed and knocked at my door. When he
entered | saw that he was as brisk and cheerful
as ever.
''Wen, are you in7" / asked.
He was thinking of something else. but after
little start from his subject to mine he answered
in the affirmative: Then ha would have thought
no more of 1t, and have reverted to his Original
tonic but continued: Now you are Oh the
right road. When you are near graduation YOU
will be proud, too This was little rebuke 70,
his lightness OF the morning.
tiWeU I'll be glad to find myself nro,1d