Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-29

-'-7'='=- - ~
Thcy dined at a round table
81 think, we are cousins, We had better
use the Christian name simply"
This was q great concession on their part.
Only persons like Lady Bowker, who had
known them from boys, called the Talberts
by thor Christian names.
"Thank you said Frank. "Now enighten
me as to my relationship to Miss Clauson."
Herbert explained the matter.
Half first cousin once removed. An un-
known quantity. If l were a mathematician
| would try to express it in figures. 1t DOESN'T
seem much, but it's better than nothing"
Beatrice felt sure this young man meant to
include her in the Arrangement just made with
her uncles. She was wrong; it was many
days before he called her anything except
Miss Clauson. Love always should begin in
a most respectful manner.
Then the Taberts, who had the knack Of
always interesting themselves in their guests
affairs and who were, moreover, capital
listeners asked him questions about his life at
Oxford.
LITER he said; sit can scarcely be called
life. All term time from nine in the morning
to nine at night | try to fill up vacuum
created by nature, but which nature does not
seem to abhor-in young fellows brains You
/
lectual one, don't youf'
Naturally we do"
"Theu be undeceivel. 4 man who keeps
shop requires far greater gifts. He has a
variety OF things to sell, and variety of
customers to send away equipped with what
they want Ny customers are all the same
my wares don't vary. l assure you, Miss
Clauson, the dull, level stupidity of the typi-
cal Undergraduate is appalling
Then it needs a clever man to improve
them
Perhaps so-but clever in what? Not in
| learning. Clever in knowing what they are
likely to be asked in examination. Clever in
cutting off all superfuous work. AS for the
learning, tho tltor need only be a page ahead
Of his publ and that does not constitute
supreme effort. Did you ever see a firework
manufactOry:'
He asked Beatrice this. 1t seemed sudden
departure from tho subject OF course she
hal never seen a flrework mandatory.
"Well, they ram this and that into the
empty cases So do /. Saltpetre-Latin.
Sulphur-Grcak. Charcoal history. Balls
of colored tire-various information. I ram
and ram. The case is full and in place. The
examiner applies the match and looks for the
result. Then-n
They burst in the wrong place" said
Dealflce SlJlN. one was amused.
"IcS-many of them-burst and scatter
the unburnel charge to the winds in ludc-
rous manner Some, of course, fly straight
and only come down like sticks after fulfill
ing their appointed tasks"
But some succeed like yourself" said
Horace.
!. My dear Horacey' Frank fell into the
Christian name arrangement with the great
est ease. Tho more | see of undergraduates
the humber grow. | was successful, but if
my competitors were like those I coach it $
nothing to be p-oud Of
Yet your learning brings these pupils to
you"
Not a bit of it, l have knack of bring
ing dull fellows on, that's ALL"
And perhaps the reason why you get all
the dull fellows" said Beatrice.
There's something in that" said Car
+ ruthers, laughing
4 "You read Latin" said Frank, suddenly
5 turning to Beatrice
9 YES. How could you tellf'
He laughed and gave her one of his quick
l glances.
, There is a little line between your brows-
g a very little one. Young ladies always knit
j their brows when they study hard. Latin for
, a lady is hard study
=, "Other things besides study bring lines, q
9 said Beatrice rather coldly.
S "Yes-trouble. But you can have had
o none. Pride may bring them. You are
o proud, but not severely proud. So | an
@ right
t Ccrtainlj this young man was presuming
Beatrice, half displeased, said nothing
= won't you have some more champagne
t FranlN said Horace noticing the young man
G declined Whittakers mute offer of rclllna
d hi5 glass.
n "No, thank you. l drinl; very little, al
Il thou IA your wine is enough to shake til,
d sterrness of an anchorite.'h
q THAT is Byron, is il notH' asked Herbert
a Byron m.squoted, said Beatrice quietly
It Frank gave her aquick glance.
n "Aro you sure" he said.
: "Certan looked it up last week. 1t il
r 'saintship' not 'stornness.'
6 81 looked it up some months ago. No;
remember, ! couldn't find the book, so truste,
T. to my memory, | was wrong it seems.n
n, "IIomer sometimes mods, said Horace.
3 Beatrice was looking rather inquistivell
to at Frank. "What did you want the quota
u ton fort" she asked
"For-something or another-I forget now
ST As soon as | am allowed to work my brain II
d. try and remember
+ Don't trouble-I know. I saw the mis-
u quotation last week"
no Frank shrugged his shoulders.
&c 'Of course, you wrote the paper" contin
ued Beatrice.
re You are provokngly acute, Miss Clau
5. SON"
Id What did Frank writef' asked Horace
SO Beatrice smiled. She felt she was now Cc
to * TO take her revenge for Mr.. Carruther
an .emark about the Latin.