The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-21
SO Blue.

! filled every hope | ever formed of You.
| Magdalen Foster bushed with pleas
ure at her fathers words, rs well sh
| might. for the letter in her hand an
| nounced that the papers sent mp by he
/ al the recent classical examination en-
titled her to the ninth place in the frs
class.
She was tall and stopped slightly. he
complexion. though clear, was coIOrless
and She had the reflective. full look tina
is not infrequeutly the sign of habitua
study. Yet her face was singularly
sweet in expression, the open, Tranquil
brow seemed incapable of froWning. the
brown eyes might be dreamy hut nevel
irate
'Magdalen." continued her father
ARE You still willing 10 become my
amanuenSiS?
''Oh, papa, returned the girl. eager
~, Il shall he so prond if you will lei
me.
Mr.. Foster was an eminent student ot
the classics. and il had always been
Magdalen' great ambition TO help him
in the preparation OF his valuable
works.
She did not foresee all the results OF
her college achievements, and of this
new relation 10 her father. 1t did not
occur to the simple minded girl that
there was anything in what she had
done 10 ALLEVIATE her from her old ac-
quaintances. Yet so it was. Quite un-
consciously she awed her cOntelnporar-
les, who. girls and young men alike.
fought shy OF so distinguished a blue
stocking" She remained Miss Foster
only in name; 10 all intents and pur-
poses Nora was the elder sister While
Magdalen had been poring over her
books. Nora had studied the art Of MAX
ing herself agreeable, and assiduously
cultivated various useful gifts.
, One evenin: they were taken by slu,-
prise by the unexpected arrival of Win
fairburn. an old friend and playfellow.
Dinner was just being served, and the
Young man took his seat among them,
laughing and putting up his hands as
if to petition against the volley of ques-
rions and cxclamations with which he
was saluted
Il haven't distinguished a single word
any one has said he declared at last.
But l imagine you are asking where
L SpranG from and what I've come about.
months time, and have come to bid YOU
all long farewell"
FAREWELL exclaimed all the Fosters.
"What do YOU mean?"
Il had S25. 900 left me by my aunt"
VIII proceeded to explain: land friend
strongly advises me to invest it in cattle.
He says they pay tremendously and the
life is delightful. l have consulted every
possible authority and really don't see
that | could do better. l hate office
work, l haven the brains to take up n
profession. and farming here is no go.
And consider that am rather cut out
for rancher.
lie ended in 4 tone OF modest self
which was not unwarrant-
ed, for he was man of splendid phys
ique. Besides which. all his tastes fitted
him for an occupation demanding phys
ical rather than mental ability. He had
never cared for study. So long rs he
could scrape ON at school and college
without diSgracin@ himself he was con-
tent, and devoted his heartieSt energies
to the athletic sports in which his soul
delighted
Dinner over. Mr.. Foster rose almost
immediately from lhe table
Can you spare me an extra hour this
evening. Magdalen?' he asked. .
Certainly. papa. Twill come at once. p"
"MagdalrH is Il good deal changed"
remarked VIII, as he and Nora strolled
unt into the garden together. Nora Of
tered her own explanation, taking care
10 speak in the most affectionate sisterly
tone.
Yes" she said; 'you are right. You
see ever since Magdalen returned from
Wellesley she has been encouraged in
her devotion to study. People express
the greatest admiration for her talents;
then papa has made her his secretary,
and 80, without being in the least con-
ceited, she naturally feels that she is
superior to the girls she ordinarily
meets. You know, VIII, can't help
thinking it was a mistake to let her
grow SO very learned. l think it is
woman's part to be helpful and domes-
tic, TO take interest in the good man
agement of small matters. and in the
welfare of those about her."
'Why can't Magdalen be domestic as
moodily. Il don't see the incompati-
bility"
Nora did not choose to tell him that
Magdalen had begged to be allowed to
take part in the household affairs and
that she herself had opposed the sugges-
tion. She had gained a character for
domesticity, and she did not wish to
have her supremacy shared.
Il dare say there is no actual incom-
patibility," She admitted gently; "but
Magdalen is so wrapped up in her work
for papa that we never think of occupy
ing her mind with matters which l am
quite willing TO see after myself Why
should she be bothered? She is not the
girl 10 marry, unless indeed"-Nora
laughed gailv-"she could find 4 man
that was all intellect and had no bodily
needs to be ministered to-
Poor VIII, Magdalen joined them in
the garden later on, but for his own
sake he held aloof from her The girl
was greatly hurt. as of Old she had been
his special friend. Too shy 10 complain
however. she shrank into herself. and
with a pang of regret, saw win fall into
the way of The wUrld-treat her. name
ly. with distant respect. and Nora with
familiar lriendliness. He had not been
at Foster many DAYS before his name
was coupled with Nora's by all the
match-maker5 in the neighborhood, The
good people were much mistaken. Will
might walk, ride, or play tennis with
Nora, or even constitute himself her
cavalier and escort On every possible oc-
oasion, but secretly his heart went out
toward MaQdalen Yet how, after
Noras words, could he dream of be-
traying his devotion? How could he,
man whose only attainments were those
OF physical strength and agility, hope to
please girl thrown both by training
and natural bent in the midst of purely
intellectual interests? Sadly he told
himself that she was not for him. And
Magdalen as sadly told herself that
somehow she had forfeited Wills friend
ship, by which, had he only known it,
she had set great store. He seemed to.
her the perfection of gentleman, and
perhaps his want of learning was the
thing she liked best about him; so cor
daily did she hold her own blueness in
adherence. Thus were the two kept
apast Iy 3 paa9teg barrier Isisss Re