The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-01-07
so BLUE.


s.Ady child. you have more than fui,
filed every hope ever formed OF you.
Ma0dalen Foster blushed with pleas
ure aE her fathers words, as well she
might, for the letter in her hand an
noInced that the papers sent up by her
al the recent classical examination en-
titled her to the ninth place in the first
class.
She was tall and stopped slightly. her
complexion, though clear, was coloriess,
and She had the reflective, full look that
is not infrequently the sign OF habitual
study. Yet her face was slngulariy
sweet in expression, the open, tranquil
brow seemed incapable of frowning, the
brown eyes might be dreamy, but never
"Magdalen,' continued her father,
..are you still willing to become my
..Oh, papa" returned the girl, eager
", 81 shall be SO proud if you Will let
Mr.. Foster was an eminent student of
the classics, and it had always been
Magdalen's 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 to her father. It did not
occur to the supplemented girl that
there was anything In what she had
done to ALLEVIATE her from her old ac-
ouaintances. Yet so it was. Quite un-
consciously she awed her contemporar-
les, who, girls and young men alike,
fought shy Of so distinguished q "blue-
stocking She remained Miss Foster
only in name; to all intents and pur-
poses Nora was the elder sister. While
Magdalen had been porting over her
books, Nora had studied the art OF max
ing herself agreeable. and assiduously
cultivated various useful gifts.
One evening they were taken BY sur,
prise by the unexpected arrival OF Will
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 Is
| If to petition against the volley OF ques-
tions and ordinations with which he
was saluted.
81 haven't distinguished single WORD
anv one has said, he declared at last.
aBut I imagine you are asking where
sprang from and what I've come about
| Briefly, then, I'm off to the west In 6
months time, and have come to bid yot
| all long farewell"
s.FareWellr' exclaimed all the Fosters
s'What do you meanP"
'I had SIS, 900 left me by my aunt,
viii proceeded to explain; ''and FRIEND
strongly advises me to invest it in cattle
| He saws they pay tremendously and thu
| life is delightful. Ihave consulted ever.
possible authority and really don't So
| that I could do better. hate ottic
/ work, haven't the brains to take up
profession, and farming here is no 60
And 1 consider that am rather cut GU
| for rancher."
He ended in a tone of modest sell
appreciation, which was not unwarrani
| ed, for he was a man of splendid phys
ique. Besides which, all his tastes fitte
him for an occupation demanding phys
ical rather than mental ability. He ha
never cared for study. So long as
could scrape on at school and cone2
without disgracing himself he was con
tent and devoted his heartiest energie
70 the athletic sports in which his sou
delighted.
/ Dinner over, Mr.. Foster rose almoE
Immediately from the table.
Scan you spare me an extra hour thi
evening, Magdalen?" he asked.
Certainly, papa, Twill come at once.
/ 'Magdalen is good deal changed,
remarked VIII, as he and Nora strolle
out into the garden together. Nora o.
fered her own explanation, taking car
TO speak in the most affectionate Gsterl
tone
EYES," she said; ''you are right. 70
see ever since Magdalen returned fron
Wellesley she has been encouraged Il
4 20 ctr
che greatest admiration for her talents
then papa has made her his secretary
and so, without being in the least con
ceited, she naturally feels that she
superior to the girls she ordinaril
meets. You know, VIII, I can't he'll
thinking it was a mistake to let he
| grow SO very learned. I think it is
woman's part to be helpful and domea
tic, to take interest in the good man
agenhent of small matters. and in tn
welfare Of those about her."
s'Why can't Magdalen be domestic a
well as intellectuala1 demanded VIII
moodily. 81 don't see the incompati
bility."
Nora did not choose to tell him tina
Magdalen had begged to be allowed Il
take part in the household affairs ant
that she herself had opposed the sugges
ton. She had gained a character 70
domesticity, and she did not wish T.
have her supremacy shared.
'.I dare say there is no actual incom
patibility," she admitted gently; "bu
Magdalen is SO wrapped up in her worl
for papa that we never think of occupy
ing her mind with matters which I an
| quite willing to see after myself. VIII
should she be botheredP She is not tn
| girl to marry, unless indeed"-Nor,
laughed gaily-''she could find q maj
needs to be ministered to-"
Poor Will Magdalen Joined them il
| the garden later on. but for his owl
sake he held aloof from her. The cir
was greatly hurt, as of old she had beer
his special friend. Too shy to complain
| however, she shrank into herself, and
| with q pang of regret, saw VIII fall init
the way of the world-treat her, name
| ly, with distant respect, and Nora will
| familiar friendliness. He had lot beer
at Fosters many days before his name
was coupled with Nora's by all thu
match-makers in the neighborhood. Thu
| good people were much mistaken. VIII
might walk, ride, or play tennis witt
| Nora, or even constitute himself hel
cavalier and escort on every possible &C
casion, but secretly his heart went on
toward Magdalen. Yet how, aftel
Nora's words, could he dream Of be
| traying his devotion? How could he, {
| man whose only attainments were thosG
| of physical strength and agility, hope q
please girl thrown both by training
| and natural bent in the midst of purely
intellectual interestsp Sadly he told
himself that she was not for him. And
Magdalen as sadly told herself thai
somehow she had forfeited Wills friend
ship, by which, had he only known it
| she had set great store. He seemed t.
her the perfection Of a 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
apart by Q phantom barrier raised be
tween them by Nora who, without car.
| ing for VIII herself, resented his prefer.
ence for Magdalen. She was under nc
| Misrepresentation as to his feelings, and
yet petty jealousy debarred her from
| doing what lay in her power toward
bringing about better understanding
between him and her sister.
Wills last day arrived. A large ten
mis- party was to take place at Fosters
in the afternoon, as sort Of farewell
entertainment for him. and he did his
best to throw of the dependency which
oppressed him.
-Will you play tonight, Magdalenf''
be asked. very hesitatingiy in the morn
ing.
Magdalen shook her head.
.No," she said shyiy. 81 don't play
tennis-''
..of course not" laughed Nora