The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-09-26

/~& come lngOmar,
l.. ~ she as Parthen-
IZz4s44%3 !; ia. He h q d
A\W1 Ok1N gra d u a ed
AN 20 e ! from Harvard
N$$>\>SEMW<HaRSS only the June
| ,NSS>>SxMMN&S>>$ previous, and
EM$NNE$S> as he was accus-
" toned to spend
his vacation with his family in Eu-
rope or on the seaboard, he had
scarcely been home for four years.
This was the first event of his home
coming, so not only was he a COM
parative stranger, but the few recog-
nizable faces we're masked from view
The accident of their costumes had
assured him his first dance with Par
thenia, and fortune had given him
the rest.
He did not know her and scarcely
cared to. She danced we'll and seem
ed satisfied to give him as many
numbers as he chose. She talked
pleasantly and not too much. He
was pleased with the simplicity Of
her manner.
As they danced together it was as
if they were moving in a dream. In
the gay eddies of brightcostumes, in
the strange jumbling ofthe garments
ofall ages and climes, they too seemed
fated to cling together, and thus to
be alone. In the mystery Of her
presence he forgot himself and his is
olation, content with the thought
that for the moment there was har-
mony between them. Often utter
strangers are attached by subtle ties
OF sympathy, and in the first hour
of intercourse are induced to touch
on heart secrets that years of friend
ship could not elicit,
Once she seemed to question who
he was.
You have been to college-to Har-
vard?'' she said, as they were dancing
a guadrille.
He looked at her inquiringly. For
a moment he fancied he recognized
her voice.
"No," he answered, as he took her
hand in the grand right-and-left.
Then, regretting even a masquerade
falsehood, or perhaps, with his vanity
aroused to know why she had thought
him college man, he waited until
they were together again and asked
the reason for the question.
Nothing, she replied softly. "Only
once had a friend at Harvard, a
very dear friend.''
THAT is such distinctive mist Or
tune" he remarked, with a touch of
smiling irony.
She seemed sadder and more
thoughtful and did not reply. His
curiosity was aroused; possibly he
was touched with the dreamy regret
of her voice.
II once lived in Cambridge" he
said tentatively, land knew many
college men,"
She shook her head and was silent.
II knew Ethelbert Perry and Earle
Marvin"
She was startled.
YES" she replied, after n mo-
ment's hesitation. "Wr. Perry is en-
gagged to a Miss Craig and Mr.. Marvin
is now in Europe"
He bit his lips in perplexity. Yet
why need he seek to discover who
she was?
However she seemed dissatisfied.
"You know Mr.. Marvin" she asked.
He laughed consciously. Eyes,
have hearl of him. He was q wild.
harum-scarum fellow, well-known in
his class, but a great prig."
"He had many friends?" she asked
wistfully.
cat first sight people liked him. i"
Then he demanded abruptly, do
you know him."
"No." he answered after slight
hesitation. Then she added. I have
heard he was very popular
| TSudW 10, Herepileu WlUn a nerv-
GUS laugh. "Oh, we'll, yes, at first
sight. as said, but he got many re-
bluffs. Did you ever hear the story
his conquest with Miss Boardwain?
She was an opera singer who was SO
facinated with the way he played
football that she paid him much at
tention. He went to her reception
in the green room the night Of the
victory, proud of the honor. When
he got there, however, o Leery, pitch
er ofthe Boston nine, was ahead of
him and she turned himover to one
of her chorus girls to be entertained.
He never heard the last of it from
the fellows, and in future confined
himself to Cambridge society. That