Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-28

"Only look interested and intelligent, and
ask questions" advised Bet.
Ned seemed to find solace in talking to US,
for he stayed all the morning, and accepted
our invitation to lunch. hunted UP some
pamphlets on the labor union and the Red
Van, and told him all knew about the eight
hour bill, and Bet gave him much informa-
tion on the land question.
Bet and were the progressive pair in the
party of the "great SIX" and Ned listened
to US meekly, took occasional notes, and
finally vowed that he knew enough to stand
for labor candidate But to complete his
education we thrust some Fabian tracts on
him, and advised him to go home and read
them before he presented himself at the fair
Primrose's tea table had to return to my
home that evening for my school duties
next day, for nv holiday was over. I
wished him success with Miss Primrose, and
hoped to meet him in Oxford at future
meeting, and promised to send him PAM
phlet literature on labor questions
Chris and the others wrote to me on most
days, and told me what was happening.
''The fair Primrose seems to smile on our
light-hearted Ned" she wrote. "He got on
capitally with her and her mother and the
miners. He offered to take the miners over
the Sheldonian and the Divinity Schools,
and his offer was gladly accepted. Then he
rushed up to our house in CONSERVATION to
ask us what on earth he was to tell them.
He declares he knows nothing except that
Cromwell stabbed his horses and kept pigs
in the schools, and the undergraduates play
Jokes on the doctors and read Latin poems
in the Sheldonian. We got our little guide
books and instructed him. He seemed duly
grateful and he sends many remembrances to
you. He SAYS he is sweating over labor
problems and likes them"
"We had a debate at Keble," Bet wrote,
"on the question of opening libraries on
Sunday. Ned sat behind Miss Primrose
Meadowsweet, and he never took his eyes
off her all the time. When the ladies were
invited to speak Primrose got up as charm
ing as ever and smiled and said her little
say. Everybody was enchanted with her,
and as for our poor Ned, he looked trans
figured, or translated. That boy is per-
feet fool over her. She is charming and
enthusiastic, with heaps of interest in life.
I don't think she gives him a second
thought. He says he wears bit of yellow
ribbon next his heart which belonged to
her. Miss Meadowsweet sees a great deal
of the Americans DR.. Hiram-Foote visits
there often By the way, that horrid, squat
little man is very distinguished parsonage
indeed. Fancy! and he is such an objec-
tionable little man. Tiny says he wants
washing, Kit wishes he would have his
hair cut, and I seriously think of advising
him to have lessons in dancing AMI de-
pertinent
But before the second part of the meeting
terminated, matters grew tragic
DR.. Hiram-Foote proposed to Miss Prim-
rose Meadowsweet, and was accepted.
This news 1 received in letter from
Chris one Friday evening "We can't
think how our poor Ned will take it, she
wrote. eve have just heard it. ALI Ok
ford is talking about it-all Extension Ok
ford, mean. Can't you manage to come
up to US on Saturday and have another
Sunday in Oxford? You might try. 1t
would be jolly to be all together one other
Sunday; we shall all be far enough away
this time next week."
I was interested in the news, and I
wanted to see the girls again, SO 1 went.
l got into Oxford at midday on Saturday,
and was soon hearing all the Extension
news from the others. Nothing had been
seen of Ned since the engagement had been
announced, and we were all wondering
greatly how he had taken it.
II believe he was only joking half his
time, said Kit, the skeptical; "he would mt
have talked TO us like that if he had really
cared for her.
'But he is so much on the surface, and so
accustomed to have lIouseful of home folk
TO 90 and tell his affairs to-" said Chris.
II think he was in earnest and that he
will take it badly" said our handsome
Hannah, and she flushed as she spoke.
Hannah knew more of him than we did and
never joked with him freely nor scolded