Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-07
Bliss Perry in Two Tales

VI Tue Uat l1efe was
- 8 = An undesirable Eameness
~ A ~ about the breakfasts.
and the theological stu
AVN NNPhN10 dents who boarded
9gN II ny there were inclined to
ANrNf tyStH swallow their coffee
NJ "a kAW morosely and hurry to
the seminary. The din
ners might well have been worse than they
were, though meat Was always poor and high in
Hartweu. and il was impossible to keep a theo-
iogue very plump at three dollars and
half week. But BY tea time Mrs. jackson was
wont to repent Of all her small economies. and
being a master hand at hashes and croquettes
and hot pastry. she gained for her suppers q
reputation that spread through the seminary.
Then, too, her theologues at the close OF the
day, were usually in q cheerful mood, and
ready to be pleased with tribes, culinary and
otherwise. They saved their best Jokes, culled
from the funny corner of tae religions papers,
Tor this evening meal Here they mimicked
the professors and delivered themselves orscu-
larly concerning politics and science. Most of
them were second and third year men and could
cnan one another upon preaching experiences.
the size OF congregations and the probability Of
calls. When all other topics failed. there was
one which had for them perennial fascination
whether they approached it covly or with
practiced nonchaance, there was not a man out
OF the dozen who did not feel that his future
profession and his past experience warranted
MIN In mentioning woman with the assurance
OF one who knew whereof he spoke. Matri-
mony was for them no speculative and problem
atlcai AFFAIR, to be meditated upon at idle
moments as one Of the possibilities Of a distant
future; very far from it, Within two or three
years at most they all expected to be married.
rlntter ~ hafr
In their chosen calling-for instance-depended
largely upon the abnegation OF the single state.
Some OF them had been engaged TO be married
for years and years; there were faithful school
teachers and farmers daughters patiently wait
ing until their lovers should finish the college
and seminary course. II happened, however
that most OF Mrs. Jackson's boarders though
cherishing blessed certainty to their ulti-
mate condition, were still open to conviction as
to the exact person whom Providence might
indicate as their life companion; and this slight
air OF uncertainty as to particulars mingled
curiously with their innocent cock-sureness
about woman in general
An outsider would have been more amused
than irritated by it all, but there was only one
archaeological bosrder Mt the table, a nephew
OF Mrs Jackson who did chores for his board
and attended the academy, and who was not old
enough to sink his irritation in his amusement.
Dan Jackson was wont to declare to his school
boy friends that the nudges and wuks and sly
illusions to the ladies on the part Of his aunt's
bosrders made him tired. Toward the spring
OF the year, when the mud began to dry up in
the long street of Hartwell, and the elm tree
buds to redden, and the theologues to prepare
for their final examinations, Dan Jackson's
WEAKNESS perceptibly increased. Three OF the
graduates were to be married in a month and
each day they had to face concealed battery
OF comment and Interrogation and conjecture
from their fellow boarders. Then. too there
was Lethngwelrs case. Leffingwell was con-
sidered the best all-around man in the senior
class; stubby old-faced fellow from the far
west. with preternaturally wide skull-fat on
top-and with high cheek bones His hair was
thin and his big ears moved slightly as he ate.
whenever he stated proposition or INDUCED
in repartee he closed his eyes, in order to con-
centrate his faculties upon the question in
hand. He was entitled by rights to the Berlin
fellowship for the next two years, but in pur-
suance of long cherished wish
Senegambia. He had refused two chairs
of philosophy in western institutions, and was
popularity reputed at the seminary to have de-
vlsed a philosophical system of his own, COM
pletely reconciline the claims of religion aud of
science. 1t was currently believed that as soon
as he had mastered the Senegambian tongue
he would publish his system in that language in
an abridged form, thereby at once allaying the
native philosophic doubt Of the Seneganbians
and putting them in touch with tbs most recen.
occidental thought. Tho board had already
accepted him, Professionally. His statement of
faith was considered the most mastery docu-
ment composed by Hartwell man for ten
years; transparently simple in outline, and
Scriptural in Technology, but inwardly packed
SO full of Left ngwelrs irrefragable system that
any attempt to pick flaws in it was logically as
dangerous as to NEEDLE with dynamite. No
serious criticism had even been offered upon it.
and there was but one obstacle to Leffingwell's
immediate embarkment for his field He was a
bachelor. and the board preferred that its rep
resentative in Senegambis should be a married
man.
Lefingwells plight was thoroughly appre-
ciated by his fellow students and three times
day he was obliged to run the gauntlet of
their suggestions and admonitions Open
raillery was ventured upon but seldom. for
Leftngwells deliberate way of closing his ewes
and selecting the adequate epithet for retort
was disconcerting to his adversaries. Some of
their choicest witticisms. therefore, were re-
served until after Lefingwel's departure from
the table One evening late in April he was SO
manifestly absorbed and ill-tempered that two
of the theologues winked at each other as he
left the room.
"Lefingwell's rather down on his luck. isn't
hep remarked one.
Looks like it. Can't say that blame him.
though: two refusals in three weeks must rattle
even philosopher, ell? How Is that, Tommy?"
"Speak for yourself, man. 1 don't know the
sensation" And the youth glanced blandly at
an engagement ring that he had worn for six
years.
How do you know he has had the mitten
twice?' put in another.
Never mind that; it's straight I've seen
both their photographs. One of them pre-
ferred Japan and the other didn't fancy him
because he proposed by letter.
'.Good for her. said the man with the ring.
"He deserves to be blue"
"But that isn't the reason why he's blue now,
Tommy" cried the other delightedly. Look
here. you fellows won't say anything?' There
were but four or five boarders remaining at the
table and they all glanced up. except Dan Jack
son, who was devouring one Of his aunts best
hasnes, with his eyes fixed as always, upon his
plate.
Don't let it out" continued the well-in.
formed young man, but there's a No. 81
"No!' "You don't say!' Gomez were the
incredulous CALCULATIONS of Lefingwell's asso-
ciates. They had not believed him capable of
such rapid maneuvering.
Fact, though. That fellow has an address
book compiled by his aunt, and this girl was
third in the list. She isn't as strong as No. 1.
nor as well educated as No. g. but she ia pretty.
and she has seven or eight thousand dollars in