The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-15
Number Three.
Bliss Perry. in Two Tales.)

Bliss Perry. in Two Tales)
The suppers at Mrs. Jacksons boarding
house y ere generally considered her most
successful effort Of the day There was
an audible sameness about the breakfasts,
and the theological students who boarded
there were inclined to swallow their coffee
raorosely and hurry TO the seminary. The
dinners might well have been worse
than they were though meat was always
poor and high in Hartwel. and II was i'm
possible 70 keep a theologue very plump
al three dollars and a half week. But
by tea time Mrs Jackson was wont 10
repent Of her small economies, and, being
a master hand at hashes and crOquettes
and hot pastry, she gained FOR her sup
pers a reputation that spread through the
seminary. Then, too, her theologues' al
the close of the day, were usually In a
cheerful mood and ready TO be pleased
with trifies. culinary and otherwise. They
saved their best jokes culled from the
funny corners Of the religious papers, TOT
this evening meal. Here they mimicked
the professors and delivered themselves
oracularly concerning politics ana SCI
ence Most of them were second ana
third year men, and could cham one an
other upon preaching experiences, the
size Of CONGREGATIONS and the probability
OF calls. When all other topics failed'
there was one which had for them per-
ennial fascination. Whether they ap-
preached IL coyly or with practiced non
chalance there was not a man OUT OF
the dozen who did not feel that his future
profession and his past experience war
ranted him in mentioning woman win
the assurance OF one who knew whereoI
ne spoke. Matrimony was for them no
speculative and problematical analr' 10
be rneditated upon at idle moments as
one Of the possibilities of a distant future;
very far from Il. Within two or three
years at most they all expected 10 be
married as a matter Of course. Iher
widest usefulness in their chosen Gaming,
for instance, depended largely upon the
abnegation Of the single state. Some OF
them had been engaged 20 be married
FOR years and years; there were falthlul
school teachers and farmers daughters
Patiently waiting until their lovers shoulu
finish he college and seminary course
u happcned, however that most OF MIS-
Jasksons boarders. though cherishing q
blessed certainty as TO their ultimate con-
dtion, were still open 70 conviction az 10
the exact person whom ProVioehce Hiisns
Indicate as their life companion; ana
this slight air Of uncertainty as 10 par
tlculars mingled curiously with their IN
nocent cock-sureness about women IN
general.
An outsider would have been more
amused than irritated by IL all, but there
was only one archaeological boarder at
the table. a nephew of Mrs. Jackson, who
cid chores for his own board and attended
the academy and who was not old enough
% sink his irritation In his amusement
Dan Jackson was wont 20 declare 10 his
Bchoolboy friends that the nudges ana
winks and sly illusions 10 the ladies' on
the part OF his aunt's boarders made him
tired. Toward the spring OF the year.
when the mud began 10 dry up In the long
street Of Hartwel. and the elm tree buds
20 redden, and the theologues 10 prepare
for their final examinations, Dan JACK
sons WEAKNESS percepubly Increased.
Three OF the graduates were TO be mar
ried In a month, and each day they had
70 face a concealed battery OF comment
and Interrogation and conjecture from
their fellow-boarders. Then. too there
was Leffingwell's case. Lefhngweii was
considered the best all-around man an
the senior class; stubby old-faced ieI-
low from the far West. with premature
~ wide skull-fat on top-and WIN hisn
cheek bones. His hair was thin ana ms
big ears moved slightly as he ate When,
ever he stated a proposition or inouiseo
IN repartee he closed his eyes, IN ofoer
70 concentrate his faculties upon Tue