The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-05-19

4 SKETCH.

ment. exercises at the Carroltoh Soi-
lege Z Alabama. Two middle aged
PERSONS 4 lady and gentleman are !
walking up the broad path which leaas
10 the single, wide stone-fianked ter
race on which the building is situated. +
1T has changed very little since !
was girl, says the lady, looking /
affectionately at the large school bouse
that rises like some dark old
castle against the star-lit back ground
of the heavens; its two great octagon
towers on either end, and four inter-
mediate, narrow spires, all covered
with ivy, giving it an air OF antiquity
and romance sgldomly seen in Ameri-
ca. , !
"But. Nal, il ought to have changed
within the last twenty-five years Our
schools should be representative OF our
nation, new, prosperous and abreast
of the times. They should show ener-
gy. push and progression. It's SO
dark tonight, can't make out the
color of the building. but suppose it's
red. Isn't it ?"
mo. don't think it red. 1t used
to be soft y,and looked like stone.
You don't know how pretty it was
then. about this time of the year. The
madeira vine that covered that right
hand tower contrasted SO well with
the Wondering bricks, and the layen-
der punches of wisteria were just ex-I
quisite over the front porches OF the
entrances, especially over the white
| folks side,' as we called the one which
led to the teachers hall and Parlors'
By this time. they reach the terrace,
but seem in no hurry to knock at the
door. For most people, there is. in
after years, fascination about their
Alma Mater. which few other places
possess and so Nal Bingham and her
husband walk long while up and
down the terrace before entering the
porch.
mo, don't think our schools should
be SO progressive looking, remarks
the wife, thoughtfully. That's just
why like the College and am glad Nal
has been educated here. 1t is really
not very old school. think it was
founded in 1885, or near there; but it
!. always seems to the girls as if it had
stood for hundreds OF years. In this
age we are only too apt to think that
knowledge is all invention of the 18th
century and therefore any thing
which impresses upon the mind the
/, idea that wisdom is plant OF slow
growth and not "Jack and the Bean
Stalk kind of product, is good for it,
"Then,'' she adds, .sthat feeling Of
age lends such dignity to letters
: it is like fine pedigree. "
III ..Oh, of course, of couse," answer:
Mr.. Brigham, "a woman can b'
almost as braggy about the school sh'
. went to as a man can about his moth
ler's cakes and biscuits. Cant she
Malr' and they both laugh and rims
the bell.
q The door is opened by one of fh
teachers, delicate, striking woman
: with short, wavings brown hair, am
clear cut, patrician features. She
dressed In black Students gown, wit
t a black and white chord around til
q waist and heavy, rolling silk collar
! She smiles at the visitors and motion
: them to be seated.
e .Mal had almost given up the hop
of seeing you, this evening"" she say
to Mr.. and Mrs. Brigham. ..but tol
" her to wait fifteen minutes longer an
: that you might come tonight. al
u glad I don't have to say that he
II fears were well grounded, hate fo
d the girls to be disappointed, especial
my graduates. Laura Westboro
then leaves the room to tell the gla
tidings to Nal.
d "Oh, Mr.. Brigham. it was very Sc
he fish IN us to stay SO long on the te
10 race, but | thought Nal wouldn't g
pect us until tomorrow, as / told h'
ie to-day we could hardly call to-nigh
t. BY the way, that was very pretty. {
re rather pleasing looking teacher.
must be the Miss Westbrook, M
10 wrote to us about. She shows int
u lect and character in her face.a
at Eyes, and no doubt you think il yt
had been a literature teacher II
would have looked exactly like her, b
10 [ tell you dear, blondes can't stand t
~ wear and tear of even these semi br
ed nettes, and people can't make me b
lie lieve that high foreheads and deep I'm
IN about the mouth are becoming
woman. They are not, and I'm gl
ne you are not at all impressive in 20
he appearance, but just the same swe'
d. pretty. soft-eyed little woman low
!. when you went to school here" Al
=. the practical. hearty man, looks wi
i'll pride and tenderness, at his wi
lie. "Yes. and"-but here he was interrul
ed by smothered giggle, and loo
its ing up at the door they see both of the
no their daughter. with her handkerch
n0 over her mouth and her eyes sparkli
IS. with merry mischief "Oh, don't ST
lat papa, enjoy it immensely. It's lots
Il fun to hear people spoon. They alws
look so absurd And, again. {
ar- laughs with provoking sincerity.
lly Mr.. and Mrs. Brigham blush 1
inf sixteen year old sweet hearts, and 10
as i'll at ease as other lovers do WI
." surprised on sentimental occasions
he Alright. l will keep ahead then,
lis marks the father, gaining his self-p
session, "and go on to say, as sits
ed to- that that last joke on Nal
very good one, indeed. | mean