Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-09
A College Women.

Jack DensmOre frowned as he read
the note which had just been left at
his room. This note appeared in it
self innocent enough but he did not
seem to regard it with favor. It read
as follows:
My Dear Mr. Densmore:-I believe
that you are to remain in town during
the Christmas vacation. If so, [ hope
that you can dine with us Christmas
eve. want very much to have you
meet my friend Miss Ashburn. She is
graduate of Vassar, but l know that
you will like her. in spite of your
prejudice against college girls.
Yours sincerely,
Jessie Stevens.
Now Jack DensmOre was an ardent
disbelieyer in the higher education of
women. Just what his objections
were, he would probably have found it
difficult to tell, as his ideas on that
subject were somewhat hazy, but MS
dislike of the college girl was none the
less strong on that account. He was,
therefore, rather unenthusiastic con-
corning Miss AshbUrn. But he felt
that he must accept the invitation,
and he did so with the determination
that he would have as little as posi-
bic to do with that Vassar graduate"
The next day, which was the twenty
third of December, he started out for
a mornings skating, on the river.
The ice was smooth and the day fine,
and he was soon flying along the
shore, going up the river away from
the town. After he had gone some
little distance, and was about to turn
back, he perceived a young lady seated
on the ice, in evident difficulty in re
gard to one of her skates. AS he ap-
preached her to see if he could be of
any assistance, she looked up and
said:
Il beg your pardon, but l cannot fix
my skate strap, and I'm afraid that
my skate won't stay on without it.
Won't you see if you can fix it?"
Certainly" he said, and he knelt
down to see what he could do. He
found the strap quite useless, and so
he took one off his own state. She
protested at this, but he assured her
that he could skate just as we'll with
out it, and so she allowed him to
fasten her skate with it.
When she arose, she started to
skate in the same direction as he was
going, so he, quite naturally, skated
with her He noticed that she was
very pretty, and a most graceful
skater
Are you a student at the university
here?" she asked.
Yes" he replied. "Most of the fell
lows have gone home for the vaca-
ton, but few of us who live so far
away have to stay here over Christ
mas
Il suppose you find it dull here, with
SO many of the students away"
1T is, awfully. Vacations are
rather blue times for those of us who
cannot get away"
But it must afford you an oppor-
tunity to get ahead with your study
ing, which would De very welcome
THAT is one trouble OF it. You see,
we're supposed to work if we stay
over. Then at the first of the term
some professor will say to me- Mr..
Densmorc, as you have spent the va
cation in town, l presume that you are
prepared to give that topic | assigned
you just before Christmas. OF course
I'm not prepared, as you would know
if you had ever been to college"
How do you know that | have
never been to college? Do l appear so
very lgnorant?" she replied, smiling
slightly.
20 no! that's not it, But you are
lege."
What sort of girl is it that goes tc
college?"
well, she's about forty years old
and is very apt to be, intellectually
plain, and you're not that. Then she
is a firm believer in womans rights
and that is her chief topic OF CONVEX
sation unless she is particularly inter
ested in Latin or History or something
of that sort. Why l met girl from
Wellesley once and about the frs
thing that she asked me was my opin
ion on the authorship of the Letters o
Junius. As l didn't have any on tn,
subject, was forced to listen to a pc
theory of hers on the subject, until
could escape gracefully"
She laughed heartily at his descrip
ton of the typical college girl am
said, 1 am afraid that you are rattle
hard on her. especially when she i
not here to defend herself"
They had Skated almost back t
town, when Jack said, 4 presume tina
you are a stranger here. Wouldn'
you like to see the college grounds
They are not as pretty now as in tn
spring, but they are quite interesting
They are only a little way back fror
the shore"
1 should be delighted to look Their
over, il it wouldn't trouble you?"
- no, it would be no trouble at al
And I'm sure that you will enjoy se1
ing q college"
They were now opposite the stree
that led from the college down to tn
river. So they turned in to the shor,
and taking off their skates, the
walked up towards the campus.
This is the athletic field, wher
they play all of the football games
he explained, pointing to q large feel
at the right of the street.