Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-01-20
HIS FRESHMAN ROMANCE.
BY Able FARwELL BRowH.

A PROPOS of finding photographs,
n did you fellows ever hear about
Briarwood's romance? In our fresh
man year it happened.
Briarwood was not exactly in our
crowd, you know, but we all came from
abe same fitting school, and so at first
we saw a good deal of him. Iremem-
her 1 went over to his room that first
evening after he was settled, and found
him sitting in his big armchair before
the open fire. He jumped up quickly
when I came in, and laid something sly
" on the mantelpiece. 1t looked like
q photograph, and l began to blow him
about being homesick so soon, and
asked if he was looking at mothers
picture
He flushed up quickly, and said it was
nothing to be ashamed Of if it had been
his mothers picture, but that as it hap
pened il was no such thing. Then he
changed the subject and asked how
liked the room.
Have you noticed my desk?" he
asked, pretty proudly. I bought it of
Thorne. the fellow who had this room
last He was first marshal last class
day. and a first-rate fellow, too, I judge
Great. isn't it, Stockholm"
1t was a handsome desk-mahogany
rou-top, with brass knobs and all that.
He unlocked and rolled up the top for
my benefit
.'Thorne gave me the key himself,
with his alumnus blessing, to-day" he
said. land when I asked if finding was
having he laughed, and said was well
come to whatever 1 found in the old
ark. for he was pretty sure there was
nothing but undergraduate dust in the
cracks"
But you did find something after
alp I asked, quickly, for though he is
a good lawyer now, he never could keep
a secret in those days.
"Oh, well, not so much" he said, care
lessIy; but I saw him glance toward the
mantel I guessed in a minute what It
was, and before he could stop me I
sprang for the photograph at which he
had been looking when 1 entered. He
jumped up angrily. Give me that
photograph"
"Oh. no. So it's girl, is il? And 4
mighty pretty one, too"
The girl was evidently tall and dark.
with splendid figure. a strong face
almost masculine, but perfectly fea-
tured-and great, big, dark eyes full of
fun. She had a huge shade hat hang
ing by its ribbons, and was smiling so
as to show the prettiest teeth I ever saw.
''Thorne was a lucky fellow. I Won
der-ah. here's a name on the back" I
went on. composedIy. Rose Thorne.'
Pshaw, So she was only his sister!
What fake!"
BriarwoOd had the picture by this
time, and after putting it away in the
desk turned upon me Indignantly again.
You had no business TO NEEDLE with
it said he.
shes 4 sumner" answered, and if
finding is having Briarwood, L advise
you to hunt up the original pretty quick,
old man"
With this parting shot I hurried out
of the room, lodging the curve on a
Greek lexicon that came tumbling after
me After that 1 saw more or less of
Briarwood, principally less, for he soon
grew too popular to stay in our set He
was easily the man of his class, and no
wonder; for, take him all around, he is
about as fine a chap as ever saw.
before turning in, and to borrow
Harry's notes TO use before the mid
year examination in-something or
other. Just as I was leaving 1 hap
pened to remember my former call.
''Oh, by the way. Briarwood." asked,
'.have you seen Miss Thorne lately?
Finding is having you know"
had no idea it was more than joke
with him then. But 1 was completely
knocked out to see him change color
furiousIy and jump up looking as mad
as a halter.
You keep quiet about that, viii you,
Stockton? - he said. gruffiy.
"Oh, don't mind me. old man." I re
piled, cheerfulIy. You've got it bad,
but you'll pull through all right. Can't
YOU get Thorne to introduce you? Look
him up. BriarwoOd; that's my advice"
Harry did not reply, but hunted up the
notebooks and gave them to me, still
with that flush on his face. This set me
thinking. I believed we might get
some fun out of Briarwood over this
thing. and told one or two of the fell
lows about il in my room the next night.
The idea of old Briarwood being in love
was pretty rich; but we all agreed 20
keep it dark aud watch Developments
until we had a chance to play good
game on him
Watched Harry after that whenever
he came in my way, and L certainly no.
ticed a new look about him; there was
no doubt about it. Harry was in love
with that photograph And as the year
drew on TO spring, and the spring to-
ward class day. the young mans fancy
lightly turned to thoughts of Rose
Thorne more and more. SO we judged.