The Ravalli Republican., 1898-08-31
4 CRIMSON VICTOR I


pected.
Kathleen Ducr, smiling upon him
in preference to any ore Of the
crowd of young men, SO called the
"gang' Mr.. Forester was
in college less vulgar phrases had
been used--accepting his invitation
TO the game, promising to wear his
colors, had been charming to be.
hold Kathleen Duer, unsnilinS and
taoituril, keeping her promise in-
deed, wearing tho blue, but wearing
it most unSraciously, was altogether
q different person,
llr. Forester did not like college
boys. They were SO disgracefully
young and SO little ashamed OF it.
They had SO much more hair on
thcir heads, SO much less on their
faces, than he could boast Of. They
were SO eSuberaNt, so ineNcusably J
cheerful, they had SO little money,
and yet seemed quite unconscious Of
the vast superiority Of his wealth.
It had been one Of the many
charms Of Miss Duer that she had
been appreciatlve of his claims to
consideration never was She more
attentive and delightful than in the
presence OF those young cubs, There
was one young Grant, whose mere
appearance at the door always seem.
ell to make her especially interested
in Mr.. Forester S good stories WhiGn
he related 80 often and 50 we'll AT
such times he felt he had never dc,
lighted q more absorbed listener.
But today Miss Duer gave scant
attention to his anecdotes; yawned
a little when he quoted poetry; was
indifferent to the details Of the
games of his youth. She looked out
Of the window when he dropped his
voice, and asked if he would mind
sitting opposite instead CT beside
her; she did not want to crush her
skirt. NIr. Forester had not known
that tailor made skirts were crush"
bic. ....
He had studied the girl carefully
all summer and all tall, and the out
come Of his study WAS a certain blue
velvet case in his Waistcoat pocket
at that moment, containing a ring
with q diamond in it big enough to
block the horizon Of any girl. He
would not speak yet. Il would be
tantolizjng to have her SO near and
yet SO far during tho game, but
driving back triumphantly, his col
ors victorious on the field, he would
say the important words sitting by
her side. Then the skirt, the great
occasion being over, might be crush.
ed with impunjty, OF course, it was
just as we'll to havo it fit now.
NIr Forester was an authority Gn
women S clothes and liked every
thing correct about the girl he hon
ored with his attentions. There was
almost a thrill under his wajstcoat
as he looked at Kathleen and real
lied how near he was to sober rap
ture.
But Kathleen Duer'a calm exterior
covered d perfect volcano Two
weeks ago, on the night when Don
aid Grant had been SO particularly
and obiectionably a "sheep," haf
first slowered over in the corner unl
then been unnecessarily attentive t
her pretty cousin Sarah, it has
seemed a simple matter to say tina
she would so to the game with MI
Forester. Spulrel on by the inuig
nant glance she had encountered
she had gone still further, hat
promised to wear the Yale colors-
this, however, in 4 tone not to b
overheard
Two minutes later she would hay
given her pretty head to DO release
from her agreement but she cOul
not. She had had such a miserab bl
time since! Her cousins had bee]
kind to her, but she had felt tina
they and "all the rest, which gel
orally meant gang had been kin
with pitying tolerance that wa
simply maddening. The crownin
enormity had been known to thel
only two days-since the Yale vic
lets began to arrive, and since the
the gang had never been nel
toned in her presence. Coming mi
the room upon a perfect babel {
voices, her advent had been tho SIS
nal for sudden silence The gang,
all except Rex, who was too kin|;|
of heart to crush her completed,
had gone back from the fanili;
Exit" to miss Duer' she WAS I
longer of them, she was a stri1l.3"
almost an outcast, perhaps Il trait
in the camp
-... The two fat horses tTottel ~rte
1y on. If there was anything Kat
leen hated it was sober, well b
haved, fat, middle aged horses-a1
tneir owners! Past the laden ca
they trotted, cars laden with cage
excited girls and students of toda
and almost as eager and excit
students of one and two seneratio
away-all wearing the crimson, ;
horoful, hilarious, convivial, t