River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-01-27

e be there TO see poor old Br:arwood
through with it. Well, sirs, that even.
ing Harry was in his best mood. He
had just finished his last examination.
and was feeling pretty fine altogether.
for his years rank was sure thing:
however, the profs might play the deuce
with the rest of us. He did the honors
in great shape, and showed no sign OF
caring for any girl let alone the pho.
tograph whose original he had never
seen. The boys began TO put up the
game before long. Goodrich was the
one to start It off.
Il say, fellows he called across the
room, don't you remember little
I rhorue? Yes you do, at Adams spread
a year ago-little Rose. in the red
+ dress?" We had all come on for class
/ day the year before.
"0h, yes" said another fellow, with q
grin; you mean the girl who took toe
much champagne"
And couldn't walk TO the carriage,
chimed in Eddy. with his horse laugh
Il remember that, fellows; | carried
her"
olE was AuOlt IMAM d IdilOl III lOI
/ Thorne, that little sister OF his" said
another. And so they went on with
their jokes about the 'litt devil in
red, )" Rosie" as they called her, each
growing more personal in his hints and
+ innuendoes, which were received with
/ roars of laughter and asserting grins of
delight.
Brlarwood was all this time sitting
glum and quiet by the window, with his
head bent in his hands, pulling fercely
at his pipe without a word. Then
/ Goodrich said suddenly:
Il say, fellows, how many ofy you have
her picture? She only gives EN- to the
/ ones she loves best, sweet Sozodont! l
got mine the night l took her to Mar
liave's for little French dinner after
! the theater. IIow's that Briarwood? Is
that the way you got your's?"
Harry jumped up quickly and stood
facing Goodrich defantly, with his eyes
/ flashing.
/ ''Oh, you've got it there. we know"
went on Goodrich, tapping his breast
pocket. I've seen it; isn't il like this?"
And he pulled the duplicate out of his
! ON y pocket tTluU pndutIN.
But Goodrich overdid the thing-he
/ always die. He was coarse brute, and
/ the faculty was all right to get rid Of
+ him as soon as they did. He made some
+ other remarks which were quite unnec-
+ essary for the purposes of our joke, and
/ which we were all of us ashamed TO
hear, and then he stepped forward as if
to grab the photograph out of Harry's
| pocket.
But Briarwood was thoroughly walked
| up now. With gesture he flung away
his pipe, and then planting his big fist
squarely between Goodrichs eyes. sent
him tumbling back with a crash against
/ the door.
/ ITS lie; its all a--iie," he said,
/ steadily, and in low tone. "She is
Jack Thorne's sister, and l know she is
| fine girl. I'm not ashamed to wear
her photograph, but won't take it out
/ for you fellows to sec. If any of the
rest of you dare TO say that Goodrich
spoke the truth, let him step out and
| say il, and then I'll knock him down"
just then there was a knock on the
door. We must have made a terrible
racket there with our laughing and jol-
/ living, and when Goodrich fell he made
! big crash, for he was heavy fellow
/ Lalf-back on the team until he was ex-
/ PEELED.
/ At any rate, as we all stood there
/ looking sheepish enough, in walked
) Mr.. White, the proctor. lie stood hold
/ ing the doorknob IN one hand and look
+ ing first around at the crowd of us, then
/ straight at Harry, who was still stand
/ ing with his fists clenched, glaring
down at Goodrich on the floor. Then
Mr.. White asked. sternly:
Whats an this row, Mr.. Briar.
wood? Did you knock this man down ~
Il did, sir" said Harry, firmly.
why, may ask?"
He insulted lady"
~ lady? What lady?"
Harry made no reply, and some of
the fellows snickered. But Harry
looked around quickly with glance
that made US all keep quiet.
This is the lady's photograph" he
said. at last, steadily taking the pic.
ture from his breast and handing it to
the proctor with much dignity. she is
the sister of a man who is an honor TO
the college. You know him, Mr.. White"
No one said a word, even to explain
the joke. Mr.. White started when he
saw the face, turned it over and read
the name as if puzzled. Then, as If
suddenly comprehending, he glanced
around the circle of US with quiZZical
look and half contemptuous smile.
"Brarwood," he said, you were
quite right. ! excuse your action, and
thank you in the name of the lady be-
fore all these gentlemen. Goodrich,
get up and out of here as quickly as you
can" Then, turning to Harry again,
he said, pleasantly, as if nothing had
happened;
Mr. Griarwoow, there are a lady and
gentleman waiting outside who would
like 10 look at this room, if you arc
prepared to receive visitors now"
We all stood mute and awkward
while the proctor, after receiving puz-
lied but gracious assent from Harry,
turned and spoke to some one outside
the door.
Mr.. Rriarwood," he said, reenteriug,
followed by the two strangers, u
think YOU have met Mr.. Thorne before.
He wished his sister to sec his old col.
lrgc room. 1t is the first time she has
ever been to the college. assure you,
Miss Thorne, it is not usually so
noisy here. The boys were having
little froic tonight.
One by one we skunk silently out of
the room, fixing our dazed eyes to the
last upon the feminine counterpart of
the unlucky Photographic sweeter,
far lovelier version of the handsome
brother, by whose side she stood chat
ting graciously with Harry and look
ing coldly at us from under half-dis
dainful eyelids.
We said little more to one anothe
that night. but we all wondered, and
wonder still. how much of that rackel
she overheard. She had come to c.
carly for her first class day, for she haG
been studying abroad for the last three
years, and so had missed her brothers
spread But she had wanted 10 see his
old room, now Briarwood's, and had
stumbled upon our joke.
No, it didn't get around the college.
don't know whether Harry himself