Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-02-03
His Freshman Romance.
BY ABB1E FARwELL BROWN.

81 say, fellows" he called across
the room, sdon't yout remember little
Thorne? Yes, you do, at Adams
spread year ago-little Rose in the
red dress?" We had all come on for
class day the year before.
| "Oh, yes, said another fellow, with
a grin; ''you mean the girl who took
too much champagne"
'tAnd couldn't walk to the carriage"
chimed in Eddy, with his horse-laugh.
II remember that, fellows; 1 carried
her."
''She was more than handful for
Thorne, that little sister of his" said
another. And SO they went on with
their jokes about ''Rosie," as they
called her, each growing more per-
sonal in his hits, which were received
with roars of laughter and asserting
grins of delight.
Briarwood was all this time sitting
glum and quiet by the window, with
his head bent in his hands, pulling
fiercely at his pipe without word.
Then Goodrich said, suddenly:
81 say, fellows, how many of you
have her picture? She only gives 'em
to the ones she loves best, sweet Sozo-
don't! got mine the night took her
to Marliave's for little dinner after
the theatre. How's that, Briarwood?
Is that the way you got yours?"
Harry jumped up quickly and stood
facing Goodrich defantly, with his
eyes flashing.
"Oh, you've got it there, we know
| Gnn1rial, 10 hie 81
pocket. 'Ive seen it; isn't it like
this?" And he pulled the duplicate
out of his own pocket triumphantly.
But Goodrich overdid the thing-he
always did He was a coarse brute,
aud the faculty was all right to get rid
of him as soon as they did. He made
some other remarks which were quite
unnecessary 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 Good
rich's eyes, sent him tumbling back
with a crash against the door.
''It's lie; it's all a--lie," he said,
steadily and in low tone. ''She is
Jack Thornes sister, and 1 know she
is fine girl. I'm not ashamed to
wear her photograph, but l won't take
it out for you fellows to see. If any
of the rest of you dare to say that
Goodrich spoke the truth, let him
step out and say it, and then I'll knock
him down"
Just then there was knock on the
door. We must have made terrible
racket there with our laughing and
jollying, and when Goodrich fell he
made a big crash, for he was heavy
fellow-half-b f-back on the team until
lie was expelled.
AT any rate, as we all stood there
looking sheepish enough, in walked
Mr.. White, the proctor. He stood
holding the door-knob in one hand and
looking first around at the crowd of
us, then straight at Harry, who was
still standing with his fists clenched,
glaring down at Goodrich on the floor.
Then Mr.. White asked, sternly:
whats all this row, Mr.. Briar-
wood? Did you knock this man
DOWN."
81 did, sir" said Harry, firmly.
"Why, may I ask.
''He insulted lady"
ga lady? What lady?"
Harry made no reply, and some of
the fellows snickered. But Harry
looked around quickly with glance
that made rs all keep uuiet.
''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 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 quisi-
cal look and half contemptuous
smile
'sBriarwood," he said, "you were
quite right. I excuse your action and
thank YOU in the name of the lady be-
| TOre al lueS0 oOoStl iSA,
get up and out OF here as quickly as
you can" Then turning to Harry
again, he said, pleasantly, as if moth
ing had happened:
ssMr. Briarwood, there are lady
and gentleman waiting outside who
would like to look at this room, If you
are prepared to receive visitors now."
We all stood mute and awkward
while the proctor, after receiving a
puzzled, but gracious assent from
Harry. turned and spoke to some one
outside the door.
"Mr. Briarwood," he said, d,re-enter-
ing, followed by the two strangers,
"I think you have met Mr.. Thorne
before. He wished his sister to see
his old college room. 1t is the first
time she has ever been to the college.