Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-20

as the professor home? There's no
light in his ROOM"
Hes in. sir" the woman answered,
recognizing the old president of the
college. He's taking to sittin' in the
dark lately. He's given over readin'.
and about time. too. 'Taint noways
good for man to be forever poring
over books"
Hes not i'll? I've been away from
kingshaven the past fortnight, but he
seemed fairly well when l left"
NO, sir. he amt i'll, and yet | don't
think he'll be with us long. He's differ
ent, somehow. He looks kinder up
lifted an he holds his head sometimes
as ef he was listenin' to things we
can't hear. Then, too, he's always
bringin' in fiowers-him that never in
the thirty years I've known him did
sech a thing before. l can't make it
out, unless it's the general breakin'
UP"
I'll step in and see him." the presi-
dent interrupted anxiously. ITS un-
necessary to announce me-"
He turned and hastend up the little
path to the quiet house; the door was
open and lamp was burning dimly
in the hall. He peered curiously into
the room where, by the hall light, he
could discern the professors gaunt fig
ure, sitting erect near the large chair
which, turned as 1t was from the door,
might screen some neighbor who, un-
known to Hannah, had slipped in for a
hot
ly. "Jenkinson," he said.
There was a moments silence, then
the professor, in an unsteady voice,
cried out: Who's there?"
"It's I-Edwardes Jennings. Are you
alone?"
"Oh! Observation-Disclosures in.
Yes, I'm alone, quite alone. What
preposterous question to ask, man.
Who should be with me?"
Il fancied l heard talking"
"Talking-hm! 1 often talk to my
self. Here, take my chair-no, not
that-that-that is broken. There!
I'll push it out of the way and you sit
here"
The visitor seated himself as direct
ed and Jenkinson took up his position
on the window-sill. He made no offer
to get light. The summer dusk was
pleasanter. 1t was full, too, of sweet
fragrance which at first the president
thought came from without. Then he
remembered what Hannah had said
concerning his old friends sudden
fondness for flowers and realized that
they were close at hand.
81 came home this noon," he said,
breaking the silence, and strolled out
with my pipe after supper determined
to hunt you up. Has life been using
you well?"
Every we'll"
ut isn't such bad thing despite our
grumbling; yet it has it's disappoint-
ments; we can none of us escape them.
All we can do Is to quit ourselves like
men. Now that you are nearing the
end, old comrade, has it been good to
you?"
Jenkinson stirred little.
Very good" he said simply, after
moments pause. And to you?"
Fairly good, fairly-not as dream
ed in early manhood, but we speedily
learn the futility Of making our dreams
realities in this working-day world
we live in a practical age, sir, and
dreams are shadows. The failure of
the college has been a sore trial, for
put my best into the work. l often
question, IL another hand would have
shaped things differently"
1T must have failed in any event"
That's how l console myself The
result surely can be traced to the de-
crease OF prosperity in Kingshaven-
everything here has gone to ruin. How,
then, could we expect to attract stu
dents to us? Well, the end is at hand.
A syndicate is formed to purchase the
college building for home for disabled
firemen."
And-the-library?"
"Oh! the library is to be sold at auc-
ton. l say, Jenkinson, no one knows
those books as you do. Have you ever
CHANGED upon paper slowed away in
one of them?"
What kind OF paper?"
| All Oiu lttteI, DedIluS my lnltldlS.
The president waited a moment for his
companion to speak, then he went on
with some disappointment apparent in
his tones: "Of course it's only a sup
position that it's there, but l told Far
ringford I'd look. You remember him,
he was in our class, a quiet, self
absorbed fellow? No? Well, met
him last week and we had talk over
old days. He's like us now-white-
haired and stoops. 1t isn't much of
story, but II loved his sister.
They used to live at Toynbee and
would tramp over there to see her.
She was like-oh! I can't find any
comparison and you wouldn't under
stand-she was like no one or nothing
but just herself! l was timid lover,
afraid to risk my happiness by dec
laration. Her people, too, were richer
than mine, and / thought that might
make some difference. But she OWNED
my feelings and wrote me, telling me she
loved me and bidding me come to her