News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-10-17
know, and Ladd was a junior and had

through, don't you think? We can't
read the papers all the time, and
there's a limit to church.
Edward was silent. He was not yet
in a position where he felt like arguing
for the Sunday study, or trying to Ge-
fend it. At the same time he began to
justify it on the score of necessity, and
when the week was gone and another
Sunday came he found it much easier
to silence any scruples he may have
had before lie even picked up one of
his books in the morning before going
down to church, and in the afternoon
when he took the books down again he
seemed to be relieved to think that one
of the studies had been got out of the
way in the morning.
When evening came, he went over to
get Freeda to go with him to some spe-
cial service down town.
1t was bright, frosty night and
they walked both ways. Edward as
usual was silent until Freeda had ask
ed a few questions.
care you working too hard, Ned?'
mo, | don't think so. | feel well
enough. I'm pegging away at the de-
bate all my spare time. 1t comes off
this week Friday, you know"
"You have worked very hard on it,
haven't you? do hope you will win
it," said Freeda, who, in spite of her
disappointment in Edward, that he had
not made a decision during the evan
gelistic meetings just closed, still felt
the deepest possible interest in her
brothers success and was very enthu-
siastc in her praise of his scholarly
abilities
81 shall do my level best. Are the
girls coming out to the debate"
Edward asked because there had
been in past years noticeable lack of
interest on the part of the girls in the
annual debate.
"Are they? Why, they are coming
over in body. You don't seem to real
ize, Ned, that you are very popular at
the ladies' hall"
"Am II" Among Edwards really
sterling good qualities was an absence
of conceit. If he prided himself on his
IlOIdlllN
free from that pride of intellectual at
tainments or physical attractions that
distinguished a good many college stu
dents. He was not ladies' man, as
Willis always was, and so far he had
no special friends among the girls eX-
cept Freeda. He did not seem to care
one way or the other. He was one out
of a very few men in college who prob
ably never looked over to the girls side
of the room during chapel. And in
classroom he managed to have seat
at the end of the row as far from any
girl as he could get. He did not dislike
girls company. He was simply indif-
ferent.
"You ought to have heard the girls
talk about your great football play at
the last game on the home grounds"
said Freeda, who felt little veXed at
Edwards silent Indifference.
Edward laughed little. Some day
1 suppose I'll fall in love and be as big
a fool as some of the other fellows.
You'll have to take second place then.
Unless" he added with a lightness of
speech not characteristic of him, "un-
less you do the same thing, and then
you won't care"
Freeda was silent and Edward was
afraid he had hurt her feelings in some
way.
did l hurt you, Freeda?' he asked
more as he used to speak when they
were together ON the farm.
mo, Ned" she replied softly, and
they both walked on for some distance
without talking.
81 have a little confession to make,
Freeda," at last Edward spoke, his old
habit of extreme truthfulness compel
ling him to the statement. I've had to
study on Sunday lately. I've been so
busy | couldn't get my lectures any
other way"
Don't do it, Ned" Freeda urged
after a moment, during which Edward
had a conviction that his confession
had affected her disagreeably.
Don't you?"
mo, don't believe in it,"
"Nor Miss Seton, either?" asked Ed
ward, little ironically.
Ida Seton was a great friend of Free
das and was rooming with her this
term.
Eyes, Ida studies once in awhile on
Sundays" said Freeda reluctantly
81 can't make her see it the way
do"
There's nothing very wicked about
it."
mo, but it's foolish. You don't gain
anything by 1t in the long run"
Then | don't see," answered Ed
ward, With a growl, "why the pro-
fessor gives it to us so heavy for. Fri
days they give us a double dose, as
If they expected us to study on Sun
day. Ladd told me today that more
than threefourths of all the fellows
have to study on Sunday"
"They think they have to, maybe.
But they don't really have to- Besides
Ned, you know mother would not like
it, and the president must be opposed
to it."
Hes never said anything against
it."
mo, but he may at any Of his Friday
talks. Tell me, Ned, If the president