News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-09-12

intoxlcation of the senses that was so
delicately successful in hiding from
him the real horror underneath. 1t was
this that drew him on and dragged him
down irresistibly. Outwardly the
chains that bound him were festooned
with smiling flowers. But the grim
strength of them was the strength of
dull, hard. cruel letters, the same that
in every age have held captive even far
stronger souls than his.
When he went to his room that night.
he found that an invitation to take din
ner next day with one of the professors
had been dropped into the letter box on
the door.
The professor was one Of the new
men who had just begun q few weeks
before the holidays. Edward did not
know him well, although he had been
doing laboratory work under him since
his arrival.
AS he went over to the house next
day at the time announced he had a
feeling of self reproach come over him
suddenly that he had neglected Freeda
of late He was going out to a Christ
mas dinner. and Freeda-he had not
been to see her for several days, His
shame was keen as he thought of the
reason why he had avoided her. For
several nights he had really been see
ing and hearing things that he very
well knew he would not want her to
know. With conscience that really
tormented him he was ushered into the
house, where the professor greeted him
kindly and took his somber, awkward
silence for nothing more than the ordi-
nary embarrassment Of young man
unaccustomed to society.
There were a half dozen students
who had been left stranded in the
building through the holidays, on
whom the professor and his wife had
taken compassion and for whom they
had evidently exerted themselves to
entertain in as bright and cheerful a
fashion as possible. Before dinner was
announced Edward had forgotten
Freeda, for awhile at least, and when
he went out with the rest he had recov-
cred something Of his natural manner.
The professors wife had said some
thing to him as he was seated by her,
and he had answered just as the COM
pany had taken their seats. She paus-
ed minute, smiling at some part of
Edwards reply, and then rang the
bell.
Edward sat facing the door leading
into the kitchen, and as it opened he
was startled by the appearance of
Freeda. Their eyes met, and Freeda
Redeemed, but instantly recovered, and
In quiet, self composed manner she
began the serving Of the table.
"You will have some of the soup,
MR. The professors wife smiled as
she turned toward Edward, who sat
there in great confusion, a great tu-
multi going on in him from several
causes. The professors wife was a
happy, careless young woman, who
laughingly said she never could remem-
Der names and never tried to.
"Mr. Blake" said Edward.
"Blake," repeated the professors
wife, smiling. Then she caught the
hook on Edwards face, and her quick
glance went over to Freeda, who was
standing opposite. BLAKE! Why, that's
the name off,
eyes, ma'am,' replied Edward blunt
ly. "She's my sister,
~ didn't know-l-you see-we have
been here only a little while-and-
your sster-only applied a few days
ago for the place. She-its quite a COM
mon thing for the college girls to work
out this way, isn't it?''
Edwards hostess was trying to make
the best Of an embarrassing situation
as she noted the evident embarrass-
ment of the young man. But she mis-
took the cause Of his feeling. His mind
was tossed with conflicting emotions.
He had too much sense, thanks to his
home training, to feel ashamed at the
sight of Freeda in the capacity of a
servant. He had always been proud of
labor and saw no disgrace in any hon
est form of it. But what was trou-
bling him now was the thought that
for two weeks he had been squander-
ing his earnings to indulge his new
born passion for the cheap shows of a
theater while Freeda was voluntarily
taking up the burden of this new serv'
ice in order to relieve the people on the
little farm at home.
AS the dinner went on the torture OF
his situation grew upon him until he
would have been glad if by any means
he could escape. The food choked him
He answered with difficulty the kind
inquiries of his hostess and tried to re
ply to her often repeated attempts t.
explain how stupid she must have
been not to have known that it was his
sister that was working for her. The
other students knew Freeda, but after
the first sight of her they made nothing
of the fact, as it was not uncommon ii
Hope college for the girls to do as Free
da was doing.
But as long as he lives in this worit
Edward Blake will remember the even
of that Christmas dinner. The profess
or's wife never knew what was til,
cause of the evident trouble in tn,
awkward boy seated by her. She final
ly gave up the attempt to amuse or en-
terrain him and directed her efforts t,
the student on the other side of her