The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-06


 1 mitted to the inevitable. and with we'll hidden jealous wrath, went along. Richard was h marriageable young man; I a boy. He the son of an infiu- 1 ential professional man, who was to | take him immediately under his wing | as soon as he graduated. What right | had a freshman to love; and l believe
 to this day that Jessie loved me: In l short, both our hearts were ignored, and | in a little while 1t was generally consid- | cred an impertinence when I took Jessie anywhere or showed her attention. Her parents treated me like child and showed plainly that my attentions to their | daughter was an annoyance to them. My position was helpless; so was hers. ] We even talked of it in as confidential | a way as two very young lovers ever in- dulge in, and that is not very productive of mutual understanding. But my pin | was on her and the unwritten law of the | fraternity recognized an inalienable right | I had in the maiden who wore 1t. 1 One day Richard asked me if l would | not request her to return it to me: | told him to go to he'll
 Things grew worse and more intoler- able. Richard was Jessie's accepted suit | or in the minds of all but herself; her l parents gave deadly weight to the cool | impression, and little by little we both 1 felt ourselves gradually succumbing to the psychic flood we were trying to stem Towards the close of middle term Rich ards father secured for him the position of Professor of Latin and Greek in a Dakota college. He was to assume his
 duties the following year. This made his position still more formidable.
 Then, one day two of my fraternity, both good friends of mine, suggested that I sell my pin to Richard since refused to ask for its return. I resented this
 saving they might as well ask me to sell my sweetheart If Richard could get her to send back the pin I would be content and resign from the fraternity.
 After several weeks. during which had
 only a few brief chats in the hall with
 Jessie. Richards agent and I came to an
 understanding
 Richard wanted to marry Jessie. I was
 to sell my pin to him for ST. and my
 piled all my right. title and interest in
 Jessie. I know now that he had good
 cause to appreciate better than I did,
 that this was the important part of the agreement.
 I stipulated that should have the priv ilege of escorting her to church. and that l should break the news to her myself.
 This was agreed to. The next Sunday with a box of MarshailneiI roses. Her parents patronized me, and smiled con-
 siderably, when I saw nothing amusing. I was profoundly dignified We started enue and up that thoroughfare to the Emanuel Baptist Church on the corner
 of Twenty third Street.
 The cruel conditions that beset us were
 ulSCuSSSu OH our iOUR Wdlh IO JDe CDuTCH
 I several times hinted at rebellion, but Jessie had inherited generations of femi-
 nine obedience in heart affairs. She would not listen to any of my mad sug-
 gestions. Yes, Richard wanted to marry her and her parents approved of him as a son-in-law.
 Did she love me? Two great heavenly eyes so filled with tears that they looked their lids had on them. This was my an- swer. l shall never forget 1t. My throat ached and I longed to clasp my arm about her and swing her onto my charger and gallop off to my castle.
 But alas, we were walking on Michi- gan Avenue. no charger was in sight. and l had no castle freshmen never have, not even air-castles are permitted them. church we were not resigned, but we both realized the inevitable.
 There were services, but l don't re- nnn,d member vt them; en1; Yes: we would walk far off beginning of the year, of our sor- rows in the Algebra class. We even laughed. There was sleet on the side. walk. and when we were embarrassed little run and slide. I found that this necessitated my supporting Jessie by placing my arm around her. l encour- aged this means of relief as much as be almost heartlessly gay; subsequent experience with the feminine mind has taught me that she was on the point Of hysterla.
 We arrived home incredibly soon. and when we were at the door, without ask ing me in, she flung her arms about my neck and said. Good bye Billie"' Then we kissed for the first and last time, fervently with our lips and souls. As turned and ran down the steps I heard a sob: Shall confess it? Yes. l wept dered about the drowning old towers of the University buildings for an hour or more and wondered if life could ever hold joy for me again. The moon rose in my room in Jones Hall as I lay upon my iron bed, and by and by I went to sleep and dreamed that Jessie and l had fled far, far away, and that her father and Richard were following us. They were about to overtake us; we came to a great dark, angry torrent; we plunged into 1t and were borne away by its flood: we knew not whither. The waves parted out to Jessie. 1 heard only sob, then all was still and the dark waters dashed me on, on alone. toward the ocean.
 l stood the other night Cor rather 1t later in the starlight on Cottage Grove Avenue, where used to front the old University The hideous bllboards that surround the vacant space faded away, and in the msts that gathered in my eyes 1 saw that majestic tower once more standing in It's grandeur, flanked by those turreted wings.
 It's halls were again people by those knew and loved so well-fine fellows and dear girls. Some are still battling in the waters as I am. many have been enveloped in the eternal silence. Jessie, too, has long since journeyed into the mists with that griSn. messenger that poets write of But on this starlit morning, she was brightest and clearest of all the phantom throng; and as tower and turrets faded and the airy vision I heard her sob-and I stood there alone with an aching throat.