Daily camera., 1901-10-04

nonentity. and she felt herself too vsl-
liable to Be disposed of In that way.
Her very name. Ethehnda Coddingtoa
Grayson. pledged her to something out
Of the common. and she had resolved
from her earliest childhood to rise to
that challenge, come what might. Ev-
erybody knew this. and knew also
that she was looking for career that
would Be worthy Of her aspirations.
But careers do not blossom every day.
and Ethelinda had not yet found hers.
though the last year Of her university
course was drawing to close.
OF course she had not failed TO put
fate to the touch in various ventures
before this time. but though these had
mainly turned to apples Of sodom TO
the taste, her spirit WAS unbroken.
Nil desperandum was the motto em-
broidered on the glove which she
threw down to fortune. and her con-
duct bore out the proud defiance.
Early in her teens she had Joined
woman's club; to be . leader among
women had fascinated her young
imagination. She would reveal to the
downtrodden Of her set the lofty
ideals upon which she fashionsd her
self. and they would riss up and call
her blessed.
Alas for the airy fabrics of fancyl
1t SO transpired that women. with few
exceptions. did not want careers. but
insisted on marrying and making mere
backgrounds OF themselves. in spite Of
her glowing periods- And worst Of
all, they made fun of her. Only .
stole can stand being laughed at. and
Ethelinda was not Of that unpleasant
variety.
Nothing daunted, however. she made
the round Of every ism and ology sx-
tant. and after careful consideration
made her choice. That department Of
science known 70 professordom As en-
tomology. but in vulgar parlanes a.
luded to a. bugology. became her pas
sion. Being . young person OF sur
prising energy. whatever she under
took she did with all her might, and In
q short time she was head over ears
in her new pursuit. Creeping things
which most people shun with losthing
she cultivated with enthusiasm. She
made friends Of the shiny denizens Of
pools and marshes. smiled on slugs
and worms. and even took ths furry
caterpillar 70 her heart.
Admirable A. this wss from . scien-
tihc point ct view il only added fury
TO the tempest raging in the breast OF
the professor Of belles-lettres In the
university. He had long worshiped at
Ethelinda's shrine. and had always
strongly disapprored Of her mental
vagaries, but this last ons WAS too
much for his patience, already sadly
frayed. He resented with fierce dis
gust the new rivals that had come be-
tween him and his love. For though
he had been told repeatedly and lat
terly in tones unmistakably acid that
there was no hope. he still persisted
in his pursuit. convinced that faint
heart never won fair lady. and spend
ing much precious time In devising
ways and means for the subduinR Of
obdurste hearts.
Ethelinda WAS the valedictorian Of
the graduating class Of that year, and
as such had the opportunity Of her
life presented to her. She dared An
innovation and won. Departing from
the platitudes made and provided for
such occasions, she made NO allusiop
to the alma mater from whose shell
tering arms the clan was about to
take its plunge into the cold. raw
world without, but instead gave her
audience q little lecture on bugs. and
joyously predicted the day when they
would be served up. metaphorically
speaking. morning. noon and night
at every table in the land.
Some of her hearers clapped in ap-
proval, some smiled in derision. but
on the whole 1t was very we'll taken.
Only the professor Of belles-lettres
shuddered as he listened. and inward
ly made still hrmer resolves to win
the sudacious speaker. Ethelinda
WAS worth saving from the slough Of
absurditiy in which she was walloW-
ing, and he would be her savior.
The professor had concocted . plan
and the blessed vacation time coming
to his aid, he threw himself into 1t
heart and soul. With awful mendac-
ity, he declared himself . convert to
Miss Grsyson's hobby. and after the
manner of converts he out-Heroded
Herod in his zeal. He went every
where with Miss Grayson, carried the
implements with which she reaped
her wnggly harvest. mounted speci-
mems for her, though the soul within
him Tevolted. and in . thousand ways
made himself indispensable. HE il
really quite useful Ethelinds eo-
knowledged to herself. II don't know
what / should do without him"
But there came . time which,
though Ethelinda was unconscious Of
1t, was the crisis, the turning point
Of all her days. The river that ran
by the town had the habit of over
flowing it, banks in the spring fresh
cts. leaving behind In getting back
into its channel long stretches Of the
loveliest Of hats teeming with insect
life. . very paradise for those devoted
to that kind Of game.
Ethelinda was in rAptures over the
prospect, and NO sooner had the sun
established q safe footing over the
treacherous waste than she WAS daily
to be seen in TIE little boat, pro-
PEELED BY the professor. hurryins to
the desired fields.
This went on for week, and every
thing wsi lovely. But one day In mid
Stfesm the little boat sprung leak.
Ethelinda would not believe IL until