, 1901-12-10

Where should l be to-day, l should
like to know, but for our coaching
and bullying? 1t was you pulled me
through, not Professor. owe every
thing to you" And so they comforted
the heart-sick girl, these two favorite
daughters of fortune.
That night at the promenade con-
cert Lester met Phil Blair. Julia had
coached him as to his part, and from
the moment of introduction he was as
Testers shadow. At first she protest
ed against his attentions and even tried
to avoid him; but it was no use, and
by and by the exhilaration of having
a handsome man always at her elbow
to hold her fan or whisper happy nom
sense in her ear had it's effect upon
her, so that Celia declared she out
shone even her own bright self. The
next morning when she stood before
the brilliant audience to deliver her
valedictory she was glad for the first
time that she was carrying off the
honors Of her class, for directly in
front of her sat Phil watching her
| with q y olAC huo ' oS>AA 40 oAy
other mans eyes. His admiration
made the honors seem more worth
while. When she was done an usher
brought her a great armful of splen-
did Jacqueminot roses, and she flushed
to think of the sender.
you were superb" Phil whispered
amid the congratulations after the ex-
ercises were over.
"And my roses are past praise" she
answered, for under the ribbon she
had found his card.
He lifted one of the blossoms and
held it near her cheek. Jacks are
your roses by some artistic right. |
shall always associate them with
you"
That afternoon there was a coaching
party, and by Julia's arrangement she
went with Phil on the box seat; but
she declared vehemently that she
would not have him neal her at the
faculty's reception that evening. Julia
laughed; when a woman is sure of a
man a game like this is very amusing.
So that evening Phil again followed in
. 7 uhhsihS With Z I
ting with her on the balcony or in
some quiet nook, and Julia, from a cir
Gle of admirers, smiled her satisfac-
ton on him. But Lester was excited
and restless. What did that intent
look in Phil's ayes portend? What
was this new, sweet emotion knocking
at her heart? She began to be
| ofroiI or1 Woc Glad whom Of 1nct ~
was all over and she was alone. The
next morning, rising very early, before
the others, she went to bid farewell t.
her old haunts about the grounds. Al
the lighthouse was Phil Blair, oars in
hand.
Come" he said, let us go for a lit
tie row on this enchanted stream.
She hesitated, but he drew her to the
boat, and for half an hour they drift
ed on the placid water, but they did
rot see the cool. white lilies looking
up at them, nor the red sunrise clouds
overhead; they saw only each others
eyes.
A few hours later the three friends
stood in their sitting-room for the last
time.
Remember" said Julia, lone year
from now we are to keep a tryst here
and tell each other what fate has
brought us"
I'VE will remember" the others an
swered, and they went slowly out.
The year went by. Lester had spent
it teaching at the college; Celia and
| Syorrr nod haon civ roorthe ~.,f5,
but something was amiss with Phil
and Julia. Their marriage had been
postponed, though to the world Phil
was a model lover; only the girl
missed something from his manner
and his voice, something without
which she felt all else to be void and
empty.
1t was the anniversary of the COM
mencement. Again the June sunshine
whitened the paths through the coll
lege campus, but there was a silence
In the house and q knot of crepe on the
door. A carriage came swiftly up the
drive. and the two women in it were
pale and sorrowfui.
Our tryst day, and We are to keep
1t with a dead Lester instead Of cur
blithe, brown bird We loved SO WELL"
sobbed Celia
Professor Pope wrote me that she
worked all winter az in q fever. He
thought she was unhappy, but she
would tell him the cause. At
Christmas l wanted SO much to have
her with me. but she would not come"
Julia said.
Celia turned her face away; she was
dull at mathematics, but she was quick
TO read human hearts. and she had