The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-07-11

CHE was coed and had formed an
y unalterable resolve never o marry.
For that was to sink from the concrete
to the general, or, in other words, into
nonentity, and she felt herself too val
liable to be disposed of in that way.
Her very name, Ethelinda Coddington
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 a 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 en-
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
lima gination. She would reveal to the
downtrodden of her set the lofty
ideals upon which she fashioned her
self, and they would rise up and call
her blessed.
Alas for the airy fabrics of fancy!
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 ex-
tant, and after careful consideration
made her choice. That department of
science known to professordom as en-
tomology, but in vulgar parlance al
luded to as bugology, became her pas
sion. Being a young person of sur
prising energy, whatever she under
took she did with all her might, and in
short time she was head over ears
in her new pursuit. Creeping things
which most people shun with loathing
she cultivated with enthusiasm. She
made friends of the Shiny denizens of
pools and marshes, smiled on slugs
and worms, and even took the furry
caterpillar to her heart.
Admirable as this was from scien-
tific point of view it 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 disapproved of her mental
vagaries,' but this last one 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 Enthusiastically 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 subduing of
obdurate hearts.
Ethelinda was the valedictorian of
the graduating class of that wear. 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 occas sionS she uada NO ou,,a;.
to the alma mater from whose shel.
tering arms the class was about to
take its plunge into the cold, raw
world without, but instead gave her
audience 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 an.
proval, some smiled in derision, but
on the whole it was very well taken.
Only the professor of belles-lettres
shuddered as he listened, and inward.
ly made still frmer resolves to win
the audacious 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 a plan
and the blessed vacation time coming
to his aid, he threw himself into il
heart and soul. With awful mendac.
ity, he declared himself convert tc
Miss Grayson's hobby, and after TIA,
L, ~. ia Id. ,...t. - q. ..,