Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1901-07-17

CHE was a coed and had formed an
y unalterable resolve never to marry.
TO the general, or, in other words, in to
nonentity, and she felt herself too val
liable to be disposed of in that way.
der very name, Ethelinda Coddington
Grayson, pledged her to some thing 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 a 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
tate 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 a leader among
women had fascinated her young
imagination. 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!
$50, 4 Il
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 a
stole can stand being laughed at, and
Cthelinda 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 buEology. became her pas
sion. Being 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 a scien-
ttfo YNnir,l Of Mo .
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 tina
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 devisins
ways and means for the subduing O.
obdurate hearts.
Ethelinda was the valedictorian o
the graduating class of that year. an,
as such had the opportunity of he
life presented to her. She dared al
innovation and won. Departing from
the platitudes made and provided 70
such occasions, she made no allusio
to the alma mater from whose She
tering arms the class was about t
take it's plunge into the cold. IA,
world without, bu' instead gave he
audience little lecture on bugs, an
joyously predicted the day when the
would be served up, metaphoricall
speaking, morning, noon and nigh
at every table in the land.
Some of her hearers clapped in al
prevail, some smiled in derision, bu
on the whole it was very well takel
Only the professor of belles-lettre
shuddered as he listened, and inwart
Iy made still firmer resolves to wi
the audacious speaker. Ethelind
was worth saving from the slough {
absurditiy in which she was wallov
ing, and he would be her savior.
The professor had concocted pla
and the blessed vacation time comm
90 MS Alu, ne Threw niulSeu IuiO
heart and soul. With awful menda
ity, he declared himself convert I
Miss Grayson's hobby, and after tt
manner of converts he out-Herode
Herod in his zeal. He went ever
wnere with Miss Grayson, carried IL
implements with which she reapt
her wrggly harvest, mounted spec
mems for her, though the soul with
him revolted, and in thousand wa,
made himself Indispensable eHe
really quite useful Ethelinda a
knowledged to herself. ST don't kno
what 1 should do without him"
But there came a time whic
though Ethelinda was unconscious
At. was the crisis, the turning poi
lof all her days. The river that r,
by the town had the habit of owe
aowing its banks in the spring fires