Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-05-31
BLAKE
Continued from Page q

DE began to tninK or THIS one ne was
troubled about it. The change In him
was gradual. He had met her with
Freeda. naturally. oftener than he met
the other girls. He liked her bright,
almost impertinent, remarks even when
they We're directed against himself.
There was habit among the girls
In Hope college that winter of saying
smart things about one another and
fashion for epigrammatic filings at
the teachers and things in general that
was not commendable. A few girls.
like Freeda, never INDUCED in the
habit. 1T is not wit; it is a kind Of
whiplash talk that stings afterward,"
she would say. And yet even Edward.
who was the poorest kind of talAer
himself, found himself attempting The
same style OF repartee whenever he
met Frpeda's roommate. She answer
ed him, but, more than that Interested
Linn in her. She had serious side to
her character that appealed to him.
She had shelf next to his in the
laboratory, being one of the few girls
taking a full course in chemistry, and
very often during their experiments
on test problems Edward would find
occasion to help her. He was an ey-
pert In laboratory work. having kept
up his practice through the preceding
summer. He was planning to be
doctor, and Miss Seton more than once
declared her intention to study for the
degree Of NJ. d.
Il don't want to teach or 60 into
music or any Of those things" she
used to say. II want a profession
that calls for nerve and has some dis.
coveries possible in it."
Edward Blake did not reason very
profoundly over the facts. as they be-
came more and more facts. while the
term drew to its close and commence
ment was near. But that is not saying
that he did not know what the facts
We're. And it is true of him that, be-
ing of the character he was, he was
disturbed more deeply than he cared
to confess. For the first time in his
life he experienced a feeling that
threatened to interrupt his other am
bitions He had always sneered quiet.
ly, all to himself, at the, few men in
college who had danced attendance on
the girls in such way as to be notice
able. He began to realize that he was
drifting along into, If not the sama
category. a position where he had
never been before.
He was sitting at his table one even.
ing thinking of the whole matter. with
his books open around him and his
mind restless over the fact Of his in.
creasing thought of another person
who had silently grown thus to de-
mand place there. when he was star.
tied by a knock at the door. He had
not heard any one come up stairs, and
he had been so occupied that he had
not expected or been prepared for an
interruption.
He went to the door and saw Presi.
dent Royce standing there with lady.
BLAKE. this is Mrs Prt&on, Willis
mother" said the president as they
came in.
Edward greeted the visitor warmly.
Mrs. Preston's face was serious as she
returned the greeting. AS she sat
down Edward knew from her manner
that she had some news Of Willis that
must be Of grave Importance. He wait
ed for it with genuine interest, bis own
affairs for the time being forgotten at
the sight of this sad faced woman,
whose history was only partly known
70 him.