The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-06
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

ss $ s ' ass < Jessie was .. ico-ed." She was not a brilliant student. nor was she overly in- dustrtous; but she was too sweet of dispo-
 sition and too fair of face and form to ! excite the answer of the most hardened professor; and the idea of giving her a mark that would condition her on a terms work was quite out of the ques- ton; though, with nothing but respect
 have had trouble in passing some ex- aminations had she been less fair. Of course. I was attracted by her charms. as was nearly every other fellow that admired a graceful girl of sixteen; but that which first established bond between us was the fact that was little better in my studies than she. only got the very limit of pettigogic wrath for my shortcomings. She pitied me, think, and seemed to realize that perhaps I was bearing her cross as well as my own. Once she even showed resentment at the injustice of the treatment accorded me. After that I rather ached in the throat whenever I thought of her-and I would take ioEg walks alone around the Doug las monument, and on the breakwaters that ran out into the lake. My admira- ton was first manifested by each morn ing before chapel calling at the ladies assembling parlor and requesting the ma tron to present Miss Jessie with little box of flowers, that got regularly from a florist on Thirty-eighth street She wore them pinned upon her bosom. Not once during the exercises would she glance over towards the quarter where freely. and knew that she was thinking of me.
 I was freshman and a Greek letter most powerful organization in the Uni vefsity,, aud consequently we considered qtIfsefves the leaders on college social matters. have heard since that the oth- ArFR a.sg ~II At~ idsas on the subject regarding themselves At any rate, most of the pretty girls woge, our pins and colors, and we made GdOur business to see that they were pfoperly provided with escorts on all oc- casions, when such courtesy was neces- sary, and aside from the regular weekly meeting of the literary society. we gave fraternity social every other week.
 was the first to bring the fair Jessie to one of these socials; there she met for the first time the seniors of our frater- nifty, and conversed with them on equal ground. One senior, whose first name was Richard, was especially attentive, and this annoyed me greatly, but our etiquette on these matters was very strict, and as no one was supposed to fall in love, the idea of showing jealousy was simply out of the question. and I had to bleed be- meath an iron corset. But how glad was when it was over and we were on our way home.
 Jessie lived on Indiana Avenue, several blocks from the University, and we walk ed along leisurely in the clear moonit autumn night.
 It was like her thrusting a dagger into my bosom when, after very long silence which had been broken only partly by several long deep breaths on my part. when she said that Richard had asked her to wear his fraternity pin.
 lived out near s South % Park % was Tss WearinS Mne it at the time. He had told her SO, but he intended to get it for Jessie.
 I have never had a pin, but l then and there asked her if she would not wear my pin-that 1t was ornamented with a row of diamonds and five emer- alds-that It was much more beautiful than Dicks and that mine was at the jewelry. store and had never been worn by any ether girl. l then hinted that the Lord alone knew how many girls had worn Dicks pin during his four years at the University.
 was serious enough, and am sure the little miss understood the situation far better than I did though I explained things to her of which I knew nothing and she knew everything.
 She would wear my pin-I was quite happy. The next day 1 negotiated loan and went down town and ordered just such a one as had described to her. How 1 languished for the day when it would be finished and I could see her wear 1t aipto the chapel.
 In the fraternity hall we kept q slate on which the committee on escorts re-
 
 different girls. The slate was arbitra- rily made up each week. It was only for special functions, such as Washington's supper, Presidents levee and the like that we were permitted to select for ourselves our company. Of course the committee was sunposed to distribute things about fairly and let every fellow have his evening with the favorites and who lived in South Chicago and talked so much.
 Dick was in the committee, and after that first night at the fraternity social, for four weeks, 1 had not been once assigned as Jessie's escort, while he had figured in that most enviable office three times. -
 But the pin question was settled, and was in despair over the tardiness of the jeweler. l heard Dick remark one evening after chapter meeting that he thought it a positive impertinence for freshman to persuade a fraternity girl to promise to put on his pin when she had been invited to wear that of se- nior. No one knew what he exactly meant but me, and I said nothing.
 big sophomore, who played third base in the ball nine, said, oh. rats! Suppose shed sooner wear the freshs pin2 You fellows make me tired"
 In time the pin was finished, and l experienced the delight of seeing Jessie the observed of all observers the morn ing she first wore 1t into chapel. My delight was somewhat clouded, however. Dy the knoWleQBe that there WdE all lued abroad that k was infringing upon the sacred rights 6f q senior. I heard nothing to this effect, but I just felt it was the case. Jessie seemed pleased beyond ex- pression. Still there were shadows too vague to be alluded to, but oppressive and full of forebodings.
 The following Sunday evening l called at her house to ask her to go to church with me To my dismay and surprise Richard was there talking with her fath- CT, and when church time came he marched off with Jessie. and l was in vited to accompany her father and mother. There was no escape, so I sub
 Thursdays story, THE LOST PURSE"