The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-03-14

fend it. AT the same time he began to
justify 1t on the score of necessity, and
when the week was gone and another
Sunday came he found ii much easier
to silence any scruples he may have
had before. He even picked up one Of
his books in the morning before going
down to church, and in the afternoon
when he took the books down again he
seemed to be relieved to think that one
IF the studies had been got out of the
way in the morning.
When evening came, he went over to
get Freeda to go with him to some spe-
cial service down town.
1t was bright, frosty night, and
they walked both ways. Edward as
usual was silent until Freeda had ask
ed few questions.
Are you working too hard, Ned?"
mo, l don't think so. | feel we'll
enough. I'm pegging away at the de-
bate all my spare time. 1t comes off
this week Friday, you know"
"You have worked very hard on it,
haven't you? | do hope you will win
it," saM Freeda, who, in spite of her
disappointment in Edward, that he had
not made n decision during the evan
gelistic meetings just closed, still felt
the deepest possible interest in her
brothers success and was very enthu-
siastic in her praise of his scholarly
abilities.
II shall do my, level best, Are the
oi,.l onnainn n fhn 1photnC'
Edward asked because there had
been in past years a noticeable lack OF
interest on the part Of the girls in the
annual debate.
Are they? Why, they are coming
over in body. You don't seem to real
ize, Ned, that you are very popular at
the ladies' hail."
"Am I?' Among Edwards really
sterling good qualities was an absence
of conceit. If he prided himself on his
morality overmuch, he was at least
free from that pride of intellectual at
tainments or physical attractions that
distinguished a good many college stu
dents. He was not ladies' man, as
Willis always was, and so far he had
no special friends among the girls ex
cept Freeda. He did not seem to care
one way or the other. He was one out
of very few men In college who prob
ably never looked over to the girls side
of the room durng chapel. And in
classroom lie managed to have seat
at the end Of the row as far from any
girl as he could get He did not dislike
girls company. He was simply indif
ferent.
"You ought to have heard the girls
talk about your great football play a
the last game on the home grounds,
said Freeda, who felt little vexed a
Edwards silent Indifference.
Edward laughed little. "Some day
I suppose I'll fall in love and be as BIZ
a fool as some of the other fellows
You'll have to take second place then
Unless" he added with lightness OF
speech not characteristic of him, 'un
less you do the same thing, and ther
you won't care"
Freeda was silent, and Edward was
afraid he had hurt her feelings in some
way.
"Did l hurt you, Freeda?" he asked
more as he used to speak when they
were together on the farm.
mo, Ned" she replied softly. and
they both walked on for some distance
without talking.
81 have q little confession to make
Freeda," at last Edward spoke, his ole
habit of extreme truthfulness compel
| ling him to the statement. 1--WE had t
study on Sunday lately. I've been sc
busy l couldn't get my lectures any
other way"
Don't do it, Ned" Freeda urged
after a moment, during which Edward
had a conviction that his confession
had affected her disagreeably.
Don't you?"
mo, don't believe In it,
"Nor Miss Seton, ether" asked Ed
ward, little ironically.
| Ida Seton was great friend Of Free
das and was rooming with her thi;
! term.
"Yes, Ida studies once in awhile or
| Sundays" said Freeda reluctantly
81 can't make her see 1t the way
do"
There's nothing very wicked about
| it,"
mo, but it's foolish. You don't gair
anything by it in the long run"
''Then / don't see," answered Ed
ward, with a growl. "why the pro
fessor gives 1t to us so heavy for. Fri
days they give us a double. dose, as
II they expected us to study on Sun
day. Laid told me today that more
than three-fourths of all the fellow:
have to study on Sunday"
"They think they have to, maybe
But they don't really have to. Besides
Ned, you know mother would not like
it, and the president must be opposed
| to It,"
Hes never said anything agains
it."
"No, but he may at any of his Friday
talks. Tell me. Ned, IL the presiden
comes out against 1t, will you give i
up?"
81 will IL Miss Seton WILL" replied
Edward, laughing.
"I'n tell her." replied Freeda quick
ly.
mo, don't do thatw cried Edward
feeling alarmed at the idea.
IL shall, though. You've promised,
Freeda laughed. and. all Edwards re-