The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-01-10
CHAPTER III-Ct ntinued.


"Blake," repeated the professor
| wife, smiling Then she caught the
look on Edwards face. and her qulcl,
glance went over 10 Frcpda, who was
standing opposite. Blake! Why. that's
the name Of
Eyes. maam," replied Edward blunt.
~. "She's my sister"
81 didn't know-I-you see-we have
been here only little whie-and-
your sister-only applied few days
ngo for the place. She--it's quite a com.
mon thing for the college girls to work
out this way, isn't it,"
Edwards hostess was trying to make
the best Of an embarrassing situation
as she noted the evident embarrass-
ment OF the young man. But she mis-
took the cause CT his feeling. His mind
was tossed with conflicting emotions.
He had too much sense, thanks to his
home training. to feel ashamed at the
sight of Freeda in the capacity of a
servant. He had always been proud Of
labor and saw no disgrace in any hon.
est form Of it. But what was trou-
bling him now was the thought that
for two weeks he had been squander-
ing his earnings TO indulge his new
born passion for the cheap shows Of a
theater while Freeda was voluntarily
taking up the burden of this new serv-
ice in order to relieve the people ON the
little farm at home.
AS the dinner went on the torture of
his situation grew upon him until he
would have been glad if by any means
he could escape. The food che Ied him.
He answered with difficulty the kind
inquiries of his hostess and tried to re-
ply to her often repeated attempts to
explain how stupid she must have
been not to have known that it was his
sister that was working for her. The
other students knew Freeda. but after
the first sight of her they made nothing
of the fact, as it was not uncommon in
Hope college for the girls to do as Free
da was doing.
But as long as he lives in this world
Edward Blake will remember the event
of that Christmas dinner. The profess
cause of the evident trouble in the
awkward boy seated by her. She final
ly gave up the attempt to amuse or en-
terrain him and directed her efforts to
the student on the other side of her.
And Edward sat through the different
courses, angry and ashamed and self
reproachful. His slow and generally
Unconditional nature when once fairly
aroused was a volcano. The very fact
of his stubborn love of exact truth add.
ed to his sense of dishonor as he con.
fronted his recent yielding to q physic-
al temptation in the attendance on the
theater with what he knew he ought to
have done. Every time Freeda came
in he had fresh shifting of conscience
with conduct. He wanted to see Free
da and have a talk with her, and at the
same time he knew that he had not yet
fought out the battle of his temptation
and was not able to face the calm, pure
life that he had always loved in her.
At last the dinner was over, and the
company went into the parlor. a
storm was beginning outside. The
snow which had threatened all the
morning came at last with rising
wind that promised before night to
drvelop into n gale.
Edward was so thoroughly disturb.
ed by his convictions that he begged
to be excused and stammered some
awkward apology for going so soons
AS he went out into the hall and then
opened the outer door into the storm
door Freeda came in from another
entrance opening on the dining room.
She spoke quietly, but with a good
deal of feeling.
"Ned, don't want you to go away
without speaking to me. Are you an.
gryY
mot at you" replied Edward. But
as he spoke he could not look her in
the face as he used to do
"You are not well, Ned" Freeda
spoke quietly. "You are having some
trouble
iii tell you some time, not now"
he replied, and after a moments hest.
tation he abruptly opened the door and
went out.
He started toward his room, but
when he reached the steps of Rankin