Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-11-28
RufuS'
FQre1 ell
Hop. s &
DOUGLAS
Copyright, 1905, by 7. C. Mcclure


by his sponsors in baptism. Cadet Lieu
tenant James Woodward Sims. q. 5. N.
was in love.
That it was an attack Of cadet love
his classmates emphatically denied. al
Annapolis the accepted proverb Is Ca
Diet love is akin TO calf love- and they
could not detect symptoms Of the latter
malady in Rufus.
The fact that he was in love was
eyinced when Reardon, his roommate.
came suddenly upon the young man III
n reverie of which the inside boards OF
his locker door seemed TO be the object
Reardon coughed and otherwise made
his presence known. If Rufus had been
caught In the act of scaling the wall he
could not have exhibited more guilty
expression. For the first time in theii
acquaintance Reardon saw the big lieu
tenant blush like q schoolgirl. His color
rivaled the auburn of his hair. from
which he derived his sobriquet.
A photograph of a girl hung on the
inner side of the locker door. The usual
array of athletes. family portraits OF
footlight favOrites was absent. This
picture alone adorned the space.
Reardon looked at the picture for a
minute studying girlology. RufusE
he asked to break the awkward silence
"Looks like it. doesn't itt' Rufus
embarrassment was evident.
& ut needs study. old man. A fellow
must study it carefully. and even then
I. be often 'flunks' when the test comes"
.sThis species needs It," admitted Ru-
fus. looking up at the face in the pho
tograph.
eyes" said Reardon in q slightly in
terrogative tone. He did not want to
seem curious.
"She-it's Bess. you know-writes me
that she will be unable 10 come to the
farewell hop. She has a previous en-
gagement, she says
perhaps she has" Reardon suggest
ed by way of consolation, although the
idea seemed ludicrous to him. \ previ-
Gus engagement when the Annapolis
farewell hop was III question!
"Well, but she couldn't, man-that is.
we have talked of it the whole year
and when | was at home on the last
leave we-well, Reardon, we sort Of
fixed things up. you know" confessed
Rufus, the deep red lodging through
his skin again. "And she said she
would be down for the hop and to our
graduation. | suppose it's her wom-
ans prerogative TO change her mind.
but Rufus besitated.
81 understand, old man. It's bit
rough on fellow. She may explain
later" Reardon felt awkward in the
role of sympathizer. 1t was such for
eign element in his relation with Ru-
fus.
There's one little thread of POSSIBLE
ity in some nonsense which has passed
between us that might explain matters
to me; but, oh, it is such an absurd.
such an utterly impossible. reason, that
i would not suggest it to her.,
Rufus was silent. Should he put in
to words the foolish little matter Which
had been weighing upon his mind?
Reardon looked at him expectantly.
you know, Reardon, how we fell
lows always joke and laugh about the
necessity of naval officers marrying
money. You realize that on every oc-
casioD we give vent TO the time worn
declaration that we must have a girl
with capital. l, like the rest of you
have done it, and-well. Bess was quail
flied i'm that direction. though it never
occurred to me at the time.
Recently her father met with re
verses-not serious, you understand
but, oh, hang it. don't you see? She
might have taken all that nonsense Sc
riously," finished Rufus. He did not
look up at Reardon.
And Reardon did just the wrong
thing at that moment. He laughed. II
ell seemed so far out of the limits of
possibility.
Forgive me, Rufus" he said. put
ting out his hand. but could not help
1t. Cheer up. And. I say, Rufus. don't
you think perhaps overstudy has affect
ed your head?" he said. significantly in
dicating his head.
Rufus smiled In spite of himself and
grasped his roommate's hand.
Perhaps" he said. closing the locker
door and taking up his cap Going TO
Mrs Butler'sT
The latter question was quite unnec-
essary, for Mrs. Butler was the wife of
Lieutenant Commander Butler of the
Naval academy, and her teas were gen.
orally considered the last torments of
the first class man. not that they were
unpleasant, but they were duty. a
mart of their education for the life of
naval officer.
Personally Rufus considered them
less of a duty than pleasure. for he
had spent several pleasant hours with
the gracious hostess.
As they pulled the old fashioned
knocker of the house In Blake row Ru-
fus pulled himself together as if to cast
all sentimental thoughts from his mind.
II Bess had a previous engagement
she might keep it.
ssMr. Sims. how do you do? And Mr..
Reardon?' said Mrs. Butler from be
hind the tea table. Perhaps l was Just
looking for you"
1--WE will give ourselves the benefit
1.-the doubt. eh. RufusY' Reardon said,
CHANGING about the room. Here and
there were little groups of cadets.
ssvery well. Which of you is at liber
r. for the farewell hopY' Mrs Butler
laughed with the consciousness of hay
ing asked q preposterous question.