The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-04-10

to the gymnasium, where the senior
ball was that night to be held. Ros-
siter's special friends were making
calls in town, and within the frater
nifty house the under-classmen were
entertaining several prospective fresh
men. Rossiter was hence left quite
to himself, yet he was in no wise
lonely, his thoughts being very agree
able company. Presently strains of
music floated down to him across the
campus. For a while he listened to
them dreamily, then it occurred to
him that it might be interesting to
see what an up-to-date college ball
was like, so he rose and sauntered
towards the gymnasium.
AS he emerged from the maple
shadow, he found the combination
of music and moonlight so beguiling
that he was in no hurry to venture
farther, so he seated himself upon
the steps of the chapel, which ad-
joined the gymnasium, directly be-
meath the symmetrical finger of the
spire.
To the north he could mark the
spasmodic twinkling of the electric
towers of Illica, and there, in the
vague purple distance to the south
east, lay the Merton farm.
His face was set in this direction
when an unusually lively air from
the orchestra stirred him from his
reverie. With something like sigh
he turned towards the gymnasium,
and was soon climbing to the third
floor. AS he wheeled about to sur
vey the room, on reaching the top
stair, a gay spectacle met his eye.
Great streamers of old gold and blue
the college colors-were festooned
from beam to beam above the whirl-
ing dancers, and at intervals flags
and trophies captured at intercol-
legiate meets were suspended. There
was a general tiutter of gauzy fabrics
and a blending of talk and laughter
that ever and anon surged above a
dip in the music.
Among the patronesses, sitting not
far from where he stood, Rossiter
espied the wife of one of the profess
sors, lady who had formerly shown
him many kindnesses, and he crossed
to speak with her. He then found a
seat about half way down the room
in one of the deep windows. Could
anything be more blithesome, more
full of debonair life, he thought,
than the scene before him? They
were draining the clearest wine of
the cup of youth, these gay dancers!
For an instant the floor at his right
was nearly clear, and as his eyes
traversed this space they fell upon a
woman of middle age and a young
lady sitting upon an improvised
divan on the opposite side of the
room. He started as though touched
by an electric current. Was it-couId
it be? Did his vision not deceive
him? He sprang up, but at that in
slant two dancers swept between
him and the face on which he had
suddenly become strenuously intent.
The dancers passed. Yes, he was
not mistaken. 1t was the girl he
had known as Sylvia Densmore. His
heart gave a throb. One of the ball
committee was Fastening by, stu
dent whom Rossiter had spoken with
that day at the fraternity house.
Rossiter seized him by the arm.
IS Can you tell me-" said he, "who
that girl is yonder?" indicating the
place with nod. "The one upon the
dvan."
The student leaned forward so that
he could see between the spinning
couples.
That's Miss Densmore, of Illica I"
he answered. "Would you like to be
introduced to her? She's" He
stopped, amazed. Rossiter had
caught only his first words, and was
already making his way around the
edge OF the gyrating throng.
She was Miss Densmore still! A
new hope sang in his brain, and his
heart began dancing in rhythm to
the violins. He was perhaps 20 feet
distant when Miss Densmore realized
That some one was approaching and
glanced towards him, casually at
hrst, then with a quick, amazed in
tentness. He saw the color (she had
more than formerly recede from her
cheeks and then flood back again.
She rose little unsteadily.
rs it's it possible?" she ex-
claimed. ''Mr. Rossiter!"
"Yes," he answered, beaming upon
her as he clasped the hand which
she extended.
She surveyed at glance his trinity
clad figure.
Then you deceived us, after ALL"
she said, with shade of reproach in
her tone. "You were masquerad-
ing!"
mo! mol" cried Rossiter. "If you
will permit me, 1 will"
Miss Densmore seemed suddenly to
recollect herself, and presented Ros-
sitter to the lady with whom she had
been chatting-her mother. With
Mrs. Densmore Ga refined, low-spoken
woman) Rossiter exchanged a few
polite words, and then, at the daugh-
ter's suggestion, seated himself by
the side of the latter upon the divan.
He could but realize that the girl was
agitated, and as for himself, his wits
seemed all at once to have flown to
the four corners of the earth.
Monroe was my college," he aft
er little heard himself saving:
that's how it happens that I'm
here. There was a class reunion, YOU
know. I'm not in array, as you see,
but it's so long since I've been at a