New-York tribune., 1903-07-10


Railroads shot from the four quarters Of the /
country. and found their target in Carfax. One /
fancied they came in every day like monstrous
commercial travellers and registered a fresh
steel signature or the welcoming guest book. I
With the growth Of business came the cIamor
that Carfax College should grow too Wanted
Fairy Prince to wake the Sleeping Beauty!
Carfaxians were aware that college was out
Of date; university was their desire. Al first
the white haired trustees resisted, but the pres
sure was becoming cry strong John Murdoch,
Carfax Eight~-blank manufacturer Of pickles.
was among those who had voiced most strenu-
ously the need for new s,lans and new life. Now
John Murdoch had been elected to the board Of
trustees The cameI's head was in would the
beast ultimately possess the tent? What DR..
Craven thought one knew. Yet IL is true
that DR.. Craven had been gently pessinistic for
some years-ever since the death Of his second
little girl, lie child OF his old age. He had given
kind Of granCfatherly alteration to this little
Isabelle. When she went away from him he
grew older fast. He lived now only in the col
lege That too was his child: it was part Of
him. Perhaps because he a day coming
when the college too would be taken away from
him, he loved it all the more. He never allowed
himself TO wonder about that day. however. He
saw the signs of coming change. but IT seemed
impossible that the change could come in his
time
The guests began to dribble in These Thurs
day afternoon teas of the presidents wife were
features Of Carfax College life. OF old she had
held them Saturday, but they interfered so
seriously with the football games that popular
request succeeded in setting them back TO
Thursday. They had not the charm of select
ness. these teas: any one on the faculty
welcome to drop in; students were frequently
invited; now and again the townspeople were
there. visitors who came bearing the pass
ports Of Scholarship or Art. Yet the rooms were
| somehow never crowded, as they were never less
than charming. The presidents wife, in a mys-
terious fashion of her own kept the assem-
| blages as she wanted them. and they remained
! IN memory with queer grateful fragrance. like
| lavender sachets. Even the tea was different
and better than one drank elsewhere-a kind OF
| Russian blend. Mrs. Craven liked to have you
praise It, but when you asked her where she
| got it she only smiled Indeed some OF her
| many lovers said you might well ask her
! where she got her STILL placid satisfying man
ner, her sympathetic, low voice, her delicious
| attar-of-roses conversational pleasant and
so rare. That tea, they insisted. the COM
mon garden Hyson Of the grocer's shop; but in
| Mrs. Craven's hands it became-what you knew.
| What could you expect-since the hands were
| Mrs. Craven's?
| Bradford and Kate came in together. Kate
| was the doctors eve lamb Looking at Kate's
/ thews and sinews one doubts the applicability
| of the metaphor Let US then say simply, Kate
| was the one graduate student in Greek The
| doctors Greek was his wine Of life; Kate was
the spice in the wine.
| Bradford and the doctor-every one called him
the doctor. even his wife--he was that kind Of
man-feII into shop talk. while Mrs Craven vel
coined Bradford. poured him a cup OF tea and
| asked about his European journey. Her words
were the simplest possible, but somehow Brad
ford felt that she was really interested. That
was Mrs. Craven's way. But presently he was
driven away, apd found himself talking to a
woman of a very different sort Miss Mangler
was the one woman member Of the faculty of
Carfax College. She was an assistant in his
tory. The undergra duates called her The
Curse"
She included in her vestal smile both Brad
ford and the tall assistant professor Of mathe-
MATES. Have you seen our author?'' she in
quired. NO? Oh. you must" She showed her
teeth, OF which she was justly proud Very
handsome, very malicious, and very popular, OF
course But not with me; not with me"
Why not?" politely inquired the assistant
professor of mathematics. (FIis name was Car
hart, by the way. but so few people knew him
that it had almost fallen into disuse-)
He quotes Longfellow." she shuddered
10 our poets for meat, and are fed on uush."
William Longfellow is captain Of the eleven "
| murnured the assistant professor Of rnathe-
mates I must inquire whether they are re-
! lated"
AT least they are not the same" retorted
Miss 0IangIer, tartly.
7 know, know" placidly responded the as
sistant professor
But which of these people is the author"
asked Bradford, with an appearance Of interest
The with the pink eyes" she snapped
You should meet him. He borrows his style
steals his incidents, and copies his characters
Secondhand literature is the curse OF America
Have you met him? viii you present us?'
4 have not" she answered; nor do expect
to- Miss Mangler's air was that of who
would resist to the uttermost any attempt tc
force the acquaintance At this moment Z
woman in the group around the author beck
oned to The Curse" Miss Mangler left them
almost with d rush. The next instant tEey be
held the authors introduction, and Miss Nan
gler IN animated conversation with him
The curse of America muttered the assist
ant professor OF mathematics
The curse of-Carfax." responded Bradford
Carharrs eye. revolving in his direction. kindled
slightly, though his sad mouth remained TN
changed. What do you Think he asked witt
grave irrelevancy, of the chances Of tht
eleven?"
Il think more Of the chances than I do of the
eleven" answered Bradford. But I really
don't know. I only got back two days ago"
Really inquired the assistant professor
with mournful courtesy. He seemed to ponder
the statement in all its bearings Then he re
marked, We should win from Upton, however
We should" said Bradford but shall we?'