The Globe-republican., 1903-02-12
CHAPTER XVI.

She took from him the newspaper
he held out, and read at the place
where his finger indicated the follow.
ing telegraphic announcement:
THE trustees of Clavering College,
Illinois, at a special meeting held yes
terday, elected Miss Eleanor Baldwin
as president Of that institution in place
of David B. Albion, resigned. Miss
Baldwin, the newly elected lady presi-
dent, and late assistant professor of
history and literature at the college, is
in her twenty-ffth year, and is said to
be very attractive in her personal ap-
pearance and a favorite with the stu.
dents both male and female. Her cleo
ton gives general satisfaction"
What do you think of that" ex.
claimed Harold, with manifest enthu.
siasm, when he saw that his wife had
finished.
What does 1t mean?" she asked,
with a somewhat dazed air.
"Why, she has been chosen presi.
dent Of the college.
How can she be PRESIDENT"
How can she be? Why shouldn't
she be? She isn't the first woman who
has been put at the head Of an edaca.
tional institution. It's a great com.
pliment to her, and-and does great
credit to her ability and pluck. Pres.
ident! Well, that is a ten.strlke!"
Harold, | think it's awful"
why Is it awful?"
I'm the first place, to be known as a
lady president Is enough to make one
III, Salesladies and lady typewriters
are terrible enough, but this caps the
climax"
Come, now, Cherub, be reasonable.
You are lodging the question. You
must admit that they have paid her a
great compliment"
Emma drew her cloak about her
frigidly, as she replied;
II suppose she has got what she
wanted, If you mean that"
mot one girl in a thousand would
have done so we'll"
mot one girl in ten thousand would
have wished to-"
81 am sorry for your sex, them" he
retorted warmly. II mean to telegraph
my congratulation at the next station
Emma made no reply, and resting
her cheek on her gloved hand, turned
to the landscape again. But the sud.
denness with which she reverted her
head for a few moments later be-
trayed the warmth Of her emotions,
though she spoke with measured SEN
fences:
"Of course, Harold, | understand and
recognize that 1t Is a great compli-
ment, in one sense of the word, to
have been chosen president, or what
ever 1t Is, of this college; and | will
say frankly that 1t is a surprise to me
that Eleanor should have been selected
to fill such a position, She must have
more ability of a certain kind than |
gave her credit for, and | am ready to
admit that she Is entitled to be con
graduated, But II, at the same time,
you expect me to say that | think she
is more to be congratulated because
she Is to spend her days as the lady
president Of a mixed college than she
would be II she had married Owen
Page, | beg to be allowed to differ
from you. What will her life be? For
all | know, she will have to wear
boomers; but, assuming that she Is
allowed to dress like other female NOR
tails, she will be expected to be pecu.
liar and strong.mlnded and-and I'm.
attractive. She Is more than likely to
remain single, and her best years will
be passed in listening to hum-drum
recitations and collecting funds for
new dormitories."
Instead Of leading a life Of frivolous
and elegant leisure, like the rest OF
you"
Mrs. Stage tossed her head and an
swered with calm disdaln:
did | not know that you were
merely trying to excite me, Harold,
might take offense at the personal
character Of your remark, AS to your
saying that Eleanor would have been
Obliged to lead q life Of frivolous ana
elegant leisure, as you call 1t, had she
seen fiji to behave like an ordinary
rbricfiop hotnU ond ,norr,, tho mnn