The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-06-09
A saorHGR o. GOOD cHEsa,


Bates Hall resei groom oi the BosiS
Public Library, q ida did no, observe b
r,ishhor Kefoss the istie. 10 fact, Hllr
was cot 10 mood for obSeylng auybod
The ho, tur ef early Julg bltHsd in a. a
windows, the dAy vas ful.fy, humid, az
Hlld,'s head srhsd with tie hes, With a
hea, ard good deal else.
She dropp,d her Pie ofaI..bo k' on u
table. tui she did 20, order Ary books
rcferer CT, as she had msant to do when Oh
entered. Instead, she opentd h,r Laii
grammar. Sac iii not read u, but spr,a
that horrld letter Gu. on the opened pag,
ard q I'D at Il, elbows oa The isb'e AL
both hands shading her eyes. The cou
muulcailoa was CUT, fllelsl, cruel Il ~
nlfs that MIss Hllda Carer bad not pas
cd her lmlnsiions fJr entrance into Rad
cl n College. Bu. that was hot The wors
Of n. This Was sxsctlv the tix b such dc Z
ument that Hilds bad received duiing tb
last three ytsu. unknown TO herself, sh
hsd become a nam - both amosg trlml
rers sud those 10 be examined.
Not iha' sbe would have tartd II The lat
kaov n--the hsd failed sgaln, that was oil
II goa bad fai.od In your college eIsmlre
lIons iiI time Ard ", moreover, II va
not for yourself that you csred-beeautc
for yourself, sou could lot for your IL
see Why any girl shauld want to % to col
lefe, any girl, that is, who could stay, In
stead, In dear little rose-bowered village
home up 10 Vermont, with the most pre-
eious OF fathers 10 be kissed aud codd!tt
aud taken care Of through your busy, cezy,
house-wifely days
IL was not for your own sake you cared
but for the sake OF the dearest person In
all your world. II WAS the ore thing te
wanted you to dc, to 10 to college, and II
was the one tbirg you could not do, srd
J ou had tried aud tried and tried
The summer sunshine grew din, lps tfat
sought to be firm began to trtmb'e, some
thing splathed down on the hated letter
ard then all tears cleared away for sheer
surprise.
Right under Hilda's nose appeared bit
Of blue paper, the reverse side CT the Bates
Hall reference slip Words were peIclled
upon T.;
Hot and dull ard horrid up here, isn't It,.
|. It's 90 down In The court. LIS much bet
ter down there.
The bewildered Hilda stared tcross the
table. A mop OF white hair, somewhat
tossed, as II he had run bis hands through
i, a hne-seamed old face, with rosy color
IN the checks, lips parted eagerly like q
Doy's. yet sweet with the sweetness only
II old age, and eyes-Ililda had never seen
eyes quite like theso-keen old eyes Of clear.
,st blue, invincibly merry, vet tender,
rank as morning, eyes that showed the
1ery soul Of him in all lite compelling frank.
ness.
Hilda still looked at him, wondering,
He also looked at her, yuizzi'
al, kindly.
Let's he pleaded.
1t you do not understand why Hilda gath
red up her books and led the way ou. to
he staircase, then 1t is because you do not
lnow what 1t feels like to be hopeless and
and hot and tired, and to have
allied in your college examinations elk
lines. And also you have perhaps never
to meet Hilds's old gentleman.
He skipped down the stairs as II his sew
nty years had been seven.
am so glad you came he said.
II was cooler out 10 the court, although
he sun still glared in dazzling bars across
he pavement Of the colonnsdes. The two
ought the shady side, however, and leaned
'sck to el Joy the refreshing tinkle Of the
entrsl fountain as II splashed amid Its
urroundiog green. Hildas companion took
er books from him, and dropped them on
he pavement by his side Of the bench.
Pat them out Of sight, he said. re.
member when | hated them. D)n't you
ate themi
Indeed do said Hilda.
You're no, very fond OF study, are you
e suggested.
Just hate Il said Hide, wearlly. You
re, che explsined, can't understand
hlrg'.
What, not anyihi1af
No, not any ytbing at all, said Hila, In a
,ne OF pa lent cor victor.
A fmlle twitched at the corners OF his
iouh. hilda would insist on pulling that
implied little face Of hers into such wobe.
one linos. Bat yet be saw that the child
as reslly pale ard reIvous ard over-
They were silent minute, then
. said, 'Don't you think you might as well
II me about /. z
I've failed, ssii Hllda.
F.itd In wbaiy
Failed in my college tximF, taid Hilda,
lrprised. She did not know what else
lere could be 10 which to fail.
Dear, dsrl said the old gentleman,
leerily.
Bat h's the sixth time, said Hilda.
He tIrned aud looked at her almost
'arply. What pluck he exclaim ID.
What ,rhaif querisd BiIds.
What pluck with immense emphasis.
SLOW AZ Hilis vas to understsnd, I.
ade her feel hstter, bu. she went on Truth
us:
Ii vssh't pluck l. was father. He wants
c to 20 10 college, but | last want to 60
,ne ard take care Of hlT.
why don't you 20, thenf
Why, can't exclaimed Hilda. have
keep on trying. We sgteed when came
10 jane thai III failed agsli | should