The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-06

lively and individually. Whatever they
babe him he must do; whatever they
forbade him he must not do. He must
stand the test. and no one could say
that Tom Rutherford was unequal to
it.
The rule of tit for tat governed the
Kappas, and, in comparison as Ruther-
ford was difficult to pledge, so should
it be difficult for him to survive his
probation. He merited his adoption,
but he must SubStantiate his evidence
One of the first duties his prospective
frat brothers set for themselves was
to ascertain whether or not Rutherford
was afflicted with a malady of the
heart-sentimentally, that is. They
had observed symptoms of an affection
before he pledged himself to them, and
they straightway took steps to learn
how serious the disorder had become
Miss Isabel Lee was suspected of be-
ing the object of Rutherford's affec-
lions, although the young man was
very quiet and uncommunicative when
girls or girlology was in question 1t
was little information they ELECTED
from him on the subject, which very
fact made him the more desirable as
brother.
Not one of the Kappas could blame
Rutherford for his addiction to Miss
Lee. She was pretty, she was fascinat-
ing, she was altogether girl after
their own hearts; but-Rutherford was
on probation.
AS soon as the fraternity boys made
certain that Miss Lee was Ruther-
ford's inamorata they assiduously ap-
piled themselves to cultivate her ac-
quaintance. To their secret gratlfca-
ton they discovered that on the third
finger of very pretty little hand Miss
Lee wore a solitaire diamond, and that
every time Rutherford's name was
mentioned she glanced consciously
toward it and blushed the prettiest
pink imaginable.
That settled matters for Rutherford;
he would be attacked in a vulnerable
spot. He was called before a meeting
and informed that an important
requisite for eligibility in the Kappa
Sigma fraternity was a whole heart,
one unchanged by sentiment. In other
words, no Kappa Sigma could become
engaged or be in that state during his
first year in the fraternity. Putting 1t
plainly, they told Rutherford he must
break his engagement and deliver the
ring into their keeping until they
should see fit to return it.
Rutherford turned a few of the colors
in the rainbow at first, then suddenly
he remembered that he was on proba-
ton, that he was pledged to do their
bidding He was bound in honor to
obey them.
That evening, escorted by a body of
Kappas, he called on Miss Lee, and,
while they waited out of doors for
hill, lOlQ ueT lie UluSl dSh 1OI Ills lib
and release her from her promise to
marry him. He could not bring him
self to tell her he did not love her, but
he said something had arisen in his
life to make it absolutely necessary
that he break his betrothal vows to
her. Those were the words the Kap-
pas put into his mouth on the way
there Rutherford felt the cad he was
acting in Isabel's eyes, but he was
equal to the terms of his probation,
Sce
fed as he had never seen her before,
said little, but she could not hide the
expression of utter establishment and
incomprehensibility in her eyes, and
yes. there was sorrow and disapoint-
ment too. Rutherford saw it beneath
the pride. He felt that he had never
loved her so much.
From that night he led the busiest
life he had ever imagined possible. He
carried the Kappa's books, he ran er-
rands for them, he translated their
Greek and Latin, he was dressed in
rade the streets; he even had to clean
boots and press clothes for the frater-
nifty men. But never once did he waver
from his cause. Perhaps it was well
that his hours were fully occupied or
he might have permitted his thoughts
to turn Isabel Lee-ward-
Rutherford had just one week more
of probation, and he had won the ap-
prevail of every prospective fraternity
brother. He was still running merry
pace to their driving, and he began to
wonder what was in store for him at
initiation. He faneied that the climax
would be exciting-for him, at least
After initiation he knew the first thing
he would do, and it did not take him
many minutes to decide what that was.
either. He would see Isabel and try to
explain his attitude; he dared not think