The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-04-29

nat CNeliHS, eSCOIlcu Ny II DOuS OF
kappas, he called on Miss Lee and.
while they waited out Of doors for him.
told her he must ask for his ring and
release her from her promise to marry
him. He could not bring himself to
tell her that 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,
whatever happened. Miss Lee. digni-
fed as he had never seen her before,
said little, but she could not hide the
expression of utter establishment and
incomprehensibility i'll her eyes, and
yes, there was sorrow and disappoint-
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 IHappas' books. he ran er-
randS for them, he translated their
Greek and Latin, he was dressed in
outlandish costumes and made to
parade the streets; he even had to
clean boots and press clothes for the
fraternity men. But never once did he
waver from his cause Perhaps it was
we'll that his hours We're fully occupied
or he might have permitted his
| thoughts to turn Isabel Lee-ward
| Rutherford had just one week more
of probation, and be had won the APP
prevail of every prospective fraternity
brother. He was still running a merry
pace to their driving, and he began to
wonder what was in store for him at
initiation. He fancied 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 she would refuse to sympa-
thize with his cause.
The Kappa Sigmas did not let time
hang heavily on Rutherford's hands |
during the last week. Two nights be-
fore initiation they Informed him that
he must go down to Don's, a cafe fire.
quented by students. and act as waiter |
for the evening. He was not to rec
ognize ally one, and he was to accept |
tips in compliance with the custom of
his assumed position, which tips,
firm hnY IN no oil n q
frat" funds.
Rutherford dressed in the walters
garb, which his friends had secured
for him. was clumsily handing out club
sandwishes and coffee. salads, oysters
on the half shell, pie, and milk shakes,
when a number of the Kappas came
noisily into Dons. He took their or
ders without a sign of recognition, even
if he did forget napkins and place the
knives on the left Of the plates. The
Kappas, when his back was turned.
nodded approval in his direction. Ruth
erford was all right-so far, they init
mated.
Presently the door swung open and.
smiling and pretty in theatre attire,
Miss Isabel entered, escorted by
Kappa Sigma, who quietly recognized
his frat brothers. They sat down
before Rutherford, who was deep in
the mysteries of connecting a French
salad, saw them. When he looked mp
his eyes met those Of Isabel Lee. For
a moment she stared at him to make
sure of his identity; then, without
sign of recognition, turned to her eS
cort Rutherford did not hear the
questions that she put to the Kappa,
but he felt instinctively that they were
of him. He wondered whether the
fellow would tell her. If not. Isabel
would think that he had reached the
bottom of his financial resources. Per
hapS she would think that was the rea-
son he had asked for his ring-that
he might realize on it. 1t was almost
too much for Rutherford but he set
his teeth and took their order. She
spared him as much embarrassment as
possible, and ate as little and as
quickly as she could. He heard her
catch her breath as he quietly accepted
the quarter tip from her companion.
When he held her coat and slipped
her warm fur about her neck she
looked at him with an expression
which said, "What does it all mean?'
And he could not tell her. Would it
be too late when he could?
Never had the Kappa Sigma boys
been so glad to welcome man to in
itiation into their midst as they did
Tom Rutherford He had stood the
hardest test they could invent. They
11,ora NOT without an onDraciatiOn of