Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-03-12
Initiation. He fancied that the china.

| WOulu De exclting-for MN, at least
After initiation he knew the first thing
he would do and 1t 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 60 down TO Don's. cafe fire.
Quented by students. and act as waiter
for the evening. He was not to rec
Ognize any one, and he was to accept
tips in compliance with the custom Of
his assumed position, which tips
furthermore, were TO be added to the
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 number Of the Kappas came
nOlsly into Don's. He took their or
ders without sign of recognition, even
II 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 a
Kappa Sigma, who quietly recognized
his frat brothers. They sat down
before Rutherford, who was deep in
the mysteries of connecting French
salad, saw them. When he looked up
his eyes met those of Isabel Lee. For
a moment she stared at him to make
sure of his identity; then. without a
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 We're
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
We're not without an appreciation of
what they had done to him. They had
taken his sweetheart from him and
Inundated him before her, but he had
not been disconnected.
A brief ceremony Of initiation was
performed before it was announced to
Rutherford that now, as full-fiedged
member of the Kappa Sigma fra
ternity. he must ride the. proverbial
goat and go through the numerous per-
ilous feats which accompany initiation.
1t must be admitted that Rutherford
shook a little inwardly. Outwardly, he
he was as calm as woman at her
They Dlindfolded him, turned him
around three times, and raised him to
the shoulders of six merr, who carried
him out of doors and through several
streets for some fifteen minutes. Ruth
erfOrd was wondering where he was
and what was to be the outcome when
he was suddenly put upon his feet
and told to stand still. Tho Kappas
rang a door bell and quickly dlsap-
peared leaving Rutherford standing
alone.
In moment he heard door open
and felt warm little hand drawing
him within. Snatching the bandage
from his eyes, he looked down at Isa-
bel. blushing and happy, and then
well, he Just took her in his big, strong
arms, and said all manner Of things
he had not had time even to think of
for month.
"Who told you?" he asked her after
a while.
1.-THE boys, of course" she answered,
nesting her head against his coat.
"And see what they gave me-" she
said, holding up her left hand.
"And you'll wear it again?" he cried.
"Oh, Isabel, this is the most glorious
initiation man ever had."-Philadel-
mia 7 odUnr