The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-11

well that his hours were fully occupied
or he might have permitted bis
thoughts TO turn Isabel Lee ward
Rutherford had just one week more
OF probation and be had won the ap.
prOval Of every prospective fraternity
brother. He was still running a merry
pace TO their driving, and he began 10
wonder what was IN store for him az
Initiation. He fancied that the climax
would be excitlng-fOr him, at least.
After Initiation he knew the first thing
he would do. and It did not take him
many minutes 10 decide what that
was, either He would see Isabel and
try 10 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 RuthprfOrd's hands
during the last week. Two nights be.
fore initiation they Informed him that
he must go down 10 Don's, a cafe fire.
| quented by students and act a waiter
| for the evening He was not 10 rec
Ognize any one, and he was 10 accept
tips in compliance with the custom OF
| his assumed position. which tips.
furthermore, were 10 be added to the
frat" funds.
Rutherford. dressed In the walters
garb. which his friends had secured
for him. was clumsily handing out club
! sandwishcs ana coffee, salads. oysters
on the half shell, pie. and milk shakes,
when n number Of the Kappas came
nOisly into DOn's. 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
crford was all right-sO far, they inti-
mated.
Presently the door swung open and,
smiling and pretty in theatre attire,
Miss Isabel entered, escorted by n
Kappa Sigma, who quietly recognized
his frat" brothers. They sat down
before Rutherford, who was deep In
the mysteries Of concOcting French
salad. saw them. when he looked up
his eyes met those Of Isabel Lee. For
moment she stared at him 10 make
sure of his identity; then. without n
sign OF recognition, turned TO her cs-
cOrt. Rutherford did not hear tha
questions that she put 10 the Kappa,
but he felt instinctiycly that they werl
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 rca-
son he had asked for his ring-that
he might realize on II. II was almost
too much for Rutherford. but he set
his teeth anu took their order. She
spared him as much embarrassment as
possible. and ate rs little and N
quickly as she could. He heard her
catch her breath rs hn quietly accepted
the quarter tip from her companion.
When ne held her coat and slipped
her warm fur about her neck she
looked at him with m expression
which said, what does 1t all mcanf'
And he could not tell her. Would 1t
be too late when he could?
Never had the Kappa Sigma boys
been 50 glad to welcome a man 20 in.
itlaiion into their midst rs they did
Tom Rutherford. lie had stood the
hardest test they could invent. They
were not without an appreciation of
what they had done to him. They had
taken his sweetheart from him ana
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, rs full-lcdgcd
member OF the Kappa Sigma fra
ternity, he must ride the provcrblnl
goat and go through the numerous per-
lous fcots which accompany initiation.
It Nnust be admitted that Rutherford
shook little inwardly. Outwardly he
he was as calm as woman at her
third wedding.
They bindfolded him. turned him
around three times and raised him To
the shoulders of six men, who carried
him out Of doors and through several
streets for some fifteen minutes. Ruth
crford was wondering where he was
and what was To b. the outcome when
w WIS Nuhh'uiN fhA AI'h hAN ''''
and told To stand still. The Kappas
rang a door bell and quickly disap-
pcarcd. leaving Rutherford standing
alone.
In moment he heard q door open
and felt warm little hand drawing
him within. SnatChing the bandagc
from his eyes. he looked down ut lsa.
bel. blushing and happy, and thcn-
well. he just took her in his big strong
arms. and said all manner of things
he had not had time even 10 think Of
for month.
"Who told you?" he asked her after
a while
"Thc boys. Of course" she answered,
Nesting her head against his coat.
And see what they gave me-" she
said. holding M her left hand.
And you'll wear il aguinf' he cried.
"Oh. Isabel, this is the most glorious
initiation man ever had.'-Philadel.
phia Ledger.