Middletown transcript., 1906-01-13
COED COURTSHIP

BY MARION i. PICKERING

ford proposed to have informal gathering
at her home across the Campus. Il was
tile night before the final Greek exam.
Della Forester sent regrets "wrurg from
her very SOUL" she declared in much an
Riish Of spirit. / haven't Tonie's MEM
ory that sticks like abarnacle to every
fact that comes her way. and / feel
shaky," she frankly confessed, $50 I'm
just going to grind y
No funk" had as yet dimmed her
fair record. and just now much was al
stake. Old Colonel Forester was an ex-
tremely indulgent father in the main, but
Della fully realized that any loss Of stand.
ing on her part would result in Summer
of constant study under the best of tutors,
in place of the delightful trip abroad
which was the present family plan. So
after experimenting Antoinette's toilet,
she donned comfortable tea-gown and
resol Aly seated herself at her desk, with
"Huyler's Best at her elbow
source of refreshment between
I verbs
She had accomplished two hours Of
satisfactory work when Antoinette burst
in, her face aglow with excitement.
| ''Oh, Dell, such jolly evening! You
don't know what you've missed. And
what do you think, His High Mightiness
actually danced couldn't believe my
ears when heard his May I have the
pleasure, at my elbow. But I managed
! to observe quite composedly. 'Ah, do
you waltz, Mr.. Austin? 'Preadventure,'
lifting those heavy eyebrows ofhis. And
then lie added in the incest way. 4 be-
lieve / could undertake d'syttiag with you
t. pilot me, Miss Antionette.' He did,
really ! Isn't he improving?'
"Degenerating, should say" COM
mented Dell, carefully selecting a bon
bon, "That sounds too much like Hal
Worthington.''
"But such waltzing Dell, just wait till
! show you I've heard that they teach
bears to dance on a hot iron platform,
and I'm positive he had the same danc-
ing-master." And Antoinettee gathered
I,up her train and pirouetted round the
room picking up her small feet in most
,, absurd fashion. "You're a star of the
first magnitude, I'll admit, Mr.. Everett
Austin, but oh, you can't da a-ance r.
Sinking on a divan from shere lack Of
breath.
go to bed, and leave me in peace,
you ridiculous child" scolded Dell, be-
tween her irrepressible bursts of laughter
Else these mortal eyes will meier be-
hold dear Par-ree,' that Hal Worthing-
ton raves about.''
Thus in the miniature world of College
life, the years whirled on, each day
crowded with arduous work, fun and frolic
roseate hopes and trembling fears. There
were happy home-goings for the long va
cations. iubilant returns to the beloved
Alma Mater and interviewer with all the
formation of strong friendships destined
to become lifelong.
Antoinette and Della, now fully fledged
Seniors, sat at the writing-table in their
private study, carefully revising their
thesis. Della broke the long silence,
as she briskly collected her scattered
papers.
1T seems to me, Tonic dear, that you
and His High Mightiness are progressing
rapidly. You were both so engrossed
that you quite ignored my small presence
in the library this morning.
"Mr. Austin was explaining that Latin
idiom that puzzled me yesterday. |
didn't half understand Prof. Bergen's
rendering" replied Antoinette quietly
wiping her pen with unwonted concern. |
Il do wish Dell, you'd drop that ridieu- |
lous nickname Mr.. Austin really has an |
exceptionally fine character and it isn't
respectful"
swell P' calculated Della in comicaI dis. |
may, as Antoinette swept from the room
and closed the door with unusual deci-
sion, ''Sets the wind in that quarter? |
Well, wonders will never cease. Cordelia |
Forester, my poor child, your nose is out
of joint"
1t was the evening of the last mid-terln
reception,-"The Grand Dress Parade"
according to Sue Clifford. A radiant vis-
ion in pale-blue shimmering draperies.
Antoinette lightly trailed down the long
stairway to the deserted parlors, to await |
the coming of her escort. She had barely
crossed the threshold when Anstin was
announced. She caught his glance Of in |
voluntary admiration instantly, tempered
by some inner criticism. Was it shade |
Of disapproval ?
"Free your mind, beseech you." she |
said. "Perchance, is my hair awry, or
can it be that my brand new gown is a
wre' ched misfit?" she added tragically.
Nothing about you is ever awry or
nlisftting. Antoinette" replied Austin
gravely, "but since YOU done me the
honor to consult me, aren't you perhaps
a bit exaggerated "a little too be-rib- |
boned, ,-be-frilled, -Pompadoured," /" be