Middletown transcript., 1906-01-13


M as Disconnected as was possible
6ung woman OF her general self.
poise and assurance. She sank breath:essly
into seat beside her sworn friend and
ally, Della Forester.
20, Dell Who do you think is here
You'll never, never guess, His High
Mightiness y
Della Forester carefully adjusted Der
glasses and rolled her big brown eyes.
"Are you sure r.
Perfectly. / nearly annihilsted him,
in the hall just now, so ! can't be mis-
taken, but already Professor Bergen
had risen from his chair, and notebooks
and pencils were instantly in reqnisition
amid silence that could be felt.
At the close Of the lecture, Antoinette
grasped Della firmly by the arm and raced
her through the long corridors until they
reached the seclusion of the Girls Study.
She threw herself among the cushions in
the cozy corner and clasped her hands in
mock despair.
e Twas ever thus from childhood =
hourp Here I've planned for four de-
lightful years of fun and frivol, and l
must needs run straight into Mentor,-at
the very first corner, too. What pos
sessed this High Mightiness to choose
Wilton for his university ? So inconsis-
tent He prepared for Yale"
Della calmly produced tiny box of
chocolates from her chatelaine, Refresh
yourself, my love. Seriously, Tonic, why
do you let him annoy you? Why don't you
assume your distant, Indifferent role ?
That always serves You perfectly"
Antoinette puckered her smooth FORE
head.
'fHe doesn't exactly annoy me, Dell.
Everett Austin is gentleman always
but he's sort Of exterior conscience.
feel as If was posing as Undine and he
was trying to endow me witt, soul. It's
a painful process and | don't like it, y
with comical shrug Of her plump slluul-
ss.
w'sHe's a MISUNDERSTANDING chap, ;"
observed Della muuching thoughtfully.
Oh, he's everything that's eminently
proper,-that's the trouble. Honly he'd
develop few peccadilIoes like tile COM
mon run of mankind it would be pnsi-
lively refreshing. My people at home
think he's the Great Mogul You know
he's Brother Ned's chunl and comes to the
house quite often. Papa begins, Fine
fellow that. He's sure to make lis mark,
then Mamma chimes in, Such primcipes! !
So superior 7 Then both peer oven their
glasses, goodness knows why, at pour lit
tie mel I yirtuously agree with 18th Of
them, never failing to express my devout
thankfulness that Ned is blessed with the
friendship Of this superior being. We
enact this little farce with variations twice
week, should say, on tile average.
The funny part of it is that Geoffrey Van
couyer is almost sure to pop in directly
afterwards, and we go on ike a couple OF
children till relieve the tension of my
nerves"
Della suddenly rose aud dangled her
watch before Antoinette's astonished
eyes.
Latin Comp, Greek Prose, French,
Trig, and the Grand Social on for to-
night r.
Antoinette flew to her teet My! /
wouldn't be late for anything. Hurry.
where's the key to our locker?'
Who that has been a student at Old
Wilton will ever forget the first College
Social, the balmy September evening, the
covered walls OF the venerable pile, mel.
lowed in the moonlight, the arched en-
traiices framing vistas of light and color,
the broad Campus twinkle with Chinese
lanterns swaying from the branches Of
the great elms? Professors and students
mingle with the most delightful informal
ity. To Freshman it is revelation.
His Alma Mater opens vide her welconl-
ing arms, and hencefortil he is her loyal
and devoted son.
Antoinette as usual was tile centre of
40 animated group. La the midst of tile
lively chatter and brilliant repartee, she
was keenly conscious Of tall figure out
side of her immediate circle, patiently
bidding his time. She turned half me-
chanicaIly at bis, ''shall we promenade,
Miss Hefsey ~ and accepted bis prof.
iered arm. cit is good to be even an in
Higpifcant Freshie p she exclaimed, her
cheeks flushed with excitement, as they
paused on the threshold to survey the gay
scene.
i.supremely good" responded Austin
lseauily.
"And now pray tell me, Oh, most incon-
sistent Of mortals, how it happens that
Wilton ID honored with your presence !?
Weren't you pledged to Yale ~
Anstin's grave face relaxed as he smiled
down into the eager, upiifted eyes.
-Four years hence I'll expIair,." he
said.
Antoinette arcled her eyebrows
-Four whole years Bat Dell Forester
says have D perfectly fiendish memory.
Don't hope to escape, sir. l shall surely
remind you.
After the Social, the classes settled
down 10 earnest work and almost imper-
ceptibIy ID The busy students tile college
year drifted steadily onward. Sue Cliff