The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-01-08

the young voice, and the mothers
face contracted as II with physical
pain. you can go out any Friday
evening"" she said. gently.
Yes, but the things | want most to
go to always seem to come in the mid.
die OF the week." objected Frances.
THE girls are so disappointed be-
cause can't go Wednesday night.
| don't mind so much on my own
account, either. but | hate to have
the girls say, or even think, unlxlnd
things of you"
They will not" replied Mrs. Mat
tocks, II they are the nice girls |
wish and think my daughters friends
to be-"
The lines of decision about her
mouth deepened n little and her
slender figure Strengthened in the
chair. You are too young to go into
so-called society in this town The
other girls are all one or two years
older than you, and they do not in
tend to go to college. You do. You
have definite aim before you and
do not consider it possible for you to
do justice to your work of preparation
and endure the late hours and ex-
element of the life that your friends
lead. They cannot do good work in
school. can they?"
Not frst-class work" admitted
Frances, slowly. She had risen to a
sitting posture now and her tone was
softer, although her eyes were averted,
and her expression was still not many
degrees removed from sulkiness. But
1t is so hard not to do as the other
girls do!"she complained.
Her mother sighed. II alawys came
back to the unanswerable argument,
and she was tired of it ALTERED men
tally and physically. She leaned her
head back against the chair cushion,
and gazed with unseeing eyes out of
the window. Perhaps, after all, she
reflected, she was making mistake
with Frances. Frances was young,
and entitled to the pleasures of youth.
If Charles had only lived so that they
could have talked over their daugh-
ter's training together! 1t was hard
to decide what was best-alone She
put out her hand involuntarily, as il
to meet the firm, warm pressure that
had never failed her i'm the past.
OF one thing she was sure, however,
that the school and social life could
not be combined, That she had done
wisely in forcing Frances into the
former she was not so sure
1t suddenly occurred to her that this
going away to college" was not
Frances ambitiOn-it was hers! From
the time that Frances lay, a baby, in
her arms she had dreamed and plan
ned for the college education that had
been denied to herself She had even
laid aside or a graduating dress the
beautiful pineapple tissue her sister
had brought her from China, and re-
joiced in the delicate fairness of her
little daughter as she lovingly fingered
the rich blue of the filmy texture.
1t was she, not Frances, who had
sent for and poured over the cata-
logues of the various colleges for
women. She had been especially at
tracted by this new principle of self
government that was proving such
success in the colleges; 1t was so
conducive to self-restraint, self-re
lance, and the finest things that go to
make up character. She wondered
how Frances would thrive under it
Frances, who had had everything de-
cided for her all her happy, sheltered
life, from the choice of a college to
that of pair of gloves!
Perhaps, very likely, she had not
done her duty by the child in making
her so dependent. Perhaps-and the
mothers heart contracted at the
thought-Frances was not worthy of
the high calling of a college education.
so wonderful thing did not seem to
the knowledge-hungry soul of the
woman.
Suddenly her nebulous thoughts
crystallized into a definite resolve:
she would put her daughter to the test
and see of what stun she was made
She rose to her feet, and to her own
amazement her voice rang clear and
steady through the quiet room:
Frances, have proposition to
make to you. You are old enough
now to realize something of the value
OF an education. and / refuse ever
again TO be made so unhappy or make
YOU so unhappy as we have been today.
You are old enough to take something
of responsibility upon your shoulders.
l will either send you through college.
or / will take the money your educa-
ton would cost. buy you pretty clothes,
give you big comming-out party. and
further your social career fin every
way possible You may take your
choice"
Frances raised her startled eyes.
and her cheeks turned from pink to
white and back TO a deeper pink
again He mother gazed at her in
silence, and her heart seemed to
pause in its beating The slender
hand resting on the table trembled a
little Her very soul looked forth
from her eyes in love and angulshed
pleading. and into the eyes Of the girl
there suddenly sprang responsive
woman's soul
Frances threw herself at her
mothers feet and clasped her knees.
half-laughing haltsobbing. Forgive
me, darllng!' she chied "I am not
half good enough or clever enough to
be your daughter sometimes can't
believe / am.-but az any rate I have
just enough sense to choose-the col
legei "--YOuth'a COMPANION