St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-02-23


that he was called Jack; and he was
a junior in college. Her name was
Marjory, and she was a senior. The
girls" had all agreed that he wasn't
handsome, that he was inclined to be
saucy, but that he was nevertheless
lawfully nice and very much worth
while" None of the boys disputed the
fact that she was the prettiest thing
on the campus.
Jack was sitting on the library steps
wondering how much longer it would
take Marjory to get to the library
steps, where he was waiting for her
she having rounded the corner half
block away at least Is minutes be-
fore. Her progress was slow. and the
crowd about her was increasing in
size and delight. He wanted to be
with her alone, or he would have add
ed himself to the gathering. He was
scheming means to relieve himself
from a self-imposed dilemma of which
he was one horn and Marjory the
other.
She had started it three years be-
fore at a reception where they had
met. He was freshman and she a
sophomore then, and she had opened
the conversation by telling him, in the
patronizing tone sophomores use to-
ward freshmen, that she had decided
to make use of her sophomore prerog-
alive and place him ION her string"
He being very bold and saucy, for 9
freshman, had accepted the gage by
retorting that his one ambition was
to fall head over heels in love with
some girl, and if she didn't mind he
would practice on her. Since then
neither had lost any opportunity Of as
surfing the other Of his undying affec-
ton in many varied and amusing
ways.
Now he wanted seriously to tell her
Of his love for her, but he had told
her of it so often in fun that he
couldn't quite see any way Of making
her take his declaration as being
made seriously in earnest and not
made seriously in fun.
"a penny for your thoughts, Jack"
she said, brightly, when at last she
reached him.
Thinking about you, Mariory," he
replied.
"You don't say, and what were you
thinking about me?"
Refuse to be interviewed"
"Why, Jack" she said, in tone of
mock injury, do you mean to tell me-
after we have been In love all these
years, that you have secrets from
me?"
He assumed tone of dignifed au-
thority. 'Marjory, as you love me.
must insist that you don't let your
feminine curiosity get the better Of
you" !.
my curiosity? You stimulated it
on purpose, consequently you are re-
sponsible for it. If you don't tell me
right away. I'll cut you dead"
"The trouble is that I'm afraid you'll
cut me dead if tell you"
mo won't
"All right. Let's take walk down
the river and TIL think it over" he de-
cided, making a sudden resolution.
They left the library and walked off
toward the river. When they reached
the well-beaten path they turned their
backs to the college buildings and
strolled leisurely along, following
closely the edge of the high, bluff-like
bank of the river. Neither spoke for
q time.
AS they went along he began to
wonder what the outcome of 1t all
would be. The more he thought the
weaker his resolution became-there
was Marjory, the prettiest and most
perfect girl in the world, and, on the
other hand, here was he, just an
ordinary, average sort of a fellow.
When he looked back and tried to
ana1yze her conduct toward him and
towards others, he could not see that
she had treated him any different than
any of the others. Indeed, when it all
came back to him, with a rush, he
wondered at his self-conceit in think. |
ing that Marjory, of all girls, would
find anything in him to love. Still, |
he thought he wouldn't have had
things other than they had been those
last three years while they had been |
playing their little farce. for he felt |
that only circumstances could have
brought them together as they had
been. So he blessed the lucky day of
the start, though he covered before
q doubtful finish.
At last they passed below the last |
city bridge, and were alone by the
river, away from all the noise and ac- !
tivity Of the busy city.
"Are you going to tell me now?" she
asked.
mo, not yet" he answered, sparring
for time, 'but if you will tell me what
you were thinking about while we !
were coming mere, maybe I'll begin /
to lead up to it."
81 was wondering whether this |
would be the last time I would ever
take this walk and you don't know how
sad it makes me feel to think how
soon my school days will be over for
ever" |
sH1fSss-as'1N essa"'fa s&oeue~'sN sss-a"'gN,
Make Their