The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-08-12

eight. He had always considered
girls unworthy of attention, and had
devoted his time to research in old
Gothic
To be sure, once or twice during
the year he had taught in the West
ern university he had accepted invita-
tions to places of amusement where
ladies were present. But that was be-
cause, it being leap-year, the ladies
had done the honors, and Miss Eu
genia Harmed, instructor in French,
was not young woman to be re-
fused.
Now the year was over and he
was off for his home in Boston, glad
to be free from Western crudeness
forever. He had planned to leave on
the evening train for Chicago, where
he would join an excursion going past
Niagara and Toronto, down the Hud-
son, arriving at Boston in three days.
He flushed with pleasure as he bade
lhe president good-by. The old man
was saying with admiration: Good
work, my boy. You are doing well
to be called back to Harvard after one
year of teaching, and l wish you sue
eess." Wickham was still blushing
as he left the office and ran into Fan
shaw, fellow in English, and jerks,
of the philosophy department.
"Hello!" jerks said. "They tell
me you're leaving to-day?"
YES" Wickham announced; II go
out on the 1890"
why, laughed Fanshaw, Miss"
he suddenly choked-"we'll be down
to see you off," he finished lamely.
Wickham, absorbed in the business
of getting out of town, walked off
through the campus, unconscious of
the winks and mods of the two men in
front of the executive office.
He reached the station barely in
time that night, and found the plat
form crowded with men of the
younger university set and young
women, among them Miss Eugenia
Harmed. Apparently they were down
to see him off, and Wickham was fiat
tered. He had never thought much
of popularity, but If this was posing
In the public eye he liked it. The
train thundered in and he climbed
aboard, after several of the young
women, including Miss Harmed, had
preceded him. Some of the men fol-
lowed, and when he got inside he
saw whole host of them coming
from the other end of the Pullman.
His heart warmed. He had never
considered himself general favorite
before, and the thought pleased him.
Something was flying through the
air like confetti on fete night. The
passengers in the other sections were
all looking toward his end of the car
and laughing uproariously. AS he
dropped his travelling bag on the seat
an old shoe, thrown through the air,
glanced off his sleeve. He turned and
saw Miss Harmed, the French instruc-
tor, in the opposite section, sur
rounded by bags and suit cases. She
was blushing furiously and looked
vexed. Wickham thought she was
going to cry. He opened his mouth to
speak. Something hit against his
teeth and he bit on it. 1t was white
and hard, like kernel. He saw that
1t was sprinkled over seats, people
and travelling bags, and that the floor
was peppered with it. Someone at
the door called out, where's the
bride?" The bell rang, the train be-
gan to move and the young people
all scuttled.
The train was getting we'll under
way as Wickham stepped out on the
platform and slammed the door be-
hind him.
jerks and Fanshaw, returning
from the station arm in arm, were
rendered speechless by the apparition
of Wickham coming toward them
from the second corner.
"Why-why-wha the matter?"
stammered jerks.
Nothing" returned Wickham; al
Just came down to meet you. I'm
going out on the morning train," he
announced. "The lady is more COM
Portable so,'" and, turning, he walked
with them up the street
He barely made an east-bound train
out of Chicago the following after
noon, and was walking down the aisle
looking for seat when he stopped
short, staring blankly. There before
him sat Miss Eugenia Harmed, look
ing very pretty, in cool brown and
gold dress. Strange, he had never
thought her pretty before! She was
smiling at him in timid way. He
pulled off his hat and sat down in the
seat facing the one which she occu-
pied.
Miss Harmed" he gasped; "thls is
indeed unexpected"
I'm sorry If you regret meeting
me again" Her long lashes swept
her cheek as she looked down. Then
she glanced up at the man glaring
discounted at her. "But I'm glad ]
have a chance to tell you how unut.
terably mean you were to leave me
IN that-situation-l night"
why, Miss Harmed" Wickham
Vas growing mira uucomfort n hi 4