The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-11-12
THE SOPHOMORE PLAY.
BY GRACE MARGARET GALLAHER.



sometimes without even knowing that
all these important things were hap
penlng She was not even the typical
| grind, for she was rosy and OF calm
nerves, and went outdoors every day.
making this one exception to her all
work program.
Orpha had come to college deter
mined to be "an educated woman. 4"
TO her that meant to have her intel
iect cultivated to the highest degree
| possible. OF that broadening and
sweetening of the character. that
/ learning to view life with appropri-
ate emotions" which is so far above
any training of the mind, she never
dreamed. She was unnaturally clever
already; her essays always were
marked with q neat little red-ink
excellent" her Greek prose-still
more potent cause of swelling pride
bore no red ink at all: she received
commendatory notes after each exam
nation; and she asked such "intelli-
| gent questions" in class that the pro-
fessors themselves could not answer
! them.
But OF the world of college outside
or books, that happy, jolly, whole
some world, the girls, she knew moth
ing. She had no friends. All the
/ gay, warm life about her she reso-
Iutely shut out of her days. She
would have none of the widening, pol
ishing process, due to the daily inter-
course of girls from all countries and
OF all kinds with one another. She
would have none of the deepening
and strengthening of sympathy which
comes from knowing the longing and
struggles of many different lives.
Saddest OF all. she refused every
chance to aid those struggles. Col
lege offers uncounted ways to be help
ful and unseldsh and loving. Every
day all a girls gifts, from the
humblest to the most ideal, may be
used-to help out a sudden hurry, to
quicken to hope a sullen discourage
ment Few girls have ever again so
many people to whom they may be
"neighbors."
But Orpha, blind to all the beau
tlful opportunities, resented the
smallest hindrance to her chosen pur-
pose. She shut herself away in her
room behind the sign, Engaged, ="
and even regarded the necessary con-
Versation at meals as an intrusion on
her time and thoughts. Every day
she grew less of loving, lovable girl,
and more of a selfish pedant.
She had gathered up her notes for
the English lecture this particular
afternoon, when some one knocked.
She stared as Keith Mcknight en-
tered.
There's a cut in English" began
the visitor, for Orpha looked ready
to fee.
Orpha stared more than ever.
Miss Ainsley, I-ah-will you do
me great favor? I'm the head Of
our Sophomore Dramatic Committee,
you know, and l want you to be one
of the members. Please be, We must
have this play fine, our freshman one
was such a disgrace You are so
clever and so well-read, you'll know
about all the old dramas and be able
to tell what sort of costumes people
wore, and-oh, help every way!"
Keith ended with a smile that never
failed to win whoever saw it.
This invitation was one of the hon
! ors and glories of college, had Orpha
known it. Her only feeling, however,
was one ofEage that any one could
for moment suppose she would be
drawn into such silly waste of time.
Yet when Keith left, after a weary
half-hour in which she was lnvary-
ingly sweet, but persistent, and Orpha
by turns scornful or appealing, the
latter had yielded a reluctant promise
to come to the first meeting. The
committee were all present when
Orpha entered Keith's room that
night. Her first look told her that
the girls were the brightest in the
class, those whose scholarship had
gained even her critical admiration.
How can they waste time soY" she
thought, scornfully.
A thorough look about the room
showed Tilly Ingersoll curled up on
the couch. Orpha despised Tilly as a
mindless person who could not lead
even the simplest problem in "trig" to
a triumphant issue.
Great use she'll be-" she thought,
with scorn.
The rest Of the committee we're