Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-27


try road with a gentle inclination.
four girls and not one boy-wh.ch was
lucky for the boy, the father of the
four insisted. For himself, Doctor
Drew said, he did not mind; he could
worry through somehow. He had
been brought up in Il family of boys,
with no sisters and he believed in the
law of compensation. Persuasion, he
called it, on occasions.
We'll, anyhow" Pauline flung back
on one of the occasions, girls are q
great saving. You ought to be grateful
to us for not being boys. You'd have
to send us to college, you know"
And don't l know that I have to
send you?' he retorted. "Now stay
right where you are" he added in
alarm.
But Polly the studious had swooped
and alighted on the back of his chair.
"College?" she cried. DO you mean
it, father: Are You going to send us to
college?"
eff l come out of this alive" he
gasped between her hugs. Here,
keep Off" as Katherine and Virginia
each appropriated a knee ana began
to bounce up and down. "Oh, come
along, Hephzibah, don't mind mel" he
finished Eopelessly.
Hephzibah's head, with it's smooth
braids and crisp ribbons, was bending
over a book and a sheet of paper on
the table The lamplight showed
tired puzzled little face. She did not
look up, but her busy pencil paused a
moment, as if to hold down a figure
about might escape. Pm not glad
about going to college," she said.
I'd rather not. 1t would be worse
than this awful square root" and the
pencil plolded on again.
II wish you'd let me help you," Pol
ly pleaded. Square root is fun when
you know how
Hephzibah shook her head. "Thank
you, Polly, but l must get this one
alone, Miss Thorne said"
I'D rather so to boarding school"
Katherine returned to the subject.
college girls are frumps." She was
examining her dainty finger-nails with
approval.
"They aren't, either!" cried Polly
holly. You know only two, and they
were frumps before they went to col
lege."
"Eoarding- schools are silly" Virgin
ia began. L"
Il decline to be the seat of war;"
Doctor Drew exclaimed, suddenly ris-
ing to the full measure of his six feet
one and scattering girls in confusion.
Eight it out, ladies I'm going to
form an alliance with peaceable
power" and he dropped down on the
sofa beside his wife.
Mrs. Drew smiled at katherine. Il
don't exactly know what frumps are,
honey" she drawled, but I reckon
Polly is right; they are born, not
made.
But pretty katherine shook her head,
I'D rather have one year of a perfect
ly stunning boarding school than four
OF any college in the country" she
maintained
"'Bctter fifty years Of Europe than
cycle trip of Cathay,'" the doctor
grinned. "All right. Lady Kate, only
will choose your perfectly stunning
school, if you don't mind"
Katherine was to finish her high
school course in June, and during the
rest of the winter her father read
much boarding school literature At
last he decided on Il school which
seemed to realize both his own and his
oldest daughters somewhat different
ideals.
OF course it was expensive. Things
that suited katherine usually were
found to be expensive.
The doctor sighed a little as he
realized what the demand upon his
purse would be. He had a large prac-
tice, hut it took a great deal of money
just to keep things going. with his big
place, tho horses, the servants. And
his little Southern wife was what her
capable neighborS called "a poor man.
ager."
In fact, she never tried to manage
anything. The servants managed the
house, ana the doctor managed the
finances. if earning the money and
cheerfuly paying the bills can be
termed management. But it was all
in lifetime, and his life-insurance
was big.
So Katherine had two years of
boarding school, returning for each
vacation a little dantier, a little pref
tier, and a little less satisfied with
Simple village ihS. @iliu liicIl IL w do
Nirginia's turn.
But Virginia tilted her classic nose
at boarding schools, and shrugged her
graceful shoulders at colleges. She
must study art. So her father sent
her away to school of design. He
really could not have it on his con-
science to let her paint pictures, he
said; there were too many poor ones
in the world already.
Virginia had talent and she worked
hard. The promised two years
stretched to three, and then to four. |
She won several prizes and sold an oc- |
cas;onal design. Finally, with three |
other girls, she opened studio, which !
the doctors checks helped to sup |
port.
In the meantime Katherine had mar
riad, with much fuss and flourish; |
Polly had gone away to college, and |
with her skirts let down
and her braids tied up, was toiling |
the high school. katherine
and Virginia had finished the high
school course in the prescribed four
years. phenomenal Polly in three years,