The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-05-07
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BOy.A
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ciation.l
"a bad business"
whats the matter, Alec ~
my uncle writes me>fhat my Cous-
in Lillian is coming to town for week
( to do some shopping. He asks me to
meet her at the station and show her
some attention. I'm under great Obii-
cations to my uncle. Indeed, he is
helping me through college. But what
the dickens am to do? have three
examinations coming on at the end Of
the week and know nothing about any
one Of the subjects. The only possible
way for me to get through is to bone
day and night. How can l do that
and dance attendance upon girl?"
''Is your cousin pretty"
II haven't seen her since she was a
kid"
"How will you know herr"
"She will carry bunch Of violets In
her left hand"
''Well, l will do the honors in your
place If you like"
'Dick Rathvon, shake! You are a
Joy forever"
When Miss Lillian Ayres alighted
from the train the next afternoon she
was met by tall, imposing looking
young man, who, seeing the signal vio-
lets, approached her and without the
slightest hesitation saluted her with
cousinly kiss.
"Why, how you have grown she
exclaimed. You're the only big one of
the family"
"And how you have improvedv' re-
piled the young man. ~ never would
have supposed you would bloom into
such a rare flower"
Several days passed, during which
the young man gave me undivided at
tention to the girl, cutting lectures,
chapel and any other college duty that
stood in the way Of his doing So But
one morning when his friend had been
up all night examining under the stim-
ulant of strong coffee Rathvon ap-
peared at his room and said:
"Alec, we're in a hole"
''For heavens sake, what is it?"
"Her fathers coming to take her
home''
"Great Scott! What are we going to
doT'
"Leave it to me-"
The next day Mr.. Rathvon upon
leaving Miss Ayres said:
'I have confession to make"
"What is it?'
"Since you have been here / should
have been preparing for several i'm
pOrtant examinations. One Of them
comes Off tomorrow morning. Fortu-
nately your father will arrive then,
and you will be provided for"
"Why, Alec, you should have told me
this before"
IL couldn't"
Couldn't? Why notr
ave so enjoyed going about with
you
"But your examinationsT
"If am plucked it will be in a good
cause, a lovely cause"
"Heaven grant that you may not be-"
"Goodby. Before have got through
with the struggle you will be gone"
There was cousinly kiss, the TWEEN
tieth in four days, and he was gone.
About 5 o'clock the next afternoon
Alec Ayres entered his room after
having passed the last Of his term ex-
aminations. He found Dick Rathvon
filing pipe from skull tobacco
holder. Alec threw himself into a
chair.
"Do you think they're gomez" he
asked.
1.-THE only through train went at B."
"There's a day Of reckoning coming
for this"
"In the dim future. Don't borrow
trouble. Take pipe"
There was knock on the door.
Alec drew back the latch with lazy
string, and in walked his uncle and
his cousin.
"Poor Alecw exclaimed Lillian"
going over to Dick and laying her
hand affectionately on his shoulder.
'Don't scold him, papa; he's been so
nice to me-"
"Hello, Alec, my boyv' said the I'M
Gle, grasping Alec's hand.
"Why, papa" interposed Lillian,
Whdt diV yOo uOih6t DOh JOu hhOW
your own nephew? This is Alec"
No hole opened to let the two boys
down into the cellar, where they
would fain have hidden themselves.
SO each drew down under his coat
collar and waited for the bolt to strike
him. Mr.. Ayres was not stupid
man. Indeed, he saw In a moment
that some prank had been played.
eff that gentleman is Alec" he said,
IL have been grossly imposed upon"
Lillian flushed red and white by
turns.
TITS all up, Dick" said Alec. 1--WE
may as well confess. Uncle, Lillian,
have been having terrible struggle
with my examinations. This is my
chum, Dick Rathvon. He agreed to
take care Of you for me while have
been examining night and day. He did
II all out of kindness to me-"
mo such thing" fred Dick. II did
It because liked It."