The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1910-01-07
.HISPECULIAR METHO
BY JOEL q. WILLARD.
copyright, 1909, by American Press Asso-
D

lectures at the university,
The father looked seriously at bis
. daughter, a pretty girl OF eighteen
Her large brown eyes contrlsted with
her very light bair, her wIIlowy feml.
nine figure with certain determine.
ton of expression
my child don't you know that It
Is not considered proper for unmar-
ric1 women to become studcutsy
II do, and also know, that many
maidcns marry for the purpose. cnn
do that | need never even see my
husband. After have finished the
course the marriage can be unnulled.'
The father objected to the plan. u
common one In Russia. but. finding hh,
daughter obdurntc. at last reluctantly
consented. steps were taken to lind
the girl n husband, and u student OF
the name of Stepan Aleksandrovna
was found to supply the place. SO op-
posed was the father TO his daughter
having anything to do with the young
| man that he stipulated that they
should be married by proxy and not
meet during their student lives
Ekntcrlnn pursued her studies with
out even hearing of Alcksandrovna.
Ifo was the son of u noblcman who
had entered the university IN Order to
enjoy university life aud did not pat
In nn appearance ut lectures oftcucr
than was absolutely necessary To main
tain his connection with the inslitu.
ton. Ills father died while he was u
student. aud this took him away for
u long while. Months passed before
Ekatcrlna happened 10 hear hls immc
mentioned. Then II wus in connection
with duel lc had fought with one uf
his fellow students. named l'nul Ioli.
zolf
Now. II happened that this i'olizon
lived near the Knrlbauofl,. lie had
made iskatcrlnnH acquaintance and
on u number of occnsinna Ind carried
her books for her on her wny tu lrc.
lures. She wns Interested tu know The
cause ur the quarrel. l'ollzun. who
had been hui slightly wounded IN the
affair plnl,ing at the aumc time his
adversary. told her That he did not
know the real cnusc hlmaclf. lie had
accidentally spilled some lnl, on u book
Alcksandrovnn had boon tuklng notes
of lectures upon ana FOR this ostcusi.
bly hnd hccu challenged.
Eknicrlua aoon heard her huFbanh's
nnwc mentioned In connection with
another unnlr of arms with Dmln
lNskudln. who had been somewhat NJ.
tontlvc 10 her ne Hoclnl gathering
Iaskudln WIS not u student. uuh he
and Ekntcrna had long been friends
Eknlcrlna cndcnyorcd TO iiId out the
cause OF this quarrel. but. "a In the
Other ease. failed. IN both cuscA Nhp
noticed that she nfterwnrd received no
attention from either az her husbands
opponents.
Aud 80 lthnppencd that the moment
Ghcsrcccivcd any attention from q mnu
she was sure Ia hear that he hud
fought with her husband aud after.
wnrl retired from tho Held. Finally
Hlc sont for Aleksandrovua. lie drove
M 10 her house In n drosky wearing
n jaunty student suit. jumped ont.
threw the driver coin and entered
aa though he was making nm ordinary
call, lie WIS handsome fellow nnd
10y no means dlspleasing In appearance
TO his wife
II have gent for you" she snid se,
yercly, TO learn why you persist In
challenging nny man who shows me
any attoniion. IL is becoming annoy
lug"
II cannot allow my wife To receive
attentions from other men, My honor
would not 'sr;ier H.
Nonsense, our marriagc WIS but
10 cnnble me Ia become II student"
"Siudents should not receive utten-
ton from young men. Il disiracis
their minds from their studies"
And who. pray, made you the pro.
tcctor of my mludT
THE law makes me your husband
J cnhu no other ~ my privileges ey-
ccpt this DO net even ask this !
require the men 10 leave you ,o your
IN which yen VIII surely dis.
llngllsh yourself II they let you alone
Thanks Tor your Kind protection
against them, but ] do not wish or
need H."
"Ncr do admit your right TO inter-
fcrc IN my ducls"
THUS far the dialogue had. outward
ly at least. been serious. At this turn
the glrl could not repress n faint curve
cf the Hips which portenGod a. smile. !
However. she mastered herself In time
and said:
How did you come 10 know that
am the girl you marrledy'
II knew II before you married me. !
! met you just before you entered the
at Il garden party. had u
dozen words with you; then we were
parted"
Whose garden partyY"
"1'hc Princess as"
Ekaterlna started. She was the only |
person present on that occasion not OF |
noble family.
suppose" she said more graciously. |
II as, you to engage in no more duels
nn my account, win you oblige me?'
Certainly. And suppose | ask you /
10 accept no more attention that may |
prevent your being fancy free at the
md Of your university coLrse. will you
lbligc meg
She turned her face away for n mo-
Inent. then, turning 1t back with a
blush, rep!led:
Yes
The day she received her diploma
she married her husband By a religious
ceremony.