The Southern herald., 1910-11-25
Real Commencement
BY JENNIE o. LOIZEAUx


as ne might nave taken enll0 s. 70
look at the scratch. He pronounced
the wound nothing. and told her she
should never jerk at a shade-they
were always treaeherOus. He got hold
Of the one In question. rolled 1t up,
and then went back to his study. She
waited a moment Then she marched
up TO him and said in low tone;
you should have sense enough not
to read with the sun in your eyes.
Then she marched to her desk with
her head high and left him staring.
Wat business was it OF hers If the
sun was in his eyes? He was a trife
bewildered. and the matter occurred
to him again that night while he was
beginning at the last quarter Of his
thesis. Commencement was but
week away. The thing must be fin
ished-perhaps his fellowship to Har-
ward depended on it. 1t was a fel-
lowship or-his fathers business.
Somehow for the first time his "old
mans" disappointment in him came
to his real heart He wished he could
take up the business. Was this study
really what he wanted? Then he.
idle-minded and angry at himself for
being so, wondered II the falling
shade had hurt the girl in the library
more than she said. And 1t oc.
CURED to him that he was rather
brutal in his lnattentlon.
And in that moment of thought she
came graciously before his mental
vision-no more the librarian. She
was henceforth a girl.
He stayed at home the next day,
putting what matter he had into
shape. but the following day he went
and walked straight up to the desk.
Good morning." he said, actually
seeing the fresh glow of her cheek.
Her surprised brown eyes looked up
at him. and were suddenly shy. He
had the same feeling that had made
him lean over her flowers few days
before. For moment he was silent,
but she bridged the gap with a wom.
ans ready word.
Were you'll yesterday" So she
had noticed his unusual absence! A
forgotten CLEAN of humor rose In his
face, hiding his pleasure.
DO l look like an invalid2"
She suddenly realized how very big,
how much Of a man he was. He held
his glasses in one hand, and tossed
back his head
You look like a squad man who
neglects his exercise shamefully! It's
a disgrace to the college-stooping
shoulders, and pale with night work.
What dusty, dull, old book do you
want this morning7"
He named It. But he also laughed.
She gave him what he wanted and his
mind seemed to wander. Hers stayed
Just where 1t had been-upon him.
And yet people speak of women's lack
Of concentration.
The day the scholar finished his
thesis and sent It to the typist he also
received a letter from his father set
ting forth his kind desire to have his
son give a final thought about the
business at home. The boy. for he
was hardly more, took the letter, and
though 1t was cloudy, set out for a
walk on the hills. 1t was Sunday and
very peaceful. He wanted to think
If he had known his own mind II
would have been easy, but he didn't
He had walked miles, circling about
when, almost without warning, a sud
den silver rain poured down, and he
took run for the biggest tree, an
enormous oak.
Turning up his collar, he ran, hall
closing his eyes from the beating
drops. He reached the tree, and, go
ing quickly around the rough trunk t
the sheltered side, ran headlong into
the little librarian-or, rather, the
girl. He knew she was that, because
she was frightened and gave a little
scream of terror. But she shrank to
ward him. And, to convince her tha
1t was only himself and not a person
of evil intent, he took her promptly
into his arms.
1t was very simple thing to do
, requiring neither study nor thought
it was like breathing Furthermore
1t must have been the right thing, be
, cause she liked 1t. At least she dit
/ not try to get away. That was mos
t kind of her. so he kissed her. Ant
/ people who kiss should be engaged
One step leads to another And JUS
J here an hour or two elapsed. No on
. knows just how long, but the rain ha,
3 stopped and the sun was out agail
A when they started for home. Strange
n ly enough, the matter Of the bushes
: had settled itself. A partnership in
:. fine business Is better than Harvar
: fellowship-for supporting wife. Blu
e he was ready, the thesis was done
q The girl was found and captured.
e was the beginning of life-the res
e commencement Of things.