Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-06-23

-ureSSeS music ana tnat great un-
known that is so close and yet so far
AWAY that people call the future.
Gladys brought some apples and the
corn pepper. and they sat down on
the floor before the open fire-Mr.
Sanders had insisted OH building a lit
tie fireplace in the guest chamber
and popped corn and roasted apples
and talked until the night was far
gone.
Gladys had headache-an unusual
thing for her-the next day, so Mabel
hitched Mollie to the cutter and drove
Beth back TO town. Harold came
down to the gate as he saw them
drive up. He lifted his cap in the
same old jaunty way. and the same
smile fingered about the corners OF
his mouth as he talked but in many
bther ways he was greatly changed.
lie had grown and was superbly mus
lied. AS he lOunged against the gate
post with the careless grace of a
young athlete Mabel could not help ad-
miring him.
Yet there was half wild, shifty
/ look in his eyes as If some secret was
hidden behind them that Mabel noted
with quick disapproval His mouth.
too, when not curved upward in
! smile had an uncertain droop that in
dicated weakness and a desire to be
| led rather than to lead.
Where have | seen that horse be-
/ fore?" he asked as he helped Beth to
| the ground. "Oh, yes. / remember now!
! Gladys rode her up to Uncle Grey's
one night about two years ago, and |
| drove her home" He hesitated a mo-
ment. II haven't had a sleigh ride
this winter" he said. looking up at
/ Mabel with that comically pleading
look of his that seldom failed to get
him anything he wanted.
Does that mean that you'd like
one?" Mabel asked IF it does Mollie
and are at your service-that is. if l
may go along"
''Of course l want you along" he
said as he stepped to the seat beside
her. "a sleigh ride alone isn't much
fun"
you've changed a great deal since
saw you last" he went on after they
were out in the road again. 81 thought
you were Gladys when l saw you
drive up"
What a compliment" laughed Ma
bel. Don't you wish l were?"
Harold hesitated a moment. NO"
he replied; 81 don't know that do
Gladys expects too much of a fellow,
and she has such a way of making
him feel so deuced uncomfortable"
Maybe it's good for fellow to feel
uncomfortable once in awhile" said
Mabel, looking at him gravely.
Harold shook his head Not too I'M
comfortable" be said. 1T may make
him reckless"
"Was that what was the matter?"
asked Mabel
Harold looked up quickly. did
Gladys tell your" he questioned
Mabel shook her head. NO" she
answered. "but | guessed. It's too
bad, but do you think things like those
that happened last term are going to
help itY'
"Of course not" Harold answered.
But what's the use Of trying TO be
anybody? felt like | wanted to just
cut loose and have good time and go
to the devil" he added recklessly.
"And so you cut loose" Mabel inter
posed, land almost went to the fellow
you spoke of. But did you have a good
timer
"a good timer? be cried. Il was
craz,, and when | came to my senses
enough to realize what | was doing |
hated myself"
Mabel sat thinking for long time.
"You are going back" she said at last
-"back to the same old crowd Of fell
lows, the same old associations and
temptations. Can you-will you-keep
the promise you made your father and
mother and Beth?"
Harold caught his breath sharply. A
vision of the parlors Of the Rau Ia
Snipsion house rose up before him.
He could see the blue smoke curling
upward to join the haze that hung
over the heads Of the excited forms
that hung over the card table, and he
could hear the sneers of the fellows
and their cries Of gutter as boy
threw his cards into the fire and went
upstairs to study.
Then he turned and looked into the
sweet face beside him, the delicately
nodded. sensitive chin, the serious
mouth and then into the clear depths
of those questioning, trusting brown |
eyes.
"Do you believe CAM" he asked
81 know you can," she answered.
"Then | WILL" he said.
The next semester was a repetition |
of the first for Gladys and Mabel. |
with more work. more achievements |
and If possible more enjoyment
Gladys, with her self reliant, mas
terful way of meeting and settling ali
problems that came to her. quickly be.
came q leader among the girls, and |