Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-08-22
A College
President
A Story For Commencement
By ARTHUR TRoWBRlDGE

Molly" said Deacon Maynard, lay
ing a letter he had just opened and
read on the breakfast table, president
Woodward of the state university
writes me that he desires to see me
and will come here about 1 o'clock to-
day. l must go to B. this morning
and may not get back before 2 or 3
o'clock. shall have to rely upon you
to entertain him."
Goodness gracious. father, what
shall l do with him? I'm no hand to
entertain an old person like that. 1
shall let down the bars Of your philo-
him browse there"
Anyway you like, daughter only
apologize for my not being here to re-
ceive him."
Molly, who kept house for her Ca
ther-her mother was dead-attended
to her morning duties, then took her
sewing out on the porch and, seating
herself, proceed to work and enjoy
the bright sunshine. She worked
perhaps an hour when she became
restless and. laying aside what she
was making. arose and, taking a tennis
the court and began a little practice
work. But she soon tired Of this and
wished she had some one to play a
game with.
A man apparently between thirty
and thirty-ive, in a pepper and salt
suit and a SLOUGH hat, came down the
road and. leaning on the fence, said:
BEG pardon. Is Deacon Maynard at
homer"
"No; father has gone to B. this norm
ing and will not be l. X before early
afternoon"
The man looked disappointed. TAX
ing out his watch, he noted the time
and looked uncertain what to do.
81 think l shall have to wait for
him, though I shall have several hours
to get away with. I've liked fifteen
miles to see him and shall hike fifteen
miles back. I don't wish to do it for
nothing"
He looked at the net stretched
across the tennis field, rather longing
ly, Molly thought, and, joining inclina-
ton to pity. she asked him if he
played the game, and when he said he
did she invited him to pass the time
in that way. Putting n hand on the
fence. he vaulted it. Molly brought
him a racket, and they began to play.
Molly at once discovered that she
had an experienced tennis player to
tackle and was consequently much
pleased. Her room was stacked with
prize rackets. pennants and such arti-
and she seldom found a player worthy
to meet her over the net. But playing
her best she soon found that the stran-
ger could beat her. This irritated her.
She soon forgot that the mar was a
stranger and a visitor, and whenever
he touched the line between the fair
and the unfair she spoke sharply to
him. He always seemed penitent, but
the more irritable she grew the more
he seemed to take a malicious pleasure
in annoying her. Playing with a lady.
he should have played a lady's game.
Instead Of that he served as If he were
hurting missiles at an enemy. One Of
these balls hit her On the hand and
hurt her badly. Dropping her racket,
she said:
"No more today, thank you. l am
expecting a gentleman-with an in
fexion on the word gentleman-to see
my father, whom I am to entertain at
dinner. If you will come back at 8
o'clock I dare say father will be here,
though since he has an engagement
with President Woodward you may
have to wait some time"
All this was said under the spiteful-
ness of pain. Molly not realizing her
rudeness. The stranger seemed much
grieved at having hurt her and thank
ed her for helping him through with
the time. Whereupon. being ashamed
of herself, she said:
Its Of no consequence, l assure
you. But l must really 60 now. The
president will be here in a few min
utes, and l have the task before me of
culCI LdluluS I'LL. IOW 1 dm " uO LuS
job l don't know. If it were not for
this l would ask you to come in and
wait for father here and would give
you some dinner, but the president is
all I shall be able to stagger under at
time"
The stranger declared that nothing
could induce him to trespass upon her
at such a time and left her, hoping
that she would have an easier task
with the president than she antici-
pated.
1t was now ten minutes to l, and,
making a toilet, Molly, after a visit to
the kitchen to see that all was worthy
of the dignified guest to come, sat on
the porch waiting for him. Half past
1, 2 came, and no president. At half
past . her father returned and was
quite surprised that DR.. Woodward had
not arrived. At 3 the stranger tennis
player came and was closeted with
Deacon Maynard for the rest of the
afternoon. When he had gone Molly