The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-15
The Euening Story
Bordman Proposes.
(By Mary Marshall. }

Englishman-and although he had
listened to Margaret talk about COL
/ lege doings by the hour on board the
boat that brought her back from Eng
land to her senior year at Dover col
lege and brought him to a two weeks
visit to the States, and although his
extensive roamings had taught him
preparedness for anything, still his
first half hour of Dover college fairly
took his breath away. He arrived after
college had been in session for ten
days at about 4 O'Clock in the after
the neat little Dover hotel, he started
out in the direction of the campus in
search Of Margaret with impatience
| of spirit and joy of heart.
| Two smiling, hatless young women,
clad in outing suits, approached him
perfectly unabashed:
I'VE are official guides they
seemed to say in chorus. I'VE will
show you. the campus. the lake, the
ramble, the college buildings, the
chapel, and indicate all points of in
ing the money for the college athletic
association
Bordman fumbled in his pocket for
dollar and consented to be guided
ct want most of all to be shown to
the dormitory,'' he said with an accent
that seemed to delight his guides. He
could feel that they were casting APP
proving chances over his head. 1T is
obliged, but if you will pilot me to the
dormitory. that is about all I will have
time for
The guides smiled and led him
through the campus entrance, walk
ing faster and faster as they pro-
ceeded, one taking up the thread OF
the conversation where the other left
off. Bordman laughed and talked
pleasantly with them and when they
passed a group of twenty girls, clad in
sweaters and bloomers-"A group of
undergraduates" as the guides ex,
planned, returning from basketball
pra ctice"-his natural instinct, in view
of the unusual costumes worn by the
party, was to turn his gaze from them.
He felt someone looking at him. He
looked back just as the group had
passed and there he saw in the per-
son of one of the be-bloomered young
athletes the object of his hearts de-
paused. Perhaps he had better leave
his guides and follow her. and then,
as he thought of it, it seemed better
to wait till she had time to dress in
joined her.
II say" he said finally, don't you
think you have given me a dollars
worth? I have had a ripping time,
really, but I want to go and cali on
a friend at the dormitory."
When Bordman finally made his
way to the dormitory and had the
front door opened by a d1m1nutlVe
DuCCOnGQ page ne lOuI0 IliIlSCiI III
the midst of a bevy of talking, laugh
ing young women who looked up in.
surprise as he passed them into
small reception room whittier the
page directed him. Soon Margaret
came down stairs and greeted Bord-
man with indifference, unlike the
sympathetic expression he had taken
away as a memory of her but ten
days ago.
IT didn't know you had any other
rising infection, intended to indicate
indifference, and it took a good ten
minutes of Bordman's persuasion to
explain that he had been guided
quite against his will, and that later,
when Margaret passed him on the
campus, the reason he didn't desert |
them to follow her was because he |
felt that perhaps, dressed as she was, |
she wouldn't have cared to stop to
talk to him.
'Awfully fetching costume, though"
he added, hastily, feeling that per-
haps she would think he disapproved. |
Then Margaret took another good
ten minutes explaining the nature of
was aching to use for the purpose for |
which he had come to Dover. He |
had to return early the next morn |
ing to New York in order to catch |
his steamer back to England. and it |
was part of his plans to take back !
with him, if he could, the knowledge /
that Margaret would be his wife.
However, he listened to Margaret's /
explanation. She paused minute |
for breath and Bordman drew his |
chair nearer to her
BE careful" she warned, this is
not the steamer deck, you know; a
half dozen girls in the hall are watch
ing us
Cant we close the doors? I want
to talk to you seriously
''They don't shut" said Margaret.
'They aren't doors-they are just
arches"
"Oh," sighed Bordman, well, can
talk to YOU
Just then an excited young woman
ran into the room. Excuse me, Mar
garet, for butting in, but we have been
waiting for you for fifteen minutes.
There is a committee meeting and we
need you for the quorum, and with
that Margaret with word of apology
left Bordman with the words of his
proposal on his tongues
end.
Bordman waited half an hour and
then Margaret returned to say that it
was dinner hour and that as it was {
be late to dinner she would have to
leave him. He suggested that she
come with him to his hotel for dinner,
but when Margaret explained that this .
could be done only with the intrusion
of a woman instructor as chaperon
Bordman did not urge her.
After dinner he reached Margaret
on the telephone. when may I see
your he asked. st have to leave
here tomorrow morning at and it
may be months before can make an
other trip to the States.''
Margaret considered. "I have a
play rehearsal for the senior frolic'
tonight at 1890: that will last till 8.
The lights are out in the reception hall
at $50. 1 can see you for a half hour
then"
Bordman arrived at five minutes be-