Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-03
HARD ROLE TO PLAY
BY JANE OSBORN.


enough, but, added to that distinction,
to possess a pair of boyish blue eyes
and a snubbish sort of freckled nose
that Just naturally made girls of the
college age treat you like younger
brother was role that few men would
like to play. But Tom Newbury had
his reasons. 1t was not only because
the post Of professor of mathematics
at Mendham was the first available
means of earning his living that pre-
sented itself two years ago, when he
left his alma mater. The real reason,
although no one knew it but Tom, was
that Sally Phelps was about to enter
Mendham. and, although Tom hadn't
mentioned the fact to her, he rather
liked the idea of being near her.
1t was a springlike day in Febru.
ary when Sally had been in college
yeaI l a half that Tom Newbury at
last decided that he could wait no
longer to make his declaration. Sec
ond semester had begun, and he had
decided never to begin another. In
fact, he had accepted position as
mining engineer and had decided to
persuade Sally to leave school with
him in May.
He had decided to make his long
deferred declaration down the lane
that leads from the campus toward
the woods at Mendham. The dormi-
tory reception room is so frightfully
uncompromising SO unsympathetic to-
ward such an adventure. Even on a
cold day. the lane toward the woods
was a warmer spot.
But planning was one thing and
getting Sally to stroll down the lane
was quite another.
Really I'm dreadfully sorry" she told
him. looking out of brown eyes that
were as frank and honest as his own,
yes, too, that looked at Tom almost
on a level, for Sally was every inch
as tall as the youngest professor.
You see, tonight's the night of the
sophomore banquet-down in the boat
house across the lake. We have had
fires laid in the fireplaces and the ca
terer is going to manage somehow.
You see, we had to have it some place
that the freshmen would not suspect.
Don't breathe a word of it."
There was no use asking Sally to
see him after the banquet, or to give
him time before, for Sally was class
president and there would be no room
in her busy evening for thoughts of
aught besides class matters. And be-
fore Tom could speak of a possible
stroll down the lane the following
evening she was of on the pretext
Of having to spend the afternoon work
ing over the speech she had to make
that night.
It was in no very cheerful frame of
mind that the youngest professor
strolled down through the campus be-
fore going to his boarding house for
dinner that evening. What If Sally
wouldn't accept him after all? Had
he been wasting those two years when
he might have been working at a
mans Job in the mans world instead
of cloistered away in a woman's COL
lege?
He walked slowly down to the exact
spot in the lane that he had chosen
In his earlier plans for asking Sally.
He leaned over the footbridge that
spanned the little stream and took in
long breaths of the crisp, bracing
February air. in which there was ever
30 slight hint Of approaching spring.
The setting sun sent long shafts of
red-golden light through the mass of
tangled brush that bordered the lit
tie stream below.
Then in the recently-melted waters
Of that very stream he saw Sally's
reflection, even before he realized that
she was standing at his side.
He turned and would have spoken
when Sally clapped her hand abruptly
over his mouth.
Quick" she whispered. Hide me.
They'll see us. Here, down under the
bridge in the brambles. They will
never think of looking there
And before Tom had a chance to
ask for an explanation he and Sally
had secreted themselves under the
bridge on the woody growth of
branches and vines that grow at the
side of the stream.
Its a little soggy here" Sally
whispered at length. seizing Toms
hand to keep from slipping on the
thawing ground. But l think l am
safe. They won't think of looking
here, will they?"
Who won't?" asked Tom, clutching
the brambles in an effort to keep his
footing.
The freshmen. You see, we tried
to keep l. q secret about that banquet
but it leaked out and now they are
trying to kidnap me. The idea you
know Is always to get the class pres
idents on banquet nights. Well,
started out and l thought Id get
around to the boathouse all right if
went this way. ! put on Peggy
Adams coat You know what a giant
she is. I'm tripping on the coat now
But they must have found out that
got her things because just when
got this far l heard them calling.
heard one of them say:
"'She's making for the little lane
Bind her hand and foot and tie the