The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1916-11-22
A MODERN DANTE
BY JEAN CUMMINGS.


When Paul came home from college,
he discovered lamentable fact-his
home town and the home people were
deplorably behind the times. Their
outlook was so narrow. The mighty
problems of the day interested them
so little and there seemed no one with
whom he might discuss the things he
had learned.
His elders smiled indulgently, but
Elsa, who had learned to love him
when he was Just freckle-faced farm
er boy, grteved over him sorely.
Circumstances had not offered her
the same advantages, but Elsa was no
dullard and her quick wit persever-
ance and a good practical course of
home study in spare hours, about which
she had said not a word to anyone,
had given her also something to show
for the years they had been separated.
But, somehow, in the presence of this
new Paul she felt so shy and tongue
tied that he in his condescending su-
perlority saw only what he had expect
ed to find-a rather pretty but COM
monplace little country girl who
blushed a good deal and seemed to find
II difficult to discuss even the weather
and the changes around town intelll-
gently with him.
Paul had had uncomfortable misgiv-
ings whenever. during his college days,
he had remembered the childish be-
trothal pact existing between them,
and now, after seeing her again in her
plain little homemade gowns, he felt
more than ever that he had outgrown
his puppy love" as he called 1t to him
self.
Approaching something Of all this,
Elsa kept out of his way as much as
possible too hurt and proud to try to
hold her own. She was an orphan
and Paul's invalid aunt, who was fond
of her, had taken her as sort of
companion and to help with the young
er children. Paul's home since his
mothers death had also been with his
aunt. so he and Elsa could not avoid
seeing more or less of each other.
One day, while busting the library,
she came across a marked copy of a
weekly journal in whose columns read
ers were invited to discuss matters of
scientific, instructive or general inter
est. Along one margin were pencilings
in Paurs handwriting and folded in
side was a half sheet which she saw
at a glance was his written opinion in
answer to one of the correspondents.
He had signed 1t, using as a pen name,
Dante" and Elsa smiled rather wist.
fully as she saw that IT was a discus
sion of the time-worn topic, "Platonic
affection"
"Alfs fair In love and war" she
told herself, and deliberately. in spite
Of guilty shrinking. she read both
the printed letters and his written an
swer through. Then, with bent head
and flying fingers, she, too, covered
half a sheet Of note paper.
Paurs letter was printed the fol-
lowing week and the week after an an
swer to II from a new writer was pub
lished which gave rise to spirited de-
bate between himself and his new cor
respondent. 1t pleased his sense of
the fitness Of things to note that she
signed herself Beatrice" after the ia
nous platonic friend of Dante.
Presently, also, the sharpening of
va obhAhHA VII gave pAdNS ~
merits that savored of other than the
strictly platonic. Paul was completely
carried away with this girl with
mind so in tune with his own.
II don't care what she looks like"
he told himself. at is her inner self
that matters. l must meet her some
way. She is the girl for me-"
Feeling in honor bound, he went to
Elsa before letting the matter go far
Their, and awkwardly asked to be re-
leased from any mistaken understand
ing that might exist from the old days.
Her all-too-ready acquiescence did
not hatter his vanity. She, too, had
given her heart elsewhere, she told
him, with a beautiful quick color in
her cheeks and a happy light in her
eyes. sudden unreasonable pang of
regret went through his heart at hav-
ing relinquished his hitherto under
valued right Of way. Perhaps 1t was
the forgotten dimple at the corner of
! her mouth that recalled old tender
memories by peeping out just then. At
any rate, from that time on he found
himself constantly seeking her com