The Monticellonian., 1916-12-28

them. And there were only plutully
few college days. l had used up near
ly quarter of mine already. Used
them up in frivolous ways-Squan
dered them like drunken sailor;
spent whole hours loating in my room
and oversleeping instead of getting out
and soaking in the glorious friendships
So soon 10 be severed forever. Why,
even now preparations for commence
ment we're beginning In few weeks
the boys would be gosle. Some OF
them would never come back. Bangs
might stay at home the next year. Al
len was doubtful about returning
least the faculty was doubtful for him
Even | might never see Siwash again.
| had wasted the only year | might
have in college.
For over a week | was unfathom-
ABLY detected. My kind roommate,
Bingo Bailey, fused around me and
tried to get me to soak my head or
take large drink of kerosene, hut |
merely threw things at him and de-
elined his suggestions. ~
1bui II duutliN lliS iLtilt'li ldilAl'Il
settled down into one fixed accusation.
Bad us my other crimes We're. there
WIS one which surpassed them in ash
ninty. | was feather-headed on the
girl question 1t was a fearful and de-
grading truth. l. Peter Simmons, a
eroWn-up man of eighteen and presi-
dent of his class, to say nothing of
being molder of destinies-hadn't [
helped mold Boggs' destiny Il
taythins in the hands of designing
females. \ pretty girl could smile at
him and bid him follow in shy voice
and thefeHpon he neglected friends
and studies and made himself that
girls slave.
II WAS awful. l had no stamina what
ever Swiftly I reviewed my six or
seven master passions of the year
Every one of them was pretty face.
! Whether The face concealed a brain or
not | had never thought to wonder.
\ peachhlow complexion. a companions
able smile, a light foot in the dance
that was my conception of lovely
woman BAH
When | thought about this for sey-
eral days it began to have its effect.
I became quiet and powerful within
and stern lines developed about my
mouth. ! could see them in the glass
quite plainly. I was no longer trust
ine child to be sent toddling hithef
aud yon by woman's voice. | was
a grown man with great purposes in
life and | had precious little room in
It for women. Acting on this impulse
broke date with Miss Willoughby
with brutal direetness. and declined
NY invitation to the annual party OF
the Kappa Kap Pajamas. woule
ignore the sex entirely during lie resi-
of my college course. Men had toe
much to do in college to be bothered
by the woman question.
But suddenly | had a better idea
Other men had become seured and hat
thrown down the girl question. Blu
could do something more. After all
the sex was not useless. There were
fine women and intelligent women
delightful companions and intellectual
comrades | would be large fnsteat
of merely Indifferent. would picl
out the brightest girl in my class ant
win her friendship. l would show he
attention and be her best friend no
matter whether she WAS merely plail
or so homely that l would thank he
, whenever she wore a veil.
: This was a really splendid idea. l
was lot bigger than the other. A
, soon rs | had conceived it l forgot al
about my crouch. There was NOTHING
left of it but my stern resolve. As
matter of fact, the resolve was litt
weak in the back, too. For, as | con
, yalesced, the idea of causing pain am
sorrow to all those beautiful and trust
| ing young girls became intolerablt
and I hastily recalled my regrets t
t the Kappa Kap party.
| had suffered severely, and | wa
bound To give my idea trial, I needn
: carry this intellectual friendship bus
t ness To extremes. But | could pic
{ cut the girl-a= plain ene-and at leas
I go and call on her. That would she
| my hrmness of mind and discrmind
5 ing character Maybe l would ey
e take her to Il party. So | began
t look over my class for possible c
!. didates for my high-minded and IL
a Igent friendship.
| | must say there We're plenty of $
sibilites. was surprised to diser
= how many young ladies' in the IN
T man class had entirely escaped mo-
Y tiee As | say, had had a fri1us
$ and beauty hunting eye. But nohat
h [ had started hunting for plain fth'
d was overwhelmed with candies.
+ / would look at two or three ehem
II earnestly and then 90 away a rest
r. for while There were t. thin
T. girls: short, stout girls; old ri with
o spectacles. and nondescript Q with
: clothes which fitted them tigh about
T. the neck and nowhere else ilfucu-
/ lar. ! began 10 wonder h5i MIS-
t going to find. among all thesfls. the
Y one who might prove To be most
r sensible and entertaining course
= | might 90 and call on all tiiem IN
g turn. but I bal6ed nj this would
= take too much time and sulhsi ana
# besides there were TIVE aeree girls
n technically spcaking-ihe class,
IS any one OF whom might lae logical
IS candidate. and to tell truth
a didn't have The nerve take Inc
e chance.
ID | sat through half @h classes
le looking over the collect ana sizIhS
- Inn. mud |