The Monticellonian., 1916-10-19
A MODERN DANTE
BY JEAN GRIM INNINGS.

When Paul game home from college,
he discovered a 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 ne 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 freckIe-faeed farm
er boy. grieved over him sorely.
Circumstances had not offered her
the same advantages, but Elsa was no
dulard and her quick wit persever-
ance and Il good practical course of
home study in spare hours, about which
she had said net word To anyone,
had given her also something to show
for the years they had been separated.
But somehow, tn the presence of this
new Paul she felt so shy and tongue
tied that he in his condescending SUI
peuority saw only what he had expect
ed TO find--a rather pretty but COM
I
blushed Il good deal and seemed to find
il difficult TO discuss even the weathef
and the changes around town intelii-
gently with him.
Paul Ind had uncomfortable misgiv-
ings whenever, during his college days,
he had remembered the childish be-
trotha 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 Ito him
self.
Approaching something of all this,
Elsa kept out of his way as much as
possible too hurt and proud 10 try to
hold her own. She was an orphan
and PaHi4s invalid aunt, who WAS fond
of her. had taken her as sort of a
companion and 10 help with the young
or children. Pauls 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, but
the old tender intimacy WAS gone.
One day, while busting the library,
shv came across marked copy of Il
weekly journal in whose columns read
ers We're invited To discuss matters of
scientific. instructive or general inter-
est Along one margin We're peneilings
in Paul,s handwriting and folded in
side WIS n half sheet which she saw
at glance was his written opinion in
answer to one of the correspondents
He hdd signed it, using as ii pen name
Dante, and Elsa smiled rather visit.
fully rs she saw that it WAS a discus
sion of the time-Worn topic, "Platonie
affection.
Ais 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 sheet Of note paper
Paulss letter was printed the fol.
lowing week and the week after AN am
swer 10 ii from neW writer was pub
lshed which gave rise to spirited de-
bate between himself and his new cor
respondent. 1t pleased his sense of
the fitness of thing to note that she
signed herself Beatrice" after the fa-
nous platonic friend of Dante.
Presently, also, the sharpening of
wit against wit gave place to senti-
ments that savored of other than the
strictly platonic Paul was completely
carried away with this girl with a
mind so in tune with his own.
81 don't care what she looks like"
he told himself. 1T 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 flatter his vanity. She, too, had
given her heart elsewhere, she told
him, with beautiful quick color in
her cheeks and happy light in her
eyes. A sudden unreasonable pang of
regret went through his heart at hay
ing relinquished his hitherto under
valued right of way. Perhaps it 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
partnership, the more ardently that she
persistently avoided him. Elsa had
learned u thing or two not taught in
books.
One day a detected and humble Paul
followed her into the garden, where
he had caught glimpses of her white
dress here and there among the tall
rose bushes. With the sunlight on her
hair among the waving tendrils of
which she had tucked dark red rose.
she looked so dear and altogether de-
sirable To him that. suddenly catchinp
her wrists, he blurted it all cut then
and there-how he loved her and want
ed her. And did she truly love this
other man whom she had never since
mentioned?
Very, very dearly" she told him
grayaly. Paul's heart sank.
You have never told me his name "
he said gloomily.
Then Unexpectedly, she reached nm
and whispered Dante" in his ear.
Paul grasped her shoulders. staring
down Mt her in amazement.
Eyes, l am Beatrice" she iaugbed
"but we can never be anything more
IN ouch ather hapauca xx,o Lolgo..-