The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-20

postoffice, there to await the much
desired mail order that he expected
still would arrive.
Christmas day offered little chance
for adventure for Madge, for the sim
pie reason that all the interesting col
lege men had gone home Only
handful remained, and among them
two Japs, an Arabian, middle
aged Englishman. several confirmed
girl haters who never appeared at the
college dances-she did not expect to
find one who could arouse her inter-
est. Still, when her father suggested
that she do a kind act on Christmas
afternoon by going to the faculty hall
and entertaining the boys who had
not gone home for the holidays. she
agreed. The dormitory dining room
was closed, and in order tLt~t the hand-
full of boys might not miss the cheer
of Christmas a group of the profess
sors had planned a Christmas dinner
for the students, followed by an eve
ning's entertainment, at which some
of the wives and daughters of the IA
Guilty would do their best to offer the
Christmas cheer that had been lack
ing at the dormitory.
When Tomplxins Thatchers expect
ed check did not come and when IN
place of it came letter of parental
reproof, Tompkinsis spirits were low,
so rather than go dinnerless at the
dormitory he joined the little group of
Guilty student dinner.
After the rather cherries dinner,
just as Tompkins was trying to make
a speedy exit before the entertainment
began. he almost ran into Madge, just
arriving.
II am so glad you are here" and
she pressed her small hand over his
perceptibly longer than usual-too
long to be merely handshake. 1t
was a little mannerism that she had
FTN.-ixy
had gone home. but I came anyway"
she said. 81 hoped I'd find some one
to play with, but I'd much rather play
with you than anybody else
Tompkins caught the CLINT of the
topaz that hung at her neck, throwing
lovely splotches of yellow against the
white skin it touched. As she saw his
eyes Madge remembered. You were
so good You really must be quite
prince to make such generous Christ
mas presents. Then in spite of Tomp-
kins's wishes to be alone with the girl
for whom he had been willing to sac
rifice his Christmas at home, the 9TH
ers Joined them and the music and
talking and entertainment went on.
Tompkins didn't have to coax much
to gain permission to walk home with
Madge, and once seated in the cozy sit
ting room of the Li-tlcton home they
took up again the thread of the con-
versation. Then, as the embers on the
hearth flickered and died he opened
his heart to her as-if truth be told
goodly number of other college boys
had already done in Madge's short
career as a college belle
There was nothing very original
about the way Tompkins began it. He
was frightened, as they all were, al
most iaconic when he got to the real
point of the proposal and at tn end
as usual Madge laughed just a little
family, teasingly, and refused to take
the declaration seriously. Why should
she? Hadn't TriX told her that college
boys never had hearts?
Don't you think, them Thatch-
er's voice was a little unsteady and
all the sentinentality seemed to have
gone-"don't you think, then, that you
| have been wrong in letting me care
and letting me think that you cared,
too? I know that you professors
/ daughters have no hearts. All the
men have told me, but | thought you
} were different. And it isn't the easiest
/ thing in the world for man to get
over, either-to get over caring for a
girl the way you have let me care for
! you. 1 don't mind about the topaz
| thing, but I want you to know that l
gave up going home just to satisfy
your whims. That's the kind of girl
you are You're regular Trix Floyd.
The boys told me you were, but 1
wouldn't believe them"
! Madge's eyes We're full of tears that
| hung on her long lashes ready to fall.
/ perhaps Trix didn't understand about
] college boys hearts, she said. Per
i haps no one ever took the trouble to
| explain the way you have. Per-
! haps-''
| And then as the tears fell Madge
knew that she had discovered the
| heart of the college man. and she had
discovered her own heart at the same
| ime.-(Copyright, 1916. by the Nc
| Clure Newspaper Syndicate.)