The Topeka state journal., 1916-09-28
EVENING STORY
Winifred's Pluck.
(By Izola Forester.

sor did not even glance up from his
writing. Il said, dear, it does seem
too bad that we are somewhat bound
to take the girl here
Not bound, nothing compulsory
about it. Betsy" the professor re-
sponded cheerfully. His large tortoise
shell spectacles added to his usual
look of benign attentiveness. 'Hec-
tor merely asked if we could take her
with us. Find her a good room
around at any of the houses. / dare
say the Crosbys would take her. L
thought it would relieve you.''
We'll, it would. She could be
lot of help if she's that kind-willing,
1 mean. So many girls of her age
never even see what's right under
after Betty a great deal and help
Anna with the upstairs work, and
maybe with the ironing and hanging
out washday, and L could give her
some sewing for the children, but
wouldn't trust her with the baby"
No, no, L wouldn't, if L were you,
Betsy" said the professor dryly.
She'll probably have enough to do
and keep up with her classes besides
1T was on account of Everitt that
l spoke. You see, L feel just a little
bit responsible for him. Laura begged
me to keep him out of-well, you
know what L mean, dear. Not to let
him fall in love until he is thru col
lege.'
Cant help falling in love at a CO.
ed place. They all do The profess
sor's eyes twinkled. You know, we're
horrible example. Betsy. I'd let
things take their proper course. Nav
be the girls ordinary looking. 1 don't
feel as if L could refuse Hector We
were classmates, and he's been pretty
hard up for years. 1t means quite a
good deal to him, this putting his girl
thru college. If 1 could afford it, I'd
have her here and never ask any re-
turn at ALL
"Oh, that wouldn't be right Inde-
pendence is the first principle of sue
cess. Self-reliance and seff-respect go
hand in hand
. Doubtless. doubtless" The pro-
fessor's mind reverted again to his
work Write 20 her to come. any,
way, Betsy. and don't worry
Everitt came downstairs just as his
aunt sealed the letter. He was tall
and boyish, with happy, whimsical
expression of perpetual optimism
Can L mail that for you, Aunt,
Betsy?''
Whyer-yes, 1 suppose So
1t almost seemed to Betsy as if she
had purposely and knowingly put him
into danger when she even intrusted
the letter to him. He was such a
clean. frank. splendid boy. And the
girl might be-anything. She tried
to explain her coming.
"She's the daughter of an old class
mate of young uncle. He is the head
of mission now in southern Okla
homa and has a large family. Win
field is the eldest: She wants to work
her way thru college and we are go
ing to have her live with us. She is
to help me somewhat partially to pay
her board"
Gee, isn't that plucky of her
After Winifred's arrival that
seemed to be his attitude of mind to-
ward DISCRIMINATION for her pluck
Life had come along with gifts for
Everitt ever since he could remem-
ber. His mother had plenty of means
to put him thru college and start him
in business later. Now. here was a
girl handicapped at every point win
ming her own way. He felt himself
an idler as the weeks passed and he
help in her power, suiting herself to
the latter's little peculiarities, giving
the professor a lift over his essays md
lectures, petting 4-year-o1d Betty out
of the sulks and still making all her
classes.
And the worst of it was, no matter
how the other girls tried to smooth
it over. she was left out of the smart
clubs on account of her position at
the professors house. The college
was just near enough to New York to
have caught a tincture of metropoi-
ways and winifred took her social
hazing with fine grace.
The event of the early winter season
was the A. G. LIS dance at the fra
ternity house. The boys were the
hosts and most of the exclusive little
frat belonged to the senior year. Only
the very pick of the girls were in
vited and the boys even held consul
tations over the lists beforehand. 1t
was Everitt who set Winifred's name
of it the day before the committee
suggested that he select another girl.
The boy who told him was brother of
Nan Holland, leader of the New York
girls crowd. Everitt remembered he
had invited Nan twice before that
term. He turned on Ted Holland with
steady eyes.
"rll bring Miss Gray or no girl
News and gossip travel quickly in
small town college circles. Somehow
the rumor grew until it reached Mrs
Ramsey's ears and troubled her. 1t
would never do for Everitt in his
Lsenior year to be absent from the A.
G. lis dance. while for Winifred 1t
really didn't matter, since she never
aimed for the social side. She really
had too much good sense, Betsy had
| said.
/ So now, relying on that good sense.
she told Winifred just the way mat
| ters stood, and the girl from Okla
homa listened with a little smiles, as
she combed Betty's soft eurls over her
finger in little close ringlets
why. of course, I understand. Mrs.
Ramsey" she said gently. "Ill tell
you what we'll do. 1 have promised
| one OF the girls in my chemistry class
to run out over Sunday with her She
| lives at farm just outside town and
| | can skate down the river to the
place. 1t will be lots of fun. You can
fau Everitf