Mexico Missouri message., 1917-05-10
1.-THE VISITING SPEAKER
BY EARL REED slLvERs.


The dignifed principal of the Mill
town high school cleared his throat i'm
portantly.
Il nave the pleasure of announcing
that on Friday afternoon we shall be
honored by visit from the assistant
10 the president of Belmont college,"
he advised the school body, "who will
deliver lecture upon college Days."
The students took the announcement
philosophically. Friday afternoon lee.
lures failed to thrill them to any con-
siderable extent; the speakers were
generally bearded professors whore
Off page after page of uninteresting
statistics while the pupils yawned
openly or read forbidden novels under
the cover of their desks.
But to little Miss Browne, the young
est member of the faculty, the an
nouncement was of surprising impor-
lance 1t caused slight gasp to issue
from between her crimson lips. and n
light of "Reminiscences to shine from her
sky-blue eyes. For the mention of Bel
mont college brought back memories
had ever known.
She remembered it all as if it were
yesterday. She had gone to the Junior
prom and its attendant festivities with
her cousin Budd Sands, who had asked
her because he couldn't think Of any
one else to take, and who, having CIV
en- the invitation, considered his obi
mr. IlyYA
Browne hadn't minded at all, for on
the very first evening she had been
introduced to Bob Prentlss. The name
or Bob's guest was Belle Bentley, and
until Bob's eyes had rested upon those
OF little Miss Browne he had been
rather attentive to Belle. After that
there had been a noticeable difference
until, by the time the house party was
two days old, casual observer would
have supposed that Bob had invited
Miss Browne and Budd Miss Bentley.
Everybody seemed perfectly well salts
fed. There was one person, however,
who thought differently. That person
was Belle Bentley, who, as the time
for the conclusion of the prom drew
near, resolved to speak kindly but
plainly to little Miss Browne.
Bob Prentiss and are practically
engaged" she informed the other girl
in the course of her remarks, "and
ne Is only playing with you. You're
something new, and you amuse him"
Little Miss Browne hadn't said much,
except to assure her wrathful compan-
ion that she had no intention of being
plaything for anyone.
The next morning little Miss Browne
left for home, and the three letters
which Bob had sent her during the two
days following her departure had been
returned unopened.
That was two years before the dig
nified principal of the Midtown high
school had made the announcement
that the assistant to the president of
Belmont college would speak upon
college Days"
On Friday morning she went to
school half determined to ask the
speaker if Bob had accepted the ap.
pointment, and if he had married Belle
Bentley. But when Friday afternoon
came around and the pupils filed into
the school auditorium, little Miss
Browne received the surprise of her
life. For there, sitting beside the dig.
nified principal, was no other person
than Bob Prentiss himself.
After he had been introduced he
spoke easily, fluently, telling the inter-
ested boys and girls of the various
phases of college life. Picture after
picture flashed upon the screen, and
the watching teacher, recognizing the
various college scenes, thrilled strange
ly. But suddenly she sat up rigidly
in her chair. The speaker was tell
ing about the college dances and had
thrown upon the screen Il picture of
the guests at his own fraternity two
years ago-the most wonderful house
party he had ever attended.
Little Miss Brownies eyes opened
wide. Perhaps, after all, he had not
been playing with her. Perhaps Miss
Bentley had been wrong. The young
est member of the Midtown faculty
suddenly decided to give the visitor an
other chance.
The lecture finished, Mr.. Robert
PrentiSs prepared to take his depar-
ture. But in some miraculous man.
ner, just as he had reached the front
steps Of the school, he came face to
face with the girl he had been dream
ing of for two years.
Miss Browne!" he gasped. "Where
did you come from?"
Little Miss Brownies eyes dropped
demurely.
II am a teacher here" she said. Sud
denly she raised her eyes. Are you
married to Belle Bentley?' she asked
irrelevantly.
The mans eyes opened in surprise.
"Of course not" he answered.
Little Miss Browne held ont her