The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-12-13
COED COURTSHIP.
BY SYLVIA TURNER.


per Syndicate.)
The principal reason why the fam
lily decided that Hilda should go to
Sycamore college was because it was
coed. Aunt Jane held that in q strict
ly female seminary a girls mind was
apt to be so filed with her studies and
feminine pursuits that she was untitled
for her life role of wifehood. The
doctor took an entirely different view
of the situation, as he told Hilda the
night before she left.
Dear girl, you've lead a lonely, mo-
notOnOus sort of life at this old place,
with just Jean and myself. You need
| cOmpaniOnship of boys and girls your
| own age. Long ago your mother,
bless her, was a student at Sycamore
You are to have the same room she
had, and her seat in the dining hall.
Have a good time and don't have too
many love affairs. By the way, you
may find stepmOther here when you
come back, one whom know you will
love"
You mean Mrs. Everdon, dad?" she
asked, little break in her tone.
Il mean Paula Everdon," he re-
spOnded, quietly.
When she had been at Sycamore
just two weeks, far too busy to dwell
upon her own personal troubles, she
was one day on a tall mountain spur
overlooking the Hudson for miles. A
storm had been brewing and she had
been trying to make the college
grounds before it broke. But in her
hurry, she stumbled on the rocks, lost
her footing and fell. She tried to rise,
but could not, and suddenly there came
n drenchlng downpOur of rain, with a
crash of thunder.
She wore a short military cape, and
threw this around her like a poncho,
trying to shelter herself from the
downpour. All at once she felt her
self lifted bodily in strong arms and
carried on a run to the shelter of an
old, deserted shack used by wOrkmen
who had been blasting.
1t was dark inside the hut, so dark
that she could hardly discern the face
of her rescuer. The terrific noise out
side barred any attempt at conversa-
ton, but he had removed her cape and
was busy trying to light fire on the
old stone hearth. When the blaze
hared up she caught glimpse of his
face. 1t was strong young one. He
turned and smiled at her, feeling her
scrutiny.
HlNn'rn a Yot 70 ha hnrO for fiTnn
You'd better make yourself comforta-.
bic. I hope you're not far from your
home"
"Just Sycamore" replied Hilda, hold
ing out her hands to the fire. I'm
afraid I can't help myself very much.
My shoulder and ankle both seemed
to catch it when 1 fell. Perhaps when
you go, you might leave word at the
college so they'd send for me. I'd be
awfully obliged"
81 think l can manage to get you
over, myself" he said; ''at least as
far as the gates; then 1 can run down
after you in the deans car"
1t did not seem that they were to-
gether long before the storm cleared
yet three hours had passed when Hilda
finally reached her own room.
isn't he a perfect darling" said
Anne Rathburn, her roommate, when
Hilda was snug on the big couch.
drinking tea. 81 haven't seen him at
any of the classes. He must be a
senior"
1t surely gave her prestige among
the other freshmen, this being cared
for in cavalier fashion by a senior.
His name was Ralph, she found out
from some of the other boys, Ralph
Kingslake. After she grew to know
him better, he told her something Of
his own life. Hilda had been fear
fully curious over the visits of a
very handsome woman in black who
came and left the college grounds in
large touring car every Sunday.
ooh, that's the mater" Ralph told
her ''She's fearfully good to me.
She's just my stepmother, but we've
been regular pals ever since my fa'
Their died. She put me through col
lege, and we rather keep an eye on
each other. You see, by the terms of
MY fathers will, if she marries before
I'm twenty-five, she loses all but her
dover right in the estate. But then
again, if I marry before I've estab-
lshed myself under twenty-five, I'll
lose whole lot and she wins"
Hilda looked at him appreciatively.
Il should think it would be SPLEEN
did TO go deliberately against such a
WILL" she said.
The months passed, and June doomed
ahead. Hilda viewed it's coming anx-
Iously. Her fathers wedding was set
for the latter part of June.
Somehow she felt that she could not
go home and find stranger in her
mothers place. Ralph told her his
plans one night when they were walk
ing up the embroidered campus.
From habit they went into the little
room used as college post office. There
was letter in each of their boxes.
Hilda finished hers first.
"Oh, Ralph, dads married Mrs. Ev.
erdon! !" she cried. 'Tm so glad we de.
cided that we had right to our OVID
ho