Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-06-19
She Won
Two Prizes
By SADIE OAcOT

As children are wont to do when en-
>deavoring to stamp anything on their
memories, she beat her breast with her
right hand and rocked to and fro
"Amo, I love. Amas, thou loves
Amat, he loves. Amamus, we lC
Amatis, you love. Amant, they low
Now, this girl was anything
child. She was eighteen years
months old. She was petite,
fashion for women's dresses
the skirt should not reach mut
the knees Her father was col
quartermaster of the army AM
ed in city where supplies
collected to be sent to Franc
use of the expeditionary fore
young soldier had come to tf
house before Office hours on
ness and was waiting to see
living room, which adjoined Il
where the girl was studying.
Of the young soldiers proxin
she was pretending that she
herself to be alone.
When she corrugated the present
tense of the verb ito love" a second time
she did it in this wise:
"Amo, I love. Amas, thou lowest
Amat, she loves. Amamus, we love.
Amatis, you love. Amant, both love.
Lieutenant Bob Blackstone sat wait
ing for Colonel Henderson to come
downstairs and listened to what he
supposed was little girl studying her
lessons. He was of the senior class In
- university and was one Of the
large number Of graduates who had
donned khaki uniforms before grad
uation. he did not need to be a good
Latin scholar to know that the pupil
had corrugated the verb wrong. Step
ping to the portiere, he raised it and
saw the child, as he supposed, study
ing. She started at seeing him, but
the action was feigned.
IT say, little GIRL" he said, you're
conjugatmg that verb wrong. Amant
doesn't mean both love. 1t is they
love-"
Dear me, how could have made
, such a mistake! Are you sure it isn't
both love?" -
II ought to know. I took a prize ~
college for thesis written in Latin"
Miss Henderson's eyes, which were
large and expressive, were brought to
hear on Lieutenant Blackstone In a
ort Of wOnderment Presently she
,aid:
Didn't the Romans have any ex-
resslon for both lover
II don't see," said the lieutenant.
what that has to do with your les
son. take 1t your task Is to learn to
conjugate the present tense Of the
verb to love. You have 1t right except
the last word, amant, which means
they love instead Of both love-"
"What does amat mean?"
HE loves
Il thought 1t was she loves"
ut means either he or she loves"
doesn't It mean he and she lover
Hardly. It means but one person."
"And does amant mean they love
each other?"
mo; it means several persons love.
It doesn't mean that they love each
other. It means that each person
loves some one else"
How do you know that?"
II can't say do know 1t. confess
that I don't remember ever hearing
the question brought up. They might
love each other, mightn't theyY'
If they were both very NICE"
He looked at her searchingly. Her
glance was fastened to her gramm4r::>
1t was beginning to dawn upon him that
he was not teaching a schoolgirl, but
that schoolgirl was chatting him.
LET me see the text" he said, bend
ing over her shoulder. This brought
his face very near hers.
Then a heavy footstep on the stairs
betOkened the approach Of the colonel
Blackstone beat hasty retreat into
the other room, closing the portiere be-
hind him. The child in the library
went on conjugating the verb ito love-"
but when she came to amant she in.
variably gave it 'both love-"
When Blackstone had transacted his
business with Colonel Henderson he
took his departure, receiving at the
same time an invitation to dinner the
same evening. The little schoolgirl had
stung him, and when he returned to
camp he had forgotten all the colonel
had told him. What nonsensel To be
turned topsy turvy by kid studying
the rudiments of Latin!
Bob got himself up in evening dress
for the dinner, taking as much pains
to beaut1fy himself as If he was to meet
a woman instead Of kid. When he
was formally presented to "our little
Billy" she looked more like Miss VII
helmina Henderson, which she really
was. Bob didn't know what to say or
what to do. But the colonel led the
way to the dining room, and there was
nothing for Bob to say or to do till they
reached the board, and then Miss Hen
derson made it very easy for him.
"Have you been graduated this year,
Mr.. Blackstone?" asked Mrs. Hender-
son.
Il have-only few weeks ago."
"Our little girl was graduated last
year. She should have remained at
school longer, she is SO childlike"
did she take any honors?" asked
Blackstone dryly.
"Only one-a prize in Latin, be-
lieve."
Il have no doubt it was well Won"
Miss Henderson followed up her ad-
vantage with Lieutenant Blackstone
and won him ms well ~ tb" Latin prize.