The Press., 1919-05-22
Keeping a Record
By Walter Joseph Delaney

Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union.)
 "Note down every important event of each day." directed profound and systematic Julius Thurston, professor of philosophy at the Durham Institute. At the end of the year go over it and sift out and preserve an epitOme of the bearing of those incidents which have had an influence in building up character and mental strength" "In other words. keep a diary!"
 whispered madcap Blanche Deming to her close chum, lola Vardaman, but the latter was covertly viewing the se
 rious, interested face of Chester Mas sey
 She was the daughter of the local
 banker, he the son of a struggling farm CT. He was masterful enough, how ever, to work his way through school,
 and was no burden on his aged par ents. An uncle of some means had
 agreed to finance him as soon as he graduated, in starting him in as lawyer, and there was no doubt among the professors that Chester Massey was destined to make his mark in the world.
 It was a few days after that when Chester, entering the little stationery store near the school, found lola there.
 Their errands proved similar. Both had
 come to buy neat, compact pocket blank book following the suggestion of
 Professor Thurston.
 "We seem to be on the same errand,"
 she said pleasantly, and, as she re- ceived her purchase: DO you know
 what my first entry is to be? This day Chester Massey patiently devoted
 an hour to construing my Greek for
 me and won me high marking.'" "And I shall write that the most kindly and gracious young lady in the
 school honored me as helper and
 cheered me with her appreciation" re- sponded Chester gallantly.
 AS the weeks went by Chester and lola saw a good deal of one another. Several times they met at little school and college functions and seemed to pair off naturally At least once a week Chester was included in invita- tions to tennis and archery at the handsome Vardaman place, and the banker father of lola took decided liking to Chester when, incidentally in conversation, the latter modestly dis cussed the subject of trade acceptances
 with MT. Vardaman, both being inter-
 ested in the possibilities of that new | discounting system.
 A closer bond was cemented between the two young people through the fact that they graduated together, the high | est in their class. The wealthy uncle of Chester was present at the exer- cises, and before he left Durham ar
 ranged for Chester to start into pro- fessional life in a good way. Chester fingered a week away from home amid series of frolics and parties given the class. The last day of his so- journ in the village he invited lola to row down the river. She accepted
 in her pretty, pleasant way, and bis
 heart thrilled as he fancied she was scrrOwful over his prospective depart ure, and told him frankly she would miss him. A certain sense of sadness oppressed both as finally, shipping the ! oars, Chester allowed the boat to drift at will They were each silent, a conscious restraint affecting them as they realized that parting was soon to come. Then suddenly the boat veered past an island that divided the stream. "We must get ashore, and quickly !' he spoke. "Without oars we should soon be in peril" lola uttered cry meant
 to be deterrent. but the next moment.
 throwing off his coat, Chester sprang into the water, floated the boat toward the island, forced it upon the Shelv- ing beach, and emerged from the wa ter, staggering and breathless.
 "You can rest in the boat until re- turn with another One," he said as soon as he could recover his natural poiSe.
 But how"
 "I can swim, to the mainland"
 "Oh. no! nor" She had arisen to her feet in the boat In pleading at titude. You would risk your life"
 "Eut we cannot remain here indefi- nitoly. No one might discover us through the whole day."
 "Oh, don't go-please!" but with light laugh Chester ran down into the water, struck out, and, her heart in her mouth. lola watched him with fear and trembling until he had reached the other shore. A great sigh of re- lief swept her lips. She noticed a lit tie book lying in the bottom of the boat. It had fallen out of the pocket of Chester's discarded coat. As it opened in her hand she read her own rame. once, twice, thrice. Then, allowed herself to read what was never intended for her eyes. she sat and clasped the little book in bewil- dered and delicious daze.
 For the memoranda pages here and there told of the growing love in the soul of the writer. lola was so en- erossed in thought that she did not notice the arrival of Chester with the relief boat until he leaped out and came toward her. He observed that she was swayed by some intense emo- ton. She arose and rendered him the memorandum book.
 "I have read inadvertently" she said. "Would it not be only fair to read what I have written, alsO?"
 lola drew from her pocket her own little volume of confessions. A great cry of joy issued from the lips of Chester Massey as he traced hope, haDDiDeSS love in the crowded lines