The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-16
Eoening Story
Preston's Reunion.
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLp,

Preston's Reunion.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD.
To watch Preston frisking about the
diamond. CARRIED fantasticAily in the
azure deublet and hose, feathered hat
and aipenstock of a Tyrolese noun
fact that he was revisiting, after ten-
years absence. the scene of his great
eat defeat Yet such was the case.
and Preston, despite the outward and
visible signs of . spirit in accord with
the gambols of his class, was expert
encing an inward pang at every re-
minder of time long past but still
very dear. sss
For Preston's downfall had not been
scholastic. On the contrary, he was
an honor man and a member of one
of those two fraternities composed of
prodlgies in letters or science. No,
Preston had graduated brilliantly.
The acid which had eaten into his soul
had been contained in the parting
words of Elizabeth Rogers, the daugh-
ter of his favorite professor, whom he
had masterfully appropriated. as far
as parental authority would permit.
from the evening of the presidents
reception to the freshmen to the final
frolic of his senior class day.
mo, Preston" she had said with a
firm shake of her head. You have
it in you to be everything that I could
desire. but do not think you have yet
realized your opportunities. I have
tried to show you time and time again
that did not care for you as I should.
but the very fact you would not un-
derstand is an illustration of what !
mean. You can't successfully con-
ceive Of things going any way but your
way. You won't be successful until
YOU have learned to stand up under
defeat"
Preston had been cruelty hurt at
first, then blindly angry.\ INN ediately
after commencement he had departed
mendations from his professors and
the memory of the first criticism he
had ever received ranking in his
heart. And accompanying 1T all was
determination to make his name so
well known that it would perforce be
brought to her attention and prove a
refutation of her words, a boyish but
natural desire.
His name, however, had not become
we'll known. Honor men in the
| classroom do not always keep at the
top in the exacting field of business.
Frequently he found the practical ex-
perience Of other men gained. while he
i was at college preferred to his theo-
retical knowledge acquired during
those four years. 81 *
And it was when he came to realize
for the first time that all his life he
would occupy mediocre positions COM
manding moderate salaries that he
bowed to the truth in Elizabeth Rog-
ers's words. So confident had he been
of success that he had expected it to
be his for the asking, and had alto
gether neglected the>humble appren-
ticeship success demands of her vo-
taries.
Last night at his reunion supper
Preston had heard old classmates &C.
| claimed as a credit to their class,
| their college. Such a one was Tom
Fender, never brilliant, but now man.
ager of mighty corporation. Such
a one, also, was Jimmy Blaine. who
| had always seemed to Preston uncon-
scionably dull, but now an important
factor in openeing an Alaskan rail-
road.
ofsthese things Preston was think
| ion before the bleachers. He was
thinking also of the last game he had
watched played on the field. By his
kside sat Elizabeth. her eyes glorious
above his roses, her. whole face lighted
with young enthusiasm.
At the thought Preston turned to
the putting Tyroleah at his side.
| What became of Prof. Rogers
daughter. I wonder" he asked. striv-
ing to make the question carefully
| casual.
His compaion returned gIibly,
''Why. sure. she married SprackIing,
| class ahead. We passed her a minute
or SO ago back in Prexy's stand"
| Preston would not have believed
that aftetr ten years he could feel SO
| round, he searched. for her. Yes
| there was Prof. Rogers. bit thinner
and grayer, and by his side a strik-
| ingly gowned woman, betraying ma
tronly plumpness, but beneath whose
dropping hat Preston fancied, even at
a likeness to the gay little Elizabeth
| of years ago. \za
elizabeth married and me--a- fail
ure-life is a funny thing" said Pres
| ton to himself and, sitting cross-legged
| on the ground in front of the alumni
stand, meditated upon the humor of
existence turnout the game which fol-
llowed. Even the old-time snake dance
succeeding the victory failed to rouse
him.
Elizabeth married! Somehow or
other. that possibility had never really
of his mind. had been the resolution
when he found success to take it back
and lay it at her feet. Now that he
knew success would never come, it
| was odd that he was so cut up to hear
she would not have been there to re-
| ceive it
Glass highland the campus a
| veritable fairyland with cleaning
| muiticoIored lanterns festooned among
| the trees. Soft, seductive strains
floating from chapter houses and
mingling with the delicate laughter of
women and the deeper voices of their
companions. Poignantly reminded of
other Years, Preston wandered about
alone, stopping occasionally to greet a
friend or to relight his cigar.
On that green sward beneath the
chapter house windows he had danced
with elizabeth He recalled how light
she was in his arms. He had sat be-
meath that tree and told her he loved
her and stopped her protest by piac-
| ing rnasterfully her own soft hand
against her mouth. But heavens,
reminiseing about ones love when
that love is married is as sayorIess