Oxford Democrat., 1921-07-12
The Slater-Ashley
Affair
By RAY LEWIS

Il w. - -As NsWspaper bynoicate.
George Vanderpyle gazed from tn
balcony down upon the animate,
scene below. where many couple
moved In rhythm with the seductive
cadences Of the palm-embowered OF
cnestra. He had wandered into tn
cnapter house in search Of an oil,
ciassmate and had paused for a mo
ment to look on.
Suddenly, "Who is that wonderful
womanT he exclaimed. grabbing tn
arm of the young fellow nearest hin
ana pointing out slim figure swayin,
In the dance on the floor beneath.
who dye meanT Billy Walters
leaned farther over the balcony. "Oh
that! Why, that's Miss Slater, ubn
rian Of the Mary Webster Memorial
has been here several years."
The man who had addressed hin
made no comment, but merely con
tinued to wait for the temperance o
the slender, silk-draped figure In tn,
round OF the waltz. George Wander
pyle had seen many women In hi.
forty-odd years Of life. but never. 81
he told himself, had he seen as beau
tiful, as graceful, as attractive a one
And to think Of her being incarceratet
In the Mary Webster Memorial
Where were the men, to permit such 8
thingf
Vanderpyle, back for his twentieth
reunion, had dutifully done what wa:
expected Of him as wealthy alumnus
and made the rounds Of the various
university buildings. He recalled the
Mary Webster Memorial, erected since
his time, as an INTELLECTUALLY perfect
severely classic building of cold stucco
with dim, vaultlike interior-admira
bly, adapted. no doubt, for the preser
walton Of fragile first editions and rare
manuscripts, but hardly suitable en-
vironment for the winsome, glowing
bit Of flesh and blood he had just seen
He did not remember having seen hel
there. No doubt she had an assistant
Suddenly. the man smiled, whimsi.
cally. All his life a mere desire on
his part to see a thing accomplished
had predicated its accomplishment
And although thus far the field Of
matchmaking was for him virgin soil
that fact might make venture there
all the more interesting.
Surely out Of all his vast acQuaint-
ance he could pick some well-favored
bachelor sufficiently cultured and
worthy to rescue the beautiful libra.
rian from the clutches Of the Mary
Webster Memorial and place her In the
environment to which her lOveliness
and charm entitled her.
But first he would like to meet her
to make sure that she fulfilled upon
acquaintance the promise Of her face.
who'll introduce me to herr" he
asked young Walters, much to the lat
ter's amusement. These old fellows
coming back were dandy chaps and all
that, and demanded loyalty as fra
ternity brothers, but It was odd to
think Of them being interested In the
female sexl He considered q moment,
redectively.
Then, "Why, let me see" he said de-
cisively. "You might ask Jack Ash
ley-he knows everybody"
Jack Ashley! The boy had hit 1t.
Jack Ashley not only knew everybody
but everybody knew Jack Ashley, knew
of him as one Of the finest products,
mental and physical. ever turned out
by the university. Vanderpyle knew
a little Of his history since graduation.
He had hunted big game In Africa
had served with the Canadian troops,
had become an American ace, and was
now being spoken Of for an important
diplomatic post And there was the
very man he was looking for! What
a pair they would make!
He found Ashley at the Union. swap
ping cigars and stories with other
members Of his class, which was about
ten years later than that Of Wander
pyle. Like the canny f1nancier he was,
the latter approached his object OBJ
liQuely. For he was becoming as en-
thusiastic over the match as was his
custom In closing business deal In
volving millions.
Settling himself In deep-cushioned
chair, he joined in the conversation
Not till its close did he direct his at
tention particularly to Ashley. Then,
I'm interested" he began, 'fn the
Bereton Americana. Come over with
me In the morning to the Mary Web
ster Memorial and tell me what you
think of the collection"
Ashley amiably agreed, and the con-
yersation drifted to other channels
Vanderpyle, regarding the man oppo'
site. wondered how he had escaped the
matrimonial net. Surely 1t could no,
have been through neglect on the part
Of the women! Perhaps he was await
ing an ideal, so perfect that he had
never found her.
At the thought, Vanderpyle nearly
chuckled aloud. She had been found
for himl
Next morning the two men met al
the small library which was sedateiy
situated on a side street beyond the
campus, apart from the ways trodder
nv the commencement week crowds
and presently Vanderpyle found him
self shaking the slim fingers OF Anne
Slater and looking into her dark eyes
She was even more charming than he
had hoped, with a simple directness Of
glance, low contralto voice, and fine
ewes which looked first at him, inquir
ingly, and then. almost with startling
surprise, at Ashley. Yes, apparently
Ashley had known her all right, fol
they had called each other immediate
" by name. Tmt youi.s Walters Chap
had been a wise one.
Content to let whatever slight &c
uuaintance the two may have had de-
yelop, he sauntered away, ostenta
tiously displaying deep interest In the
glass cases displaying yellow-leavet
books with ragged margins. To hi
surprise, he ultimately did become aD
sorbed In an odd collection. and al
hour slipped by unnoticed.