The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-03-17
CHAPTER XII.

CHAP n MI.
Throughout the term Ramsey's cal
culatIon OF, probabilities against the
happening Of another Interview with
Dora seemed to be well founded. but
at the beginning OF the second sem
ester" he found her to be fellow
member Of a class in biology. More
than that. this class had every week
q two-hour session In the botanical
laboratory. where the structure OF
plants was studied under microscopic
dissection The students worked In
pairs. a special family Of plants being
assigned 10 each couple; and the In
structOr selected the couples with an
eye TO combinations Of the quick with
the slow. ID. Yocum and r. Milhol-
land (the latter In a strange state Of
mind and complexion) were given two
chairs. but only one desk ana one MI
croscope. Their conversation WAS
strictly botanical.
Thencefortn IL became the most
pressing care Of Ramsey's life to pre-
there was any conversation at all.
even botanical. Fortunately. Fred
was not taking the biological courses,
though he appeared to be taking the
sentimental ones with an astonishing
thOroughness. and sometimes, To Fred 5
hilarious delight. Ramsey attempted to
turn the tables and rally him upon
whatever last affair seemed to be en-
gaging his fancy. The old Victorian
and pre- Victorian plague word pet
ticoat" had been revived in Fred's
vocabulary. and In others. as skirt"
The lightsome sprig was hourly to be
seen even when university rulings for
bade, dilly-dallying giddlly along the
campus paths or the town sidewalks
with some new and pretty Skirt. And
when Ramsey tried 70 fiuster him
about such a matter Fred would pro
fess his ardent love for the new lady
In shouts and impromptu song. Moth
ing could be done to him. and Ramsey.
utterly unable to defend his own sensi-
biltiies In like manner had always
to retire In baffiement. Sometimes he
would ponder upon the question thus
suggested: Why couldn't he do this
sort Of thing since Fred c0uldi But
he never discovered q satisfying an
swer.
Ramsey's watchfulness was so care
full (lest he make some impulsive ad-
mission In regard to the botanical lab
oratory. for instance) that Mr.. Nit
chelrs curiosity gradually became al
most quiescent but there arrived a
day Ia February when 1t was plqued
into the liveliest activity. 1t WAS Sun
day, and Fred, dressing with a fas-
tidiousness ever his daily habit, no.
ticed that Ramsey was exhlbitIng-an
unusual perplexity about neckties.
Keep the black one on" Fred said,
volunteering a suggestion, as Ramsey
muttered fiercely at mirror. TITS In
better taste for church. anyhow.
You're going to church, aren't you"
Yes Are your"
mo. I've got luncheon engage
ment."
well you could 60 to church first,
couldn't you? You better; you've got
q lot of church absences against you"
Then one more won't hurt. No
church In mine this morning. thanks !!
G'by, ole sox; see you at the frat
house. for dinner"
He went forth, whistling syncopa.
lions, and began brisk trudge into
the open country. There was a pro-
fess0r's daughter who also was not
going to church that morning and she
lived q little more than three miles
beyond the outskirts Of the town. Un-
fortunately. as the weather was threat
ening, all others Of her family aban-
doned the idea Of church that day, and
Fred found her before c0zy fire, but
surrounded by parents. little brothers
and big sisters. The professor was
laxative; Fred's mind might have
been greatly improved. but with win
dow in range he preferred u melan-
chOly contemplation of the snow,
which had begun to fall In quantity.
The professor talked until luncheon.
throughout luncheon, and was well un-
der way TO All the whole afternoon
with talk. when Fred, repenting all
the errors Of his life, got up to go.
Heartily urged to remain. for there
was now something just under bliz-
zard developing; he said no, he had a
great deal Of curriculum work" to
get done before tomorrow, and passed
from the sound Of the professors hos
pitable voice and into the storm. He
had q tedious struggle against the
wind and thtckening snow. but finally
came In sight of the town, not long
before dark. Here the road led down
into a depression. and, lifting his head
rs he began the slight ascent on the