The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-05-05

COW In range ne preferred meidH'
choly contemplation of the snow,
which had begun to fall in quantity.
The professor talked until luncheon,
throughout luncheon, and was well I'M
der way to fill 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 biz.
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 tedious struggle against the
wind and thickening snow, but finally
came in sight of the town, not long
before dark. Here the road led down
into depression, and, lifting his head
as he began the slight ascent on the
other side, Fred was aware of two
figures outlined upon the low ridge
before him. They were dimmed by the
driving snow and their backs were
toward him. but he recognized them
with perfect assurance. They were
Dora Yocum and Ramsey Milholland.
They were walking so slowly that
their advance was almost impercept-
ible, but it could be seen that Dora
was talking with great animation; and
she was a graceful thing, thus gesticu-
lating, in her long, slim fur coat with
the white snow frosting her brown fur
cap: Ramsey had his hands deep in
his overcoat pockets and his manner
was wholly that of an audience
Fred murmured to himself, "'What
did you say to her? 'Nothin'. / start
ed to, but" Then he put on a
burst of speed and passed them, sweep
ing off his hat with operate Difference,
yet hurrying by as if fearful of being
thought killjoy if he fingered. He
went to the ''frat house," found no one
downstairs, and established himself in
red leather chair to smoke and
ruminate merrily by great fire in
the hail.
Hall an hour later Ramsey entered,
stamped off the snow, hung up his
hat and coat, and sat himself down
defiantly in the red leather chair on
the other side of the fireplace.
"Well, GO on" he said. Commence! :"
mot at ALL" Fred returned, ami
ably. "Fine spring weather today.
Lovely to see all the flowers and the
birds as. we go a-strolling by. The lit
flo hohOIinkS-'
"You look here! That's the only
walk I ever took with her in my life.
1 mean by-by asking her and her
saying she would and so forth. That
other time just sort of happened, and
you know it. Well, the weather wasn't
just the best in the world maybe, but
she's an awful conscientious girl and
once she makes an engagement"
"Why, of course" Fred finished for
him, ."she'd be too pious to break it
Just on account of mere little biz
card or anything. Wonder how the
weather will be next Sunday?"
II don't know and / don't care"
said Ramsey. "You don't suppose
asked her to go again, do you?"
"Why not?"
"Well, for one thing, you don't sup
pose want her to think I'm perfect
fool, do you"
Fred unused a moment or two, look
ing at the fire. "What was the lee
ture?" he asked, mildly.
''What lecturer"
"She seemed to me to be"
"That wasn't lecturing; she was just
"Just what?
swell, she thinks war for the United
States is coming closer and closer"
but it isn't"
"Well, she thinks so, anyhow" said
Ramsey. "and she's all broken up about
it. OF course she thinks we oughtn't
to fight and she's trying to get every
body else she can to keep working
against it. She isn't goin' home again
next summer, she's goin' back to that
settlement work in Chicago and work
there among those people against our
goin' to war; and here in college she
wants to get everybody she can to talk
against it, and"
"What did you say?" Fred asked,
and himself supplied the reply:
"Nothin'. l started to, but"
Ramsey got up. "Now look here !!
You know the frat passed rule that
if we broke any more furniture in this
house with our scrappin' we'd both be
fined the cost of repairs and five dol
lars apiece. Well, can afford five
dollars this month better than you can.
and"
81 take it back" Fred interposed,
hastily "But you just listen to me !;
you look out-letting her think you're
on her side like that"
81 don't"
"You don't?"
(TO BE CONTINUED)
m Mat paarh for the Mnon