The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-04-20

it) and he thanked the Lord that the
time wouldn't be so long now until
he'd be out of that ole school. and
then all he'd have to do he'd Just take
care never to walk by her house. ii
was easy enough to use some other
street when he had to go down town.
THE good ole class of Nineteen
Fourteen is about gone,' he said 10
Fred Mitchell. who was still his most
intimate friend when they reached the
senior year. Eyes, sir; it's held to-
gether good many years. Fred, but
after June It'll be busted plum up,
and ] hope nobody starts move 10
have any reunions. There's good
many members of the ole class thnt
I can stand and there's some can't,
but there's one l just won'tl If we
ever did call reunion that ole Yo-
cum girl would start In right away
and run the whole shebang, and thatS
where I'd resign! You know, Fred,
the thing | think Is the one biggest
benefit Of graduating from this ole
school? It's never seem Dora Yocum
again."
This was again his theme as he sat
by the same friends side in the rear
row of the class at Commencement,
listening to the delivery of the Vale
dictory. thinks she's just sooblime,
don't she!" he whispered morosey.
"She wouldn't trade with the presi-
dent of the United States right now.
Never mind! just about Il half-an-
hour more and that's the last o You,
ole girl Yes. sir, Fred; one thing we
can feel pretty good over: this is
where we get through with Dora Yo-
cum! !"
Ramsey and Fred had arranged to
room together at Greenfield, the seat
of the state university, ana they made
the short journey In company the fol-
lowing September They arrived hi
larious, anticipating plcasurable ex-
elements In the way of fraternity"
pledgings and limitations, encounters
with sophomores, class meetings, and
elections; and, also. they were not alb
sulutely without interest In the matter
IF Girls, for the state university WAS
co-educational, and it was hut natural
10 expect In so broad field. all new
10 them, possible vision of something
rnther thrilling. They whispered
eheerfully of all these things during
lie process of naturalization. and
signed the registrars book on fresh
page; but when Fred had written his
name under Kamsey's and blOtted 1t,
re took the liberty of turning over the
leaf 10 examine some of the auto
graphs of their future classmates.
written on the other side. Then lie ut
erred an exclamation, more droll than
,lolorous, though 1t affected to be Who'll
~ the latter; for the shock to Fred
vas by no means so painful as ii MAS
10 his friend.
Ramsey leaned forward and read
the name indicated by Fred's fore
finger.
DORA YOCUM.
:. When they got back to their
pleasant quarters at Mrs. Meigs'. fac
Ing the campus, Ramsey was still I'M
able to talk of anything except the
lamentable discovery; nor were his
companions bnrleSquing efforts To con
sole him of great avail. though Fred
did become serious enough tn point
out that university was different
from a high school.
Its not like havln' to usa one big
room as a headquarters, you know,
ramsey. Eyerything's all split up, and
she might happen not be in a single
one of your classes"
You don't know my iuck!" the af-
flieted boy protested II wish I'd gone
to Harvard, the way my father wanted
Inc to. Why. this is just the worst
nuisance l ever struck Your see
She'll be In everything there Is. just
the way she was back home"
He appeared to be corr0borated by
the events of the next day, when they
attended the first meeting to organize
the new class. The masculine ele-
ment predominated. but Dora Yocum
was elected vice president. you
see?" Ramsey said. didn't l tell
You? You see what hnppens?"
But after that she ceased FOR time
10 intrude upon his llfe and he admit
ted that his harassment was less grave
than he had anticipated. There were
about five hundred students In the
freshman class; he seldom saw her,
and when he did 1t was not more than
distant glimpse of her on one of
the campus paths, her thoughtful head
bent over a book as she hurried 10 a
classroom This was bearable: and In
the fiattering agitations of being
sought, and even hunted, by several
"fraternities" simultaneously DESTROYS
of his becoming a sworn Brother. he
almost forgot her. After hazardous
month the roommates fell into the
arms of the last frat" to seek them.
and having undergone an evening OF
outrage which concluded with touch
ing rhetoric and an oath taken at
midnight, they proudly wore ieweled
symbols on their breasts and we're
free to turn part of their attention
to other affairs. especially the affairs