The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-20
TIE DASHAY
SHORT STORY
Roy's Punishment.
Br JANE osBoRN


that is what Mrs. Burton told
Prof. Burton earl yon the
afternoon Of one OF their at-homes
In late winter. Every Friday at-
ternoon she has TO stay at home,
70 pour tea for a handful OF miser.
able, tongue-tled students, while
me other girls she knows skate or
play hockey or something"
But / thought Sally liked stu
dents" protested Prof. Burton as
ne assisted in the preparations OF
the comfortably furnished draw
ing room OF the Burton home
stead for the undergraduate at
home.
Mrs. Burton said that Of course
Sally liked students. but there
were students and students, and
obviously students that would
choose TO come TO afternoon tea
at the house OF a philosophy pro-
lessor weren't normal.
..You know 1t is part of the 1tcw
Z system," explained Prof. Burton.
I'VE give the students these op-
portunities of becoming better ac-
quainted with US socially. There
are some OF the students who are
really at disadvantage because
Of their lack of familiarity with
ordinary social usages. That is
why they seem tongue-tied and
bashful. They arc rather left out
Of undergraduate social life
that's why it's SO important for US
70 give them this chance. 10 bring
them out and give them conf
dence in themselves"
''oh, l don't mind" said Mrs.
Burton. ~ can stand It. It's
Sally was thinking about. Sally
Is popular. She has one and
sometimes two chances to go to
every game or dance In college,
and II will do her good TO take 1t
all in for a year or two. It's un-
fair to make her give up every
Friday when there are always so
many other things to do"
1T won't hurt Sally" was all
the comment that Prof. Burton
would give, and the door bell rang
and, the first student came. He
was what Sally spoke OF as a
reguar." He never missed a Fri
day, sat on the same chair, always
dropped his apoon onco or twice
and came near dropping his cup
and saucer, too, when he was fac
ed with the embarrassing situa-
ton Of being offered a second
piece Of cake when he was holding
his first piece In his right hand
and his tea cup in his left.
Some Of the students were
showing Improvement under the
tutelage of Mrs. Burton and the
kindly hospitality OF Prof. Bur-
ton. Some of them even seemed
to be getting so they enjoyed
these afternoons. There was a
glow, OF the open fire and candles
burning on the mantlepiece when
twilight came. Sometimes Sally
played and once or twice she had
esnng a little something very Sc
sdate or classical. Prof. Burton
mentioned Incidents in the class
4|Fnonl In. casual ,IuaQper that
seemed g give the students I'M
mense satisfaction.
About half past four Roy Yates
arrived. He had been coming for
q month, and he too always did
practically the some thing, though
she showed no evident confusion.
He bowed and shook hands with
formal and pronounced courtesy
10 Mrs. Burton, shook hands
gravely with Prof. Burton, bow
ed 10 Sally and then took q scat
on the window sent-where for
the rest Of the afternoon he said
practically nothing-or at least as
little as would be compatible with
fairly good breeding.
Prof Burton had taken his. quiet
manner for one OF intense EN-
barrassment. After the day OF his
appearance he had suggested TO
his wife that II the boy. ever came
again she should do her best to
Ydraw him out" Mrs. Burton
had tried, but succeeded not. The
young man continued to sit on the
window seat. TO answer in polite
short sentences and to take sin
sic cup OF tea, creal. and TO de-
cline all other refreshments. AZ
ter this failure the professor had
4 called on Sally.
IF Roy Yates comes again,
do something to him. You can
even break our custom at these
at-homes and sing something a
little light II you think It would
liyen him up. He isn't in any Of
my classes. Il don't know any
thing about him.
Sally had made some observ-
stion. She said. with tone OF