The St. Johns herald., 1922-10-05

l couldn't your You better; you've got a 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- tions, and began a brisk trudge into the open country. There was a pro fessor's daughter who also was not going to church that morning and she lived a 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 a cOzy fire, but surrounded by parents, little brothers and big sisters. The professor was been greatly improved, but with win- dow in range he preferred a melan- choly contemplation of the snow, which had begun to fall in quantity. The professor talked until luncheon, throughout luncheon. and was we'll un- 0OA way IO HI lnC WAOlC dllCIAOOn 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- gard 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 a 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 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 o.her2' -'Nothin'. staTt- ed to, but" Then he put on burst of speed and passed them, sweep ing off his hat with operatic deference. 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 a red leather chair to smoke and ruminate merrily by a great fire in the hall.
 "Well, go on,' he said. "Commence
 Not at all P Fred returned, ami~ ably. Fine spring weather today. Lovely. to see all the flowers and the birds as we go a-strolling by.
 You look heret That's the only walk ever took with her in my life. i mean by-by asking her and her saying she would and so forth. That other time just sort of happened, and 1 you knowit it. We'll, the weather wasn't | just the best in the world, maybe, but | she's an awful conscientious girl and | once she makes an engagement"
 tWhy,y of eourse," Fred finished for | him, she'd be too pious to break 1t | just on account of a mere little bliz- r gard or anything. Wonder how the weather will be next SundayT
 "I don't know and I don't care," said Ramsey. "You don't suppose I asked her to go again, do your
 Well, for one thing. you don't sup pose I want her to think I'm a perfect fool, do youT"
 Fred unused a moment or two, look ing at the fire. "What was the lee ture?" he asked, mildly.
 "What lecture"
 "She seemed to me to be-"
 '"That wasn't featuring; she was just -"
 Just what?"
 "Well, she thinks war for the United States is coming closer and closer"
 "But 1t isn't"
 "Well, she thinks so, anyhow" said Ramsey, "and she's all broken up about 1t. 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 1t, and"
 ''What did vou saw" Fred asked