The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-05-04
CHAPTER %

r AIRY WEIGH, Bachelor Of
II Arts. Marland-192S. and can
didate for a Masters degree. sat at
his desk In Academic hall facing
rows of empty benches. From the
outside came the drone of campus
gone lazy. and Larry leaned back in
his chair. half closed his eyes. and
gave himself over to the luxury OF
formless-but delicious-thoughts.
One more month and he'd have
his Masters degree. One more
month and his connection with Mar.
land would be officially severed. To
day of all days II came to Larry
WEIGH most poignantly that he was
sorry.
For five years his life had been
lived on the Marland campus. On.
til the preceding June there had
been showered upon him all the
calcium glare that great athlete
and an outstanding student can re-
ceive in a small. intimate and pride
full college.
He was not a large man. AT no
time had Larry ever weighed more
than hundred and sixty-five. A
casual observer would have consid
cred him well formed but rather In
clined to slenderness: never sus
pecting the powerful muscular de
velopment beneath his ioose-fitting
clothes: nor the superb synchroniz-
alton of those muscles with keen
and alert brain.
Nor was ne handsome In classic
sense. Like his sister. Ivy. he was
intensely hlond-rather Morse In
! type. His cheeks were pink and
boyish: his eyes the blue of a spring
sky.
Every person in college was Larry s
friend. or wanted to be. The fresh
men who took English from him
this year adored him. Frankly. he
considered himself a rather poor
teacher and was delighted that his
| freshmen liked him so well that
they studied reasonably hard and
did not confront him with the hor-
ror of 9unking anyone There
wasn't boy or girl of them who
wouldn't - and didn't work his
head off for Fessor WEIGH.
But Commencement marked the
end. Today that idea struck Larry
more fOrcibly than ever before
While the weather was bleak and
damp, Commencement had seemed
! far away; now thai summer had
burst suddenly upon the campus.
1t seemed that the end was upon
him. He almost regretted his re.
| fusal of an offer from the presi
dent that would carry with Il the
position of assistant football coach
and associate professor. Yet he
knew that he dared not LET senti.
ment sway him.
He was twenty-three years OF
age. In the city of Birmingham a
good Job awaited him: a Job offer
ing him enough salary TO live well.
save trifle-and plan for the fin.
ture; the last being something
which Larry most ardently desired
to do.
The future :. the prospect
was delightfully."- linked with visions
of q home and girl a girl
slim and straight and wildly bru
nette. girl whom he had known
for three marvellous years and who
was the. envy of Marland If for no
other reason than that she had
won the affection Of the great Larry
Welch.
And even as Larry thought OF
her. the door opened and Tony Pey,
ton entered the room abruptly.
She stood framed In the door
way. an exquisite little figure. her
big. black eyes shining into his. an
eager smile ON her sensitive lips He
gazed his idolatry for the full pc
riod Of time IL took the mellow
chimes of the old clock In the tower
of the main building TO toll twelve
Noonl Noon of May day.
II was the girl who broke the
spell. She closed the door leading
into the corridor and advanced to
ward his desk He was smiling
eagerly as he rose TO meet her.
Believe it or not" he char
lenged: Il was just thinking OF
you. Tony"
She flushed at the declaration in
his eyes. She put both her hands
in his and pressed them tightly.
81 wish loved you less. Tony
'Why?"
I'D kiss you"
For an instant the rOguish smile
which he so loved played across
her lips. But II was gone almost
as soon as II appeared and the
face she turned up to his was very.
very serious