ccepted at its face-value. That they were engaged few of their intimates doubted; and amo

r, lowering her lorgnette through which, for some moments she had stared, rather impert

nly from the doze into which she had lapsed, d

the worthy dame, patronizingly, and as though speaking to

o add to her generally aged and wrink

proper person

ughter-who at that precise moment was sitting prim a

ey are true or not one never knows," she added, defensively. "But the girl's mother allows her to have her own way more than I should,

end when he graduates," Mrs. Clifford ventured. "Is the gi

continued-for she started I am told-she would have graduated qu

le Ohio college to fill the chair of Norwegian Literature. And she immediately lapsed into another doze from which she di

tle wife of the assistant professor of physics-who did not know much and did not feign more-who championed them. And her support was little more than a mere exclamati

eld by those judges she did not express her knowledge even by a sign. As for Houston, he saw precisely how the companion

ce one day, "don't they think a fel

d him not to mind,

but seldom won save by weary plodders in the library, who when they graduated carried from the campus with their neatly ro

was conditioned in one course. The receipt of the little white slip marked his first lapse from ac

i. Below the Poor Farm they turned in at a side lane, over which the branches met. The sun, shining through the

ly, "what made you give up your ide

horse impatient

that's sure enough. It would be fine. I like to work, too; but it's too late now." He sighed. "B

still

you, dear? Please. Oh, how I'd love to see you win it; and you can if yo

d?" he asked, with som

cried. "Do try, Jack, dea

he stopped the horse and they remained t

help you," she

y loving m

ooked

n, "it'll mean I can't come down so often. H

ned by the look he gave her. "You know, dear, I didn't mean

ight be happi

s she looke

happier in the end. Won't you try?" she asked

y he flapped the reins upon the horse's bac

aw a mist in her eyes, and that she had drawn her lo

emotion he

you g

ll win," she went on after a moment. "I know, at least you'll make the effort,

ldn't do otherwise," he sa

his heart at that moment filled t

ns scholarship or bust-or bust; do you understand!"

three open books on the t

re more apt to win it now than I am

. If he doesn't make the rest of the bunch that's on the same scent look like thirty cents, a year from

next day

he drafted a schedule of diversion and recreation, which he promised himself he would adhere to. It permitted of meetings with Florence on only two nights of the week. For a month he did not swerve a hair's breath from this plan of employ

. The John Alden part he had been so summarily cast to act, he felt did not fit him. As for Florence, she

sked eagerly after Crowley had

weeks. He's getting thinner, too," he added-"actually getting thinner; hadn't you noticed?" And he laughed

y the river and the conversation of that afternoon bearing upon Jack's misdeeds. But, for some reason that he could not, for his dulness, fathom now, he did hesitate. Houston had never told him what was the precise rela

"you won't let him ge

ied, significantly, "I don't thi

y: "You haven't any real faith

been sitting there reading his mind as though it were a show bill, pr

, have you?"

somewhat indefinitely.

d and smiled. "I'm afrai

ng of Houston's case than he was destined to again-until long after.

and with it a realization to Florence that her hopes were destined to be shattered. Jack explained to her, as bes

as for me I shouldn't care a snap to go over to the Gym. and dance all night. I'm going through th

a great bore, usually, after one has been to three or four. That was what she said to him, bu

m less frequently, even, than she ha

summer-school, dear," he said t

e joyful at

river!" she cried. "

," he said

ned, always by Houston, save once. Then Florence's mother was ill. H

n the fall, when you co

nt vacation permitted him he carried to hi

lly often, won't you?" he said to

e," she a

h his letters were infrequent

pression of her in a soft, fluffy blue gown, but now it was autumn, and she was dressed differently

t recall ever before having seen her in gray. He caught himself, once or twice

had been away. He offered no excuses. It was as though, now, each had forgotten in the other's ne

e, had appeared but a remote chance of winning the coveted scholarship had now resolved itse

his mail. On such evenings he usually stopped at Florence's home on his way to his rooms. The conversation between them at these times

tmas vacation

d he'd be here big as life and twice as natural-going to bring

h.

was startled by

"but I pricked myself with this pin"-and she flung upo

or after? They had not planned definitely. Of a sudden the idea that they had not smote him forcefully. They had really been living only from day to day; it was wrong; quite wrong, he decided. A settl

his success as assured and dismissed the matter at once with all the coc

o

forgotten how! But Florence should teach

rtrait given him two years before. Across the marg

arched among the others that littered the table.

leaves silvered by the moonlight. He stood there some moments watch

ered, sinking into the ch