Elizabeth Hobart at Exeter Hall

black. The buildings had the dull, dingy look which soot alone can give. The houses sagged on either side of narrow, unpaved str

Irish-Americans shot mud balls at black-eyed Italians; Polanders and Slavs together tried the depths of the same

ugh, gardens were unknown, while blooming plants were rare enough to cause comment. Each dooryard had its heap of empty cans

r wear. Money, so long as it lasted, was spent with a prodigal hand. The Company store kept nothing too good for their palates. Expensive fruits

he place, but he felt at times the force of some one greater than himself, and it was always directed against his business. He perceived it when he received orders that, in fulfillment of the law, he must remove the blinds before his windows, and keep his place open to the public view. He felt it a

hairs and tables and a supply of books and magazines. Here the boys had the liberty of coming to smoke

ess moving. Dennis O'Day meant to find out who that person was and square accounts with him. But for three years he had bee

here the superintendent of the mines lived. The house was an unpretentious wooden building with great porches and big, airy rooms

ked like a stretch of moss. Masses of scarlet sage and cannas grew n

y from all congenial companionship. The salary attached was fairly good, quite sufficient to provide a comfortable, if not

t in his profession. He had new theories on mining and mine-explosives. He had brought to pe

m the laboratory into the mountains. The Kettle Creek Mining Company offered him a position at Bitumen, one of the highest soft coal regions in the world. The air was bracing and suited to his physical condition. Confident that

and Miss Hale, a woman past middle age, who, in her youth, had travelled abroad and had spent the greater part of her time

owers and vegetables. In her home were unique collections of botanical and geological specimens, book

of some member of the mission school in which she was interested. Most of the miners were Catholics, but here and there among them she found members of her own church and sought to brin

years had been too cold or stormy to keep her from driving dow

ok under his own charge. He taught her mathematics as conscie

er father's aptitude for study, and took up an original p

n years he was not young, yet in the joy he took in living, he was still a boy. He had the buoyancy of youth a

t unknown to her. There was one subject, however, with which she was not acquainted. Many times while she

us that something of importance to herself was brewing in which she took no part. Miss Hale had made unusual visits and had been closeted with her parents for hour

father and mother stood a

ll be glad," h

e will," repl

ung in a long, fair plait down her back. She was not beautiful, only wholesome looking, with a clear, healthy color, and large, honest eyes.

e toward them. He was brimming over w

iss Hale attended. I've looked over dozens of catalogs and this

tisfy her parents. She had read stories of schoolgirl life whic

course suited to you. Your mother and I are going to drive down to the mines. Study the

. There was one matter which did not fully satisfy her. She had advanced beyond the course at Exeter in some branches and smiled as she read the amount of work lai

e could teach her everything that the course at Exeter included. It se

ct of going away to school. The matter was discussed from all points of view. Then

to complete the work for the Senior year. I want to go,-I think I have always wanted to go to scho

rm than I can in a year. I do not expect you to be a Senior. I shall be more than

at extras m

promptly. "It will take a full term for you to find your p

w no more than I d

o what they teach you. I'm willing to promise that you will lear

one to the other. She

will begin putting her clothes in order. There will be a great deal to do, for sh

said Elizabeth, "I wis

simple," her mother declared it should be. But Elizabeth fairly held

" her mother explained. "Every girl at school needs some kind of a simple evening dress

new dresses. She had never so much as thought, not to say expected, to own a rain coat and bath robe,

so much?" she asked of Miss Hale. "I don't want to

s in your trunk. You do not need to wear them all," was Miss Hale'

into relation and sympathy with those hundreds of unknown girls who were, like her, counting each pen

packed. The books which she might need at Exeter were put into a box. The trunk was locked and

t something to dread. Elizabeth was not the only one who felt the coming separation. She noticed through a film of t

l. Mr. Hobart told incidents of his own school-days, and

ad been reared with others of their age, and who had been in school before, feeling that she would appear very awkward and dull until she learned the ways of school. She half wished that her father would tell her

g that we were almost forgetting that you had a life of your own. We must not be selfish, so we send you off, bag and baggage." Her mother

looked like a great tawny giant. He spoke in English: "Mr. Hobart, tha

home? Doesn't

er. So many as one childre

s family here? I didn't

no bring her. He proud like the tivil. Never he t

n't do much else than wait." Then turning to his daug

ind from her going away. She wondered what the Pole could