serenade them. It’ll be such jolly fun, but, oh! wouldn’t dear old Matrix be shocked if she knew we were dreaming of such a thing. What do you say, Win ?” But Winnie was sitting absorbed in thought. The mention of Tanford had brought to her mind thoughts of the previous June, when in company with her sister she had spent Commencement week there. She recalled the Commencement ball where she had met Jack Hervey, the lovely dances she had with him, the stroll on the moon-lit campus, and his last words and the parting glance he had given her as the train moved out. But her thoughts were interrupted by Maud’s question. “Oh that would be a glorious lark,” she replied; “but isn’t it rather spicy. What if we should be caught ? Oh, my!” and her imitation of the shocked look which the matron would assume in such a case sent the girls into subdued shouts of laughter. After a long debate, they hastened to their rooms, and soon re appeared dressed in dark wrappers. A hastened conference fol lowed, then they ran down the back stairs, opened a window and cautiously climbed out on a shed roof which sloped nearly to the ground, and with a few smothered “ Ohs! ” all were safe on the ground below. Keeping in the shadows of the trees, they hastened down the long slope to the boat house. Here fortune favored them, for as the sails on one of the yachts had been wet the keeper had left it fluttering in the wind to dry. It was but a moment’s work to shove her from the slip, and they were soon gliding down the lake. The girls were all accustomed to handling the boat, and once afloat their fears gave way to a joyous recklessness as the fresh breeze, filling the sails, carried them dancing through the rip pling waves. As soon as they had rounded the little headland, which shut out the view of the seminary, they broke forth in un restrained merriment, the sound of laughter mingling with the soft notes of guitars and banjos. What a lovely picture Winnie presented as she sat in the rear of the boat, one hand resting on the tiller, the wind toying coquettishly with her wavy hair and the moon beams revealing the sweet smile that played about the dimpled mouth. But she was taking no part in the songs and hilarities, for her thoughts were again at Tanford.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers