Mary’s enthusiasm always seemed to inspire him to harder work, and he often sougiit her assistance where lie met any difficult problem. Her manner was always so .charming', her insight so piercing-, and her face always so full of sunshine that all around her felt the consciousness of an inward ad miration. George sometimes felt „a, peculiar flush pass over him when in her presence, and often, when quietly engaged in his work, he would accidentally find his thoughts riveted on the qualities of his fair classmate. However, he tried to fight off anything which tended, to make hint think of her more than a common friend. In this way most of the winter passed, when suddenly he heard that the Phelps’ were mov ing West to take part in one of those terrible “rushes” which has been the downfall of many a prosperous man. The thought of losing the companionship of such a friend hung heavily on his mind. Was he to lose the friend ship and guidance of the only girl lie ever admired? Unfor tunately the report proved true, for Mr. Phelps was a man who longed for action—something to give him a realization of pure western life which he had so often read about. On George’s return from the station where he had gone to have a parting word with Mary, an expression of gloom and disheartenedness clearly showed itself in his counte nance. Spring came with its verdure and freshness; the birds kept away the solitude which hovers over winter iponths, and all seemed to lend cheer to the surroundings. George more determined now than ever to pursue his course, kept earnestly at his work. He passed through the high school, and as fortune favored him, immediately entered col leg'e. This kind of a life was thoroughly enjoyed by him. There was one thing however, that seemed to haunt him. He did not know what it was but at the mere mention of taking part in society affairs—for it was a coeducational in stitution—there seemed to come to him a sense of falsity to
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers