Kansas University Weekly.
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sight of so much grandeur put wildly ambitious thoughts into Miss Smith's pretty little head. She thought it would be rather indelicate to say anything about the dress suits, (only one boy in Smithville possessed one,) but she did try to persuade Charlie Cairudish, who was "going with her" at the time, to part his hair in the middle. Charlie was a dry goods clerk. He had attended a Business Academy for one term, where he had learned to write a "beautiful hand" with heavy shading and elaborate flourishes, but he had never gone to college, and he could not sufficiently express his scorn and contempt for the Glee Club boys. Part his hair in the middle? Not if he knew himself! He didn't have to balance his brains that way! This last was a favorite joke with the Smithville boys. It went the rounds regularly every year after the Glee Club concert. It did not, however, appeal to the girls' sense of humor. They most unreasonably accused the boys of jealousy.
For a long time after the Glee Club had visited town, Miss Smith was not quite the same to Charlie Caerudish. Visions of the handsome first tenor, and memories of the compliments he had paid her on her appearance and dancing floated through her mind for months. She was inclined to think that he was a little wild. She had heard that all college men are apt to be rather wicked, and this idea was further strengthened by the fact that all the Glee Club smoked cigarettes. Well, to be sure, Charlie smoked cigarettes sometimes, too, but she often thought that he did it more for the effect of his depravity on her than for any other reason, Charlie did love to have her lecture him.
It was the next year that Miss Smith entered the University, and had the full benefit of that society of which she had heard and dreamed so much. It fulfilled her highest expectations. Circumstances united with her natural attractiveness to make her very popular. She was invited everywhere, and had hosts of callers. She was thoroughly delighted, and was young enough and new enough to show her delight. Decidedly, Miss Smith was a Freshman.
Then too, the boys did not disappoint her
with regard to their wickedness. She heard terrible stories about their pranks and escapades and before the close of the first term one of the men that she knew best of all, was expelled from the University. Miss Smith wasted a good deal of sympathy on him. Of course it was very wrong of him to do so—just think! He had gone home in an irresponsible condition on two different occasions!—Still—Why is it that women, if they do not admire, at least excuse such total depravity in men?
Toward the close of her Freshman year Miss Smith had a very thrilling experience. She fell in love with Jack Burroughs, who was a Senior Law, lion of polite circles and leader of the German. He also sang with the Glee Club, had a magnificent tenor voice—and had something to do with athletics. Let me see, was it foot-ball, O! no, fifth stroke of the 'Varsity Eight; and he was simply entrancing in boating flannels! And when you add to all these charms the fact that he had the most blasé air imaginable, was supposed to be thoroughly experienced, and that all the other girls were madly in love with him, it is no wonder that poor little Miss Smith, Freshman, fell an easy victim to his charms.
Of course all the other girls knew all the time that Burroughs was only flirting with her. They had predicted all along that he'd encourage her to fall desperately in love with him and then coolly "drop" her. Well, if she was such an idiot as to believe everything that a man, and especially a University man, said to her, why, she could, that was all! They guessed she was old enough to take care of herself. It was none of their business! But they had forgotten that Miss Smith was a Freshman!
When her first serious love affair came to the sad and untimely end which her dear girl friends had predicted, Miss Smith was completely crushed. She was too inexperienced to know that she would survive her disappointment, and that it make her a little harder and a little more worldly-wise for the future. It was some time before she could bring herself to a realization of the truth—that Burroughs had never cared for her in spite of all that he had said and done,