Repository: UIHistories Project: Illio - 1896 [PAGE 183]

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Jsck is a» awfully nice follow/ And she would twist the diamond ring on her finger M if to insure herself that it wan all right lint she wan glad—just a little hit gbd-4h.it Jack wan spending the winter in Florida. I t wan a relief not to have to think much about .lark during those days. During study hours when they were both in the library he always took a seat tcr<*i the room from her. No one would think anything about it if he did sit When- he could look up and cateh a glimpse of her whenever anyone went to the desk to take out a book. She didn't think about it, either, but in the intervals of study her eyes sometimes wandered over to where he sat. If their glances chanced to meet both would quickly resume their study, so that each would think the other looked that way entirely by accident. They never talked together. He always told himself that he had nothing to talk to her about; and she—she would not have said anything to him for worlds ! But she didn't think it out that way. She only acknowledged to herself that she saw no occasion for any conversation between them, and that, anyway, she did not desire better acquaintance with him. But once when, prompted by a sudden impulse, he stopped her on the stairs to compliment her on a bit of modeling which he knew very well she had not done, he blushed furiously and became so confused that he stammered awkwardly. She was cool and sweet, and answered him calmly, trying not to notice his embarrassment. But when he left her she fled to the cloak-room, and no one saw her as she stood by the window and pressed her warm cheeks with both hands. No one saw her hastily brush away a foolish tear. When she came out of the room there was a smile on her lips, and she was unusually gay all the rest of the morning. But then, she told herself, it was a pretty day, and the weather always affected her spirits. So it went on all year, each moving in his own circle, each wishing, half consciously, that something would happen to bring them together. But he dared not break the walls of convention which surrounded him and approach her. His friends would have been surprised, shocked, if they had known he cared about her. And he could not afford to have them cut him. His social position was all the capital he had in the world. The week of Commencement drew near. She had heard the girls say he intended to leave for the East immediately after he graduated—that he had accepted a position as assistant professor in one of the Eastern schools. She tried to think it did not hurt. Why should she care ? He had never given her even a second's thought. He was nothing to her. She ought to be ashamed. All this she tried to persuade herself, but her heart would not accept the most convincing arguments, and she counted the days slowly as the end drew near. It was the afternoon before Commencement. Examinations were over and the balls were deserted save for an occasional student or professor who came to attend to some forgotten duty. She had come over late to get a book from the library but had found the doors closed. As she went down the deserted stairway she smiled sadly to herself. How many times she had met him on that landing as she went down to recitations! Well, it was all over now. She sat down on the broad window-sill to think it over a moment. The building was quiet and empty 221

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