THE CHAUTAUQUANS: OR, WITHIN THE CIRCLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 305, 24 December 1891, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE CHAUTAUQUANS: OR, WITHIN THE CIRCLE.

Author of •• Helen's Babies," " Tho Barton Experiment," etc.

BY JOHN HABBERTON,

CHAPTER Vl.—(Continued.) ' I never knowed how plucky and sasay that gal could be before, , said Fiorinda, as she gazed through the wind&w at the retreating form of the visitor.

' Why, she balks just as if she was—a3 if she was like us, , said the sister.

' Well,' said Fiorinda, slowly turning away from the window, ' lookin' the matter square in the face, I don't see why she isn't just like us. She's a gal, and she' 3 got spirits, and I suppose the fellers do pub on uppish airs toward her just like they do to us. though I never thought of it before.' Alico Dawn wished that she might moeb Joe Warren, while she was thinking over the conversation in the humble home that she had jusb left. Perhaps she could meet him if she were to walk through the main street of the village, for she seldom was on that thoroughfare without seeing the young man standing idly about somewhere. The sun was not yet down, there was ample time for her to , reach home before dark, so she made excuses to drop into two or three stores, and then slowly walked toward the post-office. True to his custom, Mastor Joe was standing in front of the building, chatting with two other young men who seemed to have as little to do as he. As he saw Miss Dawn approaching, he detacher! himself from his acquaintances and joined her.

'Any news to-day, Miaa Dawn, aboub the movement for the rogenerabion of aocieby in Brinston V

'Yes, a great deal,' said Alice, with emphasis, and then repeated as much as she could remember of her conversation with the Purkises.

' That's extraordinary,' exclaimed the s'oung man. ' Don'b you bhink so ?' ' I can'b say, nob being myself a young man ; bub as a momber of the weaker sex I may say for myself thab ib is one of the mosb rebuking, stimulating incidents in my life. The idea of those poor people, without anything in the world to make life happy or pleasant, having been incited to interest in improving themselves and in making themselves mentally the equals of those about them! Why, it'a one of the grandest revelabions of bho possibilities ot education that I ever saw. In school I heard a great deal of that sorb of thing, but it never came vividly to my own comprehension until this afternoon. I've always had quite a good opinion of myself—' ' With ample reason, I'm sure,' interrupted the young man.

' But,' continued the girl, ' I'm compelled to feel abashed and somewhat humiliated by the example those young women have seb me. I hope the young men of the town are showing an equally admirable spirit.'

' I hope so, though I'm nob able bo speak forbhem.'

' Why not? You're well acquainted with a!l of them, aren't you ? What do you young men talk about when you meet, may I ask, if ib isn'b an imperbinenb question ?'

4 The question is entirely in order ; but, really, I don'b know how to answer,' said Joe. • Of course, you can'b expecb U3 bo fall to discussing a lot of books.'

' Perhaps nob ; but—l ask merely for information ; you know I have no brothers — do young men talk no more interestingly than they look, as they stand about on street-corners, and in front of shops, and ab the post-office, and at the railwaystation ? Because if they don't, I should think that their lives must be inexpressibly dismal.'

The young man looked somewhat indignant, but succeeded in replying : ' Well, really—l'll—l'll ask how they get on with their reading. .

• Good day; don'b forget to let me know.'

Joe's face was a study as be gnzed down the ebreeb after the handsome rebreabing figure and he mubtered to himself, ' I declare, that girl's got a great deal of spitfire in her ! I don't know, after all, whether it's safe for me bo be as fond ot her as I wanb to. Suppose the thing should turn out jusb as I'd like, I don't know whether I'd be entirely happy to have my wite with the Purkis girls on her callinglist. I supposed bhere was more balance to the heads of the Dawn family than that. Girls smarter than boys ! Well, whatever may come of this new experiment, Miss Alice, I can bell you bhat you'll have to geb that idea oub of your prebty little head. If you don'b—well, I shall have bo change my affecbion bo some ono else. Heaven save me from a smarb wife ! Bub I don'b suppose I could be happy if I married a fool. I wonder where is the golden mean in womankind ?' I'll bo very careful about committing myself. Girls smarter than boys! I wonder what thab girl would think if she knew bho work of a regular college course, at any rate. I wonder how far she's gone ? I know very well how far I haven't gone ; I must pull my wits together and cram a3 I had to do ab school toward the end of the term. I supposed I was over bhab sorb of thing when 1 graduated,'bub I'm more afraid of thab young woman than I ever was of tutor or proressor. To think there is to be four years of it! Well, if things go on us I wanb them to, something will have bo happen : Either I shall marry early in the course or I shall have bo leave town.'