1915 Cedrus Yearbook

drawing-room. She had never seemed lovelier to Dick, and as he rose to meet her his eyes betokened the homage which beauty naturally wins. After a few moments of delightful conversation Mrs. Brownlee withdrew, leaving the two eagerly relating tales of their college life and singing favorite songs. Later when Dick assayed to leave her, the beauty of the night made him feel that a few minutes in the car would be a fitting climax to the evening's delight. Dorothy readily acquiesced, and so in a few moments they were spinning along over the smooth pavements. The moon was shining brightly and filled the night with its radiance, trans- figuring everything it touched. The spell of the night held them. Neither Dorothy nor Dick spoke. Silently they went, on and on, until the open country was reached. -Grand! isn't it?" said Dick, who was the first to break the silence. "Lovely," breathed Dorothy. "How fine it is to live," exclaimed Dick. Dorothy's only answer was a low murmur of joy, as she turned her shining eyes to the eyes of Dick above. On the following morning Dick Warrington presented himself at the office of Dr. Brownlee in answer to his brief note. As he entered the room, a vague, unreasonable fear seemed to creep over Dick for a moment, but only for a moment. He wondered what business Dr. Brownlee could have with him. Just then the door of the inner office opened and with a word of greeting the Doctor ushered Dick into the room and requested him to be seated. For some un- accountable reason Dick preferred to stand. Dr. Brownlee said nothing. He was evidently waiting for Dick to begin. "I called this morning. Doctor Brownlee, in answer to your note of yesterday." Dr. Brownlee was silent. He seemed to be study- ingDick intently. Slowly, he scrutinized him from head to foot ? nd back again. Dick reddened. Dr. Brownlee seemed so serious. Dick shifted about uneasily and awkwardly pushed back his hair with his hand. "Richard," the Doctor began.then stopped as suddenly as he had commenced, and paced nervously to and fro. Stopping opposite Dick, he again requested him to be seated, and feeling the utter uselessness of it, Dick sat down. "Dick," he said. and the familiar name from him was unusual, "I have known you all your life. have always been interested in you. I have watched you at work and at play and I like you Dick, always did. It just came naturally. Then four years ago you went to college. There you learned many things and formed new acquaintances and developed new ideals. Now you have returned to us, and some of us are sorry that you went away. Dick, you aren't the boy you were four years ago and you're not the man I want my girl to marry." Dick was stunned, for the idea that Dorothy should fail to be his had never entered his mind. With a dazed expression he looked up at the Doctor, but said not a word. The Doctor continued. "Dick, you are a drone and a parasite. What work do you propose to accomplish? The world demands results, not methods, and the young man of today must produce, not promise. Until he has made good, no young man shall win my daughter's hand. I trust that you understand. Good-by.' With mingled feelings, Dick walked out of the office, stumbling blindly down the stairs. "A drone and a parasite," he repeated. "Does the Doctor mean that I must toil like a slave and acquire an honest and frugal look? Am I, the son of James War- rington, to be subject to the rule of labor? Must I give up my free time, my sports and my friends to prove to Dr. Brownlee that I am worthy of Dorothy?" Dick spent the next day at the club, where his gloom became so noticeable that he was chided by his companions. He struggled and struggled in a vain effort to 44