up her work.

Alice was a stupid, clumsy girl, but she adored Vanna and liked nothing
better than to talk about her chum and room-mate. She took care of Vanna
as one would take care of a helpless baby.

"Vanna is a genius, if there ever was one ... she doesn't know her hands
from her feet in practical affairs ... but she's wonderful ... all the
boys," and Alice sighed with as much envy as her nature would
allow--"all the boys are just crazy about her ... but she isn't in love
with any of them!"

My heart gave a great bound of hope at these last words.

"Professor Grant's students--about two-thirds of them--have enrolled in
his classes, because she's there."

And then I went cold with jealousy and with despair ... one so popular
could never _see_ me ... if it were only later, when my fame as a poet
had come!

* * * * *

"Vanna has to be waited on hand and foot. I don't mind though,"
continued Alice, "I hang up her clothes for her ... make her bed ...
sweep and dust our rooms ... it makes me happy to wait on anything so
beautiful!" and the face of the homely girl glowed with joy....

* * * * *

I was poor and miserable. I bent my head forward, forgetful of my
determination to walk erect and proud, with a pride I did not possess.

Langworth was coming behind me. He slapped me on the back. I whirled,
full of resentment. But changed the look to a smile when I perceived who
it was....

"Why, Johnnie, what's the matter? you're walking like an old man. Brace
up. Is anything wrong?"

"No, I was just thinking."

* * * * *

The first cold blasts of winter howled down upon us. No snow yet, but
winds that rushed about the buildings on the hill, full of icy rain, and
with a pushing strength like the shoulders of invisible giants out of
the fourth dimension ... we men kept on the sidewalks when we could ...
but the winds blew the girls off into the half-hardened mud, and, at
times, were so violent, that the girls could not extricate themselves,
but they stood still, waiting for help, their skirts whirling up into
their very faces.

It was what the boys called "a sight for sore eyes."

They stood in droves, in the sheltered entrances of the halls, and
occasionally darted out by ones and twos and threes to rescue distressed
co-eds.

* * * * *

Down in the room over the tin and plumbing shop