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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (June 8, 1893)
THE HESPERIAN ant said: "You will place that man under arrest." The Corporal turned on the guard with flashing oye; but he restrained himself and said with forced composure, "Gohtlo mon, I submit; it is for honor." IV. "Alt's fair in love and war." For a long time the Corporal had been sitting in silence; but as the appointed hour grew near he became restless. "Five min utes to nine !" perhaps she was casting a last look into the mirror. The Corporal moved uneasily. "Nine o'clock." She was hur rying down the street. The Corporal sav agely bit his cigarette. "Five past nine." She was looking anxiously towards camp and wondering why he did not come. lie could bear it no longer. lie stole past the sleeping guards, out over the picket line and was free. As ho hurried to the appointed place he glanced into the ice cream parlor. "What vision of horror met his gaze? Was it true? Could it be ? Yes, there, seated at a table he beheld the commandant and Miss De- Smythe. He leaned forward with laboring breath, and of the snatches of laughter and conversation caught but a single phrase. The commandant cast an unmistakable look at Miss DeSmythe and the Corporal heard him murmur softly: "'When hair is long and dark like yours." The Corporal broke into a fierce laugh and muttered: "Dark hair; ha, ha. It was yellow hair yesterday, short yellow hair that curled; and it is dark hair today; it will be red hair tomorrow. Oh thou villainous commandant, breaker of hearts and insulter of corporals, from thy kaleidoscopic hair collection, what color is there absent? Ha, ha; maybe I could tell Miss DeSmythe a few things. Perhaps I may see her tomorrow. No no, it shall not be. On the one hand was a heart that beat with unswerving constancy, on the other a sword and yellow stripes! She has chosen; it is over." Scarce knowing what ho did, the Corporal dragged himself back to camp. Mechan ically he threw himself on his bunk. The sigh that escapod him rousod the guard who sleepily murmured: "Prisoner there?" "Prisoner? Ay, prisoner indeed! Captive to both Ares and Eros." The Evolution of the Senior. Man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority. There aro persons in this world, who are worthy of higher places than queens and emperors. These mighty beings aro not of celestial nature, but are of the earth earthy. They are formed from dust, and during life they raise a dust, and after death return to dust. Their number is legion, their name is "senior." I'd as leave be a senior, blooming and gay, As follow the queen on the king's highway said a poet long since unknown to fame and name. This intellectual poet was a true student of human nature, and in two lines of compact rhyme condensed the longest and most gaseous of history. He affirms that he would rather bo a senior than serve the queen. Now, what charm may he have found in this name that could make him prefer its enveloping folds to substantial ad vancement. He says the secret lies in this. The senior lives in a world of his own, a veritable little kingdom. He has his flunk ies, his inferiors, and servants. His life is a self-elevation, a journey "ad astra." Who would not bo a "lord of humankind" when opportunity olfers ? From what depths of unfathomable ignor ance have these beings sprung, and to what stars do they soar ? To properly appreci ate the former, make a comparison. Re construct in the mind, the lank, green, fool ish specimen of perambulating humanity which sidled into the university halls and had the audacity to become a Freshman. Picture to the mind's oye, his sheepish look, and note his inclination to do wall flower service; mark how he could scarcely say "yes, sir" and "no, sir" to a question; and when all this has been re-formed before the mental vision, set the imaginaiion into play. Count the number of acts which this strange tJ