Bryn Mawr (Pa.) -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Bryn Mawr College -- Fiction; College stories, American; Women college students -- Fiction
Every now and then a knock announced a newcomer whose costume was
greeted with laughter and eagerly examined. Presently a forester
appeared, in Lincoln green jerkin and smock. Her arms were full of
many-coloured banners, which she proceeded to hang out of the window,
flaunting an expanse of purple lions and gilded dragons upon the spring
breeze. Then she procured a plate of eggs and potatoes, and a cup of
coffee, and sat down on the floor.
"We have been indulging in a little archery practice this morning," she
said, laughing softly at the remembrance. "It is going to be very
picturesque shooting down that avenue of trees, but it is singularly
fortunate that the target is safely out of sight!"
"Don't be discouraged! Wait till you hear the heralds striving to sound
their horns," said the sword-dancer, who was sitting on a perilous
rocking-chair without a back, while her hair was being turned up beneath
her collar. "There, listen to them now!"
There came through the open window a feeble noise, ending abruptly in a
squeak, followed by shouts of laughter. Looking out they saw a herald
standing with her head thrown back and her trumpet raised to her lips,
her tall, young figure, in its white and yellow, silhouetted against the
green campus. A motley but appreciative audience paused in the task of
putting up May-pole streamers to applaud her.
While the others were so engaged, the forester came and sat down on the
floor by the marshal, and watched her put the finishing touches to the
damaged costume.
"Will you do something for me?" she asked, a trifle shyly.
"With pleasure," said the marshal, outlining her coat-of-arms with black
paint.
"Don't say you will so quickly. I had a letter from some one, the other
day, saying he was coming to May-day. I wrote him that I didn't want
him, but--I am afraid he will come anyway, and I don't want to see him."
"Oh!" said the marshal, looking up.
"I can't make up my mind," said the other girl. "I wish I could, but I
can't, and I simply won't see him till I do."
"Oh!" said the marshal again. "I suppose you want me to keep him out of
your way?"
"If you only would," assented the forester, with a pleading gaze.
"But my dear young innocence, there are going to be a few thousand
people here, more or less. How am I to find one unattached young man?"
"Oh, I only mean, in case you happen to hear of his asking for me.
People will come to you, you know. Don't have him too much on your
mind."
"I will try not to," said the marshal, dryly. "If you will hear my
advice, I think you had better see him for yourself, and settle it, yes
or no, one way or other."
"You don't know how hard it is," murmured the forester, with a little
sigh.
The marshal rose to her feet with a grim expression, which indicated
that she would like the chance of settling it. And with an inward remark
upon the nuisance of having men mixed up with college functions, she
went to the oval mirror and put on her coat-of-arms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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