Katherines Sheaves | Page 4

recent
travels, whereupon they fell into a pleasant chat about points of interest
which both had visited, and thus a delightful half hour slipped away. At
length Prof. Seabrook referred to a book that lay on the table beside
him, and observed:
"I find, Miss Minturn, that you are to room with Miss Sadie Minot, a
young lady from Atlanta, Georgia, and I think you will find her an
agreeable companion. However"--with a humorous twinkle in his
eyes--"to use a homely proverb, 'it is Hobson's choice,' for it happens to
be the only vacancy in the building; we have a very full school this year.
I will call some one to show you how to find it, and have your trunk
sent up later."
He touched a bell and presently a young girl about sixteen entered the
room, with a brisk step and an alert air, suggestive of a repressed
cyclone only awaiting an opportunity for mischief brewing; while, as
she approached the occupants, a strong odor of peppermint made itself
apparent in the atmosphere.
"Miss Minturn, this is Miss Wild, one of our breezy freshmen--eh,
Jennie?" and the quizzical look again leaped into the blue-gray eyes.
Katherine smilingly acknowledged the introduction, while Miss Wild
blushed and nodded an embarrassed greeting, then immediately turned

her face away from the focus of the professor's observation and made a
comical grimace which came very near proving too much for
Katherine's dignity.
"Jennie," the gentleman continued, "Miss Minturn is to share Miss
Minot's room--number fifteen, west wing--and I have called you to
show her the way, if you please."
"Yes, sir, I will," said the girl, with ready compliance, which
culminated in a vigorous sneeze, whereupon, with the restless energy
which pervaded her every movement, she whisked her handkerchief
from her pocket, and, with it, there shot out a promiscuous assortment
of chocolates and cream peppermints, which went bounding and rolling
about the room in every direction.
Prof. Seabrook gave vent to a hearty laugh of amusement at the
awkward contretemps.
"I thought I detected a familiar odor, Jennie," he observed; then added,
good-naturedly, "You may pick them up, if you please."
"Guess I will," she returned, eagerly, and nimbly suiting the action to
her words. "I really can't afford to lose all that precious sweetness.
Josie Craig gave them to me just as you rang."
Katherine had risen and was moving towards the door, to cover her
own inclination to explode, and thus make the situation more awkward
for the girl, when the principal checked her by remarking:
"By the way, Miss Minturn, the juniors and seniors attend the Bible
class, which it is my province to conduct. We meet at four on Sunday
afternoons in the south recitation room; and the lesson for next Sabbath
will be on the Creation, as given in the first chapter of Genesis. And
this reminds me that I have neglected to inquire where you will attend
church. As our catalogue states, each student is allowed to choose her
own place of worship. Where do you propose to make your church
home?"

Katherine had expected this question before; nevertheless, she flushed
slightly as she turned back to face her interlocutor, and replied:
"I am a Christian Scientist, Prof. Seabrook, and I shall attend the
church on Grove Street."
The pause which followed this announcement was painfully ominous,
and Katherine was amazed at the frozen look which suddenly settled
over the gentleman's face, together with the expression of stern
disapprobation which instantly drove all the kindness out of his hitherto
genial eyes. "A Christian Scientist!--indeed!" he said, in a tone as frigid
as his look. "It is a matter of regret to me that you did not state that fact
when you made application for admission to Hilton."
Katherine's lip quivered slightly at this caustic remark and the
accompanying scorn on the high-bred face; and the flush which had
risen to her cheek a moment before vanished, leaving her quite pale,
although in no way disconcerted.
"But I believe the catalogue states that there is no sectarianism in
Hilton Seminary, that the broadest possible religious tolerance prevails
here," she remarked, with a sweet gentleness which, under any other
circumstances, would have instantly disarmed her companion.
But, as it happened, he was a bitter opponent of the "false doctrine,"
and the term "Science" applied to Christianity was a rank offense to his
rigid Presbyterian opinions, as was also the fact that a woman had
dared to face the world with it!
"I do not recognize Christian Science, so-called, as a religion," he
retorted, with a sharpness in marked contrast to Katherine's sweetness.
"In my opinion, it is simply a device and snare of Satan himself to
deceive the very elect; and Miss Minturn"--this with frowning
emphasis--"I will not, for a