Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-12-02
Jack Maynard's Call.
A COLLEGE STORY.

paths that connected every door with
every other, there was no one stirring
The wind had died away; and the only
sound was the echo of passing sleigh
bells, dulled by the snow, that lay heavy
on roof and branches In Jack May
nard's room, nothing was moving but
the fire. In the wide, old-fashioned
CRATE, the ruddy flame of a huge piece
of camel leaped and quivered, now
cleaning on the long oar over the win
dows, now throwing out pictured face
in tremulous life from the darkening
wall or lighting up the Venus of Milo
in the corner with half-rosy flush. 1t
played on books, thrown loosely about
the big study table; it sent rays into
the high bookcase, that glimmered back
from polished binding, and from the sill
yer cup that Jack had won in the class
races it made the chandelier glow as
if it were full Of little jets of flame; it
sent rosy sparkles among the cluster of
German-favors that lined the frame of
the picture of the Harvard crew, and
spent all its power IN vain trying to
Danish the shadow of the heavy curtains.
Jack himself, Saxon six-footer, was
lying before the CRATE, with his chin be-
tween his hands, and his elbows on the
arm of the lounge, pensively tapping the
other end of that much enduring piece
of furniture with the toes of his top
boots. Through the fragrant vapor that
curled lazily about his head from long
stemmed pipe, he was looking out into
the yard, where the twilight was fast
deepenin' among the gnarled elm branch
es, and lights were already beginning to
shine over the snow. He was not TAX
ing much notice of the landscape, for his
face had far-off expression; and he
made no movement till his pipe went
out, when he skillfllly dropped it on the
floor. without taking the trouble to move
his hands from his head, and spoke
Robert, my child, are you awake?"
Just what was going to ask you,"
said the child, in sleepy bass voice
from the depths of the easy-chair, Why
child, nobody knew but Jack. Certain
ly neither of the chums was child in
stature, or in any sense except in the sight
nf the law Rnt Iacl- --I--is ------ -
sentimentality between men, was fond of
using fatherly terms, as being sort of
combination of absurdity and affection,
that could hardly be found fault with
from either point of view.
Il was thinking, Bob, how many
hearts had been broken under those old
elms in all the years since the college
was founded. Just think of the average
damage every class-day! Do you re-
member that effusion of Holmes p
something about
Many classic beach is strewn
With heart-shaped pebbles of bloodred stone
, Though l don't exactly see where the
beach comes in"
Probably refers to Harvard during
the glacial period" suggested Bob.
< "And I was wondering" Jack went
on, chow many of all the engagements
made in college have lasted. | suppose
What's-his- names calculating machine
would give the figures easily. 'TwoulC
: be good thing for fellow to know, 81
e that he could calculate his chances OIL
J mathematical principles"
Jack" said Bob, rising and loomin!
k solemnly between him and the window
h ''are you smashed p
:. "My child" said Jack meekly, g
s fear | am.
Dark, or light?" said Bob sternly.
u Ozark" was the answer. with pow
l. erful sigh.
J. "Where ?' said Bob, after a sad 81
IS lence.
= THAT last assembly. / was slight
= hammered on that occasion; and las
It evening madly proceeded to put my
J. self under pile-driver. by calling o
g her; We talked about philosophy an
4 cooking and music and art and women
dress, and-religion."
II '.Fatal symptom, that last. said Boz
~ IL know it, groaned Jack.
|: His feelings were so strong, that b
I'd boots, inspired by his passion, tapped c
lg one of the legs of the lounge, and /
~ him down on the floor; where he lay
n a state of detection, pitiful to behol
k until the six o'clock bell rung.
p ''Going to supper said Bob, 'or
}" your appetite defunct %
80 80 My child" was the feeble repl
of ''wherc there's food there's hope"
he Going to supper he kept musing alou
H. Ethel Hastings Enhancing name
She tarries at the De Vries. Said S
lal was going to visit some other friends
ms Cambridge. Knows some people IN i
II. place. What if she should be the
) ,, next summer?'
- And he clasped his big fur gloves
he an ecstacy, and struck an attitude.
ng With this thought, his spirits i
~ ~ proved rapidly, SO that when he enter
MI that Spartan clubhouse called Comme
aid he was qnite radiant, He bealned up
the somewhat timeworn hourt that wa