Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-08-14
Jack Maynard's Call.

tDcre was no one suTTlnRi Inc Wlnu nau
died away, and the only sound was the echo
Of passing seigh.bels, dulled by the snow,
that lay heavy on roof aud branches. In
Jack Maynard's room, nothing was moving
but the fire. In the widc old-iashioned crate,
the rudy fame of huge piece Of camel
leapod and quiverod, now cleaning on the
long oar over the windows now throwing out
pictured face in tremuous life from the
darkening wall, or lighting up the Venus Of
Milo in the corner with half-rosy flush III
played on books, thrown loosely about the
big study-tabe; it sent rays into the high
bookcase, that glimmered back from polished
bindings, and from the silver cup that Jack
had won in the class-races il 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 ban
ish the shadow Of the heavy curtains.
Jack himself a Saxon six-footer, was lying
before the CRATE, with his chin between bis
hands, and his elbows on the arm of the
lounge, pensiyely tapping the other end of
the much-enduring piece of furniture with
the toes Of his top-boots. Through the fra
grant vapor that curled lazily about his head
from long-stemmed pipe, he was looking out
into the yard, where the twilight was fast
deepening among the gnarled em-branches
and lights were already beginning to shine
over the snow. He was not taking much
notice of the landscape, for his face had a
far-off expression and he made no movement
till his pipe went out, when he skilfully
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" no.
body knew but Jack Certainly neither Of
the chums was child in stature or in any
sense except in the sight of the law. But
Jack, who objected to sentimentalty between
men, was fond of using fatherly terms, as be-
ing a sort of combination of absurdity and af.
fection that could hardly be found fault with
from either point of view.
I" was thinking Bob, how many hearts
had been broken under those old clms in all
the years since the college was founded. Just
think of the average damage every class-day !
Do you remember that effusion Of Holiness
something about
Many classic beach ia strown
With heart-shaped pebbles Of blood-red stone
Though don't exactly sec where the beach
comes in"
Probably refers to Harvard during the
glacial period, suggested Bob.
"And l was wondering" Jack went on,
show many of all the engagements made 10
college have lasted. l suppose Whats-his-
names calculating machine would give the
figures easily. 'Twould be good thing for
fellow to know, so that he could calculate
his chances on mathematical principles"
Jack" said Bob, rising and looming
soemnly between him and the window, care
you smashed2'
my child" said Jack, meckly, q fear
am"
Dark or light?" said Bob sternly.
Dark" was the answer, with powerful
sigh.
Where ?" said Bob, after a sad silence.
That last assembly | was slightly ham,
mered on that occasion and last evening |
madly proceeded to put myself under pile
driver, by calling on her. We talked about
philosophy, and cooking and music and art,
and women's dress, and-religion."
Fatal symptom, that last" said Bob.
know it," groaned Jack.
His feelings were so strong that his boots
inspired by his passion, tapped of one of the
legs Of the lounge, and let him down on the
floor, where he lay in state of detection,
pitiiul to behold, until the six O'Clock bell
rang
"Going to supper" said Bob, "or is your
appetite defunct."
my child' was the feeble reply, "where
there's food there's hope"
Going to supper he kept musing aloud,
Z" Ethel Hastings Entrancing name! She
tarries at the De Vries'. Said she was going
to visit some other friends in Cambridge
Knows some people in my place, What if
she should be there next summer 2"
And he clasped his big fur gloves in an
ecstasy, and struck an attitude.
With this thought, his spirits improved
rapidly, so that when he entered that Spartan
clubhouse, called Commons, he was quite
radiant He beamed upon the somewhat
worn honri that waited on the table, and ad-
dressed her in knightly terms.
What, no thou jewel of me heart !
bring hither the wheaton refreshment, and
crown me goblet of bovine nectar"
The good-natured girl grinned, as if she
were used to it, and complied with the cour-
teous request. But Jack was too high to eat
much. lie handed everything within his
reach to his abseut-minded neighbor, Brown,
to watch his puzzled look and finally sue
ceeded in changing Browns plate for plate
OF crackers, without attracting his attention,
and then accused him soemnly of selfish
gluttony. He recited of-hand the first chap
ter of his new sensational novel, to be emit.
tied, The Bloody Fork or, The Mailman
Midnight Meal" wherein the pirate captain
(who, he remarked, wasn't essential to the
plot, but required by the rules Of art) said
so no, my damond-hlted spy-glass !" no less
than seven times and all the principal char.
acters were poisoned at the outset {" to give
full swing to the tragic" as he said Moth
ing like appeasing the mucker element when
you write" he said. "What does the mucker
element delight inf B-l.l-lood :"
He set the table in such a roar that the
steward had to stop him, and advise him to
retire, which he did side-wise, with covered
face and uncertain step, after the style Of the
rejected lover in comedy.
After supper a crowd Of fellows went round
to Jacks room. as usual. But tonight he
refused to try his hand at chess, and even
dropped challenge to be " cleaned out" in
the most rapid and mysterious of games,
California Jack and went to reading intently.
One Of the Others looked over his shoulder,
and read aloud
Many an evening by the waters did we watch the
stately ships,
Ani spirits rushed together at the touching Of the
lips"
Beautiful J" murmured Jack.
There was a general laugh as the reader
said, Bad symptom, to appreciate that"
WELL" said Jack, it's safe thing to
read, any way. The hero behaves in SEN
sible manner. He knows that one love lost
doesn't prevent his trying again, and that he
may yet have chance to pass down the neat
little property which he calls All-the-ages to