New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-11
A FORGOTTEN CRIME.

defermined to vary the monotony Of their daily
studies with display of fireworks. OF course the
authorities consisting OF the DeneFaI h tfeseFt
wears of age-and the tut0Tlal stan, or Fellows,
had strictly forbidden any such display ana
equally rs "A matter OF course, tins prohlbltion
added strength to the undergraduates determine
ton. A large quantity OF fireworks had been or
dered from London and by me Peslnnl1dg OF ane
at the gate OF the College, and hence srepttiousy
carried 10 a dsused cupboard IN the room OF one
On the night Of the 18th Of that month some
eight or ten Young men were sitting in large oak
panelled room of the College. The room was then
occupied by an undergraduates named sydney. IL
was a gathering of the ringeaders in the hrewOrk
mOvemcE-, and this was the night determined
upon for carrying out their undertaking. Every
person in the room masked, Tor these Young
gentlemen were much afraid of being identified By
the Fellows, in which case they would probably
have met with severe punishment. perhaps even
the pains and perlis OF rusticaton Itself. sydney
himself who, from subsequent descriptions OF his
appearance, must have been handsome, elegant
youth Olling against the .mantclplece and ,eX-
blaming 10 his comrades his plan for making the
night hidcous. IL was, briefly, 10 gather together
vgrinus old chairs brushes, boxes aud pieces of
wood into the middle OF the great quadrangle, as
noiseesslv rs possible, t. saturate them with oil TO
set fire 70 the mass and then, when the authorities
descended from their roomS 10 attempt 10 pQs an
end 10 the unexpected bonfire, 10 welcome their
appearance in the quadrangle with sQubs crackers,
and all the other internal machSnes which lay
ready to their hands.
had crrpt m from the river and lay ike thick
pail over the old academic city. The streets were
nearly deserted but "a many college window
glistened the rays 81 lamps or candles. telling OF
studious toll idle dissipation carried into the late
hours o, the night. But there were few nights 70
be seen in the windows Of Bedford College; for at
this moment the great bell of the University
Church was striking tho han-hOur and most OF
the UNDERGRADUATE !Ineinbers OF .the College
gathered III the open air near the centre OF the
grass plot In the biz quadrangle. "NOws the
time whispered sydney, as the last notes Of the
clock were dispersed into the i9g ana smt!ng the
action TO the word he struck hight from t!nder-
box held ready in his hand, and applied II 10 the
base of the black pile.
suddenly "a bright fame shot aloft startling
oven the performers IN few minutes the bonfire
was blazing in a way that lit np every corner OF
the old buildings, and made hose who had not
provided themselves with masks pull their
treuchers down their fUret eads, land retreat
into the darker entrances 10 The stalrcases and
passages. But the spirits OF the cinei actors rose
with tie occasion; with Wild shout OF triumph
they hailed the success OF their plan, and. joining
hands, danced round and round the blazing Pile,
shouting, laughing, and singing al NE toB OF 'hglr
voices. Then crackers and all kinds OF fireworks
began TO hy about the quadrangle Authority, III
the shape OF the Porter. appeared, but was at once
induced 10 beat a retreat hV shower OF merry mus
ses. The fun became las; anu fnrlous; ana 10
could hardly he doubted that the Dean, whose
window, overlooked this scene OF turbulence,
would soon appear IN person ana Try 10 queu the
tunult. Bat the Dean Ike prudent man. was
first taking an observation from behind MS closed
window before issuing forth. Anger, however, at
this unseemly disturbance soon overcame his pru-
dencc, and It seems that about ten minutes after
the breaking out of the bonfire he appeared IN the
quadrangle and shouted in loud tones OF lndigna-
ton 20 the pei formers IN the wal-dance 10 pun out
that fire and 90 10 their rooms. But his elOquehce
was cut short by renewed discharges OF fireworks
directed 10 his easement so that he was lain 10
draw lack into the safety OF shls own apartment
in condition of impotent rage. But soon the lire
began TO need repeuishng; the store of fireworks
was exhausted: several undergraduates had re-
tired thinking that the best OF the fun was over
while others-and among them sydney-had gone
off in search of fresh fuel Under the circum-
stances the Dean. backed up by TWO other Fellows
OF the College. made determined rush into the
middle of the quadrangle dispersed the remnants OF
the blaze and had the pleasure OF seeing the con
sprators-who now thought that prudence was |
the better part of valor-retreat to their various
Augustus John Hamer, however. was rot satisfied |
with tins empty triumph. He was still boiling |
with fury. His dignity had been lnslilted Ills |
that several Of the consprators had worn
masks and he now proposed 10 his two colleagues
TO make a raid on the rooms OF those whom they |
suspected 10 have been the ringeaders; and, pos
sbe to surprise them before they had dotted their |
disguise. IL so Happened that be had long sus- |
peoted Sydney OF beng an unqnet spn1t, so Pc |
directed his attack to his room. Entering the |
smaller quadrangle. he proceeded 10 staircase on
the west side assembled one fight OF stairs, knew |
by the printed name on the door thae ne was ny the
right apartment, knocked once, ana WlthOdV |
waiting for an answer, entered. But the room was |
nearly dark. There was "a small ire burning on |
the hearth. throwing every now ana then lick |
ering light over the room, but the room was very |
dark and it felt cold and chilly, one window beng
wide OPEN and the night air blowing IN: ID SIZE /
Of the darkness, ne oecuPer of the room mlghf he
playing a trick might be concealed III corner, /
or be might be in the smaller inner roon-the bed
rcom-whch opened out of the bigger chamber. and |
the door Of which was vide open 50 the Dean /
advanced nearly 70 the fireplace linen, as Ihe |
fire suddenly burst up for moment. he had dls,
tinct vision of armchair drawn up IN uOnt ana |
a human figure sitting IN IL witt legs stretched |
out In the LATEST possible altitude toward tbe !
smouldering embers; SIR Mr. Sydney Do you
hear me 1t IS Mr.. Hamer-the Dean-lt Is ! |
sir BE polite enou- TO rise and light candle, II
you please But the figure remained perfectly SILL
A Dean of college rs an important peTsOnage-
In his own eyes No wonder he felt his anger rising
at this stOlid indifference 10 his dignity Dean
10 pay VISIT 10 an undergraduate. and the under
graduate 10 sham 10 be asleep Mr.. Sydney 1t Is
useless 70 pretend sir--if you don't answer me at
once / shall report you TO the President. Rise up,
SIR tat lonce. But the figure RENAL led obstnately
stiiL Something began to make the Dean feel I'M
comfortable. Was he sure this was sydney Had |
he really seen him the chair The tire had not
5lazed up again-he was speaking % silence ard
darkness Ii was quite a ew experience for the
Dean. He thought OF the warm, bnghtly-ht rooms
be had just left and began to wish that ore OF the
Fellows had come with him. Just then another
Care from the FIRE He again saw the armchair,
the Outsretched human form, and this time caught
monetary sight Of the flce. Yes, those were
ng pale. IN the freight, or perhaps because he
knew III be VS. found out. Iruiy the wrath OF
Deans is dread thing 10 incur Well might he look
So fancied the Dean of Bedford College, and
bis anger again within him &C the Thought OF
This barefaced prstence of sleep, this obstinate con-
nuance in a detected imposture. IL was a shock TO
lis feelings 70 be so treated Aye, Mr.. Dean, you
nave had one shock already In this silent chamber
md you sha / have another before you leave IT.
For the last time, Mr.. sydney. order you to
ise' There was no movement, no sound. The
light-wind blew into the room with a gust 1t
ted the window blind and made II flap with
Weird. impatient sound. Anger will not last under
ueh conditions; the Dean sllivefed and again, he
scarcely knew why, he felt uncomfortable He
ooked round him nervousy: the door was shut.
n hy did lac shut II when he came in Why were
here no people stirring outsidef He must end this,
e all costs He made Il step forward, clutehed the
hair back, and gave IL violent shake. This time
he figure stirred. IL gave convulsl' e shivering
nOgenient-then IL uttered q deep shuddering groan
--nd 4saia AL still. There WAS no installing