The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-10-27
he said, holding out his hand, which, I
noticed, was white, soft and shapely.
And mine is Carl -" / said, as |
t,,b th, An,nl ln,l

noticed, was white, soft and shapely.
"And mine is Carl -" / said, as |
took the protfered hand,
Just then the cadet | had before OBJ
served entering the college came out
and brushed against Leslie Barker in
passing. Such a look of mingled hate
and disgust as came over his face hope
never again to SEQ on human cOunto-
nance. | saw his small white hands
clinch till the nails were buried i'll the
flesh. He stepped back as suddenly as
though some loathsome reptile had
touched him, and heard him muttor
between his clonched teeth:
Course hun, he does not recognize
me, and it is well for him that he does
not" But, remembering that | was
standing near and must have heard his
remark, he turned toward me, and, see
ing the look of surprised inquiry upon
my face he said
"That fellow reminds me very much
of n person | once knew"
"The remembrance is not very
pleasant one, | should Judge, from the
look you gave him as he passed, y re-
piled, laughing.
70 this he made no reply, and in a
few minutes babe me good evening and
walked into the building.
My curiosity was excited felt as
sured that Leslie Barton knew this man,
and that he had some reason for hating
him with all the strength of his fiery na-
ture. / wondered why it was that he
had underworld to lead me to believe
that he had only recognized II reSem-
blmce to some one he had once known.
The more | Thought about it. the more
deeply interested ! became. What puz-
lied me most was that the stranger had
looked directly into Leslie Barton's face
us he passed him, and | could detect no
sign OF recognition on his part. There
was a mystery about these two, was
satisfied, and determined, if possible,
to discover what it was.
During the following day the different
classes were organized for the term, and
the cadets assigned to their rooms. Two
boys occupied each room, and, as every
boy had the privilege of selecting his
room mate, | sought out Leslie Barton,
and, on the strength of our slight ac-
qualntance, asked him if he would oc-
cupy the same room with me. He
seemed surprised mt my proposition, and
informed me, rather haughtily, that lie
had made arrangements with Col. W,
the commandant, to have room entire
ly to himself.
every well" / replied, turning away,
but he laid his hand upon my shoulder,
OBTAINING me for moment. as he said
am sorry cannot room with you,
but | always prefer Il room to myself.
Well be good friends, though, won't
we?"
"Certainly," | replied, for | had taken
n strange interest i'll this palc-faced boy.
was assigned to Il room with Edward
Walton, an overgrown, good-naturcd
sort of Il fellow from Mississippi, who
had attended the two previous sessions
at the University. He knew everyone
connected with the college, from the
head Professor down to the old negro
who attended to the building.
One day, about n week after my arrl-
val, | was standing in the hail. i'll com
pany with Ed, when the cadet who hal
so excited my curiosity on the day |
first met Leslie Barton passed.
DO You know that fellow, Ed?' 1
inquired
"Oh, yes; that's Oscar Phelps"
How long has he been attending
school hcre?"
Gle came in at the beginning Of the
last session. Why?'
" Nothing, only he seems pretty old
to he attending school. DO you know
much about him?'
every little. He's from New Or
leans, believe, and from the way he
spent money when he was here last ycal
he must be pretty wealthy. That
about all | can tell you Of him. Fact
is, he is queer kind of n cuss, who has
very little to do with the rest vi us fell
lows.
And that was all could learn about
Oscar Phelps. | made inquiry OF sew
cral other boys, but none Of them
seemed to know more about him than
had already learned from Ed.
The more | saw of Leslie Barton the
better | liked him. He was Of a modest,
retiring disposition, and while he had
no intimate friends among the boys, yet
they were all ready to declare him ga
real good fcllow-a littlo queer in he
notions, but II good one, nevertheless.
There was one thing that struck me Us
peculiar, and that was tina the never re-
ccived or wrote any letters, or ever
spoke of his home or relatives. One
day asked him which State he was
from. He replied that he had lived in
so many different States that he claimed
any and all of them us his home. And,
as ] saw that hc was very reluctant
about conversing upon the subject, l
never referred to it again.
] remember distinctly the first time l
saw Leslie Barton and Oscar Phelps
speak. 1t was Just after o,lr class IN
French had recited, one day about two
months after the beginning of the term.
We were leaving the recltatlon-room,
and were Just without the door, when
Oscar Phelps walked up beside Leslie
Barton and addressed him III sneerln9
| tones.
Il say, young whats-yonr-name, You
ALWAYS seem to know your French pretty
we'll: | think I'll give you Il dollar a
week to post me up in all the difficult
translations." -. 80,
Leslie Barton turned toward him with
an angry light in his bright, black eyes
and, regarding him with naughty stare
for n moment. asked in voice which he
in vain attempted to make sound natu'
raj a,
"Did you speak to me, sir?"
Oscar smiled in most sarcastic ant
tanializing manner, as he replied:
eyes, did it hurt you?"
"You will please remember, then
sir, that nv name is Leslie Barton, ah'
unless you can call me by that nam'
and be more respectful in Your name
when addressing me, | would niinltel.
prefer that you would not speak to M
at all. )" II.