The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-10-06
in our crew steadily increased.

the names OF the crew were Oihciahy
announced in order that the men might
be initiated into the III. k" the class
society.
This society, although one remained
an active member of it for only one
wear. was the controlling fact in the
social life OF the class. The first mem
bers were elected by those who had
formed the society in the preceding
class, and the new members elected
others of their own class. But
..crewman" was understood to be en-
titled to membership in the ''H. h."
almost as q matter of right. To be
sure, it required only one black ball to
reject candidate, but no one had ever
known a member of the crew to be
voted against.
Charley Harvey was president OF the
society, aad generally the most genial
and open-hearted man among US but OF
late he had not seemed himself. On
the night of the election he was rather
pale, and as he took his seat noticed
a peculiar expression ia his eyes such
as l had never seen before.
After the usual preliminarie', the
balloting opened, tho members OF the
crew being proposed and elected in the
order of their positions in the boat.
When number seven was proposed Har-
vey's face became positively black, and
it flashed upon me what that peculiar
expression had meant.
II. did not hesitate as the box was
passed to him, but cast his vote with a
cool and steady hand, though his count
enancc betrayed the agitation under
which he was laboring.
The secretary started upon opening
the ballot box. and then leaned over to
Harvey and whispered in his ear. Har-
vcy nodded gloomily, whereupon the
secretary arose and said in a voice full
of emotion, Il regret to say that Mr..
Jordan has not been elected"
A dead silence followed. Every man
in the room looked at the speaker in
utter amazement Such a thing as the
re lection of a member of the crew, and
for no reason which any one would
dare to avow, was enough to create in
tense excitement in that little company.
Number 'eight" was proposed and
elected hurriedly, and the meeting adj
/ iourned in confusion. Ga my way to
my room 1 overlook Harvey, and step
ping quickly up to him Islipped my arm
through his, hoping l might be able to
talk with him about the matter; hut he
wrenched his arm from mine and turned
abruptly away without word. Some.
body had just lett him and although
could not see very we'll in the darkness
1 thought it was Joe Stanley. 49,
The next day it was rumore l that
Stanley had ''cut Harvey dead' on the
campus. Jordan conducted himself,
meanwhile, with great dignity and
commanded the respect of the entire
class, while Harvey kept studiously out
of sight.
1t leaked out, not long afterward, thai
'High' Jordan was not only doing hi
work in college. and trying for honor
and scholarship. but at the same time
was teaching night school in the town
/ don't know who it was discovered
this, but 1 remember very we'll that
was with Harvey when we heard TIT
news. Poor fellow! 1t was impossible
not to pity him. Evidently he had
long since repented of his action, and
this piece of news was all that wa
needed to make him utterly miserable
He was absent from prayers next morn
ing, and no one saw him al! day.
But the next night special meetin,
of the ''H. K" was called by order o
the president, and when the mem Der
were assembled, Harvey arose and said
briefly:
1have called this meeting to repai
as far as possible great wrong whic
1 was mean enough to do the best ma
in our class. 1 desire to apologize t
the crew, to the society, and to MI
Jordan for the insult; and beg leav
to propose Hiram Jordan for th
H. K"
That night l saw Joe Stanley an
l Harvey walk homeward arm in arm,
| fhnir old friendlu wau. and learne