St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-01-19
FAILURE AND SUCCESS.
How Bob Gresham Won the Tod
dlethwaite Prize.

How Bob Gresham Won the Tod
dlethwaite Prize.
"On the fifth day of last Decembe
there came to this land man of aliel
blood, of foreign and unfamiliar habit
costume and accent; yet the most clio
quent-hm-m-syet the most-yet tn
most eloquent of speech y D.,
dob? o, Bobr'
1.-The most eloquent by his histor,
and circumstance-the'- Ohi what is it
Teddy?"
Il wish you'd just catch hold of m,
round the left wrist" moaned Teddy
Il can stand it better when you do"
The most eloquent-the most
which the world has for many ages
seen-the'- Yes, Ted. Yes. IL
catch on. Yes. Here l am, Ted"
Bob Gresham. with the hearty sigh oil
a big, disappointed fellow, laid down
his well-worn copy of Rufus Choate's
Phi Beta Kappa address, turned and
annotated by the evolutionary profes.
scr, at the tribute to Kossuth. He
looked at his sick chum keenly; then
went over at once and sat upon the bed
beside him.
'.Don't feel SO well, do you, Teddy?"
"Im going to die, this time" observed
Teddy, cheerfully.
Ell wait till after Prize Speaking, il
can, Bob,'' he added, with an effort to
be generous.
'Oh! come" said Gresham. He did
not know what else to say; and so he
said nothing more at all.
1t really was too bad. Nobody in all
the Academy denied that It was too
bad that Teddy Delan should have to
come down with one of his rheumatic
fevers just as the great Toddlethwaite
Prizes came on. Teddy was a little
slip OF a Southern boy, pale and frail;
poor as lizard; lived away in some
foreign nation-Delaware or MARYLAND
had no people anywhere at hand;
had no people anywhere, except one
old mo, her, in dreadful bonnet, who
once in the history of the Academy
was telegraphed for by the principal
to come and bury Teddy. But Teddy
declined to be buried, and it cost
the poor old thing so much to get to
Massachusetts for any thing short of
funeral, that Gresham had said twas a
shame, Gresham had roomed with
Teddy for three years. He always took
care OF him now, when he .'came
down. Teddy adored Gresham with
the eerrible alteration of the little for
the big, and the sick for the well. He
had the piteous selfshness of unbear-
able suffering. Nobody but Bob could
handle him. Bob was big and well and
tender and faithful and made no fuss
about it, and did it all like hero-but
Bob was tired out. And Bob was to
compete for the Toddlethwaite Prize to-
morrow night at eight O. clock precisely.
And Bob expected to get it. And every
body else expected Bob to get it. Bob
bad no rivals. That was the rub. And |
Teddy
think If | had a little water
vailed Teddy, mo, q mite of ice No.
mats too cold. 1 want cup Of milk.
"Oh! can't swallow! I'm beginning
TO die. I'm going to do it, Bob. shall
die tonight They'd better telegraph
TO mother. She'd mind it, may be-
wouldn't be such a flat as to die.
II | were you, Ted, said Gresham.
But Bunny has tele-
graphed. you know We thought you'd
like 70 see her. She'll get round pres
emily
Now Bunny was the principal of this
ancient and honored institution. His Fl
name. / believe, was Blunderboys. But
30 lad in the academy, whether dying
Dr. alive, would have known whom you
meant, if you called the principal any
hing else than Bunny.
ne was tall man, too, with very
all bat and Phi. D. They put him !
Town u. d. in the catalogue. Ii
Il wonder If Bunny paid for the mes |
ageP" whispered Teddy. deliriously, q
or If he sent it .collect?, u d
= think will ask the doctor to look !.
q, replied Gresham. after a moment.
~ would be rather nice to see the doc d
or
Teddy was worse. There was mol
oubt about that. Gresham went across !
be corridor of the dormitory to get a .
GLOW to sit with Teddy while he
9 himself ran for the doctor. He car y
led his Rufus Choate and read as he g
an: Among the memories of Bunker 9
ILL everywhere he has held all with G
charm as absolute as that with which q
10 Ancient Mariner kept back the Il
ridal guest after the music of the mar Z
age feast had begun. 81
= The tribute of tears and applaud 81
gs, the tribute of sympathy Oh! b
eroi Yonl Well Yesl Doctor IN? 81
-sandof thoughts too deep for applaud- b
gs too deep for tears Hip Doctorp f
clans Ia a bad way Would you just D
yes, I'll ride back with you. Excuse n
~ ~