The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-29


'To pass me-" repeated the girl, ant
then she quickly proceeded to explain
II am a student at St. Margaret's, anC
have known for some time that you wer,
to examine in Latin. 1t is the only sub
iect of which | am afraid, as | have no
been studying it so long as the other sub
jects, and much depends on my getting
through in ALL So, having accidentally
heard tonight where you were staying, i
suddenly occurred to me to come to you
and ask this favor.
Mr.. Calvert remained for some time
gazing at her in astonishment. 1t took
him little while to rightly comprehend
her meaning. At length he said:
1 'Is it possible that you fully realize the
nature of the request you are making
Il know it is very wrong, ackuowledg.
ed Mary, ''but so much depends
Then, Mr. Calvert, you know you have
promised, she added quickly, in an agitat-
ed tone
81 will not break my word TO you, but
shall do rs you request, said Mr.. Calvert
in constrained voice.
Thank you so much, aud ere he had
time to say anything more she had hidden
him good by, touched his hand, and hur-
riedly left the room.
CHAPTER III
When he found himself again alone
Mr.. Calvert sat down to collect his
thoughts, which were slightly confused by
the unexpected events which had just oc-
CURED. The suddenness and strangeueSs
of the interview would of themselves have
been sufficient to diseoncert Mr.. Calvert,
but it was the natur of the premise he
had made which was disturbing him most,
When the first stage Of his bewilder-
ment had passed by it would be hard to
say whether he was more surprised at Miss
Faber for having made the request or at
himself for having granted it. Although
reflection did not place his promise in a
more favorable light be did not purpose to
retract il. He was conscious OF having
formerly treated Miss Faber with wan,
Of candor. aud he was determined not
again to give her cause TO doubt his faith.
II l. true that he was now eontemplai-
ing the deliberate neglect of his duties as
examiner: We, be did no, consider his con-
duet By any means 50 eulpable as il might
have been iu certain other circumstance
in the schools at Oxford, for example, bad
any partiaiity been possible there. To
give a member Of an institution for young
ladies a certificate Of proficiency in the
Latin language was, Mr. Calvert told him
self, very different thing from fayoring a
young man AZ a university examination,
and 10 do him justice be woaid have been
incapable Of displaying any uufairness at
an Oxford competition In the present
case. Notwithstanding his casuistry, he was
severe enough in his self
lie had fallen greatly in his own esteem,
but the sense Of his own delinquency was
trivial compared with the pain he felt on
account Of Mary Faber's perverted notions
or recti,ude. When be bad frst scen her
that night her quaint dress, tTOabled looks,
aud supplicaiing voice had all touched his
heart, and it SEEMED as though his love
which for awhile had been latent, had sud
dchly growa stronger than ever, But,
weak, be told himself that she could never
be anything more TO him even if circum-
stances Whieh were aow adverse to their
union were unexpectedly to bcoDue favor
able Il was with sinking heart that
Mr Calvert told himself that he could
never Inspect OF trust one y ho had eoatriy-
ed deception and had melted him to be
come the partner Of her guilt When he
bad falalled his promise he resolved TO
forget her
Next day Mr.. Calvert entercd upoa his
du,iss as examiner at ST. MsrgareGs.
There were nearly hundred candidates
who took up Latin. Tie pat the written
papers which we're handed to him in bag
and returned with them to Oxford. The
lrsi papers to be opened by him werc
those which bore the name Mary Faber.
The very sight Of the neat handwriting
was sufficient 10 send thrill through the
heart Of the examiner. He did not need to
read much in order To see that she had done
very badly, 50 be decided not TO torture
his conscience further, aud without reading
any more he placed to her credit the mini
mum number Of marks necessary for pass
iag. He then tied up Mary papers
carefully, and having laid them in his
desk, be proceeded to discharge his duties
to the best Of his ability
About a week after be sent in his re-
ports he received printed list containing
she names of those candidates who had
passed iu not less than five subjects, and
who were, therefore, entitled TO honors.
He scanned the list eagerly, because, not
witbsanding Marys ignorance OF Latin,
he remembered how clever aud well read
she was, and thought il not impossible that
he should see her name. He began about
the middle Of the list aud read downward,
but he did not find that which he sought,
Il was almost with feeling of satisfaction
that be noticed the absence Of her name,
As he was thus relieved from the self-Te-
proach of having aided her unfairly to at
tain place Of distinction When he
reached the end of the list Mr.. Calvert
began to read upward from the point at
which be had started At last, when he
reached the top, he breathed sigh of re-
lief: but this was quickly followed by d
startled exclamation of surprise and con
+ sternation, for there, standing apart from
( the others was the name of Mary Fabel
as the first student of her year and the
winner of the Braekenbury scholarship oi
a hundred guineas, which had been pre-
sented to St Margaret's by well-knowu
manufacturer Then Mr.. Calvert read il
the remarks appended to the list that the
student who had gained the valuable prize
though she had barely succeeded to pass il
Latin, had been first in mathematics, frs
in English, first in French, and third il
German.
Mr.. Calvert's hand trcmbled slightly a
he laid down the paper, and his pale fac
wore an expression of pain. He was har
assed by conflicting emotions, as love ant
his admiration of the girls talents alter
mated with detestation of the deceit il
which he had shared. In any circum
stances, he told himself, it was bad enough
to have given her an undeserved certifcat
of proficiency, but co have enabled her un
fairly to carry off this valuable prize iron
the other competitors seemed almost lik
felony, even though he bad unwittingl
brought about this grave result.
If he had trifed with Miss Faber's al
factions when he met her at Eastbourne