The morning call., 1891-05-05
THE OLD COACH.

/ shadow OF one OF the white plllared, DrlcK-
! paved, cluster-like colonnadeS, or rows
watching an old-fashi0ned chaise as IL came
| up the road from the town, and passed
around TO the rear Of one of the professors
resideDces-that of Professor W.
When tie vehicle had disappeared behind
the row the six young students sauntered OF
| in pairs to continue their conference IN the
! secusOn of one Of those curious old serpen-
| tine brick walls which are counted among
| the sights Of the place.
For the scene we are describing was at the
! University Of Virginia, al Charlottesville, an
| institution with history.
a few miles down the RiVanna River, I'M
! der the shadow of the Little Mountain, stood
the colonial homestead where Thomas JET
ferSon was born 147 years ago.
When jefferson became a man he realized
at least one Of the dreams of bis youth by
acquiring the magnificent lands upon and
around Monticello indian for Little Noun
tain, and building upon the summit the
classic and stately mansion that was his
home during the remainder of his long and
illuStTiOus life.
In the same elegant and substantial style
of aTchItec ure as his own mansion he drew
the plans for what he intended should be
the nOblest university building on this con-
tinent The construction Of these buildings,
on the opposite edge OF Charlottesville from
tended, and watched eagerly from the por-
tico of his home on the mountain, four or
five miles away. He was in every sense Of
the word the Father of the University of
Virginia "a title beloved by him and en-
bodied in the simple epltaph prepared by
him for his tomb, which even Omits mention
of the fact that he was President of the
United States Of America.
The half-dOZen hopeful youths introduced
at the opening OF this sketch were not un-
worthy iuherltOTS OF the tradition OF Char
lottesvlle. Two of them carried in their
pockets bits Of iron that had once been a part
of the hour hand CT the great clock over the
main pOrtico below the dome Of the rOtunda,
and which had been purOined AT the dead of
night at the imminent risk OF somebody's
neck.
At least three Of the number could have
told-but wOuldn't-why the bell sometimes
refused 20 ring, and how it happened that
one Sunday morning live bear was prowl-
ing about in the chapel, and came within
an ace Of breakIastIng upon doctor OF oil
viHity.
Mt one of the six was a stranger upon
Vinegar Hill, locality known to students,
and where the midnight oil is burned not
necessarily over books and studies.
So they stood in the curve of the brick
wall and discussed their plan of campaign
with all the dlrectness ana audacity of vet
Grams.
The roads are In good condition" one
was saying, land the old trap will run
easily"
"As noiselessly as ghost" put in a Sec
ond.
Just before the stroke of midnight three
distTeSSful sounds, which powerful imag-
inatiOn might possibly have credited to the
vocal organs OF very dlSSlpated tree toad,
might have been heard-and were heard by
at least FIVE pairs Of anxiOuSly listening
I'D; nr from the 0lpuDlV Sh a nWS
of an antique tulip tree that stood little
distance back of one Of the brick rows
bounding the lawn, or campus, on each side.
moment or TWO later five suSpiciOus-lOOk-
ing figures emerged from as many different
quarters. and made stealthily for the spot
where Zach Blskey was Understanding the
tree toad for this season only with such
indifferent success.
\ time was lost in conference. The time
fOE action had arrived
The six Students glided on tiptoe into the
shed where Teposed 10 vanished dignity the
ancient 'One-hOss shay" that was the pride
of Professor VS. heart. the wonder OF
Charlottesville and the traditional stock
subject for GIBBS and witticismS among the
students at the university.
'0ut with her !"
One boy between the shafts-this was
Zach Blakey-One on each side Of him, pull
ing with all their might, and the other three
pushing behind.
Who would have thought the old trap so
heavy?
But they rolled it out of the shed and
down the road beyond the University pre-
cincts in excellent style. They breathed
more freely, and Zach, the shaft horse, sang
out encOuragiugly:
$50 far, so good. Now we've got plain
sailing right cut to the graveyard. Ali TO-
gether now"
They took a new start and hurried off the
professors coach at pace too brisk 10 last
long.
Finally Tcm Ryer, the humorlst Of the
party, called out from behind:
Say, fellows, some one of US ought TO be
riding up there on the drivers seat. or else
inside. Let's take turns-Pll be the first"
a general howl Of protest greeted this
proposition;
There are only six Of Us. and it's all we can
do to propel the old hearse now"
Look ahead yOndeE," cried Zach Blakey;
were almost there.
We've got no time to waste. either"
grumbed the perspiring lad on Il chs left
at the shafts. ITS coming on big tEun-
der storm, or something else"
The something else sounded remarkably
ominOus for some reason CT another.
They passed through the yawniAg gateway
into the cemetery. 1t is impossible that the
boys, or at any rate their leader, had some
definite plan for the disposal Of the vehicle
that they rolled all the way out there from
the university, but whatever their inten-
tiOns may have been they were never car
Tied out
As they stood huddled together in front
Of the receiving vault, more than one OF
them secretly quaking with fear, the query
was ventured,
"Wel, what had we better do?"
81 say, you had better turn the carriage
around and take it back to the university"
repeated the voice, in harsh, cry accents,
which now the young scapegraces could not
fail TO recognize.
It was Professor W, and none other.
that spoke
Could it be possible that
For answer 10 this unuttered question the
gass-wiudow panel of the coach door slid
aside with vicious slam and out popped a
head. A vivid flash of lightning revealed
for an instant the features of the professor
Of mathematics.
Professor" stammered Zach. desperate
ly, I'VE had no intention Of"
"Oh, of course not You had not the
least intention Of bringing me out here"
The weary, creSt-fallen lads doggedlv
picked up the shafts, backed the lum bering
coach out Of the cemetery gate, and started
on their hOmeward march
The road was slightly down hill now or
they could scarcely have borne the fatigue.
The thunderstorm got ahead of them de-
spite their best efforts. aud bursting with
terrific fury drenehed them to the skin as
they came down the home-stretch
When they had finally got the coach safe
ly housed back Of the row the professor
stepped out quite gayly and said:
Dung gentlemen, l thank you all for
the trouble you have taken on my account
You had better hurry to your rooms and get
into dry clothing as soon as possible. Good
night. Star Sayings.