The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-25
CHAPTER III-CoNTINUED.

number of other young fellows, about his
own age, around a long table. answering
the questions of three professors, who
were examining them. Each had great
stake in this examination, as it was for an
appointment to the Naval Academy at
Annapolis.
Young Brydell had ceased to be Young
BrydeIl then, being quite Is years old. He
had had a good many changes in those six
years. Much of the time his father, now
lieutenant, had been at sea. but unlur kily.
whether his father were at sea or on
shore. Brydell was still allowed to have
his own way. and good deal more of the
lieutenant's pay than was good for a boy.
The old tenderness and sympathy still
encompassed him he had no mother
Therefore whenever Brydell found him.
self dissatisfied at school a complaining
letter to his father would result in his 60
ing somewhere else. When his teachers
represented that Brydell, although an ex-
tremely bright fellow and ford of reading,
yet neglected his recitations for athletics,
Brydell would write most convincing
letter to his father explaining how impOs-
sible it was for him to 10 more at his books
when his duties as captain of the football
eleven were taken into considerable and
that his father. as fOolishly fond in his
way as poor Grubb. would persuade him.
self that the boy would come olt all right.
He bad even been sent to Switzerland TO
school. but like the other schools this one
did not suit Brydell and six months after
he was home again.
Fortunately Brydell possessed certain
strong traits of character that are difficult
to spoil. He was perfectly truthful, brave
and had naturally good address. Nothing
Ould'haFe been prettier than the devotion
between him and the Lieutenant As Bry-
dell said, sold man, fatherly respect is out
OF the question. When you got married a
20, you took the chances of having a boy
in the field before you were ready 10 quit
it yourself, and I'll agree to treat you as
an elder brother, put we've been chums
too long for you to become the stern
father over me-" And this would
be said with such an affectionate
hug that the lieutenant could only
make believe to grOwl. And so Brydell
grew CD, without any of the wholesome
restraints and sef-denial of more fortunate
boys. He was not conceited boy, but he
realized that whenever he had failed it
was because he had not really eXerted
himself. and he had natural and Optimis-
tic way of looking at life. which so far
had not been rudely contraoicted.
The determination TO 90 into the navy
had grown with his growth and strength
ened with his strength, and no other plan
OF life had ever occurred to him. He
knew the difficulties of getting an ap-
polntment. but like most ha DIV young
fellows of his age aud inexperience he
thought all difficulties existed for other
people; bis own way would be easy
enough.
His father had carefully retained legal
residences in his native town, expressly for
BrydePs sake, so be could be eligible for
appointment from that district But
Brydell. having concluded to try private
tutors Tor while-whieh were changed
as often as the schools were-had lived
TOR nearly year and a half with his
Aunt Emlline, in town outside of his
own Congressional district One morn
Ing picking UP paper. he had read
that competitive examination would be
held for an appointment TO Annap-
oils, open 10 all boys who had
LIVED LIVED twelve months in the district.
Ihat suits me to dot" cried
Brydell. and from then until the day of the
examination he really worked hard. never
doubling for moment his ultimate sue
cess. Aunt Emiline, il is true, croaked
like raven, but Aunt Emiline always
eroaked. Brydell had already in his own
MIND composed the letter announcing MS
success to his father and another one to
the admiral, who had continued to be his
FAST friend. and another one TO Grubb his
old friend, the marine. On the morning
OF the examination he therefore presented
petition.
Next him at the table sat handsome
young fellow, about his own age Some
thing 10 the boys fresh, regular features
and 1.-THE Young figure reminded Brydell of
Grub. or all his early friends. BrydelI
loved the kindly marine, with his manli-
ness and truth and bad grammar. better
than any Of them. Although Grub had
done MS share of sea duty, he and Brydell
had met many times in all those years. and
always brydell felt If he were a little
lad again. Once, Brydeil remem bered,
Gr1bb, being about going to sea again,
mad PAID the expenses of long journey
out OF his small pay to see the boy, and
Brydell suspected that Grubb's' ticket had
taken about all his spare cash, and tina.
he had lived on hard tack and can of
smoked beef most of the way which was
hard on big fellow like the marine
Ii suddenly flashed upon Brydell that
this handsome fellow might be Grubb's
son; he was about the right age. Bryoell
at this prieked up his ears, but in a few
minutes one Oh the professors, happening
10 ADDRESS the young man, called him
"Mr Esdaile." Then be was not Grubb's
boy. and Brydell lost all interest in him,
except that he wished he could write the
answers off as quickly as Esdaile could.
For Esdaile never paused a moment. but
with the ease and rapidlty oil one per-
fectly accustomed to his subject, he an
swered every question put him.
Not so BrvdelI. He was we'll up In his
tory and geography, for lie was great
reader. But III mathematics he STUN bled
woefully, and made something very like
hasco. When at last it was over and
the young fellows each took his own
way home, Brydell experienced a sicken-
ing sense of failure. He had really
worked hard in preparing for the exami-
nation, but he forgot that he had never
worked ID his life before. His three
weeks squirt had seemed to him tre-
mendous effort, that must win success.
but 1t had not. And then came terrible
apprehen sion; il lie had failed at this
examination, and he felt perfectly sure he
mad, ne might fail at another He might
even fail In getting the appointment from
his own district, for the Congressman
might we'll hesitate to give it TO a boy who
could not hold his own in a preliminary
examination. This thought staggered him
and almost broke his. heart, for he had
dwelt so long on the navy that he could OF
think what to do with his life if his ambi-
tion In that way should be baked. He
was only kept in suspense a week or two
and then the blow fell Esdaile had GOT