The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-27


tude for learning things parrot-fashion.
and, oh, the amount of unnecessary trouble
ne gave himself. He reminded of the
child who was overheard persistently and
diligently repeating to himself. a horse
has four legs-a horse mas four legs That
was just Keith's style. At lectures he in
| yariably took down the digressions with
great care, emitting the essential parts;
and his unseen translations were things of
| horror. 1t was not that they were gram
matically incorrect-the principles of syntax
had, apparently; been hammered into him
somehow-but they We're utterly devoid of
style. and frequently of sense. 1t was like
| trying to teach an automaton, and / very
| soon gave up all hope of him.
Why don't you work for a. pass? / said
lmpatently one day. after an hour OF more
| than battling stupidity.
| My father won't hear of it, he replied;
| he was a wrangler himself, and says he
wont allow a son to loaf through a poll
| degree He can't grasp the fact that / m no
/ good-neyer was-never will be- and his
| hand went YEARLY up to his head.
I've good mind to write and suggest
ought to carry off your blue in no time. 1
| said. with half envious glance at the tab;
| straight figure. He only sighed again, and
went off slowly with his books.
AN incident occurred that afternoon that
confirmed his account of himself l had
been long country walk, and was saun-
tering slowly back beside the river, when
heard steps behind me. 1t was Caffyn,
third-yea man; he had his blue was a very
good all-round fellow. and rather favor
lite of mine. This afternoon he was EVIDENT
ly very much put out; he looked tired and
9 It's that ass Keith he said APOLOGIZE
caily, as turned to greet him. You should
of rowing as a cow and it's impossible to
teach him. A fellow with that chest. And
he gave a Disguised groan.
= You don't mean to tell me that ke1thS
a bad oarsman? L calculated
" He'd row the boat into the middle of
next week, if you left him to himself-he's
muscle enoughybut when it comes to keep
ing stroke, he's nowhere. It's just the same
at tennis; he'll serve a ball into the next
l,,,t Nlr1n nj l1a
you stand and swear at him. He's just no
sense of direction; he'll be chucked out OF
everything if he goes on like this
can't you account for 1t IN any way
asked.
No; they say he was just the same at
RugbY-a hopeless, well-meaning, impractl-
cable duffer. l more than half believe he s
not all there
I'VE had reached Trinity, and I gave a
weary sigh L turned into my rooms. 1t
was such unnecessary tragedy-that a
fellow who. to all outward appearances;
possessed every advantage, and was run
of latent possibilities, should be just
hopeless failure.
pendous efforts, but all to no purpose; AS
the end of his third year approached, he
grew more than usually respondent, and
that he might forego the examination.
=" He'll never forgive me If I'm ploughed,
the lad said, and ploughed | shall be, to
I get home, if they'll only let me alone;
there's lot to be done on the estate, and
/ can work under direction at anything
that doesn't need brains. If only can
once get away from this hateful placer
he ended with groan.
thing was that he realized his own defeat,
and his inability to overcome it; his school
and college life must have been one long
period of torture. l wrote to his father
putting the matter as delicately as | could,
but the answer / received proved him to
be the worst kind of great Panja ndrum
little button and all. The missive was
short and cor. contained Politely esst d ed
his sons capacity, and that the SAD son
knew what to expect if he still obstinately
letter to Keith; / could not well do other
wise, as it was at request that had
written. He went very white and set his
8 My father thinks that it's just OBJ
stinancy and idleness on my. part he
said. he'll never forgive me If I'm plough
ed-and shall be ploughed.
THE fatal day came at last 1t was a
for him as he passed my window on his
way to his Denance. L met him after the
first paper, however, and he seemed almost
hopeful; he had been lucky in his transla-
lions, both of which he had met with be-
fore But the next paper floored him ut
terly and as the week went on, he be-
came reduced to state of nervous misery
that was pitiful to witness. The tripos was
over at last, and then the results had to be
waited for. When they came out, few
days later, 1 need hardly say that the
name of Keith did not appear oil the list.
1t was a great blow to me. though, of
course, ] had known that it was inevitable.
l avoided the fellow not feeling able to
offer him any consolation, and went for a
day up the river.
After ali. it's storm in a tea cup
said to myself refieetively; whats trle
a man in him, somewhere. and this one
blow won't floor him
on my oars as | sculled up the river; but
somehow the words did not carry convic-
After leaving my boat, l sauntered
home by the Backs, and stood a moment
on Trinity Bridge before entering my
night; there was scarcely ripple on the
water and not leaf was moving on the
trees. 1 walked through the cloisters into
Neville's Court. No one was about; the
college seemed to have adjourned to the
Great Court. at all events there was t a
good deal of talking and moving about
down there. I tired and went straight
up my staircase into my large room-the
one out of this
He indicated the half-open door with his
finger In the blackness. / could Just dis
Germ the CLEAN of the shield against the
wall. He continued:
"As | entered sudden rush of cold air
made me SILVER. I was puzzled to account
for it such night, but supposed that
draught. To my surprise the room was not
mantei, it's head bowed on its hands. l
looked up I approached, and in the dim
light recognized Keith. HIS face was
ment two before words shaped them
selves.
done for me- he said; L wonder if l ever
could have been any good in the world
anywhere else?
II stretched my hand out but he did not
seem to see it.
g My dear fellow said, you have every
thing before YOU yet: it is sheer folly to
take the result of your exam. so much to
heart: your father won't eat you.
It's too late he repeated. in the same
level dull. monotonous tone-'too late-too
late There was a terrible hunted eX-
preston in his eyes / reasoned pleaded
exhorted but all to no avail. I've had
my last chance and lost it,, he said: you've
been very good to me, but knew it was of
no use.
His head went down on his hands again.
chill eerie feeling came over me; 1t was
as though l could not get near him at all;
my words seemed to f1oaJ past him, UNI
needed and unheard
Go back to your rooms, and get to
bed / said at last; you re worn out; III
come round and talk to you tomorrow.
Il moved toward the door. and he fol-
lowed me SLOWLY We passed down the
stair together and out into the cloisters.
The moon was rising over the river, and as
we stood there again felt a breath of icy
wind sweeping round the court 1t was very
strange
4 can't understand was beginning.
turning to my companion when to my as
constituent / found that he was no longer
at my side.
TT was a mystery to me how he could
mic her 60 I iS