The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-07-24

pear around the corner, carrying their
fallen heroes with them.
II was just about TO call upon YOU
sir" said McRawney.
Il shall be happy to have you do so,
sir" said the president; and the incl
dent was closed,
Before night every student on the
campus knew that ninety-blank had a
Kentuckian who had taken two Of the
best men in the sophomore class and
knocked their heads together like
couple Of cabbages. Some one dubbed
him "the anarchist, - as being an enemy
of the established order Of things.
The name stuck, but ere a week was
over the freshman had elected him
president Of the class, and the varsity
football captain had personally invited
him to try for the team.
His record as a football player was a
brief one. For a space of some IS min
utes one afternoon he was persuaded to
line up on the scrub. with a coach sta
toned behind him to tell him when to
InOAQ d4fu WHICH, ~ DlCdA NALObEh ~ HAAACC
he was utterly ignorant of the game.
The anarchist seemed to enjoy that
quarter Of an hour extremely. So did
the spectators, and SO, indeed, did every
body except the varsity guard and two
substitutes, who, in rapid succession,
yielded to one another the honor of
trying to block him.
AS the third man limped off the field,
the anarchist announced to the captain
that it was a nice game, but he was
afraid he might hurt somebody, and
reckoned he wouldn't play any more.
No one could induce him to put on a
football suit again, and his rapidly-won
popularity suffered a temporary eclipse.
But it soon proved impossible, after
all, not to grow fond of the tender
hearted giant. With all his strange ac-
cumulations of experience he was abso-
lutely unworldly. He liked all the
boys. regardless of class distinctions,
and all the "profs," without the slight
est reference to the reputation they had
hitherto enjoyed among the undergrad
yates.
His presence in the Greek recitation
room, it must be admitted, did not con-
tribute much to the cause of exact schol-
arship, but he had not learned that it
was bad form to ask questions, and l
always awaited his inqueries with curl
osity, and sometimes with fear.
It was fine to see him there, side by
side with -well-groomed boys from the
preparatory schools, who were loath to
betray any interest in the text lest they
should be thought sgrinds," and afraid
to express any opinion about college
matters lest they might injure their
standing with this or that fraternity.
McRawney was an object-lesson in S'an-
archy,'' and made converts every day.
1t was in connection with the examin-
atoms at the end of the term that the
anarchist sealed his reputation, and
added something, surely, to the reputa-
ton of the college. remember the day,
the room and the moment with perfect
distinctness.
The freshman Greek paper had re-
ceiyed the undivided attention of the
for something more than an hour.
The best men were writing steadily, but
those ranking near the ''danger-line'
were beginning to wriggle in their seats
and sharpen their pencils aimlessly, and
watch the December snowtiakes swirl
against the little, old-fashioned win
dow-panes. The anarchist, in partic-
ular, seemed to be in distress. / looked
up from my book once or twice, and saw
him pull his red beard through his fin
gers. and cross and recross his sprawl
ing legs, and smile pityingly at his
paper.
/ was sorry for him, but there was
nothing to be done. Presently he
seemed to become interested in the
methodical way in which a high-rank
man near him was reeling off the an
swers, and he grew quiet-absorbed,
| supposed, in ~good-natured envy. My
eyes drifted back to my book. and
soon forgot all about him.
All of a sudden the anarchist startled
me by leaping to his feet. No one
had yet left the room, and every man
in the class looked up to see who was
lucky enough or reckless enough to be
the first to go. They stared on per,
ceiving that it was the anarchist, and
stared decidedly more when he turned
cxcitedly to me and asked: Professor
may ! call a meeting of the class2"
During the middle of an examination
such a request was unheard of. hest
tated.
1T will take two or three minutes
only" said McRawney, 50 deferentianJ
that it was impossible tOrefuse. mod
ded assent. If l had had more pres,
ence of mind, I should have left the
room, but in that case / should have
missed a most singular and memorable
scene.
1.-THE class of ninety-blank will please
come to ORDER" said the Kentuckian
strengthening himself to the last incl
of his six feet four. Every trace of un
gainliness slipped from him in thai
instant, and he faced the roomful O.
wondering boys with the air of q borr
leader of men. AS soon as he haC
opened his lips he forgot my presenc,
in the room, ! am sure.
"Gentlemen," he began. Il will stat,
the object of this meeting, though / dC
so with regret. For the first time sine,