The Van Buren press., 1897-03-06

IT was an age before the key went N
/. the Iaek and turned. Groaning in pain.
sobbing in hysterieal joy, they STUN
bled into the haven Of warmth. Dorey
and White fell prone upon the floor.
Get upt" screamed May8e, kicking
at theaa and tearing at his coat with
fingers that had no feeling in them.
Get up Strip Yoar clothest White, ts
there any liquor n the hoase2"
There was a tHo-quaFt demijohn Of
old kentucky N DensloW.s steamer
trunk. White knew Of if. He stumbled
Up the stairs in his cracking garments,
Mayne and Doreg after hin
They broke the neck Just above the
wicker i soaPless shaving mug poured
full Was portioned among them in fiery
rulps. It was rehIled and quickly
emptied They stripped themselves OF
their clothes, plunged into a bath
cold, to draw the fr0st-rubbed them
selves With alcohol and with rougkest
towels until the pink of returning eIf-
eulatiaa began to show. The shaving
mug WAS filed again and drained. Blood
bounded along tae limbs and stirred
pleasantly in the extrenlties, bat It
vas a pleasure that was much akin to
pain. Their hands and feet and faces
burned Lie FIRE Their speech VAS
thick They were very happy
The mug was quite a JOKE now. It
was really very fanny. They began to
tell eaeh other how very funny it all
was. They did not feel ike standing,
because the table and the chairs were
coming around n circles. So they sat
down On the floor in front of the fire.
place and rolled about and laughed and
ioSel N a delightfully."- silly way, and
felt altogether very good and very
funny.
And Just at this time the bell rang.
~Who--who d'you spo-sposh that
izh?" said Mayne, making a vain effort
to get his legs under him
~DonnosIcare,g said Dorey. Sid
down Letum freeze outside We're
no sanitarigm.
There was sound of footsteps and
voices In the hall. The footsteps came
TO the siding doors Of the library.
1T is some of the fellows" whis-
pered White. Let's be ersIeep."
Come in or stay out, whizze7er you
pleasels shouted Mayne.
Carmichael, sanborn and DensIow
stepped into the room.
You are a nice lot of freshmen"
grinned Denslow. surveying the three
eulprits and taking note of the gen
eral condition Of the apartment.
Where did you fellows blow from p
Mayne demanded.
we came in for some iee-boating."
said Carmichael. Have you got any
On hand?"
''Yezzir." said Maync, who seemed
fascinated by the fire. 'tYezzir, we sa-
saved Peg Wellington FIN drownin'-
drownin' US; we're celebratin the
event.
"Where is the Peg Wohington?" de-
manded sanborn.
"IIer runners is rustin'," the Colonel
observed Whereat the graceiess young.
Eters laughed. Her runners is rustin,
an we're goin' out to put some lather
on 'em. by'n by
Then the story Of the escapade came
out, and by the time the tale was told
in all its glowing particularly the three
heroes of the adventure began to feel a
drowsy contentment. They readily fell
in with Carmichael's suggestion that
they retire and "rest up" for awhile;
and they made grand rush for "Blom-
my's" big bed Sanborn followed them.
do you know that your father is in
town, 'Colonel?'" he asked. 'He came
in from Washington this morning"
Mayne and Dorey chuckled. The lat
ter punched White in the ribs.
You'll catch IT," he gurgled.
II might just as we'll be at the bot
tom OF the lake." Colonel" groaned
"IIe will want to know about the Greek
polish
"Give him some la-lather." mur.
INJURED Dorey.
"What in time Is he out here for?'
Colonel" asked.
"He came on unexpectedly to hunt
UP some evidence in the timber lard
cases, and he said he would be too busy
over at the capitol to see you till to-
night. So don't fret. Have your
sleep, and you will be all right when he
comes"
Senator White, contrary to expecta.
tions, appeared at the lodge on the
court at about two o'clock in the after.
noon. Sanborn gave him the Whole
story, and, in company with the three
upper classmen, the old gentleman stole
up to the chamber to gaze on the sleep
ing boy.
The senator stood very still, and after
a silent moment he gave a little sigh
that was all pride and tenderness. He
smiled, too. little sadly, and there was
moisture in his eyes. Sanborn. Denslow
and Carmichael understood. They, too
smiled at the sleepers: and if they in
that moment wished, with tinge OF
regret, that their own days of fresh.
man foolishness were before and not
behind them, why that was surely their
privilege as upper classmen.
81 am going in to Milwaukee to.
night" the "Colonel's" father whis.
pered, "and then back to Washington
Tell the boy that ! saw him, and give
him his fathers love. Thank God they
are not under the ieel"
Mayne stirred uneasily in his sleeI
and began to mutter.
The watchers bent forward.
"Couragel" he muttered. "Stop that,
you foolsl Give me your hand; you.
Dorey. Nowi"
Poor little devils!" said Sanborn.-
Outing.
]