The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-01-20

his solitary heart turned with a tender
ness almost fatherly.
One night there came from Wutson':
room move noise than was usual. i
began early, and prolonged itself in
definitely. The proctor went to bee
doubling. The noise continued; it be
came intoaerable. Jumping into hi:
slippers (Which were always, toes out
precisely at right angles to the bed,
Bolker rapped at the door. For an in
-stant the noise, ceased; then the proc
I'tor heard from within: "Let me go
I'm all right, tell you," and an angry
"Shut up; get in there quick; I'll co.
in the voice of Watson, who thereupon
looking extremely, silly, appeared at the
door.
won't you please stop the noise?'
faltered Bolker. II can't sleep if yor
DON'T"
"Were we making q noise? Really
l."
"It doesn't matter at all if you'll only
stop. Good night"
"Good night, SIR" The door slammed
with seuffle and blended chorus OF
"You old liar-eh, eh-give me that
whoop!"
Bolker slipped into bed, very miser-
able. He hated to do it. Out in the
ball he heard another scuffle, mournful
reproaches, blasphemous diatribes
against all proetors and reluctant good
nights. But it was long, despite the
succeeding quiet. before he slept.
Next morning Watson Appeared for
an instant to iterste his regrets. aust
q beer night, you know-my eighteenth
birthday. 1t won't happen again, as
sure you. fatal"
During the next week Bolker was
vretched because his neighbor did not
appear. Doubtless he was angry. To
have stopped his birthday party was
but ones duty! Rot! Ones duty was
to have waited at least awhile longer.
AS a matter of fact Watson, MS Bolker
should have known, was too busy for
visiting, in that year before the mid
years. To keep off probation would be
hard struggle. lie had determined ac-
cordingly to work hard, and did, so that
he scraped through ingloriously.
One day after the troublous times
were over the proctor was disturbed
in his work by well-known bang at
the door, and in answer to his "Come
in," Watson appeared all breathless.
81 say, my folks are in the next room.
They surprised me. and l want you to
meet them now, please"
I'D like to- replied BolEer, nervous
ly, "but-but I'm busy. that is
''Bosh, my dear fellow; there's no
one but mother and sister. I've told
'eln so much about you they insist on
seeing you, and when they insist you
might as we'll give in right off; it saves
time. They'll be insulted if you don't.
Come on, there's a good fellow
Bolker had never before met any
ones people, and didn't know quite
how to do it. So it was only after many
msgivings that he at length consented.
But he found Mrs. Watson much like
her son, and brief talk with her made
him forget his hands and feet. Later,
to Miss Watson's sincere thanks for his
looking after her brother, and to her
interested queries that disclosed abso-
Lutte ignorance of all things academic,
Bolker found himself answering with
more freedom than he had ever dreamed
of. The girl had all the unaffected
frankness of her brother, augmented
by a thousand little womanly graces,
that quite captivated him.
At the end of blissful hour came
the climax; they asked him to dine.
And when he perforce declined, they
sweepingly rebutted his arguments; he
was not stranger; they had seemed
to know him for ages; he had been so
good to Fred. In short, he accepted.
At the end of week Watson's PEG.
pie took rooms in Cambridge. Mother
likes the place better than Boston," ex.
planned the boy. Pm the chief at.
traction, and they want to be near me.
Oh-and they want you to call, often.
Sis thinks you're just about the right
Sort" Bolker flushed. That's very
nice, I'm sure"
And he did call often; the girl was
wonderfully attractive. When, after
two months stay, she and her mother
left, Bolker, for the first time in his
college career, felt lonesome.
Worst of all, the April examinations
put poor Watson Oh probation. my dad
writes he won't have me come back
if don't make my class. But, hang it
all, I couldn't helpit! 1t takes me such
a time to get started, the hours always
up by the time begin. Looks pretty
serious, eh? But I'll manage somehow,
guess"
He did manage, in his first four finals,
despite the innumerable seminars and
incessant grinding that preceded them,
to do very badly. That was sure.
1t so happened that in the fateful
room, where he was to take his last,
an examination in English, Bolker was
proctor. Good luck to you'll" he smiled
to Watson, giving him blue book.
Then he settled into the dreamy, trance
like state wherein lie was wont to pass
the three-hour ordeal.
After awhile he glanced toward Wat
son. Good heavens! the boy was not
writing; he was looking squarely on the
book of the man in front of him. Bolker
turned away hastily, then, with fear
full doubt. looked again. Could it be
that he-her brother-could it be? 1t
was; the wretched boy, afraid of fail
ure, was taking this cowardly means,
prostituting friendship for safe cheat
ing. With great weight on his heart,
the proctor strobe toward his friend.
III report you," he Missed, bending
low.