Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-05-16

its commencement season. The ma
tons history had been Of an exciting
and unusual character. Admiral Dew
ey's battle in Manila bay. Lieutenant
Hobson's feat In Santiago harbor and
the landing of the American army near
Santiago were all history before the
day came for the usual exercises that
closed the college term. All this time
the college company was fixture In
it's southern camp. and every letter
that Edward received from Willis con-
tanned a wall at the enforced inaction.
Edward was struck with the tone of
his last letter received during COM
mencement week. 1t seemed to him as
if something was wrong with Willis.
something that was vitality out Of keep
ing with his usually careless but hap
by habits. Just what it was he could
not tell, but 1t made him uneasy. and
even in the midst of his examinations
and all the stir Of the commencement
week he wrote Willis a long letter.
cheering him up all he could. He also
sent Willis letter to him to Willis
mother with q line expressing his con-
viction that something was not right
and asking Mrs. Preston to let him
know IL there was anything that be
Edward could do for his roommate.
Freeda had continued her position
with the professors family in spite Of
Edwards plea that she go back to the
hall, now that the receipts from the
new paper route warranted it. She
promised to begin the fall term in the
hall, and Edward had to be content
with that. She was planning to go
home for the summer. and stay on the
farm, and Edward had decided to re-
main in Raynor and carry his paper,
besides doing some extra work that
had been offered him in laboratory
practice. His determination was
strengthened by news from home that
matters on the farm were in a good
condition. and his uncle could manage
affairs without him.
In addition to all this the president
had unexpectedly given him some work
to do In copying manuscript on vol
ume that he had been preparing for
some time. This meant for Edward
personal acquaintance with the head of
the college that shaped his whole life
and is shaping it to this day.
1t was almost the end of June, and
Edwards summer was passing almost
ideally for him. He was saving nearly
S. a week from his paper route. count
ing iii what he was earning extra from
a job or two on the hill and the work
the president gave him to do. This lat
ter task was becoming every day more
of a pleasure to Edward The presi-
dent at first had given him the cor
rected manuscript sheets to take to his
room in Rankin hall. Edward had
studied shorthand and the use Of the
typewriter while on the farm. expect.
ing one winter to fit himself for busl-
ness course at Randall. He had learn
ed the typewlitng slowly, but his
logged perseverance conquered even
his naturally slow movement Of fin
gers and hands. and he was rapidly
growing expert in the use of machine
which the president let him have.
But President Royce soon discovered
that the silent, undemonstrative young
man from the farm, who was working
sessed qualities that would perhaps
develop into very great usefulness be-
fore his college course was ended. and
he rapidly took him more and more
into his confidence. This meant that
by the end of June Edward was doing
all the copying at the presidents office.
which was In one corner of the library
building, and also beginning to assist
little in the presidents correspond
ence during the vacation absence Of
the regular secretary.
1t was this latter fact which led to a
knowledge on Edwards part of certain
facts connected with the college ad-
mnistration which ordinarily the stu
dents would know nothing about.
To understand this we must also en-
ter into the relationship which had
so quickly and yet not at all strange
ly sprung up between the president
I'd the student. 1t was remarkable
characteristic of President Royce that
he was openly frank in matters where
great many other men considered
it necessary to be uncommunicative
and mysteriously silent. He saw at
once that Edward belonged to not
too common class of men who can be
trusted to keep what is given them in
confidence. And seeing that quality in
him he not only respected it. but trust
ed it and even in time gave the young
student proof Of his confidence by
asking his opinion, thing that a
smaller mind would never have done.
But President Royce had learned even
in the comparatively short time he had
been at the head Of the college that
the students had opinions on great
many matters and that even the presi-
dent of college might sometimes
profit for himself and the college by
trying to find out what their opinions
were.
Coming up to his room in Rankin
hall at this time in his summers ex-
perience, Edward found a letter In his
letter box from Mrs. Preston. 1t was