The sun., 1901-02-07

II
ton was wrought up to fever pitch. On
the campus, at the eating clubs, and In
the town the talk was of but one
thing. "How are the men to-day?"
us Travers' leg any better?" will he
be able to playP" "Any signs of over
training?" "Do you know what
tricks they are working up?" And SO
on--generally, be it observed, in the
form of questions-for at this season
of the year the INSIDE is very secre-
tive, and outside gossip varies in de-
tail almost with the number of speak
srs. In the absence of definite knowl-
edge the suspense was terrific. A spir-
1t OF nervous unrest pervaded the uni
versity, and serious work was we'll
nigh impossible. Moreover, this spirit
affected not only the student body, but
many faculty circles as well. Instruct
ors and younger professors were un-
der Its sway, perhaps quite as much as
any under-classmen.
At THE Cloister," where four of us,
trainers Of youth, live in contented
bachelorhood, the electric tension of
the atmosphere was obvious. Our
conversation at meals and after was
always about football; lectures were
prepared without the usual care and
thought; and fear we all spent much
time in reading&the athletic columns
of the daily papers which ought right
ly TO have been devoted to original re-
search.
Il don't know why 1t is, fellows"
said Milford, one day at dinner; '"I
don't care a rap about the smaller
games; / don't take interest enough in
them, even, to GO down to the field
when they are played in Kensington.
But when IL comes to the big ones
get so nervous it breaks me all up;
can't work and can't sleep for think
Ing about them. The strain is fearful"
Prof. Milford has highly strung
temperament, but we all felt that his
particular words applied 10 our own
cases, too. But this particular year
Milford had an added source of anxiety
in connection with the game. Guild,
the great half-back, whom everyone
looked to to secure the needed touch
down, was conditioned in Mitford's
subject, and that condition must be re-
moved before he could play in the
championship game. Milford had sent
him notice after notice, with no effect,
and he knew the students might at
tempt to take advantage of the facul-
ties sympathy with their cause, and
get around the condition in some way.
Now Milford was most conscientious
man, and he had sworn by all that was
holy that Guild must pass his exam
ination regularly if he were to play in
the game; and yet his heart was with
the team, and he knew besides the un-
popularity he must expect to incur, II
anything he did should contribute to
the defeat Of Kensington in the great
event Of the year.
"What about Guild, Mit?" we asked
him one day at table. Nit looked up
with an expression of disgust, and
what he said in reply is best repre-
sented by dashes and asterisks. After
that the subject was dropped, as far
as we were concerned. But certain
things became palmer as the days
passed by and the date of the game
drew near. 1t was evident that the
Pembroke team were improving won
derfully, and would give our men a
tremendous fight. And it was also
evident that our men relied on Guild,
practically, to win the game for them.
He was champion kicker, and run
al yp
'If Guild is knocked out during the
game we are lost" said some one at
the Cloister once. We all ngreed with
che speaker in our inmost hearts, but
as Nit was present we expressed no
opinion, and the subject was deftly
changed.
1t was the second day before the
Pembroke the next morning. Our
anxiety could not longer be sup
pressed
"Has Guild passed on that cond1-
ton YETI" ventured to ask Nit in
the course of the day.
"Oh, go bury yourself" he an
swered, and my fears were con-
frmed. With carte blanche from the
faculty as to time, Guild had put off
bis examination till the last minute,
and a failure now would be irremedi-
able. That evening we were to have
a party of guests to dinneT-Mit's
friends, they were-and the talk could
be Of nothing but the game. About
five o'clock the doorbell rang, and a
party of students appeared. Nit was
out after his guests, and it fell to me
to receive the men.
we have come to see about Mr..
Guilds examination with Prof. Nit
ford" said the spokesman. They were
all anxious and nervous, but thought
I detected certain note of defiance
in the speakers voice. l consulted
with my chums, and at last we found
the examination paper which Nit
had prepared for the occasion. The
honor system is in vogue at Kensing-
ton, so they were allowed to take the
paper to Guilds room.
While we were at dinner the bell
rang at least dozen times. The
maid returned each time with the an
nouncement: "Some students to see
Mr.. Milford" She had told them, Of
course, that Mr.. Milford was at din
ner, and they had left. 1t was diff
ferent party each time, come to in
quire whether Guild had passed. And
all this time Guild was in his room,
presumably scribbling away for dear
life. During the evening the bell-ring-
ing kept up, and Milford each time re-