Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-05-10

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but to ali appeals ana arguments Ed
ward returned few words He grew I
more stolid and unyelding with every |
effort to move him. Dignified seniors
fled up to his room, men of influence
in athletic circles and they all filed
down again, furious and bitter that a
freshman off farm should refuse to
uphold the college in its pet contest
with the university. Willis put In a
daily remonstrance, and serious
breach seemed widening between the
roommates in spite of their good under.
standing of little while before.
When the eyentful day came. the col
lege sent down the best man they could
get as substitute for Wallace. The
game was played with "rng Of blood
around the MOON" to quote Willis, but
the university won by six points, and
the college almost to man blamed Ed
ward Blake for the defeat.
1t seemed little strange to Edward
in the next few days that followed that
bis purpose and motive were not more
clearly understood. But Hope college
at that time was at very low point OF
life In q Christian way. 1t would be
unfair to say that Edward received no
encouragement whatever from the bet.
ter element of the college. But it is
painful truth that at that particular
time In the history Of the college it
lacked the distinct manly type of
Christian scholarship and leadership
that it shortly afterward began to en-
| joy.
1t was during this particular expert
ence, through which he passed with
| considerable bitterness, that Edward
| came to know far different life in an
other direction, the final results OF
which led to changes in his personal
character that were farreaching IN
their seriousness and meaning.
Willis had kept up a running fire OF
sarcastic comment on the football cpl
sode until Edward had begun seriously
to think of making change In his
room. He had felt disappointed in VIII
lis. The revelation of his deeper life at
the time of the paper route affair had
pleased Edward greatly. 1t seemed to
him, however, that since the defeat OF
the team by the university Willis had
grown unnecessarily critical, and his
tendency to fast habits had never been
more marked or more distasteful.
One evening early in December, just
before the holiday vacation, Edward
was some what gloomily attempting to
study and brooding over his expert
ences. HI did not expect to 60 home
for the holidays on account OF the ex>
pense, although he had saved up lit
tie out of his work, to which he had
added by extra jobs about the build
ings in one way and another.
Willis had teen very quiet for Ion
ger time than usual At last he broke
the silence by rising and going over to
Edwards table.
"Say, old mdnw He spoke In kindly
tone that Edward could not help no
ticing "We've had this gloom turned
on about long enough, don't you think
Pshuw! You're no mind reader.
think a good deal more of you for mo-
playing. What difference does 1t make
what l say? Come. What you nee'
Is a little fun once In awhile. YOU
study the vely insides out of the Ole
books, and what good does 1t do? /
YOU come out at last as valetudina
rian or something like that, what goo(
/ does it do? al the men that graduate
at the head Of their classes either di
: soon after they get out Of college o
they are never heard of anywher
after ward. All the famous men are al
ways dull and embarrassing In col
lege. | tell you don't want to g
into obscurity the way most OF tn
brilliant scholars go. I'm taking al
the precautions l can to avoid thei
fate. Tell you what, Blake, you shu
up the old books tonight and go dow
Il and take in The Pace That Kills
It's jolly farce, and you need goo
laugh. Come on!"
"What kind Of show Is it" aske
Edward reluctantly. He had neve
been to the theater, and Willis, VIII
went constantly. had never before ask
ed him to 20, because he had reasO
to believe that Edward would not 6
anyway. Besides, with more though
p fulness than Edward had given hlr
y credit for, he knew that Edward woul
, not 60 to entertainments at anothe
PERSONS expense and could not affor
to 20 often at his own.
: ooh, it's farce. There's no sens
J. in 1t, but it makes no difference
g There's lot of pretty girls and som
, pretty fair tumbling and trapeze worl
j. but the fun Is in the old tramps an
y characters that get caught Robin
y, henroosts and all that sort of thing
I've got a couple Of seats in the pa
quet, and Barnes was going with nj
d but he's sick and can't go. Come Of
Have some fun just once"
Willis reached over the table goo
naturally and shut Edwards book VI
Edward hesitated a minute but lie VIZ
really curious to see the entertainment
and he had not been out anywhere e.
u cept to literary society since he el
tered college. Besides, he was so r
lieved to have the good will of b
- roommate again that he felt ashame
. to refuse his invitation IN spite Of Ii