Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-06-18

BY CHARLES M. SHELDON

thar k In His Steps," "Macom Kirk" THE Cruci61ou Of Pl
sRobert Hardy's Seven Days"

want q word with YOU said the presi-
dent. And Edward sat down again as
Wheaton went out.
~ want to ask another thing about
! your relations to Preston. You have
not been rooming together now for sew
eral weeks. DO you think you could
help him by going back and resuming
your old relations"
II might" Edward answered slowly.
"Then would say by all means so
back to him"
THAT is. supposing he wants me to
come back"
"Of course" replied the president
quickly. 81 do not know how he feels
toward you. That is for you to find
out. But If the faculty of the college
are to help Preston we must ourselves
be helped by any Of the students who
have it In their power to use good in
1uence. Besides, you said you felt as
If you had not quite kept your promise
to his mother"
Eyes. sir I said 1t. and can't help
feeling that might do more"
"Whatever that is. Blake, I rely on
you to d." said the president gravely
as he turned to his papers on his desk.
Don't forget that the future destiny
of soul may rest with you to deter
mine" And Edward, with this last
sentence impressed almost painfully on
his mind, went out of the office.
He walked slowly over to his room.
went in and sat down by his table. He
was really having fight over his per-
sonal inclinations and his sense Of
what he really owed to Willis and his
mother at this particular time. lie
really did not care to room with his
old cllim again. He had come to like
the Guict of rooming alone. He had
grave doubts concerning his influence
over Willis in the matter of drinking,
although he was Obliged reluctantly to
confess that lie had probably not eX-
erteu all his influence to its full limit.
But all through hi; conflict of feeling
he could not shut out the generous side
of Willis nature, and certain passages
in Mrs. Prestons letters at different
times appealed to him.
AT last he got up and went out and
crossed over to Rankin hall.
The living room was in great con-
fusion, and there was an open trunk
standing near Willis bedroom door.
Edward did not see any one and at
first thought that Willis was not in.
But as he took step into the room a
number Of articles, including hair
brush, pair of tennis shoes and a
sweater. were thrown out of the bed
room toward the trunk. The sweater
and the hairbrush dropped inside. but
the shoes missed and fell on the other
side of the trunk near n number Of
other things that had evidently been
flung near the middle of the room in
the same way. Suddenly Willis ap-
peared at his bedroom door with au
armful Of things. AS he caught sight
Of Edward he pulled up rather hastily.
and then threw the whole armful in a
heap into the trunk.
"What are you dong?" asked Ed
ward, rather unnecessarily.
Willis laughed bosterously.
Don't you see? I'm getting ready to
abandon Hope to quote from Dante.
I'm going to anticipate being fired by
going off before the trigger is pulled.
as the gun said to the little boy who
thought it wasn't loaded. Goodby
scholars, goodby school, goodby Prexy
no, don't think the rest Of 1t Is right
to say. He's always treated me square
enough. I'm the one that's Been
fool"
Edward walked over to the table and
sat down on one corner of it.
II came in to see you about matters
generally. don't think you need to
leave college"
"Why. is Wheaton circulating peti.
tion to have me stay, SO he can have
the pleasure of my company?"
mot quite that, but he has begged
the president not to dismiss you from
the college,"
Flows that" asked Willis in evi.
dent establishment.
Edward told him about the scene In
the presidents study and what Wheat.
uuu SulO. w llAS AlStCuSO WALL Az
creasing emotion.
"Well. Wheaton Is square. Hes
worth hundred thousand men like
Rankin, with his money and his sneak.
ing, stingy ways. And after we had
pulled his room to pieces too; seems
like lot Of sympathy wasted on the
wrong party, though, don't you think?
Did you say he was praying for my
sOul?'
Edward repeated Wheaton's words
as nearly as he could recall them.
at looks as If his prayers hadn't
been heard very much, as far as I'm
concerned, doesn't it? But didn't do
the work on the tower I'm not quite
SO bad as all that" Here Willis con-
fessed to Edward the truth about his
statement that he was the guilty par
ty. Honest, now, don't want to be
kicked out Of college just now. 1t will
just about kill mother. don't care
for myself, but hate to deal her the
last and hardest blow Of ALL" And, to
Edwards surprise, Willis put his head
down between his knees and gave
sob that was the result or Delng un-
4