Graham guardian., 1901-08-16

Has Guild passed off that condi-
tion yet?" I ventured to ask Nit in
the course of the day.
"Oh, go bury yourself" he an
swered, and my fears were con-
firmed. With carte blanche from the
faculty as to time, Guild had put off
his examination till the last minute,
and failure now would be irremedi-
able. That evening we were to have
party of guests to dinner-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 though;
/ detected a certain note of defiance
in the speakers voice. 1 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 a 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 a dif-
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-
fused to see the callers. Our guests,
who were out-of-town people, and, Of
course, deeply interested in the game,
had been told of the circumstances,
and plainly showed signs of curiosity.
why, you simply must pass him,
Mr.. Milford" said the bewitching Mrs.
Alton, the chaperon Of the party, in
her most enticing voice. "Just sup
pose we should lose the game on that
account"
Madam" said Milford, putting on
dignity which is unusual with him at
home, whatever he be in the classroom
Madam, IL he gets 50 per cent. l shall
pass him." and the fair visitor saw at
once that she had tried to carry her
tyranny beyond its proper domain.
At length our guests departed, and
Nit went with them to escort them to
the inn. Soon after they had gone,
student came around with Guilds pa
per. He wanted to remain and hear
the result, but we told him that Prof.
Milford was out and might not be back
till late. He left in state Of obvious
perturbation. AS for us, words cannot
describe our anxiety. We talked and
talked, and walked restlessly about the
room and waited; but Milford still
failed to appear. AT last we went up
stairs. Though seldom read in bed,
that night thought might profit by
a few hours, which would not in any
case be claimed by Morpheus. But
what read made no impression on me
whatever. My thoughts were on the
game, and Guild, and Mitfocd.
Finally the outer door rattled, and
Mitford's step was heard in the hall
below.
Nit" shouted Jim, She papers on
the desk in your study"
you mustn't come up till you've
read it," chimed in George from his
room.
Right" added, involuntarily, and
kicked myself immediately afterward
for doing so.
A loud hmm" was his only answer,
as he stalked into his study.
There was silence above and below
for about half an hour. And know
now that Nit spent most of that time
with his eyes closed and his face in his
hands, in agony. He had read the pa
per, and given liberal credit for all that
was in it, and the figures summed up TO
a total of exactly As. Should he waive
bis scruples and let the man through?
II he did not, what would be his future
in Kensington? He saw the sudden
end OF his popularity-the game lost
md his fault! The conflict was long
and terrible.
'No, l must do it, whatever the con-
he muttered at last, and
turned to write the fatal number on
he paper. The room seemed suddenly
lark and cold. AS he turned the pages,
his eye fell on a sheet of pa
,er on the floor which he had over
ooked. 1t was the answer to another
Iuestion-and it was right!
He jumped up like fash. Our ears
lad been straining to catch some sound
'elow. He rushed into the hall and
houted triumphantly:
Hes passed; he's passed."
"Yea-a," was the yell of three voices
rom above, and the agony was over.
Two days later Guild made 40-yard |