The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-01

nOpeleSSly incompetent, get rio or him.
But you know how 1t is often done.
A man has bit of reputation; he is
seized on for the glory of the college;
there is no adequate investigation into
his fitness for the place. and when for
some reason his star wanes he's
thrown overheard. You remember
Lewis7 think this Is just such an
other case. do not think Irish has
been fairly treated. They took him
from a place which. II not very good,
was at least sure. and he has only been
short time at X. He writes to me
now asking II ! think there's any use
In making a fight. He does not wish
to do 80, but his wife ID slowly dying
Of an incurable disease. and he would
do anything to stave off resigning just
now. Poor fellowi He's had that over
him all the time. and he says II has
been the anxiety. Joined to getting ac-
cUstomed to new work. that has kept
him from publishing. Possibly by
summer he might have had something
ready. His friends tell him the matter
has been brought to O head by the
board having an eye on a man they
think will be a strong card for X. Had
the right man not been found just now
the affair might have dragged along
end Irish uld have had a decent
chance"
Percival had risen and gone to the
window. The dark stems of the elms,
with their lacelike fringe Of leaves.
stood out against the pale rose Of the
fast fading sunset. Groups Of boys
were scattered over the lawn. and
from the tennis courts foated up
shouts and laughter. As the head
finished Percival turned back to the
room.
ITS q pitiful story" he said.
"a pitiful story" he repeated to him
self as a little later he went up to his
own study. The dying wife made II
even worse than Lewis case. Law
renee remembered that story. 10 which
the head had referred. and bis own po-
sition In regard to il. Yet, after all.
was there only one point Of viewf Was
not ell life a struggle. q relentless strug-
gle? A fair chance. and let the best
ma1 win -- no one could ask more.
Had Irish had fair chance? Who
could say? Besides, II was no business
of hia He was offered the work which
Irish had failed TO do. II would prob
ably make no difference to Irish IL he
declined the position. Still. suppose
he declined on the ground Of what he
had heard. X. was the last kind OF q
place to enjoy a row: things were al
ways done decently and In order there.
The college would not like to have Il
said that IL had treated Irish no un.
fairly that Lawrence Pcrcival would
not come 90 II. He had made rows be.
fore. and his pen was feared. He
might at least obtain that extension OF
time which Irish thought would be 90
important. But would Il? How could
he teili What did he know about the
right Of the matter anyway And.
granting even that things were as the
head supposed them 10 be. was It not
the law OF the universe that a man
should frst OF all do bis own work
look after his owna Was not his first.
duty to the woman who had trusted
her life to himf
He took up Lilian's miniature. which
stood on his writing table. The fair.
sensitive face, untouched by care.
looked up at him with smiling eyes.
full Of woman's trust. He seemed
TO hear her voice:
How did / come to carer think,
Lawrence. because you were the best
man had ever known"
And there came back TO him the
pledge he had made his father when
first he went to college-the promise to
follow his principles at any cost. wher-
ever they might lead. Now, OF all
these principles the Strongest. the most
clearly defined. the one that SO far had
ruled his life, was the resolve never TO
ally himself In the smallest way with
anything on which. rested even the
shadow of injustice-never to rise by
trampling on another. II that was the
price of success, he would do without
success"
"No." he said as he put back the
miniature: mot even for you
Then he remembered her letter,
which he had not yet read. AS be open
ed It he saw IL was very different from
any he had ever before received from
her. Instead Of dainty. perfumed
sheet. with writing as steadfast and
serene as her own nature, this was
blotted and hastily written. 1t was
dated from her aunt's-she had been
obliged to leave her position. In her
agitation she gave him a glimpse into
facts hitherto concealed. The monet.
ony and dreariness Of the life. the pet
ty sights and annoyances-all these she
had borne with silent courage. But
now the son OF the house had fallen In
love with her. Her engagement had |
been no protection nor the fact that he
himself was also engaged. His perse-
,ution had brought crisis and fam
ly scene. He had threatened to break
his engagement. and she had left the |
louSe