Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-05
CAPTER III.
A Clash in Classics.

A Clash in Classics.
The president looked perturbed. at is not
my hour for receiving" said he, but this
man and 1 have clashed continually. Per-
haps you might go out this way and the
president indicated the door that led to the
scene of the recent scuff1e. Fame did not
wish to go until he had made his formal re-
port of young Stetson's misconduct, but the
intimation admitted of no argument. 'Tll
return then at noon, SIR, said he, and van
ished.
1t was about the middle of the second
period. The students were all at recitation.
After II, and more or less grudgingly, the
president would receive and listen to callers
on college matters, but he much preferred
the faculty should settle all questions at the
weekly meeting Some matters. however,
would not wait, and Fane's was one of
them. He held that an example should be
made of young Stetson forthwith, and had
determined to press the matter With over
an hour to wait he bethought him
self of the library. He had no
office, he had no room, he had no desk. The
big barn of a gymnasium was unfurn1sh-
ed. He had SO reported to the president
when asking for place to keep his books.
records, etc. The President, usual, said
he didn't know anything about that He
couldn't why there should be any rec
ords or books in military drill, and If there
were, why could they not be kept at home.
But you might take a chair in the IL
brary,'' said he, land even have desk
there-if you've got desk. Fame had no
desk and the President had no funds avail
able to buy one, and other use for them,
had funds been available. Even the bulle-
tin board and stationery the young officer
found Indispensable were ordered and paid
for by himself. Thousands of dollars came
to the college through the military depart
ment, but not one cent would it spend for
the only department that paid for itself.
The President had referred him to the trus-
tees. the trustees were scattered. but the
chairman of the executive committee was
In town To him Fame had gone, only to
be told the committee could disburse moth
ing except on the written recommendation
of the president. This, as 1t turned out,
was not strictly true, but it was sufficient.
1t would be a month or more before the
trustees met, and he could bring his various
claims before them. This morning, there
fore he found a seat in dim corner of the
library and with pencil and paper went to
work on certain estimates Four or five
students were reading at the tables. The
libraria and his assistants were noiselessly
at their work. They looked up curiously at
the cavalry uniform, a strange and unac-
customed sight. but said nothing. Two
young girls from Clifton Hall, with their
curly heads close together were porting
over some big book of reference in a win
dow niche. Everything spoke of order and
decorum. The big bell In the tower pres
emily tolled the hour of II, whereat for
few minutes there were sounds of many
footballs on the fagstones without, and
CHEEKY voices on the autumn air. Then all
was quiet again. Another period had be-
gun, and Fame, firing Of his pencil work and
seeking knowledge, strolled quietly about
the book-bordered aisles and alcOves, and
presently, over in rather remote corner
deep hidden between sheltering walls of
calf and vellum, he caught sight of the face
and form of a fair reader, absorbed in her
task. She never raised her head until, with
a start, she realized the presence of this
man in martial dress, and the color rushed
to her face. 1t was the first time he had
taken her utterly unawares. At the cedars,
at early morn, she had heard him coming
before he hove in sight. Here, there was
not seconds warning. He saw the blush,
and he blessed it. Talking strictly forbid
den," was the legend on the walls, SO Meth
er spoke but silence was eloquent. Their
lips moved and their eyes shone bright yet
both were embarrassed. II had not dream
ed this possible he murmured.
1T mustn't be-again," she whispered in
reply. Then, inconSequently, Did you tell
me Colonel West would be gone some
timer"
"All winter, 1 fear Tell me, you have
met my sister, and-is 1t imagination?- she
spoke as though you seemed to avoid her."
The color slowly mounted to the face that
seemed so pale but the moment before he
spoke. She bowed her head though to
think before replying. Then, her hands
clasping above the heavy volume that lay
before her, she looked one instant up into
his eyes. The love in them burned even
through her quickly lowered lids.
Il should have been glad to know her
elsewhere" she answered family. Every
one likes her. respects her. She is so capa-
BILE, cheerful and brave-an example TO
us Others but then"
Then WHAT" and he bent lower
Il shrink from speaking to anyone Of
last year, and of having known you. and
feared she might-ask"
lame fs a silent woman Miss EthaI
says nothing about-any of you. l had to
drag 1t out of her.
THAT seemed to avoid her?' Up
glanced the violet. heavily fringed eyes
again; then down.
'That-she had even met you. I was i'm
patient. l had to ask"
II wish you hadn't. Please don't again"
But, can't you see? 1t is only through
her that | can hope to meet you"
and that is just what wish to avoid"
wish TOP and now he Strengthened sud-
denly and drew away.
Need to- Oh you know what l mean
Captain Fame. 1t is"
But here she, too. suddenly Strengthened
and sat erect in her chair. The soft eyes
that had begun to brim over now began
to blaze. flush of indignation swept
to her brows, and. following the direction
of her gaze. he, who had again bent low at
her sweet yet reluctant admission, whirled
to his left, and there, leering at them from
the entrance to the little alcoVe barely six
feet away, stood a short, stout, forid,
loudly dressed man of fifty; an unprepos-
sessing person at any time, most objec-
tionable specimen at the moment. But the
grin about the coarse and bearded lips faded
slowly. The bold insolence of his gaze died
out of the red-rimmed eyes, for In an in
slant, planting himself between the intruder
and the girl, Fame faced him squarely with
an incorporating. What do you wantT'
and the ring in the low-toned query lifted
every head in the room and brought the
librarian tip-toeing and remonstrant from
his desk
I'm looking for Captain Fame" said the
visitor uneasily, twtrling his hat and shift
ing to the other foot, cased in it's shiny
patent leather.
Fame is my name. Cap is not my title
Come outside was the answer, and the
officer led the way to the outer air At
the head Of the broad stone steps and In
the full glare Of the meridian sunshine he
again turned upon lis caller and then al
most recoiled-startled.
Somewhere he had seen and known some
thing in that face in the mate to that
face; had seen, had known and had grown
to hate 1t, for the sight Of this one already
assuming apologize, appeasing conciliatory
semblance of smile. was enough to set
his finger nails biting into his palm and to
fill his eyes with fire,