Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-03

{ in their pockets except on the day, a short
while before the close of the year, when
| their fathers sent on checks to be applied
| to raising the debts hanging over the heads
| of their respective heirs. He could always
be seen in the company of half dozen or
more Immediately prior TO the time they
| blossomed out in new raiment. HIS race
| was always aglow with the radiance born
| of so much attentiOu-and that, too. from
| the class of men most talked about when
! ever two or three students gathered to-
gether for an evenings amusement ana
gossip in one of the faVorite resorts. Cor
| dons hands were constantly being rubbed
| together in SNUG sAtisfa elton. There were
those who had been unEind enough to say
that he actually conversed about his popu-
| larity whenever tle' opportunity onered
But these were the words of colegians who
had not profited by his rotes, and, natural
ly, would be expected TO be filed with
rancor and envy.
For three years it had been the habit
of the patrons of the Gordon clothing
emporium to settle with its accommodate
ing proprietor some time during the last
week of each college year. From the time
they bought their apparel until settlement
day never word was said about paying
up by the father-he was as popular, in his
way, as his son was in his.
The fourth year of his Sojourn within the
classic halls Gordon smilingly distributed
his notes with even more than his Gus
tomAry libeTality, the recipients taking
them to the father and entering into the
usual tacit arrangement with the accom-
ulodating clothier And il appeared to
close observers of other peoples garb that
Gordon the younger and Gordon the elder
WaXed more popular day by day.
Such was the status of affairs to within
a month Of the younger's graduation. Then
one morning he knocked at the door of the
room sheltering two of his particular
friends-two of the boys who had gone 20
him four years before to find out whether
the good news was true. Babe 10 come in
he seated, himself near the door upon the
III 10 rslrh Mod h
grinned, and began:
Il got letter from my father this
morning"
Three cheers and a tiger for the gov
ernor! shouted the spendthrifts. Here's
hoping he's well!''
Yes went on the son, 81 got a letter
from my rather this morning, and he has
asked me to do something for him It's
JUST little matter, and I've come to Won
TO help me do what my father wants"
Sure wen help you, old mani cried the
room mates, in hearty unison. ''We'n do
anytnlng for such popular fellows as you
ana your governor. Hurrah for the Cor
dons, father and sonr'
Thank YOU said Gordon, with Snug de-
hght- Now, I'll tell you what my father
would like me to do He saws that as this is
my last year in college, and as I'll have a lot
of graduating expenses, and as money is
pretty tight just now, did l think the boys
would mind calling in to see him this week
instead of waiting until the last week of
college?'
Gordon arose to take his leave. THAT
was ADJUST little matter he said; 'iand
| thought you would help me out If 1 told
you We've been chums SO long. you
know" And. grinning and rubbing his
hands softly together, ne was gone.
That day there was a mighty stirring
about of the spendthrifts among their more
conservative fellows. and the next there
was an exodus of them, to man, from
the college in the direction of the city in
which the Gordon clothing emporium lifted
up its golden-lettered signs.
en- the evening of the 1hrd day following
his calls on his friends Gordon was lost in
perplexity-no one had slapped him on the
back or called him jolly good fellow the
whole day long The rest of the year he
walked, wondering. about the campus
alone, and. for aught l know, he is still
trying to ferret out between sales in his
fathers store how it happened that hit
popularity at college Unexpectedly vanished
in the twinkling of an eye on the eve of hi
graoua ticn.