Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-02-02

AnlOuSn II IN IN
played the dickens" one remarked.
Il wonder if it could have been sui
cide?"
Hope he wouldn't be such a fool"
said the other, "and what would he do
it for? He was the luckiest fellow"
The refectory bell began ringing and
they moved off. Warwick sat up,
closed his eyes and sank back, then,
rallying all his forces, struggled to
his feet and leaned against the win
dow frame. His pulses were beating
deafeningly and his feet tingled as If
full of needles. He would have fallen
had he not caught hold Of the window
sill.
Evans and Martin, two members of
the football team, looked in.
Somebody started a cock and bull
story about this place being haunted"
Evans said, leaning forward to get a
better view. AS he did so, he laid his
hand upon Warwick's and reeled back,
his face livid. Martin began pounding
him on the back; two or three passers,
running up, laid him on the grass and
tore open his collar; Others, swelling
the crowd, stood on tiptoe to catch
sight of him, and hazarded the infor-
nation that he was Sin q fit from over
training" Presently he sat up, made
some explanations to the inner circle,
and, having been helped to his feet,
| went off in a shame-faced way with
the crowd.
Sick in body and mind, Warwick
crawled feebly through the window
and followed them. Hoping for some
opportunity of explanation, he went to
chapel, where DR.. Austin, the presi-
dent, motioning toward the place
where Warwick was sitting, spoke
touchingly of that vacant CHAIR" then
announced the suspension of all col
lege work for the remainder Of the
week, and the selection of Friday for
the memorial services.
On the appointed day, the Presbyte-
rian church, the largest building in
town, was packed to suffocation. War
wick had taken the %precaution Of going
early and sitting on the edge of the
| platform where he was sure no one
would jostle against him. At half past
three the faculty marched slowly in
to the strains of Chopin's funeral
march, and seated themselves on the
platform; after them came the trus-
tees, then the seniors in cap and gown.
followed by the lower classmen, then
the mayor and city council, and, final
ly, a great wave of %femininity, in di-
aphanous lawns and with hats like
parterre of flowers. The aisles were
flied with chairs until there was nc
more standing room, and through the
open windows he could see a Grove
of people who could not get in. He
scanned the sea of faces in search Of
one he hoped was there, and, by fol.
lowing the ~glances of Amber and g
dozen others, he finally discovered it In
the front row of the gallery. White as
her dress, and with dark shadows I'm.
der her blue eyes, Isabel famed her.
self and listened absently to the whis.
pered remarks of her neighbors.
Suddenly Warwick became conscious
that the preliminary exercises were
over, and that DR.. Austin was speak
ing. People were shedding tears as he
told of the struggles of the young mar
to get through college, of his wonder
full success in his chosen profession
of his enthusiasm at the discovery O.
radium, and of his conviction that ON
might go a step farther and rende.
Opaque bodies perfectly transparent
if only one could find the right com
binations.
Warwick looked up at Isabel. Sh'
was leaning forward now, her fact
flushed, her lips quivering as sht
breathlessly followed the speaker
Suddenly she made a wild gesture, a!
if an overwhelming thought hat
struck her, and, covering her face wit,
her hands, she leaned back, apparent
ly weeping.
AS he stood on a bench, waiting fol
the audience to pass, he was deaf tt
the peoples murmured comments OF
Isabel's behavior, as well as to thu
~oft-repeated wonder as to what coul(
have become of his body. He was
conscious of only two things-she I'M
derstood what had befallen him ant
she cared.
The long summer vacation was over