Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-09
CHAPTER vi.
Strange Shadows by Night.


Faculty meeting was over. and the fate
of Stetson as a student was settled. 1t
had been long and hot and trying. The
talk was mainly with the president, with
the usual takers Of the array, and with
Beerbohm especially. but. after the testi-
mony of the four student witnesses to the
mornings affair the vote was even over
whelmingly with Fame. Stetson was re
moved from the rolls and declared no
longer a member of the college. You may
expect trouble and lots of it, as the result
of this action" said the president, and he
was prophetic, though he never dreamed
of the nature of the consequences to come.
He went hurriedly away from the meeting
without a word to Fame.
Three elders of the faculty walked home
ward with the young officer In the gather
ing dusk He was silent, tired, worn. He
had won but he felt no sense of exulta-
ton. The battle was only just begun. They
left him, and Jane, with anxious eyes, met
him at the gate. He passed his arm around
her waist and drew her to his side as they
turned into the house. Mamma" said
she, has a headache and Is lying down:
Clare is out walking with her Honeyman.
Jane adored Thackeray and couldn't abide
the rector Now tell me how 1t went
1T went-hard,' he said, but, 1t went!
The fellow is dismissed, but the president
says his people will appeal to the trustees,
who are mainly politicians. who Will undo
what we have done and leave US worse OH
than we were. l fancy he knows them.
Now, If Col. West were only here!
If Col. West were only here! Jane was
reddening family at the thought. II Col.
West were only here-and knew all that
had transpired, knew of her going again 10
the matron and spying-yes spying on MISS
Hoyt what would Col. West be apt to
thnk-whatever he might not say! Con-
science was troubling Jane-conscience ana
other matters. The brother was not the
only one of the dear name they bore to
have his college troubles. That spltelui
paper had been seen by bright ana eager
eyes at the hail. and there had been more
than one spitefuI little scratch inflicted
during the day, spiteful In spite of the
simulated sympathy But what would Ro-
land think and say and do If he knew she
had gone to the matron that second time
and peered over the matron's shoulder at
the matron's list. Jane had very virtuous
intentions as regarded Ethel Hoyt and
meant not to misjudge her in any way, but,
the girl who won her Bayard brother, her
hero, her medal-of-ho honor soldier must De
a paragon in petticoats, and Jane had
something of Punchs famous Scotch
woman's faith in the frailty of all woman
kind-except herself.
She knew he wished to De alone, out sne
decided it were best he should open his
heart-and to her. Come, let us walk 1t
off. Ronald" she said. I'VE will trot down
to the post before tea. 1t will do you good,
and I-need it."
This evening of all Others moaned
Jane as she took her brothers arm and
Struggled to his side; then, as they en-
countered other couples-"co-eds' out for a
spoon and stroll-suddenly dropped 1t
and ran round behind him to the other
side. How thoughtless of me- she added.
II should be here 10 keep people from
brushing against YOU, and lightly she laid
her hand upon the injured limb, stu sup
IN, tic foct SI
happened that once or twice he had been
jostled, and the instant pang that followed
made him sick and faint They passed a
few members of the faculty, some going
downward for exercise, some merely cross
ing their path. Prof. Beerbohm, moving
slowly. in earnest talk with stranger
did not sec them. Something in the walk
and carriage of that stranger was strange
ly familiar to Fame. but the nearest lamp
post was forty rods away the light was
dim, and the two men turned into cross
street leading to the presidents almost as
brother and sister overlook them The
stranger was then gesticulating, but the
wind and the swirling, fitting leaves
drowned all sound of his voice. Yet Fame
shortened step and looked after them
down the cross street. and Jane asked why
He didn't know He thought 1t looked like
somebody he knew
''Stetson?" she asked instantly.
"Stetson." he answered slowly. "stetson
the elder; but-what should Prof Beerbohm
be doing with Stetson?"
There was dispatch on the mantelshelf
in Mrs. Jameson's little parlor. She ran
and fetched 1t, and her hat. and watched
him narrowly as he opened and read
MY luck" he said YEARLY as he crum-
pied the paper. 1.-The TABLETS were coming
this way. They've gone straight on to Chi
eago as no answer came to their letter so
I'll wire from town and explain"
Together they started. The late Novem-
Der evening was chill; the lanes were dark
the street lamps, just being lighted, threw
nue.. and a wind from nowhere In particular
was signing through the branches over
head and sitting the brown leaves down
across their pathway. 1t was a Friday
evening, too; ill-omened day in many his
tory and destined SO to be In theirs. They
walked for a while swiftly, but In silence
He said he would rather not talk just now.
They passed at intervals little knots Of
ward, silent almost as were they them
selves. They met Clara and her clerical
cavalier, who impressively lifted his hat
and trusted their spirits were brighter than
the day. to which neither could make fit
ting response. They went on presently,
after a perfunctory word. i've asked Mr.
Tremaine to tea with u.s. Clara called over
her shoulder, $50 don't be late"
They found nothing at the post They
went on to the Western Union office, where
he wrote message to Hazlett. Palmer
House Chicago, and, as they came forth
the clock in the city hall struck g. The
lively hour. Few people at the moment
were abroad. Many of those they passed
gazed curiously at them. but there was
nothing new In that. The uniform seemed
always to attract attention, and this even
ing, contrary to his usual custom. Fame
had not changed it for civilian dress before
coming into town. They passed the bril-
liantly lighted counting room of the Even
ing Star, and newsboys were running out
with fresh supplies, their voices shriiling
ON the gusty air. They passed another
brightly lighted portal, as they turned
again into College avenue-a popular resort
and bar, whose swinging doors parted VIC
lently at the instant, and three or four
loud-voiced citizens burst forth. Prominent
among them, loudest in voice. dress and
manner. flushed in face and brandishing
crushed copy of the paper in his fist, was
Stetson-Stetson, the senior whom they be-
lieved they had seen half mile up the
avenue not half an hour agone. 1t was pos
sble, of course. for him to have follow ed
closely after them and got there before
now, but they remembered hearing the
same voices when, ten minutes earlier
they walked briskly by the the same por-