The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-27
CHAPTER =.
The CronieS.

picturesque, Unique,
1.-The Backs"-the river gardens at
the backs of their colleges-are to
Cambridge men.
At the open window above the col
lege archway a middle-aged man, his
hair just tinged with gray, but with
intellectual features that still retain
traces of physical beauty, is regard
ing this fair landscape with feelings
that are unshared by those he looks
upon, and whose presence e%nlivens
it. His thoughts are grave, though
they are gladdened by its beauty.
The grass is as green as when he trod
it thirty years ago, and the fragrance
of the lime-walk has lost none OF its
sweetness, yet how much is gone that
was there before! All is crowded
with life, yet how great is that gap
which death and changes have made.
A light hand. though it belongs to
a man six feet high, is laid upon the
dreamer's shoulder, and he looks up
in the face of an old college friend.
1t is MAYORS, the tutor, with whom
he had been at college, and who had
remained at work there while he
himself had taken a college living,
giving it up through i'll health, been
made a canon Of a neighboring ca
thedral, and finally had come back
to Cambridge to reside"
"Why, Aldred, you are musing!'
exclaimed the newcomer, in banter
ing, but not unmusical tones. Are
you regretting that you have not once
more an undergraduates gown upon
you shoulders? Such thoughts
never come into my head, because,
l suppose, 1 have other things to do.
The hand of least employment has
the daintier sense. A thousand par
dons-I forgot the concordance"
II was thinking of my boy" said
the canon, gently.
"To be sure" returned the other,
his voice changing at once to n of
sympathy. He would be just the
age for coming up, and you would
like to have him here, Of course.
Well, a soldier is better than many
other of the professions. You would
MT make him a sailor, I suppose,
serving in a gunboat in the tropics,
without half the necessary amount of
cubic feet of air to breathe in; mol
yet a young gentleman at large,
which means, in the END, the Insol-
vent Court. And as to India, just
think how your Indian enjoys get
ting home!"
"Ah! if he eve does" returned
the canon, mournfully.
why shouldn't he? What's to
prevent him? He is not the boy to
take a brandy pawnee. A few years
"Ten, at least. Mavors," put in the
other m~ournfully; land the lads am
bilious; if there's an opening he will
make for it."
my work." Canon Aldred was
wont to observe in his pleasant way,
like topmost Gargarus, takes the
morning." but, as Mr.. MAYORS had
limited, it was not a eve descrip-
tion Of labor. and could be done at
any time. He was just now engaged
upon a new edition of his ~favorite
poet, Milton, including a concord
ance; and, like all men who have
little to do, thought it a matter not
IF ,,oct n, portonoo h,,t of nrpcc.
ing necessity. 1t did not strike him
that what people had done without
for a few centuries, such as a con-
cordance OF Milton, they could very
well wait for a little longer, and in
order to expedite matters he en-
ployed an assistant.
There is a modest knock at the
inner door (for the outer, of course,
was OPEN, and his own gentle voice
replied, Come in" The new conner
was a young mar of twenty-five or
so. He was tall and thin-of a lean
ness, indeed, that almost approached
emaciation. He had dark hair, the
length and straightness of which
made him appear even more lantern
jawed than he really was. His face,
so far from having the hue of youth,
though it was not unhealthy looking,
was destitute Of color. His teeth,
however, were good, and his black
eyes, though somewhat downcast,
very clear and bright.
Il fear I am rather late, canon"
he said, in a voice as soft as a wo-
mans, and with a deep respect that
had yet no touch Of sycophancy, "but
I had not kept my chapels, and-'
Don't mention it, my dear lad"
put in the other, with a friendly
smile. Have you done the BIS YETI"
Yes, sir" The young nan drew
from under his gown some MSS. and
put them into the others hand.
That's well, my lad; how neatly
you do everything! How l envy you
that gift of dizziness! You will be
Senior Wrangler, my good fellow, as
sure as your names Adair."
1T is a pleasure to hear you say
so, sir" he replied, with a quick
flush; "but if my success depends IN
my name being Adair I shall not be a
wrangler at all. Ny name is-or was
Burke"
Then why did you change it?"
inquired the canon, with a mild sur
prise. He knew it was not the usual
inheritance-for Adair
was a Sizar, and far from rich.
"To please a patron, Sir Charles
Adair."
The bitterness of the young mans
tone was excessive; if you could have
seen his eyes, which, however, were
bent down, you would have read in