The diamond drill., 1922-03-03


deep. along the walls OF the room,
leaving a clear oblong OF green car
pet In the center. where were two
small desks. twenty feet apart. the
rostrums OF the debaters. Upon
platform at the head OF the room sat
dreadful seniors. the officers OF the
society. and. upon benches near the
platform. the debaters OF the evening
we're aligned. one of the fraternal
seniors sat with syelterlng Ramsey:
and the latter. as his time relentlessly
came nearer, made a last miserable
squirm.
"Look here. Brother Colburn. l got
10 get out o. here"
"No. you don't. young fellow
"Yes. do" Ramsey whispered. pas
sionately. Honest, do. Honest,
Brother Colburn, got to get a drink
OF water. got to-" ..
mo. You can't"
Honest. Colburn. l got--">
Hush
Ramsey cast his dllatIng eyes along
the rows or faces Most OF them were
but as blurs. swimming. yet he was
aware (he thought) OF a formidable
and horrible impasslve scrutiny OF
himself, a glare seeming to pierce
through him TO the back OF the belt
round his waist. 80 that he began to
have fearful doubts about that belt,
about every fastening and adjustment
OF his garments. about the expression
OF his countenance. and many other
things Jumbllng together In his con-
sclousness. Over and over he whis-
pered gasplngly To himself the open
Ing words OF the sentence with which
a senior had advised him TO begin his
argument. And as the moment OF su-
preme agony drew close, this whisper
ing became continuous: I'm making
my frst APPEARANCE before this honor
BILE membership feel constrained TO
say In making my FIRST appearance be-
fore this honor'ble membership feel
constrained 10 say In making my first
appearance before this honor'ble mem
-"
IL had come The chairman
announced the subject OF the fourth
freshman twelve minute debate; and
Dora Yocum. hitherto unperceIved by
Ramsey. rose and went forward TO one
Of the small desks In the open space,
where she stood composedly, n slim,
pretty figure In white. Members In
Ramseys neighborhood were aware of
brief and hushed commotion. and a
up there !" And the blanched Ramsey
came forth and placed himself at the
other desk.
He stood before the silent ponu.
lace OF that morgue. and IL seemed to
him that his features had forgotten
that he was supposed 10 be their own
er and In control OF them; he felt that
they were slipping all over his face,
regardless OF his wishes. His head
as whole. was subject TO an agita-
tion not before known by him; II de-
sired to move rustily In eccentric ways
Of its own deviSIng his legs alternate
~ llmbered and Strengthened under no
direction but their own and his hands
clutched each other fercely behind his
back he was not one cohesive person,
evidently, but an assembled collection
OF parts which had relapsed each into
its own individuality. In spite OF them,
he somehow contrived the semblance
OF bow toward the chairman and the
semblance of another toward Dora. of
whom he was but hazily conscious.
Then he opened his mouth and not
knowing how he had started his voice
going heard IL ~ IL from a distance.
"In making my first appearance be-
fore this honor'hle membership l feel
restrained to say" He stopped
short. and thenceforward shook visit
bly,. After long pause. he managed
To repeat his opening, stopped again
swallowed many times. produced
handkerchief and wiped his face. an
act Of necessity--then had an insplra-
tiOn.
THE subject assigned TO me- he
said. lis resolved that Germany is
mor'ly and legally justified In BEL
gisns-Belglumsl This subject was
assigned To me TO he the subject Of
this debate" He interrupted himself
To gasp pltecusly. found breathing diff
ncult, hut faltered ON again: "This
subject is the subject. II is the sub.
ject that was assigned 70 me on
postal card Then. for a moment or
So. he had a miraculous squirt OF conf
dence. and continued. rather rapidly:
II feel constrained 10 say that the
country Of Belgian-Belgium. l mean
this country has been constrained by
the--Inyaded / mesn--invaded by the
Imperial German Umpire and my sub
ject In this debate is whether II ought
Ia or not. my being the informative.
affirmative mean--that l got 10 prove
that Germany Is mor'ly and legally
justified. | wish 10 state that"
He paused again, lengthlly, then
struggled on. II have been requested