Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-08-19


For several weeks following his
admission to the schools of engineer
ing, after his bout with with the en-
trance examiners. John Breen moved
in a strange, imponderable world.
Then came the great day of the
flag rush between the freshmen and
sophomore and Breen's great strength
and superb physique, made him the
hero of the school. John caught a
glimpse of Gilbert Van Horn waving
to him. He stood beside the golden
statue. "Boys, let me down" john
kicked free and ran across to Van
Horn. A great many people stood
about. John suddenly realized he
was o on the gym floor at Green
bough, that his attire was not only
scanty, but scandalous; he was prac-
tically in rags. One hoe had dis
appeared in the battle, he had not
noticed it until his feet touched the
stone steps.
Josephine, this is John Breen.
John, my ward, Josephine"
John stood speeches.. He held
the hand extended to him. Blue eyes,
laughing eyes, smiled at his pretlca-
ment. Miss Lambert was completely
aware of the striking situation as she
felt the tense grip of the hero of a
college moment. Then freshmen
rushed up to John and hoisted him
clear of his embarrassment. He turn-
ed and waved at Josephine and Van
Horn. They waved at him in re-
turn. The crowd was scattering as
Gilbert Van Horn and his ward walk
ed down the broad steps to the curb.
Josephine looked at her white glove,
soiled by the fingers Of John Breen.
They were silent on the ride home;
Gilbert Van Horn looked out of the
window of the car. Josephine still
felt the tingling grip of the young
man in rags. His smile, his tousled
yellow hair and white teeth, and his
confusion, and his superb arms and
body, seemed to fit across her men,
DRY, a vivid picture. He was no at
all like the John Breen she had ex-
pected to see.
That night Gilbert. Van Horn sat
in the library until long after mid
night. Josephine had played for him
that evening, she too was in a reflec-
tive mood, a romatic girl, a young
woman of eighteen. He smoked and
dreamed and planned. Gilbert Van
Horn was determined upon a course
of action in which every atom of
cleverness he possessed would be re-
quired. At last he had achieved an
absorbing occupation.
Gilbert Van Horn, wiser than
most in some matters, left John very
much to himself, except at holiday
periods when the two friends met at
Greenbough. As for his ward, he ar
ranged things SC she saw but little of
John Breen. The boy was in train
ing, SO Van Horn argued, and to
break training was nothing short of
bad sportsmanship. Long trips, visits
to Newport, the social activities of a
select few in the great city-these oc-
cupied Josephine, and at times she
pleased herself by a long look at the
full length photograph of Fighting
Breen, in ring toys, taken just before
his battle with the Quaker. This
stood on the dresser I'M Van Horns
room. But the John Breen of the
cold eyes, looking straight ahead, his
pompadour as stiff as a shoe brush,
was of the past.
'Breen, you're looking stale" Har-
board of the graduate schools drop
ped into the room of the studio. 1t
was close to midnight and John bent
over his work table, his tired eyes
scanning a maze of formulae in the
o~retical mechanics. What are you
digging att" 49,
"Usual stuff" John took off his
eye shade, evidently with relief. He
had plunged into the work Of the
schools with determined energy. Feel
ing himself grow stale, he pushed on
ward with the utmost vigor, actual
ly working himself to destruction.
"I'd like to tell you something"
Harboard drew a battered briar from
his pocket and tamped down a half
smoked charge of tobacco. He lit
this and pulled ~contentedly. -Four
years" Harboard rolled the words
over his tongue leading TOP"
1.-THE degree of civil engineering"
John sensed a question and supplied
an answer.
Leading to a complete Justification
of the mind" Harboard continued,
ignoring Johns words. 'I've watched
you for some time, Breen," especially
this last year. Pm studying or am
trying to study the art of teaching. I
49, ~ Ill z.<L.~- III l