CHAPTER XXXIGOOD NEWS
The next week Ray was passing through his examinations, and I saw little of him. For several successive days he was even unable to be at the ball ground for our regular practice. By Friday, however, he had passed the last examination, and was free until commencement time. I was in a position to envy him this leisure, for my trial was just about to begin. The severest and most disagreeable tasks, however, have an end; and so, after a week’s hard driving with pen and paper in the large examination hall, I too found freedom. I was confident that I had done well, and felt reason to believe that I had gained a higher rank in my class than the year previous.
Ray, though hoping for the best, could not be sure of the results of his examination, for the competition for rank in his class was very sharp, and he was working against students of great ability. The ten days that followed his examinations formed, therefore, a period of much suspense and anxiety to him. My work was finished on Friday, a little more than a week before Commencement; and that evening I determined to call upon Professor Fuller to learn, if possible, howI had succeeded in his department. Professor Fuller often gave advance information of this kind concerning his own branch of work; and on this occasion, showed no hesitation in telling me that I had secured a grade from him several points higher than ever before. Highly pleased at this information, I was on the point of leaving the professor’s house when I heard some one say,
“Good evening, Mr. Elder.”
Turning half around, I saw Miss Nettie Fuller standing at the other end of the piazza. I joined her at once.
“I have been waiting for you to come out, Mr. Elder,” she said; “for I have information that I know will interest—will interest some of your friends.” She hesitated on the word “some.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“There was a faculty meeting this afternoon, and the honormen were read off,” she said in a low tone of voice.
“Yes; and Ray Wendell?” I exclaimed eagerly. “How does he stand?”
“Mr. Wendell was chosen valedictorian. He was fourth in his class,” she answered quietly, but with an air of genuine pleasure in imparting such welcome information.
I could have jumped for joy.
“Is it really true?” I exclaimed. “Really settled beyond doubt?”
“Yes, my father told me this afternoon. It is to bepublicly announced to-morrow. Mr. Wendell was here last evening, and I could see that he was worrying over the matter, so I thought I would give you an opportunity to relieve his anxiety. There is no harm in his learning the news several hours in advance, and it might save him considerable suspense.”
“Indeed it will,” I answered warmly. “I will take the good news to him at once, for I know it will lift a great load off his mind. It is very kind of you to let him know of it so soon.”
“I hardly know whether I ought to have spoken or not,” she said, with a smile, “but when I saw you coming in, I couldn’t resist the opportunity of telling such agreeable news. Isn’t Mr. Howard also a friend of yours?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“Well, I don’t remember all the honormen, for the names were unfamiliar to me, but I do recollect my father saying that Mr. Howard was the ninth man in his class.”
“Howard!” I exclaimed in surprise. “Is he an honorman? I wouldn’t have thought it. He always held a respectable position in his class, but I would never have picked him out for an honorman.”
“My father said that Mr. Howard has improved wonderfully of late,” replied Miss Nettie.
“Yes, he must have,” I answered; “and I’m very glad to hear that he has done so well. May I tell him the news, too?”
“Yes,” she said hesitatingly, “but no one else please.I see no harm in letting them know, for father himself would have told them had he seen them this evening; but I suppose it is not my place to give the information.”
“It will be all the more appreciated,” I responded as I took my leave, “and I promise that no one but Ray and Howard shall know of it to-night.”
I lost no time in returning to the college to find Ray Wendell. From the campus I could see that his room was lighted up; so, hurrying up the stairs, I threw open his door without knocking, and had the news upon my tongue’s end when I discovered that Ray was not alone. Two of his classmates were with him; so, checking myself in time, I sat down quietly near Ray, and when the opportunity afforded itself I said in a low tone of voice,
“Come in the other room a moment. I have some good news for you.”
Ray looked at me quickly an instant, and then, excusing himself, rose and followed me. His feelings may be imagined when, without a word of preparation, I suddenly popped the news upon him.
For several seconds he could say nothing. He seemed to be almost afraid to believe it. “Harry, are you sure—there can be no mistake?” he asked in a whisper, his voice trembling with excitement.
I reassured him by telling him the source from which I had obtained the information. I could only guess at the effect of my words, for the room wasdark and I could not see his face. He clasped my hand and pressed it warmly.
“Thank you a thousand times for telling me, Harry,” he said fervently.
“Don’t thank me—thank Miss Nettie,” I answered with a laugh.
Ray said nothing, but his face, as we rejoined the others, betrayed his struggle with his feelings, and it was some time before his voice resumed its customary calmness of tone.
A number of visitors dropped in during the evening, and by nine o’clock the room was well filled with students, and echoing with the sounds of mingled conversation and laughter. In this gay group Ray’s exceptional buoyancy of spirits passed unnoticed, and only I knew that his high color and sparkling eyes spoke of a happiness too complete for words.
Among the last of these visitors Len Howard came in. I was somewhat surprised at this, for he was seldom to be seen at Ray’s rooms; but a short time sufficed to convince me that he had some particular purpose in coming.
He took little share in the conversation, sitting quietly on the sofa—on the same sofa and in the very spot where he had made his terrible confession to us several weeks before. As the visitors one after another departed Howard still sat there, seemingly determined to be the last to go. By eleven o’clock all had left the room except Howard, Ray, and myself. Almost before the door had closed upon the last visitor, Howardrose up, and taking a thick envelope from his pocket placed it upon the table in front of Ray.
“There, Ray,” he said in accents of genuine satisfaction, “I came in to give you that.”
Ray opened the envelope in wonder. A thick roll of bills fell out.
“Why, Howard,” he exclaimed, “what does all this money mean?”
“It means that I am determined you shall be repaid every cent I owe you as fast as I can earn it,” answered Howard. “There is my first payment, four hundred dollars, and I will pay you the rest as soon as possible. I haven’t had an easy moment until now——”
“But, Howard,” burst out Ray, “I didn’t intend you to worry so about it. I meant you to take your time—why, how on earth did you raise all this money?—excuse my question, but you know you said you were in straitened circumstances.”
“I understand you,” answered Howard quietly, “but it is all right. I have earned it. I went to Professor Fuller for advice, and he suggested my tutoring some of the under classmen, and when I accepted the idea, he and Mr. Dykes secured me several pupils in the Sophomore and Freshman classes—fellows who were behind in their studies and needed coaching.”
“Howard, you are doing splendidly,” said Ray warmly. “I understand your feelings, and I admire you for them. They are of the right sort.”
“Then you are satisfied with your investment?” said Howard, with a slight smile.
“Indeed I am,” said Ray. “I knew it was in you, and am delighted to see you doing so well.”
“So am I, Howard,” I added, “and I have some good news for you.”
He looked at me inquiringly.
“The faculty met to-day, and the honormen were announced,” I continued.
“Yes, yes, and who were they?” he asked, leaning forward eagerly, and breathing rapidly.
“It is all right,” I said, seeking to relieve his anxiety at once; “you stand ninth in the class, and have an honorary oration.”
Howard’s face flushed, his head dropped, and he leaned heavily for a few moments against the mantlepiece.
“Why, Howard!” exclaimed Ray. “Is this true? I congratulate you, my dear fellow, with all my heart.”
“It is true, Howard,” I continued, “for I got the information through Professor Fuller.”
There was silence for a second, and then when Howard raised his face, I could see that his eyes were moist.
“Oh, if you only knew how hard I worked for an oration!” he exclaimed, as if apologizing for his manner. “When Ray gave me a lift and I determined to turn over a new leaf, I made up my mind for one thing, that I would do the best I could in the little time that was left me in college. In Freshman year Istood well up in my class, and, even since then, found no difficulty in holding a fair rank, but I was conscious of having wasted many opportunities, and having neglected my studies. I thought of my father, who knows nothing of my experience—who has all along thought that I was a model son, and has denied himself and saved at every point to secure me an education, and supply me with the money which I squandered so recklessly. I had deceived him long enough, so I determined that I would go in and work hard to secure a position of honor, in order that it might serve as some return for all that he had done for me. I was severely handicapped, but I worked incessantly, and—well—now it is all right.” Howard ended abruptly, his voice trembling with emotion.
“Howard, you ought certainly to feel proud, for you have accomplished wonders,” said Ray. “You have gained twelve or more positions in one term. You deserve more credit than any man on the honor list.”
“I don’t think so much of myself,” said Howard, “for I suppose that the knowledge I have crammed into my head so rapidly will, for the most part, slip away after a few months; but it was for the old gentleman I worked chiefly—you see I am paying back my debts in every way.”
“I suppose your father will come on to Commencement,” I said.
“Yes, indeed. He wouldn’t miss it for the world;and I know how proud and happy he will be. I must write him a letter to-night, and tell him all about it,” said Howard, moving toward the door.
“And are you sure that this does not inconvenience you?” said Ray, fingering the bills.
“Not in the least,” answered Howard, as he took his leave. “It is all extra money, outside of my expenses, and it makes me easier to give it to you.”
“There!” cried Ray, with a smile, as the door closed upon Howard. “Didn’t I tell you he would keep his promise?”