GOOD 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, how I 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 be publicly 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
was dark 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, Howard rose 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 I stood 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?”