NEW FRIENDS AND NEW EXPERIENCES
"One of you, I fancy, is Schenck, who is to room here with me. I haven't
the remotest idea which one of you is the man, but whichever it is I'm
glad to see him."
The young man laughed heartily as he spoke, and all three of the
freshmen laughed in response so contagious was his good nature. But his
appearance was even more striking than his words, for he stood before
them like a young giant. He was at least six feet and three inches in
height, his shoulders were so broad that they made the very doorway
appear narrow, and as he stood before them without his coat and with his
shirt sleeves rolled back over his arms, the great knots of muscles
could be plainly seen. Altogether he presented a most impressive sight,
and his young classmates were duly impressed by his huge size and
evident physical strength.
"I'm Schenck," said Peter John, after a momentary hesitation.
"Glad to see you," exclaimed the young giant, stepping forward and
grasping his room-mate's hand in such a manner as to make Peter John
wince. "You know what my name is, I suppose. I'm Hawley. 'Cupe' Hawley
they called me in school because I was such a dainty and delicate little
specimen." And again his laughter broke forth. "Friends of yours,
Schenck?" he added, as he glanced inquiringly at the two companions of
his room-mate.
Will Phelps and Foster Bennett were at once introduced, and warmly
greeted their classmate.
"Sorry I can't offer you any seats, fellows," said Hawley, still
laughing, though there was no apparent cause for his enjoyment. "Haven't
got everything unpacked yet; but if you'll just wait a minute we'll find
something for you to sit on."
"We'll help you," said Will Phelps, at once laying aside his coat.
In their room he and Foster had done but little of the labor required in
unpacking their belongings, for neither had been accustomed to such
tasks in the homes from which they had come. Their fathers both were
well-to-do and it had not occurred to either of the boys that the manual
labor in settling their room was something to be expected of them. For a
moment Foster glanced quizzically at his friend as if he was puzzled to
account for his unexpected proffer, but knowing Will's impulsiveness as
he did he was quick to respond, and in a brief time the few belongings
of Peter John and his room-mate were unpacked and the beds were set up,
the shades at the windows, and the few scanty belongings all arranged.
"I didn't bring a carpet. Did you?" inquired Hawley of Schenck.
"No," replied Peter John.
"We can get along without one. I haven't any money to spare, and carpets
are luxuries anyway. If we feel like it we can buy one afterwards.
They're dangerous things though," and Hawley laughed as he spoke. "My
doctor says they're the worst sources of contagion in the world, and
whatever else I do I must be careful of my health." Again the laugh of
the young giant rang out, and in its contagion all three of his
classmates joined.
And yet as Will Phelps glanced about the room its appearance was
pitifully bare. The furniture was of the plainest, the walls were bare
of pictures, there were none of the numerous pillows and other tokens of
the warm regard of friends that had accompanied himself and his
room-mate into the new life upon which they had entered. Apparently,
however, Hawley was as delighted over his surroundings as he and Foster
over theirs, perhaps even more, and Will was thoughtful for a moment as
he silently watched his newly made friend.
"How did you happen to come to Winthrop?" he inquired at last when the
task of settling the room was measurably complete and all four had
seated themselves on the rude wooden chairs which made up most of the
furnishings of the room.
"I didn't 'happen' to come." Somehow everything appeared to be a source
of enjoyment to Hawley, and questions or remarks were alike greeted with
a laugh.
"What made you, then?"
"Isn't Winthrop the best college in the United States?" demanded Hawley.
"Yes, or at least that's what my father thinks. He graduated here and it
may be that his opinion is a little prejudiced. Is that why you came?"
"Partly." Again Hawley laughed and closed one eye as he spoke.
"I can give a guess what the other reason was," said Foster.
"What was it?"
"Football."
Hawley laughed loudly this time as he replied, "You're 'a very Daniel
come to judgment.' That's from the 'Merchant of Venice,' isn't it? Well,
if it is, it's about all I remember of my English course. Well, I'll be
honest with you. I did see Baker this summer, and he set before me the
advantages of coming to Winthrop in such a way that I couldn't very well
say no. And I didn't, so here I am."
"Did he offer to pay you?" demanded Peter John.
"Did he offer _what?_" demanded Hawley.
Somewhat abashed Peter John did not repeat his question, and his
room-mate at once turned the conversation into other lines. "We had a
pretty good football team in the academy where I fitted for college, and
there were several colleges, or at least the football men of the
college, who seemed to be quite willing that some of our fellows should
go to them. We had a half-back who was a dandy! His name was Patrick
O'Hara, and he passed better in football than he did in any other
subject in the course." And Hawley stopped to laugh at the recollection
of his former fellow-student. "Pat wasn't very much of a hand to study,
and when one of the men from White College suggested to him that he
should come there, why Pat was delighted. 'What studies will you take?'
asked the fellow, for you see he knew without being told that Pat
wouldn't be valedictorian of his class whatever other honor he might
take, and he was trying to make it easy for him. 'Well,' said Pat,
''bedad, an' if it's all th' same t' yez, I'm thinkin' I'll just be
afther takin' a bit o' the spellin' an' perhaps a bit o' figurin'. How
do thot be afther suitin' yez'?"
All the boys joined in the laugh with which Hawley related the story,
and Will Phelps said, "Where did Pat go?"
"Well," said Hawley slowly, "he has gone to White College."
"Do you mean to say he has _entered_ there?" demanded Will.
"That's what they tell me, though I've a notion he'll come out the same
door he went in, and he won't tarry long either. Probably soon after the
season ends."
"But we play White College. It's one of our nearest rivals," suggested
Will. "But then," he added, "that's just like them. They never do a
thing on the square anyway!"
Hawley pursed his lips as if he was about to whistle, but he did not
speak though his eyes twinkled with merriment as if Will's statement
somehow was hugely enjoyed by him. Foster Bennett noticing the
expression on Hawley's face, also laughed, but he did not reply to his
room-mate's very positive declaration. There were some things which Will
could not understand, for with his intense and impulsive disposition the
one thing which impressed him at the time was capable of only one
interpretation. His confidence in Winthrop and his dislike of its rival
college were therefore only what were to be expected of his friend.
"Obliged to you, fellows," said Hawley, as Will Phelps and Foster
Bennett rose to depart. "Come in and see us often."
"You'll see enough of us from now on," responded Will as he and his
room-mate departed.
As the two passed out into the street and returned to their own room
Foster said, "It's pretty bare there in Leland, isn't it, Will?"
"Yes. They both seem to be happy though."
"Not much like our room."
"No. But then, Foster, you see they don't know the difference."
Foster smiled but made no response, and Will continued. "You see
everything in this world is relative. A man doesn't miss what he never
had, does he?"
"Perhaps not."
"Now look here, Foster. Do you think a blind man suffers because he
can't see? I mean a man who was born blind, of course."
"What then?"
"Why, the man I'm sorry for is the one that could see once and has lost
his sight. He knows, let me tell you, what he's lost. But the other man
doesn't appreciate it. He never could see, so he couldn't lose his
sight, could he? Tell me that."
"So you wouldn't do anything to help him?"
"I didn't say that. I didn't say that at all. All I say is that the
fellow I'm sorry for is the one who has had and lost, not the one who
never had. Now look at Peter John, and Hawley. Their room isn't so good
as ours, but it probably is just as good as they expected, or have been
used to, so they don't suffer any."
"And if you and I had to put up with their room--"
"Why, we'd feel it."
"It's a mighty comfortable way of looking at things, that's all I have
to say."
"But it's the true way," said Will glibly. "There's one thing I'm mighty
glad of for Peter John's sake."
"What is it?"
"That he rooms with Hawley. I don't believe the sophs will bother him
very much."
"Not when Hawley's on hand."
"You think they will when he's not?"
"Yes, sir, I do. Peter John just invites them. It stands right out on
his face."
"Sort of a standing invitation, so to speak?" laughed Will Phelps.
"Well, for my part, I hope he won't be too fresh. There's everything in
that, you know."
"And therefore we'll go scot free?"
"Well, Hawley is a great fellow anyway; and I'm glad he's in our class."
"He's big, anyway."
"That's what I said."
"No you didn't, you said great."
"Same thing."
"Not much. A man can be big without being great, can't he? Caesar and
Napoleon were not big men, but I think you'd sum up that they were
great."
"Great butchers, if that's what you mean. You always spin it out too
fine for me, Foster."
Foster Bennett laughed and both boys entered their room to prepare for
dinner. They still were taking their meals at the hotel, as their
boarding-place had not been selected. In the thoughts of both it was a
selection of too much importance to be made hastily, and they were
therefore waiting until they became more familiar with the details of
their new life.
It was all novel and interesting, and on the following day the first
class meeting was held. A dignified junior presided at the meeting, and
after explaining what was expected and that the class officers to be
selected were to serve only for a month, when it was thought that the
members of the class would have become sufficiently acquainted with one
another to enable them to act with becoming wisdom, he called for
nominations for class president.
Peter John Schenck immediately arose and said, "I nominate Hawley."
The nomination was seconded, and there were calls for Hawley to step to
the platform and stand where all the class could see him. The young
giant obediently advanced and taking his place beside Spencer, who also
was nominated for the office, awaited the verdict. There were cheers
when it was announced that Hawley had won, and the junior then called
for nominations for secretary and treasurer.
Again Peter John arose to the occasion and said, "I nominate Phelps."
Will's face flushed scarlet at the unexpected words but his room-mate
at once had seconded the nomination, and he was compelled to advance to
the platform and stand beside Farmer and McVey, whose names were also
presented for the same office. There was some confusion for a time, but
quiet was restored when the result of the ballot was announced.