Now it happened that at the auspicious moment when Dink Stover led the
apparently scantily-clothed Finnegan and the procession of immodest
banners around to the Esplanade of the Upper, the Doctor suddenly
appeared through the shrubbery that screens Foundation House from the
rest of the campus, with a party of ladies, relatives, as it
unfortunately happened, of one of the trustees of the school.
One glance of horror and indignation was sufficient for him to wave
back the more modest sex and to advance on the astounding procession
with fury and determination.
Before Jove's awful look the spirit of '76 vanished. There was a cry
of warning and the hosts hesitated, shivered and scampered for
shelter.
Now, at any other time the Doctor--who suffered, too, from the common
blight--would have secretly if not openly enjoyed the joke; but at
that moment the circumstances were admittedly trying. Besides, there
was the delicate explanation to be offered to the ladies, who were
relatives of one of the influential members of the board of trustees
of the Lawrenceville School, John C. Green Foundation. As a
consequence, in a towering rage, he summoned the ringleaders, chief
among whom he had recognized Dink Stover and, corraling them in his
study that night, exposed to them the enormity of their offense
against the sex of their mothers and sisters, common decency, morals
and morality, the ideals of the school, and the hope that the Nation
had a right to place in a body of young men nurtured in such homes and
educated at such an institution.
The ringleaders, being veterans, viewed the speech from the point of
view of artists, and were unanimous in their appreciation. The episode
had for Stover, however, unfortunate complications. With the closing
of the scholastic season came the elections in the Houses. The Kennedy
House, unanimously and with much enthusiasm, chose the Honorable
Honest John Stover to succeed the Honorable King Lentz as
administrator and benevolent despot for the ensuing year.
This election, coming as it did as a complete surprise to Stover, was
naturally a source of deep gratification. His enjoyment, however, was
rudely shocked when, the next morning after chapel, the Doctor stopped
him and said:
"Stover, I am considerably surprised at the choice of the Kennedy
House and I am not at all sure that I shall ratify it. Nothing in your
career has indicated to me your fitness for such a place of
responsibility. I shall have a further talk with Mr. Hopkins and let
him know my decision."
The Roman! Of course it was The Roman! Of course he had been raging at
the thought of his elevation to the presidency! Dink, forgetting the
hundred and one times he had met the Faculty in the Monday afternoon
deliberations, rushed out to spread the news of The Roman's vindictive
persecution. Every one was indignant, outraged at this crowning insult
to a free electorate. The whole House would protest _en masse_ if the
despot's veto was exercised.
At the hour of these angry threats The Roman, persecutor of Dink, was
actually saying to the tyrant:
"Doctor, I think it would be the best thing--the very best. It will
bring out the manliness, the serious earnestness that is in the boy."
"What, you say that!" said the Doctor, a little impatiently, for it
was only the morrow of the parade. "I should think your patience would
be exhausted. The scamp has been in more mischief than any other boy
in the school. He's incorrigibly wild!"
"No--no. I shouldn't say that. Very high spirited--excess of
energy--too much imagination--that's all. There's nothing vicious
about the boy."
"But as president, Hopkins, not as president!"
"No one better," said The Roman firmly. "The boy is bound to lead. I
know what's in him--he will rise to his responsibility. Doctor, you
will see. I have never lost confidence in him."
The Doctor, unconvinced, debated at length before acceding. When he
finally gave his ratification he added with a smile:
"Well, Hopkins, I do this on your judgment. You may be right, we shall
see. By the way, Stover must have led you quite a dance over in the
Kennedy. What is it you like in him?"
The Roman reflected and then, his eye twitching reminiscently:
"Fearlessness," he said, "and--and a diabolical imagination."
When The Roman returned to the Kennedy he summoned Stover to his
study. He knew that Dink misunderstood his attitude and he would have
liked to enlighten him. Unfortunately, complete confidence in such
cases is sometimes as embarrassing as the relations between father and
son. The Roman, pondering, twisted a paper-cutter and frowned in front
of him.
"Stover," he said at last. "I have talked with the Doctor. He has seen
best to approve of your election."
Dink, of course, perceiving the hesitation, went out gleefully,
persuaded that the decision was gall and wormwood to his inveterate
foe.
The last day of school ended. He drove to Trenton in a buggy with
Tough McCarty as befitted his new dignity. He passed the Green House
with a strange thrill. The humiliation of a year before had well been
atoned, and yet the associations somehow still had power to rise up
and wound him.
"Lord, you've changed!" said Tough, following his thoughts.
"Improved!" said Dink grimly.
"I was an infernal nuisance myself when I landed," said Tough,
President of the Woodhull, evasively. "I say, Dink, next year we'll be
licking the cubs into shape ourselves."
"That's so," said Stover. "Well, by this time next year I probably
won't be so popular."
"Why not?"
"I'm going to put an end to a lot of nonsense," said Dink solemnly.
"I'm going to see that my kids walk a chalk-line."
"So am I," said McCarty, with equal paternity. "What a shame we can't
room together, old boy!"
"That'll come in the Upper, and afterward!"
They drove sedately, amid the whirling masses of the school that went
hilariously past them. They were no longer of the irresponsible; the
cares of the state were descending on their shoulders and a certain
respect was necessary:
"Good-by, old Sockbuts," said Tough, departing toward New York.
"Good-by, old geezer!"
"Au revoir."
"Mind now--fifteenth of July and you come for one month."
"You bet I will!"
"Take care of yourself!"
"I say, Tough," said Dink, with his heart in his mouth. McCarty,
laden with valises, stopped:
"What is it?"
"Remember me to your mother, will you?"
"Oh, sure."
"And--and to all the rest of the family!" said Dink, who thereupon
bolted, panic-stricken.