Whispering Tongues

red more from their estrangement, and impossible to decl

he had every day to meet the sympathetic kindness of his mother, which was worse than any reproach could be;

of Parmenter. He was kinder, more impulsive, more unselfish;

spairing. With the old companionship suddenly lost he became unspeakably lonely.

en his companions in the better days, and who still loved him none the less for the shadows

nd cheery manner, fell back mentally and morally with startling rapidity. By and by

going home with thick tongue and unsteady step. No pains were spared to turn h

ee's course and brought him back to safety. That person was Parmenter-Parmenter as he

his hand, could have turned C

d grown too wide. Besides, Parmenter was demoralized as well as L

state of listless self-sufficiency from which all the efforts of his friends failed to rouse him. Whispering tongues were again at work, bringing

se imputations, and assumed at once

fellow for more than a month? He could explain the story only on one hypothesis-Charley, in his wea

friend had almost vanished, but the bitterness in

ntly expressed a wish to "get even" with that tale-bearer and breaker of promises. Not that t

les. Nevertheless, Van Loan was meeting with his reward. It was well understood among the students that his speedy release from th

is companions fell away from him. He could no lon

w downcast and sullen. The humiliations to which he had been subjected o

to him that Lee was the one who had asked him the insulting questions with their forc

downfall. But his resentment was not satisfied by their humiliation and disgr

hat opportunity came to Van Loan o

d. Half a dozen men were in the room; and among them, leaning against the bar, an object of entertainment to them, was some poor

ered Van L

-since-say, Billy," turning to the saloon-keeper, who stood behind th

fusively. Some strange turn of his drunken fancy had pres

or say. Then there shot suddenly into his mind a

through the streets of the city and up College Hill to

it were incomparably sweet. He waited but a moment

s go home and sober up; they'll

ut from behind the bar a

end of yours

eplied V

let him go up-stairs an

till morning, and his father and mother would

for a close ca

't. He can wal

t want to show that young man up

ned on the m

ur part of the programme was ended when you got him drunk. Now yo

ard the door. The maudlin young fellow waved

"By, Billy! Come an' see us. Fat

suggestively, and made motions as if to w

uide Lee's wavering footsteps. His weight rested heavily on Van Loan's arm; and at frequent intervals he insiste

g men, looked askance at them as they approached, and

Miss Darcy, a charming girl to whom Lee had taken a strong

l, sir?"

ling. "You had better pass on, Miss Darc

eant, and turned away i

ift his hat, but had pushed it from his hea

w'at tired to-day. My frien', Mr. Vanly, he-

er the hat. Street-boys came up, and began to poke fun at th

ving down with some ladies of his family. Lee discovered them

day, ladies! Comp'ment

is team, observed Charley

ies and gentlemen, who stopped for a moment to make sure that it was a ca

no assistance, and declined their offers with scant courtesy. He was having his revenge; it was deep and sweet i

ze Lee. When he looked at him again he was shocked at the change in his appear

you find hi

's," was

ring him f

es

h the s

h the s

fo

fo

ation. In his righteous wrath he forgot t

that devil's dee

d Van Loan, fiercely; "and I'm taking him to his father

was at a w

ay a finger on him! I'll see him ho

against a gatepost, staring

ion. The words were hardly out of his mouth before Parmenter shouted, "Put u

Van Loan, striking a

out next moment, struck Van Loan squarely on the

van came up. He knew intu

quickly as possible. You support him on that side, I will on this

he college walk toward his father's residence, not stopping to ans

llid and his eyes glassy. His chin dropped. He no longer tried to sp

me into Parmenter's breast. Never in all his life had h

e professor himself was at the door. The next moment they were all in the hall, the street-door was closed, the limp and in

derly from his boy's eyes and forehead

into this also?"

n, roused the tiger agai

wonder, though, that you lay this crowning disgrace of your son's at my door, since you have been pleased, wit

s face was whi

lace for quarrels or explanations. Let me say to you si

uiet anger. He did not speak again. He cast one glance at the poor, un

read. He went down to his supper, but could not eat. He

ut it brought him no relief. On the contrary, deeply angered as he was at the professor, a flush o

ed a book to study from it. His brain was dull and unsteady, and he could think of l

him beyond forbearance, beyond endura

impulsive, influenced by his father; but it might well be t

his visions of oratorical success. For he had not been able, in all the stormy days that had passed,

st, the spark began to take on new life, to kindle, to glow, to

a picture that he could not forget,-the relaxed muscles, the pallid face, the disordered hair, the g

adful-the sight of death wo

essly. It hung about him as persistently and ceaselessly as his own shadow. It blotted out all thought of anger or reve

atiently to the days when, with the kindly help of each other, they would both be themselves again; w