Whispering Tongues

hich was to reach him at Paris. When it was finished the young man read it over, and threw it from hi

e gave out in doing that. He knew that such desperate illnesses as Charley's sometimes washed the soul clear and th

on. Written lines were wholly inadequate. It needed the voice, the eyes, the spirit breathing through the w

tersburg, Copenhagen. The next winter they wrote from Florence, and afterward they journeyed through th

lege tasks with the strength and earnestness of an enthusiast. He regained his former position in the class

cond college year had turned the channel of his life and thought, an

graduate, and Parmenter himself was to have the valedictory. All deemed it cer

as no quicker and more logical thinker in debate. The big Dobell prize was conceded to him in advance. So far as

be a great day, and a success

t is for you to get into a cane rush and break your collar-bone again; and if you could manage also to fracture two

his wife and Charley had already set sail for America. They would reach New York on Tuesda

Charley would return fully restored to health and strength, wholly free from his old weaknesses, ready to take

es when they should land, and escort them home. Parmenter was among the number. Whe

on the stage Wednesday morning all broken up with the journey, and be any credit to yourself or your friends? For your own

forgetting, in his unselfish zeal for his friend's succ

I want to see the professor and Charley when they land; but I s

ad chartered an excursion steamer to go down the bay, meet the incoming ocean vessel, take the profes

ompany the party, and quick messages were to notify them to hasten to the p

ates and alumni that had gathered at the office on the pier dwindled slowly as the afternoon slipped by, until at last only Par

glanced at it, and turned

nd Central Station before the last train goes out. Come, I'll go to the station with you, b

and was moving toward the

to-night, either,"

ned back in

to-morrow morning is Commencement!

. I shall no

came back into the

o meet Professor Lee and Charley as they land? I know something of what has happened between you, and what you hope for in the wa

ought of it night and day. The hope that it may not be wholly fruitless has kept me from disgrace and despair. Do you suppos

r, I didn't kn

rition, of repentance, or regret. It's too late to make him any adequate reparation now; but I can be here to meet him and Charley when they land, to acknowledge my fault to him, to tell him of my gr

ith flashing eyes, flushed face, and heaving breas

. "You are right. Come, let's telegraph up to them t

had ever known a rainy Commencement Day at Old Concord; and the day

he excursion steamer, with more than a hundred enthusiastic

rom every pole and post. A great streamer at the bow bore the nam

h-horn. But the party failed to reach quarantine in time. They had hardly got below Governor's Island when the black hull of the great vessel loomed up on the smoky horizon,

s vied with brass instruments, with booming cannon, and t

onstration was for some of their number, they crowded to

ne. That one no one who knew him could fail to distinguish as "Sammy Lee." He stood, with bared head, waving his

the steamer's pier the three stood together responding as best they could to the cries and ch

and the smaller boat made fast to the wharf that the excursi

, joining occasionally in the cheering, brushing the tears from his eyes

Now that his great opportunity had arrived, he hardly knew how to a

on come down the bridge. Then they were swallowed up in

he turned aside and stood by a wharf-post, with his face towa

hed him on the shoulder, and

arl

re

then their hands met in a heart-thrilling clasp, then th

If they had been necessary Parmenter could not have spoken them. The lump in his t

ged him! I want to explain-

down the pier. He whispered something into his father's ear, drew him quietly from the t

who remained behind, wondering a little but knowing scarcely anything of the

hing unusual was going on. They saw Parmenter standing, hat in hand, lookin

t move a muscle, his face was white

both of Parmenter's hands in his and held them fast; and the third time, after a flow of impassioned words that came hot from the pen

at. Tears were in Parmenter's eyes, but his face

e bay and a trip up the North and East Rivers. A luncheon was served; and after that th

ificent reception had warmed his heart, and filled it to overflowing with gratitude and en

ficers. Happening to look out on the bay I saw your boat with its flags and bunting, its college mottoes, and its co

Then I heard a great cry of 'Sammy Lee!' and I sa

'come on deck quick! Let the baggage go! let the custom-house offi

beyond the circle of my own pupils,-I, for my own sake, for the sake of the dear ones who are with me, for the sake of the grand old college that I have the honor

ever forget it. I shall live this scene over in

ause. When it had subside

York Bay this morning your sovereign remedy of welcome has completely healed them; if there was one hard or bitter feeling still lingering in my breast when I steppe

No one understood perfectly what it was all about, b

ear old college and all who are in it or of it, with the peace and quiet of serene old age stealing softly over me; with the only grief I have ever know

is tears. But all his boys knew that they were tears of joy and not o

nce of Parmenter, Robinson was the most conspicuous member

iting them at the train. In some unaccountable way Parmenter's story had traveled home ah

rm in arm in the midst of them, marched up the hill and through t

as that tired but happy traveler laid his head on his pillow in his cherished home, there came softly, mu

sweet dreams, Sammy,

ng to lea

along, roll al

we rol

deep bl

riber'

ling inaccuracies we

able spelling ha

tion and compound wor