Winning His W": A Story of Freshman Year at College"

regular grooves. The novelty of the new life was now gone and to Will it almost seemed that ages had passed since he had been a member of the household in Sterling. His vision of the hillt

y were all on dress parade. The sight was beautiful and one which in after years was ever present with him; but in those early days o

ogether different affair, he declared. Splinter was so cold-blooded, so unsympathetic, and sarcastic, he appeared to be so fond of "letting a fellow make a fool of himself in recitation," as Will expressed it, that he found but little pleasure in his work. And Will had already suffered from the keen shafts of the teacher's merciless ridicule. One day, when in fact he had spent an additional hour in the preparation of his lesson in Greek, though the results he had achieved left him still troubled as he thought of the recitation, he had been called upon to translate and make comments upon a portion of the lesson of the day. He could feel as well as see, or at least he fancied that he saw, the drawing down of Splinter's lips that presaged an outburst of sarcasm. Will had been permitted to go through his task without interruption and then the professor had said dryly, "That will do, Mr. Phelps. That is what one might term 'making Greek' of it. It certainly is justice neither to the Greek nor to the English." A partly suppr

sence of his fellow-members he found a measure of relief from the homesickness that was troubling him and his difficulties with the detested professor of Greek. It was also a source of some comfort to him to learn that his own

ohn had dropped into their room one evening and quickly discovered the neat

r John; "you've joined

ange the topic of conversation, for the subject

in college, isn't it?

or us to say,

ather told me I'd better wait and perhaps he'd come up to Win

h other, but neither spoke. In

o my father and perhaps he'd let me join now," suggested Peter J

ked upon as an especial honor and many of the entering class had been eagerly awaiting the invitation for which all longed. Peter John Schenck's unique personality and his sublime self-assurance had been qualities, if no other defects had been apparent, that would have debarred him

John when neither of his classmates responded. "

are you making out with Splinter?" he

nter's al

nk so," said

ight if you know how to handle him," declared Peter

" laughed Foster. "Wait ti

an 'A' i

d Will. "Did you ever see such a fellow?" he s

or his own sake I wish he could learn someth

not in the course of study.""Do him good," rema

ns. There was little about him that was attractive to Will, but somehow he found it difficult to avoid him. He certainly was a well dressed handsome young fellow, and was prominent in college chiefly because of his success in athletics, for already he had the reputation of being one of the swiftest runners in college. But in the col

Will keenly alive to the beauties of the surrounding region. A soft halo covered the summits of the lofty hills, and the quiet of the valley was almost as impressive as the framework of the mountain

d were once more in the valley and not

air sprinter," suggested

ented Will, laughing

did y

high sch

high s

erl

e other schools

w it was that Mott happened to kn

d you c

There wasn't very much t

me did y

n,

to ru

to tr

ood for me," said Mott. "It keeps m

ill was flattered by the evident interest and attention. They were now within the confines of the village, and excusing himself for a moment Mott left Will, but when he returned it was evident from the odo

tt, and Will had acquiesced. They had not gone far, however, before Mott discovered a farmer approaching with a team and a heavy b

ll you give us a

old man, halted his team and permitted

tt, forgetful of the benefits o

A straw hat covered his gray head, and his untrimmed gray beard as well as his so

river, "that the beauties of this coun

emanded the f

long

at. I've had the rheumatiz, but tha

congratulated,"

there?" inquired the driver, pointing as he spo

robably most of the peo

gravestones. Jest go

's t

year. Had one fur nigh onto f

" gravely i

brain; but my 'pinion is he never had any brains to get soft. S

ouble with him?

rybody with their

t the prop

'ti

hy

ght t' be buried with

's t

r when he blows, an' can rise up facin' h

s not. Some folks don't. We've got

y along the country road. When an hour had elapsed, Mott sa

ere ye want t' go? St

es

e. Ye didn't say nothin' 'bout it, an' I didn't feel called upo

Winthrop?" inqui

the farmer, his eyes twinkl