Show A half year has passed and the week of the trial speaking for the annual oratorical oratorical oratorical ora ora- contests has come Six members are to be chosen from each class and these are to compete during the first week of commencement for prizes It was a great honor to be allowed to enter this contest and one coveted by all students The faculty ty had decided that those classmen who had attained a fairly high standing in all studies directly pertaining to English and an average standing in all other studies would be admitted to the contest The six from each class who here showed the most ability as orators would be chosen for forthe forthe forthe the prize stage Frank Bentley dearly loved oratory and had been preparing himself for this contest for weeks In fact that had been the only work he had of late really done well Since that evening when he made up his mind to slide through mathematics ics things had been going from bad to worse w with th him im Af After er deciding to neglect neglect neglect neg neg- lect on one st study dy it it seemed so easy to neglect others When he had a difficult lesson in Chemistry or Latin he left it and went out to some entertainment He was no longer interested in school schoolwork schoolwork schoolwork work and working on the idea that all studies are most interesting when forgotten forgotten for for- gotten gotte sought his pleasure outside of school Nearly every night saw him at some fashionable entertainment theatre or ball Coming home oftentimes later than midnight he would seize a book and hurriedly look over his lesson for forthe forthe forthe the next day But he could not even do room class-room work in this way and his standing was very low His love for oratory and his pride in his natural talent talent talent tal tal- ent in that direction had led him to reform reform reform re re- form somewhat during the preceding few weeks and while working hard on his trial oration he had been trying to recover recover recover re re- cover ground lost in his studies studie And now when the week had come he felt confident if his standing admitted him to the trial stage of being one of the fortunate six for the prize stage Many times during the last few days when sitting or walking alone had he imagined himself on the prize stage surrounded by a proud faculty in th the midst of his triumph He s saw w the crowded theatre the bright faces the lovely dresses the waving of handkerchiefs handkerchiefs handkerchiefs chiefs the fragrant flowers He heard the loud roll of applause that greeted him at at- some telling climax His soul on these occasions seemed to drink in some of the delights of heaven but at other times he was far from being happy He knew as well as anyone that he had been neglecting his studies and that his standing was very low and the question Will they admit me worried him almost constantly On the day that the Faculty were considering considering considering con con- the applications of the juniors there was great excitement in the Uni Uni- Groups of students were stand stand- J ing g about on the campus and in th the halls discussing the probable chances of their favorites Members of the junior class were walking from group to group not trying to suppress the excitement they were feeling In the upper hall a half dozen seniors were discussing the question Theres no doubt said one but that Bentley will carry off the honors No Noone one else in th the class can speak with him at all Yes Bentley is a good speaker s said id another fellow but they say h he has been neglecting his work lately in fact all the year Goes out to too many parties you know The Faculty is trying to stop that sort of thing and I doubt doub t whether he gets in But if he does Id I'd like to wager a new hat that he carries off first prize next commencement And such was the general feeling Frank Bentley spent that afternoon in his room Mr Cole Col one of the tutors had promised to come and tell him the Faculty's decision and he waited in the greatest suspense Finally there was a rap on the door i Bentleys Bentley's heart almost stopped Mr Cole for it was he opened the door and and- stepped inside One look at the face of the tutor convinced Bentley that his application application application ap ap- S had been refused I I am very sorry Mr Bentley began began be be- gan be gan the tutor but the but I the The Faculty have refused my application application i cation put in Bentley I knew it just justas 1 I Well I deserve deserve- as soon as saw you it I know I have been neglecting my studies and this is the punishment Mr Bentley your record i in n English and Literature was above the average x j but in the Natural Sciences and in Mathematics Mathematics' you fell very low That is is' what cut you out But dont don't be discouraged discouraged discouraged dis dis- i you have two months in which to regain your standing and next year if you work you can win more than your share of college honors Mr Cole 7 knew how earnestly Bentley had desired J this distinction and he felt deeply for him in his disappointment Bentley thanked the tutor for his kindness and the latter left After he had gone Bentley threw himself into a chair and almost wept in his grief and disappointment The first fruits of the punishment were more severe than he 10 had imagined they could be He saw aw the prize that had seemed almost wi within thin his grasp fade away All the honors would now be for another the another the bouquets the happy glances the f. He saw the look of disappointment disappointment it t. t on his mothers mother's face when r she heard the news He knew that the t. t golden opportunity had slipped through his fingers He turned and buried his face in his hands and gave way to a ai i prolonged fit of weeping After learning that Bentley was excluded excluded ex ex- fir eluded from the trial contest Charles CharlesI I Hewitt wandered about the university in inan inan j an aimless way He knew that Mr l Cole had told and he hardly knew how to meet his friend Long Longi i after nightfall he lie turned his steps home home- ward Bentley met him at the door and after looking searchingly in each others other's eyes eTes eyes the two friends clasped a hands Yes Charlie I know all about it Ir an and I own that I am disappointed Hewitt noticed the perfect control Bentley had of himself But I deserve oJ I it Bentley went on and I am consoling consoling con con- soling soling myself with the thought that you f will carry off the first prize Do you 1 know Charlie that when Mr Cole told me this afternoon that the faculty had hadr r cut me off I suffered terribly But Im I'm I getting used to it now I see the thing in its true light and know that it wouldn't have been right to have allowed 3 me to compete for that prize And K Charlie youve you've been trying to help me all the year and I want you to keep on trying for I believe that w with h your help I can catch up in my studies in the next two months Next year year well well nex year year year-I I will be a senior and I am going to work that's all His voice sounded with the strength of firm determination Hewitt looked at him and saw n in n his eyes the look of ofa a a. firm resolve resolve He knew that Bentley meant what he said and the knowledge made him happy |