Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW 17 — drop down to our country place at Evanstown for awhile, as the folks are all in California. Say, why not pay me that visit while I'm there, before the delay becomes history? I grant you'll find all the arcadian simplicity you are looking for, but just let me know when you are coming and [I'll do my best to chase up some excite- ment. “Thanks awfully” was the rejoinder. “It’s scarcely possible as I’m booked for Europe. But if my folks leave me behind, ГЇЇ send you the odd word. Well, here’s the car, old man. I must be off. Best of luck, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” e 9 6 ее Ө ч Evanstown із just like every other : town of the same size so I needn't tell you about it. Most probably you wouldn't read any further if I did. Neither do serious accidents happen to our modern heroes, so I may state at once, that Jim Duncan arrived safely in Evanstown and has been there a week already since we last saw him. Still interested? Well, then, let's go down to the hardware store and hear what's going on. “James, I purposely sent Doyle with the truck this morning because I wanted to have a little talk with you. What's happened to you, anyhow? You've done nothing else but grumble during the past week. It’s a wonder to me you haven't grouched about your mother's cooking!” But, Dad, — Please wait until I have finished. Long before you were supposed to have sense, your mother and I decided that we would give you the best education we could afford. We've done more than that. For years we endured personal economy and sacrifice that you might go to college. Your allowance, Lord knows what you did with it, placed you on a par with the sons of million- aires, merely because we didn't wish you to feel embarrassed. Incidentally, “-- you might be surprised to know that we gave up our anniversary trip. You received the cheque that would have covered our expenses, “Frankly, James, he continued, “І don’t understand you. If I took an orphan from the gutter and educated him as I have you, he would appreciate it. We have given you more; we have given you our love. Now you come home and deliberately snub good cus- tomers of mine who are the means of your very bread and butter! I tell you, you don’t know when you are well off. You needn’t be ashamed to drive a truck; you are helping your father, and you should be proud to make some return for what he has done for you. Be broadminded! You won't be driv- ing a truck all your life! Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the postman. Nuthin' fer you, to-day, Mister Duncan. Telegram fer you, young man. I didn't read it as it ain't allowed, but I reckon as how you're to have a visitor. Сора mornin'. Eagerly Jim opened it, but with a sinking heart, read: “Folks left for Europe without me. Am accepting your invitation. Will arrive 7.30 to- night.—Bob Davis.” You'll excuse me, Dad. I must see mother about this. A chum of mine is coming here this evening.” Certainly, Jim, go ahead. And say,—take home this roll of wire with you. Mrs. Duncan instinctively felt that something was wrong as soon as Jim entered the house. His face confirmed it. Why, Jim, what's happened ? she asked. He handed her the telegram. She read it, looked at her son and knew. She decided, however, to allow him every chance to disprove her doubts of him. “T’m sure he's welcome, Jim. “Mother, I can't have him here. He's the richest fellow in the college!

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5 . 16 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW Fool s T was the Commence- ment and Gala day of the College. What! never heard of it? Well, you have certainly missed something worth while. Гуе been there as often as I could get an invitation, but it was at this one that I met Jim Duncan, B.A. and valedictorian. Nothing wonderful to mention, you may say, to meet a valedictorian. True enough, it isn’t; but this one is certainly worth your notice, for within a month from the time he left college, he found out three things. First, happiness isn’t always wrapped up with a College degree, money isn’t everything, and lastly, but best of all,—there is no place like home. Know these and you’ve got a good start in life. But let us see how it came about. Towards the middle of the afternoon, the campus and great quadrangle were crowded with small groups of students who sauntered about as they held their farewell chats. Already prizes had been awarded, degrees solemnly con- ferred and the valedictory delivered. For hours, distinguished visitors had eulogized the future of the College. They always do—they can’t help it. Neither can the students refrain from wondering if they are ever going to stop. This ordeal at an end, some were escorting parents and friends along the corridors, through the great ivy-covered cloisters, attracting atten- tion to this or that of traditional in- terest in the College. Shouts of “5о long, Bill,—see you next year, or “Don’t forget to drop me a line,” or Where are you going this summer ?” were mingled with emphatic assertions of the Alumni that things are not as they used to be; for instance, when Goldy Shopenhauser was quarter for the College eleven. Everybody laughed and everybody shook hands, but even in the very atmosphere there was an uncanny feeling of regret. hen Gold Why ?—my dear man, there never was a student who was happy when he left the College. Some distance apart where he could see everybody and yet not be bothered, Jim Duncan sat. Besides being well dressed, handsome amd popular, he had the reputation of being fairly intelligent in classes. To-day he was discouraged. Yes, he had his degree, he reflected, but what could he do now ? To him a profession was closed because he could not afford to go to a university. What about the home town? The very thought was repugnant to him. There he might rise to be Principal of the Evanstown High School,—a fine pros- pect! The hardware business with his father? Impossible! He'd just see if his nose would be kept to the grindstone from the moment he arrived home. He'd show them a thing or two! Did a college education nec essitate selling flat irons, wash tubs and such? Not a bit of it. He'd go home and see how matters stood. If they weren't favor- able, then good-bye to “What’s the matter, Jim, old boy? you look as if someone shot the two best friends you had and you were one of them. Why, hello Bob! didn't expect to see you because you weren't to be found awhile ago. Off to Europe? then, apologetically, guess I’ve got the graduation blues.” Bob Davis, his room mate and boon companion for the past two years was the one man Jim respected. First, he was the richest fellow in the school; after that he was not such a bad sort when you got to know him. Any new plans for the summer Jim ? —same old heart-breaking tactics that brought home the letters after the Junior Prom? And golf of course. . Jim laughed. and then the pot called the kettle black, he quoted. “Not this year, old man. I think I'll

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18 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW — “Jim,” she replied sadly, are you ashamed to bring your friends to your own home? Whatever has come over you since you've been to college ?” A-ah, it's not that, mother, but— Oh, you don't understand. What will I do? He rushed up the worn carpet- covered stairs and entered the ''spare- room. On one side stood an antique wooden four-poster, brightened by a new crazy-quilt spread of silk. A good carpet was on the floor, and the pic- tures about the walls, though simple and inexpensive, were tastefully chosen. Was it the irony of fate which made him look up and read on an old wall- motto, the lines by Robert Burns: “О wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as ithers see из?” On the other side of the room, near a large white wash-stand with its cum- bersome water-jug, two large bay win- dows overlooked the garden, with Glen Matthew's Garage and Blacksmith shop in the perspective. This last was too much for Jim. “А pretty sight indeed, he thought, for Bob Davis! If he came, how could he ever face him ? Necessity is ever the mother of inven- tion. He rushed over to the grocery on the corner and phoned up Frank Evans, the son of the man who made the town and the owner of the only respectable car there. ‘Hello, that you, Frank? This is Jim Duncan speaking. “I’m іп a deuce of a fix, Frank, and I wish you could help me out of it. Could you have your chau- feur meet the 7.30 train this evening ? Thanks so much. You'll see he doesn't forget? Гі tell you all about it later. So-long, Frank. Two hours later, the baggageman had scarcely time to throw off the first milk can on the platform, when Bob rushed down the steps, ignored the astonished porter, and grasped Jim by the hand. “Gosh, old man, I'm glad to see you! I was all alone at home and I nearly went crazy. Then a puzzled look “-- came over his features. “Why the valise ? he queried. “I’m terribly sorry, Bob, but my kid sister had to contract the mumps. I barely escaped with the car and Frangois over there. However, he can drive us into the cit and we can put up at some hotel for awhile.” Not on your life, dear boy. I’ve had enough of the city. The time- table here indicates a return train in fifteen minutes. Suppose we take it and go to our place? I have it! We'll organize a house-party there that will make the very fish fight to get on the right platter! Let's со!” They did not have to wait long for the 7.45 south bound. To Jim, how- ever, it seemed an age, for he feared that the station master would come up and ask him why he hadn't hauled away those kegs of nails. Finally, however, when he was comfortably settled in his chair in the parlor car, and the express was speeding along towards Melton Heights, he heaved a happy sigh of relief. Everything had turned out as he had planned! Boys, remarked Bob Davis some days later, “were here to make this house-party a source of ambition to our grandchildren. If there's anyone here who still believes that Medicine Hat is a rival firm of Stetson, or that Great Neck is part of the statue of Liberty, let him be anathema! 'Nuff said! 'On with the dance, let joy be un- confined.’ ” Laughter and hearty applause greeted him, for this was quite a long speech for Bob. “You bet we will! they shouted. And they certainly kept their word, for at no time after that was amusement lacking. Jim Duncan was by no means the least popular there. He played tennis, rode well, and was an excellent swimmer, while as a favorite dancing partner, he yielded the palm to Bob Davis alone. As time went on, this caused no small amount of