Winning His W | Page 8

greeted with a laugh.
"What made you, then?"
"Isn't Winthrop the best college in the United States?" demanded
Hawley.
"Yes, or at least that's what my father thinks. He graduated here and it

may be that his opinion is a little prejudiced. Is that why you came?"
"Partly." Again Hawley laughed and closed one eye as he spoke.
"I can give a guess what the other reason was," said Foster.
"What was it?"
"Football."
Hawley laughed loudly this time as he replied, "You're 'a very Daniel
come to judgment.' That's from the 'Merchant of Venice,' isn't it? Well,
if it is, it's about all I remember of my English course. Well, I'll be
honest with you. I did see Baker this summer, and he set before me the
advantages of coming to Winthrop in such a way that I couldn't very
well say no. And I didn't, so here I am."
"Did he offer to pay you?" demanded Peter John.
"Did he offer what?" demanded Hawley.
Somewhat abashed Peter John did not repeat his question, and his
room-mate at once turned the conversation into other lines. "We had a
pretty good football team in the academy where I fitted for college, and
there were several colleges, or at least the football men of the college,
who seemed to be quite willing that some of our fellows should go to
them. We had a half-back who was a dandy! His name was Patrick
O'Hara, and he passed better in football than he did in any other subject
in the course." And Hawley stopped to laugh at the recollection of his
former fellow-student. "Pat wasn't very much of a hand to study, and
when one of the men from White College suggested to him that he
should come there, why Pat was delighted. 'What studies will you
take?' asked the fellow, for you see he knew without being told that Pat
wouldn't be valedictorian of his class whatever other honor he might
take, and he was trying to make it easy for him. 'Well,' said Pat, ''bedad,
an' if it's all th' same t' yez, I'm thinkin' I'll just be afther takin' a bit o'
the spellin' an' perhaps a bit o' figurin'. How do thot be afther suitin'
yez'?"

All the boys joined in the laugh with which Hawley related the story,
and Will Phelps said, "Where did Pat go?"
"Well," said Hawley slowly, "he has gone to White College."
"Do you mean to say he has entered there?" demanded Will.
"That's what they tell me, though I've a notion he'll come out the same
door he went in, and he won't tarry long either. Probably soon after the
season ends."
"But we play White College. It's one of our nearest rivals," suggested
Will. "But then," he added, "that's just like them. They never do a thing
on the square anyway!"
Hawley pursed his lips as if he was about to whistle, but he did not
speak though his eyes twinkled with merriment as if Will's statement
somehow was hugely enjoyed by him. Foster Bennett noticing the
expression on Hawley's face, also laughed, but he did not reply to his
room-mate's very positive declaration. There were some things which
Will could not understand, for with his intense and impulsive
disposition the one thing which impressed him at the time was capable
of only one interpretation. His confidence in Winthrop and his dislike
of its rival college were therefore only what were to be expected of his
friend.
"Obliged to you, fellows," said Hawley, as Will Phelps and Foster
Bennett rose to depart. "Come in and see us often."
"You'll see enough of us from now on," responded Will as he and his
room-mate departed.
As the two passed out into the street and returned to their own room
Foster said, "It's pretty bare there in Leland, isn't it, Will?"
"Yes. They both seem to be happy though."
"Not much like our room."

"No. But then, Foster, you see they don't know the difference."
Foster smiled but made no response, and Will continued. "You see
everything in this world is relative. A man doesn't miss what he never
had, does he?"
"Perhaps not."
"Now look here, Foster. Do you think a blind man suffers because he
can't see? I mean a man who was born blind, of course."
"What then?"
"Why, the man I'm sorry for is the one that could see once and has lost
his sight. He knows, let me tell you, what he's lost. But the other man
doesn't appreciate it. He never could see, so he couldn't lose his sight,
could he? Tell me that."
"So you wouldn't do anything to help him?"
"I didn't say that. I didn't say that at all. All I say is that the fellow I'm