the students. We understand that the
faculty has not the power to make changes
of this kind but, owing to the peculiar cir
cumstances attending the time for the open
ing of the winter session, it took upon itself
the responsibility of the change in order
that the convenience of the students might
be better served.
The trustees will undoubtedly look upon
this action with perfect satisfaction and would
probably have done the same if their meeting
had been held before the close of the session.
A CHRISTMAS DISAPPOINTMENT,
808 CRADLEY was walking up to his
dormitory this evening with a more than
ordinary thoughtful look upon his face. Us
ually he was rather gay spirited, but now he
appeared to be in a state of decided wretch
edness. And no wonder! He had just re
ceived, that bane to all college men, a letter
containing bad news from home.
He reached his hand within his coat pocket
and drew forth the forboding missive for a
second perusal.
Yes, there it was in plain black and white.
“ I fear, my son,” it ran, “ that your college
days are about over. I have met with re
verses lately and, though the final blow has
not yet fallen, I write in this way that you
may be prepared when it does come.” And
there at the bottom was his father’s signature
as plain as daylight.
“ If a fellow had only been expecting this,”
he muttered to himself half aloud as he kept
slowly on his way up the path ; “ and only
one year yet to complete,” he continued ; “it
is pretty rough. Well,” and a look of deter
mination settled upon his face, “if a fellow
must, he must and that is the end of it.”
“ Hello, Cradley,” called out a voice behind
him.
He turned and beheld Thurston, captain
of the college foot-ball team, hastening after
THE FREE LANCE.
him, and so he halted to enable him to catch
“ Well, Cradley, old boy !” impetuously ex
claimed this newcomer, “ Pittson College has
accepted our challenge at last. They will be
here next Thursday,”
“Will they ?” responded nonchalant Crad
ley.
“Yes, and of course we can count on you.
to play right end.”
“Oh, I’d rather you would secure some
one else,” most indifferently replied Cradley
to the utmost astonishment of his companion,
who made no efforts at concealing his surprise.
“Oh, and of course we won’t,” persisted
Thurston ; “we depended upon you to up
hold the dignity of that position on the team ;
but, so long, old man, till you are in a happier
mood. I must see Hatley,” and he darted
across the campus to where he observed that:
third personage.
“ What in thunder is wrong with Cradley
any way?” he asked breathless of Hatley, the
centre rush, after he had imparted to him
the news; “he doesn’t seem to care a cent
whether he plays next Thursday or not,”
“ Don't know,” replied the imperturbable
Hatley; “ perhaps lie’s got a melancholy
spell.”
The day for the. great foot-ball match had
dawned at last. The sky was overcast with
thick gray clouds threatening snow; the air
•was just chilly enough to render wraps very
comfortable, the ground was frozen under
foot, hard and tough—just the kind of a day
for an exhilarating foot-ball game. Burkely
and Pittston colleges were too well known as
rivals for athletic honors not to make this,
the last and only foot-ball game of the season
between them, an exciting one. Their re
spective partizans lined the benches on oppo
site sides of the field, and amongst them
could be observed an ample number of the
fairer sex. The college yells hurled at each
* iii