has gone too far on the wrong road to turn back.
It seemed to him that he had been walking on a
sort of intellectual treadmill where the only
breathing-spells were the few hours devoted to
Old English, History, Calculus, and Physics.
The fact that he had begun the study of mental
science may account in some measure for his state
of mind on this occasion.
Then, too, Tiberius labored under another mis
fortune ; when he had entered college, having
previously made up his mind to see all there was
to be seen of college life, he was not as cautious
as was his wont, and in an evil hour was persuaded
tojoin as ociety which styled itself “The 400. ” At
first the requirements of the organization seemed
easy and he determined to obey them faithfully,
but as lime wore on they came to be rather irk
some, and at the present time, although Tiberius
was himself half unconscious of it, there was
nothing half so odious to him as the requirements
of that society. On this particular afternoon they
seemed especially so, and try as he would, he could
not keep from thinking of the soft glances which
one of the Co-eds occasionally threw in his direc
tion. Indeed she had even gone so far as to try
to engage Tiberius in conversation, and remem
bering his determination, lie had not been very
talkative. This very forenoon she had asked
him as she quite accidentally met him at the Post
Office, if arbutus grew in the college woods, and
if so, where it could be found, and he had answ
ered that lie really did not know much about it,
but presumed it did and then wished her quite an
abrupt good-morning.
However it set Tiberius to thinking about ar
butus and he determined to see for himself if such
a plant was to be found.
So we find him in the afternoon, wandering
through the barrens, out of sorts with everybody,
himself included. • He noticed as lie stopped to
look at a blossom now and then, that the
largest and nicest parts had been recently pluck
ed, and by some one who was evidently traveling
in his direction. He quickened his steps, deter-
THE FREE LAtf CE.
mined to see who it was that was getting more and
better flowers than himself. He hastened for
ward for a few minutes at a rapid pace which be
came slower as his thoughts turned to a pair of
brown eyes, and he had almost resumed his ac
customed pace when he was startled by a scream
that seemed to come from a clump of bushes dj
rectly in front of him. He rushed forward, de
termined to find out if possible, whether any per
son was in need of his help. As he neared the
spot from which the screams appeared to come,
he was astonished to beheld the possessor of the
brown eyes, the Co-ed of- whom he had been
thinking, standing terrified at the sight of an im
mense garter-snake at least eleven inches in
length.
Instantly his mind was made up; grasping a
stick that happened to be near at hand he quickly
advanced and dispatched the reptile in a manner
that would have done credit to a Janizary, flung
its body far among the bushes and then turned to
see how it fared with the young lady. The sud
den relief from peril had been too much for her
nerves and she sank to the ground uncon-
scious,
Now Tiberius was in a dilemma; here was
something unexpected indeed, and he felt that it
would be an easier task to slaughter one hundred
snakes than restore one lovely female to con
sciousness. As he stood there meditating on the
best course to pursue, the problem was suddenlv
solved by the young lady herself, who regained
consciousness almost as suddenly as she had lost
it. As her glance fell on Tiberius she uttered an
exclamation of joy and springing to her feet she
clasped his hand warmly exclaiming, “O my dear
Mr. Turnip, you have saved my life 1 How can
I thank you enough !’’
“O,” murmured Tiberius blushing and looking
at his feet, ‘ I just happened along and hearing a
noise I came up and saw what the trouble was and
was lucky enough to kill the snake.” Then not
knowing what better t> do he withdrew his hand
and began to gather up and arrange her scattered