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had laid by sufficient means to carry himself through college.
Now it took all the force of his character to enable him to face
the boys and to withstand their taunts and jeers; but his manly
bearing and courteous ways won for him the respect of his teach
ers and the friendship of the upper classmen.
It was by one of the latter that he was induced to compete for
the John Gascon prize, which was annually awarded for the best
oration, the competition being open to the two lower classes. It
was certainly worth working for, and the thought of the hundred
dollars and how it would help him along stimulated him to his
highest efforts. But there was another student at work who was
far more confident of winning, Robert Radcliff, one of the editors
of the Pembroke Literary Monthly , who was recognized as the
best literary man in his class.
In some way it had become known that Stanford had entered
the contest, but Radcliff, whose reputation kept all his class
mates from entering, did not feel at all alarmed.
One evening toward the end of the term Stanford was sitting
in his room completely disheartened. An unusually cruel thrust
which he had received that day had unnerved him and he was
ready to give up'in despair. Suddenly he arose, put on his top
coat, and started out, determined to call on Radcliff, who was
the president of the Sophomore class, and try once more.to vin
dicate himself. A few minutes’ brisk walk brought him to the
house, and, on asking for Robert, the servant, who. took him to
be one of Bob’s chums, sent him up to the room. With throb
bing heart he stood at the door and timidly rapped. No one
came, but in his excitement he thought he heard a low “ come
in” and entered. A glance, around the room showed him that
no one was in, and he turned to go, when he noticed a paper
which lay flaming on the edge of the open grate.
He saw at once that it must have fallen from the mantel above
and stepped quickly across the room to save it, but before he
could reach,it the paper was nearly half burned. With boyish
curiosity he bent down to examine the charred remains and dis
covered that it was Bob’s oration.
Just then the door opened and Radcliff stepped in. The two
boys faced each other in surprise, but as Bob caught sight of the
half-burned paper in Harry’s hand his dislike instantly led him to
place the very worst interpretation on the suspicious evidence.
Flushing hotly, it was only with the greatest effort that he con-
The Gascon Prise.