THANKS TO XENOPHON.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11130, 23 November 1901, Page 3

THANKS TO XENOPHON.

By H. II Stroko. "" ' By reason of a stupid blunder on the part of the compilers of our curriculum, it became necessary to Imri the classical preps into the midst of Xenophon's .Anabasis before they had completely mastered the Greek alphabet. Travelling a rougher road than, did Cyrus, we marched up wit-U the ten thousand hoplites and took part in the battles of Cunaxa. At this point an unexpected examination developed our weakness in grammar, and precipitated an inglorious retreat. . As instructor of. the section I naturally shared in the common ignominy, a fact which did not increase my amiability in the class-room. Out of the twelve dolts intrusted to my care, "Inky" Allen was perhaps the most obtuse, and upon him my wrath descended with great frequency. "Allen," I commanded one morning, "bring mc whatever that is. you have m your book. You are giving it more attention; than your lesson." "It's nothing," he responded, removing the object from the cover of his Xenophon and hiding it beneath his coat. x <- ■ It took several minutes of insistence and a dire threat of corporal punishment to separate the culprit from his treasure. With , great reluctance he finally deposited it upon. my desk. It was -*an artistic photograph of a young lady. Several times during the recitation"l withdrew my gaze from the picture, only" to find operations suspended and the cliss regarding mc with looks of ill-concealed wonder. I told "Inky" that he might remain after the others had departed, as I had something to say to him. Hβ grinned cheerfully. "Allen," I began sternly, when we were alone,• "whose picture is this? ,, "Ett's." "Whose?" "Henrietta Joyce Allen's—my sister's. ,, "It will be necessa-ry," I said firmly, "for mc to, retain possession of this • until there is a noticeable improvement in your conduct. You may go now." I heard him descend the stairs by threes, and a moment later he was carrolling a coou song out on the street. . xne following day "Inky" grew very much agitated while engaged in scrawling the ramifications of a Greek verb on the blackboard. Catching my eye upon him, lie jerked his head' at an alarming rate and pointed energetically out of the window. Fearing som<» dire catastrophe, I hastened to his side.

"There she goes," he whispered hoarse-, ly, "on the other side of the street. Look quick. ** It was the original of the photograph, only far more sweet and dainty. When directly opposite she glanced "up at the window, and catching sight of -"Inky" smiled and waved .her hand. An aavgle of the building prevented my seeing her after she bad picked her way across the crossing.

"It was her, , ' Inky whispered; "it win Ett. Ain't she a peach?". , , As our quarterly literary exercise cirew near, "inky ,, set himself the task of committing a passage from the original fciet .-.. "I want to do something extra, be confided to mc, "because they're o I coming—dad and Ett and the milter. It is usoless to deny that I looked forward to this evenf with a-considerate amount of pleasure. Much time was spent in furthering "InkyV' laudable ambition, and in correcting his accent. i felt thankful, however, that the odds were asxainst any person being, present who couK follow his Greek declamation with anything like an intelligent understanding. The eventful day at lust arrived, and with it the Aliens: "Inky" was nervous and half choked by the height of h« collar but he hastened to introduce mc to his big. red-faced num. with v crip like a- vice—and to Ins mother—nu imureraive lady v.-he- pave mc two lingers and looked over my head. "Elt'a coming t00. , ' "Inky , informed mc with a wink. "She hasn't all her fixings on vet." ~ , A'moment later Miss Allen entered witu Archibald Lyden. I, am not an expert on tho subject of feminine apparel, but I do know that she wore some-thing pmk and fluffy that vris very becQKr.ujl. Lyden. I had known as nn honours man at college, and I thmieht with uneasiness bi "IvkvV declamation. "Inky" mesenleJ mc to his sister, and volunteered the information that I was "all right" and a "mighty square* fellow."

She said that" she was delighted to meet Ingram's instructor, and I said—l do not remember what. Lydsn's presence ■ annoyed mc. I had hoped so much of this first interview.

"InkyV peiformance was even worse than f had anticipated. 1 think Iris collar was puitiv' to blame for the weird sounding of liis vowels. l.ydeh. laughed throughout the entire duration of the agony. Everyone seemed relieved as it drew to a close. ' When the remaining exercises were over, "Inky ,, started out to show his friends the "lay" at the building. They seemed particularly interested in mv recitation-rooih, at least I felt th.it such*was the case with Miss Allen. As she moved to one of the windows, slio chose to mention that once in passing she had glanced up and found "Inky ,, and myself watching her -with painful interest. Just as they were all filing out of my room, I saw ""Inky" deftly abstract his sister's handkerchief and drop it to the floor. Seeing mc start to pick it up, "Inky ,, shook his head savagely. A moment later Miss Allen returned alone. "I am always losing mv handkerchief," she said. "Brother thinks that he savr one on the floor in your.- room." I hastened to restore the missing article, and doubtless blushed at my own duplicity. "We. "have heard so much of you," she continued. "Ingram regales us each evening with a veracious chronicle of your day's doings." "Ett," broke in the voice of "Inky" from the doorway, "make him show you what he hns'in the desk. Say, that Lyden'a a stiff. I*ll get even with him. He laughed all the time I was reciting. , ' "It is true," said Misa. Allen, when her brother had again disappeared. "Jlr Lyden did laugh, and I don't think it was a bit nice, do you?" Of course I did not. "But -what was it Ingram wished mc to see?" she continued.i "Did he say it was in your desk? Please show it to mc at once. My curiosity is of the kind that will not be bridled." * "I beg of you," I began, very much embarrassed; "it is really nothing at all." And in that statement' I "iwas .merely quoting "InkyV' own "words. • "May I look?" she persisted, resting one white hand on the "old,; battered lid of the desk. 'Tm going $6." " I was powerless. Her smile fairly turned my head. ■ - . - "I can refuse nothing," I murmured. The next moment she had the lid up and was rummaging through an accumulation of-books and papers. She came upon it suddenly. "Ohr she cried; "where did you get it? ,, ' - ■': I explained that I had 'taken it from her brother.' and had" unlawfully retained it in my possession." ->■ Unfortunately she soon turned it over. and the verses 'pencilled ,pn ~the bftckv "That is very silly,"- ehe .observed severely; and then, -with a demure smile: "But ij; is very clever.. , ' ',-'.. ..; ;-\- Without looking. up ahe replaced fhe photograph in the desk and closed down the lid. . '" i ' ■ ' After Mr Lyden. and-tlife. Aliens were all clear .of the building, "In%" came rushing to my room. .

\ "What do' you think of her?" he inquired eagerly. "I ■ never met a more agreeable young lady, ,, was my guarded reply. . ' r of course you didn't,*' £c said gleefully. ; "Ett's. a hummer.. You ought to hear her play the piano and sing. And ah© writes poetry, too, but I'm the only one that knows it." Say, .why don't you go in and win? I'll back you." "Ingram," I said solemnly, "these matters axe entirely too serious to be made light of." ■ . - •

"Inky" grinned" and clacked Bis tongue iv bis cheek.

"Say," ihe cried suddenly, "did any of your people -get cut up in the Revolution? ,1^

"Several of them," I replied. . "Oiood enough 1" he exclaimed. "That's a- big casino with the mater. Oh, I see Lyden's. finish. , '* . A few days later, "Inky" whispered to mc during., class that I was soon to be invited "up to the house," and must on no account fail.to respond in person. The invitation. did arrive, and I availed myself of the privilege. : Mr Allen was jovial j "the mater?? grew deeply interested, in my family tree; Miss Allen treated mc with great kindness; "Inky" could scarcely refrain from standing on his head. The presence of Lyden, as all old friend of the family, alone marred the pleasure of the evening. I was not aware that during the succeeding days my treatment of "fiiky" grew more lenient, jet it seems that there was sufficient partiality displayed to excite the envy of the other students. This fact was deduced from a conversation accident ally overheard. In the words of the oracle, "Inky" would continue to have a "cinah" while "prof" was "rushing" his sister.

"The moneys seven to two in your favour," "Inky" remarked one Friday afternoon, as I was going home with , him after school, for such had been niy custom. ",Lyden isn't one, two, three. He's out of the race—last at the pole." ■ That particular afternoon was destined to''become one of the happiest periods'oi my life. Miss' Allen was alone, and received mc with outstretched hands. Inspired by "Infcy's" confidence, I risked all, and won. After an indefinite lapse of time wo-saw "Inky" emerge from a dim corner of the room.

"Ingrain," said his , sister, "was it nice of you to try and;'overhear confidences?" "Ett," "Inky" replied, "I couldn't stay away. _ I was afraid he would fail at the List minute, and yen don't ijiow how hard I've worked to ihave him distance Lyden." '

I think I hugged him, much to his disgust, and I know that his sister added to his ronfusion by kissing him, "JLoarriim." I * said, "now tell mc the tru r ih.' What first put the idea-into rour head?"

'Well," he grinned, "I knaw I'd never makft tile rjfile in Greek unless something dropped. I heard of a fellow whoso teacher *graded him away up because <<{ his sister, and that's the reason I worked off Ett's picture on you. Then L?d:n laughed at my Greek cieelamation, and ( swore I'd wind up his kite-string. Tti.it's all" * *

*'And you cared nothing for mc?" '. asked..

"Oh, you'll pass, ,, he said.