Stories by American Authors, Volume 8 — John Shaqi
Stories by American Authors, Volume 8Various
General
Stories by American Authors, Volume 8
Various
Short stories, American; United States -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
It was Clay who suggested this resemblance, and we all laughed
appreciatively, as we used to do in those days at Clay's clever
sayings. There were five of us strolling down the diagonal walk to
our farewell supper at "Ambrose's." Arrived at that refectory, we
found it bare of guests and had things quite to ourselves. After
supper, we took our coffee out in the little court-yard, where a
fountain dribbled, and the flutter of the grape-leaves on the
trellises in the night wind invited to confidences.
"Well, Armstrong," began Doddridge, "where are you going to spend the
vacation?"
"Vacation!" answered Armstrong; "vacations are over for me."
"You're not going to work for your living at once?" inquired Berkeley.
"I'm going to work to-morrow," replied Armstrong, emphatically: "I'm
going down to New York to enter a law office."
"I thought you had some notion of staying here and taking a course of
graduate study."
"No, sir! The sooner a man gets into harness, the better. I've wasted
enough time in the last four years. The longer a man loafs around in
this old place, under pretense of reading and that kind of thing, the
harder it is for him to take hold."
Armstrong was a rosy little man, with yellow hair and light eyes. His
expression was one of irresolute good nature. His temper was sanguine
and expansive, and he had been noted in college for anything but
concentration of pursuit. He was gregarious in his habits, susceptible
and subject to sudden enthusiasms. His good nature made him a victim
to all the bores and idlers in the class, and his room became a
favorite resort for men on their way to recitation, being on the
ground floor and near the lecture-rooms. They would drop in about half
an hour before the bell rang, and make up a little game of "penny
ante" around Armstrong's center-table. In these diversions he seldom
took part, as he had given it out publicly that he was "studying for a
stand"; but his abstinence from the game in no wise damped the spirits
of his guests. Occasionally his presence would receive the notice of
the company somewhat as follows:
No. 1. "Make less noise, fellows: Charley is digging out
that Puckle lesson."
No. 2. "You go into the bedroom, Charley, and shut the door,
and then you won't be bothered by the racket."
No. 3. "Oh, hang the Puckle! Come and take a hand, Charley.
We'll let you in this pool without an ante."
No. 4. "Why don't you get a new pack of cards, Charley? It's
a disgrace to you to keep such a dirty lot of old
pasteboards for your friends."
In face of which abuse, Armstrong was as helpless as Telemachus under
the visitation of the suitors. The resolute air with which he now
declared his intention of grappling with life had therefore something
comic about it, and Berkeley said, rather incredulously:
"I suppose you'll keep up your reading along with your law?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account