English fiction -- 19th century; Horror tales; Penny dreadfuls
“‘If you are hard pushed, Tom,’ said I, ‘and your uncle refuses, why
not tell me? I can settle all that without so much melancholy and
solitude.’
“I could glean nothing.
“‘Phil, my boy,’ said he, laying his hand on my shoulder, ‘you are
gold—true gold, but—there is nothing the matter with me, I can assure
you; I am only studying hard for my degree—examinations come off in
another month, and then I leave these old walls for ever.’
“‘Templeton has passed!’ said all the juniors, as Tom solemnly strode
through the crowd towards his rooms.
“‘How much for your parchment, Templeton?’
“‘Did they bother you, my boy?’
“‘I hope you floored Old Snuffy,’ said one or another of the students.
“But Tom, the subject of all these remarks, congratulations, and the
like, bowed politely to his schoolmates, and went up to his rooms.
“‘I leave to-morrow, Phil,’ said he, as I shook him by the hand; ‘my
books are all at your service, my boy; you’ll have to pass through
the same unpleasant ordeal yourself next year. If you find any use
for them, I give them with much pleasure. There are no “crammers” or
“coaches” among them; I despise all that sort of thing as much as you
do.’
“‘But why look so sad, Tom? Confound it, man! cheer up! there are
scores within the walls this moment, who would willingly give
thousands for your prizes and parchments. How delighted your uncle
will be!’ said I.
“There was no response.
“He relapsed into his customary silence and thoughtfulness, and
although we both drank heavily that night, not a word escaped him in
his cups.
“Next day, towards evening, we drove together towards the coaching
station, and when on the top of a hill about a mile from the
University buildings, he stopped the vehicle and looked towards them
in silence and with evident emotion.
“‘How beautifully the sun sets in the west, and how charming the
old grounds look bathed in sunlight. See how the steeple casts
its shadows across the grand walks, and how the clock-tower and
weather-vane glow again with changing light! I never loved but once,
Phil, and that was once too often for my own peace through life, yet
the memories of Alma Mater, with its dingy walls, old towers, and
chiming bells, unmans me more than all things else in the world!’
GIVEN AWAY!!
SCENES,
SHEETS OF CHARACTERS,
AND A
LARGE STAGE FRONT FOR A NEW PLAY,
CALLED
“ALONE IN THE PIRATES’ LAIR.”
_READ THE “BOYS OF ENGLAND,”_
AND
SECURE THE ABOVE MAGNIFICENT GIFTS.
ONE PENNY WEEKLY.
[Illustration: Lady posing]
“He whipped up the horses suddenly into a brisk trot, and was silent.
“He pressed his hat over his eyes, and averted his face; for once in
years of my remembrance, two tears were glistening in his eyes.
“It must have been a fearful struggle between his pride and secret
sorrows, to have allowed them to escape; yet there they were, shining
witnesses of human feeling.
“We parted.
“Templeton went into the north, and for six months corresponded with
me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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