CHAPTER XV
STONEWELL RECEIVES A LETTER
When Henry Bligh became a midshipman he was not at all a vicious youngman. But he arrived at Annapolis with an unformed character. Hispredominating trait was a desire for applause, and early in his fourthclass year his football ability had many times earned for him vociferousapplause. It was his predominating desire, a passion to becomepersonally famous, that had urged him to give the signal for the Gatesforward pass when playing against Harvard--the dishonor attached to theact had not been clearly fixed in his mind. The immediate result, hisdismissal from the football squad in disgrace, his execration by theentire brigade of midshipmen--the change of his position from one ofbright fame to contemptuous disesteem, had immediate effect upon theunformed character of Mr. Henry Bligh. He was plunged in the blackestof gloom and he brooded day and night over his troubles.
It was a pity he had no close friend to talk with, no older midshipmanto be advised by. Amongst the midshipmen there had been a burst of angeragainst him and then he had been left entirely alone.
No organized "coventry" was declared against him, but a most effective,far-reaching one existed. Its direct result was to make Blighcontinually unhappy, and this engendered in him passionate anger. Angermust find an object, and Bligh's directed its full force upon Stonewelland Blunt. The former, so he believed, had been the cause of all of histroubles; the latter had supplanted him at football, had defeated him ina personal fight.
On that first night when the midshipmen of Bancroft Hall had been sostartled by the awful cry of "Save me," Bligh had been in the basement;he heard the cries and found Farnum, out of his head, seated in theboatswain's chair at the bottom of the ventilating shaft. Bligh ofcourse immediately knew what had happened, but he kept this knowledge tohimself.
On the night spoken of in the last chapter, Bligh had been on the sicklist, and therefore was excused from company muster. It occurred to himthat he could perpetrate this act and scare the hundreds of midshipmenwho had showered such contumelious treatment upon him.
It really would have been a good joke had it succeeded, butunfortunately for Bligh his detection rendered his position almostunbearable. He had been roughly treated by Stonewell; and now wheneverhe passed a cadet officer he was halted and given directions.
"Brace up, Mr. Bligh, put your heels together, little fingers on theseams of your trousers, chest out, belly in, head up, chin in."
Had the joke been done by Glassfell or perhaps any upper classman itwould have been laughed at. But to have been perpetrated by a plebe wasan indignity to time-honored midshipman custom. And that the plebeshould have been Mr. Bligh made the act worse than an indignity; it wasan unbearable thought. And so for a while Plebe Bligh figured on everydelinquency conduct report. Cadet officers suddenly discovered thatFourth Classman Bligh's hair was too long, his clothes not brushed, hisshoes not shined. Bligh grew nearly frantic, morning after morning, athearing such a report read out as:
"Bligh, Wearing torn trousers at morning inspection.
"Same, Soiled collar at same.
"Same, Not properly shaved at same."
Bligh, much as he was to be blamed, really was to be pitied. Nomidshipman was ever more friendless, ever more in need of kindlydirection. Under some circumstances he might have developed a usefulcharacter, a high standard of thought and action. But in his lonely lifethere was nothing but black, bitter hopelessness. Bligh was in a stateof mind to yield to dark temptation if it presented itself. Had hismental state been known some one might have taken him in hand andbefriended him and directed his thoughts to more wholesome subjects. ButBligh made no advances to any one and in sad silence unknown andunthought of, brooded tempestuously.
Beautiful May once more held dominion over man and nature at Annapolis.For the midshipmen there were studies, to be sure, but the studies wereall reviews of previous lessons and therefore were easy. And then therewere drills, but these, this last month, were always in the presence ofhundreds of visitors and therefore of particular interest to themidshipmen drilling. Cadet Lieutenant Drake, marching his company acrossthe parade ground, and giving in stentorian tones such orders as:
"Squads right, full step, march," "Company shoulder arms, double timemarch!" felt particularly important in so doing, and thought all eyeswere on him; and little Fourth Classman Mumma, handling a rifle insteadof a sword, and obeying instead of giving orders, knew in his own mindthat the people were really looking at him, so he was filled with prideand martial ardor; and so with all of the rest of them.
And after drills were over the Academy grounds were thronged withmidshipmen and their friends, and the happiness ushered in at Annapolisby every May seemed to enter all hearts.
Robert Drake now frequently called at the Blunt household and alwaysfound a warm greeting there. Harry Blunt gladdened his mother's heart bygetting on the first conduct grade, and so at times was to be seen inhis father's house on authorized liberty. Robert never spoke to him, andthough Helen wondered why he should so cling to animosity against herbrother, and thought him unreasonable, yet she contrived it that Robertand Harry were never at the same time together in the house.
"Bob," remarked Stonewell the next Sunday morning, just after thecommandant had finished room inspection, "this is a glorious day; whatdo you say to a ramble? Let's go across the river and strike into thewoods; I know a trail through there, where the woods are wonderfullythick; it will be beautiful to-day."
"Do you mean the path that leads by two old chestnut trees, trees ofenormous size and now almost dead?" inquired Robert.
"Yes, that's the place; those trees must be hundreds of years old. Thenwild flowers and ferns will be out, all so fresh and lovely this time ofyear. Don't you just long for the woods when the spring-time comes?"
"Indeed I do, Stone," cried Robert, "and this will be a fine day for astroll."
Soon the bugles rang out their call for brigade formation and hundredsof midshipmen rushed out on the terrace. Here the companies were rapidlyformed and then Cadet Commander Stonewell came to an about face, salutedand reported:
"Sir, the brigade is formed."
Upon this the commandant, accompanied by a staff of officers and cadetofficers, passed in front of the long line, scanning each midshipmanclosely, and corrected those who were careless in dress. The ranks werethen closed and the brigade was marched to the chapel.
After service was concluded the midshipmen were dismissed and Robert andStonewell went back to their rooms together.
In their absence mail had been distributed, and on the table in theirroom lay two letters, one for Robert, the other for his roommate.
Robert's letter was from his father, and was full of cheering home news,and it was eagerly read by the young man.
"By George, Stone, father enjoys his work with the Light House Boardever so much. He says----Why, Stone, old chap, what is the matter?"
Stonewell was standing at the open window, looking blankly across thewaters of the Chesapeake Bay. In his left hand, crushed, was the letterhe had just received. His face was drawn, and in it Robert recognized anexpression he had seen but once before. Intense apprehension and worry,perhaps fear, shone from Stonewell's eyes. Apparently he was obliviousto his roommate's question, for he took no notice of it.
"What's the matter, Stone?" again cried Robert, rising from his chair,and going to his roommate.
"Oh, Bob, excuse me for not answering your question--I was--I wasthinking of something else."
"But have you had bad news? You surely have, Stone. Can't you talk itover with me? Just think how much good you did me when I had bad news."
Stonewell gave Robert a look of great affection and said: "Thank you,old friend, there is no one on earth I would talk with so quickly as Iwould with you. And it may be that I will want to talk something overwith you later, but just at present, Bob, there is nothing I couldsay--you must excuse me." And with that Stonewell picked up his hat andstrode from the room.
Robert
was full of surprise and worry. It was plainly evident thatStonewell was under deep emotion, and just like him, he could not orwould not speak of the matter that so affected him.
"I wish he would talk it over with me," thought Robert; "it always makesa fellow feel better if he tells his worries to a true friend. What alot of times old Stone has helped me in my troubles--and some of themwere big ones, too! When we take our walk this afternoon I'll try to gethim to tell me."
Robert now went out in the grounds, thinking he might meet his roommate,but he did not, and as they sat at different mess tables he had nochance to talk with Stonewell until after dinner.
As soon as they were dismissed after dinner Robert found his roommate,and said:
"Come along, Stone, let's start out right away; it's a beautiful day andwe'll have a glorious ramble."
"Bob, I can't go; I find I have some letters I must write; get somebodyelse to go with you, old fellow--I wish I could go, but I really can't."
Robert looked blankly at Stonewell. His anticipations of a pleasant walksuddenly vanished and the day seemed dreary. He knew his roommate toowell to try to expostulate or argue with him.
"I'm awfully sorry, Bob," continued Stonewell, laying an affectionatearm on Robert's shoulder, and with real concern noticing Robert'sevident disappointment. "I do wish I could go with you, but I reallycan't."
"I think I'll write some letters too," remarked Robert in a dull,forlorn sort of way.
"Oh, don't waste this beautiful afternoon that way!" said Stonewell;"why don't you get Helen to take a walk with you; she's probablythinking you may call to-day."
"I'm going to write some letters," reiterated Robert stolidly.
"Why, Bob, that's ridiculous; go out and enjoy the day," urgedStonewell; "it will be awfully tiresome remaining indoors allafternoon."
But Robert was as immovable as he knew Stonewell to be; the latterseemed more anxious for Robert to go out than the circumstances calledfor.
In a few minutes both were in their room, writing, and both ill at ease.As a matter of fact neither wanted to write letters.
"Stone, I want you to tell me what has been bothering you," Robertfinally blurted out. "You have helped me any number of times and I havenever done a thing for you."
"You are constantly helping me, every day," replied Stonewell; "you canhave no idea of how your opinion and regard for me have kept me bracedup. I know that my course here at Annapolis is considered a successfulone; I know, Bob, you think I am superior to you. Now I know I'm not;you have qualities of steadfastness, of decision of character that I cannever hope for. I have a certain faculty of quickly solving problemsthat has given me my class rank, but, Bob, I know you have qualitiesthat will outlast mine; and it is your attitude of mind toward me thathas kept me striving, and to you is largely due the success I have wonhere. So never again say you have not helped me. You have been myconstant inspiration. Now, Bob, you think there is something on my mind.If there is, it does not concern myself, and I assure you I want toforget it; and I cannot talk about it even with you. But I promise you Iwill come immediately to you if the slightest thing should arise inwhich you could help me. So oblige me, Bob, by dismissing this matterfrom your mind."
Robert listened like one astonished. That he could have been of suchhelp to his roommate he had never imagined and the thought of it madehim very happy.
"Bob," continued Stonewell with his rare smile, "I'm sure Helen Bluntwill be surprised if you don't drop around to see her this fineafternoon, and as that scamp of a brother of hers is on the firstconduct grade it won't hurt if you see him at her home."
"All right, Stone," rejoined Robert, cheerily. "I see you want to bealone and I won't bother you any more; but I'm sorry you're going tomiss that stroll across the river. I'm much obliged, old chap, if youthink I ever helped you; I never knew I had, and I'm very happy at thethought. I think I'll see if I can find Helen and persuade her to take awalk."