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Spires and Gargoyles
Thecollegedreamedon—awake.Hefeltanervousexcitementthatmighthavebeentheverythrobofitsslowheart.Itwasastreamwherehewastothrowastonewhosefaintripplewouldbevanishingalmostasitlefthishand.Asyethehadgivennothing,hehadtakennothing.
Abelatedfreshman,hisoilskinslickerraspingloudly,slushedalongthesoftpath.Avoicefromsomewherecalledtheinevitableformula,"Stickoutyourhead!"belowanunseenwindow.Ahundredlittlesoundsofthecurrentdriftingonunderthefogpressedinfinallyonhisconsciousness.
"Oh,God!"hecriedsuddenly,andstartedatthesoundofhisvoiceinthestillness.Theraindrippedon.Aminutelongerhelaywithoutmoving,hishandsclinched.Thenhesprangtohisfeetandgavehisclothesatentativepat.
"I’mverydamnwet!"hesaidaloudtothesun-dial.
HISTORICAL
Thewarbeganinthesummerfollowinghisfreshmanyear.BeyondasportinginterestintheGermandashforParisthewholeaffairfailedeithertothrillorinteresthim.Withtheattitudehemighthaveheldtowardanamusingmelodramahehopeditwouldbelongandbloody.Ifithadnotcontinuedhewouldhavefeltlikeanirateticket-holderataprize-fightwheretheprincipalsrefusedtomixitup.
Thatwashistotalreaction.
