In the middle of the hall Farrar rose. “Mr. President!” he said. Farrar had a big voice of great carrying power; moreover, his manner was forcible and decisive.
“Mr. Farrar has the floor,” announced McKee.
“I wish to say I respect Lester Wallace for his courage,” said Farrar. “And I move that his resignation be not accepted. We can afford to overlook this slip of his that he’s told us about. He was the choice of the class, for first marshal, and I don’t believe that any one here is going to feel that the choice was a mistaken one. I move that his resignation be not accepted.”
“Second the motion!” shouted some one amidst a great burst of applause.
Then Robert McClure, who had been an active supporter of Farrar, stood up. “Mr. President,” he said. “I think that this question is one that shouldn’t be decided hastily. I think we ought to have more information before we come to a decision. We don’t know anything about the circumstances in regard to this theme that Mr. Wallace has mentioned. I hope we may have some further information. And, anyway, I think we ought to hold a new election. We want to settle this matter with common sense and deliberate judgment, not with snap judgment and emotion.”
Lester again rose and faced the audience. “I will give you all the information I can. I was in trouble with the college office; I was trying to make up work in other courses, and I neglected my work in the composition course. A theme was due, and I hadn’t written it. I knew that if I didn’t hand it in, I should be put on probation. I took a friend’s theme without his knowledge and handed it in as mine. That’s the whole story. I want to say that, much as I appreciate Mr. Farrar’s remarks, Mr. McClure is absolutely right. I have resigned as first marshal, and the class will have to hold another election.” He sat down, and again there was silence.
McKee, the president of the class, rose. “We all regret very much the action that it seems necessary to take,” he said. “I will appoint, as a committee to arrange for a new election of class officers, Mr. McClure, Mr. Ives, and Mr. Roberts; and I will ask them to publish as soon as possible the announcement of such arrangements as they may make. The meeting is adjourned.”
McKee leaped from the platform and seized Lester’s hands. “That took courage, old man,” he said. “I hope they reëlect you just the same; but if they don’t, remember this: there are a lot of us that stand by you.”
“Thank you, Tom.” Lester found now that he could not speak; and there were other fellows crowding round him with assurances of their unshaken faith. He got away from the throng as soon as he could and went to his room.