AND SHOWS HIS METTLE The freshman election took place in one of the lecture rooms of Grace Hall.

There was a full attendance of the entering class, while the absence of sophomores was considered by those who had heard of former freshman elections at Erskine as something unnatural and of evil portent.
Paul, robbed of the support of Tom Cowan's presence, was noticeably ill at ease, and for the first time appeared to be in doubt as to his election.

Fanwell Livingston was put in nomination by one of his St.
Mathias friends in a speech that secured wide applause, and the nomination was duly seconded by a red-headed and very eloquent youth who, so Neil learned, was King, the captain of the St.Mathias baseball team of the preceding spring.
"Are there any more nominations ?" asked the chairman, a member of the junior class.
South, a Hillton boy, arose and spoke at some length of the courage and ability for leadership of one of whom they had all heard; "of one who on the white-grilled field of battle had successfully led the hosts of Hillton Academy against the St.Eustace hosts." (Two St.Eustace graduates howled derisively.) South ended in a wild burst of flowery eloquence and placed in nomination "that triumphant football captain, that best of good fellows, Paul Dunlop Gale!" The applause which followed was flattering, though, had Paul but known it, it was rather for the speech than the nominee.

And the effect was somewhat marred by several inquiries from different parts of the hall as to who in thunder Gale was.

Neil secured recognition ere the applause had subsided, and seconded the nomination.