by
      Sean
      Maclatosh
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      With
      a
      groan,
      the
      two
      stu
     
     
      dents
      threw
      themselves
      upon
     
     
      their
      beds;
      they
      had
      again
      beeo
     
     
      refused
      permission
      to
      go
      to
      town.
     
     
      For
      a
      long
      sime
      they
      ‘ay
      there,
     
     
      wondering
      what
      hey
      shouid
      do;
     
     
      at
      fast,
      maddened
      dy
      sheir
      humil-
     
     
      lation,
      they
      decided
      to
      do
      that
     
     
      desperate
      deed
      -
      skip
      to
      town.
     
    

    
     
      Fixed
      with
      a
      new
      seal
      they
     
     
      tose
      from
      their
      beds.
      The
      prefect
     
     
      wasn’t
      going
      to
      pull
      that
      stunt
     
     
      over
      on
      them
      this
      time!
      They
      put
     
     
      on
      their
      coats
      quickly,
      and
      left
      the
     
     
      room.
      Darkness
      reigned
      supreme
     
     
      in
      the
      corridors
      of
      Dalton:
      all
      the
     
     
      boys
      were
      in
      ded.
      Now
      was
      their
     
     
      chance.
     
    

    
     
      With
      boots
      and
      overcoats
      in
     
     
      hand
      they
      made
      their
      way
      cau-
     
     
      tiously
      down
      the
      stair,
      anxious
      to
     
     
      avoid
      the
      watchful
      eye
      of
      the
      pre-
     
     
      fect.
      No
      one
      came,
      however,
      and
     
     
      they
      reached
      the
      first
      corridor
      in
     
     
      safety.
      Opening
      the
      back
      door,
     
     
      they
      slid
      out
      into
      the
      darkness.
     
    

    
     
      The
      night
      was
      dark
      and
      cold,
     
     
      but,
      by
      the
      light
      of
      the
      stars,
     
     
      the
      two
      boys
      could
      pick
      their
      way
     
     
      to
      the
      railway
      track
      which
      was
     
     
      about
      two
      hundred
      yards
      distant.
     
    

    
     
      They
      reached
      the
      track
      in
     
     
      safety,
      and
      scrambled
      down
      over
     
     
      the
      high
      bank
      to
      the
      level
      road
     
     
      between
      the
      rails.
      The
      walking
     
     
      bere
      was
      perfect,
      and
      they
      strode
     
     
      along
      happily,
      exultant
      at
      the
     
     
      thought
      of
      having
      deceived
      the
     
     
      prefect.
      The
      high
      piles
      of
      snow
      on
     
     
      each
      side
      of
      them
      rivaled
      even
      the
     
     
      tallest
      -
      Gagnon
      -
      in
      bight.
      The
     
     
      track
      led
      right
      into
      town:
      A
      great
     
     
      escape
      route
      blind
      to
      the
      prying
     
     
      the
      eyes
      of
      Dalton
      Rall.
     
    

    
     
      It
      was
      not
      a
      long
      walk
      to
     
     
      town,
      just
      over
      balf
      an
      hour,
      but
     
     
      in
      the
      boy’s
      excitement
      and
      antic-
     
     
      ipation,
      it
      seemed
      longer.
      Once
     
     
      in
      town
      they
      doth
      headed
      for
      the
     
     
      same
      place;
      the
      pub
      ‘requented
     
     
      by
      students
      -
      with
      of
      without
     
     
      the
      prefect’s
      permission.
      Upon
     
     
      arriving
      at
      the
      pud,
      they
      met
      3
     
     
      few
      young
      men
      from
      town
      who,
     
     
      apon
      recognizing
      the
      two
      as
      Saint
     
     
      Dunstan's
      students,
      invited
      them
     
     
      to
      sit
      down.
      Over
      the
      sext
      few
     
     
      hours,
      the
      ‘taik
      anc
      severages
     
     
      downed
      freely
      and
      a.
      too
      soon
      the
     
     
      sme
      to
      return
      crew
      gh
     
    

    
     
      As
      the
      two
      .eft
      the
      pu,
      only
     
     
      then
      aid
      they
      realize
      tha:
      Mother
     
     
      Nature
      nad
      avt
      reen
      dle
      dur-
     
     
      “ng
      sheit-festivites
      A
      dlizsard
     
     
      sad
      sprung
      up
      anc
      she
      wiod
     
     
      was
      so
      strong
      the
      :wo
      needed
      to
     
     
      -
      Send
      forward
      to
      wack
      The
      snow
     
     
      was
      comming
      dows
      .n
      such
      ‘arge
     
     
      emounts
      that
      they
      cou.d
      darely
     
     
      see
      one
      another
      They
      g:asped
     
     
      arms
      and
      forged
      onward
      through
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      te
      Sr
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      the
      drifts
      and
      made
      it
      safely
      to
     
     
      the
      tracks.
     
    

    
     
      It
      was
      here
      that
      they
      agreed
     
     
      to
      walk
      in
      sing!e
      file,
      taking
      turns
     
     
      to
      plow
      {6:
      ward;
      the
      first
      making
     
     
      a
      path
      for
      the
      second
      -
      Gagnon
     
     
      abead,
      Arseneault
      behind.
      This
     
     
      arrangement
      went
      on
      for
      about
     
     
      a
      quarter
      of
      a
      mile
      and
      then
     
     
      Gagnon
      stumbled.
      It
      was
      thea
     
     
      Arsencault’s
      turn
      to
      take
      the
      lead
     
     
      and
      Gagnon
      «as
      to
      follow.
      They
     
     
      continued
      on
      for
      several
      minutes
     
     
      and
      upon
      reaching
      Blake's,
      Ar-
     
     
      senesult
      glanced
      buck
      to
      check
     
     
      Gagnoo’s
      progress.
      He
      wasn’t
     
     
      there.
      Hurrying
      back
      wong
      the
     
     
      path,
      Arseneault
      called
      out
      bet
     
     
      there
      was
      a0
      reply.
      Then
      the
      ¢2-
     
     
      cision
      had
      to
      be
      made
      -
      Siay
      and
     
     
      look
      or
      go
      to
      get
      help?
      He
      could
     
     
      not
      do
      much
      on
      nis
      own
      so
      be
     
     
      went
      to
      Dalton
      Hail
      for
      help.
     
    

    
     
      “The
      frozen
      body
      of
      Gagnon
     
     
      was
      found
      the
      next
      morning.
      He
     
     
      had
      died
      from
      exposure.
      As
      she
     
     
      cause
      of
      death
      was
      obvious,
      the
     
     
      authorities
      did
      aot
      see
      the
      aeed
     
     
      for
      an
      ‘nquest
      and
      released
      the
     
     
      body
      to
      the
      Rector
      of
      :he
      Uni-
     
     
      sersity
      Rev
      DP
      Croges
      acom
     
     
      panied
      the
      do¢dy
      to
      ihe
      doy’s
     
     
      home
      .n
      Quebec
      and
      she
      funeral
     
     
      was
      heid
      afew
      days
      ‘ater
      The
      :a-
     
     
      cident
      was
      over
     
    

    
     
      A
      week
      ‘ater
      in
      Dalton
      Rail,
     
     
      things
      were
      just
      Segining
      to
      get
     
     
      back
      to
      normal.
      Arseneau!t
      nad
     
     
      just
      degan
      to
      deal
      with
      she
      grief
     
     
      of
      bis
      friend’s
      ‘oss,
      when
      ‘ate
      one
     
    
   
   
    
     
      "night,
      while
      studying
      the
      Book
      of
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Job
      for
      his
      rest
      in
      she
      morning,
     
    
   
   
    
     
      there
      was
      a
      knock
      at
      his
      door.
     
     
      Marking
      his
      place
      in
      the
      text,
     
     
      he
      got
      up
      to
      open
      the
      door
      and
     
     
      found
      no
      one
      on
      the
      other
      side.
     
     
      Looking
      out
      into
      the
      dim
      cor-
     
     
      ridor,
      be
      saw
      his
      friend’s
      snow-
     
     
      covered
      irnage
      pear
      the
      stair.
      Not
     
     
      daring
      to
      trust
      bis
      senses,
      he
     
     
      rusbed
      forward
      but
      upoe
      reach-
     
     
      ing
      the
      stair,
      be
      found
      the
      place
     
     
      empty.
      A
      cruel
      illusion
      of
      a
      tired
     
     
      and
      grief
      striken
      mind.
      Turning
     
    
   
   
    
     
      to
      go
      back
      to
      his
      room,
      he
      trod
      ©
     
    
   
   
    
     
      upoa
      the
      spot
      where
      his
      friend's
     
     
      image
      bad
      stood.
      A
       done-
     
     
      cumbing
      cold
      lanced
      through
      his
     
     
      body
      and
      he
      grasped
      the
      wall
      for
     
     
      support.
      Quick!y
      crossing
      him
     
     
      self,
      be
      ran
      to
      the
      prefect’s
      room
     
     
      to
      arouse
      him.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Dragging
      the
      still
      sleepy
      pre-”
     
    
   
   
    
     
      fect
      to
      the
      top
      of
      the
      stair.
      Ar-
     
     
      seneault
      conveyed
      a
      jumbled
      se-
     
     
      quence
      of
      events
      to
      an
      increas
     
     
      ingly
      angered
      cieric.
      The
      stern
     
     
      priest.
      attempted
      <0
      quiet
      she
     
     
      young
      man
      but
      Arseneault's
      ada-
     
     
      ment
      :efusal
      to
      Sack
      down
      drew
     
     
      an
      ever
      increasing
      group
      of
      :ee
     
     
      dents.
      Using
      his
      authority,
      the
     
     
      prefect
      sent
      the
      young
      men
      to
     
     
      their
      cooms
      with
      orders
      to
      forget
     
     
      she
      rambiings
      of
      a
      studeot
      with
     
     
      an
      over-active
      :mag.nation.
     
    

    
     
      This
      souid
      have
      2een
      she
      end
     
     
      of
      it
      Sad
      not
      the
      apparition
      agais
     
     
      appeared
      one
      year
      ‘ater
      -
      she
      an-
     
    
   
   
    
     
      niversary
      of
      Gagnoz's
      death.
      phe
      -
     
    
   
   
    
     
      young
      man
      o«cupy:ng
      the
      room
     
     
      -
      Arseneauit
      having
      graduated
     
     
      ~
      was
      startled
      awaxe
      by
      a
      ‘oud
     
     
      Sanging
      on
      his
      door
      Getting
      up
     
    
   
   
    
     
      to
      see
      if
      it
      was
      some
      prank,
      be
     
     
      found
      no
      one
      there.
      Looking
      for
     
     
      the
      prankster,
      be
      spied
      a
      snow.
     
     
      covered
      man
      standing
      near
      the
     
     
      stair.
      Thinking
      aotbing
      of
      it,
      be
     
     
      returned
      to
      his
      bed.
     
    

    
     
      Grilling
      his
      friencs
      at
      Sreat.
     
     
      fast
      the
      next
      morning.
      Se
      soot
     
     
      discovered
      it
      #as
      ao
      Earthty
      ‘orm
     
     
      he
      has
      seen
      the
      nignt
      defor.
     
     
      Word
      quickly
      spread
      of
      Gagnon't
     
     
      reappearance.
     
    

    
     
      Every
      year
      since,
      Gagnon
      hu
     
     
      returned
      to
      his
      room
      in
      Dalton
     
     
      Hall.
      After
      the
      renevations
      to
     
     
      the
      building,
      it
      was
      not
      ased
      ast
     
     
      residence
      and
      therefore
      no
      reap
     
     
      pearance
      was
      recorded.
      Thus,
     
     
      however,
      changed
      when
      a
      studeol
     
     
      working
      ‘ate
      one
      night
      on
      the
     
     
      third
      floor
      of
      Dalton
      was
      suprised
     
     
      by
      a
      knock
      at
      his
      classroom
      doot.
     
     
      Upon
      opening
      the
      door
      he
      1
     
     
      ticed
      a
      snow-covered
      man
      stant
     
     
      ing
      in
      the
      ball.
      Be
      called
      oul
     
     
      to
      the
      figure
      but
      there
      was
      0
     
     
      response.
      After
      several
      second
     
     
      and
      the
      blink
      of
      an
      eye,
      the
      mu
     
     
      was
      no
      longer
      there.
      Walkisf
     
     
      over
      to
      the
      spot
      where
      the
      ma
     
     
      had
      stood,
      the
      student
      crossed!
     
     
      patch
      of
      floor
      that
      sent
      8
      cold
     
     
      wave
      through
      him.
     
    

    
     
      It
      seems
      Mr.
      Gagnoo's
      +
     
     
      tatchment
      to
      Dalton
      Ball
      is
      gre!
     
     
      indeed.
     
    

    
     
      The
      above
      story
      ia
      an
      de
     
     
      thor’s
      reconstruction
      of
      the
      fact
     
     
      The
      incidents
      described
      did
      actu
     
     
      ally
      occur,
      although
      the
      autho
     
     
      has
      taken
      liberties
      and
      altered
     
     
      certain
      details
      for
      dramatic
      ¢
     
     
      fect.
      Blake's
      as
      mentioned
      in
      th
     
     
      third
      paragraph,
      is
      tbe
      present
     
     
      day
      location
      of
      the
      RCH.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      '
      Barracks
      on
      University
      Aven
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Mr.
      Gagnoo
      was
      a
      studest
      #
     
     
      Saint
      Dunstan’s
      University
      ©
     
     
      tween
      1923
      and
      1926.
     
    

    
     
      The
     
     
      thor
      would
      like
      to
      thank
      Sb
     
     
      Mullio-Zimmerman
      and
      Pr
     
     
      sor
      W.
      MacIntyre
      for
      dei?
     
     
      cious
      assistance
      in
      -esearcl
     
     
      this
      story,
      Gerard
      Gauthie!
     
     
      his
      library
      work
      and
      11so
      /
     
     
      Doucette
      for
      his
      exper:
      pf
     
     
      read.ng.