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

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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

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.