The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-01-26

the prorrammc The sisters rctrcacd with
the wild grace that was to be expected and |
was lcf, alone to face Professor Bruce in all
his overwhelming dignity. Bah felt like
four-ycaroll who has been caught with both
hands in the sugar-bowl, and haven't the
slightest idea Of how explained matters and
made my escape
When stopped at Esthcr's gate Tom Bart
lett was coming down til Pr With N cX-
preston Of face that made nc =, ..... t. for my
safety but when he saw me he was bland a'
spring in moment.
why, cousin Patty, delighted to have the
pleasure Of escorting you to your carriage and
you may as well rightaboutfacc at once.
There is company within"
tom Bartlett what are you doing here "
asked with all the stcrnness at my command.
well, you see, | had an accident down at
the corner and rs didn't like to 90 through
the street minus a coat tail l stepped in here
to inquire after your friends health while Miss
Bell repaired damages. Before she finished,
there was such an addition to the company
that | forgot the inquiries after all" And
Tom began to hum:
| 'Thcre's aunt Sophia and AZariah
| And jeremiah and cousin Jedcdiah--
All coming here to tea"
Then stopped suddenly to ask: cousin Pat
ty, who footS the bills after the feast, and what
claims have those people upon Miss EIar
graves hospitality anyhow"
tom" said, looking him in the eye, how
often have yOu met them here?"
"Pshuw" he laughed, while saw the color
under that magnificent beard of his, "that is
cyadng my question"
"As far as can find out, Mr.. Hopkins and
family dine with Esther whenever they come
TO town, which is about once a week, and Mrs
Hopkins is cousin to Esther's father. They
have "A farm north of town but don't believe
they ever brought her so much "a an apple
from it, suppose she and Bell starvc during
the rest of the week to make up for their din
ner, and the idea Of bringing such a crowd Of
children upon a sick woman without mo-
mcnt's notice is preposterous, Is there no way
of stopping it, Tom
Not without woundng her pride, | fear"
he answered modify; we must think about
it,"
didn't like the way Tom said that-as if
| it were part Of his daily business to think of
Esther and her troubles wonder what his
lady mother would say to these visits and If
| shall be held responsible for any Of the con,
lan,n,nnn.. b,, ,n; 4
me about Tom since Thanksgiving won.
| if she thinks know. She is the soul of honor;
| | wish | could be as sure of Tom Men who
have plenty of money and no object in life but
to amusc themselves, sometimes do from mere
idlcncss what they would scorn to do dcliber.
atcy. God forbid that | should be in the re-
mOtCsl degree responsible for the shipwrecll of
iIsther's heart Tom bowed himself away,
promising 10 take supper with us, but have
not seen him yet. Perhaps he knew that
was preparing lecture on his general use
lcSsncss, and the responsibilities of Il man with
his bank account. II anything should come
of this, deliver me from Catherine Bartlctt's
eyes
Jcssic's eyes sparkled when she came home
from school, and she threw aside her hat, dc.
claring that revenge is sweet
Whom have you been Strengthening ="
asked, thinking of Bcssic's look of despair
when Professor Bruce surprised her, with all
her pins and switches about her,
"Oh, old Pomposity has been undergoing
torture worse than death and I'm willing to
die now One of those seats in the front row.
that we use for n recitation bench, has been
loose from the IRON frame, and we girls have
been drcading an ungraCclul descent for some
time; but all our cntrcatics To the Professor TO
have ii set aside have only brought lecture
on the advantage of being disciplined to care
fitness. Frank Edwards desk forms the back |
of that scat, and Pompous sat down in his |
usual grand style to overlook Frank writing.
There was a squeak and thud, and all that
was left of our digniticd Professor was two
shining boots twinkling in the air. The boys
actually clapped their hands and Frank asked |
if his views on discipline had undergone any
change lately Frank is our champion, and |
has seen some of our trials with that seat; but
we We're all frightened when he made such a |
bold strike. After while We began To realize |
that the boots were keeping their elevated 10.
sition rather longer than was for the good of
the learned head at the other end of the ma. /
chine. Frank and the Others went TO him and
found the poor man stuck fast, with his head |
bent forward in trightful way. They had
hard work TO get him out, and he dropped his |
purple face on Franks shoulder without a
WORT. FranS brought water and used il un-
Sparingly, pounding on his back all the while.
Things looked serious for a time, but when he |
came round felt as if the object of my life
were accomplishcd-sccing him suffering and
gaspin@ and choking, like the most undiscip.
lined mortal of It's all. | heard him icl the
ianitor Ia take out the St.' a. | came through