The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-28
this might be the one who was to be his


Reginald Murray"
"Murray's enough, without the other"
81 should like you to be my friend"
Barton glanced at the large, dark eyes
that were fixed upon him, and at the del-
icate and somewhat mournful face, and
felt attracted also.
IL think l shall like you," he returned ;
"but must wait and see how you go on.
| think you've the right spirit; but you
must take my advice about the knife.
Will YOU"
There was a struggle in Reginald's
mind. 1t was very hard to give up the
knife that Alice had saved up her pocket
money to buy for himl Still, Barton had
been at school for some time, and knew
better than he what ought to be done, so
he answered, II will"
But Barton was not prepared for his
manner of carrying out the decision. To
his great surprise Reginald marched
straight up to Thompson. II shall not"
he said, "speak to DR.. Field about the
knife It's unfair and unjust of you to
take it, and I shan't be friends with you
as long as you keep it. But Barton says
it would be telling tales if made a COM
plant"
Some of the younger boys stood quite
aghast at Reginald's boldness, one or two
even murmured, "Weli done"
Thompson stared, halfin establishment,
half in anger. You're too fast, young
sir; you'll have to be put down, l see, ;"
said he. But he did not give Reginald his
knife again.
School was indeed new world to Reg
inald. He made friends and found enc
mics; he worked hard, and played well !;
and, on the whole, was tolerably popular.
Thompson, however, still kept the knife,
using it upon ali occasions, which cansed
thrill of indignation to go through Reg
maids delicate frame.
"If can't get it one way, will an
other thought he; and he brooded over
the knife until he magniied every word
that Thompson said into series of in
suits to himself, and Thompson, pleased
with the power he possessed over the boy,
exercised it on all occasions.
So the spring went land summer came.
and the days slipped away, and the holt
IF were strong enough would fight
him for IT, said Reginald to Barton,
one day when Thompson had been more
than usually aggravating.
The remark was repeated to Thomp-
son, who was standing by the side of the
river that ran at the foot of the play
ground.
At that moment Reginald drew near.
$50 you would like to fight me if you
were big enough said he with sneer.
81 should" answered Reginald,
warmly.
"Ah, it's bad state of feeling. If the
best way is to get rid of it. So here it
goes, and there is an end of it," And,
drawing the knife from his pocket, be
flung il into the river. 1t fell short of
where he intended, and Reginald saw his
beloved knife through the clear river,
lying within what he supposed to be an
easy reach. Without moments thought
be jumped in after it, regardless of the
cry that rose-"The waters deeper than
it looks!'
His hand, as if by instinct, grasped the
knife, but as he tried to struggle back
through the swiftly-running water, he
out to him, it was great deal deeper
than it looked, and just there the ground
shelved suddenly, and Reginald, taking u
false step, lost his footing.
There was a general cutlery, which
brought DR.. Field, and visitor who had
just arrived, to the spot.
"Murrsys in the river!"
And they pointed to the spot where
the poor boy had sunk.
With such cry as the boys long re-
membered, the visitor had plunged into
the water and had caught the boy, who
had risen for the last time, by the arm.
And the next thing that the boys knew
was that a white, dripping form was car
ried through the play ground into the
house.
Then a whisper went round-"It was
his father"
Then whispered question-"Is he
deadl'
And Thompson shuddered as he heard it.
But Reginald did not die; he opened
his eyes to find his father clasping his
hand. At first he could remember moth
ing; then he looked round anxiously.
as the knife safea went to pick up my
knife"
Then he closed his eyes, and remained
for long time silent, and when he spoke
again it was in the wild rawlings of de-
lrium.
The shock had been too much for the
delicate boy. Fever came on, and it was
weeks before he could be moved home,