Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-27
TIE HERALD.
From the New York Observer.
NED BARTOW'S TEMPTATION.
BY KATIE MCDOWELL.

you're the very one we're wait.
ing forl' was the greeting given Ned
Barlow by a group of classmates as
he entered the schoolroom one cold
winter morning. Jim says he has q
famous plan, and we want to talk il
over before the rest come.
What is itr eagerly inquired the
fun loving Ned. as, having put away
his books, he Joined the circle that
surrounded the stove.
Something you must promise
you'll agree to-, answered one; 'all
the rest of us have.'
That's no reason why | should,
Ned quietly remarked.
well, he needn't promise until l
get through talking about it, said
Jim, 'and then, l reckon, he'll be
glad enough to- with an air of i'm.
portance. as the ring of boys grew
smaller and all looked interested,
you know Uncle Seth is visiting US,
well, we sat up till after twelve
last night listening to accounts of the
times be and the other fellows used
TO have at school. Such narrow es.
capea | never heardl Perfectly won,
derful some of the things he told US;
but what particularly took my fancy
was a sleIgh-ride that twenty Of
them went on, and no one knew any.
thing about it till the whole affair
was over! And / don't see why act
can't get up one.'
As Jim paused, the boys pressed
round him with eager questions
among them Ned's: How did it hap
pen nobody found it ont?'
That's the best part of ALL said
jim, Shaping his knee in Uucle.Seth
style. Not ono of 'em was seen or
heard leaving his housed That was
all planned, aud so was their meet.
ing place about quarter of mile
out of town, where the sleighs were
all ready for them about ten O'Clock
and then, added jim. with the ton,
of one accustomed to like affairs
they started off,-had big 81 pper
of course, and grand time ger eral
ly. TheD,' gleefuIly, 'the paper cam
out next day with descripti n o
the whole thing-names menti )neo
aud al, and you imagine the sur
prise OF every body who thougi t tn
boys were all safe in bedl Now wha
do you say to our clubbing tog athe
and doing the sameY
There was a chorus IF, Jus tn
thing = Capital I Have it toni INT
Home by moonlight But ole 0
two were not SO enthusiastic.
What do you say?' inquired Jim
turning to Ned.
Il PROPOSE he replied, that W
take the ride and all that, bui no
keep it secret.
Not keep it a Sscretr cried Il as
tonished Jim. why that's tn
point of the whole thingl Whom d,
you want TO tel2'
My mother, or Frank
why, the idea! Can't you s.,
thai would spell the whole thi ,g?-.
for not a person is to know .cep
Harry Allen's father, and VS. )uld
Mt tell him il he wasn't rol ortec
and going to put something alb ut j.
10 the morning paper. IL will he fu
TO see how astonished every Oh
will be at the news. Now. bows, do
say you'll agree, and we'll try to
have it this very night. Well meet
the rest Of the class at recess and
find what each will have to pay; and
let's make the first rule now; tina,
no one can go unless he promises
secrecy
The boys turned to Ned, asking :
Why won't you promise2'
Because ought not to- he quiet
ly answered, a look of disappoin,-
ment settling on his usually happy
faes. You know, mother is far
from We'll yet, and when she calls, l
want to be always at hand
Cannot Frank take your placer
queried some one.
That's just the reason l want to
tell him, tor he would have TO be
down stairs and take my room; and
even then, mother ought to know
for Frank sleeps 30 sound!y l would.
MT dare risk his hearing an ordinary
CALL
oh, of course sDeered jim, you
would like to tell the whol5 family
but ! am getting this ride up, and, il
you're not willing to promise whs
the others do, we can get along with
out you
Think it over, Ned said the boy
next him, with look as if the sue
cess Of the ride depended upo hi
answer; and the other boys, toe
begged him not to say, No. GIN
that it wouldn't be half the fui
without him.
Pupils Of other classes had eguu
TO come in and hasten towat | To
fire; 80 the group separated > in
form others of the plan as the. ar
rived.
Il do want To co. said Ne | 10
wardly, for l haven't bad a eigb
ride this winter; but if any hin
should happen TO mother, ,ould
never forgive myself No; | ough
DOT to go, and ioW not;' and witt
this determination he took his eat
The school exercises opened witt
the singing of Yield not to to- apts
tion,' aud seemed to Ned an a swel
to tho oft-repeated question Of th
morning, Won't you change you
mind?
Il know Pve decide rightly b,
thought again, and I'll not We j
another thought. Just say Mo-
the meeting and that will be the en-
of it,
Despite his resolution. his thcughl
would go out toward the piojeo'
and his inal answer to the cit IS 6
recess was received far diffe, entll
from what he expected.
sits real mean in you,' said Harrl
Allen, 'and I'll ask father TO writ,
the B class all went, with one excep
ton; and then every body will be in
curing who stayed home
Maybe that's what he wants, ssi'
Jim, following OPP the attack; $50 tina
everyone will be praising him AM
saving What a coon son, That