The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-18

He seemed 30 glad To he mt home, and
that made me feel blue, for / couldn't
help thinking Of my home, which only a
year or two before Ind been broken up,
and which missed terribly.
We sat before the fire some time, and
at last began to grow sleepy; for had
got up early that morning to do some
studying-a most uncommon piece OF
behavior on my part-and between that
and the journey, the drive and the sup.
per, my eyes kept shutting up. l dis.
covered my miserable state of mind to
Dick, who said he was sleepy too, and
volunteered to keep me company. We
listened II minute in the hall, and found
that Jack was repeating his poetry. He
looked up Mt me in rather II shame faced
fashion when / said goodnight to Miss
Hallowcll, and seemed more i'll Mt ease
than ever had seen him. Dick said in
n casual way that he should be down
again presently, and We departed.
Sentimental goose!" said he, when
we were half way upstairs. Hell he
made fun of If he goes far ON that tack.
! said was coming down again Just To
start him of. I'm afraid you've had Il
stupid evening, Phil, but Alice will he
all right tomorrow and well have no end
of fun"
put in remark not altogether com.
plimentary to Spenser, for to tell the
truth l was little jealous and had q
sense of being left out Of sight. When
we were in my room, Dick banged the
door and rolled over and over on wide
u,,fn n,,nvl,,n.r ,xntI ha 81,
Mysteries. i never had seen the fellow
behave 80 in all the time l had know
him. l laughed at first from sympathy,
and finally pounded him on the back
and shook him and made him sit up, and
then | gave my whole mind to finding
out what the matter was.
sob, can't tell you, old boy !" said
he, gasping, "but it's such n go! I'm
afraid never can keep it until tO-mor-
row. II we both knew il we should
spoil it, but it's such fun, and YOU shall
know tomorrow afternoon" and my
friend sat mp and wiped his eyes, and
told me if everything wasn't all right in
the room to sing out, and that | should
he called for breakfast, and mustn't tell
Spenser that there was any joke coming
off. / made another attempt to learn
the secret, but Dick scurried away down
stairs in self-defense.
In half an hour or so, when 1 was just
going off to sleep, Spenser opened the
door of ms room, which was next to mine,
and was evidently much elated.
Halo! you aren't asleep?" said he.
"Isn't it larky place? l wish we
were going to stay n month And he
whistled little, and moved about the
room briskly, pulling his dressing traps
out of his travelling bag.
With great struggle against jealousy
and sleepliness said, "She's n sumner,
isn't she, Spencer ?" and he looked CRATE
full for this sympathy, and gave me his
opinion of Miss Hallowell's charms in a
most touching, confidential manner.
"And the fact is, said he, "she is
lonely here, and l don't wonder at it.
There are no young ladies here, and she
says she has grown up with her brothers.
OF course she is awfully fond of Dick,
but you know he is little rough, some
times, and he seems only little boy To
her"-and Jack looked at himself i'll the
long dressing glass as if there was Miss
Hallowells bCam idCdt of what young
gentleman ought to be. "She says she
always wished to see me, ever since Dick
used to write about me from Exeter.
She knows how to say nice thing to a
fellow, and she means everything she
says; you can tell she isn't trying to stuff
you. That's Daneweights fashion.
"Then her sun has set, has it?" /
asked, waking up II little.
Don't be rough" said Jack, placid
ly. did you see what stunning rings
she wears?"
Next morning we had breakfast late,
and had to hurry to get through in time
to get in church. Spenser supposed
Miss Holloway was going, and / didn't
care to stay at home alone; but when the
sleigh came round and We walked ont of
the library dressed in our highest style,
Dick said that Miss Hallowell would not
be of the party. Jack evidently wished
to stay at home to keep her company,
but didn't dare to say so, rs Dick seemed
to have no such idea, and so we started
off ruefully enough; but we had long
drive, and the gait Of Mr.. Hallowell's
black horses proved great consolation
to me If not to Spenser; and we heard q
capital sermon. After we came home we
had an early dinner, and Miss Hallowell
came down looking pale, SO that we
could tell the headache had been gen.
mue. Dick took me all over the house
and showed me his guns and all his own
special treasures, and then we went out
to the stables. In the mean time Jack
was with Miss Hallowell in the parlor.
She had lost her color, and her cold
seemed even worse. and / must confess
she was not so pretty as she had been the
evening before. 1t was a great disap-
pointment to us that she was i'll. She
was 80 cordial and bright and kind that
no one could help liking her. By and
by Dick and came in, and finding that
Spenser was reading aloud we consider.
ately went into the library. 1t had be.
gun to snow and the wind was blowing
tremendously, and there was no prospect
of the walk We had been planning; 80 We
took some books and tried to read, and
then we began to smoke, Dick having
brought out q generous supply of his
fathers cigars. We talked little, but
it was rather a dull afternoon. We could
hear Spenser reading in the parlor; they
were sitting in bay window out Mt the
farther end. / couldn't help feeling
that i was left ont in the cold, and then
it occurred to me that this was a good
chance to find out Dicks secret. had
alluded to it frequently during the day,
and he had hushed me and put me of
every time. He said: "Wait until even.
ing;" and thought it was some plan foi
trick or frolic, as he had showed mar.
velous ingenuity in such affairs at college.
was sure IF something entertaining,
and hoped in my Utmost heart that he
meant to tease Spenser.
and he laid down his book with CLEAN
of fun in his eyes, and a doubtful lool
about the mouth.
"It's a shame it SHOWS. I'm afraid il
will spoil the best of it. but I've great
mind to tell You. 1t is agony to keep il
to myself. How the rascal has managed
to keep it up 30 long l don't see.
haven't dared to look him in the fac,
to-day. Halo! what's that ?"-and
followed him as he sprang to the win
dow, and saw sleigh just coming up t.
the door. A young lady jumped on
and ran up the steps covered with snow
while the man drove away toward tn
stable. Dick seemed convulsed, and
thought with Joy that the tete-a-tct
would be broken up.
| The young lady had come into til,
hall, but Dick did not go out to receive
her, and caught me by the arm and hel,
me fast with very funny expression.
The young lady called, Boys! wher,
are you ?"-but nobody answered; ant
then we heard her 60 into the parlor
and Dick went to join her, dragging m
with him.