Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-05-06

| Its MIR. Snead, sir. Dut uOn see
as what brought him here, unless"
And here, with quick glance at his
companion, he checked himself.
Mr.. Snead was under-teacher at
Bloomfield, and, as Norwood knew, no
very good friend Of his-a light, dandi-
fled young fellow, whose delight it was
Ito play practical jokes upon the grave
lupper-tutor, whose situation he was
eagerly hoping and maneuvering to
lobtain
| Norwood rather wondered what he
could be doing here. but taking no no
tice of him proceeded on his way.
He kept lookout for the dogs as he
approached the house, but, being I'M
molested, mounted the broad, shallow
hall-steps and rang dusty bell, to
which a surprised old man-servant re
Isponded.
Is Mr.. Gregory in?''
eyes, sir-he's always in; but likely
he won't see you"
"Perhaps he will when he knows my
name" replied the tutor presenting his
card.
The man reluctantly admitted him,
and requesting him to wait, went off
with the card. In few moments he
returned, saying, with the same look of
surprise, that his master would see him.
He then led the way across the hal,
down a carpeted passage, and into a
comfortable room, lined with books,
where, before a fire, sat little, dried
| up old gentleman, in flannel dressing
gown and cap. He looked up with a
sharp glance as the visitor entered.
"To what am | indebted for this
visit?" he demanded, abruptly.
81 have called sir, in compliance with
your own request, answered the tutor
with some dignity
/ My request, young man"
Yes; at least, presumed it was Mr..
Gregory who desired to see me-"
Not at all-not at all, sir"
Then" said Norwood, flushing,
there must be some mistake
VERY likely" sarcastially.
You shall Judge, sir"
And fumbling in his pockets, Nor
wood drew out the note.
Every deliberately Mr.. Gregory put
on his spectacles and read it through.
"Humph 50 you thought wrote
this p
Il presumed SO, sir.
"Have you observed the date ?"
Friday, April first" read the young
man, aloud.
Eyes, sir; April first" read the old
gentleman, with look Of shrewd and
sarcastic meaning "April first"
In IN instant, with a sudden shock,
the whole truth flashed upon the poor
tutors mind. He turned excessively
red, and bit his lip till the blood sprang.
What Il simpleton, what ninny, what
an idiot, what laundering foel he had
been, to allow himself to be 50 easily
imposed upon, and that by his own
pupils and trifling underteacher. No
wonder that they had come out to see
the fun and that the boys had giggled,
and Snead, secretly enjoying the sight
of beholding him brushed UP and sol
EMMY proceeding on his fools errand;
and tomorrow the story would be
spread throughout Bloomfield
Despite his unusually gentle nature,
it was well for young Chester and Rob
erts, junior, that they were not at that
moment in the grip of the strong arm
of Mr.. Robert Norwood. As for Snead,
he could only desplse.
Mr.. Gregory, after for an instant sur
veying the young man with the dry
ghost of smile puckering his eyes and
lips, bent his gaze on the card which
lay on the table before HIM
81 beg your pardon" said Norwood,
III great embarrassment, 'for this IN
trusion. II was fool"
wiser men than you have been
made fools Of on occasions" the old
man replied. "But now, as you are
here, you may as well sit down and
rest !"
This ungracious invition the tutor
declined, but the host insisted.
Il really desire you to stay: | wish
To speak to you-to make some in
quiries. Dennis, give Mr.. Norwood q
chair, and you may 60"
Dennis disappeared accordingly, and
his master, holding up the card, said
What do these initials, r. A., stand
for"
Robert Allston."
Mr. Gregory seemed with difficulty |
to swallow something in his throat.
And your mothers name was"
havnard-Ellen Maynard.
Another swallow. He rubbed his
throat with his withered hand, cough |
ed, and complained of a cold, request |
ing his visitor to have the goodness to
pour out little cordial for him rom
i bottle which stood on the table.
This seemed to afford him relief, and |
he commenced D conversation, talking
about many things-the neighborhood, |
the school, Latin and Greek-of the |
tutors position and salary in the |
sehool-of his present and past life, |
until, in less than an hour, Robert Nor
wood awoke to the consciousness that |
his singular host had gradually and
artfully drawn from him full account
of himself and his family.
He had wormed out of him how his
father had been disinherited by an
uncle for marrying a good and beauti-
full girl, whose only fault was that she |
possessed not penny of her own, how |
this uncle had left his whole property |
to another nephew, and how his father,
after 4 life of incessant toll and labor |
to support his family, and give them
good education, had died as poor as |
when he began life As for himself |
Robert Norwood), this education was
all that he possessed, and the position
which lie now held rs head teacher in
a second-rate school i'll second-rate
village was all that he at present had to
depend on for the support Of himself
and mother and young sister-the lat
ter Of whom was bravely struggling
with i little shcool Of her own.
Really said the young man, rising
hastily, Il must apologize for remain
ing 50 long and wearying YOU with sub
jeets of no possible interest to yourself"
Stay a moment" said the old gen
tleman. 81 presume that all your time
is not occupied at the school-in the
evenings. for instance, and on Satur-
days, you are at leisure?'
Norwood replied in the affirmative.
1T has occurred to me that if YOU |
We're willing to add II little to your re-