Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-08-04

and we were waiting while our seat
were assig ned us according to our ram
In scholarship. Nearly all the last YEAR
boys and girls were there-except, in
deed, the l5grsduates, whom we misse,
from the fre<,t rowland there wer,
many new faces, some eager and self
confident, others wearing timid shrink
ing expression the tell tale of stife,
homesickness. One by one the name.
had been called and their owners haG
responded. Atlength casper Langley :
said the professors clear and incisiye
voice. There was moments pause,
and from the shadow of q pillar in the
extreme rear of the room rose an odd
misshapen little 6gure-the head of a
youth of fifteen or sixteen set upon the
narrow, bumped shoulders of q child O,
ten. AS the newcomer walked SLOWLY
up the long aisle, between q double row
OF curious gaZers, his own eyes cas-
down and red flush burning in each
thin cheek, could think of nothing bu
the white captive in IN Indian story l
had once Running the Gaunt-
LETT
The seats usually allotted to the bows
OF the school proved insufficient for their
accommodation, and several had already
been placed in the girls division. Il
seemed crueI mOckery of fate that set
Jasper langley at the elbow of Lily Bar
ton, the prettiest girl of the academy.
But, as if the physical contrast had not
IN Itself been enough, the spoiled little
beauty, with swift, involuntary lifting
of her round shoulders, and pout of her
red lips, moved 10 the farthest limit o.
her seat, in evident desire to avoid her
new neighbor. Poor Lily was more
thoughtless than Intentionally cruel;
youth and beauty, so rich in themselves
are often intolerant of lack in others;
but with the morbid sensitveness of the
reformed the boy saw and comprehend
ed the gesture. In an instant he shrank
away In his turn-a look of sharp pain
IN his face, mingled with u bitter, al
most defiant humiliation, very sad to
see.
Instinctiveiy l glanced at. Margaret
Lee queen Margaret" we used to call
her-the dearest, noblest girl in I'll the
school, and proudest too, with that grand,
fearless pride which could have gone to
death rather than stoop to a mean act.
Tears were trembling on her long iashes,
her cheeks famed and her sweet, firm
Ups were pressed tightly together, as if
TO hold back the indignant words that
struggled behind them. When we were
dismissed from the room, saw her
pluse by the professors desk, speaking
I'D low, earnest tone. He bowed, as if
IN assent to request, and | fancied--
what the next morning cOnfrmed-that
she had begged to exchange seats with
Lily Barton.
May | walk with you, Margaret" [
asked as We donned our hats and warps
that afternoon.
She stopped to kiss me-she was tall
for her sixteen years-and whispered
hur,iellv:
"Not this time, May dear; you will IN
derstand why"
She went out of the door with quick
step;
Ned Gray after her. "Aren't you going
to stay and arrange for our archer
match"
II cannot Ned ;" she answered. JAS
per Langley, who was slipping quietly
away, looked up at the sound of her
voice and as he did so she gave him one
Nobody needs an introduction at
school, she said to him in those clear
tones Of hers which always commanded
every ear; Il have imagined that on are
one OF our new neighbors in the cottage
in the grove. Father told us that Mrs.
Langley had taken it."
The boys face flushed but the weary
hopeless look it had worn frightened
into something like pleasure as he an
sWered:
Eyes, that is my another, There are
only We two"
''My mother would have called but
she has been ill.," Margaret explained.
ut will be so plea-ant to have the cot.
tage occupied again. And | will always
be sure of company for the long walk
that is if You don't mind"
In the rush of feeling which overpoW-
cred him, the boy turned away his face.
Margaret seemed not to notice his 81
ence.
1t is lonesome sometimes, you know"
she went on ESPECIALLY In winter, when
The darkness comes on 80 early and
1one OF the others 90 with me nearly
Ill the way"
The boy looked up at her with all his
soul IN his eyes, and even the most
among US realized that an
almost sacred comradeship was sealed |
the two, and the whole power |
u Queens Margarets" prestige III the |
set to guard the poor unfortu. |
1ate from slight or Insult
AS the weeks passed, we found that |
Jasper's infrmity was only of the body, |
Ind that mentally he was strong and |
nature even beyond his years, mater |
ng his ttsk with ease, and sh wing a |
breadth and grasp of thought hich as
onished teachers and pupils alike. Shy !
md reticent with the rest of us, to Mar
.aret he seemed to show all his heart.
from her we learned the little we knew
If his history. His parents had been of
English birth, his father dying
ust as the first symptoms APP
'eared of the dreadful disease which
lad blighted Jasper's life, and leaving
lis wife. with broken health and mar
oW means, almost friendIess in strange
and. Mother and son had been all in
III to each other-she inspiring his ear
Ter studies and jealousy guarding him
Is long as she was able from an appre-
:iation of the full extent of his affliction.
Perhaps the revelation had been all the
more bitter when it came, because it
)artook of the nature of a shock. Jas
|
himself so that he might not only cease
o be burden upon his mother, but be
BILE in some way to assist her.
Most of the pupils of the academy
we're generous enough not to begrudge
o the deformed boy prize after prize of
which rewarded his faithful
fort. However, as the school year
rev to its close bitter jealousy of his
uccess grew and ranked in one heart
t least. Herbert Archer was bov of
brilliant mind but reckless disposition.
I had been his custom to redeem many
ays of mischievous idleness by few of
ard work at the end of each
erm, when he would pass his examina-
ions with tolerable credit. Asa motive
D more persistent effort. his father had
made the gaining of certain rhetoric
rize by him, the condition upon which
e should receive the gift of beautiful
all boat, on which he had set his heart
Herbert had really worked diligently,
nd his only formidable rival was JAS
er Langley. But few days remained
tho Inoicio, 70 bo |