The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-05

AS the weeks passed we found that
Jasper's infirmity was only of the body,
and that mentally he was strong and ma
ture, even beyond his years, mastering his
task with ease, and showing breadth and
grasp of thought which astonished teach
ers and pupils alike. Shy and reticent
with the rest of us, to Margaret he seemed
to show all his heart. From her we
learned the little we knew of his history.
His parents had been of English birth, his
father dying just as the first symptoms
appeared of the dreadful disease which
had bligbted Jasper's life, and leaving his
wife, with broken health aud narrow
means, almost friendless in strange land.
Mother and son had been all in all to each
other-she inspiring his earlier studies
and jealously guarding him as long as she
was able from an appreciation OF the full
extent of his sffliction. Perhaps the
revelation had been all the more bitter
when it came, because it partook of the
nature of shock. Jasper's one ambition
now was to educate himself 80 that he
might not only cease to be burden upon
his mother, but be able in some way to
assist her.
Most of the pupils of the academy were
generous enough not to begrudge to the
deformed boy prize after prize of scholar
ship which rewarded his faithful effort
However, as the school year drew to its
close, bitter jealousy of his success grew
and ranked in one heart at least. Herbert
Archer was boy of brilliant mind but
reckless disposition. 1t had been his Gus
tom to redeem many days of mischievous
idleness by few of hard work at the end
of each term, when he would pass his ex-
aminations with tolerable credit. AS
motive to more persistent effort, his father
had made the gaining of certain rhetoric
prize by him the condition upon which he
should receive the gift of beautiful sail
boat, on which he had set his heart. Her
bert had really worked diligently, aud his
only formidable rival was Jasper Langley.
But few days remained before the de-
cision was to be made. Jasper had OBJ.
tanned permission to remain in the library
for an hour after school, in order to con-
suit an encyclopedia for some data de-
sired in the preparation of his theme. The
door, standing sjar as Herbert passed with
two or three companions, disclosed the
little figure of the boy, with paper and
pencil in hand bent laboriously over the
great volume. Herbert was in an irrita-
BILE mood, following upon an unexpected
failure in recitation, and the sight seemed
to throw him into sudden rage. He
flung open the door, and strobe hastily
into the room.
"See here, fellowsl" he cried out in
voice hoarse with passion, the miserable
little sneak, coaching away for dear life
It's burning shame for crooked thing
like that, good for nothing in the world,
to slip in here, worming himself into the
ing off with all the prizes under the very
noses of his betters Let's put him out ~
He advanced with clinched fist, but
hand on his shoulder arrested him, not so
much by the strength of its grasp as by
the irresistible power of the spirit behind
it. Margaret Lee stood there, her face
white flame of anger, yet 80 clear and
free of all self-consciousness that it seemed
to have something like the divine wrath
with sin. Herbert, as if literally shriveled
in the blaze of her eyes, turned and slip.
ped through The door to which she pointed,
for she had OF uttered syllable.
Jasper threw himself along a bench.
shaking with tempest of heavy, fearless
sobs. Margaret knelt beside him, vainly
trying to draw away the thin hands
with which he had hidden his face.
"Jasper, Jasper - she entreated, che
is not worth this. Do not mind him."
"No, no." he moaned at last. 81 do
not mind him, but it is because he has
spoken the truth-'a crooked thing, good
for nothing in the world = That is what
he said, and it is true"
"No, it is not true. 1t is dreadful
thing that you have to bear, but, Jasper,
God knows about IT,"
"That is the worst of it, Margaret"
answered the boy, in low, defiant voice.
Margaret, do you think God can be good
and have made such people as 1 am p
"Jasper," said the girl solemnly, off
there were only this one world | should
be afraid to think. But not nowl Jas.
per, this body is not you. 1t seems to me
that perhaps the best thing, the greatest
thing, that God could give anybody to do
would be to show how true and noble
soul like yours may grow, even while it is
in prison. And, Jasper-afterwards-
do not know how to say what / mean
but think some people will be ever so
much happier than others even in heaven.
Jasper, do think, really believe that,
III your place, L cOulu IIu5u our fatner
and not be afraid"
There was little silence and the boy
raised his head. A strange peace had
come into his face.
81 will go home now," he said gently,
and the two went out together.
1t was Herbert Archer, after all, who
won the prize, and perhaps the only one
of all his schoolmates who sincerely re.
joiced at the result was the boy whom he
80 cruelty wounded.
Jasper did not return to school. A
startling letter came to Mrs. Langley, one
day, from a London solicitor. Her hus-
bands elder brother had died childless,
leaving Jasper sole heir to his large es-
tate. They sailed Immediately for Eng.
land, and, as years passed, the memory of
the deformed boy faded almost entirely
from the minds of those who had known
him 80 briefly. Only to Margaret Lee
came, at rare intervals, letter with for
eign postmark, whose contents evinced
the growth of noble, patient, even cheer
full life.
Poor Margaret The years brought her
many heavy and unexpected burdens. Her
father lost all in an unsuccessful venture,
and, discouraged and dispirited, did not
| lono auruiva tho Urnck of bia fortunao