Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-13
CHAPTER III.
THE DEANS JAMES


Four O'Clock had sounded from the ca
thedral; the bell had ceased to call for
service. Mrs. ThOrne, Frances WhartOn's
daily goyerness, had passed from the
deanery and disappeared with the other
dozen or so of wOrshipers in the old Nor
man doorway opposite. Up stairs in the
deanery schOOl-rOOm sat Frank, herself
hard at work on q harmony lesson, for
little Mr. phHp, the cathedral Organist
ana POstletOn music master. She had not
sat there long when the schOOl-rOom door
was thrown open with a bang, and Jacks
bOyish voice proclaimed the intruder
Jack 5 face was very excited.
Frank he cried; Crank, just leave
OFF and listen to me-"
Il can hear you, Jack-I really can, so
can the old jackdaws in the tower there,
should say. If they haven't cottonwood in
their ears
"Cawk"' cried Jack, close to poor
Franks pretty pink ones, and away went
Franks book to the other end Of the room.
snow, who is the old moustache the gov
ernOr has got in the library? No admit
lance except on business you know; but
there the Interesting stranger sits with his
hands in his trousers pockets, calm as a
cherub on tombstone. Agatha's there,
too; rs for the dear old Dean, ne actually
looks as if he wasn't wishing the fellow
llAI bthNA oANC VI cOludus
IF you have quite done, perhaps you
will kindly bring me back my book,'' said
Frank quietly.
Now, Frank, don't be aggravating.
Do you or don't you know who the party
is?''
"Of course 1 do? The party as you
call him, you very vulgar little boy, is
James Br0wne-my Browne"
Your BrOwneT'
"Oh, Jack, what stupid you are!
Major James Browne, Red Royals, of
course"
Don't see how that makes him yours, ;"
said Jack.
81 should hope not, indeed?' retorted
Frank. didn't / say at the very first /
couldn't put up with any such name {?
James Browne! L can just see J B., short,
stout, hair cheerful red, face ditto"
Jack could stand no more; he broke into
a derisive shout.
IF you could only see him! Short and
stout is he? and red? Oh, Frank, you
duffer!"
Thank YOU" interrupted Frank with
much dignity.
Don't mention it, returned Jack po-
litely. ''All | can say is, if that is your
Major, he's taller than the governor and
just as thin; as for his hair, it's all but
black; mOustaches likewise; to conclude,
his face is pleasing bronze and he's got
eyes like gimlets. He knew all al out the
book L wasn't looking for, bless you'll Oh,
Frank, you are muff !"
''Never mind" said Frank, ''there are
Brownies just like that, | know. | wish
Agatha would come up and tell us all
abOutit. But don't talk any more, please;
have my lessons to do
$50 have l." said Jack, "worse luck"
and was silent for two minutes.
still sat. Five came booming from the
cathedral. The quarter sounded, then the
half-hOur, and at the same moment the
library bell rang.
'At last" cried Jack and Frank to-
gether. Jack was out of the school-roOm,
with all but his heels over the banisters,
by the time Rufiles, the butler, had got to
the library door. Jack went back to
Frank, too astOunded for speech.
''Well?H cried Frank. "Well?'
"He's going to stop!'
"What! Who?"
''James Browne" Then Frank and Jack
sat and looked at one another.
The Dean of POstletOn, whatever he
might be TO outsiders, was no enigma to
his children. No father was better loved
or more loving, but his odd, shy ways, his
misery and discomfort in the presence of
strangers, were fully known to them. His
come enough, but to the making of new
ones he was not given-certainly not in
this sudden and altogether unlOoked-iOr
manner. And here was this mysterious
Major, who had barely been in Postleton
a week, and who had never crossed his
threshold until an hour ago, made free of
the house at once! However, there was
nothing to be done but to sit and wait
with what amount of patience they might
until Agatha should be available. This
was not until the first gong sounded, when
the library door was heard to open, and
Agatha's soft footsteps came up the stairs.
At the schoOl-roOm door Jack and Frances
bounced out upon her.
s'What does it meanr' they cried, and
dragged her into the room.
Agatha looked at them with an amused
smile. A faint rose bloomed on her cheek.
her soft brown eyes were shining. Frank
sharp ones noticed il all.
"Why, Agatha, your headache is gone.
Is it the wonderful Major who has done
that-has he bewitched you and papa
bOth?"
81 think it is you who are bewitched,' p
laughed Agatha. GAS for Major Browne,
he is nothing more wonderful than the
son of papa's very Oldest friend-the
Browne we have heard him so often talk
a