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

After Many Days.
1t was opening day at the academy.
The regular chapel services were over,
and we were waiting while our seats were
assigned us according to our rank in schol-
arship. Nearly all the last years boys
and girls were there-except, indeed, the
fifteen graduates, whom we missed from
the front rowland there were many new
faces, some eager and self-confdent, 9th.
ers wearing a timid, shrinking expression,
the tell-tale of stifed inconsistencies. One
by one the names had been called and
their owners had responded. At length
"Jasper Langley" said the professors
clear, incisive voice. There was a mo-
ments pause, and from the shadow of a
pillar in the extreme rear of the room
rose an odd, mis-shapen little fgure-the
head of youth of fifteen or sixteen set
upon the narrow, bumped shoulders of a
child of ten. As the newcomer walked
slowly up the long aisle, between double
row of curious gazers, his own eyes cast
down and red flush burning in each thin
cheek, | could think of nothing but the
white captive in an Indian story had
once read" Running the Gauntlet"
The seats usually allotted to the boys of
the school proved insufficient for their
accommodation, and several had already
been placed in the girls division. 1t
seemed a cruel 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
been in itself enough, the spoiled little
beauty, with swift, involuntary lifting
of her round shoulders and pout of her
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 sensitiveness of the de-
formed, the boy saw and comprehended
the gesture. In an instant he shrank
away in his turn-a look of sharp pain in
his face, mingled with bitter, almost de-
FAINT humiliation, very sad to see.
Instinctively glanced at Margaret Lee
--"Queen Margaret" we used to call her
the dearest, noblest girl in all the
school, and proudest, too, with that grand,
fearless pride which could have gone to
death rather than stoop to mean act
Tears were trembling on her long lashes,
her cheeks famed, and her sweet, firm
lips were pressed tightly together, as if to
hold back the indignant words that strug.
gled behind them. When we were dis
missed from the room, saw her pause at
the professors desk, speaking in low,
earnest tone. He bowed, as if in assent to
a request, and | fancied-what the next
morning confrmed-that she had begged
to exchange seats with Lily Barton.
"May walk with you, Margaret ?" I
asked, as we donned our hats and wraps
that afternoon.
She stopped to kiss me-she was tall
for her sixteen years-and whispered, hur-
riedly:
"Not this time, May, dear you will
understand why"
She went out of the door with quick
step.
"Miss Margaret " called handsome
Ned Gray after her. "Aren't you going
to stay and arrange for our archery
match ?"
81 cannot, Ned" she answered. Jasper
Langley, who was slipping quietly away,
looked up at the sound of her voice, and
as he did 30 she gave him one of her rare
smiles, like sudden sunshine.
"Nobody needs an introduction at
school" she said to him in those clear
tones of hers which always commanded
every ear, "and since I learned your
name at roll call, | imagined that you 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 answered
"Yes, that is my mother. There are
only we two"
"My mother would have called, but she
has been ill.," Margaret explained. at
will be 80 pleasant to have the cottage
occupied again. And | shall 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 silence,
at is lonesome sometimes, you know
she went on, especially in winter, when
the darkness comes on so early, and none
of the others 60 with me nearly all the
way"
The boy looked up at her with all his
soul in his eyes, and even the most
thoughtless among us realized that al
almost sacred comradeship was sealed be-
tween the two, and the whole power OF
'Queen Margsret's prestige in the acad