Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-06-12
CHAPTER II.

In 6hA" AN "A ~ 0ONs
On a certain Wednesday afternoon, the
walled Enclosure of the back of this house
presented an agreeable scene of boys at play.
There were not less than forty of them, with
just half an acre of ground for their feet to
measure. Now, the whole circumference Of
the horizon might truly seem narrow scope
for the ~impetuosities of their leap-frog, their
"horses," and other extremely animated
pastimes.
Among the shadows under the chestnuts q
young man was seated on a bench.
He held a book in his hand, over which
he pored.
Never was attitude of wrapt ~studiousness
10 intently expressed. In all the shouting
and leaping of the boys, there was nothing to
provoke a single impatient lifting of the head
Of this figure.
But he never turned a page.
He was of a slender build, yet with Shout
ders broad enough to warrant him a man.
His feet were such compact curves as q
woman's eye would love to dwell on, for the
mere. sake of the breeding and pretti-
ness of them. His bountiful auburn hair
fell curling to his shoulders, as the fashion
then wa among men who were ~forswearing
the wig, yet sticking to the traditions of lux
uriant head clothing.
This was all Of him now visible.
Yet enough to make a picture of gentle
masculine grace, and a shape of strong and
nervous beauty.
He paid no more heed to the boys than
they to him, though he was there to keep
them in order.
While he thus sat, there came briskly on
to q platform whence a flight of steps led to
the playground a short, plump old man in
black stockings and tail coat, and fril
spreading out like a fan from his bosom.
Catching hold of the rail he ran his small,
brilliant black eyes taking a power Of H.
Elimination from shaggy white eyebrows and
a dusky skim over the tumbling figures of
the boys, and then looked steadfastly at the
young man whose back was toward him.
By degrees the boys grew aware of his
presence.
Their shouts slackened, their mirth grew
constrained, their antics got fatter.
Still the befrilled figure stood staring on
the young man, and the young man sat
bending over his book, lost, in some deep
kind of contemplation. to all external change.
"Cuthbert!" shouted the old man.
The young fellow looked around quickly,
as though alarmed by the voice, or rather
by the meditations which the voice had dis
turbed.
He arose and went toward the house.
"What book is that inyour hand9" inquired
the old gentleman, with his eyebrows
knitted, and the hair of them glittering like
frost in the beam of sunshine that fell straight
ON his face through the trees.
~Juvenal, SIR"
And - the young man spoke lie glanced
upward with a pair Of blue eyes, and dis.
closed Q beautiful and winning covntenance.
'Juvenal, indeed! Much Of Juvenal have
you read since I have stood here with my
eyes upon you"
"Really-"
mo, no; that's not your task. And Civ.
me leave to say that while you are wool
gathering Batemen, senior, and Francis Ire
maine have earned q aogging for using thei,
fista. That was proceeding in a true linz
with your nose, and all the waggeries of the
poet should not keep you from noting mis-
conduct, if your mind was not elsewhere thar
in your head"
This was spoken In q low tone, not wanting
in sharp distinctness.
The young fellow addressed a. Cuthbert
made no reply. He stood in passive posture
with no more than . little deepening of tn,
expresstoo Of thoushttulnss on his fscs. ane