Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-09
JACKS HALF-HOLIDAY.

JACKS HALE-HOLIDAY.
The boys looked at each other with
rims of delight when Mr.. Bradley an
bounced that he had just received tele-
mann informing him Of the dangerous
illness of his mother; that he must go to
Walford Immediately, and that there
vould be no school in the afternoon.
Ehsy did not grin because Mr.. Bradley's
mother was dangerously III, but because,
bsing boys, this fact was wholly lost to
yisw in prospect of hah-hohday.
George Rayburn, usually sedate and
aianifed, condescended to look up from
shs absorbing pages Of his Virgil John
Barnes uttered an exclamation OF delight
but was brought to consciousness OF
his il-timed expression by q reproachful
look from the teacher that made him
blush with embarrassment. It also
nhecked subdued whistle from Jack
Browning. The first thought that
aasbed into bis mind was that the long
,nticipsted excursion to Indian Ford,
vhichh he and the Dean boys had planned
oou]d be carried out Immediately, aid
need not be postponed until Saturday.
The boys put their books away with q
vsry perceptible Hutter and murmur that
vsre unusual in Mr.. Bradley's well dis
uiplined school, where the pupils obeyed
because they loved and respected their
tsaGher. After little delay, they were
formally dismissed and trooped down
the street, running, shouting, singing
md whistling, the sound Of their jubi-
liant young voices dying away in the
distance.
The day was one to tempt recluse
out of doors. The sky was deeply blue
without cloud. A gentle breeze stirred
tho boughs of the apple trees near the
windows. The bees flew back and forth
10 their hives their woolly thighs pow
dsred with pollen. Birds chirped and
huttered in the shade; clouds Of yellow
butterflies settled down upon the damp
Tlaces in the road, closing and enclosing
fAair wings in the warm sunshine. The
r,in of the preceding night had cooled
the atmosphere, and freshened the grass
md foliage to shining greenness. But
the sad and weary teacher had little
thought for the day with all its loneliness.
he sat at his desk arranging books and
papers, and had Just signed his name to
. brief note which he had written to one
OF his patrons, postponing an engage
msnt for the evening. A slight noise
startled him, and be tnrned TO see Jack
Browning, standing in the doorway,
holding his hat in hand, waiting for rec
ognition.
"Well, Jack, what is it" inquired
Nr. Bradley; adding kindly, '8Come in"
Jack advanced to the teachers desk
and said hesitatingly:
II only came back to apologize, Mr..
Bradley. I hope you won't think I
meant to be disrespectful I'm really
sorry your mother is sick, and wanted
to tall you 30. My own mother is sick,
and I know how it goes with fellow"
Just like the boyp' thought Mr..
Bradley, laying his hand gently on
Jack's shoulder. II haven't doubt of
e" be said, after little. pause, with
Ea&her husky tremor in his voice. 81
should have forgotten so trifling mat
Ger if you yourself had not come back to
remind me of it. Understand perfect
" that no offense was meant. Go now,
md do not let my trouble spoil your
holiday"
And Jack, thus dismissed, rejoined bis
natee, the teacher looking after him af-
fsctionately.
As Mr.. Bradley had said, it was "just
like him. the generous, impulsive boy,
Who had strangely intermingled with
boyish courage and disregard of phys
ical pain the tenderness and sympathy
1t a girl. He was the champion of all
the abused dogs and cats in the neigh
horhood; he had numerous pensioners
among starved and overworked horses
He spent hours amusing very little chill
dren, and frequently took long walks
abroad with following Of juveniles,
diminishing in size like the dwindling
tail Of kite. But on the ball ground
hs was leader, and in leaping, run
ming and swimming he had no rival. So
proud were his chums of his accomplish.
1asnts that they forbare to ridicule char
ncteristics that, otherwise, would have
subjected him to merciless teasing.
There was something in the honest
sander of his freckled, good humored
fAce, in the ssesdfast expression of his
brown eyes, tLat stopped the oath or the
vulgar joke upon the lips Of his class
mates. Still, he was thorough boy
loving fun and enjoying to the utmost
tho p6py and varied projects he under
took Id carried out.
The Brownings were numerous fami
ly-three rugged, romping boys and 81
many girls, the former requiring sur
prising s-,ntity of food and clothing
which their Woodworking, ploddint
fa&her did not find it an easy matter t.
provide. But fun, freedom and the I'm
tziling affection that sweetened thei
Sa;ly life, more than compensated TO
haxrries, or even comforts that were lack
Ing.
Jack had no difficulty in collecting tn
Deans, and at lunch Tom and Fred, and
elder boys, announced that they woult
accompany the expedition. fhis was Al
Dsxpected pleasure, which LETT nothing
slacking in Jacks prospective happiness
Us baskets were packed, and were pu
into the wagon With the fishing- tackl
md hammock, while tho boys surge,