Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-01
CHAPTER ".

Out of his bed rose Cuthbert. to the tune of
the school bell, swung by the man who
cleaned the boots and thrived on pocket
money errands to the destruction of Youthful
digestions.
His own mild hint yesterday, by which he
had hoped to put his father off from graphing
questions, had stirred him into perception of
new sympathies in his nature. With thoughts
of his wife, and the secret to be divulgel BE-
fore another night should come, had mingled
impulses of freedom, yearning for the
shows and struggles of an outer %ofld,
and placid WEAKNESS of spirit, when the
school room rose in his eyes, with the tasks
to be set and the ignorance to be corrected
His resolution to proclaim his secret was n
quickening spirit in the soil of his mind,
terminating seeds there which he himself
knew not Of
"Why need / fear my fathers angern he
thought, as he threw open his bedroom win
dow, and stood in stream of sweet warm
wind. fresh from the blue water; II have
served him dutifully, and win yet Justify all
his fine thoughts of his calling by sticking to
it, If he will love Jenny, and bear with me
for marrying her. If not, the world is big
enough TO find me work, surely What ! am
fitted for shall not trouble me; but what |
can get to do, I'll do"
This honest soliloquy DONE he betook him
self to dressing.
Never looking glass gave back hand
somer face than that into which he glanced.
Such picture of dark auburn hair, white
brow and blue eyes, bright with mind as
would set heartless beauty dreaming like a
faithful sweetheart
And now for the days dry work, the first
stage OF which was the meeting of the boys
in the 'schoolroom to await, amid cracking
Of yawns and restless shutting of feet, the
arrival of Dr. Shaw in that academic gown
OF his which he donned only to read the
morning prayers in or to birch a boy
Between prayer time and breakfast time
there was half hour, to employ which
profitably to his spirits, that stood sorely in
need of regenerating influences, and also to
escape his fathers eyes, the twist os which,
when they all got off their knees he did not
relish, Cuthbert went into the fields before
the house; and so, through the clarifying
sunshine and the narrow footway In the
barley, down to the short grass of the cliff
edge, on the swell of which he stood within a
fathom of the sheer fall
A scene of summer beauty and morning
splendor was this he overlooked.
But Cuthbert was toiling with giant in
his mind, and nature was only blue and
green to him; for there is nothing dainty TO
troubled mind but ease, and this our young
friend could not get, neither by sitting nor
by standing.
But no use standing modify coniecturing
trouble. SO back again to the school house
through the crops, which want whispering to
the passage of the wind rs though they had
snatched a secret from it.
To the ushers-this old-fashioned term is
very meaning-was conceded the privilege
of breakfasting with the boys But Cuth-
bert would have been glad to exchange
places with any one Of them that morning
so little fancy had he for tete- a. tete with
his father
1t was his duty, however, to be in the room
when the boys assembled and observe that
grace was duly said by one of the masters
and deliver the order for the boys TO fall to-
Under the clock he stood, punctual to the
hour. and in a hungry swarm the boys
tumbled in.
Grace having been said by bachelor OF
arts, and the order to begin given, out sprang
forty hands from under the tables, and the
pyramids lost their form and substance.
Then Master Cuthbert, with a pleasant
smile around him, left the ROOM
Old DIR. Shaw, with his legs crossed. and
showing no prodigy of calf, bent an eye upon
his son as he entered the room that seemed
to twist round and round into him.
Cuthbert took a chair and waited with his
father, for the servant to bring in the ham
and teapot
Until these things were forthcoming the
doctor held his tongue
Then, wheeling round, cup in hand and
the saucer poised on thumb and forefinger.
after an od-fashioned habit of drinking lea.
he looked hard at Cuthbert
81 have no right yet, suppose, said he. in
level voice, ito ask you to explain your
mysterious hints of yesterdays"
at was understood, sir, that | should have
day or two for reflection
"For reflection on whatsn demanded the
doctor sharply.
In asking that, you ask all father.n
"Allw
The doctor uttered the exclamation with
most embracing emphasis.
Cuthbert made no answer
81 should be glad to have my doubts set at
rest" continued the doctor, with a gloomy
nod of the head, intended to serve as a cbaI-
lenge
Still no reply from Cuthbert.
"lndeedw exclaimed DR. Shaw, with n
great deal of the schooImaster in his face and
a flourish of the saucer, u have right to
,.
demand an answer from you,
so you have sir, unqnestionably.
"Then give me, in few words, the mean
ing of this change in your behavior"
"A few words win convey nothine.p
"Then," shouted the doctor, "be elaborate.
Give me prolixity if You win so that You ex-
plain"
Pray, sir moderate your Impotence. |
pledge myself 10 be open with You shortly
DR. Shaw grew red in the face, and de-
posted his cup and saucer, that he might
gesticulate unconstrainedly.
"What,n said he, subduing the passion in
lis voice, 2tohat I desire to know, is this
natter-in your mind, that is-not yet ripe
ior confession?"
Il have promised to tell you"
"When, sirF
POSSIBLY tomorrow
$50, sir, it is a secretg' said the doctor.
With his eyes full of evaporation.
so you will have it, replied Cuthbert.
scarcely smothering smile
This was stubbornness dreadfully mortifv-
ne to the doctor
But, in any case, the best compromise to-
Justify present anxiety ard preserve his
ignity in the future, was a dark brow and a
.hilly demeanor.
These were not hard to come at, and under
heir shadow breakfast ended.
tn he Go,7t;.,,,od