New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10

brows And then, with the rattan still fresh from
prev iQps torture he drew near to me.
1 clenched my hands still closer l thought OF
what Mike had said. and of what nc could do
longed to have him there then, but he was not
there and l must fight alone.
Il meant to fight. as Mr.. Barlowc said to me
"Iiold out your hand sir" | did not hold out
my hand And Just then the teacher rushed
NO. no, she eXrostulated, mot that! did
not mean that for him"
Mr.. Barlowc here mOtioned for me to sit
seated myself IL he had struck me that day
it would have been day for Dr., him to rem n c
aside and begged me 10 forgive having mentioned
my name among those doomed for punishment
| heard her in silence. She was renltent, as
readily saw, but could not forgive her just yet
Meanwhile somcthing-lct il be called slcl
a witchcry whatever he who now ieaiS may
choose to call it-had put me afalt from all the
other pupils. My intelligence was such that
could easily master every task assigned me- ana
In each branch of study always held the highest
rank. My teachers pettcd, humorcd, and would
have caressed me if | had permitted them. MY
classmates without a single exception. aid me a
Difference which Iescmbled HOMAGE. often treat
cd them haughtily, and selected from them my
favoritcs at the Lrompting of caprice. Some OF
them Were sadly uncouth and of unbridlcd license
in speech But none OF them ever presumed 10
address me except in dcccntly courteous phrases
1t was remarkable how | managed 10 win every
body over without indeed managing at all. do
not boast | chronicle. Boys of from twelve to
fifteen years, when they aye boys reared in homes
of poverty ignorance, and even of sin as well;
are too often the gTOssest animal products
saw not few Of this sort. and in nearly all cases
| gave them a wide berth But my avoidance
aroused spleen. no rancor They seemed To
take for granted that | not only bore myself rs
one above them but that | was justly and right
fully above them. They were all somehow
my side; they appeared to be III manner
proud of me- moved among them IKE lIttle
prince. Many of them would have waited on me
as servants on master If | had nade a sign that
such was my wish ] never tried 10 account Tor
il all ; never, in those days, gave it thought;
a. Of t,iffp had
become a matterOf-coulsc with me that every
body should like me- If any of them had shown
me the least insOlence or disrcsrect | would have
resented il with heat. But none OF them ever
did In nest boyish sports ! took pleasure, and
acquitted myself with skill. But in these l chose
only certain associates, and always found my cN-
elusive tendencies treated with respect When
ever l descended during recess into the ugly
tagged courtyard where the boys romrcd and
shouted, ! had small thiony OF picked com
pani0ns ready at once 10 gather about me. There
is no doubt that inspired in these a good deal of
genuine affection. But l gave them very little
in return They were paSmaos of the hour
nothing more. | had the unconscious art or
trick, whatever it was, of attracting whom l
chose to attract. My mother had been perfectly
right. / was born to win people by smile, a
glance. q sentence.
And in this way two years glded along Dur
inc that time | never once alluded TO my father
while at home. But ! counted the months as
they la, scd onward. My mother often went with
me into the streets, now But at lcnsth size
ceased TO leave the house. | knew why. 1t was
then carly spring. | said to her, one day
you remain indoors because he Is out OF
prison Or at least you know that his term has
passed. Nv.
She started. and saw her lips temble. Yes.
Ohio. she said.
"Rut Won can not live like this mamma You
can not shut yourself up always. After while
it may make YOU i'll. After a while 1t may
even kill you" a
She lifted her large dark eyes to mine. IF
il were not for you." she answered. IL should be
very willing TO die. If 1T were not for you,
Ohio. that would be far better than
She Imlised ! understood The air of the
room seemed TO turn chill as if the breath from
O vault had swept through it,
We had had two years of peace. and now the old
trouble and fear had come back 10 us. The
menace and the shadow Were once again over ny
mothers mind and heart