Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-06-19
CHAPTER Nv.
BREAKFAST TIME,

TIME.
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 divulged be-
fore another night should come, had mingled
impulses of freedom, a yearning for the
shows and struggles Of an outer world,
and a placid weariness 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 a
quickening spirit in the soil of his mind,
terminating seeds there which he himself
knew not Of.
"Why need I fear my fathers angerT he
thought, as he threw open his bedroom win
dow, and stood in a stream Of sweet warm
wind. fresh from the blue water; II lave
served him dutifully, and will yet justify all
his fine thoughts of his calling by sticking to
| II, Il no VIII luvo Jenny, ana Dear with nv
| for marrying her. If not, the world is big
enough to find me work, surely! What I am
fitted for shall not trouble me; but what I
can get to do, I'll do"
This honest soliloquy done, he betook him
self to dressing.
Never a looking glass gave back a hand
somer face than that into which he glanced.
Such a picture Of dark auburn hair, white
brow and blue eyes, bright with mind, as
would set a 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 shuffling of feet, tho
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
proftably to his spirits, that stood sorely in
escape his fathers eyes, the twist of 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 well of which he stood within q
fathom of the sheer fall.
A scene of summer beauty and morning
splendor was this he overlooked.
But Cuthbert was toiling with a giant in
his mind, and nature was only blue and
green to him; for there il nothing dainty to
a troubled mind but ease, and this our young
friend could not get, neither by sitting nor
by standing.
But no use standing modify conjecturing
trouble. So back again to the school house
through the crops, which went whispering to
the passage of the wind, as 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 nave been glad to exchange
places with any one of them that morning,
SO little fancy had he for q 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 hs stood, p%unctual to the
hour. and in a hungry swarm the boys
tumbled in.
Grace having been said by a bachelor Of
arts, and the order to begin given, out sprane
forty hands from under the tables, and the
pyramids lost their form and substance.
Then Master Cuthbert, with q pleasant
smile around him, left the room.
Old DR.. Shaw, with his legs crossed, ans
showing no prodigy of calf, bent an eye upor
his son as he entered the room that seemed
to twist round and round into him.
Cuthbert took a chair and waited, with hi
father, for the servant to bring in the han
and teapot.
Until these things were forthcoming tn,
doctor held his tongue.
Then, wheeling round, cup in hand anc
the saucer poised or thumb and forefnger
, after an old-fashioned habit of drinking tea
! he looked hard at Cuthbert.
II have no right yet, I suppose" said he, Il
q level voice, ITO ask you to explain you
| mysterious hints of yesterdays"
, ut was understood, sir, that I should hav
a day or two for reflection"
"For reflection on whata" demanded tn
: doctor, sharply.
+ "In asking that, you ask all, father"
"AllW
The doctor uttered the exclamation with
most embracing emphasis.
Cuthbert made no answer.
II should be glad to have my doubts set a
nod of the head, intended to serve as o chal
Q lenge.
Still no reply from Cuthbert
"lndeed!" exclaimed DR.. Shaw, with
great deal Of the schoolmaster in his face an
q flourish of the saucer, u have q right t
demand an answer from you"
$50 you have, sir, unquestionably."
"Then give me, in few words, the mean
b ] ing of this change in your behavior"