Western cyclone., 1886-10-14
JACKS HALE.EOLIDAY.


nounced that he had just received tele-
gram informing him Of the dangerous
illness of his mother; that he must go to
Walford Immediately, and that there
would be no school in the afternoon.
They did not grin because Mr.. Bradley's
mother was dangerously Ill, but because,
being boys, this fact was wholly lost to
view in prospect of a half-holiday.
George Rayburn, usually sedate and
dignifed, condescended to look up from
the absorbing pages of his Virgil. John
Barnes uttered an exclamation of delight
but was brought to a consciousness OF
his ill-timed expression by reproachful
look from the teacher that made him
blush with embarrassment. 1t also
checked subdued whistle from Jack
Browning. The first thought that
flashed into his mind was that the long
anticipated excursion to Indian Ford,
which he and the Dean boys had planned
could be carried out Immediately, and
need not be postponed until Saturday.
The boys put their books away with
very perceptible futter and murmur that
were unusual in Mr.. Bradley's well dis
ciplined school, where the pupils obeyed
because they loved and respected their
teacher. After a little delay, they were
formally dismissed and trooped down
the street, running, shouting, singing
and whistling, the sound of their jubi-
liant young voices dying away in the
distance.
The day was one to tempt a recluse
out of doors. The sky was deeply blue
without cloud A gentle breeze stirred
the boughs Of the apple trees near the
windows. The bees few back and forth
to their hives their woolly thighs pow
dered with pollen. Birds chirped and
futtered in the shade; clouds of yellow
butterflies settled down upon the damp
places in the road, closing and enclosing
their wings in the warm sunshine. The
rain of the preceding night had cooled
the atmosphere, and freshened the grass
and foliage to shining greenness. But
the sad and weary teacher had little
thought for the day with all its loveliness.
He sat at his desk arranging books and
papers, and had just signed his name to
a brief note which he had written to one
of his patrons, ostponing an engage
ment for the evening. A slight noise
startled him, and he tnrned TO see Jack
Browning, standing in the doorway,
holding his hat in hand, waiting for rec
ognition.
"Well, Jack, what is itt" inquired
Mr.. Bradley; adding kindly, "Come in"
Jack advanced to the teachers desk
and said hesitatingly:
81 only came back to apologize, MIR.
Bradley. I hope you won't think I
meant to be disrespectful. I'm really
sorry your mother is sick, and wanted
to tell you 80. My own mother is sick,
and l know how it goes with fellow"
"Just like the boyr' thought Mr..
Bradley, laying his hand gently on
Jacks shoulder. 81 haven't doubt of
it," he said, after little pause, with
rather husky tremor n his voice. II
should have forgotten SO triaing mat
Ger if you yourself had not come back to
remind me- Of it. understand perfect
Iy that no offense was meant. Go now,
and do not let my trouble spoil your
holiday"
And Jack, thus dismissed, rejoined his
mates, the teacher looking after him af-
fectionately.
AS Mr.. Bradley had said, it was "just
like him." the generous, impulsive boy,
who had strangely intermingled with
boyish courage aud disregard of phys
zeal pain the tenderness and sympathy
of "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 a following of juveniles,
diminishing in size like the dwindling
tail of q kite. But on the ball ground
he was leader, and in leaping, run
1ing and swimming he had no rival. So
proud were his chums of his accomplish
ments that they forbare to ridiculA char
acte,-istics that, otherwise, would have
subjected him to merciless teasing
There was something III the honest
candor of his freckled, good-humored
face, in the steadfast expression of his
brown eyes, that 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
Ehe many and varied projects he under
took and carried out.
The Brownings were 3 numerous fami-
ly-three rugged, romping boys and as
many girls, the former requiring sur
prising ,,-antity of food and clothing,
which their Woodworking, Flooding
father did not find it an easy matter to
provide. But fun, freedom and the IN
tsiling affection that sweetened their
dsily life, more than compensated for
Injuries, or even comforts that we're lack
ing.
Jack had no difficulty in collecting the
Deans, and at lunch Tom and Fred, and
older boys, announced that they would
n