The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-15
CRBSSY. !"
[Corlinued from !S.cond paqe ]


which the deserted school house usual!
superindnced, and which had been 81
fOndly noted by McKinstry and Uncle
Ben. The latter had not arrived for his
usual lesson it was possible that Bndu'
attention had been attracted to hi'
movements now that his good fortune
was known; and the master was alone
save for the occasional swooping incur
sion OF depredatory jay in search Of
crumbs from the Chiidren's iuncheons
who added apparently qucrulOus insult
10 the larceniOus act. He regretted
Uncle Ben's absence, as lie wanted tC
know more about his connection with
the Harrison attack and his eventual in
tentions. Ever since the master emerged
from the barn and regained his hotel
under cover of the darkness, he had
heard only the vaguest rumOrs, and he
purposely avoided direct inquiry.
He had been quite prepared fol-
Cressy's absence from school that morn
iDg-indeed in his present vactlatinp
mood he had felt that her presence
would have been irksOme and embar'
RAISING, but it struck him suddenly and
unpleasantly that her easy desertion Of
him at that critical moment in the barn
had not since been followed by the least
sign ofanxiety to know the result Of her
mothers interference. What did she
imagine had transpired between Mrs.
McKinstry and himself? Had she con-
fidently expected her mothar's prompt
acceptance OF the situation and recon.
Citation? Was that the reason why she
had treated that interruption us lightly
Us II she were already his recognized
betrOthed? Had she even calculated
upon it? Had She He stopped, his
cheek glowing from irritation under the
suspicion, and shame OF the disloyalty
OF entertaining it.
Opening his desk, he began to ar
range his papers mechanically, when he
discovered with slight feeling OF an
noyance that he had placed Cressy's
bonquet--nOw dried and withered-iD
the same pigeon hole with tho mystic
rious letters with which he had SO often
communed in former days. He at once
separated them with half bitter smile,
yet after moments hesitation, and
with his old sense OF attempting to re-
vive n forgotten association, he tried to
re.peruse them. But they did not even
restrain his straying thoughts, nor pre-
vent him from detecting u singular oc.
currence. The nearly level sun was,
after its old fashion, already hanging the
Swallowed taSsels oil the pine bOughs
like II garland on the wall. But the
shadow seemed to have suddenly grown
larger and more compact, and he turned
with quick consciousness OF some in.
terposing figure at the pane. Nothing,
however, was to be seen. Yet so i'm
pressed had he been that he walked to
the door and stepped from the porch to
discover the intruder. The clearing was
deserted; there was slight rustliHg in
the adjacent laurels, but no human being
was visible. Nevertheless, the old feel
ing Of security and isolation, which had
never been quite the same since Mr..
McKinstry's confession, seemed now to
have fled the sylvan schUOl-houSe alto.
gether, and he somewhat anerily closed
his desk, locked it, and determined 10
go home.
HIS way lay through the first belt OF
pines towards the mining flat, but to-day
from some vague impulse lie turned anu
followed the ridge. He had not pro-
ceeded far when lie perceived Rupert
Filgee lounging before him on the trail,
and ut little distance further on his
brother Johnny. At the sight of these
two favourite pupils Mr.. Ford's heart
smote him with consciousness that he
had OF late neglected them, possibly be.
cause Rupert's lofty scorn Of the SILLY"
sex was not MS amusing to him as form
erly, and possibly because Johnny's cur
iosity had been at times obtrusive. He
however Gnickened his pace and joined
Rupert, laying his hand fNmiliarly as OF
old on his shoulder. 10 his surprise the
boy receivedhis advances with some con-
straint and awkwardness, glanCing un-
easily in the direction OF Johnny. a
sudden idea crossed Mr.. Ford's mind.
"Were you looking for me ut the
schoolroonl just now|
mo, sir"
"You didn't look in at the window to
see ii was there?" continued the mas
ter.
mo, sir.
The master glanced at Rupert. Truth
telling was part of Rupert's truculent
temper, although us the boy had often
bitterly remarked, it had always " told
agin' him."
can right" said the master, perfectly
convinced. at must have been my fan
cy; but thought somebody looked in
or passed by the window"
But here Johnny, who had overheard
the dialogue and approached them, sud-
denly threw himself upon his brothers
unoliending legs and commenced to beat
and pull them about with unintelligible
protests. Rupert without looking down
said quietly, "Quit that now-l won't, ]
tell We, and went through certain au-
tomato. movements OF dislodging John
ny MS iihe were q mere impeding puppy.
"WhNts the matter, johnny said
the master, to whom these gyrations
were not unfamiliar.
Johnny only replied by n new grip OF
his brothers trousers.
swell sir" said Rupert, slightly re-
covering his dimples and his readiness,
"Johnny yer, wants me- to tell ye some.
thing. III he wasn't the most original
self.cocking, God fOrsaken liar in IDjin
Sprinz-efhe didn't lie awake in his crib
mornin's to invent lies fer the day, !
wouldn't mind tellin' yc, and would
hev told you before. However, since you
ask, and since you think you saw some.
body around the school house, Johnny
yerallows that Seth Davisisspyin' round
and iollowin' We wherever you go, and
he dragged me down yer to see it, He
says he saw him doggin' ye."
"With knife and pithtolth," added
Johnny's bonndiess imagination to the
detriment Of his limited facts.
Mr.. Ford looked keenIy from one to
the other, hut rather with suspicion
that they were cOgnizant OF his late fra
Gus than belief in the truth OF Johnny's
statement.
"Andwhat do you think oft, Rupert?''
he asked Carelessly.
II think sir, said Rupert, "that allow
Iin'-for onct-that Johnny amt lying
mebbe it's CresSy McKinstry that Seth't
huntin' round, and knowin that she's
always runnin' after you" he stopped
and reddening with newborn sense
| ILo1 he fatal fruthfulnpgS had led hin