Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-02-27

better than Teddy does. I'm
afraid couldn't stand it-if she was
sick much-and I'd married her too.
On the fifth OF Decem-
ber'"--
"Wedding-day setP" laughed the doc
tor.
son the fifth of last December, '"
muttered Gresham. with maniacal per-
sistence, "'there came TO this land a
man OF alien blood, of foreign'-hence
unknown-'yet the most eloquent
the most-the most eloquent OF
speech"
Out In the corridor, buried In his
book, Bob sat with Rufus Choate, while
the doctor sat with Teddy. There was
no doubt about it. Teddy Delan was a
very sick boy.
The doctor came out into the COR
ridor. He and Bob looked at each
other.
MAY not live till morning, doc
tor P"
every thing depends upon the next
twelve hours. He has chance. That's
ALL"
The young competitor for the Tod
dlethwaite prize turned a little pale
about the mouth; he did not speak.
"rll get nurse" said the doctor,
slowly. you've got to sleep to-
night"
Doctor" said Bob Gresham, family,
"you don't know Teddy as well as |
do"
"Well," admitted the doctor, reluct-
antly, "of course. 1t would be a risk. {"
ut would finish him." said Bob,
desperately. "Its dreadful the way
Teddy takes to me. I've got to stand
by Teddy. That's the whole business,
doctor. No use talking. I've got to-"
"Come now! That prize, nowP"
asked the doctor, irresolutely. He was
not always firm, though he thought he
was, as most irresolute men do.
"Oh! I'll get the prize, take it,"
said Bob, quietly. anyhow, the Tod
dlewthaite hasn't got a funny old mother
in Maryland = and -Pll - stand by
Teddy"
The Academy Hall was packed by
seven o'clock. 1t always was, on the
evening of the Toddlethwaite Prize
Speaking. 1t was a great day. Real
ly, on the whole it was the greatest day
in all the year, at Bunny's Academy.
The great Mr. Toddlethwaite himself
appeared, and sat upon the stage in a
green velvet armchair. The rest of
the year he was crochety old invalid
and nobody but his nurse and his doctor
ever saw him at all. On Prize Speak
ing he was bundled into that green
armchair and they sat him up
every word, and applauded very hard
with Charter Oak cane like man
who wasn't an invalid and he gave the
prize himself, and it was very green
armchair, and it was not becoming to
his complexion, and that made ii inter-
esting to watch him, for he grew kind
of high-art yellow, and turned yellower
and yellower as the evening went on;
and every body applauded him, and
nobody loved him, and he went home
and had the doctor twice a day for
three weeks afterward. 1t was great
day.
Now on this particular great day, ex-
pectation whispered through the house.
Gresham was what people love to call
a popular fellow. His nearest rival was
a silent, scholarly, awkward boy--Bones
by name-who Rugged his books, and
superior manner. He was all very
we'll. People respected him. But
Bob they loved. Rumors about Teddy
and Bobs predicament had run rapidly
through the Academy Town. II was UNI
derstood that Bob had done something
extraordinary; large uncertainty as to
what, made it all the more interesting.
Young ladies told each other that he
had sat up watching for seventeen
nights. One girl in bangs and pink
kids declared it was twenty-sevcn. She
said she had very particular friend in
the Senior Glass who told her so. There
was so much said about Bob, that the
pink girls particular friend who was
the punster Of the class declared there
was a hub-bub in the audience.
Bones had the first chance. He came
three before Bob. The other three
didn't count, and while they spoke
their pieces the girls ate chocolate
creams, and came down TO gum-drops
which made no noise and lasted
through, while Bones delivered him
self of Webster's Reply to Hayne. He
spoke well-very well-soberly, solid
ly, properly, stupidity well. There was
no denying that. The Committee of
Decision on the platform nodded at
each other with obvious approval.
Bones had two boquets. One came
from his chum, and one from his land
lady's daughter. Mr. Toddlethwaite,
looking uncommonly yellow, leaned
back against the high-art green velvet
chair, and glanced at Bones.
IF he gets it." said the girl in bangs,
II shall just hate him.
"Mr. Robert Gresham: Ertracts from
the Phi Beta Kappa address of Rufus
Choate."
Bunny announced Bob, in confident
voice; and Bob walked slowly upon the
platform.
He did walk very slowly. His step
was firm; but he looked like a man who
could drop as well as not IL he had the
chance. Poor Teddy was not whittier.
Gresham's face was pinched and bag
gard. You could almost see the light
through it. He seemed transparent.
He was starving for sleep.
The packed house grew as still as
sleep itself The people held their
breaths The pink girl in bangs
stopped whispering. She swallowed
her chocolate cream whole, and le3S,ed
forward without even a gum-drop, lips
aH anA o,NouL1i,,or 10 ioto