The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-02


| little window which had been LETT open 10 IT,
ceive them and slipped in. H., I'll,
The Principal did not follow HIM JACK
! laughed 10 himself MS he heard him enter,ng
| in the regulation way, aud, ninRing On hss
| coat and shoes, leaped into bed, me scnso Va
| having crcumvented 'Old Butler beng de
| lightful enough to atone for the disappoint
| OF his appetite All his companions hed pre-
| coded him and were in bed. fegning sleep III
prudent provision for visit from the froics-
sor Jack had Just touched the piio" WIZ neu
| the Principal entered. He said not Wofu,
but passed from bed 20 bed untii ne saw Ona'
every boy was in his place. -,
Then he went out. leaving dozen chuck
| ling. nudging BOYS to gloat over the discom-
future of old Butler" who. by his Leaving
Jack Taylor undsturbed in bis pea, ha1
proved to their satisfaction that he had
| not recognized him.
Such was their confidence in their leaders
| skill that they did not doubt that the pig was
| safe somewhere for the next nights reVel.
Jack knew this, and his heart was filed with
misgiying and annoyance OF bis stupidity
when he recalled the condition OF the refuge
he had found for his precious trust. The hen
house had moist, earth door and dense,
feathered population,
Jack felt the cravings Of his empty stOm-
ach increase with the cravings Of his remorse-
| full anger at himself and hours passed before
his tossing and rolling ended in sleep.
Morning came. but with it no chance for
| consultation.
JACK, who felt himself under false colors
until the fate of the feast was known, con-
| trived 20 whisper il to the consprator nearest
! him The news passed rapidly down the me
as the BOYS marched in 20 prayers, uhth tne
whole dozen felt the dlsmay JACK knew in9
| intelligence would cause. A gloomy Dahu
they we're as they took their places, expecting
NJ roll-call to have 10 brave an investigation.
Usually, they hailed these investigations as
| the seal of a new triumph over odd Butler.
secure in their schOolmates misguided
sense of honor. from fear OF betrayal, they
generally contrived 10 leave the faculty III a
state of greater mystiication than before.
BY breakfast time there was not student IN
the building ignorant of the proceedings on
the night before and yet the guilty boys felt
no fear.
Roll-call prayers and breakfast all past, the
school assembled for classes, yet there was no
hint from the authorities OF their knowledge
of last nights affair, Everything went on as
usnal Not IA breath OF suspicion seemed TO
ruine the learned serenity Of "OId Buffers
instruction. An uneasy wonder increased
among the cOnspiratOrs as the day wore on
They dared not look their questioning TO one
another. There was something about TINS
calm ignoring of their conduct which made
last nights frolic appear less like .iun' and
more like stealing than such an ohense hau
ever seemed before.
In the blackboard demonstrations, on the
pages of his attn grammar. JACK layloI
could see the professor with his lantern. and
himself with his greasy burden, III unvarying
monotOny and distinctness. A shudder seized
him as he thought how such an lndlgnlty
must enrage the courtly professor at every
thought Of it. He began to dread the expui-
sion he felt he deserved. lie thought OF MS
proud father. and mother and beautiful young
sister who idolized him, and he knitted ms
brow and bent lower over his Horace, nearly
choking with something IL his throat that
would not be swallowed
IL was relief when the drum tapped for
dinner and the school marched TO the dining
room. The unaccustomed gravity ana quei
that had reigned all the morning had produced
an unusual amount of hard study. and the
bOvs were proportiOnately hungry. The whole
Academy of healthy, active boys felt the din;
ner hour the browning hour OF each day, and
managed TO consume an amount OF food that
/ would sound incredible TO one who did not
| know the possibilities of a boys boarding
| school. They took their stations behind the
| long. backless benches that seryed "a seats at
table, and stood with bowed heads waiting for
| grace TO be said. But to-day grace fell on I'M
| needing ears. CONSERVATION fixed the double
row of faces in stony stare. Then, as the
full significance of what they saw dawned
| upon them. a host of varying expressions
made the group study. There, IN the center
| of the bare table with no dish but four plates
/ of corn pOnesn to bear II company, was the
pigi Untouched since it had lain all night on
| the hen house floor it lay torlorn and repul-
siye No particle that had adhered to 1t from
the damp earth had been removed. In cold,
dry dish. devoid Of last nights witchery OF
gravy and potatoes, it faced the hungry lads
| The silence was oppressive.
Jack Taylor felt two score Of eyes upon HIM
in tacit appeal 10 his decision. He saw need
of instant action if he was to brave it out and
raised his knife and fork with oslentatlous
unconcern. murmur of excitement, partly
admiration, mostly horror passed around the
table.
Jack looked at the unsavorv dish, held the
| knife a moment uncertainty. and laid 1t down,
a food of crimson darkenlng his brow.
Then Piggy broke the spell by murmurlng
plaintively, Il didn't know how hungry
was"
A burst of relieved laughter broke from the
boys The magnificent humor of odd But
ler's" revenge had struck them.
Were beat this time. boys" cried the
leader; 'old Buffers got us nowp Amid the
confusion of voices that followed the break
ing of the ice, sudden resolve took posses
sion of Jack Taylor.
Regardless of regulations and the presence
of his superior officer, he leaped TO his feet on
the bench and demanded ahearng.
Boys" he began, when every face was
turned to him expectantly. stand up mere q
say that am ashamed OF JACK ldylOI. Clu
Buffers trump. Let's beard him III his den
and swear OF for the future. He deserves this
attention, and. besides. I've had stolen pic
meat enough to last me the rest of the term.
The enthusiasm that greeted this effort OF
oratory was for some minutes beyond bounds
There was scarcely a boy among them who
did not find his own hardly admitted thought
in the leaders words.
The leader was amazed at the unanimous
consent TO plan he had proposed with Sc
cret misgiving and not little false shame. as
we all are when we speak up for a conviction
in which we think ourselves alone and find il
the common thought There are many re-
forms, in school and out, deferred yet because
some one lacks courage To declare what he
would find the unspoken mind Of the timid
majority.
"Old Butler" passed out of his pupils lives
score of years ago, but of the especial
twelve who made his life WEAKNESS all who
survive tell the story of his revenge with an
enjoyment unequaled by that they feel in the
relation Of any other part of their academy
experience. Mamie Mayo Fitzhugh in Gin
cinnati Gazette.
Ammonia as a Motive Power.