The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-28
CALEB.
By CHARLES LoTIx HILDaErH.

sure"
Unless &c was DsaEil. He ls always 90
soft-hearted about such people. II be
looked as If he wanted 20 come, you may be
certain Denzil gave him an invitation"
&"Yes." said DenEil, quietly, 81 did ask
him to come"
Il can't tell what You did it for. Them
responded the one who had first spoken:
for OF all disagreeable, stupid creatures,
Caleb Orion IS the most disagreeable and the
most stupid.
Never says a word all day long. but lust
sits and stares. for all the world like one Of
those wooden images before tobacco shops. ~
" esterday," said a girls voice, 81 was
trying to cross the brook on the stepping
stones, which, as you know, are very Slip
perry. Master Caleb happened to come
along. and without saying a word he picked
me up and carried me across, as il ! had
been a bundle. When he saw | was angry
he turned very red, muttered something
ABOUT being afraid l might wet my feet
and went or, looking more sheepish than
ever"
HE does nothing but ride around the
country on that bicycle Of his, and"
NOW, look here, fellows, and you, Mol
lie" Interrupted Denzil. you are all mis-
taken about Caleb Orion. Tell me, did you
ever know OF his saying or doing a mean
thngp
NO." reluctantly. from several of the
party.
"Weli. then. 1 tell you that Caleb Orton
Is true gentleman at heart. He may be
slow and awkward; don't deny that.
You may not like his looks; that is a mat
ter OF taste. But, in spite Of his queer, shy
ways, he is one Of the best fellows that ever
lived"
And all this time Caleb Orion himself
stood In the shadow OF the hazel edge, not
ten steps distant from where the party Of
girls and BOYS sat upon the lawn. He had
meant to join them, but had paused where
he was, with an unhappy sense that he
would not be welcome among them; and
while debating with himself, had heard
all.
Caleb was slow, as Denzil had said; but
he could not help seeing that his young
companions, except Denzil Graham,
avoided him. He had often wondered why.
He liked and admired them all. They were
so bright and clever that he would have
been satisfied just to sit with them and lis
ten to their talk. But be noticed that they
became cold and silent the moment he
Joined them. He had tried very hard to
gain their good will but everything ho did
only seemed to make matters worse.
Sitting by himself In his room, or wander
ing OF alone in the woods, he had many
times pondered over this with a very sore
heart. What was wrong with himl What
had he done 10 offend them. Now be I'M
derstood.
He besitated moment, drawing his
rough red hand over bis eyes, then, without
knowing very clearly what he means to do,
he pushed his way through the hazels and
stood before the party.
Instantly silence fell upon the group Those
who had been talking against him looked a
littbe uncomfortable; for there was soue-
thing In the boys face which they had never
seen there before.
"No," said Caleb, as Denzil beckoned him
to place beside himself on the settee, "No,
Denzll; only came TO say that heard ALL
did not mean TO listen, but 1 know now
why none of you like me. Pm not angry.
only very sorry. am clumsy and dull. 1
can't do things that other boys can. 1
wanted to make friends with you, but some
how l couldn't. It wasn't your fault. 1
suppose L am different from other fellows
am going away tomorrow, and-and /
hope you will forgive me-"
He spoke hurriedly, In choked voice.
and broke down at the end. He was ashamed
OF the tears he felt springing to his eyes,
and turned away quickly. without waiting
for any reply. He had taken a few steps
when he felt hand upon his shoulder, and
Denzil Graham joined him. The two boys
walked on in silence, side by side, for
short distance; then Denzil said earnestly:
Look here. Caleb. you don't mean what
you said about going away tomorrow
yes" answered Caleb "You see I
didn't know they hated me, or wouldn't
have stayed so long"
"They don't hate you." said Denzil; tits
just their talk. They don't know you as 1
do, that's all"
"Y on spoke up for me like brick. Dem
I'll, !" and Caleb's coarse. honest face lighted
up with an affectionate smile; 81 thank
you but must go.n
81 will come to your room this after
noon, said Denzil. "Pm going back TO the
others now. but think shall have some
thing to say to you then that will alter your
feelings"
The two boys shook hands warmly: Dem
sil returned to the party on the lawn, while
Caleb weat to the carriage house, where his
bicycle was, and. mounting IL, rode away
at great speed.
Denzil Graham had invited a number of
boy and girl friends to spend a part Of the
vacation at his fathers place, the Mill
farm, situated in beautiful little valley
among the Laeonic mountains. Among
others. he had asked his lclassmate, Caleb
Orton, to come. Poor Caleb had few
friends, but Denzil had learned to know
what a sterling good fellow there was hid
den under the boys uncouth exterior, and
he believed that the rest of the party would
soon come to like him as warmly as he him
sell Dub bub TSbuit uau Doen quite con-
trary to Denzifs expectations, and Caleb's
first week at Mill farm had been one Of the
unhappiest OF his life.
For few moments, as Caleb rode along
the silent country road, his reflections were
very sorrowful; then gradually he forgot
his own troubles III a discovery which he
believed he had made day or two before.
The Mill farm had received its name from
the saw-mill which stood some distance
from the house on the banks of the brook
which ran through the midst of the valley.
Half a mile above the dwelling a heavy
stone dam had been built across the stream.
making a pond Of some acres in extent.
which supplied power to the mill. Riding
about the country alone on bis bicycle Caleb
had found this dam and had visited IL fire.
quently.
There had been a heavy rain storm at the
beginning of the week, and the water in the
pond had risep to the very brink of the dam.
The structure was old, and the pressure of
the water had started a number of seams
in the masonry. This was Caleb's dlscov-
cry.
He had spoken Of this 10 Mr.. Graham.
who had laughed at his fears, saying that
the old dam had lasted fifty years and
would last another fifty. But Caleb had
not been satisfied. He had made a journey
TO the pond every day, and had seen that
the cracks 10 the wall were surely growing
wider, while the escaping water was in
creasing in quantity. On tina previous
n g. =