The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-07-09

Jack was crouching behind the fenc,
had given him a comforting sense o
companionshIp, and to be left in the
lurch in this way completely shattered
for the time his faith in Jacks friend
ship.
How much longer We're those peopl,
going to sit there, he wondered. as stiff
AID hungry he peered down at the coy
group on the veranda. The town clocl
struck eight.
Suppose we go In, and have som,
music" said Madgc, presently.
"BlesS her little heart" calculated
Gil. under his breath: but Just the1
there was a click of the gate latch, anC
Gil, to his horror, saw Miss Martha
Parks, from across the way, walk in.
Now Miss Parks was the assistant il
the high school, and Gil had good reason
to suspect that she had come to report
Kim to the professor. for scarcely a day
passed hat he did not try her patience
almost beyond endurance.
But MISS Parks showed no disposition
- discuss school affairs. She talked OF
the fine weather and the moonlight
nights and seemed to forget for the
time that she had anything to do with
teaching. But just as Gil was beginning
to take heart the professor startled him
by saying:
What have You decided to do with
that young r~eprobatc. Miss Parks?"
"Who-Gil? Gil C%ramptonf" said
Miss Parks, slowly. Really. professor,
| don't know what to do with him. He
is a sad trial TO me. | must confess. Still
] should be sorry to have to resort to
extreme measures"
just as you please" said the profess
sor, in his curt way. You have the
hardest part Of it, but if he doesn't turn
over n new leaf soon he may know what
to expect"
20 don't believe Gil means to be
bad, papa" said Madge, eagerly. 81
like Gil; he's so generous, and he is
smart, too. He can do every one of
those examples in interest, and that's
more than | can do"
The professor smiled. Madge was his
pet.
''I'm glad there's some one to say a
good word for the young sea mp" he
said, pulling her curls.
II wonder if / am a scamp" said Gil
to himself. I'm afraid Miss Parks
thinks | am, for some way or other I'm
always getting into scrapes. But
then"
Miss Parks. with her low clear voice,
arrested this soliloquy.
NO" she was saying; mo, / don't
think Gilbert mrdns to be bad. It's
chiefly thoughtiessncsS and excess of
animal spirits. Very likely it is partly
nv fault, for I'm afraid don't under
stand boys very well. But if you will
give him 4 f%ortnight's grace, perhaps l
can find some way to reach him. I
think it would break his mothers heart
to have him expelled"
I'm not going to be expelled" said
the boy to himself, mot if ! can have a
fortnight to redeem my character in"
And in his sudden penitence he slipped
the eggs back into the nest and was
half persuaded TO slide down the tree
and throw himself at Miss Parks feet.
But at hat moment Mrs. Sloane made
break in the conversation by eAcus-
ing herself and Madge, saving that it
was Madge's bedtime. The mention of
bedtime recalled Gil to the conscious
ness that he had not had his supper.
And then he wondered if elm leaves
We're good to eat.
"a fellow ought always to put some
thing in his pocket when he goes after
birds eggs" he said to himself. Il hope
mother has n bushel or two of cookies
baked up"
The prospect began to lock a little
more encouraging.
AT last" he circulated, with a long
breath. as the professor followed
wife and Madge, land now Miss
will be likely to start"
But Aunt Betsy had heard that after