The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-14

who's the wust boy in school. l saw MIN
| the mite he clumb in your window. so
| did Miles. | had the toothache. The boys
have given me lots OF candy but III
always your little plant. If they try 10
| give you away I'll tell on 'em. Shall l.:
FROM WHO LOVES YOU
PRINCIPAL Greene, also. with grave
penetrating look, had asked 10 see an
| in the library after the morning session.
Yes. the long suspense was over 'ns
hour of execution had come. III seeiheu
TO Van that deep solemn Dell was Tins
ing in his ears. Was he going 10 De eA-
pelled? Was he going away from an .he
dear BOYS? Should he live through IL!
He looked around the school-rOom' ms
eves suffused as they wandered over the
desks carved with many a familiar name
tho blackboard with It's shining mysteries
of equations, the huge map or the Worlu'
where upon one side the young Amerl-
cars. lightly balanced On one foot, looked
saucily over to fat dCwager ASIA sltunS
with her lap much too full OF cnllureh.
Everything was dear TO him; and could
II be that he was going away from IL all
from hope, from honor. from the JOY Oh
education leading TO the brilliant profess
sion he meant 10 adorn? Must he say a
long farewell 10 the triumphs OF the white
sun mind? Then everything was over the
book of life closed! Alas! for Trotter
white sun. gone into such hopeless, dis
astrous eclipse.
Was there any possible escape? No;
how could he be willing to save himself
at Lambert's expense? He rad AWAY $
hol.ed II he were drowning, that he should
not pull another boy down with MIN.
And even # he could clear himself, what
good could come Of it2 Gran1fathers dis
grace would be the same, and. truly, 1t
might kill Bert's poor sickly mother.
Perhaps he. Van. could bear 1t better than
ANYBODY else, with the least unhappiness
to oil concerned. An he could not tell;
he could not tell The big drops were
standing out on his forehead, but II was
impossible, unthinkable to Vans unselish
SOIL.
"Ten II you must Van" said Lambert,
giving his hand an agonzing grip as he
passed on his way TO the hall Of judgment.
Van moved his colorless lips, but no
sound came forth: and Lambert followed
MIN miseratly waiting behind the clock
near the door Of the awful room half
hour, which seemed an eternity. Van was
such q favorite 1t was just possible he
might go free.
A: the end the door opened and Van
came out. twisting his cap, his eyes fixed
In the same blank stare before him. MIR.
Hardy was following closely after, look
OF panied surprise upon his face. He had
confidently expected that Van would clear
himself from all participation in this ugly
matter; but to all the charges brought
against him the boy had never uttered
a word. The quick color had come and
gone at the principals closing words, such
sharp, stern words in which his sorrow
had spoken still more strongly than his
anger. He had never been so mistaken in
I a hnx To- h 4
publicly expelled, together with his COM
rades in evil-doing. who had always been
known as composing the worst element in
the school.
Mr.. Hardy could not believe his ears.
and yet, very unpleasantly, that strange
emotion and self-accusation which he had
surprised in the upper hall a month ago
kept recurring to his memory. Had the
proud young leader so fallen? He caught
the boy by the arm.
"Van!' he said determinedly, there Is
some horrible mistake somewhere; / am
sure Of 1t. Let me look in your eyes
those eyes I thought so honest. so hon
orable!'
Van trembled from head TO foot. but
slowly turned. 81 am not a thief. Mr..
Hardy" he said hus&ily; II cannot bear
to have you think lat"
mol" cried Mr. Hardy, heartily.
Never for moment But that you de-
ceived us-that you cared for such low
pleasures. Have you nothing TO say for
yourself Nan?"
Very cold and fixed, under the kindly
gaze, grew the stare of the blue-gray
eyes.
Nothing! said the boy and Mr..
Hardy dropped the nerveless hand and
turned sorrowfully away.
would II do either OF us any good
II | told now?" said Bert. piteously.
emerging from the shadow OF the clock.
mo; make what you can OF your life;
mine is done" said Van.
That night in the dim small hours.
while Lambert was heavily sleeping with
an anodyne he had taken TO benumb
his unhappy soul Van. lying wide-eyed
and despairing. suddenly arose with a
cry OF alarm. great enemy. stealing
along defective fiue had been taking
the little sleeping world by surprise. and
already as Van opened his door the chok-
Ing smoke was rolling through the halls,
nearly suffocating him as he rushed with
shrill calls from door to door.
In the wild confusion that followed
Vans brave young soul responded like
war-horse to the trumpet-call, all the
misery or the day swept away in the
excitement of the solemn JOY OF the mo
ment. Ii was such delight to hear Mr..
Hardy's clear commands rising above the
{ din, and 10 be working with him just
once more in the old comrade, hand-to-
hand way. His heart swelled, his limbs
grew like steel under Mr.. Hardys ap-
proving smile. He felt he could gladly
die. Guided by the cries OF cruel fright
from the dormitory OF the smaller boys,
he had dragged bewildered Trotter into
the air, lightly clad in one sock and his
Sunday cap. And host OF other small
companions had followed this young
Moses past pillars Of cloud and fire into
safety under the cold blue sky.
II was all over very soon. The enemy
had been met in time, and In less than
an hour IL was routed and retiring sullen-
ly under the prompt action OF the fire
brigade.
1--WE shall only lose the west wing after
ALL said Principal Greene cheerily, "and.
thank I.od.'-he ran his eyes over the
shiveriag sroup-"ail the boys are safe"
"But Vanl' Where is Van?" shrIlled
Trotters alarmed voice.
20 he must be safel He was shaking I'D
Lambert the last saw Of him. when ran
back for vxafah - aatA Mia