The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-09-02

nave been better pleased II nao let /
them-and him-alone. He was far too
clever not TO know that they we're
served as panacea 10 a guilty cOusci-
ence.
So the years that have a wav of slip
ping by so swiftly and silently. went
with no unusual excitement. and with
quiet happiness which is also unusual,
think.
One day was surprised to 6nd in my
mail at the store letter addressed to
me in Donald's handwriting While
the boy wrote regularly TO his mother,
he rarely communicated with me, and
when he did so he only wrote a few
lines.
opened the letter with some sur
prise aud curiosity, and read
May, Is
DEAR Mr.. HAssIN: I'm in trouble.
Won't you come to me? Inclosed please
find check for travelling expenses.
Please don't tell mother where you are
going, as I don't want her worried.
Sincerely yours,
DONALD N. STARR.
"Well, this must be serious. What
scrape has he tumbled into now2n |
thought impatiently HE need not be
afraid of nv telling his mother. Con-
found the boy, he couldn't have chosen
a more inconvenient time for me than
now"
I made the best possible arrange
ments at the store for short absence,
and hurried home. I pleaded business
to Constance, but it was my hrst con
cealment from her, and, though many
may think it foolish, it troubled me.
When 1 reached CT asked for
Donald, and was directed to his rooms
at pretty cottage near the college
buildings A tired voice answered my
knock with come in, and entered.
Donald sat by the window, book il
hand, but as soon. as he saw me ne came
forward at once.
'You want help" I said, as we sat
down and l saw his pale, anxious face
so different from the care-free face ia
miiar to me "Now tell me all abou
it, and I inwardly braced myself t
hear the worst.
Thank you, sir" said the young fel
low warmly "You are very kind;
shant apologize for troubling you, ant
shall take as little time as possible il
telling you of my misfortune. But frs
you must pledge your word of homo
that you will repeat nothing that
confide to you without my permission.
II don't know whether I can do that,
said hesitatingly.
CITIZEN, sir, I cannot say a word,
said the boy. (4ow like the lads ez
preston was to his mother's) l prom
: ised, and with downcast eyes Dhnal
; went on,
'You know sir, that it is against tn
rules of the college for any of the stu
dents to enter a saloon. Lately smal
, and most disreputable one has bee
started in the town just below here
The boys were most emphaticall
warned that one visit there meant dis
missal, or they would be expelled /
few nights since several of the student
more in spirit of lawlessness than
desire for drink-ran off to thi
place.
. SIN spite of all their caution som
, hint of it leaked out at the last moment
. and two professors went in pursuit
The boys were warned in time and es
, capped, but as luck would have it on
f of them dropped one of my handkel
chiefs with my name written i
7 mothers plain handwriting in one COZ
. ner. had lent it to him one day a
some entertainment where his wa
forgotten. He was not a friend o
mine, and l see him but seldom, as he /
a sophomore; yet while these thre
boon companions got set free am tn
one whom they have proof of guilt.
9 cit seems too silly and commonplace
the whole thing-and yet it ha
9 brought me into a world of trouble.
E have been up before the faculty, an
am threatened with being expelled A
? you know, I'm senior, and if this di.
! grace falls upon me shall not be a
q lowed to graduate. Even that is nc
the worst, but it is of mother 1 thinl
, Such thing would break her hear