The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-12-10

10y SSAAu rLA1lks WuOo6 dtsh was OI
the opposite side of the room from Taffy.
Now was Taffy's chance. He eau,
tiously mounted his desk, his cheeks
bulged out with wind, looking like q
full moon. The boys commenced &c
cheer. and Mr.. Whyland turned in time
to sec Taffy standing on tiptoe ON the
desk. with his mouth diwctly over q
gas burner. That was all he saw, how.
ever, for just then Taffy's mouth opened,
and a gust of wind from i. swept down
the gas burner. Immediately all was
darkness, not only in that room, but In
the whole building.
Then what an uproar there vasl Rub
bers and books commenced to fly in the
direction of the tutor. Then some one
fired an inkstand toward the blackboard.
1t did not reach its destination. Just
then the door opened, and DIR. and Mrs.
Arnold, with several of the teachers
and older boys, appeared with lights and
matches to stop the gas that was escap-
ing from every flameless burner. p
"Silence!'' roared the old man, and
every II fell into the seat nearest to
him. what does this mean, MFR. Why.
land?''
But Mr.. Whyland didn't answer. He
was lying ON the floor.
The doctor hurried to him, but found
him insensihre. There was a deep
wound in his head, from which the
blood flowed freely.
You could have heard a pin drop any
time during the next Is minutes, the
silence was SO deep after Mr.. Whyland
had been carried to his room. Finally
Mrs. Arnold returned. She looked wor-
ried, and the sight of her face made the
culprits feel very uncomfortable.
Boys" she said, what does it all
mean? Do you know what You have
done? The doctor thinks Mr.. Whyland
will not from the blow given
him by that inkstand. / do not ask who
threw it, but do you realize what has
been done?"
"Mother Arnold" said Harry, break
ing the silence, "it's my fault. I sug-
gested putting the gas out. I'll take the
blame.
but I did it, said Taffy, two great
tears rolling down his cheeks, land /
suggested erasers and spitballs."
Il threw three rubbers and a book"
owned Jack.
And 4 some BEANS - said another.
Twill he die, Mother Arnold?''
1T Is a serious injury" said Mrs.
Arnold, ''but we will hope for the best.
For present punishment you will be
closely confined to the house for q week,
and the doctor will see you later"
"We don't mind that" said Harry,
choking over his words, eff only he
doesn't die.
There was very little sleeping done
that night at the academy, especially by
the third form boys. Only one or two
had gone SO far as to prepare for bed.
The others stood around in awed and
silent groups.
. After the consultation the doctors
pronounced Mr.. Whyland to be suffer
ing from a sever attack of brain fever.
Never were boys SC frightened at what
they had done or SO repentant. Mr..
Whyland's mother was telegraphed for,
and late in the afternoon she arrived, |
accompanied by Bessie, one of her
Of his five sisters, Bessie
was her brothers. favorite, and the boys
didn't wonder, for a lovelier young lady
they never had seen. AS soon as she ar
the whole school fell in love with
her and would do anything that she
The third form boys naturally
felt a trifie shy after what they had
done, but she made friends with one and
Ill.
Lessons were quite neglected in the
that followed, and the boys were,
luiet as mice. Harry and Taffy made
heir confession to the Young tutors
mother, but where they expected to be
planned they were forgiven. After tedi-
waiting Mr.. Whyland began to re-
cover. He would not let DIR. Arnold ex-
pei the boys; said he himself was at
FAULT to make enemies and not friends
of the boys. The boys were untiring in
heir efforts to run errands and do ev-
for him.
One day, when her son was nearly
veil, Mrs. Whyland went to the third
orm classroom with Mrs. Arnold and
made q little speech to the boys.
II want to tell you, boys" " said she,
how Richard, my only son, was brought
Up. His father was a naval officer and
vas away part of every year before he
lied, and SO left me to manage the boy.
Richard never went to school, as you
'oys do, but / taught him at home with
lis five sisters. He associated only with
women until he went to college, SO you
an easily see why he didn't know. how
0 manage or teach boys. He says that
he RECEIVERS he is going to know
on better and is sure that he will like
'ou and be able to make you under
tand. His physician allows him to go
mt for the first time tomorrow, and he
wants to see you." 80
Then the boys understood. No wonder
'oor Mr.. Whyland did not know how to /
manage them. He had been brought up
With his sisters, whom, il they were all
ike Bessie, must be very nice indeed,
md he had been supporting them by
,eaching.
The next day was a holiday i'm honor
II the vuumD fufnr'a ronnrnv1 4