Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-23

| boy. She was a hard-wOrklng woman, anu
lived with economy. Her son was brought
up to great plainnesS of living, but mad
every necessary comfort. He did not know
that 1t was rumored IN the town that his
mother had property. So when sidney was
told that he could go to college II he de-
sired to. he was beside himself with joy.
Sidney and nis mother loved each other
devotedly. She could hardly bear to be
separated from him on Sunday She never
went out of the house on her home days,
not even to church. She had no friends in
the neighborhood, and would not nave
been recognized, probably. IL her. neigh
bors had seen her. She said she too
tired to go out, and she looked it. 1t was
Tuesday that day, and his mother was at
home. 1t was great concession; nut the
boys new clothes were to be tried on and
folded, ana his new trunk to be pack
ed that mild september afternoon, and
what mother would not give up tie most
engaging business one day IN the year 10
see her only boy off IN spick-and-span con-
dition?
Sidney Will change at Lowell junction.
and be good boy. said Mrs. Doris. after
the train myself. and then go on to the
city. He will find his own way from there.
He Is old enough to look out for himself.
but not old enough to be disobedient," she
added significantly.
Sidney gave Ermine's tail a pull. The
dogs little yelp muffied his own sigh.
All right. he said. philosoph1cally III
be man soon. and then I'll go where 1
please
when you get through college," answer
ed Mrs. Doris. swapping her eyes. land
earn enough to support yourself, then you
can do as you please. My work will be
done then"
AT least. 1 can go into fathers business
and help YOU" Sidney looked up at his
mother lovingly. All opposition to her
| wish had faded from his face. The little
dog barked gleefully: but Aunt Lou held
her hand on the table to steady herself.
Mrs. Doris stared at her son as II she
had not understood his words. Then the
| color abruptly left her sunburnt. parched
| skin. She looked twenty years older in
| that instant Sidney was frightened at
the change.
"You shall never" Mrs. Doris did not
finish.
"Mother". cried Sidney. You are ILL.
| Dear motheri"
But she Strengthened herself up from
her habitual stoop, pushed him aside, and
left the room and shut the door behind
her. Sidney stared after her aghast. but
made no effort to follow. A Gordon of new
| thoughts seemed to surround and confuse
him. But Ermine went up to the door and
whined for his mistress.
Sidney Doris entered the senior class
Of the great fitting school with no con-
| ditions. There were seventy more boys
| In the Same class yet Sidney felt as IL he
had been cast upon a desert coast Al
| though he had been used to associating
| with boys all his life, yet, as this was the
| first time that he had ever been away from
| home by as much as a single night. the feel
ing of inconsistencies overpowered him, and
1t seemed to him at that time impossible
ever to form acquaintance and friends.
Sidney was a handsome boy. His hair
| was dark and curly, his eyes were straight
| forward and clear hazel. His complexion
was clean. and he looked to be of more
| aristocratic birth than he really was. He
| had proud. high forehead and a modest
sensitive mouth. He was we'll dressed. a
quick scholar, and ready on the playground.
There is class of boys that is attractive
| tn maj thar hat a OIL lS nd
third that appeals to the boys themselves.
| Because of his fearless expression Sidney
| was a boys boy, and so 1T was most ma
| tural that one Of the richest fellows in
OF the many secret societies In the school,
should approach him on the third day.
1t Is a good thing that in our American
schools there IS no rank in sci ool but that
Of good fellowship. So the recognition of
| Tom Devenant was enough to give Sidney
| a social position for the rest of his course.
You've Just come into our class. and I'm
Devenant-Tom, for short. l hope that we
may see more Of each other" He held out
| his hand cordially. 1t was fat hand, and
exquisitely kept for a schoolboy's. A gold
| snake ring, with two good-siZed rubies for
eyes. glistened on his third finger. He wore
a fine tennis suit, and his very presence
exhaled luxury. Sidney had never been &C
Guainted with boy of Toms social posi-
ton before, and he was fascinated by that
| graciousness and perfect form.
Have a cigarette" Tom took from his
pocket silver cigarette holder and handed
1t over to his new classmate. Sidney hest
| tated. blushed and then took the preferred
narcotic. He had never smoked in his life
| before; but 1t seemed to him as If he should
| lose caste before the eyes of his classmates
If he refused. If a poor boy had asked him
to do the same thing, he would have said
| mo" quickly enough
1t was this fear of fashion which has stu
i pfed the honor of many a noble but weak
| fellow that made Sidney yield And to give
| thing IN In
| many.
"Where do you room?" asked Tom, with
a kindly yet indefinable tone of condescen-
| sion.
at the Milestone House." answered Sid
ney gaily. Then noticing a smile of supe-
| riority on his companions face. he hurried
| to say, alphabetically: 1T was the only
room L could get coming so late. Where
| do you room?'
at the club house. of course" pointing
| to q large brick building on the top of the
| hill-the most ariStocratic boarding house
in town. do you play tennis?' I've got
| a private court up there-laid 1t out myself
I'll furnish racquet and balls and play you
three sets. and bet you sodas I'll win. Is 1t
a go?'
IAN right" Sidney's eyes sparkled He
| loved tennis above all sports, and was a
fine player, having taken the high school
| championship. "I'll run home and put on
my things. I've got a racquet. thank you,
1 don't care II 1 do" he said dropping in to
| the easy schoolboy's slang as he accepted
another cigarette with matter-Of-fact
| air. He played and won, and Tom and he
| became fast friends. 1 do not mean fast in
the literal sense. Tom Devenant was too
| well brought up to be disspated. and Sid
ney could not be. But Tom was lax In re-
| gard to school rules and felt himself su-
| perior to them. He introduced Sidney into
his own set. and before Sidney knew 1t he
| was staggering down street to the post
office. playing tennis and whist and chum-
ming with boys who could afford to spend
In one month what he could spend in a
| year. Nevertheless he did not allow his
| studious habits to wear off. He made a
| mark In the class room. Besides, he took
his rank as a possible tennis champion.
This gave him quick prestige in his class
| and. at last, he was elected into the Beetle
| Society, of which Tom Devenant was the
patriarch. and whose badge of member
| ship consisted of an ivory beetle, which
| was exhibited between members on va
| rious occasions in mysterious ways. On the
p! whole 1t is wonder that Sdney's popular