The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15

at the school afterward and bring them
home
we could 20 ourselves. mamma" put
in WHY excitediy. II know exactly how
to get there"
80 do J." said Tebby. please let us.
mammal itll encourage Eric awful" he
added persuasively.
Mrs. Hilton laughed. II suppose John
might take them, Charlie. / shall not
want the carriage this afternoon. If you
! will certainly meet them there
"Oh yes, I shall certainly be there. 7
must encourage Eric. too, though with
the signs down to a fine point, and JasS
| McCrea's approval, the junior captain
does not seem 10 entirely lack confd-
ence."
what do they do 10 mascot. Dada
II he doesn't bring good luckY' asked
Tobby
XIII him. fancy" his father remark
ed carelessly, as he went out of the door.
! Il remember they wrung that unfOr-
tunate ROSTERS neck"
'"rebby, Uncle Ernest says that we
, mustn't take his bulldog; ne can't be re-
sponsible FOR its temper 'mong so many
boys"
Tebby was sitting in front Of the little
cage where he kept his beloved white
mice when willy brought back this dis
appointing news.
"He knew lots about mascots." Willy
continued. and he told me awfully funny
stories, just like he did about vampires
and 'duppys;' but he says he doesn't
know where he can get one: it's awful
hard to catch them alive"
"Then I'll have 10 do it," answered
Tebby, with a long-drawn sigh.
do WHAT"
"Why, bring Eric my mice: they are
the only white things we have and an
Ashton mascot must be white, with red
ribbon"
"Oh, Tehby. Dada said that they would
be killed If they didn't be lucky. Don't
you like them any more?"
YES of course ] do" Indignantly. "Td
most rather have my finger chopped
OF It's a great sacrifice. willy. but
Eric must have a mascot or ST. Johns
will beat, and that would be the awful
est thing that could happen"
There was silence for q moment while
the boys watched the two ridiculous lit
tie mice spinning round after their tails.
Then Willy said: My rooster Is most
white, Teb lll-i'll-sacriiice him. II you
want me 10. your mice are newer"
But Tebby shook his head. Boosters
ISN'T safe" he said sorrowfully: "he
might crow too soon, like the one Dada
saw, and spoil everything. No: I've been
thinking and thinking, and there isn't
anything else for a mascot. so I'm going
to get a red ribbon and tie IL round their
necks now, cause my courage might give
out"
Maybe white mice are not bit lucky"
suggested willy hopefully
yes they are" Tebby replied. 1T
hasn't rained once since Z got them. and
/ found the knife lost way back In the
summer"
Dent let's tell mamma" WHY said
shell feel so sorry: she likes so 10
watch them trying 10 catch their tails"
NO. / won't tell anybody. Dada has
awfully soft feelings, too. He loved the
white rabbits most as much as we ala.
and he didn't even call me baby the
day j cried when Uncle Ernests bulldog
killed them. Let's clean the cage out
now. Willy. and put Erc's colors round
their necks: then wen take them TO the
stable and hide them under the seat In
the carriage. so mamma won't know I'll!
it's all over
SO the little chaps went bravely and
mournfully TO work. determined 10 offer
ND at the shrine OF that tickle goddess.
Luck. their dearest and best; '-for Eric
must have a mascot" they told each
other over and over again.
They were to have an early lunch. so
as to catch the l o'clock train. The
school was just outside of a town about
twenty-five miles from their country
seat and they had 10 drive mile and
half 10 the station.
Mrs. Hilton could not understand why
they did not seem more excited. On ordi-
nary occasions 1t was hard enough TO
keep their spirits within bounds, and on
this day. OF all others. when Eric's fate.
his whole future. In their eyes. hung In
the balance. she should have thought
that they would be almost beside them
selves on the contrary, they sat quite
still. scarcely opening their lips. and |
eating hardly anything.
lro be continued In our next)