The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-06

81 sha'nt try any longer. it's no use
said Frank, passionateiy.
Albert only screwed up BITS mouth in his
characteristic fashion. as if Doe were haN-
ing struggle with himself not 90 speak
700 quickly, perhaps 10 was so. But after
llttle space of silence on the part oi
both boys be looked keelly az frank
with those beautiful brown eyes OF bis
and said. quietly. 81 never can find any
chance To stop trying
Frank laughed forced laugh, that
sounded as IL il would be- rather easier to
cry.
"Wel. 1 can; I've got a good chance
now"
Albert shook his head, close-cropped
and brown. "Twon't work, Frank. Come
along and have a game Of ball; youN
feel better tomorrow
The Two boys went out together. They
had been lingering IN the school libra
ny. but Frank AlcOtt was too much out
Of sorts for wholesome sport. and be
started for home Ia a mood hali-mOrse,
half-i echcss.
he was a moody boy, that cannot De
Cnied. With less self-will and more ap-
plicatiou he would easily have led MS
Class: for he was boy OF fine natural
abilities, the first 10 understand and the
last 10 forget any new principle or im-
portant fact brought up I'm study. Ills
n other was a widow, only too anxious for
his real good; perhaps that anxiety did
him harm By making too much OF both
his faults and his virtues. She was too
openly distressed when anything went
wrong, and on these occasions Frank was
very apt 10 go from bad TO worse.
Albert Hardy was the Oldest OF eight
children, and naturally when he was NOT
# s..f Nai.
brothers and sisters. he was left some
" hat 10 himself. lie had, besides, an
even, thoughtful disposition, slow 10 take
or 10 give onense. Frank Alcott was
high-spirited and sometimes overbearing,
and made few friends among boys. While
everybody liked Albert, therefore, Frank
was both feared and disliked, but be-
tween THEMSELVES there was the best
possible understanding.
Albert trudgei home with his books
over his shoulder. not caring for the bail
game, since Frank wouldn't play
Poor fellow, he said to himself, I must
contrive some way TO help him out Of
You see that the "scrape" was no I'M
usual occurrence.
Miss Atwater was the history teacher.
She was a tall. dignincd person, IN gold
glasses, with light hair neatly crlmped
ana parted above a rather high, straight
forehead. Exact and precise In all her
WAYS she liked exact statements ana
exact knowledge. Now Frank Alcott had
a true love OF the study OF history; he
had an unusual knowledge OF the suDrct,
too, for a boy Of his age as he had read
a considerable number Of inp)rian- iis-
torieal works in the fine library LETT him
By Lis father. But with 4 vivll magma
ton and unusual power Of generalizins
he cared more for the la-se elects than
for detail lie grasped firmly the real
connections I'm the story OF the nations
and loved to dwell upon the growth AMI
develop n ,nt of goyernm slts AM 'nsl'iI-
tions, but he was Indifferent 20 the
dates Of tsttles. or OF th4 birth AL death
OF any pre- mnent man. Miss AtNater did
not see that this interest ma h. HIN her
m ~ promising schollr; she 10 mi him
la,kinl too often. In the precise in.)rsnA-
tlCn Which she required. and she ali .'ot
hestat, 10 remove him severely iar .-fc-
i,nce ard carelessness. Nor was this ail
II. haO a habit OF asking 1ucs'i IS ~ !
br.keirg up subjects for dis ;Hssioq N
cl.ss. entirely outside Of the set .ssson.
thsugh connected with It or Naturally