The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-01
DID | Do RIGHT?
By F. W. ROBINSON,

tOSSs AASist ioOo ny kIuSTlCdn EicS5 kASSOCie-
tion.l
l wonder if it would have happened
very differently-or how it would have
happened anyhow-if ] had not inter-
fereda If had neglected that which it
was my obvious duty to attend to; if 1
had let things "slide;" if I had shut
my eyes and seen nothing, it might
have paid me better-I should not have
been in young Whites estimation for
ever afterward San intermeddling old
fool.n
wonder even now whether it was
for the best. Still it was clearly my
duty. and did it. I did not feel any
the better for it afterward. never re-
preached myself for taking the step that
T did take al had the satisfaction Of
my own conscience to uphold me. But,
still, I cannot help wondering how
young Whites love affair would have
PANIED out without me.
There was nothing to be done but
stop it. Young White was in my
charge, and his parents, relatives and
friends-and her parents, relatives and
friends-had right to be informed and
warned of what was going on in Inkle-
borough under my very nose and, may
add, under the aquiline nose of Miss Le-
titia Craig-Alpine, the principal of
High House Seminary For Young Ladies,
where the object Of young Whites de-
vouring passion was being educated at
high pressure and with all the extras. ;"
When it came to discovering this,
clumsily stitched up in the left inner
lining of young Whites Sunday waist
coat (near the heart, poor boy y, where it
was discovered by its cracking and by
Sarah Buds, my housekeeper, whose
vigilant eye had detected button gone
and was making good the omission
when this was found beneath her hand,
what else was to be done but take active
steps to stop it all at once?
MY DEAREST RoBERTo--f shall be SO dread
fully unhappy until see you next Saturday
afternoon. Old Scroggy is going to see her
sister, and Miss Tadcastle, hateful thing, has
sprained her ankle-badly, ] am glad to say
and Sally will be in charge of us. Dear Sally
whom we can both trust, and whom we will
both take care of when she grows old and we
have house of our own, won't we, dear?)
can bear this slavery no longer-this black
board and bread and jam existence-and we
love each other and can trust each other for
ever and ever. Yes, the die is cast, and we
wilLhy from this detestable tyranny and begin
life together as you suggest in a new and for
elgn land, where your French uncle is, who
will shelter us and take care of US for a few
weeks until we are able to get married. Peo-
pie marry very early abroad, have heard
mamma say, and you are so clever everybody
says that we are sure to prosper in the world,
with your kind rich uncle to help us till we
do. So on Saturday next-at in the after
noon, as you have arranged so nicely-I will
be at the railway station under the clock,
waiting for you and looking out lopgingly for
you, my dearest one. Don't forget We will
travel third class to Daskford Junction-that
will not excite suspicion and will save us a
deal of money. With fondest love and kisses
yours, till death and longer, EUGENE.
P. S.-Burn this lest old Bunions get hold of
it. Fluff, our kitten, has been stolen, SO
cannot bring him with me on Saturday am
so sorry about it. Poor little love! Eow
wonder where it has got toll don't think
your pa or ma or my pa and ma will be very
angry when we are married, and it can't be
helped. Do your Saturday. o'clock.
Here followed various significant and
symbolic crosses. Poor little Eugenie-
forward and precocious little Eugenie-
it was an unlucky hour for two fond
young lovers wild schemes that put
your missive into the hands of sold
Bunions. )" was "old Bunions'' doubt
less. Young White must have told her
that / had some, which was very wrong
and disrespectful of him, but I bore him
no ill will for that. Indeed ! had
always liked young White. He was
so manly boy. SO raightforward,
SO afectionate, such a favorite with
the school, especially among the smaller
fry, to whom he was always gentle
an uncommon trait in the big boy. Rob
ert White was 16 years of age, and was
tall enough for 10. There was sus-
picion of a mustache over his upper lip.
He was one of the cleverest boys in the
school, and should have been the last
to suspect him of any amorous tenden-
cies. That letter in the inner lining of
his waistcoat fairly took my breath
away. Not only love letter, but an ar
rangement for an elopement-a plan
cut and dried to ''cut away"-a wild
and unwarrantable step which might
end in complete disaster if we were not
very careful over the whole business.
Saturday was the day arranged for
this unceremonious proceeding, and to-
day was Thursday. must take counsel
with Miss Craig-Alpine at once, and ac-
tive measures must be taken to battle
those young conspirators. And if it could
all be done quietly and thus save scan
dal in our respective schools. and with
out Robert White or Eugene being any
The wiser, SO much the better.
suggested this to Miss Craig-Alpine,
between IL and 1 on the Thursday, and
Miss Craig Alpine could not agree with
me. Itwas not often we agreed together
upon any subject, for Ibid not like Miss
Craig-Alpine and thought that she was
rather severe schoolmistress, take her
for all in all. do not think I have any
reason to alter my opinion even now,
despite my testimony here that she was
a good teacher and rigid disciplinarian
with much higher principles than I fear
l have ever had the good fortune to pos
sess. Alas, there was no hushing it ND