The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-11

RNAtN4H ~ M
ALT der and quite prop
&za--- er for it to become
a city, is not given.
1t was in the Empire state, not on the
Hudson, Mohawk, Niagara, or any
other river of sufficient Importance TO
indicate it's location, though it had a
number of minor streams that turned
the wheels of it's manufactures. The
reader will have to take it for granted
that it existed somewhere in the i'm
perial state, and it would be uesless
to look for it on the map.
Cambridge was large enough and
progressive enough to have an excel
lent high school, in which were taught
Greek and Latin for those who we're
going to college, and French, German,
geometry and English for those who
were not. 1t was big enough also to
have a bank with a capital of a quarter
of a million, whereof General Loammi
cambridge was the president, as well
as the richest and best-known man OF
the large town just budding into city
hood. These two institutions are the
only mes that need be mentioned.
November generally gives us a mild
season before the SHOWS come, and
January or February often brings a
soft season before the flowers pick
their way out of the wet soil, which
might be called the Aboriginal Sum
mer; and it was in such a season, from
the twentieth to the end of the latter
month, that the first class of the Gain
bridge high school gathered on the
lawn beside the building to take their
luncheon and enjoy an atmosphere
which was more like June than any
month of winter.
1t was the tw%enty-first of the month,
and the young ladies and young gen
tlemen were intensely engaged in the
discussion. of a subject brought before
them by Philip Banker, whose father
was the teller of the bank, and his full
name was George w. Banker; and if
his middle name was a mystery, it was
solved the next day at Lake Wash
1ngton. The teller wished to be a
much bigger man than he was, and
looked forward to the time when he
should be president of the Cambridge
bank. The sheet of water on his own
land was small, but very pretty, and
he thought of calling it, when it came
to need a name, Lake Banker; but
his wife objected, and he compromised
by giving it his middle name, rather
han that of the patriot hero who has
hppn rnuprpd OVID hnnnro1 oc tho LNoth
er of his country.
MI. Banker had decided to christen
the lake and hoist the American flag
on a pole erected for the purpose on
the border of the lake nearest to his
house on Washington's birthday,
though it would have suited him bet
ter to have the ceremony on his own
natal day. AS nothing could be done
ia the United States without an ora
ion and the singing of an ode, he in
vited the president of the bank to
make the oratorical effort, and the
first class of the high school to sing
the ode, which had been written by
the principal of that institution. A
collation. was to be served on the &C.
casion, to which the scholars were in
vited and some of the magnates of the
town.
This celebration was the subject of
the conversation on the sehoolhouse
lawn. America" the ode, and the
Star Spangled Banner had been re-
hearsed. The artillery company of
Cambridge were to be present and fire
off all their nno at once ht the mo-
ment when the new "Old Glory" pur-
chased by the teller, was flung loose
to the breeze. Then the national an
them was to follow, and the ode in
conclusion.
What do o think" exclaimed
Lucy Archer. Conrad and Olga Binn-
field are not to be with us."
DO you mean to say, Luke, that
they will not be present." demanded
Phoebe Banker, the teller's daughter,
And the two who were to be absent
were the son and daughter of the cash
Ter.
THAT is what I mean to say, and l
have the information from Olga her
SELF" added Lucy. "They have al
ways led the singing, and Conrad is
about the only fellow that can sing
bass"
The statement of Lucy Archer had
created a sensation and something like
a panic among the pupils. 1t had
promised to be a great occasion for
them, and their hopes appeared to be
suddenly blighted. Conrad and Olga
had taken no part in the conversation
and were seated apart from the others,
and anyone who looked into their faces
would have seen only a picture of
despair in each, though both of them
were ordinarily bright and cheerful.
They were the best scholars in the
school, as they were the leaders of the
sports and amusements OF both sexes.
Now they looked as though they had
not a single friend in the whole world.
General Cambridge, whose ancestors
were honored in the name of the town,
was ar honest and just man, but he
was severe in his judgments. The
cashier, a German who lad modified
his name so that Americans could pro-
nounce it, was an educated man and a
musician of the highest order, and his
wife was his equal as an artist. He
had left his native land twenty years
before under a political doud, which
he might have turned aside if he had
been less honest and more s%ubservient
to the wishes of his ~superiors in Of
flee.
Mr.. Binnfield had brought with him