The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-03-18
How the Mistake Occurred
BY Edmund Lyons

TT WAS certainly charming locality
in which DR.. Stagmire's Select
Academy for Young Gentlemen" was
situated, about hundred miles from
New York. The ground sloped gently
from the house to the river, and in the
near background were high hills and
lakes and valleys. The pupils parents
who came from distance were gen.
orally very much attracted by the
beauty of the scenery.
There was another academy within
a mile of us, but this, as the doorplate
Informed those who cared to know, was
Young Ladies' Preparatory Semi
nary" | don't believe any of the boys
of DR.. Stagmire's school, with the single
exception of myself, knew any of the
inmates of Miss Cummings establish
ment. My acquaintance with the good
natured servant, Fanny Barnes, was
due to our meeting at the post Office
in the village, where we were taking
and receiving letters for the respective
schools.
One cloudy day in ,September my ia
ther came to visit me at DR.. Stagmires
He was called by business to California,
and was to be away for three months
He asked for half holiday, which was
gladly granted, for DR.. Stagmire was
seldom averse to allowing this little in
diligence to himself and his pupils.
When he was going away my father
placed a coin in my hand.
"Dick, my boy" he said, there is a
ten-dollar gold piece. Don't be eX-
travagant with it, for | am not rich, but
don't be stingy.'
l was not stingy. The very next aft
ernoon, DR.. .Stagmire kindly consent
ing, and even accompanying the process
sion, went, followed by all my school
mates. two abreast, to the only refresh
ment saloon in the village, where we
were furnished, ad libitum, with sand
witches and ice cream, while the non
invited village boys scutfled with each
other for the best places outside the
window to'watch the feast.
l was proud boy, indeed, when Dr.
Stagmire condescended to eat two sand
witches and plate of ice cream at my
expense, and yet prouder one when,
with my respected principal beside me,
again headed the long line of boys and
marched to the counter, where, some
what osteEtatiously, | fear, l threw
down my coin. Then the fact was de-
veloped that the ten-dollar gold piece
was bad one.
The procession on its way back to
the school was perhaps a little disor-
ganized. l, as heretofore, was in ad-
vance, with DR.. Stagmire beside me-
while my schoolmates followed, boil
ing over with very indifferently-sup
pressed contempt.
The good doctor had willingly paid
my bill, and as we walked home he as
sured me that he had no doubt there
was mistake somewhere, which
sooner or later, would be explained.
The boys, was sorry to find, took q
different view of the situation, and Ton
Carroll, who was said to have the power
of standing longer on one foot than any
other of the pupils, remarked:
IF Blanchard's father gave him baC
ten-dollar piece, then Mr.. Blanchard
must be very queer kind of man
That is all have to say"
Tom did himself an injustice. That
was not quite all he had to say. TIL,
next day he said more. 1t was, in effect
that if young Blanchard had not re
ceived the coin from his father, but had
simply tried to pass off spurious piec,
obtained elsewhere with this paltr,
tale, he was very queer kind of boy
suppose there are many boys wht
would have resented these remarks O.
Tom Carroll. did not do so. Twas no
auarrelsome, and / liked Tom. wa
sure that some mistake existed tina
would be explained eventually. And
besides, Tom was half foot taller thar
l, and my chances of satisfying him b,
physical force that he was wrong would
have been of very slender kind. S,
the days passed by, and went moping
ly about alone, and had no sympa
thizers.
Yes, one. At first it was not though
quite safe to let me have charge of tn,
letters. but the post office duty" wa
lowed 10 do it, when my turn came, a