New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29
THE b. A. AND THE BELLS.

island there is a public school whlch Oh id,'
years has won particular reno"h I"' "'a ~
master is an Honorary canon, a ~, b' a.
ii. D. and several other things Desues ~
assistant masters are also men ol le''e''
though not Of many, and IKE the rtNeiVhu
head they wear gowns and other schoiasiic III
SIGMA This lends an air of academic rennt-
ment to the school the lawns and the precihc's
generally. ,,
The r. A. was a goOd-lOoking. clean shaved
rather pale young man of about hve-and-'W"h'E
and what is called a sound scholar. lie was
Also both in mind and body, a person u a &C. =
tain sOdty. some people salu ne was sun"
but of ibis the reader must judge ne ulos .a
in black, wore gold-rlmmed spectacleS, anu wa
the only son of a cousin OF the head master
wife
one morning In June he received a letter from
the head-master which gave him an agreeable
start Though not exactly a blghted beng, M
had begun to think he had not quite his deserts
He had done 80 very well at his UNIVERSITY
and had been exemplary In regard 10 M
mother. that it seemed a little anomalous ~ 10
unjust that after three years he should b'
nothing more than tutor to manufacturer
sons in town full Of chimneys.
The head masters letter was formal conde
scending and guarded 1t intimated that thu
post Of first classical master in the school was
vacant and if ne. the b. A.. would like to nave
It. his application would at least be cohsldereu
"You might come down to our commentator,
the letter said land meet some Of the governors
Perhaps il would be well not to mention ou'
family connection. such as II is
He had not met the head-master five times II
his life and had never seen the school, but hf
had heard "a good deal about both. Though MOI
particularly sangune, ne decided to go; yet NJ
did not make up his mind immediately, being Il
say the truth, a little deliberate IN ms mohta
movements
He arrived late in the day, after slow jour
ney in duh weather. The evening, however, was
remarkably fine, and he little town with It's
steeples. towers and quaint red-brIck houses
and even the fiat expanse around t-secmed
glorifed in the clear sunlight into something
not quite like fragment OF this common eaIth
The young curiously unOhservant; but
now so great was the change from his late
environment he seemed TO be endowed with
sight and sensibility all at once. 1t reminded
him Of the city of his university. which, now
that ne came to recall it. was really a very
charming place. At the railway station he was
met by the Demonstration in Physical Science
and his wife both of whom he thought re-
markedly cordial They showed him over the
schools the grounds and the town generally
They even took him out to the bridge. where
sees the two principal spires-St. Catherine S
and St JOhn'S-inverted in the water. and hears
the music Of the various bells of the community.
They took him to the head master. who intro
duced him to the other masters In concave,
who in their turn were surprisingly friendly.
SO that the young man began TO think his invi-
tation had meant more than he supposed, and
to he elated accordingly.
In the evening there a mildly festive
function such as are common at cOmmemora-
lions commencements and other school occa-
"a
good many ladies were present, several Of them
belonging TO the families Of the resident pcda-
rogues The b. A was treated with much con
sideration, and quite as If one Of the scholastic
household This made him still more eatcd
and nearer to excitement than ever before in
his life. Then another thing happened. He
FOUND himself becoming deeply Interested in a
young lady with dark ey Is and rather brilliant
color. who was soon introduced to him az a
Miss Georeiana Smith and whom ne at length
recalled a slight acquaintance Of his under
graduate days. He had not been greatly i'm
pressed with her then he remembered. but now
she seemed really very VivacOus and striking
girl ana in a short time he fell victim 10 an
oth"r set Of emotions which however harmo-
nzed completely with those already exercising
him. Her image. or the idea OF her. seemed to
and To brighten II like nirnbus or halo--in
such manner. indeed, that he could not think
OF the two things separately. This at least
was something IKE the way II affected him. II
Is true he lid not speak with her more than
once or Twice and she was closely attended by
large and rather Objectionable male cousin
hni the B. A. felt that the subtle bond with
Wncn ldlr had linked them together could not
b' @nectcd 10y any male relative however large
or obnoxious. His conviction though not rest
ing on vefy solid basis. was strengthened
when she expressed regret at not seeing him
again for some time. I'VE are going away TO-
morrow for month"; she said at parting. $50
very early too-the $50 don't know how we
small manage il.
even more festive. and confined 10 members of
tho school staff we shall be glad to see Won
1n Inc study tomorrow AT TO-" the head master
said I" MN ben"volently. IT'S a little early
but one OF the governors has an appointment
AT II like them TO see the ncw--cr-appi-
cants personally. and daresay II will be con
Venient for you" "Of course" said the Il A
AT a quarter to ~ that night ne sat at tho
open window Of delicously curtained old bed
room facing the schools. Below him was the
uncontrolled lawn glistening IN the moonlight.