The record-union., 1899-03-05
The B. A. and THE BELLS.

Continued from Tenth Page.)
largely mud. He was Just celebrating
whether to attempt it when, to his de-
light, he saw among the rushes, the
plank he had crossed on two hours be-
bore; evidently it had fioated down. In
moment he had it out of the water
and spanning the half of the stream be-
tween him and the island The task of
supporting the trembling damsel to the
bank was safely and, he fiattered him
self, gracefully performed Then fol-
lowed an exploit worthy of a Spanish
matador He crossed both planks and,
with great agility, rescued the basket
of wild flowers from under the very
nose of the bull This was the cream of
the adventure a fragment of his gown
left on one of the beasts horns show
ing the degree of his intrepidity. He
was rewarded with agitation, thanks
and bushes.
He was charmed with her. If the
morning light had improved the school
close, in the lady it had worked trans
formation To say the truth, but for
her dark hair and eyes. the place she
obviously filled in the scheme of his
destiny, he would not have known her
Her voice even had changed, and she
was also much prettier. But she was
so timid, he thought, and reserved
so unlike the vivacious person of last
night. Perhaps, however, her morning
dress, the late adventure and bis de-
fective vision explained it,
AS they walked slowly on through the
field paths, melodious birds singing
madrigals the while, she confided to
him that she belonged to a society of
young ladies founded to promote early
rising, habits of devotion and the study
of wild and domesticated flowers They
| had come out very early-it was such
lovely morning people had queer no.
tlons OF early hours here, the B. A.
thought, and, being an enthusiast, she
mad remained after the others. Unfor-
tunately she had strayed into the. river
| neld-the rest of the adventure he
knew 1 should never have gone near
1t, she said, IF 1 had imagined the
dreadful thing was about He did not
care to ask her why she had given up
ner intended journey, and as for the
male cousin, he had completely faded
from his thoughts.
they were now in the town, passing
up wide avenue facing the schools.
Inc young lady had recovered herself,
ana was walking without his aid He
Still carried ner basket, but she held a
Few OF the flowers in her hand. Ae the
long facade of the schools came in sight
| through the trees, with figure in cap
and gown crossing the lawn, a slight
pang visited him, but passed away all
at once; he felt instinctively that he
mad gained something of more value
than even head mastership. In fact.
ne was supremely happy. It must be
aimost noon, he thought, though the air
was still wonderfully cool, when the
hour began to be struck. The B. A.
mad for the present lost all interest in
| tunes and seasons, but, happening to
glance at the school clock he was i'm
mediately transfxedl The gildedi hands.
with the sun full upon them. stood at 81
He settled his spectacles and looked
long and hard, but there could be M
mistake-it was the hour If which bis
strange experiences had begun.
I think something must be wrong
with the school clock" he said at last
IN rather weak voice
Il only wish there was" the voune
lady answered, lightly. II shall be
dreadfully late: but I'm afraid it's
right-it always is
The young man appeared dazed. II
seemed as if the eight strokes he had
counted so carefully that morning were
even then ringing in his head. Then
MS eyes wandered from the dial and
encountered something more astonish-
ing, II possible, than the miracle of time
set back-or stopped, he did not know
winch II was. On the opposite footpath.
coming quickly toward them were the
male cousin, as large as ever, and
heaven save his witsi-the Georgiana
Smith of the previous EVENING" There
was no question of identity They both
earned travelling wraps, and were talk
ing and laughing-rather too loudly he
thought-and so much absorbed in each
other as not to notice him in passing
The Il. A remained standing for some
moments, his features relaxed into an
expression of vacuity not uncommon
With people at sea in rough weather.
There was some excuse for him. He
had had a great deal to try him that
morning-crazy clocks, dishonest dust
men, stupid Constables, insecure
bridges, prize bulls on the warpath and
now the phenomenon of duplicate dam
sells Only he had the sense to per-
ceive that they were not duplicatesI by
any means.
Il hope you are not i'll, Mr.. Brown
his companion said in alarm. She
feared he had been injured while res
cuing her.
Emo, not exactly" he gasped out,
recovering himself in a surprising man
ner and walking on-he had a good con-
stitution, and was getting used to
shocks-'I must have been up very
early this morning, that's all Then
you're not Missile was beginning
when he checked himself. II didn't
know you knew my name" he said In
stead.
II think you are going to be the new
master at the school," she answered,
efficiently. Il hope you'll like it;
they've such nice houses, some of
them"
He was again completely himself, and
replied with emphasis that it was now
extremely probable that he should be
the new master, but how he should like
it would depend on circumstances-h
did not say what, but looked many
things. In return she told HIM that her
name was Julia Martson, that her
father was a solicitor, and her brother
was at Oxford. They lived at Elmhurst,
in Church street, and he must call, as
her father would wish to thank him. He
promised to do SO at an early date-that
very day, in fact.
s.rThere'S lust one thing I should like