The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-01-25
BUNNY'S SISTER.
A Tale of seAooIbOy Diplomacy.

II was blazing summer afternoon
aud Ellis minor was reclining beside
his friend Urquhart, better known tc
fame as Bunny. There are unwritteu
laws at every public school, and al
Wellborough no selfrespecting "fel-
low" can watch school cricket match
without rug, cushion. or, in school
language, "keish," and one or more
bags Of fruit. 1t was at q period of the
afternoon when the school was gorged
and content, and was peacefully watch
ing the Eleven piling up runs, that
Ellis minor made discovery. At
such moments the intellect of the
school was atits highest, and wags had
been known TO devise jokes that lasted
for terms.
81 say, Bunny," Ellis minor re-
marked suddenly, II believe Old Jim
my's mashed on your sister"
"If you don't want TO be kicked,
young Ellis" his companion replied,
you'd better leave my sister alone. !.
"Beastly sorry, old chap" Ellis
minor said, ''but thought you'd like
to know"
"Rot ~ Bunny said shortly. at
isn't bit funny"
"Well, just look at them," Ellis
minor answered, sinking into reeuIn-
bent position and searching in the
bottom of the cherry bag
After several minutes Banny raised
himself tnrpidly and contemplated his
sister. Maude was. Bunny always
thought, rather responsibility. She
occupied the position of governess to
the head-master's children, and, to do
justice TO WeIlborough, that fact in
itself was no disgrace. Being pretty
girl, she even did 8anny credit ia
some ways, and at least one member of
the Eleven was in love with her, bat
her presence about the place was dis
concerting. 1t led to frequent invita-
tions to the head masters and embar-
rassing acQuaintanceships with other
masters wives. His friends some
times avoided Bunny beealse his com
panionship dragged them into feaiale
society. G. course Bunny did his best
70 check the nuisance. That afternoon,
for instance, he had merely nodded to
her, and given her to understand that
she must keep at a proper distance.
She was, at that moment when Bun
ny sighted her, conversing with the
individual alluded to by Ellis minor as
"Old Jimmyr AS a matter of fact,
his age was about thirty, and his name
was Arthur Baker. He enjoyed the
doubtful privilege of teaching the
Upper Fourth, in which form both
Bunny and Ellis minor had been To-
Gated for the last year. Three terms
in the same form are not calculated TO
increase the mutual affection ofmasters
and boys.
As Bunny watched them his brow
elouded- The coIloquy certainly ap-
peared interesting, and Old Jimmy was
apparently making himself both agree
abe and amusing.
"What an ass he's making Of him
selfF' Bunny remarked in disgust.
"He always does" Ellis minor
agreed.
81 told her what beast he was"
Bunny continued.
"She doesn't seem to think so, the
other observed.
'I don't suppose a girl could really
fall in love with Jimmy" Bunny said.
Il don't know his companion re-
piled meditatively. "You see, girls
are such awful fools about men. They
never really know what they're like.
One of my sisters married an utter
howler last holidays"
"But Jimmy's such ead,n Banny
objected, "and after the way he's treat
ed me, do think she might be rude
10 him.
sOf course" he went on, after
pause, "I know she was bound to mar
nv one Of the masters. Old Beetles
governesses always do, but 1 do draw
the line at Jimmy. I hoped she'd mar
~ Turner"
Now Turner, though, a double blue,
was shy and unhedged young man,
and appealed more to the schoo boy
than the female heart. Ellis minor
thought her scarcely good enough for
him, but tactfully refrained from say
ing so.
'iAre you going to stop it?" he m
quired.
lifts necessary, shall havea shot"
Bunny said loftily.
"I should hurry up if were you"
Ellis minor suggested. "When they
begin to look like that there's general
Iy something on.n
"She does look bit rummy," Bun
nv admitted, as his sister turned
smiling glance at Old Jimmy.
"If she was my sister," Ellis minor
continued, I'd manage to make it jolly
hot for him. You can make it rather
nasty for chap when he's in love with
your sister. Yon ought to be able to
get your promo this term if you run
the thing properly"
''Get my promo?" inquired the less
-astute Bunny.
"Yes," his friend replied. Every
time he makes a cad Of himself to you,
Just % and rGx her up about it. She
won't mind badgering him a Bit if
she's like my sisters she'll enjoy it. !
only wish Old Jimmy was mashed on
my sister. You might tell her what a
beast he is to me, too.n
"Ive jolly good mind to try" Bun
nv said. sits not half bad idea
Let's 90 and have an ice"
They str0Iled to the town together,
while Ellis minor, with a wisdom be
yond his years, aud gathered from
many sisters, explained the modus
operandi TO the still doubtful Bunny.
Unconscious Of their doom. the vie
tins on the cricket ground chatted on,
and if Bunny could have heard their
conversation he might have been
reused to even deeper indignation. As
a matter Of TACT, his sister had been en-
gagged TO Old Jimmy for apward Of