The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-01-25

parental questions is 10 ways ana
means, and to prophesy his election
was scarcely diplomatic Miss Urqu-
hart was quite content with the ar
rangement Every girl knows that an
engagement is all the pleasanter before
its announcement.
F0f day or two Ellis minors idea
slumbered. DE mOoted il at intervals,
but Bunny denominated it ''too much
sweat" and had scruples as to whether
it was not ''rather bad FORM AT the
end of the week, however, his anger
was reused to boiling point and his
scruples scattered 10 the winds. Old
Jimmy put him on satisfecit.
Now, being put on satisfecit is dis
turbing process. At Marlborough no
fOrm-master can caue boy, but must
deliver the victim over to the house
master for execution as disinterested
person. Sometimes, in cases of idle
ness, he is given one more chance. The
ellprit has for certain period TO fur
nisE the house-master every evening
with a paper signed by the form-mast-
er, aud containing the mystic word
''salisfecit," which signifies that the
euIprit's work for the day has been
adequate. On the first evening on
which this is not forthcoming the exc
eution occurs.
Banny WAS much incensed. He had
no more fear of n Gaming than the aver
age healthy sehoolboy, provided it was
soon over aud done with, but he ob-
jected strongly to having it hanging
over his head. That is, of course, the
beauty of the Institution of satisfscit
from the disciplinary point Of view.
al wouldn't stand it if / were you,"
Ellis minor observed sympatheticaIly.
al WON'T" Bunny said, with indig-
nation. "I'lI forbid Maude-I mean
my 81 ster-.o speak to him."
'I wouldn't do that Bunny said Il e
Machiavellan Eilis minor. "It's no
good telling a girl not to doa thing.
You go aud lay it on thick abont how
much wanging hurts and all that,
and whatbeastly cheek it is for him to
get you eaned. If that doesn't fetch
her, you just threaten 10 bring your
guv'nor into it somehow, and that'll
make her sit up. Girls do hate their
guv'nors getting muddled up in things
like this, and yom guv'nor seems to be
waxy enough for anything"
After some discussion they mapped
out a plan of campaign, and that after
noon Bunny presented himself at the
head masters house for tea. He had
been accorded a standing invitation
there, an invitation OF which it is need
less to say he never took advantage.
Special Invitations were bad enough.
After a while the head masters wife
tactfully left Bunny and his sister
alone. She feared that fourth-form
boy who bearded tea at the house un-
necessarily must be in some serious
trouble.
"Maude," he observed when she had
departed, ''rve come TO speak to you"
IF you didn't try to eat mullins and
strawberries at the same time, you
might do it more easily" his sister re-
piled unfeelingly.
Don't rot, Maude,p Bunny said;
'.it's rather serious.'
"would five shillings be enough ?"
she inquired.
"It's not money" he said impressive
ly; II shall probably be caned."
"rhe wretched boy ate hearty
meal" his sister replied without any
proper display OF emotion. "What
have you been doing this time Llonel?"
"I'm on satisfecit," he explained
tragieally.
"what horrible crime r. she laugh
ed. "What in the world is it?D
'It is that brute Jimmy" her broth
er burst out.
"oa p she said softly. If Ellis
minor had been there, he would have
noticed the blush "Tell me about it."
Bunny told her about it, and about
the nature of satisfeeit, and the psngs
of Gaming, and the enounities Of jim
my. 1t was lengthy narrative with
artistic touches derived from Ellis
minor, and Miss Urquhart listened
with apparent interest. There was.
however, a twinkle in her eyes which
annoyed Bunny.
.And now" he concluded, "he's tor
turing me-slowly torturing me because
Pm not clever"
''BOsh ~ his sister said "You're
going to be caned because your idle.p
"Do you mean TO say you don't pity
me ?'' Bunny asked.
Not in the least" she said placidly.
az suppose you thoroughly deserve it."
"very welI,n Bunny said decisiveIy.
'sPll write to the guv'nor about it and
see what he says"
The twinkle disappeared from Miss
Urquhart's eyes.
"Lionel, she said with sudden ap-
prehension. "if you do that, I'll never
forgive you"
awhy shouldn't II" he inquired
stolidly. Hell be down next day and
make it jolly hot for Jimmy"
Mr.. Urquhart senior would certainly
have regarded the occasion as suita-
BILE one for "a visit to Wellborough. He
had a theoretical horror of corporal
punishment and a passion for inter-
fering with his sons school career. To |
BGnny's credit be it said that he had
never hitherto appealed for parental in
tervention, nor at that moment had he |
any real intention Of doing so, but the
advice of Ellis minor was persuasively
ingenious. The latter had, as one Of
the masters said, "a bright but GRIM
inal future before him.
"You don't want father to make
another row, do your Maud inquir-
ed desperately.
"Don't ?'' Bunny rejoined calmly;
ssI want him to make such a row as
two masters and boy of our day can
not carry. It'll just about pip Old
Jimmy"
Miss Urquhart looked deeply dis
tressed. Mr.. Urquhart's prejudiees