The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-11-30


sereD.
''To learn her all round?"
"Not very long. OF course, it de-
pends-"
The man who had been staring al
the ceiling began to hunt savagely
through a six months old magazine.
(Ting - ting ting-ting ting
ting)
1 wish he would go-the Boy ]
mean; o! wished. Could one be dip
lomatic?
81 wonder" I said, 81 wonder could
you post a letter for me?"
with the greatest pleasure" said
the Boy For the country?"
ayes. for the country"
20! my evil star.)
80! that's all right" he said. "I
need not run with IT," Then, in an
explanatory tone: you see the next
post out is tomorrow morning. Any
time till ten will do"
My heart sank. The Man who had
looked up hopefully turned to the
frontispiece once more.
If he would-would absorb the con-
versation, there might still be a
chance. Yet, if the Boy found him
self too well entertained he might
stay forever. But the Man was by
this time in such a state of nervous
irritability as to be incapable Of con-
versation.
His very boots expressed his desire
TO summarily eject the Boy How l
wished he would
"Our friend is suffering already
from home Sickness" said that
wretched superhuity.
l laughed the tears in.o mine eyes,
and pricked myself badly.
Have you seen that sketch?" said
the Man at length, handing me the
paper. Something on t. page, writ
ten in pencil, interested me consid-
erably
"What is that?" asked the Boy, con-
descendingly.
"Harper's," said the Man.
"TIave they changed the cover,
then?" he inquired; 1T will get mixed
with Pearson's."
at is Pearson's," said the Man; "I
made a mistake. What do you think
of it?" he turned TO me.
at seems bit startling" said the
Boy.
looked up, and my eyes met the
Mans.
Have you a pencil?" asked coura-
geously. 81 should like to marx this"
wrote a tiny note in the margin;
only one word, in fact
81 always annota.e books" APP
proved the Boy.
The Man took the magazine and
looked at the page; he looked happier
than he had done since his entrance.
Thank you" he said, so fervently
that he aroused the Boys curiosity.
"May look?" he asked. "Unless 1t
is poetry"
at is poetry" said the Man. "The
incest verse have ever seem"
He looked regretfully at the clock
and at the Boy and me. 81 am afraid
/ must"
"Must you?" said the Boy. cheer
fully; that's the best of living on the
spot: we need never hur Y away"
"Have you oiled your door LOCKE"
asked the Man. ut was very stiff
when last tried IT,"
put down ny work. 81 must see
what can do" l said; I felt happy
enough to laugh If the Boy would
only stay on the sofa he might come
again and stay ten h urs.
He jumped up. "Ill help him to
lever the door OPEN" he said. 1T
wants stronger hands than yours; l
can post that letter besides"
at is on the hall table" l told him.
80. that's all right. l can get it
when l go out" he said. Good-by."
He politely waited till his senior
had had his inning.
IT'LL return then" said the Man.
81 thought you did not know If you
were returning" said the Boy.
81 have made up my mind" he re-
piled. "Good-by."
They were in the hall. The door
opened again and there was the Man.
81 had to-" he said, breathlessly,
after the first two seconds. Con
found that fellow. Don mind, dear;
they are to last me a long time"
Mind"
look here. you'll lose that train"
said the Boy, opening the door.
The Man had managed to get a good
deal out Of four seconds, but all the
same he swore. and it is odd how it
relieved my feelings.
When their steps sounded down tho
path I went to the window ana raised
It; as they passed the Man tried to
look round the Boy, who was be-
tween us. but lodged him unsuccess-
fully. l watched them growing small
er and smaller with the lamps until
they were out of sight then | tore
out the page OF magazine. and, car
rvinq It upstairs. lockeu it in the
trinket box. where IL IS still.
The Boy was nice boy, and could
not find it possible 20 hate him, even
though he spoiled the Evening Of my
life.
l think Of it now that he is stout
and fatherly. and in my heart is
amusement, evaporation, and some'
thing far more bitter
Because the Man never came back.