The St. Johns herald., 1901-03-02

CTing - ting ting-ting-ting- ting.)
 I wish he would go-the Boy mean; O. wished. Could one be dip- lomatic?
 'I wonder" I said, 'I wonder could you post letter for me?"
 with the greatest pleasure" said the Boy. "For the country?"
 ''Yes. for the country"
 co! my evil star!)
 70! 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 chance. Yet, if the Boy found him. self too we'll entertained he might stay forever. But the Man was by this time in such state of nervous irritability as to be incapable of con- versation.
 His very boots expressed his desire to summarily eject the Boy. How wished he wouldl
 ''Our friend is suffering already from home sickness" said that wretched superfuity.
 I laughed the tears into mine eyes, and pricked myself badly.
 Have you seen that sketch?" said the Man at length, handing me the paper. Something on t.:e page, writ ten in pencil. interested me consid- erably.
 "What is that?" asked the Boy. con- descendingly.
 "Harper's," said the Man.
 Have they changed the cover, then?" he inquired; 'it will get mixed with Pearson's."
 ."It is Pearson's,'' said the Man; "I made a mistake. What do you think of it ?" he turned to me.
 "It seems bit startling" said the Boy.
 looked up. and my eyes met the Mans.
 Have you pencil?'' asked, coura- geously. "I should like to mark this" !"
 wrote tiny note in the margin; only one word, in fact.
 "I always annotate books" ap- 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 it is poetry"
 Ut is poetry" said the, Man. "The incest verse have ever seen."
 He looked regretfuliy at the clock and at the Boy and me. "I am afraid must"
 Must you7" said the Boy, cheer fully; that's the best of living on the spot; we need never hurry away"
 Have you oiled your door lock?" asked the Man. Tt was very stiff when last tried It."
 put down my work. "I must see what I can do," said; 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. "I'll help him to lever the door open," he said. Tt wants stronger hands than yours; I can post that letter besides"
 "It is on the hall table" told him.
 70, that's all right. I can get 1t when 20 out" he said. "Good-by."
 He politely waited till his senior had had his inning.
 '"Till I return then" said the Man.
 "I thought you did not know if you were returning" said the Boy.
 "I have made up my mind," he re- piled. "Good-by."
 They were in the hall. The door opened again and there was the Man.
 "I had to-" he said, breathlessly, after the first two seconds, Con found that fellow. Don mind, dear; they are to last me long time"
 "Mindl"
 Look here, you'll lose that train," said the Boy. opening the door.
 The Man had managed to get good deal out of four seconds, but all the same he swore. and it Is odd how 1t relieved my feelings.
 When their steps sounded down the path I went to the window ana raised 1t; as they passed the Man tried to look round the Boy, who was be- tween us, but lodged him unsuccess- fully. 1 watched them growing small CT and smaller with the lamps until they were out of sight then I tore out the page of 0 magazine, and. car rying it upstairs, lockeu 1t in the trinket box, where it .s still.
 The Boy was nice boy, and I could not find it possible to hate him, even though he spoiled the Evening of my life.
 I think of it now that he is stout and fatherly, and in my heart Is amusement, exasperation. and some thing far more bitter.
 Because the Man never came back.
 Rock fever killed him.-Black and White.