The St. Johns herald., 1901-04-06

 versation, there might still be a ; chance. Yet, if the Boy found him seh too we'll entertained he might stay forever. But the Man was by thlS tune in such state of nervous lrritability as to be incapable of con- versation
 His very boots expressed his desire to summarily eject the Boy. How I wished he would
 "Our friend is suffering already from home sickness" said that wretched superHuity.
 l laughed the tears into mine eyes, and pricked myself badly.
 Have you seen that sketch ?', said the Man at length, handing me tfe 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 mistake. What do you think of it ?" he turned to me.
 Tt seems a bit startling" said the Boy.
 l looked up, and my eyes met the Mans.
 Have you a pencil?" I asked, coura- geously. "I should like to mark this
 I wrcte tiny note in the margin; only one word, in fact.
 q 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" be said, so fervently that he aroused the Boys curiosity.
 May look?" lie asked. Unless it is poetry"
 Ut is poetry" said the Man. ''The incest verse I have ever seen."
 He looked regretfully at the clock and at the Boy and me. q am afraid I must"
 "Must you?" said the Boy, cheer fully; that's the best of living On the spot; we need never hurry away"
 Fave you oiled your door lock?" asked the Man. "It was very stiff when I last tried it."
 I put down my work. q must see what I can do," I said; I felt happy enough to laugh. If the toy would only stay On the sofa he might come again and stay ten h-urs.
 He jumped up. 'I'i help him to lever the door oren," he said. "It wants stronger hands than yours; I can post that letter besides"
 Tt is on the hall table," told him.
 70, that's all right. I can get it when I go out,' he said. "Good-by."
 He politely waited till his senior had had his inning.
 ''Till return then" said the Man.
 q thought you did net know if you were returning" said the Boy.
 q 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,
  found that fellow Don { mind, dear; they are to last me 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 the path I went to the window ana raised it; as they pressed the Man tried to look round the Boy, who was be- tween us, but lodged him ursuccess- fully. I watched them growing small CT and smaller with the lamps until they were out Of sight then I tore out the page of magazine, and, car rying it upstairs. loel;el it in the trinket box, where it $ still. The Boy was nice boy, ard I could not find it possible to hate hin, 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 exasperation, and some thing far more bitter. Because the Man never came back. Rock fever killed him.-Black and White.