The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-18
The
story
."Truth I'ill Out. =

the first days was wearing off, and a fort !
hight had passed when the incident I am
bout to narrate occurred. One mornings
Frank and l came later than usual, and
were mounting the stairs when We saw
our own initials neatly engraved on the
door in conspicuous letters. The sur
prise was SO great that We involuntarily
remained still, staring at the entrance
door in speechless amazement. At last
our unpleasant reverie was broken by the
voice of Miss Arnold. our teacher. and
we went within. How quiet every one
became. 1 dropped my eyes in confusion;' :.
knew what they all thought.
II wish to speak to you 1t was Miss
Arnold who spoke. We went forward in
awkward silence.
II noticed on entering this morning;
some newly carved initials on the door,
which, suppose. you have seen. I have
questioned the room. but they seem to
know nothing about it, so now it remains
only for you two to answer
We both replied that we knew nothing
about them; had, in fact, but just discov-
cred them. After We had taken our seats
she continued:
I'm very sorry that it should have
happened, but it is my duty to find the :
guilty ones. Only two persons in this:
room have such initials, and they deny
any knowledge as to the -
I'VE do came Franks voice, high and
clear, and l could not help sending him an
admiring glance. 4
II sincerely hope it may prove so,' she
said, sadly. From reliable witness I
have evidence as to the right party, but
I shall say no more till confession is !
made" I could not help but feel she be-
ieved us guilty, and this also seemed to
be everybody's opinion, for that day we I
were the targets of all eyes, causing US
to be very uncomfortable.
True to her word Miss Arnold never /
mentioned the trouble, and a week went
by. The girls then begged us to- confess, !
telling Frank and me that the teacher was
80 discouraged she wished she had never
taken our school. This made US doubly
sad, for having nothing to confess, we
could only try hard to penetrate the mys-
terry. We tried so earnestly and were
SO very anxious that on Friday, when
Franks mother came over to tea. she
remarked on our tired looks
''Now boys, forget all about the matter
and take some kind of outdoor exercise
tomorrow. If you don't, I'm afraid one
of you will become ill.," said the good
lady. At first we shook our heads, but
on second thought the subject was given
more consideration, and by nightfall our
long wished to go nutting, SO we decided
to make Saturday the date.
The night was one of those beautiful,
starry evenings in late September All
was still excepting for the dismal howl
of some sleep1ess dog, and the singing of
the frogs in the marsh. We were sitting
with our backs to the pillars of the We
randa, our legs dangling over the rail-
ing in careless fashion, and our faces
looking upwards at the exquisite beauty
Of the sky, watching the occasional fall
Of some star.
you're going to take your boat, aren't
you, Randolph" asked Frank.
eyes, of course I'm going to take it.
Well row up the river to the grove"
I made reply.
"Hurrah! Won't we have snap" cried
Frank, jumping to the ground and throw
ing his hat high in the air.
At breakfast the next morning I was
jubilant, and still more SO when Frank
gave his well-known signal-the whistle
After crossing the fields to the river we
pushed the rowboat out into the water
and set out toward 'the grove as
clump of trees with nuts and plums was
called.
Down the stream we went, applying Wig
orous strokes to the oars. The spray from
the water sprinkled our clothes and faces
At last we reached our destination, and
leaving the boat moored to the trunk of
tree, we ran joyously down to the
grove.
It was little past noon when our sacks
were full to the brim, and we sat down
to hearty meal. Not wishing to en-
bark for home vet, I'VE took a stroll in
the woods, coming back about the hour of
3. On going to unite our boat we found
It gone We looked blankly into each
others faces, when a cry Of "help!'
= startled us. At no great distance we
saw some one splashing in the water and
q boat rising and falling on the waves. 1t
was the missing one.
Hardly a moment passed before Frank
and I we're striking out for the drowning
boy las we plainly saw now). I managed
to catch the boat and was successful in
Laundering over one side. By the time I
had regained the oar, which was float
ing away, Frank had reached the boy
He really is the best swimmer ever saw,
and only he could have done what he did
have never been noted for coolness
and it seems queer now, after it is over
that had sense enough to do what little
did and row in their direction, but In
some odd manner unknown to me, I
reached the two and saw that the rescued
boy was no other than Jack Merriweather,
q boy who had always hated us for some
reason or other. When he revived we
heard him humble In tone of complete
subsection and humiliation:
Ell hope you will forgive me-" Now,
us hard fDr a hOv tn feel himself otr3ieed