Evening star., 1902-03-01

ping. scuff1e of feet and other indications
of lax authority met Johns ear and eye as
| he opened the door.
The young schoolboy usher-"pupil-teac
err, as he was just beginning to be called
| came forward sheepishly enough.
| Hello. Martin Fraser, what do you mean
/ by adding cubit to your stature in this
way?" cried John, delighted to see the one
who had been in the school when he him.
| self was there. why. you were only in
the fourth class yourself when left. Now,
behold. you are teaching it!''
The boy, secretly elated, muttered his
pleasure, but stood awkwardly enough
looking down.
So it was John who had to find the next
subject Of conversation.
We'll. Martin" he said, genially, per
haps i am coming tomorrow to give you a
hand for an hour or two. How will you
like that?"
The boys face, sorely tried with noise
| and paper wads, lighted UP momentarily,
but at some second thought clOuded over
again Immediately.
II shall be very glad. Mister-Mister-"
he stammered stif11y.
Better say John Glendonwyn,' as you
| used to do" quoth the Bachelor in Arts
kindly.
What ails the fellow" thought John
| Martin Fraser used to be such bright lit
tie vagabond. out of one scrape into an
other all day long. What can have hap
pened to him? Responsibilities Of office. I
But what Martin Fraser said to himself
after John had taken himself off like this
| is fitted to cast some light on the question.
"oh. you need not pretend: Mr.: John
you come here for. II the rector does not.
so kind to teach school in your holidays
Friendship for our old headmaster! All
lies and stuff, Mister John GlendOnwyn!
It's to be near little Fairlie Glendinning,
our cousin whom we don't recognize. that
we bring our blue suit and blue tie and blue
cap over here, all the way from Castle
Cover, where We have a butler and horses
and fine things. Oh it is SO thoughtful and
| kind Of us. 80 unpretending-going to be q
| minister and marry Miss Veronica. But for
| the present we mean to make love to little
Fairlie. who Is an angel and not fit to be
spoken to by a whole pack Of such heart
less wretches!
From which secret outburst Of the heart,
whether or not the subject matter consti-
tutes a true bill against Mr.. John Glendon-
wyn. 1t is easy to diagnose the complaint
with which Martin Fraser was suffering.
| But to follow the hero. whose head
| through three chapters has been bent to
! the blast Of reproof and lack Of apprecia-
| anxious throbbing of the heart, the sense
| Of underlined expectancy, the tremble of
hesitation with which he laid his hand on
| a certain door handle His eyes shone with
| the light that never was on sea or land
| or, indeed, anywhere else save in the loving
ewes of men and women. His very ears
prickled. 1t was suddenly revealed to him
that his trousers were kneed, his boots SO
| large as almost to obscure the landscape
and cover himself with ridicule-well, such
| fancies are good for youth accustomed to
| fiattery and by no means fnapt to think
over well Of itself
At any rate, John turned the. handle OF
| the infant school door. A warm hum met
| his senses-to him the very breath OF life
and love. In reality the room was more
than little close. He saw blackboards q