The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-18

opinion, even If I wished Now, hopa
you won't turn away from u.s." sat& .
Frank, kindly. And as I most generally
feel it my duty to back my chum,
joined in the entreaties.
Maybe you won't care to be my friend,
if you know all, he said, his lips CULVER
ing with emotion. II have often tried
to get you into trouble, but you never
seemed to mind, SO I carved your initials
on -
"You!" we both exclaimed.
81 knew you wouldn't forgive me, but
I'll tell all now
'Jack, how could you!'' cried re-
proachfully. He drew back, giving me .
look of hatred. It seemed as if there
would be silence, but Frank quieted that
fear by saying:
1T is over, Jack, and we don't mind,
if you get US out of the fuss
Don't you really / thought you would.
Do you know what I was going to do {
just now?" I was not included in tho
conversations so Frank only, answered
''No,' AID Jack continued.
II heard from the boys that you were
coming here to-day and came out, but
hadn't any intention of doing harm then
half hour ago passed your boat, and
and began to think ought to play you
one more trick, so l took the boat out,
but you came then. and l lost the oar!
When I went to lean for it. I tumbled
head over heels into the water, and
you know the rest
"Tell us no more, Jack, about what you
have done-we forgive you if only you will
go to our teacher and tell her all about
the initials
He was silent for a moment, then hs
z7 49,
saved my life, but won't you ask Miss
Arnold to keep my name from tho
school?' II
Eyes, I'll ask her, said Frank.
We had now reached the wharf near the
village, and after mooring. the boat we
gathered our belongings, which, by the
way, had not been forgotten, and walked 7
: homeward in the quiet twilight of tho
waning afternoon.
"Oh, Randolf how could he do it," cried
Frank when we were again alone. / had
been thinking of this on the way home.
and had an answer ready long before he
made this exclamation.
Easily enough replied. Don't you
remember one Sunday last January" He
stared at me blankly; it was evident he
had forgotten one event which I knew
Jack hadn't, SO quickly logged his men,
orye by placing before him our entry in
my diary, which may as well quote for
the benefit of my readers:
Sunday, Jan. 18.-To-day we had Q
jolly laugh at the expense of one Jack
Merriw Gather, a newcomer to our village.
He is living with his uncle, old Mr. Mer~
riweather, SO I heard
Frank is accustomed to drive Bessie TO-
church in the sleigh, and this fact the
boys sometimes tease him about. Being
a boy who will not stand teasing, several
fights have occurred. Jack did not know
this at the time, and when he first sav
Frank and Bessie, he made some really
provoking. remarks, but Frank kept hie
peace till Jack Merriweather threw 9
SNOWFALL Then you should have seen
him chase the other down the street, while
Bessie held the lines. When he caugM
Jack, Frank administered such a thrashA3
ing as that boy never had before. Many
saw it, and laughed, for they all like
Frank, but the parson who was passing
gave him a good talking to after it was
over. I can't, for the life of me, see how
the parson could have done SO without
remembering he was boy once, but
some people are puzzles. 4H
That Merriweather boy must have
taken his thrashing with very little pleas
ure, for he ragged like everything after
wards.''
Il remember now. he has always bee4S
cool; but to you interrupted Frank
''Oh, as to his hatred for me, it has been ,
so ever since, because leased him about
it, and because of my being your friend. SS
On Monday morning Frank and l were
not slow in maintaining our innocence or
in laying before Miss Arnold the PROPOSE
ton, to which she readily consented. That
afternoon Jack (the reliable witness. as
we soon learned) told her the story. We
at first thought that our teacher prevailed
on him to confess in a written apology to
the school, so that there might be no en-
barrassing mistakes among the pupilse
for when she cleared us two. it was.
through letter signed in Jacks name.
But afterwards, she informed us, that old
MI. Merriweather had commanded his
nephew to write the statement, which
cleared the mystery and lifted the Shame
in which the carved initials had placed
Frank and me.
Jack is not living in our little town any
more, for it seems he felt too humbIe4
and disgraced to remain longer wheros
friends and familiar scenes would remind
him of some very unpleasant incidents
Walter Stahr,
Eighth Grade, s410 Park avS
Hodgen School, st. Louis Ma