Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-05-19
LII b B Err
L "A s. +
BY Grace II. Boufe1s

Copyright, 1909, bu 7. C. Mcclure


Ever since they had come to Perkins
vile De Peyster and his mother hat
failed to adjust their respective stand
points to a mutual harmony.
To begin with, it was spring. Witt
the delicious odor of resinous smoke
from the boughs that had banked The
house assailing ones nostrils, who
could resist Joining the dancing sill
houettes that circled the bonfire and
daring ones fate by leaping across il
in staggering competition as the
flames died down?
But she drew lurid pictures of his
certain fate IL he should repeat the of
Tense. Blind defiance rose insurgent
within him-he would goi And then
all Of sudden he remembered what
his father said and hung hts head to
| think how those grave, kind eyes OF
his would look at him now.
take good care of mamma" he had
| said at the last you must be her big
! brother and never let her worry about
you, she's so little and delicate" And
then he had whispered oyer two OF
three times, My pretty little wife-my
dear little girIr'
! And De Peyster had tried with all
his might to remember. But often ii
did seem as If it would have been a
stood that one was disgraced IL one
did not keep neck and neck with 1.-THE
other fellows" In every prank they
| played.
| There was a long and weary period
| Of dooryard discipline after this cpl
sode. There were a good many times
| when De Peyster had to clinch his
| fists as tight as he could and remem-
Der his father very hard.
| BY and by June came, quivering with
| gold green sunlight, perfumed with a
| universal blossoming and pungent with
| the joy of living. At this time every
true boy thrills with the half realized
| rapture of it all and finds the fullest
| expression Of his ecstasy In going
swimming.
Every bright morning in some part
Of the town there was sure to be a
| group Of boys toeing a line, their necks
bobbing eagerly forward and their bod
les giving anticipatory jerks and
witches as they waited for the word.
When the leader said "Go." they dart
ed forth, and there was Kaleidoscope
ic and dissolving view Of legs racing
madly down side street that led to
the river. Then collars came off. coats
followed, rs they ran with undimin-
ished speed. the fellow who was far
thest ahead sometimes slowing up with
magnificent daring to get off his shoes
and stockings while the others were
still hampered by shirts and trousers.
and by the time they tumbled In head
long competition over the bank the
nimblest carried their entire wardrobe
on their arms and flashed Whitley into
the water while the laggers fumbled
at their shoe lacings. The unfortunate
who popped into the river, flushed and
painting, after all the rest were in was
greeted with haunting cries of: 'Lub-
Der last! Lubber last"
De Peyster had never been told not
to 90 in swimming 1t had not occur
red to his mother as among the list Of
his possible perils, as she was In bliss
full ignorance of the fact that "the 9th
er fellows did it,
SO it was with the thrilling exult-
ance of the Greek runner that he set
his toe on the line with the rest and
hurled himself forward, head up and
elbows in.
The first few rods 1t felt like flying.
His feet scarcely seemed to touch the
ground. Then pair Of legs flashed by
him, and another and another. He
gathered his strength and shot for
ward again, but another pair of legs
went by. and another and another.
They were tearing off their coats;
they were stripping off their shirts.
He felt at his collar. wrenched it off
and flung it away, to have both hands
free for his coat and shirt. They were
almost at the bank now. He could see
Micky Days white skin dazzle in the
sun as he took splendid dive ahead
of the rest His own feet were grow
ing heavy. and there was a mist be-
fore his eyes. The knot in his shoe
lacing would not come united a saw
age rage filled him. II be could have
cut off his foot to rid himself of the
hampering shoe. he would scarcely
have hesitated You were ruled out if
you went into the water with anything
left on. As he struggled and per-
spired and agonized the two or three
whom he had distanced leaped past
him. ard rs he shook the shoe off at
last and made his dive he heard the
air ringing with. "Lubber last. Lub-
Der last" and slowly realized that 1t
was meant for him.
He tried nfanfully two or three other
days. but 1t was always the same way.
His muscles were fabby from the door
yard discipline. and he could not pick
up in few weeks what the others lad
acquired through joyous years of sum
uer vagabondace.
He took it quietly and good natured-
~, but it went deep
His mother found out the custom
sHOEtil ana iOFDaue 1iiu I'd 20 near the
water.
AS for De Peyster himself. the numb
ness Of despair settled upon him. Now
he could never learn to redeem him
self. to have some day perhaps the In
effable joy Of being the first In. ahead
Of Jimmy srratt. ahead of Micky DAILY,
ahead of everybody. His career was
ended before ii had begun.
But | got to not let her worry"
was the rnefuI conclusion he always
reached. And then be breathed hard
and winked fast.
Jimmy was his constant friend and
brought him alternating messages from