Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-04-23
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By CAGE II. 2cufciIe
comr,efi. 70 :, By T. c. Mcclure

mousse ASSUMING one nOStillS, WHO
could resist joining the dancing sill
houettes that circled the bonfire and
daring ones fate by leaping across it
i'll staggering competition as the
flames died down?
But she drew lurid pictures of his
certain fate if he should repeat the Of
Tense. Blind defiance rose insurgent
within him-he would go. And then
all Of 4 sudden he remembered what
his father said and hung his head TO
thinl. 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 over two or
three times, MY pretty little wife-my
dear little girl!'
And De Peyster had tried with all
his might to remember. But often ii
did seem as if it would have been a
little easier if she could have under
stood that one was disgraced if one
did not keep neck and neck with ''the
played.
There was long and weary period
Of dooryard discipline after this cpl
sode. There were 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
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
group Of boys toeing line. their necks
bobbing eagerly forward and their bod
les giving anticipatory jerks and
twitches as they waited for the word.
When the leader said Cor they dart
ed forth, and there was a KALEIDOSCOPE
ic and dissolying view of legs racing
madly down side street that led to
the river. Then collars came off, coats
followed, as 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 III was
greeted with taunting cries of: 'Lub-
Der last! Lubber lastw
De Peyster had never been told not
to 20 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 il 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
IIa foIt ot bfc COLLAR yvrauphad II 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 mist be-
fore his eyes. The knot in his shoe
lacing would not come united. A saw
age rage filed him. II he could have
cut off his foot to rid himself OF the
hampering shoe. he would scarcely
have hesitated You were ruled out IL
you went into the water with anything
left on. AS he struggled and per-
spired and agonized the two or three
whom he had dlstanccd leaped past
last and made his dive he heard the
air ringing with, "Lubber lastl Lub-
ber last and slowly realized that u
was meant for him.
He tried manfully two or three other
days. but II was always the same way.
His muscles were flabby from the door
yard discipline, and he could not pick
lao IA al
acquired through joyous years of sum
mer vagabondage.
He took It quietly and good natured-
ly, but II went deep
His mother found out the custom
shortly and forbade him to go near the
water.
As for De Peystcr 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.
cffable Joy of being the first In, ahead
Of Jimmy Spratt, ahead of Micky DAILY,
ahead OF everybody. His career was
ended before It had begun.
"But | got to not let her worry"
was the rueful conclusion lie always
reached And then he breathed hard
and winked fast.
Jimmy was his constant friend and
brought him allevlatlng messages from
time 10 time. such as that the other
fcllcrs all said he had lots of sand and
could do ms well as the next fcilyr If he
had half n chance.
When even these encouraging re-
Il f.Vg hn
his own horned toad as II last dcspcr-
ntc resort The effect was wonderfully
cllicacious. but tranHitCry.
Id ouch,cr been a girl said De
Peystsr many times 10 himsilf, hut |
wish she diGn't want to make believe
nm one when amt
This was the Lcurcst 10 n reproach
that he allowed his loyal little heart to
entertain. but baiil"d. unchlldiikc
look grew In hls eyes rs he watched
his mates go or without him day after
day.
In July a light cpId mlc Of scarlet
fever prevailed. The Oldest inhabit-
ants chilled Il walking scarlatna," the
Illness was 30 slight.
Mrs. Van No ri kept De rcyster In
the house.
One day Dc PcyGtcr caught IT,
lie regarded Il raihc: In The nature
OF "A fpsinl occurrence than otherwise,
for MI tie l. ys who had had /; came
up 10 soc Lim. and. although they were
not allowed 20 stand long, II chrcred
him amG.,a.,ly 20 hear what thry were
doing. for be had constantly the hope