Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

half wildcat, half Mohawk"
cts lier' she flashed. I'm all
white to the bones of my bodyy
1t was true. Indeed she was kin to
Sir William and niece to Sir Peter War
ren but to torment her we feigned to
believe her one of Mistress Molly's
brood, half Mohawk, and it maddened
her. Besides, had not the Mohawks
dubbed her Silver Heels a year ago,
beaten us all in the foot race before
Sir William and half the people Of the
Six Nations? The prize had been a
Barlow jackknife, which before the
race had looked upon as mine.
"You are Mohawk" said resent
fully; "also the guard is changed these
ten minutes, and Sir William will come
to find you here a-prying."
bah, Mr. Mickyw said Silver Heels.
cit is spoon meat you require to make
you run the faster after jackknivesv'
This outrageous taunt ruff1ed me, and
l seized the chalk and wrote high on
the slate:
"Silver Heels is Mohock she toes in
like ducks"
She caught up the buckskin to wipe
out the taunt, jostling me till the ferret
In my pocket jumped out and ran
round and round the room.
jostled her; then she gave me a
blow and quick shove, whereupon I
stumbled, pulling her to the floor to
rub her face with chalk. She twisted
and turned, kicking and striking, while
rubbed chalk into her skin till of a
sudden she coiled up and bit me clean
through the hand.
The blood began yelling up, running
into my palm and along the fingers to
the floor. At that same instant l heard
the door Of the nursery open, and 1
knew that Sir William was coming
through the hall to the schoolroom.
From instinct thrust my wounded
hand into my breeches pocket
Don't tellw whispered Silver Heels
in a fright.
She sped across the floor to the open
window and over the sill, dropping
light as cat on the grass below.
Sir William came quickly along the
hall, and had scarce time to step to
the slate when he marched in.
Sir William had changed his clothing
for the buckskin hunting shirt and
brooches which he was accustomed to
wear when angling. He approached
the slate whereon my verses stared,
white and unfinished, and at first his
brows knitted, and he said, Fudge,
fudge, fudge" Then Of sudden he
sat down on the bench, clapping his
hand to his brow.
"Oh, Lord" said he, "if you are not
born a scholar, twas the mint-mark 1
could not read Alright, and no blame to
you, lad; no blame to you. Micky, boy,
shall we leave Caesar to go marching
with his impedimenta and his Tenth
legion? Shall we bid the nymphs and
dryads farewell forever, lad, and save
our learning for Roderick Random and
a bowl Of cider and the bitter nights of
December?"
His meaning was dawning upon me
slowly, for what with the pain Of my
hand and the dizziness was perhaps
more stupid than usual.
mo" said Sir William, with thump
Of his fist on his knee, 1.-THE college
which my Lord Dartmouth has en-
dowed is haven for those who seek
| it, not prison for men to be driven
to-"
4 He paused. The blood was now
stealing down my stocking toward my
shoe. l turned the leg SO he could not
observe 1t.
Come, lad" he said, frightening up;
learning lies not always between
thumbed leaves. I only wish that you
bear yourself modestly and nobly
through the world; that you keep faith
with me; that your word once given
shall never be withdrawn.
''This is the foundation. It includes
courage Further than that, desire
you, once a purpose formed and 8
course set, to steer fearlessly to tho
goal.
4 Il know you to be brave and honest
| know you to be very Mohawk III
the forest. believe you to be merci
full and tender underneath that boys
thoughtless and cruel hide.
"As for learning, / can do no more
for you than have done and have Of
fered to do. I want you, Micky. We
4 Irish are fond Of each other, and an
an old man now-I am nigh sixty years
Michael-sixty years Of battle would
be glad of rest with those / love-
My heart was very soft now. look
ed at Sir William with an affection ]
had never before understood.
There is one last thing l wish tc
/ add" he said gravely, almost sadly
Perhaps I may again refer to it, but
I pray that it may not be necessary
1t Is this: If 1t ever comes to you tt
choose between his majesty our king
and-and your native land-which Goo
forbtd!-go to your closet and knee
down and stay there on your knees
hours, days-until you have learned
your own heart. Then-then-God &c
with you, Michael Cardigan. That ii
ALL Where is that ferret? What! Run
ming about unmuzzled! Hey, yix, viz
. I,