News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-02-15

among strangers john
Il rather like strangers. They give
me siXlwnces," answered lack.
"What did say? That boy has
mercenary disposition. He is all
greed" cried Mrs. Scratchley.
You can't blame Yourself for en-
couraging it, ma'am. don't get much
out of YOU"
What boldness What baseness!
Did not give you shilling at Christ
mas?"
And borrowed eightpence back again
the same night when we were playing
| speculation when you wanted some
money to buy some counters"
oh you bad boy! YOU
That moment Mr.. Scratchley's pipe
| blew up with loud explosion. The
bowl burst into twenty pieces, and one
struck the good lady on the nose. Mr.
| Scratchley rolled off his chair and fell
on the carpet crying loudly for help
| He had been hit in one or two places
with the fragments of the pipe, and his
| face was blackened
where's that imp" he exclaimed,
| picking himself up. TN fay him.
He's put some explosive stuff in tm
| bowl of my pipe, and rammed it down
tight. It's wonder I'm alive. The
young rascal Where is he?"
He looked around for Jack: but that
young gentleman had very dscreetly
retired, and was enjoying the spectacle
from the outside, through the friendly
medium of the keyhole
The explosion was caused by some
gunpowder which Jack had rammed
into the bowl of the pipe Fortunately,
no one was hurt, and the fright soOn
passed off.
This is abominable," said Mr..
Scratchley. ut must have been that
dreadful boy"
81 think so, too" replied Mrs.
Scratchley, rubbing her nose Are
you going to pass it over?'
Certainly not. 1t would be difficult.
however, to catch him now. He is
probably hiding. | shall wait till he is
asleep; then | will steal into his room,
tie his hands, and punish him as he
deserves"
"Will you" thought Jack, who was
listening outside He proceeded to the
kitchen, and was at some pains to
organize "A temporary bed, while hay
ing his supper. At length he thought
of the loft over the gardeners house al
the bottom of the garden and. supply
ing himself with a blanket, betook him
self to this refuge and slept securely
till morning.
Mr.. Scratchley, however, did not neg
lect to write to the principal of PomO-
ma House. He requested this gentle
man to give him call at The Films. if
it was convenient for him to run up to
town, and waited patiently for the re-
ply.
In the meantime Jack had seen Emily
and told her of his impending fate.
Emily used to go to a day school, and
Jack was in the habit of calling for her
at II and respectively to escort her
home and carry her books.
Emily" said he as they walked
down the Highgate road. I'm going to
school,"
Where" asked she, Il pretty little
brunette, with large, lustrous eyes.
81 don't know"
"When"
"Soon."
cts quite time, Jack, but I'm very
sorry" cried Emily, with philosophical
resignation.
You won't forget me, will you, EN-
myT Jack continued.
And for the first time his voice quiy-
cred
Never dear" she answered.
"And you won't speak to that brute
Bob Tamworth, next door but two"
mo"
'NOr let him kiss you?"
"If he does, I'll box his ears" an
swered Emily.
"And you'll write to me?"
Regularly once a week; perhaps
twice, if I'm not busy, and I'll tell you
all that goes on"
"Now feel that shall go away hap
py," said Jack. There is only one
lllluS L WANT, anu that 10 SoLutlulllS "
remind me of you - some keepsake,
dear"
Il don't know what l can give you.
There's my 'Mangnalls Questions but
that's too dry, isn't it? If you were
girl, you could have my earrings or my
lava brooch or the bracelet with A. e.
L. on it."
But I'm not girl, you see," an
swered Jack regretfully.
ooh, know; have my camphor bag"
cried Emily.
Splendid" said Jack.
Emily hastily undid one button of
her frock and took out a small bag of
blue satin, which contained a lump of
camphor and which had been suspend
ed round her neck by piece of ribbon
of the same color.
Here, dear, put it on" she said.
"Are you sure you can spare it?"
Jack asked.
Certain. Wear it, Jack, dear, and
think of me-"
You ought to have something from
me. Take my knife, and you can think
of me when you are cutting your slate
Mcneil" he said