News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1905-03-29

On the following day his lordship ar
rived.
Lord Mordenfield at the age of four
teen was the most conceited, offensive
and "stuck up" little individual if is
possible to imagine. His father died
when he was very young. So much the
worse for him. His mother petted and
spoiled him in every possible way and
on every conceivable occasion, allowing
him to have his own way and never
contradicting him; not that she
seemed to love him very much. but
because she was of an indolent DISPOSE.
ton, and did not care to be troubled
So if he asked for anything, he got ii
without opposition. He considered him.
self UNNECESSARILY superior to every
body else, and did not make a favor
able impression upon his schoolfelIows.
Mr. Crawcour placed him in Hark.
away's class, and the bed Just made
vacant in Jacks room by the unfortu.
nate death of poor Fisher was given
him. He would have had a room TO
himself had he not said that he was
afraid to sleep alone. Mr.. Crawcour
did not act upon his usual plan with
him. Instead Of appointing a "chum'
or companion for him, he told him to
look out and select one for himself.
His choice fell upon Jack.
Il am told to select friend" he said,
land | should like you, because YOU
have an open, honest face and look as
If you could fight. l can't, and as
dare say l shall get into lots of scrapes,
l shall want some one to help me out
of them, so you shall be my chum."
'rhank you for nothing" replied
Jack.
"Oh, but it is something! My mann
ma, Lady Mordenfield, will ask you to
Willow Copse Hall in the holidays. She
said she would invite any one who
was kind to me and | took fancy to-"
exclaimed his lordship.
Perhaps | would rather stop here"
Jack observed.
stop here in this dreadful place.
Oh, what a funny fellow you are! |
thought one only came here to learn
because one can't be a real gentleman
if one is ignorant. I've my house-t
is my house, you know, for all the prop
erty is mine when l am of age. You
could enjoy yourself SO and have such
nice things to eat"
Il suppose | ought to thank you for
In vii I Il hut I
care to visit people unless l like them"
Jack said bluntly.
Don't you like me?"
81 don't know yet. We shall see."
His little lordship elevated his eye
brows and regarded Jack with intense
surprise. He was so used to the in
cense of fiattery that the truth ap
peared a rarity which he relished.
The selection which his lordshp
made as to his friend and companion
raised Jack in the eyes of the principal
and consequently in those of the mas
tiers considerably. Probably if JAG
had toadied him and given him BIZ
way in everything he would not hGfe
had half the influence over him which
he did acquire. Certain it was that
Lord Mordenfield had the greatest pos
sible respect for Jack and looked up tO
him as his friend, philosopher and
guide.
Great preparations were made fO
Guy Fawkes' day, the 9Th of November
Tar barrels, shavings and boughs of
trees were provided for bonfire in the
field ON a large scale. Subscriptions
were received from the boys for fire
works, and when the list was complete
it was sent up to town, and on the
morning of the day the fireworks ar
rived in care of a man who understood
how to use them.
Jack and his lordship, being of an
inventive turn of mind, had not been
idle. Lord Mordenfeld had book for
boys of scientific tendency, a part OF
which was devoted to the manufacture
of fireworks. Jacks idea was to make
a monster cracker, about a yard or
more long, which would go off in al
succession of reports lasting ten min
utes. Accordingly they set to work I'M
a shed and spent their spare time I'M
this effort. The cracker was carefully
made, and it looked most formidable
affair; and as they had carefully fol
lowed the instructions of the book,
they had no doubt about its going off
What shall we do with it?' grinned
Jack.
81 should like to fasten it on to some
ones coattail. Oh! it would be such
fun" answered his lordship.
Whose tail? Mr.. Mole's"
mo"
you don't mean Mr.. Crawcour him
self?"
81 do though"
The audacity of this proposal almost
took Jacks breath away. In fancy he
already saw the dreaded principal of
Pomona House selecting one from
among the rows of glistening canes.
who's to find us out? Do let US do
it," urged Lord Mordenfield.
Every WELL" replied Jack, who dearly
loved any mischief of this kind.
you must stick it on" continued his
leave it to me-"
So they hid away their monster crack
er until the 9th.
II I'D ,r Nm. oriN