Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-04
A GREAT SECRET :.
BY MILDRED NORMAN.

Gregory Wallace stood before his mother.
twisting his cap in his hands and looking
uncomfortable and disguised. IL could be
all right" he said. looking down at his
cap. IF il was not for the other boys. 10
Tollman is always teasing me TO do some
hing you don't want me 10 do, and Harvey
Gibson is always thinking up some fun that
turns out bad"
Mrs Wallace glanced for an instant at
Gregory and went on with her sewing.
II know what you are thinking. mother;
go; think 1 need not go with the fellows
that get me into trouble. a fellow wants
some fun The old pokcs who always get
100 in department are stale: lts nothing
but study with them
Il am going to tell you great secret,
said Mrs. Wallace. There is nothing the
matter with Gregory Wallace but himself
Gregory stood there moment longer,
twiring his cap. then he slowly left the
room and went. upstairs to his chamber,
where a pile OF books stared at him from
his study table. as lie called 1t. III have
to grind like mill to get out all these les
sons. 1t viii take me till midnight. sure;
then I'll have a stupid head tomorrow
and forget half learn tonight, l suppose:
"Heigh-ho l did not think we should be
gone so long. Time just shoots along when
one is on skates. Thought | would not
tell mother that the ice broke under
posse of boys. and let three of them in.
Came pretty near being our last skate.
Thought l in for Il second. Hope IL
won't get out They are all anxious to
keep il quiet. but there is always some one
TO suspect and pump ii out OF the fellow
who can't answer questions without giving
himself away. Mother never is willing for
me to go to Cobbs pond; If this gets out
there'll be an end of my fun for this sea-
son. Lanes is tame and Porter's."
The next morning Gregory locked anX-
lovsly at the group gathered on the school
Vas hHN al
and Freehold on: that isn't Oscar. after
all. it is Ted Bakeries just Oscars size.
There goes Marian; she's speaking to the
boys. Oscar must be sick.
The doctor is afraid of pneumonia,
Marian was saying as Gregory came within
hearing. ''He seemed as well as usual
yesterday. but when he came home from
the pond he was all hoarsed up. 1t was
very late. and the doctor says he skated
too; long"
There was a moments silence. each boy
seeing in his minds eye the three who had
fallen through the ice. standing about the
fire In the shack by the pond. drying
their clothes. Most of them had remained
to see the fellows through" but Gregory
had not dared and then-his lessons. Greg
DRY was ambitious and was doing his best
u stand we'll in his classes.
He felt a little unsteady as he recalled
how near he had come to being one of the
submerged. and how they had nearly been
swept under the ice by the strong current,
but he had not long to think about it. for
the bell rang and he had d hard days work
before him. a muss he made of 1t, too,
and he felt as If he had diSgraced himself.
He was in no amiable mood when he strap
ped his books to take home for another
nights study. These everlasting books"
o. o. It" -'''''O ''''''' III '"S '
AS If to complete his days humiliation,
Ada Powers with her coterie of friends
Bwept by him with her head high in the air.
She was the brightest girl In the school.
1t was Gregory's ambition to be the bright
hst boy in the school. and to win Miss Adas
favor. Sometimes he thought he was max
Ing fine Roadway In both directions, then
again he experienced the fevers and chills
of uncertainty.
she won't have anything to say to me
after today" Gregory assured himself,
watching the receding figure, the center of
admiring group laughing and chatting
about him most likely.
Some came bounding after Gregory
before he had covered half of the distance
between the schoolhouse and his home.
Hold on. Greg, don't be In such rush. A
lark! A larkr'
Though Gregory assured himself that he
was in no humor for lark anything
else. he halted and turned about to see the
familiar. roly-pOly figure of Harvey ellison
making all speed to catch up to him. He
was breathing hard and in such hurry to
tell Gregory something that he could not
wait to get his breath.
"A jo-jo-jolly lark he gasped; you're
In IT. Straw ride tomorrow night; moon
light; all the girls in 1t; Ada and Deborah
and Maud and" Harvey had to sit
down in the snow and recover his breath
and his equilibrium.
Thursday Is my hardest night" said
Gregory. At the same time he began 10
cast about In his mind for some scheme to