The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-07-19
BY IRVING BACHELLER,
CHAPTER XVIII.

- mir of his first term, including
q scarf that Polly had knit for
him and the curious things he took
from the Frenchman Leblanc and
which he retained partly because they
were curious and partly because Mrs.
Leblanc had been anxious to get rid of
them. He soon rejoined his class at
Hillsborough, having kept abreast of
1t In history and mathematics by work
after school and over the weeks end.
He was content to fall behind In the
classics, for they were easy, and in
them his arrears gave him no terror.
Walking for exercise, he laid the plan
OF his tale and had written some bits
OF verse. OF an evening he went often
10 the Sign of the Dial and there read
his lines and got friendly but severe
criticism.
''Ts there anything you do not known"
Trove inquired.
"Much," said the tinker. "including
the depth o. me own folly. A man
that displays knowledge hath need o.
more"
Indeed, Trove rarely came for talk
with Darrell when he failed to discover
something new In him-a further reach
Of thought and sympathy or some un-
suspected treasure OF knowledge. The
tinker loved a laugh and would often
search his memory for some phrase of
bard or philosopher apt enough to pro-
woke 1t. or his great store Of knowl-
edge he made no vainer use.
Trove had been overworking, and
about the middle Of June they went for
a week in the woods together. They
walked to Aliens the first day and
after brief visit there went of In the
deep woods, camping by pond In
thick timbered hills. Coming to the
lilied shore, they sat down awhile to
rest A hawk was sailing high above
the still water. Crows began to call In
the treetops An eagle sat on dead
pine at the waters edge and seemed to
be peering down at his own shadow.
Two deer stood In marsh on the far
ther shore looking over at them. Near
by were the bones Of some animal and
the fresh footprints of a panther.
Sounds echoed far In the hush of the
unbroken wilderness.
'See, boy" said Darrell, with little
gesture Of his right hand, "the theater
o. the woods! See the sloping hills.
tree above tree, like winding galleries!
Here is a coliseum old, past reckoning.
Why. boy, long before men saw the
Seven Hills It was old. Yet see how
new It Is, how fresh It's color, how
strong its timbers! See the many seats.
each with good view, an the multi
tude O. the people, yet most o. them are
hidden. Ten thousand eyes are looking
down upon US. Tragedies an come
dies o. the forest are enacted here.
Many a thrilling scene has held the
stage-the spent deer swimming for
his life, the painter stalking his prey
or leaping on It."
"'Tis a cruel part" said Trove. "He
is the murderer of the play. cannot
understand why there are SO many
villains in its cast Both the cat and
the serpent battle me-"
Marry, boy, the world is a great
school, an this little drama o. the good
God IL part Of It," said Darrell. "An'
the play hath great moral-thou shalt
learn to use thy brain or die. Now,
there may be many perils In this land
o. the woods, SO many that all its peo-
pie must learn to think or perish by
them.1A pretty bit o. wisdom 1t is.
sor. 1t keeps the great van moving
ever moving-in the long way to per-
fection. Now, among animals a grow
ing brain works the legs of its owner,
sending them far on diverse errands
until they are strong. Mind thee, boy.
perfection O. brain an body Is the aim
O. nature. The cats paw an the SER
pent's coil are but the penalties O.
weakness an folly. The world is for
the strong. Therefore God keep thee
so or there be serpents will enter thy
blood an devour thee-millions o.
them"
They sat little time In silence, look
ing at the shores of the pond.
"Have you ever felt the love pas
sionf" said Darrell.
"Well there's a girl of the name Of
Polly" Trove answered.
'Ah, Polly! She o. the red lips an
the dark eye" said Darrell, smiling.
"She's one of thousand" He clapped
his hand upon his knee merrily and
sang sentimental couplet from an
old Irish ballad.
"Have ye won her affection, boyT
he added. his hand on the boys arm.
II think have"
"God love thee! rm glad to hear It,"
said the old man. "She is q living
wonder, boy. a living wonder, an had
thy youth I'd give thee worry"
"Since her mother cannot afford to
do II wish to send her away to
school," said Trove.
"Tut, tut, boy. Thou hast barely
enough for thy own schooling"
"I've $50 In my pocket" said Trove
proudly. II do not need II. The Job
In the mill-that win feed me and pay
my room rent, and my clothes will do
me for another year."
ION my word. boy. like II In thee"
said Darrell. "but surely she would not
take thy money"
II could not offer 1t to her, but you
might 60 there. and perhaps she would
take It from yott."
"Capitalw the tinker exclaimed. "I'll
see II can serve thee. Marry, good
youth. I'll even give away thy money
an take credit for thy benevolence.
Teacher. philanthropist. lover-I be-
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