The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-03-07

familiar with his roll book The wise
looking little laddie who said such as
tonlshingly rehellous things in such a
precise way had been known to him
during that first school day only as
willie" II he had only known. most
certainly he would not have detained
the boy aud LET her stand out In the
cold. What II she did have pneu-
monia-
He tried to correct the copy books.
but his thoughts would wander
Why WAS she here? Why had she
not carried out her original intention
of going abroad to study art? And. If
she was not studying what was the
Pelham family doing at their country
place in midwlnter. with the social
season in full swing in the city?
He might have known that Willie
was her brother. Her odd. demure
way OF saying startling things had first
attracted his attention to her and final
~ nearly wrecked his last year In col
lege How could he work. then, with
the thought that love and the girl who
was all in the world to him were alike
beyond his reach? There was his fu-
ture to carve his mother to support,
few Of his fathers debts to pay. and
on the other side Natalie Pelham. the
Pelham wealth. the Pelham position
She had been flirting with him. OF
course. not wilfully. but Just because
1t came as naturally to her as eating
and drinking She had never taken
him seriously. and after commence
ment day. when he had gone out west
to teach in a summer school and give
his mother little rest in quiet sum
mer resort. he had dropped out of her
life Just as if there had never been
teas in the frat" room. moonlight
walks on the campus. football games
and promenades which they had en-
1oyed in common And here she was
again. just when he needed 10 hold
himself we'll in hand. one thing he
must do-avoid her disturbing pres
ence. her magnetic charm. il he pos
sibly could.
Thereafter. in Justice to the other pu-
pills. he explained 10 himself, he show
ed no partially TO the Pelham twin
In fact. that youth if he had not been
so perfectly cognizant of his own
mischievous wrongdoing. might have
complained OF discrimination But ev-
cry afternoon Raymond stood at the
window and watched the slender fig
ure with Its two small charges hurry
through the crisp winter air. She
must have changed. he argued to him
self Certainly she had settled down
for she could not be doing the opera,
teas and receptions and call for those
children every afternoon
And then came the day OF the biz
gard Raymond watched it shut down
on Morris Manor and could hardly keep
away from the window. Was she com
Ing for those children on foot BY
the way. it was odd that she never
came with II sleigh or carriage Other
children were claimed by fur clad foot
men or strong elder brothers. Nearly
all the day pupils were gone. Patty
Pelham had not even tried to come
across the street from the school for
girls. Raymond began to pace the
floor.
do you think your sister has for
gotten or is afraid to come out? Don't
you think you had better go home with
Wilfrcd Bailey when his mother sends
for him."
ooh, Natalie will be here all right
She's probably fnssing with Patty's
rubbers. Natalie is not afraid of any
thing"
Ten minutes later she staggered down
the street and Raymond dashed down
stairs. drawing her through the door
and shutting out the mad storm. with a
thousand furics tearing at his heart
Why had he not gone to meet herr He
led her into the class ROOM tore off her
wraps, chafcd her hands and her face.
sending the oldest boy to the prinCi-