The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1909-04-15

enough, chose TO make their 49,,
ground any place but in the llng.
the real one. Their favorite placo - Ot
in the shadow Of an old church vas
little distance away, parallel win ue
schoolhouse, and easily seen from ' w.
windows. In top and marble seas. -
the boys played on the side newt m
schoolhouse. In fouler weather vha'
such amicable sports were not IN ~
they took the other side This rn vsuo
ing the crowd went round the cbpros
and the girls at the schoolroom v,,.
dows decided suddenly that It won,S ~
nice to take a walk down that wsv
Jack was among the first on the sa,s
and, a little heavy-hearted. but on,
wardly calm listened to the advice y,
his friends and constituents. Afts,
little waiting, around the corner
peared the likewise confident 6ans
face Of Willie Perkins. Long immn1
ity from danger made the Orphan Co.
boldly into the midst of the sllont
frowuing crowd of boys. His very az
surance seemed to radiate from hin
Jack, somewhat to his dismay wbon
he turned to say something to Pm,,
Boyd, found that the latter had movas
back a little with the other bows. Jsc1
tried hard not TO feel deserted and nro'
pared for fight. The two boys facad
each other-Jack, dark, sturdy. and a
little "chunky"-the new boy. taller
slight, pale-faced, and rather agile loot.
ing. After the fashion Of the times
they prepared to begin with a wrestle
"Ye can have yer 'holts,' said Jack
contemptuously, and the new boy grin.
ped him, A fash Of Joy burned up in.
to Jack, Just as he had expected, his
magnapimity was to do him no harm.
He could manage three or four boys
like this. He felt thu. strength in his
hands. The new boy was making some
desperate and annoying wriggles, but
they wouldn't last long. Jack swung
round leisurely and prepared to land
his antagonist on the ground in a way
to be proud Of. But in the moment
in which he waited to take a frmer
grip he had suddenly a queer new sen.
sation II was of the silence about BIN.
Now, however, though he knew he iEas
the favorite, yet there was no applause
to show for It, The silence was heavy.
There was a wall Of quiet figures round
about After all, the spirit of the boys
was against this fight. The moment
1t took Jack to think all this was the
moment for his grip and throw, and he
let it pass. The next moment he threw
the new boy rather weakly to the
ground and sat on him. In the order
of things it was next for Jack to pun.
mel his victim till he cried for mercy.
Jack gave the Orphan one blow in the
chest and then another. Then y kind
of circumstances came over him,
and to save his life he couldn't strike
again. He took a moment to feel this
too, forgetting that such a position is
not conducive to thought, and that
minute all was lost. For a 1.-THE, light
figure wriggled out of his grasp, and
the next minute the tables were turned.
The new boy had no. qualms about pun
melting, and his clasp was like that Of
the Old Man Of the Sea. Jack didn't
cry for mercy, but the boys dragged the
victor of at last. They were unfriend-
ly as ever to him, but they took care
not to be rough. Billy brushed Jacks
coat ruefully. 81 knowed how it would
be, Jack" he murmured in a gloomy
aside. You can't lick an orphan"
II tell We | could have licked him."
blazed Jack, pulling away. IF hadn't
let him or" Billy shook his head sad
ly, ITS all the same thing" he said
The bell to take up recess rang
sharply, and the boys dived toward the
schoolhouse. Jack fingered a minute
to complete the brushing, and to pom
der sadly upon the cause Of his defeat
And suddenly round the corner Of the
church was poked a head with black
braids, and Mirabeps brown eyes fash
ed at him.
Amt you ashamed, Jack Gresham
Amt you now--to whip an orphan"
Jack stared uncertainty. He would
fam have posed as a naughty victor
but he knew that she would find the
truth out soon enough. Desperately he
caught at the last straw, which was the
truth.
Il didn't lick him, Mira" he SAID
81 could have, but ! lei
him lick me cause he is an orphan
hope to die did
In the long moment that followed
Inconsistency came tofhe top