Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-04-14

1nS annoyance nc hlcRsu luS ldDis
spitefully. TO his astonishment the
catch Jared loose, and down fell the
map, an utter wreck, upon the floor
Treloar's first impulse was to run;
his secord to sweep up the pieces.
He had had no intention of breaking
the map; but now that 1t was broken,
he began to take revengeful pleas
ure in the feeling that Wilson had
got what he deserved. The breaking
of the map would be thought an ac-
cident. If any Investigation followed,
he could not possibly be connected
with the affair. So, leaving the map
in ruin, he slipped cautiously out of
the farther door into the vacant hall,
and thence downstairs without haV-
ing seen soul.
Had ne looked baci, however, Just
as he WAS closing the door behind
nim. he would have known that he
had not escaped upobserved. AS he
withdrew from the,room into the nall,
another person entered it from be-
yond, coming through the physics
roon-one who had heard the crash
of the falling map, and who in the
single glimpse that was possible rec
ognized Will Treioar as he escaped.
But Treloar did not look back, and
therefore did not kno6.
Had he known, he could hardly
have felt more uncomfortable. He
was seventesn-nearly grown up;
and after his flash of anger was over,
he knew that he had taken the re-
yengs of bad child. He had done a
mean. petty thing, and run away to
escape the consequences. If more to
depress him were needed, he had it in
the realization that now his last
chance was gone-he certainly could
not again appeal to Mr.. Wilson for a
special examination now!
He sat about the house that even
ing and tried to study. The next
morning he went over to see Kitty
Burton. Mrs. Burton informed him
that Kitty was not at home; she had
gone off somewhere to do some spe-
cial work in connection with her
studies.
On Monday morning. at the recess,
one of the monitors touched him on
the shoulder.
"Treloar, Mr.. Wilson wants to see
you in his Office" Treloar, jumped.
What did this mean? OF course the
janitor. must on Saturday have dis
covered the wreck of the map and in
formed Wilson. Treloar squared his
shoulders; at all events, he would not
lie out of it.
Wilson sat at his desk behind his
cleaning spectacles.
"Sit down." he said. 81 have de-
cided to give you that special exam
ination you wanted in geology"
Will could not believe his ears.
what, sir?"
Il have decided to give you that
special examination. Mr.. Wilson
took off his spectacles, and his. face
younger and more friendly.
Il may have been a bit hard on you;
I don'e know. Ishaye been talking it
over with the principal. He says you
lave a good record, and he would
rather like to give you another
chance. And I may-tell you also that
one of the best students have ever
had, Who knows you, thinks / am
mistaken in my estimate Of your
ability, and took the trouble to tell
me so. Under the circumstances, I
have reversed my decision. When
do you want to try it,"
Treloar swallowed hard.
Mr.. Wilson," he said, II guess
you don't know that it was / who
smashed your map
1t was the instructors turn to be
startled.
You wnat?"
Smashed your map-the contour
map you showed us Friday. I came
in here that afternoon TO see you.
You were gone, but the map was on
the table. / was feeling mad, and 1
kicked the table, and it fell off and
smashed. I didn't really mean to do
it, but I cut away then and didn't
say anything to anybody. 1 suppose
you thought it was an accident"
What on earth," said Mr.. Wilson,
in amazement, "are you talking
about?" Ee put on his glasses again
and stared at Treloar.
The boy, embarrassed and annoyed
at being kept on the rack, repeated,
"The map, sir-I smashed it,"
Mr.. Wilson rose. "Bnt, my dear
fellow" he said, "are you dreaming? =?
I saw the map on the table myself
two hours ago, when 1 came in.
Come here. He led the way across
the nall into the geology room; and
there, in the centre of the table,
whole, sound, and complete, lay the
contour map.
For the second time in five minutes
Trelear disbelieved mis- senses. He
went up gingerly to the table and
touched the map; then he looked at
Mr.. Wilson, who was looking quiz
zically at him. The boys jaw set
hard.
"I don't pretend to understand it,
SIR he said. "All 1 know is, !
smashed it, and didn't mean to tell;
and cant take that examination.