The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-07-14
The Price
Of AffIiction
A Charming Short Story Of the Fate
Of an English Schoolboy,
BY Mr.. D. N.

Three minutes gone! -Four miu-
utes!" Thus did Joseph Conroy,
Head Master at st. Joseph's School
tick off the time allotted for the COM
pletion of an essay. The essay con-
cluded the reading lesson, when ten
minutes were allowed to write brief
resume of all that had been perused
during the forty minutes preceding
it. Conroy was not big man either
mentally or physically, but he was
an exceptionally cunning one. And
crool! Gee! All the kids knew how
cruel he could be- And all the kids
feared him as consequence, all ex-
cept one. Dan Mulroy wasn't afraid
of him. Dan was not arrogantly
bold. or brazenly courageous. There
was nothing in his demeanor h a
would have appeared to casual OBJ
server as being remarkably different
from the remainder But there was
a quiet dignity about him which the
thunder tones and imprecations of
Conroy could not disturb.
Dan was punished quite frequent
ly. More frequently perhaps than
the remainder of his class, for Con-
roy, despite his loud voice and swag-
ger, had streak of yellow in his
makeup and hated Dan for being the
possessor of spirit he recognized as
stronger and purer than his own.
One of the kindly capers Of this ex-
cellent teacher was to work the class
up to high state of nervous tension
and then, as the kids would be scrib-
bling away for dear life, he would
tiptoe to the rear of chosen victim,
await an opportune moment and then
The scream that followed
the blow had the effect of setting the
remainder of the class a-tremble.
There was something of a heartbreak
in it, a curious blend of fear, agony
and despair, for the one who receiv-
ed it was invariably the one doing
his best to avoid it.
This was Conroy's idea of disci-
pline-an idea not altogether unique.
There are many who still believe that
the best way to win persons re-
spect is to beat him into state of
stupidity. This particular day Con-
roy was trying new manoeuvre,
strolling with an apparent noncha-
lance among the class and modulat-
ing his voice SO as to give it ven-
triloquous effect, watching with
shrewd penetrating eyes its effect up
on his pupils. Five minu' -Th e
drone ended in something halfway
between a sob and a scream. His
stroll had brought him to the rear of
Dan Mulroy where he stood peering
downward with look of incredulity
upon his face. Dams sheet was blank,
his pencil idle and though the blush
that fitted across his face showed
plainly that he was conscious of Con-
roy's presence, he remained mute and
motionless. Conroy gasped, breath
ed deeply and then struck. Dan re-
ceived the blow across his shoulders,
a terrible one delivered with all the
momentum, his tutor. was able to
muster. No cry followed it. Dan
rose from his seat and turned ghast-
ly face in the direction of the man
who struck him. Something in the
expression of the face and the pecu-
liar blank look in the eyes checked
the appraised fist of the pedagogue
and he inquired:s
What's the meaning of this, sir!
How is it you haven't commenced
your lesson?''
Dams lips trembled moment then
he answered.:
/ cant see-everything is dark.
/ am Blind
The voice was hollow, trembling
between an effort to be firm and an
appeal for, sympathy. No man could