El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-26


- coach me?"
Never. Ny dear boy. didn't I con-
TESS to you that I myself failed along
the same lines in which you failed.
AS il was. I only passed mathematics
by the skin of my teeth"
Then his face fallins. 1t means
a Summer school for me-"
Il don't see why I argued. Your
father could engage some one to come
TO Hiucrest to coach you. II course
il would have to be some one whom
he hked-some agreeable person But
there are SUCH
Tom started to his feet struck by
a swift inspira ton
I've got it." he exclaimed. Mr..
Parker might come, Oh, If he only
would, II father viii only have him,
You see" sitting down by me again.
THAT'S right in his line. ] guess he
has a little money OF his oEn-and
more coming 70 him when his mother
dies-at least one of the boys told me
so.
odd Mr.. Parker left everything
70 his wife. and al her death Mr.
Hugh Parker will have enough TO
live on comfortably But he loves
TO teach and he's fond Of boys So
ne makes living for himself BY
coaching various chaps Up at school
who are backward in their work He
lives in the school town, you know.
and can be near his mother. I wonder
II he'd De willing to spend the sum
mer In Connecticut with US"
7 had not thought of Mr.. Parker's
coming" I said truthfully.
Tom had rushed on eagerly. but
now his manner changed It's too
good to be true" he said drearily. IF
want IT, father will oppose IT
A., Why" ! argued Doesn't he like
Yes" the boy acknowledged. He
says he likes him very much. and
that he was surprised to find him
such nice chap. l suppose he took
il for granted that any friend Of
mine would be a pill of some sort
"Tom," 1 said gently. don't talk
like that OF your father. He is fond
and proud of you-snd you must
know ne is
4 Little Plea
He shrugged his shoulders. After /
a certain fashion he's fond of ME. He's
never proud Of me He hasn't cause
10 be. l guess fathers don't love their /
sons as they do their daughters. .
Father loves Grace So does Aunt I
all the time. They sent me away to .
school when was only little chap"
Didn't you want TO so?' I ques- ]
toned curiously.
Il don't knOw-but guess I did.
I didn't get on well at home. But
Miss Dart You're swfully kind 10
me, and some time when / know
you better perhaps you'll let me
spill over my grouchss to YOU now
and then"
Certainly 7 will" I said. You
know tina; IL all goes we'll / shall be
at Hillcrest myself next Summer"
7 know it. and I'm mighty glad
And if Mr.. Parker could only come.
wouldn't il be great? I'd promise TO
study like bear-honestly ] would.
But what's the use OF talking about
it? The very fact that I propose il
will make father take the other
side"
why not let me do it?"
oh. say" his face lighting up
sure you don't mind%
Sure" I replied. Only, Tom YOU
must let me choose my own time.
father by being glum and sulky. For
give me for saying that-but really.
you know. all this is rather hard
on him."
had always liked the lad. Now
! knew that he had good stuff in
him as he looked me squarely in I;
the face.
Promises to Do Best.
III promise you to do my best I
Miss Dart"
His eyes rested on me with that ;
keen. penetrating gaze I had seen
in the eyes OF his mothers portzrit-
And as I gazed into the dark brown :
depths. ! spoke softly.
You are just like your mother,
aren't you. Tom?"
My mother" he repeated wonder {
ingly. Why, you never knew her.
did your" II
No" told him. Il never did. But
have seen her picture over your
bed. She had a very interesting face. .
l wish l had known her" II
The keen eyes softened suddenly {
ann the full lips twitched. II
7 guess she wss-weil-alI that
a fellow would want mother TO L