Evening star., 1924-08-10

mat was all, SmlllnS, Sne walked
on, and the other teachers followed.
They were not so quick as Mss Ten
nant, but they followed her more per-
ceptive lead. 1t was a little thing
that she had done. yet 1t had restored
manhood to Roddy and had made
Eloise a little girl. The boy stared
after her with alteration in his eyes.
Then he turned to Eloise. Move on.
you kids" he said grufiy. Cant you
see I'm busy?"
Mildred Tenants casual manner
had been impressive. She had not
seemed to note that Eloise was max
ing fun of Roddy. Eloise somehow
felt that she was the absurd one,
not Roddy. The girls moved on
He waited until the girls were out
Of sight. He even went half-heart-
edly through the pretense of leading
a charge against the hidden rebels in
the mythical ravine. But the fire had
gone from his play. He knew that he
was too old for this sort of thing.
Only an extreme pride enabled him
boy must save his face, even to him
self. In such ways we save our
souls.
But when he reached the gate that
led into his own back yard, he turned
and ran swiftly into the house. On
the landing. one fight up. he en-
countered his mother.
well. how many of the enemy did
my little hero kill today?" she asked
She was just the finest mother in
all the world, but there were times
when he felt that he and she were
spiritually as far apart as the poles.
This was one of the times. For the
very gentleness of her voice, its un-
feigned interest, proved that in her
eyes he was merely a baby Of the
''playing-soIdier' age. If she had
been amused at his appearance, il she
had even been slightly contemptuous.
he would have endured such an atti-
tude more equally than her present
one. Such Is the psychology of boy
hood. He brushed by her without an
swer. He knew that if he spoke he
would release the embargo which he
had placed upon public tears. Yet
once in his own room he gave himself
unreservedly to the sobs of shame.
He stripped the offending uniform
from his body and threw himself upon
his bed. Years later he would remem
Der this scene and smile with plying
understanding. For in those later years
he would come to understand that no
man ever ceases to play soldier. He
would know that in the mind OF every
adult is a picture of himself. or her
self, vastly different from the image
which presents itself to the world. For
there is no failure so complete but that
he imagines a quick turn OF circum-
stances which will make him world
figure.
RoDDY, lying upon the bed slowly
~ ceased his sobbing. He had had
a. miraculous escape from gross and
public humiliation. An angel had
come down from Heaven itself and
with certain magic words routed his
foes. For certainly Miss Mildred
Tennant was nothing less than an
angel. Up to now he had looked at
her with that healthy feeling OF en-
nifty with which every normal boy
looks at the guardians OF the school,
room.
He and she were opponents-not
from choice, but through clrcum-
stance. Had any one an hour ago
told Roddy Dory that he had within
him those elements which made up
teachers pet he would have resented
the statement with all possible vigor
of mind and body. Yet now, as he
lay upon his bed. he gave himself
over entirely to degradation.
Funny that it had never occurred
to him before that Miss Tenant was
when only grotesque ugliness at
tracted his attention. Persons who
were not freaks impressed them
selves upon his Imagination not at
all. OF course, he had always known
dimly that Eloise was extremely
pretty. But, his regard for her, of
which he was hardly conscious, was
based more upon her masculine quail
tiles than upon her femininity. Eloise.
until the last year or 50. had been
able to meet Roddy himself upon al
most equal terms. :
But more and more in the last
year or so Eloise had withdrawn
from companionship with Roddy.
Instead of trying to play base ball,
she had improved her skill at hop
scotch and jackstones. Furthermore,
she had become conscious OF her
runies and ribbons-had, indeed, a
way Of walking and talking and gen.
orally posing that rather sickened
After several years OF de-
luding himself with the belief that
Eloise was as good as any boy, he
had come to recognition OF the fact
that Eloise was. after all. merely a
girl. And his interest in her had
waned from the moment OF that
recognition.
He would have been indignant had
any one told him that Eloise's ap-
proval or contempt were important