The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? “Why not go speak to him?” con- tinued Moeritz. ‘What possible excuse can I make? Iam nota stranger in the town.” _ By this time the unknown individual had walked some distance up the road towards the wood. } “Do you watch him,” said the pro- fessor; “ see what he does in that wood. Ichwill warten bis er zuriick kommt.”* He watched him pass along the crest of the hill, then descend, and enter the town by another route. But our young hero could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the indi- vidual he was watching enter the house in which sweet Kate Conway and her father lived ! Of course Frank imagined that the inmates of the house entered by the stranger must be well acquainted with the fact. | “Shall I go in?” thought he. Then the strict commands of Doctor Whackley recurred to his mind, and, | though careless as to personal punish- ment, he deemed it his duty to uphold the principle of obedience to the master. He returned to the “ Six Bells,” and reported what had taken place to Pro- fessor Moeritz. . ‘The mystery must be solved,” ob- served the German, as he very thought- fully walked back to Lexicon College. Frank was of the same opinion. Professor Moeritz, on arriving at the college, at once retired to his own room to look once more at the scrip of paper he had found years before—a short time after the duel already spoken of. Then he called Frank, and showed it to him. “Ts dis de writing of your oncle ?” he asked. ‘IT do not know,’ replied Egerton. ‘¢T never saw my uncle’s handwriting.” “How many years is it since that you have had news from him ?” ‘Tt must be nearly twenty years ago.” “In what land was he then ?” “In England. He wrote to my father to say that he was about to go * J will wait till he returns. vo to Australia, and since that time has not been heard of. The ship in which he should have sailed was lost with all on board, but the owners declared that no such person ever embarked.” “Then he could not have been drowned ?” **He might have shipped under an assumed name. I wish, indeed, he could be found, for now my mother is in such great trouble, it would be a great comfort to her to have some rela- twe upon whose advice she could rely. It is a hard trial, sir, for both of us.” “Doubtless; but remember what was once said by a countryman of mine, named Meissner. ‘In heavy tribulation let not discontent transport thee beyond thyself. Look round, and thou wilt certainly find some with whose destiny thow wouldest not exchange.’” “ Perfectly true, sir. But we must find out all about this stranger.” “6 Yes.” Frank then wished the professor good-night, and retired to his own room, where he sat down and wrote a letter to pretty Kate Conway. “My DEAR Miss ConwaAy,’—he said —‘ As you have already heard of my great misfortune, I shall not waste time and paper in telling it, when I have so many things of far greater importance to write about. First of all I must speak of myself:—I have been very disappointed at not being able to see you, but the doctor has forbidden us to go to your house, and I suppose you do not get out very much. But I hope that order will soon be revoked, and then I shall take the very first oppor- tunity of seeing you, which will be a great pleasure indeed. “ Now, I want to ask you a queatior Does an elderly gentleman, rather tal} in height, with iron-grey hairand beard, visit at your house? I saw such 2 -=a- son enter your door this evening; but. of course, could not know whether bh» called on business oy as a friend. - shall thank you very much indesé you will answer me this question, as az 7 om A Go NOC (CO mn