Might and Main Library. Number 56, 1907-03-16 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

tation ee ered chap. = Jaugh at the Hhgdto 2 tae ey How a ree we “Weep by ‘They 3 run and they jump, They tumble and. bump, ae they cross the fields in the paper-chase; They scream and they shout, And they. scamper about, _ When they lose the trail in the paper-chase.’’ i : Ves. but it was the way in which he acted the lines that made ‘old Weeper laugh.” | “Tell it not to Gath,” the personage Hieiertéd to as Old Weeper was the rector of the school, who had obtained his pseudonym through an affection of the eyes which gave him the appearance of weeping. All four started for Glen William. ne deputation, though an important one, could scarcely be said to be decorous. For they shouted and whistled like Contes Indians; _ they scampered, ran, jumped, and kicked up their ape like - —well, like schoolboys often doc ‘No ‘staid and sober. collegians were they, but velit, ‘romping boys, full of spirit and brimful of health. They met Vernon before they reached the grounds of Glen William, and, joining hands, they formed a circle around him. " Each wanted to be the spokesman, so all spoke at once, and each in a, louder key than his_ neighbor. ‘Craig put his fingers in his ears for self-protection, and begged ‘them to save the es of his ears for another day. “Come with us,’ said Dan. “To the greenwood, To the greenwood, To the grcenwyod tree!” sung Weatherstraw. ~ Perhaps they | got exhausted, for almost saidehly they stopped. ‘Then Vernon had a chance. : “What is it?” he asked, and all started off feech: No, po! Dan, you tell me.” Dan Lilton did so, and, to the great joy of all four, Vernon consented to join in the paper-chase. “When do you start?” “In an hour.” : “T1l ‘come with you now.’ “That’s jolly!” Five happier fellows never leaped fences or jumped across dykes than those schoolboys. — And when the whole of the boys of St. Nicholas turned cut for the paper-chase, they gave such a hearty cheer as soon as they caught sight of, Vernon that he felt his nerves tingle and his cheeks burn. : Away went the human hounds following the trail, which was a splendid one. For. an hour they ran, cael VcknGtn being out of iain ing and weak from confinement, fell out of the race for a time, promising to overtake them after he had rested. “No, He felt drowsy and had great difficulty — in preventing hiriself from falling asleep. Once he nodded, and was so nearly overcome that when a coat was thrown over his head he was pS to resist effectually. True, he kicked when he: felt himself lifted up by some strong men, but he was nearly suffocated, the coat over, his head and face preventing him from breathing. _ At first he had thought | it was a joke, but soon he knew Aer differently. He was carried.a few yards, and thrown into a wagon ee with such force that he groaned with pain. “ Japer-chase was a success, so far as the run was aS ene. but there were somé of they boys who th the falling out of Vernon Craig: 4 bad omen.) ; Wy ‘ Edwards wanted to turn back and keep him compan: but Dan Lilton thought Craig would only feel hurtya suc 4 course... About a mile beyond the ee where Vernon ha testes a halt was called. ine All were glad of the rest, and it gave an opport : ity, their friend to overtake them. — ee But when an hour had passed and Vernon did not rive, the boys started again on their quest. ee Just as they started a covered wagon passed thona: F here was nothing strange in a market- -wagon going over a ‘coun try road on a Saturday afternoon, but the. pace the horse, | ~ was going caused the boys to look at it, and Rollins called ee out to his friends: “see that driver?” “Yes; what of him?” “He is no truck- gardener.” “No; only a driver.” a wouldn’ t wonder if he has stolen the horse an “Think so?” | SY 6S} caught | the driver asleep, perhaps, and mad with the wagon.” “Let us find a constable asl tell ee “No, thank you.” “Why 7 “We a be taken to the Mnese of detention foe witnesses. Mind veut own business—that is th policy.” That.ended the matter for them. : Had they but known that in that wagon, half- under vegetables, and so nearly unconscious that * £ unable to cry out, was their friend, Vernon Craig! Vernon actually heard the voices as the wagon was dt past the paper- -chasers, but was powerless to make hi heard. : : : es Once he did call out. The driver turned in his seat, and, in a low bat | determined voice, ordered him to be silent. wes “T’ve taken chances, ” he said, “and I'd 4ust as lea brain you as not; I’d stand as good a chance of getti a clear, and Pll do it if you speak againe”’ : There was so much determination in the man’s mant Tie that Vernon was afraid, and waited for a more favor: » opportunity. i ‘The boys of St. Nicholas Academy returned ~ the scho ee feeling very tired in body and far from nappy ime 1 minds. They had seen nothing of Vernon. As soon as they entered the hall they were gravely ‘told that the rector was in the schoolroom. They knew that meant they were to have a formal inter= view with him. a “What does old Weeper want?’ asked one; and the only | a answer which could be given was: “I wonder.” ec The Reverend Thomas van Green, D. D., LL. De, M. Ay” a etc., looked anything but the learned man he was. ig RES He certainly had acquired the right to use almost ‘th whole alphabet after his name, for he not only had won — many degrees by hard study, but on the principle that “to © him that hath shall be given,’ honorary degrees from all nations had been conferred upon him. But, notwithstanding his learning and his ee h looked one of the most miserable specimens of humanity. His eyes were always giving forth an exbalaens ORS -water—hence his pseudonym of Old Weeper. When he was excited his voice became so pathotlks that a stranger would easily believe he was broken- hearted and distracted with grief. © He was seated on a little raised platform or dais at the: x end of the room when the boys trooped in. i ae gentlemen !” !” he began, but the necessity of using