Mr. Strong

“ But the old man must have had some pretty hard battles with himself, before it came to that.”
“And so old Mr Strong is a soldier, anyway,” said Frank.
“Yes, and a conqueror,” said Jem. “Don’t you remember, ‘He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.’”
“Yes,” said David, thoughtfully. “Mr Strong is a soldier, and, Frank, he is fighting the very same battle that papa is fighting—for the honour of Christ. It is that they are all fighting for in one way or other. It is that that makes it warring a good warfare, you know.” ”

“ My father was very dear to me, and every time I thought of him I prayed that God would place it within my power to clear his name from the stain that now rested upon him.
We reached the station in Newville five minutes before train time. My uncle procured our tickets and also checked the basket of delicacies the Widow Canby had prepared.
"Remember me to Mr. Strong," said the widow, as we boarded the train. "Tell him I don't believe he's guilty, and perhaps other people in Darbyville won't think so either before long." ”

“ They threaded their way through the crowd of people towards the head of the pier, saying little, which was worse than saying much. Although Charlie had been working, Miss Strong wished she had stayed at home with her; it would have been better than this. A sense of pending peril made her positively nervous; she wanted to get away from her companion, and yet for the moment she did not see her way to do it.
Beyond doubt Mr. Lawrence was not a man in whose favour nothing could be said. He was of medium height, had a good figure, and held himself well. ”

“ We sat around the white tablecloth en masse, for dinner; and in the course of the passing of viands, Miss Sprig was asked to help herself to olives that happened to be near her.
“Yes, do, while you have opportunity,” said Mrs. Purblind.
“I always embrace opportunity,” replied Miss Sprig with a simper. Whereat Mr. Chance, sitting next her, suggested that, as a synonym of opportunity, possibly he might stand in its stead. ”

“ Say, you must have been well-nigh crazy with the worry—and—and anxiety. Oh, if you'd only known how we, Mr. Hendrie and I, felt standing right here to-day waiting—waiting with scarcely a reason to hope you'd make Deep Willows in time. D'you know, Mr. Hendrie was well-nigh clean crazed—sure?" She shuddered. "I never saw a crazy man before, but he was crazy then. I watched him. I was scared—scared to death."
Frank looked out over at the great house. Suddenly he breathed a deep sigh. ”

“ Silver. "There is over a hundred times more manliness in refusing to form those bad habits than in yielding to them. And that is just the kind of manliness I want all the boys of my class to have. 'Quit you like men,' boys, and then, 'be strong.' What does that mean?"
"To keep up your muscle," spoke out Frank, much to the surprise of everybody, for, although he listened attentively enough, he very rarely opened his mouth in the class.
Mr. Silver smiled. It was not just the answer he wanted, but he would not discourage Frank by saying so. ”

“ Suddenly he looked up with a question in his eyes. "Say, boy, you don't owe me a hell of a lot. And yet you come to me with—all this?" He gazed thoughtfully, studying the strong, earnest young face before him.
"I told you I hadn't thought of coming until——" Frank broke off as Phyllis completed the explanation.
"I persuaded him, Mr. Hendrie. You see——"
"I guessed that." Hendrie nodded. Then he smiled. "Guess it's generally a woman fixes things easy for men-folk, when the road's rough." ”

“ Such an event as a marriage cannot even in prospect, face a thoughtful woman without making a great change in her life. Mr. Gregory was that type of man who ought not to be allowed to offer himself in a direction where there was no intention of acceptance, for his character and age—he was fifty or more—forbade all thought of lightness or trifling, and gave one the assurance that any marked attention he might show, was significant. My acquaintance with him had extended over several years, and during this period there had been abundant opportunity, on both sides, for study of character. ”

“ Miss Strong was growing more and more conscious that the night was raw and damp. To add to the discomfort of her position, just inside the gates of Brighton pier is not the most agreeable place for a woman to have to wait at night--she is likely to find the masculine prowler conspicuously in evidence. Miss Strong had moved away from at least the dozenth man who had accosted her, when she referred to her watch.
"I'll give him five minutes more, and then, if he doesn't come, I'm off."
Scarcely had she uttered the words than she saw Mr. Paxton coming through the turnstile. ”

“ Of course I knew that they were a lot of lies, but they made me so wild that I felt that I should like to shake him."
"Shake me instead, my dear. One is given to understand that jolting is good for the liver. Who's that?"
There was a sound of knocking at the front door. Miss Strong glanced eagerly round. A flush came into her cheeks; a light into her eyes.
"Possibly that is the recalcitrant Mr. Paxton, in his own proper person, coming with apologies in both his hands. Perhaps you would like to go and see."
CHAPTER X CYRIL'S FRIEND
Miss Strong did like to go and see. ”

“ I assure you I always do admire a young woman who sticks up for her young man when he happens to find himself in a bit of a scrape. But, if you take my tip, Miss Strong, you'll leave us men to manage these sort of things. You'll only do Mr. Paxton harm by interfering. You tell her, Mr. Franklyn, if what I say isn't true."
Miss Strong turned towards Mr. Ireland, cutting short the words on Franklyn's lips before they had a chance of getting themselves spoken. ”

“ A forgotten man may remember a woman, and preserve his self-respect, if not his merriment; but when a forgotten woman remembers a man, that is quite another thing. Not that I was brooding over Mr. Chance—far from it; I thought very little of him, in one way, for I frequently saw him with Miss Sprig; but in spite of all that, I could not quite forget the impression he made upon me the day those boys killed the gay little squirrel, and again the day the poor mother went down into the deep, dark water with [76] her child held close to her agonized heart. ”

“ Well, on the birthday Mrs. Kitty prepared a nice little dinner; she had some new milk, and a little meat and a bit of cheese, and six little mice. The table was so pretty, and everybody sat down, and there was no end of the fun going on, until suddenly they all stopped talking and laughing, for they saw hateful Mr. Cat. He came sulking and glowering along, as if somebody outside had whipped him and he wanted to take it out of his family. Mrs. Kitty begged him to sit down, and the little kitty told him it was her birthday party. ”

“ Harrison paid for the soda, and a second later we quitted the place.
"Not much information gained there," said my Chicago friend, when we were once again on the street.
"One thing is certain," I replied. "She is the right party. It would never have done to have tackled the wrong person."
"I guess the best thing for us to do is to call on the woman without waiting further."
"So I think."
"She may be a very hard person to manage. Strong, you must be careful of what you say."
"I shall, Mr. Harrison," I replied. "But that woman must do what is right or go to prison." ”

“ I am a fairly strong man, and I have the poker handy—besides being invisible. There's not the slightest doubt that I could kill you both and get away quite easily if I wanted to—do you understand? Very well. If I let you go will you promise not to try any nonsense and do what I tell you?"
The Vicar and the Doctor looked at one another, and the Doctor pulled a face. "Yes," said Mr. Bunting, and the Doctor repeated it. Then the pressure on the necks relaxed, and the Doctor and the Vicar sat up, both very red in the face and wriggling their heads. ”

“ The servants whispered of times when he would tell his wife of guests invited to the house, and entreat her not to make a scene while they were there.
Sixteen years have gone by, and this woman is still above ground; stranger still the man is alive as well; and strangest of all, they are still under the same roof. Indeed, if report and appearance are to be trusted, Mr. Daemon is a model husband, and Mrs. Daemon’s sudden and amazing temper has spent itself and left [61] her a person of spirit indeed, but in nowise unamiable, and least of all, an ugly character. ”

“ Nannie watched until they were out of sight, and when she turned she saw Steve coming, and in her swift way contrasted him with DeLancy Seymour.
That evening after dinner, without a word of explanation to her husband, Nannie walked off to the house of her cousin, Mr. Misfit. Now, Steve was by this time somewhat accustomed to her eccentric ways and seldom questioned them, nor did he realize that they were eccentric. [107] He had grown up knowing very little of women and regarding them as a peculiar class, which no doubt they are. ”

“ Gates is going to marry Hilda.
Mr. B. (springing up in surprise) . No?
Mr. T. Yes.
(Hilda appears in door l. and listens intently, unnoticed by the others.)
Mr. B. He's too old.
Mr. T. Oh, no, merely a dignified age for a girl so conservatively reared as Hilda has been. She is much in advance of her years, I assure you.
Mr. B. (pacing the floor thoughtfully) . I don't like it.
Mr. T. I think it a most suitable match, and I am intending to present the happy pair with my most precious heirloom—the Templeton teapot.
(Hilda disappears.) ”

“ Mamie and I are going to have a kitty story.”
Mamie cuddled up to Nannie, while Master Jim stalked out of the room. It was observed, however, that he was not above taking up a squatter's claim in the hall and listening through the crack of the door.
“Once upon a time,” Nannie began in the old way so fascinating to children—“once upon a time there lived a dear little kitty.”
Just at this point the front door opened and Mr. Earnest walked in. Now, Nannie had never fancied this gentleman, and to-night, as she noted his glowering look, she felt a savage desire to annoy him. ”

“ When Nannie went out into the garden she saw old Hayseed leaning over the fence contemplating some of the ruins of Steve's vegetables. Glad of any diversion, she opened a conversation on the subject of Mr. Seymour, of whose death she had heard that day. In far-away times, old Hayseed had known Mr. Seymour's father.
“I didn't think he could die,” said Nannie. “He was always trying to, but I didn't think he was really sick enough.”
“He hed ter die ter vindercate hisself,” said Hayseed. “Some folks, yer know, hez ter live ter set 'emselves right, but this one 'bleeged ter die. ”

“ Strong here, sir?" he asked.
"That's my name."
"A gentleman below to see you, sir. Gave his name as Mr. Harrison."
"Tell him I will be down in a minute," I said.
"Now I'm ready to leave you," I went on to Duncan, when the servant had departed. "I advise you to take a good wash, get your breakfast, and take the first train home. Good-by."
"Yes, but, Roger&—"
"By doing that you may be doing your father a greater service than in any other way. You say you will turn over a new leaf, and I hope you will. If all goes as it should you will have a hard trial to stand before long. ”

“ I was shown into the parlor—a comfortable room, back of which was a most home-like apartment, called the study. As I sat there, awaiting Mrs. Bachelor’s coming, I noticed that her husband’s desk, which stood in the center of the study, was strewn with dolls, and paraphernalia closely related thereto. My observations were interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Bachelor, who welcomed me in her cordial, cheery way. A minute later Mr. Bachelor came in, and gave me what was for him, a most friendly greeting. He excused himself in a little while, and went into his [99] study. ”

“ Sue, will you kindly go to the door? [Exit Sue, r.
Mrs. B. Oh, Eric, how did you know where to find her?
Dean (to Hilda) . Miss Templeton, will you kindly convince these people that I am neither a burglar nor a lunatic?
Hilda. Mr. Dean saved me from that horrid man this evening, and to reward him I gave him the teapot. He isn't to blame for anything.
Enter Sue, r.
Sue (picking up basket) . Mrs. McLaffety's boy has come after this.
[Pg 17]
Mrs. T. Will you kindly hand it to him, Sue? (Exit Sue, r., with basket.) Mr. Dean, we are doubly indebted to you.
Mr. T. (shaking hands with Dean) . ”

“ T. Sue, will you please bring Hilda's wraps?
(Sue rises and gathers up Hilda's belongings. Exeunt Mrs. T., Hilda and Sue, l. Prof. G. watches them from door.)
Prof. G. A most remarkable young woman—Miss Templeton—marvelous self-control.
Mr. T. (sitting down at desk and looking longingly at his work) . True, and a most alarming occurrence. Hilda shall not go out alone again.
Prof. G. (moving about nervously) . You cannot be too careful. And now, Mr. Templeton (pausing by desk and clearing throat several times) , there is something—in fact—I must explain—to be brief, I love Miss Templeton. ”

“ Prof. G. I couldn't find Miss Hilda, but I've saved it! (Sees Hilda.) Oh—what——
(Collapses into chair. Sue fans him with newspaper. Mr. T. seizes teapot.)
Mr. T. You've rescued the teapot!
Mrs. B. Did you fight with the burglars?
Mrs. T. The poor man has been handled most roughly.
Mr. B. (grasping Mr. T.'s revolver) . Which way did the fellows go?
[Pg 18]
Prof. G. (regaining breath) . No burglar—the McLaffety boy—didn't see him—collided most forcibly! He spilled his basket; the teapot rolled out.
Mr. T. Do you mean to tell me that the McLaffety boy was stealing the teapot? ”