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Show iBt&&9&&&&&2S&Jr $ The Story of ft "Old Jimmy" j $ His namo was Herbert Jameson. Ho wns In tho prime of life ns far as yenrs aro reckoned ecrtnlnlj not moro thnn thlrtj-fho -but wc, his colleagues, always spoko of him as "Old Jluimy." This was partly from tho feeling of nffectlon wo all had for him, nnd partly because, be-cause, in spite of his few jcars. ho really looked much oldor. Ho walked with n stoop, and IiIb face, oxcopt on tho raro occasions when It was lighted up with n smile, looked so furrowed and careworn that It was easy to see that at somo tlmo or other the black ox of troublo had trodden down heavily heav-ily upon his foot Yet Old Jimmy was kindness Itself, and as gentle In all his ways as a woman. When his face did break into a smile It did one good to behold It, and one Insilnetlvoly felt when looking into those frank blue eyes "Hero 1 a man, a gentleman, honest and true ns steol." Everybody had a good word for Old Jimmy. He had been a scholar of Balllol, and bad taken n First In Mods nnd Greats; therefore, ns might havo been expected, his work lay chiefly with the Upper Sixth. Yet it was In tho company of the jounger boys that ho most delighted. They simply adored him. In his jounger dajs he must liavo been a ery handsome man; In fact, ho was bo Rtlll, In spite of tho deep furrows on his faco. One peculiarity he had, nnd thnt was his great liking for the. crimson floweis commonly known an French currant blossoms. 1 never saw him wear any other (lower, but ovcry morning through the spring and carjy summer ho wnu sure to appear with a spray of French currant In his buttonhole. but-tonhole. It bad grown to be an old Joke with us that ho wore It becauso he thought It suited his complexion. Whenever I went to his rooms, and that was eery dnj there was always a largo bowl of these flowers on his table. We hazarded all kinds of guesses as to what tho trouble wns that had bo-fallen bo-fallen him, but could never como to any satisfactory conclusion. Somo said bo hod never been Intended for a schoolmaster's life, hut had taken to it for a living, owing to heavy losses whllo nt Oxford; but I for ono did not belleo it. In tho first place I bellovo ho became u schoolmaster becauso ho liked tho llfo; for he never seemed bo happy as when In the company or boys, nnd though I hao known a fow schoolmasters who hated boys, I could never understand why they did not rather break stones upon tho roadside, or drive a cab, than enter upon a profession pro-fession which In their caso must havo proved a peipetual hell. Then, again, Old Jimmy had always plenty of money mon-ey to sparo for those In need. Why, to my certain knowledge, when tho llfteen year old daughter of Spook, the poitcr of St. Anselm's, was said to bo going Into a decline, Old Jimmy paid for her to bo sent to Ventnor and kept her there for almost twoho months. When tho bojs of tho lllngo bchool about u mile away from St. Anbolm's wished to start a Jmonllc cricket club, but wished in aln owing to lack of funds, who supplied them with a wholo tct of apparatus and set them t'olng? Old Jimmy, of course. But ho nucr liked thcbe things to be talked of. Oh, no! When I happened to say, "I see the village bojB hac at last found a friend to proldo them with a crlcketlug outllt," he looked up In tho most Innocent and surprised way, and said, "Oh, indeed!" And one day, as ho and 1 wore going out through tho big cntrnnco doors, I stopped to nek Spook how his daughter daugh-ter was. "Gettln' on lino, sir, all ow-In' ow-In' to the kindness of Mr. " Suddenly Sud-denly Old Jimmy broke in with: "Spook, there goes Collins minor across to tho cricket pavilion; run ob fast as you can nnd tell him tell him let mo boo! oh, tell him ho should be wearing his school cap." But th Ik Is all by tho way. No, It was Borne other kind of troublo trou-blo that had darkened Old Jimmy's llfo; nnd, though I uover know the full facts of tho case, I afterwards learnt enough to account for a good deal. Ono duy a now boy arrived. Ho was qulto a youngster nine years old, In fact. Old Jimmy und I happened to be strolllug In tho aenuo ,wJien ho camo, and wo reached tho frpnt doors Just as ho was alighting, I saw Old 'Jimmy start and look curiously at him for ft few moments. A lai-uway, j earning look camo Into his oyes, and I heai'd him mutter to lilmsfjr for he often 1111(1 a habit of talking to him self aloud ''How htinucolj like' tte very forehead, tho very eycal" To the boy h.i said, "Whats jour name, lit-tlo lit-tlo chip?" "Warde, sir!" Then Old Jimmy patted him on tho held, and wo walked on; but for the next quarter quar-ter of an hour I could not get nn In-telllglblo In-telllglblo word out of him; ho seemed lost In thought Eory boy wns n faorlto with Old Jimmy; but to mo, who watched him closclj', It soon became apparent that tho now boy exercised a magnetic power oer him. I havo often Been him stand and gnzo on tho boy for n fow moments with a huid, stern look In his eyes n look allium of aversion; aver-sion; but nt tho sound uf his fresh young olco tho dark look would at onco glo placo to ono of great tenderness, ten-derness, lie Btroe, and successfully strove In a great measure, to hide this predilection from thoiejes of others, for It was a maxim with him, "Noer allow lioya to bee that jmi hao any special faorltes; It will encourago them to think jou aro 'partial In your rewards and punishments." Yet to a close obsc'n'or It was plain to seo that ho loicd to bo In tho boy's prcBcnco. Tho night of tho day on which wo assembled after the Faster holidays, Old Jimmy anil I wero having n quiet plpo In his study when n knock camo to tho door, and lu ennio Tommy Wardo. "I hao Just got back from homo, sir; and my mother gnvo mo this letter let-ter for you. I think It Is to thank jou tor having been so kind to me, sir. 1 told her your namo wns Mr. Jameson, nnd bIio acked mo whethur jou wero nn Oxford man, and about what ago I thought you worer and I Bald you wero about fifty, and from Cambridge, I thought." "And what did jour mother say to that, Tommy?" "I forget, sir. Oh, sho said, 'Then It cannot bo.1 " "All right, my boy! aood-nlght," snld did Jimmy, with a look of mingled min-gled borrow and relief. When tho boy had gone ho opened tho letter with trembling hands, and after a lengthy silence said, "Haw-thornden, "Haw-thornden, I supposo this must bo answered. an-swered. I wish jou would wrlto for mo. I think I must hno n touch of my old enemy tho rheumatism In my hand to night; Bee how It shakes and twitches. Here, read tho letter." I read as follows; "Wcstbrao, Floldforry, N. B May 17th. "Dear Sir: I wrlto to thank you for all tho kindness jou havo shown to my boy during tho past terra. Ho has spoken of jou so much that I feel I cannot do otherwise than wrlto to you. I am coming down to see him and tho school on Saturday week, whon 1 shall hope to thank jou In person. "Yours truly, "M. L. Warde." Old Jlmmy'B hand did shake, It was true, but I had never known him to bo troubled with tho rhoumatlsm before, and I thought It a Btrange request re-quest that ho mado of mo; however, 1 wrota at his dictation as follows: "Dear Madam: I am afraid that I do not deserve tho thanks so kindly expressed In your letter. I fear that I shall not bo able to seo you when you come dowu to St Anslcm's on Saturday Satur-day week, as I shall bo away all tho afternoon and evening." "Will you sign It?" said I. "No, do It for mo, please and put W. Jameson; I was christened Her-bort Her-bort William, nnd although I have novor been called by tho latter name 1 rather lko to uso It Bometlmes." This, too, I thought strango, as also the fact of his going away on tho Saturday; Sat-urday; since I know It had been his Intention to stay and watch tho first crlckot match of tho season, which was down on tho fixture card for that day. On tho Saturday week, suro enough, as soon as tho school was ovor, ho hurried hur-ried awaj', und did not return till long after Mrs. Wardo hnd gone. 1 caught n glimpse of her during tho afternoon, and a remarkably pretty pret-ty llttlo womun sho was bluecjed, like Old Jimmy, und with u face which, lll(o other faces I havo known, wns only Improved nnd mado moro bewitching be-witching by reason of its many freck les. Sho was dresbed cry becomingly becoming-ly In widow's weeds, nnd appeared to bo about twcnly-clght or twenty-nine j ears old. Woll, tho weeks crept on until .early lu July, whon Founder's day camo round, und tho whole school had a holiday lu honor of it. Old Jimmy and I, with Hllllnrd, tho second mathematical math-ematical master, sot off for a dny's Ashing in tho iher about three miles nwuy. Tho boys bad "frco leave" 1. o., liberty to go anywhero they pleased pleas-ed within certain bounds. After fishing for n couple of hours wo came to tho old water-mill, whero wo determined to lunch under tho shade of bourn chestnut trees about n hundred jards away from tho Bpot where tho mill-wheel 'a8 going merrily mer-rily round and round. After lunch we lit our pipes and pro-pared pro-pared to spend a lazy halt-hour befoio whipping the stream again. I had hecn less fortunate In my sharo of tho spoil thnn my two companions, so Old Jimmy said: "Haw thornden, try somo of my flics; no trout can resist them. Horo, you will And them in my pocket-book, wrapped in a pleco of old faded note-paper, note-paper, on which tho names of them are written!" 1 opened tho book, nnd thoro, sure enough, wus tho fudod note paper, covered cov-ered with writing In a lady's hand; and ns I unfolded It my eyes fell on tho words: r "Now, Bertie, I cannot wrlto more i oi I Ahull miss my beauty-sleep, Goodiilght, dear! Schlafo recht wohl, tiaiinie suss! Mollle" Inside, Instead of tho expected lllns 1 found it pressed and dlscolorid spray of Old Jimmy's !, BBBBb BBBBj favorlto flower, tho French currant, BBBBJ tied neatly with a small white ribbon. 'BBBBJ "llicy aro flowers, Jimmy," said I, BBBBJ "Instead of flies." BBBBJ Ho seemed surprised and n llttlo an- BBBBJ noyod, ns ha said, "Ah I I had forgot- BBBBJ look farther on!" BBBBJ After I had mado my selection, wo BBBBJ wero preparing to set out again, when BBBBJ suddenly from near tho mill pond, In a BBBBJ boy's shrill voice camo a cry of "Holp! BBBBJ help!" Hurrjlng along wo found B Dudloy, ono of tho (list form boys, BBBBJ running up and down In a stato of BBBB frenzy, BBBBJ "Oh, save him, sir! It Is Wnrdo; jBBBB ho fell In, and tho current is taking BBBBJ htm straight for tho big wheel." BBBJ There, Indeed, the poor llttlo chap BBBBJ was, rapidly drifting to certnln death, BBBBJ for in tho current ho seemed aa holp- BBBBJ less aa n straw. It appeared almost BBBBJ hopeless to try to xavo him, but In a BBBBJ moment Old Jimmy had plunged In. BBBBJ nnd with strong, rapid strokes was BBBB making sti night for tho wheel. Will BBBB he bo lu tlmo? It seems almost lm- jBBBJ possible. But with a mighty effort ho BBBB clutches the boy Just us he 1b about BBBB to bo Bucked down into that tearful BBBBJ placo of death. Now with one bund ho BBBB grasps tho strong timber work In BBBB front of tho wheel, but In doing bo his BBBB head comes In violent contact with It BBBB If ho cau hold on tor a fow seconds BBBB they will bo sacd, for hero como tho jBBBJ miller nnd his man with a ropo. Quick- BBBB ly It is let down within Jimmy's BBBB reach, and, hurrah! wo aro drawing BBBB them out of tho reach of dangor. BBBB But poor Old Jimmy! tho water Is BBBB tinged with tho blood from a terrlbte BBBB wound on IiIh head; and his face is BBBB ghastly pale as wo carry botli him and BBBB tho boy Into tho miller's house. jBBBJ "Look after tho boy I" ho mutters; BBBB "never mind mo I nm all right!" JBBfl Dry clothes aro hastily found for BBBJ them, and tho miller's wifo offers to IBBBJ proparo a bed for poor Old Jimmy, BBBB who Is now too weak and faint to IBBBJ BBBB "No, nor take mo home, please, and BBBB quickly," said. BBBB So tho horso Is put Into tho miller's BBBJ light spring cart, and tendorly we lay BBBJ Old Jimmy down In it, making him as BBBJ comfortablo ns wo can. The boy, who iBBBJ Ib nono tho worse for his adventure, BBBJ but who Is now weeping bitterly, Is iBBBJ also put In; and I, taking tho reins, IBBBJ drho them homo aa fast I can with- BBBI out unncccssaiy Jolting. wBBI Both wero put to bod, and a telo- IbBBI gram was sent to the mother, saying: BBBI "Your son saved from drowning to- BBBJ day by ono of his masters. Boy will BBBJ bo all right tomorrow; master dan- BBBJ gcrously hurt" BBJ Forty minutes later there came la BBBJ reply: "Starting from Scotland by BBBJ night mall." BBBJ All through that night I sat up by BBBJ Old Jimmy's bedside. It was plain to HBBJ Bee ho was very 111, and the doctor BBJ said: "Ho Is dangerously hurt, and BBBJ may die. I havo dono all I can for BBJ him now, and will call again In ttaa BBJ morning." BBJ When I told Old Jimmy that Mrs. BBBJ Warde was coming down by tho night BBBJ mall he stared at me In a dazed kind ' BBBJ of way, and said, "Who is Mrs. BBBJ Warde? Oh I know! Thank God!" BBJ Boforo morning ho became light- BBBJ headed and wandered in his talk BBBJ "Molly, aro you not coming? Is It BBJ too cold or too late? You must not BBB miss your beauty-sleep, dear; good- BBJ night! Shlafo recht wohl, trauma BBB suss!" Then again: "How could you BBJ marry him, Molly, and break my BBB heart? You did not lovo html Was BBJ I hasty? Forglvo mo, dear! Tho boy BBB tho boy! I saved him for your BBB BBJ Ho did not know mo or the doctor, BBB who had again been summoned;-but BBJ onco ho started up, listened, and said BBB eagerly, "Hark, hark; tho train la BBJ coming! Signal to stop! Molly, how BBJ Bwcct 'tho currant blossoms smoll In BBJ your bosom!" BBJ After that he lay as if In slumber BBB for about a couple of hours. Day had BBB beamed, and wo heard tho sound ot BBa wheels on the uvenue and a woman's BBa volco say, as she alighted: "Take mo BBa to seo tho biavo man who saved my BBJ boy's BBI Softly and on tiptoe sho was shown BBJ into tho room. Never shall I forget H that sceno. At first sho started with BHfl surprise, then a loving look ot rccog- Bfl nltlon camo Into her eyes, and she BB flow to tho bcdsldo sobbing: "Bertie, BBJ Bertie, how can I over bo forgiven? I BBJ broko your heart, and In return you Bfl havo saved my boy! Speak to mo, BBJ Bcrtlo!" She seemed totally regard- BBJ less of tho presence ot the doctor and BBfl BBJ At tho sound of her volco Old Jim- ; U my onco moro opened his bluo eyes i BBJ and whlnpercd: "Molly sweetheart 9 at last! Kiss me let us forgive. 1 f BBI havo been dreaming dreaming ftflYJ swoetly now I must go to sleep. Say S iBBBB It onco moro, Molly: 'Schlafo rccfit IuBBI wohl, trauma suss Good-night! suss vBbI suss.'" IiVbI Ho lay so still that for awhile we j thought It was not "good-night" alone, 'BBJ but "good-bye" that ho had wished ' :M her' and all tho world. Thank God It j HH was not! Hro long he began to mend, J !H and never was a man nursed back to i iBBJ health moro tenderly nnd lovingly X J BBBB than was Old Jimmy by her who was 3 f BBBBJ now to make amends to him for all liBBn tho bitterness ot tho past IIBk Two months later there was a wed- EiBBiJ ding, at which I acted as "best man." tiH Every one remarked how supremely BBB happy tho brldo and bridegroom look- BBB ed, but how singular It was that Mrs. BBBJ Jameson should havo carried for her "BBB bridal bouquet nothing but a, mass of ilHBB tho common French currant. jiBBBB Porhnps It was singular, but I thtnlc Qt 'JM I could gho tho teason tor It Fall rjBBfl Mall Magazine. jBBl -o lHiaM |