The New Boy at Hilltop

students; it opened again two weeks later, on the third

into a corner of his seat in the poorly heated day coach, which was the best the train afforded, and wondered why the Connecticut Valley was so much colder than Cleveland, Ohio. He had taken an early train from New York, and all the way to Moritzville had sought with natural eagerness for sight of his future sc

very proud. You will, I am certain, become good friends. Mr. Whipple here will show you to your room. Supper is at six. Afterwards, say at eight o'clock, I should like you

were two persons at Hilltop whom he was going to dislike cordially. One was the model Joseph Brewster, and the other was Mr. Whipple. The instructor was young, scarcely more than twenty-t

yards higher on the hill, looked very uninviting. Its windows frowned dark and inhospitable and no l

y study," he said at length. "Just a

h, sir," inter

added as a tiny pale flame appeared at the tip of the side bracket. "I trust that the possession of ma

up his suit

said. Mr. Whipple bli

course, prohib

ost schools," Kenne

nd, then, that you are not even in

r catch me at it," said Kenneth impert

ilky voice, "I sincerely hop

ning, he told himself, but Mr. Whipple irritated him intensely. After the instructor had closed t

s are like Whipple I don't want to stay. Well, dad said I needn't stay after this term if I don't like it. Guess I can stand three months, even of Whipple! I hope Brewster isn't quite as bad. Maybe, though, they'll give me

oftly and loo

e, Kenneth decided, the study, seen in the soft radiance of the droplight, had a nice "homey" look. He crossed over and examined the bedroom, drawing aside the faded brown chenille curtain to let in the light. There wasn't much to see-two iron beds, two chiffoniers, two chairs, a trunk bearing the initials "J. A. B." and a washstand. The floor was bare save for three rugs, one beside each bed and one in front of the washstand. The two windows had white muslin curtains

n't have those out. I'll

everything put away, he took off coat and vest, collar and, cuffs, and pro

he world than has the average boy of his age, and this had naturally left its impress on his countenance. I can't honestly say that he was handsome, and I don't think you will be disappointed to hear it. But he was good-looking, with nice, quiet gray eyes, an aquiline nose, a fairly broad mouth whose smiles meant more for being infrequent, and a firm, rather pointed c

d so he sat when, after twenty minutes or so, there were sounds outside the building plainly denoting the arrival of students, sounds followed by steps on the stairs, shouts, laughter, happy greetings, the thumping of bags, the clinking of keys. And so