The Riverpark Rebellion

eliberate, and his voice was v

outset, that your request, if it may be considered a request, cannot be granted. Perhaps I should leave the matter there, and refrai

e time your petition was handed to me and the time at which it would have been necessary to start. Moreover, I am informed that the woods are still too damp to ma

emand if there were no others; but there are others, and they are such

grace. That must be plainly understood. Petitions must be so worded as to imply authority in the principal; if they are not, they certainly will not be granted; they will not even be considered.

school as a whole. We have been very patient with you, and have tried to temper justice with mercy. Now I desire to give you fair notice that I propose to be master here, and that the rules of th

fair and just, but magnanimous; and when I discover a better feeling on your part, and an honest effort

for you to present petitions; it will be my pleasure to anticipate your

ole. There are manly boys here who deserve only words of commendation. They are the more deserving, because they h

day, you may c

o sat at the desk. Then Colonel Silsbee descended from

t twelve o'clock. The sandwiches were brought up, as usual, in a huge tray, and placed on the desk, and each boy took one as he passed by in t

not a little ill-feeling; there were e

th or without leave; but for the greater number, the determined words and earnest manner of Colonel

oom, where the usual order of exercises was carried out; but nobody remembered a day on which all

ee to four; after that the session for delinqu

n Fryant's room to discuss plans for "getting even with the old man." It seemed to be "th

hat the school as a body, or any material part of it, should set out for a holiday, purposely and deliberately, against the will of the pri

"If we don't show him what our rights are, an' take 'e

when oppression grows too severe, even soldiers rebel against it, and the civilized world upholds th

n and trembling silence; but it was only one of the delinquents, who had hea

hers, until finally the room was full of excited

a secret brotherhood, with a well-defined objec

herself," answered t

's initiate him

lack Star," sug

upine Fatness de Montmorency Jones, remove al

ntlemen? 'Let but the commons hear this test

cing on him, pulling off his coat and ves

and set the seal of our most n

nd a great rude star was hastily daubed on the fat boy's bare

put new ideas into the

ck star for a badge, and every one that belongs to it we

ack ink, and pinning them to coats and vests. In the midst of this occupation the signal for retreat was heard; and with an understanding t

Brightly. The strong denunciation of the language of the petition had cut deeply into his sensibilities. E

ame a thrust at his pride and vanity that not only made new, deep wounds, but set the old ones bleeding afresh. It roused within him a spirit of

ter another, three steps at a time, until, with this latest plunge, he found himself

w. But he had allowed this insidious disease so to sap his moral strength and weaken his force of character,

he good fellow was patient, persevering, tearfully earnest; but, alas! he was wholly unsuccessful. The demoralized student was in no mood even to listen with res

wnstairs, and walked out alone across the fields, trying to devise some pla

mself. His name had been the first one signed to it. He felt that Colonel Silsbee's denunci

e hour when Brightly's bold lie blocked his path to sweet revenge, he had made no effort to hold his evil disposition in check. Stings of jealousy, hurts of reproof, pangs of disappointment, had so clouded

no longer. He threw discretion and even self-respect to the winds, and declared his readiness

et in Fryant's room that evening, according to agree

alted positions to which both had attained were the result, in great part, of the ungenerous rivalry between them, of the strong determination on the part of each to outdo

er and their companions in any wild scheme for the up

sted itself was a grip, the fashion of which, after much discussion, was decided on. Then a passwo

t Captain Brede be the Chief High Muck-a

n seriously, and by whispered

y for Grand Scribbler of the Lone Goose Quill, Great Splasher of the

ces," he said impatiently. "I'm ready to go with you any tim

d excited discussion ensued as to how and when the o

t were to hold themselves in readiness to go, at a moment's notice, whenever the committee should give the wor

ne, they passed quietly into the hall and down the stairs. The short recess preceding tattoo was devoted to proselyti

secret were puzzled by the general air of mystery which prevailed. Those who w

which seemed to be in the air, and feared trouble. Two of them went to Colonel Silsbee as soon as the dining-room was clear, and gave expression to their fear. Th

r by the armory, Brede was holding a consultation wi

ow! There's no time like the present

d another; "we've got no plan;

' we don't want a plan,-that 'ud be too much like a regular holiday. It's a hundred t

majority of us vote to do we'll do, and we can't afford to lose any tim

one dissenting voice in the committee,

mous," said Fryant; "put

again, and was ca

up to another, startled by this unusual sound, turned toward Brede and his companions to learn the cause

of the Black Star, we go to-day!-now-r

cap. Others ran for theirs. There was a general movement toward the drill-hall door. Talking and shouting began again. Some one cried, "Show your stars!" and in a moment the i

toward his rash followers, many of whom were pale

back! All men and

rapidly across the drill-ground toward the high board fence that enclos

in the whirl of passion and excitement; and still others, reckless of results, cari