Bessie Bradford's Prize

he should be, as Mrs. Neville said, "under the strictest personal supervision." The school had been chosen not only on this account,

of uncommon talent, studious and steady, and much thought of by Dr. Leacraft and the other masters. Six of the twelve pupils were in one dormitory under charge of this young man; the other six in another, in the

n the quarters under his charge; he was an unusually heavy sleeper,

lle this boy had acquired a most undesirable influence, and led him into many pranks and violations of rules which were little suspected by the authorities. Poor Percy, weak, vacillating, and utterly without

taken place there, and the spot was one absolutely forbidden to the scholars of Dr. Leacraft's school. Nevertheless, some of the wilder spirits were in the habit of going there when they could do so without risk of discovery; and they also employed Rice to procure for them such articles as were tabooed and which they could not purchase for themselves. Lewis Flagg w

e porch, thence by the pillars to the ground, and then off and away to Rice's house, where a hot supper, previously ordered, awaited them. This fl

of the school so pleasant or so favorable for that pastime as Rice's pond. Tempted by this, all the boys under Dr. Leacraft's c

doctor calling him to Harvard, to his only son, who had been dangerously hurt. The boys were all assembled at the

I cannot take time to mention them now, I must request, I must absolutely forbid each and every one of you from going in the neighborhood of Rice's house or Rice's pond. I cannot tell how long I may be away; meanwhile the

well, dreading what might have come to him before he should see them aga

cause for this renewed and emphatic prohibition against Rice's place. But Lewis Flagg and his followers were not reasonable, and many and deep, though not loud, were the murmurs at his orders. Lewis' boon compa

choice spirits alone together than Lewis unfold

they had done more than once before, by means of the window and the root of the porch, go to Rice's

e a cannon-ball under his bed, and we'll be back and in our p

re from the doctor's late appeal to them, and their knowledge of the sad

bby after what the doctor said to us? And-you know-Dick Leacraft might be dying-might be dead-they say he's

on upon Flagg's

e was such a Miss Nancy, such a coward? But you're going if the rest go, for we're all in the same box and have got to

houldn't say a word!" ejac

hind. One in for it, all in for it. Pluck up your courage and come along, P

h led him into new sin sooner than to face the consequences of former misdeeds,-misdeeds more venial than that now proposed. It was not the doctor of whom Percy stood in such awe half so much as his parents, especially his mother. It is more than possible that he would have gone to the former and made confession of past offences rather than continue in

last few nights. I've been awake myself so much with the toothache, and I know that he has been

said another boy, "and he's been so eager for the mail, as if he were expecting

orever sending off the results of his labors. I suppose he expec

a magazine at home. It must be a great thing for a fellow who has his own way to make in the world, as Seabrooke has. I know his family are as poor as rats. His

ot to interfere with us to-morrow night

ons of the other boys as to how he was to b

thinking, or, at least, to agreeing to join in the proposed expedition; and his a

is Flagg might have been found in the dormitory at a very unusual hour; and had there been any one there to see, he might have been observed to shake the contents of a little paper, a fine white powder, into

er this evening," said Charlie Denham, when the boys had g

him up wonderfully," said Raymond. "I hope it has eased his mi

, I'll warrant you," said Lew

arranged as to deceive an unsuspecting observer into the belief that

Seabrooke. As usual, at the last moment the latter poured out a glass of water and proceeded to drink it down; but he had not taken half of it wh

t ease. His head was scarcely upon his pillow when he was asleep, but not so very sound asleep, for Flagg had over-shot his mark, and the sleeping potion which he had so wickedly put into the carafe of water had given it a sl

conspirators slipped from their beds out of the window upon the roof of the pia

y; but as he drew the curtain before his alcove, in order to shield the light from the eyes of the companions whom he supposed to be safe in their beds fast asleep, he was struck with the unusual silence of the room. Not a rustle, not a b

ch one in succession.

urmise whither they had gone; and hastily dressing himself he made his exit from the house in the same way that they had done and hastene

fore going out upon the lake, when the outer door was opened, and Percy, who stood nearest, saw Seabrooke. His exclamation of d

ct of rebellion to the head master's orders, not one ventured to dispute the command. He marshall

aky?" whispered Ray

ne to feel sneaky. I haven't been spyin

o did not make

they had left, so that the rest of the household mig

ng to do about th

, as Mr. Merton's hand is too lame for him to write. It will be as he thinks

y and as a matter of no consequence the displeasure of his masters, but s

a big one to Rice-and you know what the doctor is about debt, and my uncle is still worse; there'll be no end of a row if he knows it. If this fuss could only be kept quiet till after I have my next quarter-and that's due the first of next week-I could pay off Rice, at least. But if word goes to the doctor, he'll let my uncle know-he promised to, by

efore he could ask the question the school

and, with what Lewis called "threatening

to Dr. Leacraft an account of last night's flagrant misconduct. Till I hear from him, I shall take no further ste

rk, and his attention constantly wandered; and most of his fellow culprits were in like case. In view of the escapade of the previous night and its impending

ret-at least not from a saving repentance-but because he w

nsultation with his junior, delegated him to make the necessary disclosures to the absent doctor. Seabrooke was obs

le, whence they were taken and carried to the post-office at the proper hou

l away, and be kept back for a day or two; then it could be posted and nothing more would be suspected than that it had been

m to terms, and he at last agreed to Lewis' plans that they should contrive to abstract Seabrooke's letter to Dr.

portunity of carrying out their dishonorable purpose before Tony had started

ared when Mr. Merton sa

ght-arm, which lay in a sling, "or I should not trust you from beneath my own eyes; but if I hear of any farther misconduct, or you give him any troubl

started together for the walk under Seabrooke's care. "Did you see him writing and writing page after page? He must have given him every de

what else for this," said Percy, who was exceedingly lo

that; but if my quarter's allowance is stopped I don't know

is affair come to the knowledge of his parents, he shrank

depressed; but, somewhat to their exasperation, their young leader did not pay much heed to their humors; his own thoughts seeme

fully cock-a-hoop al

nder what's

in a scrape," sai

" said Raymond; "t

of omnium-gatherum place, as village stores are a

e receiving box, and the post-mistress was sorting the afternoon up mail, and the delivery window of the office was closed; so Tony was waiting his chance for attention. He stood with his back

whispered Lewis to Percy, and he sauntered up to the counter

eacraft, gave another quick look at the address and thrust it within his pocket; then, humming a tune,

e said. "Now we'll keep it till my

d the door of the school, when Tony rushed

ou take that letter you to

, turning hastily. "

now I had it when I passed the bridge, for I was look

t darted off upon the road back

ell you what! We've got to put the letter out of the way now. And there's old Merton coming, and he's asking for me. Quick, quick; take it!" drawing the stolen letter from his pocket and thrusting it into Percy's u

meeting Mr. Merton

is hand, Percy opened the door of the stove, thrust the letter within upon the glowing coals, and clos

ad taken their places at the table, when Seabrooke returne

d, did not observe his appearance as he t

all the response he had to make to the inquiries of,

?" asked Mr. Merton, at length,

" answered

a letter of importance

nswered his junior, but in a tone which told the older man t

is f

n his plate, and Lewis' face took an expression of bl

, only to delay, to destroy a letter to Seabrooke's father, while that to