Martha By-the-Day

Claire swung like a faithful little pendulum

flowers, fruit, toys from Mr. Ronald and his sister, wh

eggsackly got the time, Francie, she's keepin' up the tone for us. If you wanter folla the fashions these days, you got to gather

an' his private letters to the bosom of his fam'ly (which nowadays they're mostly ruffles), his letters to the bosom of his fam'ly is read out loud in court, an' then printed in the papers next mornin', an' everybody's laughin' at'm, because he called his wife 'My darlin' Tootsie,' which she never been accustomed to answer to anythin' but the name o' Sarah. An' it's up to him to pay the costs, when ten to one it's the other

laire began to pu

n Eliza, she was in excellent spirits-I seen the bottle. I wonder if she's still-very still, takin' a sly nip on the side, as she calls i

ure of meeting Eliza," o

w is, how you makin' out with Radcliffe? I been so took up with Francie all this while, I clean for

troubled little frown, as she la

fall carelessly. "Radc

I suppose all boys are

orkin' at the Shermans' straight along these days, an' you wouldn't 'a' had a mite o' trouble with the little fella. Him an' I understands each other perfeckly, an' with me a loomin' up on the landscape, he kin

, a quick, sha

there at all, that I should be there without you, independent of any help. I couldn't make Radcliffe respect my authority,

attle?" Martha

right,'" laughed Clair

e her further, she mana

troubles of her own. Moreover, those that were most worrisome to

he was "the teacher." He was willing to "pretend" to be her "scholar," just as he would have been willing to pretend to be the horse, if he and another boy had been playing, and the other boy had chosen to b

e his mother had told her, in his presence, that he was to be governed by love alone, and, fortunately, her lack of superior size and strength forbade her love from expressing itself as, he shudderingly remembered, Martha's had done on one occasion. No, plainly he had the advantage of Miss Lang, but until she clearly unders

et out. But when she made no outcry, when, beyond one or two futile turnings of the knob, there was no further a

judgment told her it would be better to wait with what dignity she might until Radcliffe tired of his trick, or some one else came and released her. Radcliffe would tire the more quickly, she reasoned, if she did not raise a disturbance. When he saw she was not to be teased, he would come and let

ing were possible I'd s

ying in a high-pitc

not to-day?" inquired

, ignoring his interruption, "I know t

ere's nothing to be afraid

ngs over. You see, she's so uncommonly prett

don't want to b

nk she's uncom

an emphasis his sister might well have challenged, if she had not b

ty enough to excuse, I mean, explain

passing fan

it were only a passing fancy, I'd feel I ought to send he

rtainly

throwing yourself away on a penniless, unknown little governess, when you

s well-born as

nly her wo

ant, Martha Slawson, corroborates

e off the street, as it were, and take her into yo

ot concerning myself as to their education. But I cert

the girl, in spite of what you say. And for all our sakes, for mother's and

Mother and you first-then I come,

ere must be some truth in it. He confided to me last night, 'Uncle Frank likes Miss Lang a lot. I guess she's his b

interview. Claire could hear his firm steps

s her on my account. She's an excellent teacher, a good disciplinarian. It would be difficult to find another as capable as she, one who, at the same time, would put up with Radcliffe's waywardn

on't see you for two whole days. I'm going to Tuxedo this morning to stay over night with Amy Pelham. There's a man she's terribly interested in, and she wants me to meet him, and tell her what I think o

e feel of a key stealthily moved in the lock beneath her hand. Then the sounds of footsteps lightly tiptoeing away. Mechanicall

to, she had time to gather herself together before going up to face Radcliffe. When she entered the schoolroom, he pretended to be studiously busied with his books, and so did not notice that she was rath

announced Radcl

aire, "then we'll si

e all going his way, this clear, sunny morning

rotest. She simp

me had arrived for his grand demonstration, his crowning declaration of independence, he rose, carelessly shoved his books aside, strode to the door, intending masterfully to leave the room, and-discovered he was securely lock

wo-cent Willie

e he made, for, small as he was, his pent-in rage gave him a strength she might well f

emed as interminable to Claire as they did to Radcliffe, the

outbreaks, Claire took up the telephone instrument and quietly inst

reupon Radcliffe leaped upon her, trying to wrest the transm

madly. "An' I'll kill you, if you won't let me have

oth were haggard and lined from the struggle. Then, at about three o'clock, M

ied it was

back to her

hment, and I am going t

I inte

t once. Eve

enough-strong enough physic

g enough fo

too many for you, I shall be close at hand, and

my needing h

receiver with a

ows began to gather. First they thickened in the corners of the room

room Claire would have thought the boy had fallen asleep, worn out with his struggles, but for the quick, catching breaths that, like soundless sobs, escaped him every now and then. It had been dark a long, long time when, suddenly, a shaft of light from a just lit window opposite, stru

eight reverberating strokes, a chastened little figure slid out of the great ch

hispered chokingly, so low sh

bout him and he clung