the major-第15节

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〃I'll　be　glad　when　we　get　to　our　own　place　again；〃　he　said。　　〃I　hate　to　be　beholden　to　anybody。　　We're　as　good　as　any　of　them　anyway。〃　　The　bitterness　in　his　tone　mystified　her　still　more。

It　was　little　Jane　who　supplied　the　key　to　the　mystery。　　〃I　don't　think　he　likes　Tom　very　much；〃　said　the　little　girl。　　〃He　likes　Hazel；　though。　　But　he　might　have　come　to　our　house；　I　did　not　laugh。〃　　And　then　the　mother　thought　she　understood。

That　sudden　intensity　of　bitterness　in　her　boy's　voice　startled　her　a　little；　but　deep　down　in　her　heart　she　was　conscious　of　a　queer　feeling　of　satisfaction；　almost　of　pride。　　〃He's　just　like　his　father；〃　she　said　to　herself。　　〃He　likes　to　be　independent。〃　Strict　honesty　in　thought　made　her　add；　〃And　like　me；　too；　I　fear。〃

The　picnic　day　was　one　of　those　intensely　hot　June　days　when　the　whole　world　seems　to　stand　quivering　and　breathlessly　attent　while　Nature　works　out　one　of　her　miracles　over　fields　of　grain；　over　prairie　flowers；　over　umbrageous　trees　and　all　things　borne　upon　the　bosom　of　Mother　Earth；　checking　the　succulence　of　precocious　overgrowths；　hardening　fibre；　turning　plant　energy　away　from　selfish　exuberance　in　mere　stalk　building　into　the　altruistic　sacrament　of　ripening　fruit　and　hardening　grain。　　A　wise　old　alchemist　is　Mother　Earth；　working　in　time　but　ever　for　eternity。

The　picnickers　who　went　out　to　the　park　early　in　the　day　were　driven　for　refuge　from　the　blazing　sun　to　the　trees　and　bushes；　where　prostrated　by　the　heat　they　lay　limp　and　flaccid　upon　the　grass。　　Miss　Hazel　Sleighter；　who　for　some　reason　which　she　could　not　explain　to　herself　had　joined　the　first　contingent　of　picnickers；　was　cross；　distinctly　and　obviously　cross。　　The　heat　was　trying　to　her　nerves；　but　worse；　it　made　her　face　redred　all　over。　　Her　pink　parasol　intensified　the　glow　upon　her　face。

〃What　a　fool　I　was　to　come；　in　this　awful　heat；〃　she　said　to　herself。　　〃They　won't　be　here　for　hours；　and　I　will　be　just　like　a　wash…rag。〃

Nor　was　Larry　enjoying　the　picnic。　　The　material　comforts　in　the　form　of　sandwiches；　cakes　and　pies；　gloriously　culminating　in　lemonade　and　ice　cream；　while　contributing　a　temporary　pleasure；　could　not　obliterate　a　sense　of　misery　wrought　in　him　by　Miss　Hazel's　chilly　indifference。　　That　young　lady；　whose　smiles　so　lavishly　bestowed　only　yesterday　had　made　for　him　a　new　heaven　and　a　new　earth；　had　to…day　merely　thrown　him　a　passing　glance　and　a　careless　〃Hello；〃　as　she　floated　by　intent　on　bigger　game。

In　addition；　the　boy　was　conscious　of　an　overpowering　lassitude　that　increased　as　the　day　wore　on。　　His　misery　and　its　chief　cause　had　not　escaped　the　observing　eyes　of　the　little　maid；　Jane　Brown；　whose　clear　and　incisive　voice　was　distinctly　audible　as　she　confided　to　her　friend　Nora　her　disappointment　in　Miss　Hazel。

〃She　won't　look　at　him　to…day；〃　she　said。　　〃She's　just　waiting　for　the　boys　to　come。　　She'll　be　nicer　then。〃

There　was　no　animus　in　the　voice；　only　surprise　and　disappointment。　To　Larry；　however；　the　fact　that　the　secret　tragedy　of　his　soul　was　thus　laid　bare；　filled　him　with　a　sudden　rage。　　He　cast　a　wrathful　eye　upon　the　little　maid。　　She　met　his　glance　with　a　placid　smile；　volunteering　the　cheerful　remark；　〃They　won't　be　long　now。〃

A　fury　possessed　the　boy。　　〃Oh　shut　your　mouth；　will　you？〃　he　said；　glaring　at　her。

For　a　moment　little　Jane　looked　at　him；　surprise；　dismay；　finally　pity　succeeding　each　other　in　the　deep　blue　eyes。　　Hastily　she　glanced　about　to　see　if　the　others　had　heard　the　awful　outburst。　She　was　relieved　to　note　that　only　Joe　and　Nora　were　near　enough　to　hear。　　She　settled　herself　down　in　a　position　of　greater　comfort　and　confided　to　her　friend　Nora　with　an　air　of　almost　maternal　solicitude；　〃I　believe　he　has　a　pain。　　I　am　sure　he　has　a　pain。〃

Larry　sprang　to　his　feet；　and　without　a　glance　at　his　anxious　tormentor　said；　〃Come　on；　Joe；　let's　go　for　a　hunt　in　the　woods。〃

Jane　looked　wistfully　after　the　departing　boys。　　〃I　wish　they　would　ask　us；　Nora。　　Don't　you？　　I　think　he　is　nice　when　he　isn't　mad；〃　she　said。　　To　which　Nora　firmly　assented。

A　breeze　from　the　west　and　the　arrival　of　the　High　School　team；　resplendent　in　their　new　baseball　uniforms；　brought　to　the　limp　loiterers　under　the　trees　a　reviving　life　and　interest　in　the　day's　doings。

It　was　due　to　Jane　that　Sam　got　into　the　game；　for　when　young　Frank　Smart　was　searching　for　a　suitable　left　fielder　to　complete　the　All　Comers　team；　he　spied　seated　among　the　boys　the　little　girl。

〃Hello；　Jane；　in　your　usual　place；　I　see！〃　he　called　out　to　her　as　he　passed。

〃Hello；　Frank！〃　she　called　to　him　brightly。　　〃Frank！　Frank！〃　she　cried；　after　the　young　man　had　passed；　springing　up　and　running　after　him。

〃I　am　in　a　hurry；　Jane；　I　must　get　a　man　for　left　field。〃

〃But；　Frank；〃　she　said；　catching　his　arm；　for　young　Smart　was　a　great　friend　of　hers　and　of　her　father's。　　〃I　want　to　tell　you。　You　see　that　funny　boy　under　the　tree；〃　she　continued；　lowering　her　voice。　　〃Well；　he's　a　splendid　player。　　Tom　doesn't　want　him　to　play；　and　I　don't　either；　because　I　want　the　High　School　to　beat。　But　it　would　not　be　fair　not　to　tell　you；　would　it？〃

Young　Smart　looked　at　her　curiously。　　〃Say；　little　girl；　you're　a　sport。　　And　is　he　a　good　player？〃

〃Oh；　he's　splendid；　but　he's　queerI　mean　he　looks　queer。　　He's　awfully　funny。　　But　that　doesn't　matter；　does　it？〃

〃Not　a　hair；　if　he　can　play　ball。　　What's　his　name？〃

〃Samsomething。〃

〃Sam　Something？　　That　is　a　funny　name。〃

〃Oh；　you　know；　Sam。　　I　don't　know　his　other　name。〃

〃Well；　I'll　try　him；　Jane；〃　said　young　Smart；　moving　toward　the　boy　and　followed　by　the　eager　eyes　of　the　little　girl。

〃I　say；　Sam；〃　said　Smart；　〃we　want　a　man　for　left　field。　　Will　you　take　a　go　at　it？〃

〃Too　hot；〃　grunted　Sam。

〃Oh；　you　won't　find　it　too　hot　when　you　get　started。　　Rip　off　your　coat　and　get　into　the　game。　　You　can　play；　can't　you？〃

〃Aw；　what　yer　givin'　us。　　I　guess　I　can　give　them　ginks　a　few　pointers。〃

〃Well；　come　on。〃

〃Too　hot；〃　said　Sam。

Jane　pulled　young　Smart　by　the　sleeve。　　〃Tell　him　you　will　give　him　a　jersey；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　　〃His　shirt　is　torn。〃

Again　young　Smart　looked　at　Jane　with　scrutinising　eyes。　　〃You're　a　wonder；〃　he　said。

〃Come　along；　Sam。　　You　haven't　got　your　sweater　with　you；　but　I　will　get　one　for　you。　　Get　into　the　bush　there　and　change。〃

With　apparent　reluctance；　but　with　a　gleam　in　his　little　red　eyes；　Sam　slouched　into　the　woods　to　make　the　change；　and　in　a　few　moments　came　forth　and　ran　to　take　his　position　at　left　field。

The　baseball　match　turned　out　to　be　a　mere　setting　for　the　display　of　the　eccentricities　and　superior　baseball　qualities　of　Sam；　which　apparently　quite　outclassed　those　of　his　teammates　in　the　match。　After　three　disastrous　innings；　Sam　caused　himself　to　be　moved　first　to　the　position　of　short　stop；　and　later　to　the　pitcher's　box；　to　the　immense　advantage　of　his　side。　　But　although；　owing　to　the　lead　obtained　by　the　enemy；　his　prowess　was　unable　to　ward　off　defeat　from　All　Comers；　yet　under　his　inspiration　and　skilful　generalship；　the　team　made　such　a　brilliant　recovery　of　form　and　came　so　near　victory　that　Sam　was　carried　from　the　field　in　triumph　shoulder　high　and　departed　with　his　new　and　enthusiastically　grateful　comrades　to　a　celebration。

Larry；　however；　was　much　too　miserable　and　much　too　unhappy　for　anything　like　a　celebration。　　The　boy　was　oppressed　with　a　feeling　of　loneliness；　and　was　conscious　chiefly　of　a　desire　to　reach　his　car　and　crawl　into　his　bed　there　among　the　straw。　　Stumbling　blindly　along　the　dusty　road；　a　cheery　voice　hailed　him。

〃Hello；　Larry！〃　　It　was　Jane　seated　beside　her　father　in　his　car。

〃Hello！〃　he　answered　faintly　and　just　glanced　at　her　as　the　car　passed。

But　soon　the　car　pulled　up。　　〃Come　on；　Larry；　we'll　take　you　home；〃　said　Jane。

〃Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　said　Larry；　forcing　his　lips　into　his　old　smile　and　resolutely　plodding　on。

〃Better　come　up；　my　boy；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃I　don't　mind　walking；　sir；〃　replied　Larry；　stubbornly　determined　to　go　his　lonely　way。

〃Come　here；　boy；〃　said　the　doctor；　regarding　him　keenly。　　Larry　came　over　to　the　wheel。　　〃Why；　boy；　what　is　the　matter？〃　　The　doctor　took　hold　of　his　hand。

Larry　gripped　the　wheel　hard。　　He　was　feeling　desperately　ill　and　unsteady　on　his　legs；　but　still　his　lips　twisted　themselves　into　a　smile。　　〃I'm　all　right；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I've　got　a　headache　and　it　was　pretty　hot　out　there。〃

But　even　as　he　spoke　his　face　grew　white　and　he　swayed　on　his　feet。　In　an　instant　the　doctor　was　out　of　his　car。　　〃Get　in；　lad；〃　he　said　briefly；　and　Larry；　surrendering；　climbed　into　the　back　seat；　fighting　fiercely　meanwhile　to　prevent　the　tears　from　showing　in　his　eyes。　　Keeping　up　a　brisk　and　cheerful　conversation　with　Jane　in　regard　to　the　game；　the　doctor　drove　rapidly　toward　his　home。

〃You　will　come　in　with　us；　my　boy；〃　said　the　doctor　as　they　reached　his　door。

By　this　time　Larry　was　past　all　power　of　resistance　and　yielded　himself　to　the　authority　of　the　doctor；　who　had　him　upstairs　and　into　bed　within　a　few　minutes　of　his　arrival。　　A　single　word　Larry　uttered　during　this　process；　〃Tell　my　mother；〃　and　then　sank　into　a　long　nightmare；　through　w