Duncan Polite, the Watchman of Glenoro — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Duncan Polite, the Watchman of Glenoro
John Stuart Mill · en
One evening the tutor called in reinforcements. It was the last night
of his holidays and he did not want to spend it all on even such a
faithful friend as Andrew. So Donald summoned Allan Fraser to assist
him in piloting his unsteady burden to the other shore. With their
pupil hanging helpless between them, the two young men staggered
uncertainly along, followed by a noisy crowd, very merry, and very
prodigal of advice of a highly mirth-provoking order. Between his
frantic lunges the victim was vowing death and destruction to all and
sundry, from his faithful teachers down, as soon as he was free from
the accursed shackles. The young man's wrath was not appeased by the
fact that his supporters were weak with laughter and that Bella
Hamilton was skimming gaily up the river with Mack Fraser, the most
expert skater on the pond.
Jessie was circling around with Maggie, waiting for Donald. She had
promised him this last evening. He was to join her as soon as he had
dragged his friend once more over the slippery circuit. Just as Donald
turned away, the minister came skating smoothly towards her. He had
just arrived. Would Miss Jessie not come up the river a little way
with him? She glanced across the pond. The boys were still struggling
manfully with their wobbling burden. They could not be back for some
time, she reflected. Don would never know if she took just one little
skate up to the school house and back. She gave the minister her hand
and they glided up the winding silvery track to where the moonlight was
hidden by the towering river banks.
Meanwhile, Wee Andra, goaded to desperation by his absolute lack of
success and the facetious remarks which were rendering his guides weak
and incompetent, resolved to give up the hopeless struggle. He shoved
aside his supporting comrades fiercely, and came down upon the ice with
a crash that seemed as if he had decided to end his tortures
Samson-like and die with his tormentors. But fortunately the ice held.
He tore off his skates, and, hurling them in the direction whence had
arisen most of the remarks upon his uncertain locomotion, leaped up and
charged headlong into the ranks of the enemy.
Very much relieved, Donald skated back eagerly to Jessie. When he
reached the spot where he had left her, he saw her disappearing with
his rival up the glittering pathway. Donald's face grew dark with
anger. He was too indignant to consider that he had returned much
sooner than she expected. He realised only that she had left him on
this his last night, and for that fellow! He turned with a fierce
jerk, and almost skated into Maggie. That young lady was darting
wildly here and there in her efforts to elude Syl Todd. Whatever
trouble Syl might have with his head, he was the perfection of
nimbleness with his feet, and Maggie was almost cornered. She clutched
Donald's arm.
"Oh, Don," she cried, "get me out o' this. That crazy little mosquito
is after me again!"