Part 7 (1/2)
”Got me there,” admitted the young school princ.i.p.al, with a laugh.
Then he became sober again, and added: ”But _I_ can take a drink or leave it alone if I wish.”
”Oh, Nelson! You _don't_ use alcoholic beverages, do you?” cried Janice, quite shocked. ”Oh! you _don't_, do you?”
”My, my! See what a little fire-cracker it is!” laughed Nelson. ”Did I say I was in the habit of going into Lem Parraday's bar and spending my month's salary in fiery waters?”
”Oh, but Nelson! You don't _approve_ of the use of liquor, do you?”
”I'm not sure that I do,” returned the young man, more gravely. ”And yet I believe in every person having perfect freedom in that as well as other matters.”
”Anarchism!” cried Janice, yet rather seriously, too, although her lips smiled.
”I know the taste of all sorts of beverages,” the young man said. ”I was in with rather a sporty bunch at college, for a while. But I knew I could not afford to keep up that pace, so I cut it out.”
”Oh, Nelson!” Janice murmured. ”It's too bad!”
”Why, it never hurt me,” answered the young schoolmaster. ”It never could hurt me. A gentleman eats temperately and drinks temperately.
Of course, I would not go into the Lake View Inn and call for a drink, now that I am teaching school here. My example would be bad for the boys. And I fancy the School Committee would have something to say about it, too,” and he laughed again, lightly.
They had turned into Hillside Avenue and the way was deserted save for themselves. The warm glow of sunset lingered about them. Lights twinkling in the kitchens as they went along announced the preparation of the evening meal.
Janice clasped her hands over Nelson's arm confidingly and looked earnestly up into his face.
”Nelson!” she said softly, ”don't even _think_ about drinking anything intoxicating. I should be afraid for you. I should worry about the hold it might get upon you----”
”As it has on Jim Narnay?” interrupted the young man, laughing.
”No,” said Janice, still gravely. ”You would never be like him, I am sure------”
”Nor will drink ever affect me in any way--no fear! I know what I am about. I have a will of my own, I should hope. I can control my appet.i.tes and desires. And I should certainly never allow such a foolish habit as tippling to get a strangle hold on me.”
”Of course, I know you won't,” agreed Janice.
”I thank goodness I'm not a man of habit, in any case,” continued Nelson, proudly. ”One of our college professors has said: 'There is only one thing worse than a bad habit--and that's a good habit.' It is true. No man can be a well-rounded and perfectly poised man, if he is hampered by habits of any kind. Habits narrow the mind and contract one's usefulness in the world----”
”Oh, Nelson!” excitedly interrupted Janice. ”See the bluebird! The first I have seen this Spring. The dear, little, pretty thing!”
”Good-_night_!” exploded the school teacher, with a burst of laughter.
”My little homily is put out of business. A bluebird, indeed!”
”But the bluebird is so pretty--and so welcome in Spring. See! there he goes.” Then she added softly, still clinging to Nelson's arm:
”'The bluebird--for happiness.'”
CHAPTER VI
THE TENTACLES OF THE MONSTER