As it was announced that she would remain here two hours, the Sonntaggs, according to their custom, at once engaged a carriage to take them to the most interesting places in the city. This plan had been suggested by Amos Todd himself, who had bidden them spare no expense or pains to show his son all that was worth seeing in the various cities they might visit; and that the boy generally declined to accompany them on these excursions was surely not their fault—at least, they did not regard it so.
The truth was that Alaric had taken a dislike to these pretentious people from the very first, and it had grown so much stronger on closer acquaintance that now he was willing to do almost anything to avoid their company. Thus on this occasion he allowed them to drive off without him, while he strolled alone to the head of the wharf, tossing his beloved baseball, which he had carefully brought with him on this journey, from hand to hand as he walked.
"Hello! Give us a catch," shouted a cheery voice. And, looking up, Alaric saw a merry-faced squarely built lad of about his own age standing in an expectant attitude a short distance from him. Although he was roughly dressed, he had a bright, self-reliant look that was particularly attractive to our young traveller, and without hesitation he tossed him the ball. They passed it back and forth for a minute, and then the stranger lad, saying, "Good-by; I must be getting along; wish I could stop and get better acquainted, though," ran on, with a laugh, and disappeared in the crowd.
ALARIC MAKES HIS FIRST DECISION.
An hour later Alaric was nearly half a mile from the wharf, when the steamer's hoarse whistle sounded a warning note that signified a speedy departure. He turned and began to walk slowly in that direction, and a few minutes later a carriage containing the Sonntaggs dashed by without its occupants noticing him. At sight of them Alaric paused. A queer look came into his face; it grew very pale, and then he deliberately sat down on a log by the way-side. There came another blast of the ship's whistle, and then the tall masts, which he could just see, began slowly to move. The Empress, with the Sonntaggs on board, had started, and one of her passengers was left behind.
[to be continued.]
Bobby (who heard his uncle say he lost his lawsuit). "That's nothing: why don't you ask papa for one of his old business suits?"