TWO GREEN BONNETS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1548, 18 September 1912, Page 8

TWO GREEN BONNETS.

AND A PINCH OF SALT, AN IDYLL OF THE BUSH. (By Wi.) ■ It was the time of the long summer weather—a drowsy, languorous day. Tho schoolmaster reclined in the arms of a great rata which lay prone athwart the little hillside playground, gnzing dreamily across at the ranges, dimmed by the summer haze, and lazily cutting up .i fill for his ivHer-dinner pipe. From the depths of the bush across the road he could hear the frantic yelps of a terrier and the occasional "view-hallo!" of the boys as an unhappy rabbit scampered into tho brush-wood.

Doivn by the creek bed, among the wineberrics, tho little girls were making daisychains, while tho clatter of cups within the schoolroom betokened the preparation of the ■ "Master's" tea by two of tho bigger girls. Tho Master's grey pony dozed peacefully a few yards away, waking up at spasmodic intervals to snap viciously at a persistent bot-fly which buzzed esasperatingly at his fore-legs. From away down in' tho valley of the Mangahao tho music of tbo swift water reached tho ear and mingled with the song of the locusts in the forest around. Presently there came to the Master's ear the swish of feet across tho tawny grass, and ho turned his head. Two . green bonnets appeared between-tho gaunt arms of the rata, and two flushed countenances regarded him. "Tea's ready, sir," 'said the older of tho two, fidgetting with tho strings of her bonnet. He regarded them quizzically. "Not too strong, and not too weak—eh?" The younger of the hyo 'suppressed a giggle. "It's just nice, sir,"-sue said. The Master sat up languidly, and clinked his spurs together. "AH right, thank you," he said. As they turned to go, a sudden thought struck him. Oh—ah, by the way!" They came back. (r ies, sir?".said the older. "I noticed a slight— cr—coolness between you two this morning—what was the matter " : • . '.

The green bonnets drooped . instantly, and hid the faces' of their owners.. . The Master grinned. "Hold your heads up,' ho commanded. Slowly and reluctantly the green bonnets disclosed two hot nnd nngrv faces. "Helen?" . ...

"Yes, sir?" responded the younger of tho two, her eyes snapping at her tormentor.

~,'i, lla }'? r° u evcr ht,ard tu « s tor.V of tho little bird that could sing, but wouldn't sing?" The master swung his leg idly to and fro, and. regarded the green bonnets with an amused expression. .Helen .scowled, "l'es, sir," she replied with an effort. ' . ...

"What happened to that little bird, Helen?"

"Ho was made to sing, sir." "So.he was-so he was," replied thn Master. To return to our muttons, Helen, er— why were you two not playing speaks this morning? flelen flushed. "She-she-called me & kid, sir," she replied with a rush. The Master blew his nose. "Aha!" he said. Then he turned to the other. lou heard what your sister said, Jane?" xes, sir,' said Jane, biting her bonnet strings.

"Do you think you could leave off chewing your bonnet—it was ironed only this morning, I perceive—lons' enough' to tell me what Helen said to that remark of yours this morning?" Jane dropped the strings witn' a jeA and tossed her head. No Teplv. "Well?"

"Sho said—she said—." ' The epeake> paused, with a pout. ■ ' "Sho, said , what?" interrogated thu grand inquisitor. "She said, 'If I'm a kid, you're u goat.'" ■

ihe. Master ngain buried his face in jus handkerchief, and blew his n.o«e. 'Hm, he said, when; ho wae able to speak. "Then I suppose the honours were even—eh?" "' ' ■''

Xo reply. Two angry faces scowled at him from under their bonnets. "Little birda in their nests must agree you know," ho said gravely. "And,' 5 he added, "they must come to school in a good temper, or they won't do their work properly. So, you see, it all comes back on me—run away. Did you pour out tho toa i

"yes, sir," said Helen, , with a giggle. Ho looked eharply at her. "What are you giggling at.-" he asked. \Nothing, sir," slie replied. "As usual," ho commented sarcastically. They turned away, and ho crossed over to the schoolroom, went inside, and eit down to his lunch," which • had'ton kid out for him. The tea was poured out, and being thirsty, ho lifted (lie.cup erato- }}}' ~ ? uI P etl d ? ff a a mouthful. I ah!' he exclaimed, making a face, and slamming the cup down on its saucer with a rattle. "What , the deuce " ilicn he paused, the sentence frozen upon nis lips, no gazed at the clipboard shelf where the sugar-jar stood, and at the ehelf above; where in a similar jnm-jnr some potassium chlorate was kept for occasional experimentation. Had there been some ghastly mistake? Ho passed his hand orar Jus brow. Tt was cold and clammy. He felt sick. He staggered- to the door, and looked up at the hillside. 1 lie two green bonnets wore disappearina I slowly over the brow.- He p ,,t his fingers to -nis lips and blew a shrill summons. J lip green bonnets paused, and turned and the Master waved his arm. "Come here! he called. , They came down tlie hill slowly. Irritatingly slow, he thought, for such a crisis i Mov^. a n t you!" he bawled, impatiently, and tho two broke into a run. "Come [ inside, I want you both," he called, when (hey approached, and so saying- he went inside and sat down, gazing abstractedly Rt the cup. . J Tho two greon bonnets appeared in the, doorway and-stopped. "Come here," said the Master. They came up to tho table, and he looked at them sternly. "Which jar did yon get the sugar out of?" he nsked. Tho two faces retired behind the cover of (ho bonnets, ami a smothered giggle reached his ear. He stumped his IM "There's nothing to giggle at—l've been nearly poisoned! Do you hear?—poisoned !" He picked up the susrar jar. "Was this the jar'r" he demanded. " . "No, sir," they replied, suppressing their giggles with an effort. His worst fears were realised! Hβ pointed with a trembling finger at tho potassium chlorate. "Was it that one?" lir nucried, hoarsely. "No. sir," wiid they. He staved blnnkly at them. "I fhoupht. I was poisoned," ho said, slowly. "Tt wasn't the sugar, and it wasn'hfhe potossiiim—what was it?" ho asked himself. He rose io his feet, walked to the fireplace, put his hands in his porkers, niid regarded the green bonnets. "What was it 5 " he demanded. No answer. •■ . He nicked up his strap, and drew tho tails throuch his fingers. "What was it?" he renjatfd "ftilf. sir," said Jane, blushing furiously. "Pill! salt! Did you know if w>? salt?" he demanded, marching up to tlio table and glowering down nt the bonnets. "Yes sir," whispered Tane. neitatedly tyiii" and untying her Ix>imi>t. strings. "H-i'i!" commented tli» Mncter. "H-m." he repeated, a liirlit breaking upon him. "And irlio, may I ask, put you m> to this trick?" ■ ■ The green bonnets hung their heads, and Mm foMm-es of the Inquisitor relaxed. "H-m," he said at lemtlh. "you may give my compliments to the person who nut vou up to (his, and i"form her that tli" honours are even—=es?" "You, sir." veplied tho green bonnets. "Also. ?inef. this—eT—tea wxs eotisideff-A to bo ijood enough for me, it ought to ho go"il enough for yo"—oh ? They .1 lowered with a c cowl of H>ellion. He turned to the rmilwvd. tool; down hvo runs, nnd rarefully divided the con(oT>f= of l'is own cup between them. j "T)rinV," ho ronmianded. They looked at him tearfully, but he. hardened Ws.h»art. "Drink it." he repenled. Tl'cv drauV. (o H,e, Wtter end. with dreadful crrimaees. Then ho vrinreil nl thfni. ".T"4iee is nnn»3Eed—depart," he said, and they departed.