nating 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