WINTER MEETING. 199 



Without delaying longer, Salem crept 



With cat-like steps across the lawn, and stole 

 Straight V)y the kennel where the house-dog slept. 



Lethean dreams fast-chaining all his soul; 

 Down through the garden Salem took his way 

 And stood at last where thickly round lilm lay, 



Like nuggets of pure gold, the luscious fruit 



Creaking and crunching 'neath his heavy boot. 

 But sweeter, sounder fruit, Darius knew 



Hung from the freighted limbs. He stretched his hand 

 And touched the fruit, all moist with beaded dew, 



And round and smooth and de>l!cately sleek 



As any mal<len"s plump antl peachen cheek. 



Then Salem laughed a quiet laugh and bland. 

 And spreading out the ghostly pillow-case 



Filled It with the choicest fi'uit from every tree; 



"Ah, this Is like the good old times!" quoth he. 



At last the pillow-case would hold no more; 



So Salem most reluctantly forebore. 



But still he stuflfed his pockets with such store, 



That Falstafl, panting in his doublet wide. 



Had been a puny plpestem by his side. 

 Then stealthily he took the backward track. 

 Staggering beneath the burden of his sack. 



Safe through the garden passing he had gone 



Some twenty paces o'er the quiet lawn. 

 When suddenly a smack his ears assailed. 

 The front door closed, and Salem ((uaked and qualed. 



For, to undo his dreams, his projects spoil. 



Obliquely down the lawn walked Tutor Doyle. 



Poor Salem stood with weak and shivering knees. 

 And all the blood within him seemed to freeze. 



The man of learning stopped— and then came closer. 



"Is this you, Salem?" 



Salem answered "N— no, sir!" 

 "It Is, you rascal," thundered Doyle severely, 

 "And I smell apples— you've been stealing, clearly. 



Now, sir, explain your conduct straight to me. 



Or you suspended with disgrace shall be." 



Salem Darius set his apples down. 



Took off his hat, and slowly scratched his crown. 



"Well, I'll explain, sir," he at last replied 



( His swollen coat-flaps striving hard to hide) : 

 "As I was passing the professor's house. 

 With this, my washing. In a pillow-case 



( I think It was not far fromjiwelve o'clock) 



I heard a well-known sound that sent a shock 

 Through all my nerves— 'twas so explosive, too! 

 Someone was kissing someone— was It youV" 

 At this sharp thrust from wily Salem's foil, 

 A shudder shook the frame of Tutor Doyle. 



"I crept up to the window, ' ' ([uoth Darius, 



"And—" 



"Heavens!" faltered Doyle— "you didn't spy us?" 



