TEMPTATION
Sallie’s remark about her brother’s absorption in his nine might have
been applied with equal truth to every boy in the Parker School. When
any of them met, the playing of the team was the one topic of
conversation, especially since, under Phil’s leadership, there was the
possibility of the interscholastic championship coming to Parker School,
an honour which had not been attained for almost ten years.
It was but natural, therefore, that, with the captain of the team as
their companion, the boys should deluge him with questions, and they
did.
“Honestly now, Phil, do you think Parker can beat Mercer Academy?” asked
one of them. “If our pitchers work well, we ought to.”
“If our pitchers work well,” repeated another, in amazement. “What’s the
matter with you, Phil? Aren’t you the best pitcher in the school league,
according to the coaches? Why, you did the most of the work last season
and you’ve done all of it, practically, this year. And then you say if
our pitchers go well we may win.”
“What’s up, anyhow?” demanded several of the others, astounded at the
words of their captain.
“There’s going to be a change in the team,” replied Phil, quietly.
This statement elicited a veritable avalanche of comment and questions,
but to them all the captain of the team would make no reply except to
tell them to wait and see.
This answer was so unsatisfactory, serving as it did only to whet their
curiosity the more, that finally Phil broke away from his companions and
hurried ahead to join the girls. Yet no sooner had he caught up with
them than he wished he had remained behind.
“Hello, Farmer Phil!” cried several of them, as they caught sight of the
popular pitcher. “How’s crops? What’s the latest quotation on wheat?”
For the moment he thought to rebuke his sisters for disclosing the plan
which he had intended to keep secret, at least until he should announce
it on the morrow to his team-mates.
But Sallie and Margie wisely kept on the side of their companions
farthest from him, and so riotous did the badinage become that Phil soon
realized that anything he might say would only make the matter worse.
Yet the glance he threw at his sisters was eloquent.
“Oh, you needn’t blame Marg or Sallie,” exclaimed one of the others. “I
heard part of what you said before I entered the dining-room. So I
bullied Marg into supplying the missing links.”
By this time the rest of the fellows had caught up, and the group
quickly divided into couples, all of them talking excitedly over the
surprising bits of news.
As they proceeded toward the boathouse, Phil was seemingly unconscious
that he was walking beside the girl who had sought to appease his wrath
against his sisters, and so absorbed was he in his own thoughts that it
was not until she spoke that he was aware of her presence.
“I think it is perfectly splendid,” she exclaimed, tenderly.
“What?” demanded Phil, almost savagely.
“Why, your giving up the captaincy of the school team when you are
certain to win the championship, just to help your mother.”
“Splendid nonsense! I should be worse than a cad if I didn’t.”
“But you could wait about going out West until after school closes, you
know, and then you wouldn’t sacrifice the honour of bringing the
championship to Parker.”
“You mustn’t say such a thing,” returned the boy, in a tense voice, as
he heard with revulsion the very idea expressed in cold words which had
been persistently surging through his mind.
“Why not, pray? I am as keen to have Parker land the championship under
your captaincy as you are yourself, and what difference would a few
weeks—it’s only seven—make to your mother? Besides—”
“Don’t, Helen, don’t,” pleaded Phil. “You know perfectly well how I feel
about the team. But what would you, or any one else, think of me if I
should let my selfish desire for school honours interfere with my
mother’s health?”
“Yet it would only be for seven weeks. Besides, Blair simply said she
needed a rest, but he didn’t say an immediate rest or—”
“It makes no difference if it were only for seven minutes, Helen, I
should be ashamed of myself all the rest of my life if I let my own
feelings weigh against Momsy’s health. Just think of all that she has
done for us. Do you suppose she has ever thought of herself when
anything for our benefit was at stake? It would have been better for her
if she only had—I’ve been a selfish prig not to see before that she was
killing herself. Besides, you can be certain she would not have told us
that Dr. Blair said she must have a rest if he had not told her a great
deal more. So if it is in my power, I am going to do everything I can to
make her well and show her that I appreciate all she has put up with for
me and the others.”
“Spoken like a man, Phil,” exclaimed a voice so close to the young
people that they jumped in surprise; for so absorbed had they been in
their conversation that they had not noticed the tall figure striding
along behind them.
“Why, Dr. Blair, how you frightened me!” gasped the girl, confused and
angry to think her words urging Phil to put the success of his team
above all else had been overheard.
The physician, however, gave no heed to the remark, keeping his eyes
fixed upon her companion, as he said:
“I really owe you an apology for playing the eavesdropper, Phil. But
just as I caught up with you, I could not but hear Miss Howell’s
pleading, and, as the matter had also occurred to me, I was unable to
refrain from listening to your reply. I am on my way to talk with your
mother now, and I felt I was justified because your attitude could not
but have an important bearing upon my advice to her. What it is that you
propose to do I don’t know, and it really doesn’t matter so long as you
intend to do it at once. Your mother has worked till she is on the verge
of a breakdown to give you young people a comfortable and happy home. As
a matter of fact, I told her this afternoon that if she gave another
week to her work I should be able to do nothing for her. So you see your
decision not to await the closing of school is most timely.”
The words as to the seriousness of his mother’s condition were like
blows to Phil, and it was several minutes before he felt sufficiently
sure of himself to ask:
“W-what is the trouble with Momsy, Dr. Blair?”
“Tuberculosis, and in such a much farther advanced stage than I
suspected. With plenty of fresh air and outdoor life, however, I shall
be able to check it, I believe. Only she must be spared all worry. Again
I wish to tell you that I am proud to know you appreciate all your
mother has done for you.”
With a friendly pat on the boy’s shoulder. Dr. Blair vanished in the
dusk as suddenly as he had appeared, leaving the boy and girl standing,
abashed by the words he had spoken.
Impulsively Helen slipped her hand through her companion’s arm and drew
him after the rest of the canoeing party, as she whispered earnestly:
“Forgive me, Phil.”