y bunch at college, for a while. But I knew
I could not afford to keep up that pace, so I cut it out."

"Oh, Nelson!" Janice murmured. "It's too bad!"

"Why, it never hurt me," answered the young schoolmaster. "It never
could hurt me. A gentleman eats temperately and drinks temperately.
Of course, I would not go into the Lake View Inn and call for a drink,
now that I am teaching school here. My example would be bad for the
boys. And I fancy the School Committee would have something to say
about it, too," and he laughed again, lightly.

They had turned into Hillside Avenue and the way was deserted save for
themselves. The warm glow of sunset lingered about them. Lights
twinkling in the kitchens as they went along announced the preparation
of the evening meal.

Janice clasped her hands over Nelson's arm confidingly and looked
earnestly up into his face.

"Nelson!" she said softly, "don't even _think_ about drinking anything
intoxicating. I should be afraid for you. I should worry about the
hold it might get upon you----"

"As it has on Jim Narnay?" interrupted the young man, laughing.

"No," said Janice, still gravely. "You would never be like him, I am
sure------"

"Nor will drink ever affect me in any way--no fear! I know what I am
about. I have a will of my own, I should hope. I can control my
appetites and desires. And I should certainly never allow such a
foolish habit as tippling to get a strangle hold on me."

"Of course, I know you won't," agreed Janice.

"I thank goodness I'm not a man of habit, in any case," continued
Nelson, proudly. "One of our college professors has said: 'There is
only one thing worse than a bad habit--and that's a good habit.' It is
true. No man can be a well-rounded and perfectly poised man, if he is
hampered by habits of any kind. Habits narrow the mind and contract
one's usefulness in the world----"

"Oh, Nelson!" excitedly interrupted Janice. "See the bluebird! The
first I have seen this Spring. The dear, little, pretty thing!"

"Good-_night_!" exploded the school teacher, with a burst of laughter.
"My little homily is put out of business. A bluebird, indeed!"

"But the bluebird is so pretty--and so welcome in Spring. See! there
he goes." Then she added softly, still clinging to Nelson's arm:

"'The bluebird--for happiness.'"

CHAPTER VI

THE TENTACLES OF THE MONSTER

The sweet south wind blew that night and helped warm to life the
Wi