The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-09-01

y
all dependent for the bread they ate upon
the o1erworked young teacher. Truly, fail
ure here would be her disaster.
But she must not fail Would these in
terminable lessons never be inished9 She
wanted to go home and rest. ~
Two hours of tolerable quiet and order
and the days work was nearly ended, when
in the midst of the last recitation came
again that interupting whisper, plainly
heard all over the room.
For an instant Olive Burnett's heart fail
ed her. Could she muster courage enough
to furrule Scott Goldrick, the, oldest and
largest boy in the echool-a man grown!
The thought came at once that it was I'M
manly in him to try her so. But right or
wrong her word was passed and must be
kept; her authority was assalled and must
be maintained now or lost altogether. To
falter now was to give up all. So, calling
up all her nerve, though her head throb
bed dizzily, she closed her book quietly,
dismissed the class and faced the school as
she said slowly:
1.-THE scholar who whispered that last
time will please step forward"
There was dead silence for an instant.
Then Scott Goldrick left his seat and walk
ed up to where the young teacher stood. No
boyish mischief in lis manner now; no
hooking Difference; no shade of defiance,
but, instead, quiet manliness that was
harder to meet than any bravado would
have done.
You can understand, Mr.. Goldrick, that
this is not pleasant duty to me-" Der voice
steady, but lower than usual, so low that
some who were listening, did not catch the
words at all. "You can understand that it
is not pleasant to me to do this, but my
rules must be respected" -.-.-
For an answer he bowed an held out his
hand. They were counted out faithfully
twelve strokes-no more, no less. Did he
know how every one hurt her? Perhaps he
did, for his eyes were on her face all the
while, and when the last one was given he
walked back to his seat, little graver than
before, that was all. And the rest of the
scholars opened eyes of amazement. They
had expected high words and open defiance
at the first. This new gentleness was not
fear; they knew that WELL Fear and Scott
Goldrick's name never went together, IF it
was voluntary submission to discipline,
why they might as well all yield too.
Miss Burnett heard him talking to some
of the older scholars outside the door after
the roll was called and the school dismissed.
"What resist lady? You'll never see
me do that. Besides, deserved the ferul-
ing for breaking the rules. 1 didn't mean
to interrupt the last time, though. Pm 60
ing away tomorrow to my uncle's counting
house in G.. Then the door closed,
and Miss Burnett heard no more.
Going away She said the words over
and over to herself, sitting there with her
head laid down on the table before her.
Going away What would she do, missing
day by day the bright face in the corner,
and the voice that, spite of aggravations,
without number, was still the pleasantest
voice in the world to her. What should
| she do?
The great pile of copy books there on the
| table still untouched, when, hall an hour
later some one opened the door and came
in; some one whose step she knew so well.
Scott Goldrick had come back for his books
and slate. But she did not lift her head.
He stood before her presently with the
books on his arm and his hat in hand.
81 am going away, Miss Burnett, to stay.
Will you bid me good bye?"
Still she did not look up or speak. He
persisted gently.
''Have 1 offended you beyond all hope of
forgiveness ~
She gave him her hand at that.
No, but
"But you are sick, Miss Burnett?" as lie
saw her face plainly. "You are really sick.
What can do for your"
"It's only headache-I have had it all
day-and touch of fever with it, perhaps,
nothing more"
"You have been sick all day, and have
been aggravating the life out of you," he
said, remorselessly, in his earnestness; down
on one knee beside her chair, with a half
bold, halt easy grace. II have made you
trouble constantly, not to day only, but ever
you must think me- 1t was unmanly and
cowardly to act as did. No, you must let
me make full confessiun now" kissing the
hand she laid over his mouth to stop him.
But, Miss Burnett, you are very ILL.," seri-
ously alarmed now at the sight of her white
face and closed eyes; for the self-control
maintained by main force all day, and up to
this moment, had given way suddenly, and
and weaker than child she sat there, her
breath coming in little short gasps.
| Unused to woman's moods and "ways,"
he was at loss what to do. He had an idea
though, that when lady tainted, cold water
was the thing, so he sprinkled her face with
the cup standing on the table within reach
of his hand and manlike, he drew her down
upon his shoulder
| She was not altogether unconscious, for
she made weak movement to withdraw
herself from his arm, but he whispered,
"Trust me, and lie still, will you not, till
| you are better!" conscious the while of an
odd, pleasant thrill at his heart, as her face
lay so near his own that he could have
touched it with his lips.
| If he had been a dozen years older, lie
would most likely have yielded to the temp
tation and kissed the roses back to her
cheeks, but there was just the least bit of
boyish timidity about him; and besides he
could not forget that he had been the cause
of this very illness, and his heart smote him
regretlully every time he looked at her.
She sent him away by-and-by-as soon as
she was able to sit up without support. She
would not let him 60 home with her either.
though he begged her to let him do so; she
would do better by herself she said. But
seeing the troubled look In his eyes as he
turned away, she relented so far as to say
II trust we part friends"
He came back to her at this, saying ear
nestly:
"Can you be my friend after what you
have known of me the past two months 2"
II can bel am sincerely your friend"
"Thank you for that. Knowing it, shall
not carry such a sorely troubled conscience
away with me-"
All he never guessed that instead of
troubled conscience, he was carrying Olive
Burnett's heart away with him.
It was seven years before they locked up
on each others faces again. Such long,
long interval. These seven years had
changed Scott Goldrick into successful
business man, steadily amassing his thous-
ands, and alive TO the brilliant, courted
young widow, Mrs Logan.
She had grown heart sick of teaching,
and one day in desperate mood gave it up,
and married Paul Logan, the rich land
owner. Scott Goldrick, hearing of it in the
distant city where he was living, said, 'Such
apity! She was one woman of a thousand,
and deserves better man than that!n
Well, Paul Logan was better man than
Scott Goldrick's words would seem to imply.
and better still, his gold brought all com
forts to the helpless mother until she died,
and home with all the advantages of
wealth to the little sisters And now with
her husband two years IN the grave. Mrs.
Logan went freely into society again.
"Such lovely woman" men always said
speaking of her. And Scott Godrick en-
dorsed the verdict when he met her at a re-
ception one evening, and the hostess, sup
posing them to be unacquainted, presented
him.