The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-03-21

MarIow's cattle broke into his twenty
acre wheat field. They did a round
hundred dollars damage. I'd been
over to the deacons's S of an errand, and
was just coming down the front walk,
when the squire came tearing over,
accusing Hal of letting down the
fence. I wish you could have seen
that boy, Miss Waring! He stood mp
pale as death, and his eyes like two
fires.
"I didn't let down your fence,
Squire Marlow," said he, right before
his father and Steve, but | wouldn't
have cared if had, and the best wish
can make you is that your cattle had
eaten up five times the worth of BIddy
Larry's cow that you took for rent
last winter and little Patsy dyingw
eff you'll believe it, Miss Waring,
the squire turned as red as a cocks
comb, and rode off without another
word. 1 believe the deacon wasn't
very sorry himself, but he thrashed
Hal all the same, to take the imperti-
nence out of him, he said"
But his sister-has she no influence
over him 2"
Well, Mary has all she can do, and
guess the most she asks of Hal is to
keep cut of her way. You've no
idea, Miss Waring, of the amount OF
work farm of that size brings into
the house. Let me fill your cup. No.
What going to school so early? Well
pleasant day to you."
So it happened that Miss Waring
looked with something more than
usual interest along the line of larger
boys, who took their places on the
back row of benches at the opening of
the school. She saw the various types
of boyish faces, already SO familiar to
her, some bright and earnest, others
dull and sullen, still others well mean
ing, but marked as yet, with no strong
ndividuality-not one which at all
embodied her ideal of Hal Thorn.
One by one the names were enrolled,
he was not there. But half an hour
later the door suddenly opened with
creak of decision, and tall boy
walked with swinging defiant steps,
along the narrow aisle, casting keen
glance at the teacher as he went. She
nodded pleasantly, her rapid, prac-
ticed eye taking him in from the heavy
boots, so splashed with wet sand as to
suggest the canse of his tardiness
to have been morning visit
to the creek, to the brown, shapely
throat revealed by the rundown col
lar of his course gray jacket, the proud
head covered with crisp, auburn curls
the dark eyes full of dangerous fire,
the reckless untrustful expression,
over-waiting, like the characters of
palimsest. the first noble plan of his
young face.
No wonder, she thought, that the
people had "turned in their seats"
when the dove-eyed mother had
brought i'll her Youngest eaglet. She
could fancy him in his glorious baby
hood, radiant, unsullied-heaven his
fathcrland. earth his inheritance.
The teacher paused until the room
was quiet again, then she resumed
what she had been saying.
Gas | was telling you, children,
rules are troublesome, and only good
for people who do not wish to keep
them. 1t is so much nicer to do the
things we ought because we like to.
shall give you just one rule, .sDo
right" The very smallest one of you
will understand that. And shall
trust you, every one"
She looked up and caught Hal's eyes
fixed on her with an intensity that
made her start. Oddly enough, some
thing far back in her childhood SEEM
ed to confront her in his face. She
groped for moment in the labyrinth
of her memory, and caughtthe clue.
Her father was a Garrisenian aboli-
ZIONIST, his house was station on the
underground railway. One night a
poor bondman came, hard pressed by
the officers. There wus just time to
hide him in the grainary, under heap
of empty bags, in a corner full of dust
and cobwebs. His pursuers, warrant
in hand came in hot haste, searching
the house from garrett to cellar, rang
ing barns and out-houses, thrusting
pitchforks ruthlessly into fragrant hay
mows, creeping at last into that very
heap of sacking. whose heart was one
unit of agony IN the unsolved problem
of the worlds sorrow. At the instant
when all hope had fed they turned
away, baff1ed !. and as the ring of 1.-The
horses hoofs died upon the distant
the fugitive came forth.
The little girl clinging to her faith
er's coat-there were no secrets in that
household-had kept, through all her
years. the memory of that sable coun-
tenance.
"One chance more" it said, F:for life,
liberty, homei One chance nlore!"
"One chance more" said the boys
face, at once so young, and so sadly
OLD, "for faith, sympathy, love! One
chance more!"
Days passed. Miss Warnings sim
gle rule was working. The children
were not aggravatingly hu-
man sometimes-yet the best in each
nature seemed lifting itself like plant
to the sunshine, checked by sterile
soil, turned aside by stones, half chok-
ed by rank weeds, yet struggling and
aspiring still. She worked and wait
ed.
Hal Thorn developed powers of at
tention and application which aston
ished her. His conduct had been thus
far irreproachable, but he seemed to
shield himself behind an impenetra-
BILE barrier. She felt herself on trial,
with judgment reserved.
AT last, it was one noon, sound of
angry voices smote her ear. She step
ped to the door. The boys were gath
cred in crowd, and the first glance
showed her Hal Thorn, his eyes bla-
zing and his face pale with passion.
Take that back, Bill Jenkins, or by
=! I'll =" His clenched fist was
raised high, the veins in his bold fore
head knotted, his white teeth set. The
boys parted suddenly, but he did not
see.
A hand touched his shoulder.
He turned fiercely, Waveredr for an
instant, then a steady, defiant CLEAN
flashed to meet the teachers sad, firm
eyes. ''There's no use. The chance is
lost!' they seemed to say.
"Harold, he'is smaller than you'll"
That was all she said, no sharpness
of personal reproof, not one word
about the wickeddess of fighting, the
guilt of anger and profanity.
A swift flush died his cheek-his
hand dropped to his side. For a mo-
ment all was still in the playground.
Miss Waring held out her hand. The
boy caught it impulsively, then as
lot (u1I L.