The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-01-20

as first one and then the other triumphant
| ly surmounted words which sounded fatal
ly difficult to less instructed ears.
1t is at such crises as these that manly
nerves win the day. Out of the corner OF
his eve Ray saw the flush rise and deepen
on Mary's cheeks and her fingers clasp
and pinch each other. She was getting
fiustereG; in another moment she would
blunder. Suddenly generous impulse
took possession of him. She cared so
very much for this plaster thing! Why
not for once give in and be content to
come out second? 1t all passed through
his mind in flash and his resolution was
taken.
Pentateuch," gave out Mr.. Ashe.
To the unbounded astonishment of the
audience Ray Pelham rose and spelled the
word thus; "P-e-n-ta-y-t-u-k-e."
There was a rear of laughter, in which
every one joined except the bewildered
Mary. Her wonderment lasted but mo-
ment, chased by triumph and pleasure.
Mr.. Ashe placed the Union Refugees
in her arms; the boys and girls crowded
round her.
"Tm real glad, Mary" said Ray,
heartily.
care you, Ray? That's good OF you,"
she said. Her cheeks were flushed with
excitement, her eyes sparkled becoming
ly. Several old ladies went home de-
claring that really, now, Mary Alger
was most handsome girl. She looked
as pretty as pink with them tiggers in
her arms. 1t was pity she was so dull
and stuck-up, for she wasn't so bad-look-
ing, after ALL" Ray was of their opinion,
only he didn't agree with them as to the
stuck-up."
That evening of the spelling match
dated a change in Marys life. She did
not know how it was, but people seemed
kinder and life easier and the world
pleasanter from that time on. Were the
boys and girls really more friendly? Did
the sun shine more than it used to ?
Were lessons easier, and was her own shy
stiffness more manageable? Or was it
that Ray, with his frank face and good
natured ways, seemed to turn up at her
side everywhere, doing things for her, cx-
planning, cheering, bringing her, as it
were, en- rapport with herselfand with other
people? do not know; Mary could not
have explained; but something must have
been at the bottom of this altered world
with its pleasant chain of sequences; and
certain it is that in the course Of few
months she and Ray grew to be great
friends.
No more spelling matches were held in
Duxbury, but the memory Of this famous
evening did not die, and Ray had to bear
frequent references to his blunder. Boys
who envied or did not like him, or who
we're temporarily disaffected with some
Thing said or done, were apt to soothe
their souls by dragging the word '' Pen
taytuke" into the conversation. Ray
bore these small shafts philosophically
his friends felt them more keenly.
"How did you come to make that
plaguy mistake?' Indignantly demanded
Harry Platt one day, dragging him Oft
under cover of the woods which bordered
the ten acre lot they were moving. 1T
rifles me like anything. There's that lit
tie whippy- -snappy Jack Pomeroy always
at you with Pentaytuke' in his teeth. How
did it happen, Ray? You're the best spell
er of us all" .s#
EASY enough to make mistake" re-
piled Ray, whipping a mullen from its
stalk with a blow of his scythe.
"Pshaw! not mistake like that. Why,
little Peter Potter knows better. And
Hal, if you give me your word not to
tell, I'll say something -"
"Well, l do. What is it?n
q did know better Pm not such a
fool that | can't spell Pentateuch.' l
missed on purpose that night l had a
reason.'
"a reason!-what?"
But Harry demanded in vain. Ray ex-
planned no farther After while they
walked back to the hay field.
Their conversation had an auditor-an
unsuspected one. Mary Alger was perched
in the tree under which the boys stood as
they talked 1t was an oak tree, low,
broad, easily climbed, and bearing aloft,
ten feet or so from the ground, a gnarled
bough whose crotch made comfortable
seat For years it had been Mary's habit
to come to this spot and there study her
lessons, read or dream; but it was hab-
it which she carefully concealed. She
was far too big to climb trees now, said
her mother. Mary admitted it; still she
climbed. ra- r-s .s.-. ..g
She made pretty picture, half-sitting,
halt-lying, among the branches, the sum-
mer wind waving the folds of her dress,
her face full of the puzzle caused by Rays
overheard confession. Why had he
"missed on purpose?" What was the
"reason?" A sudden flood of red broke
over her face at last. Had she guessed
the truth? She could not rest till she
knew.
When woman wishes to carry point
she usually takes the offensive. Mary took
it. 1t was the very next evening. She
and Ray were walking home from the
choir practice.
"Ray," she said, turning upon him
"why did you misspell that night at the
match--misspell on purpose ,"
"I-I- what makes you think
did?" stammered Ray, taken off his
guaT .a.:.
81 knop you did. Tell me about it."
You can't know" said Ray.
"Well, if you won't tell me, I'll tell
you-shall I? You saw that girl wanted
the prize very much, and you felt gener.
Gus. And so, because you were man
Oh, Ray, it was very good of you. But
you must take the group back. | cant
keep it-I can't indeed! You must take
it,"
"Now, Mary, don't get excited" said
Ray, guiding her toward messy log and
seating himself beside her. "Well dis,
cuss this matter. Suppose it was as you
say (which don't admit, the prize would
be yours all the same"
Mot bit; it would be yours. You're
splendid speller, Ray, q great deal bet
ter than am-when you don't miss or
purpose. It's your right to be first; I't
rather be second after you; really
would-a great deal rather. I'll nevel
forget what you did, Ray-never; but yor
ought to have the Refugees, and yor
mnst take II y