Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-31
A SPELLING MATCH.

emulate the dignifed glitter of silver. The
audience was assembling by twos and
threes Behind the green curtain which
hid the platform dozen boys and as many
girls stood beside the table on which were
placed the prizes for which they were about
to compete in the great spelling match-an
event which had convulsed Duxbury Cor
ners tc it's center, had set the sewing Cir
Giles in flutter. and caused Webster's and
Worcesters dictionaries to take temporary
rank, with the young people of the town,
as the most enthralling works in the En-
glish language.
The prizes were three in number. No, 1
was of course that inevitable "Rogers
group" which, for unknown reasons, is al
ways selected as reward for champion
spoilers in the rural districts; No. was the
'sBeauties of William Shakespeare" fat
volume in red and gold binding. No. 3.con-
sisted of 'Thesaurus" of English Words
in blue and gold, more gorgeous than
ssThe Beauties of W. S." 1t was upon the
''group'' in gray plaster that the eyes Of
the girls were most admiringly fixed; the
boys liked the books as well.
''They're splendid, all of them,'' re-
marked little Carrie Powell. II do adj
mire statues so much ~
''Perfectly splendid! elegant! magnif-
cent ~ Echoed a chorus.
II wonder who'll get the first ~ asked
Daisy Lee, in half whisper.
'sOh, Ray, of course. He's taken two
first prizes Already
s'My father says it isn't fair that Ray
Pelliman should compete again. said
John Stackpole, in a surly tone. ''He's
the best speller in the country-every one
knows that. And now he ought to stand
Off and give somebody else chance
| 'sHe's real old too-'most nineteen ~
added a little boy of ten.
"John's right; it isn't fair. Ray
oughtn't to be in the match at all,'' cried
1.-TWO OF three others.
s'None of us'll have the least chance if
he ISL muttered Carrie.
''Oh, but do you know, I think it is
fair,' said Mary Alger. ''Ray's the cham
pion now; he holds the belt. Of course be
must fight everybody who tries against
him. There's always a chance in spelling.
Really good spoilers are often tripped up
by some easy little word which you'd think
they could spell in a minute" Mary end
ed with a sigh, for this had been her own
fate. She was Greatly a good speller," and
had twice just failed of a prize.
She did not see Ray, who had entered as
she began to speak, He had never partic
ularly noticed Mary Alger before. She
was not pretty girl judged by the Dux-
bury standard, though an artist might
have found something to admire in the
lines of her head and throat, in the exquis-
itely fine pale skin and deep set grey eyes.
Neither was she a favorite. Her reserve
and shyness were taken for pride, the de-
preston of knowing herself misjudged
made her awkward, and her ordinary man
ner was cold and silent. She seldom made 50
long a speech as on this occasion. And the
girls opened their eyes as they listened. Ray
was amazed also. He was not stupid boy
and it dawned upon him that it was an i'm.
pulse of generous justice in his behalf
which had unlocked the lips of usually
tongue-tied Mary, and her face for the first
time struck him as pretty.
The other girls chatted on, but Mary had
said her say, and stood silently looking at
the plasters group. Ray saw what she adj
mired intensely, and a half wish crossed
his mind that she might win it-only a
half one, for to the successful, success be-
comes indispensable, and the desire to be
first was very strong upon the mbitious
young fellow. Presently an avalanche Of
camp chairs, followed by a procession OF
squeaking boots, announced the arrival Of
the 'sCommittee of reference" The boys
and girls arranged themselves in parallel
rows. Mr.. Ashe, principal of the academy,
: appeared with formidable MS. roll in his
! hand. The curtain rose; the audience
clapped. Now, my young friends. Ibeg
{ that you will speak as distinctly as posi-
ble,'' said Mr.. Ashe. With that he con-
suited his roll gave out the first word, hiI
popotamus,'' and the strife commenced.
Twere vain to tell what steeds gave DER, AS
swept the fight.
over the photographed plain; how al
elderly youth Of some sixty summers, with
preconceived theory as to the word 'sIn-
dian,n which he rendered thus In JUN, .
!. was the first victim to 'scaries," and Au-
gustus Brown was borne off protesting
that 'sappellation" had but one L in it.
Traps and pitfalls abounded. Slowly the
ranks thinned; the vanquished finding
what comfort they could in numbers, lined
the wings, applauding and jeering theil
late comrades. AT last Mary Alger was
left the only girl, opposed to three boys, Of
whom Ray was one. Five minutes-ten-it
seemed as though neither of the foul
) would ever miss. The excitement became
intense.
"l-l-l-e-g-g-i-ble," spelled John Beach
"Wrong," said MI. Ashe; and John
, crest fallen, creaked his way off the stage
9 Each of the three competitors, now left
!, was sure of prize. The question was
!, which prize?
Mr.. Ashe had exhausted his roll, an(
0 produced from his pocket deadly littl
volume, full of what q sportsman woult