The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-06-13

pain, in the grave, stern tones which
said, ''Faith Grey can stop after schOo
Tonight" That was all. and. without
casting look IN Tne direction OF JnG
young girl, the business of the day went
on as usual, DuJ eaCn ana all understood
that trining was at an end, and even
Faiths rosy cheeks paled a little, as she
glanced shyly at the stern, quiet face.
1t had been a hard day for the young
master, and it WAS no wonder if his
patience was exhausted. In the morn
ing, one Of his largest scholars, q half
witted Frenchman. had entered late.
and Immediately commenced 10 laugh,
and all the mfcrmati n that could be
elected from him was that he guessed
''the two-year-old would get full bye
and bye" " and again his fat sides would
shake with laughter. He was a great,
OverCrown fellow of sixteen, who
worked for his board at a farm about a
mile from school. and ut noon his en-
ployer presented himself at the school
house, and in loud, angry tones, ordered
him never to darkcn his doors again.
It appeared that the spring where TIE
cattle were i'll the habit Of drinking,
was formed by lowering a barrel into
the ground, and all around it was very
slippery with ice. and as the clown had
driven them to drink the 'twO-year old"
had slipped and fallen in head first, and
being unable to get out alone, the
Freedman had left it TO ''get full"
while he went TO school. When found
BY the farmer the animal was drowned.
Although the. schOoI-mas, er could not
blame the farmer for his indignation,
yet tie circumstance annoyed him ex-
ceediugly; and if one Glight be allowed
to judge by the look Of determination
0h his white. stern face. Faith WAS
likely to feel the full force of his au-
thority, and even her stout Leart
guailed a little as the shadows length
ened, and the day drew near its close.
The last lesson had been recitcd; the
last class had stood up to spell; the
evening hymn had been sung. and al
last school had closed, the scholars
filing out of the house in good order,
and with a strange quietness and dis
patch, wrapping about them their
shaWls, hoods and comfOrters. Faith,
with the roses all gone from her dimpl.d
cheeks, was sitting at her desk white
and still. For a few moments, which
seemed like an eternity to her, tie
master sat at his desk with his head
bowed upon his hands. The short
winters day was drawing to a clos,a
and one solitary sunbeam, red as blood,
streamed through the window, and lay
across the desk exactly in front of her,
and to the day Of her death, Faith will
carry a vivid inward picture of that
little schoOl-room, for every article
which it contained was indelibly I'M
pressed upon her mind i'll those few
At last the master raised his head,
and in low tones said: 'NIiss Faith,
you may come here"
tthe sound Of his voice, the blood
rushed back to the cheek which had
been so pale but a moment ago, ana
her courage revived. She arose, and
with firm step walked across the room
and stood before him, and as their eyes
met she returned his gaze unainehingIy.
His was a sad, beseechiug looR, as
though he would urge her to beg his
Hers was a mixture Of
fun and anger combined, but certainly
they showed no signs of sorrow. AS
he arose to his feet his huge form
lowered like a giant above her, and
over his desk, he grasped his
ferule.
''IIolJ out your hand"
The words We're Jerked forth as
though they causeI the speaker untold
pain. Faith obeyeu, although the white
lids covered the brown eyes AID the
long eyelashes swept over cheeks as
white as the snow outside. She had
never received a blow in her life, and |
she shiyered as the tips of the slender !
fingers were firmly grasped. and one
snort, sharp, singing blow descended |
upon the white palm, leaving a crimson
mark tEat curiOusly rn'"mdeG her Of !
he blOod-red sunbeam, as it lay across
.he desk. The feruie was raised for
mother blow when again their eyes
net, but from the brown ones the an
ger and defiance was gone and they |
we're full Of tears and mute pleading, !
md with dull ihud the ferule dropped /
o the floor and the girl was clasped to |
lis heart in a wild, passionate embrace.
In after years when she was the loved |
md hOnOred wife of the statesman,
Who began his career as a district
ichoOl teacher, Faith was wont to say
hat the keeping up Of appearances 50
hat others might not know what had
was the hardest lesson she
lad ever learned. 1t was impossible to
)ocOme the docile pupil which she now
Onged to be without exciting suspic-
on, and for eight weeks she acted her
Dart in a manner worthy of the most
inished actress, and to this day it is an
Unsettled question between them as
o which cOnquered.-Am. Cub,UatOr.