Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-02-27

lesops Impulse took possession OF him
Ehe cared % very much for this plaste
thingi. Why not Tor once give in, and b
C0ntcut to come ont secondf IL all paAe'
through his mind in : fash, and his reso
luton was taken.
"Pentateuch," gave out Mr.. Ashe.
10 the unb0unded astOnishment o
the audience. Ray Pelham rose mp IN,
spelled the word thus: "P-e-n-t-a-y-t-u
he"
There was . roar Of laughter, in whicl
every one Joined except the bewildere,
Mary. Her wondernent lasted but
moment, chased by triumph and pleas
ure. Mr.. Ashe placed the Union Refu
gees" in her arms; the boys and girl
crowed around her.
"rm real glad, Mary" said Ra.
heartily. /.
"Are you, Ray? That's good of you,''
she said. Her cheeks were flushed will
excitement, her eyes sparkled becom
ingly. Several old ladies went home de
clsring that really, now, Mary Algel
was 'mest ! handsome girl. She looked ~
pretty q . pink with them 6ggers in
her arms. It was q pity she was 10 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 Mary's life. She did
not know how it was, but people seemed
kinder, and life easier and the world
| p~leasanter from that time on. Were the
boys and girls really more friendly? Did
the sun shine more than it used to do?
| Were lessons easier, and was her own shy
stiffness more manageable? Or wa it
that Ray, with his frank face and good
natured ways, seemed to turn up at her
side everywhere, doing things for her,
explaining, cheering, bringing her, as it
were, en- rapport with herself and with
other people? ! do not know; Mary
could not have explained; but something
must have been at the bottom of this al
tered world, with it's pleasant change of
sequences: and certain it is that in the
course of q few months she and Ray
grew to be great friends.
No more spelling matches were held in
Duxbury; 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 were temporarily disaffected with
something said or done were apt to
soothe their souls by dragging the word
"Pentatuke" into the conversation. Ray
bore these small shafts philosophically;
his friends felt them more keen1y.
Glow did you come to make that
darned mistake?" Indignantly demanded
Henry Plat, one day, dragging him of
under cover of the woods, which border.
ed the ten acre lot they were moving.
It rifles me like anything. There's that
little whippysnappy Jack Pomeroy al
ways At you with Pentaytuke' in his
teeth. How did it happen, Ray? You're
the best speller Of US ALL"
Easy enough to make a mistake"
replied Ray, whipping a mullen from its
sock with q blow Of his scythe.
"Pshawl not a mistake like that.
Why, little Peter Potter knows better
And you"
"Hal, if you give me your word not to
tell, I'll say something"
"Well, l do. What is it?"
ibid know better. Pm not such a
fool that l can't spell 'Pentateuch.' l
missed on purpose that night. l had a
reason"
"A reason-what?"
But Harry demanded in vain. Ray
explained no farther. After a while
they walked back to the hay field.
Their conversation had an auditor-an
u~nsuspected 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 70 from the ground, q
gnarled bough whose crotch made a COM
Portable seat. For years it had been
Mary's habit TO come to this spOt and
there study her lessons, read Oh dream;
but it was q habit which she carefully
concealed. She was far too big to climb
trees, said her mother. Mary admitted
it; still she climbed.
She made a pretty picture, half sitting,
half lying, among the branches, the sum-
mel wind waving the folds of her dress,
her face full of the puzzle caused by
Rays overheard confession. Why had
he I" missed ON prrposew What was the
g 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 q woman wishes to carry a point,
she usually takes the offensive. Mary
took it. It was the very next evening.
She and Ray were walking home from
their choir practice.
cray" she said, turning upon him,
" why did you mispell that night at the
match-misspell on ~purp0seY
"I-I-What makes YOU think | didT'
Ray, taken off his guard.
II kno,o you did. Tell me about it."
You can't KNOW" said Ray.
We'll, if you won't tell me, l tell you
shall l? You saw that a girl wanted
the prize very much, and you felt gener-
Gus. And 80, because you were a man
Oh, Ray, it was very good of you; but
you must take the group back. ! can't
keep i'll can't, indeed! You must take
It'll"
"Now, Mary, don't get excited" said
Ray, guiding her to . messy log, and
seating himself beside her. aWeM dis
cuss this matter. suppose it was as you
say (which l don't admit), the prize
would be yours all the same"
"Not a bit; it would be yours. You're
. splendid speller, Ray; a great deal bet
ter than / am-when you don't miss on
purpose. It's your right to be first; I'd
rather be second after you; really l
would . great deal rather. I'll never
forget what you did, Ray, never; but
you ought to have the Refugees and
you must take it."
"Very WE'LL" said Ray, his eyes light
ing up with an odd twinkle; II will.
But it's on condition, Mary" He
grew very red. "Tll take it If you'll
own it in partnership with me. What's
enough for one is enough for two-plas-
ter groups especially. Pll call the
Refugees" mine if you'll call it yours,
and If you'll let me call you mine.
What do you say, Mary; isn't that about
l suppose Mary had a very strong sense
Of justice, for she blushed, tremblea, half
smiled; then she put out one hand tim
idly to Ray, and then
The rest may be safely left to the i'm.
mmSpNntsnn 1k IL ---1-