The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-26
DIM'S APOLOGY.

Eyes, | really and truly am sorry,
Kate, but that doesn't make it easy for
fellow to humiliate himself by asking.
pardon of an obstinate, conceited
wooden-headed-n
so hush, Dim! Please remember
he is your teacher, and you ought to re-
spect if you can't like him.
81 don't care; l can respect per-
feet block of conceit. Why, Kate. he
has nomore sympathy with boys than if
they were so many fence-posts set up in
Il row-not half so much as if they were
Latin verbs or logarithms | can think
just how he will look while | am blum
dering through my apology. He will
finger the buttons on his coat with one
hand and drum little on the desk with
to the right and to the left of me, and
over me, and through me-everywhere
but at me. Then when have done he
will cough slightly and bow an eighth
of an inch and say: That will do, Blair;
take your seat exactly as if | had
bungled in explaining Il problem. OH
how can | do it?'
Il know it will be hard, Dim, but /
think you would find it still harder to
feel that you owed an apology which
you hadn't made. And you know YOU
really were wrong, and gave Mr.. Bond
some reason for being angry"
But was partly right-to begin
with, anyway; and l shouldn't have
talked half so strong if he had been
willing to admit anything. But he
never is"
Il am sure you are little too hard
on him, now, Dim. Remember how
pleased he was last winter when YOU
went through examination so splendid
ly; his eyes fairly shone when you were
reading your Hannibal -
Eyes, he felt gratified as he would to
have an equation come out right. 1t
a0as sort of interesting equation, you
see, having his highly superior instruc-
ton for the first member and my highly
superior requirements for the second
Considered as kind of compliment to
himself, he may like me well enough,
but as boy he doesn't care whether he
uses me decently or not. Oh! | can't
and won't stoop to ask his forgiveness.
I'll quit school first"
Two large, angry tears stood in Dim S
blue eyes as he made this announce
ment and an expression anything but
sorrowful spread over his fair boyish
face. Kate dropped her crocheting,
rose and laid both hands caressinglv on
his shoulder, saying, softly: 81 want
to be perfectly proud of my brother; and
how can | be unless he does what he
knows to be right-what he knows his
mother would wish him to do if she
were here?'
"Don t, Kate'' the anger suddenly
evaporating from the great tears, leav-
ing them pure and tender as tears
be. "Ill try and get to feeling right
about it by morning, if can. said |
was sorry afew minutes ago, but don
believe l was, in the right way. Now
I'll devote my time and talents to the
work of getting sorry"
AS preliminary step suppose we
go malpractice duets awhile, said Kate,
taking her brothers. arm and leading
him toward the parlor. Perhaps
music will prove valuable assistant in
your labor. Who knowsP" A few min.
utes later their fresh young voices were
rising and waving and falling in perfect
harmony, and yellow canary bird
hangingin the window joined in, and q
lonely man passing under the window
felt as if he would like to join in, too, il
he had known how. But he didn't; SC
he only looked and listened minute
or two and passed on with a pleasant
picture lying clear and bright on hi,
mind, to look at afterward whenever
he chose. A picture of warm, bright
room, softly curtained and finely tinted
and brother and sister sitting close to-
gether in the brightest, warmest part
making music for unfortunate shadows
outside to dance to, if they felt like
dancing.