Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-09-06
m Y FAITH ER.

The words reached me where / sat,
and burned into my soul. Everywhere
looked saw them; everywhere turn
ed heard them.
Could Ihave been mistaken? Was all
this self torture for nothing? No; it
was one of the prOudest girls in school
who had branded me with shame. /
heard it from her own lips.
Il tell you Alice Vale's father has
been in prison." she said, land that's
the reason don't associate with her,"
had always been shy sensitive girl,
so exceedingly sensitive that some
things were as hard 10 bear as actual
pain, though they might have gone no
further than words OF motions. A smile
has often set me tingling from head to
foot.
once heard my mother say, in re-
ply to some one who had noticed this
popularity:
"Poor child she cannot help it," and
then, perhaps, conversation would fol-
low in lower tone, which was not in
tended for my ear.
But, compared to the shock which
thrilled me when heard those dread
full words, / had never known what pain
or trouble meant. They were like
swords, and for few moments seemed
to deprive me of all power of motion.
can remember, to this day, TIE spot
where sat, for l had fingered after
school to speak with the teacher. / can
even see the wooden desk that was be-
fore me, with its strange undeciphera-
able characters cut on the cover; the
closed blinds at my back; the soft refiec-
ton of fippling water on the opposite
H. he. 100 oh e fhn OcNf
women / ever saw-yes, can see her
long, fair curls and bright leshes, as
she sat at her desk, engrOssed in the let
ter she was writing. She was quite
Young and very wise. The girls all
loved her. / remember how mechaui-
cally my eyes sought her face FOR an in
dicati0n that she had heard that dread
full speech; and then | said to myself,
vehemently:
tits lie! liel base, wicked, mon
strOus lie"
Cruelty slow moved the weary mo-
ments now. The scent of the wild brier
outside the window seemed odiOus to me.
The golden ripple on the wall, that
had been watching with so much de-
light, had lost itsswil lOwy charm. Some
thing cold and deatb-like seemed to be
creeping through my veins. There was
dull pain at my heart.
Once / wondered if were dying, and
struggled out of a numbness that had
seized my senses, just as Miss FlOrian,
the teacher looked up.
"Why, my child" she said sweetly,
have you been waiting all this timer
had quite forgotten" Then she added
in quick tones, Are you i'll, Alice, or is
it the sunset shadow that makes you sc
whitew
That sweet voice and sweeter smile
went straight to my sore heart. | could
not help il, my head fell on my hands
and burst into tears. In a moment she
was at my side, her cool hand on my
head.
SOme-sOmebOdy has been saying some
thing dreadful about me-" sObbed out
at last. Il heard it while l was sitting
here-but please don't ask me what il
is, Miss May; couldn't tell you, indeed
couldn't; only its wicked lie, and
shall hate Jenny Morris as long as
live.'
@-Then it was Jenny" said Miss May
looking down upon me. Il shall see t,
it. Jennys tongue has already mad,
me trouble. 1t is in her case an unrul,
member, truly"
Miss May, please don't see to it,"
cried, almost passionately; "at least no
till-till|"
Till you give me leave" she added
for my sObs chOked me; very well, dear
Twill not speak till then, and now lie
us try to forget this unpleasant thing
Shall we go home together? We car
talk IS we go along"
To this / gladly assented, end tina
short walk and her sweet conversation
acted like magic. How blue and coo
the river WIS. And what lovely shadow
seemed to slide down the sides of tn,
high hills, taking their hues from tn,
gorgeous TINS of the sunset sky. If j
had been grief that could be forgotten
should have returned home ightheart
ed.
But alasl / had had presentiment
times without number that all had no
always been quite clear, and right, an,
honest in our household. That story o
prison shame-it could not be. of that
constantly assured myself. To me m,
father was pattern OF stainless honor
bsde Miss FlOrian May gOOd-evenins
at her own door, and walked on. w
had talked of everything bright ant
beautiful, or, at least, she had, and ha(
succeeded in winning my thoughts away
from myself for the time; but, as walk
ed up the pretty shaded path to my home
the grief all came back, and SO vivid,
that l could not meet my mothers eye
So stole up to my own room, and with
heavy, heavy heart, sat down to think,
Thinking resulted in another burst o
tears. and when / heard footsteps OF
the stairs threw my self on the bed
my temples burning end throbbing.
Presently mother came in. MOthe
and Miss May had ways alike. Their
was the same caresslng movement OF TIN
hands, the same low, persuasive voice.
MY head aches" l said, In reply :
her tender query, YVES III
"ToO hard work these hot days for m
little GIRL she said, s0Othingly. Pap
must cOntrive to get a vacation for me.
Then she drew down the blinds an,
went out softly, presently returning.
think she had suspicion that all wa
not rioht. If SO, it YVES soon verified
for as I turned towards her she saw 10,
red and swollen eyes.
NWhy. Alice, may dear child, what ha
happened?" she asked, quite startled
ssThis is something more than a head
ache"
In vain refused. She still insisted
until. with my face half hidden on he
neck. | told her of the cruel, insulting
words had heard.
There was long silence.
sYour dear, honorable fatherw she eX
claimed, at last, in a choking voice
elbow hard this isP'
ssThen it was a lie," I cried jOyfully
SIT was all wicked, cruel lie; l knew