The Portland daily press., 1879-03-29
Going Halves.

mouth pop-gun," SAID Charts Temple.
ION IL VIII never do to have Barb in the
Archery Club. A barb at each end of the ar
row. NHa! ha! ha! We'd be shot, every
mothers daughter of us. Beside, she could
never afford bow to say nothing of cos
tune"
For be 1t known these young Dianas all
wore green kilted.plaited dresses, with gilt
bands at thgoat and wrists, and to crown all,
iaunty hats cooked up on one side, with
sprays of golden wheat. Barbara Blunt
could never afford such luxuries. Every one
knew that she had to depend for her books on
the school committee. who really could hard
ly be expected to supply green kilt-plaitiDg
and golden wheat. So Barbara was 'black-
balled' by the club. And what was worse,
the secret leaked out; for one sprite of girl
turned ''state's evidence'' (if you know what
that means) and frankly informed Barbara
all about it,
Barbara said not a word; but the frown
between her eyes grew deeper, and she took
to learning her French lessons between her
and O'Clock, to the dismav OF the afore-
said sprite.
because the Club practice from to 6
Barb, can't study then. And you know 1
can never write out my French idiots alone
Pm sure, Barbie," with a pathetic sniff, II
stood up for you and told Charts Temple you
weren't half as cross as you looked"
"Humph!' said Barbara, and not only did
she pursue her French idoms from 4 to 5
every afternoon, but she worked on her alge-
bra lessons between S and g.; so that the
sprite was utterly left out in the cold, and in
no time no time her marks at school sank to
zero.
Barb smiled grimly when she saw that.
But she did not smile when, every day the
Archery Club went merrily by, With bows
and arrows; nor yet when she heard how
Charts Temple, who Barbara knew had
voted against her, won culver on score of
twenty-five with three arrows.
but shan't get the prize in algebra, not
If can help it" murmured Barbara. fiercely
And day by day she shut herself up to dig
out the answers to problems which seemed to
come to Charts by magic.
Everything came easy" to happy, hand
some, healthy Charts. She rowed well, she
could walk five miles without being tired.
she shared the highest school honors. She
was prime favorite with all the girls, and
nov here she was president of the Archery
Club and the ''best shot' beside.
Can you not understand how ugly, ill-clad,
Flooding Barbara envled her, and how her
face grew hard as she found that, in spite of
all her efforts, her rival managed to stand
even with her in algebra, now the term was
drawing to close?"
They'll have to cut the prize in two.
Barb" laughed Charts. "Oh! well. Pm
sure I'll condescend to go halves with you.O
"'condescendP" repeated Barbara to her
self, bitterly.
But Charts had only been in Jest She had
no idea that Barbara was ready to be at
swords points With her. Since the day
Barb had been black-balled, Charts had
thought no more about it. 1t never entered
ner head that Barbara would care very much
any way. Charts had always been con the
top OF the wave." She did not know how it
feit to be underneath, with the bitter salt
water in eyes and mouth.
1--WE not lost all chance yet" thought
Barb. "There's one more week of school.
and, If we do get as far as page 175, there's
a tremendously hard question about grey
nound. you'd best not sing till you're sure
OF your notes, Miss Charts Temple.n
So Barbara plodded on. Her head began
to ache, so eager was she. She sat up at
night to work; she rose in the early morning
and was at it again.
And now there was only one more lesson.
1t was Barbara's last chance 10 put herself
mark in advance of Charts.
Now, this very afternoon the members of
the Archery Club were in great futter, for
they had been hidden at o Clock to lawn
party at Col. Vermilye's, just across the bav.
Iney were to 60 in small government
steamer. There was to be music by the regi-
mental band and dancing Oh the green after
Inc shooting; and rumOr stated that the
Colonel had been seen at jewelers. store.
looking at gold locket, with a tiny tur.
quoise arrow on the corner. What did that
mean? Here was mystery! Here was ex-
element!
Il wish Mrs. vermilye had waited till next
week." complained Sally French. "Then it
would be vacation. Have you learned to-
morrow's lesson, Charts p"
mo, haven't" answered Charts, briskly
II can look it over when we get home from
the party. don't believe there's ANYTHING
very hard about it,
Barbara Blunt was standing near, She
knew tnat the lesson was on page It's. She
knew that the terrible greyhound examplen
was included: Should she hold her peace +?
Should she let Charts 90 unwarnedp All
the more hope of victory if she did. Bar
bara's ewes grew black. 1t was a fearful
temptation. But Barbara might be cross.
she might be disagreeable; She was moi
mean. NV
she to herself. VAIN
"Charls," she went on, aloud. "rve
worked for fortnight over example 12, and
ter be careful"
COR You will get the prize, after all" an
swered Charts, roguishly. "It's very polite
in you to mention it, Barb. iii look ont
and not give you chance"
But she went to the party, after all. Bar.
bara saw her pass, with the other girls. on
her way to the boat. She saw the little
steamer, gay with flags and bunting. glide
down the bay. She could see the party land
on tne otner SIDE. Later, the faint sound of
distant music came floating to her ears.
The moon shone out round and fnlI that
night to waken Barbara, and, as she crept
from her bed and peeped out of the window.
TO snow her the girls once more. at ID
O'Clock; and the waggish old orb actuaiv
lent special beam to CLINT on a small GOLD
Iocket with its tiny turquoise arrow, which
Charts Temple wore at her throat,
II wonder-I wonder if she's done that
sum-" queried Barbara. "'
mo, haven't" said Charts, next morn
ing to Sally French, unconsciously answer
ing Barb's last nights question, "If ey-
ample IL comes to me, Pm gone. But INV
luck never deserts me. always fall on nv
feet" VII Ivy
Alas! where was Charis's luck to-day?
One by one the girls were sent to the
blackboard; and Charts remained on the set.
tee, which was full of pins and needles. and
sitting on 'em," as she announced after
ward.
She grew pale. Her chances were narrow.
ing.
s'Example 10. Miss French" said the
teacher; and Sally had escaped "the grey
There were only two girls left. Charts.
her teeth fairly chattering with dsmay. was
one on Would the next sum fall to her lot ? |
one was at her last gasp. There was a |
pH ssTx Ano now the mistress spoke
Example II, Miss Fuller. Miss Temn]e |
you may try the 12th.', -''' Ae"pi0'
T.. ary Ms Charts would make the effort but
So, sne . Snsw sne should fail Barbara knew
The prize was won. A' o'ei neF'
With sparkling eyes she watched Cbar;s,s
fruitless endeavors. Then she glanced at
Charts face. Pale with wide, troubled ewes
and quivering lips.
tits her own fault" muttered Barb. CT
warned her. It's but fair she should fall"
She turned resolutely to her own work;
put Cnarls' face haunted her. The crayon |
lips. The frown between her eyes grew
deeper and deeper. Her breath came thick |
and fast; Then suddenly, with mighty eff
L