The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-02-27
for the life of me couldn't identify

for the life of me I couldn't identify.
The truth only dawned on me when l
saw Clint, with that indescribable grace
of his, rise from his rug in the corner
and take Lal, the eldest girl, by the
hand to show her q seat.
Through all the service Lal kept her
eyes fixed in humble alteration on Clints
face, rising or kneeling as he did; and,
after that, every Sunday, whatever the
lapses in the week might be, she never
failed to appear, scrubbed and tidy, at
the service hour.
"How on earth have you done it,
FairfaxP' asked the same night while
we were having our last smoke before
turning in. He laughed: my dear
fellow, don't ask me. never felt more
astonished in my life, or more humbled.
if you can understand. did give Lal
a talking to about a week ago, and a
few shillings to rig out the kids afresh,
but I had no notion that what l had
said would have produced such q stu
pendous effect. And, to tell you the
truth, Ralph, / felt ashamed to think
how little one really tries to do, when
saw that poor girl coming up so brave
ly Just for few words of mine! If you
won't laugh, old fellow, am going to
have Lal and her brothers up twice a
week till they know how to read"
Laugh! / honor you for it, only
won't you find it awfully grindP"
"Why, yes, I'm afraid 1 SHALL" an
swered Fairfax, knocking the ashes out
of his pipe and staring at the fire; =" and
yet I can't look at poor wretch like
Lal without feeling uncomfortable. !
suppose it's what parsons call con-
science; and my conscience won't LET
me rest till I've taught these young
savages. at any rate, what little know
myself"
So Clint's evening school began-be-
gan at the kitchen table after supper
was over-the pupils being Alice Ma
haffy, popularly known as Lal,' and
her brothers, Bill and Ted, and the
schoolmaster being that ineffable swell,
Fairfax Clint.
Ted and Bill. having grown up like
young goats on the open hillside, were
sharp enough to all outdoor signs and
sounds, but hopelessly dense when il
came to the alphabet. But Lal proved
a wonder to herself, and q source ol
pride to her teacher. Never was gir
SO determined to learn what at first
seemed perfectly lncomprehensible an6
bewildering. Many time have gone
to the kitchen to look on, and have seer
Lal, with knit brows and flushed face
bending over her books, and mutterins
fiercely between her teeth: "Pn SCI
it sometime, Muster Clint; let me try
again! but I'm such fool tonight"
One night, long after the little clas'
had been dismissed, l found Lal crouch
ing against the outer door in wild ii
of weeping.
"Halloo, Lal, what's upP' asked
pulling her into the moonlight; " ha'
that precious mother been hammerins
you againp" But no answer could
extract except a not very polite reques
to leave her alone, and, wrenching her
self out of my grasp, she ran and hit
herself among the manuka.
This little incident would not have re
mained probably in my mind, but fo
the chance remark of our parson ont
Sunday shortly afterward. 1 had beer
riding part way home with him afte
service, and as we went up the hill b,
the Mahaffys' hut, we came on Lal, ly
ing asleep full length under a wilt
cherry tree, with her hands behind he
head for q pillow, and an open spellins
book beside her. She seemed to hav'
cried herself to sleep, for the lont
lashes resting on her cheek were wet
and matted into little points, and sh'
sobbed as we passed by.
"That poor child! am afraid he
mother ill-treats her." said Parsol
Hooper; and what a pretty girl she j
growing"
Pretty! I was too struck with thi
new view of Lal to dispute it, and m,
companion passed on to other subjects
but as soon as parted from him
rode back quickly to the spot where W
passed the sleeping girl. But she wa
gone, and 1 had to ride home withou
deciding the question whether parson'
eyes or mine had been mistaken. A
the veranda door, however, saw La
with her milk-can waiting till Tor
chose to find time to fill it for her, lean
ing cross-legged against the door-pos1
and looking moodily out at sea.
walked up and took q critical SUI
vey. A long-limbed girl. with yer
short and rather ragged stuff frock
bare feet, brown as berries; arms an
hands to match; q good deal of brow
hair, which lately she had taken
brushing and tying back with q scra
of faded ribbon; thin face, with
flush of bright color in the cheeks; an
pair of brown eyes, which were q
ways watchful and suspicious to me-
but soft and wistful to Clint. My eye.
sharpened by the parsons careless r,
mark. took note of all these points; an
summoned Lal sharply to me.
"Well, Mr.. Wescott," coming ur
willingly. and scowling at me with ht
straight, black brows.
How old are you, Lalr'
Use turned fifteen last summer, b,
it amt no business Of yourn, is it, Nj
Westcott?''
"Not much, perhaps; but you al
growing big girl, and ought to 60
service somewhere. Wouldn't you lii
to go away from this dull placer"
"Go away from the station" echoe
Lal, all the color fading out of her fal
as she raised her startled eyes to min
81 couldn't do it. Besides, who d lii
to have me for q servant?" she adde,
with q scornful little laugh.
"But if you'd like to try it, Lal,
could try for you," went on, but 81
interrupted me fiercely:
"Look here, Mr.. Westcott; know
amt a good girl, but don't know ,
ever did you any harm that yo
should try and drive me away; and
can't go, 1 can't, can't! should d
If couldn't never see his face nor he;
him speak"
In the frenzy of passion and excit
ment which possessed her, Lal, hs
fallen on her knees, and clutched II
, coat with both her hands, looking I
with an agony of supplication, as if
could decide her fate. Here was q pre-
} ty situation for Ralph Westcott. ma
ager, to stand in!
"Lal, my dear, don't be fool"
uttered, disjointedly. "What nonsen
, is thisP You shsn't go away unless yc
like, but for Heavens sake get up al
behave yourself! There, that's better,
aoid as cha dra auoad harsok mn m,