Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-21

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and the next morning the shrinking little
tlce under the slippery hat shone proud
aud triumphant for once.
Feel little extra this morning, ell ?"
said Hal, as pair of brown eyes flashed
up at him with a culver at the heart they
belonged to. 1t had had good many
quivers since school began, but this was a
new variety, joyful one, and could not
he kept back.
i've got some GallOwscs.
"Hallow, Gallowses, He's got some
gallowses. Now we've got name
shouted Hal; and the cry went round.
Miss .Judy's boy was named. For an IN
slant the wide pants and hat shrank away
as if from a stab, but they were out again
and doing their share in the game, when
their turn came.
There was another culver that went
pretty deep, as Gallowses crept into Tom :
forsaken bed that evening. after Miss
Judy's crisp goodnight.
"Are the boys going TO call me that
dreadful name forever? But | will bear it.
| am to be good and brave for her sake,
and for-but oh. why couldn't have gone
with her? 1t is so terrible here all the
time" and Gallowses' trembling fingers
drew out little glistening something hid
den at his neck, and with one long. pas
sionate kiss. he laid his cheek against it
without another word
An hour later Miss Judith walked noise
lessly in; those foolish store suspcnders
had II rip already to be sewed. The little
figure living in Toms bed gave her a
strange thrill.
She hesitated-there was no one to see
her-and Miss Pophurst stopped quickly
and kissed the cheek on the pillow. But
the cheek was wet, there was something
blue around the neck, and Miss judith
black eyes shot piercingly under the other
cheek
Good land of our fathers, where did
the child get that"
The next few weeks were pretty dull
times. the boys thought. The DULLES made
several advances on the master, and re-
treated well scared to their place;
Gallowses' white hair attempted to come
out in crispy little yellow curls. and was
smpped back BY Miss Judy's scissors. and
that was all Look here. boys said
Hal Phillips at last, they'll he calling Us
spoonies and serve Us right. if this thing
goes on much longer. | tell You we've
lust got to hang together in some move,
tell where it comes from. DO You say
agreed?''
Agreed - went up in chorus. Give
Us a programme. that's all.
We'll, there's that old donkey of Dea-
con Bavberry's; what if he should be
found strayed into the masters desk some
morning with the masters cap onhis head
and one of those law books he's always
4. l.,
How would that do, just for Il feeler, you
know ?''
A shout rose tor an answer, and Hal
went on. "Shake hands, then, 4 pull
all together. you know and then nobody is
to blame!' and one by one the boys
marched up and gave Hal hand. Now
Gallowses you're the last!' but the
wide trousers stood motioness, and Gal
lowses shook his close cropped head.
"What. You're afraid Pshaw, wen
tell Miss Judy we did it,"
mo, you needn't said GallowseS.
''but can't help you"
What, you little sneak - said sam.
bouncing upon him and Selling him by
the collar. "Iou won't peach, will you?',
mo, | won't peach, Sam Hebberton,
nor do anything else that's mean, hope.
Let go of my collar; you've no right to
itr
''Will you lend hand then, them"
Gallowses head shook again. "Not on
the donkey can't
Coward coward Gallowses is n
coward ~ rose up the shout, and sam
frightened his grip with growl that meant
mischief. but a sudden thought struck Hal
Hold on he said somebody has
got to open the school-room door for us
What is the harm if Gallowses slips
through the ventlators and down on the
inside, and Just draws the bolt of that back
door? There is no other boy small enough
and what that to do with the donkey or
with us ?''
''Will you do ii 81 asked Sam with a
threatening pull but Gallowses stood firm.
Il can't tell | tell you. 1t wouldn't be
good and brave, and | can't
1T wouldn't ell - retorted sam furious
ly between his teeth; and it was danger
Gus moment for Miss Judys boy. But the
bell rang again, and sam had found out
that it wasn't best to be late in his seat
''Ill settle you" he muttered. with a
scowl that glowered more and more fierce
ly toward Gallowses' desk for the rest OF
the afternoon, ''Ill thrash YOU within an
inch of your life. -
Why shouldn't hep Wasn't he three
times as big as the coward Gallowses. and
hero of the school in the bargain
Two weeks passed, and the curb-bit of the
Elm Tree School still held steady and strong
but outside winter had been marching mer
rily on. till it swept suddenly down one Fri
day night and locked up everything, Dea
con Bayberry's mill-pond included in
prison walls of ice. And the next day. =
Saturday, with blue skies, air like wine.
and the ring Of the skates on that pond
starting the deacon up to the liyliest psalm
tune he knew! From Miss Pophurst :
kitchen window pair of eager brown
eyes had watched every boy of the schooI
scurrying past, and the jingle of the skate
irons was like the trumpet to the war
horses ears but what is war-horse with
out bride or spurs-Galowses had Nc
skates. And what fun was there in going
to look on' Miss Judith grew little ner
vous at last, watching the little figure witt
elbows on the table, and shorn head il
its hand, porting over lesson for the mex
week.
'Why don't you follow the rest of tn.
WI