Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-01-21
non, a black.eyed beauty, said, with q

threaten to whip any one who went up
to the gypsy encampment? Just as if
he dared to do itp'
st would like to see him ferrule my
hand" chimed May Ellis.
cor mine. eitber!" exclaimed Kitty
Dalton. What's the use of being such
cowardly ninnies, girls? Let us go in
spite of him."
CT will pay for any girl who will 60
with me to day 10 have he1 fortune told"
laughed Sue Salmon, merrily.
"Will you? Then we will all go, even
if we have to submit to the punishment"
answered May.
1t was decided to run the risk, and &C.
cordingly when school closed at noon
they marched off bodily to learn the
mystery of the future.
cit must be half-past one o'clock at
least" exclaimed one of the number, as
they were fastening back from their
visit to the gypsy camp, half repentant
and anxious to know what would be the
result of their breaking the law.
CT wish we hadn't gone," sighed
Kitty, ruefully. 1t was all your fault
Sue"
"I know it." returned the young lady,
with merry laugh; "and 1 am ready
not only to take my share of punish
ment, but yours as WE'LL"
cit is all very well to talk" said
May, "but you are sure to get of with
the highest penalty, and that you can
do nything you choose with Paul
Cheney"
"Can I? Well, then I'll shield you
for your disobedience. So cheer up and
be brave. Here we are and school has
commenced"
They marched in and took their seats,
and lifted their guilty eyes to encounter
the Indignantly flashing ones of their
much. abused teacher. Of all the schol-
airs Sue was the prettiest, most lovable
and most trying. She laughed his most
serious and just reproof to scorn, and
when she found he was really wounded.
her great black eyes would fash up to
him through tears and appeal to be for
given. And somehow his voice always
turned itself lower when he addressed
her, and in spite of himself she managed
to throw upon him the solving of all
her most difficult problems. She would
come up to him with such q pretty
pleading pout, with "My head aches
So" and protest she could not do her
algebra unassisted; or "Might I not be
excused from writing that dreadful
composition for just this once, pleasep'
And promised to do anything else he
wished; and she looked 30 winsome,
pretty and bright when he yielded, that
she usually carried the day.
So, when the master, in q hard, cold
voice commanded the young ladies who
were late to school to leave their seats
and take places before his desk, to his
surprise Sue said something in whis-
per to her companions, and came grace
fully and quickly forward alone, and
leaning her white arms upon his desk
as for support to her trembling limbs,
said:
"Mr. Cheney, we have been to see the
gypsies, but | alone am to blame, and
am ready to take the punishment you
think the rest have merited, together
with what is my just due"
"Ohl you wish to make yourself 8
sort of scapegoat for your companions? "
he questioned, with flushed face.
Yes, sir, if you please" murmured
Sue.
"Well, if I don't please7 think you
have sins enough of your own to an.
swer for without shouldering those OF
others?"
But really and truly" pleaded she,
with tears in her glorious eyes, I" / am
alone to blame. They would not have
gone but for me, and you will make me
perfectly wretched if you punish them
mi oh
sobbed audibly.
az should be sorry to do that" he
answered 1t is enough that you
make every day of my life wretched
without my retaliating, and if you will
answer for the good behavior of your
companions in future it shall be as you
DESIRE"
"I will" promised Sue, but she grew
deadly pale to the lips as he extended
his hand to receive hers.
The next moment her little rosy palm
lay in his great broad one, above which
the ruler was poised for the blow; and
though their hands were hidden behind
the desk, the blows could be distinctly
heard.
"One, two, three, four-one for each
truant,'' said the teacher, looking down
into the eyes of Sue with an expression
none but she could interpret.
The next instant the face of Sue was
buried in her handkerchief, and her
cheeks crimsoned as with shame. Then
she spoke in a suppressed voice to the
teacher, and he had to bend low to hear
her.
"Who is the scrapegoxt now?" she
questioned, and the dimples betrayed
that her emotion was laughter, and if
her eyes were filled with tears they were
not sorrowful ones.
"Never mind" was answered by the
teacher, az he bit his moustache to hide
smile, "you may take your seat now"
"What generous SOUL" murmured
Sue, as she laid her head upon the desk.
81 knew he wouldn't strike me. His
broad hand entirely covered mine and
received every blow. How the girls
would laugh if they knew it. But
won't tell. That shall be our little
secret"
The remainder of the afternoon she