Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-30

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 scholars
Sue was the prettiest, most lovable and
most trying. She laughed his most Sc
rious 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
tuned itself lower when he addressed
her, and in spite Of himself she man
aged to throw upon him the solving of
ali her most difficult problems. She
would come up to him with such a pretty,
pleading pout, with only head aches So"
and protest she could not do her algebra
unassisted; or Might | not be excused
from writing that dreadful composition
for lust this once, pleaseW And prom
ised to do any thing else he wished; and
she looked so winsome, pretty and bright
when he yielded, that she usually carried
the day.
So, when the master, in hard, cold
voice commanded the young ladies who
" ere late to school to leave their seats
and take places before his desk, to ms
surprise Sue said something IN whls-
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
Gypses, 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"
ooh! you wish To make yourself sort
of scapegoat for your companions he
questioned, with Il flushed face.
Eyes, sir, if you please" murmured
Sue.
"WelI. if | don't please? think you
have sins enough of your own 10 answer
for, without jhouldering those of others"
But really and truly" pleaded she,
with tears iii her glorious eyes, 81 ann
tlone to blanc. They would not have
gone but for me, and you will make me
perfectly wretched if you punish them,
when the fault was all mine" and she
sobbed audibly.
81 should be sorry to do that he an
swered. at is enough that you make
every day of my life wretched without
my retalating, and if you will answer
for the good behavior of your compan-
ions III future it shall be as you desire"
II will" promised Sue, but she grew
deadly pale to the lips as he extended
his hand 10 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.
"Onc 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 Il suppressed voice to the
teacher, and he had TO bend low to hear
her.
"Who is the scapegoat nowY she
questioned, and the dimples betrayed
that her emotion was laughter, and if her
eyes were filed with tears they were not
sorrowful ones.
Never mind" was answered by the
teacher, as he bit his moustache to hide
smile, You may take your seat now
"What Il generous soul" murmured
Sue, as she laid her head upon the desk.
Il 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 l won't
tell. That shall be our little secret"
The remainder of the afternoon she
studied very diligently and recited clev-
crly, though there was very saucy
light burning in her brown eyes that
argued ill for some one.
When school closed for the day, the
girls tlocked around her with many eX-
pressions of sympathy.
at was so good and noble in you, Sue,
to take all the blame and the punish
mcnt," exclaimed May.
"And how ridiculous he looked pound,
ing the little hand of lady" added
Kitty. 81 am sure he must think very
little of himself, and, rs for me, hate
him." 49,,
$50 do l." said Annie Miller, and
would sit up all night to find ume to de-
spise him" .,
Don't be fools y interrupted Sue, with
n flash of anger. Il think he WAS very
kind and generous 10 let us oil as easy
rs he did, for We were wrong and he
right
II thought it belonged to gentle
mans code of honor never to strike u
woman ~ answered May, with a sheer.
'rho truth is" replied Sue, he fixed
the penalty SO severe and unlelehtlhg
that he supposed no one would disoDey,
and when lie Was forced to tutlll the law
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