The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-17
her hands shaking as If she had chill.

-
her hands shaking as if she had chill.
''Iie'll fail !" she said, looking up to the
sky andtalking aloud. 81 can't stand it
Heavenly Father! can'tl"
AS with most Southern children, "Heay-
enly Father" was very real to Lou. Then
she began to pray, fast and hard, to this
far-away friend in the sky, to help John.
'Oh dear! Only get him over the Latin
and them Virgians! He'll manage the
'rithmetic himself"
! She sat there an hour or more, hearing
only droning' voice now and then from
the open windows. At last there was
hush: Uncle Job was going TO give his
| declsion..s" 80 ,4fg~.
Ihelittle negroes crowded up the school,
house steps. Lou stood up and threw her
calic> sun. bonnet off her head. She did
not know what she did She was stiiling
with sudden, terrible heat
Her strained eyes were on the door.
Presently she heard Uncle Jobs voice. in
a few brief words. But she could not
catch him. They sounded to her like
| John has won. John Fremoy."
Suddenly there was cheer inside. Then
the negroes took it up. ''Bob Sewer!
Cunnel Bob! Hooray for Bob!''
4 Lou sat down and covered her face with
her hands. Her brother came to her in a
| moment.
"Gct up and come along homel he said,
roughly.
She caught his arm and pattcdit. "Don't
you mind it, Johnny" She said. "You
Kin 40 lots OF things Bob Sewer knows
nothin' about" she cried, fierccly.
''No, Bob won it fair he said sturdy.
"lma Ounce; l didn't deserve it that's
the worst Of it !" u:
His face was colorless, even to the lips,
but he showed his disappointment in no
other way.
Judge Peters came to the village the next
day, heard the report of the examination,
p0lntment. lie then went out to farm
which he owned near to Caleb Fren,oy's,
Johns uncle.
The boy erept over, towards night, to
catch glimpse of the great man who might
have made him happy for lite, but had not
done it. He hung miscrahly about tho
place, until evening, and then set out homc-
ward. ~
! Coming to the edge of Creggy Creek Just
where it turns from the mountain, he sat
down on the bank, and put his hot feet
in the water. Tomorrow he was to be
set to plowing with the negroes.
's'lt's all yer tit for" his uncle said.
you'd IL chance for West Point, and We
didn't take it. So you kin kennel with
the darkeys for the rest of yer life. IN
! feed You no more"
John sat moodily tlinging pebbles into
the water until the dusk came on, and an
owl began hoot.
Suddenly the boy stood up, trembling
| with whit ~ l..
hand up to the fast fading light 1t shone
with brilliant lustre, like a great drop of
dew in the morning sun. AS he moved it,
1t flashed, blood-rcd star, in his dirty
palm. John had heard of the ruby Which
had once been found in the next gorge.
y'It was worth thousands Of dollars .hc
sobbed rather than spoke. ri heard Judge
Peters tell my uncle there was corundum
on his farm, and ruby IS Il kind of corun-
dun. am rich for lifel''
He sat down, breathlcss, carefully rub
bing the brilliant lump in his hand, as
Aladdin might have done his lamp. What
was West Point to this? Money, beautiful
houses, glimpse Of the world, an easy,
happy life for himself and Lou!
'Poor Lou! was so cross to her to-day!
I'll 60 and tell her."
Thcn he stopped as If somebody had
struck him. The ruby was not his. He
was on Judge Peters land.
The boy sat down again, and for one
whole hour the tempter strove with him.
If there was one quality strong and DOM
lnant In John Frenoy, 1t was his honesty,
But this was temptation such as seldom
comes in the way of any man.
| The next morning Judge Peters was
mounting his horse to 20 into the village.
when a boy CAME across the yard. lie
walked quickly, as if driven by some force
behind. The judge waited, one foot in the
stTup. g.;
AS long as John Frcmoy lived, he re-
membered, like sudden, terrible picture,
the glaring light on the little muddy yard,
tho staring negro 9. boy holding the horse,
the portly, kind-looking'' man waiting his
approach.
When John reached the Judge, he stop
ped and was silent. He had his little
speech all ready, but his tongue was stiff,
and his throat parched. ..
"Well, my boy, what is lt2" asked the
judge. ~
John thrust out his hand
"a ruby sir. It's worth a great many
thousand dollars. found it on your
land"
! Juuge IctcrS LOOK the stone ana cxamin-
ed 1t. eagerly. Then 'he turned te John,
and looked at him as c,irrously. -
"Why didn't you keep It, If it is worth
30 much2"
II had mind to. But It's yours"
He turned away. TX.
"Stop, boyl Who are you''
'John Fremoy, SIR"
"Ohol, Uncle Job spoke of you to me.
You are uncommonly quick at figures, elli"
IF am, l am Ounce at everything
else. If had not.been, might have gone
to West Point"
"Ye.es," looking thoughtfully at John.
Every we'll, Fremoy; Pm very much
pleased with honesty. Good.morning;'
and the judge rode abruptly away.
He rode direct to Uncle Jobs house and
was closeted with him for an hour.
The next day the village was electrified
nv hearing that ,Jl1d1c Petera 1Saa y0ni 7, Or tn