The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-01-13


her great black eyes woald 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 managed to
throy upon him the solving of all heI
most iGicult problems. She woutd come
up to him with such pretty pleading
pout, with My head aches SO, aud pro-
tsst she could not DO her algebra unas-
sisted; or ''Might | not be excused from
wrighting that dreadful composition for
lalst this once pleased" Aud promised to
do anything else he wished; and she
looked SO vinsoma, 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
were late to school to leave their seats
and take places before his desk, to bis
surprise Sue said something in a whisper
TO her companions. aud came gracefully
aud quickly forward alone, aud leaning
her white arms upon his desk as for sup
port to her trembling limbs, said:
"Mr. Cheney, we have been to see the
Gypsies, but l alone an to blame, and
am ready to take the punishment you
think the rest have merited together with
what is my Just due. .
'fOh! you wish to make yourself sort
of scapegoat for your companionsl" lie
questioned with flushed face
eyes, sir, if you please" murmured
Sue.
"Well, if don't please? I think you
have sins enough Of your own to answer
for, without shouldering those of others"
''But really and truly" pleaded she,
with tears in her glorious eyes, 81 am
alone to blame. They would not have
gone but for me. and you will make me
perfectly wretched if you punish them,
when the fault was al miue," and she
sobbed audibly.
II should be sorry to do that" he an
swered. lit 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"
Il 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
Icy 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
truaut, " 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 ecapegoat now2" she
questioned, and the dimpIes betrayed
that her emotion was laughter, and if her
eyes were filed with tears they were not
socrowful ones.
''Never mind, was answered by the
tca3her, as he bit his moustache to hide
a smile. ''You may take yoar seat now.
''What generous soul" murmured
Sue, as she laid her head upon the desk.
II knew he wouldn't strike me. His
bread 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
studied very diligently and recited clev-
erly, though there was a very saucy light
burning in her bright eyes that argued
III for some one.
When school closed for the day, the
girls foeked around her with many ex-
prsssious of sympathy.
''It was so good aud noble of you, Sue,
to take all the blame and the punish
ment," exclaimed May.
"And how ridiculous be looked pound
ing the littla hand of lady, added
Kitty, 81 am sure he must think very
little of himself. and. as for me, [ hate
HIM"
80 do T." said Annie Miller, ''and
would sit up ali night to fnd time to de-
spite him."
Don't be fools!' interrupted Sue, with
a flush of anger. 'I think he was very
kind and generons to let us of as easy as
be did. for We were wrong and he right"
4 thought it belonged to a gentleman's
code of honor never to strike a woman 2"
answered May with sneer.
The truth is" answered Sue. sshe
fixed the penalty so severe and unrelent-
ing that he supposed no one would dis
obey, and when he was forced to fulfill
the law he~punishei one girl ia place of
four, and as it was neither of you,
think You ought to he satisfied. Sap
pose We let the subject drop"
so be it. But il he remains at the
school house late again tonight. shan't
we haunt bin z"
''Yes, said Sue. "end it is my turn to
be the guest There is Jolly fun in that. "
Mean while Paul Cheney was again
writing to his city chum, and in conclu-
sion said
e ''I have had hard day. The girls
were unusually provoking, aud the knuok-
les OF my left hand are very much swol-
len, from an injury received while pun
isting one Of them. You need not be
surprised 70 hear that I have given up
teaching TIE Plainxilla Ao,9a-,x, =